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Showing Tag: "authors" (Show all posts)

Turning Plight into Writing Inspiration by contributor Eve Simkins

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, In : Guest Posts 

Being plagued by an addiction is usually associated with misery and sadness. In the creative arts though an affliction is often the spark that fuels authors to create the marvelous pieces of work we are familiar with. The reasons for addiction differ from one person to the next, but for past authors though it seemed to be a way for them to quieten the world surrounding them and enabled them a focus. Many writers have turned their addictive plight into a way to engage an area of their brain ...


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Turning Demons into Literary Inspiration

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, In : Guest Posts 
by contributor, Eve Pearce

There is something intrinsically captivating about the down and out character who is on the edge of falling into a pit of either a drug-induced terror, an abusive past or a variety of other demons. The demise of these characters is perhaps what is so intriguing. The juxtaposition of these worlds, which are more often than not being identifiable to our own by not being far removed from the everyday, whilst also having that edge, which is different to what co-exists ...


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Army of Worn Soles: Book Launch Blog Tour @ScottTheWriter, Prizes to be Won!

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, June 26, 2014,


The Army of Worn Soles launch blog tour continues! Read to the end for the clue that will help you win the Grand Prize of a signed paperback copy of Army of Worn Soles plus a $50 Amazon gift card. If you collect all the clues and put them in the right order, they’ll make a sentence. Send the sentence to the author for a chance to win and autographed paperback copy of Army of Worn Soles plus a gift certificate from Amazon.

For a chance to enter the early-bird draw, enter the clue at the b...


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New Release: Army of Worn Soles by Scott Bury

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, June 6, 2014,


1941: Their retreat across Ukraine wore out their boots—and they kept going.

Three months after drafting him, the Soviet Red Army throws Maurice Bury, along with millions of other under-trained men, against the juggernaut of the biggest invasion in the history of warfare: Nazi Germany’s Operation Barbarossa, the assault on the USSR.

Maurice sees that his job as Lieutenant is to keep his “boys”—the men of his anti-tank unit—alive as they retreat from the unstoppable Panzers and...


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Interview with Author, Richie Earl

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, April 25, 2014, In : Author Interviews 



Tell us about your latest book.

My Latest book, Return to Finndragon's Den, was released last year and is the second and final book in the Tales of Finndragon fantasy series. The story began with The Legend of Finndragon's Curse which revolves around two sisters and a brother, Emma, Megan and Scott Davies, (based upon my own children) whose father has mysteriously disappeared. They live in a Welsh valley town called Crafanc y Ddraig.

For centuries, the inhabitants of Crafanc y Ddraig have...


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Author Richie Earl

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, April 24, 2014,


Richie Earl is the writer of fantastical fantasy adventures. Earl's first series, Tales of Finndragon, is a two part adventure which started life as a bedtime story for his three children, who nagged him so much that he finally agreed to write a book. Only one book was intended, but Earl came to realise that a second was required.

Earl was offered a publishing contract from a small Welsh press, but after much deliberation and discussion with the publisher, decided not to accept the offer. ...


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Being a girl in a Sikh family can be a real killer

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, April 10, 2014,

Red Bride's Noose by Alexandra Swistak

Camille Hayer should be preparing for a job interview—not ordered to pack her bags for  a cousin’s wedding in rural Orissa. India is the last place on earth she would go to willingly; it’s where her sister disappeared thirteen years ago.
 
On arrival, Camille’s bag is brutally snatched and her family is more concerned about catching a train. No ticket, no passport, and adapting to third world conditions is the least of her worries when a bod...


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What Made Oscar Wilde Great, a guest post by Bradley Taylor

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, February 7, 2014, In : Guest Posts 

Oscar Wilde has attained worldwide critical acclaim as one of the most proficient, insightful and exceedingly witty authors of his generation. He is celebrated globally for his literary prowess and remains one of the most widely read and translated authors in the English language. Therefore, what better way to demonstrate Wilde's literary greatness than through his own words? Listed below are some of Wilde's most memorable quotes; seeped in his famous wit and formidable intellectual insight...


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Announcing Changes In Betrayed, the novel by Wodke Hawkinson

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, February 5, 2014,


After we published our novel Betrayed, a reader inspired us to write an alternate ending. We started at Chapter 49 and took the story in an entirely different direction. This extra release was titled Betrayed - Alternate Ending. After some time had passed, we then decided we should put together a book with both the original story and the alternate ending in one publication. This we called Betrayed Includes Alternate Ending. So, we had three books with Betrayed in the title. Very confusing.

...
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Help Rebecca Scarberry @Scarberryfields Choose Her New Book Cover - Please Vote

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, January 25, 2014,

Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields on Twitter) needs your help. As you can see, the font is different on each cover. Which one looks best? Please vote on one of the covers below for book two in her Jumper series of children's picture books by using the comments section at the end of the post:

1.


2.


3. 


BOOK DESCRIPTION:

JUMPER BOUNCES BACK (Book two in the Jumper series of children’s picture books)

Jumper, a big red, humorous beach ball, is back sharing his adventures. Will he find hi...


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99 Cent Ebook Sale Oct 21 - 25!

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, October 21, 2013,




The eBooks below are only 99¢ each from October 21-25. A few are always 99¢, but most are being offered at this special price for a limited time. They represent some of the best work from a dozen diverse authors. Click on each ad to be taken to the US Kindle store for that book. There are many different genres to choose from, so be sure to scroll all the way down to see them all. Fill your Kindle!












































































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Beginning Monday (Oct. 21): Huge 99¢ eBook Sale!

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, October 20, 2013,


Big news! From October 21st through the 25th (Monday-Friday), a dozen authors will have a combined total of 28 eBooks on sale for just 99¢! This is a great opportunity to fill up your Kindle for the long winter months ahead. There will be books for all tastes, so be sure to visit http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/2013/10/beginning-monday-oct-21-huge-99-sale.html on Monday to see the full list!

 

Participating Authors:

Tara S. Wood

Alexia Purdy

Penelope Childs

Michael K. Rose

C.L. ...


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Goodreads Giveaway of BETRAYED by @WodkeHawkinson

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, September 27, 2013,

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Betrayed by Wodke Hawkinson

Betrayed

by Wodke Hawkinson

Giveaway ends October 25, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win


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The Boots My Mother Gave Me (ANNIVERSARY Edition) Release & Book Blog Tour

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, September 17, 2013,

Join in as Brooklyn James (author/singer/songwriter) celebrates the 3 year anniversary of her smash hit The Boots My Mother Gave Me. In recognition of this event, a new version with re-designed cover and additional epilogue has been released. As a special thank you to her fans, Brooklyn is offering e-copies of The Boots My Mother Gave Me for the special limited price of $1.99 at Amazon.com




The Boots My Mother Gave Me – Brooklyn James

‘Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ...


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Interview With Author, Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields)

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, August 13, 2013, In : Author Interviews 

Was there a significant event that prompted you to write fiction?

Rebecca: Thank you for interviewing me again. I had an idea for a novel when I was twenty-one-years old, but I never could find the time to write it. When I was thirty-seven-years old, my husband and I were reading a lot of books regarding paranormal activity in the United States. We wrote a screenplay. During final edit, a very similar movie hit the ‘big screen’. I then threw it away. My husband and I went through a t...


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Top Places In America To Have A Writing Holiday

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, August 9, 2013,

A guest post by Aimey Lewis

Writing is an activity that requires a quiet and secluded environment, free from disturbances and interruptions. Many artistic writers have their own places or rooms which they have specifically designed for writing purposes alone. A writer cannot get information to write about without travelling to different places across the world where they can get first-hand inspirational and historic stories to write about. Writing in the same place and a room all over throu...


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An Interview With Author Kerri Farrell Foley - @KerriFFWriter

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, August 9, 2013, In : Author Interviews 

Tell us about your novel, “In the Margins”

A modern love-hate story, “In the Margins” is written in alternating viewpoints, finding rhythm and complexity in the he-said-she-said decay of a relationship. As undergraduate students, Allie and Liam clashed in a careless and irreparable way. Years later, they come together again in an attempt to rehash their history. Their mutual truth then becomes clear: all stories need to be told, if only for the sake of emerging from between the lin...


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5 Best Places To Travel For Writing Inspiration, a guest post

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, In : Guest Posts 
Whether you travel halfway around the world, or simply take a quick trip to the next town or city over, taking a trip to a new locale can jostle you out of a writer’s block. Getting out of your usual space and exploring new places serves as inspiration and generates new ideas.
There are destinations throughout the world that are renowned for jumpstarting the imagination and have served as the backdrop for many a writer looking to finish a piece or hone their craft.
Here are the best cities ...

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How The Indie Author Revolution Has Impacted Traditional Publishing? A guest post

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

The Indie author revolution has totally taken over the traditional publishing. It has made publishing more self sufficient, self starting, inspirational, entertaining, thought leading, educational, etc. But there are many nay Sayers who try not to let the indie authors come into limelight. Various book sellers as well as reviewers don’t even look at the self published work and say that it’s a part of their company policy.

But all this does not hamper the growth of indie authors even t...


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How Writers Can Use Twitter for Promo, a guest post

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, May 18, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

These days social networking websites are on boom to get connected with people. Amongst all social websites twitter is one of the popular networking sites for instant messaging system. Using twitter you get to connect with the people you know and the people you would like to know. Twitter is used for various reasons, one of the common reasons are promotion. In order to become a good promoter, you will have to be a good twitterer that the people will love to follow you and tweet your post.

...
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Most Effective Tips on Beating Writer’s Block, a guest post

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, May 10, 2013, In : Guest Posts 



Since childhood days, we have been hearing that books are our best friends and they are. Most of us like to read books of various types. Getting access to a book is very easy nowadays. One can access to any books, old or new through the net very easily.  Books broaden our views and they help us to perceive things differently.

Most of the writes have to face writer’s block at some point of time. There are many reasons for that. One may have some personal problems or it could be some sort...


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How We Do Twitter

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, May 1, 2013,

We were excited when we discovered Twitter and learned how to use it to promote our material. We’ve “met” a lot of terrific friends there and connected with fellow authors and readers alike. Since we started, we’ve developed our own method for using this wonderful social tool. Here it is in a nutshell:

When we get a new follower, we read the profile and then scroll down through the timeline. If we see they regularly retweet others, we follow them back and add them to our private ...


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How to Make a Writing Space in Your Home

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, April 18, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

~A guest post by Bridget Sandorford

Whether you write for pleasure or you write professionally, it's important to have a space in your home to call your own where you can write. Having your own writing space can help you to feel relaxed and inspired so you can produce your best work.

However, space may be at a premium in your home, and you may not be able to just claim a room and declare it your own. Here are a few tips for how you can make a writing space in your home regardless of ...


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Words that Are Most Often Misused, a Guest Post by Alexis Bonari

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, In : Guest Posts 


Spell check can't save you from yourself. You can't rely on those little squiggly red and blue lines (the blue ones for grammar issues) to save you from misusing words or even from misspelling them (since you could just end up spelling a new word from your misspelling). You have to learn proper usage to make sure you don't make gaffes that could derail your writing or make you seem like an amateur.

Don't worry though: The mistakes that you are likely making are the same ones that a lot o...


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Interview With Author Brooklyn James - New Release! LET IT GO

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, March 25, 2013,

In the past, Brooklyn, you've written across genres (coming of age, women's fiction, supernatural thriller, nonfiction). How would you classify your upcoming release, Let It Go?

          Let It Go is a feel-good contemporary romance about two divorcées starting over. One divorcé and one divorcée, if you want to get gender-technical...lol. It's a laid-back, easy, breezy, fun spring/summer read. Perfect for the season. 

Two divorcées? That's probably something many readers can relate t...


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Vinnie Did This - a short fiction challenge

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, March 24, 2013,

This story was written for an alphabet challenge and previously published on another site. The challenge was to start each sentence with a letter of the alphabet, using each one in order, beginning with J. Written by Wodke Hawkinson.

 

Jail wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Killers and perverts ran amok. Learning to stay out of their way wasn’t easy. Meaty hands reached through the bars attempting to grab new prisoners as they were brought in.

Never again,” I swore under my br...


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Cover Reveal - One Shade of Red by Scott Bury

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, March 21, 2013,


Women want the perfect man, so they can change him. But when university student Damian Serr discovers a rich, beautiful woman who’s voracious about sex, he doesn’t try to improve on perfection. It’s all that he can do to hold on for the ride.

Damian has always followed the rules, always tried to please others. At 20, he still dates the girl next door because his parents like her parents. When Nick, his university roommate, asks Damian to take over his pool-cleaning business so he can...


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What Is In A Short Story?

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, March 21, 2013,

There is often more to a short story than meets the eye. For readers, a short story is a brief vacation from reality. For authors, it is so much more. A short story is a vehicle for introducing your writing to new readers, readers who might not commit to an entire novel but would certainly give a short story a chance. With so many books out there vying for attention, readers have more choice than ever before. Digital books, self-publishing, and expanded venues are all factors that combine t...


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You’ve written a novel; now what? Interview with author Rita Plush

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, March 9, 2013, In : Author Interviews 


Tell us something about your novel.

Lily Steps Out is a middle-age coming-of-age about a woman who is sick of making beds and cooking meals and decides to “step out” of the comfortable life she knows and goes out and gets a job. 

Is the novel autobiographical?

        There is that one nugget of truth in the novel, in that before I became an author I was a wife and mother. But unlike Lily, who waits till she’s fifty five to make that life-altering change, I stepped out of that rol...


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Boomer Lit, a New Genre, is Stalking the Net! -A guest post by @claudenougat

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

   

A guest post by Claude Nougat

Never heard of Boomer lit? It all began at the end of last year. On 5 December 2012, Boomer Café published an article predicting that Boomer Lit would be The Next Big Genre aimed at boomers – all 77.5 million of them in the US alone, many more if you counted in the rest of the world. The article was picked up by major, highly trafficked websites like The Passive Voice and Gawker Media, and within a week, it went viral. Sure, some people were unhappy at the...


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The Despicably Despicable Despicableness of Adverbs

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, February 24, 2013,
anger,angry,anime,avatars,cropped images,cropped pictures,faces,females,girls,kids,manga,means,people,persons,PNG,teenagers,teens,transparent backgrounds,upset,women
All along, we thought the road to Hell was paved with good intentions. Fortunately, Stephen King cleared up that misconception. Apparently, it’s actually paved with adverbs. Actually is an adverb. I may be doomed; I like the word ‘actually’. But that’s off-point.

Adverbs are a no-no in writing. It’s an argument that has been pounded home. Repeatedly. Like spices, adverbs must be used sparingly. Now, there is a bit of irony, for ‘sparingly’ is itself an adverb.


But, do we use adver...

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Time Management Tips for Online Writing Instructors

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, February 21, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

businesses,businessmen,communication devices,Communications,computers,computing,laptop computers,males,men,office equipment,offices,paperwork,people,persons,technology,work,working,workplaces

-A guest post by Ken Myers

Teaching an online writing course has its benefits but the one thing that instructors often run into is their ability to make time to really sit down and work on the course. Other courses and life seem to get in the way, so here are some tips to help you make the time:

Prepare: Before you sit down to log onto your online course make sure that you are prepared mentally and that you have all the right tools to complete your tasks as the instructor. Chances are...


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YA Beta Readers, a Guest Post by Rebecca Scarberry @Scarberryfields

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, February 15, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

A while back, I saw an author of adult fiction tweeting about how hard it was for her to go from writing for adults to young adults. I thought back to when I had written Messages from Henry, a novella for young adults.  That story began as a 1500 word short story for a short story contest. I didn’t win, but I decided to expand the story anyway.  It’s a story about a homing pigeon, Henry. He has special abilities.

At that time, I didn’t have internet service in my home. I would take ...


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WISH UPON A STONE…THE BEGINNING, a Guest Post by C D SIMMONS @whoscindylou

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, February 15, 2013, In : Guest Posts 


What was it that turned me and made me decide to give writing a try? Let me see if I can get this story started.

In the beginning…no...wait, that has already been done, start over.

Once upon a time…no, no, that is just crazy, what are you trying to do?

There once was a …*sigh* this is not working. Just try again.

*tapping chin with fingertip* Oh, okay, I think I have it.

Hey, welcome, come meet the voices in my head.  Yep that about sums it up.

I have always been hooked on...


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New Release & Cover Reveal: SUE, a sequel to ZEKE by @WodkeHawkinson

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, February 13, 2013,

We hadn’t originally planned to do a sequel to our novel, Zeke. However, the response we received from a number of readers indicated that a sequel was in order. And we, too, wondered how Sue would recover from the damage Zeke inflicted upon her, both physically and emotionally. So, we set to work writing the aftermath of her ordeal with Zeke. It was a good experience for us. When writing Zeke, we disliked his character so much, we often procrastinated working on the book. We did not have ...


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Interview With Author, Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields )

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, February 7, 2013, In : Author Interviews 

1: Why did you join the social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook?

Rebecca: I obtained my very first computer two and a half years ago because I had handwritten a novel. I knew I needed help with it, but didn’t know where to turn. I knew how to work a computer a little bit at the time, but it’s been a struggle. I pestered many authors on Twitter and Facebook for help. I feel bad about this, but I love to read and figured if I read enough of their books, wrote reviews, and tweeted a...


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Why I Write, a Guest Post by Tony Nesca

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, February 1, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

So…the other day I went for a walk, late afternoon, early grey settling in, everything looking grim and happy at the same time, wondering why I write, why would I, or anyone else, put words down on paper, for what bizarre, perverted, self-possessed reason would anyone give a damn what I have to say?

   Sun was low and dirty and I couldn’t help but notice the fall colors dancing around like it was all there in perfect symmetry, all reason and rhyme and beauty and magic, the orange ...


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Into the Zone: Fitness Challenges for Writers, a guest post by Evelyn Birchall

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, January 24, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

In late October last year, the youngest ever world champion in swimming and nine-time Olympic gold medalist, Ian Thorp, released his biography, This is Me. The Aussie sensation had shocked the sporting world when, in 2006 (at the age of 24), he turned his back on his much beloved sport at the pinnacle of his career, owing to an identity crisis: “What would I be if I didn't’ have swimming as the safety blanket it had become?” he asked himself. Thorp also struggled with depression, a dise...


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Independent Authors & Blog Tours, A Guest Post by Evelyn Birchall

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, January 17, 2013, In : Guest Posts 

In the fast moving world of the digital age, blog tours aren’t an especially new idea; The New York Times was reporting one author’s journey back in 2007. They are however becoming increasingly commonplace and important, especially with the recent huge leaps forward in self-publishing and the competitiveness of the marketplace. It is no surprise that this is a tactic commonly used by some of the more established authors, as well as those trying to get their first effort noticed.

How ...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Nephylim

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, January 13, 2013, In : Author Interviews 

 

Here we are again, asking the hard-hitting questions other interviewers ignore. In this interview, talented author Nephylim is subjected to a ludicrous but penetrating interrogation. Here are her candid answers:

1. Steve Harris’s right hand?

Definitely not. It’s a… new kind of fish fingers, without the fish. What are you doing, poking about in my freezer, anyway?
(I was following some ill-gained advice.  -K)

2. A vampire, a gargoyle, and a werewolf walk into a bar. . .

...
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The Three C's of Collaboration* - Coauthors

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, January 2, 2013,

By Wodke Hawkinson

A lot of elements go into a successful co-writing experience. But there are three basic considerations that will apply to almost any type of writing collaboration.

Compatibility

When working with a writing partner, compatibility is very important, not only between writing styles but also in regard to your personalities, your work ethic, your expectations and goals, and your approaches to conflict resolution.

We are fortunate to have been friends long before we became c...


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Written Acts of Kindness Award Goes to @Scarberryfields #writtenkindness

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, December 29, 2012,
Written Acts of Kindness Badge

We found this wonderful award on the website of Cate Russell-Cole. She says, "Success never comes solely from your own efforts. There are always others along the way who give you a hand up; encourage you; or give you that resource, or piece of advice you never could have done without. When someone inspires you, or if you see someone who is using their writing gift to help others, please take the time to thank them publicly by giving them this award..."

With these sentiments in mind, we’d...


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The confluence of inspiration: NaNoWriMo and Fifty Shades of Grey

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, December 29, 2012, In : Guest Posts 
A guest post by Scott Bury



I just finished writing my second novel, and thought I’d share the process with other writers.

As usual with me, the inspiration to write this book came from more than one place. The first is the phenomenal success of Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James. I have read, somewhere, that it outsells the Bible worldwide.

Reaction to it is extreme: people either love it or hate it, with little in-between. I bought a copy for my lovely wife, Roxanne, last spring (really! ...


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Great News for Readers from Author, Brad Cameron!

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, December 28, 2012, In : Guest Posts 



Author, Brad Cameron, is offering a "Holiday Special" for his series, The Zeke Proper ChroniclesNow through January 4th, Book One, Odin's Light and Book Two, The Serpent's Ship of The Zeke Proper Chronicles are only $0.99 on eBook for Amazon. A lot of fantastic reading for a very affordable price!

Get your copies at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=odins+light. 

If you haven't already, check them out and don't forget to write a ...


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The Independent Authors International iAi holiday book Extravaganza

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, December 13, 2012,


You’re an awesome gifter — you got someone special a brand new e-reader. But what’s a great e-reader without great reads?

Just in time for the holidays — Independent Authors International brings six great books from six great, independent authors for just 99 cents each.


On Unfaithful Wings, by Bruce A. Blake —

Icarus Fell was alive, then he was dead, now he’s stuck somewhere in between. Icarus Fell is a harvester, brought back to Earth by the archangel Michael to collect soul...


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Two Flash Fiction Pieces by Wodke Hawkinson - Thwarted & Unthwarted

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, December 3, 2012,


In a fiery pit, in the depths of the earth, creation had begun. The Demons, Corruption and Deceit, vomited their spirit onto a growing mass of evil. Two other hellish fiends, Hate and Destruction, voided their bowels, adding to the mixture. Demon after demon provided its own special talents until finally they had all contributed.

Their dark lord entered the cavern. With a thunderous laugh he passed his hand over the vile mess, uttered ancient words, and stood back as his creation came to l...


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VIGILARE Book Trailer - Watch the Video!

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, November 30, 2012, In : Guest Posts 
A guest post by Brooklyn James. Originally published at: http://brooklynjamesblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/vigilare-book-trailer-watch-video.html


BOOK TRAILERS are a relatively new concept, following the promotional success of the movie trailer. Without a movie trailer, advertised on national television, how else would we know of the latest blockbuster or quiet Indie film coming to a theater near us?

By virtue of movie trailers, we get an average of two and a half minutes to determine whether t...


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BETRAYED on Cyber Monday

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, November 26, 2012,

There was Black Friday and then Small Business Saturday, but upon us now is Cyber Monday for online shopping deals. Our contribution to the cause is our most popular novel, Betrayed. We are lowering the price on digital copies to just 99 cents for one day only.

Here are the links for Betrayed:

Amazon Kindle

Barnes & Noble Nook

Smashwords

We’d also like to remind readers that we have a companion publication to the novel which features an alternate ending. It is cleverly titled Bet...


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Great Books for Toddlers, a guest post by Allison Foster

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, November 5, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

The toddler years are an important age to share your love of books and reading with your child. These are the formative years where children get the foundation that will last them the rest of their lives. The memories you form with your children during the toddler years can have a huge impact on their future. With that in mind, the reading choices you make are very important. You should, of course, read to your children on a regular basis. This not only gives them memories, it also help...


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Once Upon A Twisted Time - Fairy Tales for Grownups!

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, October 31, 2012,


      This is the official release day of Once Upon A Twisted Time, the first anthology from Moon Rose Publishing! A collection of dark adult fairy tales, these stories will turn your idea of what a fairytale should be on its head! From Steampunk to Fantasy, there is something for everyone in this fantastic collection of four novellas. The novellas are based upon The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow White, and Beauty and the Beast-see if you can work out which one is which! It is now availa...


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Balloon Animals by Jonathan Dunne

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, In : Guest Posts 
-A guest post. We've invited author Jonathan Dunne to tell us about his new book:


Balloon Animals is 299 pages of comic fiction, quirky, funny and touching.  It’s a novel that readers will love or hate. It is a breath of fresh air in the stale atmosphere of tired generic thrillers. I write from the gut and that’s where the comic element comes from, in other words, I’ve no idea; it’s organic. Then again, so is manure. Interviewers have asked me, ‘How did Balloon Animals come about?...


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Publisher Promo: Get 25% Off the Tangerine by Wodke Hawkinson

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, October 24, 2012,


Celebrate with us the release of our futuristic novel, Tangerine, by taking advantage of a 25% discount. The publisher is offering this discount for a limited time. To obtain your discount, use the coupon code ZQ59E at checkout. At this point, Tangerine is only available on Smashwords, but it will be on other venues soon and is expected to be released in paperback form next summer. The good news is that Smashwords offers books in various e-formats, including epub, Nook, and Kindle. We hope...


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OFFICIAL music video for 'Can't Get It Right' by Brooklyn James

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, October 24, 2012,

Brooklyn James, author/singer/songwriter, releases OFFICIAL music video for 'Can't Get It Right,' track #4 from the original music soundtrack to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter Finalist, The Boots My Mother Gave Me.

"Brooklyn James' soundtrack to her novel The Boots My Mother Gave Me does more than give a clever feminist twist to the title. Her songs serve as chapters themselves, underlining James' deft ability as a storyteller and songwriter." -Margaret Moser, The Austin Chr...


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ALONE INTO DANGER - How to Make your Scary Stories even Scarier

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, October 22, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

A Guest Post by Rayne Hall

Have you written a horror story, or are you working on a frightening scene? Here's a professional technique to increase the reader's fear.

Solitary adventures are more dangerous than group adventures. In nature, an animal which becomes separated from the herd is vulnerable to predators. To make your scene scary, let your heroine face the danger alone. 

The more you isolate your protagonist, the more frightening the scene becomes. Think of as many ways...


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Vigilare by Brooklyn James - Character Interview

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, October 20, 2012, In : Guest Posts 


Thank you kindly for sharing my character interview for my novel, Vigilare, the first in a thriller trilogy. Hopefully your readers will enjoy, as it is a dark and menacing read, just in time for a good Halloween read!

Vigilare will be FREE on Amazon Kindle for 2-days, October 21 & 22 (Sunday & Monday) at the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Vigilare-ebook/dp/B005W4YEEC

Character Interview in the voice of the Vigilare (questions provided by Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts Blog):

1. Who ...


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How To Turn A Room Into A Small Writing Space

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, October 15, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

A guest post by Jason Miner

Turning your home into your personal writing workspace isn’t as daunting of a task as it sounds. You don’t need a whole office to write or a giant room to pen your thoughts. All you need is a comfortable and quiet location in your home that you can escape to. Here are some suggestions on how to make that happen:

The first step is to find your spot and stake your claim. This is probably the most difficult part of the task so search high and low for a space i...


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Announcing the Release of Tangerine by Wodke Hawkinson

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, October 14, 2012,

 Tangerine has now been released by our publisher in digital form on Smashwords. The paperback version is coming soon, possibly by next spring or summer. The book has undergone revision and is now ready for readers.

Tangerine is quite different from our other two novels, Betrayed and Zeke. It was actually our first co-written work. We pitched it to publishers and waited. Nothing happened.

After positive experiences with self-publishing our other books, we decided to self-publish Tangerin...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Douglas Wickard

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, September 29, 2012, In : Author Interviews 

Wacky Interview for Authors

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. -Karen

Today we welcome talented author, Douglas Wickard, to the weird world of wacky interviews.


1. Where w...


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On Being a Confident Writer, a guest post by Bernard Hope

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, September 28, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

 

For some writers, confidence is easy. They seem naturally inclined toward this steady and comforting attribute. For others, it’s a journey or even a hard-won battle. Here is a truth that may be difficult to accept or surprising to learn: Confidence can also be a choice.

Confidence as a writer/author involves a number of factors. In this article, I will cover some important aspects in the process of realizing your confidence.

·        Identify success. First of all and probably most ...


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Enter Our Fall Giveaway - Free Ebooks & $100 Amazon Gift Card

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, September 20, 2012,

Announcing a fantastic giveaway in celebration of the season! First prize is a $100 Amazon gift card. Second prize digital copies of both of our novels: Zeke and Betrayed, along with Betrayed - Alternate Ending. And third prize will be digital copies of our three volumes of short stories: Catch Her in the Rye, Blue, and Alone. We are accepting entries now through October 31, 2012. It’s easy to enter. All you need to do is send an email to wodkehawkinsongiveaways@yahoo.com with “giveawa...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Vonda Norwood

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, September 18, 2012, In : Author Interviews 

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. -Karen

Today we welcome author, Vonda Norwood, to the inquisitor’s chamber.

1. Ten ninjas, a calculator, and a potted plant?
Aaah!  C...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Bruce Blake

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, September 15, 2012, In : Author Interviews 
It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. -Karen
Today, we welcome fantasy/spec fic author, Bruce Blake, to the hot seat of interrogation.

1. Is your writing influenced at all by the s...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Benjamin Wallace

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, In : Author Interviews 

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. Today please welcome author, Benjamin Wallace, to the hot seat of interrogation.

1. Why doesn’t your name end in an “s”? It sounds ...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Millie Burns

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, In : Author Interviews 
Time for another in-depth hard-hitting author interview, posing questions avoided by most other venues. There are no easy answers, but yet another writer has stepped forward bravely to take the challenge. Today please welcome author, Millie Burns, to the seat under the swinging bare light bulb.

1. Ten powerfully built stone statues?

Gargoyles.  Every home should have ten gargoyles to ward off the evil spirits.  They are far more attractive as water spouts than your typical rain gutters ...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Sherrill Willis

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, In : Author Interviews 
It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. Today please welcome author, Sherrill Willis, to the chair under the glaring naked light bulb of inquisition.

1. There was a dobro player at th...

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Why Self-Publish? (Or, Why I’m Too Impatient), A Guest Post by Miranda Stork

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, September 3, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

Okay, so I’m not that bad…no really! I didn’t actually think it would be easier to self-publish. Because in fact I know it’s very, very hard. A few years ago I worked for Stag Editors in New York as a proof-reader and editor, and believe it or not, some of our clients were indie authors. So I not only got to see the plethora of talent available in indie books, but also saw a lot of the mistakes.

When I first wrote Conner, I was only eighteen. It was a great achievement for me, an...


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Fill in the Blanks

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, September 3, 2012,

Showcase your creative talent! How? By playing our fill-in-the-blanks game. Below are five sentences taken from our newest novel, Zeke. But...some of the words have been left out. This is so YOU can fill in the blanks, creating a new sentence.

How to play:
Choose one of the sentences. Put on your thinking cap and fill in the blanks with your own words. Be as creative or silly or serious as you want. It’s like Mad-Libs without the hints about nouns, verbs or adjectives, etc. Put your com...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Duncan Whitehead

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, September 1, 2012, In : Author Interviews 

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. Today, please welcome author, Duncan Whitehead. He soldiers through the ludicrous questions with remarkabl...


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Wacky Interview With Author, RJ Palmer

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, August 29, 2012, In : Author Interviews 

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. -Karen

In this interview, I have subjected talented author RJ Palmer to a ludicrous but penetrating interrogation. Here are her answers: ...


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7 Splendid Indie Books

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, August 29, 2012,
by K. Wodke

Independent authors are thriving today, and not merely because of the often lower price of their works, but also because of the quality products many indies offer to their readers. Thanks to the internet and the ease of digital publishing, the reading population has more choice than ever before. For basically the same cost of a traditionally published book, I can load my Kindle with several indie selections of comparable content.

Some readers...


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Wacky Interview With Author, PJ Hawkinson

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, August 26, 2012, In : Author Interviews 

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. ~Karen

In this interview, I have subjected my co-author, PJ Hawkinson, to ludicrous but penetrating int...


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Wacky Interview With Author, Tiffany Fulton

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, August 26, 2012, In : Author Interviews 

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. Our first victim...I mean, volunteer, is Tiffany Fulton. She tackles these ludicrous questions with style and spirit! -Karen



Tiffany Fulton, ...


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Happy Blogoversary to ME!!! A guest post by RJ Palmer

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, August 24, 2012, In : Guest Posts 


From the blog of RJ Palmer, Head Wingnut in Charge

 

Okay everybody AND all my precious Wingnuts for we are, indeed, in a class all our own...I wanted to let you know…

IT'S A BLOGOVERSARY!!!

It's the second birthday of the blog of Yours Truly, Confessions of a Wingnut and Science Fiction Junkie, and I thought that I'd be the one to give out the presents. I know, I know...Kind of have that backwards and upside down, don't I? Since you all benefit from it, I don't wanna hear any whi...


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5 Reasons Why I Read Indie Authors

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, August 6, 2012,

I still have my favorite traditionally published authors, the ones with famous names and recognized publishers. But lately, I have been devoting my reading time mainly to indie authors, those of the self-published or small press variety. And here’s why:

1. Accessibility. Indie authors are usually very friendly and happy to exchange messages online with readers and fans. If you are an author as well as a fan, they are some of the most generous and supportive people you will ever meet, oft...


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Ever wonder what it would be like to walk through life in someone else's shoes?

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, July 30, 2012, In : Guest Posts 




Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter Finalist, The Boots My Mother Gave Me, is FREE on Kindle for today (July 30)!

Book description: Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving...


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Has the Cosmic Consciousness Ever Sabotaged Your Writing?

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, July 16, 2012,


Image from MS Free Images

They say there are no new ideas. But perhaps you’ve come up with a different twist on an old idea, or decided to give your characters certain traits, developed a unique plot, or even snagged a common saying to incorporate into your book. You work long and hard on your project, get ready to release it, and BOOM. There is your idea, or saying, or trait already out there in a book, movie, TV show, etc. Somebody beat you to it. Now, if you publish your work as it stands...


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Three Dark Threads Running Through My Crime Fiction

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, In : Guest Posts 
A guest post by author, Michael J. McCann




Do you prefer your crime fiction dark or light?

If you favor cozy mysteries, then your choice will be a lighter strain of crime fiction featuring puzzle-solving amateur sleuths with an interesting hobby or pastime, set in a quiet, charming community in which murders take place off-stage, away from the public eye. Murder She Wrote, the 1980s television series starring Angela Lansbury, always comes to mind as the quintessential cozy mystery.

However,...


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Using the “F” Word in Fiction Guest Post by Author sbr martin

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, July 1, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

Oh, behave! I’m not being nearly as scandalous as the title of this guest post would suggest. The “F” word to which I’m referring is “Fact,” and its use in fiction can be just as challenging, just as brow-raising, as the dirty word you likely thought I meant.

My fiction has been described as “psychological and thoughtful” by Midwest Book Review, my characters as “flawed and believable, yet familiar” by Publishers Weekly. One book review blogger recently wrote: “Martin...


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Cover Reveal on Hot New Release

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, June 19, 2012,


As any author knows, rounding that last corner on final revisions is a major milestone in the life of a book. Even though we plan an additional read-through or two, the largest part of the job is done, and it feels great!

Up to this point, we have been quiet about the title of our upcoming book, but we are now ready to introduce our next release, available soon, entitled ZEKE.

Zeke is a dark novel of sexual obsession and escalating suspense. It begins with the first meeting between a nai...


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15 Minutes and an Episode of Jeopardy, A Guest Post by Cora Lee

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, In : Guest Posts 


Cora Lee, Author

 Historical Romance author Grace Burrowes did a blog post a couple of months ago called The Twelve Minute Solution, in which she talked about how counterproductive large goals can be for some people.  It was a post that really resonated with me, and I had to restrain myself when I commented, because every other book, article, and post about writing tells you to set goals—aim high!—and stick to them.

But I’ve never been very good a...


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Has Writing Ruined You For Reading?

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, June 16, 2012,

Photo from MS Free Images


If typos, misspellings, inconsistencies, and repetitive phrases or words catch the attention of readers, imagine how much more noticeable they are to writers. Any author who has been through the editing, revision, and proofing processes of writing a book must, from necessity, sharpen his or her eye for problems. We all would like to identify our own mistakes, and fix them, rather than have them caught by a reader or reviewer. And preferably, long before our books re...
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Genres, boundaries, rules and my hero

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

A Guest Post by Scott Bury

Genres have definite rules. Some make sense: Gothic horror tales need a haunted house, and that house has to be big and dark with lots of scary-looking places for horrors to hide in and spring out at you. Romances have to have beautiful protagonists, because let’s face it, no one wants to fall madly in love with an ugly person. Science fiction has to be based on real science or the fans get mad, fast. Sure, there has to be some...


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Getting A Little Too Ingy

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, June 7, 2012,

Image from Microsoft Free Images


Each writer probably has his or her own personal pet peeves or elements that stand out in a manuscript like literary speed bumps. For many authors (Stephen King comes to mind), adverbs are problematic and amateurish. Others are snagged by exaggerated verbs that project from a good story like the needles on a cactus. For instance: “I hate taxes,” he groused as opposed to “I hate taxes,” he said. (I actually prefer the more colorful verbs, but that’s ...


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NEW RELEASE Sullivan's War: Book III by Michael K. Rose

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, May 18, 2012,

PJ and I are honored to bring you news on the most recent release by talented author, Michael K. Rose. This should have sci-fi fans everywhere celebrating! I've read the series, and highly recommend it to any discriminating reader, especially those who love tales full of suspense, intrigue, and hard-core action in a future setting. Michael has the skill to pull you in from the very first page. ~Karen

New Release: Sullivan’s War: Book III - Edaline’s Dawn

With the release of All Good ...


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My Almond: Superhero Armor by Brooklyn James

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, May 11, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

 


When asked by Karen to do another guest blog on overcoming the hurts sustained in my own experience with an abusive childhood, my response was, "I guess I never thought about it." The human spirit is truly amazing. It has the ability to triumph, not even realizing it is, in fact, triumphant.

 

My novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me (An Amazon Breakthrough Novel Quarter Finalist) is a Dysfiction inspired by a true story, about a young girl coming o...


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The Downside of Writing a Character You Despise

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, May 7, 2012,

http://wodke-hawkinson.com/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/unknown-title.jpg
The upcoming novel by Wodke Hawkinson


Dear Readers,

For those of you who have been (im)patiently waiting for our next novel, the waiting time is nearing an end. We actually started the novel (???) before we wrote Betrayed, Betrayed Alternate-Ending, and Blue, but we were taking it in a different direction than where it is going today. Let me explain why this novel is taking us so very long to finish.

You see, there’s something about our main character that tends to make us want to ignore...


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Women and Thrillers, a Guest Post by Brooklyn James

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, May 5, 2012, In : Guest Posts 


After completing my first book, Vigilare, in the Vigilare trilogy, I thought I had written a detective mystery with a paranormal spin. Lo and behold, my surprise, when I kept reading reviews referring to my novel as a THRILLER. I had no idea I was that exciting!

Gabino Iglesias of the Austin Post said, “Vigilare walks the line between a thriller and a supernatural adventure while safely anchored in a scientific discourse around blood that James put together so well that it's reminisce...


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Confessions of a Haunted Mind, A Guest Post By Hunter Shea

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, April 30, 2012, In : Guest Posts 


I’m going to tell you something I don’t often repeat. 

I love nightmares. 

Oh, a dream about swimming in a lagoon by a tropical island has its place, but rarely do those dreams stay with me. Like an orgasm, the moment is wonderful, yet fleeting. 

All my life, I’ve had nightmares. I’m sure you’ve had your share, too. The difference with me is, at a very young age, I made peace with those nighttime visions of terror. As soon as I learned to embrace them, to dissect the patterns of...


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Ten Things I've Learned About Life, a guest post by Toby Neal

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, April 28, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

We are fortunate to once again welcome talented author Toby Neal to our blog as a guest writer. Toby's book, Blood Orchids, is free April 28 and 29 on Amazon Kindle. Be sure and grab a copy of this fast-paced suspense. Now, we turn over the "podium" to Toby.


Toby Neal, Author

Ten Things I've Learned About Life by Toby Neal

·        Niceness: it DOES matter. What kind of world would this be if we all gave into our nasty, jealous, greedy, murderous, slanderous impulses? So, when in doubt be N...


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A New Literary Genre? -A Guest Post by Rolando Garcia

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, April 12, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

I may have unknowingly created a new literary genre. But don’t take my word for it. Read on and let me know if you think that is the case.

It all started when I saw a picture of a “sun zebra.” Unfortunately I can’t tell you what a “sun zebra” is without spoiling the title story of my book. Then, after I saw this animal, a little girl named Nell wandered out of my mind and went to tell her dad she had found a “zebra.” Since the story takes place in a farm in the middle of Pen...


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Creativity Is Therapy, a guest post

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, April 8, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

by Brooklyn James (Author of The Boots My Mother Gave Me, An Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter Finalist)

I enjoyed reading Robert French’s guest blog about depression and its correlation to writing. His blog got me thinking about my own relationship with writing.

The completion of my first novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me, was a New Year’s resolution. I had no intentions of completing a book. The coming of age Dysfiction is about a young girl overcoming an abusive childhood. Growin...


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Valuable Information for Authors

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Saturday, April 7, 2012,

All authors know that marketing and promotion are major parts of the overall success of our work. Building an Author Platform That Can Launch Anything: a Social Media Minibook by Toby Neal is an invaluable addition to any author's toolkit for book promotion.

Effective steps to building an author platform that can take advantage of free programs and launch any book into visibility and better sales.

Self published or not, today’s authors have to develop their own “platform” for reaching bo...


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Out of the Rabbit Hole, A Guest Post by Robert French

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, April 5, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

Robert French

When Karen invited me to do this guest post, I was really pleased because I had a great subject in mind but as I was writing away, I got an overwhelming desire to embark upon an entirely different subject, one that is a little more personal and a lot more painful.

If one reads the biographies of writers through the ages, a common theme is that many writers, especially those who may deal with darker subjects, are victims of depression. According to health.com writers are #5 in ...


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A City Without Walls - Book II of Sullivan's War Series

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, March 29, 2012,


Since author Michael K. Rose released Sergeant Riley’s Account in December of 2011, this introduction to the science fiction series Sullivan’s War has received rave reviews and has been a frequent presence on Amazon’s “Best Sellers in Science Fiction Series” list. The release of Book I in January, entitled All Good Men Serve the Devil, has also made it onto that best sellers list, reaching a rank of #30, and has earned glowing reviews of its own.

Now Mr. Rose is set to rele...

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Beta Readers, a guest post by Rebecca Scarberry

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Thursday, March 22, 2012, In : Guest Posts 
I know many people have written about Beta readers, but I would like to tell you about my experience with them.  I don’t want anybody to be discouraged after reading this from Beta reading. I have never had any family members as a Beta reader. They have all been friends or acquaintances.

I’m new to writing fiction and when I used my first Beta reader, it was for my first novel (shelved for the time being.) That Beta reader was knowledgeable and very kind. She corrected some punctuat...

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Character Interview With John Reeves from The Fall of Billy Hitchings

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Sunday, March 18, 2012, In : Guest Posts 

by Kirkus MacGowan

Kirkus:  Kirkus MacGowan here. I’m at an undisclosed location with John Reeves. He agreed to answer a few questions for the fans of The Fall of Billy Hitchings. Keep in mind, he’s a secretive individual. My goal is to give the reader some insight into just who John Reeves is. There may be questions he can’t answer, especially those relating to his involvement in Secret Ops.

Kirkus:  I’l...


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Q & A With Toby Neal, Author of Blood Orchids

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Tuesday, February 21, 2012,

Toby Neal

Congrats on your upcoming debut novel - tell us about it!
Toby
: I’m from Hawaii and I’ve always wanted to read a really good suspense/romance set here, that showcases the unique setting, culture, multiethnic people and dialects, and yet keeps your attention via riveting story alone. I’ve never found one that really did that—Hawaii novels are often written by outsiders, or are too “niche” to appeal to a mainstream audience. I finally decided to write the kind of book(...

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Writing in the Nude, An Interview With Michael K. Rose, Author

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Wednesday, January 25, 2012,

 
Michael K. Rose, Author

Do you see alien landscapes in your dreams?

Dreams, no. Daydreams, you bet! I've done a fair bit of reading on what alien worlds would look like. Did you know that for different types of stars (blue stars, red stars, etc.) plant life, if it draws energy from the sun, would most likely be colors other than green? It has to do with the wavelengths of light those plants would absorb. Now, for the purposes of my science fictional universe, which I call the Myriad Sph...


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How Much is too Much? Graphic Content in Fiction

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Monday, January 23, 2012, In : Guest Posts 


Advisory: This post contains graphic adult content.

A guest post by Author Sevastian Winters

The coolest review I've received to date for any of my books, delivered a mere two out of five stars… from an author, no less! Bar-none, it's my very favorite review of all time. In fact, I use it to sell books!  I'd take 1,000 such reviews over 1 Million reviews from 5 star fans telling me how fucking awesome I am. Ripped directly from Amazon, here's what it says:

“This review is from: Wolf's Ri...
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The Editing Process by Scott Bury

Posted by Wodke Hawkinson on Friday, December 9, 2011, In : Guest Posts 


Guest Post by Author, Scott Bury

Thanks to PJ and Karen for inviting me to write about my editing process. This is what works for me, and it has also worked for hundreds of students I taught it to when I was a college English professor.

My editing process

What’s the most erroneous myth about writers? The scene in TV shows and movies, where the writer types an opening sentence and immediately rips the page out of the typewriter, crumples it in rage and throwing it into an overflowing waste-bask...


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Dark Longings
A mystery/suspense
by Wodke Hawkinson




Sue, a sequel to Zeke
by Wodke Hawkinson




Zeke, a thriller by
Wodke Hawkinson



Betrayed, a suspense novel by
Wodke Hawkinson


Tangerine by
Wodke Hawkinson



Catch Her in the Rye,
Selected Short Stories, Vol. One
by Wodke Hawkinson



Blue, Selected Short Stories, Vol. Two
by Wodke Hawkinson


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