On Writing

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    Killer Frost released …

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    Book #6Killer Frost, the sixth and final book in my Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series, has been released today. Huzzah! Huzzah!

    This is the first time that I’ve really ended a series, so this is a bittersweet day for me. On one hand, I really enjoyed writing the series and spending time with the characters. But on the other hand, I also wanted to bring Gwen’s story to a close and provide an ending that I hope fans of the series will enjoy. I want to thank everyone for all the nice comments, e-mails, and letters about the series. They have really meant a lot to me.

    Killer Frost is available in print, e-book, and audio book formats from the following sites:

    Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million / iTunes / Kobo / Brilliance Audio / Audible

    And here is the book description:

    I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before–and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death … most likely mine.

    Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic–and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

    Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good … or I am.

    Folks have asked me if I will ever write another Mythos Academy book. I’ll never say never. If I have an idea that I think would work well for Gwen or another character in the series, I might write another book or even a spinoff. We’ll see what happens. But, for now, Gwen’s story is finished.

    I hope that everyone enjoys the finale to the series. Happy reading!

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    Print versions of Bigtime books available …

    Some of you have seen these already, but I have released print versions of my Bigtime superhero paranormal romance books through Amazon’s CreateSpace.

    Huzzah! I know that many folks still prefer print books, and I thought it would be cool to make the Bigtime books available in print versions as well. Also, with these books, that means that Nightingale, Bigtime book #4, is finally available in a print version as well.

    Bigtime print booksThese books feature the new covers that are on the Bigtime e-books, and they are really nice, trade paperback books. Kim at Hot Damn Designs designed the covers, while Amy with Author EMS did the text formatting. Amy also helped me update the e-books and put together the Bigtime Series e-bundle.

    TRADE PAPERBACK PRICES

    The list price for the print version of Karma Girl is $14.99 on Amazon. Note that this book also includes the holiday story A Karma Girl Christmas.

    The list prices for the print versions of Hot Mama, Jinx, and Nightingale are $13.99 each on Amazon.

    Since these are trade paperback books, they are more expensive than your usual $7.99 mass market books. Amazon requires you to set a minimum price, based on how many pages your book is, which factors in to how much it costs to print/produce.

    But, on the bright side, Amazon also usually discounts the trade paperbacks at least a dollar or two.

    Also, all of the books — Karma Girl, Hot Mama, Jinx, and Nightingale — are enrolled in the Kindle MatchBook program. That means that if you buy one of the trade paperbacks, that you can also download the Kindle e-book for that particular book for 99 cents if you want both a print and digital version.

    BIGTIME E-BUNDLE STILL AVAILABLE

    The Bigtime SeriesAlso, the Bigtime Series e-bundle is still available. It includes all the works in my Bigtime series to date — the books Karma Girl, Hot Mama, Jinx, and Nightingale and the holiday story A Karma Girl Christmas.

    The e-bundle was on sale for 99 cents, but that promotion has ended, and the price is now $9.99, which is still cheaper than buying all the e-books separately. I may put the e-bundle back on sale at some point, but it probably won’t be until much later in the year, perhaps during the holiday season.

    Of course, you can also still buy all the titles as separate e-books if you are missing a few in your collection: Karma Girl, Hot Mama, Jinx, A Karma Girl Christmas, and Nightingale.

    THE FUTURE OF THE BIGTIME SERIES

    A lot of folks have asked me about my Bigtime series, and I am hoping to write and publish more in my Bigtime series. But, since I am self-publishing this series now, it takes quite a bit of time not only to write a book/story, but also to get the editing, cover, and formatting done.

    Also, I am working on two more Elemental Assassin books this year — Poison Promise, out on July 22, and Book #12, tentatively set to be published in December. I’m also thinking about some ideas for some new series, both for adult and young adult books.

    So my writing schedule is already pretty full for 2014, but I’m hoping to at least get started on a new Bigtime book or e-novella this year. We’ll see what happens.

    Anyway, hope that everyone enjoys the new print versions and the e-bundle. Happy reading!

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    Guest blog: Maria V. Snyder on a taste of romance …

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    Maria V. SnyderToday, I’m pleased to welcome fantasy author Maria V. Snyder to my blog.

    Maria is the author of the Study series, which includes Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study. Her most recent series is the Healer series, which includes Touch of Power, Scent of Magic, and Taste of Darkness.

    I have to be a total fangirl for a moment and say that I always enjoy reading about Maria’s strong heroines and her interesting world building.

    Take it away, Maria:

    MARIA V. SNYDER ON A TASTE OF … ROMANCE?

    I am a fantasy writer. Or so I thought when writing my very first fantasy novel, Poison Study a number of years ago. At that time, fantasy novels had action, adventure, political intrigue, epic struggles of good vs. evil, and magic. Not romance. Nope, not more than a distant love affair re: Lord of the Rings. 

    Poison StudyYet, I insisted my book was pure fantasy even though when I sparked on the idea for Poison Study, I imagined a King had fallen in love with his food taster. And someone had poisoned his food and she HAD to taste it because of protocol and laws and he watched her bite into the food with his heart breaking in two. Yeah, sounds cheesy, but I knew I could just nail that scene. Then I changed my King to a Military Dictator because every fantasy novel had a monarchy and I wanted my story to be unique. No problem, my Commander would fall in love with his food taster (yep, scene would be nailed). Except, his chief of security stole the show and the girl despite all my efforts to stop him (never did write that scene L).

    Fast forward to the finished book getting soundly rejected by all the big fantasy publishing imprints, DAW, ROC, BEAN, TOR, etc… Not enough political intrigue, not enough setting details, not enough authentic language for a medieval fantasy, too much romance. What? You got to be kidding? That’s just a tiny little subplot – I guess I could delete it…except I couldn’t. The story seemed…soulless without it.

    When I saw LUNA books was looking for fantasy novels with strong female protagonists and romantic subplots – I still didn’t think I had enough romance, but I certainly had the girl power – I sent them my story. LUNA loved it and bought both Poison Study and Magic Study (and my next nine books). Oh, and by the way, LUNA is a imprint of Harlequin. You know Harlequin right? One of the biggest publishers of romance novels? Well, all my peer group knew them for their romance and that’s the first thing anyone would say, “I didn’t know you wrote romance.” And my immediate response, “I don’t. They do publish other stories as well…sheezh!” (yeah, very bratty).

    Storm WatcherSince then I’ve embraced my inner romantic. I’ve joined Romance Writers of America (a fabulous organization and great source of professional and creative advice), but I’m still a member of Science Fiction Writers of America (also includes fantasy as well). I’ve gotten nominations and awards from both RWA and the SF/F side of the genre divide.

    All my stories (except Storm Watcher and a couple short stories), have a taste of romance in them. I can’t help it. I love writing about that connection between two people and developing it throughout the story. I enjoy putting them into situations where they’ll fight and bicker and yet work together as partners, solving problems and saving the day. After all, everyone needs a taste of romance.

    MORE ABOUT MARIA

    Taste of DarknessMaria V. Snyder switched from meteorologist to novelist when she wrote the New York Times best-selling Study series (Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study). Born in Philadelphia, Maria dreamed of chasing tornados and earned a BS degree in Meteorology from Penn State University. Unfortunately, she lacked the necessary forecasting skills. Writing, however, lets Maria control the weather, which she does in her Glass series and in Storm Watcher, her debut middle-grade novel. Maria earned a MA degree in Writing from Seton Hill University where she is currently teaching. Maria’s latest release is Taste of Darkness, the final book in her award-winning Healer series.

    You can visit Maria at her website and blog, and follow her on Facebook and Goodreads.

    Note: Storm Glass, the first book in Maria’s Glass series, is currently less than $2 on Kindle, if you are interested in checking out that series.

    A big thanks to Maria for being on my blog today. Thanks so much, Maria!

    GIVEAWAY TIME

    Maria is giving away a signed copy of Poison Study — open internationally. To enter, use the giveaway form below.
    a Rafflecopter giveaway