NaNoWriMo Spotlight: Dominique Goodall

Today I'd like to introduce you to a writer who is a good friend of mine: Dominique Goodall!

Dominique has participated and won NaNoWriMo since 2011, including Camp NaNoWriMo sessions in 2012 and 2013! She writes to be published, not just to get words down. She says "it's a good way for me to get disciplined and work to a schedule." Dominique found out about NaNo from her friend Jen, who I will be introducing below! Good old Jen nagged and nagged until Dominique agreed to come along for the ride. Way to go Jen! 

For this year's NaNoWriMo Dominique is working on the second book in a series, "so it's something that's got a backstory, but will let me grow as a writer still." When asked for NaNo advice she says "Make sure you build up writing when you can - go over the minimum when you can. If you miss a day, you don't need to worry then." Great advice!

Dominique is from the UK and is 24 years old. She is "absolutely, entirely, completely OBSESSED with wolves. Not just interested in them...OBSESSED." From studying her favorite author she has learned that "it's not always about finishing a manuscript. It's about learning your process while you do it."

To purchase Dominique's book Echoes of Winter or join her on her social media sites, check out these links:

https://www.facebook.com/EchoesofWinter?ref=ts&fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/DominiqueGoodallAuthor?fref=ts

http://dominiquegoodall.wordpress.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5756927.Dominique_Goodall

https://twitter.com/DomGoodall

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echoes-Winter-Seasons-Wolf-ebook/dp/B00AMR9W1Y

http://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Winter-Seasons-Wolf-ebook/dp/B00AMR9W1Y

NaNoWriMo Spotlight: Sara Devaney

Today I'd like to welcome Sara Devaney to my blog! Thanks for visiting Sara! Tell us about your NaNoWriMo experience.

My name is Sara, I am 28 years old, and I have been participating in NaNoWriMo for about 4 years. I have completed one novel and am hoping to get my last year's novel published soon. I found out about NaNoWriMo through my friend Jeannie. She was doing it and thought it would be fun if she and I, along with her friend Christina, would have fun writing and giving each other tips and advice. This year's novel is pretty awesome. Half of it takes place in 2013 and the other half takes place during the Renaissance period. It also takes place at a Renaissance Faire. The best advice I can give is to have fun and do a ton of research. Google and Ask are your best friends - trust me. I collect giraffes (I have about 15 of them), horses (I have 25 of them), candles (got about 26 of them) and books (no idea how many I have, lol)! I've learned that it's okay to be yourself and submerge yourself in your story.

Awesome, Sara! Good luck with your work this month, it sounds like a great story! To learn more about this writer visit Sara's Author Page.

NaNoWriMo Spotlight: Nicole Wells

November! My favorite month of every year! Actually, I like to cross out the word "November" on my calendar and replace it with "NaNoWriMo!" Because that's really what it is to me. So, while I'm writing away this month, I thought I'd spotlight a bunch of other authors who have joined me for this thirty-day trek of awesome craziness! People from all over the world participate in NaNoWriMo, and one of my favorite things about it is meeting authors from all different places and backgrounds, so follow my blog throughout November to meet some fantastic writers!

For today's author, please welcome Nicole Wells! I first met Nicole during last year's NaNoWriMo and we had a blast! We've become good friends, and she even beta read my first published book, Through the Paper Wall.

Have you participated in NaNaNoWriMo before? If so, how many years? Have you won? 
2013 will be my second year in Nano and I won last year! This is your chance to tell us a bit about your Nano experience. Are you new and nervous? Are you wanting to be published, or just playing for fun? Seasoned and ready? Tell us! 
I am a bit nervous about this year as I am now working and am enrolled in school for the month of November. I am already looking forward to Thanksgiving break so I can get a good chunk of writing done. This novel is one I would love to get published. Last years was a very long fanfiction. I have begun planning out what I would like to happen in the novel, and getting to know my main characters. Though, knowing my writing style, I will probably divert from the plan into the second chapter. How did you find out about NaNo and why did you decide to do it? I found out about NaNo through a friend who also writes, and said I should at least try it. It took me two years after she said that for me to actually do it. I decided to participate to try my hand at writing and see if I was any good at the writing thing. What type of story do you plan on writing this year, and what have you done in the past? 
This year will be a mystery/ adventure novel in which the mystery dates back to the Civil War era. In the past I have written fanfictions mostly.
For seasoned participants: what advice would you give?
Advice would be to have as much fun as you can. Go to write ins, participate in the Facebook group, stock up on your snack cupboard before it starts, and just go with the flow. You can always edit the novel after the month is over. Where are you from and what is your age/age group?
From Charleston, SC and am 22. Tell us one thing that is totally unique to you. What makes you different?
One unique thing? Only one? I am a huge fangirl of what would be characterized as nerdy things. Currently most in love with the Marvel universe and all it has to offer. Also, I tend to write a character that is basically me, into each story that I write. They are never a main character, but usually appear in a scene or two. It is like my own personal cameo. What is something you’ve learned about writing from your favorite author? One of my favourite writing tips is from F. Scott Fitzgerald: "You must begin by making notes. You may have to make notes for years…. When you think of something, when you recall something, put it where it belongs. Put it down when you think of it. You may never recapture it quite as vividly the second time."

It's been great to get to know you Nicole! Good luck with your novel, it sounds great!

Just in Time For Halloween

Around this time of year we tend to enjoy the spookier aspects of life more than we normally would, so this book is perfect for right now! Not only does it tell a wonderful and suspenseful story, but it also explores the frighting power that governing bodies can obtain and hold over other people. To say I wasn't at least a little freaked out by what goes on in this story would be a lie, so I'm sharing it with you, just in time for Halloween!

K.D. Emerson has this to say to her readers.

Thanks to all the readers of my work and for your precious input. I don’t think you realize how much it means to me. Each one of you has given me a gift with your kind words. May God bless you in every step you take and may your life be filled with that glorious peace that passes all understanding.

~What Readers are saying ~

·         This book has a fascinating storyline and great characters with hidden talents. When I got to the end, I kept trying to flip to the next page before I realized it was a cliffhanger. No! I MUST know what happens next! ~ Laurie Boris

·         Looking for fantastic characters and a breath-holding, heart-pounding, hair-raising edge of your seat good time? Then look no further, Digitus 233 has it all ~ Maria

·         This knocked The Hunger Games right out of the running for me (and that's one of my favorites!) ~ Dominique

·         This sort of tale-spinning takes TALENT! All I've gotta say is this: KD - you'd better get the sequel written pretty darn quickly...!! ~ Liberty

·         Digitus 233 is an excellent example of an author whose characters look and sound real, and whose behaviour - while not always exemplary - rings true to me ~ Lynette

·         If you're a teacher, this is a book that is sure to capture the interest of your entire class! If you're a parent with a reluctant reader, I'd definitely suggest downloading this book to get him/her interested in reading! ~ Anne

Head on over and grab your own $.99 copy by clicking the picture below! 

Book Spotlight: "The Warrior," by Ty Patterson

If you enjoy reading thrillers from the likes of Lee Child,James Patterson, David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, and Robert Crais, you will enjoy The Warrior.

When Private Military Contractor Zeb Carter witnesses gruesome crimes in the Congo, he can’t just walk away.

Plagued by the scale of the crimes and the helplessness of the victims, he is bent on his own private justice. With Broker by his side, a maverick intelligence analyst, Zeb soon realizes that this time he has come up against an adversary who is utterly ruthless...and perhaps more than a match for him.

What transpires is a fast pace gripping journey that stretches from the Congo to New York, into the world of corrupt politics, influential politicians who want him dead, and government agencies who are against him.

This breakneck paced read is an edge-of-your-seat,exothermic thrill machine, with a plot so full of surprises  it will carry your imagination long beyond the final word.

Don't read this book if you have deadlines to meet. It melts time and will make you miss them!

Check out these stunning reviews:

"What a great book! It has been a long time since I have had a book keep me on the edge! I found I couldn't put it down. If you are a Jack Reacher fan then this book is for you. It's good to know there are still authors out there who appeal to the Warrior in all of us! Ty is a great author and I look forward to the sequel!!"

"Love this book!! It had me hooked the second I started reading it! gripping and intense action!! I hope Ty Patterson has more books on the way!!"

"Gripping from the very beginning. Fast paced and will draw you in. A true action and suspense novel! Would love to see a spin off of any of the colorful characters in this book. Broker for one, or see Rory later in life! Loved it, and the opening to The Reluctant Warrior looks to be equally thrilling!"

I will start off by saying I grew up in a law enforcement family; I now also work in the field and as horrible as it sounds and in reality is it, it takes a lot to get to me; Mr. Patterson manages to do just that. The Warrior "had me on the edge of my seat. This fast paced thriller left me hoping there was more but still satisfied with the end. I have already recommended it to everyone in my family and those I work with; anyone who enjoys a good gripping book should get this, clear some time to sit, and be fully immersed in the world of Major Zeb Carter."

Get your copy by following one of these links!

http://amzn.to/14TGB5m
http://amzn.to/YdAftk

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Ty discovered reading at an early age and the backs of cereal cartons were frequently part of his reading diet. And so were the labels on toilet paper rolls... but let's not dwell there.

His journey to being a writer took him to selling tea to street side stalls, selling exotic leather goods, living by

the side of railway tracks, and living on a couple of continents.

He took to writing at an early age - writing pieces of humor and fiction, some of which are yet to see the light of day and others that got published in journals that are now deader than the T-Rex.

Ty started writing The Warrior on a challenge by his better half and son. Ty set a bigger challenge for himself - to write a thriller that would stay in readers' minds long beyond the last word - fueled by just the power of the black word on a white page.

Ty feels blessed that readers have taken to the The Warrior and is now writing a sequel.

Ty is privileged that his wife and son shape their lives to accommodate his writing. They also humor his ridiculous belief that he is in charge.

Ty plays most racquet sports with a great deal of enthusiasm and a lot less ability. If you're looking for a playing partner whose ass you want to whup, Ty is your man.

To learn more visit Ty's social media sites:

https://twitter.com/pattersonty67
Blog: http://pattersonty.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTyPatterson

Read Something Great This Halloween!

Halloween is right around the corner, which means many of us are filling as many minutes as possible with the freaky, the strange, and the haunted. Here's a story that's perfect for this spooky time of year, and it is only $.99!

In early July 2013, the following news article made headlines: "Possibility of First Head Transplant Fraught with Ethical and Medical Dilemmas." Are head transplants really in our near future, and what will that mean for mankind? Dante Marando understands that the human body is fragile. With recent medical advances, he's certain scientists will soon be able to keep healthy people alive for longer stretches of time, and he is determined to be a part of history in the making. Is Dante interested in helping mankind thrive, or is he only looking out for himself?

Get your own copy of this great short story here! 

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S.L. Wallace is an upper elementary Montessori teacher and life long writer who is a descendant of the famous William Wallace. Like him, she believes in freedom and independence. Unlike him, she fights her battles with the pen. When asked what her favorite genre is for a rainy day, Wallace says "It's a tie between historical fiction and science fiction because I enjoy learning about the past as well as imagining the future." To learn more about the author and her work head to http://slwallace.com/.

What I Learned from Maggie Stiefvater

Last week I had the great pleasure to hear from a best selling author that many of you may know: Maggie Stiefvater, author of The Scorpio Races, among many other books. My coworker and friend Lyndsi and I joined with a bunch of other starstruck ladies in the cutest little courtyard I'd ever seen. Actually, there was one guy there. That's right, one. He was surrounded by middle aged women, teenage girls, ladies with small children, and even a woman who was crocheting away at something that looked like a dish scrubber. The courtyard was hidden behind the most wonderful adorable little bookshop.

Before letting you in on some of Maggie's great thoughts on writing, here are some fun things I learned about her while I was there: She has fainting goats (if you don't know what these are you absolutely need to look them up), she used to be a portrait artist, and she was a competitive bagpipe player in college. Cool!

The whole program ran so nicely. The author spoke to us for a while, feeding us with fabulous stories, then she read part of her newest book, using audience members as characters in the story to voice some of the characters. It was brilliant! Then she allowed for questions. That's where I heard a lot of things that I love. Here's what I wrote down for you all:

• Critique partners. Maggie highly suggests having these. It's hard to exchange ideas in baby form (less than 10K words). You can "support your thesis" by 10K. At that point, send it to your critique partner to get their thoughts. Don't use just any old person. Use other writers who like to read. 
• Don't ever give up on your dreams. When Maggie was young she wanted to be an author more than anything. It was a long and bumpy road. The first story she ever wrote started with the line "It like, hugs the road!" and it was about two Scottish terriers who were test driving a red Porsche! Haha. As you continue to write, you get better. Thirty finished and unfinished books had been written before Maggie ever had her first book published, a number which she says is typical. It is very common to be rejected about 30 times. Something she said that I REALLY loved: When she wrote the book that would be her first published novel it felt palpably different. It was something she knew that only she could write. It was uniquely hers. 
• On the topic of research: She only researches connections. The ideas she explores, like the water horses in The Scorpio Races, came from mythology and folklore that she had loved and studied as a child. 
• Characters: Instead of creating characters out of nowhere Maggie bases hers on real people. 

Great stuff! I wish I could have written down everything she said. Hopefully you've gained some new insight, as I did. To finish up, here are some pictures of the amazing bookstore and the event! 

Maggie - slideshow