Showing posts with label E.J. Wesley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label E.J. Wesley. Show all posts

*sings* Happy Book Birthday To Me!


Hey, gang! Sorry for the blog silence the last couple of weeks. I've been busy trying to get everything ready for today's release and traveling around the country for various things. But I'm back and definitely ready to party. :)

Today, I'm officially releasing my novel Perfectly Ernest into the world. This was one of those projects that started as an interesting/fun story idea and morphed into something near and dear to my heart.

I never intended for this to be a touching story necessarily, and especially not a "feel good" story. But it somehow became those things via all these fun characters who suffer from one form of mental illness or another learning to rely on each other.

My educational background is in counseling so it's something I've always wanted to explore in my fiction. But alas, this is fiction and my character's journey is over in just a few hundred pages. So many "real" people are shackled in life by anxiety, depression, and more, and it's not something that just goes away.

That's why I wanted to donate 10% of the annual proceeds from this story to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. (www.nami.org). It's a way for me (and readers) to hopefully contribute something meaningful to the cause.

Though there is the common thread of mental illness, this story is equally (if not more so) about friendship and love. There's even some baseball and humor thrown in for good measure! My hope is that I've crafted a story that will appeal to a lot of different kinds of readers.

But enough about my thoughts! Here are the details for the story. As always, I greatly appreciate any shares, and more so all of the encouragement and support you've given me over the years. My fellow writers and this blogging community have kept me afloat through some tough times of doubt and setbacks. I'm forever grateful for that.

~EJ


A gripping story of striking out and winning big.
 
From a distance, Ernie’s life seems perfect—he’s a star college baseball player adored by the student body and coveted by professional teams. Up close, he is a disaster. Since the death of his mother, he’s been trapped by a promise he made and forced to live her dream instead of his own. He reaches his breaking point in the biggest game of his young career and sets off a chain of events that will either define or destroy the rest of his life. 

 Ernie grudgingly joins a quirky campus counseling group that empowers him to heal himself and right his wrongs. By testing old friendships, forging unlikely new ones, and exploring an exciting romance, he begins to unravel the jumbled knot his tangled inner-psyche has become. But old rivals, mental illness, and the risk of a forbidden relationship soon threaten his progress. Will Ernie's new direction and friends be his salvation, or confirmation that he is forever doomed by his imperfections?

Perfectly Ernest is a New Adult contemporary novel with romantic elements by author E.J. Wesley. Ernest offers a smart, funny, sweet, sexy, uplifting, and oftentimes poignant perspective of one person's difficult transition into adulthood. It is a story about overcoming the demons of mental illness and struggling with the profound burden of expectations—both real and imagined. But it’s mostly a tale of friendship, hope, and love. 

**Special Labor Day Release Sale - eBook only .99c for a limited time!**

“EJ Wesley has written a modern day Breakfast Club.”

"E.J. tells a college love story with a real life feel. He has created a flawed and pitiful character who quickly becomes a rallying point for all the other characters of the story. Ernie is the sort of boy I could easily imagine myself being friends with in college and cheered on through life in general, but certainly the story." 

 "EJ's tale of a college baseball star and the demons he fights is powerful and captivating. Once you're involved in Ernest's world, you are invested for the ride. Fans of this genre will say EJ hit it out of the park!" Alex J. Cavanaugh, Amazon bestselling author of the Cassa series 

 "Great cast of characters. Lots of fun humor. Romance. Win! Definitely recommend!" 

 "This is not so much a "coming of age" story, as it is a "coming of self." I loved reading it" 

 "It is an inspirational, heartwarming story in which any reader is likely to get lost."

 "This story made me laugh and cry and it was so great to read something sweet and awesome from a guy."
 
“Perfectly Ernest offers an emotionally genuine tour through depression, friendship, and love.”
 
“It's wonderful when a story's voice is so strong as to drag you into someone's head so it feels natural. I devoured Perfectly Ernest.”
 
“…captured my heart from page one.”


Book Trailer
 
 
**Perfectly Ernest Social Media Shareables**
Twitter

'A gripping story of striking out & winning big.' Perfect Ernest, only .99c #LaborDaySale http://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Ernest-E-J-Wesley-ebook/dp/B00MQIJZR8 #KindleBooks #newrelease

"A modern day Breakfast Club" http://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Ernest-E-J-Wesley-ebook/dp/B00MQIJZR8 Perfectly Ernest, a #NewAdult contemporary novel by @EJWesley .99c for a limited time

'heart & soul woven throughout the pages' Perfectly Ernest, a contemporary #novel about life, love, & friendship http://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Ernest-E-J-Wesley-ebook/dp/B00MQIJZR8

"an emotionally genuine tour through depression, friendship, and love." Perfectly Ernest on sale now .99c #NewRelease http://www.ejwesley.com/perfectly-ernest.html

Facebook

"E.J. Wesley has created a modern day Breakfast Club."
 
Perfectly Ernest is a New Adult contemporary novel with romantic elements by author E.J. Wesley. Ernest offers a smart, funny, sweet, sexy, uplifting, and oftentimes poignant perspective of one person's difficult transition into adulthood. It is a story about overcoming the demons of mental illness and struggling with the profound burden of expectations—both real and imagined. But it’s mostly a tale of friendship, hope, and love.
 
 
**Labor Day Release Sale - eBook only.99c for a limited time!**
 
*The author will donate 10% of the annual proceeds of this book to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading awareness and support for those who suffer from mental illness.
-------------------
"Captured my heart from page one."
 
Perfectly Ernest is a New Adult contemporary novel with romantic elements by author E.J. Wesley. Ernest offers a smart, funny, sweet, sexy, uplifting, and oftentimes poignant perspective of one person's difficult transition into adulthood. It is a story about overcoming the demons of mental illness and struggling with the profound burden of expectations—both real and imagined. But it’s mostly a tale of friendship, hope, and love.
 
 
**Labor Day Release Sale - eBook only.99c for a limited time!**
 
*The author will donate 10% of the annual proceeds of this book to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading awareness and support for those who suffer from mental illness.


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IWSG - Fiction's Dirty Little Secret: Size Matters

Hey, gang! Welcome to your monthly dose of hot mess we affectionately call the Insecure Writer's Support Group around these parts. Not familiar with IWSG? Click the IWSG button below for all the details!

 On the E.J. news front, my New Adult contemporary novel, Perfectly Ernest, is releasing Labor Day weekend. (Less than a month away! *dry heaves from nerves*) 

I'd love to have your help spreading the word! Here's a sign up for a book blast/cover reveal. It is scheduled for the last week of August/first week of September. 

Even if you don't have openings on your blog during that two week period, I'll also send some canned tweets and Facebook messages. Any little thing you can do to help me get the word out is greatly appreciated. 

 Here's what this story is all about:


 From a distance, Ernie’s life seems perfect—he’s a star college baseball player adored by the student body and coveted by professional teams. Up close, he is a disaster. Since the death of his mother, he’s been trapped by a promise he made and forced to live her dream instead of his own. He reaches his breaking point in the biggest game of his young career and sets off a chain of events that will either define or destroy the rest of his life.

Ernie grudgingly joins a quirky campus counseling group that empowers him to heal himself and right his wrongs. By testing old friendships, forging unlikely new ones, and exploring an exciting romance, he begins to unravel the jumbled knot his tangled inner-psyche has become. But old rivals, mental illness, and the risk of a forbidden relationship soon threaten his progress. Will Ernie's new direction and friends be his salvation, or confirmation that he is forever doomed by his imperfections?

Perfectly Ernest is a New Adult contemporary novel with romantic elements by author E.J. Wesley. Ernest offers a smart, funny, sweet, sexy, uplifting, and oftentimes poignant perspective of one person's difficult transition into adulthood. It is a story about overcoming the demons of mental illness and struggling with the profound burden of expectations—both real and imagined. But it’s mostly a tale of friendship, hope, and love.

Add Perfectly Ernest to your TBR!

Fiction's Dirty Little Secret: Size Matters


http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
Click for more info on IWSG!
I have a confession: I have a little bit of a size inferiority complex. No, I'm not talking about naughty things. (Hey, eyes up here!) Nor am I talking about the fact that I'm only 5'6" tall. (Someone has to stay small enough to sit in the middle on road trips. I proudly wear that badge of shame.) 

 I'm talking about the fiction I write. You see, I have a series of novelettes out. Each individual story ranges from 12-17 thousand words. They're short by design, meant to be enjoyed like your favorite TV shows or a fun-sized candy bar. A couple of delicious bites that simultaneously curb your craving and leave you wanting more.

 I get the occasional complaint that the stories are too short, but those have mostly come from folks who didn't read the product description. (Or don't realize it's an ongoing series for whatever reasons.) By and large, the feedback I've gotten is that they are enjoyable stories by themselves. So no big worries there.

 But then I wrote (and completed) my first novel, Perfectly Ernest. I outlined a story and wrote that story to the best of my ability. While I'd originally planned for it to be around 75k, it ended up being 60. Why? Because that was the story. Anything else I would've added would've been filler or fluff in my mind.

 So what's the big deal, E.J.? Sounds like you're happy with the results. 

 I'm truly thrilled with how the book turned out. It packs the emotional punch I dreamed it would when I first came up with the idea, and also has this weird ability to leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy. (I say weird, because I never planned on this being a feel good story--but I think it somehow is now.) Also, early reviewers are telling me it's a page turner, which is something I always put high on my to-do list.

 The big deal is that some readers balk at anything less than 80k being worthy of the title of novel. I've known about the reader size bias for a while. Because of my experience with the Moonsongs series, I know there are readers who won't touch shorter fiction. It's just their preference.

 But when an author friend did an informal poll on Facebook the other day, I had my eyes opened to a new kind of size bias: The price Vs size bias.

 This friend asked her followers what the single most important factor in making a book purchase was. Many people listed positive reviews, recommendations from friends, and other common factors. But there were many who said they first look at price and word count on the product description.

 Most were reluctant to pay more than .99 cents for anything under 80k--no mater what the reviews said. I guess it took me by surprise, because my first concern as a reader is if I'm going to enjoy the story. I've also loved a number of short stories and I realize size isn't going to necessarily indicative of how much I'm going to enjoy a read.

 Here's a list of the word lengths for several great novels. I find myself wondering just how many great reads these people are missing out on. Is Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five worth less than a buck because it doesn't hit 50k? A chunk of Ray Bradbury's stuff doesn't hit 70k, neither does John Green's A Fault in Our Stars. The Great Gatsby is around 47k. 

 Now, I realize these are certified classics, and that Unknown Indie Author X (ME) is in a different class. But lots of someones have to read these stories before they become classics. Seems like a shame to miss out on something possibly great because of arbitrary things like word count and/or price point. 

 Ultimately, this all leaves me feeling a touch vulnerable when it comes to Perfectly Ernest. How many people are going to walk right by it because it's not going to take them a month to read, or because the author had the nerve to charge $3 for it? 

 If they saw how much time, grief, and money we spend writing these things, it would probably make more sense. I'm thinking about putting that info in the product description from now on. 

 "This book took me 8 months, 3 lost friendships, 17 marital fights, 1 disgruntled dog, 2 neglected children, and $2,500 to produce, advertise, and distribute. Thanks for parting with $2.99 and being entertained for hours. Sorry if my blood, sweat, and tear stains slow you down!" LOL (Actually, not a bad idea...)

 What do you think? Does size matter when you're browsing for new reads? What about price? 

 ~EJW~
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Thrills, Chills & A Happy New Year!

Hey, gang! 2014 is here and so are we. If that doesn't mean we "won" 2013, I don't know what does! :) Here's hoping you reached most of your goals from last year and have big plans for this one as well.

 I've started the year with crappycrudcoughcongestionsnotbubble-itis, but other than that I'm hitting the ground running. I've got a big Moonsongs tour kicking off today to celebrate the release of the 5th book (Vampire's Ball released in late December while the slumbered away waiting for Santa). 

 You can check out all of the tour stops below, and be sure and enter the rafflecopter. Lots of signed books, Amazon $$$, and book bundles up for grabs.

 I'd love to have you stop by and say howdy!

 ALSO, you can nab a copy of my Moonsongs Anthology 1 (collecting the first three Moonsongs stories) for Kindle absolutely free today. I'd greatly appreciate the download (or sharing of the news for others to download) if you can spare a second.

Thrills & Chills Tour Schedule:

I'll be back here on Wednesday to share some Insecure Writer's Support Group fun. Until then, I'll ask: What's your #1 writing goal for 2014?

 Mine is to publish a full-length novel (or at least have the plans in place for future publication). Speaking of, I need to get back to writing it! 

~EJW~
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News & Greetings!

Hey, gang! Just wanted to share a bit of news about my latest Moonsongs release, a website, and wish y'all a happy holiday and joyous New Year. 

 About the release... 
Vampire's Ball, Moonsongs Book 5


 Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. Being a girl of action, she has found herself particularly capable when it comes to battling the werewolves, trolls, and other supernatural denizens lurking in the Texas night. Until now.

Vampire's Ball, Moonsongs book 5, finds Jenny and her best friend Marshal in their most harrowing adventure yet. Traveling by boat to an extravagant masquerade party located at a Galveston Island mansion, Jenny must parlay with an ancient vampire in order to secure the release of the dragon princes, Isis. The unexpected return of an old "friend" turns the evening into chaos, and leaves Jenny and company once again fighting for survival amidst a sea of supernatural foes.

Vampire's Ball is approximately 12,500 words of humor, horror and paranormal mystery. It is the fifth volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, urban fantasy novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

~Moonsongs Series List~ 


Vampire's Ball, Moonsongs Book 5


Moonsongs, Anthology 1 (Collecting books 1, 2, & 3) - eBook/AMAZON - PAPERBACK

A little help from my friends...

I'm not doing any kind of big release "thing" for this one for a couple of reasons. 1) I've got a big blog tour coming in January, so I'm putting most of my energy into that. 2) It's the holidays and I know most of my blogging friends are very busy doing what they ought to be doing. (Hanging with friends/family, eating cookies, and drinking eggnog.) So I didn't want to ask people to post stuff on their blogs this week.

However, if you could spare a second to tweet or Facebook about the release it'd be HUGELY appreciated. (Or just share this post.) If not, no worries. We're still besties! (More on you being my besties below. :)

Here are some pre-cooked tweets and Facebook things for your ease of use:

(click to tweet)

Tweet: "As it turned out, pretty much everything that had ever given a kid a nightmare was real-" Vampire's Ball http://ctt.ec/cN3Zn+ #ebook

Facebook:

 (copy/paste)

Warm up your holidays with some action-packed urban fantasy! E.J. Wesley just released book 5 in his Moonsongs series, Vampire's Ball. http://www.amazon.com/Vampires-Ball-Moonsongs-Book-5-ebook/dp/B00HFYCE9O/ref=la_B009GI10B0_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387738341&sr=1-6 #NewAdult #UrbanFantasy

"If you haven't started this series and have a thing for heroines with an attitude problem, add it to your TBR list right quick." ~ Amazon Reviewer ~ Vampire's Ball, Moonsongs book 5 by E.J. Wesley is now available. http://www.amazon.com/Vampires-Ball-Moonsongs-Book-5-ebook/dp/B00HFYCE9O/ref=la_B009GI10B0_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387738885&sr=1-6 #NewAdult #UrbanFantasy

"As it turned out, pretty much everything that had ever given a kid a nightmare was real..." Vampire's Ball by author E.J. Wesley is now available. http://www.amazon.com/Vampires-Ball-Moonsongs-Book-5-ebook/dp/B00HFYCE9O/ref=la_B009GI10B0_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387738885&sr=1-6 #NewAdult #UrbanFantasy

The website...

I have a website now! It's still a work in progress, but feel free to hop over and let me know what you think.

2013 and Holiday Wishes...

So, 2013 was busy/crazy/insane/fun/happy/sad/awesome/meh for me. After spending 6 years in South Texas, my wife and I uprooted and moved to Northern California over the summer. 99% of our family and friends live elsewhere (like far, far away elsewhere). So, as with any move, it has been a transition.

We're making new friends and truly love the area and people, however. Plus, I now live a short drive from Napa/Sonoma, San Francisco, and a bunch of the prettiest National Parks and mountains the US has to offer. So don't shed a tear for me just yet! :)

Meanwhile in 2013, I published 3 more Moonsongs stories, an Anthology, my first print book, joined the team over at the New Adult Alley Blog, helped start a new audio companion show for our New Adult literature Twitter chats (every Thursday night, 9 PM Eastern--if you haven't seen what we're up to lately, stop by in the new year), and started (and trying like heck to finish) what will become my first published novel for next year.

In a time full of change for me, the one constant has been y'all. (My besties!) I've grown as a writer, failed as a blogger (at times), made friends, lost touch with friends, shared in your joys, related to your setbacks, and so much more. 

There are precious few certainties in this writing life (and really, life in general), so knowing that I can hop online no matter where I might wander off to and find friends who are still writing, still passionate about reading, and still encouraging one another has made all the difference to me. 

So with that, I'd like to say thank you one last time in 2013. It's an honor to call you my peers and friends. May the rest of your year be happy, healthy, and blessed. And here's to 2014 bringing you more of the same.

~EJW~
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Coffin Hop 2013 - Four Keys To Writing Frightening Fiction - Pt. 2. Oh So Ordinarily Creepy

Hey, gang! I'm back for round 2 of my 4 part Coffin Hop feature on writing frightening fiction!

So what the heck is a Coffin Hop? Basically, a bunch of us writer types get together to share scary stories, do giveaways, and generally try to get the blog world into the spirit of the season. 

 Being a writing blog, I've decided to cover what I think are the basics to weaving a little thrill and chill into your stories. My full hop schedule looks like this:

Monday, 10/28 - The Sinister Senses
Tuesday, 10/29 - Oh So Ordinarily Creepy
Wednesday, 10/30 - Mining The Darkness Within
Thursday,  10/31 - HAPPY HALLOWEEN - A Murderous Tension

Also want to mention that the organizers behind Coffin Hop have put together a fantastic collection of horror stories to benefit an even better cause. All proceeds from the Death By Drive-In anthology will go to LitWorld.org to promote childhood reading.

*click the image below for more details on the anthology*


As for my giveaway, simply leave a comment on any of my Coffin Hop posts and I'll enter you into a drawing for one of the following items:

- 1 Digital copy of Death By Drive-In

- 1 Paper Copy of Death By Drive-In (US ONLY)

- 2 Digital Copies of Moonsongs, Anthology 1 AND my latest, Dragon's Game, Moonsongs Book 4 (1 set to each winner)

- 1 Signed paper copy of Moonsongs, Anthology 1 (US ONLY)

Lastly, I'll be highlighting one of my fellow Coffin Hoppers at the end of every post--so let's get to it!
Oh So Ordinarily Creepy
A clown. A little old lady who sits in front of her bedroom window at the same time every day, watching the neighborhood kids play. A caretaker who isn't very sociable and always seems to have something sharp in his hands. A cabin in the woods. A toy monkey playing the cymbals. A kid riding a tricycle…

Nothing extraordinary there. All are pretty much everyday occurrences or items. But, because you know the nature of these posts, I bet the hairs on your arms stiffened just a touch by the time you finished reading that list--particularly if you're a fan of horror movies and books. :)

Why? Because creepy is all about context, and sometimes, the most ordinary things--when viewed from unordinary perspectives--can be terrifying.

Put that clown in a sewer. Maybe that little old lady HATES children. Make that cabin the only shelter in a violent storm, and the caretaker its only inhabitant. 

Put that toy monkey at the scene of a grizzly murder, then have a down-on-his-luck detective take it to give to his son because he forgot his birthday. The kid takes it everywhere with him, and suddenly the boys, the ones who used to torment him while he road his tricycle up and down the sidewalk, disappear. The kid on the trike becomes the harbinger of death!

I've loosely referenced a few Stephen King stories here with good reason: He's an absolute master of turning the commonplace into our greatest fears. And it's all very basic psychology! After all, most phobias are rooted in the mundane.

I'm using a family ghost story I told recently to illustrate a few of the points this week. You can check the entire story out HERE. 

Here's a passage from the story where a few ordinary things--moonlight streaming through curtains, a recliner, and vaporous breath on a cold night--take on a more ominous quality.

"With trembling hands, he inches the covers downward until he can see. He scans left, toward his grandmother’s closed bedroom door, hoping she’ll be standing there looking in on him. She isn’t.

He looks straight ahead to the dining room, but sees nothing but the swirls of his own breath in the cold and moonlight tracing funny shapes on the floor through the curtains.

At last, he cuts his eyes to the right, where he knows he should see an empty recliner, a coffee table, and a black-and-white television. All is exactly where it should be, except the chair isn’t empty. Grandpa is sitting in it, wearing his overalls, just as the boy had seen him do in so many of the old photographs lying around the house."
Another author who does fantastically creepy things with very simple ingredients is Neil Gaiman. Here's a passage from The Graveyard Book where we're introduced to one of the best villains ever, the man Jack:

"The street door was still open, just a little, where the knife and the man who held it had slipped in, and wisps of nighttime mist slithered and twined into the house through the open door.

The man Jack paused on the landing. With his left hand he pulled a large white handkerchief from the pocket of his black coat, and with it he wiped off the knife and his gloved right hand which had been holding it; then he put the handkerchief away. The hunt was almost over. He had left the woman in her bed, the man on the bedroom floor, the older child in her brightly colored bedroom, surrounded by toys and half-finished models. That only left the little one, a baby barely a toddler, to take care of. One more and his task would be done.

He flexed his fingers. The man Jack was, above all things, a professional, or so he told himself, and he would not allow himself to smile until the job was completed.

His hair was dark and his eyes were dark and he wore black leather gloves of the thinnest lambskin.

The toddler's room was at the very top of the house. The man Jack walked up the stairs, his feet silent on the carpeting. Then he pushed open the attic door, and he walked in. His shoes were black leather, and they were polished to such a shine that they looked like dark mirrors: you could see the moon reflected in them, tiny and half full.

The real moon shone through the casement window. Its light was not bright, and it was diffused by the mist, but the man Jack would not need much light. The moonlight was enough. It would do."

Thin black gloves, shiny shoes, misty moonlight streaming through a window--just brilliantly chilling stuff! 

 Have any favorite authors who do simple-creepy well? Favorite scary movies that turn ordinary things into horribly frightening moments? (How about that shower scene in Psycho? I still don't like hotel shower curtains for that reason! LOL)

Come back tomorrow, and we'll take a look at how you can use the things you're afraid of to scare the loafers off of your readers, too. :)

FEATURED COFFIN HOPPER OF THE DAY 


Jeff is an extremely well-read horror fan, and he's throwing out reading recs left and right during the hop. Today, he's talking about books he reads to get in the Halloween mood--including H.P. Lovecraft's "The Rats In The Walls"!

 Jeff, like all Coffin Hoppers, has a sweet giveaway going, so be sure to check him out!

You can check the entire hop below:
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*SINGS* Happy Book-Birthday To Me!

Hey, gang! Just a quick note to announce that the latest story in my Moonsongs series, Dragon's Game, is officially on the market!

 It's a paranormal tale of budding romance, friendship, and of course, dragons. Like all of the stories in the series, this one is moderate in length (under 15k words), but big on action, humor, and thrills. (Maybe even a few chills, too.)

 It was a real blast to write, and I hope those of you who read it will have just as much fun running alongside my favorite tomahawk wielding, purple faux-hawked heroine as I do. 

 Special thanks to my friend Melissa for all of her help getting this one whipped into shape. :)

 Also, thank you SO much to everyone who shared my cover last week (or shared the shares ;)... I was in Oklahoma for most of the week (back in Cali now), and I can't tell you how much better you made my trip. The Anthology sale was also a success, and I know I owe a lot of that to you all as well.

 Speaking of, Amazon still has the Anthology discounted to .99 -- so you can get the entire series-to-date for less than $2. (I've no clue how long they'll keep it at that price ... The Amazon kind of does what it wants. :)

 As for today's baby, Dragon's Game is currently available at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE for .99 cents.


Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. She has already faced a werewolf, witches, and a troll. But nothing could prepare her for her latest confrontation...

Dragon's Game, Moonsongs Book 4, finds Jenny out of her rural West Texas element, searching for an evil witch in an urban Houston nightclub. After attempting to help a handsome and mysterious stranger out of a jam, she finds herself on the run from a ruthless gang who are even more dangerous than they initially appear.

Forced into a twisted game of life and death, Jenny must navigate the complexity of a budding relationship, and somehow survive a night filled with unexpected horror and paranormal mystery.

Dragon's Game is approximately 14,000 words or 45 pages of humor, horror and paranormal mystery. It is the fourth volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, urban fantasy 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
Dragon's Game, Moonsongs Book 4

Moonsongs, Anthology 1 (Collecting books 1, 2, & 3)

Quick Shouts About Book 4
(Click to tweet, or copy/paste for Facebook.)

New Release: Dragon's Game by @EJWesley - #urbanfantasy #horror #newadult #series http://tinyurl.com/kodn9te

Action, humor, romance, and paranormal thrills - Dragon's Game by @EJWesley http://tinyurl.com/kodn9te #newrelease #kindlebooks #fiction

Halloween Reads - Dragon's Game by @EJWesley - approx 14k words of humor, horror and paranormal mystery. http://tinyurl.com/kodn9te #kindle







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BIG NA Fall Fling Book Sale & My Dragon's Game Cover Reveal

Hey, gang! Very exciting day for me as I finally get to take the wraps off the cover of my latest Moonsongs book! But first, I want to share an opportunity to snag some awesome New Adult reads on the cheap...


Several New Adult authors (me included) have teamed up to offer their titles for free or a heavily discounted price over the next few days (October 15-18, specifically).

If you're not familiar with New Adult (think "what's next" after YA and before adult) or are just looking to grow your NA library, this is definitely a can't miss event! And the fantastic thing about this sale is that it offers a wide sampling of genres within New Adult. 

You'll find paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and more!

The New Adult authors/books taking part in the Fall Fling are:

EJ Wesley

Moonsongs Anthology 1
http://www.amazon.com/Moonsongs-Anthology-1-ebook/dp/B00D020MOO
The Crimson Hunt

Lynn Rush

Frostbite
http://amzn.to/17S3I2X
Wasteland
http://amzn.to/wz4miA
Awaited
http://amzn.to/Pbfb32
Tainted
http://amzn.to/W0KqQW
Violet Midnight
http://amzn.to/SafFZY
Violet Dawn
http://amzn.to/XOBwXk
Violet Storm
http://amzn.to/1bSjwnr

Jaycee DeLorenzo

The Truths about Dating and Mating
http://www.amazon.com/Truths-about-Dating-Mating-ebook/dp/B00AAOCX2E

For more on my part, scroll to the bottom of this post!

Now for the cover reveal...

*drumroll*


Available Monday, October 22nd!

Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of "monster hunter" and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. She has already faced a werewolf, witches, and a troll. But nothing could prepare her for her latest confrontation...

Dragon's Game, Moonsongs Book 4, finds Jenny out of her rural West Texas element, searching for an evil witch in an urban Houston nightclub. After attempting to help a handsome and mysterious stranger out of a jam, she finds herself on the run from a ruthless gang who are even more dangerous than they initially appear.

Forced into a twisted game of life and death, Jenny must navigate the complexity of a budding relationship, and somehow survive a night filled with unexpected horror and paranormal mystery.

Dragon's Game is approximately 14,000 words or 45 pages, and is the fourth volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, speculative / urban fantasy novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

 (These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)

***
I'd appreciate it if you could add Dragon's Game to your Goodreads shelf! It will 'officially' go on sale October 22nd at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. (But I won't guarantee you won't find it before then if you care to look. :)

New Adult Fall Fling Deal: And remember, for a limited time you can catch up on the entire Moonsongs series for just .99 cents (regularly $2.99)!

Moonsongs Anthology 1 (books 1, 2, & 3) is on sale October 15th - 20th at Amazon!

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What's Under The Cover? I'll Need Your Help To Find Out!

Hey, gang! I've got book covers on the brain today for LOTS of reasons. 

 First, our New Adult Lit Chat last night was all about book covers and what takes them from good to Oh-My-God-Did-You-See-That?! If you're curious about what we talked about, or maybe looking for a few tips, you can listen to our audio show and read the Twitter transcripts, HERE.

The second thing that's had me pondering the beauty behind the pictures that are literally worth (or represent) thousands of words is the number of FANTASTIC new covers I've seen floating around the blog world this week. Here are a couple of favorites:



This is the cover for Christine Rains 13th Floor collection. Besides housing one of my favorite series of short, speculative fiction, I think this cover is totally creepy and evocative--just like the stories! You can learn more about the series and author HERE.

Now this one is truly an all-time favorite of mine now. Sheena-kay is a dedicated blogger friend, and I think this cover is out of control with awesome! I'll admit I'm biased here, because I'm such a huge fan of graphic novels and comics, but I truly don't know how anyone couldn't be at least a little curious to read this based upon the cover. For more info on the book and Sheena-kay, head over HERE.

Finally, the last thing that's had me thinking about ye old book cover is that I've been working on the one for the next story in my New Adult, speculative fiction series, The Moonsongs Books. This will be book 4, and I definitely learn a lot each time I go through the design process.

 And thinking along those lines, I was hoping to recruit some of you fine folks to help me share the cover when it's ready. Specifically, I'm shooting for October 15-18, with book 4 being released shortly thereafter.

 So, if you think you could share the cover for my latest on one of those dates, please sign up via the form below. I'll be in touch to provide all the details in the weeks ahead. 

 I truly appreciate the help! Here's a sneak-peek at the cover to tide you over in the meantime:

Any guesses as to what kind of nasty thing could be hiding behind the curtain? I'll just say it's going to be Jenny's biggest test--and craziest adventure--yet. :)
SIGN UP FOR THE MOONSONGS BOOK 4 COVER REVEAL, OCTOBER 15-18, HERE!
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Is There Freedom In Writing?

Hey, gang! First, I want say thank you (SO much) for all of the encouragement and well-wishes left on my last post. Oklahoma is hard at work on the recovery process, and I've read so many extraordinary stories of people coming to aid those in need from loved ones on Facebook.

 Authors Helping Oklahoma

 Along those lines, I know many of you are authors and looking for a way to contribute. I recently learned of a group of authors on Facebook who are putting together a book auction with proceeds going toward tornado relief. The effort is being spearheaded by our own Shelly Arkon, and they are currently still accepting book donations from authors who want to help. (They are also accepting general donations with all monies generated going to the American Red Cross.)

 You can check it out here. 

 Together At Last!

 In my own writing news, I've just released the first Moonsongs Anthology. It collects the first three Moonsongs books (Blood Fugue, Witch's Nocturne, & Dark Prelude) in one volume. 

BLURB: Jenny Schmidt is a young woman with old heartaches. A small town Texas girl with big city attitude, she just doesn’t fit in. Not that she has ever tried...

Her life is thrown into chaos when she receives a message from her thought-to-be-dead grandfather, Billy Moonsong. After meeting with him, Jenny learns that her Apache ancestors were feared monster hunters on the plains of West Texas, and that she is next in line to take up the mantle.

Suddenly, she has a purpose and direction in life, but will she live long enough to fully realize it?

The Moonsongs Anthology 1 collects the first three Moonsongs books--a series of New Adult paranormal-horror-action novelettes--in one exciting volume. Follow Jenny and her best friend Marshal on their dangerous quest to unlock the secrets of her past.

Moonsongs Anthology 1 collects the three previously published Moonsongs adventures: Blood Fugue (Book 1), Witch's Nocturne (Book 2), and Dark Prelude (Book 3).

The three stories combined are approximately 154 pages or 47,000 words. Also included in the anthology is exclusive access to Jenny's own secret monster hunting journal. An account--in her own colorful words--of what she has faced so far, and a few tips for the next Moonsong huntress who might come along.

 The anthology is available digitally at Amazon and Barnes & Noble for $2.99. 

 If you're curious about the series, the first book, Blood Fugue, has now gone permanently free on Amazon.

 Is There Freedom In Writing?

There are many misconceptions about what writers do, and how the writing process takes place. Many folks think writers are dizzy daydreamers, caught up in one fanciful thought after another, and that we simply sit at our computers and crank out story after story.

 There's also this myth about the boundless freedom--both in practice and spirit--that all writer's must surely posses. Yes, writers must live in a land of rainbows and no fences, racing up one grass-covered hill just to roll down into another flower-filled meadow below.

 Here's the thing: There are points in writing that feel extremely confining. Down right suffocating, in fact. Mentally, it probably has more in common with a darkened, 5x5 ft cell with no doors you'd see in one of those SAW horror movies than an endless, sunlit vista. 

 You have to commit a staggering amount of time to a single project if you plan on seeing it become fit for public consumption. You'll likely have to forfeit many important and fun things in your personal life to enjoy writing success. 

 You'll read the same story a thousand times, live in the same character's head for months and months, and have most of your idol thoughts devoured by trying to fill the same damned plot hole you had when you started the project two years prior. (The writing and story are better, but the plot hole remains... always.) 

 In writing, you have to have the mentality of a parent: You gave birth to that story, and will only be parted from it when it grows up and leaves you, or someone pries it from your cold, dead hands. 

 So I'd argue there's very little freedom in writing. At least in the sense people think... But there is power in it. 

 You eventually learn how to tell a story, and tell it in only the way you can. The more you write, the more you'll learn how to use the various tools and tricks to elicit a desired feeling in the reader. And there's power in that control. 

Once you know how to share and evoke emotion with words, you'll start to feel like you could tell any story, and take readers to the incredible places you thought only existed in your own head. 

 But as Uncle Ben once told Peter Parker, with great power comes great responsibility, and that responsibility is choosing how to spend your writing time. Assuming you don't have an infinite amount of it, you'll have to decide which project gets your attention.

 So I ask you: Do you feel completely free in your writing? How do you go about choosing your next project? If you're published, do your readers choose them for you? If you're unpublished, do you let your inspiration carry you?

 ~EJW~

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#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.

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.

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:

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 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

#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 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

One last bit, feel free to create your own tweets, etc. with the links below:

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

A HUGE 'thank you' to everyone who helps. Your support, as always, means the world to me. :)

~EJW~
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