War of Six Crowns Blog Tour (Strong Female Characters)

I am so lucky and honored to have Misha Gerrick on my blog today. Congratulations, Misha! You did it!

This is actually a post that I’ve been wanting to write for a while now. I’ve recently been reading a lot about people — women specifically — calling for stronger female characters.

And… well… rolling their eyes every time some industry exec or (sorry guys) man in general points out that there are oodles (okay I’ve never heard a guy say “oodles”, but bear with me.) of strong female characters out there.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeellllll…. Yes. And most of them are in YA Dystopians of some sort. Which, of course, is a general indication of how hungry women really are for strong female characters. The thing is… I’ve been watching things (because I do. Much more than people think.) and I’m just not always sure if execs get it.

I know for one fact that South Africa’s pre-eminent film critic (who’ll remain unnamed) doesn’t. When Charlize Theron pointed out that she loved acting in Mad Max because there are so few interesting female roles out there, he couldn’t jump on the “oh, but there are oodles” bandwagon fast enough.

And I don’t really blame him. Because we live in a world where female characters act as window dressing so often that most people can’t tell the difference. Especially the people who get to make these calls.

They seem to look at the YA Dystopian action girl heroes and think: “Great! So to get the female demographic into this series with the male demographic, we then have a hero, and put in an action girl to appeal to the girls. She’ll be the Strong Female Character.”

A clue:

Noooooooo. *shakes head emphatically*

A female character isn’t strong because she can hit a guy so hard that his aunt gets dizzy.

A female character is strong when she makes a choice to keep going even if everything is stacked against her. A female character is strong when she somehow keeps surviving when people somehow in control of her life try to stamp it out of her.

It’s a woman who escapes an abusive husband.

It’s a woman who has no choice about living with one, but who keeps going.

Yes, I love Katniss. And I think it’s awesome that she’s paved a way for so many strong female characters after her. Who can (and do) kick ass.

I just think that there are so much more to female characters that just don’t get the attention they deserve. So many kinds of strength that get disregarded because for some reason, people don’t think that “gritty” characters will be liked as well. Or because people who make these decisions deem that the more subtle sorts of strength will be completely lost on the audience.

Personally, I’d rather take a chance and write my strong girl who’s scared and unsure, but who keeps on making decisions about her own life.

Instead of the hugely confident, kick-ass girl who’s there, but seemingly only to validate the guy in the story, and who seemingly never has a mind of her own.

Synopsis

After discovering her parents had kept a whole world secret, Callan races to discover her past. Not easy to do with an increasingly agitated entity living in her soul.

Going to her long-lost elvish roots should answer all her questions. Instead, she ends up in the middle of a nightmare.

The elves are on the verge of an apocalyptic war. Their enemy, King Aurek of Icaimerith, will only be appeased if Callan marries his heir. It’s either her life getting messed up, or an entire country’s lives lost. Simple enough, right?

Wrong.

Because when the entity wants the elves blotted out of existence, saving them gets taken to a whole new level of complicated.

Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon Universal Link | Apple | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Misha Gerrick has been creating stories long before she could write and is currently going after her dream of making a living as a writer.

If you’d like to see how that’s going, you can visit her on her blog, where she also discusses all things related to writing and publishing.

Or, if you’d just like to know what she’s reading and get updates on what she’ll be publishing next (Sorry, no newsletter just yet.):

You can follow her Tumblr (http://mishagerrick.tumblr.com)

You can follow her on Twitter: @MGerrick1

And you can circle her on Google Plus: +MGerrick

Synthetica Blog Tour (Synthetica Playlist)

Today I have the fantastic Rachel Pattinson on my blog. She is really cool. Take it away Rachel.

If you'd asked me a few years ago what my favourite music was, I would've answered Green Day, My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy without any hesitation. I'll admit it – I was definitely an emo in school. If it was dark, had strong lyrics and the band had grungy-looking frontman, I was sold.

But now? My music tastes vary as much as my taste in books – Taylor Swift, Hozier, Mumford & Sons, Christina Perri, The Pretty Reckless, George Ezra, King Charles, Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Of Monsters and Men, anything from the eighties - you get the picture. If it's got a good beat, I'll listen to it. I don't really mind what genre it's from, so long as I can nod along to it (I'm actually listening to Blondie as I write this).

While I'll always love Green Day and MCR, I began to realise that it was only through listening to other songs and genres of music that I felt truly inspired to write. Green Day is great for dark, emotional scenes – but what about my romantic scenes? My happy scenes? The scene where my MC is simply hanging out with her best friend (just before something dark and emotional happens, obviously)? Whenever I switched on the radio, I found myself imagining new scenes and making up conversations between characters to whatever song was playing at the time – and that was when I realised if I wanted to get to the heart of my story, I'd have to change my writing playlist. So it was with this new attitude towards music that I started to write Synthetica.

I also promised myself when I began Synthetica that I would have fun writing it. I knew that if I didn't have fun, I would never get it finished. So instead of pigeon-holing myself into listening to my type of music, I decided to play anything I liked the sound of, and luckily, this gamble paid off. I have never had as much fun writing anything, as I have writing Synthetica.

So, without further ado, here's my (current) writing playlist*:

Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men

Wings by Little Mix

I Am Not A Robot by Marina and the Diamonds

Centuries by Fall Out Boy

Wake Me Up by Avicii

Hey Brother by Avicii

Let It Go by Idina Menzel (Don't judge me - this is an awesome song!)

Are You Satisfied? by Marina and the Diamonds

You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison by My Chemical Romance

If I Had A Heart by Fever Ray (thank you Vikings, for this one!)

The Hanging Tree from the Hunger Games soundtrack

Left Hand Free by alt-J

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

Hollywood by Marina and the Diamonds

The Great and the Good by Max Raptor

Do You Hear The People Sing? from the Les Miserables soundtrack

Demons by Imagine Dragons

Solo Dancing by Indiana

Hideaway by Kiesza

Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson

Take Me To Church by Hozier

I Bet My Life by Imagine Dragons

Heaven Knows by The Pretty Reckless

Although I know that I'll probably change my writing playlist again for my new WIP, there are songs that I have no doubt will remain staples for the whole Synthetica series. There were a couple of songs that I listened to, and immediately thought of scenes for the second and third books in the trilogy, so I know I'll definitely be revisiting them while outlining those books.

*I've actually cut it down to the songs I listened to the most - my original playlist is over 2 hours long, and far far too many songs for me to list here...

Rachel Pattinson graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a BA Hons in Publishing Media. Born and raised in the north of England, she shares a love for anything to do with tea, cake, bread and butter, rain, the dark, lakes, fells and Lord of the Rings. She now lives in Norfolk with her partner in crime, and is currently working on several new projects, including the sequel to Synthetica.

Find out more at www.rachelpattinson.blogspot.co.uk

Or follow her on Twitter: @REPattinson1

Discover more about Synthetica:

Amazon  |  Kobo  |  Nook  |  iBooks  |  Smashwords  |  Goodreads  

The holiday is over and broken hinges

Walking beside the beach in Gordon's Bay

Two weeks ago I went on holiday with my sister and it was fun. My mom joined us and my sister woke us up each morning before nine and insisted we stay up late, after one in the evening. Needless to say, I was tired when I finally got home. It took my another week to get back to normal. On our holiday in Gordon’s Bay, we discovered a fantastic book store, where I could spend days looking at all the titles, because they are filled to bursting with so many amazing titles. I ended up spending quite a few hours there. My sister and I did end up walking around at the harbor and on the beach, even though it is winter. Luckily no hiking was involved. When I got home I doubled timed my editing and finally sent my manuscript back to my amazing editor.

Book shop (view 1)

Book shop (view 2)

My laptop’s hinges broke and now I am rocking masking tape at the ends of my laptop to keep them together. Luckily it is holding together well. But I’m a little sad. I get strangely attached to my computer. Maybe because I named it? My laptop’s name is Sophia J

Yep, my laptop is rocking masking tape now

Yesterday my dog had to go back to the vet. His Addison’s has been getting worse, so his medication had to be adjusted again. Last night he woke me up at three, because he wanted to go outside and play. I was not amused, but if he felt well enough to play, I’m all for it. 

My boy taking one of his naps

Inspirational quotes anyone? (IWSG)

I was nominated for this meme by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne. Thank you Deanie! 

Because I have to share three inspirational quotes with my fellow bloggers, I thought this meme works perfectly with the IWSG today. I hope I inspire some of you.

First quote:

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent – Eleanor Roosevelt

Second quote:

A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new – Albert Einstein

Third quote:

Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking – Marcus Aurelius

I chose the above three quotes because at some stage in my life I have had them up on my wall to keep me grounded and inspired. No matter what your insecurity is today, I hope one of them was of some comfort to you.

Who do I nominate for this meme?

I nominate everyone who left a comment on my blog today.

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who tagged you.

2. List three quotes and inspire readers over three days or all at once.

3. Tag three or more people.

The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the talented Mr. Alex J. Cavanaugh so that writers can share their insecurities and/or encourage others who need support with their own. You can visit Alex Here, or if you want to join us in discussing our insecurities on the first Wednesday of each month, you are welcome to join by going Here.

The Infinity Blog Award

Thank you, Rachel Pattinson, for nominating me for this award. You are wonderful!

Now . . . to mention 11 facts about myself . . .

1. I used to be a vegetarian, for health reasons. After chronic problems with acid reflux, I had to let my vegetarian lifestyle go.

2. I love animals.

3. My fellow humans scare me.

4. I love all things alien. I love watching Ancient Aliens.

5. I have a serious sweet tooth. My meals are always planned around what I’m having for dessert.

6. I broke my ring finger on my left hand, while playing tag with my brother. To this day I don’t know how that happened.

7. I don’t eat fish, but sometimes I might eat shellfish.

8. I’m the youngest of 4 kids.

9. I’m afraid of heights.

10. Even though I always go on beach holidays, I don’t like being in the ocean and always stare at the sea from a distance. As a kid I used to only go ankle-deep into the ocean, but now I will probably scream my head off if I went ankle deep.

11. I’m addicted to vanilla chai tea.

Three custom questions from Rachel:

1. If you could be any superhero, who would it be and why?

Don’t hate me, but I’m not really into superheroes. But If I had to choose, I would say Spiderman. I like the anonymity that he operates under.

2. If you had to choose between permanently too hot or too cold, which one would you choose?

I would say too cold. I don’t do well in summer at all. But I bet when I’m living in my own winter wonderland I’ll probably be begging for summer.

3. What's your ultimate writing dream?

I would love to be in a position where I could support myself with my writing. To be a successful full-time writer sounds good to me.

For my nominees: I nominate every person that has left a comment on my blog this year. You guys deserve this award. Please, don’t be shy in claiming it.

And now, if you accept this award, here are the rules:

1. Thank the blog that nominated you

2. Tell us 11 facts about yourself

3. Answer the questions that were set for you to answer

4. Nominate 11 bloggers and set them questions in return

My questions for my nominees are:

1. What is your favorite food?

2. What are your hobbies?

3. What is your idea of the best vacation? 

Interview with Cherie Reich (Once upon a Nightmare Blog Tour)

I am so honored to have the awesome Cherie Reich over. Welcome, Cherie!

 An Interview with Cherie Reich, author of Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection

What is a typical day in your life as an author like?

I wake up and get ready to go to work. I’m a full-time library assistant at a small academic library and also assist with our testing center. As soon as I arrive at work, I do my work-related work first, which usually includes checking testing sites to see if we have new registrations. If we do, then I add these to our calendar. I also respond back to emails and phone messages. Once I finish that work (about 1-2 hours into the work day), I open up my author email and social media sites. I respond to important emails and posts. Then, I start editing or writing something. I answer phone calls and emails as the work day goes on as well as assist any library patrons that need help. Midday, I have lunch and watch some old TV shows on Amazon Prime—lately those are episodes of The X-Files on my 1-hour lunch days or Batman: The Animated Series on my 30-minute lunch days. After lunch, I check what emails have come in both work-related and author-related. I may visit some blogs then as well as some more social media. I may write or edit more or read. A couple hours before I leave work, I check the testing sites again, add new registrations to the calendar, and send out the testing schedule for the next day. Usually toward the end of the day, I try to finish up all emails in my inbox. I rarely have the energy to do author-related work in the evenings. Then, it’s time to go to bed, sleep, and start the next day doing much the same as the day before. A glamorous life, right? *laughs*

How do you balance being an author along with other aspects of your life?

Balancing author-life with everything else can be difficult. Personally, it helps I’m single and childless. I can’t imagine how people work full-time jobs and take care of children, a spouse, and a house/apartment as well as find time to write. For me, the key to coming close to balancing everything is to set goals. I try to keep my monthly goals as much as possible, but it’s also good to be flexible too.

What do you do to relax?

I read and watch TV, often with a cup of hot tea nearby.

What is your ideal comfort food?

Pizza, bread, and pasta. I may be a pescetarian, but deep down, I’m a carbivore. It’s terrible, I know.

Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?

Read. Read in your chosen genre. Read outside that genre. Read books for research, on writing, for fun. Read, read, read. Writing is very important too, of course. Writing is what writers do, but reading will teach you about the rhythm of words, plot techniques, characters, themes, and so much more.

A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you.

Purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by Cherie Reich at Amazon. From June 22-28, the collection is only $0.99!

Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction author and library assistant living in Virginia. Visit her website and blog for more information.

The CassaSeries is here!

Congratulations Alex! You are amazing!

Release date - June 22 2015

CassaSeries

By Alex J. Cavanaugh 

ISBN 9781939844118

Price - $5.99 eBook boxed set

Science fiction/adventure (FIC028010) and science fiction/space opera (FIC028030)

The Amazon Best-Selling Series!

CassaStar - Few options remain for Byron. Slated to train as a Cosbolt pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth to his instructor, Bassa. As war brews on the edge of space, Bassa must make a decision that could decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission destined to stretch their abilities to the limit?

CassaFire - Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters behind him, the detection of alien ruins sends him to the planet of Tgren. Forced to train a Tgren named Athee and deal with an eager young scientist, he feels invaded. Tensions mount as the ruins reveal a potential weapon, plunging him further into the chaos. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

CassaStorm - Commanding the base on Tgren, Byron watches as a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the planet. When the war hits Tgren, it triggers nightmares in his son. The ancient alien ship begins transmitting a deadly code and the probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago returns. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

Find it here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZAP5PV4?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ZAP5PV4?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cassaseries-alex-j-cavanaugh/1122097909?ean=294015196217

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/cassaseries

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25705316-cassaseries

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm.

http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh