Today’s the last (and best?) day of the Epic Book Battle/Sale/Event from Friends of the Irresponsible Reader, Future House Publishing.
They’re having a special sale in honor of Star Wars Day (a great sale on already low prices, I should emphasize) and being in business for a year. Go, check it out! There’s a chance at prizes, too.
Be sure to check out Got Luck and Guardians, in particular — I talked about them here and here, respectively. But all their books look promising.
Before I get going today, I’d like to take a moment to say congrats to my oldest son, who is getting his AA today, well done, sir.
Now on to the odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to J. L. Gribble and Looseygoosey for following the blog this week.
(I looked and looked for a source on this one…would love to link to it)
I should’ve posted this two days ago, but this is one of those weeks where email that doesn’t look urgent (or from authors who I’ve talked about repeatedly here) gets ignored. Oops.
Friends of the Irresponsible Reader, Future House Publishing, are having a special sale in honor of Star Wars Day (a great sale on already low prices, I should emphasize) and being in business for a year. Go, check it out! There’s a chance at prizes, too.
Be sure to check out Got Luck and Guardians, in particular — I talked about them here and here, respectively. But all their books look promising.
So, here’s what happened here in April:
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How was your month?
Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to Vijayalakshmi Harish and allysonyj for following the blog this week.
No new piece today, Dadding takes priority (usually). So, I’ll just share this clip that I’m going to be quoting for a long time…
As part of Reader’s Legacy’s Rowling celebration, they’ve provided me with a few Guest Posts to draw attention to their Sale (through 4/30!) and a Grant Program created in order to give away 1 million physical books in support of literacy programs — be sure to check those out!
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“I pinned my 1st rejection letter to my kitchen wall because it gave me something in common with all my fave writers!” – J.K. Rowling via Twitter (March 25, 2016).
What do literary geniuses, J.K. Rowling, Dr. Seuss, F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Orwell, and Agatha Christie all have in common? Surprisingly enough, each of them have written books that were rejected by multiple publishers. As hard to believe as that may be, it’s entirely true!
Contrary to popular belief, rejection more than anything is a learning opportunity. Of course, no one welcomes rejection. In fact, they avoid it at all costs. But everyone gets rejected at one point in their life, or another, and instead of dwelling on the pain of being told “no”, they can use that rejection as a motivator – the greatest motivator in their life!
On March 25, 2016, J.K. Rowling took to twitter to share two rejection letters she received on her crime novel, “The Cuckoo’s Calling”, written under the alias of Robert Galbraith. While Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series has sold more than 400 million copies to date, Rowling admits to having self-doubt. “I wasn’t going to give up until every single publisher turned me down, but I often feared that would happen” she explains. Despite these fears, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” was eventually published by Sphere Books, an imprint of Little, Brown & Company, and the rest is history.
Rowling didn’t allow the fear of going unpublished stop her from trying time and time again, which is an example many dreamers can learn from. Yes, rejection bruises a person’s ego and, more often than not, forces them to go back to the drawing board, but sometimes that’s the best thing a person can do. Going back to the drawing board means making improvements both personally, and in one’s work, and making those improvements brings the motivation to pursue that passion even further.
Remember, rejection isn’t a death sentence, but merely a stepping stone which brings you closer to finally hearing that “yes” you’ve been waiting for. Though it might sound crazy to hang a negative note about your life’s work up on a wall, it can serve as a reminder to persevere…and when you achieve your success, it will be a reminder of all that you’ve overcome.
As an added perk of Reader’s Legacy’s Rowling celebration, we will be holding a special 20% off sale for each of her novels from April 25th to April 30th – ReadersLegacy.com/JKRowling.
The sale not only celebrates J.K. Rowling, but was also brings attention for a special grant program we have created in order to give away 1 million physical books in support of literacy programs! Spreading a love of books, and ending illiteracy around the world is 100% possible, and with the help of reader’s on the site, we believe will be one step closer to achieving that goal! Get in on this sale HERE.
As part of Reader’s Legacy’s Rowling celebration, they’ve provided me with a few Guest Posts to draw attention to their Sale (through 4/30!) and a Grant Program created in order to give away 1 million physical books in support of literacy programs — be sure to check those out!
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The votes are in, and in a remarkable landslide, J.K. Rowling has been identified as the top author of Reader’s Legacy! To celebrate Ms. Rowling’s literary triumph, we looked into our Goblet of Fire and pulled these out 10 magical phrases; sure to guarantee any Potterhead the Hogwarts acceptance letter they’ve been waiting for!
As an added perk of Reader’s Legacy’s Rowling celebration, we will be holding a special 20% off sale for each of her novels from April 25th to April 30th – ReadersLegacy.com/JKRowling.
I’d like to welcome Erin Rhew to the blog today to promote her fantasy trilogy, The Fulfillment Series (and other things), as part of The Rhew 2 Rhew blog tour. The Fulfillment Series looks like a good investment of your time, I’ll add, be sure to check it out. After you read her post, of course — and enter the drawing.
Also, this was supposed to post this on Monday, and I messed up the posting. I’d like to publicly apologize to Erin for the mess-up. Irresponsible is supposed to by a name, a philosophy of reading, not a description of the guy behind the blog.
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Thank you to H.C. for hosting me today, and thank you to his readers for joining us!! <waves> Today, I’m here to talk about the writing and publication process. I think I have a bit of a unique perspective because I’m a published author, AND I work for a publishing company. PS. Stay tuned to find out about a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card!!
People always ask me when I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t really have that “ah-ha” moment. Since I was four and read my first book, I’ve been fascinated with the written word. At four, I also wrote my first poem. My grandparents run a car dealership, and I wrote a little rhyming poem about the cars on their lot. When I received serious accolades for it, the writer in me bloomed. I wrote in middle school and had a whole gaggle of girls who waited not-so-patiently for me to complete a new chapter. In high school, I continued writing and also took up acting, and in college, I continued to do both. After graduation, I ran a theater company, where I both acted and wrote plays. I did that for many, many years, and my novel writing took a back seat. But I eventually returned to my first love and started a novel. In fact, I’m STILL working on that novel. LOL! I’ve finished it, rewritten it, and I’m in the process of rewriting it again. But while that book marinated, another book emerged–three, in fact. And The Fulfillment Series was born. I assembled a group of friends, called the Dream Team, to help keep me on task (ADD and all).
From right to left: Danielle Craver, Dawn Ward, Ginny Hunsberger, and Kim Sharp–I’m kneeling)
I wrote the trilogy in three months (yep!) with the help of my friend, Kim, who required a chapter a day from me. But editing is a much longer, more arduous process, especially if you’re a grammar nerd like I am. Once I’d self-edited, I sent it to beta readers and critique partners, and then I edited it again, I sent out query letters. Rejections came in, lots of them, with a few requests for partials and fulls sprinkled in. And then one day, as I stood in the pet store, it came…the offer! I *may* have jumped up and down and squealed right there in the middle of that pet store. LOL!
And the rest, as they say, is history. All three books of the trilogy have been published, and I’m pleased as punch about it. Now I have to return to my original book…apparently to be my magnum opus!
My first book. Wonderful cover created by Anita at Race-Point!
Publication
I think working at a publication company has a great deal for my writing. I’ve learned a lot about what to do and what not to do just by reading other people’s work and working with the fabulous group of editors we have on staff. The lovely Heather Powell Van Fleet taught me a whole lot about “showing versus telling” and “actions before words.” And I learned a lot from my husband’s editor, Anya Kagan, about the big picture and “talking heads.” For those of you who don’t have the ability to benefit from working in a publishing company, I say this: Talk to other writers and editors. Immerse yourself in the world of writing. Follow Twitter contests like #PitMad and see what storylines are being overdone (you’d be surprised how many are alike).
Here is some of my advice:
1) Edit, edit, edit. (As I write this, I know my post will have an error–LOL!) I’m a HUGE grammar nerd and will spot mistakes in your writing right away. You only get one chance to make a good first impression. If you’re not good with grammar, find a friend who is or hire an editor (but make sure they’re legit). You won’t be sorry.
2) Be friendly and stay “in the know.” Reach out to readers, bloggers, agents, editors, and other authors on social media platforms. Stay informed about what’s going on in the writing world.
3) Decide on your path ahead of time. Think about the publishing options available to you and pursue the one that works best for you and your work. Please don’t submit to small presses and turn down a contract because “you wanted an agent.” If you want an agent, go after agents. Self-publishing, small presses, and traditional publication are all equally valid means of getting your book into the world. But be aware of the potential downfalls of each path: use sound editors for self-publishing, don’t use vanity presses or “fake” agents, etc.
4) Always, always, always better yourself. Even the greatest writers still have stuff to learn. We can all better ourselves and our craft. Be open to suggestions and critiques. Don’t make the mistake of thinking your writing is perfect like it is; you can always improve.
Thanks for hosting me, H.C.! Now I’d like to share a little bit about my books (and my husband’s books) with you and your readers! Hint: Giveaway link coming soon!
For those that don’t know, I’m a young adult fantasy author who is married to adult thriller author, Deek Rhew. Together, we are “the Rhews,” and our street team is the Rhewination!
Deek and Erin– Join the Rhewination! 😉
So, here’s a little bit more about me, Deek, and The Fulfillment Series:
Title: The Prophecy
Author: Erin Rhew
Publisher: BookFish Books
Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point
Available Now! Amazon Buy Link
Synopsis:
Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she’s abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.
Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He’s grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear…not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?
Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he’s no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction–for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.
When Nash’s secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.
Title: The Outlanders
Author: Erin Rhew
Publisher: BookFish Books
Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point
Available Now! Amazon Buy Link
Title: The Fulfillment
Author: Erin Rhew
Publisher: BookFish Books
Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point
Available Now! Amazon Buy Link
Erin Rhew is an editor, a running coach, and the author of The Fulfillment Series. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the “Grammar Police.”
A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by- side.
For the latest and greatest, visit her web page:
Deek lives in a rainy pocket in the Pacific Northwest with the stunning YA author bride, Erin Rhew, and their writing assistant, a fat tabby named Trinity. They enjoy lingering in the mornings, and often late into the night, caught up Erin’s fantastic fantasy worlds of noble princes and knights and entwined in Deek’s dark underworld of the FBI and drug lords.
He and Erin love to share books by reading aloud to one another. In addition, they enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, and exploring the little town–with antique shops and bakeries–they call home.
For the latest and greatest, visit his web page:
www.DeekRhewBooks.com
Welcome to Part Two of our participation in the Off to See the Wizard Book Tour (see Part One), a couple more posts will be up in a while. This is a Guest Post by Clay Johnson, the novel’s author, about his process:
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I have to hear the words in my head before I start writing, or I’m pretty much hosed. I used to plan out the whole story, or at least try to. I spent a lot of time thinking about it, picturing the action and the plot points, really getting into the thing. I did a lot of imagining while listening to music. I figured if I could see what I wanted to write, then I was golden. Unfortunately, when it came time to actually sit down and do it, I’d hit a dry spot. It wasn’t writer’s block, though; it was more like I was incredibly bored. What I pictured so vividly in my head just wasn’t coming out anywhere nearly so thrilling, and in the few instances that it did I still wasn’t particularly captivated by the process. I kept trying though, and I kept ending up with a bunch of barely started or, at best, half-finished manuscripts.
One day, somewhere around senior year, of high school, instead of an idea, I had just a line. It wasn’t a particularly good line. It was something like: Bill woke up to find death staring down at him and asking if they had any nachos. But I liked what the line made me think of, and I was bored in class, so instead of trying to plan out what that story might be I just went with it. The result was an awesome mess. But it was an “awesome” mess. It was full of great little moments, and a lot of threads that led nowhere. I couldn’t use the story for anything, but I felt invigorated the whole way through. In working on that story I finally figured out my problem. If I knew where the story was going, I didn’t care. I’d already thought that part out; I just wanted to move on to the next story. Somewhere in the transition from over-planning to not planning, I’d found my voice.
I started riffing on just a line, or a vague idea built around a specific image. But the trick was that I had to be able to hear at least the opening line in my head. I had to be able to hear the voice the character would use. As long as I could tap into that, then I could continue the story. The rest seems to take place beneath the surface.
It feels like there is some constantly running story machine cranking away somewhere in the basement of my mind, and while I’m busy doing other things, it’s making connections and drawing paths between two unplanned plot points. Those are the moments I love the most when I write, those moments where two bits that I wrote on a whim meet up and fit together so well that I can’t believe they weren’t planned. Writing this way makes it harder in the revision process, because I end up with a lot of gems I want to keep and can’t, and there’s also a lot of connections that still have to be made after the fact, but almost always less of them than I would expect. As long as I can tap into the sound of the story, the way the words flow and the beat of the thing, the machine keeps feeding me.
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