Blog Touring: Midnight Sisters

That's right! It's time for another blog tour! Connecting with readers, writers, and bloggers and getting their first impressions during Becoming Beauty's Blog Tour was a blast! And seriously, who doesn't love a good giveaway? And bargains!

For Midnight Sisters' Blog Tour I decided to shake things up a bit. For instance, the giveaway is bigger and better this time, featuring a chance to win Amazon gift cards or a signed copies of Midnight Sisters. And for the duration of the tour, January 9 - 20, Becoming Beauty in eBook will be on sale for 99 cents!

That's just the beginning. Each blog tour day will reveal something new about the mischievous cast of Midnight Sisters. It promises to be fun! Check back in over the next couple of weeks to take advantage of all the cool things that are going on!

Jan 9: R.K. Grow (Jonas Selkirk feature)

Jan 10: Blooming with Books (Ariela Spencer feature)

Jan 11: Eclectic Alli (Passionate Geek feature)

Jan 11: Mel's Shelves (Brisella Spencer feature)

Jan 12: Adrienne Quintana (Canela “Cinnamon” Spencer feature)

Jan 12: A Backwards Story (Daniela Spencer feature) 

Jan 13: Bookworm Lisa (Estella/Frizella Spencer feature)

Jan 13: Perfect Beginnings (Estella/Frizella Spencer feature)

Jan 14: Cindy C. Bennett (Gisella, Hayla, Isella Spencer feature)

Jan 15: Inkings and Notions (Gisella, Hayla, Isella Spencer feature)

Jan 16: Wishful Endings (Janela Spencer feature)

Jan 16: Corinne's Garden (Krisela Spencer feature)

Jan 17: Katie's Clean Book Collection (Larela Spencer feature)

Jan 18: Literary Timeout (Braden feature)

Jan 19: A Backwards Story (Book Review)

Jan 20: Let It Be & Celebrate (Special author feature)

Amazing things are happening over the next few weeks. Midnight Sisters' Launch Party is scheduled at the end of the blog tour. Naturally, you're all invited! And giveaways, freebies, and author events will continue through February. 

Thanks for dropping by, awesome readers! Feel free to enter the giveaway below!

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The Shift: Traditional to Indie

The Waiting Game is loads of fun.

Because learning that your story isn't an agent's or publisher's cup of tea builds character, right?

And who doesn't appreciate waiting and waiting and waiting to hear if your story is good enough or if it fits into the Holy Publishing Schedule?

The truth is no matter which path you take, indie or traditional, the lion's share of the work will fall to you. Whether you ask for it or not, advice on plot, character arc, blocking, and a myriad of other topics will come your way. And baby, the marketing alone can knock you flat.

Because of the labor intensive nature of publishing, I thought I'd pose the question to my followers:

Do you have a preference between traditional or indie books?

The response was overwhelming: NO ONE CARED. As long as the story was worth reading, it would be read, they claimed. My confession? I lean toward traditionally published books, but only those with high-quality storytelling and great cover art. Send an indie book with the same characteristics my way and I'll snatch it up too!

Why bring this up now? Because my waiting game has reached an end. And I'm on my way to becoming an indie author. The big pieces are in place. A professional editor and a cover artist have been secured, and I'm in the middle of editing my twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

As I jump into uncharted waters and try not to sink, I'll need all your support, kindness, and patience. And I'll be pleased to answer when you ask:

When is your next book out?

Because it hits shelves later this year, my dears! And that in itself is exciting. I still have so much to learn about self-publishing and I welcome your tips and warnings. Leave me a comment below!

And keep your eyes open for a new version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, penned by yours truly!

Summer Lovin'

Ah, romance in the steamy summer months...

In my young foolish days, I dreamed of summer days and nights spent hiking, biking, picnicking, and stargazing with that (insert girly sigh here) special someone. Now, in my (insert old lady sigh here) late thirties with a thriving teaching career, I dream of a different kind of romance--the type I manufacture on my laptop. (Okay, perverts, I just meant writing. And not that kind of writing.)

Summer has always been my best time for writing. But last summer I not only edited Becoming Beauty several times before it hit the presses, but I also completed the bulk of Twelve. This summer finds me editing Twelve and meeting the cast of my Rumplestiltskin remake. Is there anything as fun as exploring new characters and getting caught up in all their drama? 

Have I ever mentioned how much I despise goal making? I'm already my worst critic and I hate giving myself reasons to be more self-critical. However, I'm going to set some goals for this summer anyway!

• Get my new computer set up...and ignore Social Media for a decent amount of time each day.
• Craft a fabulous query for Twelve.
• Edit Twelve and submit it to the publisher. ASAP!
• Flesh out the characters for my new project. And quickly fall in love with them. (Won't be hard, I adore Guillermo already. And he's only in my head.)
• Create a rough outline for the new project and then completely ignore it as I begin writing. (It's my process, people!)
• Do some marketing every week by keeping my blog full of fresh content, connecting with the public through social media, and participating in authory events to get Becoming Beauty to more readers.
• Fiddle around, travel, visit friends and family, and yes, knock out a healthy chunk of the next project. Because I can.

Either I'm completely high on summer lovin' already...or those goals are do-able. Anyway, I'd love to hear about your plans for the summer? Any lovin' going on in your neck of the woods? 

Dear Jonas

I was inspired when a fellow blogger posted a letter to her characters a short time ago. What a novel idea, I thought. Then it hit me. Bella, the heroine from Becoming Beauty, is closely acquainted with the hero of my second novel, Jonas Selkirk. All the snarky things Bella would say to her friend filled my mind and in no time a most Bella-like letter emerged. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed crafting it!

Artwork from Ruth Sanderson's Fairytale Collection

Dearest Jonas:

We enjoyed hearing of the coming and goings at Lord Bromhurt's in your last letter. After your life in Stone and your time with us, I've no doubt it does feel like a foreign land. I recall the shock of entering into service for the first time as a naive young woman. I had the added benefit of being tossed out of my home and sent to serve a Beast at the same time. However, in the end, I won a place of respect in the Beast's household. I am confident that you can do the same in Lord Bromhurt's household. (As long as Lord Bromhurst isn't more beastly than You Know Who.)

Now, onto the real purpose of this letter. From the beginning, your correspondence has hinted at an acquaintance with a certain young noblewoman. Philip would have me remind you to tread carefully when dealing with Lord Bromhurst. Since Lady Bromhurt's death, he has become fiercely jealous and protective of his daughters. Jack would urge you to act honorably but to follow the dictates of your heart. And both gentlemen have warned me against poking my nose in where it doesn't belong, but when have I ever heeded their counsel? 

Take it from a woman who had to learn the hard way--love is a gift. It should neither be ignored nor neglected. If a woman like Lady Ariela has taken taken pains to befriend you, you would be a fool not to act. Trust me, Jonas, land and holdings, education, and social standing mean little beside true affection. If you let paltry matters of the world come between you and that young lady, you will regret it. (Also, I will personally travel to Lord Bromhurst's to talk sense into you and ensure that you do regret it.) 

I trust that we will hear of your declaration to Lady Ariela soon. As to news here at home, life runs on as usual, bumping along with only the occasional tantrum from His Royal Beastiness. (Since you're not here, the poor weeds take the brunt of it. Sometimes I almost feel sorry for them.) Overall, we are happy and busy. Jack, Philip, and the rest send their best regards. 

With affection, 

Bella

P.S. Other news of a more sensitive nature awaits your return to Stone. As you know, you are always welcome in our home. 

* * *

If you'd like to know more about the adventures of Bella in Becoming Beauty, it's available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Books & Things. For more about Jonas and Lady Ariela, read Interlude in the Rose Garden, Just a Taste, Embracing the Fangirl Within, Arguing With Myself, or Twelve for the Fourteenth. Hopefully, Twelve will make it to print soon!

Hippoty Hoppity Bloggity

Becoming Beauty is weeks from its release date! I'm living in a constant state of crazy ecstasy waiting for the blog tour, the release, and my book launch. However, while I'm twiddling my thumbs (not really), I'm happy to have the Blog Hop to distract me.

The baton was passed to me by the illustrious and incomparable Jo Ann Schneider (a.k.a. The Ninja Novelist). Jo writes a little bit of everything, from sassy Super Secret Agents to YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy, all of which is amazing, engaging, and fun. Pop over to her website to learn more about her. You won't regret it, she's hilarious.

Anyway, Jo invited me to participate in the Blog Hop and chat about myself and my current projects. And what writer would say no to that? (Also, saying no to Jo can be bad for your health. For a petite blonde, she packs a punch.) So, off we go!

What are you working on?

My current work in progress, like Becoming Beauty, is a twist on a fairytale classic. Twelve Dancing Princesses is less well known than Beauty and the Beast, but its story is nonetheless endearing. Recreating a tale about twelve sisters required the development of twelve distinct personalities (okay, eleven, because my identical twins are so identical no one can tell them apart). As you might imagine, this creates some interesting family dynamics. I consider Twelve my ensemble cast piece. The entire tale is told from a man's perspective. (I figured growing up with five brothers made me uniquely qualified for this project.) 

Here's a truly beautiful version of the traditional tale:

If I send some of you scurrying to bookshelves, libraries, or Google to familiarize yourself with the original tale, I'm happy!  Fairytales are powerful!

How does that differ from other works in the genre?

In life and literature, I always put a unique spin on things. In my stories, I'm adamant about creating a realistic setting where events in the story might have occurred. In the traditional fairytale--and in most of the rewrites I've read--the twelve princesses escape their father's watchful eye via magic to dance the night away in a fantastical underground land. However, in my tale, the sisters rely on their own wits to get out from under their father's thumb. Gifting the girls with the brains, sass, and sneakiness necessary to achieve this task was a lot of fun.

I added another element to the tale by expanding upon the kinship between Jonas (narrator/assistant to the head gardener) and Braden (obnoxious upstart/under gardener). There's something else concerning these two that's new, but *SPOILERS* you'll have to learn about that yourselves when it's released.

Why do you write what you write?

Quite simply, I'm a fairytale junkie. Since my girlhood I have been obsessed with all things fairytale, and after years of devouring Once Upon a Times, I crafted my own original fairy story in my teen years and I have never looked back. To read more about my obsession with fairytales and all things dorky, read Fan Fiction & Fairytales or Embracing the Fangirl Within where I explore these topics in more detail.

What's your writing process?

I admire writers who plot everything out beforehand. They have well-developed characters listed name, trait, and prominence in a character bible, an outline of events that will transpire in a specific sequence, and carefully plotted story and character arcs before they even sit down to write the first sentence.

I'll be honest. I only learned what half of those things meant after I landed my publishing contract. I'm the writer who sketches out characters and develops a basic idea. Then, I fly with it. I let the characters lead me where they will. This means that sometimes I write myself into a corner and have to delete or rewrite, but it also means that cool things pop up mid-story that I never would have expected. At the beginning, I'll never be able to tell you exactly what journey I'm sending my characters on, but I guarantee you'll have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.

That's it, my friends! Now I get to pass the baton to Misty Dawn Pulsipher, author of the modern Austenian classics Pride's Prejudice and Persuaded. Can't wait to see what she's working on!

* * *

To read more about Twelve, peruse Interlude in the Rose Garden featuring Jonas and Ariela, the eldest of the Twelve daughters. Following the links at the bottom of the post will send you to more excerpts of Twelve.