Advice about writing a series

Visit my newest guest blog where I ramble about shtuff.

coldhandboyack's avatarEntertaining Stories

A big thanks to Craig for hosting a guest post to celebrate the release of the newest volume in the Legends of Windemeresaga. The topic he tossed my way is a real head-scratcher too. Being the author of a long series, I have to keep the final book in mind when I write. Everything needs to be tied up and continuity has to be retained for the end to make sense. If you’re ending with a giant battle then you have to at least consider killing characters off. Not only the villains, but the heroes too. In fact this topic stems from J.K. Rowling’s teasing of character deaths and closure before the release of Deathly Hallows.The real trick here is to tackle this topic without revealing a bunch of spoilers. Fingers crossed there.

Going by how popular series have ended, I would say that the first thing to…

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Bad Bloods by Shannon A. Thompson Cover Reveal! #sneakpeek #ya #asmsg

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Bad Bloods in 35 words or less: 17-year-old Serena is the only bad blood to escape execution. Now symbolized for an election, she must prove her people are human despite hindering abilities before everyone is killed and a city is destroyed.

Shannon A. Thompson is a young adult author, poet, and blogger. In fact, she runs a website just for readers and writers called www.ShannonAThompson.com. This past year she released The Timely Death Trilogy with Clean Teen Publishing, and now, we have a new series to look forward to. Bad Bloods is a two-part YA story, both of which are releasing in July of 2016. Learn more below, and let it snow.

Visit the Facebook, Pinterest, and the Extras page.

November Rain, Part One, releases July 18, 2016

Seventeen-year-old Serena isn’t human. She is a bad blood, and in the city of Vendona, bad bloods are executed. In the last moments before she faces imminent death, a prison guard aids her escape and sparks a revolt. Back on the streets determined to destroy her kind, Serena is spared by a fellow bad blood named Daniel. His past tragedies are as equally mysterious as her connection to them.

Unbeknownst to the two, this connection is the key to winning the election for bad bloods’ rights to be seen as human again. But Serena is the only one who can secure Vendona’s vote. Now, Daniel must unite with her before all hope is lost and bad bloods are eradicated, even if it means exposing secrets worse than death itself. United or not, a city will fight, rain will fall, and all will be threatened by star-crossed love and political corruption.

November Snow, Part Two, eBook releases July 25, 2016

When Daniel and Serena unite, their accidental relationship becomes the catalyst for a twelve-year war to continue. Exposing the twisted past of a corrupt city, Daniel, Serena, and everyone they know will come together to fight. But Serena has another battle. After a political rumor threatens their lives, Serena must leave her family and join the political front against her will. To survive apart, Daniel has to separate his love from his hatred and join forces with his worst memory to secure Vendona’s war. But very few of them will survive to see the last day. Bad blood or human, a city will burn, snow will fall, and all will be united by catastrophic secrets and irrevocable tragedy.

Follow Shannon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Newsletter.

headshot2About Shannon A. Thompson:

Shannon A. Thompson is a young adult author, avid reader, and a habitual chatterbox.

As a novelist, poet, and blogger, Thompson spends her free time writing and sharing ideas with her black cat, Bogart, named after her favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart. Her other two cats bring her coffee. Between writing and befriending cats, Thompson graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing, and her work has appeared in numerous poetry collections and anthologies. Thompson is currently represented by Clean Teen Publishing, and The Timely Death Trilogy is now available.

Visit her blog for writers and readers at www.ShannonAThompson.com.

Love free books? Shannon has one up for grabs right now!

Minutes Before Sunset on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Goodreads

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Ask-A-Character: Mab the Dark Mistress

Selene from Underworld

Selene from Underworld

Today I bring a newcomer to the blog.  Say hello to Mab the Dark Mistress.  For those who haven’t read The Mercenary Prince the day it came out (joking!), I’ll give a small explanation.  She is the Dawn Fang who is sent out to handle problems.  With the ability to move through shadows, she can travel across Windemere within minutes.  Not the friendliest of people, Mab takes her role very seriously.  Prior to this, she was the top lieutenant of Clyde the progenitor and before that she was his partner in crime.  Literally because she used to be a burglar before she was turned and for the first few decades after that.  After that, she became a deadly warrior and one of the defenders of the world that Clyde sought to create.

So, what can you ask Mab about?

  1. Being a Dawn Fang or vampires in general.
  2. Her role as the Dark Mistress.
  3. Opinions on the mortal life.
  4. Immortality
  5. Schtuff

Have fun.

Check out Mab’s big debut in THE MERCENARY PRINCE for $2.99!

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Legends of Windemere: The Mercenary Prince by @CYallowitz #bookpromo #IARTG #epicfantasy

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Questions 3: Draw Your Sword or Cast Some Spells

First, I’m not sure if the video is in English or Japanese.  Second, I’m seeing how the Ask-A-Character stuff is failing more than ever this week.  At the writing of this post, I have one comment on the thing for Delvin.  I’m editing this week, so thinking up new posts to replace the ones for Wednesday and Friday doesn’t seem likely.  Well, I knew it was a gamble and now I know not to try this ever again.  Hopefully the Questions 3 work better since I’m doing one today and another Thursday.  Teaser Tuesday shall return next!

Today the topic is mercenaries in fantasy setting, so let’s get into it:

  1. What kind of mercenary would you be in regards to skills and weapons?
  2. Would you go solo or be part of a group?
  3. What is your reason for being a mercenary?
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The Phoenix Project by D.M. Cain

coldhandboyack's avatarEntertaining Stories

The brand new edition of dystopian, psychological thriller The Phoenix Project by D.M. Cain was re-released on December 11th. Originally published in May 2014, this new Booktrope edition has had a complete editing overhaul plus a stunning new cover design.

5 interesting facts about The Phoenix Project by D.M. Cain

As part of the re-release of my psychological, dystopian thriller The Phoenix Project, I decided to let my readers in on some of the secrets behind its conception.

Most of The Phoenix Project was written by hand, whilst listening to music. I have shelves full of handwritten notebooks containing the first draft of The Phoenix Project. I always listen to epic, instrumental music when writing such as Two steps from Hell and Immediate Music.

The protagonist of The Phoenix Project, Raven Kennedy, is on a glorified death row within Salverford prison for the terrible crime he committed. In the original…

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Thinking About Writing in Multiple Genres? Here’s What You Need to Know

Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatarChris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

To read this article by Kimberley Grabas, click on the link or her photo below:

thinking-about-writing-in-multiple-genres-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

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Ask-A-Character: Delvin Cunningham the Mercenary Prince

I know these posts don’t have a good track record, but I’m still recovering after the kid’s break and am gearing up to dive back into writing.  Though given how the week went, I’m probably editing right now.  So I’m going to put a few characters on the hot seat this week as some hype for The Mercenary Prince.  First on the list, the hero of the hour:

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

What is there to say about him that hasn’t already been said?  He is an honorable warrior with the mind of a tactician and the heart of a hapless romantic.  I’d say hopeless, but he probably has a shot with Nyx.  Delvin is very loyal to his friends and tends to be rather laid back unless you make him mad.  What can you talk to him about?

  1. Training with Selenia Hamilton.
  2. Growing up on the Yagervan Plains.
  3. Being a champion and opinions on the others.
  4. Being a mercenary.
  5. Whatever else you think he’d know about.

So ask away and have some 2016 fun.

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What I’ve Learned After 3 Years…

Another big guest post where I stumble through my 3 years of author experience. Think that makes me ancient in indie author years.

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Guest Post: When a Hero Returns Home

Check out a fun guest blog and contest!

L. Marie's avatarEl Space--The Blog of L. Marie

slateToday, I’m turning over the floor to a familiar face around here and the blogosphere—the awe-inspiring Charles Yallowitz. Take it away, Charles!

Thank you to L. Marie for hosting this exciting and informative blog post. Well, at least I hope this is entertaining, but I can’t guarantee any of those three things.

The newest volume of Legends of Windemere focuses on one of the heroes, Delvin Cunningham, returning to his homeland. He comes from the Yagervan Plains where people live in nomadic tribes, but he was separated from his family at the age of eight. Left adrift on a chunk of ice in the northern ocean, the child crossed into a neighboring kingdom and has never returned until now. So, what is the point of having a hero return to his home?

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Cover by Jason Pedersen

First of all, this isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Legends of…

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