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Who says zombies can't sell goods and services? Come on! These commercials are AWESOME!
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 Oh yeah! You heard right, folks.
Today ONLY, Tuesday, March 27th, you can get your hands on a copy of WANTED: Dead or Undead for your Kindle for the lovely price of NA-DA! Nothing! That's right, my publisher, Evolved Publishing, is offering not only my YA Western Romance for FREE today, but they are offering 8 other books, plus a few short stories, for FREE, too! (Click HERE or HERE to check out those books--thrillers, fantasy, YA, and children's books--There is a little something for everyone--I promise). AND everybody loves FREE! So if you'd love to venture into the wild west with one fine looking cowboy, a tough gal with a secret and a know how for killing the undead...then pick up your copy today. I mean, what do you have to lose? It'll cost you nothing. Check out some of these reviews: "I don't care for Westerns, or Zombies. The fascinating thing about this, is that Angela Scott has managed to combine them into a story that I absolutely LOVE! I had so much fun reading this book, and somehow couldn't wait to find out what happens next while hating that each page was bringing me closer to the end of it" --Rebecca "Bookworm" “It was well written, well plotted and VERY entertaining (even the lovey dovey aspects of it!) If you like a good shoot out, and zombies trying to eat your brains for brunch, pick it up… you won’t be sorry.” – KindleObsessed Reviews "You look at the title and the concept, and you think, "Wow, that's a cool idea," and you open the book and start reading, and it turns out that the book and idea ARE cool. No disappointment here: this one's a thrilling survival tale set in an apocalyptic Old West, and it's definitely worth the read."--John Anthony Allen  I love this! So funny! So true!  I can see the problem. Can you? I love the part in THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID where Greg talks about Shel Silverstein's author photo on the back of his book THE GIVING TREE. It scared him as a kid. I'm certain that wasn't Silverstein's intention (but it does make me laugh). Poor Shel, did you know he was often asked NOT to include his author photo? That's gotta make you feel awesome. I mean, you can't help what your face looks like. But, I will tell you, I have seen some pretty awful author pics over the years of talking with and interacting with other authors on various social networking sites. Some of the worst have to be authors who hold their arms out away from themselves and snap a picture--I can see your arm. I can. You're not fooling anyone.  Kinda cool back in the 80's. Not so much now. Don't do it. Another big no-no would have to be an author photo cropped from a family group photo such as a wedding or crazy party where you can see parts of other people in the photo. I don't care how great you think you look in that photo, if I can see parts of other people, it makes the whole picture look amateurish. Sorry, but it does. Oh, and for the love all things good in the world, please, please don't do a glam shot. They were cool once (or were they?) but they are SO outdated now.  Anyone who knows me, knows I HATE feet--hate them. So what the heck, Shel? You definitely should want to look your very best in your picture because this is the picture that will be with you for years to come, but you don't stray so far from your everyday look. You want to be recognizable. You don't want your readers to do a double-take. So, here are some tips to help you have an awesome photo: #1: Don't glare at the camera. And try to do your very best not to look like a serial killer. If you do happen to look like a serial killer, consider not including your photo--anywhere. You don't want people turned off from reading your book because of your face--cruel statement, I know. #2: Please watch your lighting. Some photos have such a harsh tone to them like you're in a dark room and the flash blasts you in brightness. It'll make you appear as though you look vampirish. Not good--unless you write vampire books. Then it could possible work to your favor. Also the reverse is true too, watch your shadows and make sure you're not hiding in darkness. This could make it difficult to see who you are.  Are you trying to scare me into buying your book, Terry Goodkind? #3: Do not wear bright, bold, patterned clothing. You're an author. This isn't a vacation trip to Hawaii. Also, make sure the items you chose to wear can withstand the test of time--nothing that is trendy now, because it will be outdated in a few years.
#4: Be careful not to be a floating head---> Dark background + dark turtle neck = Not good. And no glaring at the camera. It's scary. #5: NO, NO, NO cleavage. This applies to guys as well :) I guess my biggest bit of advice would be to have a professional picture done. If you can afford it, do it. This is how people will be relating to you, the author, so you want your picture to be as good as it can be, don't ya? I would think so. My husband just so happens to be a photographer, and though my author picture might not be the best out there, I love it. I think he did a very good job, especially with the subject he had to work with :) Actually, this photo means a lot to me. The day we went to find an ideal spot to take some pictures, ended up turning into one I will always remember. We laughed together, we joked together, we had a blast together as I shyly stood and tried not to feel stupid as I posed for my husband. Why should I feel embarrassed posing for my husband--I have no idea. I guess it made me feel like the young girl who first fell for the guy behind the camera, all giddy and girlie-like. I think he did a great job and whenever I look at my author photo, I remember that day and smile a little on the outside and a whole lot on the inside. So what do you think makes a scary, horrible author picture? Does an author picture affect how you view an author's work? Pulls you toward it or turns you off? What say you? I'd love to know.  We're all looking for a deal, right? Well, here's the deal of a lifetime. 9 e-Books with loads of 5 star reviews, some awards, and legions of fans… all FREE from Evolved Publishing today!
Get an epic fantasy that will redefine the genre forever, a riveting psychological thriller, an award-winning YA paranormal thriller/romance, a YA paranormal fantasy and YA zombie western (yes, you read that right), an inspiring memoir, a heartfelt and deeply beautiful Native American Historical Fiction and an anthology with something for everyone. Don't miss this chance to load up your kindle without spending a dime. To read more, click here. http://bit.ly/zXJER7  My latest mystery novel, A Few Dead Men, was inspired by my youngest daughter's disastrous dating history. The 'dead men' in the novel are composites of every boyfriend and/or bad date my daughter ever had. Believe me, I had lots of material to choose from. In fact, I didn't have room for all the 'dead men', since I didn't want to go over my word count. This book raises several questions: Who exactly are dead men, metaphorically speaking? How did they become dead? Are there more dead men than live men? If not, where do you find live men? But the book is also about a young woman compelled to solve the mysteries around her, like her favorite amateur sleuth, Nancy Drew. She doesn't go about it in exactly the same way. Previous stops on the Blog Tour: Character Interview: Darcy MacDonald at http://theunpredictablemuse.blogspot.com and Character Interview: Giovanna Pescateli at http://thestilettogang.blogspot.com/  A Few Dead Men - a Chick Dick Mystery Life has dealt part-time mystery novelist Darcy MacDonald a lousy hand. The men she knows are either missing, dead, drunk or demented. Lying next to the corpse of her boyfriend, the head of Bloodhound Investigations, definitely qualifies as lousy since he’s the man who also issues her paychecks. The doctor says her boss had a massive heart attack during an orgasm, and it wasn’t Darcy’s fault. But she can’t help feeling guilty, since his orgasms were her responsibility. Or so she believed, until his grieving widow shows up, along with a mysterious, punk rocker chick who weeps inconsolably at the funeral and claims he was murdered. N: Today we're finishing our series of character interviews from A Few Dead Men, so I'd like to welcome the heroine's mother, Eunice MacDonald, to the guest blog. Thanks for being here, Eunice.
E: I almost didn't make it. The traffic was horrible. N: Sorry to hear that. E: I know Darcy thinks she got the short end of the stick, but I had a worse time. Worrying about her constantly, wondering what new disaster would befall her, wondering when she'd meet a decent guy. N: I guess that's a mother's lot in life. You have an unusual name. Where does it come from? E: I'm named after one of your favourite great aunts, as you well know. N: You're right, I just wanted to get that in there. Why don't you tell the readers about yourself? E: I'm married to a university professor, I have two daughters, Isabel and Darcy, and I work as a hospital dietician. N: What do you like about your character the most, and why? E: I don't like anything about my character. N: Nothing? E: Well, I guess I like the fact that I run marathons even though I'm in my fifties. N: So I guess there's a lot you'd change about yourself, if you could? E: I'd want to be younger, thinner and prettier. What a question. N: Describe your perfect day. E: Hosting a wedding reception for Darcy. N: Why is it so important to you that Darcy get married? E: Because I know she's lonely, and I'm tired of standing by while the losers she dates break her heart. She's a good girl. She just wants somebody to love her. Is that so much to ask? I'd like a couple of grandchildren. Most of my friends have grandchildren, and they're always rubbing my nose in it. N: And -- E: Wait a minute, I'm not finished. I'll tell you why Darcy's not married. She has horrible taste in men. She picks all the wrong ones. If I could pick them, it would be a different story. But she won't let me set her up with anyone. She says she doesn't need my help. Ha! So the reason she's still single is partly her fault. N: Okay. Last question. Did you have a favorite part in the book? E: I liked my conversation with Giovanna's mother, Gina Pescateli, on Darcy's front steps. That woman puts on airs, but I set her straight. N: Thanks, Eunice! Next stops on my Blog Tour: Friday, March 23rd - KB Owen, mystery writer I'll be visiting KB Owen, who loves mysteries and recently finished her first novel in a planned series, set at a 19th C. women's college in Hartford, Connecticut. I'll be blogging about what it takes to become an amateur sleuth. Wednesday, March 28th - http://denisehays.com/ I'll be guest blogging on author Denise Hays' site. Denise is the author of Bloodhound, a Niki Edgar Mystery. I'll talk about dark humour. A Few Dead Men - a Chick Dick Mystery is available at the following online retailers: Smashwords Barnes & Noble Chapters/Indigo/Kobo Amazon Author Bio Nancy Lauzon worked nine years on a hospital ward as a cardiac nurse before the night shifts turned her into a zombie. She got a day job in health promotion and began to write health-related articles for magazines and newsletters. Life threw out a few curve balls, and to relieve the stress, she began to write fiction part-time. Five years later she sold two different manuscripts to two separate small-press publishers, using a pseudonym. She left nursing in 2003 and began to write full-time. Nancy lives in Ottawa, Canada. Visit her website http://chickdickmysteries.com Join the Chick Dick Mystery Group on Facebook Follow her on Twitter Friend her on Goodreads  Everything I've ever hoped, everything I've ever dreamed, everything I have ever written in my 25+ years of writing (I'm not divulging my EXACT age, you fool) has all led to this moment--the day my first book was published. Oh, my gosh, my stomach just did some flip-flops when I wrote that. How is possible that you can want something so much, work towards it endlessly for years, and then feel really sick and nauseous when it actually comes true? Maybe because this is it. This is the moment of truth. My book is set free into the world to fly or fall on its own merits, and people who set books free into the world are super brave people--and I've never considered myself brave. I'm more like a wuss. Ask anyone who knows me. Heights? No way. Spiders and snakes? Freak me out. Throw all caution to the wind? Heck no. Never. Ever.  But here I am. My book WANTED: Dead or Undead, the first in the zombie west series is up on Amazon. It was actually put up yesterday, but this whole business of puking hasn't hit me until today. Yesterday was easy going. I was like, "Oh, lookie there! My book's on Amazon. That's nice." And then I proceeded to send out a few dozen copies to book reviewers like it was no big deal. Easy-peasy. But today, AYE CARUMBA! Remember how awhile ago I equated publishing a book to standing naked in New York's Time Square? Well guess what? I'm all buck-naked and it's not a pleasant feeling, not to mention rather chilly.  But maybe, when achieving something you've always dreamed of, this is the way I'm supposed to feel. Maybe others before me have felt this same kind of feeling--this pukey excited ball of craziness. So despite feeling like throwing up, I am extremely excited as well. I really am. This has been a long time coming. And even though my book isn't "officially-officially" released since the real date will be later this month, I want to throw a tiny virtual party. Just a little one to celebrate my pukey excitedness.  That is a jello mold in the top left corner. You can eat blueberry flavored BRAINNNNSS!! So leave a comment below and do the following to receive a zombie swag pack and a copy of my zombie western in either epub or mobi format:
A) Tell me I'm crazy to feel like throwing up. OR B) I'm normal and it will pass. And C) Pop over to Amazon and hit the like button for me. Also check out my tags and click on them if you agree (You don't have to do this, but boy it sure would help me out a ton if you would. i will leave that up to you). I will randomly select a commenter and mail them the items you see above. Now I'm off to go take some Tums.  Editing is crucial. It is necessary. I couldn't imagine ever publishing a novel that hadn't graced the desk and critical eye of a professional editor (or two). The less stupid I look when my book hits the market the better. I want my words to sound the best they can be, and I know I make mistakes (all authors are bound to make some, and I make my fair share) so I want an editor to catch what I can't see and make it better, make it shine all pretty.
This is what I signed up for. This is my Dr. Jekyll side. I'm intelligent (okay, I'm just average smart) but I know enough to realize that editing will make my book awesome! And that's everything I have ever wanted. But then why the heck does it hurt so much? (Here comes Mr. Hyde) It sucks to be told you're not as clever and crafty as you once thought you were. There are passages that you pour your heart into, words that you thought, "Holy crap! This is good stuff!" only to open up the file from your editor to find that passage SLASHED and has a comment to the side saying, "This scene doesn't move the story forward" or "Let's revisit this" or "You can do better than this." Revisit this? What? Why? (The ticks of doubt now start to take over, and you find your left eye twitching. It starts slowly at first and then gradually builds... what if you can't do better than this?) And let's not mention all the repeater words you had NO idea you used over and over and over (you start talking to yourself a lot, and decide it is a perfectly acceptable form of communication). Your editor marks areas where you use SOB (state of being) verbs too much, or where you really thought you were showing the scene only to find out you weren't at all. You were, oh dare I say it, TELLING and not showing. Your editor is marking things that even your kindergartener knows not to do! (You don't even notice that your hair sticks up anymore and hasn't been washed in days). Then just like that *snaps fingers* you have lost it. The reasonable side of you, the one that you really thought was strong and capable in handling constructive criticism has become the crazy, irrational, all-day-pajama-wearing, self-doubting writer that you swore you'd never become. You thought you had a nice thick outer shell, only to find out that nope, you're just one big chewy nugget--no chocolaty shell at all. Unlike M&M's, you will melt. You thought you were better than this. Editing is tough business. It's not for the weak of heart at all--especially when the editing process takes months or years to go through. I mean, you're actually paying someone to tell you how much you suck at the one thing you thought you were good at. If that ain't fun, then I don't know what is. But, I will tell you this, I'd much rather take the blows to my ego at this point in the game, than to put out a half-assed book and face the wrath from readers (that's scary in itself). And a good editor, one who shows you how to improve your craft and mold it into something greater than even you thought it could be, is worth every penny. So, your turn. What say you? Do you just embrace editing and love the whole process (Dr. Jekyll), or do you ever get a little emotional and self-doubting (Mr. Hyde)? AND, if you have a way to make thicker skin (without pulling a SILENCE OF THE LAMBS kind of thing) I'd love to know. I need a way to cover up my chewy nugget (yeah, that doesn't sound too good, does it? But I'm leaving it because it made me chuckle) I hope you see what I'm trying to say here :) I'm up to my neck in editing, trying to get one manuscript ready for it's March release (WANTED:Dead or UNDEAD) and trying to get another ready to hand off to my editor by April. So yeah, I'm busy, busy, busy and I haven't been doing as much blogging as I should. BUT, once the dust settles, I will be back *insert Terminator voice here.* Until then, here is some random crap to begin your week. Have a great week! Accomplish something amazing! I've never seen a picture of a newborn aardvark before. I'm not sure what to make of it. Yet, I can't stop staring. 
This 102 yr old man challenges the English language. No wonder my daughter struggles with reading. Seriously. (Note: there is a little bit of a weirdness near the end, but the guy does have a point). As a writer of zombies. I LOVE this shirt. I want one. AND, I'd totally wear it,too. 
I know I can make these kind of balloon sculptures! 
Have a fantastic day! Now go write or something :)
~Google Friend Connect (GFC) is gone for us non-blogspot bloggers. Darn it. Over 500 faces disappeared. So I've added other options in my sidebar for following--email subscription, Linky Follower, and then there is always Facebook and Twitter. Just because GFC is gone, doesn't mean you have to disappear too~  I read an article about how authors who use pen names tend to produce writing that is of less quality than authors who use their true identity. Really, huh?
(I refuse to link the article here, but if you do a Google search, you're bound to come upon it). Basically, it said in general terms, that when an author writes using a pen name, they can then hide behind it and not worry so much about the quality of work they produce. So pen names = bad writing. If an author uses their birth given name, then a reader can expect a better piece of writing because the author has more on the line, they're putting it out there by connecting their identity to their work. Again, I say really? Now, some of you may know it and some of you may not, but I do write under a pen name. Angela Scott is not my true name. Angela is. Scott, as a last name, is not. It's not even my maiden name. Am I hiding behind my pen name? Maybe a little, as I will explain further on. But does that mean I can be more relaxed in my writing because I use a pen name? Heck no. Pen name or not, I still plan to write to the best level I possibly can. I think the assumption that pen names equals less than quality work is pure ridiculousness. Pen name, real name, or not, there is plenty of crap writing found amongst them all. It has NOTHING to do with the name as much as it has everything to do with the actual writer's skills and ability to not only tell a good story, but to weave the words in an artistic way. So why do I write under a pen name? The first reason, as much as I love my husband, my married name isn't all that cool. My maiden name isn't either. So I chose Scott. I like it. It works for me. Also, it's my husband's first name (a bit of trivia for ya) and so he's not totally being dissed. Angela Scott has a much classier feel to it (Ha,ha,ha...I write about zombies. Talk about classy) and it sounds better on the tongue than either my maiden or married last name. The second bigger reason I go by Angela Scott has to do a bit with my faith and religious upbringing. I've always lived a little bit in the grey tones of the world--not entirely an angel and not necessarily devilish either; somewhere in the middle. With my pen name, I feel I have a bit more freedom to write the scenes and words that are true to my characters then if I wrote under my given name. My given name would limit me, I feel. The funny thing? A lot of people within my religious community know Angela Scott is me anyway. Now, don't get me wrong, it isn't like I'm writing rated R or X type works. That's not me. That stuff makes me blush and giggle. I would say I hover more around the PG-13 area, but I take some liberties in my writing that some of my faith would disagree with. Probably the whole zombie idea in itself they would disagree with. That's okay. To each their own. So I guess I use the pen name, in a way, to place a separation between me and my faith. Some will agree with this. Some will not. This is a decision I made for myself and feel comfortable in doing. All I know is that I can't have tough cowboys running around yelling, "Gosh Dangit!" and always doing the moral thing. They would come off looking like pansies and the Wild, Wild West wouldn't seem so tough. As far as writing goes, it doesn't matter if I go by Angela Scott or Angela Stinkyface Pimplehead, I would continue to write to the best of my ability either way. I think every writer should. The decision to use an author's true name or a pen name is a personal decision--every pen name is created with a particular reason in mind--and should be respected. To link pen names with crap writing is wrong. It just isn't true. What would Mark Twain, Dr. Seuss, J.K. Rowling, Richard Bachman, or A.M. Barnard think? |
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