S.K. Whiteside's Blog

Got questions about Literary Agents? Well here is your chance to get them answered!!! A MAGNIFICENT and AWESOME Literary Agent friend of mine will open up her doors and answer your questions in a one time Q and A. So get your questions together and send them to skwhiteside@skwhiteside.com. This is a chance to get your questions answered by a real live Literary Agent!!! Please no queries or submissions as I am not an agent nor represent one. This is just for a special blog post the agent so wonderfully agreed to do for me. Did I mention she is awesome?

[image error]Still on sale .99 cents
Well I can say that 2013 has not been going like I have planned but beyond everything I have hoped. Everything is moving so fast that I am having trouble keeping up. I have had to readjust my plan so much that I needed a visual aid. As I lay out my re-structured plan for myself I figured it was a good time to update you all on some things.1. Inheritance  - Done, complete, and queried an agent. It is currently with my cp for content and editor for, well...editing.  Cover still being planned. Will finish Blood Born sometime this month. Already have a fabulous cover model and concept for this cover. 
2. Scribe - Done, complete, edited, and uploaded to Amazon and BN. Now live on sale. Click the cover link to go to amazon to buy.  Scribe
3. In My Own Words - My professional, Non Fiction, Charitable venture is going GREAT. I have some awesome submissions but I need a bigger VARIETY. I actually may have secured a HUGE endorsement/partnership as my charity. More details on that as things get finalized and official. It will also have an awesome brand new ORIGINAL cover (non stock photo). Click the photo link below on details on how to submit.
In My Own Words

[image error]Current WIP4. Thicker Than Water - MAN, I CAN HAPPILY SAY THAT HAVE RETURNED TO THIS PROJECT. This has been on my to do list for a year and I put it on the back burner to focus on Inheritance, Scribe, and the first Morbid Seraphic. This will be a full novel (Psychological Thriller) in both print and eformat. 

5. Morbid Seraphic 2: Seven Deadly Sins - Submissions opened March 1, 2013 and are currently being accepted. This will be same as before, through Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. The first was a great success (reaching #1 in Amazon for Anthologies) I am hoping to make this one even bigger. Click the photo below for details on submitting. It too will have an AWESOME new original cover. If you are a blogger who wouldn't mind placing the poster below on your blog please contact contact me at information@skwhiteside.com
[image error]Chronicle Cover/NEXT WIP6. CHRONICLE - Part II of The Time Keeper's Daughter will be worked on this month because I know some of you are going to curse me for that ending (in a good way) ;)
7. Book of Malachi and Vice/Virtue has been put on the back burner for a while. As you can see I am finally making a dent in my VERY LARGE to do list and the wips that wont shut up in my ear for the moment are taking priority. That may change, who knows but this is where it is at the moment. 
*Sigh*Yup its a lot but in four short months I have made quite the dent. I want to thank all of you who have been there supporting, buying, promoting me. The past few months I have had a great growth in fan base and its all because of you guys! Now back to my plans of world domination *insert pink and brain evil laugh*
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[image error]The Bound Cover Wrap for Inheritance ARC
Well Book 1 is done and out the door to the Critique Partner (CP) and Editor. The Beta Readers are combing through to give me insights and I am already pounding my brain on which of the other million projects I should begin working on. Book 2 Blood Born I figure I can hold off on for about two to three months while I pimp Inheritance. All this of course only applies as long as the muses see fit not to hit me upside the head about Blood Born as if I should have drank a literary V8. In any case I will focus on finding an agent and publishing Book 1 in the series before I decide to move on to the rest of the series. In the meantime I will be splitting my writing on two other projects; Scribe which is part one of a short story trilogy about a time travelers daughter.  It runs parallel in the Guardian World so it should be fun to write. The other will be Thicker Than Water, my Psychological Thriller about family betrayal. 

The eCover for Scribe
Thicker than Water's front cover.
This should be fun.
Anyway, I thought I should do something fun to get you guys sucked into the Immortal World of the Guardians and what better way to do that than a "Meet the Characters!"
* Que cheesy game show music*.
Yes I know I started doing them nearly two years ago when I started this project but, I did not do them justice nor, did I do them all. So here is the catch...I am going to write about them as they are today in the story and you try to figure out which person of legend/fable they are from History. Some will be much easier than others and those of you who have insight to "Inheritance" cannot play!!!
Shall we begin?
First up we have 
Syn
Tika Sumpter has the perfect hair and body to play Syn.Syn is one of two main characters in the story (one of four over the series). Syn is the Guardians best fighter, it only makes sense because that is what she was created for. For thousands of years she has been solo fighting the war against the Makhai and others like them in the name of the Creator. Why complicate things with relationships and all that rubbish? She knows all to well how emotions can screw everything up. Last time she let her emotions control her it nearly destroyed the world...literally. The Gods had to set her up just to keep the peace. This is believed to be where the modern sensationalized vampire lore began. As a result she has been cursed to living a life with no emotions or feelings and paying her penance serving the creator earthbound. There is nothing more lonely than an earthbound bitter Goddess but Syn was content. 
Until...
Description: Petite figure, Brown Skin, hazel eyes (red when in blood lust , long dark hair that she usually wears in a single braided ponytail or pinned up in Chinese hair sticks with silver pointed tips.

Isira
The FABULOUS Judi Shekoni of Twilight
fits every description I have of Isira.
She has already played one bad ass Vampire.The force behind the Guardians. She is mysterious and no one really knows her true identity, except Syn, Malachi and the few Guardians who have been there with her from the beginning (See VEXED here). She is strong, regal, and is the true meaning of Beauty -- but please don't mistake her kindness for a weakness. After the her lover was taken from her by his brother, this Goddess decided to make those responsible pay. Known to be vengeful, she holds the powers of all things immortal and magic in her hands but what started her on a path to revenge lead her to something more meaningful and driven with a higher purpose. 


Isira's Story.Description: Petite figure, tall, slender, regal looking, green eyes (red when in blood lust , extremely long hair that she wears braided and wrapped around the top of her head, or loosely flowing. 

















Remy

My new crush and PERFECT for Remy
 and his name is REMI!!!!The second main character in Inheritance. He has no specific name from history but does indeed "play a part". His presence serves as a catalyst for the change that is about to happen and the war that will ensue. Down to earth guy that grew up in New Orleans in an adoptive family. He has always been "different" and when he takes helping Syn into his own hands he seals his fate and things get a little bit awkward. If you saw him in Breaking Dawn pt 2 you fell in love
Description: Tan, tall, muscular but not meat head muscular, dark wavy hair, dark eyes, high cheek bones, dimples.my Remy...Remi Malek

Malachi

[image error]Theo James has the good looks and Arrogance to pull off Malachi.The womanizing bitter anti-hero. He is a secondary character in Inheritance but by Book 2 "Blood Born" he is a lot more. He has a secret that only Isira knows and it is his history and this secret that bonds his loyalty to her. He is an arrogant ass and he and Syn frequently bump heads. She doesn't like him for being a Fallen Angel and he loves to drive her insane. Yes he is a Fallen Angel but do you know who he is? His story goes back to biblical times. You can find part of his story here. 
Theo James in Underworld AwakeningDescription: olive skin, chin length dark wavy hair, blue eyes, scar down the left side of his face, loves fashion, Calvin Klein model type looks. 






Nefi

This one should be pretty obvious by the name. Exotic beauty who used her looks to rise to power and rule with an iron fist. a fierce warrior she had no problem cutting down those who stood in the way of what she wanted. Unfortunately for her she crosses the wrong person trying to handle her own vendettas and pays the price.
Yeah I know. Olivia Munn is super wishful thinking for NefiDescription: Pretty and PETTY. Exotic. No matter how beautiful she is, in the end she is just another pretty face. 














Despair

Imagine her no smile,
black hair, in leather.yeah, this look right hereNo need to guess here. She is Despair. Like ACTUAL DESPAIR. She is the living, breathing, embodied  personification of Despair. She use to be HOPE but after years of torture and choosing to join the Azura Hope was lost (get it). She and her sisters (Grace, Patience, Serenity, etc.) appear throughout the series and are carbon copies of each other. 
Description: sleek, slender, and DARK. Black hair, black eyes, and Black attitude. Loves Leather and Metal. Syn calls her a Mord Sith with they meet.A Mord Sith


Echo:

a little young but kinda perfect. Blonde, tall,
blue eyed and deaf cutie Sean BerdyNot much is know about Echo. He is a Mimic but I can tell you that in the upcoming stories you will see that his bloodline was the first "shapeshifters". Unfortunately Echo doesn't know his family history and its believed he was abandoned as a baby because he was Deaf. He is the go-to guy for all of the Guardians needs whether its to find someone or BE that someone.
[image error]Older but not deaf so it
would be a huge leap, no?Description: In his true (um, well FAVORITE) form he is tall, slim, blonde hair, blue eyes, and dimples. Dresses lo-key (the life of a Mimic means to go unnoticed) and drives a motorcycle. 

Loqui:

Front man of the Azura. Another Self Explanatory figure. He makes a small cameo in Inheritance hinting at a great big plan he has but his role is more central to the next few books so that is all you will see of him in book one. 
Description: His appearance has changed a lot over thousands of years but his most recent is his favorite. His appearance is that of an Asian type male with a punk edge. Think Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift. Now just picture him with purple punk type hair.


















Its an amazing world just like the people in it.  Next week when I update you on my quest I will have an excerpt for you and maybe a review or two from my betas!
With Love,~S.K.

#1 Best Selling Anthology Morbid Seraphic
Well 2012 has been a year of both blessings and revelations for me. Not only did I release a best selling Horror Anthology with my publisher (Morbid Seraphic reaching number 1 on Amazon) and two best selling shorts (Fallen - #1, Vexed - #3 paid) but I also made the difficult decision to seek out a literary agent to take me to the next level. So far I have some unofficial bites from some major agencies but nothing will be decided until my final package is wrapped and ready to gift. It's a scary move but it has always been part of my plan when I decided to become an Author. It was my goal for 2012 but for the entire year I put my dreams to the side to help others fulfill theirs by formatting, blurb editing, marketing, and some minor cover work for my publisher.#2 Best Selling paid short eBook (top 10 for two weeks 
straight. Prequel to the World of the Guardians Series) 
I did this until I was bombarded with an overwhelming number of signs that it was time to finish on the path I had originally set forth. I had some doubts at first but I had some overwhelming support from colleagues telling me I was doing the right thing. When I started getting input and extremely positive feedback on my writing from the most unexpected but extremely welcomed places I knew that I was doing the right thing. When my favorite voice/audio book actress reached out to me and stated that she hopes to work with me one day, well that just made my 2012 and confirmed that 2013 will definitely be my year...FINALLY.Inheritance ARC Galley (Bound)
Inheritance is finally finished and it was a long time coming. Since I had not worked on it for over a year it is taking a bit longer to edit before it goes off to my critique partner but as I sit and write this blog I have less than 10k words left to edit before my baby is in her hands and ready for query to lit agents. A few musician friends of mine have offered to provide me with some personalized unreleased tracks to use for a book trailer to show their support and I am both thankful and extremely excited. Its going to be a busy year for me with my writing. Besides Inheritance I have Thicker, Scribe, Blood Born (sequel to Inheritance), Take a Bow, and my non fiction anthology "In My Own Words" as my charitable venture. I will also complete a few titles under my romance pen name.
*wipes forehead*
Whew that's a lot. But I welcome it and deem 2013 as the YEAR OF ME.


In my work (you know the one that pays the bills at the moment), I have made huge strides in 2012 and plan on continuing the pattern in 2013. Who am I kidding I plan on running bastards over in 2013 professionally. I was promoted to Clinical Director at work, obtained my Licensure for practice, and founded the Lillie B. Robinson Foundation -- a foundation dedicated to upliftment and encouragement to minorities and those less fortunate through Education, Mental Health, and the Arts. We have our own press venture (Ivy Media and Press) that specializes in educational, research, and training print/video as well as a few select non-fiction books that promote the LBRF purpose. It is my plan to release In My Own Words through this avenue.
I have a lot going on in 2013 so its safe to say that one of my 2013 resolutions will be to take better care of myself (The Year of Me remember).

I don't know what happened to me but somewhere along the journey I have let what others need and want come before everything I work for and dreamed about. So unless you are the 4 year old diva and 8 year ninja presently asking me about dinner be prepared to be told to bogger off (Love you, mean it!). Nothing personal but a woman can only give so much. This is my only resolution and I plan to keep it. Its real, its finite, and its ALL ABOUT ME (and by extension my offspring). I plan to travel more, give more back via the LBRF but other than that...ME ME ME ME ME ME. Its not unhealthy when you have spent so much time on everyone else.
So with a bittersweet kick in the pants I bid 2012 Adieu and drunkenly buy 2013 a drink. *raises glass* here's to hoping it calls me in the morning.


Happy New Year Lovies!!!


~S.K.


Fallen Short Story released as a teaser pre release of Morbid Seraphic


Non Fiction Anthology late 2013


Thicker late 2013

3d image of Inheritance's Reviewers bound ARC
Well the time has come. Two years and 73k words later (in its current state) Inheritance is finished and hopefully will soon be out in the world for the masses via some major big house pub company. Don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with my current publisher but it was ALWAYS in the plan to query this particular title to Literary Agents upon completion. I took a year off to work on some other things (including my other titles) and finally decided it was time to step back and regroup. The result? My baby, "Guardian of the Gate" is complete and even has a new name..."Inheritance: World of the Guardians".

Inheritance WrapIt has some major revisions from what my Critique partner read from the first half over a year ago. I am quite pleased and have received positive remarks so far from the snippets that I have shared here and there. So what's next? Well, I am halfway through my self edits. I was supposed to be done by now but got delayed by three days due to a computer problem that has only recently resolved itself. So I will be spending the entire Christmas weekend finishing up the edits and rewrites to send the final version to my Crit Partner. After that, it gets queried to a list of Literary Agents I have on reserve. In preparation for 2013 I want my baby to be waiting for these agents when they return from Holiday, eyes fresh, looking for the next great series (because lets face it, we ALL will be the next J.K. Rowling, right?) I have one or two I have been in contact with and they like my style and told me to submit Inheritance when complete. That was a year ago, here to hoping they still work for those agencies. *fingers crossed*.

Its my hope to get more active on this blog in the upcoming weeks and during that time I will be sharing my journey (yes, even the bad news should there be any). I will also post little snippets here and there and who knows. The whole thing about a journey is you never really know where you are going to end up. We shall call this Operation Secure Agent...Wish me luck! 
[image error]Inheritance Blurb. Photo taken by my dear friend Chris Dennis a.k.a. "Gerb"

Blurb:

The Gates of Hell are about to burst open… 

The Azura, a league of immortal bad asses, are literally about to bring hell on earth and with it, Set – their banished ruler. For the first time in history, it looks like they may actually pull it off. Even the Guardians – led by the mysterious Consulate Isira are at a loss. 

In the Hail Mary of all attempts to save the world, Isira sends the Guardian’s fiercest warrior Syn, to the paranormal capital of the world; New Orleans, Louisiana, to find and protect the Key. When it is determined that a traitor lies among the ranks of the Guardians, Syn is forced to seek help in the most unlikely of places …her least favorite person; the fallen angel Malachi. 

As enemies become friends and friends become enemies, Syn quickly finds that the fate of the world may not be all she is fighting for.

Copyright 2012 S.K. Whiteside

 Let's face it.
We write, we tear it up.  We write some more and it still sucks. The only time it doesn't suck to you is well...when you don't write it.  That sucks even worse because you CAN'T write it.
You're blocked...
You're unmotivated...
You are spending WAY too much time on Facebook, playing angry birds, or googling yourself.
As writers we have all been there before and more than likely will probably be there again.  Be honest, if you are reading this right now, you are probably already there.
It's ok though! You push on and you get through it! Everyone has their own little tricks-of-the-trade to help "BEAT THE BLOCK" (as I say in my Jay-Z voice). Reading helps my blockage (that didn't sound quite right).  ironic? Yes. Really works? Well, that's what I tell myself. It's probably me just being lazy and procrastinating. In any case, some people hit a hot streak and the ideas always hit them like Kenny on South Park or a dumb ass idea to Jay and Silent Bob (Oh yeah, I am THAT girl).
Amanda R. Browning is one of those people.
You say "Red" and the girl can lay you out an inspired idea and have you believe it was the Holy Grail. That's why I gave her this week's guest topic of "Are You There Muse?" She is a contributing author to Morbid Seraphic anthology (The Demons Playground) as well as Dark Light both now available via Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. Without further Adieu the lovely and talented Amanda R. Browning.

"Hello Muse? Are you There?: How to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing" (unblocking that writers block)
Writer’s block, it’s gotten to all of us at some point or another.  How do you find inspiration to write  when your muse seems to have abandoned you?  There is no surefire method that will work for everyone, but I have come up with several things that help me, and hopefully, one of them will help you too. To me, there are two kinds of writer’s block: one when you are thinking of ideas to start a story and the other when you are already writing and your muse goes silent.  I will address the new story writer’s block first.  There are almost limitless ways to get inspirations for new stories.  My preferred method is to browse the fantasy and gothic art pages on facebook.  There are some fabulously talented artists there and several of the pictures just beg for you to tell the story behind them.  A single picture can inspire a setting, character, or even a whole storyline. Movies, T.V., and books are wonderful sources of inspiration.  You should never outright take an idea, but rather let them inspire you.  Recently a weekend of reading The Hunger Games trilogy and watch the first season of American Horror Story inspired me to write a short story about a demon that possessed a house and sold tickets in Hell for the right to drive each family into insanity and death.  Find and idea that speaks to you, and then make it your own. For those of you who dream, keep a notebook beside your bed and jot down the dreams that could potentially be stories.  Our subconscious minds are very creative, and if you get the main idea of the dream down before it fades away, that notebook could be a goldmine of potential story ideas.  It’s also handy when you think of things right before you fall asleep, and don’t want to forget them.  Your daily life is another possible idea jackpot.  Everything that has happened to you is most likely not book idea worthy, but there could easily be elements of your life that would add to a story.  People you know could become characters and places you have seen your entire life could be exotic and strange to someone else if properly described.  Local history and legend is a wealth of potential story ideas, and because it is local, much easier to research.  Almost every city has at least one place that is the “creepy old house”, and if the legend doesn’t already include the ‘why’, then you have a great angle to explore.  I personally get a lot of inspiration from world history.  I enjoy finding some piece of history and explaining it, or some aspect of it, with the paranormal.  In my novel, the Roman Emperor Caligula is my first vampire.  The demon story I mentioned earlier takes place in a real house in New Orleans.  The original owners of the house were reported to be truly evil people and have been documented as doing horrible things.  I wanted to explore the ‘why’ behind the horrible things that had happened in the house, and I thought demonic possession worked nicely. Now I will address the second type of writer’s block.  Almost every author has experienced this kind.  You’re moving along in your story when you hit a wall.  Your muse deserts you and you feel your creativity has dried up faster than water in the desert.  You’re stuck and either you hate what you’re writing, or you aren’t writing anything at all.  Again, my methods may not work for everyone, but hopefully, there will be something that works for you.  My preferred method of getting past this kind of writer’s block is the “talk it out” buddy.  EVERY author should have one of these!  I have several.  “Talk it out” buddies are people, usually friends, who are familiar with your work and characters.  When you get stuck on something, this person can help you find a way to make it work.  If you’re unsure how something reads or if it is confusing, they can help.  They can also give you a reader’s opinion on your work.  The “talk it out” buddy is an extremely valuable resource and I recommend at least one to every author! When you sit down to write a chapter or scene, if possible, take five minutes to jot down an outline with the major points you want to address.  Instead of trying to think of everything as you go, you can ‘connect the dots’ and fill in the spaces between events.  The characters may, and frequently do, take you elsewhere, but it will serve as a guide to help if you get stuck. Many times when I get stuck, I do research.  I had a scene recently where my characters were fighting hellhounds and I was lost as to what abilities I wanted the hounds to have or how to kill a hellhound.  I turned to the internet and scoured google for anything hellhound related.  In the end, I chose to make up a new kind of hellhound because the available mythology didn’t work for what I wanted.  Readers want to read something new, so don’t be afraid to stray from popular mythology. If nothing else works, the best thing I have found to do is get away from the story for a little while.  Take a walk, watch a movie, read a book- just do something to occupy your mind and relax.  When you are relaxed and happy, then sit down and try again.  Sometimes all you need is a break. Inspiration is all around us.  You can find it anywhere if you know how to look.  Our muses, or at least mine, tend to be temperamental and sometimes lazy.  Occasionally they need a little push to get that inner voice talking again.  Hopefully one, or all, of these methods will speak to your muse and get the creative juices flowing.

 Amanda R. Browning is an author of paranormal fiction, primarily horror and romance.  She has been married to her loving husband for the last eight years and they have four children together.  Amanda and her family live in the country in southern Indiana and one of her favorite things to do is stargaze on a clear night. Amanda has several short stories published and can be found on facebook, Amazon, and goodreads.  She is a proud and active member of the Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing family.  Her full length novel, The Immortal Choice, will be released in May and she just started writing for a horror/paranormal magazine that should also debut in May called Horror Underground Magazine.
http://www.facebook.com/AmandaRBrowni...
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Check out the Prince's story "S(a)TAN" in Morbid Seraphic now on Sale in Print and eBookHAPPY RELEASE DAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you haven't gone out to purchase (or with modern technology, stayed in) my new release MORBID SERAPHIC then SHAME ON YOU!!!! If you haven't please feel free to do so HERE 
Morbid Seraphic is filled with Dark and Twisted tales of all things Divine and introduces you to the wonderful world of SEVERAL up and coming authors with STAYING power.  Morbid can be purchased in print at any bookstore and for eBook for Kindle...effectively MAY 1, 2012. One of the Authors, Nathan Squiers (a.k.a. The Literary Dark Prince) has his very own Release to celebrate along with Morbid. Crimson Shadow: Noir is quickly rising up the ranks on Amazon and it's only been a day! Crimson Shadow: Noir now on sale everywhere books are sold and for Kindle.
Well lucky me, I was able to coax some of my Morbid Lovelies into doing guest posts this week to help promote and to give readers a chance to get to know them. Once you know them I am sure you will love them as much as I do! Each author was given a topic close to their heart and something befitting of their "literary personality". The Dark Prince has a tendency to be UBER protective and loyal and loathes others that take things for granted. It is one of his more endearing traits that landed him the love of his life, The Scarlett Sorceress M.J. Parker (No, she does NOT have red hair).
Without further adieu I present to you...THE LITERARY DARK PRINCE.

BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS Being an author when a book is a group project: 
The Literary Dark Prince Nathan Squiers So you've finished your manuscript, painstakingly edited, rewritten, polished, and repeated 'til both your fingers and your soul bled, and then you queried.
And queried.
And queried.
And queried some more.
Finally, with only one rejection letter away from fully wallpapering your living room, an acceptance (ain't it always the way?)!
Now the contract's been signed, your brain-child sent off to be primped and polished by professionals, and the professional treatment begins.
But wait… what are they doing? Editors going crazy with red ink, marketing consultants using words that aren't your own to promote, and *le-gasp* a cover that's nothing like what you'd seen in your dreams??
Breath, young Padwan. It's all a part of the ride you've waited in line for.
You see, while you ARE the author of the book that's currently undergoing the revamping of a lifetime, it is no longer yours and yours alone. Publishers have put money into it, editors have sacrificed time, marketers have shed their sweat to promote, and artists have bled ink; all so that your words will be provided and displayed in the BEST way possible. That book, though your brain-child, is no longer simply your baby.
It is a part of a corporate machine whose gears turn perpetually in the favor of all who put their expertise into the collective pot.
"But, Mister Literary Dark Prince," you say to me, "aren't corporations evil, penny-pinching, treacherous creatures that exist only to breed consumers?"
To which I smirk and reply: "Of course, but what have you been working towards?"
You see, your efforts to put your manuscript into the hands of a publisher who would, in turn, see your work on the shelves of your local bookstore represented your willingness to turn a profit on your efforts. Artists--starving or not--tend to work towards selling their products, and you deciding to take your story and sell it illustrates a key difference between writers and authors:
Writers simply write; authors write to sell.
Neither is right nor wrong, but, in the long run, any who wish to see a royalty payment for their work have to accept the title of "author" at some point, and with that acceptance comes the conditions associated on HOW to sell your work. But how--oh how--to sell?
An author has one-of-two choices: self-publish or query to an agent/publishing company.
Now, both of these options will see results, but, because these are two VERY different paths, you find yourself in a position of soul-searching to decide what's right for you. Self-publishing--which, prior to the thought process of the masses, IS NOT a dirty word--is EXACTLY what it sounds like: you do it YOURSELF! You can pay outside services for editing, art, and the like, but, in the end, it is all your call on how the project is put together and made available and marketed. However, while being able to call all the shots may sound like the good life, bear in mind that, no matter what you or your loved ones say, you don't know everything and you can't do it all better than those who have dedicated their lives to a certain trade. You've ALREADY written the book, so to assume that you can edit those words, create the art, or market any better than those who have studied to do just that is a tad presumptuous. Now, many self-published authors choose to find friends & family who can cheaply help out in those other arenas, and this can--and does--work out quite well in everyone's favor (just be sure that legal stipulations are settled BEFORE the product is available; if an artist wants a cut of every unit sold for a book's cover, you should have that situated before the book hits the market).
But let's assume that the idea of self-publishing--the thought that what you've worked so hard on doesn't see the professional treatment it deserves--is the sort of thing that sends ripples of disgust up your spine. Let's assume that there is no other option. And let's assume, based on the prior assumptions, that your manuscript is accepted by a publisher. Now the issue of the mechanics of the book's production is in the hands of people whose sole purpose is to do what they're doing--making you and your art look PERFECT!
Many an author, upon seeing the tweaks and gropes of their work, go into hysterics and begin to second-guess the entire process; in essence biting the hand that's feeding them. This metaphor is as old as the concept that has bred it and often refers to an entity lashing out at a higher authority that is directly responsible for their wellbeing/survival. But is a dog wrong for biting its master? Not necessarily; after all, a dog may not know any better.
But an author should.
An author will never be in a position of working with a publisher without having to put in the effort to be there in the first place, so to then go against not only the progress of the product but their own efforts seems a tad foolish. After all, did they not consider what the process entailed prior to querying? Did they not understand what sort of things went into the publishing process?
One would hope, but it's not always the case.
Be that as it may, allow this to be the moment you recognize that, while the batch of cookies were made by your hand, the eggs were laid by the breeder's chickens, the wheat for the flour harvested by the farmer's hand, and the chocolate for the chips obtained by the market that you bought them at. Those cookies ARE yours, but they--like anything else produced--are a product of many, many combined efforts.
So before you bite the hand that feeds you--before you shift into "death to the evil corporation"-gear--bear in mind that you have made a conscious effort to be a part of the corporate "scheme" to put your book into the hands of many.
Can corporations be evil and maniacal? Absolutely.But are you prepared to cut all ties with everything provided by corporations? Are you prepared to live without clean water, secured shelter, reliable power, internet, cable, phone, and all those tasty snacks and beverages you enjoy on a daily basis?
Corporations are wealthy because they have their finger on what we, the consumers, want; their "evil" ways tied to their control over what we crave. Your mission as an author should not be how to avoid the corporate machine, but to find where you fit in it and use that machine to create some revenue on your behalf.
As an artist, you'll have more-than enough time to fight evil, but you need a following and the funds to bankroll your mission (just ask Batman). So let the cover take their pictures, allow the editor to cross a few "T"s, and trust the marketers to make your story look awesome to the world.
You're an author now, and that makes you a team player.
Now trust your team and sell some books!!
As always: rock out & write on! Nathan Squiers (The Literary Dark Prince)

To purchase Crimson Shadow: Noir go HERE
To purchase the prequel to Crimson Shadow: Noir -- "Wicked Paints" go HERE
The top 10 best selling short story/Prequel to Crimson Shadow: Noir "Wicked Paints" now on sale on Amazon for Kindle.

         Congrats to Linna Drehmel! She gets to POP MY CHERRY!!!
        No you sicko's she gets to be my first ever Guest Spot.
I'm not nearly that popular but supposedly the next step on the hall of blogdom is allowing others into your realm to entertain your readers (I do love you all). So in the wake of my upcoming release (of a LITERARY nature) I have asked my fellow authors of Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing to write a post on what I have deemed their respective "expertise". The topics (up until May 1st) will target you new and aspiring writers. Wanna know how to get your face out there (or rather, your book cover and work)? Want to know how to sever ties with a bad publisher and/or unhealthy business relationship? Want to know how to market yourself using everyday media (i.e. youtube, etc.)? Well we have a post for all of that and more just follow and/or keep checking back in.
But back to Linna.
Linna Drehmel is CH&BB's lone sci-fy princess and she wears the crown well (I dare you to try and take it off her head). She is here to tell you how to spam your way to the top and how to utilize social networking.
Thanks for joining us Linna!

Sci-Fy Princess of CH&BB Linna DrehmelI am so happy to be on, your blog. I love blogs. It has been such joy for me developing mine. I actually didn’t think I would like blogging at first. After a while I found it useful in getting my voice heard. I used it like a journal at first and didn’t really like that. I am not one to journal much. But soon I got into guest posts, character profiles, and short stories.

Then it became fun!

Even more fun than blogging is the social network, but not just fun. It has been a useful tool in my writing career. At first Facebook was just for fun, chit chatting with friends and playing Farmville. But I had my good friend Bri Clark, who is also an accomplished author advise me to use social media as something more than just a plays to chat with people. She referred to it as building my social platform.Linna has two shorts in CH&BB's debut Horror anthology "Dark Light" now sold on Amazon and in print.
I then created my Linna Drehmel profile on Facebook built up my reach on that by friending as many other authors I could find, joining chat groups and liking pages. I also added my Linna Drehmel Author page. I added Blogger to my platform, at first it was called ‘Good Enough’ but that seemed so limiting so I changed the name to something that spoke of power ‘Phoenix Rising’ and the hits on my blog went way up.Twittter was another one that I didn’t like much at first. It seemed limiting to me I only have 140 characters to express my thoughts? No way! But I found some great friends on there and have built up a great following.Goodreads I liked right away! A social network for readers and authors. What a great place to find something good to read and find people to read my stuff.Google +1 I have not made up my mind if I like it or not but any reach is good so I continue to use it.Vampire freaks was love at first bite! I had known of this sight for many years and always meant to sign up but just never got around to it until a few weeks ago and I love it. It is so much fun and the networking for my book is great. So many open minds!Klout I am not sure about yet. I am just learning to use it so say tuned, but once again I say any reach out into the world is good. I am currently looking into other sights that I can use to spread the word about my work and the works of my fellow authors.

The most important thing about social media for me is the fact that I found SJ Davis the owner of Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly publishing on Facebook. My publishing family.
Once again I thank you for having me on your blog.

~Linna Drehmel
SciFi/Fantasy/Goth author with
Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly publishing
H.E.A.R.T. Saga: The Children
The Dark Light anthology
Let your light so shine!

              To Visit Linna on Amazon or to Purchase her work click this link here               Linna's Amazon Page


HEART’s children blurb Linna's new release with CH&BB now for sale eBook on Amazon and in print worldwide if its not in your bookstore then request it!DraDonna is the first person in more than 500 years to be born with copper colored hair on a planet that thrives on perfection. The people on this immaculate little world worship ‘The HEART’ which is a female intelligence that utterly controls the lives and minds of all of her children by supplying them with and addictive energy force that her children can channel into their bodies and use in their daily lives.The HEART loses control over her children when DraDonna begins to have forbidden dreams that lead this young woman and her devoted husband DraDevon to discover the truth about their world and the HEART’s dark secret.

The character description of Syn.Name: Syn (no last name)Classification: Goddess (The term Vampire came later)Powers: Strength, Agility, Immortal Speed, Fire, Shifter (Feline)Height: 5'9"Hair: Long and Black (sometimes with a streak of color)Eyes: Golden Brown
Syn's full length novel. The first in a six book series.Time to meet the Protagnoist of "The Guardians of the Gate" series, Syn. Known throughout history as one of the original Vampires, Syn has been around the block and back a few times. Known by many names, Syn is the Goddess of War and was created to serve as protector of those in battle that fought for the greater good and the creator. Some Goddess though, most of her powers and her emotions were taken from her long ago as punishment for her bloodlust that nearly destroyed the world she was cast down to protect. Now she is forced walk the earth never knowing joy, pain, and even worse...LOVE. Don't feel sorry for her because clearly your sympathy would be wasted. It is not like she can actually appreciate it.  Check her out in her own words below.
Fire or Ice? Syn in Egyptian Mythology. Can you guess who she is?Fire
Apple or PC? Neither
Favorite Color? Black
Favorite Song? The Kill (Bury Me) ~30 Seconds to Mars
Are you aware that is your colleague "Malachi's" favorite band? *Snarl*
Make Love or Make War? Neither. We fight to end Wars, and Love is a distraction. An unneccsary and dangerous one. 
Harry or Voldemort? Snape
Edward or Jacob? Vultourie 
Friend or Foe? Depends on who's asking.

If there was ever anyone who could play Syn, this is she. The talented Tika Sumpter.Syn makes a cameo in "Haunted"

Isira/Isis in Egyptian MythologyTime to learn a little bit about the woman behind Malachi's re-newed immortality (and his equally renewed sense of revenge). Isira is the mysterious and feared leader of the Guardians. Her past is somewhat of a mystery to them, not because she has anything to hide but because keeping who she is a secret is for their saftey well as the sake of all mankind. She can be a bit tempermental but let's face it, when you have had everything you ever loved taken from you by the people you call your family, you would be sort of a bitch too. Just be careful, the one thing she hates is her time being wasted.  She has a world to save but um, yeah--just see for yourself.
Isira makes her debut here in the stories "Fallen From Grace" and appears again in "Haunted".
As the battle for earth begins two reporters from CH&BB media decided to sit down with the leader of the Guardians to get an understanding of the battle for mankind that lies before us. Unfortunately, all we have is recorded video found at the scene of the interview. Both reporters  were nowhere to be found to verify the contents contained on the tape. Fortunately, we here at CH&BB were able to compose a transcript of the interview for your reading pleasure.
***Recording begins***
***A few inaudible things, moving around, then the interview begins***
Paparazzi 2: "My Colleague and I are here to bring attention to a rumored war that is brewing on earth. Joining us we have the regal beauty that is Isira, leader of the mysterious Guardians, sits poised in her throne of Black Marble, quietly reserved and stoic but it is without a doubt that one false move and she could easily take out anyone who becomes a threat."
Paparazzi 1: "Thank you for joining us today Isira."Isira: "Thank you for having me."
Paparazzi 2: "So this war that is coming, I understand you saw it forecoming in a vision?"Isira: -_- I wouldn't say vision, more like a "premonition".
Paparazzi 2: "Right. 'PRE-MO-NI-TION'"Isira: "I fail to see your amusement."
Paparazzi 1: "Ignore him, he's a skeptic. Tell us more about what we are up against."Isira: *staring at Paparazzi 2 before turning back to Paparazzi 1 to answer his question* "The Azura, a group of individuals determined to bring about mankinds destruction, has found a way to unleash him and bring forth hell on earth."
Paparazzi 2: "And why exactly do you care about *air quotes* "mankind".Isira: -_- "let's just say my stance is personal in nature."
Paparazzi 1: *cough* "let's try and lighten the mood up a bit, I want to know your favorite male and female celebrity and why for each."Isira: "How is this relevant?"
Paparazzi 1: "just trying to ligthen the mood, relax you a bit."Isira: "I'm relaxed." *looks around frustrated* "Fine, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt"
Paparazzi 1: "Why?"Isira: *sigh* "Next Question."
Paparazzi 1: "Ok, favorite advancement -- technological or otherwise."Isira: Does the Semi-Automatic handgun count?
Paparazzi 1: *shifts nervously* "I guess so."
Paparazzi 1: "You have graced us with your presence -- thank you by the way -- but why is it no one can verify that you exist? Why is it we can find no record of you anywhere? Has anyone ever actually seen you this close before?"Isira: *smirks* "If I tell you, I would have to kill you."
Paparazzi 1: "Ok, um moving on..."
Paparazzi 2: "I have one, your comic book crush."Isira: "Spawn -- Next question."
Paparazzi 1: "What about..."Paparazzi 2: "I'm not done yet -- I want her thoughts on Madonna's Pyramid bra -- you are from Egypt right?"Isira: Who?
Paparzzi 1: "What group or organization do you show support to?"Isira: *crosses legs then reaches up to rub temples* "The Human Society"Paparazzi 1: "I think you mean the HUMANE Society."Isira: "I know what I said."
Paparazzi 2: "What is one quality that a good lover needs in your bed?"Isira: "I don't like people who waste my time, and you sir, are wasting my time." *sitting foreward* "would you like to see what I do to people who waste my time?"
Paparazzi 2: *smiles* "I thought you would have said, golden phallace but," *shrug*
Paparazzi 1: "Leather or Fur?"Isira: *sneering and grinding teeth* "FUR"
Paparazzi 2: "Oh I have one!!! bacon or cheese?"Isira: *JUMPS OFF THRONE* "THAT'S IT!"
***Camera drops to the floor, the only thing visible is the legs of the interviewers chairs***
***more inaudible noise, muffled noises, a few screams then silence***
***Recording ends and screen goes black*** You can find more Isira here. Coming Soon.