Darkspell Launch Spookfesta is HERE!

I'd like to thank everyone of my best bloggie palz who volunteered to help make this possible. There is an overwhelming amount of kindness that brings me to tears. Thank you, guys, you ROCK!

source

If I had all the magic in the world, I'd live in a log cabin in the middle of 1,000 acres with horses on it. *SIGH*




Great news!  Darkspell is here to stay! I have to admit that I am thrilled and nervous at the same time.

Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold.

As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter's protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into the magickal realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.

Will love prove thicker than magick?

Darkspell is now available on Smashwords
& Kindle, and Amazon.com paperback

For a signed copy, please visit my website! http://www.authorelizabethmueller.com/


This Wednesday, I will announce 3 winners from the beautiful list (hopefully you would have posted to qualify)!

Elaine AM Smith

Alex J.Cavanaugh

WritingArt and Design

Laura B. Diamond

Amy Lunderman

Jc Martin

Gail Zuniga

Erin Danzer

Bonnie Harris

Writer’s Ally

Taffscandy

No Thought 2Small

LailaKnight

Ella’s Edge

Angie Lofthouse

PK Hrezo

Write Skate Dream

JanetSummer Johnson

Jewel’s World

Dancing Down Serendipity Street

Daily Dodo

TaneeshaFreidus

Fiction ToolBox

TenLives and Second Chances

Brenda Sills

Nicki Elson

Ali Cross

L’Aussie

Seriously Amber Lynae

Tristi Pinkston

Katie Mills

Jeannie Campbell

Christina Dymock

Ellen Maze

Shoveling in a Jo Storm
Chicks in Lit
Talli Roland
Imagine Today

Darkspell--7 Different Ways to WIN a Copy!

Ever skimmed ahead to see if anything bad happens to your favorite character? Well, here's your chance with Darkspell without having to actually read. How you say? Glad you asked! The easiest and funnest way of course is with chapter illustrations!

That is one way that makes Darkspell so fresh and fun to actually read!


Onto the free stuff . . .


I've searched the web and have found 7 different ways for you to win a FREE copy of Darkspell!


1--Romancing-the-book.com! November 6th--SUCCESS!


2--Darkspell Launch Spookfesta! October 31st--SUCCESS!


3--"like" my fan page and automatically enter to win a Darkspell copy on Halloween! October 31st--SUCCESS!


4--Konstanz Silverbow's Book Giveaway! October 31st--SUCCESS!


5--Taneesha has shown tons of Darkspell LOVE! November 12th--ONGOING


6--Scribblers Cove's Hurricane Season Double Book Launch Give-Away! November 31st--ONGOING


7--CK Bryant Giveaway & followup chat with ME!--SUCCESS!






It's easy to win! Well? What're ya waitin' for?




PS:
WOOOOT! My debut novel, Darkspell YA Paranormal Romance releases this Halloween!

Book Review: Deep Blue Secret by Christie Anderson

Sadie James has fallen in love with a mysterious boy with green eyes. He seems to be where she needs him, like when she nearly drowns in the sea. How doe he know where to find her?

After he pays her a forbidden visit, he is all she can think about. Obsessed with him, she hunts the entire school, but doesn't find him.

Rayne struggles to keep his feelings at bay from the day he meets Sadie, but is that what he really should do?

Christie Anderson did an excellent job at revealing the plot and characters by showing us its secrets bit by bit. The characters are well thought out and believable down to their endearing habits! This book is a sweet romance that had me turning the pages for more.


to purchase Deep Blue Secret:
http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Blue-Secret-Water-Keepers/dp/1463768591/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317345871&sr=8-1

view the booktrailer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNODYfM7lvo

visit the author!
http://christieanderson.org/


Thanks, Christie, for the wonderful read!

The Power of Being an Author by Brian Moreland

Today I have the honors of having Brian Moreland as my guest. Please visit his blog and let him know how awesome he is!

Without further ado, Brian Moreland!

           Your manuscript is written. Your agent sells it to a publisher. You celebrate with your friends and family. After signing the contract, your very first advance check arrives in the mail. You had hoped for six figures, but it’s only four. It’s divided up into thirds and barely pays one month’s bills. You won’t receive the other two payments until your book is edited and releases late next year, but who cares? You’ve landed your first book deal! You do your happy dance in the living room. Months later your manuscript returns home with lots of red marks and notes from your editor. You edit the book and rewrite a couple chapters. Soon after, your editor emails the cover design. You’re blown away by the artwork and fancy type with your name on the cover. Your book suddenly takes on a whole new dimension. You post the cover on Facebook. Your friends and family give you lots of “Way-to-go’s!” and “Congrats!” Twelve to eighteen months later your book releases on Amazon and in book stores across the country. At last, after years of dreaming and writing, you hold your printed book in your hands. It’s like holding a newborn baby, and your heart swells in your chest. You might even shed tears. The metamorphosis is complete. You can now drop the moniker “aspiring writer” and proudly call yourself an author.

For those writers persistent enough to pursue a writing career—the ones who refuse to give up despite all the years without pay and rejections from agents and publishers—at some point you will publish your first book. It may take years, or in my case, almost two decades. I am living proof that dreamers who procrastinate can eventually complete a book and publish. And once you do, there is much glory to be had. You enter a whole new reality where you wield the power to accomplish bigger goals and experience more than you ever dreamed possible.

Tough Skin?

Enter to win a signed copy of Darkspell poster, a $10 Amazon gift certificate, or a copy of Darkspell! How?  Just enter here and set up your post October 31st--easy peasy...pleasy?

Believe it or not, I've been needing to find my other thick skin. I know as aspiring authors, we are pushed to develop thick skins from critiques, rejections, changes, and so on. It hurts to have someone tell us that we need to rewrite it because then we believe that we aren't good enough.

But there is another sort that looms after the book has sold to a publisher. The feeling of rejection doesn't stop there...

What if the readers don't like it?

What do I do when I get a bad review?

I've had several published friends feel so bummed with the fact that they got a 1 or 2 star rating, or if a reader said some awful things about their books. I'm cringing here, and Darkspell isn't out yet! I have yet to find another layer of skin--and this one might have to be thicker because now it will be made public rather than private and between you and the other person.

How do you deal with thick-skin moments?

Marketing Crazy Days

Please remember to sign up for Darkspell Launch Spookfesta party for October 31st here--coolawesome prizes!

I have to confess that it's been TONS of work working with just one book. I would have to say much more intense than writing and submitting queries. You've got to keep up appearances with every network so as to keep your name in circulation. That's just online stuff. I've been taking mental notes of every place I could do signings as well as getting them to carry my book. I don't know how much marketing the big publishers do for you, but mine is small, but I'm happy to push my book along. It's certainly a growing experience!


Have you signed up for Darkspell Launch Spookfesta party? Check it out, there are cool prizes to be won!


Have you thought of marketing ideas for your book? What fun stuff do you have planned for your big day?

Book Review: The Key of Kilenya by Andrea Pearson

Please remember to sign up for Darkspell Launch Spookfesta party for October 31st here--coolawesome prizes!

From the back:
When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path form our world into another his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon--evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doeens' know he possesses--powers they desire to control.


The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob's help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing go unleash the power of the key--and Jacob's special abilities.


My thoughts:
Want to go on a colorful journey filled with adventure, excitement, and danger? Join ordinary Jacob who stumbles into a magical kingdom where all hope rests on his young shoulders. I admire his integrity for the choices he makes, though most of them are difficult. I enjoyed how he worked through tight spots with his friends who supported him the whole way through.


The world he stumbles upon is nothing like our own. It is well-developed and dangerous as I hoped for Jacob's success. The setting reminds me of Obert Skye's Leven Thumps, so you can imagine how one thing is so unlike another by our standards. It sure keeps our hero on his toes!


I have no doubt that readers will connect with Jacob as he juggles many things in life from basketball to peer pressure and as well as life or death choices.


Thanks for the blast, Andrea!


Where to find the Author:
You can learn more about Andrea Pearson here at her website: http://www.kilenyaseries.com/

Writers Support 4 U: Dying Young

Please remember to sign up for Darkspell Launch Spookfesta party for October 31st here--coolawesome prizes!

Click on button to join group!

So many things are going on right now with my writing career, I'm not sure where to start. I haven't written fresh in Darkspell's sequel for about 3 weeks now because I'm juggling my internet presence hard! I've been trying to recruit minions who are willing to help me. I offer swag as well as behind-the-scenes stuff with Darkspell and other fun things.

I've been thinking about places I could book sign and how to present to them.

I wonder if it'll ever die down, or if my life will always and forever be a roller coaster? Having children to take care of is crazy enough, will I die young?

What about you, how do you keep up with your marketing and writing and life?

Fantastic Friday Writers: Holidays

Please remember to sign up for Darkspell Launch Spookfesta party for October 31st here--coolawesome prizes!

Holidays and celebrations are fun and happy, right? They don't always have to be. As readers, we want something that is bright and entertaining--bigger than life. Maybe with some intensive scenes that are not necessarily cheery.

When I write about party scenes, I love to throw in tension. In one of Darkspell's deleted scenes, I had my characters attend a masque ball for Halloween. They danced and flirted and fought. Two boys became angry over Winter and crashed the party with their rivalry.

I've written about the ancient Viking wedding celebration where the groom becomes what the bride's heart wishes him to be--human!

Another scene from my high fantasy novel, Tragic Innocence, a rich merchant returns safely from lost caverns and a celebration is held. The heroine participates by playing the harp--something she never dreamed she could do, which builds to her self-discovery.

I use celebrations sparingly in my work and only if it will move the story forward. For Darkspell, it didn't add to the book since I have Homecoming and Prom in there. Too many parties make it boring I think.

How do you season your book with parties?

Let's see what our FFW writers think!
J.D.Brown - Urban Fantasy ~*~ Jeffrey Beesler- Science Fiction ~*~ Charlene A. Wilson - Fantasy ~*~ Anastasia V. Pergakis - Fantasy ~*~

IWSG: Insecure Writer's Support Group

Please remember to sign up for Darkspell Launch Spookfesta party for October 31st here--coolawesome prizes!

I am a pantser.


Whew! I've finally gotten that off my chest! I've written over 8 standalone novels. Suddenly, one of them was nabbed and releases Halloween!


I've struggled over the sequel because I have the pressure of having to be "better" than the first--more exciting. You know, the sequel blues? I have several elements from the first book of Darkspell that I could easily extend, but it's been a fair struggle finding it.


The pantser muse in me is having a blast with the sequel, but the logical editor in me is biting her nails as we both collide!


Something I have to realize and understand is that the first draft is just that, the first draft. It's so hard to separate the two--especially with the sequel because there's more riding on this than the first book.




Alex gave a simple 3 question guideline:

- Who do you want your characters to be when the story begins?
- What theme do you want to follow?
- What do you readers want?

I must confess that I'd have to guess at the last question since Darkspell has yet to make its debut!


Do you agree with me? How do you deal with the pressure of expectation from fans, making the story arc that much more impressive--yet not so farfetched so as to feel forced . . . fake?

*click on the button for bloggie list

is this for real?

After Darkspell's edits and illustrating, I'm waiting for the big day October 31st! Sometime last week, my publisher sent me the official PDF format and I have on thing to say about it:


STUNNING.


My eyes teared and my mouth dropped. I had no idea just how impressive Darkspell is with my illustrations! Have you seen them? 


Have you signed up for Darkspell Launch Spookfesta party? Check it out, there are cool prizes to be won!




Being an author is like riding a wild roller coaster alone. I'm panicking because I'm not sure how to handle having a published book. I'm winging it now.


Here's my to-do list (the top 4  are ongoing):

1. Keep up with blogging
2. network over at Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and google+
3. Darkspell's countdown
4. set up book signings and presentations here in my state (I'm looking into outside, too!)
5. run to the printers to get my Darkspell poster going!
6. run over to the New Testament Project filming sometime this week
7. read 3 books for book tour reviews before December
8. finish Darkspell's sequel

Whew, I'm sure I've forgotten a few things... This doesn't include life outside my writing career.

What's on your list?