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/

 

Cover Reveal of Dagger’s Sleep by Tricia Mingerink

I love fairy tale retellings, so I’m thrilled to share this cover reveal with you. Dagger’s Sleep by Tricia Mingerink not only has a beautiful cover, but a great premise, as well.

And today, you get to see both! (*cartwheel and confetti*)

First, let me share the cover.

 

 

 

 

 

Ahh, isn’t it pretty? But it gets better!  Here’s the story you’ll find inside.

A prince cursed to sleep.

A princess destined to wake him.

A kingdom determined to stop them.

 High Prince Alexander has been cursed to a sleep like unto death, a curse that will end the line of the high kings and send the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia into chaos. With his manservant to carry his luggage and his own superior intelligence to aid him, Alex sets off to find one of the Fae and end his curse one way or another.

A hundred years later, Princess Rosanna learns she is the princess destined by the Highest King to wake the legendary sleeping prince. With the help of the mysterious Daemyn Rand, can she find the courage to finish the quest as Tallahatchia wavers on the edge of war?

One curse connects them. A hundred years separate them. From the rushing rivers of Tallahatchia’s mountains to the hall of the Highest king himself, their quests will demand greater sacrifice than either of them could imagine. 

It releases May 28, 2018, so mark it on your calendar to pick up a copy.

 

About the author: 

Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn’t writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.

You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, and her blog.

To make things even more exciting, Tricia Mingerink is going to be co-hosting a blog tour from May 22 to 28 with Sarah Addison-Fox to celebrate the release of both of their latest books. Her next book Dissociate releases May 22. More details about blog tour will be coming in April.

 

 

 

Visual Post of Common

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Today, we welcome fellow author Laurie Lucking. Her debut novel, Common, releases on February 14! Make sure you pick it up –I’ve already read it (and endorsed it) and it’s phenomenal! Want to know more? Okay, here’s what the back cover says.

Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.

But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.

Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

Doesn’t that sound like such a great story?  Anyway, sit back and enjoy Laurie’s visual sneak peek into the world of Common!

 

 

Since my main character, Leah, is a chambermaid, most of her daily interactions are with fellow servants. But her brushes with royalty are when things really get interesting! Leah learns too late that heeding her ma’s warnings to steer clear of the royal family would’ve been the safer way to go, but her friendship with Prince Raphael is so worth it 🙂

 

Crown: The King and Queen of Imperia are proud of their royal status, and don’t want anyone to forget it! As long as they’re in charge, they plan to keep a distinct separation of rank between nobility and the serving class.

 

 

King Frederick: Old-fashioned and verbose, King Frederick is the eldest of a set of brothers known for their indifference toward servants. Although he’s the one who makes the speeches and royal pronouncements, much of the content is dictated by his wife.

 

 

Queen Beatrice: Cold, haughty Queen Beatrice likes to exert ultimate control over not only her servants, but also her husband and son. She prizes lineage and nobility above all else, so it frustrates her to no end that she can’t convince Prince Raphael to do the same.

 

 

Prince Raphael: Prince Raphael, or Rafe, detests formal banquets and parties and would much rather be outdoors than studying with his tutor. Although he doesn’t fully comprehend servant life, he treats Leah as an equal and hopes to better the condition of the serving class when he becomes king.

 

Princess Penelope: Princess Penelope of Trellich is beautiful and accomplished, everything King Frederick and Queen Beatrice are looking for in a match for their son. But there is more to the princess than meets the eye, and her secrets might prove disastrous for the entire kingdom.

 

 

Throne: The throne room is the perfect place for the king and queen to display their wealth and power. When Rafe suggests that Leah should meet with them there to disclose information about the princess, her hesitation turns out to be more than justified.

 

The royalty of Imperia and Trellich lead lives just as varied and complex as the lower classes, just with more pomp and circumstance and fancier clothes 🙂 In fact, one of these characters intrigued my publisher so much she asked me to consider making her the protagonist of my next book, and I think it just might happen…stay tuned!

Thank you so much for inviting me to visit today!

Thanks so much, Laurie, for giving us this visual tour! Mark your calendars because Common goes on sale February 14th. Stop by the Facebook party on Thursday, February 15th, and check out the other blog tour stops listed below to learn more about this romantic tale.

 

5 More Things I Wish I Knew When I Started

Dear younger me
I cannot decide
Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life
Or do I go deep
And try to change
The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me
Even though I love this crazy life
Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride       ~MercyMe

Two weeks ago, I wrote the post 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started. I felt it was only appropriate to include the second verse of the song Dear Younger Me (which, by the way, is such a great song. Plus, since this is my blog, I get to make cool choices like that). Anyway, this post is a continuation, a second round of things I’d tell my younger self if I could.

*Don’t isolate because it’s hard to create in a vacuum. Many writers are introverts, spending lots of time in their head creating characters, settings, and plots. Get out and live a little. (Yes, it’s hard. As an introvert, I want to stay in my creative cocoon. But I see my writing improve when I expand my boundaries.)

*Writing is as much about platform and marketing as it is about actually writing. This is the one transition that happened when I wasn’t looking. I started writing in the 90’s, and then I took a break to have children. When I started writing again, suddenly there was plenty of buzz about platform and social media and marketing. But this is the new normal. I can’t tuck myself away at a country cottage, like Salinger or Dickinson. That doesn’t work anymore.

* Be content with where you are. It took many frustrating years before I became happy with where I was. It was during a Bible study where someone said, “You’re where God wants you to be. Don’t envy someone else’s life. They’ve got something that you can’t handle. Just like you have things in your life they can’t handle.” Knowing that piece of advice and knowing I’d always write, regardless of the outcome, helped me cope.

* Suck it up and pay your dues. There are very few people whose first manuscript is a best seller. I’ve written plenty of stories, poems, and three books in the in the past (the first book will never, ever, see the light of day). And that’s okay. I made lots of mistakes in those early books and learned a lot.

*Contests are excellent measuring sticks. Always choose the ones that give feedback, especially if you’re shelling out $20 or $25 dollars for an entry fee. I should’ve entered many more of those than I did.

Plus 1: Take care of yourself. This is something I’m still working on because balance is difficult, at least for me. Every job requires it, as well as sleep, healthy eating, and time to just unwind. The writing profession is no different.

What about you? Is there any piece of advice you’d give your younger self? Please leave it in the comments!

The Inspiration Behind Disowned: A guest blog post by Sarah Addison-Fox

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Today, I’m pleased to welcome author Sarah Addison-Fox to Jilligan’s Island. Sarah has recently released her book, Disowned, and I thought everyone would like to know the inspiration behind it.

Read on to find out!

What Inspired the Story?

Yikes! Answering this question is really hard! Because I’m a ‘Panster’ and I really create what I write on the fly, Disowned really just sort of happened. I kid you not. I had an opening scene, two names, and a question I wanted to answer….

 

What would happen if a slave girl tossed away was shown a different life?

 

As soon as I asked this question, Celeste’s journey began with her introduction to a family willing to hide her even though harboring a slave would bring them trouble.

I wanted to show the differences between the two countries both with very different religious structures, one country that values human life, and another which traps slaves in an inescapable system.

So, I guess if I had to pin my inspiration down to one thing, it would be wanting to write about Celeste’s struggle for freedom, emotionally, spiritually and physically. For me Celeste represents so many girls who have been tossed aside, stepped on or mistreated. Celeste’s story is only beginning in Disowned, like so many she is searching for her place, and desperately trying to find value and purpose to her life.

Over the course of the Allegiance series, there will many trials as Celeste battles to find the freedom found only in God’s love.

Want to know more about disowned?
Two countries, two choices, one life. When Kyraenean slave Celeste risks her life to reach the free nation of Etraea, a country filled with technology and wealth, she unknowingly sets off a chain of events that will change her life forever.
After escaping her new owner, Celeste awakens in the home of an Etraean soldier, sworn to protect the fragile peace. For Corporal Mick Haynes, life is simple. Follow the rules, do your job and work your way up the ranks. Getting shot and finding a wanted slave at his family’s farm wasn’t part of the plan.
When a Kyraenean bounty hunter locates Celeste, Mick’s loyalty will be stretched to the limit.
With war on the horizon, Celeste faces two impossible choices. Both securing her freedom, but both at a cost she could never have imagined. Will Etraea provide the freedom she’s longed for or shackle her to an entirely new master?
Sarah Addison-Fox is a New Zealand-born home-schooling mother of two who
loves action-packed, clean, fantasy with strong heroines. She has an astonishing
amount of nail polish, has all her creative writing credentials shoved in a drawer
somewhere, and has a husband who, after 27 years, can still make her blush.
When she’s not working on both her YA fantasy series’ she can be found
fangirling on Goodreads or sending GIFs on Twitter.

Sarah Addison’s Official Website: http://www.sarahaddisonfox.com/

Social Media Links:
Instagram: sarahaddisonfox/
Twitter: @Saddisonfox
To Read more about Disowned, check out the Full blog Tour schedule!

Jan 2nd: Book Review – Unicorn Quester – https://unicornquester.com/blog/
Jan 3rd: Post Written by Host Blogger – SKG Fun – http://www.southkakalakigirl.com/the-blog/
Jan 4th: Guest Post from Author, Sarah Addison Fox – Teens n Tiaras – https://teensntiaras.weebly.com/blog
Jan 5th: Book Review – Ashley Bogner – http://www.ashleybogner.com/
Jan 6th: Author Interview – Karyssa – http://gottahavecoffee.blogspot.com/
Jan 7th: Post Written by Host Blogger – Anna –http://www.cupofthoughts.blog/
Jan 8th: Book Review Abigail – http://novelsdragonsandwardrobedoors.blogspot.com/
Jan 9th: Post Written by Host Blogger – Abi- https://theleft-handedtypist.blogspot.com
Jan 10th: Giveaway – Annie – http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Jan 11th: Giveaway – Jaye – http://www.jayelknight.blogspot.com
Jan 12th: Book Review – Angel – www.purelyunorthodox.com
Jan 13th: Post Written by Host Blogger –  Anna – https://jumbledthoughtsofawriter.wordpress.com
Jan 14th: Book Review – Hannah – www.thedifferentgirl.com
Jan 15th: Interview – Kate –  https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/  –
Jan 16th: Guest Post from Author – New Authors -https://newauthors.wordpress.com/
Jan 17th: Book Review – Audrey- http://audreycaylin.com/
Jan 18th: Book Review – Kellyn – https://reveriesreviews.wordpress.com/
Jan 19th: Guest Post from Author – Liv – http://livkfisher.blogspot.com/
Jan 20th: Author Interview – Medomfo –  https://writingsfromagodgirl.wordpress.com/
Jan 21st: Book Review – Victoria – https://rufflesandgrace.com/
Jan 22nd: Post Written by Host Blogger – Jebraun – https://jebraunclifford.com
Jan 23rd: Review – Chloe – https://purelybyfaithreviews.wordpress.com/
Jan 24th: Review – Kiara -kiarasbookends.wordpress.com
Jan 25th: Author Guest Post – J.M. Hackman – www.jmhackman.com
Jan 26th: Book Review – Lelia – http://www.leilatualla.com/leilasbookshelf
Jan 27th: Author Interview – Riley – rileyalinewrites.wordpress.com
Jan 28th: Review – Sarah – www.smylinggirl.blogspot.com
Jan 29th: Review – Shay –  www.elvenpadawan.com
Review – Jessi – https://theartfulauthor.wordpress.com/
Jan 30th: Guest Post from Author – Lands Uncharted- www.landsuncharted.com
Jan 31st: Spotlight Post – Raechel – https://godspeculiartreasurerae.wordpress.com/