Blog

Simply Blown Away

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing

EA001BD8-7D73-4A02-8BB4-52C7C290118CWow! You guys… I’m in awe truly. Last night’s blog was written at the eleventh hour… stroke of midnight almost when I didn’t know what to write, so I just wrote off the top of my head. No plan, just freeform instead.

I’m thinking I might just keep it up, because it seems to be working.

So, I thought I’d start tonight with a heart felt THANK YOU because honestly, I’m still so new at this blogging thing. I’m still figuring out what people want to see and what they don’t.

When I decided back in April that I had to either get serious about my blog or give it away entirely I didn’t think anybody would actually want to read what I wrote. I guess now, I’ve just been proven wrong.

So THANK YOU – again – it’s humbling knowing that people are listening. I don’t feel quite as alone as I have felt on this journey from time to time.

Writing is by nature a solitary pursuit. I wouldn’t change it though. I’m feeling very optimistic about my first book that is currently in the hands of an editor. The first three chapters anyway. It’s a trial run but like I said last night I think I may have found my perfect fit editor wise. I hope so anyway.

My writing feels so personal at times that I struggle to share. Self doubt is a horrible thing.

If the edits go well, I think I’ll share the first chapter.

The story has been six years in the making. The first draft was written in six weeks, after I’d picked apart the bones of a previous discarded story. Which, I’m still considering bringing back to life at some stage. It’s got promise if I can do it justice that is.

Faeries are so diverse in nature. Even as I play in the Celtic and Arthurian mythos I find things evolving of their own accord.

It’s quite refreshing really.

 

 

 

Affirmations

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing, Writing Advice

FD2CEF27-D321-408C-8DBE-3AD9005F1A30My husband and I were having a conversation about a book he’d just finished reading when he turned to me and said: “Don’t take this the wrong way but if that’s published why aren’t you?”

My answer was a one word response. “Editing.”

It’s expensive. So, I’ve been putting it off and putting it off.

My book has blossomed into six books, with three more still to write.

But, I can say I’m one step closer to publishing. Having found an editor who just might be the perfect fit for me.

It still doesn’t stop the self doubt and anxieties from creeping in and sometimes that alone is enough to make me pause and consider not publishing because I’m scared.

Of course then I have to remind myself that it’s okay to be scared. That the reason I put pen to paper in the first place when I was fourteen hasn’t changed. I still want to share my words with the world. My dream of being publishedhasnt gone anywhere and all this is just a bump in the road that I will get over.

It’s okay.

Being scared, is okay. In fact, it would be a little remiss if you weren’t. Writing. The entire process is huge. It’s sharing a part of yourself with strangers. What’s not scary about that?

The trick?

Breathe. And let go.

Focus on getting the words down. It’s not a sprint. You don’t have to compare yourself to any other writer.

Just do you. Be accountable. Show up and put in the effort. The words on the page will speak for themselves.

Enter the World of Freelancing

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing

D6542BBD-7E1E-4B3E-BC84-FB8F7B465751.jpegYes, it’s true writing novels and short stories doesn’t exactly pay the bills. Especially if you’re like me and your story has to be just right before sharing it with the world.

And, while I know nothing is perfect, I still find myself aiming for that perfection, you know?

So, about two years ago, I entered the world of freelance and it hasn’t been easy.  In fact, the hardest thing has been getting clients. You see I struggle to sell myself and hate imposing on people, so sharing my services is not an easy thing to do.

Isn’t it wonderful being an introvert? I don’t like that I am an introvert but I can’t seem to break out of that either.

You’re probably wondering why I’m posting, right? Well, I’ve had a bit of a bad experience. I wrote some articles for a client in various niches and haven’t gotten paid. Hazards of the job, I know but now they are beginning to be unresponsive, which makes me believe I’ve been scammed. As the articles are all my own words but not relevant to this blog, I’m now considering what to do with them.

I’ll definitely keep you posted about my adventures with freelancing. I really should stick to editing and the odd graphic design job.

Speaking of, I’m currently working on a few maps of the towns that feature in my novels in The Eldritch Series. If anyone is interested in seeing their own characters world come to life, let me know in the comments.

Using Facebook as an Indie Author

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing, Writing Advice

facebook-3391214_960_720Facebook.

It’s a powerful tool. It can help you to promote your books and your author brand.

I find it one of the best ways to connect to other people in the writing community.

But knowing how to reach out to your audience on your Facebook page can be a little daunting at first.

So, here’s a few things you might like to think about when creating and growing your own Facebook page.

Know Your Audience

You have to know your audience. Who are your books aimed at? Genre? Age bracket? What makes your brand unique? All of these things matter. Don’t neglect them.

Be Responsive

It’s not just about writing posts it’s about engaging with the people who take the time to comment on those posts. You have to make connections.

Be Consistent

There’s no real secret formula to posting on Facebook pages. Although, I do suggest posting no more than three times a day. Anymore than that and you risk annoying those who have taken the time to like your page.

It’s not rocket science, but these are definitely the best ways to build your brand. I don’t personally pay to boost content on my Facebook author page, but through networking with Facebook groups, and other indie authors who’s pages interest me, I’ve managed to build a page with over 2,500 likes.

What’s up with Social Media?

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing, Writing Advice

social-1710317_960_720I came across an interesting post about the pros and cons of social media in a Facebook group earlier that caught my attention. It’s actually what prompted me to write this blog.

Social Media. It’s huge and often daunting.  And sometimes when you’re an indie author and you’re having to do it all, such things can seem a little overwhelming.

But let’s face it, you need a web presence. So you need to be active on some of the social media platforms.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Google. And that’s only the first six off the top of my head.

You might think that you need to have them all. Right? Wrong! But you do need a web presence. Readers need to be able to find you and connect, not just with your books, but with you, the author.

The trick? Start small.

Start with Facebook. Why Facebook and not a website? Simple. Almost everyone already has a Facebook profile.  Setting up a Facebook page, when you already have a Facebook profile is easy. People either love Facebook or hate it. I personally love it.

Limit yourself.

Stick to two social media platforms to start with. That way you don’t get overwhelmed.

If you’ve already got Facebook you’re half way there. As a second I’d suggest Twitter or Instagram. Both have huge followings and are easy to learn the ropes of.

Be present.

There’s no point having a Facebook page, twitter or Instagram if they’re going to sit idle. I suggest posting at least once per day on each platform. It’ll take some time but you’ll eventually learn what works, when your followers are active and what content they enjoy seeing the most.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. And use hashtags. How else are you going to be seen without them?

Interact.

Don’t just post content and expect it to do well. It needs to be engaging. Something other’s will want to click on, and you’ll need to interact with others and comment on their posts. This will also help you to grow your audience and gain a decent following.

There’s a lot more I could write, but I’ll expand on what I’ve written here later. For now, the best course of action would be to think about what social media platforms you deem necessary as an indie author or writer and pick your favourites. Remember, the goal here is to not get overwhelmed, less is more. Later, when you have the hang of it, you can increase your viewership, by adding other platforms.

If you want to see what I’ve done with my social media profiles check out the tips and tricks here:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Character Profiles : Robin Goodfellow

Posted on by staceyjaine in Stacey Jaine McIntosh, The Eldritch Series, Zooey

Continuing on… Next is Robin

(Image of Callum Worthy, courtesy of Google.)

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Basics
Full Name: Robin Goodfellow
Nickname: Puck, Rob Fell
Race: Fey
Gender: Male
Age: Exact age unknown
Birthday: Unknown
Place of Birth: Arcadia

Physical Appearance
Height: 6ft4in
Weight: 180lbs
Body Type: Lanky
Skin: Pale
Eyes: Green
Hair: Red
Scars: None
Tattoos: None

Family Relationships
Mother: Unknown
Father: Unknown
Siblings: Unknown

Social Relationships
Significant Other: Zooey
Children: Ever

 

THE 5 TYPES OF BLOGGERS

Posted on by staceyjaine in reblog, Stacey Jaine McIntosh

This earnt a reblog, because it’s so so true. And because I think I fall somewhere between blogger number 4 and blogger number 2. But, I’m working on it.

Ragazza Triste's avatarRagazza Triste

In my two years of blogging, with more than 800 followers, thousands of likes, hundreds of comments, I have encountered hundreds of different, talented and amazing writers along the way. I am blessed and will be forever thankful to be a part of this community. WordPress gave me a chance to be different and to embrace my weirdness.

Through the years, I’ve met a variety of bloggers, and I decided to share it with you.

Here it goes.

1. THE PASSIONATE BLOGGERS– I’d like to think that I am one of these people. They are in love with WordPress, they are driven and motivated to read, post and interact with the community. They post according to a coherent schedule, they make sure that their page is designed to attract readers and followers. They also motivate and impel current and new bloggers to do better as their page grows.

2…

View original post 458 more words

Finding Time to Write with Four Kids… Continued

Posted on by staceyjaine in Indie Author, mum of four, Parenting, Stacey Jaine McIntosh

315648CB-7C82-48E7-89C5-4E6009A747CBOne month ago, I posted about the trials and tribulations of writing with four kids and even shared some tips I employ to make it work. It’s not always easy, and I’m by no means an expert. I’d love to get paid more, but I do love what I do.

You can find that blog post here.

Since then, a conversation I had in a group on Facebook recently gave way to this post.

I’ve had a host of people tell me I can’t write with four kids. I have a significantly smaller number of people tell me, I can (and should) write with four kids.

Fact is, I ignore the host of people telling me what I shouldn’t do and listen to the one’s telling me what I should do. And, if I’m completely honest for a moment, my sanity depends on it. The momentary escape from reality. Yes, as cliched as it may be, the reason I write is to escape. It hasn’t changed in the twenty-one years I’ve been writing, and I doubt it ever will.

So, what’s an average day to a mum of four? Well you’re about to find out.

My kids for reference sake are twelve, eleven, nine and seven. My only girl is the eleven year old. That dynamic alone is hard enough. The amount of times she’s begged her dad and I for a sister… it’s only a little heartbreaking.

An average (week)day for me looks like this… note the lack of writing time. I do steal the odd minute here and there by writing on my phone. While waiting to pick my kids up, for instance. But solid blocks of time are hard to come by.

5:30am : First alarm goes off. I ignore it. For the simple fact that it feels like I’m getting to ‘sleep in’ when I do and I hit the snooze button.

6:30am: Second alarm goes off and I spent about two minutes debating whether or not I can afford to sneak an extra 15 minutes of sleep. I am not a morning person. I was before I had kids. Usually, I decide it’s not worth it and get up.

6:30am-6:45am: All four kids are woken and the kettle is switched on. Three of them are up, out of bed and eating cereal. My nine year old son, struggles to get up.

7am: I have coffee. Anyone with kids will tell you if they don’t have coffee in the morning, they simply can’t function. True story. My kids know I’m grumpy in the morning if I haven’t had coffee. And yes, they do remind me to have said coffee if I haven’t.

7:15am-7:45am: I make their lunches. It’s not fancy. I don’t bake half as much as I want to. But they don’t go hungry.

8am: This is the time I aim to have all four of them packed, ready and out the door. It doesn’t happen.

8:15am: Is when they’re typically out the door and heading for school.

9am-9:15am: I’m back home. The kettle goes back on for a second cup of coffee. Yes, I’m a coffee addict. Four cups a day is common.

9:15am-10am: Check Emails etc

10am-12pm: Housework. I do 1-2 small-medium loads of laundry a day. Wash/Hang out. Bring it in when dry. I try to sort the clean clothes weekly and put them away. Tidy main living areas/bathrooms/floors etc. Kids clean their own rooms.

12pm-12:45pm: Lunch. Yes, I’m only human and I do take lunch breaks.

12:45pm-2:15pm: Housework. See above. I have something of a roster happening.

2:15pm-2:30pm: Break.

2:30pm: Pick kids up.

3:20pm: Home from picking kids up.

3:20pm-4:30pm: Organise kids. Snacks/Homework etc

4pm-4:30pm: Wash dishes

6pm: Dinner prep

7pm: Dinner

7:30pm-8pm: Kids bed time

8:30pm-9pm: Kids settle/sleep finally.

9pm-11pm: Downtime/TV/Writing time

11pm-12am: Read in bed/Social media catch up

12am: Bedtime. I don’t usually stay up much past midnight, when I do I don’t function well the next day.

**It’s not a perfect representation as things do change from day to day but it is an accurate baseline.

So, for all those writers out there without kids, the ones who like to say that kids aren’t an excuse for not writing? I beg to differ. I’m by no means saying you can’t write with kids, because you can (and I do write around my kids) but there’s a completely different dynamic when you write around kids to that of writing when you don’t have kids. There’s more freedom. And it’s quieter. If I didn’t walk my kids to school, I wouldn’t leave the house. There’s just too much to do inside the house.

 

 

Busy as a Bee

Posted on by staceyjaine in Anthologies, Epeolatry Book Reviews, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, The Eldritch Series, The Horror Tree, Updates

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Yep. I’m still around. Just haven’t written anything since Wednesday. Been just a tad busy. However, I do have a valid reason for being so busy. I’ve been writing.

Yes, I know… I can hear you saying: But don’t you write daily? I do. And for those of you who don’t know. Yes, I write everyday. I aim for 300 words. Why such a small amount? Well, I have four kids and a husband, and a house to take care of.

Plus, I have a couple of small freelance writing gigs on the side. As well as coordinating a team of book reviewers and writing author interviews on behalf of The Horror Tree.

I’m also gearing up for the release of Twisted II which is happening in July 2018. The 13th to be exact, so if you haven’t already please purchase a copy of the first installment of the series. It contains two short stories, Red and The Summer Girl, that connect to The Eldritch Series, of which I’m currently writing Book 6.

My short story, The Wild Hunt which will appear in Twisted II is also connected to my novel series.

I’d love to say that with all this work I have going on, I’ve become a little more organized, but I’m just not sure I have. Granted, I manage to somehow catch up each week. So, maybe I am becoming better organized. One can hope, I guess.

Now, if only I could get enough time to finish reading the latest book on my TBR pile, life would be all the better for it.

 

Character Profiles : Tristan Lyons

Posted on by staceyjaine in The Eldritch Series, Zooey

Continuing on with these because they’re fun… Next is Tristan.

(Image of Charlie Hummel, courtesy of Google.)

IMG_1105

Basics
Full Name: Sir Tristan of Lyonnese aka Tristan Lyons (mortal world) (Later King of the Winter Court)
Nickname: None
Race: Fey
Gender: Male
Age: ~400 years old in 2011
Birthday: Unknown
Place of Birth: Arcadia

Physical Appearance
Height: 6ft4in
Weight: 185lbs
Body Type: Average
Skin: Pale
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Blonde
Scars: None
Tattoos: None

Family Relationships
Mother: Isabelle
Stepmother: Elesa
Father: Meliodas
Half Siblings: TBD

Social Relationships
Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Zooey
Child: Leo
Stepchildren: Fox, Ever and Rue

Character Profiles : Zooey Donovan

Posted on by staceyjaine in The Eldritch Series, Zooey

I haven’t done one of these in forever. So, I decided to go back to the beginning and share Zooey with you. She’s first seen in The Winter Princess aka Book One of The Eldritch Series.

(Image courtesy of Google. I wasn’t very original with this one, I’m afraid. Zooey = Zooey Deschanel)

largeBasics
Full Name: Zooey Marie-Margaret Donovan aka Princess of the Winter Court (Later Queen)
Nickname: Zoh, Zee and Salinger
Race: Half breed Faerie
Gender: Female
Age: 17 as of 2011
Birthday: 9 September 1994
Place of Birth: Knox, Maine

Physical Appearance
Height: 5ft5in
Weight: 122lbs
Body Type: Average
Skin: Pale
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Scars: None
Tattoos: None

Family Relationships
Mother: Annan
Father: Patrick
Siblings:
Andrew “Drew” Patrick Donovan
John “Jack” Francis Donovan
Ethan Alexander Donovan
Zackery Christopher “Kit” Donovan

Social Relationships
Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Tristan & Robin
Children: Fox, Ever, Leo and Rue

What Makes Paranormal Romance, Paranormal?

Posted on by staceyjaine in fae, faerie, paranormal, Stacey Jaine McIntosh, Writing

gothic-2910057_640

What makes Paranormal Romance, Paranormal?

Well, there’s no real hard and fast rule, so to speak, but there are a few elements that should be included.

Magic. Paranormal Romances, by nature, blend the real with the mysterious. It’s for this reason, and this reason alone that I love both writing Paranormal Romance and reading it.

In fact, I once began a story with the definition of magic, because it seemed to capture the essence of the story. So, what is the definition of magic? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines magic as the power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.

Now, not all Paranormal Romance stories has magic. In fact, Paranormal Romance can be defined as a sub-genre of both romantic fiction and speculative fiction. Paranormal Romance blends romance together with themes from speculative fiction genres such as fantasy, science fiction and horror.

As a writer of Paranormal Romance, I often find myself looking for some ‘thing’ that hasn’t been done to death. Of course, I write about Faeries and Werewolves, which has been done to death, sadly. However, I have put my own spin on things.

Immersing my own characters into a world inhabited by supernatural creatures, such as faeries and wolves. There’s the odd vampire thrown in but that’s purely because I wanted to round things out a little.

I’ve been enamored by faeries since I started delving into Celtic Mythology. I fell in love with Welsh myth, soon after diving further into my family tree and I wanted to bring the Arthurian Legends into modern times. As well as untangle Morgan le Faye from the web that had been spun, linking her to both The Morrighan and Queen Mab. So, over time I set about creating three very different characters. It wasn’t easy. But with time, I accomplished it, and I believe, I’ve done a good job in capturing the very essence of these characters. Characters, which I will share with you, in more depth, in a later post.

For now though, I’ve leave you with one question? What is your favourite supernatural creature? My favourite are faeries.