Readers DO judge a book by its cover. Make sure yours looks professional. Put as much thought into your book’s appearance as you do your story. There are great books with awful covers and dreadful books with magnificent covers. Make sure your work is packaged the way it deserves.
(If you need a cover designer, I’m available. You can see samples of my work on my Pinterest site here.)
While technically a children’s story, this beautifully written and touching tale by award-winning author, W. J. Scott, demonstrates that a great story works for all ages. In fact, some parts of it were so suspenseful and heart-rending, I felt it could be a little scary for some young children.
The main character, Kywah, is a silvertail, a unique species with subtle, magical powers. Much of these abilities lie in their tail, which acts similar to an antenna to pick up information around them. Unfortunately, poor Kywah’s tail was severed by an evil hunter named Samsa, stunting his physical progression to maturity.
To make things even worse, Tullius, the local wizard acquires the severed tail and discovers it has magical properties that will help boost his own failing magical powers. This leads to a bounty being placed on silvertails for their tails as well as their pelts, which motivates the local hunters to seek them out.
A silvertail from a neighboring pack brings ominous news that hunters are closing in. Subsequently, Kywah embarks on a treacherous mission to visit Rotarn, their species’s “Wise One”, to obtain the deep magic needed to protect them.
This is an outstanding, suspense-filled story with a multitude of messages addressing courage, dealing with disabilities, the bonds of friendship, and commitment to one’s mission, whatever it takes. As an animal lover myself, the plight of these sweet creatures really touched me, in view of the many species bordering on extinction today due to being hunted by cold-hearted, selfish men. I recommend it highly as an outstanding example of a great story with an equally great message. Fortunately, it’s the first volume of a series, allowing me to look forward to the next book.
Pick up your copy on Amazon here.
Write what you know, whether it relates to your hero’s job or where he lives. If you don’t, then learn the necessary details via research. Accuracy is essential if you want to maintain credibility as a writer. You’ll often be rewarded with new ideas and plot twists to enrich your story as well as have more confidence in its quality. Writing fiction is not about blindly making things up. It should ring with authenticity.
Does your story take place somewhere you’ve never been? Use Google Earth to visit vicariously. Detailed descriptions are what make a story come alive. Getting strong visuals help you write better descriptions and can even introduce various plot twists. Furthermore, it’s important to maintain accuracy if your story takes place in an actual location. People who live or have been there will be drawn to your story and if it’s accurate they’ll be impressed. If it’s totally wrong, you’ll lose credibility.
If you missed the live broadcast, you can hear the recording here!
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Welcome to RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB’S BlogTalkRadio production of RAVE WAVES ‘BUY THE BOOK,’ where HOST BEEM WEEKS is joined by AUTHOR MARCHA FOX. We will be discussing her novel, THE TERRA DEBACLE: PRISONERS AT AREA 51. Join us as we explore this book and become better acquainted with the author. This segment of BUY THE BOOK is being sponsored by RHANI D’CHAE, author of the novel SHADOW OF THE DRILL. If you’d like to know how you can get your own recorded commercial to air during one of our shows, please visit the RRBC site.
Analogies compare two things that are alike in some way, then extend it beyond that in either a literal or figurative way to achieve greater understanding. They break down eventually, so don’t go too far. For example, you could compare a dog to a loyal, forgiving friend or career choices to an expansive buffet.
Metaphors compare two entirely different things, such as comparing the stages of life to the seasons. This type of description can be powerful, but it can also be distracting if it doesn’t fit. If you write humor, it can be very effective. Otherwise, make sure you intend for it to be funny. Mixed metaphors can be hilarious, but also a major distraction when used inappropriately.
Keep a notepad handy everywhere to jot down ideas, whether for a new story, plot twist, or vivid description. The more convenient it is, the more likely you’ll do so. Like so many other things, it’s use it or lose it. How often have you thought of a clever way to describe something just before you fell asleep, thinking you’d remember, but it was long-gone in the morning? Don’t lose those previous literary jewels!
How many decimals do we really need for pi? http://ow.ly/FBon30iSKNV #PiDay #STEM
Keep a notebook of descriptions you find that stand out because they stimulated your senses. The more senses you incorporate into your narrative, the more vivid the imagery will be. Sight alone isn’t as effective. Remember, your sense of smell is one of the strongest memory triggers due to how it’s wired to your brain. What do you see when you think of the scent of the ocean or a spring rain? Scents familiar to your reader will bring your story alive.
