Heather Self's Blog

Okay, perhaps it’s only on my bucket list.

But my guess is, someplace on your list also is that you want to compose a novel. In addition, I understand that composing a novel usually feels like a massive undertaking, likely something similar to launching a rocket.

But authors these days are doing it and it’s a lot simpler then before.

Look — Just follow a procedure.

Step 1: Give like Arnold.

The man was torn. Really, he is/was. But, let us be fair . . .

Are you? I understand you’re thinking, “Jack, I understand I need to compose a novel. I have been invested for years.”

I need Arnold-design pecs. I’d like to look ravishing within my undies. But, let’s be fair; I’ve actually got to be committed to that. What am I doing it for, although I may not need it? Nothing.

Among my all time favourite quotations, one comes from Michael Jordan, who said, “Some folks need it to occur; some wish it’d occur. Others get it to occur.” In other words: All the wishing and wanting in the world will not do you any good. You have got to take action and build momentum.

Step 2: Get clear on word count

How many words do you need your novel to be?

Then, divide that amount by 100, to understand precisely how many words every day you have to compose. This can be your day-to-day minimum. Write it. Write it down. If you’ve got to tattoo it; this is important to remember stick to the schedule.

But let us not stop there. Simply having a word count target number is not good enough.

Step 3: Summarize like MapQuest.

Okay, since you have given yourself a estimate and established your word count target, it is time for another essential step: summarizing your publication in unbelievable detail.

Having an outline needless to say, everyone understands. However, I need one to go and that is exactly how it should be done.

Remember hopping on the computer and printing off 13 pages of step by step guidance from MapQuest.  Yeah, you recall those times. This way you’d wouldn’t get lost.

And that’s the methodology you should follow for your own book & publishing outline. With a unique, mapped-out strategy for the writing, you’ll hit fewer dead ends, run into fewer detours and get to the party quicker.

I do not care about only your books chapter titles. In excruciating detail I’d like to understand everything about your novel. Every chapter.

Everything you anticipate creating through writing make sure to summarize every single sub-chapter between main chapters.

As soon as you’re determined to compose a novel, sit down at Starbucks with a loved typical tall, 180- peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream, nonfat, and slight degree with no mocha drizzle and get working! Make a pact with yourself that you won’t leave till you get a a portion of your books outline done.

Then in conclusion too all of your brainstorming and writing, you’ll have 100 certainly defined subchapters that are needed to be written about which definitely will make things easier. And understood you only  need to compose one subchapter per day at 1,000 words which would compose the novel in  about 100 days.

That is how you should understood just what each day will look like for the next 100 days of writing your book having created a certain day-to-day target.

So now if you i you’ve outlined your novel, the remaining job will be stupidly easy. I’m serious. The tough part is finished.

Step four: Compose with no explanations.

Seriously, daily. If it’s your birthday I don’t care. I don’t care happen to be kidnapped by pirates. Each day write. The progression and momentum is key for being a author who follows through.

And chances are, you will have the absolute minimum quantity of words created and you will understand beforehand just what you need to be writing about every day. Make it a practice so that if you haven’t written them you won’t fall asleep at night. That’s discipline. Find and locate a perfect writing time (Maybe advocate waking up one hour earlier than normal. It is possible to get it done then if you have a busy schedule.)

If you sit down and you feel you have writers block. Don’t be overwhelmed, I want to offer three suggestions:

• Stick to the procedure. Recall, you spent 1-5 hours outlining your novel in detail. You understand precisely what you need to write about today, so just do that and only write. It is like the procedure for getting six pack abs. If you’ve have a defined, structured routine you do not have to worry about the end goal because you’ve given yourself directions on how to get there. So with that being said just simply stick to some day-to-day procedure and the results will care for themselves.

• Break it up, emotionally. You’re currently writing a novel. You’re only composing one sub-chapter daily. For me, I imagined myself just composing a blog post. Simple. I do that all the time. Occasionally, in writing a novel the challenges the individuals face are not 100 percent physical. It only looks so huge. Break it up into small sections and write a brief part of your book daily.

• Write for a special individual. Go to your own Facebook wall and locate among your buddies who you know 100 percent and for sure can be your perfect reader. Someone who’d totally adore and profit from reading your publication. Seriously.

Wherever you might be going to compose part of your book writing then hang it in your wall, and look at it any time you happen to be caught. You’re not writing a novel, you’re simply describing a story to your own friend. That’s it. I can not oversell the advantages of using a picture when writing. It alters everything.

Writing a novel is a procedure that can be sort of long, I will not lie. Nevertheless, it is possible. And done by many everyday.

Get out there and begin composing, writing, and creating. Every. Single. Day.

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Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, Darby has lost all belief in the happily-ever-after that the fairy-tale princess promised her. She's sworn off love, Prince Charmings, and happy endings and she's happy about it. Really. Or at least she was…until she met Jake, her gorgeous neighbor and the manager of her favorite restaurant. But Darby has rules about dating, ones she's culled from her years spent with so-called “princes,” and starting something with Jake would break all of them.
Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn’t fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone-bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, can Darby take a chance on a happily-ever-after?
Full of wit and sarcastic humor, Cinderella Screwed Me Over proves that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp

Darby is jaded by a rash of (mostly) bad relationships and the unrealistic expectations modern day fairy tales have for said relationships. She's even gone so far as to analyze each relationship in terms of one of Disney's leading fairy tale men--and it's pretty darn funny.

I've often thought fairy tales set unrealistic expectations for relationships so it was really fun to read Darby's perspective on it and how she relates this to both her past boyfriends and how she currently uses it to keep men at a distance.

In walks Jake, who is not only willing to go along with her "rules" for "non-dating", but also makes Darby break some of said rules.

The banter between the to MCs is funny and sweet and very enjoyable. This is a fairly quick read, and very enjoyable especially if you like to roll your eyes at fairy tales.

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong...

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson

Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
FINDING IT Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16172638-finding-it?ac=1



Carmack has outdone herself with the final book in the Losing It "Trilogy".

Kelsey is tired. Tired of pretending, tired of putting on a happy face.  Tired of feeling only half alive. She spends the summer after graduating college--the time when her other friends are excited to be starting their new lives-- trekking through Europe as a last, adventurous hurrah with the added bonus of annoying her overly critical father.

But for some reason, she doesn't feel any different. She's in Europe. She's surrounded by gorgeous men, at awesome clubs, and yet nothing feels any different.

Until one night she meets Hunt aka Jackson Hunter.

He's different than the other guys she's been hanging with. He doesn't immediately fall at the Kelsey altar and worship, like the other guys. And there's an air of mystery and danger that surrounds him.

In spite of--or maybe because of--that Kelsey finds herself agreeing to an exchange: the kiss she's been dying to get from him, if she'll agree to letting him pick their itinerary for the next two weeks.

This is where things really get good. The chemistry Carmack has written between Kelsey and Hunt is scorching. While Kelsey is all for jumping right in, Hunt tries to resist the pull and keep things strictly on the friend level. As their friendship develops we get to see a more vulnerable, and compassionate side of Kelsey as well as a softer side of Jackson.

When secrets are revealed that shatter their relationship and Kelsey goes her own way this is where she really shines. Because of what happened with Jackson, both the split and the things they've seen together, Kelsey really shines as she tries to pull her life back together.

Of all of Carmack's novels this was truly one of self-discovery and finding one's place in the world. I highly recommend.


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Cora Carmack Bio:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Website: http://coracarmack.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoraCarmack
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoraCarmackBooks
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6535659.Cora_Carmack

SO excited to be part of this cover reveal!! It's the first for Entangled's New Adult imprint, Embrace--which I named! <3

Hell is looking for a way to break loose…


Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world's first murderer, he's plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it's killing him.


After a series of heartbreaking losses, Samantha put rubber to pavement and headed for college as fast as her clunker could carry her. But she can't outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she's thrown into the path of a past—and a guy—she's been trying to forget.

Sam strains Jax's control over his darkness, but running isn't an option this time. Someone—or,
something—followed her home from school: a ruthless monster with a twisted plan centuries in the making. Forced together to survive, and fighting an attraction that could destroy them both, Jax and Sam must stop a killer bent on revenge.

Ruined releases November 11th. Pre-orders links are here:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ruined-Entangle...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ruine...?
ean=9781622661848

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About the Author:

 JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing. Jus is the bestselling author the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing and is currently working on the first book in a new adult series due out summer 2013. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

Website: http://www.jusaccardo.com
Blog: http://www.jusaccardo.com/category/blog/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JusAccardo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJusAcc...

In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers’ explosive New Adult novel A Little too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he loved and left behind. 

Twenty-two year old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that’s all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there’s no way she’ll head back down that road again.

Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He’s even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he’s much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she’s built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she’s guarding.

As Hilary finds herself falling back into love with the man who, as a boy both saved and destroyed her, she must decide. Past or future? Truth or lies?

I LOVE me some Rachel Harris (and beta read this book) so of course I had to be part of the cover reveal!


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Release Date: 10/14/13





Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.
Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

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Pre-Order Buy Links:


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Excerpt:


Angelle stopped

beside a folding table boasting boxes of fresh, crispy cracklins and selected a

thick piece. Cane watched, mesmerized, as she puckered those gorgeous lips and

blew on the sliver. With a flirtatious glint in her eyes, she held it up to his

mouth, and he opened.

Holy crap. </ div>


He’d had

cracklins before. Fried pork fat was a standard gas station treat, usually

shrink-wrapped and stale as shit. But this, fresh from the pot and piping hot,

was unbelievable. Cane widened his eyes, and it was possible he even moaned. It

was thatgood. And as he swallowed, Angel rewarded him with a rich,

throaty laugh.

“Ca c’est bon?”

she asked, grinning when he grabbed another handful.

He touched her

nose and popped a piece in his mouth. “Good would be an understatement.”</ span>

Grinning, she

took a fried morsel for herself and sent the balding, overweight gentleman

tending the table a wink. “Now that’s what we like to hear.” Then she closed

her eyes as she savored the treat.

The sounds of

Angel moaning, and watching her face soften in the throes of a foodgasm, had to

be the sexiest damn thing Cane had ever seen. His pants tightened,

embarrassingly so considering he knew the audience was still watching, but what

pushed him over the edge was when her eyes opened. The pleasure in them was his

undoing.

Feeling the

weight of the crowd’s disapproving stares and not giving a damn, figuring now

was as good a time as any to give the people the show they clearly wanted, he

grasped her hip and tugged her forward, pausing only to inhale her gasp of

surprise before brushing her mouth with his.

It was like

setting off a damn forest fire.

Angelle, his

shocking little hellcat, pounced. Forgetting all about their audience, or maybe

not giving a damn either, she wound her arms around his neck, lifted onto her

toes, and kissed him back with everything she had. Cane had intended to steal a

quick taste, take the edge off his craving for her, and prove their point with

the town’s people. But hell if he was gonna be the one to back down now.

Tightening his grasp on her slim hips, he brushed his thumbs across the smooth,

exposed skin near her waistband. He deepened the kiss, thrilling over her

telltale shiver. Whimpering, she yanked on the hair at his nape and sucked his

bottom lip into her mouth. Hot damn.

Okay, now he

had to start backing down. With all her male relatives watching, not to mention

the knives and axes still lying around from the butchering earlier, if Cane

valued his life, he needed to wrangle control of the situation. He’d heard

patience was a virtue. That was a line of bull—he’d always sucked at waiting

for anything he wanted. But for Angel, he was willing to try.</ div>




Loosening his

grip on her belt loops, Cane slowed the intensity of the kiss. He smoothed the

hem of her shirt down, grazed her lips one last time, and, placing his forehead

against hers, inhaled through his nose. Sunflowers mixed with cayenne may be

his new favorite scent. Angelle released a heavy breath, a flush blooming on

her cheeks. She darted a glance at the crowd, then looking into his eyes,

grinned lazily. “My goodness. If anyone doubted we were a couple before, I

guess that showed them.”










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About the Author

I grew up in New Orleans, where I watched soap operas with my grandmother

and stayed up late sneak reading my mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun

cowgirl living in Houston, I still stay up way too late reading my favorite romances, only

now, I can do so openly. I firmly believe life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powderedsugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for

cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. 


When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling

romance, I homeschool my two beautiful girls and watch reality television with my

amazing husband.

I write YA, NA, and Adult Fun & Flirty Escapes. Taste

The Heat is my adult romance debut, and I'm also the author of MY SUPER SWEET

SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES, as well as a ton of other

books to come. I love hearing from readers and dishing books!</ div>





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Author Links:





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Cover Reveal Organized:

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...this was me:



well, not quite, as I was in ICU and fully bandaged. (I won't share the post surgery photos for those a bit squeamish).

But it was five years ago today that I'd successfully come out of brain surgery to remove a meningioma that was pushing against my saggital sinus vein.

And while I don't usually share personal info on this blog, five years tumor-free is worth mentioning.

Last week my fabulous friend Rachel Harris, author extraordinaire of both YA and adult novels (listed here) tagged me in this fun little post. Next week you can hop over to the blog of Sarah Ross and learn about her process (and grab Inhale, Exhale too. Grant is TOTALLY adorkable!)


What are you working on right now?
Currently, I'm working on two projects. the Key--which is book 2 in The Portal Trilogy--and a super secret not yet to be talked about other project. Two is crazy, I know. But I find when I get stuck on one working on the other helps shake things loose since they're VERY different.
What experiences have influenced you?
Wow. Tough question. I think writers are influenced by everything. Whether it's personal experience, or people watching, or research, I just kind of take it all in and start asking questions about the people since that's what it's all about.
Why do you write what you do?
Eeep! I started writing YA because I was so sick of the female archetype that was out there--this, I need a boy to complete me and my parents are so disinterested and let me get away with everything and I'm not going to use my brains just react emotionally, kind of character. It was not at all what I was like in school and so I wrote a character that appealed to high school me--and threw in some dragons and awesome powers, cause who doesn't like that?
How does your writing process work?
I spend a lot of time just thinking about my characters, to the point of they'll have daily conversations while I wait in the carpool line that have absolutely nothing to do with the book. The better I know them, the better they come across on paper.
The writing part is actually really hard for me. I can't let go of a chapter until it's exactly the way I want it so it takes me a long time. I'm a very slow writer.
I have to have music going. TV is too much of a distraction, so I have multiple Spotify playlists for writing or editing (yes they're different), but for some reason Maroon 5 seems to get me to write the most. No idea why but I can crank out the word count when I've got them up and going.
Oh! And I also must have ludicrous amounts of coffee and chocolate. The new Godiva Dessert Truffles? Good lord the Creme Brulee makes me happy dance!

It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it. Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story. (Novella releases October 22, 2013)

Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.


Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery's life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?

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