Wednesday Writers Workspace

Today, I'm excited to say, I'm over at The Writing Nut where Nuschell is interviewing me for the Wednesday Writers Workspace feature.

Please pop on over to find out a little more about where and how I write.

Click HERE.

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I'd also like to thank Christine Rains. I recently won first prize in The Marquis giveaway. I received a digital copy of The Marquis, an ARC of The Alpha, and a signed copy of Fearless which arrived in the mail this morning!

Thank you so much!!

Don't forget to pop on over to the Wednesday Writers Workspace interview.

Cover Reveal: Solomon's Compass

January seems to be the month for cover reveals and new releases. I have another exciting cover reveal for you today. This time it's from the lovely Carol Kilgore, author of In Name Only, with her second novel, Solomon's Compass due out soon. I love this cover!

The death of her beloved uncle, Randy Rankin, brings US Coast Guard Commander Taylor Campbell back to Texas to take care of his estate and find out if he really did bury his treasure. Jake Solomon’s job is to make sure Rankin’s killer doesn’t set his sights on CDR Campbell. Set along the Texas Gulf Coast, SOLOMON’S COMPASS is a story of love, loyalty, and the value of keeping a promise.

Carol Kilgore is an award-winning author of several published short stories and many essays and articles. Solomon’s Compass is her second novel, a blend of mystery, suspense, and romance she calls Crime Fiction with a Kiss – always at least one crime; always a love story. Carol and her Coast Guard husband live in San Antonio, Texas, with two herding dogs that like nothing better than pack time on the patio.

You can find Carol here:
website . blog . facebook . twitter . goodreads . amazon

Cover Reveal: From The Ashes

I'm not sure how it all went wrong.

The concept was simple.

The Trials were made to test us. They were made to challenge our strengths; our bravery.

We were supposed to come out better.

Winning the Trials would make us Superior citizens.

It would bring us honor and demonstrate our loyalty to the Imperial Alliance. I knew exactly what I wanted.

Until I met him.

There was something about him. Something dark. If only I had known the danger it would put us in.

I thought I knew the risks.

But I never imagined the price we'd pay.

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An insightful look at the good and bad that exist within us, McKendry's debut is a high-octane adventure that pushes the imagination to the limit as it lays bare the nature of self-reliance, self-confidence, and teamwork. Playing with the concepts of dark and light and how they affect our lives in multiple forms, her novel is a complex coming of age story that encapsulates the heroine's journey from student to leader. A dark tale of love and revenge, From the Ashes is a powerful reminder to think for yourself instead of blindly following what you've been taught to believe.

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FROM THE ASHES, coming to Amazon in February, 2013.

Congratulations, Jess!!

 

What books are you dying to read in 2013?

 

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Make Believe 

 

There is another giveaway being hosted over at Known To Read as part of the Make Believe anthology blog tour.

 

Witch's Nocturne and Looking For Reviewers

Description: After receiving an ancient tribal journal from her grandfather, Jenny is sent on a mission of discovery in an attempt to unravel clues to her family's monster hunting past. The journey becomes more than academic when she is asked to confront a coven of dangerous witches who plan to cast an insidious spell on the plains of West Texas.

Witch's Nocturne is the second of the Moonsongs Books, a series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes--with a Texas twist--by author E.J. Wesley.

Witch's Nocturne is available now:
Amazon
Smashwords (ePub & PDF)

Blood Fugue, Moonsongs Book 1, is also available on Amazon
(Free to borrow for Amazon Prime members.)

Note: These stories contain some language and content better suited for mature readers.

~About the Author~

E.J. lives in South Texas. He likes his words and food spicy, and tries to give a little extra 'kick' to the stories he writes. He enjoys reading horror, sci-fi, YA, MG, New Adult--basically anything with words. In true Texas fashion, E.J. is very neighborly, and welcomes you to say 'howdy' at:

Goodreads Twitter Facebook Blog

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For something a little different, over at Happy Tails and Tales Blog there is a review of Make Believe plus a bonus playlist has been created to go with each of the stories in the anthology. Super cool!

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J. Taylor Publishing is looking for reviewers.  There are heaps of benefits, like getting free ebooks, reading awesome stories, and potentially gaining a greater exposure for your blog. If you're interested, then fill in their form and put my name in the Referred By field. To find out more, just click HERE.

Resolutions for Writers #IWSG

Resolutions often feel like messages to self, sealed in a bottle and tossed into a wide blue ocean. Sometimes they make it back to shore, but mostly they don’t. They have a tendency to sink, no matter how much fluff and hot air we put in those bottles.

Does this mean resolutions are a waste of time? Absolutely not! Resolutions are an opportunity to restart, reshape and renew our hopes and dreams. But it does help to make make both long term and short term goals with a clear direction toward achieving them. Below is my list of resolutions for 2013.

• I will not let my doubts become a black cloud over my writing. Instead I will make a habit of listening to both the story and my heart, and I will write anyway despite the fears.
  
• The blank page will no longer intimidate me. Instead I will pour out my words and know it’s okay to make a mess. Besides, every mess can be cleaned up with a little work and determination.
  
• I will no longer allow my muse to rule me. She doesn’t have the power. I do. Therefore I will re-establish my writing schedule so I'll write whether or not I’m in the mood.
  
• I will not fall for the lie that writing is more important than reading. Instead I will dedicate a portion of every day to reading and I will read ten more books than I did last year.
  
• I will balance my social media time so that it doesn’t take over my day. That means setting a limited time per day for blogging, Twitter, Facebook and all the others.
  
• I won’t stop dreaming big, but I will add measureable, reachable goals to steer me towards those dreams. As my hubby often says, ‘Hope is not a strategy’.
  
• I will not let my doubts stop me from putting my work out there. Not everyone will love my stories, but that doesn’t matter.
  
• Perfection is unachievable. I will remind myself of that, work until I get close to perfection, then I will let go. Otherwise no work will ever get finished.
  
• I will not allow myself to get distracted from my goals… unless that distraction comes in the form of a golden ticket, or Johnny Depp.
  
• I will stop worrying about the things I can't control. Life is too short for silly things that will only age me faster and stunt my dreams.
  
• If I fail any of these resolutions, I will not call myself a failure and give up. Rather than tossing my messages in the bottle, I will hold onto them, read them and remember what I want.

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

This post was writing for Alex J Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writers’ Support Group. We post on the first Wednesday of every month.


A Special thank you to Jarmila V. Del Boccio of Making the Write Connections  and Daisy Lancaster of Fresh as a Daisy Soap.

On Jarm’s fabulous blog I won a gift: a handmade soap from Daisy’s collection. I even got to pick from her vast collection! I picked the Avocado Rosemary Moisturizing Facial Soap  and it is amazing!! I love it. As a bonus, Daisy also sent me three wonderful samples: Lavendar Oatmeal, Luscious Lemon, and a Sweet Orange solid lotion bar. I highly recommend these. They are sheer luxury at an affordable price. Thank you Jarm and Daisy!