Humans4PuertoRico Giveaway

My dear friend and fellow author JD Estrada has launched an awesome book giveaway called  #Humans4PuertoRico to support hurricane victims.

The idea is simple. Make a donation to the cause and win books.

The grand prize is a hefty bundle of paperbacks, including a copy of Strange Luck. Donate today!

Blog Milestone - 15,000 Pageviews!

The Golden Cricket hit a milestone this week - 15,000 page views. WOOHOO!

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog, and for all of the awesome comments. You guys seriously rock :)

To celebrate, I thought I'd showcase the top three posts I've featured on The Golden Cricket thus far.

Here we go:

1)  How To Write Historical Fiction Without Really Trying - Guest Post by Christie Stratos: This article was one of my very first guest posts I featured on the blog. It's written by fellow author, Christie Stratos, who also happens to be my editor.

If you've ever wanted to write historical fiction, but don't know where to get started, you have to check out her post.

2) TBT Writer - Confessions of a Sugarholic: Each month (give or take), I try to post something I wrote way back when accompanied by an awkward pic. I call is #TBTWriter, or Throwback Thursday Writer.

This particular bad story was written about an ice cream sundae. Get ready to laugh! Check it out. 

3) TBT Writer - Good Ideas, Sometimes: Remarkably, the third most-viewed post on The Golden Cricket is another Throwback Thursday story.

In this post, I share the very first book I wrote, pics, and a peculiar dedication at the front. Hope you enjoy it.

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What's your favorite post on The Golden Cricket? Share below.

Have you checked out my articles about writing? You might enjoy these too:

• How to Write A Novel, Part 1: Let The Journey Begin 
• How to Write a Novel, Part 2: Brainstorming, Drafting, and Getting Organized 
• How to Write A Novel, Part 3: Editing Like A Pro  
• How to Be a More Productive Writer

Locke and Keye Cover Reveal!

On September 7, one of my favorite authors, Christie Stratos, will release the next book in her Dark Victoriana Collection - Locke and Keye.

I've been dying to read it, so it goes without saying that I'm ecstatic to do a cover reveal of Christie's new book on my blog today.

Drumroll, please...

This book cover is wondrously creepy and mysterious!

What dark secrets await on the other side of this door?

And the description is so enticing:

"Brothers in the art of keeping secrets." This is the mantra Mr. Locke's carefully chosen five employees must repeat together every day before starting work.

If you won't tell them your name for Locke and Keye's ledger, they'll find out. They have their ways—and many of them. Yes, these talented locksmiths can make a new lock and key set for you. They can even make a special padlock for a diary you never want to share with anyone. But just remember: when they make the lock, they keep a key—and it's only a matter of time until they use it.

Day by day, each of these young, single, alone-in-the-world workers is being molded into the family they crave. A family in which each member has his use toward an end he doesn't even know exists.

How do the brotherhood and the town's secrets interlock? Only Mr. Locke holds the key.

Unlock the second book in the Dark Victoriana Collection with Locke and Keye.

As a standalone novel, Locke and Keye’s distinct characters and tense atmosphere create a dark Victorian experience that will stay with you after you turn the final page. As the book immediately following Anatomy of a Darkened Heart, Locke and Keye leads the Dark Victoriana Collection in a whole new psychological direction while expanding familiar characters and scenes to continue the Whitestone legacy.

Pre-order it today, read it September 7, 2017.

And, if you haven't read Anatomy of A Darkened Heart yet, there's still time!

~~~

Have you checked out my other articles about Christie and her books?

• How to Write Historical Fiction Without Really Trying - Guest Post by Christie Stratos
• Victorian Mania - What's On My Nightstand
• Criticism Sucks: Christie Stratos Shares How To Ignore Harsh Criticism

A Darling Secret Writing Update!

GOOD NEWS!!! The final edits of A Darling Secret will be completed this week. :)

I'm also finalizing cover designs. I'm pleased to report that I'll be working with the same graphic designer, Humbert Glaffo, who did the cover for Strange Luck and The Nightmare Birds. I can't wait to share the final design with you!!!

I've also been working on some fun new extras. Bookmarks! Videos! Giveaways! It's all coming soon. In the meantime, you can check out goodies for my other books here.

Oh, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you don't miss a thing. :)

And if my smile couldn't get any bigger, here's what Christie Stratos, author of Anatomy of a Darkened Heart, had to say about A Darling Secret:

"Amie Irene Winters has built another beautiful, magical realm that will suck readers in and never let go A DARLING SECRET, the last in the Strange Luck series, launches September 22, 2017. Mark your calendars!"

J.D. Estrada's Top Books of 2016

I love J.D. Estrada's booktube videos. They are funny, witty, no nonsense videos with a hint of quirk. Today he posted a new video of his top 10 books of 2016. Get your pen and paper ready because he has some great recommendations.

As I was watching I was delighted that he chose Strange Luck and The Nightmare Birds for his list! What a truly wonderful surprise :) You can watch the video below. Don't forget to subscribe to J.D.'s channel.

How to Write Horror - Guest Post by Mercedes Fox

It's no secret that I love horror, which is why I'm especially excited to share this guest post today. If you've ever been curious about writing horror, or are just a fan of the genre, then you're in luck! Mercedes Fox, author of the Vengeance of the Werewolf series, reveals her trade secrets.

How to Write Horror

Although I put my books in the horror category I’m not sure they are actually scary. I tend to lean to putting them in the horror-splatter punk genre. The best way to write about horror is write about something which scares you. I’ve always had a fear of the closet monster or monster under the bed. Even now at 42 my imagination still rules my impulses.

You must first setup the scene. Make the reader smell it. Make the reader hear the world around them. Put the reader in your character’s shoes by ramping up the nerves. Horror/thriller scenes are best in the dark or a dark room. Somewhere spooky, like an abandoned barn or old mine shaft or old slaughterhouse. Aisle 13 at Walmart is not scary unless the power is out, zombies are breaking through the glass doors and wandering about. You can hear the breath rattling in their chests. Or the werewolf is inside with you. The reader hears the click of its claws on the floor.

A fellow writer and teacher of writing, Rayne Hall, said it best, “cowards are the best horror writers.” Another trick is to not keep the reader on edge the entire book. You must run your story on a squiggle line. Take them up and down or you lose the effect. Allow the reader to calm down and relax and then spring the monster on them.

I find short chapters help keep the story moving and it provides a good scene break. If the chapters are too long I tend to zone out. Although I’ve only wrote about werewolves, I’m going to do some reading of the greats (Tim Miller, Matt Saw, Sam West to name a few). I want to try my hand at psychopaths who don’t go all furry.

To tighten up your writing and really get the reader involved once you’ve wrote your first draft, take a look at all of Rayne Hall’s books in her Writer’s Craft series and then go back through your manuscript. A couple word tweaks here and then make a huge difference. I know from experience. After following the steps above my editor made comment my writing improved 100% from the first book she edited. She also said she never eats when reading my work :)

~~~

Bio:
I’m married for 22 years and the proud mamma to three dogs. I’ve published three books. I love werewolves so my books revolove around them. I write horror/thriller/splatterpunk; my books are explicit in everything from sex to killing. I write what I like to read. I enjoy reading, movies, shopping with my mother, folding origami cranes, crocheting, peg doll painting, and benchrest shooting. I’m also a big Harry Potter fan. Click here to learn more.

~~~

Have you checked out these posts? 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

• Science and Other Scary Word - On Writing Science Fiction - Guest Post By Belinda Crawford

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

Favorite Reads of 2016

I don’t know about you, but I’ve read so many books this year I can’t remember all of them. I admit I had to check my Goodreads and Amazon lists to jog my memory. Even still, there were just a few books that really stood out to me that I read in 2016 - books that I’ve not been able to stop thinking about since I read them. And so, I’m closing out the year by celebrating these fantastic stories:

A Darker Shade of Magic – V.E. Schwab: This book came to my attention when I was shopping on Amazon. It was in one of those “if you liked xyz, then you’ll like xyz” lists. Although I don’t recall the initial book that led me to A Darker Shade of Magic, I’m certainly glad it did.

It was a little slow at first, but once I got a few pages in, the story exploded into a fantastic and whimsical tale - a story that I can honestly say is one of the most original and imaginative stories I’ve ever read. A chameleon coat, magical war, and four dazzling Londons—it’s all completely and utterly delightful and immersive.

I just added Schwab's other books in the series to my reading list and can't wait to dive into them!

Anatomy of a Darkened Heart – Christie Stratos: This book made me fall in love with historical fiction. I was totally addicted to this book from the very first sentence, and when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and hurrying up whatever I was doing to get back to reading it. In fact, months and months later, I’m still thinking about it.

The descriptions of costumes, physical attributes and expressions, even the wallpaper, are all vivid and compelling, adding to the haunting ambiance of this Victorian masterpiece. This is the perfect book to curl up by the fire with. My only qualm is that the next book in the series isn’t out yet.

Dreams of Terror and Death – H.P. Lovecraft: Comprised of twenty-one surreal short stories, this book is delightfully spooky, masterfully written, and is a perfect read for those who’ve never read Lovecraft, or are die-hard fans (like me). Most of the stories are short enough to read if you want a quick story before bed, and others are long enough to hold your attention for quite some time.

My absolute favorite stories in this book are: The Strange High House in the Mist, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, and Through the Gates of the Silver Key. Lovecraft's way of storytelling will completely infuse you.

What are some of your favorite books of 2016?

~~~

Happy Holidays! May you find plenty of awesome new books to read in the New Year :)

Planning Your Novel, Part 3: Editing Like A Pro

We all have certain phrases or favorite words that we use way too often. For my first book, Strange Luck, my editor informed me that I used the word "suddenly" WAY too much. I didn't believe her until I looked it up myself and found that I used it nearly 100 times. Learning from that experience, I significantly cut back on using the word "suddenly" in my next book, The Nightmare Birds, but instead was scolded for using the word "gulped" too much. As in...she gulped, he gulped, I gulped. Sure enough, I had used that word almost as much as I had used "suddenly" without even realizing it. Whatever your weak word is, it can be the difference between a reader continuing to read, or the “yes” pile and the “slush” pile for your manuscript.

Although I’ve come across LOTS of editing checklists over the years, I haven't really found one that tells you what to specifically look for in your manuscript. Usually, I’ll come across something that says, “Make sure your use of contractions are correct.” No duh! But isn't it kinda difficult to find these things in a manuscript if you don’t know what to look for?

Enter my "Editing Checklist". I recommend doing a global search of your manuscript (go into Word and hit the Find button, or simply Ctrl F) to help expedite your search for these common editing errors:

1) Capitalize mom, dad, grandpa, etc., when used in place of a proper name and use lowercase letters when used as a modifier.

2) Italicize the character’s inner dialogue or thoughts.

3) Remove the phrase “for some reason”. This is overused verbiage.

4) Remove the word “very”. This is an overused modifier and when removed it can significantly tighten your sentence.

5) Remove the word “suddenly”. This is an overused modifier.

6) Double check “it's” to see if you really mean “its”. If you fail to catch this error, you could look like an amateur.

7) Consider if ellipses are needed. They should only be used to show trailing off speech or a pause in speech. If they are needed, pay attention to how often you use them. They are much more rare than you might expect.

8) Consider removing the words "caused", "causing", "managed", and "managing". These words can easily weaken sentences and add extra words. You can usually leave them out and use the main verb.

9) Double-check your use of “to” to see if you really mean “too”.

10) The words “soon”, “some”, “someone”, and “something” are frequently overused. Do a global search for each of these words. This way you’ll be able to spot over usage in sentences and paragraphs.

11) Remove the word “so”. This is an overused modifier.

12) Never capitalize seasons. Search for words like “spring”.

13) Double-check the spelling of every character’s name and make sure that you have spelled them correctly and consistently. Also do this for names of towns/places, streets, and major terms.

14) Make sure there is a new paragraph every time a different character speaks.

15) Double-check your use of “form” to see if you really mean “from”.

16) Double-check your use of “fro” to see if you really mean “for”.

17) Try your best to eliminate or reduce words that end in “ly”. These words are often extra verbiage.

18) Minimize adverbs and weak words like “was/were” “had/have”, etc.

19) Double-check your use of “you’re” to see if you really mean “your” and vice versa.

20) Double-check your usage of words like “real” and “really”. Try to remove as much as possible.

Once you've gone through this editing checklist, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND printing out your manuscript. You’d be surprised how easy it is to spot overused words on paper versus a screen, and often times you’ll be able to pick up on your patterns.

Even after you've read the whole thing on paper, give it to as many people as you can for their input. Each person has a different perspective and skill set, enabling them to catch everything from common typos you might've missed to inconsistencies in your story.

After that, give it to a professional editor regardless if you intend to self-publish or submit your manuscript to literary agents. I'll repeat. GIVE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL EDITOR. No writer is perfect. I can't tell you how many Indie authors I've come across that insist that their work is perfect without having it professionally edited, and every single time it shows. If you're shooting to sign with an agent, they will NOT read your work if it's littered with typos and incorrect grammar.

Working with a professional will not only increase your chances of polishing your work, they'll bring to light your strengths and weaknesses which you can apply towards future projects.

If you're having trouble finding an editor, ask around for recommendations. Author friends and writing groups are a good place to start. You can also look in a book's acknowledgements as the author will often thank the editor. If my editor, Christie Stratos, is reading this thanks again for all of your hard work on The Nightmare Birds. :) You rock!

If all else fails, search the web. There are a zillion sites out there like Editorial Freelancers Association, which matches you with an editor. Remember, there's always a risk involved when you hire an editor, regardless if they're highly recommended or someone you hired online. Editors make mistakes and it's unreasonable to think they'll catch everything. But, as I mentioned previously, an editor's offerings are incredibly valuable and will help you in the long run.

Good luck on your editing journey.

Have you checked out my other posts on writing? You might enjoy these, too:

How to Write A Novel, Part 1: Let The Journey Begin

How to Write a Novel, Part 2: Brainstorming, Drafting, and Getting Organized

How to Be a More Productive Writer

The Importance of Rewriting

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

I'm very pleased to have met Christie Stratos. We actually met serendipitously after I posted one of my very first #TBTWriter stories (Confessions of a Sugarholic). She reached out to me and was eager to participate. Since then, she's shared a bunch of her writing throwbacks, complete with funny pics. You can check them out here.  I'm told that she'll also be posting one this Thursday. Yay! 

I eventually picked up Christie's book, Anatomy of a Darkened Heart, and couldn't put it down. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I started to read it because I had never been a big fan of Victorian-era or historical books in general. I always suspected that they were boring and dry, but after having read Anatomy of a Darkened Heart, I can tell you that myth is bunk! I was absolutely and totally addicted to this book from the very first sentence. Whenever I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and dying to know what was going to happen. As the story unfolded, it became darker and even more haunting (my favorite!). Now that I know that Victorian/historical books can be enjoyable, I seem to be reading them all the time now.

After that, we partnered on a few projects, including the GoIndieNow: Women in Publishing/Exhibiting Strong Leadership panel, and the editing of my latest book, The Nightmare Birds via her editing business, Proof Positive. So, as you can see...I'm very pleased to have met Christie and I'm excited to share her guest post about writing historical fiction with you today. Enjoy :)

 
How to Write Historical Fiction Without Really Trying

I never thought I would write historical fiction. In fact I specifically thought while reading a Sharon Kay Penman book, “I could never write historical fiction. It’s way too hard.”

Then I sat down to write Anatomy of a Darkened Heart, my debut novel that takes place during the Victorian Era: 1840-1861.

“I’ll just write the book for now and do the research later,” I thought. That was my plan so that I didn’t get bogged down in basic research and slow my creativity. Note the phrase “basic research”. I really wasn’t planning to include enough Victorian-specific objects or traditions to need to do much research at all.

Wrong again!

I found that I couldn’t more forward through some parts of the manuscript without checking to see if something was possible, whether it existed, or if it was believable for that time period. And when I did pigheadedly plow ahead prior to doing research, I heavily regretted it later because I had to do massive rewrites to make that section fit into the Victorian period (for example, using candles for nighttime lighting in a home instead of the time period appropriate oil lamps), and sometimes the consequences of that lack of research spread their tentacles farther through the book than I’d anticipated. I then had to clean up and sometimes drastically alter multiple parts of the book.

Then something strange happened. I got excited about inserting exact descriptions of real things that existed in that time period as well as only using accurate terms and words that were used then. It became one of the most exciting parts of writing the book. I changed words like “rug” to “floor cloth”, found out how Victorians cleaned a wood floor, researched exactly what kind of materials were used to make wallpaper and far more. While these things sound trivial, they’re part of what makes the book authentic, realistic, and visually accurate. And now the same excitement has spread into writing the rest of the four books and three short stories in the Dark Victoriana Collection.

And so without meaning to love writing historical fiction – or rather without meaning to write anything more than fiction that was generally accurate for the time period – I ended up with a 10-year publishing plan that revolves around historical fiction in different time periods. Because getting those details right so that you feel you’re really in the time period is more than just satisfying – it’s fulfilling.

~~~

Awesome post, Christie. Writing historical fiction is something I'm definitely interested in, so this certainly gives me hope. I can't wait to read your upcoming book - Locke and Keye!

~~~

      

Bio: 

Christie Stratos is an award-winning writer and editor who holds a degree in English Literature. She is the author of Anatomy of a Darkened Heart, the first book of five in the Dark Victoriana Collection. Christie has had short stories and poetry published in Ginosko Literary Journal, Andromedae Review, 99Fiction, and various anthologies. An avid reader of all genres and world literature, Christie reads everything from bestsellers to classics to indies. 

Book links:

Amazon

Smashwords

Barnes and Noble

Createspace

Or buy the paperback directly from the author for the same price as Amazon, but signed and with a personalized note! http://christiestratos.com

Social Media Links:

Author website

Editing website

Amazon author page

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Goodreads

Pinterest

Google+

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!

Women In Publishing Discussion Recording Available!

If you missed the Women in Publishing/Strong Leadership live discussion panel on April 10, you can watch the recorded video. We had great questions from Twitter, varied opinions and ideas, and overall a fantastic discussion. This is a video you don’t want to miss! 

Special thanks to Christie Stratos for moderating the panel and Joe Compton for hosting. It was a blast and I'm so happy to have participated.

I'm on the Women in Publishing Panel!

I'm so excited about the upcoming Brain to Books Cyber Convention - a huge event that takes place on Goodreads April 8-10. They'll be tons of games, giveaways, and other cool stuff. Go Indie Now is hosting 72-hour live coverage of the event, panels, interviews, and more!

I'll be participating in the Women in Publishing/Strong Leadership Panel on April 10 from 11-12 EST. The lovely Christie Stratos (author of Anatomy of a Darkened Heart) will be moderating the panel consisting of Angela B. Chrysler, Marnie Cate, Markie Jordan, Claire Plaisted, Jessica Wren, and myself. You can ask me and any of these lovely ladies questions between now and the show by using the hashtag #b2bwomeninpub. 

I hope you'll attend :)

Video Review of Strange Luck by Christie Stratos - Best Fantasy Subgenre

I'm so excited to share an awesome video review of Strange Luck by my new favorite person in the world - Christie Stratos. Please take a moment to watch her video and like it :)

By the way, if you haven't read Anatomy of a Darkened Heart yet, which is the first book in Christie's Dark Victoriana series, seriously go and buy a copy today! I haven't been this excited about a book in a long time and I'm dying to read her next book. You can read my review of Anatomy of a Darkened Heart here. She also regularly posts insightful articles about writing and creativity on her blog as well as really neat videos on her YouTube channel. Enjoy!
 

Criticism Sucks: Christie Stratos Shares How to Ignore Harsh Criticism

Christie Stratos, author of the Dark Victoriana Collection, just shared her thoughts on creativity and ignoring criticism. Not only is Christie one of my new favorite authors (Anatomy of a Darkened Heart is freakin' awesome by the way!), she's incredibly insightful when it comes to writing. Her blog chronicles everything from harnessing creativity to handling naysayers. What I love about her post on criticism is that she clearly defines useful feedback/constructive critique vs. destructive criticism. She empowers us to help each other by not tearing each other down. She also has some motivational pictures to build you up and encourage you to be a champion for others. Enjoy!

Best Fantasy Books Subgenre Reading Challenge Goodreads Discussion

Strange Luck is this week's discussion topic. Yay! Join the conversation! I'd love to hear from you.

Victorian Mania – What’s On My Nightstand

Can you say WEIRD?

I’ve been really getting into Victorian-themed everything lately, like weird Victorian pictures (above). I’ve been totally binge-watching Masterpiece Theatre too (Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge are my favorites at the moment, although it all began with Avonlea back in the day), and then I randomly picked up a couple of Victorian-themed books. Now it’s all I want to read! It’s been influencing me so much that a lot of the Victorian aesthetics are trickling into my new book, The Nightmare Birds—the second book in the Strange Luck series. If you’re of a similar Victorian mania mindset, or just looking for something new to read, here’s what’s currently on my nightstand:

The Cure for Dreaming By: Cat Winters: The gorgeous cover is what initially drew me to this book. Something about the picture is just so irresistibly strange and creepy. My favorite! :) The Cure for Dreaming is a peculiar Gothic love story, seamlessly weaving in the complexity of gender roles in Victorian life. Cat writes so simplistically, yet her words carry deep purpose and beauty. I also love the old pictures and quotes scattered throughout the book (very Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children). The parallels with Dracula are also a nice touch. 

This story has kept me guessing and I can’t wait to see what happens. I’ll definitely be reading more of Cat’s books in the future.

Anatomy of a Darkened Heart By: Christie Stratos: In a word…Wow! I am absolutely and totally addicted to Anatomy of a Darkened Heart. From the first sentence, I was totally transported into time and place, wondering what was going to happen next—especially with the creepy baby. The concept reminds me of The Omen meets Rosemary’s Baby meets Downtown Abbey. All winners! 

Christie’s writing style and use of description is elegant, unique, and emotional. I'm dying to see what happens next. Oh, and the cover is freakin' awesome!

What I’ll Be Reading Next:

Bad Medicine By: David Wootton: Until the invention of antibiotics in the 1930s doctors, in general, did their patients more harm than good. This book is a fascinating look at the history of medicine—from Hippocrates, the Victorian era, to present. 

Anne of Green Gables By: L.M. Montgomery: I’ve always loved this story. It’s due time for a re-read.

 
Other Cool Victorian Things to Check Out:

7 Ways Victorian Fashion Could Kill You: No wonder most people didn't live past age 30!

10 Weird Things the Victorian’s Did for Fun: The anthropomorphic taxidermy is by far the weirdest.

Weird Victorian Beauty Standards We Thankfully Don’t Deal with Today: Ahh, the sting of poison in your eyes. All in the name of beauty.

How We Lived Then Museum: Next time I'm in England I'm totally going here.

 

Ragged School Museum: The authentic Victorian classrooms are a must see. 

Is there an awesome Victorian book, movie, or museum you’d like to share? Comment below! If not, you'll have to answer to him...and that's one mean looking chicken!