Blog Sharing: The Benefits of Small Press Publishing

March 22, 2013 by Jen Barry, posted in Authors, Blog Sharing, Guest Post, Martin Sisters Publishing

David J. Kirk, dear friend and author of Particular Stones, stopped by Fight for Your Write today and said a few words about small press publishing. Go check it out and join the conversation!

via The Benefits of Small Press Publishing.

The Trajectory of Dreams: A Character Profile

March 19, 2013March 17, 2013 by Jen Barry, posted in Authors, Books, Guest Post

Welcome Nicole Wolverton, Author of The Trajectory of Dreams

To begin with, I’d like to extend the biggest of congratulations to Nicole Wolverton, whose novel The Trajectory of Dreams was released this month. Nicole agreed to stop by with a character profile, and if you know anything at all about me or my husband, you’ll understand why this particular character was chosen for this particular blog. Without further comment, I turn this space over to Nicole and Nike.

Every superhero needs a sidekick. Wonder Woman has Wonder Girl. The Tick has Arthur the Moth. And Lela White, the main character in my novel THE TRAJECTORY OF DREAMS and a hero in her own mind—has Nike. Nike is a giant, yellow cat . . . and he communicates to Lela via Morse code eye blinks.

You read that correctly. It sounds a little nutty, maybe a little satirical. It definitely doesn’t make it sound as though THE TRAJECTORY OF DREAMS is a serious book, and yet it is: it’s a fairly dark psychological thriller. Lela, though, definitely believes that Nike is her adviser. Perhaps it would be a good time to bring up the fact that Lela also has a mental disorder that leads to some fairly magical thinking, including the idea that if she breaks into the homes of astronauts to monitor their sleep patterns, she somehow keeps the space program safe.

Mental illness notwithstanding, most of us with pets—particularly those of us with cats—do hold a deep belief that they’re talking to us in some way. Nike is based (at least in appearance) on one of my cats, Mayor McCheese. The Mayor will look at me, and I know he’s thinking I’m a moron. And I’m fairly certain both of my cats convene while my husband and I are out and scheme to plop their butts in our faces while we sleep.

Assuming that Lela is right, and Nike serves as her Alfred (think Batman), what is Nike like? Well, he’s a cat. He’s sort of a less funny Stewie Griffin without the English accent. Nike is smart and observant, and—like all good sidekicks—he’s totally committed to Lela’s mission in life:

Nike slinked into the room and settled on the desk amid a cloud of long, shedding fur and twitched his pink nose. Nicely done, he blinked out.

“The new camera lens really helps with the low light conditions, don’t you think?” I asked.

Yes, and you were very thorough. Do you think there’s any significance to his choice of vitamins?

“I seriously doubt it,” I said. “Zinc is pretty common, particularly if he’s trying to ward off colds before the launch.”

Zinc deficiency can mean a few things. Impotence. Hair loss.

“Does it matter? It’s not any of my business whether Meehan can get an erection, and he has a full head of hair. Neither one of those things impact whether he can sleep during lift-off.”

Nike’s baleful glare made me turn away to again study the photographs I’d taken.

Would you want your cat to be your life coach? While I’m sure Mayor McCheese would have interesting things to say, I think a lot of his advice would center on feeding him more catnip. Comment below and enter the raffle for a chance to win two THE TRAJECTORY OF DREAMS cookie cutters and a beaded bookmark!

Reviews for The Trajectory of Dreams

Publishers Weekly calls THE TRAJECTORY OF DREAMS (Bitingduck Press, ISBN 9781938463440) a “skillful mainstream examination of a psychotic woman’s final descent into insanity.” The novel exposes the chaotic inner life of Lela White, a sleep lab technician and mentally ill insomniac who believes she has been tasked with protecting the safety of the revitalized U.S. space shuttle program. She breaks into the homes of astronauts to watch them sleep, and she is prepared to kill to keep those with sleep problems from the shuttle launch. Her delicate grasp on reality becomes more tenuous when annoying co-worker Trina Shook insists on moving into her house and visiting Russian cosmonaut Zory Korchagin inserts himself into Lela’s life. Korchagin’s increasing interest puts her carefully-constructed world at risk of an explosion as surely as he does his own upcoming launch. Lela’s tragic childhood unfolds throughout the novel, revealing the beginnings of her illness and long-buried secrets, and as Lela’s universe unravels, no one is safe. Buy a copy of THE TRAJECTORY OF DREAMS at your local independent bookshop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or anywhere books are sold. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads | LibraryThing | Shelfari

About the Author

THE AUTHOR: Nicole Wolverton fears many things, chief amongst them that something lurks in the dark. From ghosts to stalkers, her adult and young adult fiction plays on the mundane and not-so-mundane things that frighten us all. THE TRAJECTORY OF DREAMS is her debut novel. She is a freelance writer and editor and lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, dog, and two cats.

MORE STOPS ON THE BOOK TOUR FOR THE TRAJECTORY OF DREAMS=MORE CHANCES TO WIN!

Guest Post: Paranormal Romance Author Melissa Fox

February 15, 2013February 15, 2013 by Jen Barry, posted in Authors, Books, Guest Post, Let's Get Serious, Melissa Fox, Uncategorized

Welcome One of My Favorite People in the World: Melissa Fox

It’s no secret; I adore her. With her paranormal romance debut set to release RIGHTNOW, Melissa agreed to stop by and tell a quick story. She cracks me up daily. I know she’ll make you laugh, too. Without further babbling, here’s Melissa.

Oh, Behave!

Melissa Fox

The people in my head don’t listen to me. Yeah, that sounds alarming, and believe me, it is. I’m a pantser, not a plotter, but I do usually sit down in front of my computer with some sort of plan in mind, whether a scene popped into my head in the shower, while walking the dogs, or I actually map out what I want to write and how events will unfold. I grab a drink, settle the dogs, flex the old fingers, and…start arguing.

Me: No, no, no. You’re supposed to be doing this. Remember, we talked about it? Decided this was what you’re supposed to be doing today?

Character: Pfft.

And off we go.

My naughty, really bad boy hero who is supposed to get redeemed in the end is embarrassed by the actions I have all planned out and insists he’d never do that. Uh-uh, no way. Digs his heels in, shakes his head, sets his mouth in that pretty but stubborn line, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

C’mon, I wheedle. I promise I’ll make it all better in the end.

You’re out of your mind, he responds. This will go much better if I’m nice. Then it makes what that nasty villain is planning all the more awful—what did you eat last night, by the way, to come up with that?

Sometimes I wonder.

Or my clever, sweet hero, who is supposed to be charming and amusing the heroine with witty dialog and silly antics, says: You know, I’m really in the mood to get laid. Let’s write me some sexy times.

Me: Oh, noooooo.

Him (with a wicked and completely irresistible grin): Oh, yes.

Occasionally, it’s not just scenes or events, but an entire personality and plot—and on one memorable occasion, an entire genre—they cheerfully kick to the curb. What do you mean, you want to be a demon slayer and not an investigator? Are you kidding me? A Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer, not an FBI agent? What do I know about Mounties, for crying out loud?

Sometimes, there’s just no reasoning with them.

More from Melissa

An author’s greatest resource is their support system. Without Jen, Conor and Merry’s story might have seen the light of publication eventually, but the road would not have been anywhere near as much fun. When it came to doing a blog on release day, there’s no where else I’d rather be than with my dear friend, critique partner, cheerleader, reality checker, and talker-downer from more ledges than I care to count. Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me, and thank you Jen for all the good times. Here’s to many more! Sláinte!

About Melissa Fox

After being rationed books by my parents like most kids get rationed candy, I turned to writing to tide me over between fixes. Having lived in the suburbs of the Mid-West, desert of the Southwest, foothills of the Rocky Mountains, I’m now on an island in the Puget Sound with my husband and dogs.

My debut paranormal romance, WRAITH REDEEMED, is now available in print and all e-formats from The Wild Rose Press.

Wraith Redeemed Excerpt

(This is a new one that no one else has, because I’m special.)

“God, Conor. Yes. I’ll go to dinner with you on Saturday.” He knew how his lilting brogue affected her, the bastard. “Where are we going?”

“Well, now.” He kicked back, crossing his legs at the ankles and his hands over his stomach as he regarded her with satisfaction. She fought a scowl. Somehow, he’d wrestled back control of the situation. How did he do that? “That’s a decision needing some thought now, isn’t it? Seeing as how I haven’t had time to do that as yet.”

He lifted a brow, reminding her she’d surprised him by telling him to ask her out on a date.

“I need to know what to wear.” Striving to imitate his casual insouciance, she leaned back in her chair and forced herself to leave the bottle cap on the table. He grinned, and her heart leapt into a heavy, rapid rhythm.

“As soon as I figure it out, I’ll let you know. I promise,” he added when she opened her mouth to protest. “I’ll give you plenty of time to plan your campaign, darlin’.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she muttered, not looking at him, because of course she did.

“You’re planning on making me crawl.” His smile faded and turned wry. Her gaze shot to his as an automatic protest formed on her lips, but he shook his head and sat forward. “Yes, you are, and you deserve it. I deserve it, Merry. I owe you that at least. And I’ll dance to your tune, my girl, until enough is enough, until you’ve had your due and then some, but then we’ll have our reckoning.”

“I don’t want…” Good manners and a desire to keep her plan a secret prompted the half-hearted beginning of the protest, but her innate honesty and inability to fool him won out. She chuckled. “Yes, you’re right. Seeing you crawl will do my wounded feelings some good, O’Shea.”