Fresh Start

So today we're going to start fresh with my blogs. This blog is going to be all about writing. I'll post advice, videos, links, and memes all about writing. It's to be used as a resource for other writers. If you're looking for information on me and Segolia, you should head straight over to my other blog: http://segoliablog.wordpress.com/. That is the official Segolia blog and will have information and fun stuff regarding the book(s).

What's a Writer?

Tip of the week:
If you write, say you're a writer. It seems like a lot writers don't feel like they write enough to be called a "writer." If you write a sentence a day you're still a writer. If you say you're a writer, you'll become a writer.

Q and A, #2

So we're back today for a Q & A. Today I'm going to answer the question I get in literally every book talk, especially with the fifth graders. ;) So, that question is this:
Q. Are they going to make it into a movie?
A. I would love if someone decided that Segolia would make a good movie. I certainly think it would make a great movie. However, its only been out for a month and half, even if it does feel like much longer than that. Point being, they don't make movies after books that have only been out for a few weeks. Time is key here. Well, that and the need for a huge fan base. We might get there someday but right now, it's just a book. Of course, if they did make a movie, I would definitely want to be somewhat involved. I'm a strong believer that the author has to be a little involved, but be willing to understand that there are limitations. Movies from books are someone's take on it so it'll never be identical. Right now, let's be content to have an awesome story to read. ;)

What do you want to know for today's How-To?

So does anyone have anything they want to hear about as far as writing tips go? I plan to share a little advice later on in the day. :)

Welcome Casey Bond and her book Winter Shadows!

Casey Bond lives in Milton, West Virginia with her husband and two beautiful daughters. When she isn't writing young adult books, she is reading them. She is surrounded by loving family and wonderful, crazy friends. She is active in her community and Church and still supports her alma mater, Marshall University. Go Herd! You can visit her website and blog  at http://caseybond.tateauthor.com, find her on Facebook, Pinterest and Goodreads.com.

Winter Shadows is a coming of age story following Claire, a young lady struggling to find her place in the world after losing her mother to cancer. After the American government declares a pandemic and forces residents into quarantine encampments, Claire and her father, along with other members of their Church and community, go into hiding in a cave system in rural West Virginia. While coping with the losses of her mother, home, friends, sense of safety and normalcy, Claire begins to pick up the pieces of her past, finding a new normal despite the darkness surrounding her.

While adjusting to a new environment, and the group of people she finds herself surrounded by, Claire is faced with several important decisions that will influence the path her life will take. Who can she trust? Who should she love? How can she survive? Forced to choose between Ethan's steadfast, mature love and the love of mysterious and dangerous Colin who appears. Claire learns the difference between infatuation and love. She becomes self-reliant and strong. Despite her newfound confidence, and the isolation in which she resides, evil is able to find her. While fighting against it, she reestablishes her faith in God and opens her heart to the possibility of love.

Winter Shadows is a coming of age story following Claire, a young lady struggling to find her place in the world after losing her mother to cancer. After the American government declares a pandemic and forces residents into quarantine encampments, Claire and her father, along with other members of their Church and community, go into hiding in a cave system in rural West Virginia. While coping with the losses of her mother, home, friends, sense of safety and normalcy, Claire begins to pick up the pieces of her past, finding a new normal despite the darkness surrounding her.

http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781627467575 

Thought for the day: Let's be kinder

Those of you who have read Segolia: Daughter of Prophecy know about Edgeshifter. Throughout her life, she is known for being kind, compassionate, and selfless. Which is how she gets her title, Edgeshifter the Lightwanderer. She walks in the light, as it's been put.

There is a good reason for having a character like Edgeshifter. She is willing to stand up for what she believes, even if she stands alone. She's selfless, always putting others before her self. The world could do with more Edgeshifters.

That's not to say that we all need to go around hurting ourselves for the sake of others. That's not what I mean. No, what I'm saying is that we could all work on being kinder, to our families, friends, strangers.

Let's all work on that this week. When someone's in need, don't stand aside. When we are hurt, let us turn the other cheek. Because you never know what'll come from your actions.

Kindness works miracles.

Segolia Saturday: What's next?

It's Segolia Saturday and today I'll be discussing what I'll be doing now that Segolia: Daughter of Prophecy is out.

So those of you who have finished book one know how it ends. I won't spoil it for those who haven't read that far yet but I know it's driving people crazy. I know because it's driving me crazy too and I know what happens next. I'm anxious for everyone to be able to read it. I have written the second one, Segolia 2: Age of the Shadow (title still in the works, by the way). But here's the problem: Because Segolia: Daughter of Prophecy has only been out for just over a month, I can't publish the second one yet (unfortunately). The other problem is with the publisher. I've sold only a few books on their website (which doesn't look very promising for a sequel). But if you really want to get that second one out, there are a few things we can do to get it moving:
1. We need to get more reviews out there! I know, I know, I nag and nag about the reviews. But I have only five and I'm going to need a lot more to get people's attention. Goodreads, Amazon, you name it. We've got to get reviews there.
2. Tell people about Segolia! Seems easy enough, right? Book success is all about word of mouth. If no one's heard of it, how can they possibly read it? So, share my fan page, my book trailer (now on YouTube), this blog, your copy of the book, anything. We need to spread the word or book 2 will never hit the shelves (my biggest fear).
3. Read the book. This one is pretty dang obvious. But the thing is a lot people haven't yet (not pointing fingers by the way). But if people don't read it, then I can't build the fan base that I need. And without fans, no sequel.
So based on these things, I hope you're not freaking out and thinking there will never be a sequel. There WILL. I'm determined to see this through, as determined as I was to write the first one, despite a truck fire and all those other problems. But we can certainly speed up the process through spreading the word and getting people interested. Every author starts where I am now but with your help, that can change. I need fans that live and breathe Segolia the same way they breathe Divergent and Harry Potter. That is the key to success. I can write well, I can do all kinds of signings, but I need the help of the people to see this through.

In the meantime, I will keep editing Segolia 2 in hopes that interest will pick up. Hopefully soon. I want to get this thing out there. It's quite the book. ;)
Thanks!

TRIED, Excerpt

She knew she was dreaming.

Tatyana was somewhere she had never expected to be again. The only explanation was that she was dreaming, possibly remembering. Tatyana was at a fashion show, not only that but everything about this one was vaguely familiar. Then, Tatyana remembered. The fashion show in Chicago, where she’d been kidnapped by Glass’s men.

No, no, no. Not this. Any memory but this. Tatyana couldn’t relive this night. But she knew she was. The show was already ending. Soon, her captor would show up.

Tatyana started running, losing the black heels in the process. She wasn’t going down easy now. She couldn’t relive this night. She just couldn’t.

But the dream wasn’t going to let her run away from the past. After a few minutes of running, Tatyana stopped cold. It was him. The man that had kidnapped her so Glass and Pelletier could turn her into Subject Two, as they’d called her. Tatyana tried to run from him, but her speed in her dream, in this memory, was not superhuman yet. He grabbed her, dragging her into an alleyway.

Tatyana screamed.

Segolia: Daughter of Prophecy book trailer

Q and A #1

So, today I'm going to answer one of the questions asked at reading at Bookmans on August 12th.
The question asked was how long did it take you to write Segolia: Daughter of Prophecy?

And the answer....
I started writing Segolia when I was in ninth grade (in high school) but I had a few problems along the road. The major one was about a year or two after I started, I lost EVERYTHING in a truck fire and had to start from scratch. About a year later I finished. All in all, the whole process took about three years. And boy am I glad to be as fast as I am now. I went from three years for a rough draft to one week, depending on the story, of course.

*So if you have questions like the one answered today, ask them in a comment. I'm always happy to answer.

Update: August 13, 2013

Sometimes I really am amazed by how blessed I am. I know people say that all the time, but really, I have some much more than I feel I deserve most of the time.
Today someone told me they loved my book and wanted me to sign it. I was surprised. I always am when someone tells me they loved the novel. I mean, I love it too but its hard to believe I could write something people like and want more of.
And then, I learned that I'll be going to my sister's class for a reading on Friday. I've been dreaming of doing that kind of thing for a long time, long before I even started writing.
I'm just amazed by how I've affected people. I guess it just goes to show that if you're passionate and do what you love and put all your heart into it, it'll show. People notice when you love something as much as I love writing.
My suggestion to you would be this: No matter what happens, no matter what you love, do it with your whole heart.

Pop Quiz, #1 Answers

So here are the answers from the quiz earlier today. Here's a quick refresher on what the questions were:

1. Which people does Rhiannon belong to?
2. Which of the dragons partnered to the Guardians has black scales?
3. How do Alistair and Edgeshifter know each other?
4. Who is Aretha?
5. What is the name of the enchantress's eagle?


And here are the answers:

1. Naiads
2. Echosong
3. She was imprisoned in Idari the same time he was visiting at the palace.
4. The dryad who leads the Guardians to the Enchanters' Palace
5. Windrunner

So now you know. ;)

Pop Quiz! #1

This is the first of many Segolia quizzes. See if you can get it all right! I'll post answers tonight.

1. Which people does Rhiannon belong to?
2. Which of the dragons partnered to the Guardians has black scales?
3. How do Alistair and Edgeshifter know each other?
4. Who is Aretha?
5. What is the name of the enchantress's eagle?

POETRY OF THE WEEK: The Most Powerful Kind of Magic

So every Tuesday, I'm posting a poem either I wrote or someone else wrote, along with my interpretation. Today, its one of mine. I wrote this poem during English class last year. As you read it, keep in mind that it is a story, a sustained metaphor.
My question to you would be what do you think it means? Because it does mean something. Try to figure out what and comment your thoughts! :)


The Most Powerful Kind of Magic
by Brittany Oldroyd

In this land of great magic,

There was once a tower

Built to hide a beautiful princess.

She was guarded day and night by a dragon.

It is said that only one day at midnight

Can she be saved by a brave knight.

 

Day and night, our young maiden dreams of her knight,

Of the day he will come with the magic

That will set her free. She knows midnight

Will be her time. She has never stepped outside her tower,

For she knows the dangers outside with the dragon.

But how she dreams of the day he will come for his princess.

 

The hero has heard of the beautiful princess

That can only be saved by a brave and noble knight.

For her, he longs to slay the cruel and selfish dragon.

With courage to match the creature’s magic,

He wants to run into the princess’s prison: the tower

And set her free with the spell called midnight.

 

The wait comes to an end as it looms over them: midnight

And he steps up to fight for the heart of his princess.

He fights the beast watching the tower.

He falters, fearing a monster so willing to lock up a heart, but proves himself a knight.

With a giant swing, he destroys the creature’s dark magic

And there it lays a pile of dust, no longer a fearsome dragon.

 

He runs inside to greet her, no longer plagued by a dragon.

The time has come as it arrives at last: midnight.

The spell is broken with the most powerful kind of magic.

She has waited for this moment for so long. The princess

Knows she has found all she wanted when her knight

Comes. Lips touch and together they leave the tower.

 

It stands there even still as a long-forgotten memory. The tower

They left behind. He takes her hand as they pass the remains of the greedy dragon.

A dragon who tried to hide what must be. The knight

Saw the light and was willing to do anything for her when midnight

Came. It took so long, but the knight and the princess

Know their love, what the dragon hid away, was the most powerful kind of magic.

 

 

 

When Things Go Wrong...

Sometimes things don't go like you expect them too. That's life. So just shrug it off and keep going. Life has just as many plot twists as any story.

Monday Morning Manuscript Mayhem!

Long title, right?
From now on, on Monday morning, I am giving my readers the chance to vote on what I write that week! Thus the name, Monday Morning Manuscript Mayhem ;)
Here are this week's options:
1. The Infection, book 2
    Book one introduced us to a brand new world of vampires, where they fight to protect humans and don't believe in love. But Irina and Logan's story is just getting started. They've got a lot to prove before its over...

2. The Invincible Project, book 3, TRIED
    Kate, also known as Kat, the crime-fighting, half-leopard heroine of Chicago, was a normal girl until she was kidnapped and experimented on. Now, she's out in the city with a vow to stop the corruption and end the chaos that plagues Chicago.

3. Segolia 2: Age of the Shadow (edits)
    I've written the rough draft but it is FAR from ready for publishing. Vote for Segolia 2 if you're ready to see where the story will lead Nissa, Rylan, and the rest of the Guardians.

4. 2112
    What if music didn't exist? Well, its the year 2112 and no one has even heard of music. Until now. Alyssa Rose finds out about it when she's sent a mysterious message from the past. And as she struggles with the terrible events that led to its destruction, Alyssa will have to bring back what was once lost.

5. Blue
    This is the story of a girl with a secret. Orphaned, alone, mysterious, she has been hiding most of her life. She has lips the color of the Caribbean. Yes, they're blue. But soon, while falling for the introspective writer next door, she discovers that there is a reason behind it. And that reason will lead her to a world she couldn't have ever imagined.

Signing and Reading tomorrow!

Hey guys!!! SO EXCITED! :) My book signing is tomorrow at Bookmans in Flagstaff at 5:30! I'll be there along with a few other authors. Also, get a great discount on Segolia: Daughter of Prophecy. I'll be selling them for HALF the publisher's price!

Reader of the week!

READER OF THE WEEK
Every Friday I'll post one review for Segolia, spotlighting the reviewer! Today's spotlighted reader...KAILAN! Thanks for the five stars! :)

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was well written and very entertaining! I could hardly put it down and I cannot wait for the second one."-Kailan

Me either, Kailan. Hopefully, the sequel will be published soon.

TAINTED excerpt (sequel to TRAPPED)

None of the trilogy are published but this is what I've been working on. Here's a small excerpt of what's going on in TAINTED:

"I glared at him. I faces were just inches apart. Anger practically radiated off my body, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he could feel it.

Then, he punched me in the gut. I doubled over in pain, coughing. He’d hit me hard. He chuckled. Then, he hit me again, this time in the throat and then the jaw. I coughed again, this time hacking up a little blood. Each punch seemed to be backed up with more and more force. Either he was getting stronger or I was getting weaker. Or maybe both.

“So how about that offer?” he asked.

I said nothing, spitting and hissing at him.

“I’m going to take that as a no,” he chuckled.

He leaned the chair back even further. Then, of course, he leaned forward and kissed me hard. I struggled against the chair, wishing I could jerk away. Ugh. I could feel the bile in my mouth. This was so wrong.

“Got anything to say?” he said, lips moving over mine. Ugh, this was so gross. I just wanted to brush my teeth. Like now. I groaned but he ignored me. I had to get out of there. Fast.

Okay, I just had to think this through. I know, hard to do when you’ve got a psychopath kissing you, but somehow I’d manage. This room was completely metal. But as I looked around him-don’t ask me how I did- I saw that he’d left the door ajar, thinking I wouldn’t escape. I smiled, despite the fact that he was still kissing me. Perfect.

I lashed out, kicking him in the gut. Surprised by the attack, he grunted, stumbling back a few steps and dropping the chair. It struck the ground hard. Unfortunately, it didn’t break like I’d hoped it would. Before he could grab me, I rolled over, wrists still tied to the chair. I was glad my legs hadn’t been tied down. Hunched over because of the chair, I stood. Then, I threw myself to the ground, landing on my side.

       The chair splintered, the arm I landed on snapping. The tie broke. Quickly, I reached over, clawing at the other tie, cutting my other arm free. Then I stood. "
Okay! Keep watching for more posts about what I'm working on! :)

Possible Book Tour

OKAY: so right now I am gathering up possible venues to call for more signings. Schools in Arizona until mid-September, possibly schools in Utah, possibly schools in Idaho, restaurants, stores, bookstores, etc. If you've got ANYWHERE you want one. Let me know and either me or my publisher will make the contact. (As long as its plausible and not too far). Lets create a tour for Segolia! ;)

Pop Quiz! Who said it?

Which character in Segolia: Daughter of Prophecy said this:
"You leave me no choice. You have felt small doses of pain from my poisons. This will be very different."

As always feel free to share. If you have no idea who said this because you haven't read the book, check it out!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1625107064/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dpd_GwW0rb11P0K52
http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62510-706-0

New Story

YAY!!!!!! Just finished writing my latest story! :) The idea behind it was what if vampires were the good guys? In this story, vampires don't drink blood. They exist purely to protect humans from the fiery emotion sucking parasites known as fireshadowers. The other idea behind it is this: vampires are forbidden to love and aren't supposed to be capable of it. But what happens when young vampiress Irina Mondragon falls for human heartbreaker Logan Sammons?
If you want to know more, comment and I'll share more info, possibly a sneak peak!