Day: March 15, 2014

Insousciance!

insoucianceThe life of an indie author is often difficult. Artists such as yourself must be able to readily access the full panoply of emotions when crafting your characters, but you are expected to turn it all off when someone craps on your work with a scathing review.

We at ChemCorp Nutraceuticals think that’s unfair, and we’re here to help. By combining vitamin-rich emollients with largely legal mood stabilizers and a powerful nerve agent, you can have soft skin and a thick hide. Let them say what they will. It will all bounce off you like corruption charges off a politician.

Insousiance facial cream and calmative is the first of our line of products especially for indie authors. After all, why should vanity publishers be the only ones getting rich off you guys? Also, we care. You’re welcome.

Book Brief: Tapped

TappedTapped: Book Three of the Pipe Woman Chronicles
by Lynne Cantwell
Genre of this Book: urban fantasy/paranormal romance
Word count: 57,362

Ah, winter in South Dakota…
Naomi Witherspoon, chosen by a Lakota Indian goddess to mediate a truce in heaven, is in the midst of a number of down-to-earth problems. She hasn’t heard from her boyfriend, Joseph, in weeks. She has also been attacked recently by a man channeling an Aztec jaguar god. Her best friend Shannon thinks she ought to get out of town for awhile – but what Shannon proposes is a road trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to track down Naomi’s father, who doesn’t know she exists. Naomi agrees to go, but the additional stress literally makes her sick.

Their search is complicated by a surly teenager; a mysterious walled compound that may or may not belong to Loki, the Norse Trickster; and a blizzard or two. And why, to top it off, is Naomi dreaming of a wolf? As she tells Shannon, the way the woo-woo usually works, she figures the two of them are about to find out.

This book is available from Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble. Continue reading “Book Brief: Tapped”

Flash Fiction Challenge: Up, Up, and Away

hot air balloon near oswego ny oct 2008
Hot air balloon by K.S. Brooks

When Janus Yasoprovik was a boy, he dreamed of becoming a daredevil. Life’s currents did not carry him in that direction. He became an accountant.

But Janus was never one to let his day job get in the way of adventure. On every vacation, he would indulge his inner daredevil, in the most unaccountant-like activities he could contrive. From swimming with sharks to running with the bulls, Janus seemed intent on breaking every bone in his body. And he did. But of all Janus’ adventures, it is hard to top what happened on his ride in the hot air balloon…

In 250 words or less, tell us a story incorporating the elements in the picture. The 250 word limit will be strictly enforced.

Please keep language and subject matter to a PG-13 level.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

On Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll for the best writing entry accompanying the photo. Voting will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday.

On Friday afternoon, the winner will be recognized as we post the winning entry along with the picture as a feature. Then, at year end, the winners will be featured in an anthology like this one. Best of luck to you all in your writing!

Entries only in the comment section. Other comments will be deleted. See HERE for additional information and terms.

Resource Fest: Cover Designers

resource fest book designerIn this industry, we rely on each other to weed out the bad vendors, and discover the good ones. Word of mouth is invaluable.

Know a great cover designer or artist? We want to know. In the comments section below, please post the designer’s name and a link to their website so we can see their work. In one sentence, tell us why you liked them. And, so we can see their stuff, include ONE link to the book (on a retail site). Please don’t try to embed an image. We’ll do it for you, honest!

Now, now, put someone you’ve worked with who does covers for hire. No recommending yourself!