Afraid of Everything

I’m delighted to share my thoughts today on a new release by friend, fellow blogger and author Karen Jones Gowen.

Karen recently moved to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. She is the managing editor at WiDo Publishing, a cookie baker, and a novelist. Now, here’s my thoughts.

AFRAID OF EVERYTHING by Karen Jones Gowen

Within the first few paragraphs author Karen Jones Gowen draws you into her latest release, AFRAID OF EVERYTHING.

Within those first few minutes you begin to feel the emotions of Helena Carr and can’t let go. Her anxiety surrounds you and you understand her dilemmas.

Helena is afraid of everything. She quit her job and contemplates the changes she could make to her life in order to overcome her fears. However, life has other plans for her. She is left in a coma following a terrible traffic wreck.

While in the coma Helena encounters strange new worlds and people who know her better than she knows herself. Slowly overcoming her fears, Helena is faced with her most difficult challenge – waking from the coma.

The author has crafted an inspiring story as she takes readers on Helena’s journey of self-discovery. Wanting a quick fix to her life, Helena finds the path to solving her anxiety problems has some amazing twists.

AFRAID OF EVERYTHING is spellbinding, a story that will capture your imagination and surprise you in many ways.

Afraid of Everything by Karen Jones Gowen, WiDo Publishing, @2014, ISBN: 978-1937178598, Paperback, 285 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope everything is well in your corner of the world. For those approaching the Thanksgiving holiday I wish for you and your family a safe and happy time of fellowship and fun. Have you ever wondered what a person in a coma experiences?

*This post contains affiliate links.

THE ELECTRICIAN’S CODE by Clarissa Draper

THE ELECTRICIAN’S CODE isn’t a book you would want to start reading at night, alone, especially if you are forgetful about locking doors.

This spine-tingling murder mystery will hold you mesmerized from the opening paragraph to the last line. Weaving several sub-plots, author Clarissa Draper draws them together for an astonishing conclusion that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

Sophia Evans, a code breaker, has been called upon to help with a case involving a suspected arms dealer. All she has to do is monitor the comings and goings of a residence. But as the case unfolds, there is much more involved that leads to other complex issues. In addition, Sophia is dealing with the death of her boyfriend at her own hands.

Meanwhile, Detective Chief Inspector Theo Blackwell is investigating a baffling murder. Disable Doc Tipring is stabbed to death outside his house one morning as he goes to get his paper. A cryptic message is found in his pocket. Finding no answers, Theo asks Sophia for help in understanding the message. A short time later, a woman is found stabbed. The two cases seem unrelated, but common elements lead officials to question further.

Theo and Sophia work to unravel the clues as Sophia deals with issues from her other work. As the clues of the puzzle are uncovered, a calculating killer and a cunning plot are exposed.

The author has created well-developed, likable characters. She has given them faults and emotions readers can relate to. With an eye for detail and rich descriptions, Draper transports readers to England and places them in the midst of the setting.

THE ELECTRICIAN’S CODE is the second installment in the Evans and Blackwell series, but can be read on its own. The author references prior events, but not to the extent that new readers are left in the dark. Returning fans will enjoy catching up with the latest happenings in Theo and Sophia’s lives.

The story moves at a steady pace with a few twists and turns along the way. This intriguing mystery will keep you guessing as you try to break the code.

Author Clarissa Draper’s website is http://clarissadraper.com and you can find out more about the book here.

The Electrician’s Code by Clarissa Draper, Evans and Blackwell Mystery Book #2, WiDo Publishing, @2014, ISBN: 978-1937178567, Paperback, 305 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A digital copy of this book was sent to me by the author. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks for stopping by today. Do you enjoy piecing the clues together as the protagonist does?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lighting Candles in the Snow by Karen Jones Gowen

Being a mystery/thriller fan, I sometimes like to take a break to read something more soothing to my spirit. While heartache, loneliness, and despair aren’t soothing, it’s the redeeming qualities of these emotions that sooths and heals.

The latest release by author Karen Jones Gowen, LIGHTING CANDLES IN THE SNOW, brings all these emotions into play for a rewarding story.

The story focuses on Karoline London and what she encounters during and after her six year marriage dissolves. Her ex-husband, Jeremy, has an addiction and she later learns he also has past secrets that have affected his life.

From the opening chapter where Karoline tries to prop-up her marriage, the author weaves a realistic story filled with the hopes and dreams of life together to the realization of promises crushed.

As Karoline’s marriage falls apart and she struggles to pick up the pieces, raw emotions are exposed. The love and support of Karoline’s sister and brother-in-law is a double-edged sword. Karoline appreciates them being there, but they can’t really understand. They have a loving marriage and seven kids. She has an ex and no children to love.

Gowen mixes the elements of divorce, Karoline’s feelings of self-worth, dating, and family into a story you won’t be able to put down. From heartache to hope, from trauma to triumph, Gowen has created a story that will bring you to tears and then lift your spirits with laugh-out-loud moments. 

LIGHTING CANDLES IN THE SNOW is a feel-good story of human nature overcoming hardships to find happiness. It’s filled with a dose of faith, hope, romance, family, and love. An added bonus is delicious surprise recipes at the end of most chapters.

The characters are well-developed and likable. The dialog flows smoothly and at a steady pace with an unexpected ending. It’s a delightful read.

Author Karen Jones Gowen's website is http://karenjonesgowen.com/

Lighting Candles in the Snow by Karen Jones Gowen, WiDo Publishing, @2012, ISBN: 978-1-937178-22-2, Paperback, 286 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook of this story was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
Do you enjoy books that lift your spirits? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a great Monday and remember to share a book with a friend.

Author S.B. Roozenboom: Keep On Writing

 

I’m always delighted when I meet a ‘new-to-me’author and am able to introduce them to you as well. Today I’d like to welcome author S.B. Roozenboom to Thoughts.

S.B. (Sarah) is the author of the paranormal young adult novel, PREDATOR GIRL. Here’s a brief description of it: Strange and unusual beasts that few people are aware of roam our world. Jared Ferlyn is one of these few—a Finder, born with the gift for detecting and tracking paranormal beings. Tagging these Otherworlders for the government, he’s had his share of keeping fey, nightlings and other creatures from human sight. But when a strange new girl comes to town, Jared is unable to classify her despite his training and experience. 

Tracking her, he is pulled into a dangerous environment that not even a Finder is prepared for.

Sarah was born to the great northwest, where she grew up submerged in fairytales and make-believe. As a teen, when the stress of reality got to her, she turned to writing to create her own worlds. At seventeen, she completed her first young adult fantasy novel, and by twenty years old she has completed three with four and five on the way. 

Sarah has graciously answered a number of questions about her writing for me.

Mason - Have you always wanted to write or was there an event that lead you to writing?

Sarah - I have been writing since I was a kid. My parents own a repair shop which they once both worked at, therefore I spent many evenings after school stuck there in the office with little to do. Writing and drawing was how I spent my time there. I used to draw and write on old, used computer paper, then staple all the pages together like a booklet.

My success with novels, however, came in high school. I had just gotten out of my first real relationship, which ended very badly, and I felt really broken by it. My high school peers were passing rumors about me as they did not like the person I had been dating, and my best friend in the whole world was so mad at me for dating him that she had changed schools. I felt like the lowest person ever, therefore I started reading a ton of young adult books and writing a lot. 

After reading the Twilight series (the first book series I had ever finished) I said to myself, “You know, you love books. You love writing even more… why are you not writing your own?” So I spent my entire summer before senior year writing. In the fall, I came back with 900 double-spaced pages of my first book, called MARKINGS (which actually, after cutting it down and editing it to a hair over 300 double-spaced pages, got picked up for publication by my current publisher, WiDo, and is due for release fall 2013).

Mason - Of all the authors (past and present) you enjoy reading, has any one (or more) been an influence in your writing?

Sarah - There are three authors who really inspired me. Stephenie Meyer definitely got my ball rolling, you could say. Before reading Twilight, I had a lot of difficulty with reading a whole book. I’m kind of a go-go person, so if I’m actually going to sit down and read something, it has to hold my attention nonstop, or I won’t come back to it. I got hooked on these books within a couple of chapters, mostly because some of the things said or done by Bella Swan reminded me of myself. And then she meets Edward, this sexy, dangerous vampire that anyone who has read the Twilight series will fall in love with (I’m sorry, but Rob Pattinson is nothing like the Edward in the book in my opinion) so of course I plowed through in about twenty-four hours. 

My other two favorite writers are Suzanne Collins and Becca Fitzpatrick. I can almost say that I love The Hunger Games more than Twilight, but it’s a tough call. Then of course I’m terribly in love with the Hush, Hush saga, and I’m dying for the last book to come out! 

These three ladies know how to tell a darn good story, and I can only hope to one day be as popular as they are!

Mason - What is an average writing day like for you? Do you write longhand and on the computer, have a favorite place to write, a favorite time to write?

Sarah - I used to write for six hours straight or until my eyes were twitching and dry! My mother used to come downstairs and tell me to get my butt off the computer and go eat something because I would forget to eat or drink water—that’s how crazy obsessed I was. Now days it’s a little harder, as I am out of high school and have work alongside a new and wonderful boyfriend keeping me busy. I don’t really have a favorite place to write—our computer is in the creepy basement, so I can’t say it’s my favorite place. It’s just the only place there is right now. Ha, ha. 

Mason - Do you just jump right into a story or do you plan and outline?

Sarah - It depends. Usually I get an idea in my head—God, I feel so bad for people who are with me when I get a new story idea because it can happen at any time in any place and I freak out cause I’m so excited—then I just shoot through the first few chapters. After that I have to pause and think, “Okay, what is the point of this story? Where do I want it to go?” Then I have to draft an outline so I don’t lose ideas or get messy and drawn-out with the plot.

Mason - What is the worst advice you’ve ever received concerning writing?

Sarah - Hmmm, I’m not sure. Most of the information I’ve gotten from people is good. I guess the only bad advice I ever took was using a vanity press for one of my novels a couple years ago. The company was very nice and they are all about getting kids into reading, but my book really needed more help than it got, and the process was much more drawn out than what they told me it would be. 

The book got published with a number of errors that I sent revisions for over a year ago that my so called “editor” was supposed to fix. She didn’t. The whole thing broke my heart and discouraged me because that book was my baby, and I wanted it perfect. My friends and family and friends of family etc. had to see it full of mistakes… Lesson learned. I was so grateful when I sold my next finished work, PREDATOR GIRL, to WiDo, who did an amazing and beautiful job!

Mason - How would you encourage someone who has never read your genre to give it a try?

Sarah - If I was going to encourage someone to read young adult, I’d first hand them a copy of my book, PREDATOR GIRL, then copies of The Hunger Games, Twilight, and Hush, Hush, then say, “Read these.” I guarantee you wouldn’t come out the same person. Ha, ha!

Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?

Sarah - MARKINGS, my very first novel ever written, will be coming out next year—though I have a feeling the name is going to change so check my website frequently. That one is also a paranormal romance for teens. Then I just finished my first teen sci-fi novel, which may have a literary agent interested in it. Not sure yet. I have a couple other projects in the works including a teen paranormal comedy, but my life is shifting a bit, so I don’t know if I’ll finish them this year or not.

Mason - What advice would you give to unpublished/new writers?

Sarah - I would tell them never EVER give up! If you love to write, and you want to write a book, I’m telling you that you can do it. Just don’t stop writing, and don’t start telling yourself your book is worthless and no one would want to read it. Study and read your genre, take your ideas to paper, and you’ll be amazed what can happen. I was barely seventeen when I sat down and told myself that no matter how crappy life got or how busy or wonderful etc., I would finish it and it would be published… and look where I am now. I’m not even twenty-two yet and I’ve got five books written and three in publishing!

Sarah, thanks so much for joining us today and talking about your writing. I especially like the fact that you didn’t give up on your work. That’s good advice for everyone, no matter what they are undertaking.

For more about Sarah and her writing, visit her website at www.theofficialsbboom.yolasite.com or write to her at Diane.boom@yahoo.com

PREDATOR GIRL can be purchased through WiDo Publishing’s online bookstore and it will soon be available on Amazon.com, Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble as well.

Has there been a book that inspired you to do something - write, cook, travel? Are you a reader of all genres including young adult? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a great Monday and share a book with a friend.

Author Raymond Spitzer Shares His Story And A Giveaway

Please join me in welcoming a author Raymond Spitzer as the special guest blogger today as he stops by to talk about writing and his current release, ARIZONA GUY, a regional mystery set in Arizona.

Here’s a brief synopsis of ARIZONA GUY: He didn’t know he was an Arizona guy until someone called him a California guy. Ted White, a high school band director comes to Ajo, Arizona, to house-sit for his aunt and uncle, and to get far away from a broken engagement. But the relatives are missing, and in the process of unraveling the mystery of their disappearance, this small desert town comes to mean more to Ted than he ever could have imagined.

I met Raymond through his publisher, WiDo Publishing Company. Thanks to Raymond and Bruce at WiDo Publishing, I can offer 2 copies of ARIZONA GUY as a giveaway with Raymond‘s post. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway guidelines.

Raymond is here to tell us ‘his story’ and I think you will find it quite interesting.

I had a difficult time learning to read. My first grade teacher was ineffective, so my parents sat me down each night and made me read. It was sheer torture. Eventually I learned. Reading became a pleasure and then a strength. In high school I took a creative writing class that ignited desire to become a published author. Science fiction was my passion at the time, so I wrote SF stories and accumulated rejection slips. I majored in creative writing and English in college, but I didn’t break through with any sales. (Three stories were published in a fanzine and I co-edited a fan publication which contained lots of my writing, but those didn’t count. I didn’t get paid.)

Facing facts, I became a teacher and writing took a back seat. It wasn’t until a career change to being a public safety telecommunicator that I had the creative energy to go back to writing. Without papers to grade and students to worry about, I started contemplating a mystery set in a small fictional town in southern Arizona just like Ajo. I dreamed about the story and worked on it haphazardly for years. The characters and story evolved but I never got to the end and was never satisfied.

Then I read a biographical sketch of Henry B. Eyring. His father was a Great Scientist who expected him to follow his footsteps in physics. He tried, but his heart wasn’t in it. Finally his father asked if he pondered physics problems when he wasn’t actively working on them. He said he didn’t. His father said, “Maybe physics isn’t for you.” Freed from those expectations he excelled in his own path and became an important church leader. I applied this lesson to myself. What did I constantly ponder? My story! With renewed vigor I determined to finish it to my liking.

I changed the fictional town to Ajo (if J.A. Jance could name real Arizona towns, so could I) and persevered to the end. I got the story just like I wanted it. Then I tried to sell it. Two rejections later I couldn’t find a suitable publisher. The story had a religious element that would not be suitable for most publishers. I reluctantly put it on the shelf.

A year later I found a new publisher, WiDo Publishing, whose website looked very promising. I dusted off the story, made some changes, and mailed it off. Three weeks later WiDo called and said they were interested in my story, if I would make some changes. I was willing. Instead of the trilogy I had projected, they wanted a whole series of gentle mysteries. They wanted to reduce the religious element (it was too preachy) and take out most of the themes that littered the landscape. 

My editor said, “Save them for future books. Concentrate on the mystery and one theme.”  It took five rewrites, but we made it a saleable novel. The editing refined my conception and made ARIZONA GUY sing. Most people who read it say, “I couldn’t put it down. When is the next book due?” (It’s in the works!)

Raymond, thanks for guest blogging and sharing your story with us. I like the fact that your parents worked with you on reading and that lead you to writing. Wishing you much success with your series.

Now for a bit more background on Raymond. He was born in California and resided in Japan and Montana before his parents saw the light and brought him to Arizona. He grew up in Nogales from the age of three and completed high school and college in Tucson. Raymond taught school in Ajo and Gila Bend for sixteen years before becoming a public safety telecommunicator with Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Ajo. ARIZONA GUY is his first published book.

ARIZONA GUY can be purchased at the Ajo Copper News Book Store in Ajo, Arizona; and online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and from WiDo Publishing.

Here is what one reader had to say about ARIZONA GUY: Raymond Spitzer's debut novel, "Arizona Guy", is a charming, suspenseful mystery. Spitzer delightfully depicts the wonderful friendships and occasional dangers of small town life along the border between the United States and Mexico. With it's snappy dialogue and captivating hints of potential romance between "Arizona Guy" Ted White & detective Blanca "Sandy" Sandino, Spitzer's novel earns a well deserved place alongside other classics of the genre such as Robert Parker's Jesse Stone series.  - Rich Radford, (Torrance, California) Daily Breeze.

Now the giveaway guidelines. To enter this giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win ARIZONA GUY.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Just so you know, I don’t share the mailing information or use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance at one of 2 copies of ARIZONA GUY will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Aug. 15.

Now what do you constantly ponder? Share your thoughts and thanks for stopping by.

 

WiDo Publishing Seeking Submissions

Today I’m pleased to welcome Karen Gowen as the special guest blogger not as an author or fellow blogger but as a publishing executive to talk about how a family-owned publishing company came to be.

Karen is the author of FARM GIRL and UNCUT DIAMONDS. She blogs at Coming Down the Mountain: A Writer's Blog. She is also an Assistant Editor of WiDo Publishing, which is currently seeking submissions. I ask Karen to explain a bit about this small indie press and what it can offer authors.

WiDo Publishing is a small, family-owned press located in Salt Lake City, UT, started in 2007 for the purpose of publishing my book, FARM GIRL. Some say a publisher launches a book, in this case, a book launched a publisher. I blogged about how all this happened in this post (add link). For the first couple years of WiDo’s existence, I was just one of the authors. Now I am more involved in promoting WiDo online and actively working as an editor.

A number of editors live outside the area– one in California, one in Minnesota and one in Germany. There are five editors, two interns and two copy editors who go over each manuscript numerous times to make sure it is polished and professional before it heads to the typesetter. Once typeset, it is again reviewed by an editor and at least one copy editor. No book is released until it is thoroughly and completely edited even if that means release dates are pushed back.

Genres accepted for publication range from memoir, women's fiction, YA, fantasy, mystery, to action adventure. With WiDo, the story is key. If we like the story, the writing style, the characters and feel that the work has something special, we don't care about genre. WiDo likes a manuscript to be around 50K- 80K words, but will publish less than 50K and up to 100K if the work merits it. We do not publish illustrated children's books, middle-grade (unless it has wide appeal), how-to books, self-help, or erotica.

Cover designs vary from original artwork, photography, to computer-generated designs, depending on the genre and the tone of the work. For this reason, WiDo's books do not look anything alike. It would be very difficult to pick out three titles from a group and say "these all look alike and must be published by the same company."

WiDo distributes through Ingram to bookstores and through Follett to libraries. WiDo's titles are sold in numerous independent bookstores from East to West in the United States, although bookstores are cutting back on their purchases for obvious reasons. For this reason, WiDo wants their authors to have a strong online presence to maximize online and ebook sales. Online, WiDo's books are available through their own website as well as the usual online sites, with a select few available through Borders.com and The Book Depository.

WiDo has been slowly building. There have been several business models that have had to be readjusted based on economic and industry changes. An advantage to a small press is the ability to adapt quickly when times call for it. For this reason, WiDo has kept its releases down, with only nine titles published since it started in 2007. There are six more planned for release in 2011, and twelve in the works for 2012. WiDo is currently seeking new submissions. The submission guidelines are here. 

There are those who question our contract because it is short and simple. Any author who has been offered a contract with us is welcome to negotiate any segments they feel uncomfortable with or might want further explanation. We are flexible and easy to work with. We seek to develop a relationship of trust with each of our authors. The highest compliment we can receive is when an author expresses how thrilled they are to be part of the WiDo Publishing family.

Karen, thanks for guest blogging. It’s interesting learning more about your Indie Publishing Company. As more and more author are looking in that direction, I see the demand growing. It’s a wonderful way for readers to find new authors they might not otherwise discover. I think sometimes authors may not realize just how much a small press has to offer them. Wishing your company much success.

For more on WiDo Publishing, check out their website, like them on Facebook and find them on Twitter.

What are your thoughts on small publishing companies? As an author, are you surprised by how much they can offer? As a reader, do you read books published by indie companies? As always, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.