Cheryl Koevoet's Blog

In honor of National Book Lover's Day, from now until Sunday, August 13, 2016, I am giving away FREE copies of the first installment of my YA Christian Fantasy Series, The Carnelian Legacy.

In order to take advantage of this amazing offer, just go to my website and submit your info!

I am SOOOOO excited to be able to reveal my beautiful new cover for The Carnelian Destiny, designed by the super fan-tabulous Najla Qamber of Najla Qamber Designs!!







And without further ado -- here it is!!







Isn't it beautiful?!? Although the book won't be released until August of 2016, I wanted to give you a sneak preview of what happens in the third installment of The Carnelian Legacy series. Here is a short blurb:

On the eve of the royal wedding, a mysterious missive arrives at the castle, threatening to cast a shadow over Darian and Marisa's joyful celebration. And as they prepare to embark on the honeymoon trip of a lifetime, dark forces of the Apollyon Order are mustering in the east; calling upon an ancient, evil beast with the power to destroy the stronghold of Crocetta. In danger of losing everything, Marisa and Darian must enlist the help of Crimson Knights from all over the Carnelian world to defend their kingdom. But this time, it might not be enough.

To celebrate the cover reveal AND the release of The Carnelian Legacy audiobook, I am giving away lots of great prizes!! Be sure to sign up in the Rafflecopter below and share with your friends for maximum chances to win!!
Buy The Carnelian Legacy on Amazon
The Carnelian Legacy audiobook is available on Audible, Amazon and iTunes! With the voice talents of Sarah Grace Wright, special sound effects and music by Larry Bryant, this is one dramatic reading you won't want to miss!! Perfect for listening to over the holidays!
Oh, I'd love to hear what you think of the new cover in the comments section below!! :0)

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As the holiday season approaches and the networks begin airing the multitude of Christmas movie favorites, there is one movie that forever stands above all the rest for thousands--if not millions of viewers--It's A Wonderful Life.

This is a story that has been picked apart and analyzed by journalists, writers, bloggers, and just about everyone else, but I want to focus on the main character, George Bailey, because I believe he is the single-most identifiable protagonist the world has ever seen. And in breaking down the persona of George Bailey, we can better understand how we as writers can create and develop a sympathetic character who readers can readily identify with.

Of course much of this three-dimensional character's success can be attributed to Jimmy Stewart, the acting legend who brought him to life, but I am narrowing my list down to 8 things that make George Bailey the most lovable character:


1. His hunger for discoveryOne of the saddest aspects of It's A Wonderful Life is the fact that George Bailey never does get out of Bedford Falls to see the world. From the time he is a young boy working at Mr. Gower's drugstore, he dreams of travelling the globe and experiencing the many cultures the world has to offer. He has a restless, adventurous spirit (something that many of us who have lived overseas can easily identify with.) In today's modern world where we can cross continents in just a few hours, back in the late 1940's when the movie was filmed, traveling to other countries was considered a big deal and not for the faint of heart.



2. He respects his parentsOne of my favorite scenes in the movie is just after the family has eaten dinner on the night of his brother Harry's graduation. George is sitting at the table with his father and they are discussing him taking over the family business for a few years until his brother Harry can take over. His father gives him a healthy dose of wisdom and George answers with the following: "Pap, you want a shock? I think you're a great guy." He isn't afraid to show his love and admiration for his family.





3. He's willing to sacrifice time and time againAfter his father dies and the family business is at risk of folding, the future of the entire town seems to hang in the balance. Understanding what losing his father's loan company will mean to the people of Bedford Falls, George gives up his dreams for his own future by standing up to the town bully, Mr. Potter, at a time when no one else seems to have the courage. In doing so, he saddles himself down with the life he never wanted in order to make a better one for others:



4. He has real friendshipsI love the fact that his two good friends are both regular Joes and very blue collar -- a cop and a cab driver. Though neither Bert nor Ernie make stellar salaries, they don't seem bothered by this fact; nor are they ashamed by their role to serve others. In fact, helping others is a central theme running through the entire story and the old saying "a man is known by the company he keeps" certainly applies to our protagonist:



5. He follows his conscienceAt a time in his life when everything seems to be going wrong financially, George is faced with the toughest decision of his life: does he accept Mr. Potter's generous offer and lower his standards for the position of his dreams or does he remain poor and stand by his convictions? Watch!



6. He has a sense of humorOne of the most endearing qualities of the character George Bailey is his innate gift of comedic timing. He doesn't take himself too seriously and enjoys the laughs and fun moments that are thrown his way. Not only that, but he also is the perpetrator of much of the humor in this film. His down-to-earth personality combines with tongue-in-cheek humor to give us an utterly lovable good guy:



7. He's not afraid to leadOn the day that George Bailey marries his sweetheart, Mary Hatch, there is a dreaded bank run in Bedford Falls and panic sets in. Instead of throwing in the towel and taking off on his honeymoon, he uses his smarts and the limited resources he has (his honeymoon funds) in order to prop up his loan business to keep things running. It takes guts and true leadership to come up with viable solutions at a time when everyone else is panicking:



8. He brings people togetherIf you haven't seen the movie yet, I would highly recommend it. But I have to warn you about the final scene. Probably the most poignant and best ending ever to any film (not to mention the tear-jerker factor) this story captures the joy of human relationships. What do I mean by that? Well, let's just say that George Bailey was given a wonderful gift on Christmas Eve--to see how much he'd touched the lives of those around him in such a positive way!


What is your favorite scene? Tell me about it in the comments section below!

I have noticed over the past few years that the current YA fiction establishment has been dictating to writers and authors that, in order to sell books in today's teen market, they need to create "strong, independent female characters." To be honest with you, I personally am fed up with self-proclaimed book critics blasting YA books left and right simply because they supposedly don't have the quintessential kick-butt young woman in the driver's seat of their novel.
Now, before you get yourself in a tizzy and start tossing girl-power rants at me, please hear me out.
Although it would be impossible to know with any certainty exactly where this push to generate Wonder Woman protagonists originated, it would be my guess that it probably arose from somewhere deep within the feminist publishing movement. I must first state off the bat that I am totally pro-women's equality in nearly everything, but I am by no means a die-hard feminist. Women are strange, mysterious and beautifully complex characters, but we are also unique in our own diversity. One size does not fit all. While some people complain that women are still regarded as inferior members of society (and in some countries we most certainly are) I am constantly being amazed at the power and influence that women enjoy in today's society, just not in the ways you would probably imagine.
While I enjoy reading YA and NA stories about strong female characters who can kick-butt just as well or even better than their male counterparts, I am also a realist who gets the fact that not every woman contains an assassin streak within her. In fact, I would assert that your average young woman reading these books has not yet acquired the mandatory skills and traits that today's YA climate declares a woman must have in order to be a "strong, independent young woman."
And that's totally okay.
Why? Because, unlike today's mouthpieces of the feminist movement that are constantly shouting at us on what makes a "real" woman, the true strength of the female is not defined by her ability to command and lead those around her. I would openly challenge that notion by declaring that a woman's strength and power lies in her ability to influence. This is a swift departure from the I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR mentality, lending more credibility to the saying ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. (Sorry for shouting!)
Don't know what I'm talking about? Think of a woman of influence in your own life--the one you respect above all others--the one you would do almost anything to please. She could be your mother, your grand-mother, your aunt, your cousin, boss, etc. No matter who she is, I am willing to bet you a bag of candy corn that she is not an assassin or Shadowhunter. I am also guessing that you don't consider her strong because of her take-no-prisoners attitude, but rather, her sphere of influence over you and others. Your sense of respect for this woman probably took months or years to forge; it didn't magically appear overnight after she was exposed to a barrel of toxic sludge. And her strength was probably acquired through trial by fire. Real fire.
But what does all this have to do with YA fiction?
I'm glad you asked. Young adult fiction is about teenagers going through some kind of trial, be it first love, coming-of-age, or any number of topics that have challenged youth since the dawn of time. It is, by it's very nature, fiction about inexperienced young adults who are (generally) still trying to figure life out. For those of us who are well advanced in years, we realize that we STILL don't have it all figured out yet but are much more stable (and much wiser!) than we were in our teenage years. I would argue that women (and men) are not born strong--it is something that is acquired along the way. I see a baby being pretty much a blank slate, and although he/she is made up of genes and characteristics that will make him/her prone to developing various strengths and weaknesses, I believe it is primarily the experiences along life's path that develop a person into a "strong" personality. So - why should we expect YA characters to have everything figured out by the time they hit the magic age of 18? Why is it that snarky girls who mouth off to their parents and other figures of authority in YA books are considered "strong, independent young women" while those young women who are quietly trying to work through their issues of insecurity and unrequited love are considered "weak" characters? The character who overcomes suicidal tendencies and matures into a woman of integrity is, in my opinion, far more interesting, admirable and rewarding to read about than some orphaned superhuman girl who goes through life knocking out one perfectly-timed zinger after the other.
But fiction isn't about reality -- it's a means of escapism!
True. But there is only so much suspension of disbelief that the reader can take, and it must be handled with respect in order for a book to be considered within the realm of reason. One of the biggest criticisms that has been leveled against the character Bella in the Twilight books is the fact that many consider her a "weak" character because she allows a MAN (God forbid!) to rule her life. Critics of the books contend that she isn't a "strong, independent young woman." But isn't that purely subjective? After all, Bella did manage to snag the hot young vampire that all the other girls in Forks wanted and had been chasing for years. Edward fell for her like a ton of bricks, and she fell in love with him, and the two of them married and lived happily ever after. Bella Swan got her happily ever after through perseverance and by using her sphere of influence. How is that not a strength? In my own series, The Carnelian Legacy, we follow the story through the eyes of the insecure protagonist, Marisa MacCallum. When we first meet her, she is searching for her own identity at a time when her life has gone into a tailspin after the death of her father. She behaves and reacts as a typical seventeen-year-old who is just trying to find her own way while trying to deal with her own mourning. Some readers who are quick to judge her as being immature and a brat will never enjoy the satisfaction of watching her mature and grow as a character (watch out for the spoiler here!) in the way she eventually becomes the wisest and fairest queen the Carnelian world has ever known. It isn't about instant gratification -- poof! -- and in 36 pages, she's a strong character.
But in all honesty, would you rather read another story about a girl who starts out as a picture-perfect Mary Jane, or would you rather be captivated by the story of a broken young woman's journey to conquer her own self-doubt? It doesn't matter how you answer because it's all subjective anyway. You may like the kick-butt assassin or the self-loathing teen, either one is fine. But don't try to tell others that one story is more important than the other; that one is strong and the other is weak. Because what you might consider a strength is what others might consider a weakness.   How would you define a "strong female character?" I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

In celebration of the fact that The Carnelian Legacy will be displayed in the New Title Showcase at Book Expo America (BEA) at the end of the month, I am offering a FREE ebook download for a limited time from now until May 18th! The book's sequel, The Carnelian Tyranny is also being offered here at the bargain price of only $3.99!!

Don't miss your chance to grab a download of my YA debut novel and be sure to spread the word! And for those of you who are not familiar with The Carnelian Legacy , here's the blurb from the back of the book:

Marisa MacCallum always believed the man of her dreams was out there somewhere. The problem is, he's in another dimension.

After the death of her father, eighteen-year-old Marisa's life is on the verge of imploding. She seeks comfort on her daily ride through the woods of Gold Hill, but when a mysterious lightning storm strikes, she is hurled into the alternate dimension of Carnelia where she is discovered by the arrogant but attractive nobleman, Darian Fiore.

Stranded in a world teeming with monsters, maniacs and medieval knights, Marisa is forced to join Darian on a dangerous mission to negotiate peace with his cousin and archenemy, Savino da Rocha. Along the way she starts to see his softer side and finds herself falling in love. But once she learns that Darian is locked into an arranged marriage, her heart shatters. And when Savino falls for her charms and demands her hand in exchange for peace, Marisa is faced with an impossible choice: marry the enemy of the man she loves or betray them both and become the catalyst for a bloody war.

Hurry today and download a free copy in either .mobi or .epub format here. Please "Share" the love by tweeting, liking, pinning and posting this spectacular offer to all of your friends!!

Several New Adult authors have teamed up together to offer free copies of their books in the New Adult Giveaway from March 22 - 29, 2015. Enter the Rafflecopter below for chances to win!!






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To celebrate the launch of the updated, extended edition of The Carnelian Legacy, we are giving away some great prizes!

Enter the Rafflecopter widget below and make sure you like, post, tweet and share this giveaway on every social media platform for extra chances to win our Carnelian SuperFan prize!

GRAND PRIZE:One SIGNED Hardcover Copy of The Carnelian Legacy - Extended Edition

FIRST PRIZE:One Softcover Copy of The Carnelian Legacy - Extended Edition
 SECOND PRIZE:One eBook download for Amazon Kindle of The Carnelian Legacy - Extended Edition




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As a 40-something woman at the mid-point in my career, I am often asked the one question that almost every writer hears: "How did you become a writer?" I always smile while answering them honestly, "By accident."

You see, unlike so many of the "bestselling" authors I've read about with multiple degrees in English, Literature and/or Journalism, I studied Art History in college.

That's right. Art.

Although I was talented in languages and creative writing and loved to write short stories and poems, I never got that "push" from an adult, teacher or mentor to explore my other creative side -- the one that ended up lying dormant for far too long. And while I enjoyed drawing and painting and felt comfortable sharing that side of my creativity with the world, the closet writer never broke out until I was well into adulthood. Why? Because of my own prejudices and *gulps* lack of self-esteem.

I had convinced myself that I wasn't good enough to call myself a writer. I had a hard time believing that other people could ever enjoy reading my stories -- after all, I was no expert -- I didn't have a degree in Journalism or English. I hadn't worked for a newspaper or publisher, or even a library for that matter. I wasn't talented enough to become a professional writer.

I was wrong.

For decades, the most fantastic story floated around in my head but I never took it to the next level by putting it down on paper. Why? The idea of placing my innermost thoughts and ideas on the written page was too risky. What if someone read it? What if they thought it was complete and utter garbage?

My reasons for not writing actually held those stories hostage inside my head. Not only that, but for years I operated under the false assumption that if I wanted to become a successful author, I had to write things that would please others. Wasn't that how most writers managed to land an agent -- by following the latest trends and writing the stuff that agents wanted to read? It took me a long time to realize that my misconceptions about writing were completely and utterly wrong.

Then, one fateful day in September, I decided to sit down and write. Just for me. No one would ever have to know. Each time my husband or one of my kids came through the front door, I would hit "save" and quickly close my laptop. It was my own special secret.

I pecked away at the keys, hesitating at first, but then faster with more confidence as the story flowed through my head until finally it came rushing out like a tidal wave onto the page. It began with two main characters entwined in an epic love story. They were from different worlds, but somehow they would find each other after being apart. The female protagonist didn't know she had been lost but the male protagonist knew everything.

From there, the story grew as more characters took the center stage. I could easily visualize their actions and feel their motivations as each and every one of them quickly became as real to me as any living person I had ever known. Every book I had ever read, every movie I had ever seen, and every experience I had ever lived suddenly came into play. I didn't care that vampires and werewolves were the current, popular trend -- I was writing this story for me! It was the classic story with knights, princesses, monsters -- the whole tamale but with a modern twist.

Before I knew it, not only did I have the first story, but I also had the base for a second book. I worked on bettering my craft by reading more books and recruiting the assistance of beta readers. They helped me to improve upon the story, showing me holes in the plot and pointing out grammatical errors. Slowly but surely, my writing improved to the point where I was confident enough to start submitting it selectively to agents.

That's where the momentum broke.

When I began querying, I knew that the chances of getting picked up by a literary agent were slim to none. It was equivalent to being a needle in a haystack and hoping that someone would find me amidst all the straw. Agents receive thousands of queries per year and most only take on a few new writers at any time -- sometimes not at all.

Undaunted, I knew that my story was different. It was fresh, bold, and I loved it! I headed in full-force, querying right and left, twenty agents at a time. And each day, I received email responses telling me that my story "wasn't a right fit." Half the agents didn't even bother to answer at all. But so what?!? I'd read somewhere that Stephenie Meyer received eight (8!) whole rejections before Twilight was picked up by an agent!! Now it was my turn!

After a year of querying and receiving only one request to read the full manuscript out of two hundred rejections, I was feeling extremely disappointed and discouraged. I decided to change my game plan by pulling back and working on improving the story. During the next few months, I realized that I had queried my novel too soon and there were too many lingering issues with my story. I had four kids and a full-time job, so finding time to re-write was sparse to say the least. I spent nights and weekends working on it, re-working entire chapters at a time.

When I was finally satisfied that I had taken the story as far as it could go, I made the strategic decision to self-publish. Knowing I couldn't stand the emotional roller-coaster of querying agents for the next year or two, going indie publishing for me was the only acceptable alternative. Besides, by self-pubbing, I could keep creative control over the integrity of the story while maintaining rights to the novel.

Today, I have published two books and am currently writing both a third and fourth book simultaneously. I am happy with my accomplishments and excited about future projects. My fan base continues to grow every week and I have learned so much about the publishing world. With the desire to spare other writers weeks and months of wasted time, I have come up with a set of tips to help wannabe writers on their own publishing journey:

Tip #1 - Whether or not you think you're a writer, you are right!
Until you can carry yourself over the mental threshold of accepting that you are a writer, you will never be in the place you need to be. For too long I told myself I could never be a writer because I didn't have the degree, the talent, or the right. Stop telling yourself this! Be like the Little Engine That Could and repeat the mantra, "I think I can, I think I can!"

Tip #2 - Write ONLY the story you would want to read!
One of the biggest mistakes I see fellow writers making is writing stories based on current trends. If the current fad books are about zombies, werewolves or other mythical creatures, don't feel you have to write about those subject just to get your foot in the door. Chances are, by the time you finally get your story done and tweaked enough to start querying agents, the fad is over and the market is already over-saturated. Be original and write about something that intrigues you. I am passionate about writing original stories that I would want to find on a bookstore shelf. Write the story that has not yet been written!

Tip #3 - Learn all you can about the craft of writing!
Don't make the mistake of thinking you already know how to write and that your style can't be improved. All writers from amateur poet to bestselling novelists go through difficult periods, but truly great writers are constantly improving themselves through practice and by reading a wide variety of books written by other authors.

Tip #4 - Don't query agents until your story is PERFECT!
Another big mistake that writers make is to query their project to agents too soon. Do yourself and the agent(s) a favor and make sure your story has been worked to death. It isn't unusual for a story to go through the editing process at least fifty times or more before it is finally ready to be pitched!

Tip #5 - A little bit of humility goes a long way!
The only difference between a talented, unknown writer and a world-famous author is a little thing called opportunity. Some of us stumble across it and some of us don't. And some of us make our own opportunities. Never let one pass you by -- it could make all the difference in the world! But no matter how successful you may wind up in your writing career, never forget the place where you started. There are millions of books out there competing with your own, so always be kind to anyone who is willing to spend precious time reading your story. Accept help from other writers and readers wherever you can get it!

Tip #6 - Know Thy Genre!
Although it seems too basic to mention, know your book's genre before pitching it to anyone. Don't make the mistake of thinking that your book is so original and spectacular that it is in a class of its own. Agents and publishers need to know how to market your book, and if it doesn't fit into one of the main book categories, you will have a very difficult time selling it to anyone. Decide who is your primary audience -- men or women? Adults or teens? Fiction or non-fiction? Is it fantasy or contemporary romance? Learn your book's genre and pitch it to the right agents who specialize in that category -- it will save you from wasting every one's time!
 Tip #7 - Build Your Platform!
In order to be heard above the screaming crowd, you need something different that attracts people's attention. A successful writer uses all the tools in the toolbox to create a successful platform. There are enough articles and blog posts out there in helping a writer a build a platform, so I'm not going to get in too deep here, but sites like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram -- these are all ways to make your voice be heard. But above all, you need to decide what you want your message to be, and then preach it, sister! But how do you decide what that message is? Answer this simple question and then base all your tweets, posts and photos around it --

"What do you want your writing/life/career to be known for after you're dead?"
So what is my answer to the question of how does one become a writer?

They simply do!
Has this post helped or encouraged you in your writing? I'd love to hear your comments in the section below!

Coming Fall 2014!!

Well, I've been neglecting this blog for far too long because--well, I've been doing some SERIOUS writing and editing! And today, I am so pleased an proud to reveal the beautiful new cover by Najla Qamber www.najlaqamberdesigns.com for The Carnelian Tyranny:

  Isn't it beautiful?!? I just can't wait to share this story with you! If you would like to see more, please visit The Carnelian Legacy web site. Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

Synopsis:

Three months after her fateful trip through the vortex, Marisa MacCallum is struggling with the responsibilities of being a royal. And with only a few weeks left before her coronation, she begins to have doubts about her engagement to the handsome Darian Fiore.

But when palace spies uncover a secret plot to assassinate members of the royal family and eliminate the Crimson Knights, Marisa and Darian are forced to put their plans for the future on hold to prevent Savino da Rocha and his legion of warrior giants from stealing the throne.

After narrowly escaping an attempt on her life, she is left to defend the stronghold of Crocetta while Darian marches to war. But when Savino strikes at the heart of the kingdom with supernatural powers of darkness, Marisa becomes entangled in a spiritual battle with the power to destroy her family and forever end the Fiore dynasty.