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Showing posts from December, 2012

I'm looking for some Indie music to feature on an audio podcast.

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I'm organizing an audio podcast series for the new year. We'll be interviewing authors, reading excerpts, and presenting other info that will hopefully be interesting to writers and readers. To break up all the spoken segments, I would like to feature one song per podcast, something from an Indie Band. Would you like to be featured?

Advertising Changes for 2013 - Can we increase your exposure?

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2012 was a momentous year for the Masquerade Crew. During the beginning months of the year, this blog was still in its infancy. I hadn't experimented with very many things. In fact, book promotion wasn't even on the radar yet.

Vetting Your Manuscript - guest post by @JoelGoldman1

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T HE GREAT THING about self-publishing is that it has democratized the publishing world. Anybody can self-publish with little out of pocket expense. The worst thing about self-publishing is that anybody can self-publish with little out of pocket expense. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you’re ready.

Creating a Magic System: Interaction, Items and Artifacts - syndicated from @thefourpartland

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The following is syndicated from The Four Part Land and is posted here with permission. So over the course of the series, I've looked at how Strength and Prevalence affect both a magic system and a setting, and how Style and Powers shape and define that magic system. Now I'm going to examine Magical Interaction and Items and Artifacts .

The Mad Reviewer Reading Challenge - join us whether you read a lot or a little.

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Do you read a lot? Or a little? Either way this post is for you. The Mad Reviewer Reading Challenge The ever-so-mad Carrie Slager — aka The Mad Reviewer Follow @TheMadReviewer — has a challenge for you , and I have agreed to join in her crusade. She challenges you to read 104 books in 2013 (2 books a week) and review each one on your blog, Amazon, B&N, or Goodreads (or any combination thereof)—any site, really. However, she's an evil empress with a softer side, for she realizes that 104 books in a year is a tall task for many. So, there's different levels you can work toward. 1. Mad Reviewer : 104 books in one year. (2 books a week all year.) 2. Crazy Reviewer : 52 books in one year. (1 book a week all year.) 3. Slightly Sane Reviewer : 26 books in one year. (1 book every fortnight all year.) 4. Sane Reviewer : 12 books in one year. (1 book every month all year.) There are some rules. (These aren't mine. Personally I would allow...

Hold My Hand by @PalomaBeck #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer Hold My Hand Written by Paloma Beck Follow @PalomaBeck

Bargaining by @NadiaJWriter #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer Bargaining Written by Nadia Hasan Follow @NadiaJWriter

Detective Docherty and the Vampire's Mirror by @WaterRaven #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer Detective Docherty and the Vampire's Mirror Written by Sarah WaterRaven Follow @WaterRaven

Better Angels by @HookNYarn2012 #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer Better Angels Written by Fiona Skye Follow @HookNYarn2012

Shades and Shadows by @ashlaster #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer Shades and Shadows Written by Ashley Laster Follow @ashlaster

Loving Summer Cookbook: Recipes for Losing Weight and Getting Summer Healthy by @kailingow

Loving Summer Cookbook Recipes for Losing Weight and Getting Summer Healthy

Hammerhead Resurrection by @jasonandrewbond #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer Hammerhead Resurrection Sequel to Hammerhead Written by Jason Andrew Bond Follow @jasonandrewbond

The Apple Grove Gang has caught GOLD FEVER ... by @HamiltonCBurger

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I T’S THE DOG days of summer and Benny Churchill and Bug Beetle are back and still running! The Apple Grove Gang has caught gold fever, and they find that it’s too hard to bear.

The Good, the Bad, and the Clunky - Tips on Writing Dialogue - guest post by @SaraRauch

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Buffer A S A VORACIOUS reader, an editor, and a book reviewer, something that often jumps out to me is bad dialogue—even some very well-written books and stories contain it. Though a few snippets of badly written dialogue won’t break an otherwise good piece of writing, it will certainly stick out like a sore thumb. And, if your book is riddled with bad dialogue, it will make it very hard to get through.

Writers and Book Lovers, do you want more Twitter followers? Do you follow back?

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Writers and Book Lovers, do you want more Twitter followers? Do you follow back? If you answered YES to both of those questions, you are in the right place. Now, if you answered Yes to the first but not the second, you may want to check out another list of Tweeple I put together. Feel free to put your name there as there are no follow back requirements. Some may follow you, and you may find a few to follow as well. Here's the link: HERE

5 star review: Book of Mercy by @sherryroberts7

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Book of Mercy Written by Sherry Roberts Follow @sherryroberts7 Genre: Literary Fiction Book Synopsis A town banning books. One woman stands against the censors--and she can't read. Can she win? There's more worth fighting for than you can ever imagine.

Poetry isn't an exact science ... From the Cafe and Beyond by @NadiaJWriter

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P OETRY ISN'T an exact science and it doesn't have any hard or fast rules. It flows from the heart, a deeply personal narrative of each person's journey through life.

Over the Mountain and Back by @marieastor #excerpt #fantasy

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Where better to hide than in plain sight? the CULL by @eThrillerWriter

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W HERE BETTER to hide than in plain sight? Amy Bree’s reckless actions result in death and her dismissal from the FBI.

Indie Publishing: lessons learned from @RChazzChute

The following is syndicated from Chazz Writes and is posted here with permission.

Texas Outlaw by @AdriennedeWolfe - a lady train robber who tangles with a sexy US marshal.

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T EXAS OUTLAW (Book #1, Wild Texas Nights Series) is the story of a lady train robber who tangles with a sexy US marshal, who has vowed to bring her to justice.

Blogoversary for Apocalypse Reads - signed copy of Reached by @allycondie

The following is syndicated from Apocalypse Reads and is posted here with permission.

So Long Colt Macleod by @JRSinason #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer So Long Colt Macleod Written by Josh Sinason Follow @JRSinason

Alexis runs into deception at every turn. Deception by @growwithstacy #excerpt

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A LEXIS IS NOT the average person because she’s exceptionally brilliant. When mysterious things start happening to her, she pursues the truth and learns is that she’s been lied to her entire life. She runs into deception at every turn. What she finds on her own terrifies her and she questions whether she really wants to know the truth about herself.

A horde of the undead is about to sweep over Europe. The Devil's Harvest by @ScottWhitmore

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F RANCE, 1916: THE GREAT WAR in Western Europe is at a stalemate with the Allies and Central Powers facing each other from muddy trenches on either side of the deadly No Man’s Land. To end the years of bloody warfare, the Germans plan to unleash the perfect weapon in a villainous attack that will guarantee an unconditional victory over France and Britain.

Nothing Is Finished Until Everything Is Finished - guest post by @JoelGoldman1 #marketing

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T HANKS TO THE Masquerade Crew for inviting me to share some thoughts on indie marketing. This is a great time to be a writer, especially an indie writer. Self-publishing gives us the chance to live the writer’s dream but if you don’t know how to market your books the dream may turn into a nightmare.

The Abassi Expedition by @MelanieSokol #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer The Abassi Expedition Written by Melanie D Sokol Follow @MelanieSokol Blog: HERE

The Masters (though it isn't about golf) by @paleololigo #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer The Masters Written by Penny Higgins Follow @paleololigo The working title is "The Masters," but I suspect that will change. It makes it seem like it's about golf, which it ain't. It's science fiction. Blog: HERE

An untitled work from @exploringbooks #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer ??? Written by Ashten Healy Follow @exploringbooks YouTube: HERE

Have you checked out The School Gates by @nicolamay1? #excerpt

F OUR VERY DIFFERENT mothers. One adorable dad. And the intertwining trials and tribulations that a year at the primary school gates brings.

Celebrate with @nicolamay1 with a signed copy of The School Gates

N ICOLA MAY won the BEST PUBLISHED AUTHOR award last month at the 2012 Festival of Romance held in the historic county town of Bedford, UK.

It's official. Myth is doomed. Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise by @DianthaJones

I T’S OFFICIAL. Myth is doomed. And it’s all Chloe Clever’s fault.

Let's hear from Soren, former captain of the Naphthalian Royal Guard.

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The Prophecy Chronicles Prophecy Foretold by Ron Hartman

The Prophecy Chronicles: Prophecy Foretold by Ron Hartman #excerpt

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The Prophecy Chronicles Prophecy Foretold by Ron Hartman

Return of World Circus (working title) by @ChuckWesJ #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer Return of World Circus (working title) sequel to Circus Tarot Written by Charles W. Jones Follow @ChuckWesJ Site: http://bizzarofiction.blogspot.com/

The School Gates by @nicolamay1 - Best seller on Amazon UK

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A T 3:10 PM every weekday, parents gather at Featherstone Primary in Denbury to collect their children.

Holiday Gem by @PalomaBeck #NaNoWriMo #erotica

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Buffer Holiday Gem book 3, Seven Sin Sisters Written by Paloma Beck Follow @PalomaBeck Site: http://romancebeckons.blogspot.com/

Out Of The Shadow by @authorjswinn - a spine tingling, action-packed novel

Out of the Shadow by J.S. Winn Follow @authorjswinn O UT OF THE SHADOW tells the story of two women drawn together in the present to uncover a crime from the past. Having survived a rape and her husband’s murder, all Becca Rosen wants to do is move on with her life, but how can she when she’s being stalked by a psychopath with an attitude—and an agenda. The police are no help because they’re convinced, with her history of mental illness, Becca has faked the rape to get away with her husband’s murder. On top of that, Becca has begun to have flashbacks and nightmares of childhood abuse, possibly at the hands of the rapist. Not knowing where to turn, and feeling like she might go crazy again, Becca hires Psychologist, Sarah Abrams, to help her unearth who’s behind the crimes of the past…and the present.

Writers and book lovers, list your Twitter profile to gain more followers.

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I wish this idea was mine. I'd feel so special, but alas, I saw someone else do this. However, the way it was done on another blog was through the use of comments. There's a better way, though.

Since Tomorrow by @MorganNyberg is a novel of a world in the remaking.

Since Tomorrow by Morgan Nyberg Follow @MorganNyberg A N OLD MAN rides a workhorse through the night, across mudslides, past stores abandoned for decades, past the rotted corpses of automobiles invisible under mounds of blackberry. Rain courses from his rabbit skin poncho. He carries a sword and a spear. He knows where to find the murderer. He will face him alone. "Since Tomorrow" is a novel of a world in the remaking. The old man, Frost, remembers the "good times". Those who live on his "farm" among collapsed warehouses and the foundations of vanished houses struggle to maintain human values. But when others in this makeshift world are driven only by greed and the need for power, all values must ultimately be replaced by the simple instinct for survival.

French Bleu by @gardenlilie - a novel of discovery, personal triumph, and heroism.

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French Bleu By Caroline Clemens Follow @gardenlilie

5 star book review: A Saint Comes Stumbling In "A journey you won't regret taking."

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Buffer A Saint Comes Stumbling In Written by Bonnie McCune Genre: Contemporary Romance Book Synopsis Can a rejected wife conquer self-doubt, trap a criminal, and win love? A patron saint might help... Thirty-something Joan Nelson has more to contend with than a biological clock or an identity crisis. Despite her ardent belief in a conventional marriage, she finds herself deserted for a younger, slimmer woman. Lacking any skills or education, she's thrust unprepared into the nightmare challenge of making a living for the first time in her sheltered existence. A job as a receptionist in a law firm is the first rung on the ladder to her independence. Yet the taste of success sours when Joan considers the emptiness of her personal life. How can she reconstruct her damaged life and heal her bruised ego? Ill-equipped for the singles scene, she embarks on a confusing, sometimes frightening, new lifestyle. When Joan stumbles on a crime perpetuated by a charming cad...

Fast-paced adventure with well-defined characters. Where Shadows Dance by @VeredEhsani #review

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Buffer Where Shadows Dance Ghosts & Shadows Book 2 By Vered Ehsani Genre: Young Adult Book Synopsis Ash was looking forward to a summer of camping with friends and time travelling. Then his Great Aunt fades away (literally), his near-death nightmare gets even weirder and he keeps falling into someone else's dreams. On top of that, his house is attacked and he gets trapped in the past while trying to help a new friend who isn't too friendly.

Science Fiction: Pilot by @RayAnthony07 #excerpt

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Pilot By Ray Anthony Follow @RayAnthony07 Cover links to Amazon.com Synopsis The Explorer Corps' spaceship Arabia has the distinction of being the ship that has travelled the farthest distance from Earth. Eight days ago Earth lost communication with the Arabia. The spacefighter, Baddest, is one of a pair of spaceships that, at more than fifty miles long are the largest machines ever built. Baddest is normally crewed by the Air Force's Ace Crew II but for this mission the crew is supplemented by the Navy's Special Combat Team Alpha. The Navy and Air Force are bitter space-borne rivals. Mission: To find the vessel Arabia or to establish, beyond reasonable doubt, her fate and that of her crew.

How effective are our efforts at marketing books? [survey]

In order to improve the effectiveness of our promotional efforts, I would like to hear from you. How are we doing? The following survey is just 4 questions long, but your answers will help me determine if I'm fulfilling my promise to clients and donors.

5-star Review: Broken Magic by @saalon "Some of the best endings leave questions unanswered."

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Buffer Broken Magic Written by Eric Sipple Follow @saalon Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Book Synopsis It’s senior year of high school, and everyone but Neil seems to know what’s next. All Neil wants is to be free: to survive his last year, and keep hoping something better is waiting for him in college. Then a musician named Celeste comes into his life. Celeste doesn't fit into Neil's reality. She’s a runaway, chasing an impossible world. She can't be like everyone else - and when he's around her, Neil's not himself, either. Helping Celeste in her quest for magic – and the father who abandoned her to search for it – might cost Neil everything. But when you don’t know your place in this world, and someone offers you another...is everything too high a price to pay?

Sunflowers by @Rural_Writer #NaNoWriMo

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Buffer Sunflowers Written by Carol Anne Shaw Follow @Rural_Writer Site: http://www.carolanneshaw.com/

You Can Learn to Make a Website in One Hour without Coding – Why EVERYONE Should Learn

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Buffer How to Make a Website or Blog with WordPress WITHOUT Coding, on your own domain, all in under 2 hours! Written by Mike Omar Follow @MikeOmar9999 Free on Amazon December 6th & 7th

An unfaithful wife is found dead in her lover’s bed. Tommy's Defense by Ralph Shamas

Buffer FREE on Sunday, December 2nd Tommy's Defense Written by Ralph Shamas