Showing posts with label #author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #author. Show all posts

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Aquila et Noctua a historical novel - New Release

By P. J. Mann


There is a new release on Mann's house, and that doesn't just mean that I have written a new novel, but I have also experimented something new, a historical fiction.

Aquila et Noctua (The Eagle and the Owl) comes from a story I wrote many years ago and brings me back to one of my loves in life: History, and particularly the history of Ancient Rome. 
The story tells about a young slave, Saul, coming from Jerusalem, and the complicated relationship he will develop with his masters and with the other slaves, who will become a sort of surrogate family; the one he lost once he was enslaved.
Once again, like in my debut novel "A Tale of a Rough Diamond," we have the themes of envy, jealousy, conflictual relationships within the family, and wisdom.
Wisdom is depicted in this case like the Noctua (Owl), and like in nature happens, the owl is going to bring wisdom, with sudden chaos.
The Aquila, (Eagle) represents the Roman Empire and the family who will purchase Saul. 



There is going to be a Release party on my Facebook page: 
It is scheduled for Sunday 1.9  at 10:00 AM EDT and there will be other authors to help me celebrate the release. If you have more questions about this new release this is the right time to have them answered.


EXCERPT:
The sun shone brightly in the sky on that late summer day. The successful campaign in the territories of Palestine brought new glory to the Empire and filled every corner of the city with celebrations.
The massive military action, planned by Emperor Hadrian, had brought about the final defeat of the rebellious Jews in the third Jewish revolt.
Jerusalem was renamed Aelia Capitolina in honor of the victorious emperor and as an ultimate humiliation to the rebels. The prisoners were sent all over the Empire to be sold as slaves while the Roman generals and commanders were decorated in the public square of the Forum.
It was a joyful period throughout all of Rome, and it should have been no exception for Marcus Tiberius Numida. However, something weighed heavily on his mind and alienated his soul from the revelry.
He wandered through the streets of Rome, not paying attention to where he was going until he found himself in the slave market in the Forum.
Several specimens of males and females, crammed into cages, peered from between the bars, waiting to be yanked out and pushed to line up behind the merchant. Their eyes revealed fear and confusion
Each merchant touted the good properties of each slave they were selling, wildly gesticulating to underline their words to attract customers, as crowds of curious people and potential buyers gathered around.
The sobs of the waiting slaves and the clang of their chains against the bars, combined with the din of the curious onlookers and the raucous voices of the merchants. The stench of bodily fluids melded with the scent of food that was sold in the square.

To pre-order the novel, please follow this link:


I hope I have attracted your attention and see you soon at the release party!
Stay tuned!

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Catch 22

It used to be so easy!


Publishing and selling books was a breeze back then, when I published my first book.
I didn't have to worry about marketing because the books sold themselves.

I published a book on the two selling sites that were available and the sales started popping up on my dashboard.
I posted the new release on social sites and on my website, and readers clicked to buy the book and if they liked it, shared the link with their friends.

Now the market is saturated and it's a no-win battle for authors to show their books to readers and sell a few copies.

What happened?


  • First of all, a lot of competitors happened. Everyone and their aunt started writing and publishing. Some of the books were great, but the majority... well, isn't. It's because the selling sites didn't check quality, only proper formatting and grammar. 
  • A lot of new selling sites formed and it was great at the beginning because it gave the authors and readers more choices.
  • But in a short time, so many books were published that aggressive marketing became a necessity. 
  • Then, the pirate sites started popping up. Ruthless people stole eBooks, stripped off the protection and converted the books to PDF to offer it free on their website. Some of them thought books should be free, others used the free downloads as baits to increase their website traffic.
  • Then the "book stuffers" came into light. They published "books" that were only a few chapters and filled hundreds of pages with repetitive garbage. They added a link at the beginning with a bait or promise that led the reader to the end of the book. The selling site algorithm then picked it up as hundreds of pages read and paid the cheaters for the pages read. Some of these so called "authors" had the nerve to boast about making thousands of dollars a month by cheating.
  • On social sites my book posts used to be shared by a lot of people and had hundreds of comments, but people burned out by the book advertisements and are tired of seeing book promo posts. When they see posts shared by their friends, they block the author pages.
  • Reader groups used to be great as well. Readers were happy to interact with authors and clicked on book links to buy the books. Now, mostly authors are tooting their own horns in groups and the posts rarely viewed and commented by readers.
  • Today there are thousands of book promo and marketing sites offering services for various prices. Some work, most doesn't because readers got used to getting books for free. Either from pirate sites or from authors competing with each other and giving their books away for free.
  • Marketing? It's harder than ever. A few years back when I did 99 cents promo days quarterly for my books, I had hundreds of sales. Now I have to pay and because authors who can afford high priced marketing keep raising the bids to be seen, those of us with limited budget stay behind. 

I touched only a few obstacles in the lives of authors today. It's not easy to bring the books to the attention of readers. Small publishers are struggling along with self-published authors because you know, the big fish eats the small ones.
~Erika M Szabo

Click on the link to visit my website and read about my books.
I write speculative alternate history fiction, romantic urban fantasy, historical suspense novels as well as fun, educational, and bilingual books for children ages 2-14 about acceptance, friendship, family, and moral values such as accepting people with disabilities, dealing with bullies, and not judging others before getting to know them. I also like to encourage children to use their imagination and daydream about fantasy worlds.


Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Monologue or Soliloquy by Rick Haynes

Monologue or Soliloquy

 



I always get these mixed up so looked at the definition of both.

Monologue
Delivered by one character to other characters, or at least overheard by other characters if delivered to an audience.
It should serve a clear purpose and reveal something about the speaker and/or the situation that cannot be revealed by dialogue or character interaction.

Soliloquy
Delivered alone by one character without any other characters overhearing.
I’ll concentrate on the former.

A monologue will have a clear beginning, middle and end. Like a mini story within the bigger one, the speaker has a realisation or revelation at the end. As in any story a monologue should grab the reader’s attention immediately – the hook if you like. A strong voice will enhance the tale giving the reader a sense of character. Past or present, the character should use memory in bringing forward past events.

A clear ending is important as it brings the tale to a conclusion.
Think of William Shakespeare and his monologue in Henry V, the speech before the battle at Agincourt. Here is the main part
.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
 
All good so far, I thought, but then I realised I needed to write one. As I love medieval fantasy, perhaps I could think of a rousing speech before a battle? That was easier said than done but eventually, I succeeded. With sincere apologies to the great bard, here is my humble offering.
 
“You men, my comrades. Strong of arm and fearless in battle, now is the day to show your worth.
 
The enemy is near, their banners bright and their spears sharp. Yet most are mercenaries who will run at the sight of a true warrior. Listen to them, they’re screaming like a gaggle of washerwomen. And who among you has ever been afraid of foul words from a gathering of she-cats?”

“I share in your laughter yet would urge you to look again at their front ranks. They may strut like peacocks but see the terror in their eyes.”

“You have earned the right to stand tall and now it is time to send these upstarts to hell. I am proud to stand before my men, my sword shields, my friends in battle, for today we fight together as one clan.”

“Are you with me?”

“Advance!”

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Why Do Authors Write?

We asked authors on our Facebook page:
Why do you write?

It's interesting to read so many different answers from authors who write in different genres. Click on the links and get to know the authors and their books:

Samantha Sandefur
It's hard to pick just one reason for why I write. I love giving a voice to the characters I envision and their worlds so that others can enjoy them too. I also write as an escape from my physical health problems and as a way to relieve stress.
https://m.facebook.com/maureenshigeno/

Debbie Manber Kupfer
Because I have a whole world of stories inside of me and I need to know what happens.
https://www.amazon.com/Debbie-Manber-Kupfer/e/B00DHPNJ5I

William Schlichter
People act like writing is a choice. I don’t feel it is. Writing is something I have to do. All these stories, ideas and emotions, must flow onto the page. When I am not writing I feel incomplete. https://www.sandmenandzombies.com/

Toinette Thomas
I write because I enjoy it. It's part of who I am as a creative person. Some people bake, some people sew, I write. I share my writing with other people because I want to make a connection; just like a painter displaying in a gallery. I publish my writing for a chance to reach a larger population and hopefully to entertain likeminded people with my stories. I know my writing isn't for everyone, but it does have a wide appeal. I write clean adult fiction (various genres) and nonfiction, as well as children's books, which I also illustrate.
https://www.etoithomas.com/

Erika M Szabo
 The main reason I started writing is when on a rainy afternoon I couldn’t find any new book to read. My daughter had enough of my moping around and snapped at me, “Mom, stop whining! If you haven’t a book to read, then write one.” Her challenge shocked me, but I started playing with the idea and I’ve been writing stories ever since. Later someone told me I shouldn't write. "English is not your native language, you'll never master it enough to write enjoyable novels." My dad thought me not to let toxic naysayers kill my dreams, so naturally, I continued writing my first novel. I guess I proved the naysayer wrong because readers tell me that I'm a great storyteller.
https://www.authorerikamszabo.com/

PJ Mann
I guess this is the one million dollar question. At least for me, it doesn't have a single answer as there are many reasons why I do write. I do enjoy it, and because sometimes I like to tell people about the characters that are battling in my dreams or daydreams. I find it stress releasing and therapeutic, as exploring different points of views, I might also grow up myself understanding other people's way of thinking. Funny thing, I never thought about writing as something lucrative. It would be nice to earn something, but for that, I have at least my day-job.
https://pjmann2016.wixsite.com/pjmann

Bette A. Stevens
I write to share the stories bubbling inside me--tales (stories and poetry) that can't wait to get out! https://www.4writersandreaders.com

Pam Parten Atherstone
I write to release the stories in my head and the characters who are fighting to come alive. Their stories must be told, someone else must know about them. Writing keeps me sane. https://www.pamatherstone.com

Nicola Oldknow
The stories build up inside my imagination to a point where I can’t hold them in anymore. In a way the writing is a type of therapy but then there is the added bonus that people actually enjoy reading my work. I write because if I didn’t the story would never be told and that would be a betrayal of self.
https://m.facebook.com/NLOsguthorpe/

Toni Kief
Keeps me out of the taverns.
https://www.tonikief.com

Mary E. Fricke
I want to breathe. I've been writing longer than I can remember. Writing is as essential to my life as breathing. I cannot imagine not writing. Whatever the desire to do it is, was ingrained. I think I inherited the need to write from my mother. She was a published poet.
http://www.meforiginals.com

Julia Blake
Because the stories in my head have to come out or I would go insane, because the characters are more real to me than family or friends and when they take me by the hand and say "listen to me, I have a tale to tell and you must write it down" I have no choice but to comply. https://www.juliablakeauthor.co.uk

Trisha J. Kelly
I'm not a great people lover if I'm honest! Don't get me wrong there are lots of lovely friends on Facebook, but not much else in the real world! Greed, corruption and hatred take up too much space. When I write it takes me to somewhere else entirely! I love writing middle-grade because of the magical elements and the adventure lacking in reality. I can write whatever I like. All things are possible. My crime books help me to get my own back on bad people without actually committing murder in the real world! The cozy mysteries I'm currently penning are everything I am inside. Competitive in a challenging sense. I want to outwit my readers by making them think and work out the clues! Writing is a way to balance the control of our lives.
https://www.trishajkellypublications.co.uk/

Ruth de Jauregui
The stories in my head must be released. And I want to leave a legacy for my kids and grandkids.
https://www.ruthdj.weebly.com

Lorraine Carey
I started writing to engage younger readers as being a reading specialist I saw so many students that could not get interested in anything. They always seemed to be taken with magic so my first book was geared toward boys in junior high.
http://www.lorrainecarey.com

Tony Duxbury
Because I love it.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005086548859

Meet the Author Gang members:
https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/the-author-gang.html


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COMMENTS

Erika M Szabo via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Read the answers of many authors who write various genre stories :)
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Rick Haynes

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Excellent posts here. I note that many writers have vivid imaginations and I would concur with that. I let my mind wander and my fingers do the walking. I started writing when I was housebound. Going stir crazy is not recommended.
 

E.V. Emmons

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great blog everyone! I write because the voices tell me to. :D
 
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Gina Gao

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
These are so amazing! Thanks for sharing.

www.ficklemillennial.blogspot.com
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Tricia Drammeh via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Why do authors write? Find out what some of your favorite authors have to say!
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
The authors share why they write on #OurAuthorGang today. Wonderful post, check it out!! And hey, you can add your own reasons for writing in the comments!
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Ruth de Jauregui

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Wonderful post! I can relate to the other authors, those are great reasons to write.
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Chris Weigand

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great post and great reasons for writing.
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Chris Weigand shared this via Google+

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Joe Bonadonna

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Excellent post, excellent question and some truly insightful answers from the authors.
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on #OurAuthorGang, we ask the question, "Why Do Writers Write?" Check out what many authors have had to say.
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Toi Thomas

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a fun and insightful post. It's so cool to see authors express the many reasons they all do and or share their craft.
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Cindy Smith

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
amazing how many different reasons there are!
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Cindy Smith shared this via Google+

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Toi Thomas via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today, #OurAuthorGang asks, "Why do authors write?" Check out the answeres.
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Stephanie Collins via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Erika M Szabo originally shared this
 
Read the answers of many authors who write various genre stories :)
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Eva Miranda via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Ruth de Jauregui originally shared this
 
The authors share why they write on #OurAuthorGang today. Wonderful post, check it out!! And hey, you can add your own reasons for writing in the comments!
 
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