Telling Secrets - My Interview With Sunshine Somerville

Which of my characters are based on real people?

Do I ever let them in on the secret?

Find out the answer to these fun questions (and many more) in my latest interview with Sunshine Somerville.

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Have a question for me that's not answered here?

I'd love to hear from you!

Get Them While Their Young, Keep Them Until Their Old - Guest Post by Sarah Noffke

I recently had the pleasure of reading Suspended by Sarah Noffke. Since I've also written a book about a dark circus (The Nightmare Birds), I was especially anxious to read her story. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. :)

The more I discovered about Sarah, the more I was intrigued by this "superwoman". She's written fifteen books and is currently working on two more! I'm delighted that she found the time to share this guest post with you today.  Enjoy!

Get Them While Their Young, Keep Them Until Their Old

Scroll the feed on Instagram and you’ll come to a few conclusions. They might be: she definitely shouldn’t be wearing that, is that dude out of his mind, and holy batman young adults love their books. I follow more than a few book addicts on Instagram and they all happen to be ones who are obsessed with taking pictures of their bookshelves, rather than their freckled faces. When was the last time that you saw Helen, the retired widow, arranging her books in the garden so she could take a pretty picture to post on social media? So what’s my point? It’s that we need to be catering to this hungry market. Young adults crave the actual pages of books. They use the hashtag for cover love more than anyone else. Young adult fantasy is especially hot right now, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. And if we know this knowledge, then we might should be using it.

When I was a young adult, I didn’t think I liked to read. Stop gasping and listen to me. It’s because the books I was forced to read were Heart of Darkness and Frankenstein. Now before you forever loathe me for complaining about being exposed to classic literature, please hear me out. While those novels are amazing in their own way, they aren’t something relatable for a young adult. I know, you’re shocked, I’ve never, not once, sailed down the Congo. It wasn’t until later that I accidentally picked up a young adult novel that I fell in love with books. I remember the exact moment. It was like Prince Charming walked into the room and I was instantly in love. That passion for young adult literature then grew and now I read books of all genres. However, too often I think we force the classics before we’ve hooked the young reader. I think we cater to the adult readers, not realizing that it’s the teens of the world that are going to break down doors to get a fresh paperbacks. They are obsessed with covers. Obsessed with collecting spicy fantasy novels. And most importantly, they are consumers who have decades of reading ahead of them.

Having written five young adult and new adult series, I’ll claim to know a little bit about the genre. New adult is this relatively recent category that is just starting to emerge. It has less rules than young adult and is relatable to a larger audience. However, I will disclose that most of the readers of my young adult series are thirty-something-year-old women. The reason for the wide appeal is that young adult characters have more potentials and I’ve polled readers and found there’s an irresistible draw to that. It’s fun when a character is still developing and doesn’t know who they are, what they want or who they love. The key to good young adult fiction is exploring these potentials. And the key to happy readers is to find the stories that they can relate to, while also creating surprising potentials. Finally, because I like sets of three, the key to success for authors, libraries and retailers is tapping into this hungry market. Hooking the young and young at heart readers is a great strategy. From my experience there aren’t more loyal followers than those who post their TBR lists on social media.

I keep hearing a rumor that the book market is over saturated. Honestly, I can’t find relevant data to support this. If my Instagram feed serves as antidotal evidence then young adults actually don’t have enough books. If I see another picture in my feed of the Harry Potter series with a newly released cover then I’m chunking my phone across the room. #coverlove

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Bio:
Sarah Noffke writes YA and NA sci-fi fantasy and is the author of the Lucidites, Reverians, Ren and Vagabond Circus series. She holds a Masters of Management and teaches college business courses. Most of her students have no idea that she toils away her hours crafting fictional characters. Noffke's books are top rated and best-sellers on Kindle. Currently, she has fifteen novels published. Her books are available in paperback, audio and in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. To get a free book from the author, go here: http://www.sarahnoffke.com/free-book/

Connect:

www.sarahnoffke.com
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2n0rnJO
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialsarahnoffke?ref=hl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9830676.Sarah_Noffke
Twitter: @RealSarahNoffke
Instagram: @sarahnoffke

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Have you checked out these other articles? You might enjoy these, too:

• How to Write Historical Fiction Without Really Trying - Guest Post by Christie Stratos

• How to Write Fantasy and Have Fun While Doing It - Amie Irene Winters

• Don't Write for the Market - Guest Post by J.D. Estrada

Roughing It In The Rockies - Saturday Symposium with K.J. Simmill

Beautiful!

Did I really complete an eight-day wilderness solo in the Rocky Mountains?

What is the one word that friends would use to describe me?

How long does it take me to write a book?

Find out the answers to these questions and more on K.J. Simmill's Saturday Symposium.

Have a question not listed? Ask me anything below. In the meantime, here are two hints to answer the first question above:

10 Must-Haves for Book Nerds

Are you a book geek? Know something who is? Then you're going to love these insanely clever products for book lovers.

P.S. There's a O% percent chance you're not keeping at least one of these for yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you.

1. Nerdy Candles

What does a bookstore candle smell like exactly? The description says it contains scents of: Driftwood, Mahogany, Coffee, and a hint of Leather. I'm intrigued. Bonus points that it's not made with icky chemicals. Score one for only $18.00. There's also a scent called Winterfell! Would it be super nerdy to light it and watch Game of Thrones? Maybe I'm the wrong person to answer that :D.

2. Personal Library Kit

For a bibliophile, there's no greater pleasure than sharing beloved books, but no crueler pain than losing them for good. This Personal Library Kit can put an end to lost books. Plus, it's absolutely adorable! $16.00.

3. Witty T-Shirts

   

Book t-shirts are everywhere, and each one is seemingly cuter than the next. These are just some of my favorites.  

4. Cell Phone Cases

Gorgeous leather-bound book cell phone cases are a thing! There's a bunch of different books to choose from and prices vary. Try searching Pinterest for a wide selection of options.

5. Clutch

This DIY clutch is totally chic and the possibilities for colors, covers, and sizes are endless. Check out the tutorial.

6. Book Vase Bookends

Serving both as a vase and a bookend, this is a beautiful piece of home decor anybody would like to flaunt. $45.00.

7. Nerdy Swimsuit

Want to stand out at the beach, or just want to show off your love of Harry Potter? This little beauty will certainly do the trick. $14.99.

8. Book Tent

How cool is this book tent!? Choose from multiple book cover designs. It's yours for $700 (ouch!). 


9. Stair Decals

Turn your stairs into a giant library. Any book title you want, this shop will make it. Get them from That Makes A Statement on Etsy for $25.00.

10. Dinnerware

Create the perfect accent while entertaining. Whether it’s for a book club, a gathering of literary friends, or dinner at home with the family, you’ll love these unique book-shaped plates, platters, and teacup sets! Dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe. Prices range from $9.99 - $24.99. I'm so getting these!

Wanna see more geeky book stuff? Follow my Book Nerd Pinterest Board.

All About Reading Tag

I was tagged to do the “All About the Reading” tag by the lovely Christie Stratos. Answering these questions was so much fun! Learn what I hate in a book, which book should be required reading for everyone, and which books (if any) I re-read. All those questions and more are answered in this video. Check it out!

How To Start A Book Club

Looking for like-minded book lovers? An excuse to geek out over cocktails? Whatever the reason, starting a book club is very rewarding. I recently decided to start my own, but had no idea where to begin. If you're in the same boat, check out these tips to get started:

Pick A Theme: Go with the genre(s) you are most excited about. Can't decide? Have your book club read the classics or the top books of the year. If you really want to do something different, try a blind date with a book. Books are wrapped in brown paper so you can't judge a book by its cover.

Spread the Word: Shoot for 5-15 people to join. Ask friends and coworkers and anyone else you think might be interested. Post a flyer at your local bookstore, library, or cafe. Also, check out Goodreads, Meetup, and Reader's Circle. As soon as someone expresses interest, ask them the best day/time to meet and if they have any book suggestions related to your theme.

Arrange It: Evenings tend to be the popular choice to meet. Poll the group to determine how often and where you'll meet. If convening in your home, will you serve snacks/refreshments or make it a potluck? If you're meeting in public (cafe or library), do they allow outside food/drinks? Could you snag a discount? There's also the option for membership dues which can go towards purchasing snacks, etc.

Send Guidelines in Advance: Give people an idea of what to expect. Include how often you'll meet (once a month is typical), how long the meetings will be (usually two hours), what they need to bring, what the level of participation will be, and any other need-to-knows.

The First Meeting: Depending on the seriousness of the group, your first get-together can be a simple meet-and-greet where you can discuss and poll book suggestions and the order in which you'll be reading them. Or, if you want to dive right into the discussion, be sure to give the title ahead of time and do a bit of research on the author, time period, and any interesting tidbits. You'll also need to determine who will be moderating. As the group gets going, every member should have a voice. It's also nice for the moderator to send a reminder a few days before the next meeting.

Keep It Interesting: If your club is reading Harry Potter, have members dress up as their favorite character. Not into dressing up? Themed food is also fun. If you're reading a popular book turned movie, arrange to see the movie after you finish the book and then discuss the similarities/differences. Don't forget that there are a zillion book club Q&A spreadsheets out there if you're having trouble coming up with questions or getting the convo going.

Engage and Track Online: Consider joining a communal site like bigtent.com or Real Simple's No-Obligation Book Club. Members can post thoughts/questions and you'll save time by eliminating  group emails.

Happy reading...and don't forget to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be the first to learn about giveaways, events, and other cool stuff!

My Writing Room

Welcome to my writing room! There's super cute music boxes here that perfectly compliment all of the doomsy existential books behind it :)

There's a cozy reading nook with a bookshelf filled with random knickknacks. But, unless you make a reservation, it might be occupied.

More books...Yes, that's Hermione's wand thank you very much.

And this is where I sit. A lot. 

These little notes keep me going on hard days.

When I'm ready for a break, I turn around and bang on some more keys.

If you don't know who or what Cthulhu is then you're seriously missing out. Go forth and read some H.P. Lovecraft stat!

My day always ends by looking at this adorably funny pic next to my door.

That's all! I hope you enjoyed a tour of my writing space. 

I Want To Go To There - The Coolest Places to Read A Book

Where do you usually read? For me, it's usually in my bright red Alice in Wonderland style chair by the window or in bed at night. But always reading in the same place can become a bit...boring. According to Mark Twain, "In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.” I couldn't agree more. So I started thinking about super cool places to read and here's what I found.

  

1) New York Public Library Reading Room: This huge room the length of two city blocks is definitely a sight for sore eyes. From its gorgeous architecture and murals, you'll feel right at home reading alongside fellow bibliophiles.

2) The Long Room, Dublin Ireland: This library contains over 200,000 ancient books and is lined with marble busts of philosophers and writers. Can you say good company?

3) University of Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learning: Aside from its badass name, this historical landmark is something straight out of Harry Potter. Seriously. I recently had the pleasure of touring this building and literally said "I feel like I'm at Hogwarts" a dozen times.

4) Rijksmuseum Research Library, Amsterdam: Visitors can explore the impressive collection of journals and reference books, or simply admire the stunning architecture.

 5) Hearst Castle Library, California: Want to read in a castle? If you answered "hell yeah" then you're in for a treat. This fanciful Gothic study houses more than 4,000 books and showcases the Castle's most treasured collections: 150 ancient Greek vases. Did I mention that this hilltop estate has breathtaking views?

6) Livraria Cultura, Sao Paulo, Brazil: One of Brazil's largest bookstores, this place looks great for lounging and perusing. Love the massive dragon statues too!

7) Libraria Lello e Irmao, Porto, Portugal: Rumor has it that J.K. Rowling’s inspiration to write Harry Potter began here. Rowling lived in Porto for 10 years working as an English teacher and routinely visited the shop for a cup of coffee. There are indeed many similarities between Lello’s bookstore staircase and the one described in Hogwarts. The exquisite architecture alone is worth the trip.

8) Libreria El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina: I don't know which is cooler. The fact that this bookstore was an old glamorous movie theater, or that it's old theater boxes are private reading rooms. It's easy to see why a million people visit this majestic place every year.

9) Stuttgart Library, Germany: If Gattaca had a library, this is what it would look like. This cavernous white wonder is unobtrusive in design, where the books and visitors provide the color to an otherwise neutral environment.        

10) Jay Walker's Private Library, Connecticut: Stuffed with eye-grabbing historical objects, this mazelike 3,600 square foot library is extraordinary - especially the 20th-century volumes with jeweled bindings and rare anatomical sketches. I could so see the real Strange Luck shop looking something like this.

Where is your ideal reading spot? Are you inspired to visit any of the places listed here? I know I certainly am! Share your thoughts and any recommendations below.

Strange Luck Official Book Trailer!

It's here! I've been working on a new trailer and I'm so excited to finally share it with you. Please show your support by watching and liking the official Strange Luck book trailer. Thank you! :)

I'll be posting a teaser trailer of The Nightmare Birds soon. Stay tuned!

Categorizing Your Novel - Genre Definitions

You wrote a book (hooray!). It’s got a little bit of everything and will appeal to multiple audiences, so it’s absolutely, positively impossible to categorize into one genre. Sound familiar? Getting your book into the hands of your intended audience can be quite tricky, so it’s important to understand how to properly categorize your book before you begin querying an agent, or share your self-published novel with the world. Check out this high-level snapshot of popular fiction genres, including info about average word count, protagonist age, and common themes:

Chick Lit: These books strictly appeal to chickens. Just checking to see if you’re paying attention. :) Chick lit is about all things girly. We’re talking dating woes, romance, climbing the career ladder, finding your passion, and personal antics. The protagonist is usually in her 20-30’s looking for the right ________ (fill in the blank). Career. Man. Attitude. These stories are fun, quirky, and entertaining. You’re good to go in the 70-80k word range.

Commercial Fiction: Full of face-paced, high-concept hooks and plots which will attract a broad, mainstream audience, commercial fiction has strong narrative story lines and usually falls into multiple genres. Stories contain lots of events, high stakes, and dangerous situations. Think Stephen King, Dan Brown, and John Grisham. 70-90k words is ideal; however, there are exceptions. There are no hard and fast rules about the protagonist’s age, but they tend to be adults. Book titles are straight to the point, perfectly encapsulating what the novel is about.

Fantasy: One of my favorite genres! Magic, supernatural powers, strange kingdoms, sorcery, other worlds, spells, talking animals, fairies, wizards, dragons, goblins, mythical creatures, and monsters are all common elements in fantasy stories. Themes usually include a quest for something or battle against good and evil. Think Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings. There are dozens of sub-genres such as urban, historical, epic, and dark fantasy. Word count varies from 70-120k. The protagonist’s age will vary largely based on your sub-genre.

Horror: Boo! The goal of a horror novel is to scare the reader. This can be accomplished with blood and gore, graphic violence, monsters, crime and murder, psychological terror, supernatural elements, or even something innocent like children or dolls. Think H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, and Stephen King. There are tons of sub-genres like dark fiction, dark fantasy, cutting edge, erotic, extreme, occult, gothic, psychological, supernatural, paranormal, etc. The horror genre often incorporates folklore and fantasy to create manifestations of evil. 80-100k words is a good rule of thumb. No strict rules about the protagonist’s age.

Literary Fiction: Appeals to a smaller audience and can fall into any sub-genre such as literary thrillers, mysteries, or epics. Notable qualities of literary fiction include excellent writing, style, multi-layered themes, descriptive introspective narratives, complex characters, and originality. These are books you might've read in high school like The Great Gatsby or To Kill A Mockingbird. Literary fiction ranges anywhere from 60-120k words. Covers and titles tend to be more obscure or artistic. Just like commercial fiction, there are no rules for the protagonist’s age.

Middle Grade: The protagonist is typically 10-years-old for a younger MG novel, and up to 13-years-old for older, more complex books. Themes are generally broad like trying to fit in or save the world, with the protagonist’s mindset on friends, family, or the immediate world. Word count is generally in the 30-50K range, although this can vary based on your theme/sub-genre. There shouldn’t be any profanity, graphic violence, or sex. Voice is usually in the third person. Examples include The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Charlotte's Web.

Mystery: Mysteries focus on solving a crime, usually murder, rather than the details of the crime itself. The puzzle behind the crime is central to the plot with the climax usually occurring towards the end. The protagonist is usually a witty investigator or detective thirsty for justice. Common sub-genres include cozies, spy, detective, hard-boiled, and supernatural. On average, word count ranges from 70-90k. Check out Mystery Writers of America to learn more.

Young Adult: The protagonist is in the 12-18 range and deals with adult-like problems such as grief, revenge, death, or love. Themes include the hero discovering how they fit into the world beyond their immediate surroundings (friends, family, etc.) and reflection on what happened to them and why. The voice is usually internal, and some swearing and minor violence is acceptable. Word count is generally in the 50-85K range. Sub-genres include fantasy, historical, LGBTQ, mystery/thriller, steampunk, mystery, paranormal, and contemporary. Popular YA books include Harry Potter, Divergent, The Hunger Games, and Lord of the Flies.  
 
Science Fiction: Incorporates scientific and technological elements into the story’s setting, characters, and their challenges. Scientific rules are bent or defied in some way. 100-120k words is standard; however, there are exceptions. There are dozens of sub-genres such as apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk, time travel, science fantasy/future fantasy, etc. No rules about the protagonist’s age.

Remember, these are general guidelines and agents/publishers may categorize differently depending on their needs/wants. Regardless of which publishing route you choose; my advice is to write the story you have to tell. If it ends up being a little bit longer or shorter than your intended genre but you’ve given it your all, then accept it and go for it! You may be an exception to the rule. Also, ALWAYS get feedback from your friends and family before you share your book with the rest of the world. For example, if you think that your book falls into the YA category, give it to your friend’s teenage daughter to read and ask for honest feedback. If she says it was boring, maybe you’ve got a MG book instead.