#SupportIndieAuthors, Fellow Washingtonian edition!

So I’ve only just met Celeste Wilson, but she lives in Washington, so she can’t be to bad! We welcome her to the cause, and as always are eager to help spread the word about other indie authors! Without further ado, I give to you….Celeste Wilson!

Short Bio about me:

Most of my writing experience stems from blogging for a travel company and writing web content for a travel website. I was also responsible for authoring the sales proposals and travel itineraries that were sent out to potential clients. For the last four years I have been a learning coach for a Virtual academy, which I enjoy. I finally decided to do some fun writing about a year ago and started writing my debut novel ‘Children of Odon’ which I self published in late December 2014.

Book Blurb for Children of Odon:

When Emily, an orphaned young woman with amnesia, begins dreaming about a teenage boy, she senses her memory is finally returning. She feels she knows him and call him “Tony.” The dreams awaken strange powers in Emily. As her confusion grows, she faces the unfathomable truth: Tony is real, and they have a special connection.

Mystical powers transport Emily to Tony’s world, a parallel universe of tribal cultures and magical spirit guides. Tony reveals that Emily belongs to an order of mystically talented young people known as the ‘Children of Odon’. She is a spell binder, while other ‘Children of Odon’ are capable of telepathy or controlling natural forces.

Tarantu, a disgraced spirit guide, selfishly wants to destroy the ‘Children of Odon’. As Emily and her new friends battle Tarantu, their combined powers grow. New alliances, possible romances, and more uncovered secrets will help Emily rediscover the girl she thought she’d forgotten.

I have uploaded the first two chapters on my website if you are interested in reading it.

http://www.celestewilsonwriter.com/bo…

Social media connections:
My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/childrenofodon
My Website/Blog: http://www.celestewilsonwriter.com/
My LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view…

1. What do you do to keep your spirits up through a bad review?

I try to remember that reviews are simply opinions. My writing style or ideas won’t appeal to everyone. I think the best is to hope that a bad review is at the very least construction and that I can learn from it.

2. What has been your greatest inspiration for writing your story?

I drew a lot from my personal experiences on this story and adapted them to the main character’s life.

3. Are there any people you feel need a shout out for supporting you?

My teenage son and I often go for long walks. He is an ardent reader of fantasy novels such as Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. I could bounce many of my whacky ideas off him and he would embellish them. It helped a lot. Especially when I felt like I’d hit a wall in the story line.

4. Has self-publishing taught you any lessons that you feel will help you in life?

Yes, always do your research and seldom believe everything you are told.

and last, What’s your favorite color?

My favorite color? That’s a tough one. I love subtle earthy colors but I also love red. I think a happy medium would be brick red.

Remember, if you’d like to be featured in the #SupportIndieAuthor series, please drop me a line at RileyAmosReviews (@) Gmail (Dot) com. Until next week, keep writing!

And don’t forget to check out my Breath Of the Titans: The False Titanbriger series.
*FREE* Little Black Stormcloud
A Mother’s Love
War of the Chiefs

Just trying to refine my craft

So I’ve been doing a lot of reading on other sites over the past few months, trying to learn from other people’s mistakes, and from what I’ve seen I have a completely different writing style than anyone I know. I find it kind of heartening, as I’ve heard a thousand different methods for how people churn out books.

One method I’ve heard touted everywhere is “The Snowflake” method of writing. And I know for some people this just works best for them, but I tried hammering out a book the way they describe, by taking so much time between points of actually writing it, and I found I struggled.

I do best with my own method. I sit down, decide the story I want to tell, and I tell it. I think of characters and descriptions, I think of their voices, I do all the things he describes in the informal phase, and then I just start to write.

Truth to tell, I find it much more exciting writing this way. I never know what’s going to happen in the next scene, and watching it unfold just to write it is easy. I used to approach being a Games Operational Developer (G.O.D from here on out) while playing D&D the same way.

But there was one paragraph that really stuck out to me on the site, one that I feel EVERY aspiring author should take to heart.

“Frankly, there are a thousand different people out there who can tell you how to write a novel. There are a thousand different methods. The best one for you is the one that works for you.”

This was the most important bit of information I found on the site, and to me it’s the most important lesson every author should learn. There isn’t a “Formula” to writing books. There’s no way to guarantee your book will be an ultra best seller other than by putting good content into it.

Then there’s what Christina Dodd (And I can say in all honesty, I would probably never read one of her books. I’m not a romance guy, so I really just like the advice) said:

“Had another, less experienced author tell me he was writing crap. I told him, “So write crap!” You can always fix crap. You can’t fix a blank page. Guess what? He published the book. So…hey you! Yes, you! Write crap! #writingtip #christinadodd”

I’m not a romance guy, but I am a guy that loves advice, and that there is golden people. Put it together with the first paragraph, and you’re on your way to writing your best seller. It does take a lot of work, and if you get published, you’ll see it really does take more than one person to write a book.

Don’t forget to get your T-shirt if you’re an Indie Author, proceeds are going to setting up a #SupportIndieAuthors website and domain.

Last but not least, I want to give a shout out to the people who have helped me on this book.

Thank you, Mario Hernandez (I asked for a link to a portfolio and was told the BWN website x D) for the awesome cover he did for the book. And thank you to Amanda Meuwissin (Tell me if I spelled that wrong) and her associate editor for being an immense help in finishing Sara’s translation from Rileynese to English. And I can’t say enough about Eliza Enea’s voice, you guys really should go listen to her even before my series comes out. Very hypnotic in my humble opinion.

If you’d like to be featured in either the #RileyAmosReviews or the #SupportIndieAuthors series, shoot me an E-mail at RileyAmosReviews(at)Gmail(.)com

And don’t forget to check out #EveryoneDiesAtTheEnd (Crude Language and Drug Use ahead 18+!) on March 16th on BigworldNetwork.com

#RileyAmosReviews, I Missed a couple this morning, and the coffee has kicked in edition, part two!

What’s A Foster Family? , by Anne Garboczi Evans

I think this book is a very heart warming book that shows people of all ages how to share and be good people.  I think being a foster family is a wonderful thing if done in a loving home.  * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*  5/5

#RileyAmosReviews, I Missed a couple this morning, and the coffee has kicked in edition!

Yeah, as you can see, I need at least two cups and an hour or two to wake up. Here’s the other two reviews I missed!

Lineage, by  J. Christopher Thompson

I am a BIG fan of magic. This book is a story based on a modern-day descendant of King Arthur. I also enjoyed the action and the characters.  This book kept me interested the whole way through.  I would read the next book.  *I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*   5/5

#RileyAmosReviews, Finally had my coffee edition, part 3!

Death Wish , by Megan Tayte

I think this book is a great start to a series.  I enjoyed it very much.  Scarlett is in search of answers about who she is. She also wants answers  about her sister, who drowned.  Scarlett discovers a much deeper mystery.  The story takes off from there with a great twist to the story.  I was thrilled to read this book. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*5/5

And I’d like to take the time to thank Alysia for joining Sara and I on the site. We independent authors GREATLY appreciate the help!

#RileyAmosReviews, Finally had my coffee edition, part 2!

Dividers , by Travis Adams Irish

This book’s cover would not have made me what to find out what this book was about.  It did not grab me.  But I enjoyed this book.  The idea of poor and rich working together was good.  I think this book had a good story line and characters. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*  3/5

#RileyAmosReviews, Finally had my coffee edition, part 1!

Have a couple more reviews for you guys from Alysia. And feel free to keep submitting to RileyAmosReviews(At)Gmail(.)com, at the rate she’s going she’ll have it read in just over a week!(This is not a promise that she will read your book in a week. Sara said I should throw in a disclaimer to cover all bases, just in case.)

Summer Break Blues , by J.A. Campbell

I think this book is a great book 2 in the series. There are more interesting supernatural bad guys awaiting you. Meg is starting to get a hang of new powers, and starting to warm up to being a hero. I think If you liked book one Senior Year Bites, you should keep reading this series.  *I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*  5/5

#RRBC #IARTG #BOOKBOOST #EveryoneDiesAtTheEnd releases in just two days on Bigworldnetwork.com! #Zombie #Apocalypse

So the day keeps drawing closer, and I just keep getting antsier and antsier.

That’s okay, I’ll just keep this beautiful image of my wife close to my heart. Every time I look at her, my chest swells with love.

Isn’t she just beautiful? I love my lady to death.

Remember to check out #EveryoneDiesAtTheEnd on Bigworldnetwork on monday, and if you’d like to be featured in the #SupportIndieAuthors or the #RileyAmosReviews series, drop me an e-mail at Rileyamosreviews(at)Gmail(.)com and have a great week!