Cover Reveal!

Happy Monday! Yes, I know that is a contradiction in terms but I am trying to make the most of it. LOL! Over the weekend, I worked with a wonderful, extremely talented graphic designer on a few book covers. One was for the next book in my Grimsley Hollow series that I will be starting soon. Sorry, you’ll have to wait until later to see that one. The other was for my newly finished YA paranormal, Blind Sight, which is the first book in The Celadon Circle series. The artist in question is the lovely Megan Peters of Emjay Art. I would love for you to visit her Face Book page and give her a like! Megan is also an author. I will be sure to post her links here in a sec. But first, the magnificent cover she made for me!

I absolutely love it! Blind Sight should be available to purchase in a few weeks. I’ll keep you all posted! Many thanks to Megan for working so hard and being so patient with me! Here are her links. Be sure to stop by and say ‘Hello!’

https://www.facebook.com/DisguiseINDesign?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/MeganJParkerAuthor?fref=ts

One Foot in Front of the Other

I haven’t blogged in a while. I’ve been so wrapped up in trying to finish my book, end-of-the-school-year functions for my kids, helping my father with my mother (who is hell-bent on spending the rest of her life not walking, lying in a recliner watching the Hallmark channel, and drinking Coke), and the occasional stomach virus (daughter has it and can’t shake it). I decided to give a little update on my book and I will write until my daughter runs to the bathroom again. A mother’s work is never done. LOL

So, late Thursday night, I wrote the last sentence of Blind Sight, the first book in the Celadon Circle series. I sat there and stared at that sentence for at least five minutes. It seemed unreal. After struggling for almost seven months, after running back and forth to hospitals, juggling family time, being stretched ten different ways, and believing I would never get this book finished…suddenly, it was.

I expected to be elated. I waited for that rush of euphoria, for the smile that would stay plastered on my face for days to come. Nothing happened. It is terrible that a single person can suck all the joy out of your life. What was supposed to be a magical moment (writing has always been magical for me) turned into a JOB. Lately, that is how I’ve felt about everything in my life – just jobs to be done.

However, there is a small part of me that is happy I finished the book. With all I have going on in my life, I could have just thrown it in a drawer and said “To hell with it.” No one would have blamed me. Instead, I persevered. I didn’t give up, even when I wanted to. I decided NOT to let the tornado I’ve been swept up in take away everything I’ve worked for.

I know I’m not the only one to ever feel like this. Bad things happen in our lives every day. I guess it is how we deal with them that defines us as a person. Thankfully, I have never been one to give up easily. I learned that from my father and I hope it is a trait I pass to my own children.

So, now I wait. My lovely publisher received the MS late last night. She will go over it and if she approves, she will then send it to my editor. In the meantime, I have acknowledgements to write and the book cover to get finished. I have so many people to thank for pushing me along, helping me up when I stumbled…I’d need a whole chapter to just name them all. That is not a bad thing.

Later, when the publication date draws near, I have another blog post planned about the book itself. Every author eventually pens a manuscript that is either accepted by the public or rejected. This will be mine. I know the the consequences of putting such a book out and I am ready to face them. Stick and stones and all that…

Lastly, I want to thank those of you who have stood by me, read my books, left reviews (good and bad), and kept me going. Writing is my passion. I hope the readers feel that when they pick up one of my books. I love you all! <3

 

Book Review! Ancestral Realms by Ed Drury!

 

The hardest part for me when it comes to reading series books is having to say goodbye to characters I have grown to love. Ancestral Realms is the third (and last) book in author Ed Drury’s Whale Whisperer’s Saga. 

I have followed these stories from the beginning. I must say they quickly grew to be one of my favorite series. A mixture of fantasy with a dash of sci-fi, the books have an underlying moral that is not pushed in the reader’s face, but gently sprinkled throughout.

Ancestral Realms teaches about betrayal, trust, loyalty, and forgiveness. The characters were so real to me. They were friends. I couldn’t pick a favorite if I tried, as the book simply would not be the same if even one of them was missing. Each character builds and leans on the other, breathing life into each other, and making us all wish we could go to Encorclea and swim in the Cove.

Drury’s descriptions of the magical world and realms he created are superb. I could feel the warm sun and smell the salt on tropical breezes. I felt the hot sand under my feet and had a glorious time walking with “Grandfather” Rrawk and Tsabai.

There were twists in this book that I did not expect but loved. The forgiveness between between characters was a nice surprise. I was also pleased to see some of them change and grow in ways I didn’t think they could.

The book did not end the way I thought it would, but once I read it, I could see why the author chose the paths he did. As I said goodbye to my friends, I realized they all were right where they needed to be.

This is a beautiful series and I do hope you take the time to read it. I will miss Encorclea and the Cove, but I am grateful for the life lessons I learned there. I will always carry them in my heart. After all, information is never lost.

There is No Easy Path!

I have to say there are MANY things people do, especially on Face Book, that annoy the hell out of me. For example, I can’t stand those who post those memes about hating drama and then turn right around and post something about their boyfriend/husband’s ex or other crap that has no business being on Face Book. I also hate it when the same person is constantly posting about being ill. I mean, if someone is THAT sick, they need to see a doctor, not sit on Face Book and look for attention. Yeah, I’ll probably get flack for that, but still…I’m being honest. However, something happened the other day that made all the other  BS about as bothersome to me as a hangnail.

I was included in a group private message. First of all, that really ticks me off. If you have something to say to me, PM ME privately. Don’t include me in a group message with fifty other people. In my opinion, it is rude and inconsiderate. However, the content of the message had me wondering if I should laugh or be offended. This person, presumably a writer, was asking for money to have her book edited! Yep, you heard me right. This “author” wanted others to pay so she could get her book out to readers.

You can’t call yourself an author if you have to ask people for handouts to get your work done. I have three books out now and I have never asked anyone to give me money in order to make this happen. My publisher takes care of my editing but, as I am very picky about my book cover art, that responsibility falls on me. My first cover cost over $400. I had to work out an arrangement with the artist to make payments. It took a while, but I paid for it myself. There are many ways to get what you need for your book without begging others for money. The only thing that says to me is that you are lazy and wouldn’t knock a gnat out of your rear-end if it was eating you alive. It certainly doesn’t scream “I AM AN AUTHOR!”

Here’s a tip for you: GET A JOB. If I had to have money for editing, formatting, book cover art, etc., I would flip burgers at McDonald’s if I had no other choice. Stop being lazy and asking for handouts and get off your butt. You say you’re in college and don’t have time for work? Maybe you need to put off writing or publishing until you DO have time. You say you’re a single parent who works full-time with a houseful of kids? Same answer.

Maybe I sound harsh, but let me tell you, I am not swimming in money myself. I can’t find a job to save my life. My husband is the only one working right now and we have two kids, bills, rent, etc. We are barely keeping our heads above water. However, I would never beg for money to support my writing. As a matter of fact, I put my writing LAST when it comes to money and what we have to spend it on. My kids come first and always will. If I didn’t have the money for my books, then they would have to wait. Simple as that.

In closing, I would like to say that if you plan on asking for money for your writing – don’t. Others have made it without resorting to begging and you should, too. Stop trying to take the easy path. Trust me, when it comes to being an author, the easy path doesn’t exist and it’s high time you realize that. There are too many of us out there busting our butts to get the job done. If you can’t do the same, then find another hobby. 

Book Review! The Becoming by Allan Leverone

Allan Leverone has become one of my favorite authors. I am slowly trying to read all of his work since falling head-over-heels for his book, The Lonely Mile. As of right now, I am reading his Paskagankee series, but I had his novella, The Becoming on my kindle and devoured it in one sitting.

Although short, this book does not disappoint. I was sitting on the edge of my seat by the first chapter, experiencing the horror that unfolded page after page, biting my nails and a bundle of nerves! It’s a mixture of sci-fi, horror, with historical background and some ghost stories thrown in. It’s a perfect book to curl up with in front of a roaring fire with a thunder storm raging outside. Just make sure to keep a flashlight handy and a blanket to hide under when you hear noises that may not be…natural.

I have yet to complete all of Leverone’s books, but I feel safe in saying that the man can’t write a bad story. The Becoming reminds me of when horror books and movies were scary – when what you didn’t see was what kept you up at night. The author did a fantastic job!

World Autism Day? No! World Autism WEEK!

Hello! As an author and a mother of an autistic child, I try to do my part to support autism, whether it be research, grants for people with autism, therapy, resources for parents, and the like. World Autism Day gives the world a chance to show their support for all autistic individuals and I want to do my part.

So, with that in mind, my publisher, Inknbeans Press (http://www.inknbeans.com/) and I are offering a special edition e-book that includes all three titles of the Grimsley Hollow series written so far for only $6.99! With every purchase of this book, a donation will be made to Autism Speaks. The book will be available for purchase from Monday (4-1-13) until Friday (4-5-13) ONLY!

For those who aren’t familiar with Grimsley Hollow, I got the idea for the series from my son, and he is the main character and hero of the books. It is a YA fantasy with a touch of paranormal and a lot of Halloween! It is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Please consider grabbing a copy of this book and helping autistic individuals everywhere. Remember, not all heroes wear capes and these extraordinary people ARE heroes! Here are the links below:

Nicole Storey’s Face Book Page: https://www.facebook.com/nicolestoreyfans

Twitter: @Nicole_Storey

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C4I7NAQ

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grimsley-Hollow-Awareness-Collection-ebook/dp/B00C4I7NAQ

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-grimsley-hollow-world-autism-awareness-day-collection-nicole-storey/1046367702?ean=2940016426457

Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Grimsley-Hollow-World-Autism/book-ZjKIPKQ5BEKGHc5gzGoOEA/page1.html?s=5xs3mzhAI0qcLtHAuqVz3w&r=3 

Thanks so very much for your support! Together, we can make a difference!

Chain Gang

Oh, don’t you know? That’s the sound of the man (woman) workin’ on the chain gang!”

Yeah, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed! LOL! Have you ever had one of those days (weeks, months, year) where you feel pulled in fifty different directions, falling behind on everything, and wish you could move to a place where no one knows who you are so they can’t ASK you for anything?

The past four months have been difficult for my family and I. As some of you know, my mother has been hospitalized since November of last year due to complications from an allergy to blood thinners. Supposedly, she is coming home today. If she does, I know she’ll be happy. However, our problems are far from over. She can’t walk. Due to lack of exercise, her muscles have atrophied. Because, for the past two months, she has refused to eat right in order to build up her strength and balked almost every time she was supposed to have physical therapy, she will now have to have someone with her 24 hours a day until she CAN walk again on her own.

In the meantime, HELLO! I’m still a writer, mother, and wife. I’ve fallen behind on my latest work-in-progress which should have been completed and published by now and I still have a long ways to go. I feel like I am letting my fans and myself down.

It’s hard when you have several people who need your attention and there’s only one of you to go around and make everything better. I need a clone…or a break, but I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.

In the meantime, I will keep trucking along, try to finish my first draft of Blind Sight, and pray to the Goddess for a reprieve. I mean, really – isn’t that all we can do?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR2G1801PAo