This is a quickie shameless plug, which I haven’t done in quite sometime, so here it goes:
Blackbird LSD (social media & publicity for indie authors) as well as myself have secured our booth at the L.A. Festival of books. We will be at booth 214. Please come visit us if you are in the area of the beautiful USC campus from April 20-21. They are also representing the lovely, Michelle Proulx and her book Imminent Danger and How to Fly Straight Into It. It’s a scifi/YA book and one that kept me on edge with it’s fast paced action and adventure.
We have high hopes that this event will bring all of us great exposure. There is an expected attendance rate of over 200,000, and all of them are there for one reason: books!
Blackbird LSD is currently accepting two late admission authors (we had one unable to commit to the dates & awaiting confirmation of the others). You do not have to be there for them to represent you, however, they do need to read your book so time is of the essence. You will need to provide your own promotional material (bookmarks, books, etc). If you can attend, even better!
Please visit BlackbirdLSD for more information or email info@blackbirdlsd.com for questions and prices.
Over the past few years, I have read more books than I can count. I mean, I ran out of fingers and toes to count on awhile back. Many are great, some were plain awful, others were so horrible, I didn’t get past three chapters. But there have been some whose words were so flawless, whose stories were so great, I couldn’t put down the book: Imminent Danger (Michelle Proulx), Embers at Galdrilene (A.D. Trosper), Crazy About You (Randy Attwood). These authors write so well, all I could do is imagine that they sit behind some mahogany desk (well, not Michelle, I’ve seen a pic of her desk), with a small, dim, Tiffany lamp, a cup of Joe, and a wild passion in their eyes as they pluck away at the keyboard.
These new authors are talented. They are inspirational to say the least. And it is rare that I feel that way. One thing I can say about these authors is that they have succeeded. I mean, honestly, the second you type “The End,” on a manuscript and mean it, then you have succeeded and pushed passed the boundaries so many aspiring authors haven’t. Everything beyond that is icing and cream filling.
But a few months ago, I stumbled across a talented young woman whose words took my breath away. She wrote a few blogs; a few short stories about her life, and I was like, “WOW!” Then she was gone and took her blog with her. The last entry read something along the lines of, “I was told to quit dreaming. People with their heads in the cloud get nowhere.” And she was gone, and I was aghast. I hate dream stompers! Haters.
More recently, I’ve happened across another very talented writer. To say I’ve stalked this person would be an understatement. Big understatement. I think the restraining order may already be in the works, but who cares? Not me. Nope. This person writes like Dickens and Joyce (if they joined the Navy and spoke like sailors, still amazing though) without holding anything back. I’m in love with his words. With the way he makes me feel like I am right there: part of the action, part of the problem, part of the bigger picture. Yep, it is a literary affair, but again, who cares? Not me. Heck, I just want to be part of it.
And then yesterday, I received an email from the first woman I really started to follow. She vented in an email so sad, I was blubbering as if I had just read a Dear John letter from a long time love. Her dreams were being held back by a family who wanted her to be a doctor, lawyer, something–anything–other than an underprivileged author. She’s seventeen. WHAT? Of course, it was all she ever wanted, so I did my best to encourage her dreams, telling her I would be there for every question, every time of doubt, every bit of help I could give no matter what path she chose. Because quite frankly, if I can be a full-time mom, a full-time nurse, and still write then so can she (minus the kids part for her). It takes dedication, and sometimes it takes a stranger on the other end of an email, Facebook chat, or Twitter message and so help me, I plan to be there if she needs it.
So, two writers in two months, who have stolen me away with words. Two writers who have seemingly stopped writing. Really? Now, I don’t know if all you readers have ever come across an author/writer who has made you melt, but I have, and wow! I only hope that someday, I get to read a book they write, more so, I hope they write. I tend to monitor chat rooms, and in one online room several authors bullied a newbie, and that newbie left with tail tucked, and the bullies wrote in their nasty little remarks after. I was appalled.
Authors! Please be mentors, not haters or bullies. We all started somewhere, some of us are still a bit wet behind the ear. Help out the new guy. And if there is a great author out there who makes your heart bleed at his/her very words, then please encourage them to continue. I shall continue to stalk from a distance … or 50 yards at the order states, waiting in a perpetual state of anticipation.
Tania L Ramos, Author Impressed
BeStillNovel.com
Facebook.com/TaniaLRamosBooks
Some songs that keep me encouraged. Hope they help you as well:
It has been several months since I heard the news of a new book coming out by fresh author Michelle Proulx, whose blog I follow here on WordPress. There seemed to be so much going on with the book in the way of getting it published that I, myself, became frustrated for her. Then late December she announced that it would be going live in January, and I waited anxiously for the day it did.
As a SciFi buff, I had high expectations for this much anticipated book, and hoped all the hype wouldn’t leave me disappointed in the end, which sometimes happens when we are waiting for something. I am pleased to announce that not only was I not disappointed, I was very surprised, so much as to say taken aback, and can’t wait for a sequel (and if you know me, you know I hate sequels).
Several books have across the desk here at The Writing Apocalypse, many that we find poorly written, but this is the first book I have come across that was flawless. Serious. No errors. The characters were believable, lovable, deplorable, and frustrating, which makes for a great story.
Eris is seventeen and rather bland, living a humdrum life at a private school, when all of a sudden she is snatched up by six-armed lizard men and abducted to the nether regions of space. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she is held captive where she quickly befriends a cuddly alien, Miguri. Being abducted doesn’t end her bad day. She is then rescued, only to be sold to a masochist alien corp, to be rescued again, stolen by her original rescuer/seller, nearly killed, then wanted by the entire space federation.
Eris is the ultimate inter-galatic damsel in distress. But there’s more! Her original rescuer who then sold her is the devastatingly handsome Varrin the Rakorsian, an alien breed made up of the finest genetic manipulation that not only renders him devastatingly handsome, but stealthy and lethal. Together they travel the reaches of the universe finding themselves in more danger than not, and wearing desperately on each other’s emotions and lives.
The story starts with a bang and ends with a smile that makes you want to say, “That’s just so Varrin.”
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good inter-galatic, wild and crazy adventure. This book has it all: alien abductions, human trafficking in space, galactic peace corporations, double-crossings, beautiful aliens, seduction, war, mysterious planets, and love gone strangely alien. I found myself lost in this book, caught up in the scenes, and air pumping my fist when things got exciting. A must buy. A must read. A must recommend. Congratulations to Michelle Proulx for being meticulous and getting it so right, I want to read it again.
Imminent Danger and How to Fly Straight Into It, By Michelle Proulx
So much has happened since this time last year in my wonderful new found life as a published author. I have made some great friends, readers and authors alike. I have found that I do have a voice, even though I still try to fly below the radar. And I’ve discovered publishing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Definitely not the get rich and famous overnight shade of glasses I thought it to be. It takes work, and it sometimes takes a village across the globe to raise a book.
Blue Harvest Creative
So I would like to give my appreciation to a few of the great people, groups, and things I have found along the way to this place and time in my life. I had previously introduced you to Michelle Proulx, and today, I would like to celebrate Blue Harvest Creative. This is a husband and wife run business, and it seems they are an amazing team. Vern is the graphic design artists who has created multiple book covers and websites for authors such as Katie Jennings and AD Trosper (whose book The Writing Apocalypse Team is currently reading). These covers are amazing.
I met Vern through LinkedIn, when I posted a trade reads comment. It was a “you read mine and i’ll read yours,” and we leave honest feedback. Vern quickly responded, though he is not an author, and asked that I read one of his client’s books and he would read mine. I thought that was pretty awesome that he would do that for a client. It only goes to show how sometimes you get a little more special attention from the so-called little businesses. I loved that about Vern, and became immediate email friends, always pointing out something new or interesting to each other.
Vern’s wife does editing, and I’ve read Katie Jennings book, “When Empires Fall,” which was edited by Blue Harvest Creative, and I must say the editing was great. I may have caught one or two grammatical errors, but nothing major that I haven’t caught in a traditionally published book. Most recently, I have asked them to send me recommendations for The Writing Apocalypse website, because that is how much I trust their work.
All-in-all, I have really enjoyed the new relationship with this company, but more so the people. They are very friendly and kind, and those are the kinds of people I would like to surround myself in, not only in the real world,but also the literary world. So I celebrate Blue Harvest Creative as a business and also as people I have met along this wonderful journey in becoming a bestselling author. Please visit their page to see their work, and remember: if you are an independent author, try and look to other independent businesses for your publishing needs.
This post is not a commercial, it is a simple thank you to the amazing people I have met over the past year. I think we need to recognize some of the people or businesses that have been invaluable along the way. Please take time to recognize somebody this season.
I am still in Las Vegas today, considerably more broke than six days ago, but none lost to gambling. We have had a wonderful experience traveling the Extraterrestrial Hwy and stopping for burgers at the A’Li’Inn. We will definitely return–minus one five year old who was a trooper for the 6 hour round trip. I saw my son jump 855 feet off the Stratosphere hotel, had a way tooexpensive lunch at Planet Hollywood, enjoyed a day of rides at Circus Circus with my daughter while the boys went paintballing. Today we will visit the Nuclear Museaum and Area 51 museum then do a little pan handling for food. Broke!!!
My blog tour is quickly coming to end and I thought it fit to end my “alien” themed vacation with Michelle who is publishing an alien themed book. See, I do put thought into things.
So, in honor of all things alien and scifi today I am writing about my nerdy side. The side that has attended two Star Trek conventions and can recite every original episode of Star Trek and thought Bones was kinda cute. Then came Star Wars and my first teenage girl crush, Han Solo. I mean, what a totally hottie. I used to listen to 80′s music and enact my wedding to Han Solo. It was beautiful.
Then, just when I thought all scifi hope was lost came X-Files. David Duchovny was my next crush and I just assumed someday we would be married. I was an X-Files addict except for the last season which wasn’t as awesome as the other seasons. And when that came to a roaring end I had nothing left.
Enter cable television’s SciFi network and all things unexplained, yet to be discover, and mutated. I love B-flicks!!! Oh, and I do look forward to Shark Week every year…coming August 12th.
So, to go back; waaaaaaay back. My very first genre of writing was scifi/horror. I think it was scifi, my mom thought it was horror. I remember my very first full length novel in 9th grade was about 150 pages long and revolved around my main character falling into a mirror and being caught in an alternate universe. After that came a story of a man who’s car broke down and got caught in a creepy mist where he met a little girl—who was dead. Sadly, these stories have all been done since. BUT, I had the ideas before anyone else and that is my claim to 9th grade fame.
Being around all things alien has been very inspiring and has conjured some wonderful ideas in my head about my next story. Granted it is not all alien, there are zombies and vampires embedded but only as ambience to the story at hand. I’m very excited to start writing and excited to start reading some good scifi alien books such as Michelle’s when it comes out.
BeStillNovel.com for more information on my current book release and for purchasing links
