Guest post: How I Lost My Writing

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Hi,
Today on Jilligan’s Island, we welcome Julia Skinner from the Lit Aflame blog. She’s got a great writer’s testimony, so without further ado…..
Welcome!
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Today, I am here to tell you the tale of how I lost my writing. Yes, yes, I know, surprising, right?  But tis true, I lost control of my writing quite a few years ago. Though the losing has glitched in and out through the time (which means my rebellious side tried to takeover from time to time).

See, I didn’t always write.

I know, unspeakable!  Incomprehensible! But nonetheless true.

It was some years ago when brilliance struck me (it does happen sometimes y’know), I had a brand-new tablet PLUS an awesome story in my head = why not write it down?!  (I’m a genius).

So I did or I began to, and PEOPLE!  Do you know how incredibly slow and hard and horribly uncomfortable it is to write a story on a handheld tablet?

Dreadful, I tell you. (Fine, it wasn’t that bad).

Happy me started writing the beautiful story in my head when a huge catastrophic portal opened up, sucking everything into it and plunging us into utter darkness, despair, and a world with no ice cream.

Which goes to say, something wasn’t right.  Sure, I loved my story, I enjoyed seeing it down on the screen, I couldn’t wait to get further into the story, and was already dreaming of people reading it.

The problem?

I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose in life.

What is my life’s purpose?

To bring glory to God.

So when God pointed out to me that my current story did absolutely ZERO to bring glory to Him, I tried to ignore at first, but there’s only so much ignoring you can do before you gotta pull out the big guns.-

– Aka excuses.  (who here knows that excuses don’t work on God?)

“This isn’t a big deal, I’m just writing a little story, it’s not some life changing thing”

*******excuses. . . more excuses. . . excuses upon excuses******

All the while God patiently told me, “Give Me your writing”

At last I broke,  tossed my excuses out the window, and said, “FINE.  If you want my writing here it is. I give it to you, Lord.”

HUZZAH!

In that very moment, I lost control of my writing. Actually, I gave control over to God – and am I ever so thankful I did.  Because you know, I don’t think I would be writing the WIP (work in progress) I am if I hadn’t, not to mention life would be a great bit more unhappy — a great wad of my writing would be stuck between me and my Savior, and my flesh’s control issues would only be growing worse.

Of course it didn’t end there.

God wanted my writing, He got it, so since He owns my writing…..then shouldn’t I write FOR HIM? (see the verse, 1 Cor. 10:31 above)

Well, yeah.

So I’m sure you can already guess, I lost the story, too.  More like I gave it up, that thing didn’t bring glory to Jesus at all.  Sure, I considered trying to find a way to push and shove some of the plot around to fit in some sort of something that could point to Christ. But that’s not how it should be, God shouldn’t just be stuffed into the story like that, rather He should come first and the story come next — because remember, my first purpose as a Christian is to bring Him glory — so always in everything, God comes first!

So that story was scrapped, thrown off in some corner. Yes, it hurt to let it go, but you know what?  Dear writer, you haven’t the faintest idea of the joy of writing until you write something that revolves around Jesus and brings glory to God.

I will admit, one of my objections was no one would want to read something like that, if I wrote it in a way that would bring glory to God, but that just showed where my priorities were: they were focused on writing a story the world would like reading.  It was then I decided I was going to get my priorities off of writing for the world and onto writing for God.

My current WIP is Fantasy, but in whatever genre you write, Fantasy, Dystopian, etc, you can still point to Jesus — even without outright screaming it.  There is a way to write purely with a message that brings glory to God.

So that’s why I write the sort of stories I write, ones I hope point to Jesus, because I am a Christian, and God has called me to write for Him.


Who do you write for?

 

Meet the Writer:

Julia is a 15-year-old born again Christian who believes if the Bible says it it’s true, and a Bookworm who knows words have the power to change the world.   She juggles her small business, writing, and college while living on a farm in Texas with her parents, seven siblings and a ton of animals
Her goal in all she does is to bring glory to God and to live a life lit aflame for Christ.  She hopes to encourage others to do the same.

 

 

Inspiration for “The Greatest Adventure” (and a GIVEAWAY!)

The Fellowship of Fantasy has released their fourth anthology, Tales of Ever After! I was thrilled to discover my short story, “The Greatest Adventure,” was accepted for this book, especially since it takes place in the same world as my debut novel Spark, just at a much, much earlier time.

“The Greatest Adventure” features the famous Firebrand Aideen Siriol. If you’ve read Spark, maybe the name sounds familiar. Two-thirds of the way through Spark, Brenna James receives Aideen’s sword when she needs it the most. Its hilt is set with beautiful Fire Diamonds, gathered during Aideen’s greatest adventure. After writing that little piece of information, I nodded in satisfaction and forgot about it.

But as time went on, I realized the reader might want to know more. So what happened during Aideen’s greatest adventure? Good question. I had no idea, but I began writing anyway. I assumed this would be a short filler piece. Surprisingly, it grew longer and longer. Hmm, this wasn’t a simple flash fiction story.

While I wrote, I also grappled with another question: what would the greatest adventure look like for Aideen? While others like to jump out of perfectly good airplanes or swim with sharks, I’m a homebody. I’m content to go on hikes in the mountains and watch sunsets. Not exactly high-octane adventure. But the most exciting adventures of my life have been emotional ones—falling in love.

Adventures of the heart are exciting no matter the gender, and I wanted Aideen and the slave Rivka to experience it. I added some enchanted stones, as well as a few dragons, and came up with a new fairy tale that was a lot of fun to write. I enjoyed spending more time in my created world of The Jasper Territory — and I hope the reader enjoys it, as well.

More about Tales of Ever After:

Rescue a princess, meet a mermaid, win your reward.

The authors of the Fellowship of Fantasy tackle fairy tales from once upon a time to happily ever after. Explore twists on old tales and brand new magical stories. Meet feisty mermaids, friendly lampposts, and heroes who just might be monsters themselves.

This fourth anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy will lead you on a quest for entertainment and storm the castle of your imagination. So make a wish and enter the deep dark woods to find stories that will make you laugh, shiver, and maybe even fall in love.

Amazon Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Ever-After-Fellowship-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07FFMHM8M/

Books2Read Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/bwYKry

Goodreads Listing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40788623-tales-of-ever-after

Would you like to learn more about these fantastic stories? Follow this link to find the blog tour schedule.

And finally would you like the chance to win a prize or two?

For our US readers, follow this link to win a paperback book (possibly signed by the author!)

and for our International fans, follow this link to win an ebook in your format choice.

The person who leaves the most comments across the blog tour will receive the chance to read special sneak peaks from several of the authors’ upcoming works!

 

 

 

 

Aerisian Refrain: Inside Peak!

Let’s welcome fantasy author Sarah Ashwood to Jilligan’s Island. Her newest book Aerisian Refrain just released — the Facebook party is on Thursday! Stop by to play fun games and win bookish prizes! Welcome, Sarah!

Hi,

When Jill kindly offered me a spot on her blog to chat about my new book, Aerisian Refrain, I struggled with what to say. Of course, I could try to tell you the plot without giving away spoilers. (Unless you happen to be like me and actually like spoilers.) A friend suggested I highlight what’s unique about this book, so let me go there.

To begin with, my MC, Annie Richards, is from Oklahoma and is part Cherokee. I’m a lifelong Okie myself, and grew up in the part of the state where the Cherokee nation has its capital. When I realized Annie was going to be from Oklahoma and was part Cherokee, I knew I had to delve into Cherokee culture and heritage and weave elements of that into my story. It was hard to narrow down all the figures I came across, but I finally settled on three that absolutely fascinated me. The first was a Kâ’lanû Ahkyeli’skï: a Raven Mocker. This creature is scary. I read up on stories about Raven Mockers that had me looking over my shoulder at night. (I get spooked easily.) Check out this moment from Aerisian Refrain when Annie first encounters the Kâ’lanû Ahkyeli’skï :

The raven-like cry of a Kâ’lanû Ahkyeli’skï, which is where the Raven Mocker earns its name, means someone is going to die—much like banshees in Irish folklore. Often, they appear when a person is dying to steal and consume the liver or the heart. Sometimes they torture and kill their victim by cutting open the head, then eating the heart. A year is added to their life for every year their victim would have lived, making a Raven Mocker almost immortal, and accounting for their appearance as an old, wizened man or woman when in human form. They can fly through the air in fiery bird shape, trailing sparks while in the sky. They are usually invisible, except to the most powerful of magic workers. Only a medicine man or woman of much training and strength can stand against them, which meant I was in serious danger.

The other two characters I chose to feature are a little more benevolent. One group was the Thunderers, who the Cherokee believe are storm spirits that live in the sky. The other was a Stoneclad, or rock giant. I loved the Stoneclad. He almost made me think of a Marvel character. There weren’t tons of descriptions of Stoneclads, but most of my research indicated they’re giants that wear a suit of armor fashioned from stone. Like the Thunderers, they aren’t feared—certainly not like the Raven Mockers. In fact, there are stories of them coming to the aid of the Cherokee. As Annie explains in Aerisian Refrain when she’s discussing her people’s folklore,

“I remember Grandma telling me about the Stoneclads: rock giants, and the Aniyvdaqualosgi or Ani-Yuntikwalaski. Those are the Thunderers, or powerful storm spirits. If they took a shape, it was usually human, and they were okay with people. I guess it’s no wonder we’d have legends about great storm spirits, living in Tornado Alley.”

At this point in the book, Annie has no idea she’s going to actually encounter rock giants or storm spirits, and she’s in a for a big surprise when she does!

So there you go—a little peek into what I feel makes my book baby unique. I hope you’ll check out Aerisian Refrain. If you do, I hope you enjoy it! I had so much fun researching the stories of the Cherokee and weaving just a few elements from their rich traditions into this novel. If you’d like to research any of this further, some of my favorite sources were http://www.native-languages.org/ , www.cherokeeregistry.com , www.firstpeople.us , and http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/index.htm.

Thanks for reading this post and giving me a little of your time. Have a great day!

____________________________________________________________________

Thanks, Sarah! Here’s a little more about the book and the author.

On Earth, Annie’s voice brought her fame and fortune. In Aerisia, her voice brings her magic, but the cost of that power might mean the destruction of Aerisia itself.

Following the prophesied Artan’s victory over the Dark Powers, the land of Aerisia is finally at rest, until ancient beings, long imprisoned, begin to stir…

Eight years after Annie Richards’ stellar voice and musical talents skyrocketed her from rural Oklahoma to international fame, haunting visions have begun threatening her sanity. While she’s returning to her childhood home to convalesce, creatures straight from her nightmares bring down her plane. Annie wakens in a parallel world, Aerisia. Here, she discovers her musical gifts translate into magical powers—the legacy of a banished race who have been invading her dreams.

Mistrusted by Aerisia’s most powerful factions because of her heritage, Annie finds allies are hard to come by. Supporting her are one Simathe warrior, Cole, who refuses to label her as evil, and one woman willing to stand against anything and anyone to help a friend: the Artan herself. Seizing control of her destiny will mean defying both her ancestors and the Aerisian leaders. Mastering her magic may mean making the greatest sacrifice of all…or risk becoming the reason Aerisia itself is torn apart.

Find Aerisian Refrain on Amazon and Goodreads.

Don’t believe all the hype. Sarah Ashwood isn’t really a gladiator, a Highlander, a fencer, a skilled horsewoman, an archer, a magic wielder, or a martial arts expert. That’s only in her mind. In real life, she’s a genuine Okie from Muskogee who grew up in the wooded hills outside the oldest town in Oklahoma and holds a B.A. in English from American Military University. She now lives (mostly) quietly at home with her husband and three sons, where she tries to sneak in a daily run or workout to save her sanity and keep her mind fresh for her next story.

Sarah’s works include the Sunset Lands Beyond trilogy and the fantasy novella Amana. To keep up to date with Sarah’s work and new releases, sign up for her newsletter. You can also visit her website, or find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

All That We See or Seem with Kristina Mahr

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Thanks for stopping by Jilligan’s Island! Today, I’ve got author Kristina Mahr with me so we can talk about her amazing book All That We See or Seem. Here’s the back cover blurb:

Every night, seventeen-year-old Reeve Lennox finds herself under a noose.
By day she is a lady of Acarsaid’s royal house, daydreaming of adventure and love. But every night in sleep she wanders through a nightmarish city, an invisible witness to the screeches of monsters and the screams of their victims. Her only consolation is Bran, a battle-torn young man with a selfless heart and eyes that reflect the stars. Yet while Reeve falls deeper into her dreams, in truth she is engaged to Arden, a mercurial nobleman who has long been cured of his belief in love and breathes fire and flattery like other people breathe air.
Torn between two lives, Reeve struggles to remember what’s real. Until night and day collide, with a revelation that threatens all of Acarsaid.

People, I’ve read it, and I cannot wait until the sequel comes out! Eeep — so good! Anyway, Kristina agreed to stop by and answer some questions about herself and the book. So let’s delve right into it!

JM: Hi, Kristina! I have to say, I loved All That We See or Seem.  Where did you get the idea for this book?

KM: My sister has very vivid dreams, and I remember one day in February 2014, standing in her kitchen with her while she told me about a dream she had about a girl who falls in love with a boy she meets in her dreams. Super meta. Something about it really embedded itself in my brain, and I spent a lot of time thinking about it. Wondering who the girl was, who the boy was. Why she dreamt this place. What her real life was like. What hope there was for the two of them. Eventually, the pieces all came together to form a story. This story!

JM: That’s fantastic! My dreams are always so boring (like shopping at Walmart!) What do you feel is the theme for this book?

KM: I believe the theme for this book is hope. Reeve is so filled to the brim with it, this unrelenting feeling that things will work out. Somehow. Some way. She is determined to have the life she envisions for herself.

JM: What made you choose the theme of hope?

KM: Honestly, I chose it because it’s how I operate, too. That’s the way in which I’d say Reeve and I are most similar. I love the idea of changing my stars. Of not being trapped. Of having some say in my own future. No matter how things may be at any given moment, I think having hope is the key.

JM: Speaking of Reeve, give us some insight into her. Is she your favorite character? Why or why not?

KM: I love Reeve. Reeve’s my girl. She’s so kind-hearted and emotion-driven, and she rarely has anything but the best intentions. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t make mistakes, but she truly does mean well. She is so optimistic and hopeful, even when the circumstances should not lend her to feeling that way. Sometimes she’s a little dramatic and a little too idealistic, but it’s hard to blame her, given her age, her life, and her circumstances.

JM: Yes, she does lead a very privileged life. So, what made you choose this setting?

KM: When my sister first told me about her dream, we turned over story ideas that involved a contemporary setting, but it didn’t quite click. When I envisioned Reeve in her nightmare world, I always saw her in a nightgown. And when I thought about what it would be like for her to be abruptly visible there, the impropriety of wearing a nightgown out and about instantly popped into my mind. So those two facts told me this story needed to be set in the past a ways, in a time where this really would be pretty scandalous. I built Acarsaid as a fictional island nation because I wanted it to be isolated, small and independent, to reflect Reeve’s isolation, how small her world really is. Her nightmare world is the only other place she gets to go, so even though it’s awful there, there’s a certain freedom to it.

JM: You did a fantastic job building the nightmare world, even though I was often holding my breath while reading those scenes. 🙂 What was your favorite scene (either to write or for another reason)?

KM: Chapter 32 is my favorite chapter of the book, hands down. I don’t want to spoil anything, but… it’s a big one! I heard a song called “Kaleidoscope” by A Great Big World, and the scene just came to me, fully formed. It spilled from my fingertips in that convenient way that I wish would happen more often! I hope readers feel the magic in it, because to me, it is a purely magical scene.

JM: Kaleidoscope is perfect for that scene (and it’s a great song, too!) What about the title? Did you ever consider any other titles for this manuscript or was this your first choice?

KM: This was my working title while I wrote the book and far and away my first choice. I am so glad the publisher agreed to it! The poem “A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe was a big inspiration for this story, and having that iconic line for my title is a dream come true. (Pun intended.)

JM: Let’s shift gears and find out a little bit about you. Are you a full-time author or do you balance writing with another job?

KM: I am a full-time accountant, so my day job is pretty much all numbers, all the time. Which is why it’s really nice to get to come home and focus on words, instead. I love numbers for their certainty and rigidity, and I love writing for the very opposite reason: the fluidity, the freedom. It’s nice to get to balance the two sides of my brain.

JM: Most people are either left or right-brained. It sounds like you have a healthy balance of both! You mentioned coming home to write. What does your writing space look like?

KM: I have a lovely loft in my house with great lighting, a massive bookcase, and my desk, but… I don’t write there. Well, I’ve written there once or twice. But for the most part, I write camped out on my couch, surrounded by my pets. I have a lap desk for my laptop, and I just kind of lounge on my couch and type away. In my happiest place, I have a soccer game muted on the TV while I work. Something I can glance up at that won’t pull me out of the story.

JM: That sounds relaxing? Does writing energize you or exhaust you?

KM: Honestly, both! It depends on the scene. Writing banter and lighthearted scenes is typically energizing, while writing heavier stuff really weighs on me. Still, the simple act of having written, of looking upon progress made, is so energizing. I’m obsessed with word count and hitting word count goals, and doing so fires me up.

JM: I totally agree with setting word count goals! What’s your favorite part of writing?

KM: I love words. Excessively. I love finding the precise phrasing or metaphor or lyrical tone to a sentence. I write short-form prose (I’m so reluctant to call it poetry, because I so don’t consider myself a poet!) as writing exercises to explore words and metaphors to my heart’s content. I just love how words can be arranged and rearranged in so many different ways, to pull so many different meanings and emotions. The very best moment is when I write a sentence that evokes the exact right feeling.

JM: What about your reading list? What are you reading now?

KM: I am currently beta reading my writing partner Jenna’s manuscript! I met Jenna two years ago at a writing retreat, and I’ve been dying to read this book ever since. Jenna was one of my beta readers for All That We See or Seem, so it’s an honor to get to beta read for her, as well.

JM: Before you leave, one last question. Aside from “keep writing,” what’s your best advice for aspiring writers?

KM: I cannot recommend writing workshops enough. I went to the Aspiring Writers Workshop hosted by Madcap Retreats in 2016, and it had a massive impact on me as a writer and my determination to someday be published. I learned so much from so many inspiring authors (including Maggie Stiefvater, Victoria Schwab, Dhonielle Clayton, Tessa Gratton, and so many more.) I also met so many fellow writers, who have formed a wonderful writing support system.

JM: That’s great advice! Thanks so much, Kristina!

Don’t forget to connect with Kristina on her social media links (listed below).

Biography:

Kristina Mahr devotes her days to numbers and her nights to words. She works full-time as an accountant in the suburbs of Chicago, where she lives with her two dogs and two cats, but her true passion is writing. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and waking up at the crack of dawn every weekend to watch the Premier League.

Website: https://kristinamahr.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17847708.Kristina_Mahr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristinaMahr

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kristina_Mahr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristina.mahr/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kristinamahr07/

If you have to have ALL THAT WE SEE OR SEEM now (And why wouldn’t you?), here are the buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/That-Seem-Dreamworld-Duology-Book-ebook/dp/B07BJH8L7J/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-that-we-see-or-seem-kristina-mahr/1128233212

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/all-that-we-see-or-seem-2

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1360731363

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39341536-all-that-we-see-or-seem

After with author Savannah Jezowski

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Today on Jilligan’s Island, I’m interviewing Savannah Jezowski as part of her blog tour for her new release,  After. We have a lot to cover today, so let’s find out more about Savannah and her books!

JM: Hi, Savannah! Thanks for stopping by. I love the cover of After. Where did you get the idea for the story?

SJ: The initial concept for After was inspired one evening when my husband and I were wandering the book aisle at Meijer. As we idly perused the rows of brightly colored books, it was obvious the world had become sucked into a zombie phase: every single cover seemed to scream “the dead live on.”

I looked at my husband and asked, “If zombies were real, how do you think God would see them? What would they really be like?”

Thus, the creepers were born and the story kind of took off from there.

JM: I love stories that start with “What if….?” From the cover, it’s obvious this isn’t a contemporary zombie story. What made you select this setting?

SJ: I wanted something dark and brooding yet with potential for beauty and light. I also LOVE watching period dramas from BBC and the like, and it just seemed natural to create a society reminiscent of Dickens or Victorian times.

JM: The book cover really conveys that theme. Who designed the it? How did the cover come about?

SJ: I actually designed this cover myself. I had commissioned a cover years ago, but for some discouraging reasons I won’t get into, I wasn’t able to use the original cover and had to come up with a new one. I found some stock photos of old looking cities and snapped a few photographs of my husband to play the main character in the story (yes…my husband is on the front cover of my book. LOL) and the cover kind of came together. I wanted something a little broody and old-looking but not overtly fantasy with lots of sparkles and whatnot. This story isn’t a sparkly fairy tale. It’s a gripping story of a dark world and real characters.

JM: I love your husband was your model! You mentioned the old cover you couldn’t use. What about the book itself? What did you edit out of this book?

SJ: Merciful After…What DIDN’T I edit out of this book? 😊 Truly, this story has gone through so many rewrites to get where it is today. With the help of my beta readers and amazing editors, After went from a Cinderella novella about a chimney sweep who falls in love with a feisty princess, to a Rapunzel story, to a full-length novel with hints of several fairy tales but no real retelling of its own. Most of the other books in the series are/will be more obvious fairy tale retellings, but After? Well, After became it’s own story. I kind of like it that way. The one thing that never changed from the first draft to the end draft was my main character, Conrad Ellis the Third, or “Eli” as his friends call him. He softened up a bit along the way but he remained his gruff, grumpy, but secretly sensitive self the whole way through.

JM: I’ve noticed this isn’t your first book. So have you always liked to write? When did you start writing?

SJ: I started writing stories before I even knew what a paragraph was. My first book was bound with yarn and illustrated with crayons. I still have it buried in a box where nobody will ever find it. I hope.

JM: Oh, that’s adorable!  So many well-known authors start out young. Who is your favorite author?

SJ: I hate this question because I can never pick just one author. The answer changes depending on my mood and what books I’ve read most recently. Today I am going to say Dianna Wynne Jones. Her Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my all-time favorite books. I seriously laugh myself silly through the whole book.

JM: I received that recommendation from my cousin and picked it up last year. I thought it was a really creative story! How long did you write before you became published?

SJ: I started writing when I was in elementary, and it wasn’t until I about four years ago that my first novella was published in the Five Enchanted Roses anthology. I’m thirty-three years old, so I will let you do the math. I had several short stories published before then, but nothing much ever came of them besides some change in my pocket.

JM: Speaking of change in your pocket, are you a full-time author or do you balance writing with another job?

SJ: I am a full-time author/editor/designer. I support and fund my writing career by helping other authors with their own books. I wish I had more time to devote to my own stories, but the sad truth is book royalties don’t pay the bills when you’re starting out. I’m just thankful I get to do what I love. Stay home with my little girl and spend my days thinking about BOOKS.

JM: I’m sure you value that time you can spend on your own stories. How long does it take you to write a book—from preliminary plotting to finishing revisions?

SJ: It varies from book to book. I wrote and revised When Ravens Fall over a course of six weeks. Then editing took me a little longer after that. That’s unusually fast for me. Wither took me six months, give or take, and After…ugh, we’re talking YEARS. But now I can usually crank out a 50k novella in 4-6 weeks weeks, with another month or two for revisions. I have several on my plate waiting to be edited and published.

JM: Wow, that’s impressive! I’m more of a turtle writer. It takes me a long time to finish. What does your writing space look like?

SJ: I have a beautiful office upstairs, with built-in book cases and the works, but I don’t get to use it much because the dogs make too much noise running up and down the stairs and wake the baby up. And I don’t dare write with the baby because I don’t pay attention, and I’m afraid she’ll fall down the stairs while I’m lost in my mind. So I usually write in my rocking chair with a lap table and a couple of folding tables nearby piled high with books, resources, notebooks, scraps of paper and who knows what else. It’s messy but it works.

JM: Oh my word, that sounds like my living room! LOL. Maybe someday we’ll graduate to our own “grown-up” offices, right? I’ve been wondering, do you have a playlist or favorite songs/composer you listen to while writing?

SJ: Oh, yes! I make a playlist for every book I write, and the same songs usually end up on the list (no matter how hard I try not to). I especially like Josh Groban, Christina Perri, Daughtry, Casting Crowns, and Broadway musical soundtracks.

JM: Those are such great choices. Well, Savannah, it sounds like you’re pretty busy! But do you do any other creative activities other than writing?

SJ: I do! I love design. I took design classes in college and finally get to use them for my cover design business. I love photoshopping pictures and playing around with fonts and special effects. I’m always watching tutorials to learn new tricks and techniques. I also got a drawing tablet for Christmas, but I haven’t really had a chance to learn how to use it yet.

JM: Hopefully, you’ll get some time soon to play around with it. So I have to ask — aside from “keep writing,” what’s your best advice for aspiring writers?

SJ: Get advice from other authors. I know. This can be painful. Constructive criticism is hard, but it’s SO VITAL to developing our craft and improving the quality of our writing. If you want to be a “real” author someday, talk to some of the authors you admire. Most of the ones in the Indie community are more than willing to help each other out.

JM: You’re right! There’s so much help to be found in the indie community. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing!

Savannah Jezowski lives in a drafty farmhouse in Amish country with her Knight in Shining Armor, a wee warrior princess, and two English Springer Spaniels. She is the author of When Ravens Fall and The Neverway Chronicles. Her work has been published in Ray Gun Revival, Mindflights and in the student publication of Fountains at Pensacola Christian College. She is also a featured author in Five Enchanted Roses from Rooglewood Press and Mythical Doorways, a Fellowship of Fantasy Anthology. She likes books, faeries, writing hats, and having tea with her imaginary friends.

You can follow her on the following social media sites.

Website: https://dragonpenpress.com/

Blog: https://dragonpenpress.com/category/blog/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13434787.Savannah_Jezowski

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savannahjezowskiauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savannahjezowskiauthor/

 

The Elements of a Pitch, Part 1.: Blurbs & Synopses

You’ve signed up for a conference and you’ve polished your manuscript. But you’ve heard you need a blurb and a synopsis ready. Aren’t they the same things? And when your writing buddy mentions a tag line and a one-sheet, your head starts to spin. What ‘s the difference between all of these elements?

Unfortunately, different agents or publishers ask for different things from their “pitchers.” I can’t help you with that. But I can help clear up the confusion surrounding the different elements requested.

One popular area of confusion exists around blurbs and synopses (singular is synopsis).

A blurb is like a dating profile. What can you tell the reader that will make him/her pick up the book? A fantastic cover helps, but an engaging blurb will make the reader buy it. List and name the main characters, what they want, and the obstacle in their way. Use exciting action verbs and hyperbole. Use words that create a certain feeling and will draw in the Ideal Reader of your genre– for example the sinister monk, or the ancient ruins. Oh, and DON’T tell the reader how it ends. Include the stakes. Will they find their way out of the labyrinthine rain forest? Will they be eaten by starved zombies? Will they kill the evil mastermind? What if they don’t? What? What?!?!  After this is done, hone it down. Some contests call for a blurb under 200 words, but ideally it should be 100-150 words, so that it’s nicely spaced on the back cover. Plus you’ll need room for a tag line (more on that in part 2) and possibly information about you, the author!

A synopsis is a one-to-two page document. Here’s where the publisher looks for plotting issues or weird tropes (i.e., it was all a dream!), but isn’t expecting advertising copy. Keep it minimal — usually either one page (single spaced) or two pages (double spaced). Check the editor/publisher/agent guidelines. If it doesn’t specify, don’t sweat it. Just pick one. Write it in the same tone and style the book is written in. One caveat: if your book is written in first person, don’t write your synopsis that way. Typically, write it in active voice, third person, present tense.

Briefly introduce your main character(s) and put their names IN CAPS the first time they’re introduced for ease of identification. Again, minimal is key. Keep the details few, and don’t give tons of backstory. This document is where you spill the beans regarding your story — an interesting set up, plot twists, emotions and reactions of characters, setbacks, climax and resolution.  Save your gorgeous, flowery prose for the manuscript. Yes — you have to tell how the story ends. This is one of the main differences between the synopsis and the blurb. Don’t try to pass the blurb off as a synopsis — they’re two different animals.

It’s good to know this information for writing contests, too. One contest I judged asked for a synopsis, but the entrant gave a blurb instead. She was disqualified.

I’ll be covering tag lines and one-sheets in part 2, so keep your eyes peeled.

 

Book Spotlight: The Chronicle of the Three Trilogy

Today on Jilligan’s Island, we’re participating in the blog tour for Tabitha Caplinger’s The Chronicle of the Three Trilogy. We’ve got beautiful images, an awesome-sauce book blurb, and a fascinating author bio. So sit back, relax, and learn more about #TCO3!

The first book in this captivating series is Bloodline.

Zoe thought the loss of her parents would be the most difficult thing she’d ever have to endure. When she began seeing things she couldn’t explain in her new home of
Torchcreek, Virginia, she was sure the grief was driving her mad. Instead Zoe discovers she is part of an ancient bloodline, one destined to defeat the powers of darkness
from condemning the world. But Zoe, the daughter of the three, isn’t just another descendant, but the key to humanity’s salvation. In this first installment of the
paranormal fantasy trilogy The Chronicle of the Three, Zoe Andrews learns that not all shadows are harmless interceptions of light. Some are a more sinister darkness that wants to torment the soul.

Gah! So fascinating — I immediately went and added it to my Amazon wish list. Here is the link to this first book and the other two, Armor-Bearer and Eden Sword (which BTW, sound just as amazing!)

TCO3: Armor-Bearer: Darkness creeps around every corner as demons gather in the small town of Torch Creek, Virginia. The Destroyer has arrived, and the Reaping is coming closer by the day. Zoe knows it’s her duty as the Daughter of the Three to hold back the shadows, but she doesn’t know how, and time is running out. Zoe and her friends turn to the ancient text of the chronicle for help. Are they strong enough to withstand an enemy who exploits their deepest fears and doubts? Will they find the answers they’re looking for before all of Hell is unleashed? Zoe’s journey as the prophecy’s promised Daughter continues in this second installment of the fantasy trilogy, The Chronicle of the Three.

 

TCO3: Eden Sword: The final showdown is fast approaching, and a grief-stricken Zoe is forced to count the cost of her destiny. As the losses mount, her strength wanes. Even if the Chosen find the Eden Sword in time, will Zoe be strong enough to wield it? Will she be able to
stand against the darkness as the promised Daughter of the ancient prophecy? Or will she be consumed by the fear of her nightmares becoming real? Fear or faith? Even the Chosen must choose. In this final installment of The Chronicle of the Three, light and darkness collide as Zoe discovers there is more than one battlefield in this war.

Still not sure about Bloodline? Check out her book trailer here and then sign up for her newsletter here and you’ll get the first four chapters free!

Want to know a little more about the author? Well, Tabitha Caplinger is a wife, mom, youth pastor, and professed TV addict. It’s seriously a problem, but she doesn’t plan on getting help anytime soon. Mostly because she loves the stories. She can’t help but get lost in the worlds created and
invested in the lives of the characters. She brings that same passion for the story to her own writing. Aside from writing and watching TV, Tabitha can be found singing off-key and dancing in the kitchen or car with her two adorably sassy daughters and awesome husband who she thinks is kind of cute.

Contact Tabitha at

elevategirlsusa@gmail.com
tabithacaplinger.com

She can also be found on the following social media links:

T W I T T E R : @ T A B _ C A P L I N G E R
F A C E B O O K : / T A B C A P L I N G E R
I N S T A G R A M : @ T A B _ C A P L I N G E R
P I N T E R E S T : / T A B _ C A P L I N G E R

Last, but not least, if you want to learn more about The Chronicle of the Three Trilogy, Tabitha will be hosting #TCO3FlashFix on April 28th. Invite your friends and fellow readers for this 12-hour readathon of Bloodline and Armor-Bearer, complete with live videos, posts, and a $50 Amazon gift card giveaway! It will be from 10am to 10pm on her TCO3 Fan page. Don’t forget to mark your calendars!

Spring Cleaning Writer Tag Challenge

Hi all! I was tagged by the lovely Carrie Anne Noble to participate in this “spring cleaning.” Have I mentioned I hate spring cleaning? No? Well, perhaps this kind of cleaning will be less distasteful than the usual kind.

Dust Bunnies & Plot-Bunnies: Reorganize your writing Goals (or make new ones)

I have two goals for this year.

1) to finish writing (& hopefully turn in to my publisher) my current WIP (Work In Progress) by the end of the year. I think it’s doable. I’m also hopeful I’ll have a title by then, because right now I’m calling it Book 3. Catchy, right?

2) to successfully launch Flare, Book Two of The Firebrand Chronicles (TFC). It releases in October  — and I’m so excited to share it with everyone. 🙂 *happy dance and confetti*

Which Stage are you at? EXPOUND!

a. Remodeling layouts (planning the story)
b. Painting the walls in colorful hues (writing)
c. Polishing the windows and scrubbing the floors and putting flowers in vases (editing)
d. Blueprints (not to the cleaning or remodeling yet… just drawing up plans for the very beginning inklings of a story)
e. Some combination of those things (cleaning out a closet)

There’s always a little bit of D going on — ideas rise to the surface for various stories, I scribble them on a piece of paper somewhere, and then I shove them back into a dark corner so I don’t get distracted from my current project. But until the end of May, I’ll be focusing on only B, writing Book 3 of TFC. As I mentioned, it doesn’t have a title … yet. (Since some awesome ladies gave me some ideas to play with awhile ago, I’m sure I’ll come up with something.) The summer months will be for C — at least until I’m satisfied with the final draft. Then, I’ll focus and prepare for Flare‘s release.

Treasure from the Back Closet

From Spark: 

Searching for a place to put my hands, I followed Baldwin’s example by burrowing my fingers into the fur near Arvandus’ neck.

“Quick, to the castle,” Baldwin said.

“Wait. Don’t I need to—”

We took off. I swallowed the scream lodged in my throat and tightened my thighs at the quick jerk of power. Falling off my griffin on my first flight would be bad. The trip, a short, dizzy rush of wind and speed, was a trial by fire. Relax and enjoy the view? Not happening, due to my white-knuckled grip in Arvandus’ fur. Every dip, turn, and burst of speed convinced me—I was going to die. In a parallel alternity. On a griffin.

Bonus: Do some spring cleaning of your writer self (& share a picture!)

A picture? With me all white and pasty from this never-ending winter?  Here I am, rocking a purple hair streak.

 

 

 

Rules

1. Dust-bunnies and Plot-bunnies: Reorganize Your Writing Goals (Or Make New Ones)

2. Which Stage Are You At? Expound!                                                                                                 a. Remodeling layouts (planning the story)
b. Painting the walls in colorful hues (writing)
c. Polishing the windows and scrubbing the floors and putting flowers in vases (editing)
d. Blueprints (not to the cleaning or remodeling yet… just drawing up plans for the very beginning inklings of a story)
e. Some combination of those things (cleaning out a closet)

3. Treasure From the Back of the Closet (Share one to three snippets you love!)

3.5. Bonus: Do Some Actual Spring Cleaning of Your Writer Self! (And share a picture!)

1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Share the picture
3. Answer the questions (naturally…) or even pick and choose which ones you answer
3.5. Tag 3 other writers and inform them that you tagged them (via comment/message/email or hey, even carrier-pigeon or smoke signal; I’m not picky)

10 Items You Need for Book Events

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Recently, a friend posted about a signing she was having and asked how to set up her table. So I should thank her for inspiring this post (thanks, Laurie!)

A table’s main purpose is to display your books, not to hide behind. I’ve heard some authors claim they NEVER sit down during signings, because they pull in more customers when standing. (I’ve not yet tried that, due to some back issues.) But whether you stand or sit down, there are few things you should have on your table.

  1. A table and chairs if they aren’t provided. If you’re not sure, ask.
  2. A tablecloth. I always take one even if the organizers claim to provide them. At an outdoor event,  I ended up using my heavy tablecloth — the free ones were in danger of blowing away.
  3. Books! A word of great advice I received from Amy Brock McNew–make sure if you’re doing a sale at a bookstore that you have a box of books with you. At my launch, the store had ordered the books, but they hadn’t come in. So I sold the box of books that were stashed in my car’s trunk. Be prepared… for anything, even a launch where the bookstore doesn’t come through.
  4. A sign-up sheet for your newsletter. If you don’t have a newsletter, you still want to get the customers’ email addresses. Hopefully, these will be your repeat customers, and you’ll want to share all your bookish information with them.
  5. A poster with your beautiful book cover because, well, just look at it! Why wouldn’t you want it in a larger format? This visual may be all that’s needed to garner another sale–because even though we shouldn’t, many do judge a book by its cover and choose to buy only on this point alone.
  6. Swag. This can be in the form of bookmarks, postcards, pens, coasters, key chains, etc. Really anything that can have your name and book cover on it works. It’s up to you how much money you want to spend on this, because swag is free to customers, but it also can be expensive to purchase.
  7. An author sign, with “author” and your name.  I recommend vinyl, especially if you’re planning on doing any outdoor shows.
  8. Cash box or another box to store money. Self-explanatory.
  9. Various supplies, such as tape (duct, Scotch and/or clear), bungee cords, scissors, rubber bands, paperclips, markers, etc. This is what I call the McGyver Kit — an emergency kit for anything that can and will go wrong. You can hide most of this in the bottom of the cash box.
  10. You might want to consider investing in a Square reader if you’re planning on doing book expos or fairs. I’ve done it and have found approximately half of my sales were through credit cards.

Plus one: Some authors include a prop of some sort, something that relates to their book. I found a statue of a black winged panther that looks exactly like Arvandus, a griffin in my book. Another author I know wrote a mermaid book and scattered shells on her table. If you have space on your table, be creative!

I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few things, because my list is always being refined and added to. For you authors, what do you usually remember to take along? Let me know in the comments!

 

Mythical Doorways Giveaway

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The Fellowship of Fantasy and Deep Magic E-Zine have joined together to offer you an awesome paperback giveaway!

To receive a free issue of Deep Magic ezine, go to the link here to sign up on Rafflecopter! Don’t delay — only a few hours are left to sign up!

And to receive a free ebook , click here (free to download starting March 27th): https://www.books2read.com/u/bxq70e

About Mythical Doorways:
Welcome to Mythical Doorways, the third anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy. We present to you our tales of gateways to marvelous places. These doorways open into adventure, wonder, and even danger.

Within, you will accompany heroes on their way to fairy worlds. Brave the dangers of the past through a portal in time. Eavesdrop at the door of a forbidden workshop. Follow a girl on a search for a better life in her choice between three tempting magical doors. Help a sorcerer close a gateway before an unspeakable horror escapes, and slip through a portal on a quest for delicious chocolate!

There are many perilous journeys ahead of you, but no graphic content. All the stories here fall below a PG-13 rating.

The Fellowship of Fantasy is an online group of writers dedicated to presenting the best in clean fantasy stories of any stripe. Some tackle epic quests to save the world, while others prefer more urban settings. Whether you enjoy contemporary tales, romantic re-tellings, or something else entirely, you’re sure to find stories that speak to you.

Thank you for joining us on our trip through these doorways, and may you find adventure and entertainment on the other side!

About Deep Magic E-Zine

Clearing in Cypress tree forest

 The name Deep Magic pays homage to C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. Deep Magic is a quarterly e-zine dedicated to creating a safe place for minds to wander in the worlds and universe of SFF. We want all who visit to feel welcome and confident that they will encounter professionally written fiction of the highest quality that is safe for all to read.

 

Click here for more information: http://deepmagic.co/giveaway-fun/