You too can be a part of Writing to be Read and WordCrafter Press
We already ran the annual sponsor drive on Writing to be Read this year, and even a second request for sponsors. But, Writing to be Read has only a single sponsor this year. The yearly hosting fees and my Microsoft subscription are coming due this month and next and there’s not enough in the WordCrafter coffers to cover the annual subscriptions that keeps the site up and running, so I’m offering another chance to partner and advertise with Writing to be Read and sending out a third plea for sponsors.
✨Maybe the third time will be the charm. ✨
I offer sponsorship for this blog site to help support the time and effort required to assure we can continue to bring you great content. Sponsorship money helps cover the costs of the annual hosting fee, (which is coming due soon), and other services required to keep our content going. Right now, the WtbR blog team contributes not only content, but time and effort without any kind of compensation. My ultimate goal is to be able to compensate the members of the blog team for the content they contribute, but right now, I’m just hoping to pay the hosting fees on time.
If you enjoy the content on Writing to be Read, don’t just click ‘like’ on those blog posts you enjoy so much. You can be a sponsor for as little as $5 for a single blog segment, or you can sponsor your favorite blog series for a full year, (12 segments), for only $50. See your blog, your website, or your book advertised right here, on Writing to be Read. When you become a sponsor, your ad, with a direct link to your blog or website appears at the bottom of the Writing to be Read post.
The following blog series are still open for sponsors:
“Writer’s Corner”, with Kaye Lynne Booth
“Everyone is a Critic”, with Kaye Lynne Booth
“WordCrafter News”, with Kaye Lynne Booth
“Poetry Treasures”, with Robbie Cheadle
“In Touch With Nature”, with Robbie Cheadle
“Undawntech”, with DL Mullan
Your support is greatly appreciated by this author/publisher/blogger, whether you sponsor the blog or make a donation to help keep WordCrafter Press/Writing to be Read running smoothly and producing great content.
You can find out more about sponsoring for Writing to be Read by visiting the Writing to be Read Sponsor Page. Sponsorships are first come, first serve, so hurry to be sure you can sponsor the blog series of your choice.
Don’t want to advertise or sponsor, but still love the WtbR content and want to show your support? No problem. You can make a donation in the amount of your choosing. Even a buck or two will help: Donate Now
Please, won’t you help keep the great content of Writing to be Read going strong, and WordCrafter Press running smooth? We can’t do it without you.
Winners for the WordCrafter GEM Book Blog Tour Giveaway
We had a great tour last week and a successful. Launch of this groundbreaking method of empowerment for those with pre- and type 2 diabetes. If you followed the tour, by now, you’ve been thoroughly educated about Dr. Daniel J. Cox’s GEM method for managing diabetes and, if you have pre- or Type 2 diabetes, you may be ready to grab a copy of the book and get started. As promised, we’re giving away four signed print copies of A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes (non-U.S. residents, digital copies only), and now, it’s time to announce who the lucky winners are in the GEM Tour Giveaway.
And the Winners Are:
(Drumroll Please)
PVCann (Roberta Writes)
Liz Gauffreau (Roberta Writes)
Kymber (Roberta Writes)
Beth (Poetry by Mich)
Congratulations to the winners! If you haven’t heard from me yet, please contact me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com to claim your prize. (If you don’t think you need this book, prizes are transferable to someone who does.)
August Release: Legends: Monsters That Go Bump In The Night
I’m so excited to tell you about this themed anthology, Legends: Monsters That Go Bump In The Night, which is scheduled to release August 18, 2026. Wendigos, succubus, chupacabras, the angel of death, the phoenix, Trooper 666, killer Jack O’Lanterns, Gilgul and urban legends of the babysitter, and the ghost girl of Cleveland; this anthology has it all. Contributing authors include: Kaye Lynne Booth, Abe Margel, Chris Barili, Joseph Carrabis, Sara W. McBride, C.R. Johansson, Robb T. White, Rebecca M. Senese, Daneaka Scrimshaw. Filled with tales shaped by diverse legends of haunting monsters that will keep you awake at night, in this thought provoking collection of stories. And the best part is, this exciting new themed anthology is already available for pre-order: https://books2read.com/LegendsMonsters, so you can reserve your copy today!
WordCrafter Legends Book Blog Tour
The WordCrafter Legends Book Blog Tour will run August 17 – 21, 2026. I’m excited about this tour because besides meeting some of the contributors through guest posts and readings, and some really fun stuff. Contributing author Chris Barili is offering his own fun photo game and giveaway connected to his story, “The Legend of Trooper 666”. He’ll be featured at the first tour stop and you’ll have all week to send us your photos, so you’ll want to be sure and catch that first stop for that. The winner will receive a print copy of Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night signed by Chris.
Then, you’ll want to follow the rest of the tour to get in on the cool new giveaway, where you get to put a puzzle together by naming the legend that each story is associated with. Winners will be chosen from the players with the most puzzle pieces at the end of the tour and they will receive one of three digital copies that we’re giving away. It’s going to be a lot of fun and hope you all will join us as we launch this originally themed anthology.
A Question About P.O.V.
Okay. So, July was supposed to be a writing month, so I could work on revising Marta. Mainly, I’m changing some of the characters to make the story more colorful. But, here’s the thing. Both of the first two books in the Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, were written in a single p.o.v., but with Marta, for certain things which I need to happen, there almost has to be multiple p.o.v.s for the story to unfold smoothly.
So, what do you think? Each book is about a single woman, and the first two books are in single p.o.v., which makes sense to me. Will readers expect this third book to also be in p.o.v.? Can I fulfill the promise of the premise of a book titled for the main character if I use multilple p.o.v.s? Would multiple p.o.v.s make the book less of a fit in the series? Let me know in the comments. I will greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts.
WordCamp US 2026 is the flagship North American event for the WordPress community, bringing together developers, designers, agency owners, bloggers, and builders for four days of sessions, workshops, networking, and contributor collaboration. This year, WordCamp US will be held at the Pheonix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, August 16–19, and since I am an affiliate, they are offering my audience a great deal. The new Sunday–Wednesday schedule means the weekend before is free to explore the Phoenix area and the Pheonix Convention Center is fully air conditioned for cool comfort to enjoy WordCamp 2026.
The $100 general admission ticket covers four full days of sessions, workshops, and meals, and you can meet and chat with the representatives from WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Jetpack, and Pressable, who sponsor WordCamp US 2026. Even better, as members of my audience, you can get $20 off a general admission ticket by using the code AF26 at us.wordcamp.org/2026/tickets/, so your admission will only cost you $80. But the offer is only good through the end of July, so if you plan to go and wish to use the affiliate discount, get your tickets now.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “WordCrafter News” is sponsored byWordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
It’s Day 3 of the WordCrafter GEM Book Blog Tour, and we’re over at Patty’s Worlds. Host, Patty Fletcher brings us an interview with author Daniel J. Cox and dietician Monica Davis. Join us for a chance to win one of four signed print copies of A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes.
WordCrafter Books Included in Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale
I’m excited to announce that many WordCrafter Press titles will be discounted at Smashwords during their 18th Annual Summer/Winter Sale! The sale, which lasts the entire month of July, is a great time to get WordCrafter Press books, along with books from other talented indie authors, at bargain prices.
You will find the sale here starting on July 1, so save the link:
Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (My Backyard Friends Book 3) – Free
A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes, by Daniel J. Cox, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.
After several hiccups in the publishing process, I’m proud to announce the release of A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes: A new and effective treatment that does not require weight loss, medications, or supplements, by Daniel J. Cox. The author has, through his own experience and research, developed a revolutionary new method of managing pre- and type 2 diabetes which does not require all the traditional methods of diabetes management involving daily medication.
Originally scheduled for a June release, A GEM for your (Pre-) Diabetes is now scheduled for release July 21, 2026.
About A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes: A new and effective treatment that does not require weight loss, medications, or supplements
Have you just been diagnosed with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes and don’t know where to turn, or have you tried different weight-loss programs or medications that haven’t done enough?
GEM—Glucose Everyday Matters offers a practical, science-based approach to preventing and managing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes by focusing on one powerful idea: reducing blood glucose spikes that can quietly damage health, energy, mood, and motivation.
Developed from decades of clinical research and real-world coaching, GEM helps readers understand why blood sugar rises—and how small, realistic choices can improve it. Rather than rigid diets or exhausting exercise plans, GEM teaches flexible strategies that fit everyday life: eating smarter, moving with purpose, understanding your body’s signals, and using glucose feedback as a tool for empowerment.
Inside this book, you will discover how to: • Lower blood sugar naturally and sustainably • Reduce cravings, fatigue, and energy crashes • Lose weight without feeling deprived • Improve motivation, confidence, and emotional well-being • Use simple movement and meal strategies to reduce glucose spikes • Personalize diabetes management to fit your lifestyle and goals • Build lasting habits that support long-term health
Whether you are newly diagnosed, trying to avoid diabetes, struggling despite medications, or supporting a loved one, GEM provides a compassionate, evidence-based roadmap toward better health—one manageable step at a time.
This is not about being perfect. It is about discovering what works for you and making meaningful change is.
WordCrafter A GEMfor your Pre- and Type 2 Diabetes Book Blog Tour
The WordCrafter GEM Book Blog Tour will run July 20-24, 2026. Author Daniel J. Cox will share a series of videos explaining what the GEM method is all about and what it can do for you. Please join us in launching this revolutionary method of diabetes management and educating our global audience.
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This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
The past two years have taken their toll on Arista Kelly. Once an eternal optimist, now she has faced the darkness and must recalibrate what true happiness means for her. Meanwhile, Shane, her ex-boyfriend, is pulling all the right moves to help keep her sane from her heightening paranoia. But it doesn’t help that Iris, her Great Aunt Bethie’s friend, has disappeared.
Still, one additional trial remains. While searching for Iris, Bethie and Arista stumble upon a grand revelation in the eccentric woman’s home. With the discovery, they realize their run of chaos and loss of kin may have roots in a curse that dates back to the 1940s—the time when their family patriarch first built Arista’s cottage in the redwoods and crafted his insightful Ouija table.
This pursuit will not follow their accustomed recipe of adrenalized action, but the high stakes remain. Will the mysterious slow burn of unfolding events finally level Arista’s entire world or be fully extinguished, once and for all?
I received a free digital copy of Hummingbird Moonlight, by Sherri L. Dodd from the review program of Sandra’s Book Clubin exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I chose this book because of the title. It’s common knowledge that I love hummingbirds, and I couldn’t resist a story with hummingbirds in the title.
I had trouble keeping the characters straight due to so many of the character names beginning with the same letter or being very similar. We’ve got a Matty, a Manny, a Maddie, a Mike and a Mateo. Also, an Arista, an Auntie, and an Alicia. To make matters worse, Auntie is also the character of Bethie, but I was almost halfway through the book before I figured that out.
This is book 3 in the series, so that may well have had something to do with my confusion. The author does not re-introduce characters in this book for those who haven’t read the first two books. Nor are referrals to events that happened in the first to books recapped so that readers coming in late in the series have no reference. I was way past the middle of the book before I knew why I was seeing the actions of Mike and his sister, Katie and the strange little girl, while I’m sure someone who had read previous books would have understood and been able to easily follow. There are referrals to earlier events, but they are not explained well.
If you don’t mind just going along for the ride and feeling a little clueless, this is a fine story of magic and mayhem. An ancient family curse and a reversal curse have led to doom for two families. Our characters are the last souls surviving in their family lines and their survival lies in the outcome. Arista and Aunt Bethie are the last of the Kelly clan, and Iris may be the last survivor of the clan casting the original curse on their brood. However, Iris may have risen from the dead and also, she may be possessed by Fergus, whom she killed and fed to the pigs. (I guess I’m still a bit confused.)
Curses, spells, potions, gwishins, and spirit possessions. This story has all the elements of a magical mystery adventure, if you can keep everybody straight, but I do not recommend it as a standalone. I give Hummingbird Moonrise three quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
“That was definitely hot,” I said, propping myself up on an elbow to look at him, “going all ‘Christian Grey’ on me like that.” “Who?” he asked, totally clueless…
I wasn’t prepared for what was in store for me when I took a summer position at Sinclair Stables before my junior year of college. After all, it could only help with my chosen field of equine studies, right? My first encounter with Trey Sinclair wasn’t a pleasant one to say the least. I didn’t realize he was taking time away from his law firm in Atlanta to oversee his family’s business in Bristol Virginia over the summer.
He was definitely an alpha who liked exerting his power . . . and his prowess. And then there was all this weirdness going on there. Like something from a Hitchcock movie. I was there with baggage I didn’t realize I had. Trey Sinclair turned out to be my protector . . . and so much more!
I purchased a digital copy of Shadows & Dreams, by Andrea Smith through a KindofBook Deal. All opinions stated here are my own.
From the cover and title, I didn’t know what to expect, but I certainly didn’t expect a romance. But that is exactly what Shadows & Dreams, by Andrea Smith is as Book 1 in her Dream Series. It turned out to be a romance with an underlying mystery which carries into the rest of the series and keeps you reading.
I don’t read a lot of romances because I find them very formulaic and predictable. They are filled with characters whose actions don’t make any sense, because they fail to communicate clearly to one another. It has to be that way because misunderstandings serve as the obstacles to be overcome in the relationship. Shadows & Dreams met my expectations in this respect, with our heroine and P.O.V. character, Tyler Preston is young and impetuous, and she makes very poor choices, especially whenever alcohol and/or sex are involved.
Tyler Preston lands a job at Sinclair Stables for the summer, and Trey Sinclair is the owner’s son and her boss for the summer. When she discovers she has a stalker, Trey’s concern for her safety goes beyond that of a boss for an employee. As he takes control by moving her into the main house of the estate, Tyler sees the potential for disaster around every corner, but he’s a take charge kind of guy, used to getting his own way. Their set up for a roller coaster of a ride as their on again off again relationship unfolds.
A set of pearls, a torn pair of pajamas, and threatening notes, and photographs – who could the stalker be? The answers to who the stalker is and what’s really going on lie in Tyler’s past, and she must struggle to face the memories from her childhood which she’s kept buried deep inside to find them.
I quite enjoyed this romance mystery, which follows all the tropes and still keeps you guessing. I give Shadows & Dreams five quills.
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About Watch Me
Zoë thinks she has her life figured out. Ballet by day, stripping by night, and a great boyfriend… Well, a good boyfriend, other than two small problems: he’d rather look at his computer than at her, and he hates her job.
But nothing can make exhibitionist Zoë quit stripping. The rush of performing and the thrill of being seen almost make up for the lack of passion in her relationship.
When passion sparks at work, though—with a sexy older man—Zoë is forced to confront the reality of her life. Especially when she discovers the shocking truth…
That sexy older man is her boyfriend’s father.
Nick has one goal: to mend things with his son. He moved home and bought a house big enough for both of them, hoping it would bring them closer. But Tate moving his girlfriend in without asking? That’s just crossing the line.
Or at least, that’s what Nick thinks until he meets his son’s mysterious girlfriend, and discovers that the person who crossed the line… is him.
Thrown together, Nick and Zoë must navigate the thin line between temptation and betrayal, until they discover that fate has a way of making their forbidden connection impossible to ignore.
Watch Me is a story of forbidden love, scorching lust, and second chances that is strictly suitable for audiences 18+.
I purchased Watch Me, by Astra Rose through a KindofBook deal. All opinions stated here are my own. Although there is a warning of adult content in the book description, I would venture to say that possible trigger warnings might be in order, since kink can contain many triggers and this story has a lot of kink. This story features content which would have been considered x-rated in my younger days.
I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover, plain and simple. I don’t do a lot of romance, but it is not unfamiliar to me, and if I’m going to read romance, I prefer it to be on the steamy side. This story met all of those expectations beyond a doubt. Zoe is caught up in trying to live out her mother’s dream of dancing with a ballet company. But, ballet classes are expensive and so is living, so to get by until her big audition with the ballet company, so her job as a stripper seems the perfect solution.
It’s a job her current boyfriend, Tate, doesn’t approve of, so when she starts doing lap dances, because that’s where the money is at, she has a hard time finding the right time to tell him about it. He’s always so distant. The more time that goes by, the more difficult it gets, and before she finds the right time, she finds that she has crossed a line with a sexy older man who comes into the club she works at, who she feels an irresistible connection with.
Although she knows she’ll never see him again, she can’t stop thinking about him. She becomes obsessed with him. As Nick does with her, hiding in the shadows to watch her at the club without her knowledge. It all seems harmless until he discovers that his son’s live-in girlfriend, who has been living in his basement, is the same girl he’s been obsessing over, and she recognizes him, as well.
As always, there are no spoilers here. If my summary has enticed you, you will have to read the book to find out how the whole situation is resolved to create the HEA (Happy Ever After), or HFN (Happy For Now), which is a requirement in every romance.
For adult readers of steamy romances who don’t shy away from sexual kink, this book is the ticket. Watch Me has an intriguing story line which leads to some unexpected outcomes. I give it five quills.
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About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
I may have mentioned that a few times before, but I really do love this time of year. October is such a fun month with scarecrows and jack-o-lanterns, creepy/crawlies, witches and warlocks, ghosts and demons, and all things of the scary variety. When my son, Michael, was little, maybe four or five, and approaching his first Halloween trick-or-treating with his older brothers and sisters, we talked through what he could expect. Our mantra became, “It will be scary, but it will be fun.” And it was. And for the rest of his short life, Halloween was always his favorite holiday, because he could dress up and pretend to be anyone or anything he wanted, at least for a short time.
2025 Dark Fiction Anthologies
So, when this time of year comes around, I always try to do special things to honor his memory. But, I’m a little old to dress in costume, so nowadays most of the fun stuff I do are things like putting out dark fiction anthologies, as I’ve done this year with Curses and Midnight Oil. But those are just two, the most recent in a whole slew of deliciously dark anthologies which have been published by WordCrafter Press. This year’s anthologies both turned out wonderfully. Curses: Chronicles of Darkness will be released Tuesday, September 29, and we’ll be running the WordCrafter Curses Book Blog Tour all this week, starting here, tomorrow, through October 3. Midnight Oil will be released October 28, just in time for Halloween, with a tour running all that week. I hope you’ll come celebrate both of these original anthologies with us this year
Other Halloween Hauntings from WordCrafter Press
During the month of October, all Halloween Hauntings (or dark fiction anthologies from WordCrafter Press), are on sale for our Halloween Hauntings Sale, October 1 – 31, 2025.
Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series
Midnight Roost and Midnight Garden, volumes 1 & 2 in the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology series are both half price at $3.50 each through the links below.
Many writers I’ve known either suffer from writer’s block—or, like Ernest Hemingway—have discovered techniques to lift their minds above that block and leap over it into productive writing.. So if you suffer from writer’s block, even for a day, why try some of these
WACKY WAYS TO WARM-UP
OPEN a book—any book. Often, dictionaries work best. Close your eyes, then point to a page. Open your eyes. Start writing by using whatever word you pointed to. (No cheating here—force yourself to use that particular word.
If your finger rested on an article, such as “an,” “the,” or “a,” start with the word following it. I suggest using this focused free-writing just after you awake in the morning—or even after a nap later. It worked wonders for Ernest Hemingway.
SIT AT A COMPUTER or TYPEWRITER or next to YOUR JOURNAL with pen-in-hand. WRITE a poem. IMMEDIATELY. This need not be a prizewinner. You might begin by describing sunlight filtering through Venetian blinds or ominous clouds churning above your concrete patio. Play with the poem’s language for about fifteen minutes, then embark on your writing project.
FLIP through a MAGAZINE until you find a provocative photograph. Imagine you’re one of the persons in the photo. What are you saying? Thinking? Feeling? Why? Who are you talking with? As you were the character in the photo, write about what’s on your mind for fifteen to twenty minutes. Then start on your project.
JAUNT (or drive, if you must) to an enclosed shopping center (or perhaps an outdoor mall, if weather permits). Find an “outdoor” cafe that serves whatever beverage you prefer. Open your journal and describe your environs. Then watch the people around you. Describe their physiques, clothing, and movements. Capture their voices and words (or dialogue). Then begin your own project. I used this method to write a few chapters of my novella during graduate school. The indoor mall near my home contained a Winstead’s, which inspired me.
AND, of course, DREAM. Jot down your dreams in your journal (which I suggest keeping on a table adjacent to your bed). Respond to those dreams when you first awake. Then begin your project. I’ve also found this technique invaluable when words come to me, too. Many times I lose particular phrases if I don’t jot them down immediately—then worry about revising them later.
GOOD LUCK. If any of these techniques inspire you to plunge into your writing, please let me know. And I’d love to learn the details about which ones helped and what your writing project was.
About Lindsey Martin-Bowen
On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4 th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Author’s Note: This was mistakenly published last Monday, along with the “WordCrafter News” post, so you may have already seen it. I’m re-publishing it on its scheduled day for those who may not have caught it on the earlier date. I’m not sure what happened, but please forgive the misposting.
I studied the craft of writing in the master’s program at Western State Colorado University from 2012-2016. At that time, the term ‘independent author’ left a bad taste in most author’s mouth. Times were rapidly changing in the publishing industry as independent publishing grew in popularity among authors who were tired of waiting to be discovered, which often took many years, and sometimes, not at all. But at that time, the term was associated with poorly written and cheaply manufactured books which were flooding the market by authors who not only wanted to bypass the gatekeepers of traditional publishing but also wanted to use independent publishing as a short cut, skipping over editing, as well, which in most cases, was badly needed.
As I said, things were rapidly changing in the publishing industry, and today, we’ve seen the ‘Big Five’ traditional publishers, dwindle down to the ‘Big Three’, as they struggle to try and keep up with those changes as independent authors take advantage of new technology which make it possible to publish themselves both cheaper and easier. With digital eBooks and aggregates like Draft2Digital, which use P.O.D. (Publish On Demand) for print books, there are no up-front costs to publish your work, and once everything is ready to publish, the whole process can be done in just a few hours. The rise of independent authors has forced traditional publishers to change and adapt, or become extinct.
The key word in ‘Independent Author’ is Independent. Independent authors don’t need to wait for someone to take interest in their work, but we must remember that this also makes us a business and we’re the boss, and we are solely responsible for the quality of the product we put out. Independent publishing should not be used as a short cut to avoid having your book edited, because in most cases, it’s pretty obvious.
That being said, many authors today chose independent publishing because of the control it gives them. Like I said, we are our own bosses. That means we can control the quality of our work, and everything else: title, cover, price, production, and promotion. Certainly, this was one of the main reasons that I chose to become an independent author after gaining a five-year contract for my first novel and finding that having a publisher wasn’t giving me any advantage in selling Delilah. The cover they had given me was not representative of the character or the story, and as far as I could tell, they provided little or no promotion. I began WordCrafter Press and started publishing collaborative projects long before that contract ran out, and when it did, I revised Delilah to be the first in my Women in the West series. I had to learn new skills to provide my own covers, and find people willing to edit my work in an exchange of services due to my limited budget, but when the book was re-released, I sold more copies a month than my publisher had in five years.
With my recent computer issues, I was glad that I had control of my work and the decision-making process. Because I had limited computer time and was writing in longhand and doing most of my publishing and promotional tasks on my phone, I wasn’t able to keep up with my promotion schedule and had to push back the publishing dates on my own work in order to keep my collaborative projects on schedule and as the boss and decision maker, I was able to do that. It was a tough decision. I have the second book in my Time Travel series near ready to publish, and although I’ve outlined the third book in the Women in the West Adventure series, I’ve not yet begun to write it. Both of these books may need to be pushed back so far as to be added to next year’s production schedule, but I’m thankful for the freedom to do so. Had I been working with traditional publishers, my deadlines would have been set in stone, and I would not have been able to make them.
Just as the child who can’t wait to grow up soon learns that growing up means taking responsibility for one’s self, so the independent author is also responsible for creating and presenting their own work to the world. Hopefully, we all want that to be the best work that it can possibly be, and we will take the proper steps to ensure that it is, making the best decisions possible for our work. With freedom, comes responsibility, so use both wisely in your author journey.
Until next month,
Happy Writing!
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by theRobbie’s Inspiration blog site, where you can find ideas on writing and baking with hostess, Robbie Cheadle.
Welcome to Writing to be Read and the WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour, where we’re launching the release of the second edition of Shadow Blade, the fantasy adventure/romance by author Chris Barili. Shadow Blade is now Book 2 in the Denari Lai series by Chris Barili. WordCrafter Press is also releasing Book 1 of the series for the very first time, but the cool thing is, if you purchase the WordCrafter Press edition of Shadow Blade, you can also get the first book absolutely free.
Give Away
If you follow the tour and leave a comment at each stop to let us know you were there or share your thoughts about the book, you can win a free copy of Shadow Blade. We’re giving away three digital copies of the book, and one lucky winner will receive a print copy of the book signed by author Chris Barili. Each stop you comment on earns you an entry into a random drawing, and the winners will be announced on Writing to be Read in the “WordCrafter News” post on July 27.
And now that I’ve told you a little about the tour, let me tell you about this dangerous and exciting adventure into the Denari Lai universe.
About Shadow Blade
Ashai Larish is an assassin from the brutal Denari Lai order. Religious zealots, Denari Lai are kept loyal through an addiction to the same magic that makes them unstoppable. They have become the primary weapon for the nation of Nishi’iti, and in a hundred years, they have never failed.
Until now. Ashai must kill Pushtani King Abadas Damar and his daughter/heir, Makari. He infiltrates the king’s inner circle, putting him in the perfect place to strike, with only Captain Bauti of the Royal Guard at all suspicious of Ashai’s intent.
Except Ashai has fallen for Makari and cannot complete the hit. When a second Denari Lai kills the King, Ashai finds himself fighting for Makari’s life instead of taking it. To make matters worse, the order cuts him off from his magic, leaving him weakened and in withdrawal.
Meanwhile, far north in the Pushtani mines that border Nishi’iti, a slave named Pachat learns that his love, a hand slave to Makari, died at the hands of a Denari Lai assassin. His grief ignites a slave rebellion, and Pachat becomes the unwilling leader of the revolt. Urged on by Nishi’iti guerrillas, the rebellion sweeps across the borderlands, threatening to erupt into all-out war. Yet all Pachat wants is to avenge his beloved’s death by killing the assassin, so he walks away from the rebellion to seek when it needs him most.
As Pachat makes off for the capital of Dar Tallus, Ashai is forced to rely on that city’s organized crime gang to hide from the second assassin, and from Bauti’s guards. Despite his best efforts to hide it, Makari discovers Ashai’s true identity, and suddenly, he finds himself without her love, without his faith, and without the Denari Lai. At rock bottom, he doubts he can do anything but cause more damage.
Can Ashai kill the second assassin and win back Makari’s love? Will Pachat gain the revenge he so lustily seeks?
Currently oppressed by his day job, Chris has set sights on retiring after 42 years in the Intelligence Community and writing full-time. Chris Barili writes all kinds of stories, and has published fantasy, science fiction, horror, western, paranormal romance, and most recently crime, with a noir story in the inaugural print edition of Toe Six Magazine. He is author of the self-published, weird western Hell’s Butcher series, and also writes under the pen names B.T. Clearwater (Supernatural romance) and T.C. Barlow (western). Chris is a retired intelligence officer, having served over 45 years between active duty, contractor, and government employee roles. He lives in Colorado with his wife.
That wraps up today’s stop on the WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour. To learn more about the book, the Denari Lai series, or about author Chris Barili, just follow the tour via the links in the Tour Schedule above. Just keep in mind that each link will not be active until the attached stop goes live, so you can’t get sneak previews of upcoming stops. I do hope you’ll join us. We’ve got an interview with the author and a live event where you can chat with the author,, excerpt readings, and the inspiration for this tale coming up later in the week. And don’t forget, the author is giving away three digital copies and one signed print copy of Shadow Blade, and all you need to do is comment to enter. The more stops you visit, the more entries you can get.
Join us tomorrow on Robbie’s Inspiration. We’ll have a guest post where author Chris Barili shares his thoughts on the inspiration for the story and the series.
