Shawn Maravel's Blog
December 22, 2020
Still Here, Still Writing
It has been a hot minute since I visited my Goodreads page. Understatement of the decade, I know.
My journey as an author has experienced a big hiatus, that much is true. But it has not been with a bitter or saddened heart, rather, with a blessed one. Since my son Landon was born in 2013, my first priority has been motherhood and family. My daughter Evelyn was born in 2015, and my focus became stronger still on life at home. We have moved around and I have taken to homeschooling my children (pre-pandemic if you can believe it!) Eight years have come and gone, and I never felt regret for putting my writing on hold.
In the end, I've learned a great deal in those years where my writing was more for fun than for a final project. I've learned that it's okay to take a shift of focus in life, and it doesn't mean I've lost what I've put down. I learned that growth can happen, even when your skills lie seemingly dormant in the eyes of the rest of the world. I've learned that you can't rush these kinds of things.
The year 2020 may live in infamy for the world. A year marked by devastation and tragedy, but I choose not to view this year with bitterness and distain. That choice does not come lightly. On April 6th of this year, a day that should have been all about my youngest sister turning 10-years-old, my mother passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Though she didn't pass from COVID-19, it feels that any illness or loss this year is taken by the pandemic in one manner or another. It was a loss I wasn't prepared for, one I still can't fully believe is true. But when my mother passed away, the strength of her legacy lifted me up, woke me up, and provided me with clarity like nothing else could have.
In July I started writing again, and I didn't stop until I finished. In more ways than not, this book came about because of my mother, who was always one of my greatest supporters. Through this novel I have been born again, like a Phoenix from the ashes of my tragedy, I have created new life within this new story and its characters.
My hopes for this novel are high, though in the end, I am just excited to share it with my loyal readers as well as the world.
My journey as an author has experienced a big hiatus, that much is true. But it has not been with a bitter or saddened heart, rather, with a blessed one. Since my son Landon was born in 2013, my first priority has been motherhood and family. My daughter Evelyn was born in 2015, and my focus became stronger still on life at home. We have moved around and I have taken to homeschooling my children (pre-pandemic if you can believe it!) Eight years have come and gone, and I never felt regret for putting my writing on hold.
In the end, I've learned a great deal in those years where my writing was more for fun than for a final project. I've learned that it's okay to take a shift of focus in life, and it doesn't mean I've lost what I've put down. I learned that growth can happen, even when your skills lie seemingly dormant in the eyes of the rest of the world. I've learned that you can't rush these kinds of things.
The year 2020 may live in infamy for the world. A year marked by devastation and tragedy, but I choose not to view this year with bitterness and distain. That choice does not come lightly. On April 6th of this year, a day that should have been all about my youngest sister turning 10-years-old, my mother passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Though she didn't pass from COVID-19, it feels that any illness or loss this year is taken by the pandemic in one manner or another. It was a loss I wasn't prepared for, one I still can't fully believe is true. But when my mother passed away, the strength of her legacy lifted me up, woke me up, and provided me with clarity like nothing else could have.
In July I started writing again, and I didn't stop until I finished. In more ways than not, this book came about because of my mother, who was always one of my greatest supporters. Through this novel I have been born again, like a Phoenix from the ashes of my tragedy, I have created new life within this new story and its characters.
My hopes for this novel are high, though in the end, I am just excited to share it with my loyal readers as well as the world.
June 18, 2015
Those Who Wander Are Not Always Lost
If you follow me as an author or you are a fan of my novels, than you may be wondering where I've been. You may be asking yourself, did she give up on writing? Has she STOPPED writing all together? What's the 411?
For those of you that might be curious, I'll brief you on what's been going on and what my future plans for writing are.
Anyone who know a bit about me knows that my family moves around a lot. And as the story goes, this past December marked our forth move in six years. A move that happened to take place while I was pregnant with our second child. In March of this year, I gave birth to our daughter. As you can imagine, settling into our new home as well as being the proud mamma of a two-and-a-half-year-old and a three month old, my hands are quite full.
My husband's job has also changed, limiting how much of my personal life I desire to make the general public's knowledge. It can be a scary world out there and I only hope to remain as cautious as I can in a world where your business is made so public, especially as an aspiring public figure. There always remains that delicate balance when trying to create a family safe public persona.
I haven't seriously written anything since completing my first screen play based on my novel, The Wanderer. Though I have jotted a few things down from time to time. I love to write but the tricky thing about writing is that it's a creative process, one that, for me at least, can not be forced out when free time is available but must flow naturally. This is not to say that sparks haven't been ignited, however, the effort to keep that flame blazing is quite a different thing when you are chasing after little ones. And I must say, I have no quorums with this. Childhood is so fleeting and so precious and I want to experience all of it.
What also remains to be a very difficult aspect of this field is the catch 22 involved. In order to become a best selling author you need to be established, yet to become established...you kind of need to be a best selling author. Making it big in the book world is on par with making it big in Hollywood or Broadway. And because I haven't had the time to try and "make it big" I have taken a few steps back to focus on my family. The thing about being an indie author is that you do all of the work yourself and everything put out to the public is only a fraction of the work actually put into it. So much more goes on behind the scenes. As you can imagine, quite often, something's gotta give.
Where that leaves me and my writing is this. My hope now is to start carving out some time to spread the word about my novels. Over the years and in my absence, I have seen a slow and constant trickle of new readers remain. Without my involvement people still have an interest in my novels. So I am inspired to now take the time to start helping my novels get the exposure they deserve. To have a loyal and supportive following without marketing, no matter how small, is justification enough for me to lend a hand in telling people what these awesome novels are all about. Each one of them is my literary child. They are near and dear to my heart. My greatest hope is to share them with as many people as I possibly can. In saying that, if you have read my novels or know me and would like to offer your support, I would love it if you too could help spread the word. Pass your read copy of one or more of my novels along, suggest one to your friend or family member. The power of word of mouth is an incredible thing.
I look forward to seeing what the future will bring and I would love it if you would join me on this journey.
For those of you that might be curious, I'll brief you on what's been going on and what my future plans for writing are.
Anyone who know a bit about me knows that my family moves around a lot. And as the story goes, this past December marked our forth move in six years. A move that happened to take place while I was pregnant with our second child. In March of this year, I gave birth to our daughter. As you can imagine, settling into our new home as well as being the proud mamma of a two-and-a-half-year-old and a three month old, my hands are quite full.
My husband's job has also changed, limiting how much of my personal life I desire to make the general public's knowledge. It can be a scary world out there and I only hope to remain as cautious as I can in a world where your business is made so public, especially as an aspiring public figure. There always remains that delicate balance when trying to create a family safe public persona.
I haven't seriously written anything since completing my first screen play based on my novel, The Wanderer. Though I have jotted a few things down from time to time. I love to write but the tricky thing about writing is that it's a creative process, one that, for me at least, can not be forced out when free time is available but must flow naturally. This is not to say that sparks haven't been ignited, however, the effort to keep that flame blazing is quite a different thing when you are chasing after little ones. And I must say, I have no quorums with this. Childhood is so fleeting and so precious and I want to experience all of it.
What also remains to be a very difficult aspect of this field is the catch 22 involved. In order to become a best selling author you need to be established, yet to become established...you kind of need to be a best selling author. Making it big in the book world is on par with making it big in Hollywood or Broadway. And because I haven't had the time to try and "make it big" I have taken a few steps back to focus on my family. The thing about being an indie author is that you do all of the work yourself and everything put out to the public is only a fraction of the work actually put into it. So much more goes on behind the scenes. As you can imagine, quite often, something's gotta give.
Where that leaves me and my writing is this. My hope now is to start carving out some time to spread the word about my novels. Over the years and in my absence, I have seen a slow and constant trickle of new readers remain. Without my involvement people still have an interest in my novels. So I am inspired to now take the time to start helping my novels get the exposure they deserve. To have a loyal and supportive following without marketing, no matter how small, is justification enough for me to lend a hand in telling people what these awesome novels are all about. Each one of them is my literary child. They are near and dear to my heart. My greatest hope is to share them with as many people as I possibly can. In saying that, if you have read my novels or know me and would like to offer your support, I would love it if you too could help spread the word. Pass your read copy of one or more of my novels along, suggest one to your friend or family member. The power of word of mouth is an incredible thing.
I look forward to seeing what the future will bring and I would love it if you would join me on this journey.
June 26, 2013
New Adventures in the Writing World For This Girl!
Sooo, I've been working pretty hard on my latest writing project since my husband deployed in late April. And while it's not finished YET, I feel confident enough to tell you that shortly I'll have completed the first draft of my VERY FIRST screenplay!!!
I know that I'm a novel girl by trade, but I have always seen my third novel, The Wanderer as a "big screen" story. Who better to write the screenplay than the author herself! Whatever comes of this great journey, I'm happy to have expanded my horizons! What a FABULOUS experience this has been so far!
As any book to movie story goes, there will be some additions, some cuts, and some modifications in order for the story to flow better on screen. The thing is, I wrote The Wanderer, as mentioned before, as if it already was a movie playing out in my head so if you know the story and love it as is I doubt you'll be disappointed. In fact, I sort of wish a few of my favorite novels turned movies had been written by the authors for this very reason.
Screenwriters change up novels for a lot of different reasons when converting them. One reason being that they need to throw in their own creative flair. They need to make the story their own. Well, as the author, the story already is my own, and I love it how it is in its essence. So now I get to work on just perfecting it. And of course as I've been writing the screenplay I've been tortured to some degree by questions like, "Now why didn't I write this the first time around, it sounds so much better?!" But as any fellow writer knows or will tell you, the job of writing a story is never "complete". There simply comes a time, especially as a self-published or indie author ,where you just have to walk away. That's what Re-writes and new editions are for.
As for trying my hand at screenplay writing, it certainly is much different. I will most definitely have to go back and edit, edit, edit, before I even CONSIDER submitting it anywhere. The style of writing a screenplay is much more technical. Entirely technical in fact. There's really no "flair" in the bare bones of the story, it's all a matter of setting a scene and putting dialogue together. This has made the experience all the more interesting for me because it certainly is a challenge for me since I can be a bit wordy in my writing. It forces me to find ways to get out of the character's head and figure out how to convey the same story with the same inflections and mood/tone with only actions and dialogue.
What a great exercise this has been!
To those of you out there who have enjoyed any or all of my novels, don't worry! I am equally as exciting to get back into novel writing as well but when this opportunity presented itself I just had to go for it!
I'll be keeping you posted! Until then, Happy Reading!!!
I know that I'm a novel girl by trade, but I have always seen my third novel, The Wanderer as a "big screen" story. Who better to write the screenplay than the author herself! Whatever comes of this great journey, I'm happy to have expanded my horizons! What a FABULOUS experience this has been so far!
As any book to movie story goes, there will be some additions, some cuts, and some modifications in order for the story to flow better on screen. The thing is, I wrote The Wanderer, as mentioned before, as if it already was a movie playing out in my head so if you know the story and love it as is I doubt you'll be disappointed. In fact, I sort of wish a few of my favorite novels turned movies had been written by the authors for this very reason.
Screenwriters change up novels for a lot of different reasons when converting them. One reason being that they need to throw in their own creative flair. They need to make the story their own. Well, as the author, the story already is my own, and I love it how it is in its essence. So now I get to work on just perfecting it. And of course as I've been writing the screenplay I've been tortured to some degree by questions like, "Now why didn't I write this the first time around, it sounds so much better?!" But as any fellow writer knows or will tell you, the job of writing a story is never "complete". There simply comes a time, especially as a self-published or indie author ,where you just have to walk away. That's what Re-writes and new editions are for.
As for trying my hand at screenplay writing, it certainly is much different. I will most definitely have to go back and edit, edit, edit, before I even CONSIDER submitting it anywhere. The style of writing a screenplay is much more technical. Entirely technical in fact. There's really no "flair" in the bare bones of the story, it's all a matter of setting a scene and putting dialogue together. This has made the experience all the more interesting for me because it certainly is a challenge for me since I can be a bit wordy in my writing. It forces me to find ways to get out of the character's head and figure out how to convey the same story with the same inflections and mood/tone with only actions and dialogue.
What a great exercise this has been!
To those of you out there who have enjoyed any or all of my novels, don't worry! I am equally as exciting to get back into novel writing as well but when this opportunity presented itself I just had to go for it!
I'll be keeping you posted! Until then, Happy Reading!!!
April 30, 2013
Secrets Secrets
I know that secrets aren't any fun but I have one, and it's about my writing! Finally, right?!
Now, this isn't my typical kind of project, hence the secrecy, I don't want to speak too soon. But I wanted to let ya'll know that I'm working on something! One thing I can say is this, if you haven't already, pick up a copy of The Wanderer and read it!
I make no promises, those are hard to keep when not everything's in your control, and everything's a far shot in the world of writing but I'm super excited and at the very least I'm branching out. Best case scenario....just pure awesomeness.
I know, that was a whole lotta nothing right? haha. My apologies. Like I said, for now, catch yourself up! This could be big!!!
Now, this isn't my typical kind of project, hence the secrecy, I don't want to speak too soon. But I wanted to let ya'll know that I'm working on something! One thing I can say is this, if you haven't already, pick up a copy of The Wanderer and read it!
I make no promises, those are hard to keep when not everything's in your control, and everything's a far shot in the world of writing but I'm super excited and at the very least I'm branching out. Best case scenario....just pure awesomeness.
I know, that was a whole lotta nothing right? haha. My apologies. Like I said, for now, catch yourself up! This could be big!!!
December 21, 2012
Know Thy Neighbor: An Inside Look
Because Know Thy Neighbor will be published in...like a WEEK, I figured I'd share a little info about the book to hold ya'll over until then. ;)
A fun fact you may find interesting is that I essentially stole my lead characters from the original draft of Know Thy Neighbor for my second installment of the Rider series, Shifting Gears. I loved the names so much that I couldn't seem to part with them. Know Thy Neighbor had the threat of being one of those stories that I'd never get around to publishing, meanwhile I needed names for Shifting Gears so I swiped them. The end result is that I'm IN LOVE with the names I ended up with so there was no big loss. And as an added bonus I proved myself wrong and published a book I had at one point lost all hope of seeing to the end.
Whenever I'm writing action scenes I always get super nervous about how I'd portray them so I often enlist my husband, David to help me map it out. As with a flashback scene from The Wanderer, he essentially "designed" one of the action scenes towards the end of this novel and okayed it after I'd made additions and changed based on his suggestions. coincidentally my mom--who revises all of my work before publication--says that Know Thy Neighbor and The Wanderer are her two favorites of my novels. I'm wondering if I can attribute any of that success to David. ;)
I had originally started this book off thinking that it would have an underlined theme of Alice in Wonderland. I was even considering making Evangeline's character more "Alice-like" in looks and other traits. In the end I dropped the theme though a few details remain leftover. You might be interested to try and spot them. ;)
I had originally envisioned Alex Pettyfer as the male lead for this part but after about a year away from the story I came back to writing it and found that Liam Hemsworth was much better suited for the role I was writing for our male lead, the mysterious John Smith. I had also originally mentally cast Odette Yustman for the part of Evangeline but wanted to make her character a bit more spicy so I changed her locks to red and could much more easily see Emma Stone acting the part, though much less humor driven than most of us know her as.
Well, I guess that's all for now. I'm interested to hear any questions you may have about the novel and it's characters either after reading it or in anticipation. I hope you guys and gals enjoy reading Know Thy Neighbor as much as I enjoyed writing it. :)
A fun fact you may find interesting is that I essentially stole my lead characters from the original draft of Know Thy Neighbor for my second installment of the Rider series, Shifting Gears. I loved the names so much that I couldn't seem to part with them. Know Thy Neighbor had the threat of being one of those stories that I'd never get around to publishing, meanwhile I needed names for Shifting Gears so I swiped them. The end result is that I'm IN LOVE with the names I ended up with so there was no big loss. And as an added bonus I proved myself wrong and published a book I had at one point lost all hope of seeing to the end.
Whenever I'm writing action scenes I always get super nervous about how I'd portray them so I often enlist my husband, David to help me map it out. As with a flashback scene from The Wanderer, he essentially "designed" one of the action scenes towards the end of this novel and okayed it after I'd made additions and changed based on his suggestions. coincidentally my mom--who revises all of my work before publication--says that Know Thy Neighbor and The Wanderer are her two favorites of my novels. I'm wondering if I can attribute any of that success to David. ;)
I had originally started this book off thinking that it would have an underlined theme of Alice in Wonderland. I was even considering making Evangeline's character more "Alice-like" in looks and other traits. In the end I dropped the theme though a few details remain leftover. You might be interested to try and spot them. ;)
I had originally envisioned Alex Pettyfer as the male lead for this part but after about a year away from the story I came back to writing it and found that Liam Hemsworth was much better suited for the role I was writing for our male lead, the mysterious John Smith. I had also originally mentally cast Odette Yustman for the part of Evangeline but wanted to make her character a bit more spicy so I changed her locks to red and could much more easily see Emma Stone acting the part, though much less humor driven than most of us know her as.
Well, I guess that's all for now. I'm interested to hear any questions you may have about the novel and it's characters either after reading it or in anticipation. I hope you guys and gals enjoy reading Know Thy Neighbor as much as I enjoyed writing it. :)
November 30, 2012
A Short Q&A About Know Thy Neighbor
Know Thy Neighbor is an interesting title, where did you come up with it and what does it symbolize for you?
Originally I was going to title the book "To Know Your Neighbors". This title was essentially a compounded question, "What does it really mean to know your neighbors?". Given the mysterious nature of Evangeline's neighbor John Smith, I wanted to focus on that aspect of the story when coming up with a title. Neighbors, unless they become friends over time, are often these people we know merely by what we observe and overhear. In time we grow to think that we "know our neighbors" pretty well. The fact, however, remains that we really know very little about them. Evangeline has a growing curiosity about her own neighbors, one in particular. And for good reason.
Of course, after running the title by readers and my husband, we collectively decided to compound the title that much more and came up with Know Thy Neighbor. Same basic idea, a lot less to remember. ;)
This book is the last one you will be publishing before becoming a first-time mom. Do you think your writing will focus more on a younger audience once you've had your son or do you plan to stick with the same type of writing style for a while?
I love the idea of writing stories that our son and other future children will be able to read when they're younger but it's not something I've fully considered just yet. I have an almost nine-year-old little sister as well as a three-year-old little sister, so I've already run the idea of writing for a younger readership through my mind. The problem with that is it's not something I'm familiar with, so until I have a solid story idea and know how I would approach it, I think it's best to hold off.
I also happen to really enjoy writing New Adult books. I am in love with love stories whether they're hot and heavy or sweet and realistic. I hope to pick up a few stories that have been on the back burner and see if I can't finish those first. Then I'll look into maybe writing something for a younger audience but it's not something I'm dead-set on just yet.
Know Thy Neighbor was a back burner story was it not? What kind of pressure is there for you to complete a story you've already invested so much into and how do you go about picking it back up?
Yes, it was. The pressure is unbelievable. I would argue that for every story I've published there are two that I haven't. Having an idea and starting to write it down is only the first step. I go into every novel I start knowing full-well that I may never actually finish it. Sometimes the idea fades, or the inspiration fades. I generally start writing my stories knowing little to nothing about how I plan on ending it. This may sound crazy or unorthodox but it's how I work. I like the idea of letting a story and its characters dictate the remainder of the story once I get things going.
It's hard investing so much time into these novels that I may never actually finish because I really do love each and every idea, the problem is, it's not as simple as just having an idea. It's all about the follow-through. I have novels for both my Volition series and the Rider series on the back burner as well as another stand-alone novel. Like I said, it's my goal, before adding any more books to my bag of tricks, to try and finish one or all of those first.
Picking up Know Thy Neighbors roughly a year after starting it and actually completing it this time was a near-physical relief. I really enjoyed the characters and the story and I'd put so much into it that I was really disappointed when I stepped away from the story for the second and third time. It all comes down to finding that spot that holds you up and pushing past it.
What do you think readers will enjoy from this story that you feel differs from your first four novels?
As the author, I feel that Know Thy Neighbor is drastically different than my previous novels, though I'd have to hear it from my readers to know that this is in fact true. The pace is very quick and Evangeline has a personality all her own. My favorite thing about writing is creating characters and I feel that I have created very different and real characters that my readers will be able to enjoy. The theme and the plot are also vastly different. While I think that the book would be hugely popular with my male readership, I also think that my female readership will enjoy it just as much. There aren't any paranormal elements like my Volition series or motorcycles like my Rider series but to its core this book is just really a stand-alone and stand-out novel among my novels, it's hard to say as to why...but it just is. haha.
Originally I was going to title the book "To Know Your Neighbors". This title was essentially a compounded question, "What does it really mean to know your neighbors?". Given the mysterious nature of Evangeline's neighbor John Smith, I wanted to focus on that aspect of the story when coming up with a title. Neighbors, unless they become friends over time, are often these people we know merely by what we observe and overhear. In time we grow to think that we "know our neighbors" pretty well. The fact, however, remains that we really know very little about them. Evangeline has a growing curiosity about her own neighbors, one in particular. And for good reason.
Of course, after running the title by readers and my husband, we collectively decided to compound the title that much more and came up with Know Thy Neighbor. Same basic idea, a lot less to remember. ;)
This book is the last one you will be publishing before becoming a first-time mom. Do you think your writing will focus more on a younger audience once you've had your son or do you plan to stick with the same type of writing style for a while?
I love the idea of writing stories that our son and other future children will be able to read when they're younger but it's not something I've fully considered just yet. I have an almost nine-year-old little sister as well as a three-year-old little sister, so I've already run the idea of writing for a younger readership through my mind. The problem with that is it's not something I'm familiar with, so until I have a solid story idea and know how I would approach it, I think it's best to hold off.
I also happen to really enjoy writing New Adult books. I am in love with love stories whether they're hot and heavy or sweet and realistic. I hope to pick up a few stories that have been on the back burner and see if I can't finish those first. Then I'll look into maybe writing something for a younger audience but it's not something I'm dead-set on just yet.
Know Thy Neighbor was a back burner story was it not? What kind of pressure is there for you to complete a story you've already invested so much into and how do you go about picking it back up?
Yes, it was. The pressure is unbelievable. I would argue that for every story I've published there are two that I haven't. Having an idea and starting to write it down is only the first step. I go into every novel I start knowing full-well that I may never actually finish it. Sometimes the idea fades, or the inspiration fades. I generally start writing my stories knowing little to nothing about how I plan on ending it. This may sound crazy or unorthodox but it's how I work. I like the idea of letting a story and its characters dictate the remainder of the story once I get things going.
It's hard investing so much time into these novels that I may never actually finish because I really do love each and every idea, the problem is, it's not as simple as just having an idea. It's all about the follow-through. I have novels for both my Volition series and the Rider series on the back burner as well as another stand-alone novel. Like I said, it's my goal, before adding any more books to my bag of tricks, to try and finish one or all of those first.
Picking up Know Thy Neighbors roughly a year after starting it and actually completing it this time was a near-physical relief. I really enjoyed the characters and the story and I'd put so much into it that I was really disappointed when I stepped away from the story for the second and third time. It all comes down to finding that spot that holds you up and pushing past it.
What do you think readers will enjoy from this story that you feel differs from your first four novels?
As the author, I feel that Know Thy Neighbor is drastically different than my previous novels, though I'd have to hear it from my readers to know that this is in fact true. The pace is very quick and Evangeline has a personality all her own. My favorite thing about writing is creating characters and I feel that I have created very different and real characters that my readers will be able to enjoy. The theme and the plot are also vastly different. While I think that the book would be hugely popular with my male readership, I also think that my female readership will enjoy it just as much. There aren't any paranormal elements like my Volition series or motorcycles like my Rider series but to its core this book is just really a stand-alone and stand-out novel among my novels, it's hard to say as to why...but it just is. haha.
August 28, 2012
Room For Improvement
With a baby on the way I haven't been in a place where I've been able to really sink my teeth into writing a new novel. The good news, however, is that I'm nesting; cleaning up and getting things in order. This also applies to my writing. I believe that before I move on to writing my next novel, I need to feel completely confident in the ones I already have out. And honestly, I'm not.
As you may know, I wrote Volition and Severance while my husband was deployed to Iraq for a year. It was an outlet for me to explore writing, a hobby that I've always loved, and to really submerge myself in something that could keep me busy. However, I was still very much a rookie in the literary world. I've earned a stripe or two since writing both novels and have learned so much from all of the great reviewers out there. I owe it to myself, those who took the time to read and review my novels, and my future readers to really take the time to go back and work on perfecting these novels.
No book will ever be flawless, at least not in its author's eyes, but that doesn't mean they can't be improved upon now and then. I am just so grateful to still be making sales after about two years of publication and I feel that I owe it to my readers to live up to the standard that I believe I should be held at.
Everything from punctuation, over description, and even the covers will be cleaned up. While I love having a harmonic on the cover of Volition, a symbolic and poignant object in the series, it just didn't turn out how I hoped it would. The cover doesn't do my vision justice and pales in comparison to Severance's vibrant and beautiful cover. So, I have a great new cover all lined up that I think everyone will love.
In addition to a new cover for Volition I will be taking all of my reviewers suggestions into mind as well as family members and critics to come away with a much more polished and deserving product. You guys are awesome and I'm so happy that you all have embraced Charlotte and Joel. Thank you for your endless support and for your readership. You guys and gals rock. :)
July 31, 2012
Shifting Gears: An Inside Look
Shifting Gears, however, is the novel I'd like to talk to you a bit more about today. Being that it's my newest release I am still working on promoting this novel and letting everyone know what it's all about.
Some love stories are sexy...some blindingly so. We all know about Fifty Shades of Gray. Other love stories are about heroic characters who find love in the midst of a world that is falling apart. The Hunger Games would be a great example for that. Then there are the love stories that teach us things about life and humanity, others that sweep us away into a new and amazing world that we never want to leave.
I'm not here to compare Shifting Gears or any of my novels to these great and successful novels. I'm here to tell you why Shifting Gears and The Wanderer stand alone in a category that I think is greatly under appreciated. I'm talking about the love story that transports you, not to another world or time, but to a love story that is real and tangible...and genuine. A love story propelled by trepidation, sweetness, and at times a little sadness. Not a story that is terribly tragic by any means, but one that reaches all of the corners of your emotions in the same respect.
Shifting Gears isn't about some great hero who saves the world or provokes a baby boom. It's a story about a man who loves so purely that it shows not in his words but in his actions. Not only does he love the female love interest but he loves his family and his job as well. These are characters who, in my opinion are well rounded and portray a story that will leave you smiling and content as you read the last words.
This story isn't a roller coaster ride of excitement and thrills that will leave you wanting more...which often leads to series' that need to have ended three or four books ago. It's a story that melts the heart, soothes the soul, and leaves you wanting to read another story like it. In which case...feel free to pick up The Wanderer. ;)
I'm not aiming to trick you into reading my book by saying that it's the most epic love story out there. But I promise you, if you pick up Shifting Gears you will not be disappointed.
May 9, 2012
Talk of the Rider Series
I have been working on putting together a blog tour for Shifting Gears to help spread the word about its upcoming release which is projected for June first. Hence my absence from posting anything on the blog recently. I encourage anyone who would be interested in hosting a pre-made guest post, providing a review for which I will provide an ecopy of the novel, or hosting a future giveaway to email me at ShawnKirstenB88(at)gmail(dot)com.
Also, I would love to hear your feedback about the novel. Have you read The Wanderer? Have you yet to start the series but look forward to starting it soon? What did you think of The Wanderer? What do you hope to find in Shifting Gears? What intrigues you about this series?
I have also been working on the next installment of the Rider series and it's going rather well so far. I must say though that it is a very different novel from the first two. In The Wanderer Landon Bradley is a bit of a ladies man but he is serious and focused all the same. He's a very strong and sure character and even stoic at times. In Shifting Gears Wesley Pierce is a bit more lighthearted. He is less burdened by the things he's faced in life. He handles his problems much differently than Landon does. The next character in the third installment of the Rider series will prove to be much more fun-loving and out for a good time. Though he is responsible and kind he is still very much a young man happy to explore and cause trouble.
What novel intrigues you most? How do you picture your ideal rider? And where do you hope to see this series go?
April 20, 2012
Cover Reveal: Shifting Gears
Wesley Pierce, a Virginia State Trooper, is in search of the perfect log cabin to settle down in. After losing his brother and doing his best to care for the family he left behind he decides, a year after Nathan’s death, that he’s finally ready to move forward.
Olivia Michaels, a realtor in search of her own dream home and a way out of her parents’ attic, takes on a client who can help get her that much closer to affording her freedom. Little does she know that it isn’t the perfect home that she finds but through Wesley Pierce she manages to find herself. And maybe, if she’s capable of taking the leap, she might even manage to find love.
***
This novel, not unlike its predecessor in the Rider series, The Wanderer, is not a story about life altering suspense and mystery or a love that seemed impossible from the very start. Instead, this story is of love in its purest form. In life it isn’t mystery and excitement that drive our hearts but trepidation and the moment in which we all decide to jump unguarded into the arms of another.
Check out Shifting Gears here on Goodreads and mark as to-read.
