Tag: hybrid

Interview with {Blaire Edens}: Part One

oam-cover-finalBlaire brings An Officer and a Mermaid to our Falling in Deep Collection. Make your fins happy, and pre-order the novella here. She’s a talented author and an all-around lovely lady.

Tell me about you. What do you write?

I write mostly Contemporary Romance for Entangled Publishing. My book, Wild About Rachel, was published last year and I have several upcoming projects with them in 2015 and 2016. I also write the odd novella and I’ve worked as a ghost writer, too.

When did you start writing? When did you start publishing? Is this your first attempt at self-pub?

I started writing very early. I wrote my first book in second grade. Not only did I write it but I also illustrated and edited it. I published it using discarded wallpaper samples from the local Sherwin Williams and pieces of a shoebox. I’ve always been able to best relate to life and other people through stories so writing is the way I interface with the world. It’s also the way I figure out things like relationships and religion. The big stuff. When I don’t write, I feel like I can’t breathe.

Has there been a progression through genres in your writing?

I started in literary fiction. I have three manuscripts under my bed that I may, or may not, ever shop around. I think I started there because I was in that post-college phase where everything looks foreign, and well, frankly, way too adult. I love those books and I poured my heart and soul into them but in some ways, they’re way too personal to release into the wild. I love writing romance because it’s fun, every couple is different and it keeps me connected to my femininity in a way that nothing else does. Romance makes people smile. We all love “love” and the idea of finding love in unexpected places and situations.

What authors do you like to read?

I hope you’ve got a while. *smiles* Let’s do it by genre. Fantasy: Patrick Rothfuss, Jennifer Fallon and Robin Hobb. Romance: Eloisa James, Rae Ann Thayne and Patience Griffin. Mainstream Fiction: Susanna Kearsley, Barbara Claypole White and Kate Morton.  Mystery:  Jenn McKinlay and Karen MacInerney. I read a lot and I read widely. I’m constantly learning something new from other authors. The very best part of being a professional writer is that I get to meet my literary heroes on a fairly regular basis. There’s nothing like meeting an author you admire and finding you enjoy the person as much or more than the books. I will seriously read anything. Anything.

You have something coming out very soon. Tell me about that.

An Officer and a Mermaid, my installment of in the Falling in Deep Collection, is out July 21. I’m so excited about this book. I felt so much creative freedom since it was being published without the limitations that sometimes come with larger publishers and more distance between the writer and the end product. It feels like it’s *totally mine* and that is a wonderful feeling. I also got to work alongside some of my favorite writers. There’s just something about working in conjunction with other incredibly creative and talented folks that makes a project magical.

Watch for Part Two of my interview with Blaire Edens on Tuesday, July 21, 2015.

oam-cover-finalAn Officer and a Mermaid:

When a slave uprising threatens the life of Syreena, the daughter of an eighteenth century plantation owner, a servant uses voodoo to transform her into a mermaid. The spell will be only broken when she returns to the beach where it was cast. After three hundred years of swimming, she’s ready to trade fins for legs.  The only problem is she can’t find her way.

Dylan, a twenty-first century Coast Guard Officer, has sworn off love for the sea. When a wave throws him overboard, Syreena uses her amulet to ward off the sharks and save his life.

With Syreena and Dylan stranded on a remote cay, Dylan has the know-how to build a raft and navigate but his near-drowning has made him terrified of the water. Syrenna will use every charm she has to convince Dylan to take her home.

Even if it means falling in love. . .

About Blaire:

edens_blaire_600x600Blaire Edens lives in the mountains of North Carolina on a farm that’s been in her family since 1790. When she’s not plotting, she’s busy knitting, running, or listening to the Blues. Blaire loves iced tea with mint, hand-stitched quilts, and yarn stores. She refuses to eat anything that mixes chocolate and peanut butter or apple and cinnamon. She’s generally nice to her mother, tries to remember not to smack her bubble gum, and only speeds when no one’s looking.

Meet Blaire:

Website

Blog

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Join Blaire’s Club

Love mermaids? Looking for a great beach read? The Falling in Deep Collection, a collection of 15 unique tales of creatures of the deep, is rolling out the first novella in their collection at the end of May.

From mermaids to sirens, Miami to Athens, dark paranormal romance to contemporary stories with steam, the fifteen award-winning and best-selling authors of the Falling in Deep Collection are bringing you mermaid tales like you’ve never seen before.

Every week beginning May 26th, 2015, we’ll be releasing one unique, never-before-published novella! Each novella will feature our favorite creature of the deep: mermaids.

The Falling in Deep Collection (May – September Releases)

Scales by Pauline Creeden

Ink: A Mermaid Romance by Melanie Karsak

Of Ocean and Ash by A. R. Draeger

Deep Breath by J. M. Miller

At the Heart of the Deep by Carrie Wells

The Mermaid’s Den by Ella Malone

How to be a Mermaid by Erin Hayes

The Glass Mermaid by Poppy Lawless

An Officer & a Mermaid by Blaire Edens

The Water is Sweeter by Eli Constant

Cold Water Bridegroom by B. Brumley

A Beyond the Sea Prequel by Emily Goodwin

Immersed by Katie Hayoz

Siren’s Kiss by Margo Bond Collins

To Each His Own by Anna Albergucci

Never miss a release! Join our newsletter for behind the scenes information and release updates:

Join the Mermaids!

30 Days of #MamaWriteLife

Have you tried Periscope?

I found a new platform – actually, Bethany Jett of SeriousWriter.com tried it, posted in Jon Acuff‘s 30 Days of Hustle group, and I grew curious. Several members use the mobile app, and it has been great fun. It’s a lot like people watching, but more specific and a lot more interactive than Youtube.

On this Monday, June 1, 2015, I’ve decided to give Periscope a try – for the first time… EVER. I’ll look like a dork, but why not?

Over the next week, I’ll decide on the best daily time to Periscope, and I will try to stick to that time from there forward. I’ll let you know when I know.

Periscope uses Twitter handles, so find me – @msbbrumley

Today begins 30 days of a daily #MamaWriteLife Periscope broadcast.

Next month, via Periscope, I’ll be counting down to my first ever writer’s conference, and everything I will be doing to plan for a pitch session.

Invariably, we love platform. We’re writers. We have the audacity to believe that we have something to say. So here we are: saying it. And with Periscope, I can say it and read commentary – and answer what you say or ask.

InterviewMelanieKarsakImage.docx

Find me – I’d love to meet you!

~B

Strange & Beautiful – The Hybrid Author

 

It’s the first Thursday of the month. I always spend this Thursday of every month, in particular, thinking about writing and the business of writing.

I love to plan. I dream about all the what-ifs. A lot.

I’ve been up early today, off to do a segment on behalf of the Cisco Writers Club at the 97.7 KATX studio with Dr. Stace Gaddy. An accomplished playwright, he’s been great to offer us a regular spot on Good Morning, Texas!

And, of course, tonight 7:00 PM at the Mobley Hilton, we’ll have our May CWC meeting. Topic for discussion is “Publishing.” It’s a broad topic. My associate, A.R. Draeger, has written a series of four articles covering the pros/cons of self publishing and traditional publishing for the CWC Column, Rendezvous with Writing, published each Thursday in Eastland County Today. Throughout the process, she’s been feeding me information.

I, also, recently attended an online workshop by Jeff Goins. He offered two free workshops related to Art of Work. One was a general workshop, the other – the one I attended – was for want-to-be-so-bad-it-hurts writers.

During the session, he received lots of great questions. Many of them were related to the query “Which path is better?” The short answer, as always, is whichever one works best for you.

However, Jeff Goins recommends the hybrid approach. He said that his first book, self published (You Are a Writer – which I embraced after 25 years of dreaming), sold about $50,000 worth. His second book, published traditionally, sold about $6,000 – thanks to the standard royalties contracts offered through traditional publishing. In short, he likes the hybrid idea.

It’s like this:

When you say, “I write books,” people automatically assume that you must have a publisher. If you don’t, most people think you aren’t a “real writer.” Recently, I was talking with a friend about my upcoming novella release. I had been in discussion with a small press, considering contracts and the like. Her words were “Congratulations, that is the next step to becoming a ‘real writer.'” I expect it, so it’s not bothersome to my ego. What they don’t know is that the climate is changing – the way to make a living as an author is changing.

In the writing world speaking to the non-writing-is-my-business world, traditionally published is the regular colored peacock. When I say, “I’m an author,” people expect me to be able to tell them which press bought my words. When I say, “I love peacocks,” people automatically assume I mean the blue/green ones. But those blue/green ones typically only pay newbies around 20% of earned royalties.

But that white peacock of the publishing world – or self publishing – is quickly overshadowing the traditional method. If I – as an author – want to pay my bills ASAP and have some left over, self publishing is appealing. The expenses are mine, but the royalties are mine 100%, not to mention that word I’m in love with – “control.”

I want to be a piebald writer – little bit of this one and a little bit of that other one.

The benefits of self-publishing include the higher royalty rate. The benefit of traditional publishing is that it can quickly grow that platform. As writers, we all need “platform.” Self published authors work for years to accomplish what a half-hearted attempt by a large, reputable publishing house can accomplish within six months.

As I rush forward (hoping desperately that my skill catches up to my intentions – arriving in decent condition at the same opportunity at the same time), I am learning the self publishing method from a great bunch of authors this year.

And since I am winding down production on my self published novella, Cold Water Bridegroom, due out August 4, 2015, I am currently writing a suspense romance to pitch to Love Inspired (a Christian imprint of Harlequin) later this year. I might not get any traction on that – competition is fierce and their selection process is specific – but it’s enough of a dream to keep me writing. It’s a great way to pursue my piebald / hybrid dream. (:

Thanks to Erin Hayes, Melanie Karsak, Pauline Creeden, AW Exley and Margo Bond Collins, to name a few. As well as we three building our own road through the jungle – my girls! A. R. Draeger and Anna Albergucci

 

P.S. I’m only a control freak when it comes to my work. Mostly.

P.P.S. I do prefer the blue/green peacock variety (just ask my hair). Kung Fu Panda 2 sort of cemented that for me.

P.P.P.S. You can blame my friend for today’s shameless exploitation of peacocks. She surprised me with a drive-by visit this morning, and she brought new peacock goodies for my makes-me-ridiculously-happy collection (a peacock nightlight and a peacock fridge magnet).