Insanity

All authors must be insane.

All of us write books, query or self-publish, market ourselves, and start the process all over again. We do it repeatedly, hoping this time it will be different and we will sell more books. Like banging our heads against a brick wall.

I don't sell a lot of books right now. I self-publish, but I take it very seriously and hope someday that as I publish more, I will sell more. So basically . . . .

This is how I feel right now.

I don't work right now. My husband supports me and I was saying to him,"Maybe I should try to go into a different career."

A rational husband would probably agree. But an AMAZING husband would do what mine just did.

He told me,"No. You just need to keep working hard and finding new ways to market your books." He rattled off a list of ideas he had on how I can sell more books and he ended it with talking about going to book conventions. (Which we later couldn't find any of, but that doesn't matter!) And his opinions were actually good ideas, unlike most non-writers who try to give me advice.

He said,"I believe in your books so much that if it means we can't go to Comicon this year (even though we already have the tickets) because we're going to a book convention, I will miss it in order to help promote your books."

You need to understand that my husband is obsessed with Comic books. His one hobby is Comic books. He spends all his spare time reading them and studying them. We see all the super hero movies together. He even plays HeroClix, which is a game where you have little Comic Book figures that you place on a map and fight other people with other figures. And he said that he'd miss all of that in order to promote my books.

He's definitely a keeper. Good thing I married him!

How To Write Hotter Sex Scenes

Here's a list of what you can add to your stories to make your sex scenes hotter:

1. Taboo

The characters really shouldn't...and that's what makes it so sexy.

Maybe their boss is in the next room and might overhear or they're trying to join the mile high club.

If it's against the rules, it's hot. Making the reader feel that maybe they shouldn't be reading this story either because it's so taboo, but they read it anyway, will add to the excitement.

2. Inconvenience

It's easy to write a scene where the two characters fall in love and then have sex. But the problem is, it's sweet, but not very hot. People want desire to be the driving force between the two characters.

To amp up the desire in the scene, you need to make the sex inconvenient. Because it's easy for two characters to have sex when the mood and setting are right, but it shows just how much two characters desire each other if the setting and mood are totally wrong, but they are still all over each other.

Like when two characters fight and that leads them to make love in the middle of the kitchen when they know at any minute one of their room mates might come home. It's hot because it shows that the two characters desire each other so much that they don't care if the counter tops are hard or if they are furious with each other or if someone might walk in. All they care about is having sex.

3. Kink

You don't have to go to an extreme to add some kink to your story. Maybe the characters don't use handcuffs, but the guy pins her to the bed with her hands over her head so that she can't move. Or he pulls out a vibrator because he wants to experiment on her.

Adding a little kink can go a long way to show just how much the characters desire one another.

4.  Emotions

Emotional turmoil will immediately make a sex scene hotter. She's not sure about a guy, in fact, she has every reason to hate him, but the way he pulls off his shirt and flexes his biceps as he does so is irresistable to her.

When a character feels tortured by her emotions, but still has sex anyway, it shows that lust is ruling her decisions. It makes the scene a little naughty because she's going against her mind to follow her desires because she feels so passionate that she just can't wait.

5. Torture

There is torture in BDSM, but that isn't necessarily the kind of torture I am talking about. (Although it can work, too.) I mean that two characters really want each other, but circumstances make it impossible for them to be with each other yet. Maybe they are in the middle of a crowd of people or they're driving somewhere or have immediate responsibilites that they need to attend to. They keep looking at each other with desire, maybe whispering about how they feel, but they have to wait and they can barely stand it.

After all that torture, when the characters finally get to have one another, the pay off is great.

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On the other hand, you should avoid these crutches when trying to make sex scenes hotter....

1. Something New

A lot of people know what they like sexually and are just looking for a sexy story that satisfies those desires. They don't need something new to happen. They just need new characters and a new setting. The story will feel brand new, even if it isn't.

If you get too crazy about trying to add something new then that's when you have scenes that might scare your readers.

Like, imagine if a woman took a nutcracker and decided to use it on a man the way the name implies it should be used. I've never read a sex scene like that. It would be a very unique idea, but I would feel disturbed reading it.

2. New Positions

Some authors worry that if they always write sex scenes where the girl is on top or the two people are doing missionary that it will bore the readers after awhile. That's not true. It's the circumstances that surround the sex that makes the sex steamy.

Just do whatever fits the scene and makes the most sense. If the two characters are feeling adventurous, have them try out a new position. If they are having sex for the first time, though, they might stick to missionary. If they are having sex in a public restroom, missionary would be disgusting and likely lead to stickiness all over their bodies from rubbing up against the floor. In that situation only sex while standing up would make sense. If the main character is a strong woman, then maybe she likes to be on top, so she can take control.

Character personalities and setting will likely dictate which position is appropriate.

New Covers

It didn't seem like my old covers for the "God Of Light" series were well liked, so I decided to find some new covers to use instead.

These two books are the books I am working on right now and will be the ones I publish next.

What do you think?*

*Bright's Passion and Night's Lust aren't typos, by the way. Bright and Night are gods.

HERE IS WHERE I PURCHASED THESE COVERS:

http://telltalebookcovers.weebly.com/pre-made-covers.html

Cover Reveal for "Secrets In The Air" By Liz Borino

Title: Secrets in the Air

Author: Liz Borino

Cover Artist: Anthony Walsh

Blurb:

Wealthy family…

Childhood tragedy…

A love defying all odds…

Secrets in the Air

Flying is in Rhett O’Neil’s blood. And nothing makes this pilot fly higher than wrapping himself in his husband Kaden’s arms. He’s thrilled when his grandfather entrusts him with O’Neil Airways, the family’s charter airplane business. With a mix of humanitarian and corporate clients, Rhett plans a bright future where his success improves the world.

Elise, Rhett’s mother, begins offering advice to “help” her son through the transition into increased responsibility. As evidence surfaces that her words are escalating into devastating actions, the truth comes out about the death of Rhett's sister Annabelle. Kaden has to race to protect his husband and himself from the consequences of the Secrets in the Air before it’s too late.

Links: Author website

Secrets in the Air Page

Amazon Author Page

Interview With Yelle Hughes

I'd like to welcome Yelle Hughes to my blog. Yelle is an excellent writer (I've read her books and the two of us have worked as critique partners) and likes to write about Greek Mythology like I do.

1. Tell us about your books. What makes them special?

My books are a mixture of genres. Fantasy, urban, romance, erotica, multicultural, humor and a little bit of Sci-Fi.
 

2. What inspired you to write about greek mythology?
 

I grew up on reading and watching the stories of Greek Mythology. I was pretty much a loner and a dreamer. Those stories always fascinated me.
 

3. Who is your favorite character in your stories?
 

They are all my favorite but if I had to pick one, I would choose Ariadne, she’s pretty much me, at a younger age.
 

4. How long did it take you to finish writing each book?
 

My first, took 20 years (not kidding) the second Eros, took me about a year to get it all done. My short Scifi took me actually a month to complete
 

5. What are you working on now?
 

Right now, Eros is getting the editing touch up and I just started the third in the series, Zephyrus.
 

6. What made you decide to self-publish?
 

It was a long and hard debate with myself, publishing companies I submitted to, when I first started to become an author full-time. Luckily, I joined the profession when self-publishing was made easier for people like me.
 

7. What have you learned about self-publishing so far?
 

That it’s hard work and everything is pretty much left up to you, but I have a great support group that has guided me the way.
 

8. Who is your favorite author?
 

There are so many out there, but the first name that comes to mind is, Sherrilyn Kenyon. She used Greek mythology as her base and her Dark Hunters series is the best out there.
 

9. What is your favorite novel?
 

My favorite novel is the Illiad. The lies, alliances, the stupidity and wisdom are all captured by Homer.
 

10. If you could live in the world you created, would you? Why or why not?
 

Who wouldn’t live in a world where you could do anything you want, be anything you want, live anywhere you want, but you were upheld to be a good, decent and moral person.
 

11. Who is your favorite Greek God?
 

I’d say Eros. It was his story, “Cupid and Psyche” that started me on my quest to learn everything about Greek Mythology. He was always portrayed as the chubby little cherub, but in his story, he was a man and a husband. In my story, I push him further away from that description. He actually quits his job as the god of Love.
 

12. How many books will be in this series? What will those books be about?
 

Right now, four books are set for the Aegean Chronicles series. If things go great and the readers would like more, I have an outline for the fifth book.
 

13. Who designed your covers?
 

A long time ago when I was dreaming of my characters, symbols of what they present came to mind. I have asked some graphic designers to help, only it seemed I wasn’t explaining the concept right because no one got it. So, I did some research, studied tutorials and created them myself.

 

What happens when your ancestor, who happens to be a pedophile, a rapist and a cold-blooded killer, tries to kill you? Even stuffs his daughter into a box and throws them into the sea?
 

Luckily for Ariadne Phillips, Triton, god of the sea, travels across the ocean to protect her. Reluctantly you might add.
 

Sent by his father to watch a silly mortal, Taz plans to ship her off to No Man’s Land, so he can go back home to max and relax.
 

When green eyes meet hazel, it’s a done deal. Taz wants to keep the only mortal who can make him laugh and cry at the same time, while Ari gets a dream trip to Greece, to be a model and finally use her self-defense training to kick some butt.
 

Happily ever after can’t be reached without Taz discovering his mortal flaw. Gods can and do die. Ari can’t join the immortal ranks without fighting the crockety Fates for her soul.

 

Website: http://yellehughes.com/?page_id=32

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Triton-Aegean-Chronicles-Yelle-Hughes-ebook/dp/B00K02TUEU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1401820451&sr=1-1&keywords=aegean+chronicles

Self-Publishing On A Budget - Secret Ways To Save On Your Cover

Most of us do not make millions of dollars self-publishing. We're usually starving artists, rubbing pennies together to keep warm while we desperately pray that we'll have the money to fund our next book before we're finished with it.

I've created and purchased a few covers. I've had some trials and errors with my experiences. I've lost money because of it, but I don't want others to make the same mistakes. Here are some things I've learned:

1. Don't Make The Covers Yourself

Unless you know where to get fonts and pictures for free (or you are a professional graphic designer), don't try to make the covers yourself. I made my first two covers myself and I had no idea what I was doing. I bought expensive fonts and pictures that wound up costing more than if I had hired someone else to do it. The quality of the cover at the end of the project was inferior and therefore sold me very few books (so I lost money by earning less money.) Also, my time is precious and I would have been better off writing rather than working on my cover.

2. Premade Covers Are Cheap

Most cover artists like making covers in their spare time. It's nice to be able to ask for exactly what you want, but cheaper to purchase one made ahead of time. It may take a long time to find a cover that fits your book, but if you keep looking, you'll find something eventually.

Most premade covers cost about $20-$60. While most custom covers cost anywhere from $100-$200.

3. Purchase Several At Once

This is a huge secret that's really important to know. Most cover artists want to encourage you to buy several covers at once. They want to get rid of their covers, so that they can make new ones. It usually won't be on their web-site, but most of them have deals where if you buy more than one cover from them at the same time, you will get a certain amount of money off the total price.

4. Know What You Want

If you decide to get a custom cover, make sure that you know exactly what you want ahead of time and be detailed when explaining what you want. The less times that they have to edit the cover to meet your needs, the less they will charge you.

It's even better if you have a font or a picture that you can give them ahead of time.

5. Simple Is Best

The simpler the cover, the cheaper it usually costs. It takes less time to create and less images/fonts, all of which ramp up the price.

6. Search For Covers Before You Need Them

If you wait until you are done with your book before you buy the cover, you'll be in a rush to find one. You'll wind up paying more and getting an inferior quality product because you're impatient to get published.

It's better to search occasionally online for covers and purchase them as you find them.

7. Don't Be Impulsive

Unless you find a cover that's perfect or an artist that you like so much that you have zero desire to work with anyone else, don't be impulsive. Wait a few days when you find a cover that you like and see if you still like it. It will help prevent you from having to purchase a new cover later because you found one that you liked better.

8. Original Artwork Doesn't Matter

Most people want a cover that doesn't look like anyone else's. I have found authors who have the same art on their covers as I do on mine and it's no big deal. Until you are making a lot of money or are into photography already, it will cost you a lot to organized a photo shoot. There's the set, the camera man, and the model to pay. Original pictures drawn by artists usually look amateurish and are expensive. It's better to go with clipart.

Reality vs Fiction

Recently, I started reading "The Fault In Our Stars". I love it. It sounds like a depressing book because it's about teenagers who are dying of cancer. It is depressing, but not so sad that it's difficult to read because the author knew how to pull off the subject well.

The characters seem so deep and real to me that I immediately thought,"The author must have known someone who had cancer as a teenager or gone through cancer himself." I found out later that indeed, he had worked with young cancer patients. So in order to tell us a fictional story, he had to add a bit of truth in there from his own life experiences. That made his story seem more real to me.

It just made me think of the contradictions that exist in writing.

Like, that we work so hard to make our writing so easy to read. In fact, authors are so notoriously good at making writing seem easy, it's why most people don't realize how hard it is to write a book until they give it a try for the first time. I can't count how many times I've heard people say that they could write a better book than an author they hate. I would never say that! I know how difficult it is to write even a "terrible" book!

Another one is how we often make up these stories, which are basically lies (because they aren't real, but we are trying to make them seem real), in order to share with you truths about how we view the world. There are many famous religious figures who have taught people through stories. Because when you tell them your opinion directly, it can be more offensive than illustrating it with a hypothetical story. Hypothetical stories cause readers to think and draw their own conclusions even if you guided them there. And it gives a situation in which the truth you are trying to express is being applied to real life.