IWSG August 2022

Another month and time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Hosted as ever by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the aim of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share doubts and insecurities without fear of being judged. Today's co-hosts are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend and Lee Lowery.

This month's optional IWSG question is: When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

This question is really interesting to me because it implies that readers do not want originality, or is that just my take on it? In any case, I don't think that's strictly true. I think many readers are tired of the same old tropes that come up in various genres and want to go on a journey of discovery with the reader. At the same time, I'm sure there are readers who return to the same authors time and time again because they know exactly what they're going to get. That might be true for a James Patterson or a Danielle Steel. These are author brands that are highly lucrative. While there's a lot to be said for having an author brand and image, and I'm not saying that's not important, I think the story has to come first before the author. It's why I don't want to have everything mapped out in advance and just follow where the story takes me. I truly believe that each story should be unique with its own demands and rules - its own personality in a way. I'm the type of writer who likes to start out with a concept, a "what if" - something that doesn't feel like it's been done before. The characters who will tell that story tend to come along later. That might be right or wrong, but the readers who buy into a formula and don't want to be surprised - well, maybe they're not my type of readers.

I'm intrigued to read other responses! You can find them here.

Before I go, I have a teeny favour to ask. I still have a few spots open on my Reckoning blog tour from 19th September to 1st October. If you're available for hosting on the 24th September, 28th-30th September, or 1st October, go here to sign up. Thanks hugely!

Reckoning Cover Reveal

Happy Friday! Today I'm proud to unveil the cover for Reckoning, the final book in my Black & White trilogy. Drum roll...

Reckoning (Black & White #3)

Release Date: 19th September 2022

Cover design: germancreative

Blurb: 

The time has come for those who perpetrated wrongdoing and suffering on the land of Loretania to face their judgement. Lord Histender and the other members of the deposed Reformers’ Government are in jail awaiting trial for keeping that country in a state of disease-ridden deprivation, alongside other heinous crimes.

 

Wellesbury Noon and Ezmerelda Dontible, the kind and benevolent new rulers of Harmonia, are looking forward to seeing justice finally being done. But nothing is that simple. Lunkin, the psychotic former Chief Scientist, has one more trick up his sleeve and is wreaking havoc even from behind bars. Soon, Loretanians who have come to make a new life in Harmonia are falling victim to hate crimes and brutal attacks. And things take a turn for the desperate when Wellesbury himself becomes compromised.

 

Can Welles and Ez turn the tide of public opinion and secure justice for the people of Loretania before it’s too late?

Pre-order links: Amazon US / Amazon UK / Smashwords / Kobo / Apple Books

Add it to Goodreads

You can also download the first part of the trilogy, Black & White, for free here, while part two, Corruption, can be found here.

IWSG July 2022

Another month and time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Hosted as ever by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the aim of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share doubts and insecurities without fear of being judged. Today's co-hosts are J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor and Diane Burton.

Let's have a look at this month's optional IWSG question: If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?

This has to be an easy one for me - Terry Pratchett's Discworld (although I'd maybe like to just visit rather than live there because it can be brutal at times). I'd be like the tourist Twoflower who travels around with a luggage chest on legs that can present clean linen when needed and turn into a vicious killing machine with teeth when there's danger. There's so much to see - from the great city of Ankh-Morpork, which has a lot of insalubrious areas and a river so polluted you could bounce off it but also has sights like an opera house, the Patrician's Palace and a wizards' university - to Djelibeybi with its pyramids, Uberwald with its lush Alpine landscape (just watch out for vampires, werewolves and Igors), the mysterious continent of Klatch and even the fabled land of Fourecks (known for kangaroos and boomerangs). So many interesting people to meet too, from the inscrutable witch Granny Weatherwax to versatile street trader/conman Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler and of course the Librarian ("Oook!"). 

Interested to hear what other people answer for this one. You can check out other IWSG posts here.

Before I go I have a few mini-announcements to make:

My debut traditionally published novel, The Becalmer, set for release in August 2023, has been added to Goodreads. You can find it here. As has the finale of my YA trilogy, Reckoning, coming September this year, which is here.

I'm still looking for a few members to make up a street team to spread the word about The Becalmer. You can find details about that here. Alternatively, let me know if you'd like to help by reading an ARC.

Finally, I have a few spots still available for my blog tour for Reckoning, which runs 19th September to 1st October. Details for that are here.

Phew, that's a lot! Don't, by any means, feel obliged to do all of it. Any bit of help you can offer is humbly received.

I'm away this week for a lovely holiday on the coast of Scotland, so I'll get round to visit you after Friday. Hope my American friends had a great holiday weekend.

Street Team for The Becalmer - Help Needed!

As we head into another week, I have another exciting announcement to make. I'm looking for five to ten people to form a street team to help generate some buzz about my upcoming traditionally published debut, The Becalmer. You would need to:

• Be excited to read The Becalmer
• Be willing to help spread the word - you'll receive emails from me or my publisher with marketing materials for social media posts
• Generally get out there and talk about the book, why you're excited about it etc.

My book isn't out until August 2023, but it's never too early to start making ripples in the pond! I'm also looking for ARC readers willing to post reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I'll have a few perks for my street team members such as sneak peeks and other goodies. Here's a working blurb for the book. I made a mood board, too, which is a first for me - I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Gifted with the ability to defuse conflicts with her mind, Harica is headhunted to resolve a war via an arranged marriage, unaware that the reluctant would-be bride—the entitled Princess Jasmila—has similar powers. But the princess doesn’t use them for good, and she fights back, sending Harica into a coma through which she finds a mysterious liminal space populated by others who share her gift, both living and dead. She learns to do things she never thought possible, but when things get out of control, she almost swears off her gift forever—until events dictate that she must come to terms with the dark side of her gift and take ownership of it. 

If you're interested, let me know in the comments or shoot me an email at mcwilfo (at) gmail (dot) com. Have a great week!

Reckoning Release Date Announcement

Hope everyone's doing well as we head into another week. I'm kicking mine off with some exciting news - I've completed the final part of my Black & White trilogy, entitled Reckoning, with a release date set for 19th September. This follows the first two parts, Black & White and Corruption. It's been a while coming, so it will be great to get the series wrapped up at last! As the title implies, this book sees judgment coming against those who have committed wrongdoing - but of course things don't go quite that smoothly.

It would be amazing if you could help me out once again by spreading the word via a blog tour. I've pencilled in dates from 19th September to 1st October, and I'll be sending out ARCs too. Don't worry if you haven't read the first two parts, it's quite easy to pick up on the action. There's a cover reveal for 15th July, so let me know on the Google form if you'd like to help out with that.

You can also add Reckoning on Goodreads. As always, any assistance you can offer is profoundly and deeply appreciated. I'm really looking forward to getting this conclusion to my story out in the world.

IWSG June 2022

Another month and time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Hosted as ever by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the aim of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share doubts and insecurities without fear of being judged. Today's co-hosts are SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Joylene Nowell Butler and Jacqui Murray.

Let's have a look at this month's optional question: When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

This is a great question for where I'm at. I estimate I'm about a third through a first draft or not far off that, and I'm at that crunch point where things could become severely difficult for my protagonist or I could give them an easier ride. Of course I always gravitate towards the former, otherwise there wouldn't be much grip to the story, but I know it's going to be gutwrenching and emotional. Being a plotter/pantser hybrid, I also probably need to make a pitstop around now to nail down some nuts and bolts to the story and how this world works. It would be better to have that all worked out in advance, but I actually need to spend some time in a location to get a feel for what's going on. It feels like I've got a lot of ideas swirling around, which I'll have to iron out and make sense of on the second draft - basically I'm throwing a lot of stuff at the wall and I need to see what sticks!

So to answer the question - or the first question - what keeps me going is the need to see my characters through whatever trials I'm putting them through and get some sort of conclusion. I don't want to leave them hanging once I've taken that initial step! Also, I told my publisher I'd have a draft to send by the end of the year. Outside accountability definitely helps.

I'm interested to read other answers to this question, especially from those trying to get started. Check out those answers here.

A Quick Death release week

I'm trying to make this Friday 13th a good one by sharing the release of Patricia Josephine's new book A Quick Death, which looks like a fantastic collection of short fiction. Over to Patricia...

Death
Murder
The Afterlife

These things fascinate our imagination. Delve into a collection of tales that explore death and murder. Each story is told in exactly 200 words and designed to give you a quick thrill no matter how busy your day is.

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE END?

Guest Post: The Fun of Short Fiction

A Quick Death is my third collection of 200 word flash fiction. I have two more collections in the works. It’s something I find myself coming back to again and again. I love writing it. I love reading it. They’re fun bite-sized stories that you can consume like candy. (The perk being that the stories won’t add to your waistline.)

The thing I really enjoy about shorter fiction is it allows me to read an entire story in one sitting. I am notorious for reading a book in one go. I’ve missed appointments because of the fact. There’s also a certain amount of emotion that a full length novel requires. At least for me. There’s a roller coaster ride you go on with a novel. You can go through so many emotions. You get attached to the characters. You cry when the author kills your fav. (WHYYYYYYY?????) I enjoy novels, but my energy reserves aren’t always full enough.

That’s where short fiction comes in. Where novels are roller coasters, short fiction are more like a kiddie rides at the park. They take you for a safer ride and you get off and say, “That was fun.” But your legs won’t be left shaking from the adrenaline. They don’t drain me as much as a novel does. That’s important since reading is a vital author task. (Yes, it totally is! Don’t argue with me.)

If you’re ever feeling a little worn out but still want to get some reading in, check out some short fiction. There’s a ton out there and, while they may not take you on a roller coaster ride, they can still make you say, “Wow.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE FINE PRINT: Giveaway is US only. (Sorry, but the packages I've sent international have vanished in transit.) Entries only valid for new subscribers and followers. Contest ends May 18th.

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About the Author

Patricia Josephine is a writer of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi Romance books. She actually never set out to become a writer, and in fact, she was more interested in art and band in high school and college. Her dreams were of becoming an artist like Picasso. On a whim, she wrote down a story bouncing in her head for fun. That was the start of her writing journey, and she hasn't regretted a moment. When she's not writing, she's watching Doctor Who or reading about serial killers. She's an avid knitter. One can never have too much yarn. She writes Young Adult Paranormal, Science Fiction, and Fantasy under the name Patricia Lynne.

Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo, and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow.

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