The Parting Glass Released

New Book From Indie Author Katherine Lampe

Katherine Lampe's new book, "The Parting Glass," is a must read as the latest addition to her Caitlin Ross series. 

Transpiring before the events of Katherine's previous works, it tells the tale of how Caitlin and Timber first came together and how the supernatural crime-fighting duo solved their first case together. It was an awesome read I couldn't put down...as Katherine can attest to, lol. 

   

The Parting Glass 

"Caitlin Ross is content with her life as the owner of a metaphysical shop in Boulder, Colorado. And although she doesn’t advertise her arcane abilities as a witch, she isn’t averse to applying them in good cause. When a Lakota medicine man with a drinking problem begs for Caitlin’s help, she has reason enough to get involved. But before she can do anything, he vanishes, leaving Caitlin with nothing but questions.

Soon after, a stranger from Scotland appears on Caitlin’s doorstep, seeking news of the missing shaman. His insistence and his refusal to share any information about his purpose rouse Caitlin’s suspicions: is this Timber MacDuff what he seems? Or does he represent the very dark power the absent shaman was trying to avoid?

For anyone who has wanted to hear the story of Caitlin and Timber’s first encounter, this is the book you’ve been waiting for. "

Go now and read it! 

My Interview by Pat Bertram

While conducting research before the release of Angel in the Flames in January, 2013, I came across Pat Bertram's website. Pat introduces authors, newly published, or those who've been in the game a while to the world. It's a fairly simple process with Pat; basically you go to the questionnaire, choose 10-15 questions from the large list there to answer and follow the instructions to have the interview posted. Here's mine:

Keri Dudas, Author of “Angel in the Flames” (Interview)

October 20, 2012 — Pat Bertram

   

What is your book about?
Angel in the Flames is about a prince named Castel who believes that he’s stumbled upon the missing Silean Princess, Rosaline. None of the main characters know that’s she’s actually Rosaline’s cousin, Persephone, who’s running from a Cyanese Tribe Leader who blames her for the death of his wife.

Tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite?
I’ve four main characters who come together in this book. The prince, Castel; his friend and faithful knight, Pelinor; the femme in disguise, Persephone; and the Latriana (Queen) of the Astra Amazon Tribe, Dulcea.

It’s truthfully a tossup between Castel and Persephone. With Castel, he’s fallible; he’s his faults that messes him up at times that shows his humanity. But with Persephone, she’s a strong conviction to finish what she set out to do but, at the same time, her duty makes her question herself a lot which is something that most of us, as humans, do.

How long did it take you to write your book?
The initial draft took me all of two months to hand-write. Another month, give or take, of typing it up and editing and about a month’s worth of final polishing – which is what’s happening now to get it ready for its release in January.

How much of a story do you have in mind before you start writing it?
A floating, vague notion of wanting to write a love story…which the characters quickly took ransom of and spit something else back at me. I honestly had no idea what it was going to turn into until it was all over and I was staring at it with two other story ideas in my head.

How (or when) do you decide that you are finished writing a story?
With Angel in the Flames, the characters stopped talking at the end and said, ‘That’s a wrap!’ Their stories weren’t over, but that one was. With the others that I’ve finished, it’s a similar concept. They basically sit down, call a masseuse over and tell me to move on.

What are you working on right now?
Easier to ask what I’m not working on right now.

I’ve the Aurora Borealis short stories that I’ve been writing and publishing up on Smashwords; once I’ve a few of them I’ll out them into a collection.

But, the big novel that’s been pressing in my mind lately the most has been Princess of War. In this one, the Relic of Ares – the key to Ares’ immortal powers – has been stolen. He is sent across the Veil into the modern world where he must convince an archaeologist, Belle Tracey, that he is the God of War and persuade her to help him find it before the Moirae’s scissors begin to snipe away at his thread.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?
No, not always. At first I wanted to be a veterinarian, then a manga artist and then a lawyer. Writing was just something I did to pass the time, to escape from my perils social life of playground bullies that grew into Edward Scissor-Hand Barbie dolls. Did I always have the imagination, yes, it got me into quite a bit of trouble when I was younger but I’d never had thought to be a writer until 2009. That was when I decided to step out of Fanfiction and drive head-first into the worlds I never even knew existed in my head.

What is the most difficult part of the whole writing process?
Condensing x-number of pages down into a synopsis blurb. I’m sorry, but I swear I’ll have an easier time fitting my toosh into a pair of size 0 skinny jeans than I ever will condensing my work into a blurb.

What is the easiest part of the writing process?
Writing the novel. Sure, I hit writer’s block, who doesn’t? But listening to the character talk and writing out the story as it unfolds is easy…especially if you trick your writer’s block into only blocking up one work-in-progress.

What one word describes how you feel when you write?
Free.

Writing has always made me feel free; free to escape reality when I need to, free to get lost in the worlds inside my head, free to be more myself. I feel more at ease writing than I do most anything else.

What do you wear when you write?
Usually my pajamas; they’re the comfiest.

Do you have mental list or a computer file or a spiral notebook with the ideas for or outlines of stories that you have not written but intend to one day?
I do, and it just keeps growing and growing and growing. I keep them organized in an expandable portfolio with the book title at the top and any information pertaining to the story in the pocket. I’m horrible for scribbling down ideas when I’m in some random location or when I’m in-between the lull of asleep and awake and one of my characters prods me awake going, ‘Write this down or you’ll never sleep.’

Do you keep a pen and notepad on your bedside table?
If you can call it a table…more often than not what’s next to me is the stack of notebooks I’m writing in and then there’s a pen on top of it all, like a small, spiral notebook castle.

How many stories do you currently have swirling around in your head?
Let’s see, there’s the second prequel and the sequel to Angel in the Flames; Song of the Heart and Memory of Roses. The Realm Trilogy, the first of which I’m starting this November for NaNoWriMo. Then there’s seven additional stories not including the various short stories for Aurora Borealis.

Have you written any other books?
Aside from the Aurora Borealis short stories, the only other completed manuscript at this time is for Shadow of the Stars. It stars Dulcea before the happenings of Angel in the Flames.

Where can people learn more about your books?

 

My Personal Website lists all the projects I’m either working on or will be working on shortly: https://sites.google.com/site/keridudas/
My Blog: http://goddessofworlds.blogspot.ca/
My Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/keridudas
Angel in the Flames set for release January, 2013 at: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/keridudas

 Here's the link to the interview on Pat Bertram's website where you'll also find find new author's and books to love:

http://patbertram.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/keri-dudas-author-of-angel-in-the-flames-interview/ 

"Aurora Borealis: Caught" Now Available

Hot off the E-Publishing Presses!!!

 

"Caught:" Immediately following the events in "Heated Arguments," the crew of the Aurora infiltrate a Commi ship in search of answers that may help their Captain. However, the mission leaves them with more questions than answers.

Buy it here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/245924 

Awesome Book Cover! ^.^

This super fabulous awesome cover was created for me by Thai Braddick. Thai is a 15 year old (man they teach them younger than even I was to use photoshop nowadays) free-lancer who has been creating covers for NaNo participants for their NaNo novels. The kid's a genius, that's all I've really got. Hopefully, I'll be able to have the other two Realm novels covered by him as well as then they'd match and not look all o.O 

Check out Thai's website and portfolio here: http://funkelnpartei.tumblr.com/

Spotlight Author: Katherine Lampe

Katherine Lampe's 'Caitlin Ross' Series

Katherine is an author who's work I've admired for a long time. 

And now all of you are looking at me like 'Huh? The woman just published, what are you smoking.....and where can I get some?'

I betaed Katherine's works, starting with 'The Unquiet Grave' all the way through to her current masterpiece 'The Parting Glass.'

I didn't know what I was in for when I started reading 'The Unquiet Grave,' but the more I read the more I got sucked into this amazing urban paranormal that didn't require vampires, werewolves or whatever the current trend of teenage paranormal fan-crazed, phenomena piggy-back ridding was.   

It was new, it was fresh and it was freaking awesome! I've a total, undeniable addiction to Katherine Lampe's works like I do for some of my 'Big 6' published authors with one slight difference between her and them...

I GET TO FREAKING HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER!!!

You see, unlike with the authors we adore in physical copies, I can actually talk with an author I like and not have twelve burly men in suits with glasses wall me if I even attempt to get within six feet of their pinky for fear I may damage their income....you don't need a pinky to type, by the way. 

Okay, off the tangent and back on track now. I can honestly say I've waited for the day to see Katherine's works out there in the world to be shared with other people. She has a talent for writing that I admire and a very cool back story to how she knows what she knows in order to write her 'Caitlin Ross' series. The paranormal elements draw on how life used to be using magick's and religions that once were revered by people and not considered to be myths. I implore each and every one of you to purchase a copy of 'The Unquiet Grave,' - and the rest of the series - and see for yourself how exciting and thrilling her novels are.

The Unquiet Grave

 

She Moved Through The Fair

A Maiden In Bedlam

 

 

"Auoroa Borealis: Heated Arguments" Now Available

Hot off the E-Publishing Presses!!!

 

"Heated Arguments:" When the Aurora Borealis is stranded dead in space, it is infiltrated by an old 'acquaintance' of the crew causing all hell to break lose not only on the ship, but also within the Captain. Aurora Borealis is a series of short stories chronicling the journeys of Captain Kahara Rain and her crew. 

Buy it here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/243830

Importance of Beta Readers

I spoke last time about how Indie Authors cannot afford their own editors mainly because the logistics are not the same. The writers who chose self-publishing have no lesser merit just because they do not choose the traditional route however it is agreed that editing plays an important role in both sides of the issue.

Thus bringing me to the role of a Beta Reader. A Beta is similar to an editor, however, there is a key difference: Editors often have degrees and demand payment while Betas may or may not have degrees and do not demand payment (they may ask for a novel swap in which you review their work in return but they do not ask for money). 

A Beta can be of great importance to your writing process, especially if you can find the right Beta that fits you and your work. Some writers have more than one Beta depending on their genres of writing and also depending upon how much of a kick in the pants the writer feels their work needs. Some Beta's will only provide certain services and most will not be able to help you if your work hasn't even been edited by you, the writer. 

It's very, very important to remember to review your own writing first before pawning it off on other people to help you. There are people who don't mind putting in the effort but if you, the writer, aren't going to help yourself, then these people aren't going to bother helping you either because they will see it as you having a lack of pride.

There's a few websites that can help you connect with Betas so that your work can be at a similar if not parallel quality of a traditionally published author.

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/
http://www.perfectimagination.co.uk/   
http://querytracker.net/forum/