Aya Ling's Blog

Hello! Here's the draft of Chapter One from Power Born, the first book of my new original fantasy series. If you've read my Reversed Retellings series, in the very last chapter of The Cursed Prince we meet the heroine of Power Born. Not sure when the book will be finished, but it WILL be done. I did lots of research, outlining, and character sheets for this; plus, the cover is already done! Behold: I'm pretty excited to be doing a slightly different genre this time (no need to adjust the story to a fairy tale!). Inspiration came from Naruto, Keroro Gunso, Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon, though the setting is (very) loosely based on Renaissance Italy. Which means the story might be weird and anime-ish, but then, my books usually are a little atypical : )  chapter one (draft) of power born The fairy mage was supposed to grant me the gift of beauty. Instead, she gifted me with superhuman strength. At age three, I could knead dough enough for twenty people with no sign of exhaustion. At age five, I could gather firewood bigger than my body and carry the logs into the house. At age ten, when our horse tripped over a rock and injured its leg, I towed the cart home. You’d have to see me do those things, because at my towering height of five feet, I looked more like a doll than a monstrous, brawny troll.

On the other hand, my twin brother Cristian grew up as dazzling as the rising sun. People couldn’t believe we were related. He had flawless, sun kissed golden skin; mine was the color of sour cream, and during the sweltering heat of summer, my skin would break out in red spots that were not only unattractive, but also was itchy and prickly. Cristian’s hair was always silky smooth, while mine looked like a bird’s nest if I didn’t brush it at least twice a day, so I prefer to wear it in a thick braid. 

Life was unfair.

It wasn’t just our looks that gave my brother the advantage. My father passed away when we were three months old, making me the man of the family. I was called on to move furniture, chop wood, haul sacks of flour and sugar and oats from the cart to the kitchen. All my brother had to do was flip his hair and bask in the attention of adoring females while I had to do all the hard labor.

To make things worse, my mother warned me not to show my strength--especially in front of young men.

“No man wants a wife who can beat him to a pulp,” she said. Literally, she purposefully omitted. “Don’t let anyone know that you can punch through a brick wall.”

I pictured my future. My husband, sitting with one leg crossed over the other, cracking chestnuts while I swept the floor. He wouldn’t even have to move--I’d pick up his chair with him sitting in it, sweep up the dust, and dump him back on the ground. I’d grow frustrated and end up punching him into a wall.

Not the most pleasant idea.

And so I hid the truth. Except for my family and close friends, everyone assumed I was a normal girl who screamed at the sight of rats. When in fact, a single whack from my broom would render the rat into mincemeat.

Keeping my power a secret was easy—in the beginning. I would be twenty-two in a few months, but everyone said I looked more like fifteen or sixteen. The few times I came close to being found out, I’d feign innocence or Cristian would cover up for me. Recently, however, it had been more difficult for me to conceal my strength. When I turned eighteen, which was considered of age for Masaro women, my strength also increased. Previously, I could pick up ten sacks of flour while clutching them stacked up against my chest. Now I discovered I could pick up ten sacks with just one hand, as long as the sacks were securely bound together.

I was horrified. So were my family. Luckily, I met a mage who moved to Panola. She discerned my power when we first met, and offered to help me. She gave me a pair of gloves infused with a magic spell that reduced my strength to the level of one normal man, instead of ten. Not ideal, but at least I needn’t worry about demolishing furniture. But I couldn’t wear kidskin gloves all the time. I already got strange looks when I wore gloves in the peak of summer. And they were too thin for winter. 

I got up from the cushion I was sitting on and went to the window. After I yanked the leg off about twenty tables and chairs, Mama decided I should use cushions in the future. The same went for my bed--we replaced the slanted wooden one with a mattress. My table was a slab of flat stone. It looked like I was living in a cave. Cristian teased me that I should wear a costume of striped fur and a necklace strung with sharp teeth. I told him I’d be happy to strangle him with the necklace.

Looking outside the window, I sighed as I watched the men who crossed the street. Siesta was almost over, and everyone was returning to their shops.

Too old.
Too young.
Too lazy.
Married.

How was I supposed to find a decent man when there were so few to choose from? Our town was nice, but it was the westernmost city of Masaro and a long way from the sea. The men who stayed behind weren’t the best of the bunch. Most were either lazy (like my brother) or stupid, or a bit of both. 

“Chiarina!” Mama’s voice floated to me. “Come down!”

I pulled on my magic gloves and trudged downstairs. The aroma of savory cheese, dark chocolate, and cinnamon filled the air. Mama was taking a tray out of the oven, and I felt my mouth salivate at the sight of rows of golden-brown egg-custard tarts, their tops bubbly and melting.

“Take these to the storefront,” Mama said, placing the tray of egg-custard tarts on the table. “They’re our bestsellers today.”

I snagged a tart before she could stop me. Frankly speaking, with my strength, not even ten men could stop me from getting a tart. The creamy filling made me sigh as I crammed the tart into my mouth. Egg-custard tarts were best eaten hot. Even when the weather was getting hotter--it was mid-spring now--I was vulnerable when it came to dessert. As any Masaro would be.

“Watch your figure, Chiarina,” Mama chided. “If you keep sampling every pastry we make, you’ll resemble a pear soon.”

“Just one,” I whined. What was the point of running a bakery if you couldn’t enjoy a bite once in a while? “Wasn’t this one of Papa’s signature foods?”

A soft light lit up her dark eyes. “I’ve tried to imitate the proportions of sugar and cream, but he never followed exact measurements. He relied on intuition. But with twenty years of practice, I think this is very close to what he used to make.”

Mama dusted flour from her hands and turned back to the oven. At forty-two, she was still pretty. Her oak-brown hair was thick and luxuriant, and she didn’t have any dark spots or wrinkles on her face. Sometimes when we walked together, she’d receive more catcalls than I.

Her friend told us Papa won Mama’s heart through his bread and pastries, but from the stories Mama told us, I knew it was more than that. He was mild-mannered, patient, and kind. His compassion eventually became the reason why he died.  

Papa. I had always wondered how he looked like, what his voice sounded like, what it would be to taste something he baked. Mama told us stories; every time her eyes would soften and her cheeks glowed. I wanted a partner like that. Someone who gave so much love and joy in Mama’s life that she would always smile when she talked about him.

Papa had died saving a powerful mage. He was returning to town with a cartful of flour, when he heard someone cry. He stopped the cart and found a man advancing on an elderly woman with silver hair, a gleaming dagger in his hand.

“He didn’t even think of his own safety,” Mama had said. “He threw a sack of flour at the man, who easily blocked it and attacked your father.”

Papa might have died instantly, if the old woman hadn’t thrown a bolt of magic at the murderer. The man died. The old woman tried to save Papa, but the fatal damage was already done. She carried him back to Panola, and upon learning his wife had twins that were three months old, decided to bless us with extraordinary gifts, as her token of gratitude for Papa’s sacrificing his life.

“The fairy mage was more than a hundred years old, though she seemed only about seventy. She said she was going to pass away soon, so she decided to repay your father by sacrificing her remaining years. After she transferred her magic to both of you, she died within days,” Mama said. “She intended to give Cristian strength and you beauty. But the two of you looked so alike in the cradle that she made a mistake. I didn’t notice it either, until you broke the tub when I gave you a bath.”

I rubbed my gloved hands on my sides before I took the tray. It was more a curse than blessing, as useful as super strength might be. Men would run away screaming if they knew I could lift them up with one hand.

Customers, most of them women, were chattering and squabbling in the storefront. I wanted to leave as soon as possible; it was like having a thousand magpies crowded in the bakery. Two old women were arguing about who should have the last piece of focaccia. I eyed their canes, wondering whether I should step in if they were to start a cane fight. It would look suspicious if I broke up a fight between two brawny men, but between two seventy-year-old women, I should be fine.

The aroma of food mingled with the scent of perfume. There was the subtler scent of rosewater, accompanied by the sharper scents of bergamot and lavender. I had a small bottle of lavender perfume in my bedroom, tucked away in a small chest. I rarely used it unless during the summer, when the sticky sweat on my skin was too much to handle.

“Ladies, please. There’s plenty more coming up; no need to push.” Cristian held up his hands, trying to appeal to the customers. There was a small smirk at the corner of his mouth, showing how much he enjoyed the attention. Unlike me, he was satisfied with his gift. Every time he strutted down the street, heads would turn, men and women included. Since he was a child, he managed to keep business brisk by wheedling the adults to purchase our bread, even though it wasn’t as good as other bakeries. Gone were the days when Mama had to scrimp and save. We weren’t rich, but nor did we lack for material comfort. Mama even talked about moving to town square, as a prime location that would definitely bring in more customers.

I’d never admit it to his face, but I envied my brother. If the fairy mage didn’t mess things up, I’d be the one at the counter, surrounded by lovestruck swains, while Cristian hauled sacks of flour and carried buckets of water from the well. If I had his looks, I could have picked anyone in Panola. Including Franco, someone I could only dream of but could never have.

“Get off me!”

“That piece is mine!”

The two old women who had been quarreling over the focaccia had started fighting. One pushed the other, and the latter rammed into me, just when I was approaching a table with my tray. Startled, I was knocked sideways, stumbling towards the table. With one hand I clutched on my tray, while my other hand gripped the hard wood of the table, which was groaning under a pile of crumbly cake and raspberry tarts.

I heaved a sigh of relief. The egg-custard tarts slid around the tray, but none toppled to the ground. They were safe.

But the wood under my fingers didn’t feel right. I looked, and was horrified to see a jagged line running from my palm to the other end of the surface.

​The next second, the table collapsed, taking the cake and tarts with it.

When I started indie publishing, I never really expected I'd be able to do a book signing, honestly. All I wanted was to earn enough to write full-time (I achieved that in a year and a half, thanks to the success of The Ugly Stepsister). But then I got an agent and she managed to sell The Ugly Stepsister to a French publisher, MxM Bookmark, and to my surprise, they invited me to the Salon Livre (a national book fair) in Paris! 

So, after doing lots of research (the Paris metro map is a labyrinth!) and convincing a friend who speaks French to come with me, I booked my flight for March 16~21.

I was lucky to board the Hello Kitty themed plane of Eva Airlines! It was some time since I took a long-distance flight and wow, things have upgraded ever since! Movies, music, and even the lights are all controlled by the touchscreen. Here's a picture of the on-flight meal; the delicious croissant seemed to foreshadow what to expect: My excitement upon landing was immediately cut down by a strong blast of wind and heavy rain when we arrived in the city. It was FREEZING. People in Paris told me that I had picked a great time to come – it wasn't normal for Paris to be this cold in March! On the first day, we had rain (my shoes were soaked in an hour), snow (that fell fast and thick), and worst of all – strong winds that chilled to the bone. While I had experienced extremely cold weather in America before (like minus 20°C in winter), it makes a difference when you are a tourist and can't stay indoors with the heater on most of the day. I remember when visiting the Eiffel Tower, my hands were FROZEN but I had to use my cell phone to take pictures, so I kept switching my phone from one hand to the other, while keeping the free hand in my pocket.

Here is a picture of the snow covered scenery outside our cozy little Airbnb apartment. My friend, who had never seen snow in her whole life, was ecstatic; she was up before 6 AM, taking pictures, while I couldn't budge from my bed haha. The book fair certainly is a prominent event! Here I am, posing in front of the poster in the subway, and another one in front of the arena, located in the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles As an independent author who has only seen her POD-produced paperbacks on her own bookshelf at home, I was SO excited to see my books on public display. Because of the overnight flight I was super exhausted, but seeing my books energized me : ) Honored that they put up a large poster featuring my books in the booth! I signed for at least an hour for two days. Let me tell you--it was WONDERFUL to meet my readers in person. Some of them even brought a friend who was proficient in English, so we could communicate. It's amazing that despite the different cultural upbringing, my books have connected with these readers abroad. But of course, I had to do some sightseeing as well – got to make the most of the trip! Here's me visiting the magnificent Palais Garnier, which was built in the nineteenth century. It's amazing how they preserved historic buildings in Europe; the opera house is still running ballet and opera performances. Imagine attending a show like the European aristocracy did a hundred years ago! Pity that due to time limits, I wasn't able to attend a show here, but I did see some actors and the orchestra rehearsing in the theater room. A random anecdote: I had difficulty unlocking the (antiquated) bathroom stall and almost thought I had to yell for help. Luckily I managed to open the door after at least a dozen tries :） Below is me posing in front of a painting at the Musée d'Orsay. There are more famous ones of course, but those are obstructed by crowds. I was in a pretty good mood this day because the sun was finally out. In Taiwan I usually avoid the sun like it's toxic (it really is, especially in the summer), but in Paris I was craving for the sun. And a blue sky makes better pictures : ) Left: The Sacré-Cœur Basilica, where you can get a gorgeous view of the city.

Right: the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. When my friend and I approached it from a distance, both of us sucked in a breath of awe, it was that magnificent. And this is coming from someone who has seen plenty of cathedrals in Italy and Spain. And here is one of the best, but also coldest time of the trip. We took a one-hour boat tour of the Seine, and despite the wind at night nipping our hands, it was absolutely worth it. Everyone was gasping when the Eiffel Tower started to sparkle and glitter when we passed. But really, just walking in the streets of Paris and soaking up the historic atmosphere is just as mesmerizing as visiting the touristy spots.  Here are some final thoughts about the five-day trip in Paris:

1. You don't need a gym when there is the Paris subway. Because it's such an old subway system, you'll find yourself walking up and down numerous stairs so much, that it might as well be easier to walk it is only one stop.
2. The food in Paris really lives up to the reputation, even in touristy places. Everything tasted delicious, except for a cup of instant noodles my friend got. Which can be forgiven because ramen isn't French, haha. I ate at least a croissant a day. That being said, when it came to supermarkets, Marks & Spencer from Britain beats the local Monoprix and Franprix hands down (to be fair, M&S is more expensive.) I wish I had more room in my luggage to carry the apple cinnamon granola with yogurt pieces from M&S.
3.Parisians have a reputation of being unfriendly, but this time I honestly felt they were more welcoming and willing to speak English than when I visited ten years ago. The staff at the museums were super nice and smiling, some even joked with me.
4. Souvenirs in Paris actually don't look tacky. The pictures and patterns are so cute that I bought a few magnets and keychains, even though I vowed NOT to get anything apart from food, because souvenirs tend to gather dust on the shelves or left forgotten in the drawers.
5. Despite the warnings, I felt very safe when traveling in Paris. It may also helped that I stayed at a very safe area (the 15th arrondissement) and there were police everywhere at the tourist spots. I even had to get my bag checked at a Nespresso store! 

Finally, as lovely as it was to visit the city, the BEST thing of all was meeting the readers. The landmarks are impressive, the croissants & hot chocolate divine, the streets full of atmosphere, but nothing beats seeing your books lined up on the shelves and listening to readers saying what they loved about your books. 

This is the best thing about being a writer. There are benefits like flexible work hours, not having to answer to a boss, but really, it's most rewarding when you write a story that entertains yourself, and knowing that the characters and world you created has resonated with readers around the world.

Today I'm participating in the blog tour of my writer friend in Taiwan, Annie Douglass Lima! She has recently released the third book in her YA adventure series, The Student and the Slave. Read more about the book below:

Take a look at this exciting new young adult action and adventure novel, The Student and the Slave , now available for purchase! This is the third book in the Krillonian Chronicles, after  The Collar and the Cavvarach  and The Gladiator and the Guard . 
The series is set in an alternate world that is very much like our own, with just a few major differences.  One is that slavery is legal there.  Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil.  It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with "have a rack"), a weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge.  Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades.  You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.

First, a Little Information about Books 1 and 2: 

Book 1: The Collar and the Cavvarach

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire's most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie's escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?

Click here to read chapter 1 of The Collar and the Cavvarach.
Click here to read about life in the Krillonian Empire, where the series is set.


Book 2: The Gladiator and the Guard

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is just one victory away from freedom. But after he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he is condemned to the violent life and early death of a gladiator. While his loved ones seek desperately for a way to rescue him, Bensin struggles to stay alive and forge an identity in an environment designed to strip it from him. When he infuriates the authorities with his choices, he knows he is running out of time. Can he stand against the cruelty of the arena system and seize his freedom before that system crushes him?

Click here to read about life in the arena where Bensin and other gladiators are forced to live and train.

And now, The Student and the Slave, with another awesome cover by the talented Jack Lin!


Book 3: The Student and the Slave

Is this what freedom is supposed to be like? Desperate to provide for himself and his sister Ellie, Bensin searches fruitlessly for work like all the other former slaves in Tarnestra. He needs the money for an even more important purpose, though: to rescue Coach Steene, who sacrificed himself for Bensin’s freedom. When members of two rival street gangs express interest in Bensin’s martial arts skills, he realizes he may have a chance to save his father figure after all … at a cost.

Meanwhile, Steene struggles with his new life of slavery in far-away Neliria. Raymond, his young owner, seizes any opportunity to make his life miserable. But while Steene longs to escape and rejoin Bensin and Ellie, he starts to realize that Raymond needs him too. His choices will affect not only his own future, but that of everyone he cares about. Can he make the right ones … and live with the consequences?

Click here to order The Student and the Slave from Amazon for $2.99 a discounted price of just 99 cents through November 31st!


And here's an excerpt from the book!
In this excerpt, Steene's student Raymond prepares to fight in a tournament that they both need him to win - for totally different reasons.

Raymond scurried into the kitchen a minute later, looking both worried and excited.

"Guess what? I just found out that my dad's coming to the cavvara shil tournament. He's actually coming! Mom was yelling at him about how he never supports us kids, and we never have any whole-family time. He got really mad at her, but I guess she must have convinced him, 'cause he said he'll come after all and make it a family outing even though he doesn't really have time. And I know he means it, because he changed out of his suit into jeans."

"That's great! Now you'll be able to show him what you can do." The other day during the club, Mr. Jeet had disappeared before Raymond had even noticed him there. As far as the boy was concerned, his dad hadn't watched him fight in over a year.

"But what if I don't win? There's so much more pressure when he's watching!"

"Your dad will be proud of you if you just do your best, even if he doesn't think you’re quite ready to compete in Jarreon yet."

"No he won't. He's never proud of me unless I'm the best. Everything always has to be the best, for him."

When the family piled into the limo a few minutes later, Kenny was bouncing around excitedly and chattering nonstop, Toby was complaining about what a waste of his Saturday this was, and Raymond was stiff and silent. Steene gave him a thumbs-up as Lawrence shut the door. You can do it, Raymond. You're going to make your dad proud and pave my way to freedom. Don't get nervous now.
About the Author:
Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published fifteen books (three YA action and adventure novels, four fantasies, a puppet script, six anthologies of her students’ poetry, and a Bible verse coloring and activity book). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.


Connect with the Author Online:
Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
Google+: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus


Now, enter to win an Amazon gift card or a free digital copy of the first two books in the series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The grand finale to The Unfinished Fairy Tales--Ever After--is now available! Here are the links to the ebook: Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE / Amazon AU / Amazon CA

For those of you who want to buy the paperback, I’m really sorry--I recently received news that Vellum, the software I use to create the ebooks, is going to release its paperback version on June 1. As my own formatting is very basic and simple, and June is only ten days from now, I decided I’ll wait for the software. Sorry about the delay, but I’m sure you’ll appreciate the superior interior! I’ll send out a newsletter and post on Facebook/Twitter as soon as the paperback is available.

For those of you who had pre-ordered, I’ve emailed you the link to the bonus short story. It contains spoilers, so DO NOT read the story before Ever After! If you had pre-ordered the book but did not get the link, please contact me ASAP.

My next book will be a brand-new fairy tale retelling--as I'm still in the brainstorming/outlining process, I can't give out any details about it yet, but it's almost certain that it's also going to have an unusual twist, as with The Unfinished Fairy Tales : )

Release Date: May 20
Ta-da! Here's the gorgeous cover that Clarissa at Yocla Designs did for me! Pre-order it on Amazon and you can get a bonus Kat/Edward story : )  Also, in case you haven't read the previous books in the series, now's the great time to start! Here are the links to their pages: Book 1, Book 1.5, and Book 2. And below are two excerpts from Ever After:
Finally, here's a giveaway for y'all! Prizes include:
*One $25 Amazon US gift card
*Two Ever After paperbacks (international)
*Three audiobooks of Ever After (US or UK)
One of the options of entering the giveaway is to leave a comment on this blog post. So...comment below and answer this question: who is your favorite character of the Unfinished Fairy Tales and why?a Rafflecopter giveaway

​Ever After is now available for pre-order! You can get it here:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VMNQDX
​UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071VMNQDX
DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B071VMNQDX
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B071VMNQDX
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B071VMNQDX The book is priced the same as the previous two books at $4.99. As there’s no discount, I'm offering an exclusive short story, called The Wedding​, for anyone who places a pre-order for Ever After. ​Click HERE for details. ​

I’m happy to report that the first draft of Ever After is nearly done! If everything goes well, you will be able to read it in late May~early June. That’s about one third of the time it took to release The Ugly Stepsister, so let's have a round of applause : ) For now, I can say that Ever After:

*Contains several scenes told from Edward’s POV
*Is a bit darker than the previous two
*Is nearly as long as Twice Upon A Time

If you’d like to be among the first to read the conclusion of Kat & Edward’s story, you can apply to be one of the beta readers. I’m only taking three people this time, however. I used to have about fifteen betas, and it took a really long time keeping track and responding with so many readers. I’m hoping that with less betas doing more work, I can still maintain quality but release books more frequently! In return for asking the betas to deliver on time and write more detailed feedback, I’m offering a $30 Amazon gift card, as well as a free paperback.

Sounds good? Please fill in this form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbNgQTBYznFWf2iNIn86ACFFPs9_yDXksAYx9vpCVSJaZS4Q/viewform by next Friday, April 7th. I will select the beta readers and send them Ever After on Saturday, April 8th .

Thanks for reading!

Hello!
The third book in my Princess Series, Princesses Don’t Become Engineers, is temporarily FREE on Amazon until January 24th, so grab a copy if you don’t have it already! It’s a standalone so you don’t need to read the previous books, though because there are a few recurring characters, it’s even better if you have read Book 1 (Princesses Don’t Get Fat) and Book 2 (Princesses Don’t Fight in Skirts).

I’m also doing a paperback giveaway of Twice Upon A Time! It’s really simple—I’ll use a random number generator to select two people on my mailing list. So if you’re already on my mailing list, you don’t need to do anything, as you’re automatically entered. If you’re not…here’s the link where you can sign up. The winner will be announced on Saturday  ( January 28th) . Make sure your email is working, as that’s the only way I can contact you.

You’re also probably wondering about the third book in The Unfinished Fairy Tales series. I’m halfway through the first draft, and while I can’t set a specific date, I’m shooting for the second quarter of this year.  Fingers crossed that I can make it!

An AlphaSmart Neo that cannot distract me with the internet : ) Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that wherever you are in the world, you had enjoyed a lovely first day of 2017 : )

Thanks to those who have filled in my 2016 year-end survey. Much to my surprise, I got more than a hundred responses! Some of you wrote really detailed comments about my writing, and I really appreciate the thoughtfulness. Though I’m also happy that over half were satisfied with my current work. And many also wished I could publish faster--a skill that I’m still struggling to improve on! I did manage to churn out 50,000 words last November, but the draft is so, so rough that I might as well rewrite it over. Nevertheless, the next book will definitely be completed faster because I. AM. NOW. FULL-TIME. And I also have a new weapon in my writer's arsenal:





And so, based on this survey, I’ve decided on some of my writing-related New Year resolutions:

Finish and publish the third book in The Unfinished Fairy Tale series. Start a new fairytale retelling. Everything is kind of murky at the moment, as I’m still in the brainstorming phase, but this new book is likely to be a standalone (yay!) and it will be loosely connected to The Unfinished Fairy Tales.  Finish the second book in the Girl With Flying Weapon series. I really hate that I had to put it on the back burner for a loooong time, but as a full-time writer now, unfortunately the other more lucrative projects have to be prioritized. I have outlined the entire series so I do know where the story’s going. So, if you’re waiting for this series, don’t worry...it WILL be completed one day!
Anyway...back to the survey! After eliminating a few identical entries, I used random.org and generated four winners who'll get a handmade keychain of Twice. And the winners are…
No. 45 KayGee
No. 14: Sanvee N Quintila
No. 35: Syrina Murray
No. 124: Sarah Rowe

I realized that it's nearly four years since I published my first fiction book (January 5th, 2013). Woohoo! And so I decided to do a survey, in which I hope to learn how to improve as a writer/publisher. I'd appreciate it if you could take the time and answer a few questions. Most are just checkboxes and won't take much time to complete.

Here's the link to the Google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYmj_a3FoM1Rulx5Zb9zHSDQ_namxHhKVjiGTjYza1fPg9Sg/viewform

As a thank you for completing the survey, I'm offering FOUR hand crafted keychains of Twice Upon A Time. See the picture on the top of this post? It's a picture of what the keychain looks like, but as every keychain is uniquely produced, there will be slight variations in the beads/charms. The giveaway is open to everyone!

All responses will be collected in a Google spreadsheet, and I'll use a random number generator to draw out the winners. Please complete the survey by December 31st EST, and winners will be announced on January 1st, 2017 on my blog.

Happy holidays : )