Coming Soon ~ Love vs. Career (Second Edition) plus a Giveaway

Posted in Article, cover reveal, ebooks, indie author, promotion, raffle, self publishing, writing by R. Lynn

Love vs. Career (Second Edition)

Giveaway

(10) Kindle copies and (2) $10 Amazon Gift Certificates

CLICK HERE TO ENTER RAFFLECOPTER

Book Description:

Marissa Andrews thinks her life is on target after graduating from college summa cum laude and landing her first successful marketing job. She feels happy with her dream job, along with caramel hunk James, her older boyfriend “slash” boss. Things for her are not looking too shabby. Unfortunately, everything praiseworthy does not always stay that way. And, when James’s freshly college graduated daughter Becky steps into the picture and starts working for her dad, with her comes nothing but trouble, topped off by a nasty attitude.

The strong woman that Marissa is factors into a decision to walk away from a job that she loves because the drama isn’t worth it. It is a move that brings unexpected consequences into her life. If there is one thing that she has learned from her partnership with James, it is that work and personal relationships entwined are bad karma, and definitely should not be combined. A rule that she vows to live by from here on out. Only, the one thing she doesn’t know is that entrepreneur Roaman Stuart is about to make her acquaintance and put that promise to a test.

Love vs. Career (Second Edition)

This is the re-edited copy of Love vs. Career (Second Edition). It will be released Friday, April 3, 2015. If this title looks familiar to you, then you are correct because the first edition was released July 2013. I chose to re-edit and do a second edition because I kept feeling the novel wasn’t quite right. I cringe at how much work it was redoing it; however, I went through it page by page analyzing and adding more “creative love” into the writing. In the new version, I also made some minor changes in the storyline that I feel make it a stronger and sensual read. I wasn’t able to do it today, but I’ll have a teaser from the book for you in a day or two.

R. Lynn Archie

24Oct2014

Using Points of View (POV) in Your Writing

Posted in Article, good writer, self publishing, writing by R. Lynn

When I first began writing, I wasn’t aware that stories were written in points of view. So, what is a point of view? Simply put, it’s a way that writers allow readers to see and hear what’s going on. Point of view in books will contain detail, opinion, or emotion the author wants to accentuate; therefore, a point of view catches the attention of the reader.

The Three Major Kinds of POV

First-person point of view involves the use of either of the two pronouns “I” and “we”. The advantage of this point of view is that you get to hear the thoughts of the narrator, and see the world depicted in the story through his or her eyes. A good novel selection would be Twilight by Stephanie Meyers. The main female character Bella Swan is the narrator; we see things from her point of view.

(Example) “I loved Phoenix. I loved the sun and the blistering heat. I loved the vigorous, sprawling city.”

Second-person point of view, the narrator tells the story to another character using “you” and “your”. This is the least used POV. You will see this used more in literature such as a cook book. Although a perfect selection of a novel used this way would be Jay McInerney’s, Bright Lights, Big City.

(Example) “You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of the morning. But here you are, and you cannot say that the terrain is entirely unfamiliar, although the details are fuzzy.”

Third-person point of view is the most popular of the three and uses pronouns like “he”, “she”, “it”, “they” or a name. The narrator isn’t present as a character. The writer may choose third-person omniscient in which the thoughts of every character are open to the reader, or third-person limited, in which the reader enters only one character’s mind, either throughout the entire work or in a specific section. A good third person POV book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Examples:

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired him.
“He is just what a young man ought to be,” said she, “sensible, good humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!”

My preference is third person point of view because it’s what I feel the most comfortable with, and it allows me complete freedom in telling my story. I would like to hear from you. Tell me, what point of view you use in your writing?

R. Lynn

13Aug2014

Why Is It Like Pulling Nails To Get A Book Review?

Posted in Article, ebooks, self publishing, Uncategorized, writing by R. Lynn

Come December 2014 it will be two years since I began writing. All in all, I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts and stories, but one thing I’m still struggling with is getting book reviews on Amazon.

It puzzles me because my books get a decent amount of sells. In addition, even with giving away free copies I still only manage to get between five to ten reviews. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the ones that take a moment of their time to leave one. Yet, I remain amazed when I see other self-published authors such as myself getting huge numbers of reviews and it really peaks my interest in learning what their secret is in achieving such a productive response?

I do know that Goodreads is a good source and they have groups that offer read for reads or book swaps in return for an honest review; unfortunately, with my busy schedule that option just won’t work for me.

Honestly, I don’t think readers realize just how valuable their input is for authors. Their response helps a lot because it reaffirm if an authors book have gone in the right direction or not. In reading up on this topic I came across a few great tips that readers should know:

Don’t be afraid of being honest. Do, however, remember to be helpful (and not mean). Don’t just say “it sucks” but tell everyone why it sucked.
Don’t give away the ending of the book. You can allude to it very vaguely (“the ending surprised me”) but don’t say specific plot details.
You’re not being graded. Write a review as long or short as you want. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece of art—think of it more as a conversation or what you might tell people you know about this book.
Make sure that you read the book before you review. This seems like it should be obvious but… it’s not.

I can only speak from my standpoint but if you’ve experienced the same or can shed some light on the question I would love to hear from you.

R. Lynn

4Jun2014

Day 2 of Cover Reveal for Trial of Marriage 2

Posted in Article, ebooks, self publishing, writing by R. Lynn

Today is Day 2 of the cover reveal for “Trial of Marriage 2: Sacrifices” the second book in the TOM Series, and only two more days left before the big reveal on Friday. The book description is coming soon and I’ll have another peek to the cover tomorrow. Want to get a free copy? I’m giving away six copies, click here to enter.

28Mar2014

Conduit by Angie Martin – Blog Tour and Giveaway

Posted in ebooks, writing by R. Lynn

I have Angie Martin, author of crime, mystery thriller Conduit, stopping past today on her blog tour. Conduit has received 24 excellent 5-Star Reviews.

“This book is just totally captivating and will keep you in its clutches until the last word.”

“Tightly written, loaded with suspense and wholly captivating, this is a cracking good read.”

“It is a first of its kind book and one you don’t want to miss out on!”

Available at Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon CA

Publisher: Indie World Publishing & Author Services

Click Below To Enter Giveaway For A Copy of Conduit

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Author Interview

RLA: What was your inspiration to become a writer?

AM: I’ve always been a writer. I don’t think we have much of a choice…lol. I’ve been a reader since my youth. In 8th grade, my Aunt Carol gave me Stephen King’s Christine for Christmas. My life was never the same and I knew that I wanted to tell stories when I grew up.

RLA: Regarding Conduit, your new released paranormal thriller, where did your idea for this story come from?

AM: I always wanted to do a private detective mystery novel. My best friend and I used to joke about opening a private investigating agency together. I thought if I can’t open one, I can always write about one! The psychic / paranormal part of the novel is a little harder to nail down as to where the inspiration came from. I personally do not believe in psychics, which actually made the journey so much fun. Since I didn’t believe in it, I could do whatever I wanted with the idea of being psychic, and I ended up creating a unique perspective on having psychic abilities. It was fun to watch Emily grow in her abilities, and her gift will continue to evolve in future novels.

RLA: How long did it take you to write this book?

AM: I actually started this book 7 years ago. I know…long time. I took several years off from writing because life got in the way, but the book was always in the back of my mind. Last year, I decided I was going to finish the book, and here it is!

RLA: How many books have you written and what do you have in the works?

AM: I have published one other book, a suspense novel, “False Security.” I am releasing a poetry and short story anthology (“the three o’clock in the morning sessions”) toward the end of March. I am working on several projects, including a horror short story and the next Emily Monroe novel.

RLA: Angie…Who is your favorite author and is your writing style similar to theirs?

AM: Dean Koontz has been my favorite author for many years. He was the second horror author I read as a kid. I’m nothing like him, though!

RLA: Angie, thank you for stopping past today, but before you go can you leave us with an excerpt from your book?

AM: Sure, here is an excerpt of David Noakes, the killer in Conduit, scoping out his latest victim from his point of view: By far, Stephanie was the friendliest conduit David had come across in all his travels. Two weeks ago, he met her at a bagel shop, where she bought breakfast for the office staff she managed. She didn’t become irritated when the cashier twice read her large order back to her incorrectly, but she repeated her order with patience and a smile. Everywhere he followed her since that morning, Stephanie exemplified kindness. But a kind heart wouldn’t save her.

RLA: Thank you for sharing that tidbit from your book and for stopping past. I wish you the best with your book.

AM: Thank you and thanks for having me.

Author Bio

I am a lifelong writer and firmly believe that words flow through my veins. In 2004, I published my first suspense novel, False Security. Since that time, False Security has been drastically re-written and the revised version is available as an e-book for Kindle. I am hard at work on my next novel, Conduit, as well as two short stories and a poetry anthology.

I am a reader first, a writer second. My favorites are Stephen King and Dean Koontz, but I read a wide variety of books and love to discover indie authors. As a geek-extraordinaire, I also love comics and graphic novels. I live in California with my husband, my two beautiful cats, and my beloved dog. I have two sons who are off paving their own way in the world. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas, my hometown and where my books take place, and I’m still very much a Kansas girl at heart. I have studied criminal justice and behavior since high school, and I currently am pursuing my Criminal Justice bachelors degree with a minor in English at Park University. I have played piano since I was five and I love to write music. I am also hard-core gamer. My go-to video games series are Resident Evil, Uncharted, The Walking Dead (Telltale Games), and Dead Space.

Angie’s Social Media Links: Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Pinterest

27Mar2014

Conduit Giveaway!

Posted in blog tour, ebooks, raffle by R. Lynn

Rafflecopter Giveaway!!!

Want to win a copy of Conduit by Angie Martin? Just click the link above to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for your chance to win 1 of 3 copies! I am excited to be part of the blog tour for this amazing book! You do not want to miss this chance to win!

How do you hide from a killer when he’s in your mind?

Emily Monroe conceals her psychic gift from the world, but her abilities are much too strong to keep hidden from an equally gifted killer. A savvy private investigator, she discreetly uses her psychic prowess to solve cases. When the police ask her to assist on a new case, she soon learns the killer they seek is not only psychic, but is targeting her.

The killer wants more than to invade her mind; he wants her. Believing they are destined for each other, he uses his victims as conduits to communicate with her, and she hears their screams while they are tortured. She opens her mind to help the victims, but it gives him a portal that he uses to lure her to him. With the killer taking over her mind, she must somehow stop him before she becomes his next victim.

25Oct2013

Book Review: Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet

Posted in Book review, ebooks, self publishing, Uncategorized, writing by R. Lynn

First let me say this is not romance book, but science fiction. Every now and then I do like reading something different. I have to say that “Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet” was an enjoyable read. The book is about fifteen year old Jack Finnegan, an average teenager who has had his share of childhood problems and inadequacies.

And, it’s in this fifteenth year that a radical change transforms his life. It is an adjustment that centers on Jacks’ school acquaintance Anna Shepherd, Mr. Shepherd (Anna’s dad and Jack’s teacher) and Mr. Green (another teacher). People he thought he knew; however, what a surprise for him when he learns they are not what they betrayed themselves to be. Also, if that is not enough to comprehend, Jack has to deal with unsavory Deathlord aliens who are wreaking havoc and destroying anything and everything that crosses their path.

I like the growth that Jack’s character achieves along the way turning him from a laid-back teenager into a more focused and responsible individual. The things Jack endures are more than he ever could have envisioned. In this book, you will come across zombies, different alien races, spaceships, a princess and more.

I would put this book in the young reader’s category only because of the dialog used; I think a pre-teen/teenager would have a deeper appreciation for it. Nonetheless, if you are an adult that enjoys reading science fiction stories with lots of action, adventure, and bits of humor thrown in here and there, then this story is right up your alley. It was a fun read, and I’ve already referred this book to a few young readers. For more information on this book you can visit http://matthewkadish.com/.

Until later,

R. Lynn Archie

website: http://www.rlynnarchie.com

8Jul2013

Book Review: Beasthood by A.Z. Green

Posted in ebooks, writing by R. Lynn

Typically I would watch something in this genre over reading it, but the book description piqued my interest from the beginning. First off, let me say kudos to the author for writing such an intriguing dark fantasy. The plot centers around Jaz, a teenage girl that is about to experience a life changing discovery.

The book starts off with an intense incident happening to Jaz and she has strong hesitation in accepting the given explanation. This presents such a problem it disrupts her livelihood sending her into therapy with her mom’s sister. The story builds with each chapter. Then enter her dad’s sister, an aunt she knew nothing about who shows up offering to take her on a trip to a spa resort. She goes with her aunt; however, the trip is not as she thought and instead of relaxing as she had planned, she finds herself held captive. Only she doesn’t get it is a safety precaution, for herself and others until she is willing to accept newfound information about her origin. And, the fact that she is so stubborn doesn’t help matters. Weeks continue to pass by and accidentally, she gains possession of a diary, a book that holds valuable information and answers questions from the past and gives insight to current situations she’s facing.

I like how A.Z. vividly describes every little detail in-depth perfectly. There are numerous characters throughout the book, though I only connected with the main ones in the center of the storyline. And, let me say she does them proper justice in providing layers of their presence so that readers can get to know them well. Her book doesn’t tell it shows one hundred percent. Every emotion I felt, as well as every event taking place, held graphic elements, which intensified my reading experience with this story. There are two that stand out the most: 1) A fight scene between Jaz and Fraya. The intensity level can be compared to watching a WWE match. 2) The other was a scene toward the end of the book in which Jaz play tug and war with conflicting emotions. It was easy to relate with her in having to deal with the effects of decisions made by one key person playing a prominent role in her life. My opinion is A.Z. did a splendid job bringing that moment out to the fullest.

The only issue that left me unhappy was the partially unresolved ending. And let me be clear, the ending wasn’t bad. It’s just a preference thing on my part for I like things cleared up at the end. Overall, Beasthood is a well written book from beginning to end. I gave the story four stars, and I wish there was more flexibility to do something in between, if so I would have given it 4.75 stars. So I look forward to following the series, I need my answers:-) Miss Green you’ve gained a fan here.

Beasthood is available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beasthood-Hidden-Blood-Series-ebook/dp/B00CYBFTWC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1373315365&sr=1-1&keywords=BEASTHOOD

Also available on Amazon

7Jun2013

The Falling of Love by Marisa Oldham (Book Review)

Posted in ebooks by R. Lynn

Spring is in full effect, and because of that I’ve made it a necessity to refill my library. From time to time, you will see books pop up that I will be adding to my “Interesting Books to Read” list. Today I start off with romance novel, The Falling of Love (The Falling Series) by Marisa Oldham.

BOOK REVIEW

The Falling of Love by Marissa Oldham

The story starts out with teenagers Grace Hathaway and Ian Taylor, a miss matched couple as seen by their high school peers. Grace is a gentle beauty who’s sweet and on the cheerleading squad where newcomer Ian is the new “rocker” boy in school, and not kindly welcomed. Regardless of what everyone’s thinks the two grow to love each other very much.

Their feelings for each other are bottomless, and you would think that it would soar high from there, but it doesn’t, and that’s because there are undisclosed family circumstances that Ian has found hard to share with Grace. When she’s finally informed of his troubles, she sheds new light onto his problem and finds a solution that makes their days happy again. Sadly, it’s short lived due to their nonstop longing desire. An emotional pull that interrupts their fairytale world, and forces them to delve into adulthood sooner than later.

From there it only plummets downhill due to a new location and Ian’s constant tug of war. On one hand, he has Grace, the love of his life whom he declares he would do anything for; but then, on the other hand, he’s fighting an enormous battle for another love that he’s finding difficult to end.

The story contains a lot of in-depth situations that will pull at your heart. There are also other noteworthy characters that play significant roles throughout the plot. I find it to be an enjoyable read, and an emotional wrenching love story that will be hard to put down.

Her book is available on Amazon. Please visit her website, http://authormarisaoldham.bravesites.com/the-falling-of-love, to find out more about her novel and other locations where it can be purchased.

Enjoy your weekend,

R. Lynn

Website: www.rlynnarchie.com