Perfection

Hey, gang! Excited to share a New Adult debut novel from our pal, J.L. Campbell.

J.L. is a ridiculously prolific author with many books under her belt, so I can't wait to see what she does with her NA series! Here's a little FYI about the project–

Five Things You Didn't Know About Perfection

Perfection is my first foray into the world of New Adult fiction, but it has been an educational and fun-filled journey. The story ideas grew out of a series of novels I'd already written about three mature couples. Their daughters, when they first appeared were 14, 15 and 16. Over the duration of the series, these girls appeared onstage with their distinct personalities and when I closed the women's fiction series, I had no idea there were more stories to tell.

Then, the idea of showing the growth of the young ladies took root and soon, I had three complete stories. As I've said elsewhere, my three New Adult tales were gifts that dropped into my lap, complete with characters and storylines. After reading copiously on and in this category, I got ready to take on the challenge of creating a story with a gripping plot and compelling characters.

The first book, Perfection, follows the relationship of Natasha and Karim, who struggle to forge a trusting relationship despite their challenges.

Some unique features include the fact that:

• Perfection takes place on the island of Jamaica, which gives armchair adventurers an inside look at another setting and culture.

• Karim is a parent, which is not unique for a guy at age 22, but his circumstances do take a surprising twist. 

• The three girls who show up frequently in Perfection are related by the marriages of their parents, so apart from being friends, they have a strong familial bond.

• By no means am I the only storyteller to writes from the perspective of a male, but at four-chapter intervals, the reader gets a chance to see inside Karim's head. 

• The two main characters are sports enthusiasts, who both do exceptionally well in their chosen fields.

Perfection is live at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. There's a giveaway, so if you're interested win winning a copy of both Perfection and Fixation, which releases next week, enter on the Rafflecopter.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author

J.L. Campbell is an award-winning, Jamaican author who writes romantic suspense, women's fiction, new and young adult novels. She has written thirteen books, two novellas and two short story collections.

Her novels include the Island Adventure Romance series, which currently has four exciting, stand-alone stories and features feisty women and determined men. She also writes under the pen name Jayda McTyson. She is a certified editor, who also writes non-fiction.

Visit her on the web at http://www.joylcampbell

*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!**

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Paperback | Goodreads | Book Page

Praise

“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.

 

Available in print & eBook:
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perfectly-ernest-ej-wesley/1120158212?ean=9781500755898
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQIJZR8

 

**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.

 

Available in print & eBook:
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perfectly-ernest-ej-wesley/1120158212?ean=9781500755898
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQIJZR8

 

**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.





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

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~

*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

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

Faith Sullivan

Heartbeat
http://www.amazon.com/Heartbeat-ebook/dp/B00B4Y9296
Come What May
http://www.amazon.com/Come-What-May-Heartbeat-ebook/dp/B00CZTC3PY
Take Me Now
http://www.amazon.com/Take-Me-Now-ebook/dp/B00DVS8ZT6
Unexpected
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-ebook/dp/B00C112I7O

Victoria Smith

The Space Between
http://www.amazon.com/The-Space-Between-ebook/dp/B00BO1AZGI

The Crimson Hunt

http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Eldaen-Light-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00A3MJO02
Holiday Fling
http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Fling-ebook/dp/B00ACRRM5M

Carrie Butler

Strength
http://www.amazon.com/Strength-Mark-of-Nexus-ebook/dp/B00EMGAS46

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!

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!

Welcome To Camp NA!

Be sure to pack extra clean underwear, a toothbrush, and mosquito repellent, 'cause we're going to a very special summer camp folks! Beginning the first week of August, the inaugural Camp NA opens its cabin doors to anyone interested in learning how to write New Adult literature.

GRAB THE BUTTON: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

<a href="http://www.newadultauthors.org/camp-na.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2k47g8hGXE/UfGnZ2mBaiI/AAAAAAAABKE/GoprxoZ2L78/s400/camp+na+final+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>

Are You Camp NA Material?

Interested in writing a New Adult novel? Have a project you'd like to turn into New Adult literature? Started an NA project but have NO-FREAKING-CLUE how to finish it? 

You're in--but you'd better bring some chocolate and a headphone splitter to share with your bunkmates, or swirlies and Kool-Aid showers might be in order. 

What Is It?

Thursday, August 1st, the folks behind NA Lit Chat are kicking off a 5 week focused event to teach the basics to building a New Adult story. Here's what we'll cover:

Week 1 (8/1) - From Story Nugget To Plot - Creating dramatic tension by planning. 

Week 2 (8/8) - Brainstorming - Tools (tumblr, brain mapping) that take ideas to book.

Week 3 (8/15) - Writing Process - Habits, software, & getting the most out of your writing time.

Week 4 (8/22) - Revision Process - Best practices, and how to stay engaged.

Week 5 (8/29) - Finishing - When is the project ready for the next step?

You can see that these are the basic steps in writing pretty much any kind of story, but we'll give it all a very 'New Adult' spin with tips and guidance from NA authors, editors & more! Speaking of guidance...

Meet The Counselors & Camp Directors

We'll kick off each week of camp with a discussion of the given topic on Twitter with #NALitChat (9 PM Eastern every Thursday night). We'll accompany the usual Twitter hashtag conversation with an audio show where we'll have authors, editors and more on to share their tips and insights. (You can--and will want to--participate in both the Twitter conversation & audio broadcast simultaneously.)

THEN, we'll move to the actual camp portion. Every week we'll have a camp counselor & camp director working in a dedicated forum on the New Adult Authors website to help you on a project of your own. 

For example, week 1 will have us working on taking that brilliant flash of genius (AKA the story idea) and transforming it into fully formed structure for a novel. By the end of the week, you'll hopefully have the bones of a story to start building on. And, if you get stuck, our counselor & director will be right there to help you out. 

We have an excellent group lined up to lend their camping expertise, including authors/editors D.M. Arney and Lichen Craig, Authors Amy Evans, Kat Vancil, E.J. Wesley, ST Bende, Jennifer Martinez, and more. 

How Do You Sign Up?

Easy! Just go to the New Adult Authors website forum and create a log-in. (You can use your Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, etc. accounts for easy access.) Once in, check the "Camp NA" thread daily for information and updates. Also, feel free to post questions, etc.

And speaking of free, this totally is!

Then, don't forget to tune in to NA Lit Chat on Thursdays. That's it! Even if you can't make every week, or simply would only like to take part in one of the planned topics, that's fine with us. 

Our primary goal with this event is to increase the amount of quality New Adult literature out there by emphasizing strong story mechanics and good writing practices. All skill levels are welcome, and in true summer camp fashion, we'll foster a judgment free, can-do atmosphere. 

Hope to see you at camp!

~EJW~

Sizzling Summer Hotness!

Hey, gang! Just wanted to drop a line and let everyone know about  the HUGE-MASSIVE-EPIC giveaway/bloghop I'm a part of.

Going on this week, a whole mess of YA and NA authors and the good folks over at YA Bound are going on a blog tour with tons of guest posts, etc. (Did a fun character interview with Jenny & Marshal, so let me know if you see me out there!) But that's not EVEN the best part.

We are giving away 2 (yes T.W.O.) Kindle Fire HDs--one loaded with New Adult books, one loaded with YA. So you're definitely going to want to go enter this bad boy. Lists of participating authors and bloggers are below, along with links to enter the giveaway.

Good luck if you enter, and tell them E.J. sent you if you stop by any of the blogs hosting the giveaway! :)

~EJW~

YA Bound Book Tours is organizing the Sizzling Summer Giveaway event featuring 50 authors!  This giveaway event will take place July 22nd to July 27th.  The giveaway is 2 Kindle Fire HD's with e-book prize packs! (shown below)

Over At The NA Alley Blog Today!

Hey, gang! Just wanted to let y'all know I blogged over at the NA Alley Blog today, and I'd love for you to stop by and say, "hey".  :) 

Basically, I've heard a lot of talk recently that maybe New Adult literature has peaked as a 'niche genre'. That perhaps it IS just sexy romance. This was my rebuttal.

Also, thank you to everyone who left comments on my Indie Life post. That was one of those posts I considered not posting, because I wondered if it was perhaps too personal.

Not personal in a TMI kind of way, but personal as in, "Only you feel this way, EJ." As usual, your encouragement and insight proved me wrong. :)

Hope you're week gets off to a fantastic start! (The movers are coming to pack up our stuff on Wednesday and I'm freaking out a little. lol)

~EJW~

THANK YOU!!!! And news...

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~

My A-Z Plans & New(s) Adult

Winner! Winner! 

Congrats to Melissa Maygrove on winning last week's giveaway for a free eCopy of Julie Flanders' Polar Night! Julie will be in touch, and I hope you enjoy. :)

My A to Z Plan... or Lack Thereof

Hey gang! April is nigh, and that means the A to Z blogfest is getting ready to explode our inboxes and web readers. It's a great bit of fun, but an extremely nuts time for those who participate.

I've decided to abstain this year as I'm very busy preparing my third Moonsongs book for launch (coming very soon!), prepping my home and family to relocate across the country in June, and adapting to some exciting new blog/writing opportunities. (More on that below...)

So what's my A-Z plan, then? To support you all, of course! Almost every blogger I follow is doing A-Z, so I'm going to spend my time commenting on and sharing your posts. As a result, this blog will be pretty quiet in April.

But you'll probably still be able to find me around the blog world...

New(s) Adult

If you've been following this blog very long, it's no secret that I'm a fan of New Adult literature. I love the idea of creating stories specifically for the 18 to 20-something crowd. It's a time in life when folks are truly just figuring out adulthood. They're actively conquering life and, sometimes, life is conquering them.

Being that age often means struggling to find a career or an identity in the professional world. It can also mean a lot of exploration in relationships with a freedom and responsibility not experienced in the teenage years. 

In short, it's a dynamic life stage. A stage that was very meaningful to me personally, and one I think deserves some real attention from both readers and storytellers alike. 

I truly believe it's not a category of literature that simply should exist, it's a category that demands to exist. (And does now!) That passion is what led me into the New Adult community online. 

How I got into NA

Just under a year ago I was totally floored to find this blog of New Adult writers and enthusiast called NA Alley Blog. At the time, I had no idea there was a name for the kinds of stories I mentioned above. I just knew I was writing them, and that I wanted to read more like them.

After visiting with NAAB, an idea was hatched to start a weekly New Adult chat on Twitter. So I did. 

I honestly figured it would just be me and those enthusiastic ladies from NA Alley doing all of the chatting at these things. People in publishing circles were still very uneasy with the concept of New Adult, it seemed, and considering I'd just heard of the term myself, I couldn't imagine there'd be much interest.  

I was very, very wrong. 

The chat was an instant hit, and thanks to the support/knowledge of the folks at NA Alley, it became a real resource for the NA community. We had authors of all kinds, readers of all kinds, editors, etc. stopping in to chat with us on a regular basis. Word of mouth spread, and within weeks we were regularly trending on the BIG Twitter lists. 

Amazing!

I'm proud to say that the chat is still going strong (we'll celebrate our first birthday in July), and has grown into quite a 'thing'. I still host most Thursday nights, but have been able to tap into a network of professionals who are eager to share their expertise with New Adult writers. So you never know who'll be around! 

Meanwhile, New Adult has also become quite a thing. Publishers are eagerly looking for it, big time media is starting to investigate it, and readers are snapping it up. 

And I truly think it only goes up from here.

My next role in the NA movement is... 

That's why I was so thrilled to apply to be, and subsequently be accepted (last week!) as an official contributor to NA Alley Blog. These are the folks who got me into NA, the people I turned to for NA answers, and now I get to be a part of that for others.

As part of NA Alley Blog I'll have a special opportunity to share my--hopefully--unique voice with a diversity of writing and reading communities. I'll do my best to bring energy, fun, and encouragement as well. 

I'll be blogging about NA centric things over there on a regular basis, as well as taking part in the various activities and initiatives on that front. I'll be sharing that stuff with you all, of course, but this blog will still be my own--for better or worse. :) 

I'll be busy, and it may take me a while to figure out how to mange three blogs/endeavors (I'm still running the NA Lit Chat blog). But I hope you'll stick around to see where this latest adventure takes me. Who knows, maybe you'll even join me on the NA front?

A Special Thank You

I want to publicly thank Alex Cavanaugh and P.K. Hrezo for endorsing my application. If you know them (how could you not), you know they're special people in our writing community. They're great ambassadors for what we all do and aspire to do as writers online. They operate with a class, thoughtfulness, and spirit of community that is hard to find in my 'real life' relationships, much less from people I've never met face-to-face. 

It's the spirit of people like P.K. and Alex I hope I bring to the NA community, so they were naturally the first people I approached to write me notes of recommendation for the NAAB position. 

Just as naturally, I suppose, they said yes. :) In the end, they are more than role models, they are people I'm proud to call friends. And I hope they would consider me the same. 

~EJW~

Hale Maree Tour, Mercy teaser, & BIG Book Giveaway

Hey gang! Really exciting stuff today ...

A few weeks ago, I believe I shared the cover for author Misty Provencher's debut Adult novel, Hale Maree. Well, she (the story) is now out in the world (HERE and HERE), and to celebrate Misty is touring and giving away some sweet prizes.

More on the prizes below but first--Misty ALSO (lady is crazy busy!) has a new, New Adult story slated to debut next week. It's called Mercy, and it's all about gargoyle shenanigans. Here's a sneak peak: (Excerpt provided by author.)

I have seen this thing in a book once.  A photo that was not this, but similar enough to identify it.  It is out of place here, but as the thing scrapes to grip the rock, I am almost certain I am looking at a gargoyle.

"Surprised? Disappointed?" The thing says. "That a grotesque, an ugly would be sent to save you?  Not the beautiful, not the angelic?  Haughty Slip.  What is the matter with me?  I have wings."

And the thing spreads out hideous, thin wings, darker gray than it's body and spiny as the backbone of a starving child.  He pushes them down so hard that the water churns around me, bashing my body against the rock, over and over again.

Enough! I scream inside.  Leave me for the angels to find!

The gargoyle's giggle escapes in charred wisps, but the thing tucks in its wings with one sticky, awkward fold.

"Strength is not exclusive to beauty, darling."  The gargoyle growls, hovering closer to my face.  "You will exist, Slip.  And you will do it knowing that these ugly claws were the only ones that reached out for you.  They are what came to save you, and not those celestial beings."

It's finger, pointy as a stinger, swoops down to prod me, but at the last second, all of the gargoyle's claws spread wide.  The tines of its fingers clutch my skin and my soul is thrust back into my soft bread cage body.  A caustic scream awakens from my bloodless shell and echoes among the milky-eyed fish that stare up at me as I am carried away.

Mercy sounds pretty epic, right? And another home run cover to boot. I'll definitely be looking for it when it lands next week...

Now for the giveaway! Below are two Rafflecopter forms where you can enter for a chance to win this pile o' booty:

So be sure to enter, and check out Hale Maree, too. The early reviews have been stellar. Best of luck on both Misty! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Adult Lit - Haters, Champions, & Being Heard

Howdy gang! Can you smell the slowly darkening, roasted meat of a bird lovingly rubbed with herbs and butter? Can you hear the chirp of an oven timer, prompting the removal of yet another pie or golden loaf of bread? Can you taste the toasted cinnamon and oozing marshmallows from your second helping of sweet potato pie?

Thanksgiving is almost here, and if you couldn't already tell, it's my favorite holiday. From the fellowship to the food, there's nothing like it. I also love that it doesn't get all tied up with the social and/or religious stuff that spoils so many other holidays. Thanksgiving is for all who are grateful.

And if I'm upright and breathing, I figure that's more than some folks have going for them, so I'm basically always grateful! One thing I'm especially grateful this year is New Adult (NA) literature. 

Photo Cred - Lisa L. Wiedmeier, WANA Commons

I rarely take time to blog about causes. Not because I don't have them. Ask my family and friends, I get fired up about plenty of things. It's just I've learned (the hard way, trust me) that the things I'm passionate about are usually things lots of other people are passionate about, too.

The louder I squawk, the louder they squawk--and it all just ends up being noise. Noise that usually drowns out the things that the needed the attention in the first place (i.e. not me).

Today, I make an exception.

As many of you know, I'm a champion for the rise of New Adult literature. Now, I'm not the most prominent or eloquent--or tallest--of the banner waivers. (Maybe that's why I feel the need to stand on a soapbox for this issue.) But I definitely believe in it, and here's why.

New Adult is more than marketing. NA is more than a niche being carved out by fringe authors and readers. NA is big, small, smart, and slow. NA goes beyond what YA can (and arguably should) do, and fills the gaps left by the leap from YA to Adult. 

More importantly than all of that, New Adult gives a voice to a specific set of readers and authors. There's a group of people who are 18-26 years of age, and everyone has--or will--fall into that category if they've lived long enough. And those folks shouldn't have to apologize for wanting their own shelf in a bookstore.

They read and write, and therefore have earned a say in what they want to see in a store. Well, at least in my eyes. As I pointed out above, there are definitely people who don't agree. A couple of recent articles I read reminded me of that (here and here). 

Haters Gonna Hate, Yo

I think the kids call them haters, but whatever they go by, it's clear NA has its detractors. People who are cheering just as hard for NA to go away as I am for it to exist. The ironic thing for me, is that these folks seem to be losing their rational minds when they argue against NA.

They discount the Internet like it's a couple of goth kids crashing prom. Hello! The Internet practically IS society at this point. If it isn't on the Web, it might as well not exist in the minds of 80% of the US population.

They say NA is being foisted upon the world by self-published authors. Which, other than being insanely offensive, is dead wrong. It's actually the opposite: the world (or readers) is foisting New Adult on literature. (A great article on NA sensation Tammara Webber and her BIG NA book deal, and why NA has happened.)

So is the sky falling? Will a few 'knowledgeable' or 'important' people chime in, call NA a 'non-thing', and pee on the parade for the rest of us? Short answer: NOPE.

The NA THING is happening. It has already happened to an extent, and as long as authors and readers continue to demand it, NA will grow. And it needs to. 

The Spice of Life

I sometimes think there are people who would prefer that we all read the same 6 books, from 2 categories, and that's it. (If it's coming from an author or agent, probably THEIR 6 books, incidentally.) Which isn't only misguided, it's dangerous.

That kind of thinking crushes the spirit of creativity. It stymies growth in both society and individuals. A great story can help someone take the next step in their life. A good book can shift the path beneath our feet, forever altering where, and how far, we can go. 

For that to happen, there has to be as many stories as there are readers, because each person is going to be moved by something different. If they don't have it, an opportunity is lost.

I'll leave you with this: Be you reader or writer, beware anyone who suggests a niche or group shouldn't exist, and support those who struggle to be heard. Fight for the books and stories you like to read and write to be recognized--at every level. And the louder people are who oppose the idea, the more important it becomes for you to speak up.

~EJW~