Samantha Combs Writes!

A Story for My Brother

2012-03-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my brother's birthday. He is three and half years younger than me and I love him more today than I ever did. He is an amazing musician, a true and loyal friend, and, next to Mum, my biggest fan. He is the most fun uncle to my kids and he is the only person who knows all the secrets of my, our, childhood. And I'll never tell any of them. They belong to him and me only. I wrote the following story for him and want to share it with you for his birthday. Happy birthday music man!

ROOTBEER FLOATS

My brother is too far ahead andI have to call him back. We’re walkingto Winchell’s Donuts and I don’t want him to get to the end of the block beforeI do. Mom lets us walk to the donutstore on Saturday mornings as long as I promise to watch my little brother,especially when we are crossing the busy street around the corner from ourhouse.

He stops and waits for me tocatch up. Even though it’s only mid-morning,the summer sun is already fiercely hot, beating down on my brother’s unprotectedhead. He has his summer haircut, whichis more like a hair "buzz" since he has no hair left. He loves it. He keeps running his hand back and forth across the top.

It feels like a brush, hesays. Feel it. No thanks, I say. I believe you. Come on. We should hurry. We have to getback. Dad’s coming.

Yeah! He fist pumps one small arm in the air. He has forgotten Dad calling and asking Momif he could take us overnight today. Idon’t remind him that Dad often doesn’t show up. He looks too happy. I want him to keep that feeling for a whilelonger.

We cross the street holdinghands and get to the Winchell’s talking about what we’re going to buy. I’m getting a chocolate bar, my brothersays. And a million donut holes! I laugh, because he really believes our threedollars can buy that many donuts. I lookat him, crouched down in front of the glass case of displayed donuts, foreheadpressed so hard against it that when he straightens up, there’s a red spot justabove his eyebrows. A wave of love crashesinto me so strong and unspeakable that I am momentarily weakened by the forceof it.

He looks so expectant, waitingfor his donuts, I am reminded of the last time he looked that way.

We were waiting for Dad. We started in the living room, watchingcartoons casually, not really aware of the time, but dressed and ready to goanyway. When it was fifteen minutes tillthe time Dad was due to arrive, we shoved the drapes aside and sat on theskinny ledge of the picture window that faced the street. From there we could see all the cars as theyapproached our house from both sides. None were Dad’s.

When he was half an hour late,we moved to the front yard, lazily throwing a ball back and forth, pretendingnot to look down the street, but finding an excuse to do so, like overthrowingthe ball and having to chase it down on that side of the yard. I could see Mom in the kitchen window, actinglike she was washing dishes, watching us.

When an hour passed, she cameout of the house. I knew he probablywasn’t coming, but that knowledge didn’t make it hurt any less. Being older only made it easier to bury itfaster. My brother hadn’t learned thatyet.

Why isn’t he coming, he askedthrough his tears. My mother could havetold truths with grown-up words like alcoholism and selfishness, but shedidn’t. Instead, she smiled warmly and asked,Who wants a root-beer float?

Today, my brother reaches for myhand and we cross the street. He clutcheshis donut bag tightly in his other hand. I reach over and rub his head. You’re right, I say. It does feellike a brush. He smiles up at me. Told you so. Race you? We run, laughing, allthe way home.

The End

2011

Blog Changes ...or...Making My Blog Work For Me

2012-03-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

The Marketing Director of one of my amazing publishers recently posted on our internal blog the importance of making your blog work for you. She mentioned she had seen some author blogs, and some were fantastic and some, well, not so much. I wondered which category I fell into, so I moseyed on over to mine.

I was happy when I opened it and saw my colorful covers, a list of my followers and the coolest gadget ever, a tally of every visit to my blog since inception. Over 6400! I felt quite proud and sure I was not one of those bloggers mentioned that crashed and burned in the image department.

Until I read her whole post.

I found there were more than a few things my blog didn't do. Or have. They seem so elemental, I was aghast I didn't think of them sooner. I'm listing them here. Don't be offended if you have had them on your blog a million years. I assure you, there are plenty of us who didn't.

A Home page where the blog actually appears
A Bookshelf where you have buy links for where people can purchase your work. (Totally freaked me out I didn't have this!) I included my publisher's site first, and then Amazon. I may add Barnes & Nobles later, it's up to you who you include, but make sure they are LINKS where the reader can just click. We readers are a lazy bunch, so don't make it hard for them to find you.
Cover Art. Duh! Had that one! (smiles smugly)
Your Bio. (didn't have that one. Slinks away quietly) I used the one I have on my Amazon Author Page because I quite like it (Also if you don't have an Author Page on Amazon and Goodreads, another forty lashes for you....MUST HAVES like a good leather purse and, this year anyway, a supercute shoe bootie)
Reviews! (this was such a foreign concept to me. Oh, I'm supposed to TELL people that other people enjoyed my book? Oh, I get it now!)
A WIP page. Apparently fans want to know what I am working on. Really? (Seriously, I had no idea)

So, I have worked on the blessed thing for the past couple of hours. I still have to tweak it some more, but now I am elated at the way it looks! I'd love you to check out the new tabs at the top of the blog and let me know if they are a hit or a miss. Thanks! And happy blogging!

Announcing a Freebie!

2012-02-25T23:25:00.003-08:00

Hey all, I'm announcing a bit of a giveaway! You have really embraced the new book in the Spellbound series, Everspell, and it seems you loved getting the other new one, Teeth and Talons, A Horror Anthology, for FREE. So, in an effort to keep the great momentum going.......I have a great offer for you: Anyone who buys both Spellbound and Everspell and sends me their proof....I will gift them with a copy of Ghostly! Get it while its hot , or until I remember to change the deal! Remember: Buy two, get one free! For the unbelievably reasonable price of $5.98 you'll get all three!

You may know Spellbound and even Everspell, but Ghostly, which is my second book, is a pretty good read too. Shorter than most novels, I have been told that this YA paranormal about a ghost hottie, a young teen girl and her super-close friends, reads quickly and is a fun, kicky book. Check out some of the review, if you are still on the fence, on the Ghostly by Samantha Combs fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ghostly-by-Samantha-Combs/144239729004823

You'll see more than 10 reviews if you need convincing. I hope you don't.

Please enjoy ANY book of mine you read. And thanks for being a fan!

Being a "Good Wife" in 1950 and Now

2012-02-20T21:26:00.000-08:00

So Michelle Duggar, of "19 Kids and Counting" fame, and also being famous for being pregnant, like well over half her life, has been spotted passing out pamphlets expounding on the secrets to having a successful, long-lasting marriage. I read barely a third of the article and I KNEW I would be writing a post on it. I'm just suffregetty that way, I guess.

So three of the little nuggets of wisdom are this: 1) never bring up your husband's failures, as it could crush his spirit, 2) always gaze adoringly at your husband when he speaks, and 3) always regard your husband as your leader. It reminded me of an article I read about"Being a Good Wife" from Good Housekeeping..... from 1955.

So I have a few, um, tweaks to the original. Allow me:

1. Have dinner ready when he gets home. Plan ahead, even the night before, for a delicious meal. It's part of the warm welcome home.
2012 rule: Did he break his arms somehow? Is he not just as capable of dialing the pizza place?

2. Prepare for his arrival. Freshen your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He looks at a lot of weary-looking people all day.
2012 rule: Try not to wear the same comfy sweats more than five days in a row. Try not to start changing out of your work clothes in the driveway.

3. Clear away the clutter. Run a dust cloth over the table just before he arrives home.
2012 rules: Kick a path through the toys from the door to the fridge. That's his first stop anyway He's on his own from there.

4. Minimize all noise before he arrives home. Silence the washer, dryer and vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.
2012 rules: Seriously? If you can hear yourself think, you're ahead of the game.

5. Listen to him. Remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
2012 rules: Last thing I want to do is hear a blow-by-blow of how his workmate blew chucks after eating at the roach coach. Tuning him out is not only necessary, it's critical for survival and sanity.

6. Your goal: make your home a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
2012 rules: Then NEVER HAVE CHILDREN!

7. Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
2012 rules: Then NEVER HAVE CHILDREN!

8. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in an easy chair. Have a drink ready for him.
2012 rules: Pick the Legos out of the sofa and the plastic Barbie shoes that stick to the backs of his legs. Shove the dog off the good end and direct him to where the sodas ALWAYS are. The drink is for you.

9. Don't ask questions about his actions or question his judgment. Remember, he is the master of the house.
2012 rules: On a good day, he doesn't even know what decisions I have made. What he doesn't know won't hurt him and eliminate the need to talk about it. He should know by now, ALL your decisions are for the betterment of the family. Question his judgment, my ass. He doesn't even know what plumber we use.

10. A good wife always knows her place.
2012 rules: A good husband knows his! Respect me, honor me, and share with me, and I'll be the best goddamn wife on the planet. Try it out, guys.

And as for Mrs. Duggar's rules?: Here's my answers to those.

If I never brought up my husband's failures, I'd never win an argument.
Gaze adoringly? Yeah, I gaze alright. Mostly it's with this verbal embodiment of the look on my face: Are you kidding me??? Did I actually CHOOSE that ten years ago?
Always regarding him as a leader? Yeah, he's the leader of a country of four and as such, is always open to attack from the flanks or veto on his position. Guess who holds absolute veto power? You got it.

If I forgot any, PLEASE feel free to add your own. I am always interested in what you all have to say!

Hey, Have You Met My Amazing Mummy?

2012-02-16T21:22:00.000-08:00

February 17th is my Mum’s birthday. I wanted to celebrate her here, but in anunusual way. What I decided is that thethings I value most from her is her wisdom and life experience. I have shared on this blog the piece of advicefrom her I have almost made my mantra, to “Do the Next Thing on the List.” But she has given me so much guidance anddirection in my life, it seems almost unfair not to share it with you.

So, the following words of wisdom, in no particularorder, are from the indomitable Paulina Gilbert, my Mum.

1. Kill them with kindness; if they’re snarky andyou respond with sweetness, they’ll l hear themselves and be ashamed

2. Always apply moisturizer rubbing in toward thenose, never out toward the ears. You’llavoid wrinkles longer

3. Fabric softener in with towels takes away theirabsorbency

4. There is nothing permanent in this world;everything is temporary and can be changed

5. Doctors don’t know everything; they’re human tooand medicine is most days a guessing game

6. People will judge you by your appearance, fairor not. Always dress appropriately forthe occasion

7. The state of your shoes will say more about youthan you ever will

8. You don’t have to dress in brand new things, youonly have to look clean and bright

9. If you haven’t worn it in a year, give it away. Someone else will love it too.

10. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind.

11. Brush your teeth every morning. It make a nice start to the day

12. Personal-health sick days” are not only okay,they are necessary sometimes.

13. Actions speak louder than words; don’t tellthem, show them. They’ll remember itforever

14. Follow your dreams; how do you know that’s notwhat you were put here to do?

15. Serving fast food does not make you a bad mother

16. Nothing will ever take the place of ahandwritten thank you note

My whole life, my Mum has been my biggest fan. She has championed my causes, celebrated mysuccesses, and been there when I needed a friend. She has been through all my highs and lowsand without doubt, she is the most constant thing in my life. Because of the example she gave me, I am agood wife, a better mother, and a kind, decent, caring person. All because of my Mum. For my brother and I, she has always been oursun and our moon, our ying and our yang, the missing piece to any puzzle we have. So today, my dearest Mummy, I want to tellyou how thankful I am for our relationship and how much I love you. Jason and I want you to have the happiestbirthday ever!

Thanks for letting me share a little of my Mum withyou. Now (spoken in thick Bronx accent),“cahll ya mutha” and tell her how much you love her too!

Whats Up With All the Commercials About Poop?

2012-02-13T21:36:00.002-08:00

Okay, I know this is NOT a pleasant topic, but when my young son is also moved to comment on it, I know I need to vent. Here's my issue: lately, every commercial on television is all about poop. Crap, toilet paper, how often we crap, how easily....suddenly that's all there ever seems to be on the small screen.

Personally, I have had it up to here with it. I am MORE than offended by the myriad of ads marching past me where they think they can be cute or informational and I won't notice we are talking about shit. I mean, how dumb does the advertising industry think we are? Even my kids know the cartoon bears with "pieces left behind" is really about wiping your butt.

And how about the yogurt that allegedly "gets you regular"? Isn't that just a nice way to say it makes you crap more often? And seriously, Ms. Curtis, I hope they are paying you, you'll excuse the expression, an ass-load of money to hawk this friggin' product. I'm so embarrassed for the Scream Queen. Are Depends next?

Have you seen the diaper commercial where cartoon babies are in a contest for who can load their diapers the fullest? No, it's true. They turn around, squeeze hard in some kind of crap-concentration, and blow ass into their seat-covers. The diapers blow up like balloons with their load. And the cartoon crowd cheers for the fullest pamper. I am NOT making this up.

As I sit here blogging, another commercial comes on in this same vein. This one features a group of women we are to assume are lovely, kind, reasonable consumers who have spent this lifetime searching for a toilet paper that does the job, because "it's about feeling clean." Really? Are you kidding me? How low have we actually sunk to make advertisers think this is acceptable.

I can take the tampon commercials, and the feminine hygiene products, because they never pretend to be something they're not. One even makes fun of itself. But these shit-happy, diaper-loading, butt-wiping commercials just, ahem, chap my ass.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. Now, please excuse me while I "visit the facilities". And if any advertisers want to know why I bought the brand of toilet paper I have now, let me tell you, it really only comes down to one thing: texture. Make one as soft as my down comforter and I am THERE!

Why Writing Horror is Scary

2012-02-12T10:24:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to be a guest poster on Musa Publishing's blog for the Young Adult novelists, called Euterpe. I told the story of how my latest release, middle grade horror story, The Detention Demon, came to be. You may not have read it, so I'd like to share it here.

WhyWriting Horror is Scary by SamanthaCombs

When I was a young girl, I was a fanatic reader. I had books piled up in my bedroom, jammed inmy backpack and even crammed in my purse (small paperbacks can be stuffed in;you don’t really need a wallet at fourteen.) I think now it’s a good thing my parents didn’t pay a lot of attentionto what I was reading…..I think they might have been fairly freaked out. The Oh-My-God-Maybe-She-Needs-A-Psychiatristkind of freaked out. Because I wasn’treading what you might think a young girl was reading. No siree.

I had no time for anyone from anywhere called Sweet ValleyHigh. I loved those True DetectiveMagazines with the gory story about how the woman was attacked. I read Go Ask Alice, a wrenching story abouta teenage runaway. I devoured anythingby Robert A. Heinlen and even though I pretended to be as bored as my peerswith the reading selections from my English classes, secretly, I was in heaven. I pounced on Animal Farm and SlaughterhouseFive and I, Robot. I cruised sections ofthe school library that l am now certain was never frequented by the studentbody. Maybe, you’re getting it now…..Ihad, um, different tastes.

When I wrote stories, everyone always died. Horribly. Without limbs. And I gotolder. I developed an all-consumingfascination for true crime as well, worshipping at the literary feet of veteranstory spinners like Ann Rule. I readabout Bundy and the Green River killer and Son of Sam. Then I found and tore through Wes Craven and MichaelCrichton. And then one amazing,wonderful, life-changing day, I stumbled across a book at a yard sale calledNight Shift.

A collection of short horror stories, I couldn’t put the book downfor hours, and I couldn’t sleep with the night off for days. I scrambled to get everything on this writer,this Stephen King. I became one of thefollowers, the faithful. No one couldwrite like him, ever, I thought. But,Man, I sure wanted to.

I tried my hand at horror. I sucked. I look at my efforts from then now and I’m embarrassed. I knew NOTHING about writing suspense anddrama and tension. But I found I could write a story that someone besides my Mum would read. And I got older.

A lot older. Like marriage,husband, homes and children older. So Ishelved the horror and wrote little stories for the kids. Then one day two years ago, a little storybecame a little novella, which became a novel, which became a Young Adultparanormal series. I was proud of it,and prouder still when it published. Andeven more when it won an award! But Iwanted to do more. I wanted to writehorror. And I wanted it to be in my ownwriting style, not anyone else’s. Nomatter how much I worshipped them.

So I wrote one or two stories and let them marinate, to see howthey might taste after a while. Theytasted good. I wrote a couple more andthen I my Muse made her appearance. Icall her Musina.

My son had been given detention at school for an infraction andcarried on so much about it, I wondered what could be wrong with the teacher. Musina planted a seed. I wondered what would happen if there was something wrong with him. I asked my son what he thought about it andhe, wise sage that he is, said, Hey Mommy, maybe boys would like it enough tokeep reading. Wouldn’t that be cool, Mommy? Musina and I got busy and just like that, The Detention Demon was born.

But I was worried. Howwould a horror story aimed at young boys go over? There are so few “boycentric” books outthere, if I wrote a bad one, it would really stand out. And anyway, wasn’t R.L.Stine already doingit? But once again, Musina set mestraight. No, he didn’t have a monopolyon the genre, she said. You writewhatever you want. It’ll be great. And if only one boy gets the reading bug, wouldn’tthat be worth it? So I did. And shock of all shocks, a publisher likedit. I was scheduled for a release date!

Then the nagging feeling came back. What if I couldn’t write horror? What if I wasn’t scary enough? I had to test run something. So I packaged my short horror storiestogether in an anthology, self-published it and held my breath.

Ready for the shocker? Theyliked it! They actually liked it alot! So, now I am back to holding mybreath. The Detention Demon releasedtoday and I’m waiting to exhale. I hopeyou enjoy it and even more, I hope you give it to your son and I hope he justthinks…..it’s cool.

A raggedy group of delinquents, thrown together by circumstance,get the opportunity to prove if rumors about the detention teacher being lessthan human are true and discover it doesn’t take years of friendship to bondtogether and overcome evil.

Wayne is a Junior High school boy who just got detention forfighting in school to protect his longtime best friend, Gumby. But recently,there have been stories about detention. Kids have mysteriouslydisappeared, creating creepy rumors about detention class. Now, Wayne findshimself trapped in there with school bully Bubba Dugan. Keeping hisdistance from Bubba won’t be Wayne’s only problem. In fact, those rumorsabout the detention teacher don’t seem like stories at all.

With his best friend Gumby, a crew of delinquents and asurprising late addition, a pretty cheerleader harboring a secret crush, Wayneand his group of misfits will have to band together to outwit the detentionteacher. He’s protected his best friend from harm his whole life…..but,can he protect him and everyone else against something that might not even behuman?

About the Author: SamanthaCombs is the Global Ebook Award-winning author of Spellbound, and book two inthe series, Everspell. An additional YA ghost story, Ghostly is her thirdpublication, as well as a short horror story collection, Teeth and Talons, AHorror Anthology, her fourth. She writes for Astraea Press and MusaPublishing and for the sheer love of it. Following the release of TheDetention Demon, her fifth published book, look for Waterdancer, a new YAparanormal from Musa Publishing coming in September of 2012.

CONNECT WITH ME!

Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Combs-Fan-Page/205186202866933

Email: samanthacombswrites@gmail.com

Blog: http://www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/samanthacombs1

WRITE, PUBLISH, AND BE INFORMED!

Aren't Children Being Taught Manners Anymore?

2012-02-08T21:44:00.000-08:00

I titled this post the way I did because I couldn't think of a better one. Seriously. This all came about because of a dinner my family and I went on to our neighborhood restaurant. We patronize this place frequently because it is reasonably priced, close to home, and the kids eat free on Wednesdays. I am totally not ashamed to admit this. And also admittedly, the frequency and locale pales in comparison to the free Weds thing. Sorry, the books aren't paying the bills just yet. Anyway, I digress.

We were there recently, on the aforementioned kid night and the place was packed with families. Seems we aren't the only ones being frugal with a buck these days. Now, my husband and I have been bringing the kids out to dinner since they were born. In the beginning we used to put the oldest in his car carrier and shove him under the table to sleep. We would eat happily, alone or with friends, then get up at the end of the meal and pull our baby out from under the table. So fun to see the other people's reactions, especially the ones that were seated AFTER we were and never saw us stash him. But I give you the back story so you can share in my incredulity.

What the hell has happened to children's restaurant manners?

My husband and I are proud that we can take our kids to nearly (and I mean NEARLY) any restaurant designed for families and they have great manners. Can order, say please and thank you, and use a napkin. Not rocket science, I know, but come on. When they do it, I glow. But this last outing was amazing. Kids were running around the tables and aisles, babies were screaming with no adult attention, and one kid kept pulling my hair in the booth behind us. I tried "The Glare" aimed at the parents, but they obviously didn't get the memo. Crayons were thrown, rude bodily noises were overheard and kids acted up, unheeded by anyone in authority. I may not be a model mom, but if one of my kids acted that way, he or she would find themselves, as my Mum calls it, "scurffed and removed" from the table. I have said, "Do you want to eat your dinner in the van?" more times than I care to remember. But generally, they have great table manners in a restaurant and they make us both beam with pride.

So, I bitched about the other kid's behavior to my hubs all the way home. Were we too strict with the kids? Were we not allowing them to act like kids and have fun? He looked at me like I'd gone insane and said, "Not in a &^%*& restaurant!" I snapped to and realized I agreed with him. But I am, as always, interested in your thoughts.

Have you experienced this yourself? Have you addressed it? Are you one of those people who should be on "What Would You Do?" My husband is not a boat-rocker as I am and gets embarrassed to the gills when I speak up, so I don't when he is around. But I really want to know: Are you seeing the same thing as us....namely that children are not being taught core values of respect and decorum? Please post here. I'm totally dying to know!

I Guest-Blogged Today

2012-02-03T21:18:00.000-08:00

Today I was proud to be the guest blogger at Seriously Reviewed. I talk about the difficulty of getting started and what I do to conquer it. I'm re-posting the blog here. Let me know what YOU do when you get "stuck". Open the link here: http://seriouslyreviewedarchive.blogspot.com/2012/02/samantha-combs.html?showComment=1328331064675#c8366555517035218445 or read below:

I want to write about an unpopular subject in the writingworld…..starting. After you have thefirst book under your belt, you sit back, try to relax and wait for the nextamazing idea to hit you. But before thathappens, I won’t lie….it’s murder.

I still treat every manuscript the same way I did withthe first. I don’t open the Worddocument and stare at a blank page. Noway. That would make me insane. And I don’t start in the beginning,either. I realize that might make you insane. But I couldn’t, and still can’t, force whatwon’t come.

You see, I’ve been a writer my whole life. Oh, yes, I’ve written notes, and checks andTo-Do lists. I’ve written addresses andreminders and hate mail to the cable company. I’d even written short little tales for my kids. What I had never done was write a novel. I knew I had one in me, and back then I couldonly think as far as that one. Then oneday my four year old daughter announced she wanted to marry Edward theVampire. Really? A cold-as-ice interloper with abandonmentissues? Hell, no, that was not going tohappen. I decided I needed to give her arole model who was a real man, someone I would be proud if she brought himhome. Someone with heart and valor andcourage. I jotted a few words down, thena couple sentences, and soon, several paragraphs.

As I was enjoying shaping my characters andworld-building, I suddenly realized…..OMG, I was writing a novel! The very idea scared me so much that I closedthe computer and didn’t open it again for two weeks. The laptop sat on the couch, blinking it’slights at me in an accusatory manner. Iwould glance at it, longing to be drawn to it, but never quite feeling thepull.

I turned to the one person in my life who would know whatto do. My mum. Not a fellow writer, an editor, or even myhusband, patient as he tried to be with my dark looks across the living room atan innocent piece of technology. “You’renot writing tonight?” he would ask. “No.” I would snap, closing the door on further conversation. I was confounded, stymied,misunderstood. What was theproblem? What could help?

My mum knew. Iasked her over the phone if “it” had left me. The elusive urge to create, the need to divine, the absolute requirementto spill my imaginary worlds onto my laptop keyboard. I could hear her laugh over the phone. “You always do this,” she said. “You get overwhelmed by the task. Just do the next thing on the list.”

She was right, of course. I always over think things. It’sthe curse of the perfectionist, the detailed, the

life-long list-maker. And I’m a Scorpio, just to complicate matters. But my mummy’s words rang a bell ofunderstanding, of acceptance, even of empowerment. Damn right! I was the writer and I would not let a little story take medown. I hung up the phone and marchedinto the living room. I flipped up thelaptop and told it, “Okay, then. Bringit!” It took me only six weeks afterthat to finish my book.

Next time you are facing the same situation, don’t go aslong as I did. When Mum gave me the keyto continue writing, I did. I wrote onechapter at a time. I set tiny, easygoals for myself. Write onechapter. Write 500 words. Write 500 words that aren’t edited all tohell the next day. And one moregoal….never force myself. And I alwaysthink of the next scene, the next chapter, the next book, in the exact sameway. Just the next thing on the list.

BIO: SamanthaCombs writes YA and MG and currently has four books available. Her first, Spellbound, a YA paranormal fantasy, has won the Global EbookAward for Speculative Fiction-Fantasy. The follow-up, Book Two, called Everspell, released in January. There will be a third. She has another YA paranormal called Ghostlyand a self-published horror anthology entitled Teeth and Talons. Two more books are scheduled for release in2012, The Detention Demon, a Middle Grade horror, and Waterdancer, a YAfantasy. She is a proud author forAstraea Press and Musa Publishing.

Samantha loves to connect with new and aspiring writersand authors. Please visit her blog at www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot.comor her facebook page www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaCombs.

Ghostly Gets Some Love

2012-02-03T18:47:00.001-08:00

Ghostly

Ghostly by Samantha Combs is a young adult paranormal romance.

Juice and her friends Sixx, Jett, and Creepshow have always been social misfits at school, but they had each other so they didn't care. Things are about to change. Juice sees a new boy, Shane, in class and she defiantly has his attention. They sat there talking until a jock from the football team arrived, sitting right on him and Shane disappeared! But, to make it even weirder, there is a message in her notebook saying he will explain it later. I mean poof and he was gone. To Sixx's credit, she believed Juice when she told her, but neither could believe it when Shane tells Juice he picked her out to help him find a new body. If that wasn't strange enough, Juice finds herself in the middle of three love interests, Shane, Creepshow, and someone new. For a girl who had few friends, to one all the boys were taking an interest, Juice has some big decisions to make, on top of helping Shane, if she can keep up with all the changes in her life.

The complications of a teenager's life are difficult enough without adding the stress of dealing with having a ghost as a friend. It was fascinating how Shane waited so long to find someone to help him, but his interest in Juice is much more personal. The complication of having boys, in plural, interested in Juice boggled her mind and the dilemma she found herself in is one that many girls understand and was very funny! When Creepshow divulged his feelings to Juice, the emotions and newfound love was beautiful to read. The unexpected ending brought tears to my eyes, while at the same time; I felt happiness and joy for the characters. I can't wait to read other books by Ms. Combs.

Reviewed by: Teresa

The Battle Between Venus and Mars

2012-01-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

This weekend, a business trip that began on Friday became an opportunistic time for me to visit with my brother and Mum in San Diego. Since she and he always come to my house in Los Angeles, for holidays, my kid's birthdays and, in the case of my Mum, for face-time with me for a week at a time, it was neat for me to go to them. Not to mention I got to do it solo, because of the integrated business trip at my awesome new job. Yeah, when you have been married as long as I have, a No Kids, No Husband overnight trip is perilously close to nirvana. But, I digress.

What I want to tell you about is a conversation I had with my brother. He's a handsome, single musician, on the fast track to famous for his amazing musical ability (check out www.banjoslim.com!) and we got into a lively discussion on the subject of.........don't laugh........mascara.

Over a couple drinks, and beef kabobs I cooked myself at The Turf Club in Golden Hill, San Diego, Mum and I were lamenting the banes of our existence. For Mum, she has been on a years-long search for the perfect pair of white linen pants. I mean, since I have been old enough to remember, she had dragged me through various women's departments looking for the elusive clothing.

She asked me mine, and I knew it right away.......the perfect mascara. Just plain old black mascara yet I have spent the balance of my adulthood (and some scary black-eyeliner phases in my teens) trying to find the best balance of wand, color, texture and, for lack of a better word, lastability. As of this writing, I search still.

My bro was almost choking on his laughter. Mum accused him of not understanding, and trotted out the always incendiary saying, that he was from Mars and we were from Venus and he'd never understand us. Let me tell you, he took major offense.

And it is this that prompts me to write; I feel compelled to apologize to all men everywhere for not understanding your epic search for the perfect disposable razor.

I had no idea the anguish of purchased, once-used, and discarded drugstore items shared by the hairier sex was akin to that shared by those of us with the fine, tiny lashes just looking for a boost Mother Nature did not see fit to bestow. My brother explained that the exhaustive search conducted to find his right balance of blade, stem, and, it has to be said, "shavability" matches mine.

Another drink (or two) later and we saw eye-to-eye. I felt his pain and he felt mine. He may be from Mars and I may hail from Venus, but for one brief flash in time, like the harmony achieved during a solar or lunar eclipse, our planets aligned. We knew. We had felt the sting (no pun intended, Bro) of failed merchandise and advertisements that had never fulfilled.

Yet, it appears we haven't learned. Mum will come and visit soon and like lambs to the slaughter, we plan to go shopping. Where? Probably a drugstore and a mall. Looking for those damn pants and that friggin' mascara. And sometime this week, my brother will dart stealthily into a CVS and, with furtive glances to either side, grab a package of pink Lady Schicks.

Teeth and Talons sinks its teeth in a reviewer!

2012-01-28T14:59:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you aren't used to me writing horror. Perhaps it's that you aren't sure I can cut the mustard in the terror-arena. Whatever the reason, if you are vacillating over if you should read Teeth and Talons, A Horror Anthology, I hope this newt review might help you make up your mind.

I was reviewed by the meticulous Wanda Hart over at There For You blog and she posted her thoughts here: thereforyoumelissa.blogspot.com/.../teeth-and-talons-by-sama... in a 6 out of 5-star review!

I was blown away by how much the reviewer loved the four stories in the anthology and the fact that she took the time to comment on them individually. So, please check out this great review for my first horror book:

http://thereforyoumelissa.blogspot.com/2012/01/teeth-and-talons-by-samantha-combs.html

TEETH AND TALONS by Samantha Combs (Reviewed by Wanda Hart)

A Horror Anthology by Samantha Combs

Cover art designed by Paragraphic Designs

Well I love a challenge and this is my firstever anthology. This is

thus a true challenge. So I spend an entire minutefiguring out

how does one review an anthology. At the end of that minute

afterconsidering hunting down other such reviews on the internet

I decided I'll takeit a story at time. Then I will do a synopsis

of the entire anthology. Heregoes. Hope you like it.

The Ink Man

The Ink man was an intricate story whichsurprised me in its richness and

character building.

It was refreshing to read a short story thatwas so rich in character

development and in setting both mood andlocation in order to ground

the reader.

The story itself was also unique and spoke toperception of ones self

and others. It's in the miscalculationbetween being able to discern

between friend and foe that the true horror ofthe story is hidden.

I loved the layered aspect and stand in awe ofthe author that could

accomplish so much in so little pages withoutever letting the reader

feel as if they are not part of a real storyunfolding.

I take my hat off to the author foraccomplishing so much with this

story. Apart from being a technically brilliantstory it was a really

enjoyable read to boot.

The Robbery Countdown

This short story was a fun read, not much timeor space to work in

any character development but the reader willbe left with the sense

of no bad deed ever goes unpunished.. Ireally liked the dialogue

between the shop owners in this story and wasgiggling to myself

as I read it.

Rock and Roll All Night

Aah, my favorite story in this anthology. All is not what it would

seem and as with

The Robbery Countdown being evil does notguarantee that you are

thehunted and not the prey. I really liked this story and especially

liked the casual way in which the twists wereintroduced into the plot.

The Chair

Really liked this story as well and loved theend. In this, the lesson

might very well be that you should not pushpeople too far, it might

so happen that they come upon something thatwill push back for them……..

I love Samantha Combs' writing style. Itis clear, concise and

technically correct. If any grammar orspelling mistakes were to

be found in this anthology then I missed itwhile being enthralled

by the stories.

But no amount of technically proficiency wouldmake me enjoy

this book as much as I did without a verygenerous share of talent.

This girl can write!

I have seldom come across an author with hertalent for economizing

language without compromising on the storyline. The horror aspect

dawns on the reader with time. As thestories keep playing off in my

head Irealize that I should be wary as to what I accept as being the truth……..

I can't think of a single market that would notenjoy this anthology

even if horror is not your preferred readingmaterial.

I give this anthology a 6 out of 5 rating. I will definitely recommend

it to all and gift it to a friend withanticipation as to hear their opinion

and takes on this story.

A Friday the Thirteenth Treat

2012-01-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

So, today is Friday the 13th. As a showing of thanks for fans recently making my first book, SPELLBOUND, #72 in Christian Science-Fiction/Fantasy (yeah, I don't get it either) in the Kindle store, I have a special treat to share. I have self-published a new book, trying out the KDP Select program over at Amazon. May I present TEETH AND TALONS, A Horror Anthology by Samantha Combs, available for $.99:

And here is the teaser:

What do a tattoo artist, a rock band, a trio of thieves anda hen-pecked son have in common? Theyare all about to enter the realm of the undefined, the supernatural, thehorrific. Four new stories from SamanthaCombs, award-winning author of Young Adult and Middle Grade fantasy, exploresthe unexplained and the unbelievable in the adult world. Join her on the journey into madness. And don’t look under the bed.

I am hoping that being known as a paranormal and fantasy writer will help me segue into being known as a horror writer as well. Several friends and people I follow (namely, J.A.Konrath) have recently weighed in on the whole KDP Select program and they can't find anything wrong with it. Neither could I, but what do I know? So, this self-published anthology, coming available sometime today for Amazon kindle, is my personal experiment to test the program out.

Three of the four stories have been seen elsewhere, but the first story, The Ink Man, has never seen the light of day. Or computer screen. And I am rather proud of it.

I will check in periodically and let you know how its going. I'll report my sales figures and the number of books that sell. And it would be neat if you all read it and review it as well. Hope you enjoy your Friday the 13th surprise treat. And like the blurb says, don't look under the bed.

Doing the Next Thing on the List

2012-01-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

During the turbulent time 2011 was for me, there were moments when I thought "I can't do this." Related both to my employment situation, the major surgery I had in May, my family's financial condition, and after I was laid off, the desolation of my period of unemployment.

Luckily, I happen to be the daughter of the most brilliant woman in the world. She always told me "Take a deep breath and just do the next thing on the list." Compartmentalizing things and creating a mental checklist always saw me through.

I was just thinking that this philosophy can be applied to my writing as well. When I first had this thought, I was ready to dismiss it right away. I reasoned, a pantser (which I am) can't possibly do that since I have no idea what IS on the list in the first place. But then, I put it to the test last night.

During the time I had the night job, Mondays and Tuesdays were my days off and therefore those evenings were the only times I had to write. Most nights it was effortless. But recent stresses and difficulties at the night job had made the "flow", well, go. I was stalled. And I was again last night......stalled. Then I heard a familiar voice in my head. Instead of the directed and demanding voice of my Muse, I heard the comforting voice of my Mum. "Do the next thing on the list," she said.

How? I whined. I've written myself into a corner. I can't go left or right and I'm facing a wall, Mum.

Then go up.

I sat there blinking for a while, kind of stupidly. Then I did look up. I looked up to the wooden ceiling of the den I write in, day after day, and gasped. The scene I wanted, the scene the book needed, was playing itself out on my beams. Yep, there was my antagonist, in an AMAZING setting, being, well, antagonistic. I wrote steadily for an hour and at the end came up with 900 plus words for a super scene that slips effortlessly into the storyline and introduces a new conflict. Thanks Mum!

So, I challenge you to a new trick when you are stumped or stalled in your writing. Try and think about what would your character think about doing next. If he/she had an imaginary checklist: Find love, check, lose love, check, defeat demon, check, then imagine him/her methodically checkboxing finished tasks. I've always drilled my professional mantra into you, Write, Publish, and Be Informed. Now, please adopt my personal one. Do The Next Thing On The List.

Oh....and don't forget to look up.

My Dress Code for 2012

2012-01-09T23:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't been silent about the suck-ass year 2011 was for me and my family. My employer went bankrupt, laid me off and closed and still owes me back wages. I was unemployed for six months and we barely made it through, before I found another job. I believed this job was the answer, and instead, it only compounded the problem and skewed my whole family dynamic. I ended up working unconventional hours and undesirable days, an agreement I still don't remember making at hire. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the job....at first.

It soon became clear to me it was harmful to my children for me to be away at critical hours of the day, namely nights and weekends. My Mum HATED the job and even though I loved the people working under and with me, I grew to as well. She fervently begged me to leave it and I began to consider doing that, mentally. I just wasn't there yet. I wanted 2011 to be over.

Even though last year was my break-in year, those two books I published through Astraea Press were a small island in a huge ocean of crap. That being said, you know now why I am hanging my star on 2012. And its starting out great so far.

I begin a new job on Monday. A job, I just know, I will excel at and is smack in the middle of my wheelhouse. I have no less than three new publications releasing this year. Digital at first, but if I make the sales threshold, I'll see them in print. Everspell (YA, Astraea Press) in January, The Detention Demon (Middle Grade, Musa Publishing) in Feb and Waterdancer (YA, Musa Publishing) in September. I also have three (maybe four!) manuscripts-in-waiting that I am writing and am super-excited about where the storyline is headed.

I bought my daughter new dresses and my son a new baseball glove yesterday. I shouldn't have, but didn't care. With all the times I had to say "No" last year, it thrilled me to say "yes". And I wouldn't trade the looks on my babies faces for anything.

So, please forgive me my personal pep talk. I am happy. Happier than I have been in a very long time. Many people have said it, but now I can really believe it.......2012 is my year. Welcome to my own kind of debutante ball. My own coming-out, absence only the prom-style dress. Tapping away on my trusty Toshiba, I'm more comfortable in pink fuzzy slippers, thank you.

New Cover for The Detention Demon

2012-01-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

Hi fans!

Wanted to drop a quick note here to introduce the new cover for my fourth publication, the forthcoming Middle Grade horror story, The Detention Demon. And also to shout from the rooftops, again, about my amazing publisher, Musa Publishing.

My book is due in less than a month and I am fully edited, have a freaky-neat cover, and am fully ready for the February 10, 2012 release date. Color me impressed.

I hope you are too. Check out the new cover!

Here's the blurb:

Wayne is a Junior Highschool boy who just got detention for fighting in school to protect hislongtime best friend, Gumby. But recently, there have been stories aboutdetention. Kids have mysteriously disappeared, creating creepyrumors about detention class. Now, Wayne finds himself trapped in there withschool bully Bubba Dugan. Keeping his distance from Bubba won’t beWayne’s only problem. In fact, those rumors about the detention teacherdon’t seem like stories at all.

With his best friendGumby, a crew of delinquents and a surprising late addition, a prettycheerleader harboring a secret crush, Wayne and his group of misfits will haveto band together to outwit the detention teacher. He’s protected his bestfriend from harm his whole life…..but, can he protect him and everyone elseagainst something that might not even be human?

I am stoked for both the release AND the new cover and I'm sure this will appeal to a young boy, who is my first target audience. Of course, I dream the book will appeal to all. Please be sure and let me know what YOU think.

New Year's Resolves and Thanks

2011-12-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

As 2011 draws to a close (and I have to be honest, for many reasons, I am not unhappy to see the back-ass of it!), I feel compelled to talk about the things that DID work in 2011. Without a doubt, most of the great things that happened all had to do with some kind of social networking.

Now, I am not saying that my life without Facebook and Twitter and Linked In would have been empty and devoid of anything. Indeed not. I am a wife, mother of two amazing children and I feel incredibly certain that 2011 was my break-in year. But, I would be remiss if I didn't give some credit to the aforementioned sites. Let me elaborate.

I wrote and published two books in 2011. I joined Facebook in June after my publishing company's marketing director advised it was an effective tool for getting the word out about my books. I had much trepidation and was unsure of what I was doing. I needn't have been. Facebook embraced me like a long lost daughter. I now have well over 650 people I am happy to call friends and even fans. In 2011, I wrote three more manuscripts and am thrilled they will be the foundation for the successful 2012 I am predicting. In the words of another author, I am going to work hard to make 2012 my BREAK-OUT year.

I then tackled Twitter. Slow going at first, I have found that not only is it a great place to showcase my sharp and dry wit, but also a killer place to network for my books. I have followers, which boggles my mind, and I follow the people and companies that are directly related to my writing. And it is beginning to pay off in small ways. I'm not afraid of it anymore and I can now count myself among the legions of people who understand the word "hashtag".

I had been blogging all along, but now I became more focused on the benefits of that as well. And again, social networking rewarded me handsomely. I saw my blog followers grow from 11 to over 90, and the "lurkers", those who don't officially follow but check you out every day, have grown the hits on my blog to well over 5000. I consider that wildly successful.

And lastly, due to my hastily at first and then later more detailed profile on LinkedIn, I have landed what just may be the job of my dreams. I wasn't looking, but was contacted by a recruiter who read some key things on my profile that matched the job he was trying to fill. In short order, I sent in a resume, received an interview, conquered that, and landed the position. It will increase my family's financial position considerably and give me a daily feeling of productivity while being rewarded for my expertise. Simply put, I am over the moon.

So, I owe all social networking a big thanks and a huge hug. I love my friends on facebook, I enjoy my contacts on Twitter and I am grateful for the ability to profile myself professionally on LinkedIn. And I'm not done. I have recently learned about Tumblr and intend to attack that as well.

So, for all of you who have questioned the value of internet networking, STOP IT! Get on here, and get on here now! I'll save you a place next to me!

Happy New Year!

The Detention Demon is going to press!

2011-12-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

If you follow my blog, or you know me from my facebook or twitter profile, you have no doubt heard about the mess over at Aspen Mountain Press. This is the publishing company that imploded after the very professional and together senior staff walked, en masse, due to fraud and financial inconsistencies they uncovered.

Those amazing women, we refer to as The Fab Four, formed the ground-breaking and industry-defining Musa Publishing House. I was thrilled to submit an edgy YA paranormal to them that they have accepted and scheduled for a Sept 2012 release, my newest entitled Waterdancer.

Now I get to make an even more exciting announcement.

Today, I signed a second contract with Musa for my much-delayed Middle Grade horror treatment, The Detention Demon. Because I delivered a fully-edited copy (edited by a staff member that they took with them to Musa), they are scheduling a February 10, 2012 release. All it needs are line edits and a new cover.

I am thrilled all over again. I am over the moon to be called a Musa Author, and now I get to do it twice. I have many other edgy fantasy and horror manuscripts and they will see those as well.

But my book's freedom isn't the best part of this story, (although it seriously rocks!). The best part is that as of midnight December 17th, every single other author with intellectual property rights still trapped at AMP became free as well.

All I can say is heed this warning: there are some incredibly well-written, suspenseful, mysterious, supernatural, and yes, super-sexy, books about to be released on the world. Merry Christmas to you!

Please look for these talented and creative authors coming to a bookstore or a kindle near you: Barbara Custer, Dominique Eastwick, Andie Dunn, Mark Covington, Aline de Chevigny, Sloane Taylor, Juventino Australe, Wendy Soliman, Celina Summers, Collette Thomas, Melissa Aires, Esther Mitchell, Charles Wellston, Nya Rayne, Maura Anderson, Marguerite Butler, Dallyce Bright, Clare London, Ingrid Darzins, Celia Kyle, Regan Taylor, and I'm sure many others I don't even know about.

For these authors, the story is not ended. They, collectively, are owed thousands in unpaid royalties by Aspen Mountain Press generally, and Sandra Hicks specifically. You perhaps cannot pay everything they are owed, but you can do this: Buy their books. Follow their blogs and twitters. Friend them on facebook. Make them known, as they deserve to be. And look for many of them at Musa Publishing. If I see you there, I'll wave.

Thank You Notes

2011-12-19T11:59:00.000-08:00

There are many reasons to be joyful and happy this holiday season. Unfortunately, there are just as many reasons to be annoyed and irritated. If you will allow me my own blog space to rant a bit, I have a few things to say. And in a blatant rip-off from the amazing Jimmy Fallon, I will air my ill wills in the form of Thank You Notes. So, stand by for a fairly complete list of my gripes and post if you have one I haven't mentioned. I'm sure you will!

Thank you..........stores that no longer give you a gift box. You make finding a receptacle for a ginormous gift almost impossible.

Thank you.......guy in front of me in the parking aisle so dead-set on getting the parking space CLOSEST to the Target that you back up the parking line clear out to the street.

Thank you.......owner of a Hummer who thoughtlessly parked next to me in the COMPACT-marked spot and does it so closely that I had to get in my own car through the back hatchback.

Thank you.....employer for not understanding that Christmas Eve and Day are the be-all and end-all for children my kid's age and making me work anyway, EVEN THOUGH I requested the time off.

Thank you.....poultry sellers for manufacturing turkeys that just barely fit in my oven and DON'T fit in my freezer.

Thank you......commercials on the Cartoon Network that whips my child into a manic frenzy with just the mention of a toy with an Asian name that I cannot pronounce.

Also, Thank you.......television show schedulers who put a Christmas cartoon on JUST AFTER my children's evening bedtime. That's always a fun bedtime thanks to you.

Thank you.....string of Christmas tree lights that lurked in the garage for a year and waited until decorating night to reveal that ONE BULB is out and affecting the entire string. Also a fun time with husband.

Thank you........Christmas recipes that all call for All-Spice when it is the first spice the store runs out of.

And Thank you.....grocery stores who stack the "holiday-baking center" so close to the front door, that I walk into it two steps over the threshold.

Thank you.......Christmas tree-topping star that refuses to stay on the top of the tree, forcing Daddy to ram it on with a very un-Christmas-like maneuver.

Thank you.....online shopping site that takes me twenty minutes to fill out the address and charge information and THEN tells me the item is out of stock.

And finally....Thank you overnight delivery company who jack the holiday delivery rates so high it would almost be cheaper for me to fly to the destination and hand-deliver the item.

I appreciate you allowing me to get some things off my chest. As I mentioned before, I'm sure you have some equally important Thank You notes to send yourself. Get to writing, people......I'm dying to know what I missed!

Finding Reviews I Didn't Know About....Like Christmas!

2011-12-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

So my night job keeps me very busy either working (or sleeping!) and I feel like I miss so much on Facebook and my other social-networking sites. I started searching around today and found I was right! So here are some recent reviews I just found. Once again, blessed be the Blogger! Spellbound by Samantha Combs

Title- Spellbound

Author- Samantha Combs

Released- 13th June 2011

Publisher- Astraea Press

Genre- YA, Paranormal/Fantasy

Review- What a fast paced, energetic, fun read. Combs captured my attention from the first paragraph. Her intense attention to detail is extraordinary. What I loved most about the book was how Combs did the chapters from different characters perspectives, I got to see all points of view of the story which I really enjoyed. Combs had a lot happening in such a short period of time but she managed to keep the story flowing without making it seem rushed. The relationships that formed in Spellbound were in themselves fast paced. I think Combs was spot on with how intense and full on teenage relationships can be, especially in the relationships between Logan and Serena and Dave and Tamera. The paranormal side of Spellbound was really fascinating. Witches, Shapeshifting Demons and Trolls made for one exciting battle between good and evil.

There isn't really much more to say about Spellbound without giving too much away. So I will leave you with a strong recommendation to giveSpellbound a read. It will be well worth it.

To purchase your copy of Spellbound head to AMAZON

And check out Samantha's blog too

	http://www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot..comiveSpellbound a read. It will be well worth it.

To purchase your copy of Spellbound head to

And check out Samantha's blog too

Spellbound
by Samantha Combs (Goodreads Author), Elaina Lee (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)

Lissette's review

Oct 12, 11

Read from September 29 to October 10, 2011

Magic, witches, warlocks, and demons galore - this book has it all. Samantha Combs has done a beautiful job in spinning many elements of the paranormal with a good dose of fantasy. Not to mention the hot and heavy romance growing between Serena Starr and Logan Daniels with every turn of the page.

Logan has always led a comfortable life, while taking care of his mother and sister ever since his father's demise so long ago. He's surrounded himself with the best of friends and is practically the star of the school's baseball team. While things have not always been in his favor, he's done his best to make the most of what he's had. Yet he's never imagined that meeting the girl of his dreams would turn his life so upside-down.

Serena is every bit as beautiful - blonde, green eyes, and quite special, she's everything that Logan could ever want in a woman. Yet he has no idea of the secrets that she hides inside. You see, Serena is a witch. So are her sisters. Little does Logan know, the sisters are there for a reason - one that seems so unfathomable to him.

When dark forces invade the city, Logan comes to realize that Serena is far from being just an ordinary girl. She's a witch, one who's captured his heart completely. One whom he'll do his damnedest to protect, no matter the cost.

Unable to accept that there are others hunting his beloved, Logan knows that he'll need to accept her for who, and what she is, in order to help her, and her family, with what's to come. As they band together in hopes of taking down the evil that stretches across the town, Logan starts to learn just how special he and Serena really are.

Accepting everything that has come to pass is hard, at first, but he follows his instincts and gives in to what he's known all along. Come what may, they're there for one another in every way possible.

Strength comes in the oddest of ways, yet it's the bonds that have been formed that will allow them to overcome the obstacles that have been thrown their way. For love and friendship will make their ordeals bearable as they battle against those intent on taking away what they love the most

Thanks for reading everyone. Don't you think the new paperback version of Spellbound would make a nifty Christmas present? Me too! Follow this buy link and thanks for supporting this indie author:

http://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-Samantha-Combs/dp/1463787936/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1309285775&sr=1-1

The Beauty of Bloggers and a New Review of Ghostly

2011-12-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

In the last few days I have been reminded of the single, largest marketing tool an author has in her arsenal right now.....Bloggers! I want to take a quick moment to let you know how grateful I am that you exist. I sent out a casual request for a review of Ghostly, to see if I can get the sales to match those of Spellbound. The reviewer replied that she was regrettably booked (haha, a pun!) until June, but with my permission she would farm out my request to 20 (!) of her contributing reviewers to see if anyone might like to tackle one or the other of my books.

The response has been nothing short of amazing!

I have received, in the expanse of barely one full day, more than seven responses. And they keep coming. In fact, as I write this, two more have popped up. I am so excited. And the best thing of all, they all want to read BOTH of my books and review them for all the regular review sites: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads and my very own facebook page. I am overwhelmed with delight.

So, it's important to take this time to fully and thoroughly thank Angie from Books4tomorrow. I am eternally grateful that bloggers exist and that they share their talent for reviewing with the world. I am also grateful to Mera Sampson from Meras's YA Book List. She wrote the following review, for which I am still glowing:

Ghostly by Samantha Combs Review

I have been a fan of Samantha Combs’ work since reading her debut novel, Spellbound. So it suffices to say that I had high expectations for her second published work, Ghostly. Ghostly is the tale of a high school freshman, lovingly nicknamed Juice by her small group of friends. After meeting Shane, a teenage ghost stuck in our world, her life completely changes. But only the story can tell whether the changes in Juice’s life are for better or for worse.

I think it is safe to say that I loved Ghostly just as much as I loved Spellbound, if not more. Samantha Combs’ writing style is somewhat indescribable, but it would be wrong of me not to try. I could see her sitting at the kitchen table or on a comfortable sofa, slowly thinking up and telling her romantic paranormal tales for teens with a captivated audience soaking in her every word. The way she writes is recognizable and refreshing. She seems to have created a niche for herself and she is solid with the way she chooses to portray her characters. During the time I spent reading the galley Samantha so graciously provided to me, I was torn between who was right for Juice. But as I delved further into the story, the right person for her became evident to me.

The addition of her unique group of friends was awesome. The story slowly progressed and Samantha managed to put the climax closer to the end, which ultimately worked brilliantly. As I read of the events occurring, my heart leaped out of my chest. At one point, I was holding back tears, and as I finished reading I felt that tingly sensation that only occurs in me in three instances. The first instance being after I try a ride at an amusement park, which is not often due to my fear of heights. The second being after I’ve gone through a tidal wave of different emotions. And finally, the third occurs after I’ve read an amazing and emotional book. I have to applaud Miss Combs on her ability to entrance me with her writing and her characters. I would love to have friends like Jett, Sixx, Creepshow, and even Shane, and the story had an absolutely powerful and perfect ending.

Point blank: Samantha Combs is an author that you should definitely look out for. Ghostly, as well as her first book Spellbound (which is to be the first in a trilogy), is a great read I would recommend to anyone, but especially to tweens, teens, and young adults.

You won’t regret reading it. Her stories are like a refreshing walk in the park. Even if you’re tired or sleepy, you wish her words would go on.

If you haven't done so yet, check out my interview with the fabulous author just a few posts below!

Also, look out for the sequel to Spellbound entitled Everspell in January, and her fourth work Waterdancer at the end of summer 2012!

So, to all the bloggers out there, and I am certain I speak for at least every author I know, THANK YOU! You make getting out there easy and we appreciate you more than you can know.

Here are the links to the two bloggers I have highlighted here:
http://merasyabooklist.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookstomorrow.blogspot.com/

I Sold A New Book!

2011-12-09T15:52:00.001-08:00

Now that I have received, accepted and signed the contract for my latest publication, I can share the amazing news with you all, officially. I am THRILLED to announce the forthcoming newest standalone in my portfolio, to be published by the wonderful team at Musa Publishing, coming to readers at the end of the summer. To give you a taste, here is the blurb:

WATERDANCER

As if high school isn’thard enough, try being Bailey Wasserman. Try being the new girl in town, navigating a touchy relationship withyour flighty mom’s rich new husband in a brand new town he’s just moved youto. Add to that finding out that yourfather, a semi-pro surfer who’s just mysteriously re-entered your life afternearly fifteen years of silence, is half sea-creature and you’re about toinherit that particular gene on yoursixteenth birthday which is only a few days away, all after you just met thecutest surfer boy you’ve ever seen in your life.

Bailey feels she and hermom have always met life’s challenges as a team of two, more like best friendsthan mother and daughter. But her mom’s recentmarriage has changed all that. Having herlittle brother Landry is all Bailey can find good about that union. The move to wealthy Del Mar from their humblebeginnings has turned Bailey sour, until a chance meeting of surf hottie JackWest changes all that. Then, when herfather reenters her life, with his annoying Zen-surfer lingo and a talkingturtle he claims is her spirit guardian, no less, he threatens the onlyrelationship Bailey thinks is working in her world. She soon finds out that’snot all his arrival will do. Hispresence and their shared family trait could ultimately force Bailey to make adecision that will alter the course of her own life and those sheloves…..forever.

I am doubly excited about this book, because I drew a lot from my own teen years and somehow it makes the book more personal. I also feel that I have grown as a writer and my words and world-building is more layered and nuanced.

I hope you think the same when you get to read it! But never fear, even though the end of summer is a long time from now, I have the sequel to Spellbound coming out in about a month. Look for Everspell in January 2012! Logan and Serena would not let their story end there, though, so there will be a third and, I think, final chapter.

Lastly, I have two more completed works for which I am anxious to find a home. These are both a complete departure from my YA paranormal roots. The first one is a Middle Grade horror and the second one is a straight adult horror. I'm excited to showcase another part of my writing brain and the dark side of my moon, as it were. I also have a new YA paranormie in the primary stages of being a novel. I like where its going so far and have a working title of Wingspan. Premise is under wraps until I flesh it out a bit more, but I can say this: the title is important!

So, please celebrate me becoming a Musa author, a distinction for which I am filled with pride. I loved the contract and truly believe this is the right home for my new, edgy read, Waterdancer. Thanks for stopping by, and I'll chat with you later.

Write, publish, and be informed!

Samantha

Changes, They Are A' Comin'

2011-12-06T13:04:00.001-08:00

Even though this is the end of the year, I have so many changes afoot in my life, it doesn't feel like the end of anything; it feels more like a beginning. Let me explain.

Just last night I finished the content edits for my next book, Everspell. This will be the second book to the first, Spellbound. If you read it, as my editor has, you will immediately understand that there HAS to be a book three. And so, against all my preconceived notions on trilogys (you know I prefer writing standalones if you read my blog), I am committing to you, Fabulous Reader, to write a last and final chapter in the story of Logan and Serena. I didn't even make the decision, either....they did. There was more to their story and they would not get out of my head. As many times as I would try and write a specific scene, I was guided (demanded, commanded, you choose) to write it differently. So this is an apology of sorts to you, Fabulous Reader, as it was never MY intention to drag you along and keep you hanging. But....I am.

Additionally, I am pleased to announce that I have contracted for my fourth published work. This is another YA paranormal directed to the teen audience called Waterdancer. The premise is a young girl discovering her absentee real father, once a talented surfer on the pro-circuit, is back to reveal to her that he is half-sea creature, and she may be too. A story of self-discovery and acceptance, it has family drama and teen angst galore! I am excited to publish this one because I feel I have grown so much in my writing and my style. I am doubly excited because I was accepted for publication by my friends at Musa Publishing. Once the driving force behind the now defunct Aspen Mountain Press, I am thrilled to call myself one of their authors. They are changing the way the ebook business is handled and I can't wait to be along for that ride. I now have the dubious distinction of being with, what I feel, are the two best publishers in the digital business, Astraea Press and Musa Publishing. Look for Waterdancer late summer 2012, and Everspell in a month, in January.

The next big thing in my life can be viewed as a pretty cheesy photo on my facebook page. Spellbound, already the winner of the Global Ebook Award for Speculative Fiction-Fantasy, is now available in print. If you know what it feels like to get a contract, then holding your actual paperback in your hand is like that, times ten thousand. Hence, the cheesy photo....I could NOT get the smile off my face. I have gifted them and autographed them and the feeling is beyond words. Ebooks are great for the ability to publish rapidly, since traditional books take so long, but having a paperback has sent me over the moon.

Lastly, there are changes in my personal life that will better my family situation and increase my ability to have more writing time. I'll share more about this as it develops. Rest assured, there are MANY more books left in me dying to burst onto the keyboard. I love writing and I love writing for YOU.

I hope you had a great year (not many of us did) and lets look forward to a great 2012!

Reasons To Be Thankful

2011-11-24T16:08:00.001-08:00

As we come to the end of the year, and the beginning of the holiday season, I've realized I need to stop and truly be thankful. Not just because it's Thanksgiving Day, but because there are many blessings in my life that I should recognize. And believe me, that's hard for me to do right now.

This year has been tough. I lost my job in April, due to a mismanaged business that was failing and eventually went bankrupt. I didn't plan for it and with no notice, I was out of a job. Being the main breadwinner, this had devastating consequences on my family. I filed for unemployment and learned firsthand how ineffective and inadequate that whole system is. But the worst was yet to come.

Because I remained unemployed for six months. That may not seem like a lot of time in the grand scheme of things, but to me it was stunning. It represented six car payments, house payments, and insurances, on two cars. It was six phone bills and six gas and electric bills and for the first time ever, we got delinquent notices and notices advising us we were close to disconnection. It was illuminating. And humiliating.

I'm happy to say I am employed now, but I make almost $30k less than I used to. And my family has learned how to live on that. I don't want to say I am thankful for losing my job and being placed in that tenuous position, but I am grateful for the lessons I learned.

So today, on this day of thanks, I want to be specific in those things I am grateful to have.

I am grateful to be employed, to have somewhere to go every day where I am reminded of my worth, my value, and my contribution. I am grateful to be a mother of the most wonderful children on earth who are way too young to be concerned about our family's finances, but who still understand why they can't have new things. I love you so much, babies. I give thanks for my husband, and the life we have lived together for twelve years. I hope he knows how much I love him.

I am grateful for the gift I have for writing, and weaving worlds others want to enjoy. I am grateful every time a reader tells me how I have transported them and how much they enjoyed something I wrote. I am grateful I sit in front of my laptop and still have ideas flood my head every day.

And even though I am not with my family for this Thanksgiving day because I am working, I am thankful that unlike millions of people, I will, eventually, sit down to a meal prepared by my family with love, warmed up on a plate my husband will assure I have. And for that I am truly grateful.

Most of all, I am grateful for what I don't know yet, and that is what the future holds. I'm excited by all the possibilities I have in life still, and that this new year coming could be the start of something amazing. Life is a wondrous, precious thing, and today, I am grateful to be living it. I hope you are too.

So, Happy Thanksgiving to my loving family, immediate and extended, and my wonderful friends in life and on Facebook and Twitter. I hope you enjoy each other's company today. And give thanks for everything you have. I wish you all the best for this season of thanks.

The Importance of Being an Informed Author

2011-11-22T16:34:00.001-08:00

I am reposting a guest blog I did recently because I think the information could be valuable. Please let me know what you think.

Blog Post: On Being an Informed Author

I haven't been publishing long, but what I have learnedabout the publishing game recently, well, I could write a book. I've beenscammed, duped, taken advantage of, however you want to say it. And allbecause I trusted. My blind faith is partly to blame for my current woes. Let me explain.

I had published my first book, Spellbound, with anincredibly professional and truly wonderful house called Astraea Press. As an illustration of my satisfaction with them, I have published one more,Ghostly, and have another coming in January, Everspell, the sequel toSpellbound. I am more than happy with them and had no reason to look foranother publisher.

Except one: they don't publish horror. And I hada new manuscript I wanted out there, The Detention Demon, a middle gradehorror story I was, and still am, especially fond of. So I did my duediligence online and found a new house that took horror submissions.

I was thrilled when Aspen Mountain Press accepted me andoffered me a contract. I was a bit taken aback that it was for sevenyears. My works with Astraea Press are all for three years. But Ididn't question it. And besides, as soon as I was accepted, thingswhipped into motion.

They had an author site I was registered for, where I couldtrack the progress of my publication. Several dozen books were alreadylisted there, I could see when I signed up. I was immediately contactedby staff about my editor and artist assignments and given a release date ofOctober 3, 2011. It seemed so professional and together, I was impressed. That ended quickly.

Shortly after I was accepted, current staff walked out dueto an inability to work with the publisher, Sandra Hicks. I wouldlater learn that this was the same personnel responsible for the quickassignments, the release date, and the organized and methodical way I wasaccepted into the house. At this point, the house collapsed. Actually, it imploded. It wasn't gradual. The only thing gradualwas my dawning realization that I totally picked the wrong horse.

As of this writing, 42 authors including myself, have theirbooks stuck at the non-operating house. The publisher, Sandra Hicks,refuses to release us, or communicate at all regarding returning the rights toour books. Mine never even published. Others were published, rightsexpired, and she continues to collect money for their sales. Authors havetaken to their OWN websites and begged the public NOT to purchase theirbooks. it is a catastrophic mess and we authors are the victims in themiddle of it all.

I'm writing this blog in hopes that future authors will beforewarned. Although I truly believe there was no way to foresee this,other situations are not so difficult to see through. I implore everywriter to READ every line of that contract you've just been offered. Ifyou don't like the terms, even one small thing about it, DON'T SIGN IT. My contract with Aspen Mtn. Press stipulated we could request our rights backif the company failed to operate by sending a certified letter. Great,except she refuses to accept them. Look for any loophole you think favorsthe publisher and not you, and lobby for it's change. If they want you,they'll change it.

Or do what I did. I have submitted my new speculativefiction work to a new house, formed by the incredible staff that left AMP, MusaPublishing. For everything wrong at AMP, Musa is doing everythingright. Clear, concise contracts, terms that favor the author, and aboveall, transparent accounting of sales of books. There is no reason everyauthor shouldn't be demanding these anyway.

The bottom line is, you need to be aware of what you aresigning. Don't be in such a hurry to see your words immortalized that yousettle. Never settle. Your work, your words, your craft isimportant enough to you that you have sacrificed for it. Don't sellyourself short.

Lastly, if you have been wronged, make sure you tell theworld. You have a voice, you're a writer for crying out loud....put thattalent to work. Avail yourself of every social network out there andexpose those with no integrity without reservation. We authorstrapped at AMP are doing that for you now....I hope you never have to do it forme.

Write, publish, and BE INFORMED.

Samantha Combs

My Personal Path To Publication - Lauren Hunter

2011-10-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

I'm really happy that the final entry into my Personal Path To Publication series is with a great friend who has made the transition from the devastation at Aspen Mountain Press to the stellar future she has with new publishing house Musa Publishing. I hope to join her soon. If you haven't figured it out, I am one of Musa's hugest fans, and truly, one of Lauren's as well. She has to be one of the hardest working gals in the writing biz. Anytime we correspond, she is either writing, editing, sending out queries, or a combination of all three. Sometimes just talking to her exhausts me! Her latest offering, with Musa Publishing, is a thought-provoking paranormal under the Thalia imprint entitled The Coffee Shop and available now. Her journey to publication is as interesting and unconventional as she is. Please enjoy meeting my friend, the author Lauren Hunter.

1. How long have you been writing?

Let’s see . . . since grade one when they mademe. Okay, all joking aside, I’m not really joking. In grade school we would berequired to write a story every week. I remember in grade four the teacherwould always read my story out to the class. I have no idea why she alwaysliked mine. *shrugs* I do recall this boy saying out loud, for the entire classto hear: ‘Not again!’ The fact that my teachers chose my poems and stories toread out led me to think they must be okay, if the teacher thinks so. So Ialways had the idea in the back of my head, way back there where it echoes. Butwhen all other avenues of career never seemed to pan out, I eventually cameback to the idea of writing novels. I worked on my first story, on an off, overthe years. Did finish it. Did it long hand. God! The idea of transferring itover to the computer . . . Just occurred to me I can’t finish this question asthe answer overlaps other questions here. God, as I write this I have been upfor 26 hours, and when I do that I keep forgetting my mom is dead. For thebriefest of moments everything feels good, and normal, and right, and then Iremember, and it all feels wrong again. But I digress . . . I do that a lot.

2. Are you published and if so, how long have youbeen a published author? If not, what’s your plan?

At present I have five novels, a Regencytrilogy, a paranormal romance, a science fiction, and one horror short story,accepted for publication. But nothing has been released yet. And yes, you didread those correctly. And yes I can’t make up my frickin’ mind as to whichgenre to write in. My ideas are going off in so many directions that it’s all Ican do to keep up. If I’m not careful I’ll wind up leaving myself behind. Iguess I should mention these are all with ebook publishers. At present I willcontinue to submit to ebook publishers.

3. Which route did you choose for becomingpublished, the traditional route, with an agent, the “indie” route, goingdirectly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?

I considered the pros and cons of agents. Theywill polish your work so your best foot is put forward, they will get your mss.to publishers that won’t accept unagented (is that a word?) material, they willget your ms. to the editor to actually look at, or at least increase your oddsof being read by an editor. But they may have many clients, so just how muchtime can they devote to you, just one of many authors at their agency, and thenthere is the percent they take, obviously a trade off for all described above.Then again, finding a good one, that actually knows what they are doing, andworks hard for you.

So, I just went the other route. I read a bookabout how to be your own agent, and then went to the library and signed out theWriter’s Market for this year. I carefully read through all the publishers inmy genre, made a list, and put it in order of choice. And then started sendingoff my submissions as per their guidelines.

4. How long did it take you to write your firstnovel?

The VERY first one I worked on it on and offfor years. I then wrote my 120K (it’s now 115K after a revision) sci-fi in fourweeks. My first Regency took longer than that, can’t remember how long. Mysecond took about six weeks. But the last two, my 50K third regency, took justunder a month, and my 85K paranormal romance, was written in 19 days. Andyou’re wondering why the heck I am telling you about all the others, when thequestion was for just the first? Because this is my interview, and I want to!*holds breath and stomps foot* I guess what I am saying is, I am shocked I wasable to write those last two books at all. I had just started the third Regencyromance when my mom died while on vacation. After that I didn’t think I couldwrite, but I buried myself in it. As long as I was writing, I wasn’t thinkingabout it.

5. How long did it take you to publish it?

I haven’t tried to get the first one publishedyet. I was sending the sci-fi out to prospective publishers and then tworomances at the same time.

6. How many times did it get rejected before itgot published?

The sci-fi . . . sent to three big namepublishers. The first one wasn’t interested but asked to see other work, I’mpretty sure they say that to everyone. The next one, never heard back from them.Does that count as a rejection? They must have lost it. I did send them anemail, but they never responded to that either. The third, that I will remarkon in worst rejection. After that I sent to three at the same time, with oneaccepting. BUT my romance got picked up first. I sent to a long list ofpublishers that accepted simultaneous submissions, and within a few hours Ireceived a request to see the full ms. Then in 9 days it was accepted.

7. Describe your worst rejection letter.

I had just started a medieval fantasy, had justfinished the research and was nicely fleshing out this chapter right in themiddle, don’t know why I started in the middle, when I received this letter, Iwon’t say who from, but anyone that has received one from them will recognizeit. It stated that, and it is burned into my memory for life, in order topublish a first time author their work has to be truly exceptional, and thisisn’t. Yep, you are probably thinking now what I was thinking then. Readingthose words killed all creativity in me and I instantly stopped writing, anddidn’t write for years after that. There was no reason for them to say that inthe way that they did. They could have said, we’re not interested, or thisisn’t what we are looking for just now, or we are going to pass, or somethinglike that. Yes I would have been disappointed, but I would have shrugged it offand kept on. But this? This got unnecessarily personal and nasty. Also, I don’tneed to hear what ‘they’ think is wrong with it. I am not going to completelyrewrite my story to suit someone else’s idea of how it should be. That would nolonger be ‘my’ story. It would be their version of my story. So I figured Iwould just keep sending it until someone liked it the way ‘I’ wrote it. Yep, Iam digressing again . . . hang me up by my thumbs!

8. Describe the best news you ever got in yourwriting life and how it felt.

I have had numerous poems published andreceived an editor’s choice award, and was asked to submit a poem forpublications several times. But I would have to say that receiving my firstacceptance for one of my novels would have to be it. It was like, am I readingthis correctly? They actually liked it? And want to publish it? That is afeeling only another author can understand. That I can only experience thatonce . . . *sighs and smiles*

9. What’s theworst piece of advice you ever got?

I better notsay, because they might be reading this. *looks over shoulder*

10. Now, tell usthe best.

During thatperiod, when my creativity was killed (and I know there are people out therethat will say, that is part of this business, get over it and move on, whydon’t ya?!) my mom was constantlyencouraging me to go back to writing. That she is not here to experience thiswith me now, pains me profoundly. That I cannot share all aspects of this withher, for her to see my first book come out. I had written a dedication to herand my dad in my first regency. It was to be a surprise, thanking them fortheir encouragement and for believing in me. I never told her about it. When Isat at her bedside, while she lay dying, I did tell her. I can only hope sheheard me.

11. What’s theone thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personalpath to publication?

I think this has been voiced by others already.Never give up. You will probably get rejections, and they will hurt. Hopefully,you will be able to brush yourself off and keep on going.

Reach Lauren here: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenHunter

Musa Link: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18

My Blog: http://laurenhunter-1.blogspot.com/

The Coffee Shop

Paranormal Romance

Coming October 14, 2011, underthe Thalia imprint from Musa Publishing

From the moment Derrick Sloane andAnnie Maddock met there was an instant connection. They date for five months,growing closer every day.

Only Derrick wakes up to discoverthe entire five month relationship was nothing more than a dream. Or was it?For when he goes to the coffee shop who should be there but Annie, just as inhis dream. Derrick soon realizes he was seeing a relationship withAnnie five months into the future. That night the dream continues right whereit left off, five months in the future, but his meeting with Annie thatday has altered the timeline. Every day he spends with Annie, he continues toalter the timeline of his future. Although Derrick tries desperately to puteverything back to the way it was in his dream, every attempt just makes itworse.

And when he is shown two alternatetimelines, he must now make the most difficult decision of his life.

Lauren is always pleased to meet new fans and to help and assist new authors....I should know. I'm one of those new authors she befriended! Get in contact with her via facebook or over at her blog. You'll be making a friend for life! Just be prepared to be stunned by her energy....the woman has bucketloads!

MORE BOOKS COMING SOON

Regency Trilogy

From a Distance ComingNov. 18, 2011 under the Aurora imprint from Musa Publishing

Sarah's Story ComingSoon under the Aurora imprint from Musa Publishing

Mine Own Heart ComingSoon under the Aurora imprint from Musa Publishing

Horror Short Story

Laura by E. H. James Coming soonunder the Urania imprint from Musa Publishing

Told you!

Hi, my name is Samantha and I'm a TV-aholic

2011-10-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

So, I am back in the saddle again. As of this evening, I am editing the second book in the Spellbound series. I have just sent off the first three chapters for Everspell to my editor. Of course, she has been waiting for them for a week. (Sorry, Kate) But my new schedule has been a little brutal for me and has taken some getting used to. One thing it has done is allowed me to redevelop an appreciation for quality time that does not include watching television.

For instance, tonight my kids and I watched a movie together, something we haven't done in well over two weeks. Actually, I haven't even watched television in that long. Which is a bit of an amazing thing in and of itself. I used to be able to tell what day it was by what was on tv and now I can't even remember what I was missing. I mean, I still remember the names of the programs, but it seems I don't miss them as much as I thought I would.

It doesn't take away from them at all. I still believe that contrary to popular belief, there is some real quality broadcasting out there. Shows like The Good Wife and Harry's Law and Prime Suspect, and any of the Law and Orders, natch, I always found well-written, well-acted, and enjoyable to the point that I was mostly unable to figure out the plot BEFORE the first commercial, unlike most sitcoms where I mostly feel I can figure it out, and, if I'm being honest, could probably write a better script.

That being said, I must also confess this: I love American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing With The Stars as well. I was a reality show junkie. But it seems I may have accidentally kicked the habit.

Oh, I may relapse. I admit, I did sneak in a half hour of Toddlers and Tiaras this afternoon because I was bored and had the time. And also, every so often I just need to see a three year old named Diamond or Alaska wearing a dress that costs roughly the same as my mini-van. But that's just me. I'm sure I'll shake the need in time. Right?

My Own Experience with Aspen Mountain Press

2011-10-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

I am a published author of YA paranormal romances. When I wrote a middle grade horror novel, I had no place to submit it. It's an odd duck, really. Besides the Goosebumps series, the well-known and beloved books by R.L. Stine, horror is not a genre generally associated in the middle grade level. Then I stumbled upon Aspen Mountain Press. I was thrilled when I learned they were about to launch a new imprint specifically for speculative fiction. I queried and Celina Summers requested the full.

On July 11, 2011 I received the exciting email from Celina that AMP wanted to publish my work, The Detention Demon, and if I accepted, the release date would be October 3, 2011. I was invited to the author site, advised I would be assigned an editor and artist right away, and a contract was attached for me to read and sign. I read it over, acknowledged in the author signature line and mailed it back. I was going to be an AMP author under the Aura Speculative Fiction imprint. I was excited and impressed with how professional it was moving forward.

On August 5, 2011, I received a group email from Celina Summers explaining there had been an "incompatibility" between the "planned direction" and the "business practices" between what we authors now refer to the Fab four, Celina Summers, Dominique Eastwick, Kerry Mand and Kelly Shorten, and the publisher, Sandra Hicks and they were resigning, en masse. We did not know then what a nightmare that would mean for us now.

We have been enlightened.

Even as the publisher began to trot out all manner of excuse for her actions; depression, personal family problems, abandonment, you name it, the company, which had been left in perfect operating condition by the Fab Four, began a sickening slide to disaster and implosion....destruction from the inside out. And slowly, we became more and more enlightened as Celina Summers, sickened by half-truths and out-and-out lies and bastardizations of the truth, finally broke her long-suffering silence.

Here is what we, the pawns, have learned:

We know now that company funds have been co-mingled with Sandra Hicks' personal funds, illegally. We know that she has not issued statements or paid royalties for months on end, in some cases, several quarters worth, illegally. We know that she is selling books on her website and third party websites that she has no right to and/or are out of contract, illegally. We know that dozens of authors have requested, even demanded the rights back to one, two, seven, nine or more of their own intellectual property and have been ignored, illegally. And finally, we know that she thinks she is the victim in all of this, even as she continues to victimize each and everyone of us, if not illegally, then at least immorally.

Of course, my book was never released. The imprint, Aura Speculative Fiction, never launched. Authors are actively having their OWN books removed from third party sites and one brave author, Charles Wells, even got AMAZON to comply, the mother of all sites. He also got the AMP site shut down. Which lasted for one hour. Because amazingly, Sandra Hicks was able to shake her debilitating depression to rally enough strength to get the site running again in RECORD TIME FOR A PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED PERSON. Really, she is to be commended. Hear, hear.

At the end of the day, Sandra Hicks is stealing from authors who now want nothing more to do with her or Aspen Mountain Press and likely rue the day they ever heard of the damn house. If she has any sense at all, she will do the following, before she is arrested and handcuffed at her home for felony fraud:

Release every single author who demands their rights back for every single book they requested.
Pay CURRENT every single royalty she owes.
Allow and PAY FOR an independent audit of the last 36 months of AMP's operations
Take down every single title from every single 3rd party site within a PRESCRIBED period of time
Sign a statement agreeing to NEVER be involved in the publishing industry EVER again.

Number Five is my personal favorite. If that judge in Prescott, AZ can get his inmates to wear pink striped prison uniforms, then we should be able to get number five. Thanks for listening.

Samantha Combs

The Truth About Aspen Mountain Press

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

I thought we'd all wonder about what really happened at Aspen Mountain Press in the same way we wonder what really happened in the last hour of Marilyn Monroe's life, or where Jimmy Hoffa is buried, or how we speculate if there really is an Area 51. In other words, I thought that this would simply become just another story of tragic implosion and devastation, with so much conjecture and gossip that it would become one of those legendary industry stories that after a time would almost become infamous, each retelling more outlandish than the last.

Until today.

Today, the former head editor and person best positioned to tell the true story, the actual truth, did just that. Celina Summers, who knows where all the bodies are buried, so to speak, dug them all up and spread them out for all the world to see. And what we saw was ugly. And fraudulent. And illegal. And so, so, so, much worse than we authors trapped at AMP wanted to think. I can do no better justice to this ever-developing story than to direct you to the words of Celina Summers herself, on her own blog, posted today. She has said it far better than any other person could have or rather, should have. I give you, Celina Summers:

Breaking My Silence on Aspen Mountain Press

Originally, I'd planned to write a completely different blog post from the one I am now putting out there. I was going to trace the history I have with Aspen Mountain Press and the disintegration of the business, ending with how and why the senior staff all walked out at the end of July. But after a very disturbing post by AMP's owner, Sandra Hicks, on the AMP Authors yahoo loop this morning—a loop I and other authors to whom AMP owes a lot of money were banned from because we were too outspoken—I think it's better to just cut to the chase and then to go through some of her responses. I believe it's essential that what is happening at AMP is brought fully into perspective. And, since I have kept every email correspondence, every royalties report from AMP and third party sites, and chat transcripts of every staff meeting with Ms. Hicks this summer, I'm in a unique position.

I'm one of the few people in the world who knows exactly what happened to AMP and has the documentation to prove it.

The disaster at AMP was a drawn-out affair, one that several people tried to address. At this time last year, Lori Basiewicz was the managing editor of AMP and I was the head editor and solely in charge of the Aurora Regency imprints—a line I'd built and worked on myself.

My first indication that anything was wrong came when one of my authors at Aurora Regency—a writer who was in my writing group, who was a dear friend, who was someone whose integrity I trusted absolutely—wrote to me in concern because she hadn't received her royalties. Lori and I struggled to find out what was going on, pleading with Ms. Hicks to address the problems with royalties that were starting to build up with our authors. None of the authors received regular royalty statements after August of 2010, so there was no way to determine if they sold any books or if there was an oversight. This was resulting in an atmosphere of serious distrust—an atmosphere Lori and I bore the brunt of because Ms. Hicks wasn't answering any emails. Eventually, last March, Lori couldn't take the lack of communication anymore. She resigned, and I was the only visible face for the management of AMP.

To be perfectly fair and up front, Ms. Hicks WAS dealing with several physical ailments that rendered her unable to maintain the day to day activities of a publishing house. That is not in question and never has been.

I'd been scheduled for serious surgery, one with a recovery time that was long enough that I knew I needed to make arrangements for the operation of Aurora Regency in my absence. So, I emailed the owner, Sandra Hicks, and held off scheduling my surgery until we had agreed upon how Aurora Regency would be handed in my absence. When over a week had passed with no response from Ms. Hicks, I got angry and sent an email to her, forwarding the message to the entire senior staff. Here's part of it, from June 19, 2011:

Because of your inattention, you have lost staff, authors and books. And the flood is not only continuing, but growing rapidly. As a result, my income is going to drop substantially. I've lost three authors and their books in two months--*author names removed*. All three of them have devout followings and readerships. AMP can't afford the loss of any authors or books, particularly since Aurora is now responsible for roughly half of AMP's releases which was not the intended purpose of the line. I wasn't supposed to have to carry the release schedule.

As a result, here's what I expect to happen during my three months' absence, which is now effective immediately. I expect my royalties paid on time every month, both as a writer and a editor. I expect statements with those royalties so I know what I'm being paid for. I expect the Aurora releases to come out on time and in good shape, for my authors to get copies of their books upon release and for THEM to get their royalties on time and with royalty statements. If, for any reason, these conditions are not met, my leave of absence will become permanent. I will not return to a big old mess.

I've come to the conclusion that the only way you're going to bestir yourself enough to care about AMP and its writers, editors and staff is to return to the days when you have to do it all yourself. And the fact you didn't even respond to an email as important as the first one I sent is insulting.

I demanded these things because they hadn't been happening at AMP for some time. That email got the rest of the senior staff involved—involved to the point that Kelly Shorten, our art director, telephoned Ms. Hicks who was in a panic. The result of that conversation was that Ms. Hicks would immediately turn over running of the company to the senior staff, that a qualified bookkeeper would be brought in to straighten out the mess of AMP royalties, and that we would have the power to do whatever it took to bring the company back. We also made a pact among ourselves, the four of us: if, for any reason, we found something that would make us consider quitting, we would all quit. We would not enable Ms. Hicks any further. We were staying for the authors, to make sure they were paid what they were supposed to be paid on books that went out well-edited and packaged, on the scheduled release date and uploaded to third party sites. I personally would get as much done editorially as possible and stabilize the company, so that I could have my surgery and be reassured that the company wouldn't go under due to no management in my absence.

What we discovered when we took over was a nightmare:

Hundreds of emails in all the AMP accounts, gone unanswered and unopened from authors and staff. The customer service email account alone had over 500 unanswered emails over the previous eight months. That took two people working eight hours to resolve—and in the process, we discovered a frighteningly large number of AMP books that had serious formatting problems for a long time.

Authors who were contracted and never heard back from the company, leaving their books unpublished and their rights tied up. I found books from two years previously that were still stranded by AMP, the authors begging to just get a response from somebody…anybody.

The royalties were such a mess that the bookkeeper, Kerry Mand, elected to concentrate on just getting that month's royalties out and working on some of the most pressing cases before working backwards through the books and auditing a year's worth of royalty spreadsheets and reports--a course of action I agreed with. We discovered that in previous months, only portions of the royalties had been paid at any given time.

Two weeks from the time that we took over, the only releases scheduled at AMP were Aurora Regency books—books that I was personally handling and scheduling. Nothing else. The last scheduled AMP book for release was on July 18. The rest was all Aurora Regencies and one Christmas title at AMP, scheduled by Lori before she left.

The submissions account had not been opened since Lori had resigned three months prior. I went through all those submissions and answered every single one since March of 2011, even connecting with authors who'd been contracted before Lori was the managing editor and forgotten. I got all those lost books on the release schedule and to editors, who I hired. The books were edited, proofed by me and uploaded to a special file where ready-to-be-published books were kept.

Yep. Everything was an absolute nightmare. We worked seven days a week, up to twenty hours a day. And we made positive changes to AMP. We got over a year's worth of books uploaded to the third party sites. We updated and improved the website. We planned and scheduled a new imprint for only speculative fiction. We created new emails for author concerns and staff concerns, keeping those emails out of the submissions account. We developed a policy between the four of us that NO email at AMP would remain unanswered for longer than six hours. We released a chunk of authors who'd been trying to get their rights back in the previous months. The owner initially balked at that but I pointed out that unhappy authors would be detrimental to what we trying to build and eventually, reluctantly, she agreed. I got all the contracted books on the release schedule and to editors, who I hired. The books were edited, proofed by me and uploaded to a special file where ready-to-be-published books were kept.

We scheduled AMP through the end of the year, with multiple releases each week—and many of those books were the ones that had dropped through the cracks.

After a couple of weeks, things were starting to look up. The authors were happy again, beginning to believe in AMP once more. And in that first month of our leadership at AMP, we posted a huge increase in sales.

But as Kerry got further into the royalties at AMP, the more concerned we all became. The art director and bookkeeper asked for—and were empowered to use—the AMP Paypal and bank accounts. All four of us were working with those accounts and past royalty spreadsheets so we could try to match payments to sales. In other words, to make sure all the authors were paid for every single book sale.

Kerry had managed to get the royalties done ahead of schedule, and sent the royalties to Ms. Hicks to pay. On July 15^th, we were all so relieved. The royalties were done and the authors would be paid on time. But by the 18^th, we started to get a lot of emails: the publisher didn't pay the darn royalties! AMP paid only a few authors and then stopped. So I emailed the owner. No answer. I called her. No answer. I texted her.

Finally, she responded. When I asked her why the royalties hadn't been paid, she said that to her knowledge, they all had been. We were online IN the bank account and Paypal, trying to match authors (and pen names) to amounts to see who'd went unpaid. And as I asked her about a specific author, we watched the payment go out from that account. Then she texted me back each time and said that I was mistaken, that author had been paid.

Up until that moment, I believed that all the problems at AMP were unintentional, and that there wasn't a chance of dishonesty on the part of the owner. But that, when considered along with everything else, made me suspicious for the first time. After that, we couldn't believe Ms. Hicks when she told us she'd paid for something. So we began to monitor the bank account. It was essential that we knew what the financial situation of the company was before we did or said anything to the authors about their royalties. We'd taken over and were so proud of the fact that the royalties were done—and correctly—and then the payments weren't made, which made us look like we were incompetent. It was then that we starting noticing some peculiar activities in the AMP bank account.

The owner was using the business's bank account for personal expenses.

Kerry worked backwards through the bank accounts and spreadsheets, arriving at the amount of back royalties an author was owed, the owner would go behind our backs and tell the author that WE were wrong and the author had already been paid most of that amount.

In the meantime, we were seeing these personal expenses—for food, souvenirs, car payments, doctors visits—coming out of the AMP account. We decided to confront the owner about this in our weekly Skype conference—a system I preferred to use because we could keep transcripts. When we pleaded with the owner to separate her personal expenses from the company's, to set up a monthly draw account that would be a percentage of profits—so that we wouldn't have the appearance of impropriety—she refused. She also implied that we had used her Paypal account without her knowledge to pay a long overdue bill for advertising—when we'd mentioned multiple times during that conversation that we were doing so AT THE TIME. REAL time.

We were all so angry at that time that Dominique suggested we stop the meeting, take a deep breath, think things through and meet again the following day when everyone was calmer.

Unfortunately, even though we tried, the owner would not budge. She apologized for what happened the day before, assuring us that she didn't mean to question our use of the Paypal account to pay an advertising bill as dishonest or inappropriate. But she wouldn't budge off the personal expenses. She said the income of AMP was too irregular to establish a draw account for a percentage of the income.

At that point, I made an offer to buy AMP. She replied that she wouldn't sell for less than a quarter of a million dollars. I tried to purchase the two imprints I'd built—the Aurora Regency line that was nearly a year old and the Aura speculative fiction line that was scheduled to launch in October. She refused. So there was nothing left to do but announce our resignation from AMP to the authors, turn over everything we'd done to AMP, and leave.

As a result of all this, we decided to open our own publishing house, Musa Publishing, where we would address all the issues we had with AMP in advance. Ms. Hicks had assured us she was going to close AMP because we had left, so we wanted to create a haven for AMP authors—a house where their books could be reissued as soon as possible.

Once we'd left and were building Musa as fast as we could, Ms. Hicks contacted me again to offer me the chance to buy the Aurora Regency imprint and AMP. We agreed on Aurora and she dropped the price for AMP down to a more realistic but still high number. The four of us discussed the amount and refused the offer. We had put our financial resources into Musa and couldn't afford to take on AMP with all the lingering problems there. She then offered to sell us individual contracts/books. So we considered it, added up the amount of back pay and royalties AMP owed us, and offered an exchange: we would forgive our entire back salary and all my future earnings as an editor who'd done 75% of the books released by AMP the previous year in exchange for approximately 65 book contracts. Our plan was to immediately release those authors from their contracts. We would offer contracts to Musa to each author—an offer they were not obligated to take. The four of us thought it was worth forgiving the money owed to us in order to free as many authors/books as we could.

But as soon as Ms. Hicks received our check for the Aurora Regency imprint, she abruptly decided against the deal we'd been working for the individual contracts—a deal that was HER initial plan. She cashed our check for AR immediately, and then proceeded to breach the remainder of the contract. The website was not turned over by the agreed-upon date. The books were not removed from the third party sites; we ended up doing that ourselves. Aside from the communications with us, which she terminated as soon as she got some money, she made very few attempts to communicate with the authors in her company.

Until today.

Today, Ms. Hicks finally answered a post on the AMP Authors loop from a stranded AMP author—an author I contracted as managing editor, an author who has no editor, no cover art, no publication, and has had no answers. His post--minus his name—and Ms. Hicks' replies are below. My comments are in between each section.

Author) Do you intend returning answering queries, letters etc? What is the time
span involved so we know when to expect an answer from you?

Ms. Hicks) In all fairness, I can't tell you what sort of time frame to expect an answer
in, except to say that I am working on them. It takes time to respond to
THREATS such as the one Wells made and take care of other business matters AND
attend to my health needs and the work that must be done in raising my son
alone.

The *threat* Ms. Hicks is referring to occurred when the author in question, Charles Wells, served a DMCA notice to the domain host and the AMP website was taken down temporarily. The website that, by the way, AMP has not paid the designer for. AMP authors have served similar notices to AMP's third party distributors. AMP books are coming or have come down at many online retailers, particularly the large number of out-of-contract books that up until now, AMP has not removed from their home website or third party retailers despite numerous attempts by the affected authors.

Author) Do you intend returning rights to authors who have asked for them?

Ms. Hicks) Not in all cases. All who've asked will be getting a personalized letter from
me through the mail system explaining what I am deciding and why.

A personalized letter through the mail system would have to go through her post office box, where scores of unaccepted registered letters and snail mailed demands to take out of contract books off the AMP sites or notices of breach of contracts have been accumulating dust and not been answered. That address is a Mailboxes storefront a few blocks, I understand, from the owner's home.

Author) If YES,when can we expect to have the documentation?

Ms. Hicks) When I get to the requests, I am writing a letter and mailing it to the authors.

Author) If NO, can you please use this Loop to advise who yes and who not? If NO, can
you please explain why you intend holding on to authors that have lost faith in
AMP?

Ms. Hicks) Losing faith in a company does not void a contract. Any business matters are
between the author and AMP. If the author wishes to make those matters public,
they will. I won't violate their privacy in that way. It is their own
decision.

Additionally, I'd like to tell the members here that this is not a business
MEETING loop. I've posted a few announcements in the past, and participated in
some general chat, but I don't use this for meeting purposes.

"Losing faith in a company does not void a contract." And yet, let's take a look at the breaches of contract all AMP authors are experiencing. Unpaid royalties. No royalty statements. No books published in nine weeks and only two since the end of July—and they were late. A website that is out of date (and not paid for). No web presence, since one needs to actually participate in conversations to be considered a presence. No response to emails, snail mailed letters or registered letters. Out of contract books still being sold at AMP and on third party sites while the authors don't get paid for them. No editors. No art staff. No signature pages signed by the publisher for contracts.

Those things DO void a contract.

And after months of not responding to communications by email, text, phone call, or certified letter, why wouldn't the authors bring up issues regarding the publisher at a Yahoo loop designed by the company to discuss issues within the publisher?

Author) Do you intend paying royalties AND supplying sales statements in toto as per the contract? When can those owed money expect to be paid?

Ms. Hicks) Yes, I will be paying royalties and statements, but as of the moment they are on
the back burner as I deal with all the other threats to the company, and the
requests to relinquish contracts.

*bolding mine*

Wait a second—paying royalties that will be three months past due on October 15^th is on the back burner because of threats to the company and all the reversion of rights letters? So what Ms. Hicks is saying here is that as long as the AMP authors are in active rebellion against her, she will continue to NOT pay royalties. Paying authors and staff the money due them should be the TOP PRIORITY here, regardless of whether the author/staff member is speaking publicly about what happened as AMP. She's holding authors' money hostage, the same way she's holding their books hostage, until they shut up and sit down.

That's my take on the situation, at least. I could be wrong. If someone can put a different interpretation on this for me, please do.

Author) Do you intend removing out of contract books from the AMP web site and
within what time frame? Bear in mind many third party sites have already done so
on request from authors who have provided documentary evidence of the end of
contract...

Ms. Hicks) Yes, but again, I can't provide an exact time frame. Interestingly enough, some
of the authors who have sort of provided evidence have also negatively affected
authors that wish to remain with AMP. Any of the threats that are coming from
in force contracts can cause issues for the authors. This especially is true in
light of the clause to redress breaches. A scanned copy of the clause with the
authors signature eliminates the DRM violation claims.

What authors wish to remain published by a company that doesn't pay them royalties? I'd like about a hundred of those--with bestselling books of course--to submit to me.

Smart comments and pipe dreams aside, the clause in the AMP contract to redress breaches reads as follows:

A). Breach of Contract

If either party breaches this Agreement, the non-breaching party shall provide written notice by certified mail to the breaching party of the alleged breach.

Upon receipt of such notice, the breaching party shall have ninety (90) days to cure. At the expiration of such ninety (90) day period, upon failure to cure, this Agreement shall terminate, except as otherwise provided herein or otherwise agreed in writing by both parties hereto.

Author) Do you intend continuing business with AMP?

Ms. Hicks) Yes. I put a lot of love and time into AMP. Am I ill? Yes. Is AMP ill, yes.
This situation has certainly given me a load of things to consider. What if I'd
had a heart attack or ended up in a coma? I have to develop a system to provide
back up for such scenarios.

She used to have a staff to provide back up for such scenarios—a staff that resigned en masse when she refused to remove her personal expenses from the company's. And now, it's going to be very hard to find a new staff when the old staff is owed thousands of dollars in back and future pay. Why would anyone think that AMP would pay a new staff when they don't pay the old one or the authors? And, to be honest, the other staff members and myself were the ones carrying the load of AMP for a year before our resignation. Lori Basiewicz, the managing editor before me, and I were carrying on without guidance or even assistance from Ms. Hicks for months. We weren't doing that for her, but for the authors who were relying on AMP's integrity with their intellectual property and income.

Also, let's be perfectly frank here. Ms. Hicks hasn't had a heart attack or a stroke. Her health permitted her to make this statement today without any trouble or turmoil. Her health permitted her to drive to the bank and cash a check. Her health permits her to do many, many things--but not, apparently, to answer an email, cut a check, type out a royalty statement, or anything that might benefit her authors and staff.

Author) If Yes, please state when we can expend within what time frame it will do so
and also do you intend doing so with authors who no longer wish to be identifies
with it?

Ms. Hicks) The first thing I am doing is reading and responding to authors. Each is
individual, case-by-case. Just because some authors no longer wish to be
identified with AMP does not negate their contracts. I and I alone will make
that decision, on a case-by-case basis as I look to the future.

What negates their contracts is months without royalties. And when the author sends the registered letter as specified in the AMP contract, the publisher evades activating that 90 day period by refusing to accept the certified letters.

Also, these complaints have been ongoing for over a year. Is she saying that in all that time, she is only NOW reading authors' emails?

Author) If NO, when can we expect the return of rights letters, payments, etc, that
will avoid legal action on the part of those owed money?

Ms. Hicks) As stated before it is one thing at a time. Having been an author, I know the
return of my intellectual property is more important than anything else. That
said, I would seriously consider how much attorney fees cost and weigh them
against what I believe I'm owed. Aspen has the money to pay its authors, but
being one person at this time, I have made the decision to handle the rights
requests first.

*bolding mine*

In other words, Ms. Hicks is threatening the authors, implying that it would be more expensive and a more lengthy process to force AMP to pay royalties than it would be to just shut up and not make too much noise about this, and that since they're complaining she's just going to work on the rights issues on a case by case basis, therefore delaying any attempts to pay the royalties. Aspen Mountain Press probably does have the money to pay its authors, seeing as second quarter royalties from the third party sites were just paid out. She is electing, however, to ignore those royalties as a punishment for bad behavior.

And as an author who knows the return of intellectual property is more important than anything else, AMP's owner, who suffered as an author from the Triskelion debacle, is proving stubbornly resistant to returning anyone's intellectual property despite the numerous and egregious breaches AMP has committed on every single contract in the past 14 months.

Author) At this stage I think these are the main themes authors are worried about and
I ask, on behalf of all of them to give answers as soon as possible.

While we all know about your personal problems and many have wished you the
best for them. You should also be aware that this situation have caused all of us to suffer anziety(sic), depression, and other problems caused by stress. Do you truly believe that it is fair, or worse still, legally defendable refusing to face up to this situation?

Ms. Hicks) Actually, yes, it is defendable as I have sought documented treatment for my medical issues as well as the depression. It is not a refusal to face the
situation, it is an inability due to depression. And for those that are
suffering anxiety, and depression, then I would surely expect them to be more
compassionate of the anxiety and depression I am suffering. Do I believe it is
fair? Of course not. I don't believe it is fair for a person to suffer cancer,
lose a loved one, get laid off from a job they've worked at for 20 years. Some
thing just have to be handled one thing at a time, one day at a time. Seems tome like there was a boatload of people who got paid just last month (and no,they did not get their statements, they are sitting in my flash drive) And as a clarification to many of you, right or wrong, I made the decision that it was better you got your money than the statement. Cutting the checks actually took less time than attaching the document and emailing it individually. Now, that said, some of you think I owe you money that I actually
did pay--you did not cash your checks. There is ample proof of that in the bank account. Will I send statements? Yes. When, not until I can get people paid.

Have I not answered emails? Yes. Why? Bad news upon bad news only deepens depression, doesn't help it at all. For those who have known me since the very early days of our writing careers and the beginning of this company, you knowthat I don't speak ill of others, and that I haven't treated you badly. Am I coming out of this? With professional help. I don't know what sort of time frame to expect for that either. Some days are better than others. Right now I've upped my work quotient to about 2 hours a day. Upped. Is that great...depends where you are. Right now for me it is-two years ago-I was
putting in twelve to fourteen hours a day and editing as well. I was also writing. Now compared to then? Bad. Perspective has a lot of power.

Even answering this post has zapped a lot of the energy I had for the day. Again, to all of you who've put in requests, watch the mail. You are getting signed hard copies related to your requests.

*bolding is all mine—not the author's or Ms. Hicks*

When I was sent this post this morning by multiple authors, I literally felt ill. Ms. Hicks actually thinks that she is in the right! That NOT paying authors and staff is defensible! That a 'boatload' of people got paid just last month!

That two hours is day is somehow work, when a few months ago AMP had people working 16-20 hours a day to try to save the company.

That due to her personal illness and her documentation of treatment, she has a legal defense NOT TO PAY THE AUTHORS TO WHOM SHE OWES MONEY? I've never heard of a court anywhere that lets a contract employer refuse to pay people who have fulfilled their end of a contract because the employer is ill. Never. And usually, if a legal entity like a company refuses to or cannot pay its employees, the doors are shut and all contracts are immediately terminated. If I'm incorrect, I'd love to see a post from an attorney pointing out where my logic is wrong.

In the end, I don't know who got paid; I know who DIDN'T get paid—I know I didn't: either my regular author royalties, my editor royalties, my percentage of sales for Aurora Regency or my percentage of sales for my role as the AMP managing editor. I know that Kelly Shorten, the web designer and art director, did not get paid the back salary and contracted labor (website building, maintenance and design, the database, shopping cart system) AMP owes her. Not a dime, when it's impossible to run on online business without those things—things AMP is still using even now I know that Kerry Mand, the bookkeeper we brought in to fix the AMP accounting didn't get paid the hundreds dollars AMP owes her. I know that Dominique Eastwick didn't get paid the full amount of money owed to her for promotions, formatting and uploading books to third party sites.

And yet, when our company bought the Aurora Regency imprints, we paid immediately. And Ms. Hicks was certainly well enough at that time to drive immediately to her bank and cash that check, but was not well enough to fulfill the remainder of the contract OR to pay any of us some of the thousands of dollars she owes us.

This is what I know.

There may be some authors who got paid; I can't say that they didn't. But I know for a FACT that the authors who have been the most vocal about AMP issues have not been paid. Not a penny. Not since the royalties the senior staff sent out when we were running AMP. These are the same people Ms. Hicks banned from the company yahoo loop along with me, people who were unwilling to keep quiet about the concern they felt for their books, their publications schedules, and their money.

In the end, the senior staff left AMP because we could not have our names and reputations associated with a publisher who put her personal needs above the needs of her authors and staff, who thinks it's acceptable to contract books and then either not publish them or not pay the author royalties on those sales, who believes that somehow SHE is the victim here and not the scores of people who've been left without income, who thinks that just by ignoring emails, phone calls and registered letters everything will just go away.

This publisher, once a leading ebook house with an owner/publisher whose integrity was accepted without question, the selfsame publisher who is now holding books and authors alike hostage, threatening to continue to NOT pay them if they speak out publicly against AMP because her two hours of work a day will be spent dealing with threats to the company.

To recap: I became suspicious when an author who I recruited and brought to Aurora Regency emailed me that she had never received a royalty check from AMP for her (at that time) two books. I knew that was wrong because I, who did the editor royalties, knew she'd had sales every single month. Lori Basiewicz, the previous managing editor, begged and pleaded with the owner to rectify the situation. Ms. Hicks wouldn't, and Lori quit. Three months later, the senior staff was empowered to bring AMP back to the good, strong publisher it originally was. That lasted for a couple of months before we felt it was too dangerous and legally ruinous to continue to work for a company that in our opinion, was at the very least guilty of neglect and at the most possibly guilty of fiscal malfeasance. And now we find ourselves in the position of watching as a once-respected publisher flat out refuses to pay her authors and staff the money she owes them from the royalties AMP books earned, money that—at the time we left at least—was being used as the publisher's personal income for private expenses.

I once said on this blog that I would never discuss the reasons the senior staff resigned at Aspen Mountain Press. Now I have to consider that one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. But I—and the other staffers who left—had hopes that the publisher would do the right thing: reverting all rights to the authors, paying out the royalties due, and closing up shop. In fact, we were told that was what would happen at our last meeting at AMP, the same meeting where we were told she would not sell AMP for less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

I have empathized with Ms. Hicks's personal situation. For a long time, I protected her because of it. In other words, I enabled her to do exactly what she is doing right now. For that, I've borne a terrible sense of responsibility when I listen to the authors at AMP and their distress and anger toward the publisher. People are at AMP who would never have been trapped if I hadn't encouraged them to submit to MY publisher, the one publisher in the world I was certain would never cheat or deprive her authors and staff.

And while that is the story in a nutshell, there is still so much more. As I prowl through the reams of communications and documents I amassed in my tenure at Aspen Mountain Press, I am compiling a sizable list of issues that I personally dealt with or have knowledge of. In addition to that, I have every financial records provided to me by Ms. Hicks to do the editor royalties. And, of course, the chat transcripts where we discussed all these things. After today's communication from Ms. Hicks, I felt that I needed to put all this down on the record as a kind of placeholder for the larger report with documentation that I am preparing.

I hope this is all unnecessary. I hope that Ms. Hicks, who meant so much to me as a friend and mentor, will still manage to do the right thing. But I don't condone holding authors' books and royalties hostage contingent upon their good behavior. This is business, not a preschool. My money doesn't go to timeout because I acted out. There are a lot of ugly, legal terms one could use here—terms that I'm certain will be used in multiple court cases already peeking over the horizon.

Someone asked me last week how I'd learned all that I know about the publishing industry. My reply was that I hadn't learned what to DO, but what NOT to do—and that hasn't steered me wrong so far. So it is indeed time to break the silence on this matter, time to let the world know once and for all what's really happened at AMP in my experience, in the hopes that somehow this knowledge might help to break the hold Aspen Mountain Press and its owner currently has on its authors and staff.

So I think it's time to break the silence on this matter, time to let the world know once and for all what's really happened at AMP in my experience, in the hopes that somehow this knowledge might help to break the hold Aspen Mountain Press and its owner currently has on its authors and staff.

Today is such a sad day for me. But everything I've said in this post, I have documents to back me up. Publishers need to be held accountable for their actions. It is time now for Aspen Mountain Press to pay what they owe.

Give the authors their rights back.

Give the authors an internal audit of the books.

Pay the authors and staff what they are owed.

And shut the doors on a one-time great little publisher that is now the biggest cautionary tale of all.

And a special note to AMP authors, editors and staff--please post a comment on this blog detailing exactly the breaches of your contract. Tell us the last time you were paid, the last time you got a royalty statement. Let us know how you tried to contact Sandra Hicks, the owner of AMP, and how many times. Let us know what she has said in response to you. And I will continue to compile my article about Aspen Mountain Press, complete with documentation, for publication at a later date. I also encourage you all to report Aspen Mountain Press directly to watchdog sites and blogs. Go to Preditors and Editors, or Piers Anthony's e-publishing blog. Absolute Write has an active thread detailing the disintegration of Aspen Mountain Press. Go to any writers guild you belong to, like SFWA or RWA.

It's time for you to break the silence as well.

My Personal Path To Publication - Phillip Creighton

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

My guest today may sometimes feel as though he is the only male at my publishing house, Astraea Press. Writer and soon to be published author, Phillip Creighton, with his first fiction novel, Nightfall, due this autumn, may often feel outnumbered as the lone testosterone-laden voice in a sea of estrogen. In our private online forums, we often chat about those things that occupy our lives besides writing and editing, which is more often than not, babies and children, daycare and doctors, visits to schools and ERs, and those things generally germaine to us as moms, us as wives, and some of us as grandmas. More than once a post will begin "Present company excepted, Phil," and he good-naturedly posts back "No worries" or "No problem". Being they only guy hasn't made him any less of a valuable member of our House. Nor did it make his path to publication any easier. He went through the same kinds of things we all did, and has learned the same important lessons. Lucky for us at Astraea, he came to us. His upcoming release sounds intriguing and exciting! Check out his personal journey.

1 - How Long have Your Been Writing? - I've been writing since I could remember. I've always had an active imagination. In Middle School I remember writing my own star wars story because I couldn't find the story I wanted to read. It turned out to be about thirty pages before I started reading mysteries and horror stories by Stephen King and HP Lovecraft.(I know weird kid right?)

2 - Are You Published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what's your plan? - I've been published in regional publications and such for my non-fiction work before but my first fiction novel, Nightfall is due out from Astraea Press this fall.

3 - Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish? - When I wrote my first novel I didn't think of publishing, I just kept writing. There was this story that just kept coming so I kept writing. When a number of people including my professors started singing the praises they said I should try. I had to dive in and learn about the industry. I quickly learned you couldn't touch the publishers directly(several years ago) so I started targeting agents and I had to learn about how all of that worked. I started editing my work based on the feedback I was receiving and kept pitching to agents inching ever closer until the great upheaval in the past couple years. I had a number of authors point me at certain publishers that were making great leaps for their authors. So I reached out and got positive responses from all of the publishers.

4 - How Long did it take you to write your first novel? - I wrote it over the course of 3 months between my spring and fall semesters at the start of my Junior year in college.

5 - How long did it take you to publish it? - It took a few summers of revisions and edits and pitching. It probably would have been different if I had actually focused on it through the Fall and Spring semesters instead of giving it a break.

6 - How Many times did it get rejected before it got published? - Honestly, I probably only sent out about 40 Queries over the course of a couple years. That was more to do with my specifically targeting queries at some high profile agents than mass queries.

7 - Describe your worst rejection letter. - It was a simple rejection letter that said "Your project does not match our interests at the time." and something to the effect of.. you're not our style look elsewhere.

8 - Describe the best news you ever got in your writing life and how it felt. - It's kind of a tie. My first creative writing professor in college, Freshman year, gave an assignment to the whole class. Write a quick 3 sentence scene and read it to the whole class. When I read mine, the entire class was awestruck. The professor said.. "We've got to get you published." The other best news was receiving the Email from Stephanie and AP saying "We love it. We'd like you to join AP." It's moments like that when you're just sort of struck and want to do the whole fist-thrust into the sky a-la The Breakfast Club thing. :-)

9 - What's the worst piece of advice you ever got? - This is actually kind of interesting. I asked one of the professors in the Communication/Lit department about how one could go about being published. The professor burst out laughing and said it was pointless. "Those that are in help those around them. It's virtually impossible for anyone on the outside to get published unless you're willing to pay for it yourself."

10 - Now, tell us the best. - An agent responded once… "I love the dark themes, settings and characters in your work. It's not a fit for me but don't give up, I want to pick it up off the shelf and read the completed story."

11 - What's the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication? - Keep writing, publication is more about choice and persistence than anything else.

12 - Where can we read your blog? www.pwcreighton.blogspot.com

- Buy your books? Astrea Press - Fall 2011

- Connect with you on Facebook? - http://on.fb.me/oQ632D

- On Twitter? - www.twitter.com/RavenRequiem13

- Website - same as blog for time being.

Blurb - Three years after everyone important to Connor Maitland was murdered by a fanatical cult he is still attempting to put his life back together. Accompanied by his ex-girlfriend and business partner, Alison Herne, he is making a living as a jack-of-all-trades running a security company, sailing charters, and even photographing weddings out of Dolliber Cove, Massachusetts. Connor’s world is finally coming back together until they find one of Alison’s ghost hunter friends murdered.

When a childhood love he thought was dead, appears on his doorstep during their investigation, Connor is forced to confront memories he convinced himself were the delusions of a man deep into grief. They are being stalked by a mysterious man who appears to know far too many of their secrets, as well as Connor’s. After Alison is almost killed confronting her occult past, it is impossible for Connor to deny the connection between the cases. Someone is attempting to end Connor’s life and the lives of all those who surround him.

The crazed rantings of the murderous cult may be the key to his survival.

Phil is no different from any of the authors showcased here...he would love to connect with you and find out what you thought about his journey. Comment here or reach him on facebook, Twitter, or his own blog. And keep an eye out for his book!

My Personal Path To Publication - Ressa Empbra

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today on the blog, I an showcasing one of my new friends from facebook, Ressa Empbra. An aspiring author, hoping to be published soon, Ressa is a tireless promoter of her friend's books, novels, and short stories. She also seems to have boundless amounts of energy, at least to me. She always has something positive and uplifting to say and believe me, when you've been up until 3am editing or you have written yourself into a corner and can't find your way out, a friend like Ressa is more than invaluable.....she is priceless. By her own admission, she thought she would be an editor, but never dreamed she would be a writer. I loved reading about her experiences....so far, as I'm sure you will as well. For someone who isn't yet published, she sure has some important things figured out! :-) Check out her journey and see if you don't agree.

1. How long have you been writing?
I started writing one-year ago today; September 29, 2010.

2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not,
what’s your plan?
As of yet, I am not published. The ‘plan,’ however, is to finish the writing, (of which I only have a couple more chapters to finish), editing, formatting, cover art, and anything else I can think of. Once those things are all checked off my To-Do-List, I’ll hopefully have a finished product for sale on several popular online mediums.

3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an
agent, the “indie” route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self publish?
I originally had planned to get an agent and go the traditional route. Then I did more research and saw that for example, if a publishing house sells one of my books for $7.99, after it’s all said and done, I would get a whopping .99 cents, to $1.99. That quickly decided me on the path to self-publishing.

4. How long did it take you to write your first novel?
I am proud to say, it took me exactly three months to write my first novel, the word count ending up at just over 153,000. Not bad for never having written so much as a poem or an essay.

5. How long did it take you to publish it?
Still working on that part. I’m hoping by the first of the year, it’ll be ready and for sale.

6. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?
I did not get rejected since I never solicited my manuscript to anyone. And thank God, too, ‘cause I probably would have given up. I wasn’t at a very good place in my life, physically or emotionally, when I finished my first novel, while still considering going with an agent and all. I ended up starting a second, unrelated novel right away and since it’s so different from my first, it helped lift my spirits. It also made me realize that I still need to do another rewrite on my first novel before I move forward with publishing it. I’m a firm believer in the saying ‘everything happens for a reason.’

7. Describe your worst rejection letter.
N/A

8. Describe the best news you ever got in your writing life and how it felt.
I sent a partial manuscript to a lady who offered to do a review, based on labeling it a ‘partial review.’ When she finished it and sent me a link to her website, I was ecstatic! My family thought I’d lost my mind as I could barely stop myself from bouncing off the walls! It was one of the best feelings of accomplishment I’ve ever had.

9. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?
To stick within the word count that has been the ‘norm’ in the industry forever. The rules have all been broken and challenged over the last few years, and besides, I never played well with rules, anyway. That advice is what prompted me to cut way back on my first novel, and the reason I have to do yet another full rewrite on that novel. I took it from 153,000 words down to 123,000. Now it just doesn’t ‘read’ right…

10. Now, tell us the best.
Write from your heart. Screw the rules. Keep it real. Write, write, and write some more.

11. What’s the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your
personal path to publication?
Research is paramount to anything we endeavor to do in life. That said, you will get the best advice and feedback from others doing the same thing you’re doing. We all must follow some guidelines, but many of them have and are continually changing. Don’t let your research mold you into a position that makes you uncomfortable, and makes you feel you can’t back out of a decision if backing out becomes necessary.

12. Where can we read your blog?
http://ressaempbra.wordpress.com/ My Blog.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/206315256073749/ Facebook Group representing my current novel.
Buy your books? Not available yet.
Connect with you on facebook? http://www.facebook.com/RessaEmpbra Facebook Author Profile.
On Twitter? Don’t have a Twitter account yet.
Your website? Currently under construction.

About Me:
Hey all, Ressa Empbra here. I have written two novels so far; one still waiting for another rewrite; another that’s almost done and ready to market. I write under two pen names; Ressa Empbra, and L.M. Branham, as I do different genres and would like to keep them separate for my future readers. I live in western Colorado with my awesome family where I am married to an amazing man who works way too hard, and always allows me all the writing time I need. Mama to three grown kids, who have all grown into wonderful, loving young adults. Owner of a very precious, one and a half year old English Springer Spaniel, who everyone adores. Lastly, I am a writer; one who hopes to see her aspirations and dreams of being
published and read, come to fruition in the very near future.

Blurb by Tanya Contois at http://speedyreader-allthingsbooks.blogspot.com/:
“Caught in the Dragon Cove by L.M. Branham was a fantastic example of storytelling. From the very beginning I got lost in the story of Iax and Gemma. The fact that this was only a partial manuscript tells me that author L.M. Branham has a gift for storytelling and creating fantastical worlds where mythical creatures such as Dragon Shifters exist. I hope that I have the chance to review Caught in the Dragon Cove when the book is completed.”

Wow. I've never had that great a review from a partial work before. Makes me as anxious to get the finished product as Tanya! In the meantime, since Ressa is already a friend of mine, why not make her one of yours? If she already is, make sure she knows how much you enjoyed her journey by commenting here. And if she isn't your friend yet, trust me, she would love to be. Connect with her on facebook or her blog and I promise you, you'll have a new friend you won't regret!

My Personal Path To Publication - Sarah Ballance

2011-10-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm quite excited by my guest on the blog today. Please help me welcome the author of some very sexy and heart-stoppingly romantic books under the Nobel Romance imprint, Sarah Ballance! Known for her two titles, Down In Flames and Run To You, Sarah is happy to promote the release of her third book, Unforgiven, the cover and blurb of which will appear at the end of this post. New to writing for just the last few years, Sarah came to it nearly on a dare! Told by someone she couldn't write a novel, of course she had to set out and prove that she could...and she is one of those gifted writers who was born to do it! Her first manuscript was snatched up by Noble Romance (who knew a damn good thing when they saw one) and she has been producing for them ever since. She has some insightful and hilarious things to say and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her journey. I know you will too. Read on, and get to know my exceptional friend Sarah Ballance!

1. How long have you been writing?

About three years. I started my first novel in May 2008—not because I wanted to be an author, mind you, but because someone told me I should write a novel and I said I couldn't do it. When I thought about it later, it bothered me to have said "I can't." So I did.

2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what’s your plan?

I am a published author. This, too, happened by accident. By the time I finished my first novel, DOWN IN FLAMES, I'd scored an awesome crit partner. I subbed the story just to keep from having to explain to her why I wasn't going to sub it (then justified this to myself with the thought that I'd have to get used to rejection). I was absolutely stunned when my first and only query led to a contract.

3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the “indie” route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?

I submitted directly to Noble Romance. They e-pub and move novel-length stories to print.

4. Why did you choose that particular route?

As a brand new author on my first manuscript, I didn't think I was ready for an agent, nor was I ready for self-publishing. There was no way in the world I was going to try to attempt my own edits, nor did I want to deal with the business end and legalities of self-publishing. Today … I second that! LOL.

5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?

Start to finish, about six months including my edits.

6. How long did it take you to publish it?

I submitted it in the fall of 2009 and it was released June 7, 2010

7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?

Not a single time. I know, right?

8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.

I've never been rejected, unless you count a query declined by a NY house. They actually complimented my story and my synopsis, but they weren't interested in publishing it. I expected it, so not only was I not surprised, but it was actually a relief to move on and do something with the manuscript.

9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life and how did it make you feel?

I think my best moment was when my second story, RUN TO YOU, was accepted by Noble Romance. With my first submission, I had absolutely no expectation it would be picked up—I wasn't even nervous waiting for a response—and when it was contracted I figured it was a fluke. All my nerves went into that second submission, and when it, too, landed a contract I finally felt like, hey, I might be able to do this writing thing!

10. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?

Writing sex is the bane of my existence, but it seemed like everything I read suggested sex had to be explicit and often. I couldn't quite get there, but the sex in my first story is more graphic than which I'm comfortable. I'm still feeling my way through that aspect of my writing, but I don't see myself ever preferring to write explicit over sensual.

11. Now, tell us the best!

Find a crit partner you trust—one who tell you like it is. No one likes to see their "baby" sliced and diced, but something a lot of new authors don't seem to understand is either a crit partner finds those problems in a critique, or one of two things generally happens. Either the manuscript will be rejected based on those mistakes and holes, or it will be published with them and readers will call an author out in a hurry! Personally, I'd rather take my criticism in private.

12. What’s the one thing you would want an aspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?

If you can look back on the first story you wrote and cringe a little, you're doing something right. You want to grow and learn and develop a voice, and when you can see improvements in your own work, you have—in one very important way—made it.

13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website?

Every week one of my blog subscribers wins their choice of a $5 gift certificate to Amazon.com or a $10 gift certificate to Noble Romance! To enter, all you have to do is subscribe to my blog by *email.* Full details are available here: http://sarahballance.wordpress.com/weekly-giveaways/

Website http://www.sarahballance.com/
Blog http://sarahballance.wordpress.com/
Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/SarahBallance
FB Fan http://www.facebook.com/sarah.ballance.author.news
FB Friend http://www.facebook.com/author.sarah.ballance
GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4103362.Sarah_Ballance
Noble Romance https://www.nobleromance.com/Authors/97/Sarah-Ballance
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003WKYEJI

UNFORGIVEN:

Riley Beckett’s past just came back to haunt her … and this time, he’s got a gun.
When Gage Lawton finds his brother shot dead on his back porch, every shred of evidence points to one person: his former lover, Riley. They didn’t part ways on good terms, and they’re not going to reconnect there, either—not when he’s got a revolver pointed at her head and a finger on the trigger.
A year after Riley swore she and Gage were over, he returns in a hail of gunfire. One look into those achingly familiar blue eyes and she knows how wrong she was to let him go, but now far more than their heated past stands in the way. A twist of fate puts them in the cross hairs of a killer, leaving Riley with two slim options: trust her greatest betrayer, or face a murderer on her own.

Noble Romance https://www.nobleromance.com/Books/325/Unforgiven
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Unforgiven-ebook/dp/B005NGKBN2/

I asked Sarah to tell us a little bit about her personal life and got back this fantastic snippet. I am sharing it unedited. She DOES write great!:

About the Author: Sarah lives a charmed life as the mother of six incredible home schooled children, all of whom are completely adorable when they're asleep. Her husband of many years (long, long years, he calls them) is the kind of guy who could teach those heroes from the books a thing or two about romance, not that he'd readily admit it. Completely supportive of her love for writing fiction, he's generously offered to help with any necessary research for "the good parts." She's never had to ask twice.

Although the idea of writing romance and romantic suspense initially intimidated Sarah, it has morphed into a favorite pastime since her characters, unlike her kids, actually listen to her. Er, sometimes.

I literally have nothing more to add! Except this: Sarah is great, comment here or make contact with her! And buy her books!

My Personal Path To Publication - Meg Mims

2011-10-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

On the blog today, I am showcasing another of the talented authors populating the growing house at Astraea Press. Meg Mims is a romance and mystery author who came to the House by choosing independent publishing for the main reason you have already read about from other authors: she had a great manuscript that didn't fit in the narrow parameters traditional publishers seem to have for their guidelines. Fortunately, independent publishers, like Astraea Press and so many other reputable small houses, don't restrict their creative guidelines, and brilliant, gifted authors like Meg, the other authors I have highlighted on this series, and even myself, have been lucky to find these great houses and find a publishing home with them. Meg Mims has been writing for a long time and she has earned the right to be published as well. Her first novel, Double Crossing, has earned rave reviews, being called "vivid' and "an intriguing mystery". You'll learn more about it at the end of this post. Now, please read on to learn about Meg's personal journey to publication!

1. How long have you been writing?

I lovedwriting book reports in school, but my first fiction story was a Trixie Beldenknock-off before “fan fiction” existed, LOL. I was probably 12. My older sister(always a critic somewhere in your life!) said to “write my own story, withoriginal characters” since the plot was pretty good. With a dead body, I’msure. ;-D In high school and college, Iturned to writing papers and learning how to research. So when I moved from“hobby” to “career” writing, around fifteen years ago, my focus changed. Idecided I would publish or die trying.

2. Are you published and if so, how long have you beena published author? If not, what’s your plan?

I firstpublished a puzzle, “Number Know-How” in 1997 in the children’s market, Jack& Jill magazine. More puzzles, a rebus, short stories followed, plusarticles about writing and illustrations for newsletters. The pay was prettyskimpy – plus novel publishing eluded me, as well as picture book publishing(talk about a *really* tough market!) I decided I needed to find out what the“roadblock” really was, and entered the Seton Hill University Writing PopularFiction program – which helped me identify my writing weaknesses and strengths.And getting my M.A. helped land me a non-fiction gig plus helped push me “overthe transom” into novel publishing! Well worth the time, tuition and effort.

3. Which route did you choose for becoming published,the traditional route, with an agent, the “indie” route, going directly to thepublishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?

I once had an agent, who failed to sell myromance (really a blended genre novel) – and I pretty much froze up in gettinganother book finished. She closed her agency, and I didn’t pursue another outof fear of freezing my creativity. I chose going directly to the publishers,and was very pleased that Astraea Press offered a contract for Double Crossingless than a week after my submission! I’m still open to self-publishing, butthat’s in the far future for now.

4. Why did you choose that particular route?

I was tiredof editorial letters that praised my writing skills but rejected my projectsbecause of “too hard a sell” or “not right for our lines.” Small press “indie”publishing works for me because I’m still learning promotion, author platform,getting name recognition, etc.

5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?

Three years– and the first draft was almost 800,000 words! LOL. Second draft, half that.Third draft is around 325,000 words, but still needs a LOT of revisions.

6. How long did it take you to publish it?

Ihave not, but one day I hope to… depending on whether I can salvage a lot orhave to scrap it all and start over. If it’s the latter, I’m not so sure.

7. How many times did it get rejected before it gotpublished?

DoubleCrossing was rejected by a few publishers due to either “not enoughromance/sex” or “not enough Inspirational elements.” LOL – it fell “between”the two extremes. I spent more time trying to sell my mystery, so when DC soldfirst, that was a big surprise.

8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.

Oh, thescribbled note on a ripped piece of my manuscript’s first page? By an agent,who clearly had not read the whole thing… SIGH. She must have used it forlining the bird cage.

9. What was the best news you ever got in your writinglife and how did it make you feel?

Like I said, I was *stunned* when DoubleCrossing sold before my mystery – and in less than a week after submission. AndI was tickled pink that the publisher and her editor both loved it.

10. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?

“Putit in a drawer and start over.” I knew my manuscript was far better than thatfate.

11. Now, tell us the best!

“NEVERgive up! Only those who quit will never publish.” Ruth Ryan Langan

12. What’s the one thing you would want an aspiringwriter to take away from your personal path to publication?

See #11. Andalso READ READ READ in the specific genre you are targeting, and then beforeyou start writing your book, switch to a completely new genre you haven’t readmuch of while you’re working. That helps to avoid “influence” and might boostyour creativity. But most importantly, *WRITE EVERY DAY* … that’s the real“secret” to success.

13. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books?Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website?

Blogs– http://www.double-crossing.comand http://www.megmims.com

Facebook– http://www.facebook.com/megmims

Twitter- @megmims

Website– see above blogs and also http://www.megmims.com

Booklinks –

AstraeaPress: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=5907170

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Double-Crossing-ebook/dp/B005GWEMCO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314051844&sr=8-2

B&N:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-crossing-meg-mims/1104769443?ean=2940013174597&itm=14&usri=double%2bcrossing

BOOK BLURB for DOUBLE CROSSING

A murder arranged as a suicide … a missingdeed … and a bereft daughter whose sheltered world is shattered.

August, 1869: Lily Granville is stunned by herfather’s murder. Only one other person knows about a valuable California goldmine deed — both are now missing. Lily heads west on the newly openedtranscontinental railroad, determined to track the killer. She soon realizesshe is no longer the hunter but the prey.
As things progress from bad to worse, Lily isuncertain who to trust—the China-bound missionary who wants to marry her, orthe wandering Texan who offers to protect her … for a price. Will Lily survivethe journey and unexpected betrayal?
ISBN# 978-1-936852-48-2

Thanks, Samantha, for the wonderful interview!

Are you kidding? Thank YOU, Meg Mims, for stopping by the blog! I'm thrilled to have had Meg today and want to thank her for sharing her journey with us today. Meg is a joyful person and always has a kind word for an aspiring writer. Why don't you connect with her on facebook or Twitter or check out her blog? I know she would love it. And please leave a comment here and let us know how much you enjoyed reading about her today!

My Personal Path To Publication - Kymberlee Burks-Miller

2011-10-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

My guest today is another author with whom I have become friends with courtesy of facebook. Author Kymberlee Burks-Miller and I met on a facebook group where we were both asked to be judges for a short story contest along with another author I featured here, Scott Prussing. In the process, I learned about her debut novel, Compulsion, and watched her and her book become fan, and reviewer's, favorites. I knew I wanted to showcase her here. Then I lost touch with her. It turns out eveyone did. Kymberlee disappeared into a hospital! After an illness which waylaid her for awhile, she is back, and working feverishly on Book Two in the Compulsion series. She is self-publishing Compulsion in ebook form at the end of this month, with print to come soon after, following a dissatisfying interaction with a publisher. This has happened to me, I am in fact in the middle of that as we have read, and it has happened to other authors. When it happened to Kymberlee , she used it as her call to action. She has agreed to share her personal journey to publication with us here today, so we can see exactly what one person did when it happened to them.

1. How long have you been writing?

I have been writing sinceelementary school but seriously since High School. My Drama teacher toldme that I had a knack for it:) Writing is my peaceful time to let everything inmy head out!

2. Are you published and if so, how long have you been apublished author? If not, what’s your plan?

I was contracted but thatdidn't work out so...I will be self publishing but continuing to submit toother publishers:)

3. Which route did you choose for becoming published, the traditionalroute, with an agent, the “indie” route, going directly to the publishersyourself, or deciding to self-publish?

I am going the Indie route now,originally I was being published, but the company was NOT what I thought thatit was. That was a hard lesson to learn. We had too many differences inwhat we thought was best for me.

4. Why did you choose that particular route?

I was kind ofthrown down this path, but in hindsight I would have gone this route from thebeginning had I known then what I know now. Advice* Please read your owncontracts and do NOT leave it up to someone else.

5. How long did it take you to write your first novel?

About 2months but with all of the changes it has taken over a year to get it reallyready.

6. How long did it take you to publish it?

With the formerpublisher, they actually contacted me. So it happened overnight. Going to selfpubbing route I am learning as I go, so...it is taking a little longer.

7. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?

Good Heavens I stopped counting. lol It comes with the territory. When you're anartist, and writing is an Art, not everyone will LOVE your work. Pleasedon't get discouraged when you receive a rejection letter it just means thatparticular publisher was not a perfect fit for you.

8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.

The worst one was6 months ago just a rejection, no rhyme or reason. No explanation, nothing.

9. What was the best news you ever got in your writing life andhow did it make you feel?

When my Alpha readers gave me their feedback. I trulyhoped that everyone would love Compulsion as much as I do, but their words wereamazing!

10. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?

Someone once told me that I was a wife and a mother just be happy with that. Idid not NEED a career. That's true, I don't NEED a career. Writingallows me to express myself in ways nothing else ever has.

11. What’s the one thing you would want an aspiringwriter to take away from your personal path to publication?

Always payattention to what is best for you. If going Indie is what's best for youdo it. You'll find out out in the end that what feels right to you, isright.

12. Wherecan we read your blog? Buy your books? Connect with you onfacebook? On Twitter? Your website?
My blog is kymberlee-burks-miller@blogspot.com www.facebook.com/CompulsionSeries my twitterhandle is kymberlee1975 and my website is www.kymberleeburks-miller.com

Back of the book Blurb

AfterLilyann Moon's grandmother dies under suspicious circumstance, she and hereleven young family members are thrown into the world of witchcraft and theparanormal. A world they know nothing about, and need to learn fast! Lily's themost powerful witch in over five centuries, but she's untrained anduninitiated. Now the vampires have found out that the Moon line didn't end withher grandmother and they're coming to claim their prize, Her Blood! The onlybright spot in this nightmare was meeting Mason, but is she in love with theenemy. She’s in a race against time tosave her coven. Will Lily survive with her heart and neckintact?

I asked Kymberlee to tell me something fun about herself. This is what she wanted you all to know:

I love to be silly, my favorite clothes are my sweats and Eeyore PJ's, and I absolutely cannot live without coffee and Nutella;) I love talking to people about their lives, mine is boring:)

You heard her; she loves to talk to people! Make her happy and comment here or make contact with her on her blog, or facebook or Twitter. Let her know how much you enjoyed reading about her journey. And buy her book at the end of the month. The early reviews are raves!

My Personal Path To Publication - A Jacob Sweeny

2011-10-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

We are filing today's blog under the heading Better Late Than Never! This is only due in part to the the fact that AJ Sweeny, the author of the wildly successful self-published and amazingly reviewed and received A Pulse of Heroes is INCREDIBLY BUSY with a capital "B"! She is writing, editing, and marketing her little behind off! And if you are reading those reviews for her book, it's a good thing, because her fans are literally screaming for the sequel to Pulse. When I reminded her that it was her day on the blog today, she graciously got busy on the post and I am happy to say, I have it! I'm lucky to have gotten her, too, because she has been hard at work on said sequel, which she is releasing at the end of this month! Her story is amazing and her book is that times one hundred, so hunker down and get ready! I am pleased to be able to introduce to you, A Jacob Sweeny, if you don't already know her.

1. How long have you beenwriting?

Since I could hold a pen, and before that I told stories to everyone.Use to make them up in my mind.

2. Are you published andif so, how long have you been a published author? If not, what’s yourplan?

I am published through Thalamus press, which is a company that me and afew local artists/literary types started. My plan is to get enough momentum andgood reviews so a larger publishing company can pick me up.

3. Which route did youchoose for becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the“indie” route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding toself-publish?

I chose to do the publishing myself because I understand how manymanuscripts agents get and the number is staggering. Also with the publishingindustry changing so quickly, they are very careful about choosing new authors,and would rather go with established ones that can bring in the money becausethey already have a devoted audience. Myother problem is that my novels are very long, much longer than publishers arewilling to take a chance on. The longer the manuscript, the more money it coststo print. So between these two obstacles the chance of getting chosen foranything was so slim, that I decided that readers’ reviews are better to seewhere I stand before I even present my writing to anyone. If readers like mywork it will show; so far the reception for Pulse Of Heroes has beenhumbling and beyond amazing! The other consideration for me was the thought ofpassing time. Why should I wait for someone to even look at my manuscript whileothers can enjoy it? I can die tomorrow and then what? When writing Pulse OfHeroes I did so out of personal reasons, rather than becoming the next‘big’ author. I really had NO expectations.

4. How long did it takeyou to write your first novel?

It took me a little over a year to actually write the manuscript, butthe research that is presented in there has taken me many years to learn. Sotechnically I will say one year for writing and six for research.

5. How long did it takeyou to publish it?

With Create Space it took me a month

6. How many times did it get rejected before it got published?

I only sent it to two places. The first response was actually very positive in my opinion, as it seemedthat it wasn’t an automatic response. They actually wrote about my style andtold me that I definitely had talent; they just weren’t taking on any newauthors. The other response was a general “Thanks, but your work does not matchwhat we are looking for.” This was funny because they were actually looking foeexactly the kind of story I wrote and it said so on their site. So I knew thatno one really spent time reading what I wrote at all, and that is the way withmost manuscripts.

7. Describe your worstrejection letter.

Didn’t have real bad ones- see above.

8. Describe the best newsyou ever got in your writing life and how it felt.

Well I had a few. My first teenage readers who are total Twihard fanstold me that my book was even better than Twilight! They said that they weremadly infatuated with my lead male character (Elliot De-Costa) and startedhounding me for the second installment. Then when other readers who I don’t know personally kept pretty muchrepeating these types of statements I knew that I did something right. One ofmy favorite first reviews came from a mom who loves! Twilight and even namedher baby Bella. After she read my book she actually wrote, “This book blewTwilight away.” For me these statements meant that my novel is commerciallyviable! Now let me be clear that in no way was I competing with the Twilightbooks, in fact I have never read them and only saw the first movie on DVD whileI was very sick with high fever; meaning I hardly even remember, it besides thinkingthat (don’t hate me) that the screenplay didn’t add up to all the hype I washearing. The love story was great but it left much to be desired. (again, mypersonal opinion)

9. What’s the worst pieceof advice you ever got?

Don’t publish it and wait for an agent to contact me…

10. Now, tell us the best.

You should put it out there. E-publishing and other new formats arebecoming legitimate and are succeeding. May I add that this advice camepersonally from the first author (Kemble Scott) who published his work onScribd.com and it ended up being a huge success.

11. What’s the one thing you would want anaspiring writer to take away from your personal path to publication?

Keep writing and put your work out there. There is no better way tojudge if you are going to make it than presenting it to an audience you do notknow personally. And if it seems that you are not getting the responses youwant, don’t have a huge ego and listen to what people have to say.

12. Where can we read your blog? Buy yourbooks? Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Yourwebsite?

www.pulseofheroes.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pulse-Of-Heroes/108874512509753

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10550107-pulse-of-heroes

AboutPulse Of Heroes

Pulse ofHeroes is aYA novel that weaves together elements of paranormal romance, suspense, myth, history, and at its core,a heroine’s journey and transformation. I sought to craft a true and sensitivecoming-of-age narrative of a quirky teenage girl becoming a confident youngwoman, and at the same time I wanted to take her and the reader on a grippingadventure filled with geographical, historical and supernatural elements, whilebeing swept under the crushing intensity of first love.

Michelle used to feel like she was behind in everything,especially school and relationships. Her great aunt from the old country saysshe is like a bland meal, "no salt or pepper". But in junior year,everything changes. Her father takes a position on the Town Council, a popularboy in school becomes interested in her, and most importantly, the HekademosLearning Center, a private school for 'troubled' students, moves into her quietneighborhood amidst the protests of the entire town.

After seeing the School Regent out with a group of youngguys just before Christmas, Michelle is convinced that there is something oddabout them. Her curiosity gets the better of her and she embarks upon a missionto figure out what is really going on. After an embarrassing fall over theschool wall, Michelle meets Elliot and her ordinary ‘bland’ life changes itscourse forever.

Elliot is no ordinary human. In fact, noone at the Hekademos Learning Center is. Beautiful and fierce, they havesurvived throughout the millennia by weaving in and out of human events.Through them, Michelle learns that history and myths from around the world aredotted with references to their kind. Michelle falls madly in love with theever-striking and mysterious Elliot.

Although Elliot carries numerous painfulmemories from his many pasts, he disregards his own better judgment and theadvice of his friends, and finds himself falling for Michelle‘s offbeatpersonality. Their feelings grow in intensity, but when History catches up withthem, the difference between their life paths threatens to destroy any futurethat they might have had together.

Michelle learnsthat there are infinite shades of gray between black and white, and has to dealwith the bundle of contradictory emotions called love. After some unexpectedtwists during a family trip to Europe, she has to trust her intuition in orderto face the danger and uncertainty of being drawn into Elliot’s wondrous world.Ultimately, it is up to Michelle to make the split-second, life-alteringdecision that will either tear them apart forever or give them another chance.

Here's what AJ would like you to know about her:

FirstI want to proudly announce that the second installment in The Pulse Series, OfBlood And Pulse is almost complete and set to be released for sale onOct. 31st. 2011

I have been writing and storytelling ever since I was able tohold a pen. When I spent time working as a teacher with children of varyingages I was fascinated by the awesome power of words to excite and inspire theyoung mind. The art of Storytelling is what makes a good teacher great.

My degree in History with an emphasis on Ancient Near East, and my personalinterest in world myths, combined with my fieldwork in archaeology haveinspired my research and development of many elements in the story.
I also remember what it was like to be a girl myself and have often wanted toshare my own thoughts, fears and dreams during that age with others. I readmany books during my teenage years and some of them were essential in helpingme make it through that time, and helping me become the satisfied person that Iam today. I want to be able to return that favor to all the readers out there.

She'd also love you to see some reviews for A Pulse of Heroes:

Sample Reviews:

I lovethis book! Move over Edward and Bella, a new power couple has hit the scene!Michelle and Elliot from Pulse of Heroes by A. Jacob Sweeny will give StephanieMeyer's characters a run for their money! I have read so many books, and ittakes a lot to knock my socks off but A. Jacob Sweeny did just that! With heroriginal storyline and unforgettable characters she has an award winning seriesin the making.
-Dawn Hagan, Ilove Books Blog-Page-

Sometimes I will come across a novel which I classify as a rare jewel:a book that captivates me from beginning to end… an amazing story that it isimpossible for it to not capture my heart and Pulse Of Heroes is a rare jewel.There are only two other series' that I consider rare jewels: the Twilightseries, and Vampire Academy... I was wondering when the next book would comealong that would really pull me in, make me feel emotionally attached to thecharacters, make me care about them in such a way that I would think about themweeks, months after I had finished reading the story and Pulse of Heroes didjust that.
-Alishia,Treasured Tales For young Adults Blog-Page-

Thanks AJ, for being on the blog! Don't forget, Readers, comment here or find AJ on facebook and let her know how much you enjoyed her interview or her book. She'd love to know!

My Personal Path To Publication - Kathleen Tighe Ball

2011-10-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Today I am showcasing another new author friend I have been lucky enough to meet on the wonder to me that is facebook. And as always, I have learned something new within this friendship. Kathleen Tighe Ball, a relatively new novelist, like me, actually got her start in publishing in another completely new way I hadn't considered....she began putting her work on the public forum called "Textnovel." I had never heard of this before I began talking to people on facebook. Apparently, it has helped launch many publishing careers, not just Kathleen's. Some post for the fun and the accolades, lucky for us, Kathleen took it to heart. The author of five works now, Texas Haven, Ryelee's Cowboy, Callie's Heart, Lonestar Joy, and her newest, Stetson's Storm, she listened to all those forum members who voted her novels Reader's Choice Awards and read them over 30,000 times! I'm pleased she also agreed to share her journey with us here on the blog. Read on and check out yet another way you too, can come to be a published author!

1. How long have you been writing?

I’ve only been writing for 2 ½ years. I never had the desireto write. I was always a crafty type of person. My son was going to begraduating High School and suddenly I realized that I would soon be an emptynester. My sister Tricia was writing her first book and I mentioned maybewriting. She sent me a book on how to write romance and I sat down at thecomputer and the words just flowed. Iremember finishing it and printing it out. I sat with it on my lap in awe.Writing had become my bliss in life. Ittook me three months to write Texas Haven.

2. Are you published and if so, how long have youbeen a published author? If not, what’syour plan? Which route did you choosefor becoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the “indie”route, going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?

I decided to put it on Textnovel.com. It took a lot ofcourage to hit the submit button. I wascertain that people wouldn’t like it. I got views and votes and great commentsand I was astounded. I decided to writemy second book Ryelee’s Cowboy and it took off. As soon as I put up an updateI’d instantly get at least 50 hits. Itwon the Reader’s Choice Award and currently has almost 30,000 views.

3. Describe your worst rejection letter.

The worst rejection letter I ever got was from a RomanceWriters of America Contest. I sent in TexasHaven and one judge told me I shouldn’t be writing. I came in third fromthe bottom. As hurtful as it was, that judge highlighted everything I didwrong. I could write a heart wrenchingnovel but I didn’t know anything about technique. I didn’t know about POV orpassive sentences to name a few.

I regrouped and kept writing and editing. I have completedfive novels all modern western romance. I’m submitting to publishers right now.

4. Describe the best news you ever got in yourwriting life and how it felt.

The best news I ever received was winning the Reader’sChoice Award for Ryelee’s Cowboy. I’ve also gotten fan mail from people withcancer and other ailments telling me that my novels help them escape theirpain. That makes writing worth it.

5. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?

The worst piece of advice I ever got was when that Judgetold me to stop writing.

6. Now, tell us the best.

The best advice came from my sister Trisha- she told me tostop talking about writing and just do it.

7. What’s the one thing you would want an aspiringwriter to take away from your personal path to publication?

I have realized that it’s the friends you make along the waythat will help in your journey to publication. I have never met a more supportive group of people as I havein the writing community.

8. Where can we read your blog? Buy your books?Connect with you on facebook? On Twitter? Your website?

My novels can beread at http://www.kathleenballromance.com or at http://www.textnovel.com

http://www.facebook.com/kathleen.ball1

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathleen-Ball-Romance-Author/121300767916947

http://twitter.com/#!/kballauthor

I just finished Stetson’s Storm

Hunky, Rodeo Star, Stetson Scott is back in town after a 5 year absence. Storm McCrory has what he unknowingly left,his son

This is what Kathleen would like you to know about her:

I live in Fort Worth, TX with my wonderful husband and my son. We recently moved here from Rochester, NY so I'm learning a lot about Texas as I research for my novels.I am actively pursuing the honor of becoming a published author!!

I think Kathleen is the first author I have spotlighted who writes cowboy romance. Come and check out her books...they are hot! And comment here to let her know how much you enjoyed reading about her journey!