Categories
inspiration publishing self-publishing writing

My paperback proofs

I keep all my paperback proofs – flaws and all – lined up in the upper left corner of my sitting desk. I just added Dowser 5 to the group, making it now almost eight inches of self-generated inspiration.

MCD paperback proofsI adore these books, even the misprinted spines of After the Virus and Spirit Binder. Perhaps that is egotistical, but there is just something so satisfying with this evidence of creation. So much so, that on days where I have to beat back the resistance just to chain myself to the desk, I can see that I’ve done it before. I’ve produced. I’ve made it through five or more drafts, editing, proofing, and into print.

Day and days of tears have gone into these books, but happily, much, much more laughter has accompanied their creation.

I published the ebook of ATV in June 2011, so the above eight inches encapsulates over four years of my life. It’s crazy that so much time has flown by, yet utterly fulfilling to have these books to mark the years. 

What a blast it’s been!

Categories
writing

Live chat this Friday, August 14th?

Anjanette asked me today if there was a place to have a private discussion of Dowser 5, and I thought we could try a live chat on my Facebook page. With a massive spoiler alert headline, of course. I’d host for an hour, and answer any questions I can. I won’t discuss any unreleased books but you all can feel free to speculate without me. 😀

We narrowed the date down to this Friday, but I’m not sure what time, hence this poll. I’m on the West Coast of North America so I’m flexible.

Majority rules. The poll will be open for twenty-four hours only, so I have time to let everyone know about the chat ahead of time

How fun will this be?

For those of you who can’t make it, I’ll try to figure out a way to post screenshots afterward. And maybe take a few questions ahead of time?

Categories
On My Desk Today publishing self-publishing writing

Dowser 5: paperback

So this beauty just showed up in my mailbox for proofing.

Dowser 5 paperback

I love ebooks, and I rarely buy paperbacks myself. Though I do have a few author-signed books that I’ve collected lately. But there is just something about seeing your words in print. 😀

Dowser 5 - back of paperback

I immediately approved the proof, so it’s on sale at Createspace now and should be available on Amazon in 3 days or so, then on other retailers in about a week.

You know what a new paperback means, right?

Yep, more giveaways!

I still have a few misprints I need to pawn off, and someone should get a copy of this pretty baby as well, don’t ya think?

Categories
inspiration lovely readers self-publishing writing

Book sales by country – July 2015

I started tracking my books sales by country in May and am exceedingly pleased to have added three more countries in July! I was grinning ear-to-ear as I typed this up and added new colours to the map. I’m so glad I decided to keep track.

WORLDMAP_JULY

New to the map for July 2015 – Welcome!

South Africa
Czech Republic
El Salvador

Other countries I sold books in this month – you rock, as always!

Canada
UK
USA
Australia
Finland
New Zealand
Netherlands
France
Spain
Germany
Italy
Sweden
Mexico
Chile
Argentina
Peru

<3 Thank you all so, so much for reading!! <3

Previous book sales by country posts

May 2015
June 2015
July 2015 (above)

Categories
inspiration Little Pleasures vancouver

Kandy’s birthday s’mores

In Dowser 4 Jade takes Kandy out to dinner for her birthday. They go to Fable Kitchen and have s’mores for dessert. Well, last Saturday I was lucky enough to dine at the same restaurant and partake in the same insane chocolatey goodness.

Behold the beauty! From the menu: chocolate ice cream, brownie, marshmallow.

The only problem was that I had to share it with Michael. 😀

Categories
giveaways writing

Dowser 5: GIVEAWAY #2 – five paperbacks and an eARC

CONTEST CLOSED. WINNER TBA

This is the second of two giveaways to celebrate the pending release of Dowser 5 – yay!

Who would like to win these five autographed paperbacks and an eARC of Dowser 5?

five paperbacks

You would?

Okay then!

To enter:

  1. Comment below with your favourite quote from any of the Dowser books, making sure to note which book the quote comes from and why you’ve picked it.

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. Each comment will be assigned an entry number. The winning entry will then be selected via random number generator. One entry per person. Please make sure to fill out a valid email address in the comment form. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than notifying the contest winner.

If you haven’t commented on the blog before, or you comment from a different IP address, the comments are moderated. So don’t worry if you don’t see your entry right away. I will approve it, then assign it an entry number.

Contest closes THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 at 9 p.m. PDT.

NEW TO THE DOWSER SERIES BUT YOU STILL WANT TO PLAY ALONG? Dowser 1 is currently perma-free on all retailers.

<3 <3 <3

The Dowser 5 ebook will be available THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, B&N, and Smashwords. The paperback will follow about two weeks later. The preorders are live.

Don’t want to miss the release day? Please make sure you are signed up for my mailing list.

Categories
cats writer wednesday writing

Cramped working conditions

Sometimes I’m surprised I can get any words written at all.

Leo (silver Persian, chair) and Parker (gold Persian, desk) over see the first draft of I See You (Oracle 2)
Leo (silver Persian, chair) & Parker (gold Persian, desk)  supervise the first draft of I See You (Oracle 2)

Yeah … I love every minute of it.

I mean, what else is the second (seriously hard) chair for?

Categories
giveaways writing

Dowser 5: GIVEAWAY #1 – a Kindle and an eARC

GIVEAWAY CLOSED. WINNER: LUCKY #15! LEE ANN FROM TEXAS! WHOOT!

I want to do some fun giveaways to help celebrate the pending release of Dowser 5. So this is the first of two.

Who from the USA would like to win a Kindle and an eARC of Dowser 5?

Sorry international readers, due to shipping/ordering this giveaway is open to the USA only BUT next week’s (July 20 – 23) giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.

Kindle reader

You would?

Okay then!

To enter:

  1. Comment below with your favourite quote from any of the Dowser books, making sure to note which book the quote comes from and why you’ve picked it. 

Notes/Rules: GIVEAWAY OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES ONLY. Each comment will be assigned an entry number. The winning entry will then be selected via random number generator. One entry per person. Please make sure to fill out a valid email address in the comment form. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than notifying the contest winner. If you haven’t commented on the blog before, or if you comment from a different IP address, the comments are moderated. So don’t worry if you don’t see your entry right away. I will approve it, then assign it an entry number. Contest closes SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015 at 9 p.m. PDT. NEW TO THE DOWSER SERIES BUT YOU STILL WANT TO PLAY ALONG? Dowser 1 is currently perma-free on all retailers.

<3 <3 <3

The Dowser 5 ebook will be available THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, B&N, and Smashwords. The paperback will follow about two weeks later. The preorders are now live. To help celebrate there will be two large giveaways. One the week before (July 15 – 18) and one the week of the release (July 20 – 23). Don’t want to miss the release day? Please make sure you are signed up for my mailing list. Don’t want to miss the giveaways? Please subscribe to my blog via the link second from the top on the righthand side of this page.

Categories
baking Cupcake RECIPES recipe writing

Dowser 5: cupcakes

I’ve had a few requests to post a list of the cupcakes eaten or mentioned in the Dowser books with each new release. So, I thought I would dash off this blog post just in case anyone wanted to bake before – or while – they’re reading Dowser 5 (release date: July 23, 2015).

New Creations (recipes to come):

Vixen in a Cup – chocolate gingerbread cake with a salted caramel icing.

Blitzen in a Cup – a rich but airy chocolate cake that was heavy on the mocha and iced with eggnog buttercream.

Joy in a Cup – a simple buttercream-frosted lemon cake (Recipe will be posted – along with a giveaway – on the Reading Cafe on August 7, 2015).

Old favourites:

Charm in a Cup – lemon cake with strawberry buttercream

Love in a Cup – chocolate cake with strawberry buttercream

Buzz in a Cup – mocha fudge cupcake with mocha buttercream icing

Other recipes can be found here.

<3 <3 <3

The Dowser 5 ebook will be available THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, B&N, and Smashwords. The paperback will follow about two weeks later. The preorders are now available.

To help celebrate there will be two large giveaways. One the week before (July 15 – 18) and one the week of the release (July 20 – 23).

Don’t want to miss the release day? Please make sure you’re signed up for my mailing list.

Don’t want to miss the giveaways? Please subscribe to my blog via the link second from the top on the righthand side of this page.

Categories
baking Cupcake RECIPES recipe writing

Charm in a Cup

Here is Charm in a Cup from Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) and  Maps, Artifacts, and Other Arcane Magic (Dowser 5).

This is a super dense, but moist, sponge cake. The cake is also the base for Sunshine in a Cup and Joy in a Cup. The frosting is also the icing for Love in a Cup.

charminacup

yellowcirtus_cake_RECIPE

strawberry_buttercream_icing_RECIPE

<3 <3 <3

The Dowser 5 ebook will be available THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, B&N, and Smashwords. The paperback will follow about two weeks later. The preorders are now available.

To help celebrate there will be two large giveaways. One the week before (July 15 – 18) and one the week of the release (July 20 – 23).

Don’t want to miss the release day? Please make sure you are signed up for my mailing list.

Don’t want to miss the giveaways? Please subscribe to my blog via the link second from the top on the righthand side of this page.