Cover Reveal: Midnight Sisters

Though I'm not the type of girl who poses for Glamour Shots like those made popular in the 90's, pulling together fashion, location, and fabulous accessories for a cover shoot is totally up my alley.

I've waited since June to reveal the cover art for my second Young Adult novel, Midnight Sisters, a twist on the fairytale classic, The Twelve Dancing Princesses. It is with pride and great pleasure that I finally reveal the cover for Midnight Sisters, to be released in January 2017.

An excerpt from Midnight Sisters:

Do no meddle with the Master's daughters.

The words rattle around Jonas’ head. What is the punishment again? Death? Dismemberment? Jonas, the newest addition to the gardening staff, can’t recall the exact penalty for breaking the rule. What does it matter anyway? He would never dream of meddling with the Earl of Bromhurst’s haughty daughters.

Until he comes face to face with Lady Ariela Spencer, the eldest of the His Lordship’s daughters.

Her elusive smile and open manner cause him to question his convictions. In no time, he’s drawn into Lady Ariela's world of mystery and intrigue, a world where she and her sisters will do anything—including leaving twelve empty beds at midnight—to escape their father’s strict rules.

Only Jonas can uncover the truth and save them from their father’s wrath and their own folly, if he is willing to risk everything he’s ever worked for. 

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A huge thanks once again to the amazing team who made this image possible, Cammi, Jill, Sue, and especially Cindy, my amazing graphic designer. I love you, ladies!

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A note from the author:
Whenever I mention The Twelve Dancing Princesses, there is invariably someone who is unfamiliar with the tale. By clicking the above link, you'll be taken to versions of the fairytale from all over the world. Also, if you click on the link at the beginning of this post, you'll be taken to the Grimm Brother's rendition, which is the one I followed most closely.

The Best Friend Love Story

Back when we dreamed of tiaras, betrothals, and overused italics, my friends and I imagined the boys who'd court us. My friends fancied broody, romantic types. I vowed to marry my best friend. 

Courtesy of unsplash.com

In literature and on the big screen, the Best Friend Love Story skips the awkward getting-to-know-you season (really, who wants that?) and drops the reader into the best friend relationship. It allows for witty dialogue, inside jokes, and shared experiences that wouldn't be plausible otherwise. It's the Monica and Chandler of relationships, where conversation is more like a tennis match.

Awwww...the Bings!

For me, the hook is the transformation of that friendship into a bonafide romance. Maybe the female sees his manly physique and brilliant mind in a new light. Maybe our hero realizes that date after date ends with him going home to her. As they recognize their true feelings and face the questions, “Will I lose him?” or “Will she hate me?”every hint of closeness, every thrown away word, and every casual caress is brought under inspection.

I love that! 

It's the push and pull between Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. It's the tie binding Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester that threatens to snap with too much distance. It's the reason movies like Made of Honor and My Best Friend's Wedding are so much fun. And it's why Always Will is my new favorite book.

This calls for a #BookSelfie!

Author Melanie Jacobson has a flair for creating relatable female leads. Until now, sassy Pepper Spicer was my favorite, with girl next door Lia Carswell as a close second. But conniving Hannah Becker takes the cake! She has all the sass of Pepper Spicer and depth not unlike Lia Carswell. Despite Hannah's attempts to squelch it, her attraction to her brother's best friend Will Hallerman has only grown. But he refuses to see her as the woman she has become. And he keeps giving her noogies. Blech.

Will Hallerman has finally had enough of the dating world. He's ready to find a wife and settle down. This announcement is catastrophic in Hannah Becker's world. After knowing Will her entire life and adoring him from afar since junior high school, she realizes her chance at love with him is in grave danger. 

Hannah's problem? To Will, she will never be more than his best friend's little sister. Determined to open his eyes to her charms, Hannah sets out to sabotage Will's wife hunt by placing nightmare dates in his path and taking his search on a wild goose chase. Her plan is risky, but she's willing to take a chance to catch the eye of her soul mate. (Source: Amazon)

See what I mean? Compelling stuff! I swayed between wanting to a) punch Will in the face or b) pin him to the wall and smooch him to pieces. Now if only I can find someone worth playing dirty for...

Never fear, dear readers, I'm on it!

If you'd like to learn more about Melanie Jacobson or any or her books, visit her on Amazon or Facebook, or click on any of the links embedded above to read my reviews and/or purchase her novels. Happy reading!

Need another book recommendation?
The Masculine Mystique 
A Proper Romance 
Confessions of an Austen Addict 
Book Hangover 
Author, Ninja, Fangirl 
Persuaded 
Tragically Flawed or Not

Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to share your favorite Best Friend Romances below. I love to pick up something new! 

Full-Time, Part-Time, Indie, or Traditional

We all have issues, like problems with our health, self-image, employment, and relationships. But writers have their own special set of  issues. Two subjects that fascinate and infuriate writers everywhere are Traditional vs Indie Publishing and Full-time vs Part-time writing. As I've made my way in the writing world, I've seen some pretty heated discussions about each of the issues. Recently I interviewed author Jo Ann Schneider, who just released her third book Fractured Memories, and I grilled her on both subjects. Plus we had really good pizza.

Me: I've only gone down the traditional publishing path, but while I waited for that acceptance letter to come, I wondered what my next step would be if it didn't come. I thought about my indie author friends and considered the difference in income from self-publishing and receiving royalties from a publishing house, managing marketing campaigns, taking care of editing, and the amount of control writers have over the publishing process. 

In the end, I was grateful Cedar Fort gave me a chance and helped me through the editing and publishing process. That choice worked for me at the time. But Jo, you’ve gone down both avenues. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Self-publishing vs. Traditional publishing? Are the any drawbacks or major annoyances you want to share?

Jo: I’ve now gone through one small press, one serial into a book press online, and one that I published myself.

I do have to say that having someone send me all of the files with the book cover, and the different e-formats of the book, and the bookmark designs, and all that jazz is awesome. 4 weeks before I released Fractured Memories (my indie book) my cover designer copped out on me, so I had to scramble to find a new cover artist. In the end I think I found a group I can work with for almost everything, but it was a huge pain. At one point I was literally waiting for a cover—everything else was finished and ready to go. So not having to worry about that is nice. Plus formatting e-books is a pain. Luckily I have a computer savvy hubby who did most of it for me.

I like being able to control my price point on my indie book. And I make more money per book than on my more traditionally published books.They’re just on-line, not in the book stores, so that’s a conundrum.  However, if you look at the stats, Amazon sells a lot more books that a brick and mortar bookstore.

The part I really loved about Indie publishing is that when my book was ready, I got to release it. I didn’t have to wait for a year and a half before the publisher actually got it out. That delay is really annoying. The release date for New Sight got pushed back twice before it finally got published. That’s not a unique problem, it happens all the time in the publishing world. It’s frustrating.

I always tell people to do what feels right for them. I went traditional first, while a good friend of mine went indie. We’ve had different experiences and we’ve each learned from what the other has been through. There are pros and cons to both paths. If you’re wondering what to do as an author, go find others who have done it to talk to. They’ll tell you all about it.

Me: So interesting! In my experience, Cedar Fort handled cover art and publishing almost completely, editing was a collaborating process, and I had a larger role over marketing than I might have had with a larger publisher. I'm really grateful to have had such wonderful mentors to help me launch my my first novel. But maybe in the future when I'm a little more established as an author, I might take the self-publishing route.

The other thing we've discussed before is full-time vs part-time writing. As a single woman and a fledgling author, if I don't work full-time, I can't afford my condo. Or Netflix. Because of that, I consider my teaching career to be necessary to my writing career. There are perks to working 9 months out of the year and dedicating summer and school breaks to writing. It may not be ideal, but it works for me. Your position is completely different, Jo. If you had the choice, would you be a full-time writer or continue as a part-time writer? Give me the goods!

Jo: Ooh, good question. Not sure. Sometimes I think I get more accomplished as a writer if I don’t have unlimited time. I make it a priority and don’t mess around on the interweb or run errands all day. If time is short, I often get more accomplished.

That being said, if I could find the discipline to really buckle down and write, then I’d love to go full-time as an author. My dream is to be releasing two books a year, minimum. My books are longer (65k – 90k) so I can’t keep up with the authors that put a 40k book out every three months. I’m okay with that. I pretty much can’t write shorter novels. They just explode everywhere and end up as trilogies. Which means I could for sure use more writing time. I just need someone to crack the whip behind me and say, “Write, slave!” whenever I click on Facebook or YouTube.

Me: If I didn't have a day job (and I wasn't easily distracted by shiny objects and pretty handbags) I'd be all all over that whip, Jo! We could have side by side work areas and both get more writing done than we do now. However, I'm pretty sure that I could never be full-time writer. I like people too much to spend all of my free time in solitary confinement.

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Such good food for thought, don't you think? I love powwowing with other authors and picking their brains about writer issues we all face. In the end, I don't think there's a right or wrong way answer about publishing or full-time writing. You have to develop a publishing plan and a writing schedule that work for you and meet your goals.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Traditional vs Self-Publishing and Full-time vs Part-time writing! Leave me a comment below!

If you'd like to learn more about Jo Ann Schneider, her books, and the other projects she has in the works, follow the link to her website, or click on the links below. Happy hunting!

Babes In Spyland 

(YA Fiction/Humor)

New Sight 

(YA SciFi/Fantasy)

Fractures Memories 

(YA Fiction/Distopian)

Jo Schneider: Author, Ninja, Fangirl

Jo Ann Schneider is an accomplished writer with three books on the market and a whole lot more in the works. She writes primarily SciFi/Fantasy, does Shaolin Kempo (a.k.a. martial arts), and is crazy about Star Wars, Psych, Doctor Who, and anything Marvel. (Basically, we get on beautifully!) 

Her third book Fractured Memories, was published in May 2015:

Sixteen year old Wendy never knew the world before the Starvation. She’s learned to put her trust in her knives, and her confidence in her fighting ability. When the Skinnies attack her compound, she's the lone survivor. Injured and near death, Wendy is rescued and nursed back to health by mysterious strangers. Her saviors offer her a place among them, but trust has never been one of Wendy's strengths, and suspicion soon leads to evidence that these people might be the group who killed her family. The decision to get her revenge, and take the settlement down from the inside out is easy. Keeping her distance from those she must befriend in order to make it happen proves to be much more difficult.

To help launch Fractured Memories, I conducted an interview with Jo. As usual, her answers were entertaining and thoughtful.

Inspiration or perspiration? What drives you to write the next book?

Uh, both?  I finish one book and perhaps launch it out into the world, and I’m immediately driven to write something else. Part of me is like, “I’m pretty sure I can do better than that.” And another part of me is like, “This book is bound to be an international best-seller with a fandom that will rival Twilight. I’d better get going on the next one.”

Maybe I’m more about delusions.

I think we're all a bit delusional, Jo. Comes with the territory! Moving on...

Okay, Ms. Traveler, it’s all in the name of research, right? So, what locale would you best enjoy exploring next?

I hate this question. There are so many!!! I have an idea for a book about a Shaolin Monk, so I’d love to go back to the Shaolin temple in China. But that’s a ways off. 

Pretty much anywhere in Europe would be awesome. Japan. You can’t take twenty steps in England without running into something interesting. What I really need to do is figure out where the finale of the New Sight series is going to be and take a trip there.

Yeah...that could be ANYWHERE. Those are some well-traveled magic users. I guess we'll have to wait and see where they end up and hope you get to do some recon beforehand!

Alright, don't lie! We all know you love torturing your characters. What’s the worst thing you’ve done to a character? (And seriously, why do you gotta be so mean?)

Well, I feel like killing Wendy’s family and leaving her alone in the world with the Skinnies is pretty mean. Then I give her PTSD about the attack, then I shove her in with the people she thinks is responsible for the death of her family. That’s pretty mean.

I did make Agent Bunnynose be nice to a very obnoxious woman once. Also very mean of me.

Oy! That had to hurt. Very mean indeed! On to a sweeter topic:

What snack/beverage/goodie keeps your fingers tapping at the keyboard? (If you say water, we can’t be friends.)

Uh…well…cold water? I love it so much.

Don’t hate me, if there are snacks I’m eating and not writing. They’re like my shiny objects. But I am currently going through a phase where a Soda Stream Cola on ice and some Pretzel Thins keep me going when I’m falling asleep in my chair about 3 pm almost every day.

What is it about the afternoon? If I wasn't teaching kindergarten the majority of the year, I'd fall asleep at 2 pm every day! Shall we declare it a Writer Siesta? Let's start a union! Anyway...

What’s your biggest pet peeve about publishing a book? (Be honest, it’s marketing, isn’t it!)

I do hate marketing. Mostly because there isn’t a formula for it.It’s a little different for each market/genre and each author. I haven’t found what really gets me excited yet.

I’ll be honest, my biggest pet peeve about publishing a book is that not everyone thinks by book is a brilliant as I do. 

Sounds familiar. 

Writers are always making stupid mistakes. Oh, Writer Extraordinaire, what’s your best advice for bonehead writers like me? (And don’t just pick on me and say blocking…rude.)

Write down what you learn. Make your own folder of writing tools: character development, plot points, story structure, how to show and not tell, blocking, subtext…all of the things that have helped you make your story good. Gather them from other people as well as books you read and shows you watch. Keep them in a place you can easily browse through them.

I’ve read a lot of books on writing, and I’m sure I only remember about 1/8 of what was in there. Just last night my Sensei was going on and on about how the beginning of a movie showed everything the audience needed to know about the main character through the other characters reactions to simply hearing his name. I know about that tool, but haven’t used it yet. However,  the story I’m working on could actually benefit from that. Which means I need to type it up and toss it in my folder for later.

When you think you’re stuck, just open your folder and start flipping through. You’ll find something that will spark your story forward. 

Wow. I always learn things from you, Jo. Thanks for being my personal writing guru. You're amazing! Best of luck in your writing ventures!

Isn't she amazing? She's a wonderful person and a fabulous writer. There's nothing else to say except go check out her books! 

Babes In Spyland 

(YA Fiction/Humor)

New Sight 

(YA SciFi/Fantasy)

Fractures Memories 

(YA Fiction/Distopian)

My First...

2014 was riddled with firsts for this girl! I feel like the learning curve was pretty steep. There were times when I felt like the proverbial cartoon character who runs headlong into a wall and slides to the floor with a screeeeeeee! 

Of course, there were also the times when I felt like the Queen of Everything. Little Miss Oh-So-Popular. Let's be honest, those were the best!

Since it was also my first year with a bonafide website, all of the ups and downs are nicely documented. And since it's an anniversary of sorts, I'm sharing them with you!  Enjoy!

My Year of Firsts:

• The first time I called myself a writer. In public. Out loud. (And yes, people were quite surprised.)
• The first time I became a dot.com. Seriously, I had no idea what I was doing. (Most days I still don't. I just do my best to be genuine and positive--or at least funny--in my online interactions.)
• My first writing conference. I was so scared. And everyone was so lovely. I can't wait to go back this year.
• The first time I worked with professional editors. That was interesting. You never know what will happen when you pass your work onto someone else. In my case, I couldn't have been more happy. They caught a multitude of rookie mistakes, helped define my characters, and basically made me look good! Thanks Cedar Fort!
• My first Geek Fest at Salt Lake Comic Con! Let's just say I found my Mecca... And yes, I discovered that I can rock Geek Chic! (And I'm going back! Doctor Who Panel--what?!)
• The first time I saw Becoming Beauty's cover. Can you say gorgeous? The moment was swoon worthy. I've never enjoyed looking at any boy as much as I have loved looking at my cover. (Okay, maybe Stephen Amell. Or Tom Hiddleston.)
• The first time I could call myself an author because my book had been picked up! Of course, I had to establish an online presence. Inside, I was still freaking out and feeling like an impostor. Outside, I was pasting on a big smile and pretending like I'd done it all before.
• The first time I held my book in my hands. And took my first #BookSelfie. That was surreal, wonderful, and terrible all at once.
• Running my first Blog Tour. Again, so scary. Who knows what people will really say when you ask them what they really think. But they were all so kind, patient, honest, and for the most part complimentary. (And yes, they do it for free! Amazing, amazing people! I'm so happy to have connected with them)
• My first Book Launch Extravaganza. My family and friends basically took over Barnes & Noble. The staff members were so kind! I loved working with them. It was absolutely awesome. And each author event I've done since then has been a reward in itself.

Yes, it's been an amazing year. More than anything, it has been a journey worth taking. While I can't say I've loved every minute, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. After all, a girl only has so many firsts. 

Thanks, my dears, for all you kindness, support, and love. I wouldn't have made it without you! xoxoxo

#BookSelfie!

It started very simply. My friend Jo said, When you get the first copies of your book, you have to take a picture. Everyone does it! And really, who am I to mess with tradition?

This was the Ooh, it's my book! selfie. I was somewhere between overwhelmingly excited and completely crazy.The fun thing about social media is that you can share special moments like this in the blink of an eye. And that's how the Becoming Beauty #BookSelfies were born!

I challenged my followers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to post #BookSelfies with Becoming Beauty. I had no idea what would happen. Friends, new and old alike, began posting them! And pretty soon there were enough to do a collage. (And yes, those are my proud parents posting for their first ever duo selfie.)

Then there was my Book Launch and people wanted #BookSelfies with Becoming Beauty and its author. Can you tell I really put up a fight? Whatever. My hair was AWESOME that day.

During my blog tour, I got several more. That's the sister of an Instagram friend posing with a copy of Becoming Beauty on the upper right! How cool is that? And a sweetie pie on Twitter on the upper left (Thanks, Lydia!) who bought and reviewed my book on her own. (And yes, that's my bestie, Raylynn on the bottom. She really loves selfies. And marketing my book. Bless her heart.)

And of course, my littlest big fan. Her name is Cambree and she's more precious than words. And yes, she dressed to match my cover for my book signing.

And some of my oldest friends demanded a #BookSelfie when I dropped off a book to them the other day. When someone you know from your girlhood doesn't stop saying things like I'm so proud of you! Your book is amazing! and How did you do that? it makes your day. Actually, it makes your year.

The gist of my little social experiment is this: sharing love, magic, and happiness with others keeps us connected and keeps hope alive in the world.  That's always a good thing. So here's my challence: if you have read, are reading, or will soon read Becoming Beauty, snap a #BookSelfie and tag me! Just keep spreading the good will!

P.S. Are hashtags irritating? Maybe. Do they work? Definitely! Jump on the train, my friends!