Awkward!

Today’s tour stop lands me in one of my favorite places. Oh, what fun I have at the Library.

Pop over to read about my awkward moments on Getting Naughty Between the Stacks.

Too many people are touched every day by this disease. My personal connection is my mother, who struggles with losing a small piece of independance each day. With your support, we strive to bring hope to families everywhere. Come visit us, chat with authors, perhaps pick up a book (or two or three) and support this worthy cause.

Please see details below.

Authors Fight Alzheimer’s
Book Signing Fundraiser

Monday January 30th, 2012,
6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
North York Central Library Auditorium
5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

Please Attend…
The Authors Fight Alzheimer’s book signing fundraiser, the first of its kind, is an event put together by Canadian authors and publishers in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Society. Authors of various genres will be present to sign their books with the proceeds going to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The theme Read…Think…Remember is to promote keeping the mind active through reading, an important defense against the disease.

Author Attendees (as of January 3rd):

MuseItUp Publishing – Joanne Elder, Sandra Clarke, Kevin Craig, Nancy Bell, Helene Prevost
Double Dragon Publishing – Deron Douglas, Anne Grobbo
ChiZine Publications – Doug Smith (two-time Aurora Award winner), Caitlin Sweet
Dragon Moon Press – Erik Buchanan, J.M. Frey
Dark Dragon Publishing – Karen Dales
Crime Writers of Canada – Melodie Campbell, Rick Blechta, Joan Boswell, Alison Bruce, Sheila Dalton, Alex Markman
The Writers Community of York Region – Malcolm Watts, Heather Lambert
And – I.J. Schecter, Peter Dennis, Mark Pezzelato.

Guest Speaker – Dr. Sandra Black, Director, LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Professor, department of medicine (neurology), University of Toronto

Thanks to Deron Douglas for publishing a commemorative book for this event.

Authors interested in participating in the event, or for more information,
please contact the Event Organizer: Joanne Elder jelder1@rogers.com

THANKS TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS:
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Environmental Science and Engineering Magazine
MuseItUp Publishing, Starbucks, Sunrise of Aurora, Edward Street Bistro

Visit Jaclyn’s Musings today to hear her impressions of Mind Over Matter.

Photo from Amazon

I have to say, I had fun guest posting on Another Look Book Reviews today. It’s not every day a girl reveals her guilty pleasures to the world.

It’s empowering!

Stop by, take a look, and share your guilty pleasures.

Sarah dug deep and got a few interview responses that surprised even me. If you’ve got a minute to spare today, pop over to Sarah’s blog and check out today’s interview.

Pst: Did you know Sarah is not only a gifted interviewer, she’s also a writer? Pop over to Sarah’s website and check out her books.

Mind Over Matter Virtual Blog Tour is Here

It’s going to be a whirlwind month and I’m about to collect my weight in Air Miles points visiting this generous group of bloggers. I hope to see some familiar faces on the road. Stop in for a visit if you get the chance!

January 17 Pop over to the website of Sarah Ballance: Thrilling Romance. Unforgettable Love as I share a bit about how Mind Over Matter came to be.

January 18 Join me at Another Look Book Reviews where I reveal my Guilty Pleasures

January 19 Cocktails and Books shares their thoughts and a review of Mind Over Matter.

January 20 Jaclyn tells us what she thought of Mind Over Matter at Jaclyns Musings: On Beauty and Tragedy

January 24 Tune in for my take on Getting Naughty Between the Stacks

January 25 See what I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read! thinks about Mind Over Matter

January 26 Saying my piece at Jade Mystique

January 30 Tune in for Molly’s opinion of Mind Over Matter on Reviews By Molly

January 31 I venture into Lisa’s World of Books

February 1 Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess gives Mind Over Matter a shout out!

February 7 Kay Dee Royal puts me through the ringer at Paranormal and Erotica Romance Musings

February 7 Deep in the Heart of Romance spreads the word on Mind Over Matter

February 7 Sarah Mäkelä fills her blog readers in on Mind Over Matter

February 9 JeanzBookReadNReview lets me have my say!

February 10 Everyone Loves a Sinner tells us what she thinks of Mind Over Matter

February 11  Beverly atThe Wormhole shares her insight on Mind Over Matter, and gives me a chance to tell it like it is.

February 14 I’m in the spotlight at Read 2 Review!

Wow, you’ve been busy. What gave you the idea for this particular story?
Actually, this is an older excised part from my 2008 novel The Vampire Family, now on Kindle from Eternal Press. The first person account approach just didn’t fit with the rest of the novel’s framework, but I was always pleased with the work that went into the piece. It’s decadent and inappropriate, which is at least in my mind, exactly what being a vampire is all about. I was very into Civil War era material at the time, and I wondered what kind of wicked things might go on as part of the Confederate fall and Reconstruction mess. Vampires, Victoria in particular, are first and foremost opportunist predators. Victoria knows how to use human weakness to her advantage. She thrives on it!

Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?
In theory, I’m a full-time writer as I have no other real world job anymore, but being a homemaker is a full-time job as well – and we don’t have kids yet either! So in effect, responsibilities still reduce my writing to more part-time hours with freedom to binge and whirlwind when deadline warrants it. I have cork boards and dry erase boards and calendars, reminders, alarms, post it notes, notepads, and pens every frickin’ where- initially to my parents’ chagrin and now to my husband’s annoyance. I have to write down and keep track of everything and keep the daylight hours for the usual errands and household duties, then I generally write overnight. Nowadays finding the time to write or do any writerly business isn’t really a problem, it’s balancing the creative role with the increasing infringement of marketing and social, wow, I want to say social responsibilities! The key for me is to set aside certain days or hours of the week for business aspects. They are important, but you have to remember that the bread and butter is in keeping writing, getting more books written, and having more things to publish. That speaks more volumes than anything!

I completely understand the post-it note dependence. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
Hmm, I’ve been asked this type of question a lot, and I think you simply largely know it or feel it or you don’t. For me as a kid, I just started telling stories that eventually got so big they needed to be written down. I know life, school, family, work, can all put off one’s real dreams of writing, but that is only a delay I feel. If you have the inspiration and soul of a storyteller, you know it, and it is always there. Sure, one can technically become an author and have books published, but I think some people just have it in their bones to write. I was 10 or 11 when I had big dreams of literary grandeur, but I wouldn’t say I’m to all that glory just yet. It’s an ongoing, literary blossoming in form and function. Even once you’ve come to the conclusion that you are indeed a writer, that doesn’t mean the growth or experience and attainment should cease. In fact, it should grow tenfold.

Which genres do you write, which do you prefer, and why?
I much prefer the speculative angles, horror, fantasy, little bit of science fiction – though I must say I don’t have the knack for mystery. Truly, I’ll try any genre or form of writing at least once – I think it is good to stretch yourself and bend towards different formats and learn new approaches to take to your preferred arena. But even if I try a straight fiction, I always end up back in the realm of fear and bizzarity. I like the freedom of fanciful rules and the speculation of fear. I like to play on and examine all the demented things that you couldn’t really do in real life. Go all crazy in the safety of fiction and learn something about the dark depths of the soul!

What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?
I am often distracted by other things, so I find it critical to remain in the writing state of mind even if I have to be away from the manuscript. When it is time to do the laundry, I have to ask myself, Would this character ever do the laundry? Victoria certainly would not. Which character would rather throw something away then just wash an item? So and so would never wear this! In the kitchen, what would a character eat? Are these types of food available in your world? Who hates the smell of fish but loves the smell of rosemary? Being in the real world and getting these pieces of senses and personal touches help me itch to return to the writing and keep my subconscious in tuned to the tale at hand. It’s totally crazy, but if you feel brave enough to say these things aloud, then there’s even more of a rush to get back to the paper. Suddenly a character is saying I would never wear that, or don’t feed that to me and then you have dialogue and conversation to get down. For me its tough not to get real world distracted, but being able to bring the planes into each other helps keep the connection magical. If you’re taking the kids to school, noticing people in the grocery store, go through life in the writer’s mindset and it can turn what would be a hindrance into an asset!

Great tip! How much is your protagonist like you? How different?
Victoria, I’m very pleased to say is nothing like me! I think she may look like me so readers might assume she is the character I relate to most, but far from it. I’d say I’m much more like her mother in Book 3 Struggle. Victoria is very rude, careless, thinks that her delight in vampirism makes her superior to everyone else. It would but for her misuse of people and power. She’s selfish, needy, totally demented and she’s getting worse for the next full length sequel in progress! I kind of hate Victoria as a person, but man, that makes her very exciting to read and write about! Good fiction, but wouldn’t ever want to meet her for real – and honestly, I think that’s how literary vampires should be. Deadly at worst, cross the street when you seem them at best. I don’t know where this teen glow attraction for vamps comes from. I enjoy fictional evil, and I think it says more when it’s left on the page or has you thinking about the consequences and light versus dark in the real world. I do, however, think the ladies will love James in the next Fate and Fangs Tale, Lust. He’s a little depressing, actually, melancholy in his long vampirism, and losing the one thing of value to him. Sniff!

What kind of research did you do for this story?
As this is a Confederate Civil War historical, I did do my checking on locations and signs of the time. I love the fashions of the era and had to make sure my vocabulary was correct. My biggest concern was accents in the manuscript. You don’t want to write entirely in an accent – all the punctuation and slang and such can be more distracting than flavorful. You begin with a few chosen words and carry the tone throughout. My main focus was using the fallout or fallen grace to accentuate the opulence and decadence of the time – and then askewly step it up for Victoria. Book 5 Lust was also fun to research, as it takes place in the 1950s and has a great musical vibe too it.

What about your book makes it stand out?
I like that Debauchery is a somewhat flawed and disturbing book thanks to its unlikable lead Victoria. The things she says – the things she does! Victoria has no societal censor whatsoever. It’s disturbing to read – like a car wreck that you can’t look away from. Fortunately, she might get a bit of a lesson on her callousness in Debauchery. The vampire excess has to catch up with her sometime, right?

Do you have a marketing plan?
Obviously, unfortunately, social media is huge for an author today. We all do it, however, and sometimes it can feel like you’re spitting in the internet wind. Just lists and lists of funny pictures and screen names – and I’ve heard from other debuting authors how it is the online social aspects that seem the most daunting. I much prefer contests, giveaways, chats, and virtual touring. Sometimes I end up explaining what my book isn’t- ie glitter for tweens – rather than what it actually is, which is a strange reverse marketing! Rather than even use the work marketing, I just would much rather network and get to know other readers and others of genre fiction. Doing your research in your area, touring at sites that match your audience. I suppose that’s the secret, finding your reader demographic and giving them what they want! I get to do that at book festivals, conferences, and seminars, and that is dynamite. To me, the best type of marketing is being able to tell readers about your book one on one.

Any tips for new writers hoping to write in the genre of your book?
Research and reading is an early key. In particular with vampires, study up on the old myths and legends and find a unique angle to base your tale. When I started writing vamps ten years ago, I did so because there was nothing beyond Anne Rice to read. Now the market is flooded with them. Make your story stand out! Secondly, don’t be discouraged if a publisher rejects or says ‘thanks but no thanks’ because of the vamp overflow. There are enough publishing venues and options in the business now to have your story told and readers reading it. Be prepared, don’t get discouraged, and keep writing! I suppose those are important in any genre, but in the speculative arena that packs or ebbs and flows so much, being ready and thick-skinned with a variety of material is critical.

Do you have any new works in progress you’d like to share with us?
More vampires as always, and a bunch of horror short stories that I never seem quite pleased with or don’t finish. Editing with erotica EPer Leigh Wood was scary!

Where can people learn more about you and your work?
Where can’t you find us these days? Looks to the darkest depths of the web and bask in the moonlight with us from the relative safety of your laptop!

http://vampfam.blogspot.com/

http://jsnouff.com/kristin

http://kristin724.livejournal.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vampire-Family/157922293588

http://www.myspace.com/kristinbattestella

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kristinbattestella/

http://www.facebook.com/kristin.battestella

Blurb:
In Professor Welshire’s fourth Fate and Fangs chronicle, Victoria uses the fallout from the American Civil War to her advantage-or so the beautiful but deadly blockade-runner hopes.  After all her using, abusing, and feedings, Victoria’s slaves finally take matters into their own hands, forcing Antonio’s daughter to face her own mortality. 

Exerpt:
I felt an immense, seething, scathing pain above my left eye. Blood screamed over my vision and I tasted my own flavor as it trickled into my mouth. Yes, blood didn’t show on my black gown, but that wasn’t the point. I backed away and covered my face. I dare admit it, but I must confess I think I was stunned, even shocked. As I stumbled backward to the steps, the heathens moved forward. I think they chanted at me, me! At first they slinked together, in time with their black friends. Then they screamed and charged forth. I moved so slow! In the confusion, I couldn’t even levitate, and I tripped again on the damn hoop. I slipped and tumbled end over end down the staircase. Everything hurt as I bumped each and every friggin’ step. I felt trapped, suffocating as my petticoats wrapped around my head. I skidded and rolled down the treads and smacked flat on the landing.
Ouch.

Thank you so much, Kristen, for taking the time to stop by my blog today! I’m glad for the opportunity to get to know you better. And I can’t wait to read this book!

The dynamic publishing team of Lea Schizas and Litsa Kamateros demonstrated the heart behind their motto; Building the Team to Achieve the Dream. They are dedicated, hard-working and passionate about what they do.

The team of authors and editors were well represented by those fortunate enough to attend the retreat in person. Those who couldn’t make the trip enjoyed regular postings and emails with photographs and a play-by-play of each part of the weekend. Lea and Litsa also arranged to document the Meet & Greet on video.

I spent three days among warm and generous individuals all who echo the sentiments I write of today. MuseItUp Publishing touches the hearts of readers by way of Lea and Litsa. The authors’ words are just the conduit.

With the official release of Mind Over Matter I’m making new connections with readers. Today Jane Wakely is featuring me on her Fantastic Forty Blog, where she pelts me with forty fast and furious questions. I survived. Barley. Hop over and take a look if you’ve got the time.

Who said writing is a lonely business? I’m motivated and inspired by the people I’ve met along the way. I’m grateful for those connections and look forward to the ones still ahead of me.

Book One in the Anderson Security Inc. Series

Today I post a link to the buy page for Mind Over Matter.

This is it. Right here => Mind Over Matter

How cool is that? It’s kind of surreal for me. My book is out there for everyone to see, to read, to judge. It scary and exhilarating at the same time.

And while I post this I have, on the desk in front of me, a list of things to pack as I prepare to leave for Montreal tomorrow with fellow MuseItUp author Kevin Craig and his wife. November 4/5/6, MuseItUp Publishing is hosting their first retreat. Writers from around the world will gather for a three-day event that includes a huge book signing extravaganza at Zellers Pointe Claire on Saturday, November 5, from 1 to 5 pm.

If you live in the vicinity, come and meet our authors that day and have a chance to win one of several door prizes, including 500,000 Club Z points offered by Zellers to one lucky winner.

Muse is also hosting a Friday night gala event, as well as dinner, then an evening at a comedy club Saturday night to wind down from an exciting weekend.

I’d planned to attend back when my book was still scheduled for release next January. Muse, being the kind of publisher they are, wanted to add to my enjoyment of this trip by escalating the editing process and arranging to have both the electronic and print versions of the book ready in time for the book signing. I can’t begin to describe the scrambling that went on behind the scenes to make this happen. Many people adjusted already busy schedules to make this a reality. I bow my head in thanks to each and every one.

This weekend away is not in honour of my book’s release, that is just a wonderful coincidence. But isn’t it nice to have a debut novel kick off in such style? I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to be able to attend and share my excitement with a generous and talented group of authors.

Thank You to MuseItUp Publishing for spending the time and resources to support and showcase your authors! We appreciate all that you do.

Superstition Mountain, Arizona

Small town or big city?  Real or fictional? Setting as a character? 

The options are as limitless as your imagination, and as powerful. Can you set an entire novel in a single room? Sure, if the room on its own provides sufficient conflict to convince your reader to stay in there with you. What would it take to convince you? Would a hint of dire consequence be enough? A glimpse of blood smeared claws, choking black smoke creeping through cracks, a dying child the rest of the world has given up on?                

Setting does more than provide mood and a picturesque backdrop. Considering an all-but-forgotten town on the outskirts of nowhere? Why? What inconvenience does this cause your character? How does it enable your villain? What happens here that can’t happen anywhere else? What physical or psychological obstacle gets thrown in your character’s path, keeping him from getting what he wants? 

Perhaps you need the hustle of a big city. Why not make the hassles of city living cause your character grief? Does he live on the twenty-first floor of an apartment building in Manhattan? Have the elevator break down. Need to get somewhere fast? Cause a traffic accident. 

Subtle is effective. Does your character crawl along a tree limb to sneak in after curfew? Snap it off in a storm. Have loose gravel fly up and crack the windshield, sending your character to the repair shop where you reveal clues important to your main conflict.

Search around. Perhaps you’ll find an intriguing landmark you can breathe life into. Endow your mountain range with superstitious powers that land your lead in trouble. Better yet, use one already shrouded in mystery to drive your story forward. 

Why let your setting tag along for the free ride, while you do the grunt work? Use it, abuse it, and give your setting a reason for being.   

What’s your tip?

Have you used setting to advance your plot? Tell us how.

With a bit of hard work, and a great deal of support from family and friends, I not only completed my manuscript, but revised and sold it as well.

The fun doesn’t stop there. While I wait on revision requests from my editor, I am hard at work on another, stand alone book, and planning the remainder of the series to which the first book belongs. Which brings me to the purpose of this post.

Many people I know seemed surprised that writers  don’t sit back and enjoy the moment until the book comes out, and put in some serious celebration time before getting down to the drudgery of starting the next project. But they’re not writers.

Writers understand the timing of the process. We know the time to create is always now. By the time one book makes it to store shelves, the next one better be announced on the Coming Soon page of your website. Readers are a voracious bunch. Once they sink their teeth into a good story, they want to know when they can expect the next bite. We writers have no option but to hope for the best case scenario, and prepare food for the masses.

I don’t know if I’m expecting masses, but my mother always made enough for company and I figure I can’t go wrong following her example.

So come on over, take a tour, and join me at the table. I’ll see if I can’t cook up some appetizers while we’re waiting on the main course.

Cheers!

A lot has happened since I was last able to post. I have a completed first draft of my paranormal suspense Mind Over Matter, and revisions are well under way. I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying the process. I’ll soon be looking for Beta readers.

Work on The Ontario Writers Conference 2011 is in full swing. The new website will be going live soon, but in the meantime click here to learn more about the conference.

I’m also gearing up to take part in The Muse Online Writers Conference in October, a free event for writers of all genres and levels. If you’ve never heard of this conference, check it out.

I’ll leave you with this link I came across in Nathan Bransford’s blog this week. The royalty math: print, wholesale model, agency model. Mike Shatzkin’s insightful article contains valuable information, and includes charts listing the earning potential in different mediums. It’s well worth the read.

Until next time.

I am thrilled to be a part of a project that will offer insight into an often misunderstood syndrome.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress.

I have always been fascinated by water flowing downstream, meandering around rocks, and over obstacles, converging into mini rapids then slowing to  trickle amid the dry spots, before pushing on towards the next discovery.

My writing journey has followed a similar pattern, often sidetracked by interesting characters, or waylaid by seemingly immoveable obstacles, yet the words continue to find their way.

I am nearing completion of my debut novel, Mind Over Matter, thanks to the gentle nudging (some might call it more of a shove) by my astute writing coach, Cherry-Ann Carew. 

I am both excited and anxious about the next steps: Finishing the book, editing, editing again, and perhaps again, researching publishing options and agents, and creating query letters and a synopses. (I’m dreading this, and keep putting it off, but eventually Cherry-Ann will put her foot on my backside and give me another gentle nudge.)

I’d love to share the various steps of my journey with you, some techniques that helped me work through difficult areas, and some general writing tips and resources that I found helpful along the way.

Check in to see what’s happening this week in my writing life, and to share your own experiences, and let us in on what you’re doing that’s working (or not) for you.

Hopefully we can start a conversation that will inspire and propel writers towards the goal of becoming published.