by Angela Smith | Nov 26, 2013 | Introspective
This Thanksgiving, I have so much to be grateful for, and I have some super exciting news to share!
Burn on the Western Slope received a 5 heart review by the Romance Studio!
And . . . Amazon.com chose Burn on the Western Slope to be part of their Kindle Big Deal promotion starting December 8-22. So if you haven’t decided whether or not you want to read the story, Dec 8-22 would be a perfect opportunity to download it for less than a dollar! (or a dollar and some change with tax). What a fantastic way to treat yourself this holiday season, for next to nothing!
I just completed my 3rd book in this series and sent it on to my Beta Reader for her comments and critiques. Meanwhile, I’ve been (semi) participating in NaNoWriMo. While I might have slowed down in my word count, my idea is (basically) plotted and ready to go. The way I participate in NaNo (my friend says I’m crazy) is to write by pen and paper in a notebook. This notebook way is a very rough and outlined draft but once my ideas meld as much as they will, I’ll then start rewriting into my computer. I have so many ideas, I just wish I had time for them all!
I hope you’ll take the time out to appreciate the things around you and in the hectic season ahead, take the time out to spend with your family, and also time for yourself.
Happy Thanksgiving!
by Angela Smith | Nov 22, 2013 | Guests
Welcome to the Review Tour of King of Bad, by Kai Strand!
Kai will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC plus a signed book mark to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (International).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Jeff Mean would rather set fires than follow rules or observe curfew. He wears his bad boy image like a favorite old hoodie; that is until he learns he has superpowers and is recruited by Super Villain Academy – where you learn to be good at being bad. In a school where one kid can evaporate all the water from your body and the girl you hang around with can perform psychic sex in your head, bad takes on a whole new meaning. Jeff wonders if he’s bad enough for SVA.
He may never find out. Classmates vilify him when he develops good manners. Then he’s kidnapped by those closest to him and left to wonder who is good and who is bad. His rescue is the climactic episode that balances good and evil in the super world. The catalyst – the girl he’s crushing on. A girlfriend and balancing the Supers is good, right? Or is it…bad?
My Review of King of Bad:
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was that it had to end. I wanted to finish it, but I didn’t want to see it end!
Great character development, good twists, and a unique storyline among a common tale of villains and superheroes. The story flowed well and smoothly, and the author did an excellent job of making me feel like I was inside the story, inside Jeff’s head. This story is a unique gem among a common theme of superheroes. The author does a great job of balancing the character with the action, the setting, and the plot. I never felt like I was reading a story; I felt I was a part of the story. I’d love to see it on the big screen! I can’t wait to see what else Kai Strand has to offer her readers.
I’d give this book five stars! An A+! And absolute 100. Even though it’s a young adult fiction, it was a great read for adults as well. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to see what would happen next and was surprised in the end. Highly recommended for you or your teen!
Excerpt…
“Source, who is she?”
Source followed Jeff’s line of vision. “Oh, that’s Oceanus. Don’t even think it, kid. She’s already found a match.”
“What do you mean?”
“See the guy next to her?”
“The skinny red head?” Jeff hoped.
“No, the other one.”
“Oh, the Adonis?” Jeff’s heart fell. He’d no hope to thwart the god-like S.V. seated next to Oceanus.
“Not far off. People call him Set. The God of chaos, storm, wind. He’s a great guy.” Sarcasm wrapped around Source’s words. “Descended from a long line of super villains Known he’s an S.V. his whole life so came to the school ready to rule from what I hear. Real nasty character, even for an S.V. You don’t want to piss him off.”
“Oh, I won’t piss him off. I don’t go looking for trouble.” Jeff considered his life before the academy and real-ized that looking for trouble was the only thing he used to do. He amended his statement, saying, “Much.”
His stomach knotted. Had the academy turned him into a coward?
Source chuckled. “Don’t worry. You’ll get a name and things will settle into some sort of normal. Once we figure out what your root ability is, I’ll help you develop it. Though, after your hulk impersonation, I doubt anyone will dare taunt you.”
Jeff felt the anxiety lift. Source was okay for a bad guy.
About Kai Strand
When the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died, the end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for younger children Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults. Visit Kai’s website, www.kaistrand.com, to browse her books, download companion materials or to find all her online haunts.
You can usually find Kai online at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaiStrandAuthor
or Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaiStrand
Buy King of Bad:
Whiskey Creek Press
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Add it to Goodreads.
by Angela Smith | Oct 8, 2013 | Introspective
The Writer’s Store recently had a huge sale! 75% off books! And of course, I went crazy. How in the world could I deny myself 75% off of books that I’ve been eyeing for a while? Imagine my excitement when the books came in. opening the new box, thumbing through the pages, and letting them find their place in my home.
I believe that writers should read. I believe that writers should constantly be learning and relearning how to write. Therefore, I have a bajillion books, and at least half of those books are about writing.
Ahh, the smell of new books. Fresh. Clean. A new start. A new beginning. The strength and flexibility of a new page. The words, like art, as you fan through the pages. How can you beat that?
My friend once told me a horror story: she was boxing away her writing books. It meant she was giving up, at least for now. But closed boxes are meant to be opened, the mystery of what’s inside too powerful to ignore. And lo and behold, she opened her box again, even if a few years have passed! Opening a box that’s been closed awhile can give one new strength, new power, and newfound creativity!
I have too many books to keep stored on my shelves, unfortunately. But some books just aren’t meant to be boxed!
by Angela Smith | Aug 22, 2013 | Books
An author appreciates (and loves) reviews, even if they don’t have the chance to tell you. Why? Many reasons, I suppose.
Reviews help a book get noticed. It’s not always because someone else might see the review and buy it though yes, that’s part of it. It’s also because the vendor (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.) notices and your book gets a higher ranking in searches. Some bookstores (like Amazon) will only consider your book for daily book deals if you have a certain number of reviews. This puts your book in front of more readers! Many, many marketing things go behind the scenes than most readers (and authors) realize.
It’s hard for a newbie author to get noticed, and it isn’t because their book is bad. There are many books out there, and most readers won’t find you unless they know a name or keyword or something they’re looking for. Reviews can help an author get noticed, and to help an author feel appreciated.
Writing is an art, and most people create art because they love it. They also do it because art is meant to be shared. Reviews help the artist feel like what they did matters, or is at least worth someone’s time, even if it’s only one person. And if you liked a book enough to want to read another by that author, reviews can help to get that author noticed, and even to motivate that author to write more. Authors write because they love it, but when you do something you love, you have an urge to share it with the world. Seeing reviews reminds that author that what they do matters, even if to one person.
An author also appreciates reviews because they want to know what you think. If you hated a book, for example, I bet you could find something constructive to say about it, especially if you liked it enough to read the entire thing. If you didn’t read the entire thing, it probably isn’t even worth your review.
There could also be the reader who is afraid to review because they’ve been taught if they can’t say something nice, not to say anything. But if you didn’t like it, you read it for a reason, right? Most authors will appreciate the constructive feedback. What worked? What didn’t work? What would you have done differently if you had written the book? It’s a great learning opportunity!
So why don’t readers write more reviews?
As a reader, I admit I haven’t always written a review, especially if there were already over a hundred and I didn’t think my opinion would matter. But that’s the problem, so many of us think our opinion doesn’t matter when, even after a hundred, to an author it does matter. Sometimes I just don’t have the time at the moment, and then I’ll either forget or can’t think of anything to write. But I shouldn’t make excuses. I had time to check my Facebook page or send a tweet or email. I could even jot down a few notes and do it later. How many times have I opened my Solitaire game today? Why not review a book I just read instead?
You don’t have to be a writer to offer a review, and most non-writers offer the best reviews because they aren’t trying to be eloquent. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Think of it like updating your twitter of Facebook page. It doesn’t have to be long and explanatory. “This book was awesome. I loved it because…” Whatever. Authors really appreciate that. Let’s face it, we all need support and encouragement for what we do, and writing is a solitary experience. Sometimes seeing a review from someone you don’t even know can touch an authors’ heart in a way nothing else can. Knowing you affected a reader enough for them to write a review makes you remember how much you love doing what you love.
Even though opinions are subjective, as I’ve learned in my quest for publication, the opinions of readers are always appreciated! So what are you waiting for? Go review the last book you read. And the one before that!
by Angela Smith | Jul 31, 2013 | Books, Guests, Research
Join my Blog Book Tour today for a chance to win some fun stuff!
A gift bag, which includes a seashell keychain (or car mirror hanger if you so choose). Seashells because they are part of my book, in an odd way. If you want to know more, you’ll have to read it. 🙂
Music from Pretty Little Blisters, the band I use for my book trailers. The singer is the husband of one of my best friends I’ve known since second grade!!!
And, for anyone who comments or likes my page, I’ll send you a paperback of my very first novel, written under my pseudonym, Emma Sanders. I took a long break from writing, and you can’t really find this book available anymore. I hope to have it available and republished soon, but you can enter for a chance to win!
Comment for your chance to win a paperback novel that is no longer in print!
