IWSG: Monthly Inspiration | The Last Wattpad Wednesdays

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. To visit the IWSG participants, please click here.

Last year I wrote a post under the same title, Monthly Inspiration. You can read that post here. The past few years I have found inspiration within The Art of Success calendar. Each month has a beautiful picture and an inspiring quote. Today, I'll share the quotes with you from the 2015 calendar.

January

Achievement
“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edward Hillary

February
Perspective
“Style is a reflection of your attitude and your personality.” – Shawn Ashmore

March
Optimism
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” – Martin Luther

April
Wisdom
“If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

May
Life
“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

June
Simplicity
“It is always the simple that produces the marvelous.” – Amelia Barr

July
Contentment
“Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.” – Democritus

August
Journey
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

September
Compassion
“Never look down on anyone unless you’re helping them up.” – Jesse Jackson

October
Innovation
“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.” – Chinese Proverb

November
Virtue
“Noble deeds that are concealed are most esteemed.” – Blaise Pascal

December
Determination
“Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined.” – Henry Van Dyke

I hope 2016 will be even more inspirational for us all.

What are your insecurities this month?

Read Reborn from the beginning or the final chapter, Chapter Thirty-Eight. Yes, the complete edition of Reborn is now available for people to read on Wattpad, and this is the end of my Wattpad Wednesdays, at least until I find something else to post on Wattpad.

Riddle Me This Answers and Winners | Bookworm News | Writing Update

The Realms Faire is over. I hope everyone had a fun time. I have the answers and winners to the Riddle Me This riddles. Thank you so much for playing and congrats to the winners!

Riddle #1

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Winner: L. Diane Wolfe

Riddle #2

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Winner: Cathy Keaton

Riddle #3

The Mist by Stephen King

Winner: Chrys Fey

Riddle #4

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Winner: Tyrean Martinson

Riddle #5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Winner: Alexia Chamberlynn

BOOKS READ

Joyland by Stephen King

Poltergeist's Pleasure by Christine Rains

BOOK REVIEWS

Joyland by Stephen King

A summer job at the amusement park Joyland turns out to be more life changing than Devin Jones ever anticipated in Stephen King's Joyland. This novel unravels the mystery of Joyland and a girl's murder that took place there. Although there is little horror and the suspense is a very slow build, King excels in the characters he creates. I cared about Devin and the others in the book. The colorful and secret "Talk," the carnival language, added to the dialogue and the setting. Despite the slower pace than you typically find in thrillers/mysteries, Joyland by Stephen King kept me glued to the pages.

Poltergeist's Pleasure by Christine Rains

Clare McKinney seeks to prove her theories about poltergeists are true no matter the price in Christine Rains' Poltergeist's Pleasure. Clare is one of the Paramours--ghost hunters who use sexual energy to interact with ghosts. Her beliefs concerning poltergeists and sex have a way of getting Clare in a lot of trouble, but through her interactions with Zendal and her fellow Paramours, Clare finds a way to grow. Be prepared for one steamy read. Rains has struck a great balance between the erotic and a romantic, fast-paced story. For ghost hunting with a steamy twist, look no further than Christine Rains' Paramours series.

BOOKS RELEASED IN NOVEMBER

Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio | Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck | How to Be Brave by E. Katherine Kottaras | Fright Before Christmas by Various Authors | Need by Joelle Charbonneau | The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart | Orphan’s Blade by Aubrie Dionne | Something in the Air by Marie Landry | True Grift by Jack Bunker | For the Dignified Dead by Michael Genelin | The Last Good Place by Robin Burcell | Whistling Women by Kelly Romo | Home by Nightfall by Charles Finch | Falling for Her Enemy by Victoria James | His Pirate Seductress by Tamara Hughes | To Dare a Seal by Sara Jane Stone | Once upon a Power Play by Jennifer Bonds | Sweet Ride by Cathryn Fox | The Lost Soul of Lord Badewyn by Mia Marlowe | The Highlander’s Accidental Marriage by Callie Hutton | Mind: The Beginning by Jenn Nixon | The Alpha’s Temporary Mate by Victoria Davies | Her Witch to Keep by Zoe Forward | Beauty and the Boss by Diane Alberts | Come to Me by Oberon Wonch | Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn | The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel | Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed | The Shock of Night by Patrick W. Carr | Lady of Intrigue by Sabrina Darby | Tell Me You Need Me by Joya Ryan | Hidden Away by Jennie Marts | The Hometown Hoax by Heather Thurmeier | I Do by A.J. Pine | Death Before Decaf by Caroline Fardig | A Pain in the Tuchis by Mark Reutlinger | Now We Have Secrets by W. David Smith | The Locket by B.G. Cousins | Paper Hearts: Some Writing Advice by Beth Revis | Kissing Her Crush by Ophelia London | Dying for Keeps by Seleste DeLaney | Irresistible Deceptions by Mackenzie Crowne | The Greek’s Stowaway Bride by Alexia Adams | #Heart by Cambria Hebert | Paint My Body Red by Heidi R. Kling | Abby and the Cute One by Erin Butler | How to Lose a Bachelor by Anna Banks | Designed for Murder by Avery Flynn | The Queen's Flight by Jamie K. Schmidt | Ice Moon by Lisa Kessler | The Billionaire's Christmas Proposal by Victoria James | Embraced by Jus Accardo | Dying for Keeps by Seleste DeLaney | Stop in the Name of Love by Nina Bruhns | Chance of a Lifetime by Marissa Clarke | Blurring the Lines by Marisa Cleveland | How to Fall by Rebecca Brooks | Soundless by Richelle Mead | Lovelorn Spirits by Christine Rains | A Cold White Fear by R.J. Harlick | Invisible Wounds by Dustin Beutin | Sirens in the Night by Michael Bradley | The Lost Codex by Alan Jacobson | Unbroken by Michelle D. Argyle | Neverseen by Shannon Messenger | Calling Her Bluff by Kaia Danielle | Compromising Her Position by Samanthe Beck | The Royal Conquest by Stacy Reid | Sweet Nothing by Jamie McGuire | Angels Twice Descending by Cassandra Clare | The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King | Crimson Shore by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child | A Year of Ravens by Ruth Downie | The Candy Cane Cupcake Killer by Livia J. Washburn | Fate of the Union by Max Allan Collins | All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes | 9Tales Told in the Dark #7 by Various Authors | Christmas in Good Hope by Cindy Kirk | The Short Drop by Matthew Fitzsimmons  The Gateway to Fourline by Pam Brondos | The Burned Bridges of Ward, Nebraska by Eileen Curtright | Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind by Anne Charnock | Soul Breaker by Clara Coulson | How to Bewitch an Earl by Ally Broadfield | The Haunted Realm by Emilyann Girdner | Ascendancy by Karri Thompson

I've been asked how I keep track of new releases. It's rather simple. I have a Word document for the year, and as soon as I discover a book's release date, I add the title and author under the month the book will be released. I keep adding books until the day before the post goes live.

PROMO

The Haunted Realm by Emilyann Girdner

The Haunted Realm is the thrilling sequel to Young Adult Fantasy novel The Labyrinth Wall (Tweeted by Sean Astin from Lord of the Rings, Dante Rossetti Award Finalist, 5 Star Reader's Favorite Rated and Amazon Best-Seller).

In this riveting continuation of the story, Araina again faces a series of seemingly impossible magical obstacles. As Araina and her friends search for answers about their Creators and their magical labyrinth world, their journey becomes rife with peril when Araina falls victim to illness. Despite heart-pricking losses in the labyrinth swamps, vengeful ghostly attackers in the Blinking Willows, and many other dangerous obstacles, Araina is determined to succeed. If Araina can’t solve the mysteries of the haunted realm and find a cure for her sickness, she and her friends may never escape the labyrinth, or even live to try.

Obsidian Series Purchase Links:

The Labyrinth Wall: 

Amazon Kindle, Amazon Paperback, and Barnes and Noble Paperback

The Haunted Realm: 

Amazon Kindle, Amazon Paperback, and Barnes and Noble Paperback

Stay Connected to the Series via Websites and Social Media:

Use this Facebook link to sign up for the newsletter

www.obsidianseries.com

www.emilyanngirdner.com

Happy Monday! Since next Thursday (November 26) is Thanksgiving in America and I'll have a few days off from work, there will be no fourth Wednesday post. My next post will be the IWSG post on December 2.

I've still been writing every single day since July 1. I keep expecting to wake up and discover all those words were nothing more than a dream. Writing-wise, my focus has been on Forged and the bonus woodwose section for The Fate Challenges boxed set. As of today, I have fourteen chapters left to write in Forged and five scenes in the bonus woodwose section, and I've been averaging over 1000 words between the two projects within forty-five minutes.

My other goals haven't come together quite as well as the writing. I'm still hoping to make progress with edits for Marked, the read-through and notes of The Mission, and outlining Soul Reaper series, but we'll see how the rest of the month goes.

Here are my December goals:

Write 30 minutes a day in a primary project--Forged (The Fate Challenges #2).

Write 15 minutes a day in a secondary project--woodwose bonus scenes.
Outline Destined (The Fate Challenges #3)
Complete what I didn't finish in November: Marked edits, read-through/notes of The Mission, and outlining Soul Reaper series.

If November goals are completed, I will also add these items to my December goals:

Edit "On Day 168" and send to my first critique partner.
Start researching and outlining The Gaia Project serial.

What are your December goals?

2015 Stats (1/1-11/14): 127,044 words written and 1,680 pages edited

Or Monday, this time. Read Reborn from the beginning or Chapter Thirty-Seven. One more chapter to go!

IWSG: Some #NaNoWriMo Tips | 99c Ebook Sale | Wattpad Wednesdays

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. To visit the IWSG participants, please click here. The co-hosts for November are Tyrean Martinson, Karen Walker, Denise Covey, and Stephen Tremp.

November is upon us, and I know a lot of people are typing away to reach 50,000 words by the end of the month. I participated in NaNoWriMo from 2009 to 2013. During that time I wrote three novels to first draft completion and wrote partial drafts of four more. Even though I didn't participated last year and am not participating this year, I cheer you on and have a few tips to help you on your way.

1. Outline. Wait, you say you didn't outline before November 1? That's okay. When you finish writing for the day, think about what might come next and write a sentence or two about it. When you gear up to write the next day, pull up that mini outline note. It'll help you get into a frame of mind of what to write next.
2. Never stop writing at the end of a scene/chapter. One of the hardest things about writing is beginnings. Writing a paragraph or two of the next scene/chapter before calling it a day will give you a jump start into the next day's writing.
3. Consider using a timer. When I used to write without a timer, I would wander a lot. Write a bit here, check Facebook there, etc. I easily became distracted. To overcome distraction, I started timing my writing. With that clock ticking down, it keeps me focused. Try ten or twenty minutes sprints and see if it helps you clock in more words.
4. You are all winners. Writing is hard. Seriously. Even if you don't finish the book or get anywhere near 50,000 words, you are writing, and that's a win in my book.
5. Have fun.

Do you have any NaNoWriMo tips? What are your insecurities?

From now until 11/16, you can purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection (paranormal horror), Reborn (YA Epic Fantasy), and People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors (Epic Fantasy short stories) for 99 cents a piece.

Click here for purchase links.

Read Reborn from the beginning or Chapter Thirty-Six.

The Realms Faire starts next week! Be prepared for Riddle Me This on this blog, and there will be tons of games and prizes on the participating blogs.

The authors of Mayhem in the Air are on tour this week and next. Read excerpts from our stories, and there is a giveaway for a $40 Amazon gift card! Click here for a list of blogs participating.

Falling for #SpecFic: 3 Ebooks = 99c a piece | Wattpad Wednesdays | Awesome Giveaway

I'm running a sale on three of my ebooks: Reborn, Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection, and People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors. You can purchase all three for less than $3 or one for 99 cents. Here are ten facts about the books:

1. Reborn and Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection had different original titles. Reborn used to be known as The Phoenix Prophetess and Once upon a Nightmare was The Nightmare Collection.
2. Reborn is my longest work to date. The first draft came in a little over 96,000 words, and the final draft is around 95,000 words.
3. The first Foxwick short story written was "Lady Death." Umbria showed me the magic of her world, and I'm still learning more about it.
4. Once upon a Nightmare is a second edition, and I wrote over 8000 new words in it. The collection's word count is around 46,000 words.
5. People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors is nearly 80,000 words long and has seventeen short stories within the collection.
6. "Lady Death" is published in three different places: A to Z Flashes of Foxwick, People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors, and Twisted Earths. "Lady Bard" is published in two places: People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors and Spells: Ten Tales of Magic.
7. Once upon a Nightmare is available through Kindle Unlimited (KU) and Kindle's Owners Lending Library (KOLL).
8. A to Z Flashes of Foxwick is free to newsletter subscribers.
9. Reborn is the first book of The Fate Challenges series. The next books in the series are Marked, Forged, and Destined.
10. I make no promises and have no current plans to write one, but I do have an idea for another book featuring the monster within Once upon a Nightmare.

To purchase Reborn: Amazon.com | Other Amazon Sites | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit | Smashwords

To purchase People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors: Amazon.com | Other Amazon Sites | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit | Smashwords

To purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection: Amazon.com | Other Amazon Sites

By the way, this is the last Falling for #SpecFic post of its kind. The third Wednesday in November will be a Bookworm News and Writing Update post, and I'll be taking a blogging break after the second Wednesday in December. Falling for #SpecFic will be revamped in 2016.

Read Reborn from the beginning or Chapter Thirty-Five.

Here's the deal, all you need to do is visit the Rafflecopter page and enter. It's as simple as that. At the end of the month one winner will be randomly selected to win an e-book copy of all five books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IWSG: To Write or Rewrite | Fall 99c Sale | Wattpad Wednesdays | Awesome Giveaway

IWSG was created by the Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. To visit the IWSG participants, please click here. The IWSG Anthology Contest is open until November 1st. Click here for details. You must post either September or October to be considered for the anthology. Our co-hosts are TB Markinson, Tamara Narayan, Eva E. Solar, Shannon Lawrence, and Stephanie Faris.

The writing is still going well. I've been writing every single day since July 1, mainly between two projects, although I had three in September. But within the next few months, I will have my secondary project slot empty. Here is where my insecurity lies.

Once I finished the first draft of The Mission (The Gaia Project 1.1), the short story "On Day 168" slipped into the second spot. As soon as I complete that first draft, I've recently decided to write the bonus woodwose section that will appear in The Fate Challenges boxed set. I figure those chapters will take me through November and maybe even into December. But what should I write after that?

I have several projects I could rewrite, including The Cassandra Project series (3 books, NA Paranormal Suspense), Fall of Gravity series (3 books, YA Sci-fi), or a horror short story collection. All except the last book in The Cassandra Project series have been written, but ALL need major rewrites, which would involve rereading through the stories, writing new outlines, and writing the books.

But do I want to rewrite old work? I just don't know. There is a thrill in exploring something new. I have so many series I want to write one of these days, including To the Future series (4 books, YA Urban Fantasy), Tides of Fortune series (9 books, Epic Fantasy), Paranormal Freaks series (2 books, YA Horror), Less Than Princess Perfect (4 books, Epic Fantasy), etc. Of course, any new series I write will need planning before writing, especially anything within a different world.

Do I even want to work on a series? I know series sell better than standalone novels, but I'd love to write the standalone book No More Than Shadows (YA Alt. World Fantasy) one of these days. I'm sure there is something quite pleasurable in writing a novel to completion and knowing that's it, that I don't have to stress over the next book and the next within the series.

So that's where I am at with my insecurities this month. Too many choices. All requiring a lot of work and dedication and pre-planning that I need to work on now before I end up with no second project and nothing planned. Of course, it's not a terrible thing to have too many ideas, but they can end up very overwhelming. (Not that I have to have a second project of course, but I like the feeling of accomplishment of working on more than one story at a time. I've stood still for far too long.)

What are your insecurities?

From now until 11/16, you can purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection (paranormal horror), Reborn (YA Epic Fantasy), and People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors (Epic Fantasy short stories) for 99 cents a piece.

Click here for purchase links.

Read Reborn from the beginning or Chapter Thirty-Four.

Here's the deal, all you need to do is visit the Rafflecopter page and enter. It's as simple as that. At the end of the month one winner will be randomly selected to win an e-book copy of all five books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Falling for #SpecFic: Cover of Cathrina Constantine's Snow on Cinders | Wattpad Wednesdays | Awesome Giveaway

How far would you go to protect your family?

A peculiar metamorphosis has taken shape since the final days. And the planet is in the throes of healing.

Fulvio McTullan leads his family and a band of misfits to form a new settlement, far from Tallas and it’s nefarious Elites. Their journey takes them into uncharted territories where strange creatures are lurking. It’s a battle of survival, not only from the creatures, but the mutated earth as well. 

Meanwhile, Pomfrey Addler, an oppressive Elite squashes the insurrection in Tallas. Suddenly, citizens begin to vanish in the middle of the night and his daughter, Paniess is hell bent on revenge.

Fraught with mishaps, Fulvio finally locates the perfect place to settle. They begin to rebuild until they receive a call. A call which will lure them back into the clutches of Tallas.

Snow on Cinders by Cathrina Constantine

Publisher: CHBB

Cover Design: Melissa Stevens of The Illustrated Author

Release Date: October 24, 2015

Genre: Dystopian/Family Saga/Paranormal Thriller

SNOW ON CINDERS is a TALLAS sequel.

Read Reborn from the beginning or Chapter Thirty-Three.

 

Welcome to the kickoff for September's giveaway. All of the books are fab and the authors are amazing. Seriously you don't want to miss out. Here's the link to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. And here are the books.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway