Thursday, January 30, 2014

HISTORICALLY CRUEL WOMEN


I posted this a few weeks back over at the YA SCREAM  QUEENS blog, which for those of you who are unfamiliar with, is a group of YA horror authors who have banded together to scare crap out of you! :)  Anyhow, since a lot of my recent writing seems to be falling into the YA historical fiction category lately, I thought I would give you all a peek into the life of some of the most cruel woman in history.  

I have developed a recent and rather overwhelming obsession with obscure historical crimes, probably because I believe there is very little in the horror genre that hasn't already happened….in real life. The darkness of the human mind and the greed that plagues man create the scenarios that haunt our dreams and become living nightmares. So for my next couple of posts, I was hoping to introduce you to what I lovingly refer to as "once living-nightmares."
THE BLOOD COUNTESS
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
Elizabeth Bathory, aka the Blood Countess, was born into a prestigious family in Hungary.  As such, she enjoyed all the privileges that came with her title – a good education, a position in society, and the willingness of those in authority to look the other way when sordid rumors of torture and murder began to circulate around her.
Married off for political gain at the tender age of 15, she took no enjoyment in the fancies of society, preferring the cold chambers of the castles dungeons to the mountainous air outside.  She surrounded herself with persons who claimed to be experts in the sinister arts—witches, seers, and alchemists alike. She studied under them, absorbing their knowledge and practicing with them until she finally found her true calling under the tutorage of her Aunt.  Torture.  With ready access to her husband’s arsenal of weapons, she began the slow torture of her debtors, taking great pleasure as their faces twisted in agony as she flogged them with her husband’s silver claw.
But it wasn’t the debtors who sent her on her serial path of murder, rather a servant girl in the castle. Elizabeth struck her for not minding her chores, drawing blood as her nails raked across her cheek.  Some of the blood landed on her hand, and Elizabeth became convinced that that tiny spot, the one that had come in contact with the virgin’s blood, was younger and more vibrant than the rest of her.
And so it began….
Elizabeth was careful at first, kidnapping and murdering children who she deemed were of lesser value – daughters of peasants and servant girls who she thought would not be missed. Perhaps bolstered by beliefs that her position in society rendered her free of consequence, or maybe simply depleted of low-value “stock,”  she started abducting the daughters of lesser nobles, daughters of parents whose accusations carried much more weight in certain social circles. It was the escape of two such girls and their reports to the authorities that finally ended Elizabeth’s reign of terror.
More than 300 witness testified against her, claiming Elizabeth Bathory and her accomplices killed nearly six-hundred and fifty girls. However, proof was only obtained in the death of eighty. Eighty! Because of her position in society, the Countess was never tried nor convicted or her crimes, rather put on house-arrest. She was sealed into her castle, several rooms bricked over with tiny slivers left open to deliver her food, water, and air.  She lived in those quarters for nearly four years until her death in 1614.
Why Elizabeth Bathory kidnapped, tortured, and killed so many young girls is the source of much speculation, but one rumor always rises to the surface.  She believed that bathing in the blood of virgin girls would bring her eternal youth and beauty. Because of this, she is often referred to as one of “the original vampires.”

Monday, January 27, 2014

SUN & MOON by Lee Strauss


Sun & Moon by Lee Strauss

(Book One in the Minstrel Series)





If you’re a fan of the movie Inside Llewyn Davis, ABC television’s Nashville or Colleen Hoover’s upcoming novel, "Maybe Someday", the Minstrel Series is for you!

The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each are complete standalone stories with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!






She has a past. He has a secret.
Katja Stoltz is a risk-taking singer-songwriter hoping to make it in the indie music scene in Dresden, Germany. Micah Sturm's a brooding uptown banker on a quest.

Driven to the streets, Katja is picked up by Micah - but he doesn't want what she thinks he does.

There’s an undeniable attraction between them, a gravitational pull they both struggle to resist. Katja knows she mustn’t fall in love with this handsome enigma. There’s something dark lurking beneath the surface. He could be dangerous.

And even if her life isn’t on the line, her heart most definitely is.



*not erotica - no explicit sex or coarse language


Buy now!




Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card, MP3s of all four songs featured on Sun & Moon, and a 12 month calendar from Dresden, Germany featuring many of the settings found in Sun & Moon.


Dresden, Germany



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Thursday, January 23, 2014

SWEET UNREST COVER REVEAL



SWEET UNREST
FLUX, October 2014


Lisa Maxwell is the author of SWEET UNREST (Flux, October 2014). When she’s not writing books, she teaches English at a local college. She lives near DC with her very patient husband and two not-so patient boys.

My website:  www.lisa-maxwell.com


Book Blurb:
Lucy Aimes has always been practical. But try as she might, she can’t come up with a logical explanation for the recurring dreams that have always haunted her. Dark dreams. Dreams of a long-ago place filled with people she shouldn’t know…but does.

When her family moves to a New Orleans plantation, Lucy’s dreams become more intense, and her search for answers draws her reluctantly into the old city’s world of Voodoo and mysticism. There, Lucy finds Alex, a mysterious boy who behaves as if they’ve known each other forever. Lucy knows Alex is hiding something, and her rational side doesn’t want to be drawn to him. But she is.

As she tries to uncover Alex’s secrets, a killer strikes close to home, and Lucy finds herself ensnared in a century-old vendetta. With the lives of everyone she loves in danger, Lucy will have to unravel the mystery of her dreams before it all comes to a deadly finish.


Add it to your Goodreads List 



AND NOW…THE COVER!!!!!!!!!




Enter to win some amazing SWEET UNREST swag, a New Orleans inspired necklace, and a signed copy of the book!



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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

CREED has a Cover!



CREED
YA Psychological Horror
coming
November, 2014 from Flux

Three days.
Three of us went in.
Three of us came out.
None of us even a shadow of who we once were.

BLURB: 
Dee Langley is seventeen and mere months away from total freedom and a life where state social workers, counselors, and foster parents don’t dictate her every move. She has spent years trying to eke out a normal existence, hiding from her past and walking the tenuous line between denial and self-preservation. A weekend away with her boyfriend, Luke, and his brother, Mike, seems like the perfect opportunity to forget and start over. Little does Dee know that she's just trading one hell for another.

When an unexpected storm and a lack of gas force their car off the road, Dee, Luke, and Mike find themselves with no other choice but to wander into the nearby town of Purity Springs for help. But it’s not good Samaritans they find, but rather complete and utter silence, every store and every house abandoned. Forced to seek shelter in one of the deserted homes, they uncover a disturbing book with explicit instructions on how to correctly rear a child, complete with a hand written record of its use. It’s not until the next morning, however, that they discover the alarming truth – the town isn’t abandoned; it is populated by a deadly cult, and the leader, Elijah Hawkins, has plans for the three of them. The group’s only hope for survival lies in the hands of Elijah’s son, Joseph. But is Joseph really their ticket to freedom or is his game just as deadly as his father’s?

Pre-order on Amazon

·         ISBN-13: 978-0738740805

Mark it to read on Goodreads
Vote for it on the 2014 Debut Authors Challenge: 
AND FINALLY......THE COVER!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Meet Cuyler Creech -- Talented Young Author and Ice Slayer

Cuyler Creech, GILDED FEVER

Twitter: @CuyTheWriterGuy

Ever read the first page of a manuscript and know, without a doubt, that the writer had something special? The tension, the set-up, the literary prose all merging together to create the most beautifully written prose you have ever read? That’s what I saw when I picked up GILDED FEVER, and it only got better as I turned the page.

GILDED FEVER: Being the only girl in a gold mining camp is dangerous, but helping a savage destroy her father's mining claim may cost Annie Duvall her life.

Little Bit about Cuyler:
Cuyler Creech is 20 years-old and lives in Weatherford, Texas with his parents, two brothers, one sister, and a slew of pets. He is a writer and reviewer for the blog: Teen Librarian's Toolbox. He is a bookaholic, a dino-nerd, and a crafter of worlds. He has many friends who are published authors, and hopes one day to join the ranks. His work has been read by his author hero, Jonathan Maberry, who says he "has an excellent sense of style and pace, solid characters, and his use of descriptive language is lush." (Cuyler still freaks out about it when he thinks about it). He has also had several of his reviews published. When Cuyler isn't writing or reading, you can find him playing with his little brother, Skeet, who has Down Syndrome and Autism, and loving every minute of it. He is a student Occupational Therapist Assistant, and is an advocate for children with special-needs. If he could have either a cat or a dog, he would get a T-Rex.

*And he has a goat; we must not forget the goats, Cuyler!

Why did you enter Pitchwars? 
So this is my ritual: I go to work, come home, watch a little Adventure Time (I am by no means anything that signifies an adult, just sayin'), then when it's time to wind down and go to bed, I mess around on Twitter for a little bit. I won't divulge to you the people I stalk (seriously, why are there so many AWESOME authors out there?), but that's how I came across #PitchWars. The curious hashtag immediately tickled my interest. So I looked into it. 

Rules: Must have finished MS. 

Oh lookie here, a finished MS just chillin' on my computer. 

So WHY did I enter #PitchWars?  Here's the thing. When you're trying to climb up that trepidatory mountain we call traditional publishing, you take every opportunity available to you. That means going to book festivals, visiting conferences, making friends with said previously-stalked awesome authors, and entering contests. You glean something invaluable from each of these, and that gets you one more step up Mt. Publishing.

So, for me, #PitchWars was another opportunity to make me a better writer and help push me up that mountain. So I took it.   

What did you find most valuable about the process?
Holy crap. You guys. You guys don't even know the awesomesauceness that is Trisha. She's like shiny MS furniture polish (or would that would be "word" polish?). Hashtag "my mentor is better than your mentor". She took my MS to a whole new level. I entered #PitchWars thinking my MS wasn't too shabby. Ha, no.  It was like she had literary microscopic vision and knew exactly what my story needed for an extra boost. She's taught me how to be a better writer, and for that I can't be thankful enough. Trisha deserves the biggest hug ever. And more cookies. (Still trying to send you that snow shovel in the mail. Post Office still requests a $100 and the blood of a virgin).

*Awesomesauce?  I have been called a lot of things, but that is a first!   And the $100 I will spot you, the blood of a virgin….yeah, still looking for that. It will be awhile J

What is the most unexpected thing (good or bad) that came from Pitchwars? 
Ha, this is a funny one. So I'm from Texas. The great state of I-can't-freaking-make-up-my-mind-about-what-kind-of-weather-we're-going-to-have. The week before #PitchWars started, my mom had surgery. The family stayed at my grandparents' house so her rehab therapist would be local. So I crafted my query, chose which four possible-mentors I wanted to sub to, and sent everything in when the submission window opened. Reveal day came, and Trisha, my awesomesauce mentor, chose me as first alternate. You can ask my family; I happy-danced for hours.

This is when Satan basically decided to intercede.

Texas chose to have the biggest icestorm it's had in years. Like, we're talking in DECADES. We couldn't leave the house for days at first. By time we mustered up enough bravery to travel a few miles to the grocery store to stock up on food, the shelves were empty and people were freaking out. It felt like the precursor to a zombie apocalypse. But the zombies could wait, because the beginning of #PitchWars was now upon me. I'd been picked, I had a mentor willing to take a look at my work, life was good. All I had to do was send in my MS, right?

*INCORRECT BUZZER SOUND HERE*

Wrong. We were iced in for a total of two and a half weeks. And my MS was not on my laptop, but my desktop. At home. On the other side of a bajillion miles of ice. But Trisha was a good sport. She put up with me and waited. And waited. And waited. Honestly guys, I'm surprised she didn't drop me after a couple of days. But she didn't, and I have a shiny, polished MS because of her. *pets shiny MS*

*Scratching my head wondering why I never got to see a video of said happy-dance

Any advice for writers thinking of entering Pitchwars in the future? 
CHECK. YOUR. WEATHER. REPORT.  Make sure there's not a fricken Icepocalypse headed your way and you have your MS readily available to you. Also, have fun and send your mentors cookies. And perhaps a snow shovel should they ever need one.



Monday, January 20, 2014

Meet Fellow Co-authors Carol Blackley and Megan Herman!

Co-authors Carol Blackley and Megan Herman


I have a soft spot for these two amazing ladies. Not only is the premise of their manuscript insanely unique and their writing stellar, but they are co-authors. And not just any co-authoring duo, but a mother-daughter team! Being a co-author myself, I can attest to how difficult the entire process can be – the exchange of ideas, that banter about plot points, and competing points of view. But those possible points of contention pale in comparison to “consistency of voice.”  Ensuring the voice in the manuscript is even, that a reader won’t be able to pick apart who wrote what, takes unimaginable amounts of time, and tweaks, and read-throughs. But Carol and Megan have done it, and the end result – CHANCE – is positively astounding.

CHANCE Growing up in Leeds, England, in the ominous years leading up to WWII, Eddie and Jimmy Ward never imagine Monopoly, their favorite childhood board game, could be pivotal to surviving the war. But when Eddie is captured by the Nazis, Jimmy’s idea to disguise prison escape tools as Monopoly game pieces might give Eddie a chance to “get out of jail free.”

 A Little bit about the dynamic duo:
We are a mother and daughter writing team. Carol has a MA degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Journalism and works in communications. Megan graduated from Hamilton College in 2009, received an MA from University of Pennsylvania and taught middle and high school English. She now works at Pearson Education.

What made you decide to enter Pitchwars?
We’ve always dreamed of being authors. But it wasn’t until we wrote our first novel that we realized our dream could be possible! Although a book was written, we still had a lot to learn about the publishing industry. It was hard to get rejections and learn our story wasn’t perfect, but that feedback pushed us to write another book. With CHANCE, our current manuscript, we hoped we had a “chance” at our dream becoming a reality.

We entered Pitch Wars to learn from an experienced author. This would be another stepping stone on our path to be published. Our instincts were spot on, and we’ve learned so much from Trisha. Her input has changed CHANCE and will change all our future novels.

*Selfishly, I found it exciting to work with a set of co-authors, to see how the process worked for them.  Not surprisingly, there writing and editing practices are similar to my own co-authorizing experiences.

What did you find most valuable about the entire Pitchwars process?
Having Trisha believe in us and agree to mentor us was the most valuable part of this process. It’s one thing to take a class, theorize what makes a good book, participate in seminars and send for critique. But it’s totally different having someone as experienced as Trisha read your whole manuscript and work with you on every chapter of your story. We are so grateful to Trisha…not to mention she is totally kick-ass and awesome! And we are sad that Pitch Wars is almost over and we won’t be getting so many emails from Trisha anymore—although she’ll be happy getting fewer emails from us.

*Sorry to burst your bubble here, but I never said my emails would end simply because Pitchwars did. J You are stuck with me now!

What was the most unexpected thing (good or bad) you learned from Pitchwars?
 A very unexpected thing that came out of this experience was we came up with ideas for a next novel and are eager to start it. Editing our story this last time with Trisha’s help, made us look at writing in a new way, and we are anxious to apply these new insights to our next book.

*And I call first dibs on reading it!
  
Any advice for writers thinking of entering Pitchwars in the future? 
You are about to embark on one amazingly, awesome journey! Not only do you get to be part of the most incredible community of people—writers!!—but you will find that they are unbelievably supportive. Everyone is “competing” in a sense for mentors, yet everyone is cheering each other on.

Also the mentors/authors who have their own stories to write and edit care enough to give their time to help aspiring authors. It’s the most beautiful thing! Take time throughout all of Pitch Wars to be in awe of such a talented and generous group. Have fun!

Saturday, January 18, 2014

MEET ERIKA DAVID -- THE PERFECT BLEND OF CONTEMPORARY AND SCI-FI

Erika David, THE BARRENS


When I put out my wish list for Pitchwars, on the very top was Contemporary YA Sci Fi. I like my science fiction grounded in reality--based on this planet…this realm of existence. Why? Because as a contemporary writer at heart, I like knowing… fearing…wondering if this scenario could  “really happen.” Combine that realistic nature with beautiful, literary prose and raw emotion and you have the perfect manuscript.  You have THE BARRENS.

THE BARRENSWhen a scientist and his sons join her subterranean biomine, Niko thinks her life is finally beginning. But the thrill of a first boyfriend is overshadowed by mysterious accidents and deaths, and if Niko can’t figure out how and why, her life will be over before it’s barely begun.

Little Bit about Erika:
Erika David came early to reading, but late to writing. It wasn't until after a career as a publicist for a museum and a news magazine that she finally heeded her Grade 11 English teacher's advice to pursue fiction writing. Now, when not dreaming up new science-fueled MG/YA whodunnits and whydunnits, Erika is busy keeping up with three teens and a tennis-ball-obsessed munsterlander named Martha. She enjoys tending to her garden and pond, discovering new indie bands, and watching Supernatural with her son and Lilyhammer with her husband. She’s also addicted to chocolate, which she considers a food group and a staple to the writing life. 


Why did I enter Pitchwars? 
While I felt good about my story, I'm a firm believer that there's always room for improvement. The idea of working with an accomplished writer (that's you, Trisha, accomplished, talented, supportive, creative...) was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I also knew that any contest organized by Brenda Drake and her team was going to be great, and I was not wrong.

What did you find most valuable about the process?
Working with a mentor like Trisha. To have someone of her caliber shine a new light on my manuscript has been invaluable. I've learned so much, especially how to cut to the heart of a scene by eliminating redundant passages and filler words. The experience not only strengthened my story, it made me a better writer. 
 
*In all honesty, I learned as much from Erika as she did from me, maybe even more.

What is the most unexpected him (good or bad) that came from Pitchwars? 
Realizing I went into Pitch Wars with a serious addiction to--wait for it--em dashes!  Poor, Trisha. I think every third editing note was another deleted em dash or a reminder to use them sparingly. I understand that recognizing you have a problem is the first step to recovery, so I'm now trying to seriously curb my usage--really, I swear I am. Now... if only I could do something about all those ellipses...

*That is one of the many things I have come to realize Erika and I have in common— a shared love/hate relationship with dreaded em dash


Any advice for writers thinking of entering Pitchwars in the future? 
If you have a completed story that you feel good about, do it!  There are so many positives to participating in Pitch Wars; working with a kick ass writer to improve your manuscript and your own writing skills, meeting tons of wonderful new people, and having a bright Pitch Wars spotlight shone on your story. It's a win-win-win.


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Meet My Pitchwars Mentee -- Jenni Walsh

This is my first year as a Pitchwars Mentor, and I can honestly say, I learned as much from my mentees as I hope they learned from me. Their passion for writing, their perseverance in a publishing world that is often fraught with long waits and "close-call" disappointments is truly inspiring. I am honored to have each and every one of them representing #TheFearlessFive.  

With less than a week to the #Pitchwars Agent Round, I thought I would introduce you to my amazing team – the insanely talented and fearless writers who have put their heart and soul into perfecting their craft. 

Jenni Walsh, YA Historical CAPTIVE.
CAPTIVE begins where other Anastasia Romanov stories end: the assassination of the imperial family of Russia

Jenny and I got off to a rather comical start. Two different authors, both YA, both with the exact same title pitching me led to a bit of confusion when the time came to pick teams.  But alas, a couple of frantic emails later (mostly on my part) and all was settled.  That night, sitting in my inbox, was the most beautifully written re-imagination (for lack of a better word) of the Anastasia Romanov saga I have ever had the pleasure of reading.  Although technically I was only required to read the first three chapters of her manuscript, let’s be honest…there was no way in hell I was putting it down at chapter four. It was just that good!


Before we get started with the questions, let’s learn a little bit about the uber-talented Jenni Walsh.

Jennifer Walsh resides in the NYC suburbs with her husband, newborn daughter, and goldendoodle pup, Zoey. Her earlier (childhood) works always followed the same storyline: girl meets boy, girl marries boy, girl and boy have baby. Now, Jennifer likes to think she's graduated into more sophisticated young adult plots, where, of course, girl still meets boy.
Jennifer credits Villanova University for her education in Marketing and also for a great four years of her life. After entering the real world, she put her degree to use as a copywriter, winning national awards for recent campaigns. Crafting advertising messages is like a puzzle begging to be solved. For Jennifer, writing a novel is quite similar. She loves digging into a topic and bringing it to life on page.
On a side note…she is also extremely adept at responding to crazy emails form her *cough* mentor at all hours of the night which is a key skill set when working with me :)

Why did you enter Pitchwars?
Quite simply (and I'm not afraid to come out and say it), I want an agent and I want to be published. The process of finding, acquiring an agent, making edits with said agent, then subsequently working with an editor is extensive. The idea of gaining insight with a mentor who's gone through that process is drool-worthy. Then you add in the notion of working hand-in-hand with and receiving a pubbed author's feedback on your story, and, wow, sign me up.

What did you find most valuable about the whole process?
My mentor (Trisha Leaver) knows her stuff. When she picked me, she probably didn't realize I'd be an endless stream of questions. Add in her amazing input on my manuscript, and I found it invaluable to pick her brain.

What was the most unexpected thing (good or bad) that came from the whole you Pitchwars experience?
It may sound corny, but throughout the process Trisha morphed from pubbed author to awesome mentor to welcomed friend.

 *Ditto!!! That is the one thing I value most about Pitchwars, the amazing friendships and shared support and encouragement that ensues J

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers thinking of entering Pitchwars in in the Spring?
I count my blessings that I was chosen as one of Trisha's alternates. But, I also think I put in the work ahead of time to catch her eye. For my manuscript, I worked with critique partners and beta readers. Trisha didn't see round 1 of my manuscript by any stretch. Then for my query letter (that's part of the PitchWars application), I spent a lot of time in Query Letter Hell and also won an agent critique. You gotta prepare, aspiring authors!