Hallowread 2014!!

Hiya gang! How's everybody doing? Are we all ready for my favorite season and holiday? EEKK!! Well... in honor of that and the fact that I'll be at Hallowread for the second year in a row, we're going to spend the rest of September and most of October spotlighting the fabulous authors, bloggers, and paranormal investigators attending this event! So, sit back, grab your coffee, and your one-click finger, and enjoy the show! You're sure to find some new pretties for your kindle <3

The amazing artists attending Hallowread 2014

Pj Schnyder

Tee Morris

Pip Ballantine

Kady Cross

L.M. Pruitt

Jackie Mae

Vonnie Winslow Crist

Elizabeth Kirke

Christopher Mannino

Alexa Egan

Megan Parker

Nathan Squiers

Sara Humphreys

CJ Ellisson

AC Arthur

Rachel Rawlings

Andrew Grey

Tiffany Carmouche

Cat Miller

Julieanne Lynch

AC James

Elizabeth Kirke

Willow Cross

Kelly Harmon

Kaye Guiliani

Rochelle Maya Callen

Mary Behre

D. Antoinette

Jessica Verday

Dead of Night Paranormal Investigations

Maryland Paranormal Research

Nerd Girl

Make sure that you check in each day to see the spotlighted artist.

Get your tickets to this wicked event by clicking HERE.

Also make sure you go over to the Facebook page HERE and show some love by clicking that little like button :)

As always, until next time...

Hey K.B.! What should be in my media kit?

Media Kits

A few days ago I posted on my Facebook profile inviting other authors to send me their cover reveals, new releases, and giveaways for added promotion. Because extra promotion never hurt anyone's work . I would post their material here on my review blog. I asked that all authors send me in an email, what they wanted promoted and asked them to include a media kit. That makes my life easier than tracking down covers, blurbs, links, and author info. Especially since I was offering to do them a favor <3
I was a little shocked as I began receiving emails at just how many authors didn't know what a media kit was or what it included. So, I thought that I would take this opportunity to let authors out there that may not be aware of what a media kit was, or those that were too afraid to ask.

What should be included in a well prepared media kit?

• Media kits should always be prepared in a Word Doc, or another program that is compatible.
• Approved Author Picture
• Author Biography
• All of the covers of your books
• All of your book blurbs
• All of the links to purchase your books
• All of the links that fans can stalk you on
• Book Trailers
• Excerpts
• And, any promotional graphics. 

As you can see, it's really quite simple, but still one of those things that a large majority of new authors, and a few seasoned authors don't know about.

A media kit makes things very easy on you, AND all reviewers and bloggers helping to promote you. Since we want to ensure further dealings with our blogger friends, a media kit is a handy-dandy thing to have ready to go.

As always, until next time...

Narratives. What's the big deal?

Narratives. 

That tiny word can evoke fear from writers and readers, alike. And, I am no exception to that fear. 

Recently, I embarked on a joint writing endeavor with fellow authors, Jennifer Malone Wright and Willow Cross entitled Beary Tales. After countless hours of discussion, mapping and planning-- we decided that this particular story needed to be told from a third person omniscient point of view. 

Naturally... I freaked. Yes, I know I said we agreed this P.O.V. was necessary for the story, but it was also my very first time writing in that P.O.V. and all of my fears bubbled up to the surface. 

I guess maybe I should backtrack a little first... some of you out there might not understand the subtle and not so subtle differences in P.O.V.'s. 

I'm going to give you a shortcut to the definitions of all them. :) On Grossmont College's edu site, Creative Writing Instructor, Karl Sherlock posted THIS article explaining them. Take a few minutes and peruse that piece and then come back here.

Back? Awesome! Okay, now allow me to tell you why I freaked. Typically I write in a first person subjective/limited point of view. And, always in a past tense. Which means I write from one characters point of view-- what he/she feels sees, experiences, thinks, and smells is how my story is told. At the time that I'm writing that story... I AM that character. For me, it lends to the credibility of my story, the character's story. It also allows the reader to connect with our main hero/heroine because the main character is talking to the reader like a friend would speak to them. 

When you write a story from a third person point of view, the narrator is an all seeing God of sorts. The narrator tells us the story-- our narrator tells us what each character feels, sees, hears, smells and experiences... but also... their own observations as well. For me it's harder to connect with our m/c(s) and if not done properly, it's confusing as hell!

Personally, I also have a difficult time connecting with characters that are written in the present tense (I pick up the..., I look at the..., etc). THIS is an awesome article on the pros and cons of past/present tense writing. I found it extremely helpful and you may also.

Willow, Jenn and I are well into our story now, and I've learned so many helpful tips, tricks and methodologies in writing third person from them. I will be forever grateful. Because of this, I've expanded my writing abilities and have grown as an author. And, that's what all of us strive for, right? :) Feel free to post a comment about your favorite narrative and why in the section below!

Don't forget you can also follow me on these sites:

Website

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Goodreads

Amazon

As always, until next time...