Thinking of writing a book review?

Great points about authors reviewing authors from Jack Eason.

Jack Eason's avatarHave We Had Help?

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This post is aimed squarely at my fellow writers.

Since the act of reviewing a book was made available to every Tom, Dick or Harriet, and before you even think about writing one, there are a few things everyone needs to take into consideration before you hit the ‘Publish’ button.

To begin with, avoid spoilers (giving away the plot) like the plague. Next refrain from mentioning that you found errors in any given book, whether traditional or Indie published. It is extremely bad form. No one likes a smart arse endlessly droning on about it in every review they write, least of all the publisher and author of the work in question. To say the least, it becomes tiresome in the extreme. To that end there’s a highly appropriate saying which goes something like this – “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” In other words, unless…

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Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Poetry Challenge #Cinquain #Poetry #5lines

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The prompt words this week are Renew and Fresh. I chose to use improve for renew and shocking for fresh.

The idea for this particular Cinquain came from a recent critique session at Cambridge writers. I’d submitted the first draft of my prologue for Book Two. Not everyone is a fan of prologues so the comments were kind of… make it shorter…. so short it would be tiny. Dare I make it a four, five line prologue?  Anyone got any advice on tiny prologues?

I wrote this Cinquain with that in mind:

Copy of Cinquain

 

 

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/03/06/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-74-renew-fresh-snyonymsonly/

Hope you enjoyed my Cinquain…

Happy writing!

Bye for now,

 

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Link to buy: http://myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Authors Website: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com
Collaborative blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time

Facebook Authors/Bloggers Support Group:

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

 

Colleen Cheseboro’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge no. 73

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Sometimes you have to stop and take a photo! Isn’t this snowman so cute? I spotted him on Saturday in central Cambridge. I was out for a shopping day and this cheeky chappy caught my eye. It was the combination of his daft hairstyle and walking stick that did it. Those twigs are so perfectly perched on his head sweeping over his left eye and his walking stick is firmly planted in the ground. He means business. Ha ha! He really made me smile.

To celebrate his awesome cuteness I decided to write a Tanka especially for him…

For Mr. Snowman

This snowman’s vigour,

Frosty spirit caught my eye,

He winked, the snow fell,

His hairstyle melted my heart,

Sweet guy stay mine forever!

 

I used the synonyms vigour for power and spirit for energy.

To join in the challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/02/27/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-73-energy-knowledge-snyonymsonly/

Please feel free to comment or post your photos of snowmen in the comment field below.

Bye for now,

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Link to Buy Kindle copy of The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

My Social Media:

Authors Website: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com

Collaborative blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time

My Facebook Authors/Bloggers Support Group:

28109520_1584692061650961_905837144_n

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

An Open Invitation

Lisa Burton is looking for guests. Great opportunity to be interviewed by Lisa on Craig’s blog. Don’t let it slip.

coldhandboyack's avatarEntertaining Stories

Let’s start this post by recycling this graphic:

Lisa Burton

Long time followers know what this is all about, but I’m going to write about it for the new folks out there. I use my original character, Lisa Burton, to host an imaginary radio show on this blog. Lisa Burton Radio interviews the fictional characters from your books.

These are a bit of a collaborative effort; whereby, I get your notes and create the shtick. You fill in the blanks where your character would interact with Lisa. These post on Thursdays.

I didn’t have a guest this week, but I’m set for next week. I must have a dozen of these interviews in the mail in various stages right now, but they aren’t getting finished for whatever reason. Some folks get halfway through the process, then simply disappear.

I generally work up the shtick over the weekend and send it to you…

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#Review of Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

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Goodreads Synopsis

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?

 

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My review: 

I loved this from the moment I picked it up. There is so much to recommend reading Nevernight, especially if you are a YA Fantasy author. I loved the shadows, (of course I did,) the not cat, (Mr Kindly) and especially the kick-ass heroine, Mia who’s determined to avenge her father’s killers. Mia is spurred to revenge by witnessing the death of her father and the subsequent cruelty meted out to her remaining family members.

All the characters are so well defined – and I adore Tric. I know some readers develop book boy crushes and he’d be mine! Ha ha…

This is YA but there are some seriously sexy scenes which are written so well that my jaw dropped! Ha ha… If I ever want to write sexy scenes I better bookmark these!

The plot and world building are phenomenal. I was a little kind of oh, please tell me this is not happening…. by something that occurred towards the end of the novel, but no spoilers…

I wish I had read Nevernight before I started writing The Curse of Time as there are so many parallels that made me go WOW… SHADOWS..,. In A Massive YEAH WAY! It should be compulsory reading for all fantasy authors! It is exciting, sexy, bloody… yes expect some stabbing.  This is not a PG. Definitely a favourite. No doubt I will continue with this series and read Godsgrave.

Things to watch our for: 

Fantastic expressions… ‘Never flinch’ ‘Never fear. And never, ever forget.’ ‘When all is blood, blood is all.’ You might just find yourself saying ‘Maw’s teeth,’ a lot! I did! And ”Byss and blood’  I just loved these!

Oh, and I reckon Jay Kristoff’s favourite Nevernight twitter hashtag is  .

And this photo on his twitter page is so fabulous. It’s of a cosplayer in Germany.

My rating: A fabulous #stabstabstab five stars.

Jay Kristoff’s blog: https://jaykristoff.com/

More news: You can pre-order a signed copy of Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman’s Obsidio – The Illuminae Files: Book 3, Mar 14th via https://www.booktopia.com.au/obsidio-the-illuminae-files-book-3-amie-kaufman/prod9781925266726.html

Have you read Nevernight, and/or Godsgrave? Do let me know, let’s have a bookish chat about it….

 

Obsidio – The Illuminae Files : Book 3

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Link to buy the kindle copy of The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone:

myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

The pre-release blog tour for my YA novel begins in April with my #ABRSC club pals, followed by a release tour with Neverland Blog Tours. (Jenny Marston is also a #ABRSC member!) http://neverlandblogtours.weebly.com/

curse of time

Social Media:
Authors Website: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com
Collaborative blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time

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My Facebook Authors/Bloggers Support Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

Exciting Times For Facebook Author Pages

Exciting times for Facebook Author pages via Nicholas Rossis.

Nicholas C. Rossis's avatarNicholas C. Rossis

This is a guest post by Marina Gioti. You may remember this author power couple from my recent feature of their books. Marina is revealing how she’s using the much-maligned Facebook Author Pages in a novel way that allows her to boost her sales without having to pay for advertising!

Exciting Times For Facebook Author Pages

Exciting times lie ahead for Authors when it comes to promoting their books on social media! Apparently, Facebook and Goodreads have identified the need for tools specifically targeted to authors. They seem to be engaging in a race to become the best platform for authors and help them reach and engage their audience. So far, Facebook seems to be the most user-friendly, but Goodreads is more targeted.

As we all know, user profiles have better penetration and reach than a page in facebook, but they also have certain limitations, such as…

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Carrot Ranch Literary Community Flash Fiction Challenge No. 22

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Guidelines from Charli’s community:

February 22, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a unicorn. It can be realistic or fantastical. Go where the prompt leads.
Respond by February 27, 2018, to be included in the compilation (published February 28). Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
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Here is my entry for the prompt, (which I love – Unicorns!)  I knew instantly what to write… I had the idea engraved in these words from my Media Kit bio:

If the mood takes me I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

I don’t know if the Chinese Unicorn exists, or if it sings, but it’s nice to dream and to imagine! Also, I doubt if the Chinese Unicorn looks like this but it’s fun to play with Canva!

The Chinese Unicorn

 

 

The Chinese Unicorn Sings

I swear my workday wielded ferocious tentacles and claws, stressful, busy, so many demanding blood-sucking visitors. I stole a stranger’s smile and stapled it on my face. I tried to laugh but instead I swallowed down my tears. My anxiety had cranked up a helter-skelter notch. On my journey home, I discovered a brochure with an unusual invitation:
Visit The Chinese Unicorn Whose Magnificent Voice Sings Like A Thousand Wind Chimes.
I didn’t hesitate, I didn’t bother to say goodbye. When I heard the unicorn’s blissful melody, I wept. It wasn’t an interlude; it heralded the end of anxiety.

 

Sometimes tears can be happy ones!

 

To join in the challenge follow the link:

https://carrotranch.com/2018/02/22/february-22-flash-fiction-challenge/

Hope you enjoyed my flash fiction!

 

Bye for now,

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My Social Media:
Authors Website: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com
Collaborative blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time

Facebook – Authors/Bloggers Support Group #ABRSC: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

 

Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge No. 72 Breakthrough and Movement

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Sometimes you just have to pinch yourself. Colleen’s prompt words this week express my morning breakthrough in such a wonderful way. I’ve been writing my prologue for Book Two of The Curse of Time and I had a BREAKTHROUGH. The words flowed so effortlessly I wanted to do a happy dance. As I was beetling away writing the prologue I suddenly had an unexpected flash of inspiration. I’m going to start each new chapter – (Puzzle Piece,) with a Cinquian! Bring it on.

Wait a minute, I have no clue how to write a Cinquian. Never fear… Colleen is the Queen Bee of mentoring! She is a fabulous source of inspiration and her blog is full of useful   information, so without further ado, I popped over to read up on how to write a Cinquain.  I discovered there is a reverse Cinquian too. Boy, this is getting exciting! More happy dance! What a morning…

Here is a tiny excerpt (unseen until now!) about Cinquians from the first (unedited,) draft of the prologue of The Curse of Time – Book Two – Golden Healer:

I’m so stressed. My go to when I’m stressed is writing. Poetry. It’s my number one anxiety solution, a bunch of words in a tight format make me feel better. But somehow I don’t feel in the mood for Tanka. There have been too many weird changes for that. I need a new more challenging form of poetic expression. I’ve heard about Cinquian. It’s very formulaic, first line is the title, second line add two adjectives that describe the title, third line stick in three verbs that express action, fourth line are four words that shout out feeling or describe more and the fifth line takes it back to the beginning. Closure. That appeals. The fifth line is a synonym of the first line. Sounds good. If anything will take my mind off my present anxiety this will do it. I feel it in my gut. Cinquain. I like it. It sounds like a cash register. Not that I’m materialistic but I feel a Cinquian coming on. Bring it on!

So to my Cinquain. I’ve used synonyms – Quantum Leap and sign.

Employee Opinion Survey

 

That last line was a struggle. I had one of those ‘can I really do this moments.’ But I like a challenge so I didn’t give up. Then I found the word. Auspicious. Oh, I do like auspicious! I hope it brings me luck. 🙂

Any feedback for this novice Cinquian writer would be gratefully received.

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/02/20/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-72-breakthrough-movement-snyonymsonly/

Bye for now you lovely peeps,

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Date for your Diary! My paperback is due for release mid April. The pre-release blog tour begins in April with my #ABRSC club pals, followed by a release tour with Neverland Blog Tours. (Jenny Marston is also a #ABRSC member!) http://neverlandblogtours.weebly.com/

curse of time

My Social Media:
Authors Website: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com
Collaborative blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
Our Facebook Authors/Bloggers Support Group:

28109520_1584692061650961_905837144_n
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
Tumblr: http://mjmallonauthor.tumblr.com/

 

 

 

 

February 22: Flash Fiction Challenge

A great opportunity by Charli at Carrot Ranch Literary Community to be featured in her anthology. And the prompt is so awesome – Unicorns – how can I say no!