Hey, gang! I wanted to jump on here and thank all of you who pitched in for my W4WS efforts this week. It was an amazing few days of excitement, and was a good reminder for me that no matter what kind of ugliness the world demonstrates, the beauty of simple kindness always overshadows it.
It also once again left me wondering what I'd done to deserve the kind of support y'all continue to show me. You're fantastic, and if I had to do this writing 'thing' tomorrow without you or not at all, I think I'd choose 'not at all'.
Enough of my sappiness--how about some news?
First, blogger-writer-publicspeaking wizard, L. Diane Wolf, gave me a shout out on her blog--for being helpful to others, no less. I was thrilled to be mentioned with some of MY sharing role rolemodels in this writing-blogging scene, but was mostly just like, "You think I'm a helpful guy? You should see my friends!" *see above sappiness* You can read it HERE. (And follow LD if you don't already--she rocks.)
Second, one of my personal author heroes, Brinda Berry, shared me on her blog, not once, but twice this week! I think Brinda is awesome, but a little crazy for talking about me on multiple days. (We're trying to INCREASE traffic by blogging, B, not frighten folks off with talk of crazy, bearded people :D)
The first post mentioned my W4WS shenanigans. The second was for her A to Z 'N' day.
She chose 'New Adult Literature' (NA). As you all know, I'm fairly crazy about the subject, so I suppose it was fitting she threw my name/work out. But honestly, it mostly just surprised (and honored) the heck out of me.
Apparently, Brinda read my little story, Blood Fugue, on a recent vacation (yes, we're ALL jealous of you now, B) and reviewed it on Goodreads. In short, she enjoyed it, and was pleased to find a New Adult story that wasn't Contemporary Romance. (Note: The Moonsongs books are definitely NOT Contemporary Romance.)
Anyway, it was fitting, because my first post as an official member of the NA Alley Blog was also this week, and I basically blogged about the EXACT same thing.
NA is evolving into so much more than some kind of sexified, sub-genre of YA, and I hope I can reflect that a little with my writing and actions.
You can read my inaugural NAAB post HERE. (And I'd love for y'all to follow me over there, too.)
FINALLY, and also on the NA front, if you're at all interested in checking out what all the fuss is about, or generally want to pick some brains about the category, tonight is the night for you!
The first ever 'NA Super-Chat' is going down, and it's a coordinated effort to bring three of the larger online NA communities together: The New Adult Authors G+ Community, The NA Lit Chat Twitter group (yes, I'm still doing that thing, too lol), and NA Alley.
It'll involve a combination of a live G+ Hangout (with yours truly on air with others) AND the usual #NALitChat Twitter chat. If you take part and follow the Twitter discussion, you'll be able to ask questions and comment to the G+ panel in real time, and we'll be responding on air.
Cool, right? You'll find all the details HERE. But basically, just be free at 9 PM EST tonight, log onto Twitter and follow the #NALitChat convo, then hop over to the New Adult Authors G+ Community. (There'll be a link up there to watch/listen to the hangout.)
Would love to 'see' you all there if you have some free time. (Quit laughing... we all remember what free time was like. *scrunches brow pondering* It was fun... oh yes, we likes it, Precious.)
~EJW~
#W4WS - I need the Wolf Pack!
Writers4Writers - I need the Wolf Pack!
I'm just one author, a lone wolf, plodding his way across the barren writing landscape. I throw my head back, and yelp a prayer to the heavens.
Tonight, as is all too often, my singular howl is stolen by the wind--an offering to the omnipotent Moon who sees all, yet responds to little. She jealously guards the way to the universe, and has left me unheeded at the gates again.
I'm alone...
I lower my gaze, preparing to trek onward--always onward--when a reply echoes in the distance. My ears perk. My claws instinctively sink into the hard, cold earth preparing to launch me into airless flight.
Could there be another?
Soon, one howl becomes a chorus. The wind yields to OUR voices! The Moon, she yawns in white and yellow radiance, bidding us enter to frolic among the stars! The Wolf Pack has found me. At last we run as one.
Today I'm extremely honored to be a featured author on Writers4Writers. What is W4WS? Here's the skinny:
Our Mission:
• Help writers bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people
• Help writers reach Amazon Top 100 in at least one category (i.e., suspense, free, etc.)
• Increase sales of their book(s) after the promo is over
• Drive new traffic to their blog and increase following
• Create verbal and viral buzz.
How it Works: The spotlighted author will choose a social media avenue, such as Twitter or Facebook (or both). Then, the good people of Blogdom will promote the author’s book to their Twitter followers or Facebook friends, that is, incredibly large new audiences the author could not reach on their own.
"...one of those endings that you least expect, giving it that "OMG" reaction." Read Blood Fugue #FREE today http://bit.ly/ZL9y5a #W4WS
"Jenny--is written amazingly well. She's a tough chick--& also surprisingly very funny." #READ Blood Fugue FREE http://bit.ly/ZL9y5a #W4WS
Blood Fugue, Moonsongs Book 1, is available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Witch's Nocturne, Moonsongs Book 2, is available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Dark Prelude, Moonsongs Book 3, is available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
E.J. Wesley can be found at:
Goodreads
Twitter
Facebook
I'm just one author, a lone wolf, plodding his way across the barren writing landscape. I throw my head back, and yelp a prayer to the heavens.
Tonight, as is all too often, my singular howl is stolen by the wind--an offering to the omnipotent Moon who sees all, yet responds to little. She jealously guards the way to the universe, and has left me unheeded at the gates again.
I'm alone...
I lower my gaze, preparing to trek onward--always onward--when a reply echoes in the distance. My ears perk. My claws instinctively sink into the hard, cold earth preparing to launch me into airless flight.
Could there be another?
Soon, one howl becomes a chorus. The wind yields to OUR voices! The Moon, she yawns in white and yellow radiance, bidding us enter to frolic among the stars! The Wolf Pack has found me. At last we run as one.
Today I'm extremely honored to be a featured author on Writers4Writers. What is W4WS? Here's the skinny:
• Help writers bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people
• Help writers reach Amazon Top 100 in at least one category (i.e., suspense, free, etc.)
• Increase sales of their book(s) after the promo is over
• Drive new traffic to their blog and increase following
• Create verbal and viral buzz.
How it Works: The spotlighted author will choose a social media avenue, such as Twitter or Facebook (or both). Then, the good people of Blogdom will promote the author’s book to their Twitter followers or Facebook friends, that is, incredibly large new audiences the author could not reach on their own.
Facebook: The writer posts an image of their book along with a short blurb and a link to Kindle on their blog. Visitors simply click the Facebook page, then share the link with their FB friends. https://www.facebook.com/Writers4Writers
Twitter: The author posts pre-written Tweets on his/her blog. At your convenience, simply copy and paste Tweets into Twitter. Or go to #W4WS on Twitter and Retweet.
#W4WS helping authors! Indie author E.J. Wesley just released Dark Prelude, the third installment of his Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes. Action-packed, 'rural' fantasy in the vein of television shows like True Blood, Supernatural, and Walking Dead. http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Prelude-Moonsongs-Book-ebook/dp/B00CA513FY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1365702983&sr=1-1
Twitter: The author posts pre-written Tweets on his/her blog. At your convenience, simply copy and paste Tweets into Twitter. Or go to #W4WS on Twitter and Retweet.
So there it is. For the next few days I'm asking the Wolf Pack (my fellow authors, bloggers, and friends) to join in howling my name to the sky in the hopes of helping me find a larger audience--and maybe even the stars. :)
Specifically, I'd like to share news of my latest release, Dark Prelude, Moonsongs Book 3:
Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. Unfortunately, a lot of on-the-job training is required to be a monster hunter, and unlike her computer repair business, this gig could literally kill her.
Dark Prelude finds the feisty protagonist, Jenny, searching for her best friend Marshal's missing father in the midst of a freak, West Texas winter storm. To survive the frigid night, she'll have to deal with a hated town rival, face a monstrous creature no Moonsong hunter has ever encountered before, and undo a mysterious curse. Can she keep everyone alive? If not, who will pay the ultimate price?
Dark Prelude is approximately 17,000 words or 53 pages, and is the third volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.
~Moonsongs Series List~
Blood Fugue, Moonsongs Book 1
Witch's Nocturne, Moonsongs Book 2
Dark Prelude, Moonsongs Book 3
If you'd like to run with the Pack, along with sharing links to this post, here's how you can help:
Dark Prelude finds the feisty protagonist, Jenny, searching for her best friend Marshal's missing father in the midst of a freak, West Texas winter storm. To survive the frigid night, she'll have to deal with a hated town rival, face a monstrous creature no Moonsong hunter has ever encountered before, and undo a mysterious curse. Can she keep everyone alive? If not, who will pay the ultimate price?
Dark Prelude is approximately 17,000 words or 53 pages, and is the third volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.
~Moonsongs Series List~
Blood Fugue, Moonsongs Book 1
Witch's Nocturne, Moonsongs Book 2
Dark Prelude, Moonsongs Book 3
If you'd like to run with the Pack, along with sharing links to this post, here's how you can help:
Tweet and/or Facebook about the latest book in the Moonsongs series, Dark Prelude:
DARK PRELUDE TWEETS TO COPY/PASTE
Jenny will face a monster no Moonsong hunter has ever faced before--Dark Prelude http://amzn.to/ZL0MUU #NewAdult #paranormal #fiction #W4WS
"The wind greedily pulled at his scarf and muted his voice...only the groaning tree branches replied." http://amzn.to/ZL0MUU #fiction #W4WS
Dark Prelude, Moonsongs Book 3--a #series of action-packed, para-horror novelettes--available now http://amzn.to/ZL0MUU #RT PLZ #W4WS #WS4U
DARK PRELUDE FACEBOOK UPDATES
#W4WS love! Help indie author E.J. Wesley spread the word about the latest installment in his 'rural fantasy' Moonsongs series. Dark Prelude is a New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelette--with a Texas twist. http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Prelude-Moonsongs-Book-ebook/dp/B00CA513FY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1365702983&sr=1-1
I'm also making the first Moonsongs book, Blood Fugue, free on Smashwords this week for those who want to start the series from the beginning.
BLOOD FUGUE TWEETS TO COPY/PASTE
One last bit, feel free to create your own tweets, etc. with the links below:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Witch's Nocturne, Moonsongs Book 2, is available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Dark Prelude, Moonsongs Book 3, is available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
E.J. Wesley can be found at:
Goodreads
A HUGE 'thank you' to everyone who helps. Your support, as always, means the world to me. :)
~EJW~
Indie Life - Sharing is Caring
Hey gang! Sorry for the radio silence this week, but I've been really busy getting the 3rd Moonsongs book out into the world. I'm happy to report that it is! Here are the details if you're interested:
Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. Unfortunately, a lot of on-the-job training is required to be a monster hunter, and unlike her computer repair business, this gig could literally kill her.
Dark Prelude finds the feisty protagonist, Jenny, searching for her best friend Marshal's missing father in the midst of a freak, West Texas winter storm. To survive the frigid night, she'll have to deal with a hated town rival, face a monstrous creature no Moonsong hunter has ever encountered before, and undo a mysterious curse. Can she keep everyone alive? If not, who will pay the ultimate price?
Dark Prelude is the third volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.
(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)
Dark Prelude, Moonsongs Book 3, is .99 cents and available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. Unfortunately, a lot of on-the-job training is required to be a monster hunter, and unlike her computer repair business, this gig could literally kill her.
Dark Prelude finds the feisty protagonist, Jenny, searching for her best friend Marshal's missing father in the midst of a freak, West Texas winter storm. To survive the frigid night, she'll have to deal with a hated town rival, face a monstrous creature no Moonsong hunter has ever encountered before, and undo a mysterious curse. Can she keep everyone alive? If not, who will pay the ultimate price?
Dark Prelude is the third volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.
(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads
I missed my Indie Life post as part of the 'week of publishing hell madness', something I think every Indie author can certainly appreciate.
RANT -- If I ever meet Mark Coker in person--I've heard he's super nice btw--we're going to draw swords over Smashwords' vetting system is all I have to say. LOL I know they're rolling it out, but PLEASE hurry and make it to where I can just upload an ePub file and be done with it--I hate Microsoft Word with the firey passion of a thousand suns... I NEVER, ever thought I'd say this, but give me html any day over trying to 'clean up' a Word doc.
-- RANT OVER
ANYWAY, today I'm going to make up for my Indie Life post by doing the most important thing the Indie community has taught me: Sharing.
I think authors, both traditional and Indie, do a fine job of supporting one another. I can name dozens of authors on both sides of the publishing coin who are true cheerleaders.
However, any Indie will tell you that having other authors lift you up isn't just a 'kind gesture' from supportive friends, it's required if you want to survive and thrive. We don't get shelf space at the front of Big Bookstore, Inc., and we typically don't get reviewed or spotlighted in major publications.
It's up to us to spread the word about each other.
Nothing made this so clear to me as this week when I was invited to take part in the Writers4Writers campaign. My day is coming up Monday (I'll post then with all of the details on how you can help me out if you have time/desire to do so), and I'm thrilled for the opportunity.
In a nutshell, W4WS is a movement to help authors expand their readership, and it's instigated by authors sharing links, etc. to a selected person's books during a short 'blitz' period. It's really at the heart of what the Indie community is all about.
So in that vein, and to build a little good karma for Monday :), I'm going to share two new book releases with you from some author friends of mine.
Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert
Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.
A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.
To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.
Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Smashwords | Goodreads
A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.
To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.
Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Smashwords | Goodreads
Always by DM Yates
Always is the first in a series of New Age Fantasy Spiritual Romance novels. Two eternal lovers, Einarr and Katura and their circle of friends have travelled to Earth to experience mortal life several times. Now, they return again as Simon and April. The novel is situated mainly in England and begins when Simon is 36-years-old and searches the world for saleable antiques. His best friend's niece, 16-year-old April has come to England to spend the summer with relatives. She has a crush on Simon and Simon wants nothing to do with her. April believes she's on a mission to lead Simon to love and she is aided by her friend, a Celtic Wiccan Telulla and April's Great-Aunt Tillie. The book follows their lives through the years, ending when April is 80-years-old.
Amazon ~ Smashwords ~ Goodreads
A to Z is almost halfway over--keep it up! :D Hope you all have fantastic weekends!
Amazon ~ Smashwords ~ Goodreads
A to Z is almost halfway over--keep it up! :D Hope you all have fantastic weekends!
~EJW~
IWSG - Following The Leader
Hey gang! I said I wouldn't post much this month (and I won't), but I did want to participate in IWSG AND give a shout out to a few writer buddies here and there. :)
First, IWSG...
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer.
A to Z is in full swing, and there's no better time to marvel at the productivity and creativity of the writing/blogging community. Hop around to just a handful of participating blogs, and I'll guarantee you'll see at least one idea, post, etc. that makes you shake your head and say, "How do they do this? For 30 freaking days in a row, no less!"
Then you see their following numbers shoot up a dozen people every day, while you've been stuck in the 430s for like two years. Then you see that their publishing a book this month ON TOP OF A to Z... and they're also getting married... and participating in three decathlons... and sewing their kid's prom dress while switching the entire family (there's 10 of them, by the way... with infant triplets) over to all organic food produced from the hydro-garden they grow in their attic... and--WELL, I think you're getting the picture by now.
These are folks we admire and look up to for good reason. They model the reality that writers are living, breathing folks who have to write when they have time, and nurture their author careers the best they can. Those people have gotten me through some tough times, because I've thought: If they can do all that, I can surely manage the little bit of 'stuff' on my plate.
But it can also make me feel like a total slug.
It can get very difficult to tread your own course in our 'little' online community. There are people modeling the success we crave and work for around every corner--almost like there's a secret elevator to the top of the mountain we're all trying to climb, and you're the only fool trying to do it the hard way (i.e., one rock at a time). There are people seemingly doing the exact same thing we're trying to do, but they do it ten-times faster with ten-times the results.
That's when I have to pump the breaks.
This isn't follow the leader. We have to live OUR life. Get up every morning, focus on what WE can do, do the hell out of it, and run it back again the next day. This is a cover of one of my favorite 'get your head straight' songs, Live Your Life by T.I. featuring Rihanna:
How great are those kids, btw? :)
It's fantastic having blog and writing heroes. I've definitely got several. (Hey Arlee & Alex! :) But at some point, we have to go our own way and be comfortable doing it.
~EJW~
The lure of buried treasure. A sexy former SEAL who makes her crazy. Could USCG CDR Taylor Campbell want more? Don’t ask. A story of love, loyalty, and the value of keeping a promise, SOLOMON’S COMPASS is available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle.
Carol writes a blend of mystery, suspense, and romance she calls Crime Fiction with a Kiss. Always at least one crime; always a love story. You can find her here:
First, IWSG...
What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG)?
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| Click the pic to join IWSG! |
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer.
Following The Leader
A to Z is in full swing, and there's no better time to marvel at the productivity and creativity of the writing/blogging community. Hop around to just a handful of participating blogs, and I'll guarantee you'll see at least one idea, post, etc. that makes you shake your head and say, "How do they do this? For 30 freaking days in a row, no less!"
Then you see their following numbers shoot up a dozen people every day, while you've been stuck in the 430s for like two years. Then you see that their publishing a book this month ON TOP OF A to Z... and they're also getting married... and participating in three decathlons... and sewing their kid's prom dress while switching the entire family (there's 10 of them, by the way... with infant triplets) over to all organic food produced from the hydro-garden they grow in their attic... and--WELL, I think you're getting the picture by now.
These are folks we admire and look up to for good reason. They model the reality that writers are living, breathing folks who have to write when they have time, and nurture their author careers the best they can. Those people have gotten me through some tough times, because I've thought: If they can do all that, I can surely manage the little bit of 'stuff' on my plate.
But it can also make me feel like a total slug.
It can get very difficult to tread your own course in our 'little' online community. There are people modeling the success we crave and work for around every corner--almost like there's a secret elevator to the top of the mountain we're all trying to climb, and you're the only fool trying to do it the hard way (i.e., one rock at a time). There are people seemingly doing the exact same thing we're trying to do, but they do it ten-times faster with ten-times the results.
That's when I have to pump the breaks.
This isn't follow the leader. We have to live OUR life. Get up every morning, focus on what WE can do, do the hell out of it, and run it back again the next day. This is a cover of one of my favorite 'get your head straight' songs, Live Your Life by T.I. featuring Rihanna:
How great are those kids, btw? :)
It's fantastic having blog and writing heroes. I've definitely got several. (Hey Arlee & Alex! :) But at some point, we have to go our own way and be comfortable doing it.
~EJW~
Happy book birthday to Carol Kilgore & Solomon's Compass!
The lure of buried treasure. A sexy former SEAL who makes her crazy. Could USCG CDR Taylor Campbell want more? Don’t ask. A story of love, loyalty, and the value of keeping a promise, SOLOMON’S COMPASS is available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle.
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