Categories
writing

Sometimes all you can do is a …

… page one rewrite. After talking my issue(s!!) (see my last blog post) with writing the next Amplifier book over with Michael ad nauseam, I finally came to the conclusion earlier this morning that I was forcing Amplifier 5 to be something it was never meant to be โ€“ a full-length novel. I was trying to combine the next two Amplifier stories (aka not necessarily novels) into one book, gearing up for capping the series at book 6 (technically a seven-book arc, plus shorts, counting the prequel).

And now that I’ve come to that conclusion the only thing I can do about it is … a page one rewrite.

*cue silent weeping*

On rare occasions, even a detailed plot and well-utilized notebook aren’t a solid enough structure on which to build a great novel.

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve gone so far off track (with an outlined book!!) that I needed to scrap everything and reimagine the story I wanted to tell. I actually can’t remember the last time I had to start with a blank page, and in this case, a new blank notebook.

Thank goodness I have a habit of overbuying notebooks! LOL

Here we go!

New notebook + redraft = a fresh start for Amplifier 5.

To clarify, Amplifier 5 will (likely) will now consist of an Emma novella and a Zans novella. And the projected release date will definitely shift further into 2022. Though, thankfully, I have a draft of the Zans story already done.

Here we go (for the fourth time)!

Categories
excerpts

Amplifier Series: dramatic reveals and dessert

Pearl Godfrey crossed to greet us, raising her hand to meet Aidenโ€™s handshake without a moment of hesitation. He flashed her a charming grin that just slid right off the elder witch.

Now that was impressive.

But then I pretty much melted whenever Aiden even glanced my way, even after all these months of the minutiae of spending every waking moment together. And the sleeping moments as well.

Pearl kept hold of Aidenโ€™s hand, her head tilted thoughtfully. โ€œPearl Godfrey. You must be Aiden Myers.โ€

โ€œAiden Azar,โ€ he replied smoothly.

That gave me pause. Though I hoped my surprise hadnโ€™t shown on my face. I hadnโ€™t known that Aiden had decided to resume using his fatherโ€™s name. But then, it wasnโ€™t at all surprising that heโ€™d want to distance himself from his mother, and the Myers coven.

Pearl smiled at him knowingly. โ€œDramatic reveals usually come after dessert, sorcerer.โ€

Aiden chuckled. โ€œMy apologies. I figured my presence was enough of a disturbance that I should just dive in.โ€

โ€“ Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5), chapter three, first draft

Categories
excerpts writing

Amplifier Series: pit bulls and dinners with witches

Here is a great example of how I completely fail at marketing. I should be sharing pretty memes and quotes or reviews from either of my two newest releases, Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2) or Moments of the Adept Universe 1, but instead, I’m sharing half-baked new words because they amused me (and my attention span is just that insanely short). ๐Ÿ˜†

โ€œWitches,โ€ Aiden sneered. โ€œNosy and self-righteous. I believe I shall come to dinner with you.โ€ He returned his attention to his book, ignoring the pointed look I gave him.

Paisley pressed her shoulder to my knee.

โ€œSorry,โ€ I said. โ€œThe sorcerer Iโ€™ll be able to pass off as an overprotective, controlling asshole, but the witches arenโ€™t going to believe that my pit bull needs to come to a buffet.โ€

Aiden snorted, amused.

Paisley narrowed her eyes โ€” at the offending sorcerer, not me.

โ€“ Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5), first draft

Categories
Merchandise

Amplifier Series: Oracle Cards

Note: April 28, 3pm PST: I have added EIGHT final (for the nearish future) sets of Oracle cards to my ‘store’ but please see all my caveats in the note below.

CLICK TO BUY THE AMPLIFIER ORACLE CARDS

$32 CDN + oversized letter mail

Full set of Amplifier Series Oracle cards – 23 cards printed on thick card stock, glossy on both sides. Plus three autographed MCD bookplates.

[You are all insane โ€“ in the best way – I can see orders coming in even as I write this blog post to announce that the cards are available ๐Ÿ˜‚ ].

As promised, Iโ€™ve made another 50 sets [as of Feb 23] of Christopherโ€™s Oracle Cards from the Amplifier Series available in my store. $32 CDN + oversized letter mail. Click the previous link for more info and/or to purchase.

The cards first appear in Close To Home (Amplifier 1.5) which is bundled with the Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0).

Note: same caveats as always: please remember Iโ€™m not a store. Iโ€™ve simplified the shipping, etc, as much as possible. For example: set shipping rates, no tracking, no extra sets, no special orders. Please remember Iโ€™m trying to write as much as possible and these are just meant to be fun extras. The prices are set in Canadian currency (which means some of you are getting a great deal!) so a different charge might show up on your credit card statement. Also, I believe there is a 5.5%+ $0.30 charge for certain payment methods.

Fun! Fun!

Categories
giveaways

Xmas 2021: Amplifier Giveaway

And, the second of three attempts to finish 2021 on a much, much sweeter note โ€“ an Amplifier Series giveaway! Happy Christmas Eve to those of you who celebrate. We will be indulging in baked goods, then seafood chowder and garlic bread for dinner! Yum!

An autographed Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) paperback, 22 oracle cards, three stickers, and a postcard.

Are you interested in winning an autographed Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) paperback, 22 oracle cards, three stickers, and a postcard?

Yes?

Well, then! All you need to do is COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER.

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. One entry per person. One winner will be selected by random number generator. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than to contact the winner. No purchase necessary. The comments are moderated. I will approve your entry just as soon as I have a moment to do so.

Giveaway closes SATURDAY, JAN 1, 2022 at 8pm PDT.

Make sure you’ve also entered to win: Xmas giveaway: Misfits Series

Xmas Giveaway: Dowser Series: goes live Dec 25 at 8am PST.


Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1). Click here for the full reading order.

Categories
excerpts writing

Amplifier 5: coven witches , sharks, and surfing

It’s happening!!! #AmWriting #AmplifierSeries #AdeptUniverse

Another exclamation erupted from the backseat of the convertible, drawing our attention to the left again. For the briefest of moments a view of a gray sand beach broke through the trees. If not for the roar of the wind already buffeting my ears, the sound of the pounding surf would no doubt be impressive.

โ€œSurfers!โ€ Opal exclaimed, picking out black dots among waves that had to be at least four meters high. Even in June the water was cold enough that surfers wore wet suits if they wanted to be in the ocean for an extended period of time.

โ€œBut no sharks, right?โ€ Ocean howled over the wind.

โ€œYou know there is!โ€ Opal huffed, exacerbated. โ€œWe looked it up!โ€

โ€œBut not near shore.โ€ Ocean muttered, reassuring herself. โ€œNot man eaters.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t worry,โ€ Opal crowed gleefully. โ€œThe orcas will eat you before the sharks.โ€

I glanced at Ocean in the rearview mirror. The eighteen-year-old potions specialist looked utterly aghast. Aidenโ€™s youngest sister had returned from the Academy with Opal last night. She was a member of the Myers coven but interested in apprenticing with one of the Godfrey witches for the summer. Hence, joining us for the retreat. 

โ€œBut not near shore, right?โ€ Ocean repeated, brushing the dark brown, blond tipped hair that had worked free from her loose bun away from her light blue eyes.

Lani laughed. โ€œYou donโ€™t have to surf, Ocean.โ€

The Myers witch huffed, crossing her arms. โ€œYou donโ€™t know witches. Show any weakness, and theyโ€™ll freeze me out.โ€

โ€“ Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5), chapter one, scene one, first draft


New to the Amplifier Series? Start reading with The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0). Or click here for the reading order of the entire Adept Universe (so far).

Categories
brainstorming writing

Amplifier Series: brainstorming oracle cards

With Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2) off for line/content edit, I’m turning my attention back to the Amplifier series. I’m actually brainstorming/outlining book five and six at the same time, because I’m seriously contemplating wrapping up the series at book six (technically seven, if you count the prequel). Which means, you should get two Amplifier books back to back, which is always fun.

I already had book five all outlined, and partly written, but if I intend to finish the series with book six then I need to make sure that book five sets everything up that must come full circle for a satisfying ending. And part of that is working out what oracle cards reflect the key plot points for the books.

I’m also digging through the book cover photo shoot to select the photos that I want to use for the last two book covers โ€“ fun! fun!

Brainstorming the oracle cards that will mentioned/featured in Amplifier 5 and 6.
Categories
audiobooks

Amplifier 4: finalist in the IAA Awards

Thanks to the enthralling, supple narration of Tia Rider, Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) is a finalist in the 2021 Independent Audiobook Awards!

Congrats, Tia!

It is such a pleasure working with Tia on the Amplifier audiobooks. Not only is she a true professional, meeting deadlines and submitting practically flawless first passes, but she brings a depth and deliciously contained emotional component to Emma. Tia’s read is subtly evocative, tense in all the right moments, but also allowing hints of playfulness to filter through Emma’s narrative.

With Amplifier 4, I flung a TON of new characters at Tia and she handled them effortlessly, making each voice unique, yet never cartoonish or over the top. The story flows and engages thanks to Tia’s expertise and talent.

I very much look forward to working with Tia on Amplifier 5 later this year!!

Fingers crossed, Tia! And thank you so much for lending your voice to Emma, the Amplifier Series, and me!!

Categories
audiobooks giveaways

Amplifier 4: audiobook giveaway

To celebrate the release of the fourth audiobook in the Amplifier Series, Idols and Enemies, Iโ€™m running another of my massive giveaways! Claim your unique download code below.

If you have previously won an audiobook from me, please consider letting others have a chance to win this one. Thank you โ€“ MCD.

This is a first-come, first-win deal. The giveaway remains open until all the download codes have been claimed.

If you listen to books via Audible USA (or a country other than the UK, such as Canada), then claim one of the codes below, click the link, and paste the code into the box that appears. You might need to sign in to your account, or create an account if you are new to Audible.

Please comment below and let everyone know which code you took (by number and country)

Link: https://www.audible.com/acx-promo

Available codes: ALL REDEEMED

If you listen to books via AUDIBLE UK (or a country other than the US), then claim one of the codes below, click the link, and paste the code into the box that appears. You might need to sign in to your account, or create an account if you are new to Audible.

Please comment below and let everyone know which code you took (by number and country).

Link: https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo

Available codes:

  1. 38J5XN6FBE8D2
  2. 446CHT5SL6J2X
  3. 5U8WP6Z8EDFXC
  4. 6KRSNQKKDNZ4T
  5. 8QJPL7XGQFUFE
  6. BXS7W6W4K9Z6B
  7. BZG97FRJ4BLFX
  8. ES29WAYZPLLAF
  9. K9FG8KYUQCBKG
  10. RSCNH6UB83H2Z
  11. ULYZEL6UTW6ZN
  12. US3DF7SR6WJ9B
  13. UT7QMZLJH3QNQ
  14. WZWH9ZQPBTTJJ

Are you new to the Adept Universe? Click here for the reading order. Or click here for the Welcome! sequence.

Categories
audiobooks

Amplifier 4: audiobook now available

Once again the brilliant Tia Rider has lent her understated, dulcet tones to the Amplifier Series, bringing a more playful Emma โ€“ and Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) specifically โ€“ to audiobook. Along with much angst, power plays, and sexy bits, of course.

AUDIBLE: CANADA, USA, UK, FRANCE, GERMANY

AMAZON: CANADA, USA, UK

APPLE BOOKS

GIVEAWAY HEAD’S UP!!! I will be giving away 50 download codes for Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) in a first-come/first-served giveaway on Sunday, November 22 at 2pm PST. Mark your calendars!! Set your alarms!! You have been forewarned, plus I’m sending a newsletter, so try not to complain, pretty please. ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ™‚