Cutting The Fat

While working on A Promised Fate, I reached out to a handful of Beta Readers, provided the readers with fourteen chapters and asked for their most candid responses.  Some of the readers came back to me after the two weeks were up and said "we love you! we love Ari!!"  (thank you, I love you, too. I know Ari is hot right?)

The beta readers that gave more of a response admitted that the real story and plot doesn't come to play until about chapter 6.  And I cannot agree with them more.

Details are important to me for some silly reason, I like to add off story (not back story as much as a side story that is unimportant to the plot.)  I always find that I fall in love with the characters when they are at the dinner table with family talking about normal family life and laughing.  When plot comes, I have this sort of connection with them now and I feel like I know them, and I know what they are thinking and feeling. This makes the reading experience a little more powerful maybe.  I am character driven writer, and this style has many flaws. I wish I could be more plot driven and I am currently working on this goal of mine. 
Like a swimmer and pool of water, every reader is different, some of us like to jump right in and get to the plot right as quickly as possible.  Others like to ease into the story and characters one toe at a time.

Do you start with just a toe and then ease in to the water or do you cannonball in blindly to the, let's face it, probably freezing water?

Some readers have a boatload of questions that they NEED , make that DEMAND answers to and others prefer to make up their own answers.

I know that as an writer, I spoon-feed details and plot lines.  I am sorry. I do not give my readers as much power as I should allow.  I am a control freak.  I know this - Ava gets this from me honestly.

I know what kind of a writer I am, but what kind of a reader are you?  What do you like - lots of details?  180 degree plot changes?  Out of nowhere surprises from 'b list' characters? 

As I work on deleting the first several chapters of A Promised Fate - give me your thoughts from a readers perspective! I love hearing from you!  Comment below or friend me on facebook and goodreads!  I'm not on twitter - should I be?

Beta Readers

I had an overwhelming amount of volunteers for Beta Readers and have sent the first 50% out to ten people. Thank you to everyone who said they would help.  I am always so shocked and thrilled from the amount of enthusiasm I get for 3 book, and hopefully we can get A Promised Fate one step closer to publication.



I am looking for a small handful of Beta Readers who are willing to take on about 50% (maybe less) of A Promised Fate (book 3) for feedback. Message me via FB, goodreads, through email or comment below if you are interested. I can work with you on the timeframe but would really like to have comments back by the end of August.  The novel will be available as PDF only. I prefer Beta Readers who have already read the first 2 books in the series but I am happy to work with anyone interested.
A few requests- Be mean to me, hit me with any question/concerns you have- rip the book apart so I am able to see all flaws. Make me cry.

DO NOT SHARE THE PARTIAL WITH ANYMONE.
Thanks : )

ARC and Blog tour for Cover reveal

I am looking for a handful of bloggers who may be interested in an ARC of the 3rd book for review on Amazon/goodreads ect. I am not quite ready to give advanced copies yet but I am working on getting a list of bloggers together. I will be publishing quotes from my favorite blogger reviews in the Praise and Acclaim section at the front of thebook and my top favorites will be quoted on the back of the paperback. The cover reveal will be coming up within the next month and if anyone wants a copy to post to their blog, please let me know and we can work something out. Message me, email me or comment below to sign up for an ARC of A Promised Fate and/or the cover for a reveal on your blog. xoxo cat

New Bio Pics

In-between a few projects and I just wanted to share a couple of quick notes while I have the time. New author pics are coming in from Jennifer Moore at Moore memories photography. I think she has done an awesome job and I cannot wait to pick out my favorite for my new author profile! Book three release date is still not posted but I am on track and I think late summer/early fall A Promised Fate will be available as both ebook and paperback. Quotes from A Promised Fate will be posted to my blog in the upcoming weeks so stayed tuned for them because I am SO excited to share them with you all. I have a lot of great secrets about the 3rd installment and will also be posting the synopsis soon and then later this summer, we will see the cover reveal!!!

Happy June! Time restraints are tight so this will be short and sweet- which is hard for me. If you read my books, you understand.  I like to elaborate.  Great things are happening over here for me and I am  bursting with excitement for the new ventures I am able to embark upon.  No, I still don't have a release date for book 3, A Promised Fate.  But you can add book 3 and book 4, A Forsaken Fate on Goodreads and I urge you to do so.  Also, if you don't already, follow me on Pinterest, I update my Ari and Ava boards almost daily and I also have a few new boards for new characters in the series, Korie and Cameron.
Recently, I signed up to work again with my cover artist, Derek Murphy at CreativIndie and we are doing a little marketing research.  Derek threw together a new cover for A Beautiful Fate and we are anxious to see the difference in book sales between the book with a character on the cover and  the book without a person. 
As a reader, I prefer my covers not to have an image of person.  I like to let my imagination run wild with the character's looks.  Derek might feel the opposite with belief that covers with people on the them drawl in the reader faster and therefore produces more sales.  I am not a sales driven writer, but I am a curious writer and I LOVE research. (insert snorting and the pushing of my eyeglasses up my nose.)
I have included the protégé cover below - comments are not only welcome, but I URGE, BEG, and PLEAD you to give me you opinion. New vs. Old. What are you thoughts on book covers in general?  As a reader, what do you look for in a cover when choosing your next book?  Do you like the simple images that let your imagination do the work or do you like the cute couple kissing or the steamy, sweaty hunk(but let's face it, probably gay) guy? I really want to know - join the discussion on Facebook.  or post below. I love connecting with my readers.  If you aren't already my friend, it's only because you didn't ask : ).
Also, if you like the new cover, it is only available for a limited time - grab it today for ebook only at Amazon

New

Original

All I hear anymore is "book 3! book 3! when's book 3?!" and I have to tell you- hearing that never gets old. I love that readers enjoy the characters and the story as much as I do. And so, I have a bit of fun news to share- NO, I do not have a release date but I have begun to work again with my editor. The first part of the novel is off to be cleaned and polished and ready for readers. I will say- that I sometimes find the editing process to be the longest part. My editor and I work very closely. It's not just commas and misspelled words, we work on the voice of the characters and the prose, moving parts of the story around and debating over the use of certain words. I love this part of the creative process as I learn so much.  It is slow, time consuming process, but it's totally worth it. I want to deliver on quality material that keeps the reader coming back for more and I take my editing very seriously. With the first part of the book out of my hands, I am finally moving forward on the ending, the cover art and then finally book 4. : ) Stayed tuned as I promise to keep readers updated with any new news pertaining to the series.
ciao,
cat