Before I jump to the fun stuff, I need to say something that has been weighing on my mind. Go to the next blog if you want a little light reading where I put excerpts from The Magical Things Collection. This blog will not be fluffy or light. I didn’t do my normal first of the month blog in June, and I didn’t send out my monthly newsletter because the cancel culture trend started to overwhelm me. I’ve moved past that and decided to post two blogs for July. For weeks I have been debating whether I should write this or not. At my age, I hope I have the wisdom of hindsight and experience. That doesn't mean getting older makes you wiser, but I'm always willing to learn. In my later teens and twenties, I would have hastily and vehemently expressed my opinions. Back then I easily judged people who thought outside my boxes. Thankfully social media wasn't around for me to share my too-quick-to-judge words, because time has taught me that sometimes I change my mind on certain topics and I also realized that some of my views had been too harsh, naïve, uneducated, or just cow poop. Truthfully, my perspective can still be incorrect because I’m human, but at least I wait before I shovel out my manure to the world. Social media has created a monster where people can attack hastily and harshly without knowing or even trying to seek all the facts. The same monster thinks if they tell someone they should, “kill themselves”, that their criminal words will bully that person into thinking like them. Yes, this happened to a young mother and wife I follow on Instagram who has been vocal about her beliefs on certain topics. She’s kind and never harsh to those who disagree with her, so why was she treated so horrifically? She shared the hateful messages sent to her on one of her posts just to show that she has risen above the violence, and hasn’t changed her beliefs despite it all. Several authors are coming under attack with the same type of vile behavior just because they don’t use their platform the way certain individuals think they should. I have fortunately not been attacked, which may be due to the fact I reach such a small group of people. There are atrocious individuals and groups in the world who think people deserve to die for not believing the way they do, but what makes their opinions or convictions better than anyone else’s? What human gets to decide the standard for everything under the sun? Unless you want to enter into some futuristic dystopian world where mind control can be easily done, I think there will always be people on opposite sides of an ideology or belief. That doesn't mean one group gets to be murdered literally or figuratively for it. Here are some things I wished the angry mob or individuals would consider before they attacked:
I'm reminded of a famous pop song that for copyright reasons I can't quote, but it says every person should look in the mirror first before trying to correct everyone they meet. If you want to make the world a better place, it starts with you. Work on you, not your neighbor. Truth doesn’t require hatefulness to spread. I know it will eventually win in the end.
0 Comments
In my opinion, creativity needs freedom to flourish. This year I was only going to share segments from my books in this blog, but the idea that my creativity needs freedom has been preoccupying my thoughts lately. What if I lived in a place where I couldn't write my fiction without consequences? What if my stories were canceled because they didn't check off all the boxes a group of people expected or demanded from them? Would I be able to find the desire to create my stories in such an oppressive world? The keyword is "my" since they are what my mind invents. I find it hard to picture the joyful creations of Walt Disney coming from someone controlled by the government; oppressed by anger, bitterness, and fear. I'm not a history expert, so I'll just put the question out there without an answer: Are there any really good fantasy fiction books that were written by authors living in tyrant regimes, communist, or Marxist countries? If yes, were those books hopeful, with happy endings, and true creativity? The love of books unites people. I made so many friends on Instagram because we can talk about books. We don't all like the same ones, but that's okay... well it was until cancel culture started infiltrating our happy bookworm community. Those preaching tolerance, aren't so tolerant of anyone who is on the opposite side. The voices who are the loudest and most angry are not always the ones speaking the truth or saying what the average person really thinks. I end my blog today with quotes from Aesop, a man who was born around 620 BCE, but the words still ring true for today. "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." ~ Aesop "Do nothing without regard to the consequences." ~ Aesop "The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others." ~ Aesop "Kindness is more persuasive than force." ~ Aesop "Don't be in a hurry to change one evil for another." ~ Aesop "Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either." ~ Aesop "Those who cry the loudest are not always the ones who are hurt the most" ~ Aesop "Please all, and you will please none." ~ Aesop "He who plots to hurt others often hurts himself." ~ Aesop
Each month I will give you parts of my books published and unpublished. Newsletter subscribers will receive the entire chapter. This is only a portion of it. Since Jasper is coming out next month, I'm continuing to share books from the series. ______________________________________________________ This is copyrighted material. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information browsing, storage, or retrieval system, without permission in writing to Carla Reighard. _______________________________________________________________________________ The high domed ceiling had murals of fantastical creatures soaring on them, like the great Leonardo da Vinci himself had painted them. What made the images even more spectacular was they seemed to move as if they were live creatures trapped inside each depiction. In the center of the library was a cozy section of furniture that looked ornate yet perfectly designed for the comfort of one who was hunkering down to read for a long time. A fireplace was also located in the center and the furniture encircled it to make the area feel welcoming.
The first floor shelves were too high to reach all the books so ladders that reached the top, each with rollers, leaned against the book cases so it would be easy to retrieve any tome in the massive room. “What is this place?” Bella was overcome with wonder. “It’s my secret. Well, now it’s our secret. This place is magical.” “It looks spectacular, but you don’t mean that it’s actually supernatural?” “That’s exactly what I mean. When I first arrived here, it looked like a typical abandoned house with dust and cobwebs, but I began to wish for things and they just appeared. The library was always here, and this is where I did the wishing.” “I don’t understand what you mean.” “It’s easier to show you.” Layney walked to the ladder nearest the door and scooted it down to the middle section of the shelves. She climbed up a few steps and perused the books until she found what she wanted. After she pulled the book off the shelf, she made her way down the ladder and handed the book—titled Christmas Home Interior Decorating—to Bella. “Which decorations do you think would look good in this room?” Layney asked. Bella was still confused, but she grabbed the book and flipped through it until she found a photo of the perfect tree and ornaments she thought would complement the already breathtaking library. “These decorations would be beautiful here, but super expensive, and I’m not quite sure what that has to do with—” Before Bella could finish her sentence, the room began to fill with evergreen garlands wrapped in gold, silver, and blue ribbons—a smell like something sweet, mixed with pine and cinnamon wafted in the air. A fairy tale Christmas setting began to unfurl before Bella’s eyes. Next, a tall fir tree popped out of mid-air and stood erect in the middle of the room. As she watched, the tree began to fill up with garland, lights, and ornaments that looked exactly like the ones in the book that Bella had. “What is going on here?” Bella asked in awe. “Like I said, you have to see to believe that this place is magical. That’s not all. Are you hungry? Do you want a holiday treat?” “I wasn’t until you said something, but—” Layney interrupted, “Wouldn’t a nice cup of hot chocolate filled with marshmallows, and a plate of Christmas cookies, hit the spot?” Two piping-hot cups of cocoa, with a plate of delicious looking cookies, suddenly appeared on a table near one of the lounge chairs. “How are you doing that?” Bella asked Layney. “I’m not. This house—or the books—are making it happen. I don’t know where the magic is coming from. I just know I can get things from books I read.” “So what happens if I read a book about dragons? Do they suddenly appear?” “Fictional books are different magic than the non-fiction. The Christmas decoration book was non-fiction. The treats I conjured up were inside a cookbook I found in this library. I don’t have to even read the book anymore to get the treats to appear. I just have to talk about what I want from what I previously read. Even if I didn’t read about it, as long as it is in one of these books, it appears.” “Have you read a fictional story in here?” “Actually, I have, and it got a little scary.” “How?” Bella’s curiosity was exploding out of her pores. Happy International Women's Day to all the extraordinary women who paved a path for women today. If you ever get the chance to read my books, The Travelers Duology, you’ll meet historical women like Cornelia Fort, Sacagawea, Margaret Brown, and Elizabeth Burgin who were ordinary women that accomplished extraordinary things throughout American history. If you don't know anything about these remarkable females, here are links to their real life stories and how they helped make this world a better place: Cornelia Fort Sacagawea Margaret Brown Elizabeth Burgin In my most recent fairy tale retellings with princesses, dragon slayers, and powerful enchantresses it's easy to think that only in books an average woman like myself could amount to anything brilliant. Though I write about these empowered characters, I want to believe that we don't have to live in a world of fiction to have women who can make a difference. I've sadly been seeing a lot of voices the world is trying to silence for not having the narrative that matches the current trends created by powerful rich people. It seems we have to be offended by something if we want to fit in with the popular woke world. Being offended doesn't mean you're enlightened or brave, it may just mean that you're accustomed to getting your way and if you can't have everything your way, you will throw a tantrum and cancel someone. Unfortunately, bowing down to bogus claims and giving into rants has become the norm. Being a strong woman doesn't mean your opinion has to always be heard or else you will cause a scene. History has proven this to be true multiple times just in the women I mentioned earlier. The women I admire aren't the ones who seek fame or power. They are the ones who care about others and put others' needs before their own. They are the mothers, sisters, and daughters who work daily to do what is best for their families or friends. They don't expect the government or anyone else to make their lives better, because they find the path for themselves. The women who made a difference in history were the ones who did it at risk of self and put others' needs first. Ultimately, true character is what we do when no one is looking and the women who seek accolades for their accomplishments don't need International Women's Day. This day is for those no one sees, but who never give up and keep moving forward because their greatness is from within. Each month I will give you parts of my books published and unpublished. Newsletter subscribers will receive the completed chapter. This is only a portion of it. ____________________________________________ This is copyrighted material. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information browsing, storage, or retrieval system, without permission in writing to Carla Reighard. Months after the war had ended, Gerard found a new normal in the small village where he and Leo boarded. The Americans had finally won their revolution, and the British had been forced out of the colonies, so it was a time of peace and reconstruction. Secretly, Spain had also helped in the war efforts; they now controlled the Louisiana territory. Their motive for helping the Americans was to weaken the British on two warfronts so they could easily take Florida from the British—it worked.
After getting comfortable in their new lives, Gerard and Leo decided to move to Louisiana rather than return to France. Both of them needed a different life and a fresh perspective. Going back to France would be more of a hardship than a joy. Yes, they would miss their families, but they weren’t the same boys they were when they had left. They were men now, and their families would expect them to pick up where they had left off. They couldn’t. Pretending to be the boys they no longer were would only create more stress than either Leo or Gerard wanted to face. The Louisiana territory had been under French control in the past, and it was a mixture of French, Spanish, Creole, and other cultures. Gerard felt it was a place where he could find a way to fit in and adapt easily. The King of France was so pleased with what Gerard had done for France’s reputation that he gave Gerard an overly generous bonus for his service in the French army. Gerard sent some of the money to his father in France to pay off the family debts, but he kept some to begin his new American life. While looking for the perfect career opportunity, Gerard hung out at The Swan daily. It benefited him to forget his sorrows, and in addition, his drinks were always paid for by those who admired his courage in the war. Stories about his heroic deeds began to be blown out of proportion. Rather than deny the praise, Gerard began to soak it up and believe every word. Leo became his shadow; he bent over backwards to help Gerard feel like a king whenever he was around others in the tavern. Leo took longer to learn English than Gerard had, but there were always people who spoke French who could interpret what Leo had said so Gerard didn’t have to be the only one to talk about his own exploits. “Gerard killed fifty British soldiers with only his knife in less than an hour. It was the most spectacular thing I’d ever seen. He didn’t even break a sweat,” Leo exaggerated to the men who surrounded them, all eager for battle stories. Gerard pushed thoughts of Elayne so far from his mind that the lies dripped easily from his tongue. “Leo is right, but he left out the part about how many colonial girls swooned over my bravery. I could have taken one of the wenches as my wife if I had wanted to.” Gerard smiled with a full set of white teeth exposed. “But why be tied down by one woman for the rest of my life when there are so many to experience first?” He then laughed while all the other men cheered over his comment. Laughter forced his true emotions far away from the surface. The barmaids fought over who would keep Gerard’s mug full and batted their lashes at him every time he was near. He noticed how they bickered over serving him, so he commented, “Ladies, don’t argue over me. I can drink all the ale you want to bring me—keep it coming.” He winked and the girls giggled as if they were being given a rare treat. “I don’t know how you do it. Every single woman in town wants you, and you manage to keep them wanting more without making a commitment. I have one girl who notices me and she gave me an ultimatum that I need to marry her or lose her,” Leo sighed. “Are you going to marry her?” Gerard asked “I suppose so. She’s kind and willing to love me despite my missing leg.” “I promised myself I wouldn’t get tied down to anyone. I have so many women willing to compliment me without needing to give anything in return. I don’t have the energy left to care for anyone but you, Leo. Why would I want to settle for one woman? Besides, I wouldn’t want to rob the others of a chance at flattering me. If I was married, they would have to stop trying. And after all, I deserve this.” “They’ll be writing songs about you someday. Singing about how no one is as great as Gerard.” While Leo continued to boost Gerard’s ego, an unfamiliar barmaid walked by the two men. She was picking up the empty mugs and pushing forsaken chairs back under the table. She acted as if Gerard was invisible and paid him no mind. She had a book that was sticking out of her apron pocket; the title, The Scorned Fairy, caught Gerard’s attention. He grabbed the book. “Is this any good?” “Give that back! You had no right to take it!” “Settle down; you’re lucky I’m showing you any attention. You seem to not know who I am.” Gerard puffed up his muscular chest a little more. “Unfortunately, I know exactly who you are. The other girls talk about you like you’re some kind of god. Believe me, you’re nothing like the hero in this book.” Gerard wasn’t discouraged by the young woman’s dismissal. He paged through the tome in search of a description of her fictional hero. She tried to grab it from him, but he held it out of her reach. She jumped up in another attempt at retrieving her book, but failed. Gerard laughed at her and she scowled at him. “I’ll give you your book back, if you let me know your name.” _____________________________________________________ To read the complete book it is available for purchase here: Gerard Yay, we made it through the first month of 2021! How did it go for you? For me, not too great, but not horrific either. Since 2021 is trying to be 2020's doppelganger, I wasn't expecting fabulous. I'm trying to consistently post a blog once-a-month, which I successfully did in 2020, but coming up with content is tricky. Since politics and corona virus have saturated our news and entertainment to the point we all want to go to a fictional world inside a book, I decided to take you there in my blog. Each month of 2021 I will give you a glimpse of my current work-in-progress or a part of one of my already published books. If it is my current WIP, it won't be the final product. It may end up changing before it gets published. Please read it for entertainment and as a way to pique your interest. Much like a sneak preview to a movie, it is a teaser to entice you to watch the whole movie. It's my attempt to get you to read the whole book, but if you don't, you can enjoy this small journey inside my stories. (Inner voice: let's hope this works and doesn't blow up in your face.) Excerpt from Jasper: release date and cover have not been revealed yet. Chapter 1 Jasper Captain Jasper Falcon was a pirate. Even though he told the local business owners in New Orleans that he was a privateer, everyone knew that he didn’t have a conscious or moral compass to prevent him from doing whatever it took to get anything he desired. Since he grew up in a poor home with abusive parents, Jasper had known the only solution to escape his despicable life was to become part of a ship’s crew and sail far away from home.
When he became a cabin boy of the Black Fear he had assumed his life would be better. Jasper hadn’t known what he was getting into when he had originally asked to work on the ship for his room and board, but he had learned quickly. The first thing he became well aware of was that Captain L. Starr wasn’t an honorable English captain sailing for the King. Starr was a ruthless man who only lived for himself and his own desires—he taught Jasper everything he knew. Starr had mentored Jasper as if he had been his own son. He had given Jasper almost as much power aboard the ship as a captain, except that Starr had been selfish and would have never shared the glory with anyone. Ultimately, it had taken a mutiny that Jasper had instigated to overthrow Starr when Jasper had deemed his mentor too old to lead a crew of cutthroats with the proper authority. The day Jasper had led the coup a gentle breeze blew the sails and the sea stirred only where the Black Fear sliced through it. From pure adrenalin and ecstasy Jasper’s racing heart had thwacked against his chest, but his grip had remained steady on the knife’s hilt. He had stealthily approached Captain Starr with bare feet as the older man had been observing a pod of dolphins on the starboard side. Starr’s eyes had widened into saucers when Jasper swiftly swiped the blade across his captain’s throat. “Don’t take this personally,” Jasper had said calmly while holding the blood-stained weapon glinting in the sun. Starr weakly choked, “You- bas-”, but he crumpled to the deck before he could finish. The coppery smell of crimson bubbled out of his mouth as the shocked expression of glassy eyes stayed frozen across his face. Jasper had bent down and whispered, “You taught me everything I needed to know to take this ship from you, but you forgot your most important lesson, NEVER trust ANYONE.” Jasper had then hoisted Starr into his arms. His muscular biceps had flexed as he threw the heavy corpse over the side of the ship. Starr’s body had splashed and bobbed into the billowing waves—left behind to get devoured by the ocean and its creatures. *********************************************************************** This is copyrighted material. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information browsing, storage, or retrieval system, without permission in writing to Carla Reighard. *********************************************************************** Sign up for CarlasBooks newsletter today to read more of this chapter. Newsletter subscribers will receive larger portions of my books to read each month as part of CarlasBooks' exclusive membership perks. www.subscribepage.com/CarlasBooksSignUp 2020 in a nutshell: In like a lamb and out like a mutant lion with tentacles and brain manipulating capabilities. How else could we explain the overreactions of so many? How else could we accept that common sense seemed to not exist and people decided to be offended because it was the popular thing to do? How else could I explain forgetting to buy Christmas cards until it was too late? (I didn't send them.) Most of us started 2020 with high hopes for a brilliant year to fulfill some goals and enjoy a new beginning. Nope, that's not what 2020 brought us. If we were to make a time capsule for last year we would have put some odd things in it like face masks, toilet paper, and catch-phrases such as, "The new normal" or "We're in this together". Guess what? We're all tired of those sayings and we wished face masks were not the new normal. Maybe in 10 years after we open up that capsule, we'll be able to laugh at it...maybe. Is 2021 going to be better? As I've been saying on this blog for most of 2020, it's up to you. Perspective and choice determine what your year will be like. Instead of focusing or should I say obsessing on the things we can't control, put your energy towards things you can control. Determine not to allow everything to upset or "offend" you. Also, look back on the good things that came out of 2020. For example, babies were born and books were published! I put out three books last year. Two of them were super short, but that's three great stories! I must brag about my books because very few do and it is really the only thing I can brag about myself. Focus on the positive, Carla, not the fact that you stopped exercising, or that you won't weigh yourself because you know you gained weight. Also, don't think about Hobbes going blind or ... I'm not going to set goals for the new year, because I never do. Life is one big goal towards looking for ways to improve my health, attitude, relationships, and intellect daily, because I will never be perfect. The perfect person who doesn't need to grow in at least one area of their life is the one who has died and now lives in heaven. Put one foot in front of the other and don't look back except with rose-colored glasses, because none of us are going to say 2020 was THE BEST YEAR EVER! But there were "bests" that came from the year and those are the things we can take from a year we are glad is in the rear-view mirror. Books are the gift that keeps on giving. They don't just entertain or distract us, but they can give us so many other things. Books mean different things for each, but they can provide the reader with a new perspective, empathy, hope, laughter, ways to cope with difficulties, and the list goes on. Books can also build friendships between book lovers who meet in a club or discuss their favorite stories on social media. They can connect people from thousands of miles away in different countries in a way like none I've never seen before. Some of my greatest encouragement and joy comes from those who follow me on social media and discuss books plus life with me. Those bound copies of Pride and Prejudice or Anne of Green Gables can link people who otherwise would never meet and probably have too many differences without books to unite them in other circumstances. Would the world be more peaceful if we ignored politics and just talked about our favorite books? Maybe... just maybe. Since most celebrate some kind of holiday in December where gifts are exchanged, why not think about giving your loved ones a book. The gift will last long past the day they unwrapped it and it may even be life changing for them. I know it was how I decided to become an author. Reading about Laura Ingalls writing about her own life and getting it published inspired me to write. Her tales gave me friends when I thought I never would have any, and I still have the Little House on the Prairie series my grandma gave me for each birthday.
Are we there yet? Have we reached 2021? Sorry, not quite, it is October first, but we are much closer than before. If you've been on a road trip with others, you may have heard this being said. To those asking this question it is about the destination not the journey. What kind of person are you? Destination or journey? I'm about the destination, because frankly the car puts me to sleep and I miss seeing the scenery. I'm a terrible car companion. Life is a different kind of road trip. I'm always in a hurry to get the next book published or to reach the next day off from work, but I realize there are nuggets of valuable things that I should savor along the way. Time with my husband and fur baby is priceless. I don't rush past that in a hurry, but my daily grind is sometimes a challenge. Let's just say it is character building, and I'm a work in progress. I can learn from the journey, but the destination is still more pleasant. I find joy in the journey and destination from the pages of the stories I create and read. The tales I make up are the best, because I control the reins and no one can change that. My editor may make suggestions and fix the sentences that are awkward or incorrect but ultimately, I'm queen! I suggest finding your own niche where you control the ending to keep you sane in a world that isn't using common sense. We can't always control what happens to us, but true character and strength is shown by our reactions. I hope you choose wisely and that your journey and destination find some peace and happiness. Like the quote says, time is free, but priceless. Once you've passed that special moment or graduated to that next step, you can't go backwards. Well, not unless you believe in time travel and then you may want to read my blog on that.
carlasbooks.weebly.com/carlas-candor/is-time-travel-possible-travel-blog-23 Has anyone else been wishing away 2020 like I have been doing? I want to borrow my character's time travel device and skip to another year where things have improved. I even remind my husband about how many days until Christmas, because that is my happy thought. By the way, Christmas is 115 days away. My husband says stop wishing away my days. Of course, I agree with him because inside the bad days there are simple pleasures and lessons to be learned. Sometimes the lesson is patience, because don't we all need to practice that? Then there are truly some great things in 2020 like my book publications and the fact that I get to spend another year with my hubby! To myself and everyone else: Find that sweet spot of balance between living the best day you can now, and looking forward to better days ahead. Whether it is watching a movie with your family, listening to your favorite song, or reading a super great book (like mine - LOL). Realize you can't change all the bad that's going on by wishing it away, and instead of allowing it to ruin your year, find a way through it and around it. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed and you don't want to waste the time you have on wishing for better days. Tell people you love them, hug those you can, call the people you can't visit, and go through old photos of better times for pleasant reminders. https://carlasbooks.weebly.com/carlas-candor/dont-wait-until-tomorrow
I will admit that I bottle in tears way more than laughter because crying has such a bad reputation. Plus it ruins my makeup, gives me a headache, and makes my contacts blurry with gunk all day. I assume people don't want to hang out with me as my face becomes a wet mess of snot and salt water. It's uncomfortable and embarrassing, but the thing is we need to cry sometimes. In fact, it is good for us. I Googled benefits of tears and here was the first list I found:
Rather than hold back those tears, give yourself a chance to cry. When you can't, try watching one of the movies I will be listing at the end of this blog to trigger the response (that's what I do). You're body and mind will thank you. Now let's talk about my favorite emotion, laughter. I never hold this back because it just feels so good. It also has health benefits which seems obvious without science. My Google search on this topic gave me so many lists. I picked a short one to share: 1. Lowers blood pressure. 2. Reduces stress hormone levels. 3. Works your abs. 4. Improves cardiac health. 5. Boosts T-cells. 6. Triggers the release of endorphins. 7. Produces a general sense of well-being. Source: https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/7-health-benefits-of-laughter If you struggle to find anything to laugh about these days or you are just a serious person by nature, try watching one of the movies I have listed at the end of this blog to help trigger those endorphins. You're body and mind will thank you. 15 MOVIES TO MAKE YOU CRY (Most of these are books if you prefer that media, but movies work best for me.) 1. Steel Magnolias (This one is mine - cry every time!) 2. A Walk to Remember 3. Schindler's List 4. Sophie's Choice 5. The Notebook 6. I Still Believe 7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 8. Hachi: A Dog's Tale 9. P.S. I Love You 10. Armageddon 11. The Time Traveler's Wife 12. The Fault in Our Stars 13. The Kite Runner 14. The Pursuit of Happyness 15. Toy Story 3 15 MOVIES TO MAKE YOU LAUGH
1. Leap Year 2. Spy 3. Bridesmaids 4. Ace Ventura 5. Dumb and Dumber 6. Zoolander 7. Ferris Bueller's Day Off 8. Napoleon Dynamite 9. Bedtime Stories 10. Christmas Vacation 11. Elf 12. The Princess Bride 13. A Christmas Story 14. The Proposal 15. The Heat If you have more to add to my list, go ahead and put it in the comments. The more the merrier or if it is a tearjerker, the more the cleansing. What are prequels? Two of the recent reviewers of Bellarose didn't really know so they were dissatisfied and a little snarky over their reading experience. The definition of a prequel is: a story or movie containing events that precede those of an existing work. Does Bellarose fit this definition? Yes. Does this definition say how long a prequel should be? No. Is the information that Bellarose is a prequel mentioned somewhere in the blurb or on the book? Yes. Now that we have that clear read the complaints about my book. Dissatisfied Customer 1: I was very surprised to get this recommended in my Nook for free - I thought it was a B&N promotion. Upon reading it, I found that it was a very short story - a couple of chapters at best. I kinda felt cheated because I thought it was going to be a full story and yet apparently this is a prequel. It was nicely written and the story held promise but now I won't find out. Oh well. Dissatisfied Customer 2: This books was promoted as a prequel story, a finished story, but it turned out to just be the first couple chapters of another book. Not one I will be reading. Not only is this really cheap way to get readers, but it's a great way to make readers blacklist you. Even if the writing was good - it was not. It was flat - and the characters interesting. They were empty- they were not - and the author actually had visited an European historical library before describing them - doesn't seem like she has - I wouldn't buy the rest of this book/series because of the little "prequel" trick. I like the cover, tho. So what exactly was Crazy Carla trying to do by putting out a short four chapter story? (Yes, four, not two or a couple as mentioned in the reviews.) Isn't our world full of enough strife and now I had to go and ruin a reader's preconceived notion of a book they got free over the internet. How dare I! I should be flogged -- no wait -- I should be blacklisted per the reviewer's suggestion. Though it was called a "cheap trick", let me make this point clear, I paid to edit and get a cover for this book. (She did at least like the cover, tho... LOL). I'm making zero profit for this prequel, so this trick wasn't a cheap way to gain readers. Here's the scoop on prequels: marketing experts tell authors to share them for free to give readers a taste of our writing. How will a book lover choose their next book? Many see it plastered all over social media and their friends are saying "READ THIS BOOK". Others look for authors they have enjoyed in the past and trust their newest book will be good. Then there are the few that take a chance and read a new book or short story because it was offered for free. They get a sample of what the author's writing is like and may want to read more. If the prequel leaves on a cliffhanger, it gives them motivation to get the next book. It's like those free samples of food the grocery stores gave out before COVID. They weren't enough to fill you up, but they were enough to tempt you into buying the product if you liked it so you can get more. Many marketing experts are against giving away full books, which by the way, I've done a lot of in the past due to my own ignorance. Originally I thought the recipients of my books would start talking about them on social media and I would gain a lot of readers of my books, but I was wrong. Some didn't even bother reviewing them after promising me that they would. Now I just give books away as ARC or gifts (no cheap trick and no profit). I realize advanced reader copies are normally given with the expectation the recipients will review the book, but I stopped expecting things from people to avoid being disappointed. If they receive my book and review it, they are on the top of my list of people I trust. They will receive more ARC in the future. Thick skin is a must in this world of publishing and you can't take every review as expert advice or constructive. Letting things roll off you like water on a duck's back is also necessary. My suggestion to any author or anyone thinking of becoming an author who is reading this blog, research your marketing strategy and keep trying different methods to reach new readers. I'm obviously no expert and my "give them a taste of my writing" isn't always the best formula for success. That being said, I also had two reviews from happy recipients of Bellarose. They are my ARC people and I trust them- not just because they gave me good reviews. I would have accepted negative reviews from them, because I always want truthful opinions no matter what. I know not every book is every reader's cup of tea. However, I do not like to be accused of trying to trick people. I'm not a dishonest person. I'm turning lemons into lemonade - turning the negative reviews into a tool to help educate people on book marketing. I put my Note to the Reader at the beginning of Bellarose instead of the end and I added a few disclaimers in case future readers find the prequel too short:
Since books can give us a respite from life, let’s talk about my book babies. Elle's Magical Shoes turns four on July 3, and Elle's Magical Books turns one on July 22. Bellarose is being released on July 1, 2020 and on July 12, 2020 Gerard will be released. It seems this is the time of year when most of my creative ventures get shared with the world. I guess all that busy winter writing has to produce something.
If you get a chance to read any of these books, let me know what you think of them in the comments section, on Amazon, or on Goodreads. Authors always need ratings and reviews. Thanks in advance! It's time for a Fairy Tale Trivia quiz. I needed a break from all the serious COVID talk and couldn't think of what else to blog about for June. In this quiz, you will be asked questions from my Instagram and Facebook posts. Comments to questions receive an entry in CarlasBooks Christmas in July Giveaway and correct answers receive another entry. I'll post the answers in my July blog for those who are curious.
Well it's Monday...again or so it feels like it is. Anyone else feel the days are all running together like a broken record repeating the same thing over and over again? Ever watch that 1993 movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray? He was miserable as he relived the same day until he learned to appreciate the small insignificant things he overlooked and hated before his experience. He also learned how to be a better person, because let's face it, he was a jerk the first hundred plus days he experienced February 2. Is there someone resetting our days in hopes that we learn some kind of lesson? What do each of us need to take away from this experience? I'm sure it's different for everyone as our patience is tested along with our weaknesses and strengths. At the risk of sounding repetitive of my last two blogs: Proper perspective will get us through this. None of us are over-the-top happy about what is now considered the new normal, but some have adapted. Adapting doesn't mean that you feel like sunshine and flowers all the time on the inside. Some days you may not have the mental energy to do all those things you've been wanting to do like reorganize closets or try the new recipes restaurants are posting online. There may be days you can tackle home projects and there may be days where you only have the gumption to binge the next thing on Netflix. Your children may be requiring home schooling and you can't get anything done because you're helping them. Then there are those of us who are still going to a full-time job adapting to different procedures and routines while we get to read about all the people on social media who are either going stir-crazy or building malls out of toothpicks in their backyards. It can be discouraging because our homes may stay disorganized, and possibly are even less clean than before. We can't try out new recipes because we're lucky to make it to the store before the shelves are empty. Many times our meals are being delivered or picked up at a drive-through. Despite your circumstances, NOBODY is having their perfect day on repeat. None of us elected this new normal in our lives. When I'm in the middle of being upset over something, the last thing I want to be reminded of is how things could be worse. Yet, here I go doing that very thing I hate. BUT, the world has had worse experiences before COVID-19, and unfortunately, it will have nastier things happen afterwards. In fact, people reading this blog have faced pain and tragedy some of us can't even begin to understand. Anne Frank, the famous teen author of The Diary of Anne Frank was stuck inside a small dwelling with other families for days in order to stay alive. If you know her story, you know how sadly it ended. Despite her life being turned topsy turvy in a horrific way, she found a perspective of hope and happiness. Her words and courage to not give into the misery continue on way past her death. Don't let this COVID thing defeat you. We are all in the same storm riding the crazy waves. It may not be the same boat as each of our journeys vary, but know you aren't in this alone. Last month I talked about perspective when it pertains to how we view ourselves. Since then our world has been impacted by the coronavirus/COVID-19. The phrase "social distancing" has become part of our everyday vocabulary along with "self-quarantine", "lockdown", and "essential workers". We all have our opinions on social distancing, and as I said last month, two people can be looking at the same thing and yet see it totally different. I don't want to make light of the illness that comes with this world-wide pandemic, because some have died as a result of it. But, we all have our own methods of coping with stress and mine is humor, so here it is: Perspectives on Quarantine Non-bookworm: I need to buy a year supply of toilet paper & noodles Bookworm: Woo hoo! I can now finish that book series! Author: Woo hoo! I have time to write (also feeling the bookworm's joy for reading). Perspectives on a Contagious Virus Non-bookworm: This is the end of the world as we know it. Bookworm: I wonder if this is like that story I read about? Author: Could I use this in a story? Has it already been overdone? As I read comments and posts on social media, I see a common thread of unrest and unhappiness. No one is expecting you to like what is going on, but if you chose to be miserable, you will be. Find a way to focus on what makes you happy. I have to go to my "essential" job, so I don't have the free time to write more or clean out closets, but I have a job. You may be staying at home and can catch-up on things you normally don't get to do. Whether going to a job or staying at home, both have positive and negatives sides--it's all about perspective. My main focus now days is trying to be content and thankful for what I do have. It is a better use of my energy than criticizing anyone or anything. As I said before comparing my situation to someone else's is never wise and will end in disaster, so I must make a conscious effort not to. For anyone who reads this, I hope you stay safe and can find a silver lining to the current cloudy situation as you attempt to maneuver through this temporary upset in your regularly scheduled routine. Book Updates: I'm making HUGE progress on the first trilogy for The Aerowyn Tales (Yes, that means there will be another trilogy to follow this one). Bellarose, the prequel, is finished and in the final stage of getting its cover and being formatted for publishing. Gerard has been through the first round of edits and will be ready for publication in July as promised. D.B. Green at Orlando House Publishing has come up with a phenomenal cover for Gerard and I can't wait to share it with the world. My newsletter subscribers will see it first and receive Bellarose before anyone else does. Sign up so you can get an insider's access. www.subscribepage.com/CarlasBooksSignUp Perspectives: Your perspective can make or break your day. You may go through the exact same happiness, loss, or pain as someone else, but how it affects you is based on you. I'm not saying if you break your leg you can magically repair it with a positive attitude. What I'm talking about is mental; how you react to life and all its fun stuff and not-so-fun stuff. My fantastical stories address this idea within the lives of my antagonists and protagonists. My characters have joyful experiences, but they also have to overcome weakness, bullies, enemies, envy, and feelings of inadequacies--all things I have faced in my own life. I don't claim to have mastered my perspective 100% of the time, because I daily face that inner voice that wants to knock me down and tell me, "You are a loser," or "You will never be able to succeed; that other author is way better than you". Since I know my perspective can help me defeat that voice, I have to consciously reboot it. I don't always win the battle and sometimes the dragons I face have hotter flames than I can overcome, but I always keep trying. My daily reminders to reboot the thought process: 1. Don't compare yourself to others. There is always someone else who is better, more talented, prettier, and skinnier than you--all are subjective to opinion. There are also plenty who lack in all of these things in comparison to you--stop comparing! We all are unique individuals with our own set of abilities and disabilities, but in the end, we're human; give yourself and others a break. 2. Don't let your worst day ever dictate your next move. Set-backs are inevitable and if I stopped writing books based on my worst day, I would have never published any stories. Quitting anything will always make me wonder, "What if I didn't quit?" 3. Accept other perspectives. Your perspective is your individual right, but make sure it isn't set in stone. If you are never willing to see another point of view, you may miss out on a way of making your attitude better. Admitting that your way of seeing things could be warped because of something that happened to you or because of your own negativity will help you try to look at things through someone else's eyes.
Elle's foster mom talks to her about the fact that sometimes people who are hurting or have low self esteems hurt others to try to lift themselves up. It doesn't sound logical, but humans don't always think with their heads and let emotions rule. I learned recently one of my favorite book warrior friends that I met on Instagram was suffering from the cruelty of others. She's young, so the children attacking her were just like Gina in my book. Unfortunately, there are no magical fairy-made shoes to help the mean girls see the errors in their way, so my friend is going to have to find the strength within to combat them. I know she can, because she is kind and has a great mom on her side. As an adult, you can teach children by example and instruction that it is always best to treat others the way you want to be treated. Words do hurt, they can leave lasting imprints, and they can be way more powerful than we understand. I talk about my own insecurities and self-image struggles in this blog. These issues didn't just spring up over night. They happened from years of listening to the wrong voices and influences. Adults should know better and need to make sure they aren't the cause of another's pain. The media is full of adults who don't get this based on their actions, but I believe there are many who do. Instagram is full of book nerds who let kindness rule their actions and I'm thankful for all of them. As a child or teen, you can set the example for your peers and choose not to join in with the taunts or cruel words. If you are the target of such nastiness, you need to try your hardest to let the words bounce off you, because those who are speaking the words have some deeper issues going on in their lives. They may be feeling just as low about themselves as they are trying to make you feel and they think making you feel worse will fix that. Maybe their cruel behavior is a result of what they were taught at home or perhaps their hearts are full of hate like Voldemort. Yes, I just used a Harry Potter reference, but who better than Harry to learn this lesson? He was put down by his aunt and uncle all the time. Then he was treated badly by Draco Malfoy and the target of the most evil wizard in the world. How did Harry overcome it all? Courage, friendship, and he didn't stoop to their level. Since we can't see inside the hearts of those who bad mouth others, we don't know why they act like Voldemort or Gina. That's when we need to find the courage to either ignore them or kill them with kindness. Does this fix all the wrongs in this world? No, as our favorite characters teach us, we can find a way to live with ourselves and others as we overcome the enemy. No one can be great at being you but you. That means we all have our own unique blend of something special that even the Voldemorts and Ginas of the world won't be able to imitate or understand unless they change their ways. They will either have to join us or be miserable without our wonderful lights in their lives. If you read Elle's Magical Shoes or Harry Potter, you'll find out what happened to Voldemort and Gina. Based on their choices, let's just say the one who chose the light had a better outcome than the one who didn't. I discuss with many on social media the reasons we love books. Even though the list varies, the main thing we mostly agree on is that books are escape from the world, our lives, or whatever we need escape from. We can be whatever and whomever we want to be inside a book. A few minutes ago I answered a question posted by an Instagrammer who asked whether we would want a mermaid tail in the water, wings in the air, or roots to stay planted in the earth. My reply was detailed, but in the end, I'm an author so I get to manipulate any scenario to fit my every desire - what power! The fun thing is readers can join me and get the same experience with my books! I took a chance writing The Web of Loki, because instead of putting in all my wonderful fantasies like I did in The Magical Things Collection or The Travelers Duology, I put in my childhood and teenage nightmares. My fascination with Vikings and their myths was the only "fun" stuff I added to cater to my author whims. The thing is, NO ONE is perfect, and I'm the most gloriously flawed one of them all. This world with its social media posts and movie star glamour, tries to make being perfect seem to be the norm. Those who appear without blemish have brushed over photos and hidden demons they don't let the world see. Even when we get a glimpse of their misery, the magazines glamorize it to be something they have to live with as a price for being perfect. Immediately, the poor perfect people on movies and television are getting even more popular for their secret shames and ability to show us their less pleasant sides. We latch onto the stories looking to find some acceptance that our own flaws aren't that much different than that gorgeous actor, but somehow instead, we feel less valuable because we can't even add up to their secret shames that go viral on Twitter or Instagram. I'm here to tell you we're all flawed and sometimes I can own this with my head held high, but sometimes I want to hide under a rock and ignore all the pep talks I gave myself earlier. The Web of Loki is my constant reminder to keep my head up no matter what. Books can help us escape, but they can also change our perspectives. Let me know why you love books in the comments. I love to talk books with anyone willing to give me the time, and I hope you take a chance on The Web of Loki and read it. I will never be finished as long as my mind keeps coming up with new ideas for stories. I think Walt Disney said it best, "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." Elle's Magical Shoes is a perfect example of how I'm not finished creating, improving, or growing. The "project" began as a gift for my niece's birthday. I took my PDF file to Office Depot and got it printed into a book. Since it cost way too much for one book, I ordered it in bulk to lower the cost per item. My friend convinced me to sell the extra books, which I did for the printing costs and no profit, but UGH now that I look back on that version of my story, I'm embarrassed so many people have a copy. The book needed a real editor (not just me) and look at my first cover - it was clip art and photos I put together myself without a Photoshop program! I wasn't planning on it being seen by anyone but family - it was a private birthday present. Sometimes I shouldn't listen to friends. Once I actually made one of my stories into a book, that got all the wheels and cogs into motion to publish it - okay, so maybe my friend's pushing me had something to do with it too. Lots of research went into figuring out how to get a published. My college education prepared me to teach, not write a book. LinkedIn author groups became a great resource for questions and answers. That's where I found my first editor, Heather Reilly, who also designed the second cover. She was a tremendous help in my progress. She made my dreams of being published come true after I had given up trying to go the traditional way. I made a handful of meager attempts at getting an agent to publish my book the traditional way, but I was so inexperienced and already way past my "youth". By then I had started writing Travelers and attempted soliciting an agent for EMS and Travelers. I wrote query letters for agents and tried to follow the submission guidelines they each had, but I still did it incorrectly. It is hard to get their attention even if you know the exact science on how to do it - by the way, that's more work than writing the book. After several rejections and reading comments from other authors who had done both self-publishing and traditional, I decided to pursue the independent route. I didn't want to wait to see my books published when I was 80-years-old. I know it can take people several years to get noticed by an agent and a big house publisher. The success of J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, didn't happen overnight and it isn't a typical outcome for most authors - just like winning the lottery isn't usual for most people who buy lotto tickets. Since that first book over four years ago, I wrote more stories and learned more about publishing, editing, and how to reach readers. In my attempt to get readers for my books on social media, I met an author, D.B. Green, on Instagram. He led me down a new path as he started his own independent publishing house - Orlando House Publishing orlandohousepublishing.com/ He not only designed my newest book covers, but he gives me help with a lot of the areas indie authors have to navigate. He has been such a tremendous resource and encouragement that I don't think I could ever repay him for his kindness or the knowledge and skills he has made accessible to me. I also got introduced to a new editor, A.K. Stein, who co-writes with D.B. Green on some of the books offered at Orlando House Publishing. She has helped me edit Elle's Magical Books and my book coming out in October, The Web of Loki, which is a change from my usual stories. I'm super excited to share it with the world. My editor said, "This story is going to mean so much to so many people." If only I could get a bunch of people just like her to read my books. I have a head full of story ideas, which is why my mind won't let me stop this journey that seems to never be finished. Sometimes I get discouraged that I haven't been able to reach more to share my books with, but I can't stop trying as my head explodes with a plethora of plots and adventures just fighting to get out onto paper. I'm currently working on a series of fairy tale retellings which will be told through the perspective of characters who don't normally have their own story. I'm having fun thinking about how each story will go and who will be the main protagonist in each tale. I may be 80-years-old before I run out of ideas, but I won't be satisfied until that happens. I am pleased that my imaginings are out there for the world to read. I continue to hope that I reach a million book enthusiasts and that I can give them a little joy plus help through difficulties as they read my creations. I will probably never be finished in this journey and that's okay, because I'm having a blast doing it. I tell my blog readers a lot about myself, but Author, Byrd Nash, offered to interview me for her own website. She asked me some great questions such as why a Colorado girl would be interested in writing about mermaids and the ocean?
Here's the interview and thanks for following me on this incredible journey.
What would you do if a fairy came to your bedroom window in the middle of the night and told you that you would be receiving a box of magical shoes? Okay, you may say, “I’m an adult and I don’t believe in fairies or magic”, but jump out of your practical grownup self and try to imagine this scenario. The thing I love about books is whether I’m reading or writing them, I can stay young within the pages through my imagination. Growing older doesn’t mean growing up and the less serious you take yourself, the more you can deal with the obstacles life throws your way. Not every aspect of life is a happy day at Disneyland, but one thing I’ve learned from my own experiences is that things aren’t always as bad as they seem and perspective can make or break you in the middle of the storm. We tend to let life and all its adult problems weigh us down, but if we allow ourselves the opportunity to not always be mature – we may be able to deal with stress. I’m not a doctor, but the last article I read on stress basically said it can give you all kinds of illnesses. So take the genius advice of Einstein and Disney – grab a fanciful story that causes you to believe in magic and escape with your imagination. Since books can give us an escape from life, let’s talk about a story that is near and dear to my heart – Elle’s Magical Shoes. It turns four in July and will be getting a new cover! My newsletter recipients will get a look at the cover first. They also will be seeing the cover for the sequel, Elle’s Magical Books. Now don't you wish you were a newsletter subscriber? You can be - just click the link and sign up: mailchi.mp/ddd7b1be570c/carlasbookcationsignup Happy May the 4th Be with You Day! I wore a Star Wars shirt yesterday and was called a nerd. He’s a friend so I didn’t mind him sharing an unsolicited opinion, but I corrected him and said, “That’s book nerd to you, and I prefer to be called a book warrior”. Today Star Wars fans love to use the play on words with the date, and if I have to explain that ‘May the Fourth’ sounds like ‘May the Force’, then you won’t get any of my Star Wars references. One of the things that is spectacular about Star Wars is the strong female characters and how they don’t mind doing the scary stuff to help their people. I found the picture of a Princess Leia mermaid and I decided that is a perfect way to describe my mermaid Triana in my Travelers Duology. She’s not like Princess Ariel – though I loved Disney’s Little Mermaid – she’s like Princess Leia. Ariel was motivated by love for Eric, but Leia was motivated by keeping others safe. Let’s be honest, Leia was less selfish than Ariel. My mermaid, Triana, also puts her peoples’ needs first despite her fears. She is brave and scared all at the same time. We know that Leia was also scared despite her courage - just like the other females in the Star Wars films: Rey, Padmé, Jyn, Maz, and many more. Why Do You Like Star Wars? Leia inspires girls and women. She and the other Star Wars women-warriors are probably the reason why females love to follow the stories. Don’t we all want to be heroes of our own stories? If you have another reason for liking the female characters in Star Wars, let me know, but I suspect the majority of you like that they can be totally female, but totally tough too. Let’s leave the world of science-fiction and enter the one we live in on Earth. Yes, Star Wars geeks love the world built through the movies and books, but we know we could never be an actual Princess Leia or Rey in outer space. We also can’t be a Princess Triana. It’s true, I tell everyone I’m secretly a mermaid, but we all know that’s for fun – well, maybe. In the history of our world, there were women like our favorite fantasy characters, who had done brave but scary things. We don’t have to look beyond reality for examples on how to be the type of people we admire. My time traveling mermaid gets to meet a few of these women and though my books are more for entertainment, I throw in a little history to show you some great real-life women who did valuable things. If you ever get the chance to read my books, you’ll meet historical women like Cornelia Fort, Sacagawea, Margaret Brown, and Elizabeth Burgin. If you don't know anything about these remarkable females, here are links to their real life stories and how they helped make this world a better place: |
Ramblings on life, travels, & books
Carla Reighard Archives
December 2023
Categories |