Isabel Wroth's Blog
May 9, 2018
It's LIIIIIIIIVE!!
As I'm sure most of you are aware, it's been a YEAR since I last published a Sarazen Saga novel.
Well, your wait and mine is finally over as unexpectedly, Amazon let Sarazen's Hunt go live a whole day early!
I don't think anyone will complain about that, I'm certainly not!!
Just in case you're a reader like me that doesn't always make it to the end where authors put their links for FB or other social media, I wanted to drop my Sarazen Saga GROUP link here in the blog.
The group is for anyone who wants to talk strictly Sarazen stuff, where you can find any and all updates or giveaways relating to the Saga.
Click HERE for the group and answer my questions...two. Three would have been cooler, but there's only two. They're super hard....
What book did you like best, and who's your favorite character. That's it!
I want to say a big thank you again for all y'alls patience over the last year, waiting for the Saga to go on and encouraging me to continue by keeping on me for a release date. It kept me honest!
It was a rough year for me, and the emotion I put into this book...well, I think you'll see and I hope you like it.
Well, your wait and mine is finally over as unexpectedly, Amazon let Sarazen's Hunt go live a whole day early!
I don't think anyone will complain about that, I'm certainly not!!
Just in case you're a reader like me that doesn't always make it to the end where authors put their links for FB or other social media, I wanted to drop my Sarazen Saga GROUP link here in the blog.
The group is for anyone who wants to talk strictly Sarazen stuff, where you can find any and all updates or giveaways relating to the Saga.
Click HERE for the group and answer my questions...two. Three would have been cooler, but there's only two. They're super hard....
What book did you like best, and who's your favorite character. That's it!
I want to say a big thank you again for all y'alls patience over the last year, waiting for the Saga to go on and encouraging me to continue by keeping on me for a release date. It kept me honest!
It was a rough year for me, and the emotion I put into this book...well, I think you'll see and I hope you like it.
May 2, 2018
T-Minus 8 Days!!
It's nearly that time again people!! I'm so excited for the release of Sarazen's Hunt, which I know has been a LONG time coming!
So to all of my readers who have been patiently waiting, TA-DA! It's almost here!!
I wanted to clarify since I know the question will come up, and it confuses even me sometimes. Sarazen's Hunt is the fourth Sarazen Saga book I've published, but it is TECHNICALLY, book TWO.
How is this possible, you ask?
Sarazen's Claim was book ONE, and within that story arc came an in depth look into the lives of individuals we met within book ONE.
Andi and Ohlen in Vengeance, then Cassie and Falken in Betrayal. I've listed those books as anthologies, but Sarazen's HUNT is a completely different storyline that touches on bits and pieces of the previous three.
You'll see some familiar names and locations, like the Breeding Festival and our beloved pride rulers. But Hunt takes place elsewhere in the Sarazen Solar System with a whole new set of characters I hope you like.
So it goes like this-
Sarazen's Claim- BOOK ONE
Sarazen's Vengeance- 1.1
Sarazen's Betrayal- 1.2
Sarazen's Fury- 1.3 (which will be Brennaugh and Tara's story coming soon!)
Sarazen's Hunt- BOOK TWO
______- 1.1 which will also hopefully happen this year. I can't tell you the title without some spoilers.
And on the topic of SPOILERS....you all know how I hate to see them in reviews, but folks can't help themselves, so I gotta just let it roll.
HOWEVER!! I've made a facebook group, The Sarazen Saga (CLICK HERE) and if you want to discuss, leave spoilers, commiserate with other readers on what you did and didn't like, THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU IN THE GROUP!!
Designated by big red letters that say SPOILERS across my beautiful cover to let everyone know what lies beneath.
I really hope you enjoy Hunt as much as I do!
SARAZEN'S HUNT- Coming 5/10/18
-GOOD LUCK ON THE HUNT.
Newly-appointed Commander Kalix has been tasked with a crucial mission for the Sarazen race: discover the fates of the remaining human starships, and bring home the survivors—if there are any left, that is…His crew come upon the wrecked remains of the Sestrenka, and the chattering captain’s logs set them on the trail of a human colony established over twenty years ago. As Kalix and his men grow closer in their search, the distress signals show there is something terribly wrong on Moika.Something deathly wrong.
-LEAVE NO SKIN EXPOSED.
Alec, the first human born on the alien planet Moika, is a hardened young woman and the defacto leader of what remains of the colony. The hostile natives who dwell in the water have decimated the population.
When all hope seems lost, the Sarazens appear and offer the survivors sanctuary: an end to their suffering, an end to the running, and an end to the killings.
A return to civilization.
For Alec, who has spent most of her life herding and protecting the colony, it's a bittersweet rescue. All she's known is fighting and when the gauzy promise of peace is dangled in front of her, Alec isn't sure there's a place for her in this new 'civilized' world.
So to all of my readers who have been patiently waiting, TA-DA! It's almost here!!
I wanted to clarify since I know the question will come up, and it confuses even me sometimes. Sarazen's Hunt is the fourth Sarazen Saga book I've published, but it is TECHNICALLY, book TWO.
How is this possible, you ask?
Sarazen's Claim was book ONE, and within that story arc came an in depth look into the lives of individuals we met within book ONE.
Andi and Ohlen in Vengeance, then Cassie and Falken in Betrayal. I've listed those books as anthologies, but Sarazen's HUNT is a completely different storyline that touches on bits and pieces of the previous three.
You'll see some familiar names and locations, like the Breeding Festival and our beloved pride rulers. But Hunt takes place elsewhere in the Sarazen Solar System with a whole new set of characters I hope you like.
So it goes like this-
Sarazen's Claim- BOOK ONE
Sarazen's Vengeance- 1.1
Sarazen's Betrayal- 1.2
Sarazen's Fury- 1.3 (which will be Brennaugh and Tara's story coming soon!)
Sarazen's Hunt- BOOK TWO
______- 1.1 which will also hopefully happen this year. I can't tell you the title without some spoilers.
And on the topic of SPOILERS....you all know how I hate to see them in reviews, but folks can't help themselves, so I gotta just let it roll.
HOWEVER!! I've made a facebook group, The Sarazen Saga (CLICK HERE) and if you want to discuss, leave spoilers, commiserate with other readers on what you did and didn't like, THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU IN THE GROUP!!
Designated by big red letters that say SPOILERS across my beautiful cover to let everyone know what lies beneath.
I really hope you enjoy Hunt as much as I do!
SARAZEN'S HUNT- Coming 5/10/18
-GOOD LUCK ON THE HUNT.
Newly-appointed Commander Kalix has been tasked with a crucial mission for the Sarazen race: discover the fates of the remaining human starships, and bring home the survivors—if there are any left, that is…His crew come upon the wrecked remains of the Sestrenka, and the chattering captain’s logs set them on the trail of a human colony established over twenty years ago. As Kalix and his men grow closer in their search, the distress signals show there is something terribly wrong on Moika.Something deathly wrong.
-LEAVE NO SKIN EXPOSED.
Alec, the first human born on the alien planet Moika, is a hardened young woman and the defacto leader of what remains of the colony. The hostile natives who dwell in the water have decimated the population.
When all hope seems lost, the Sarazens appear and offer the survivors sanctuary: an end to their suffering, an end to the running, and an end to the killings.
A return to civilization.
For Alec, who has spent most of her life herding and protecting the colony, it's a bittersweet rescue. All she's known is fighting and when the gauzy promise of peace is dangled in front of her, Alec isn't sure there's a place for her in this new 'civilized' world.
March 4, 2018
Sunday Morning Revelations
My inspiration seems to come from anywhere and everywhere, but until this week I never really stopped to consider where some of the smaller details of a story evolve from.
Say, for instance, the grotto-like bathrooms in my Sarazen books. Well, it came to me today as I was working hard on finishing up Sarazen's Hunt.
First of all, there is now no way anyone can convince me Facebook isn't involved in monitoring and analyzing every detail of our lives.
My author page is VERY different from my personal page. There aren't details of my life on the Author page that should have connected me to anyone other than readers. Friends I invited to like my page had nothing to do with what occurred, as they are recent friends and we have no friends in common from my childhood.
But Tuesday, out of the blue, a man I knew from my life in California, popped up as one of those friends FB suggests you know. No friends in common, no contact with him for more than a decade, I don't have his number in my phone contacts for it to have tagged him, no reason for FB to pop this guy up on my feed, and yet there he is all the same.
I was delighted, creeped out by Facebook, but delighted because I have nothing but kind and grateful memories of this person. Is this how they suck you in? I think so, lol.
Rewind to nearly 18 years ago. I was involved with the local Shakespeare troupe during a very emotionally tumultuous time in my life. I won't lie, things in my personal life were bad, and this man, not knowing the true depth of my issues, asked if I would housesit for him while he was gone at Burning Man to take care of his plants and animals and such.
It meant I got to get away from those problems of mine and rest for a while, in his eclectic little house that was literally over the hill, through the woods, and nestled within the crevasse of a deep canyon.
It seemed like paradise to me at the time, but the coolest part of the entire home was the bathroom.
Handy and crafty as he was, his bathtub appeared to be sunken into an enormous boulder. There were niches made for candles that looked totally natural, but from floor to ceiling along the one wall, you were looking at a cave. The whole bathroom seemed to be half cave half home, and I recall soaking up to my chin in bubbles with Lorenna McKennit singing her mysterious songs in this grotto, so relaxed and at peace, I didn't want to leave that tub. I've soaked in many a tub over the years, but that one was special because it was so damn cool!
So as I re-read through some of my work, it came to me how a memory, an encounter with someone who was so kind to me as a kid, still influences my work today. How my subconscious thoughts come out as woeful landscapes or sanctuary like bathrooms located on alien planets.
Also, perhaps this is where my love of soaking tubs has come from.
Say, for instance, the grotto-like bathrooms in my Sarazen books. Well, it came to me today as I was working hard on finishing up Sarazen's Hunt.
First of all, there is now no way anyone can convince me Facebook isn't involved in monitoring and analyzing every detail of our lives.
My author page is VERY different from my personal page. There aren't details of my life on the Author page that should have connected me to anyone other than readers. Friends I invited to like my page had nothing to do with what occurred, as they are recent friends and we have no friends in common from my childhood.
But Tuesday, out of the blue, a man I knew from my life in California, popped up as one of those friends FB suggests you know. No friends in common, no contact with him for more than a decade, I don't have his number in my phone contacts for it to have tagged him, no reason for FB to pop this guy up on my feed, and yet there he is all the same.
I was delighted, creeped out by Facebook, but delighted because I have nothing but kind and grateful memories of this person. Is this how they suck you in? I think so, lol.
Rewind to nearly 18 years ago. I was involved with the local Shakespeare troupe during a very emotionally tumultuous time in my life. I won't lie, things in my personal life were bad, and this man, not knowing the true depth of my issues, asked if I would housesit for him while he was gone at Burning Man to take care of his plants and animals and such.
It meant I got to get away from those problems of mine and rest for a while, in his eclectic little house that was literally over the hill, through the woods, and nestled within the crevasse of a deep canyon.
It seemed like paradise to me at the time, but the coolest part of the entire home was the bathroom.
Handy and crafty as he was, his bathtub appeared to be sunken into an enormous boulder. There were niches made for candles that looked totally natural, but from floor to ceiling along the one wall, you were looking at a cave. The whole bathroom seemed to be half cave half home, and I recall soaking up to my chin in bubbles with Lorenna McKennit singing her mysterious songs in this grotto, so relaxed and at peace, I didn't want to leave that tub. I've soaked in many a tub over the years, but that one was special because it was so damn cool!
So as I re-read through some of my work, it came to me how a memory, an encounter with someone who was so kind to me as a kid, still influences my work today. How my subconscious thoughts come out as woeful landscapes or sanctuary like bathrooms located on alien planets.
Also, perhaps this is where my love of soaking tubs has come from.
November 21, 2017
A WHOLE NEW WORLD...
HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!!
My unbelievably awesome second in command is assisting me in updating my Facebook account and tells me the way I set this current page up, as a business page attached to my personal account, means I can't join other events or do author sharing and fun stuff to support my fellow authors. This straight up wigs me out and excludes me from a lot of FB life, so changes are being made.
ON DECEMBER 5th, THIS PAGE WILL CEASE TO BE! And a new one, where I can be friended, host author mashups, and be part of the community in a much more accessible way, will be created. I'm working on it now.
An incentive to friend my new page NOW... www.facebook.com/isabel.wroth.31 I have posted a little excerpt from SARAZEN'S HUNT! I know, I know, breathe!
This week it's all about giving thanks for the blessings in your life. I've been so blessed by all of you who follow me around and so avidly read my books. I'm thankful for each and every one of you!
So, to that effect and as huge thanks to all of you who make the switch, there will be more teasers every week, and a very special surprise coming up on the new page. I won't post any of it here, so race on over!
You'll know it's me because of the attached image, and obvi, the excerpts!
My unbelievably awesome second in command is assisting me in updating my Facebook account and tells me the way I set this current page up, as a business page attached to my personal account, means I can't join other events or do author sharing and fun stuff to support my fellow authors. This straight up wigs me out and excludes me from a lot of FB life, so changes are being made.
ON DECEMBER 5th, THIS PAGE WILL CEASE TO BE! And a new one, where I can be friended, host author mashups, and be part of the community in a much more accessible way, will be created. I'm working on it now.
An incentive to friend my new page NOW... www.facebook.com/isabel.wroth.31 I have posted a little excerpt from SARAZEN'S HUNT! I know, I know, breathe!
This week it's all about giving thanks for the blessings in your life. I've been so blessed by all of you who follow me around and so avidly read my books. I'm thankful for each and every one of you!
So, to that effect and as huge thanks to all of you who make the switch, there will be more teasers every week, and a very special surprise coming up on the new page. I won't post any of it here, so race on over!
You'll know it's me because of the attached image, and obvi, the excerpts!
August 15, 2017
Filthy Pirates!!
Unfortunately, this blog is not about Cap'n Jack Sparrow or his adventures.
It's about something that's been a topic of upsetting discussion among my fellow authors.
BOOK PIRACY!!
Back in the day, I am guilty of having downloaded pirated music from places like Napster and Limewire, and looking back now as someone who does all the work to publish my books, I understand how the artists and musicians were so up in arms about their work being stolen and offered for free somewhere else. And how wrong it was of me to do it.
Today there are still places to download things for free, like the books I and other authors have published. You may not know it, and you may have downloaded or borrowed a book from a website not affiliated with the author's publisher for free, without knowing whether or not the author or the publisher has actually given permission for that.
Today's blog, I just want to be clear I'm only talking about my books, and my permissions and experiences.
The ONLY place you can buy or borrow my books from, is AMAZON.COM.
Amazon is the ONLY company I have published through and given rights to distribute my content, via AMAZON.COM.
Through Amazon, I have placed my books on the KOLL (kindle owners lending library) and the KDP Select programs that allow readers to get my books through their Kindle Unlimited programs free of charge.
That's it.
Yet unfortunately, as the topic was being discussed and I did some digging around, I discovered my books were available on a website called Booklending.com to be borrowed or loaned, and at first glance, it appears this company is an associate of Amazon and part of the Amazon Lending Library.
If you read the fine print there on Booklending, and I did, you will find that they state in a very sneaky turn of phrase that they are not affiliated with Amazon in any way.
So why am I so upset that someone can borrow my books for free? Doesn't that give me more publicity and sort of a way to do some free advertising?
No. It doesn't.
Let's be clear that I'm not complaining, I am explaining how my system works and what all goes in to being an author.
Being an author has been and continues to be my dream job. I love it. I can't wait to type- THE END- on a new title and get it out there for my readers to enjoy.
I spend anywhere from five to twelve hours a day working on my books, and it takes months for me to finish one book to my satisfaction.
I spend money on editing. I spend money on book covers. On advertising and hype. And I don't get paid until 60 days AFTER publishing.
For instance, say I publish January 1st, I don't receive royalties or payment until April 1st.
So when I discover someone has given my book away for free, it really chaps my ass.
I copyright all my books through the copyrighting office of America and that person who has downloaded a pirated version of my book is stealing those hours and months of my hard work.
There's nothing I can do about it except send the company offering my stolen work for free a nasty email, demand they remove my titles from their website, and prepare a potential lawsuit.
Or, take my titles off of the KOLL and Kindle Unlimited and only offer them to be purchased.
I wish there was a meme with some big scaley oceanic creature, declaring that only you can prevent literary piracy.
Because it's true. I can write emails and prepare lawsuits all day long to combat the thievery of my work, but in the end, it's up to the readers to not feed that monster.
Author's names and stories are being stolen, and as this continues to be a rising issue, myself and my fellow authors are losing time and money we could be using to write more books by going to war with companies and individuals who pirate our work.
Thus, the moral of today's blog-
If you want your favorite authors to finish the next book you're waiting on, help them out. Don't download books from some skeezy website not affiliated with Amazon, so I don't have to put down the laptop and use the precious time I could be finishing the next Sarazen novel to put on my warrior princess panties and go on a warpath.
They're ironclad, and they chafe.
It may seem like a little thing to some, but as my awesome readers, if someone offers you a pirated copy of my books, or any of your favorite author's books, please say no.
I continue to be so appreciative of my reader base and your support with every new book I release. Here's to a thousand more!
It's about something that's been a topic of upsetting discussion among my fellow authors.
BOOK PIRACY!!
Back in the day, I am guilty of having downloaded pirated music from places like Napster and Limewire, and looking back now as someone who does all the work to publish my books, I understand how the artists and musicians were so up in arms about their work being stolen and offered for free somewhere else. And how wrong it was of me to do it.
Today there are still places to download things for free, like the books I and other authors have published. You may not know it, and you may have downloaded or borrowed a book from a website not affiliated with the author's publisher for free, without knowing whether or not the author or the publisher has actually given permission for that.
Today's blog, I just want to be clear I'm only talking about my books, and my permissions and experiences.
The ONLY place you can buy or borrow my books from, is AMAZON.COM.
Amazon is the ONLY company I have published through and given rights to distribute my content, via AMAZON.COM.
Through Amazon, I have placed my books on the KOLL (kindle owners lending library) and the KDP Select programs that allow readers to get my books through their Kindle Unlimited programs free of charge.
That's it.
Yet unfortunately, as the topic was being discussed and I did some digging around, I discovered my books were available on a website called Booklending.com to be borrowed or loaned, and at first glance, it appears this company is an associate of Amazon and part of the Amazon Lending Library.
If you read the fine print there on Booklending, and I did, you will find that they state in a very sneaky turn of phrase that they are not affiliated with Amazon in any way.
So why am I so upset that someone can borrow my books for free? Doesn't that give me more publicity and sort of a way to do some free advertising?
No. It doesn't.
Let's be clear that I'm not complaining, I am explaining how my system works and what all goes in to being an author.
Being an author has been and continues to be my dream job. I love it. I can't wait to type- THE END- on a new title and get it out there for my readers to enjoy.
I spend anywhere from five to twelve hours a day working on my books, and it takes months for me to finish one book to my satisfaction.
I spend money on editing. I spend money on book covers. On advertising and hype. And I don't get paid until 60 days AFTER publishing.
For instance, say I publish January 1st, I don't receive royalties or payment until April 1st.
So when I discover someone has given my book away for free, it really chaps my ass.
I copyright all my books through the copyrighting office of America and that person who has downloaded a pirated version of my book is stealing those hours and months of my hard work.
There's nothing I can do about it except send the company offering my stolen work for free a nasty email, demand they remove my titles from their website, and prepare a potential lawsuit.
Or, take my titles off of the KOLL and Kindle Unlimited and only offer them to be purchased.
I wish there was a meme with some big scaley oceanic creature, declaring that only you can prevent literary piracy.
Because it's true. I can write emails and prepare lawsuits all day long to combat the thievery of my work, but in the end, it's up to the readers to not feed that monster.
Author's names and stories are being stolen, and as this continues to be a rising issue, myself and my fellow authors are losing time and money we could be using to write more books by going to war with companies and individuals who pirate our work.
Thus, the moral of today's blog-
If you want your favorite authors to finish the next book you're waiting on, help them out. Don't download books from some skeezy website not affiliated with Amazon, so I don't have to put down the laptop and use the precious time I could be finishing the next Sarazen novel to put on my warrior princess panties and go on a warpath.
They're ironclad, and they chafe.
It may seem like a little thing to some, but as my awesome readers, if someone offers you a pirated copy of my books, or any of your favorite author's books, please say no.
I continue to be so appreciative of my reader base and your support with every new book I release. Here's to a thousand more!
July 26, 2017
July Newsletter 2017
I love the smell of a new release in the morning!!
That's right that's RIGHT! Ripley's Saint is now LIVE on Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0748G23YT/...
Just a quick update for everyone, some answers to the questions I know I'm going to get asked...
YES, I know I made this a bit of a cliffhanger, but hopefully by now y'all know I'm gonna make it good for you!
YES, I introduced you to a whole slew of new characters (hopefully some you liked)
YES, 98% of those new characters are going to either have their own book or be part of a series. Austin, TX is obviously a real place, and I'm using it as my staging area for all of those contemporary novels.
Some of you might recognize the tiny theme/easter egg I left in Ripley's Saint regarding the 6 P's...I have 3 P's so far.
YES, Nasa will have his own book, cause he's kind of a big deal and I love him. His book is in progress, and every new scene I write of it I crack myself up laughing.
As far as the Sarazen Saga...IT GOES ON!!
NO, I don't have a release date for the next two novels yet, and the reason is the next one is shaping up to be a BIG book. More than 600 pages when it's all said and done, due to it being a complete story within that universe.
YES, I swear to god I'm working on it as fast as I can, because I can't wait to tell you the story and I know everyone is anxiously awaiting it, but haste makes waste!
I was also asked to be part of a multi-author sci-fi collaboration project, and next spring we'll be bringing you a 6 book (for now) series. EXCITING!!!!
That's right that's RIGHT! Ripley's Saint is now LIVE on Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0748G23YT/...
Just a quick update for everyone, some answers to the questions I know I'm going to get asked...
YES, I know I made this a bit of a cliffhanger, but hopefully by now y'all know I'm gonna make it good for you!
YES, I introduced you to a whole slew of new characters (hopefully some you liked)
YES, 98% of those new characters are going to either have their own book or be part of a series. Austin, TX is obviously a real place, and I'm using it as my staging area for all of those contemporary novels.
Some of you might recognize the tiny theme/easter egg I left in Ripley's Saint regarding the 6 P's...I have 3 P's so far.
YES, Nasa will have his own book, cause he's kind of a big deal and I love him. His book is in progress, and every new scene I write of it I crack myself up laughing.
As far as the Sarazen Saga...IT GOES ON!!
NO, I don't have a release date for the next two novels yet, and the reason is the next one is shaping up to be a BIG book. More than 600 pages when it's all said and done, due to it being a complete story within that universe.
YES, I swear to god I'm working on it as fast as I can, because I can't wait to tell you the story and I know everyone is anxiously awaiting it, but haste makes waste!
I was also asked to be part of a multi-author sci-fi collaboration project, and next spring we'll be bringing you a 6 book (for now) series. EXCITING!!!!
March 8, 2017
Newsletter #2
Greetings and salutations, readers!
Sarazen's Betrayal has been released!
In the wake of this exciting new world, some questions have been answered, some new characters revealed, and a whole new set of questions have arisen! Like they do.
If you have NOT YET read Sarazen's Betrayal (srsly?) read no further because I'm about to answer a few of those questions!
************Semi-Spoilers Below*********
So I've gotten a lot of the "when's the next book coming?" and "hurry up with the next book"
....I love you guys and I'm so appreciative of your eagerness for more of what I got cookin, but this stuff takes time to percolate! Lol!
And I posted it as a mild joke, but for true. I've only been published since last June, and I've cranked out FIVE BOOKS.
Five. Five books in just over eight months.
So, love you for realzies, but that might not always be my speed and y'all need to chill. LOL!
I probably could release 10,000 word short stories/chapters every couple of weeks, at a dollar a pop, which monetarily would be great for me...but not so good for you and my goal is always to make it good for you.
I introduced some new characters, and a lot of you have commented about Ilaria. She was SO much fun to write, and the second I conceptualized her character, I decided she would have her own series.
At this point I couldn't tell you how many novels will be in her series/part of her world. Definitely not as many as the Sarazen Saga. Although I say that, and I could discover after chatting with the characters in her circle, that there will be way more. I never can tell until I get in the thick of things.
But yes.
Ilaria will have her own little world.
When is the next Perdition novel coming?
I don't know. I've completed 3/4s of Ripley and Saint's story, but some of you might not know, a lot of what goes on in those books is inspired by real life events.
Like Top having cancer.
It's been an interesting few months since I published Athena's Raid, and it's just taking me more time to decide which of the unbelievable events to use in Ripley and Saint's story, and which to save for the next few Perdition novels. Trust me, I've not forgotten about Perdition, and there will be at least three more of those novels on the horizon.
The last question has been asked by a good handful of you, via facebook or private email, asked in various forms along these lines:
"I love your work! I'm so jealous/inspired, I've got all these ideas but I've never been able to write them all down or do anything with them. How did you start writing?"
First of all, I say it often, but I sincerely mean it. Thank you, so SO much. Every comment left, every time I open up my author dashboard and see the number of books sold, I'm so grateful to all of you readers who are making it possible for me to have this dream job. Legit. I wouldn't have been able to become a full-time writer without you.
Second, I don't know if many of you know or noticed this about me, but I'm a fairly blunt person. I write. I don't run a bakery, so get your sugar coated delights, elsewhere! <3
Those of you who have asked me how I started writing, you're among good company. So, let us begin!
How do I do it-
The laundry list of ingredients that make up my personal writing style, will never be the same as someone else's. There will be similar components, a general formula all writers share.
Ingredients:
A story you want to tell.
HONEST friends to discuss the meat of the story with, who'll tell you 'babe, that shit sucks.' or 'HOLY HELL YES!'
A vivid imagination with no bounds or limitations.
Thick skin.
Determination.
Patience.
Passion.
No doubt there are some of you thinking, it can't be that easy.
Others are thinking, Shit, that sounds hard!
It is that easy, and it is hard.
Writing isn't a magic spell. Getting published isn't some luck of the Irish what requires the blood of a virgin and a password six millon characters long, with an uppercase letter, two lowercase letters, a symbol and a prayer to Satan.
It really is a question of, how bad do you want it?
I hear this a lot, from friends of friends, and from readers-
"So, Isabel, how did you start writing?"
My answer-
I was a very privileged child, and I got the chance to travel to some really amazing places, which meant amazing experiences. But having privileges, didn't mean my childhood was some fairytale. It actually sucked balls in a lot of ways.
From my baby-baby years, my mom read to me. It was our quiet time together before naps or bedtime, and thinking back, those were some of the more peaceful moments in my house.
I grew up voraciously reading, and when I was 13, I picked up a book by Virgina Henley called, The Pirate and the Pagan. If you've never read any of Virginia Henley's books...you're missing out. Big time. They're historical romance, but unlike any I've read to date, and at 13, my eyeballs were bugging out of my skull to read the steamy sexy parts. I was shocked. I'd had no idea this cool looking book held such salacious content, and I knew if I mentioned it to my mom, I'd never again be able to read any of Virginia's stuff.
So, I was at that point introduced to the idea of fantasy and romance, at a time when my life was anything but stars and roses. I was the nerdy kid not part of the cliques, unwelcome in the already established social pecking order, and my escape from all that was to read. Or to sit down and write out some fantasy where my mind could travel backwards or forwards in time, to a place where I was safe, welcome and happy.
I was secretive about my writing the way an artist is secretive about their unfinished painting. I didn't want anyone else to read my work, because it wasn't ready, but mostly, because that was MY world. MY sanctuary, and I wasn't ready to share it.
I'll never forget the day my mother stumbled across one of my daydream writings. I'd never been so crushed and so pleased at the same time. Mom was horrified, berated me for writing 'smut' (#crushed)
She was horrified, not because I was writing "smut" but more so because she read it and actually felt like she was there. Immersed in the reality of my fantasy. (#elated)
I'm sure she thought I was out having sex left and right, but the truth was that my imagination was soaring. I'd never even kissed a boy at this point, but what teenage girl doesn't want attention from the hottest guy in school? I didn't ever get that attention from him, so I wrote stories where the heroine got swept off her feet and into the sunset.
(Confession: I haven't let my mom read a single page of any of my writing since that day. She knows how I'm making my living these days, and I'm sure as I'm an adult now she would approve of the content. But still not happening, lol.)
Writing became my recreational past time. My unwind after a long day. Other women go out after work and have drinks with their co-workers or friends.
I curl up at the end of the couch and write or read a steamy novel.
You've no doubt seen me mention my friend, Shelda, in posts or the acknowledgment of Claim. She's one of my dearest friends, and for a time we worked together in a quiet setting where we could bandy our creative thoughts about.
(She's written a fabulous erotic poetry book, Sky Woman's Daughter if any of you are interested https://www.amazon.com/Sky-Womans-Dau... )
So one day, Shelda asks me the big question. She says,
"Do you know how much money there is to be made in the Romance genre? You've got all these writing projects, have you ever thought of publishing them?"
I was leery, to be honest. My brain went back to that terrible day my mother discovered my 'dirty books.'
"I've never actually finished anything. I just start writing, and stop when I get to a certain point." I say.
Shelda makes a non-committal sound. "How many books a month in the romance genre, do you read?"
I was embarrassed to tell her. A lot. Like, A LOT.
"Do you like all the books you buy and read?" she asks.
"No. About three in five are terrible." I answer.
"Do you think your writing is as bad as those three that are terrible?"
Scoff! "No. But I'm biased."
We continued to have this conversation for a while. I tell people that Shelda pulled a Spock and logicked me out of any excuses, and she did, but the simple truth was, I was ready to hear it.
People can tell you all day long, how fabulous a writer you are. How you should stop wasting time and just publish a book. I did a workshop recently in an effort to answer everyone's question of,
"How did you do this?"
And I told them what I tell you now-
I got on Amazon, I scrolled down to the bottom of the page, clicked on the 'Publish' tab, and filled in the blanks.
That's literally it.
"Well, okay. If it's that simple, why didn't you do it sooner? You've been writing for years, do you regret not publishing sooner?"
I wasn't ready eight years ago. Or even two years ago. I didn't have the experiences I have now, to use as emotional information I could convey in such a way as to make someone else feel what I felt.
Sure, I had dreams of someday quitting all my nine to five jobs, and becoming a writer full time. But I wasn't ready to take that leap of faith and say, "I can make this happen."
If you read my books and are inspired to write your own, I'm flattered and I'm thrilled for you. Truly.
But understand, you might not be ready yet to share your stories, and that's not a reason to be jealous or get down on yourself about "why haven't I done this sooner?"
I tell you honestly, not to garner compliments or flattery, no shit, I was TERRIFIED when I hit Publish, and Never Ever was sent out into the world for all to see.
Looking at the number of units sold, I had a moment of, 'what have I done? All those people are inside my imagination. All of those people are reading my thoughts. Holy shit.' Those were my private thoughts, a fantasy world I created. Would anyone read it? Was I any good? Would people hate this book?
People read it.
I was pretty good.
Some loved it.
Others hated it.
I learned very quickly that I could tell a great story, but my punctuation and grammar sucked. I needed an editor, badly.
How did I learn this? I obsessively stalked the comments on Amazon, and you, readers, told me where my strengths and weaknesses lie.
There were comments that brought me to tears, because I was stunned you all liked the story I had to tell.
There were other comments that lit my ass on fire with indignation, and Shelda heard all about it for days. She laughed, she listened, we commiserated, and I eventually was ready to understand that despite the nasty comment, there was value in it for me as a writer. A definitive place where I could improve.
The comment was still nasty as hell, and unfortunately, that person(s) may or may not wind up a brutally murdered victim in a book of mine...but even in that, in my anger or hurt, there was value.
Another experience, another emotion for me to be able to convey to the rest of my readers.
So in reality, there is no bad feedback. But, not everyone can take that nastiness and use it. Some people will let that one horrible comment, ruin their desire to keep going.
Thick skin, and how bad do you want it.
Those are two of the most important writing ingredients.
Yes, I get to create worlds, characters, fantastical escapes and get paid for it.
But I also am human. I get my feelings hurt, I feel pressure and stress in this 'job' like any other human being. I feel weird about the compliments sometimes. I write 7,000 words and hate every single one.
It's a process, and it's normal.
So if you have story ideas, fantasies, memoirs, journal entries, that's great. Sit down every day and write 500 words. Doesn't matter what you write. Doesn't matter if you like or dislike those 500 words. If you want to publish something, that's how you start. Write shit down, every day.
Will you be afraid?
At first. But I bet you, you're not alone.
Will the publication sell?
Yes. Someone will buy it. I can't promise you a thousand people will buy your book, but you won't know unless you try.
What if people hate what I wrote?
No matter what you do, there will always be haters. You could win the Nobel Peace Prize, and someone will shit on you and say you didn't deserve it. That's just how it goes. Also, if they hate it, try another genre and see what happens.
I thought the Perdition novels would sell out the roof because at the time, I was reading biker romance and I loved it. Color me shocked when the Sarazen Saga BLEW THE FUCK UP.
I was shocked. I really was. I honestly didn't think the sci-fi in me was up to snuff. But look what happened. I tried two different genres, and found I'm stronger in one, than the other. So where have I been putting my extra effort? Into creating more fantastical, boundless worlds. But I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't tried something new. Something I didn't think anyone woul like very much.
When I posted about the passing of my dream horse, it wasn't to garner sympathy. I wanted to share the beauty of her with everyone. Because she was amazing, and she was a daily, visual reminder of life and dreams.
One of you very kindly told me that my horse had also given me the gift of being a writer. It made me cry a little more, in a very sweet way. But I was a writer before I ever got that mare. The gift that horse actually gave me, was confidence and a drive to make my dream of writing as a profession, reality. My hope when I posted about my dream horse, was to remind everyone that dreams do and can come true if you want it bad enough.
Every single human in the world could have walked up to me, told me being a published author was a dream I could make happen, and I still would have doubted it.
Why?
Because I wasn't ready to hear it, or believe it. Believe in myself.
Friends in my circle have walked up to me and straight up told me how jealous they are of what I've accomplished. You know what I do? I don't try to tell them not to be jealous.
I laugh.
Not out of spite or ridicule, I laugh because it's not me or my success they're jealous of. It's not even jealousy. They're just not ready, and I laugh, because the only person stopping them, is themselves.
In any walk of life, whether it's writing, science, sports, climbing Mt. Everest or visiting every other country in the world, it's not that you CAN'T do it. It's not that someone else is better than you and able to do all the things you want to do because they're better. It's not that they have more money, or more time, or more support.
They're simply, ready.
Ready at a different time than you, and that doesn't make them or you, any better or less.
Yes, obviously if you have physical limitations, you might not be able to climb Mt. Everest or travel or whatever. But even if you're bedridden, there are things MENTALLY, you're not ready for today, that might take you a few years to become ready for.
I started writing when I was 13 years old.
I published my first book at 30.
17 years. It took me 17 years to be ready. To want it. To gather up the courage to quit the stability and drudgery of a bi-weekly paycheck. To take a risk. To let thousands of people into my imagination.
So how did I do it? I took my time.
And when I was ready, when I was ready to listen, to absorb, to let those shitty comments about my writing roll on by and take the positive from it as best I could...while still plotting literary murder in the future (#writersperogative)....I made it happen.
Jealousy? That's okay. Jealousy simply means you're not ready yet. You don't want it bad enough, yet .
Fear? Worry? Uncertainty? That's even more okay. It means you're not ready.
When you ARE ready, you grab your dream, whatever 'your thing' is, by the balls and you don't let go until you get what you want.
That's it. That's my magic spell. That's how I did it. I grabbed it, my fear and dreams, by the balls and told it who was boss.
However, the only reason I'm SUCCESSFUL, is because of you. The person reading this. Reading my stories. My fantasies. Shaking your fist over my adoration for improper periods and sentence fragments.
(Segue: When you're speaking to someone, do you speak in full grammatically correct thoughts and feelings? I don't. I've not met a single person who does. I'm sure they're out there somewhere, weirdo unicorns. But that's how I convey thoughts and feelings of a character. Fragments, just like how we speak in real life. Test drive it today and see if you're one of the weirdo unicorns, or an average speaker :p End segue)
I think some day when I'm in the mood for Non-Fiction, I'll write a book about grammar.
Comma Momma Drama...maybe.
I know now that I can tell a great story. But it's only great when someone reads it and feels it in their gut.
So, it's been good for me. Was it good for you too?
Theme song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfQFU...
Sarazen's Betrayal has been released!
In the wake of this exciting new world, some questions have been answered, some new characters revealed, and a whole new set of questions have arisen! Like they do.
If you have NOT YET read Sarazen's Betrayal (srsly?) read no further because I'm about to answer a few of those questions!
************Semi-Spoilers Below*********
So I've gotten a lot of the "when's the next book coming?" and "hurry up with the next book"
....I love you guys and I'm so appreciative of your eagerness for more of what I got cookin, but this stuff takes time to percolate! Lol!
And I posted it as a mild joke, but for true. I've only been published since last June, and I've cranked out FIVE BOOKS.
Five. Five books in just over eight months.
So, love you for realzies, but that might not always be my speed and y'all need to chill. LOL!
I probably could release 10,000 word short stories/chapters every couple of weeks, at a dollar a pop, which monetarily would be great for me...but not so good for you and my goal is always to make it good for you.
I introduced some new characters, and a lot of you have commented about Ilaria. She was SO much fun to write, and the second I conceptualized her character, I decided she would have her own series.
At this point I couldn't tell you how many novels will be in her series/part of her world. Definitely not as many as the Sarazen Saga. Although I say that, and I could discover after chatting with the characters in her circle, that there will be way more. I never can tell until I get in the thick of things.
But yes.
Ilaria will have her own little world.
When is the next Perdition novel coming?
I don't know. I've completed 3/4s of Ripley and Saint's story, but some of you might not know, a lot of what goes on in those books is inspired by real life events.
Like Top having cancer.
It's been an interesting few months since I published Athena's Raid, and it's just taking me more time to decide which of the unbelievable events to use in Ripley and Saint's story, and which to save for the next few Perdition novels. Trust me, I've not forgotten about Perdition, and there will be at least three more of those novels on the horizon.
The last question has been asked by a good handful of you, via facebook or private email, asked in various forms along these lines:
"I love your work! I'm so jealous/inspired, I've got all these ideas but I've never been able to write them all down or do anything with them. How did you start writing?"
First of all, I say it often, but I sincerely mean it. Thank you, so SO much. Every comment left, every time I open up my author dashboard and see the number of books sold, I'm so grateful to all of you readers who are making it possible for me to have this dream job. Legit. I wouldn't have been able to become a full-time writer without you.
Second, I don't know if many of you know or noticed this about me, but I'm a fairly blunt person. I write. I don't run a bakery, so get your sugar coated delights, elsewhere! <3
Those of you who have asked me how I started writing, you're among good company. So, let us begin!
How do I do it-
The laundry list of ingredients that make up my personal writing style, will never be the same as someone else's. There will be similar components, a general formula all writers share.
Ingredients:
A story you want to tell.
HONEST friends to discuss the meat of the story with, who'll tell you 'babe, that shit sucks.' or 'HOLY HELL YES!'
A vivid imagination with no bounds or limitations.
Thick skin.
Determination.
Patience.
Passion.
No doubt there are some of you thinking, it can't be that easy.
Others are thinking, Shit, that sounds hard!
It is that easy, and it is hard.
Writing isn't a magic spell. Getting published isn't some luck of the Irish what requires the blood of a virgin and a password six millon characters long, with an uppercase letter, two lowercase letters, a symbol and a prayer to Satan.
It really is a question of, how bad do you want it?
I hear this a lot, from friends of friends, and from readers-
"So, Isabel, how did you start writing?"
My answer-
I was a very privileged child, and I got the chance to travel to some really amazing places, which meant amazing experiences. But having privileges, didn't mean my childhood was some fairytale. It actually sucked balls in a lot of ways.
From my baby-baby years, my mom read to me. It was our quiet time together before naps or bedtime, and thinking back, those were some of the more peaceful moments in my house.
I grew up voraciously reading, and when I was 13, I picked up a book by Virgina Henley called, The Pirate and the Pagan. If you've never read any of Virginia Henley's books...you're missing out. Big time. They're historical romance, but unlike any I've read to date, and at 13, my eyeballs were bugging out of my skull to read the steamy sexy parts. I was shocked. I'd had no idea this cool looking book held such salacious content, and I knew if I mentioned it to my mom, I'd never again be able to read any of Virginia's stuff.
So, I was at that point introduced to the idea of fantasy and romance, at a time when my life was anything but stars and roses. I was the nerdy kid not part of the cliques, unwelcome in the already established social pecking order, and my escape from all that was to read. Or to sit down and write out some fantasy where my mind could travel backwards or forwards in time, to a place where I was safe, welcome and happy.
I was secretive about my writing the way an artist is secretive about their unfinished painting. I didn't want anyone else to read my work, because it wasn't ready, but mostly, because that was MY world. MY sanctuary, and I wasn't ready to share it.
I'll never forget the day my mother stumbled across one of my daydream writings. I'd never been so crushed and so pleased at the same time. Mom was horrified, berated me for writing 'smut' (#crushed)
She was horrified, not because I was writing "smut" but more so because she read it and actually felt like she was there. Immersed in the reality of my fantasy. (#elated)
I'm sure she thought I was out having sex left and right, but the truth was that my imagination was soaring. I'd never even kissed a boy at this point, but what teenage girl doesn't want attention from the hottest guy in school? I didn't ever get that attention from him, so I wrote stories where the heroine got swept off her feet and into the sunset.
(Confession: I haven't let my mom read a single page of any of my writing since that day. She knows how I'm making my living these days, and I'm sure as I'm an adult now she would approve of the content. But still not happening, lol.)
Writing became my recreational past time. My unwind after a long day. Other women go out after work and have drinks with their co-workers or friends.
I curl up at the end of the couch and write or read a steamy novel.
You've no doubt seen me mention my friend, Shelda, in posts or the acknowledgment of Claim. She's one of my dearest friends, and for a time we worked together in a quiet setting where we could bandy our creative thoughts about.
(She's written a fabulous erotic poetry book, Sky Woman's Daughter if any of you are interested https://www.amazon.com/Sky-Womans-Dau... )
So one day, Shelda asks me the big question. She says,
"Do you know how much money there is to be made in the Romance genre? You've got all these writing projects, have you ever thought of publishing them?"
I was leery, to be honest. My brain went back to that terrible day my mother discovered my 'dirty books.'
"I've never actually finished anything. I just start writing, and stop when I get to a certain point." I say.
Shelda makes a non-committal sound. "How many books a month in the romance genre, do you read?"
I was embarrassed to tell her. A lot. Like, A LOT.
"Do you like all the books you buy and read?" she asks.
"No. About three in five are terrible." I answer.
"Do you think your writing is as bad as those three that are terrible?"
Scoff! "No. But I'm biased."
We continued to have this conversation for a while. I tell people that Shelda pulled a Spock and logicked me out of any excuses, and she did, but the simple truth was, I was ready to hear it.
People can tell you all day long, how fabulous a writer you are. How you should stop wasting time and just publish a book. I did a workshop recently in an effort to answer everyone's question of,
"How did you do this?"
And I told them what I tell you now-
I got on Amazon, I scrolled down to the bottom of the page, clicked on the 'Publish' tab, and filled in the blanks.
That's literally it.
"Well, okay. If it's that simple, why didn't you do it sooner? You've been writing for years, do you regret not publishing sooner?"
I wasn't ready eight years ago. Or even two years ago. I didn't have the experiences I have now, to use as emotional information I could convey in such a way as to make someone else feel what I felt.
Sure, I had dreams of someday quitting all my nine to five jobs, and becoming a writer full time. But I wasn't ready to take that leap of faith and say, "I can make this happen."
If you read my books and are inspired to write your own, I'm flattered and I'm thrilled for you. Truly.
But understand, you might not be ready yet to share your stories, and that's not a reason to be jealous or get down on yourself about "why haven't I done this sooner?"
I tell you honestly, not to garner compliments or flattery, no shit, I was TERRIFIED when I hit Publish, and Never Ever was sent out into the world for all to see.
Looking at the number of units sold, I had a moment of, 'what have I done? All those people are inside my imagination. All of those people are reading my thoughts. Holy shit.' Those were my private thoughts, a fantasy world I created. Would anyone read it? Was I any good? Would people hate this book?
People read it.
I was pretty good.
Some loved it.
Others hated it.
I learned very quickly that I could tell a great story, but my punctuation and grammar sucked. I needed an editor, badly.
How did I learn this? I obsessively stalked the comments on Amazon, and you, readers, told me where my strengths and weaknesses lie.
There were comments that brought me to tears, because I was stunned you all liked the story I had to tell.
There were other comments that lit my ass on fire with indignation, and Shelda heard all about it for days. She laughed, she listened, we commiserated, and I eventually was ready to understand that despite the nasty comment, there was value in it for me as a writer. A definitive place where I could improve.
The comment was still nasty as hell, and unfortunately, that person(s) may or may not wind up a brutally murdered victim in a book of mine...but even in that, in my anger or hurt, there was value.
Another experience, another emotion for me to be able to convey to the rest of my readers.
So in reality, there is no bad feedback. But, not everyone can take that nastiness and use it. Some people will let that one horrible comment, ruin their desire to keep going.
Thick skin, and how bad do you want it.
Those are two of the most important writing ingredients.
Yes, I get to create worlds, characters, fantastical escapes and get paid for it.
But I also am human. I get my feelings hurt, I feel pressure and stress in this 'job' like any other human being. I feel weird about the compliments sometimes. I write 7,000 words and hate every single one.
It's a process, and it's normal.
So if you have story ideas, fantasies, memoirs, journal entries, that's great. Sit down every day and write 500 words. Doesn't matter what you write. Doesn't matter if you like or dislike those 500 words. If you want to publish something, that's how you start. Write shit down, every day.
Will you be afraid?
At first. But I bet you, you're not alone.
Will the publication sell?
Yes. Someone will buy it. I can't promise you a thousand people will buy your book, but you won't know unless you try.
What if people hate what I wrote?
No matter what you do, there will always be haters. You could win the Nobel Peace Prize, and someone will shit on you and say you didn't deserve it. That's just how it goes. Also, if they hate it, try another genre and see what happens.
I thought the Perdition novels would sell out the roof because at the time, I was reading biker romance and I loved it. Color me shocked when the Sarazen Saga BLEW THE FUCK UP.
I was shocked. I really was. I honestly didn't think the sci-fi in me was up to snuff. But look what happened. I tried two different genres, and found I'm stronger in one, than the other. So where have I been putting my extra effort? Into creating more fantastical, boundless worlds. But I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't tried something new. Something I didn't think anyone woul like very much.
When I posted about the passing of my dream horse, it wasn't to garner sympathy. I wanted to share the beauty of her with everyone. Because she was amazing, and she was a daily, visual reminder of life and dreams.
One of you very kindly told me that my horse had also given me the gift of being a writer. It made me cry a little more, in a very sweet way. But I was a writer before I ever got that mare. The gift that horse actually gave me, was confidence and a drive to make my dream of writing as a profession, reality. My hope when I posted about my dream horse, was to remind everyone that dreams do and can come true if you want it bad enough.
Every single human in the world could have walked up to me, told me being a published author was a dream I could make happen, and I still would have doubted it.
Why?
Because I wasn't ready to hear it, or believe it. Believe in myself.
Friends in my circle have walked up to me and straight up told me how jealous they are of what I've accomplished. You know what I do? I don't try to tell them not to be jealous.
I laugh.
Not out of spite or ridicule, I laugh because it's not me or my success they're jealous of. It's not even jealousy. They're just not ready, and I laugh, because the only person stopping them, is themselves.
In any walk of life, whether it's writing, science, sports, climbing Mt. Everest or visiting every other country in the world, it's not that you CAN'T do it. It's not that someone else is better than you and able to do all the things you want to do because they're better. It's not that they have more money, or more time, or more support.
They're simply, ready.
Ready at a different time than you, and that doesn't make them or you, any better or less.
Yes, obviously if you have physical limitations, you might not be able to climb Mt. Everest or travel or whatever. But even if you're bedridden, there are things MENTALLY, you're not ready for today, that might take you a few years to become ready for.
I started writing when I was 13 years old.
I published my first book at 30.
17 years. It took me 17 years to be ready. To want it. To gather up the courage to quit the stability and drudgery of a bi-weekly paycheck. To take a risk. To let thousands of people into my imagination.
So how did I do it? I took my time.
And when I was ready, when I was ready to listen, to absorb, to let those shitty comments about my writing roll on by and take the positive from it as best I could...while still plotting literary murder in the future (#writersperogative)....I made it happen.
Jealousy? That's okay. Jealousy simply means you're not ready yet. You don't want it bad enough, yet .
Fear? Worry? Uncertainty? That's even more okay. It means you're not ready.
When you ARE ready, you grab your dream, whatever 'your thing' is, by the balls and you don't let go until you get what you want.
That's it. That's my magic spell. That's how I did it. I grabbed it, my fear and dreams, by the balls and told it who was boss.
However, the only reason I'm SUCCESSFUL, is because of you. The person reading this. Reading my stories. My fantasies. Shaking your fist over my adoration for improper periods and sentence fragments.
(Segue: When you're speaking to someone, do you speak in full grammatically correct thoughts and feelings? I don't. I've not met a single person who does. I'm sure they're out there somewhere, weirdo unicorns. But that's how I convey thoughts and feelings of a character. Fragments, just like how we speak in real life. Test drive it today and see if you're one of the weirdo unicorns, or an average speaker :p End segue)
I think some day when I'm in the mood for Non-Fiction, I'll write a book about grammar.
Comma Momma Drama...maybe.
I know now that I can tell a great story. But it's only great when someone reads it and feels it in their gut.
So, it's been good for me. Was it good for you too?
Theme song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfQFU...
January 29, 2017
The Saga Continues....
Salutations!
It has now been announced (via my little video on the Facebook page) that the next installment of the Sarazen Saga is forthcoming!
Sarazen's Betrayal
Book 1.2
Cassie and Falken's story.
I have decided to try the Pre-Order method this time around, and Amazon should have the link up to y'all by Monday.
Official release date- Feb. 28th!
Thank you to everyone for your patience and continued interest in the series! I'm excited to release this next step forward in the anthology, probably about as excited as you are to read it!
I know a whole month must go by before you can lay thy hands upon the wonderment, but I'm confident it will be worth it in the end.
Let it also be known, I have not forgotten about the rough and rowdy boys of Perdition! The next book in that series is still in progress, but I'm crossing my fingers my muse will continue whispering wicked inspiration into my ear so that I might type THE END of Saint and Ripley's story soon.
~Isabel
It has now been announced (via my little video on the Facebook page) that the next installment of the Sarazen Saga is forthcoming!
Sarazen's Betrayal
Book 1.2
Cassie and Falken's story.
I have decided to try the Pre-Order method this time around, and Amazon should have the link up to y'all by Monday.
Official release date- Feb. 28th!
Thank you to everyone for your patience and continued interest in the series! I'm excited to release this next step forward in the anthology, probably about as excited as you are to read it!
I know a whole month must go by before you can lay thy hands upon the wonderment, but I'm confident it will be worth it in the end.
Let it also be known, I have not forgotten about the rough and rowdy boys of Perdition! The next book in that series is still in progress, but I'm crossing my fingers my muse will continue whispering wicked inspiration into my ear so that I might type THE END of Saint and Ripley's story soon.
~Isabel
November 6, 2016
November Newsletter #1
Salutations Readers!
This is our first, much awaited newsletter!
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for their patience. As some of you know this last month and a half has been a little tough on the family. I really appreciate all the positivity and good vibes. Thoughts become things, and with all the good ones it seems Dad is on the upswing. He's obviously still got cancer, but doing much better! So thank you all for chipping in on the good thoughts.
~There has been interest from you, my amazing readers, to become beta readers for my new releases! Proofreaders, basically, thus I have come up with a new game that will be played with each new book release.
Beta Bingo!
What is Beta Bingo, you ask? Come have a seat and I'll tell you.
Beta Bingo will be a numbers game. Every new book that I release, I'll ask people to play for the opportunity to be one of six readers to receive a copy of a new book before it's published. The copy will be edited and the purpose of a beta reader is to catch any inconsistencies or flubs made by me or my editorial crew. We're human, and after reading the same thing ten times, things like a misplaced comma or a repeated word or whatever gets overlooked. I don't want the same readers over and over again to beta for me just from a logistical standpoint and one of fairness. I intend that everyone who wants to beta gets a chance.
The call for beta bingo will be posted ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE and will look like this-
IT'S BETA BINGO TIME!!!! Comment below for your chance to land a copy of (the new book) before its official publish date. The 10th, 18th, 27th, 31st, 49th, and 62nd person to comment will be a beta reader for (the new book)
There are rules, regulations, provisos and quid pro quos....
This is meant to be a positive experience for everyone involved. Negative comments will result in me blacklisting you from ever beta reading for me again. I expect opinions are going to form, I expect suggestions and thoughts. I even expect that some of you will tell me what you want to see from the next book. Awesome! That's perfectly fine, but negativity is just right out.
Also, these are MY books and comments such as "I think you should have done this or that with this character." Or "Honestly, I hope in the future you convince "Top" to trust doctors. Perhaps have "Athena" go with him to appointments to talk about complementary therapy."
I say, nay nay. Please expect if you do anything resembling such a thing, I may respond in a somewhat sarcastic, potentially snarky manner. I think it's awesome and fascinating how each person reads and interprets my books, but these are mine.
If you've got such fabulous thoughts and suggestions, I encourage you with all seriousness and positivity, to write your own book.
I don't believe there are many of you reading this who are like that, it simply has to be said. I expect constructive criticism. All constructive criticism is good for me and later on for you as a reader.
So, rules and expectations are as follows-
1) You may have your say, but you might not get your way. Be prepared.
2) I'm not looking for anyone to tell me how they think I should write my books. I AM looking for people to assist me with quality assurance. i.e. Making note of repeated/missing words. Inconsistency in the number of people counted in the storyline. Bringing it to my attention if the formatting is a bit odd etc.
3) I write using Chicago Standard Commas. So if you were taught to use AP commas, Oxford commas or any other comma style besides Chicago Standard, I don't want to hear about it. I use Chicago Standard and so does my editor. Misplaced commas are going to happen, as I said, once you read something ten times you start to not even notice those little details. Which is where you come in!
4) YOU WILL NOT LEAVE SPOILERS ANYWHERE! Not on Amazon, not on Goodreads, not on the Facebook page or on forum boards. If you do so and I find out about it, you'll be beta blacklisted and will never again recieve an advanced copy. If you feel the urge that strongly to comment about things like Andi and Ohlen's broken bond (which is in the LAST PORTION OF THE BOOK) and your feeling about it, for the love of puppies, JUST WRITE TO ME! It's really amazing and truly humbling to know how you do or don't feel about things in the books, and I'd really rather you tell me about it, versus people who haven't read the book yet. I know there's a select few of you crazy peeps who buy books based on spoilers, and I stress 'select few' all I ask is that as a beta, you not ruin someone else's experience or expectations of the books by broadcasting yours.
5) Your pre-released copy will be in a format you cannot copy, change, or make additions to yourself. However, the usage of my works in your own books or sharing my content with anyone else will result in legal action. Again, I don't think there are many or any of you who would do that, but it must be said.
6) To play and win, your comments MUST BE ON FACEBOOK! Comments/entries left here on the blog will not count.
I have two ladies already slotted to beta for me this time, Kelly and Sonceia (Thanks ladies!) so for our first game I'll only need four more of you.
Let's play!
~In the beginning of next year, I plan to have a live Q&A. Sort of a chance for anyone to ask me questions about the books, or whatever it is you want to ask and get immediate feedback. The session will follow a workshop for beginner writers titled, "The Things I've Learned and How to Get Started!"
If any of you are interested in publishing your own books (SO AWESOME) the workshop will be about how to navigate self-publishing through Amazon, the basics of how to most efficiently use Scrivner, and for me to share some of the knowledge I've gained the past six months with others going through the same thing. Or interested in becoming a self-published writer. Those days where I hated life and considered not publishing? I know I'm not the only person who feels like that, so my intent is to help others avoid those nasty moments.
I'll announce the dates of the workshop and the Q&A ON FACEBOOK, so keep a weather eye out for that!!!
Have a wonderful week and thank you all again for the kind thoughts.
~Isabel
This is our first, much awaited newsletter!
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for their patience. As some of you know this last month and a half has been a little tough on the family. I really appreciate all the positivity and good vibes. Thoughts become things, and with all the good ones it seems Dad is on the upswing. He's obviously still got cancer, but doing much better! So thank you all for chipping in on the good thoughts.
~There has been interest from you, my amazing readers, to become beta readers for my new releases! Proofreaders, basically, thus I have come up with a new game that will be played with each new book release.
Beta Bingo!
What is Beta Bingo, you ask? Come have a seat and I'll tell you.
Beta Bingo will be a numbers game. Every new book that I release, I'll ask people to play for the opportunity to be one of six readers to receive a copy of a new book before it's published. The copy will be edited and the purpose of a beta reader is to catch any inconsistencies or flubs made by me or my editorial crew. We're human, and after reading the same thing ten times, things like a misplaced comma or a repeated word or whatever gets overlooked. I don't want the same readers over and over again to beta for me just from a logistical standpoint and one of fairness. I intend that everyone who wants to beta gets a chance.
The call for beta bingo will be posted ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE and will look like this-
IT'S BETA BINGO TIME!!!! Comment below for your chance to land a copy of (the new book) before its official publish date. The 10th, 18th, 27th, 31st, 49th, and 62nd person to comment will be a beta reader for (the new book)
There are rules, regulations, provisos and quid pro quos....
This is meant to be a positive experience for everyone involved. Negative comments will result in me blacklisting you from ever beta reading for me again. I expect opinions are going to form, I expect suggestions and thoughts. I even expect that some of you will tell me what you want to see from the next book. Awesome! That's perfectly fine, but negativity is just right out.
Also, these are MY books and comments such as "I think you should have done this or that with this character." Or "Honestly, I hope in the future you convince "Top" to trust doctors. Perhaps have "Athena" go with him to appointments to talk about complementary therapy."
I say, nay nay. Please expect if you do anything resembling such a thing, I may respond in a somewhat sarcastic, potentially snarky manner. I think it's awesome and fascinating how each person reads and interprets my books, but these are mine.
If you've got such fabulous thoughts and suggestions, I encourage you with all seriousness and positivity, to write your own book.
I don't believe there are many of you reading this who are like that, it simply has to be said. I expect constructive criticism. All constructive criticism is good for me and later on for you as a reader.
So, rules and expectations are as follows-
1) You may have your say, but you might not get your way. Be prepared.
2) I'm not looking for anyone to tell me how they think I should write my books. I AM looking for people to assist me with quality assurance. i.e. Making note of repeated/missing words. Inconsistency in the number of people counted in the storyline. Bringing it to my attention if the formatting is a bit odd etc.
3) I write using Chicago Standard Commas. So if you were taught to use AP commas, Oxford commas or any other comma style besides Chicago Standard, I don't want to hear about it. I use Chicago Standard and so does my editor. Misplaced commas are going to happen, as I said, once you read something ten times you start to not even notice those little details. Which is where you come in!
4) YOU WILL NOT LEAVE SPOILERS ANYWHERE! Not on Amazon, not on Goodreads, not on the Facebook page or on forum boards. If you do so and I find out about it, you'll be beta blacklisted and will never again recieve an advanced copy. If you feel the urge that strongly to comment about things like Andi and Ohlen's broken bond (which is in the LAST PORTION OF THE BOOK) and your feeling about it, for the love of puppies, JUST WRITE TO ME! It's really amazing and truly humbling to know how you do or don't feel about things in the books, and I'd really rather you tell me about it, versus people who haven't read the book yet. I know there's a select few of you crazy peeps who buy books based on spoilers, and I stress 'select few' all I ask is that as a beta, you not ruin someone else's experience or expectations of the books by broadcasting yours.
5) Your pre-released copy will be in a format you cannot copy, change, or make additions to yourself. However, the usage of my works in your own books or sharing my content with anyone else will result in legal action. Again, I don't think there are many or any of you who would do that, but it must be said.
6) To play and win, your comments MUST BE ON FACEBOOK! Comments/entries left here on the blog will not count.
I have two ladies already slotted to beta for me this time, Kelly and Sonceia (Thanks ladies!) so for our first game I'll only need four more of you.
Let's play!
~In the beginning of next year, I plan to have a live Q&A. Sort of a chance for anyone to ask me questions about the books, or whatever it is you want to ask and get immediate feedback. The session will follow a workshop for beginner writers titled, "The Things I've Learned and How to Get Started!"
If any of you are interested in publishing your own books (SO AWESOME) the workshop will be about how to navigate self-publishing through Amazon, the basics of how to most efficiently use Scrivner, and for me to share some of the knowledge I've gained the past six months with others going through the same thing. Or interested in becoming a self-published writer. Those days where I hated life and considered not publishing? I know I'm not the only person who feels like that, so my intent is to help others avoid those nasty moments.
I'll announce the dates of the workshop and the Q&A ON FACEBOOK, so keep a weather eye out for that!!!
Have a wonderful week and thank you all again for the kind thoughts.
~Isabel
September 18, 2016
Editing Issues...continued
Please know that this is not a rant, nor am I angry or perturbed. Neither am I seeking praise or accolades. I am just rather confused. Definitely confused.
I read everyone's comments on Amazon, kind of a bit obsessively, my intention being this:
I have created a product to sell. If you are unhappy with the product, displeased, disappointed or in any way unsatisfied, as the 'manufacturer,' I need to address this so further on down the line my products will continue to keep your interest. So that I am improving with every book until the only issues are people's personal preference as to whether or not they enjoyed the story.
I AM a new author.
I AM still learning a lot of things.
Such as there being a reader forum on my author page via Amazon.
Such as discovering I have a following on Goodreads. I did not know these things and I am DELIGHTED to know that having been published for less than 75 days...I counted...so many people have read my books and as an overall generalization really liked them!
In answer to the editing issues, I HAVE employed two different PROFESSIONAL editors. Also a handful of people who proofread and give feedback about the books.
We're talking about four to five separate people, reading my books before they're published.
So when I see a great review on Amazon, peppered with a comment such as this, I am very confused-
"Ms. Wroth's style is improving and the story is becoming more complex and full. I would just beg her to stop with the random commas and get some proofreading help."
That was part of a bigger review for Sarazen's Vengeance, which as a whole was so great and really positive. (THANK YOU SO MUCH!) I am truly thrilled to know that people are finding improvement in my process.
But I am legitimately confused as to where these random commas are and how they were missed by two editorial professionals and three proofreaders.
I know as a reader myself, I often buy a handful of books all at once and read them one right after the other. So people who might have bought Sarazen's Claim several weeks ago, before the updated version, are still reading the first edition without the PROFESSIONAL editing and leaving negative comments about that.
I've tried as best I can to reach everyone and let them know about the update. Posting all over every social media account I have, so unfortunately, I just have to take those negative reviews with a grain of salt.
I have seen a few very awesome and kind readers who've made it a point to say in their Goodreads review that there is an updated version. YOU ROCK!
There is also a little blurb in the book description and on the acknowledgment page so that people are aware they have bought the updated edition.
If anyone else is having this issue, random commas or places where proofing has fallen short of the mark, I would very much appreciate an email with some specifics.
You are buying my product, and it is always my goal that you feel the product in question was worth your time and your money!
I continue to be very grateful for everyone's support and readership. Know that I do listen to your comments and all criticism is taken constructively. I very much appreciate it!
I read everyone's comments on Amazon, kind of a bit obsessively, my intention being this:
I have created a product to sell. If you are unhappy with the product, displeased, disappointed or in any way unsatisfied, as the 'manufacturer,' I need to address this so further on down the line my products will continue to keep your interest. So that I am improving with every book until the only issues are people's personal preference as to whether or not they enjoyed the story.
I AM a new author.
I AM still learning a lot of things.
Such as there being a reader forum on my author page via Amazon.
Such as discovering I have a following on Goodreads. I did not know these things and I am DELIGHTED to know that having been published for less than 75 days...I counted...so many people have read my books and as an overall generalization really liked them!
In answer to the editing issues, I HAVE employed two different PROFESSIONAL editors. Also a handful of people who proofread and give feedback about the books.
We're talking about four to five separate people, reading my books before they're published.
So when I see a great review on Amazon, peppered with a comment such as this, I am very confused-
"Ms. Wroth's style is improving and the story is becoming more complex and full. I would just beg her to stop with the random commas and get some proofreading help."
That was part of a bigger review for Sarazen's Vengeance, which as a whole was so great and really positive. (THANK YOU SO MUCH!) I am truly thrilled to know that people are finding improvement in my process.
But I am legitimately confused as to where these random commas are and how they were missed by two editorial professionals and three proofreaders.
I know as a reader myself, I often buy a handful of books all at once and read them one right after the other. So people who might have bought Sarazen's Claim several weeks ago, before the updated version, are still reading the first edition without the PROFESSIONAL editing and leaving negative comments about that.
I've tried as best I can to reach everyone and let them know about the update. Posting all over every social media account I have, so unfortunately, I just have to take those negative reviews with a grain of salt.
I have seen a few very awesome and kind readers who've made it a point to say in their Goodreads review that there is an updated version. YOU ROCK!
There is also a little blurb in the book description and on the acknowledgment page so that people are aware they have bought the updated edition.
If anyone else is having this issue, random commas or places where proofing has fallen short of the mark, I would very much appreciate an email with some specifics.
You are buying my product, and it is always my goal that you feel the product in question was worth your time and your money!
I continue to be very grateful for everyone's support and readership. Know that I do listen to your comments and all criticism is taken constructively. I very much appreciate it!
