Thursday, March 7, 2013

"I found Wolfdo!"

 Look who's just now popping up after dropping off the face of the planet! Yeah, that's right, me; and when I say I dropped off the face of the planet, I mean it literally. I was off visiting good ol' home sweet Chronalachi. Where do you think I went?

So, woe and alas, I learned I did not make the first cut in the ABNA...but I'll send them reeling next year, hopefully.
In other news, The Dawnwolf is now $9.99 on paperback and $5.99 on Kindle! So if you haven't gotten it yet, now is the perfect time to buy it for yourself OR a fellow fantasy-crazed friend!
I'm very honored to have gotten such good reviews. Mind you, those were based on the first edition...I can only imagine how impressed they'd be with the second one now! Ha, only joking...but seriously. I didn't write those myself to look good. That would be lame.
Oh, here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Dawnwolf-Second-Mary-W-Hills/dp/1479141054/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356813810&sr=1-2&keywords=the+dawnwolf

So you might be wondering what I've really been up to...well...that's none of your business since it doesn't have much to do with writing, but I guess I'll admit to you that I was TAKING A BREAK. Yes, you read that right. TAKING A BREAK. No, I haven't given up on writing, but it seems like lately I've been losing interest, but that's a whole other story entirely. I'm still in the game, but I do need some help. I'm kind of stuck in a rut regarding promotion and marketing my book (The Dawnwolf). I probably won't be releasing a new novel until I can figure this all out, but as I always say, life is a team effort, a battle that should never be fought alone. Go ahead; quote my words of wisdom and put it on a golden plaque.

If you can assist me in any way, I will be MOST grateful, and you will surely be awarded if you advice gives me a significant breakthrough. THANK YOU in advance!

Today's word is...
Asphyxiation:
 The condition of being deprived of oxygen (as by having breathing stopped); suffocation.

Not a fun word. Somebody give me a paper bag.
Wolf

Monday, January 14, 2013

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards

I stayed up until past midnight waiting and entering my novel into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards contest. (Which I will be abbreviating to ABNA like a normal person from here on out.)
I was very nervous/excited when it all came down to that last button I had to click in order to throw my book out into the contest. I'm still excited. I truly hope to be chosen. You guys can help make this possible when voting comes around in the finals, which hopefully I will make it to. I'm setting my hopes and sights high! There will be no pessimism over here, but no arrogance, either.
For now...we wait.

Currently I'm still taking time off from FireHeart. I won't be publishing it until The Dawnwolf attracts enough decent attention. Want to see FireHeart sooner? Help is appreciated. ;)

Super stoked!
Wolf

Thursday, January 10, 2013

The Dawnwolf Website

Hey folks! I'm here to quickly show you a new website I created for The Dawnwolf. It's pretty basic, but it should do for now until I can create something better. Which I will, in later time.
You can read the "bonus chapter" found only in the second edition there, a 2k+ word excerpt, buy the novel, follow and/or contact me! Check it out! http://maryhills.wix.com/thedawnwolf

Wolf

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

The Dawnwolf (Book Trailer)

Okay, I'm going to have to hand it to you straight. I got hardly anything done on FireHeart. I did, however, eat tamales last night, so I'm a super happy camper. That's one resolution off the list. ♪
So! If you didn't peek ahead already, you'll see I just posted a video. That, my friend, is a book trailer to help promote my novel, The Dawnwolf. Check it out!

Hand drawn images, photo effects, royalty free music, and Windows Movie Maker--all of these went hand in hand in hand in hand. If it's necessary to specify how many hands went in hand. It's a start, considering my limitations. You guys are all I have (sob, sob), so don't hesitate to show it to friends and pass the link around! Just don't re-upload without my permission or credit.

I'm snooping around and figuring out different ways I can spread the word about my novel. I've successfully caught the eyes of a few people aside from relatives and friends, which is pretty good. By the way, if you've read and finished The Dawnwolf, please do leave a review and rating on Amazon! You'll be helping me out in many ways if you give your opinion, because it counts.
If you have and suggestions pertaining to how I can further expand the audience of my novel, please share! As a self-publisher, I have to do it all by my wee little self until I get a publisher for the big girls. I hope to achieve this if I win grand prize in the Amazon Breakthrough Awards, WHICH begin submission in less than a week. I keep forgetting. Ah.

So, while I'm busy promoting my novel, psyching myself to edit and revise FireHeart, and already plotting for my next project (which I'm pretty sure I've decided on), I'll manage to keep you posted. I highly recommend transforming into a blue bird and stalking me in the land of Twitter, or creepily say that you like me on Facebook. Or you can add me, but if you start any funny business I won't hesitate to kick you off. Sorry, I have a reputation to keep, and tamales to protect.
Wait...what...

Word of the Day
Skullduggery:
Trickery: verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way.

...I'm not skullduggerying you. What? Bad grammar? Yes, I'm a published author, why do you ask?

Wolf

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year! I have a whole long list of profound resolutions as do you, I'm sure. I have mental list, really, but all I can seem to think about is tamales. I seem to have an odd craving for them lately. Have you ever had one?

Anyway, guess what! The Dawnwolf is now not only available on Amazon and CreateSpace, but on Kindle, and to libraries and bookstores. I'm assuming it will have to be requested in order to appear there, but I'm going to go bother my local library later on to consider my book. If you want to see it on your library, too, well, go ahead! Request it! Let's see if this works. I appreciate it.
Also, you might notice a new link on the side bar there. Yup, Wolfie has a Twitter, now. She does indeed! Go and follow me, all ye tweetlings! https://twitter.com/WritingProgress

Back to resolutions, I think my two biggest are getting The Dawnwolf promoted and noticed and getting FireHeart edited and published. Then, it's on to the next project, and the same thing next year!
But do you want to know what I'm going to do this year? Like, in 14 days?
I'm entering the Amazon Breakthrough Awards! Yes...I'm just crazy enough to think my novel could have a chance, and, considering all the lovely feedback I'm getting from it, I could be right. I'm hopeful to even win grand prize, because $50k and a publishing offer sounds pret-ty darn good to me. I will squander it on fabulous pleasantries, like jewelry, dresses, and shoes! Nah, I'm playin'...I'd put it to good use, like furthering my writing career.

I'm also really hungry right now.

Starting today, unless I'm stricken with tragic symptoms of laziness, I'm going to continue writing in FireHeart, just like it was still NaNoWriMo. Meaning, I'll be writing about 1k words a day, maybe. I'm not in as much of a hurry as I was last year since I can use my CreateSpace winner's code for another novel if I don't meet the deadline.
At any rate, if I don't write today, I'll edit. There are a lot of things popping out to me that I'm itching to correct. This should reduce the cheese-o-matic gauge--which is to say, the level of the novel's cheesiness. It's not that cheesy, but it has its moments...

Yeah, well, that's what's up! I also uploaded a profile on Amazon's Author Central. It'll probably appear within my novel's Amazon page. By the way, if you think someone will be interested in he Dawnwolf, please spread the word! Thanks a ton, I owe you one!

I would give you a word today, but the only words that come to mind are "stomach" and "tamales".
A stomach is an internal organ in which the food you ingest goes to be digested. It has a tendency to growl when you need to eat. Tamales are a Mexican food with seasoned meat wrapped in cornmeal dough, steamed or baked in corn husks.

*drool*
Wolf

Saturday, December 29, 2012

The Dawnwolf (Second Edition) Now Available!

The publishing process wrapped up sometime this morning and now The Dawnwolf is available in the usual locations, which you can find, along with a few other links, on the right-hand sidebar. I swapped the first edition with the second edition, don't worry, but the first edition is still available. They're the same price, $11.99.
I'll be releasing it on Kindle soon once I finish setting up my account info later on, and then extend the distribution to bookstores and libraries. Now, here's the thing; it won't just pop up into the store overnight, or even in a week. It has to be requested, I do believe. Not sure how that's done, but if you do, I'll let you know when I extend the distribution, and I'm sure you could request it. That, or I'd much appreciate it if you'd help me figure out how to do it myself if I can! I'm a noob writer. Enough experience in writing, but not in publication, promotion, and the like...you understand, right? Good! Thanks muchly!

Here, I'll give you the links here anyway:

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dawnwolf-Second-Mary-W-Hills/dp/1479141054/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356813810&sr=1-2&keywords=the+dawnwolf
CreateSpace:
https://www.createspace.com/3941780

Copyrighted Content. All Rights Reserved.

*UPDATE: The Dawnwolf is now available on Kindle, too! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AUXUW6E

Wolf

Friday, December 28, 2012

Good Tidings!

Merry Christmas, by the way, or Happy Holidays. Whichever thou dost prefer.
I come with good news after my month-long absence! The good news is that I haven't been slacking all this time! But no, really, even better...wait for it...wait for it...drumroll, anyone? No? Okay, fine.
All right, the time is here. The second edition of The Dawnwolf is complete! Yes, my dear friend, it is 100% done, corrected, and ready to hit bookstores, libraries, and e-stores! That will take a little time, but I'll spam you with links once it happens.
I'm so stoked and excited! This has been made possible all thanks to three brilliant ladies by the names of E. G. Windsor, Victoria Grace, and Teddy Ashcraft. In honor of their epic, typo-smashing, grammatical-error-burning, time-consuming feats at the keyboard in spite of busy schedules, I hereby add them to my list of loyal contributors and bellow my loudest and giddiest thanks! I couldn't have done it without you guys! Words can't express my gratitude. Actions might. I'd hug and squeeeeeeeeze you all if I could.
As I write this, I'm getting ready to publish it. Since I have to go attend to that business, I don't have time to say anything else, so I will get back with you later!
Thanks for your continued support, everyone! I didn't forget about you!

Wolf