Category Archives: Book planning

Thoughts about works in progress and how they develop. Back stories that may be interesting to the readers and some of the character development.

blog, Book planning, Book Promotion, My musings

Want to read Vella for free?

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Hey, guys,

Happy Fall!

It’s been a while since I updated my website. I am suffering from “Too many irons in the fire” syndrome. That should be a thing, right? TMIITF syndrome. Bet some of you feel the same way.

Anyway, one of those irons in my next book release and it’s waay behind schedule. But I still hope to get it out before the end of the year. It’s the 2nd book in the O’Ceagan Saga series, and I’m really happy with the story, but still need to edit.

In the meantime, I have a story running on Vella. If you’re not familiar with it, the stories on this platform are serialized, so most of them are around 1500 to 2000 words per episode. Some are a little longer. The first three episodes of any story are free to read, then you pay for each episode as you read it with tokens you purchase from Amazon. Vella is intended for quick reading on your telephone and formatted for it, so it’s easy to squeeze in an episode at lunch or while waiting for a bus.

Anyway, until Oct. 11th, you can read any  Vella episodes you want during this Amazon promotion. So, if you’d like to read my serialized story, Cynara’s Destiny, the first season is complete at 34 episodes and available at: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B093BJMBJ4

I’d love it if you’d give it a read and give me a thumbs up if you like it. A review would be awesome, but not required.  Feel free to tell others.

Also, in the news, my Time Threads series book, Splintered Time will be going to wide distribution in the next few days. Once I have the universal link for that, I’ll post it here. I’ll begin working on the third and final book next month as my NaNaWriMo project, so that one will be out in 2023.

Happy Fall, enjoy the cooler weather and luscious autumn colors coming our way. If you’re below the Equator, spring is just beginning to bloom for you. Warmer weather and fun ahead.

Next time, I’m to start a new feature and begin by reviewing a couple of books I am reading.  Check back for that!

Thanks for reading and hopefully checking out my books. I appreciate your support more than you know!

Lily

blog, Book planning, Book Promotion, Meet the Authors

New Promo and Two In Person Events

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Have you tried Kindle Vella Stories?

I know I haven’t posted in a few months. It’s been a crazy year so far. Lots of personal things taking my time. But I am working on my Kindle Vella story fairly regularly and posting episodes every two weeks, more or less. And this is what my latest newsletter was about and I want to share that information here.

For the last few months, Amazon has been beta testing episodic storytelling via the Vella application. Right now, hundreds of stories are growing on the site, episode by episode, but it seems most of the readers are still unaware of the treasure trove of stories on it in all genres.

A bunch of authors who write science fiction and fantasy novels have grouped together to bring this promo featuring 57 Vella stories you can read in your leisure time. Got a few minutes at lunch? Read an episode. Waiting for the bus or standing in line for a ticket? Read an episode. You can read it on your phone or on your tablet, even on your computer if you wish. So, what are you waiting for? Sample an episode or two of any or all of these stories! The first three episodes are free to read. If you want to continue, simply purchase a token pack from the site and unlock the next episodes. Click on the image below to go to the link.

My episodic story is Cynara’s Destiny, a YA novel for everyone.
When an alien force threatens, a sixteen-year-old sorceress must learn to use her birthright gifts to save her solar system. Cynara faces opposition and doubt regarding her theories about a possible other world invasion from the planet’s governors, and she doubts her own ability to protect the whole the system. Telepathically connected to her companion, a frost leopard, the team sets off to discover the truth when crops start dying in the west and the river waters are fouled.

Currently, I have 26 episodes posted with a few more to come to complete the first season. (Think of it as Book1). So, please check out all the offerings and find out what’s neat about Vella. And while you’re there, be sure to give each episode a thumbs up if you like it.

Meet Me in Person

I will be doing two events in May in Reno, Nevada where I can meet and greet with readers.  I am excited to do this since it’s been a while.

The first event is Divas Day Out at the Grand Sierra Hotel in their ballroom. This is a fun outing for ladies with all kinds of merch at booths throughout the room plus sexy entertainment in male dancers and female impersonators. Plus, I will be at a booth with other Reno others at our Biggest Little Bookstore. We’ll have all genres of books for sale or to just browse. If you’re in Reno, come see us. The date is Saturday, May 7th from 10 am to 3 pm. I’d love to see you there.

The other May event is a book reading and meet and greet at Grassroots Book Store in south Reno. Six local science fiction and/or fantasy writers will be reading a short passage from their books and chatting with everyone. This event starts at 4:30 pm, with the readings planned for 5:30 on Saturday, May 21st. Come out and meet us.  Grassroots is located at 660 E. Grove St. in Reno, Nevada.

Update on Outer Rim

On a different note, I am currently working on Outer Rim, the second book of the O’Ceagan Saga series. I  plan on releasing this in October, so lots to do to get it ready by then. If you haven’t checked out the first book, O’Ceagan’s Legacy, you can find it on Amazon, Kobo, Nook, and Apple Books from this link at Draft2Digital.

Thanks for reading and for following me. It means a lot!
Lilly

blog, Book Promotion

Happy Boxing Day, a new promotion and other news

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Hi, to all my lovely tribe…

It’s snowing off and on here in Reno, Nevada. We had about 2 inches in the city, but lots more on the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Now the wind is howling as the next storm moves in.

Happy day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day in the UK. But here in the USA, it’s more likely to be Happy Returns Day as people begin to take back the unwanted items they received at Christmas. You don’t have any of those, do you? Anyway, Boxing Day, if you didn’t know, originated with Queen Victoria. After the wealthy people celebrated on Christmas, they gave their servants presents or boxes of items on the day after along with the day off to be with their families. These people in turn gave gave boxes to their loved ones.

These days, it’s a time when some people still pack up unwanted items or new ones and, sometimes, food, to give to the poor on Boxing Day. While it’s a charitable custom, the actual practice may be fading out a little. Still, it’s a celebration day in the UK, Australia, and other parts of the Commonwealth.

The other thing I want to tell you about in this update is….

Science Fiction and Fantasy Promotion

My novel, Time Walker, is part of this one week promotion that began yesterday and will run through January 2nd, 2022. I’ve discounted it to 25% off the regular price. While the first book is available for most formats (Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple) through the link, the second book, Splintered Time, is only available on Kindle Unlimited and Amazon at this time.

So, are you looking for some new books to read during  the Christmas lull? Check out this great group promotion with about 30 science fiction and fantasy novels to choose from. I’ve picked up three new eBooks  myself.
https://books.bookfunnel.com/xmas_treat/fxfqjqgbce

If you know anyone else who might be interested in this promo, please share the link with them. The more the merrier!

Update on Outer Rim

I am still working on the first draft of the  2nd book of the O’Ceagan Saga series, which is named Outer Rim. I have about a chapter to write, so I’m hoping to get that done in the next week or so. I have some down time coming up after the Christmas stuff, so fingers are flexed and ready to go. I just need to engage my brain.

I think this cover for it ties in terrifically with the first novel. What do you think? Like it? Love it? Let me know in the comments.

Vella Project

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/product/B093BJMBJ4I am still posting semi-weekly updates to my Vela novel, Cynara’s Destiny. Currently, I am at episode 19 and hope to get 20 up later today, which won’t show up until tomorrow probably. If you haven’t tried reading an episodic story, go out and give it a try. Amazon is giving you 200 free credits to use and the first three episodes of every story on Vella are free.

The stories are designed to be read on mobile devices, except Kindles. I think if you follow a story, it will notify you when a new episode is posted. But keep this link for mine handy so you can easily find it again.

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/product/B093BJMBJ4

I hope you’ll take a look, read a few episodes and give each one a like. If you really like it, leave it a review. They all help my books to get noticed in the big mass of books on Amazon.

And that’s a Wrap…

Thanks for reading and I wish you a very happy ( and safe) New Year’s Eve and Day. I believe we’re all hoping for a better year in 2022 and more opportunities to get together.

Speaking of opportunities, I may be doing a book signing in Reno in February at Grass Roots Bookstore. More on that as the plans develop. So, until next month. Happy Holidays and happy reading.

Stay safe and warm.
Lily

blog, Book Promotion, My musings

Virtual Con Going and a Reminder

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Here we are – almost to the end of August. And I still don’t have the editing to Splintered Time done! One thing after another has gobbled up my time. So, it’s delayed a little longer, but I do want it to be the best I can make it before I release. New target is mid-September. Fingers crossed (but it’s hard to type that way, so just imagine they are!) If you haven’t checked out the first book of the series, Time Walker, you can find it here.

Convention Going in the Covid Era

One thing I did this weekend was to attend the Highlander Convention hosted by Highlander World Wide. Anyone who knows me can tell you I’m a huge Highlander the Series fan. Yes, I did like the movie, but I really fell for the TV series. I loved the actors, plots, and the flashbacks, yet the heart of the episodes were often the moral dilemmas Duncan MacLeod faced from week to week.  The stories made you think and in the HL fandom,  that meant a lot of online discussions.

I was fascinated by the Methos character, a 5,000 year old Immortal who  looked like a young, hip college student as played by Peter Wingfield. So, I started going to conventions and I eventually became president of Peter’s fan club (under another name). This led to a twenty-plus year friendship with lots of the members as well as Peter. Sadly, Peter wasn’t at the convention this weekend. He’s now a doctor in Los Angeles, so he couldn’t get away from work to make the event. But just about everyone else from the cast and key crew made it. What fun to talk about those episodes again and learn the backstories and other tales of filming.

This was hosted on an interesting platform called Floor, which Adrian Paul uses for his Sword Experience. When you enter, it’s set up with a lobby, then places to click for the stage, lobby, lounge, and vendors. After using Zoom for meetings for the past year, this set up really impressed me. If I were to have a big meeting, I’d definitely consider using the Floor platform.

Reminder about the August Vella Promotion

In case you haven’t had a chance to check out Vella yet, there’s still time to get over and look at the great episodic sci-fi and fantasy stories my fellow authors and I have running there. You can read the first three episodes of any or all of them for free, then Amazon gives you 200 token if this is your first visit to use to unlock additional episodes.

Please check it out by clicking this link. (Feel free to share with anyone you think might be interested.)

I just released episode 10 of my story, Cynara’s Destiny and plan to release episode 11 this coming Friday. So check it out.

This is an adventure story set in another solar system as a young sorceress struggles to control her powers when an outside force threatens her worlds.

 

That’s it for this month. Enjoy the rest of summer.  Look for the release of Splintered Time soon!

Stay safe, stay well. All the best – Lily

 

 

 

Book Promotion

Amazing Vella Promotion

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As I mentioned last post, Vella has arrived at Amazon. Sadly, the big A doesn’t seem to be promoting this new format much, so several of the Vella authors, including yours truly, have banded together to do a promotion through Book Funnel. That’s right, 17 Vella stories are included to entice you to read a few chapters. Simply click on the image below to go to the page to check out the great assortment of stories.

Image for Book Funnel promotion.

Among the offerings is my novel, Cynara’s Destiny. So far, nine episodes are available to read. I’ve been trying to get the eps up every other week, but I hope to pick that up to each week at the end of August when I plan to have Book 2 of my Time Threads series ready to publish. In case you’re wondering, Destiny is completely written and I am doing the final edits just before posting each episode, so it will be a completed book. I know some people don’t like to read a serialized story until all the episodes are up.

But here’s the good part. The first three episodes are free to read. Check out any of these stories you’re interested in, then decide if you want to keep reading. Amazon is giving you 200 free tokens just to give it a try. This format is for tablets and phones, but if you have Google Chrome, you can also read it on your computers. So, what are you waiting for? See what’s being offered on Vella now.