For Writers: Teaching Patience to the Muse

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized, Writing

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Ah muses. They're hangin' out. Having fun.

Ah muses. They’re hangin’ out. Having fun.

We’ve all had it, that idea that comes in a rush. It can knock you for a mental loop. Cause you to stare off in the distance at inopportune times. (Hopefully, we’re not driving when it happens.) Sometimes, it’s so distracting that even others will notice. And if they know you’re a writer, they’ll ask:

“You just got an idea for a book, didn’t you?”

And you will respond (sometimes in a strangled, high-pitched voice usually reserved for Bieber fans): “YES!”

A million times, yes. The muse has struck you. It is incandescent. Soul-shaking. And in that moment, you will be convinced that the idea is so perfect, so original, so breathtakingly magnificent, your first instinct will be…

“I’ve got to write this all down rightnowbeforeitdisappears!”

Hold your quill, Shakespeare.

Today, I want to talk a little about how valuable it can be to do something a lot of writers don’t like to do. I want you to take that perfect, luminous perfection that is your book idea and… wait.

“NO!” you say. “If I wait, then I will lose the momentum! I will miss the golden window of inspiration that the muse has granted me! I must write it NOW!”

No, you don’t. In fact, I’m going to recommend that you don’t write any ideas down the first moment you have them. That’s right. None. What I want you to do is make that idea work a little bit.

Look at all that frolicking!!! Make those babies work!

Look at all that frolicking!!! Make those babies work!

Continue reading »

Random Ramblings about new releases, travel, and future projects.

11 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Books, Cambio Springs, Elemental Mysteries, Life, Publishing, Uncategorized, Writing

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Shifting Dreams coverI’m running a Mother’s Day sale on SHIFTING DREAMS through Sunday only. For today and tomorrow, it is marked down to $1.99, so if you have been wanting to pick it up and haven’t, now would be the time!

17315638New Release Stuff: Blood and Sand ARCs have gone out to reviewers, so of course, I’ll be nauseous until those first reviews come back. To new and aspiring writers: Those nerves? I don’t think they ever go away. This is my ninth book and they’re still there. Maybe someday I’ll have full and complete confidence in a book, but maybe by then, I won’t care enough to still be writing and worrying about making it the best it can be. Who knows? It’s a double-edged sword. BLOOD AND SAND is available for preorder on Amazon HERE and it will be out on May 28th.

7c52a8f3cb4d452d96212579456fa8cdTravel stuff: Istanbul! I’m going. Tickets have been bought (ouch!), hotel has been reserved, and the first book in the project has been outlined. I’m really really excited about this project. I started a Pinterest board for it HERE. It’s going to be a trilogy, for sure, but like the Elemental World, I can see this being a universe that I can branch out in. There are no vampires. No shapeshifters. This is something—dare I say it?—new. Not completely new (nothing is completely new), but it’s a very different take. We’ll see how it goes over. For now, I’m incredibly excited about it. Creative juices are flowing, and I’m already writing. I know I’ll have to go back and revise a lot for description, mood, etc. after I go to Turkey, but I’m dying to get the plot done NOW. Continue reading »

Six—no FIVE things “To Do” at RT Convention 2014

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Conventions, Reader Stuff, Uncategorized

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Thanks to reader, Abi Fear, for the photo!

Thanks to reader, Abi Fear, for the photo!

1.  Go. Definitely go.

It was so much fun, you guys! I had a blast hanging with friends and authors and author-friends and readers and reader-friends. It was a blast. Definitely going again.

2.  Be more accessible. And organized.

So, on the off chance you were there and found me, IT WAS SO FUN TO MEET YOU! But if you were there and did not, I really apologize. Next year, I will definitely schedule a time to meet readers in a more casual setting, because holy cow, I underestimated just how many people would be there. If you are one of the totally amazing readers I managed to meet, thank you for coming out! And I hope you had as much fun as I did.

3. When friends suggest things like “Hey, let’s not bother our neighbors with our loud wine-fueled conversation at midnight and go to the lobby!” do NOT just wear your pjs, because hey, it’s midnight and WHO COULD YOU POSSIBLY MEET IN THE LOBBY AT MIDNIGHT WEARING YOUR PJS? 

(I mean, other than a major publishing executive, of course.)

“Hey Mom, guess who I met last night?”

“Who?”

“__________ at Really Important Publishing!”

“Wow!”

“I was in my yoga pants.”

“Um…”

“It was a proud professional moment.”

4. Go to more craft panels.

I do feel like I was such a newbie this year. I’d love to speak on a panel someday, but it was really great being able to go and focus on areas of my writing where I could learn from people I admire. The Craft panels, in particular, were really helpful.

5. Try NOT to fangirl over your favorite writers in an embarrassing fashion.

Me: I’m such a huge fan! Can you sign this book?

Favorite writer: Oh, you’re Elizabeth Hunter!

Me: *frozen in shock*

Favorite writer: *says something really lovely and gracious*

Me: *still in shock and probably saying something stupid*

And days later, I’m still convinced Favorite Writer had me completely confused with someone else, because in no way could she possibly know who I am. But that’s okay! Because it was a Favorite Moment in Life, I’m claiming my delusions, and I’m not a real professional yet. I meet publishing execs in my pjs, after all.

6.  Drink more. 

(On second thought, that may have contributed to poor wardrobe decisions at midnight.)

All in all, it was an incredible convention with lots of good stories, lots of fun people, and much to look forward to next year.

Hope to see you in New Orleans in 2014!

Elizabeth

Two of my fave people, writers Becca Donovan and Steph Campbell.

Two of my fave people, writers Becca Donovan and Steph Campbell.

Yikes! It’s been a month…

04 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Cambio Springs, Elemental Mysteries, Uncategorized, Writing

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istanbul1

I’m going here!

…since I posted anything on here, you guys! So sorry. So much happening, so let me give you a quick round-up of news:

1. BOOK BASH, ORLANDO

I’ve had to pull out of Book Bash for scheduling reasons. For those of you I was hoping to meet, I am SO sorry, but as my time for kid-free travel is very limited, I have to prioritize. I am scheduled for a research trip to Istanbul this June/July for a new series (that I’m not going to tell you anything about, so don’t ask, my lovelies) so the Orlando signing had to go. :( RT in Kansas City and SFINE in San Francisco are still a go, and I hope to see some of you there!

2. Audible editions

I don’t know when they’ll be ready, but I’m working on finding out. I’ll let you know when I do!

Shifting Dreams cover3. Shifting Dreams: Cambio Springs Book One

You guys are awesome! What a great release. Thank you so much for all your support, and I’m thrilled you like the new book. I had a ton of fun writing it, so I’m so pleased that you guys seem to be enjoying the book and are excited about the upcoming series. Thanks for all your reviews, tweets, e-mails, and other notes letting me know your thoughts.

173156384. Blood and Sand: Elemental World Book Two

VERY exciting news about Baojia’s book. One, the first chapter is available for everyone to read HERE. And even more exciting, the book is now available for pre-order on Amazon! If you order it today, it will be delivered to your Kindle or Kindle app on MAY 28. That’s right, only a couple months away.

5. Holy cow, taxes are high. (Can you tell what I’ve been doing the last week?)

Really, that’s not important to you guys, I just wanted to have five things instead of four, because I have that weirdness about even numbers. Please note, I never claimed to be normal.

Have an amazing weekend and I’ll try to be better about updating the blog. I know, I’m such a slacker. ;)

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

Release Day for Shifting Dreams!

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Cambio Springs, Uncategorized

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Shifting Dreams coverToday is the official release day for Shifting Dreams: A Cambio Springs Mystery!

I have a few links for you, including sales links (of course!):

Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

As for iBooks and Sony and a few others, I’m just waiting on the extended distribution for those. Because those sites don’t have a direct publishing platform, it takes just a little longer.

Here’s also a link to a great interview I did over at She Wolf Reads about the book and the future of the series (for those who might be wondering). Great questions! I had a lot of fun with this interview.

There are a few giveaways happening around on various book blogs if you poke around. (I’ve linked to quite a few on Twitter and Facebook.) But let’s hear what reviewers are saying about the first book in the Cambio Springs series:

 “This was an excellent novel with all the things that make great novels. The writing was excellent, the story was compelling, the characters were interesting and the mystery revolved around the romance (or maybe vice versa).”

—Doug C. Meeks

“[Hunter’s] books are different and entertaining and also get a little hot. Well ok, a lot of hot. And SHIFTING DREAMS is no different. It has everything I want in a book and to me I thought it was absolute perfection. I got a great mystery that wasn’t easy to solve, a romance that took its time building up, and an array of characters that could easily keep this series going for a while. Oh yes, lots of hidden stories just waiting to be told.”

—I Read Indie

“Take a simple contemporary plot, add a pinch of paranormal, sprinkle with insightful, down-to-earth, wry characters, mix with a murder mystery, shake vigorously and enjoy Cambio Springs! “

—Nocturnal Book Reviews

So, there you have it! I hope you’ll give Shifting Dreams a read and, when you get the chance, leave an honest review wherever you bought the book. I do NOT have paperback news at the moment, but I’ll post again when I do. The paperback is in the works now, and it’s going to be beautiful, but I’m waiting on a few details before it’s ready to go.

Thanks in advance for an awesome release day!

 Elizabeth

Audiobook versions of the Elemental Mysteries from Audible.com

17 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in Audiobooks, Elemental Mysteries, Fiction, Publishing, Self-publishing

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Audible logoCross-posted from ElementalMysteries.com:

I am very excited and pleased to announce that all four Elemental Mysteries novels and the first Elemental World book will soon be available in audiobook format! I am partnering with Audible.com, the world’s biggest producer of digital audiobooks, to make the Elemental Mysteries and Building From Ashes available for listeners, as well as readers. I don’t have any details right now about when they will be available to buy (I’m sure it’s a bit of a process to produce them), but as soon as I do, I’ll make sure to let you all know.

Many thanks to Audible and the wonderful people at Dystel and Goderich Literary Management (especially you, Lauren!) for making this deal happen, particularly over the crazy holiday season. I know some readers have been asking about audiobooks, so I’m thrilled to have that format available to them, and I hope this opens the Elemental Mysteries world up to a whole new audience!

Now, just in case you were wondering, I do not have any say in who the narrator for the books will be. I’m sure you all have lots of ideas, but I’m going to leave all that up to the very smart producers over at Audible. I’m sure they’ll pick the best narrator for the job.

Thanks for reading (and soon listening!)

Elizabeth

For Writers: Ten Things I Learned About Independent Publishing in 2012

14 Friday Dec 2012

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800px-Juletræslys Yes, it’s a bit early, but the holidays are only getting more hectic, so I thought I’d post this anyway. This is kind of an epic blog post, but my last one, Ten Things I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2011, still gets a lot of views, so hopefully, some of this will resonate with you guys.

1. It’s still worth it.

Remember those predictions that the e-book market was flooded? Riiiiiight. I do, too! Here’s the thing about the e-book market: Nobody knows anything. Not really. This is all changing so fast, no one can predict what the publishing landscape is going to look like in five months, never mind five years.

Keep doing your thing. Keep writing and know that yes, it’s still worth it. Writers are still publishing with more creative and personal freedom than ever before, and they’re being paid. This year, I went from someone who hoped that writing would be part of my income in five years to writing being my income half way through the year. Am I the norm? NO, I absolutely am not, so all my advice about publishing and slowing build your audience still applies.

Lesson from 2012: Personally, professionally, creatively, independent publishing is still worth it. Continue reading »

Free Elemental World Novella and a Cambio Springs teaser

29 Thursday Nov 2012

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How long has it been since I’ve posted? Embarrassingly long, I’m afraid. Just a couple quick things.

One, if you’ve missed it, I’m posting a free novella in serial form over on ElementalMysteries.com called Waterlocked. It’s a standalone in the Elemental World series, so check it out if you like my paranormal romance. There are two chapters and a prologue up now, and I’m posting every Monday.

Two, I’m hitting the editing on the first Cambio Springs novel hard this month, so wish me luck. I offered to post a teaser over on the Facebook page, so here it is! Just a quick peek into Jena and Caleb’s first meeting. (Jena is the character introduced in Long Ride Home, the short story that is up on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.)

I’m looking at a winter release for this book, probably February/March of 2013. Still no official title, but I’ll keep you guys updated.

~~~

The band had just switched to something more mellow. Perfect. Caleb pulled her toward the dance floor where several other couples were already swaying and took her in his arms, placing one hand at her waist. Just right. He liked the curve of her hip under his rough hand. It felt… nice. Comfortable and hot at the same time. She was tall for a woman, five nine at least, and he barely had to look down at her to meet her eyes, which was unusual for someone over six feet.

“So, you’re from Indio?” she asked.

“No.” He wasn’t sure he wanted to talk or just dance, but she was quick, too. And Caleb liked smart women, the flirting was much more fun.

“Aren’t you the talkative one?”

He gave her a sly grin. “Sometimes.” Continue reading »

Reading/Watching/Listening: Pure Fun Edition

05 Monday Nov 2012

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Reading:

I’ve actually been reading quite a bit lately, since I’ve been trying to decompress after the release of Building From Ashes and the completion of the first Cambio Springs novel (which is looking like a February/March release, but I’m not certain.) I just finished this book, Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster, which was a nice combo of steampunk and vampire romance. A good, slow burner which I kind of stumbled across, it’s a great ride and I really like the world-building. I’d definitely read more from this author. Have any of you read it? Let me know what you thought.

My total obsession for the last couple of weeks has really been the Iron Druid Chronicles. Oh, Atticus and Oberon, how I love you. Kevin Hearne has taken world mythology and blended it brilliantly with fierce action and hilarious pop culture references to create a unique contemporary fantasy. It’s good stuff. Atticus is a great hero as the 2100 year old last Druid walking, and Oberon is… well, he’s a talking wolfhound. A talking wolfhound. (Let that awesomeness sink in.) It’s as hilarious and endearing as it sounds. If you haven’t read these books, you’re missing out. The fifth in the series, Trapped, comes out this month and I’m SO EXCITED!

Watching:

(Other than waaaay too much Disney Channel) I’ve been watching Elementary. I’m not gonna lie, I felt a little bit like I was cheating on Sherlock to do it, but then there was Johnny Lee Miller (and tattoos) with Lucy Liu and the delivery is different, so I’ve resigned myself to my guilt on this. I CAN LOVE THEM BOTH. Anyway, if you were hesitant to watch (as I was) I would like to set your mind at ease. I think if you like an edgier, non-canon Holmes with a female Watson (love that bit, Liu’s great) you’ll enjoy. It’s far more police procedural than Sherlock is, so missing an episode here and there isn’t going to set you back, which is sometimes a nice change of pace.

Listening: Gotan Project

Okay, you know I had eclectic musical tastes, right? I love this French/Argentinian/electronic/tango amalgamation of awesome. “Una Musica Brutal” was my first taste, but now I’m kinda hooked. I’m not even going to try to describe them, just watch.

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