Book Marketing, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, New Fiction, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Young Adult Cami Book Marketing, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, New Fiction, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Young Adult Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 4

Making a quick stop to take in the sights before I continue down the road.

Making a quick stop to take in the sights before I continue down the road.

I’m pulling off the road for a quick pit stop; a quick respite to take in what I’ve accomplished before March Madness Blitz swoops in and speeds this journey up to the Cantos Chronicles release day on March 31, 2020. This isn’t because I’m tired, but more because I’ve made it across that map I bought at that convenience store down the road a ways, marked up with goals and got to them. Now, there’s a space for a short rest before the next leg of the journey.

  • I uploaded an old (really old version) of the first book in The Cantos Chronicles when it was still a paranormal story called Upside Down: A Fallen Novel to Wattpad. There’s a lot of conflicting research out there about offering content on Wattpad. Here was my thinking behind the decision: I want to find readers. Where are readers? Wattpad is a place. Granted, the story in this version is funny. I laughed and cringed and wanted to change it as I went, but that wasn’t really my point in uploading it. I wondered if perhaps I was doing myself a disservice in offering a product of quality that is “less than” what this control freak would normally offer. I decided, however, that this version - and all of its flaws - offers a picture of Abby, Seth and Gabe in a different way. And that’s kind of cool even if it’s cringey.

  • Using Instagram story, I set a countdown for two marketing materials: the new cover reveals and the book trailer premier. Hopefully those go well. These were shared on every social media site of which I’m a part.

  • Using Canva and iMovie, I created 10 second snippets for the New Cover Reveals to use this week for my social media platforms.

  • I have publicized the Premiere of The Cantos Chronicles Book Trailer on Facebook by creating an event.

  • Along with all of the new marketing materials, I also maintained the creation and implementation of existing and new content for The Cantos Chronicles on Instagram and Facebook.

This week will be all about those new covers and that trailer. Keep an eye out these next three days!

I would love to know, if you’ve been following the journey: What has stood out to you? What captured your attention and made you interested? Please let me a comment below, or check out my story on IG and share your thoughts.

Join me for the book trailer premier on YouTube on February 27, 2020 at 6PM Pacific Standard Time.

Up Next Week: Indie Marketing Update No. 5

Read More
Book Marketing, Book Playlist, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Fiction, Independent Author, Playlist, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Letters She Left, The Ugly Truth, Writer, Writer's Life, Young Adult Cami Book Marketing, Book Playlist, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Fiction, Independent Author, Playlist, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Letters She Left, The Ugly Truth, Writer, Writer's Life, Young Adult Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 3

There are peaks and valleys in every journey. The rise toward the viewpoint and the turnout that allows for us to park the car, check out the vista with a deep breath of appreciation and think: Wow. Look how far we’ve come. Conversely, there are valleys, the dips in the journey where we drive into the depths of the unknown where doubt has the opportunity to creep in and make us wonder if we’re on the right road? It’s a good time to pull out a map, except we don’t have one.

So Nevada…

So Nevada…

I’m in a valley on this marketing journey this week, spinning my wheels in the muddy terrain and wondering if I’m going to make it to the next peak. (Anyone got a song for me to cue up? Right now, I’m listening to our Spotify playlist “Indie Author Marketing Road Trip” to keep me moving forward “Grow as We Go” by Ben Platt. Drop it in the comments to give me a song of encouragement. :)

I am discouraged.

Allow me to be clear. I’m not discouraged by the support (family, friends, IG community is wonderful). I’m discouraged that engagement is down and I keep thinking “What more can you do? There must be something!” But I’m lost in this dark part of the valley where I don’t know. This doubt is rooted in the work I did for The Letters She Left Behind - the clue game giveaway which was a fun marketing idea that didn’t inspire as much engagement as I had hoped. I’m certainly grateful for those that did participate and two awesome winners resulted. Engagement has been worse this month as I attempt to build connection to The Cantos Chronicles with new and existing content. I’m terrified my spinning wheels are only making me sink deeper into the muck.

What does this all mean in the larger picture of being an independent author?

Upon reflection, I don’t think the answer is black and white but shades of variation. Here’s some thoughts I had this week:

  1. I’m being impatient. The perfectionist in me is also looking at the effort and expecting a specific outcome. Truth is, I’m new at this. Why would I have expected The Letters She Left Behind Clue Giveaway to create more engagement when people are only beginning to learn about me & my writing? In all of the research I’ve done about marketing of anything, instant success isn’t a thing (even if I want it to be). I need to be patient and persistent.

  2. Social media is only one tool at my disposal. Perhaps I’m not using all of the tools available effectively enough? I spend a lot of time on Instagram, but maybe that isn’t where to find my readers (even if I’ve connected with a wonderful community of writers). In considering my target audience: where are they? Maybe instagram, yes, but maybe I need to widen the search.

  3. Set backs - being stuck in the mud - isn’t a reason to give up; time to dig deeper and find the work around.

So what did I get to this week:

  1. I maintained my February approach to The Cantos Chronicles, offering new content interspersed with existing excerpts from the three books. I’m using a mixture of Instagram, Tumblr and Facebook, but as I mentioned earlier engagement is low and I haven’t found the magic elixir. Though I’m using a variety of hashtags rotating different ones, posting consistently I haven’t found a way to engage a majority of the followers I have.

  2. I did research on 301c Charities in my area. This is because my local Barnes and Noble is interested in using the charity as a draw for book sales. It’s a great idea. The charity benefits by bringing in patrons because they get a percent of the proceeds. Win-win-win for all three parties. My next step will be to craft letters to the charities are a good fit.

  3. I finalized the letters to teachers in my area. Now it is a matter of determining forward action: selecting schools, teachers, and timing. With the school year drawing to a close, timing might be an issue.

  4. I finalized plans for the March Social Media Blitz. Now it’s time to draft the information my March Blitzers will need and get it to them.

  5. I finished the Book Trailer. I plan to unveil that after the covers are revealed February 25. Look for the trailer next week.

That’s the week in review. While I might be stuck in the muck as an independent author marketer, I feel like I’m standing on top of the world as a creator: I finished my fifth book! And that reminds me why I am doing this: so I can keep doing this.

Until the next peak, my friends. Could you help me push the car out of the muddy terrain so we can get back underway to find it. Happy writing.

Next Week: Indie Marketing Update No. 4

Read More
Book Marketing, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, New Adult, New Fiction, portrait of an artist, Writer, Writer's Life, writing process, Young Adult, Book Trailer Cami Book Marketing, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, New Adult, New Fiction, portrait of an artist, Writer, Writer's Life, writing process, Young Adult, Book Trailer Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 2

Watch the video to learn about the eight things I did this week on my marketing journey. Let me know what you think in the comments, or share with me on FB or IG. Feel free to share it.

Heads up: Something happens with the sound at the last thirty seconds. I mainly spoke about how I was struggling with the amount of efforts and the fears about the outcome - the doubts that the amount of effort expended would create the desired outcome. But I also expressed that rationally, I know that it is necessary - that I am hopeful that what I am doing will be fruitful.

BTW - anyone watch the first season of Castle Rock? Tell me that sound doesn’t resemble the noise in the woods. Or, share with me the story of that sound! (It’s creepy !). Happy writing.

Next week: Indie Marketing Update No. 3

Read More
Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Fiction, fiction - mental health, New Fiction, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Writer, Writer's Life, Young Adult Cami Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Fiction, fiction - mental health, New Fiction, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Writer, Writer's Life, Young Adult Cami

The Bones of Who We Are: Gratitude

temp 3.PNG

It has been a week since The Bones of Who We Are released. A gorgeous week filled with support for Gabe and his story. I am so very grateful. I remember when I got to that point I was ready to share the story, how terrifying it was because I knew I’d taken a risk with his story, but with the wonderful and supportive feedback, I am so ecstatic.

John Green said in a Crash Course about Literature that when an author lets go of the story and gives it over to the audience, it ceases being the author’s story and becomes the readers’. I love this. So, I’d like to share some of the impressions Gabe’s story in THE BONES OF WHO WE ARE has provided to readers.

Flourish6.png
“... the words were magic, each line so delicately put like a song you wanted to continue singing... the author sends you spiraling inside [Gabe’s] brain and his story ... and each step of the way, you become [his] cheerleader...”
— Sophie Fahy, author
“...it is rare to find a novel, a character that resembles oneself - at least for me - it was as if I was looking into a mirror... CL Walters talent for capturing, conjuring the essence of her characters is remarkable... [She] is a talent that you do not want to miss.”
— W. Scott Brown, author
“I became a fast fan of CL Walters after reading Swimming Sideways and The Ugly Truth. The Bones of Who We Are is a brilliant conclusion to the Cantos Chronicles YA Book Series.””
— Janine Caroline, author
“Have to warn you, have tissues next to you while you read. You’ll need them.”
— Mike Walters, author
“The aspect that makes these books so good is that the themes, conflicts, and internal battles are deeply relatable...”
— Sammi, a reader
“Walters tackles heavy, important issues like Mental health and Racism with grace and tact - with a responsibility to the story without losing her voice. Beautifully paced, she drew me in but kept me guessing as the story moved to a breathless conclusion... This is a story everyone needs to read.”
— Bethany, reader

Thank you so much to all of the readers who have read Gabe’s story. I am so deeply humbled and grateful for your willingness to take a chance on Swimming Sideways, The Ugly Truth and now, The Bones of Who We Are. Please continue to share your experience with me, with others. I believe in these stories, and it is so wonderful that you do too.

Available here

Available here

RSS Block
Select a Blog Page to create an RSS feed link. Learn more
Read More
Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Fiction, fiction - mental health, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Young Adult, writing process, New Fiction, Am Writing, Writer's Life Cami Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Fiction, fiction - mental health, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Young Adult, writing process, New Fiction, Am Writing, Writer's Life Cami

The Bones of Who We Are: A Difficult Story

TBOWWA Quote Card 12.jpg

My father - my rock - passed away in October 2017. I miss him everyday. I didn’t think I would ever find the words to write again. When I tried, all that made it to the page were visceral and painful images of where I was stuck: my cave. About six months later, I was sitting at a traffic light and heard Abby say “I need you to write my story.” The pilot light was relit, and I found my way through a new draft of SWIMMING SIDEWAYS. 

The summer of 2018, with SWIMMING SIDEWAYS and THE UGLY TRUTH drafted, I went home to Oregon for a month to help my mom and sister go through my father’s things. Most of the month was spent broken-hearted, trudging through necessary spaces. I cleaned the garage breathing in my father’s work space and going through each of his tools. This was something my mother wasn’t going to be able to do. My dad and his workshop were symbiotic; he could fix anything, and his workshop reflected this. So, immersion in his workshop, going through each of his toolboxes and trinkets, the jars of things he saved because they’d come in handy one day, cracked me open. Somehow, in the breaking of my heart and the diligent reorganization of his things, I was able to assemble the broken parts of myself back together. It was during this four weeks in Oregon that I began drafting Gabe’s story, and as I stitched myself back together, Gabe’s began to unravel.

I’ve warned readers that Gabe’s story isn’t an easy story to experience, and that is because THE BONES OF WHO WE ARE deals with heavy topics: bullying, depression, identity, loss, grief. Maybe in a way, the loss of my father is reflected in the pain of Gabe. My pain became his, though Gabe’s story was always this, I just couldn’t write it before. The pivotal scene in the book - the reason Gabe is who he is - was written back in 2009, eight years before I lost my father; nine years before I went through his workshop and faced my own undoing. 

Perhaps, I was never going to be equipped to tell Gabe’s story without understanding the complete loss of someone so essential to my own identity. Perhaps, sitting inside my father’s workshop by myself allowed me to grasp loss, life, and grief in a way I never would have without that struggle. As writers our life experiences impact the depth of our knowledge. Virginia Woolf wrote, “Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works.” So, I suppose by realizing how painful it was to look at my father’s empty steel-toed work boots and be slammed with the awareness of how much I missed him, it forced me to jump into the deep end of loss. When the only thing I could do was climb into bed and bury myself in romance novels because those stories were as much as I could handle to not sink and drown, I found a way to tread water. Perhaps, this trial was the only way I was ever going to be able to empathize with Gabe’s experience. 

THE BONES OF WHO WE ARE isn’t an easy story, but then life, love, loss, grief never are. That is the truth of what it means to be human. We hurt, but there is power in the warmth of hope. That - the hope - is what my father would have loved about Gabe’s story.

NEXT WEEK: A Letter from Gabe to readers

Read More
Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Fiction, fiction - mental health, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The hero's journey, The Ugly Truth, Swimming Sideways, Writer's Life, writing process, Young Adult, Writer Cami Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Fiction, fiction - mental health, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The hero's journey, The Ugly Truth, Swimming Sideways, Writer's Life, writing process, Young Adult, Writer Cami

The Bones of Who We Are: Journey to Gabe

When Gabe became a character in my mind, he started as a fallen angel. There was something magical and beautiful about him in those first drafts of the original paranormal story. He was the blameless sacrifice - the Christ figure - idealized in all his beauty and glory. Then in 2009, I was teaching a class on creativity and in our daily pages, I wrote a heartbreaking scene that I couldn’t shake. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the character was Gabe as a child, and it shattered the paranormal drafts of the work-in-progress at the time. Nothing already drafted could stand if I used the scene. What the heck was I supposed to do with that, I wondered. 

So the scene sat in my head as an unresolved issue with Gabe’s character. I put the manuscript - two years and nine drafts completed - away (partially because of this unresolved issue, but mostly because a wave of fallen angel stories broke in 2009 and 2010).

In 2015, Seth - the loudest of the three characters - who’d been dragged into hell at the end of the first paranormal story, began nagging me about having left him there. I pulled the story out again. I was teaching Homer’s Odyssey and the Hero’s Journey to my freshman at the time, and decided to plot Seth’s story using Chris Volgler’s work, and suddenly something clicked. The story was there, but I believed it to be a stand alone novel assuming Abby and Gabe were just secondary characters. So, I finished THE UGLY TRUTH in 2016; I was never happy with its ending. My family and friends enjoyed it (or pretended to), but I couldn’t get the nagging feeling out of my head and heart that the ending was all wrong. 

So, it sat for another two years.

Then in March of 2018, I was sitting at a traffic light, waiting, and I heard Abby say in my head, “I need you to finish my story.” In that moment, it dawned on me that all three of them needed their own story. Abby. Seth. Gabe. With Seth’s already done, I went back to the original paranormal manuscript to see if there was anything salvageable for Abby and Gabe. With a ton of cutting, rewriting, and creating new content, Abby’s story, SWIMMING SIDEWAYS, came together, but like Seth’s narrative, I struggled with the ending. I couldn’t figure out how it was supposed to connect until it dawned on me: Abby’s story was first and both she and Seth’s stories were necessary in order to tell Gabe’s. Like finding the last pieces of a puzzle being put into place, I understood the whole story in three parts. The entire series had been moving toward the culmination of Gabe’s narrative all along. 

That quiet, painful scene I wrote back in 2009, suddenly made sense, and served as the cornerstone around which Gabe’s entire story is built. 

The aesthetic I made for Gabe’s story.

The aesthetic I made for Gabe’s story.

Next week: the difficulty of writing Gabe’s story .



Read More
Books to Read, CL Walters, Fiction, The Bones of Who We Are, The hero's journey, Writer, Writer's Life, Young Adult Cami Books to Read, CL Walters, Fiction, The Bones of Who We Are, The hero's journey, Writer, Writer's Life, Young Adult Cami

The Bones of Who We Are: Aesthetic

I love Gabe. He’s the moody, brooding hero, and his story explores the why of his emotional journey. But his story needs a trigger warning. He’s dealing with some dark stuff (with support), so in the forward, I’ve provided an escape hatch for readers in case they aren’t in the head space to read it.

As I’ve been writing In The Wait: A Companion to Swimming Sideways and The Ugly Truth, (published to Wattpad or look for a new installment each Wednesday here) I’ve had more clarity about Gabe’s journey which I hope readers will be able to see as well.

I created this aesthetic to provide a visual reflection of Gabe’s story.

The Bones of Who We Are Mood Board

The Bones of Who We Are Mood Board

Read More
Books to Read, Dialogue, Conflict, Elements of Literature, Fiction, portrait of an artist, Writer, Young Adult Cami Books to Read, Dialogue, Conflict, Elements of Literature, Fiction, portrait of an artist, Writer, Young Adult Cami

Awesome Writer Spotlight: Mary E. Pearson

It’s no secret. I’ve said it before: I do a lot of reading. King said it best, “If you want to be a writer you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no other way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut,” (On Writing). Last year, I read fifty books and have made it through 22 books so far this year. I read, and I’ll read most anything, from romance to suspense, to YA and MG, to fantasy and contemporary, from fiction to nonfiction, reading is my lifeblood. While I like stand alone novels, I’m a sucker for a kickass series, and adore well written fantasy. Needless to say, I’m always on the lookout for a good book. Last year, on Instagram, a noticed a recommendation for The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson. Off to Amazon I went (because, unfortunately there aren’t any independent book stores near me). Labeled as a Young Adult fantasy with an intriguing blurb and an awesome looking cover, I was immediately intrigued. I took a chance, ordered the book.

Read it. Couldn’t put it down. Loved it so much I ordered the rest of the series before I’d finished the first book. I read the remainder of the series and adored it. Now, I would say Mary E. Pearson is one of my favorite authors.

Dance of Thieves is the first novel in a Duology. Vow of Thieves will be released August 2019.

Dance of Thieves is the first novel in a Duology. Vow of Thieves will be released August 2019.

I’m currently reading the first book in her new duology set in the same world of Remnant called Dance of Thieves. Halfway through and I’m in love with it . It’s one of those books that I know I’m reading it too quickly; I want to slow down to savor it but I can’t because I NEED TO KNOW NOW!

As a writer, here are five reasons I love Pearson’s writing and what I’m learning:

  1. The perfection of economy. Pearson knows when to elaborate and when to keep it simple. She doesn't belabor points that aren’t purposeful to the whole of the narrative. Her world building is stellar. She takes us into the world and guides us through rather than dropping us in where we get lost in the details. She unfolds it bit by bit as though we live there, seeing it through the eyes of the characters who live it day in and day out. It isn’t overpowering, but it blooms like a flower - beautiful.

  2. The chemistry she develops between her protagonists is heart thumping (and wistful sighing by me - the reader). She takes me on that emotional journey drawing out the romantic tension.

  3. Her stories are action packed and page turning. The conflict and related tension is tight which makes me think just one more chapter. Then I’m still reading after three.

  4. Her female characters are strong and defined - they are gorgeously human, independent and adept. Her male characters are strong and defined - they are gorgeously human, independent and adept. Both of them developed into complex people with triumphs but also with complex flaws.

  5. The dialogue! I’m picky about dialogue and one of the biggest reasons I’ll close a book. When dialogue reads like I’m standing amidst two people having a conversation - magic. Pearson does this well. I love the way she uses dialogue to embody the conflict and additional characterization of her rich characters.

I could go on about regarding Pearson’s work, but I think maybe picking up her work and reading it for yourself is a better option.  Are there author’s you adore because of how they write?

I read the Remnant Chronicles last year. So good. Here for Mary E. Pearson’s Amazon Author Page.

I read the Remnant Chronicles last year. So good. Here for Mary E. Pearson’s Amazon Author Page.




Read More
Young Adult, Writer, Fiction Cami Young Adult, Writer, Fiction Cami

YA Author Series - Author Spotlight: Genevieve Jane

GenevieveJanePhoto.jpg

Tell us three things about who you are and why you write...

My name is Genevieve and I have just completed writing my first novel! I am excited to share some of it with you.

I am married to my best friend and together we have a 5yr old daughter, 2 dogs, a cat and 2 birds. I am an avid reader and always have at least two books on the go. I love the winter because of the cold, and my favourite drink is tea, of any kind.

I write because I love to immerse myself in a world either I create or one I am reading. Writing allows me to creatively capture moments in time and space in my mind, giving me the opportunity to bring to life heroines and evil witches, castle ruins and bright blue skies across meadows filled with daisies.

 I love being able to make a scene or character come alive on paper.

Tell us about the story.

My novel is about a modern day heroine who is thrown into a centuries old curse, falling in love with an immortal man.

The curse is simple. Love another and earn their love in return, true and without obligation to escape the darkness. There is romance, a bit of magic and a forest full of fairy tales.

What are three things you want us to know as we read.

As the story unfolds, you will be find yourself at the start of a beautiful romance, and your heart will break for a man who finds himself at the center of his woven tales.

Once you start to see a glimmer of hope, the darkness will come full circle, surrounding a young woman who finds her inner strength to save the man she loves.

Where can we find this story? Where can we find you?

When I am not reading or writing, or out hiking with my family, you can find me on Instagram @genevievejaneauthor), where I love to post tons of book-ish photos or photos of my wonderful family. I also post tidbits of the story there, as I am currently seeking publication.  

From A Love Across Time by Genevieve Jane

GenevieveJaneBookImageCompilation(ALoveAcrossTime2019).jpg

Below is part of Kathryn and Jacob's story, as written in A Love Across Time.

(Copyright Genevieve Jane 2019)

As Kathryn stood alone in the ruins of Hohengeroldseck, she shivered. She should not have run from Jake. The look on his face when she turned back one last time was heartbreaking. He had told her things, things she refused to believe, even now.

A little voice inside her mind spoke to her heart, and she knew it spoke the truth. He was not lying to her. What if everything he said was true? That could only mean he was over two centuries old. How had that happened? Was that even possible?

As a child Kathryn had believed in magic. Of course she had, what child hadn't believed that magic was real? It was so bright and exciting. Now, how could she believe in magic when everything, everyone she loved had been taken from her. Her parents were gone and now her grandmother.

Kathryn shoved her hands inside her pockets. Not everyone she loved was gone though.

Jake. Or Jacob, as he told her. She loved him. Oh, how she loved him, and with all of her heart. She always had.

        Shivering, Kathryn dropped to her knees in the snow. What has she done?
        With her arms wrapped around her she stared up at the sky through the top of the tower. The sky was growing darker. She glanced behind her and she saw that she had, in her train of thought, climbed a whole lot of stairs.
       As fear started to sink in, Kathryn didn't know what to do. She was really high up and the wind blew with such force through the cracks in the walls that it howled.
       "Oh great, cracks," Kathryn thought out loud, as she yelled at the stars, "I'm going to crumble, just like this old castle."
      "No. You are certainly not," a voice stated from below the tower. "He is meant to crumble, not you." As Kathryn stood and slowly turned around, she peered through the opening of the tower to the ground below.
       A wolf paced beneath her. In her mind, she then heard a question.
      "After all he has done, you want to give him your heart, you still wish to set him free?" The wolf then disappeared and entered the castle ruins below.
      Kathryn frantically looked around, and her heart beat with the realization that she was not alone.
    Then with a rush of cold air, the wolf appeared. Kathryn watched as the wolf turned into a beautiful woman with long hair the colour of the sun, knotted and braided down her back. She wore clothes reminiscent of years ago, and Kathryn, now startled, realized who she was.
    “You're her aren't you, the witch who cursed him?” she whispered.

    

      “So he has told you of me,” the woman spoke, her words like silk against Kathryn's skin, “has he told you why I despise him, what he did, and why he suffers the way he does?” The witch walked closer to Kathryn and automatically Kathryn took a step back. Looking over her shoulder, she realized she was suddenly very close to the edge.

In less than a second, the witch had Kathryn by the neck, over the wall.

“So, this is love?” the witch sang, her voice melodic and clear in the oncoming night, “will you die for him?”

Struggling, Kathryn looked at the witch, not wanting her fear to be seen. Taking whatever breath she could, Kathryn replied, “I would, if it would set him free, I would do anything for him. I love him.”

*

As he watched the snowflakes start their dance from the sky, Jacob tried again to break free of the tree. He leaned in, putting all his weight on the smaller branches, and hoped that they would snap.

       When nothing worked, he sat back down. The light was fading from the sky, although there was still enough light to see the tower in the distance.

Jacob could barely see two shadows, which he assumed were Kathryn and the witch. Kathryn was over the edge and Jacob feared he had lost again, when suddenly the limbs of the tree started to untangle themselves and that created an opening.

       Quickly, Jacob ran through the opening and towards the castle ruins. As he reached the castle, he looked up, “Kathryn!” he yelled as loud as he could.

At that moment, Jacob could see a faint glow all around Kathryn, extending across the arm that the witch had out holding Kathryn over the ledge. He watched in amazement as the light grew brighter and Kathryn stepped back onto the edge, forcing the witch backwards.

*

As the snow started to fall quicker, Kathryn looked at the witch, and she had a fire within her. This was the man she loved. She would do anything for him, even without magic, she would defeat this witch. She knew it in her heart that love was stronger.

Her love. His love.

Love was stronger, love would break the curse, and she would fight with everything she was to keep him. She was stronger. She would save him, and no longer would he have to live in all the darkness. He would be free.

Free to love and free to live.

Shedding whatever hatred and self-doubt she felt before, Kathryn looked at her arm. Still in the witch's grasp, a light, brighter than any she had ever seen started at her hand and crept up her arm.

       The light engulfed her whole body and with a shove she pressed the witch back and planted both feet firmly on the ledge once more.

As she brushed the snow off her shoulders, Kathryn watched as the witch stepped back a bit, now looking at Kathryn through different eyes. Within seconds, the wolf was standing in front of her again, the woman was gone.

“You don't scare me that way either”, Kathryn took another step towards the wolf. Feeling the anger and the strength inside her, Kathryn continued walking.

       “You won’t even fight me as you are!” She lifted her hands and the same glow appeared once more.

Watching it dance between her hands, Kathryn continued.

“Love, that is what he told me. That love would break the curse. You have no power over him, not anymore. You have to let go. He hurt your daughter, I understand that, but he is not that man anymore. He has had two hundred years to change. That was what you wanted right? To end the curse he had to find true, selfless love? Let him love, please, he finally deserves it. I want to love him. For our whole lives. Mortal lives. Take his curse away.”

(Copyright Genevieve Jane 2019)

Read More
Young Adult, writing process, Writer, portrait of an artist Cami Young Adult, writing process, Writer, portrait of an artist Cami

YA Author Series - Author Spotlight: M. Wednesday

M. Wednesday

MWednesday.jpg

Three Things About Me and Why I Write:

I’m 25, and as a housewife, I’ve been pursuing my career as a full-time writer for the past three years.

When I’m not writing, I’m drawing, playing guitar, skateboarding, entertaining my dogs, or taking care of my plants, or fish tanks. (I have a lot of plants – they’re all tropical and they hate Connecticut winters.)

I’ve always been a writer.  

My dream since second grade was to be an author, and my husband has helped me pursue that dream to the highest degree. I always felt like words and books were just my element. Since very little, I’d find happiness in daydreams and bringing them to life through spiraled bound notebooks. Simply, I write because the people living in my head need their story told.

The Story . . .

MWednesday2.jpg

Moon Reign is my first real book – a full length novel where I’ve thrown my whole soul into it. It revolves around nineteen-year-old Drystan and his dragon, Soren, and how they witness what is said to be known as The Birth of a Unicorn the night prior to Soren’s unwilling farewell. For hundreds of years, unicorns, their magic, and their origins have been condemned to legend throughout the galaxy. Though Drystan has his doubts of this phenomenon, his urgent need to reestablish his father’s depleting health drives his faith towards the healing powers of star magic, the most dynamic force in the universe embedded in unicorns. However, they were not the only ones to have witnessed The Birth. Drystan determinedly leaves home in pursuit of it, and Soren, a kingdom away, endeavors to stop the new people in his life to abandon their obstinate desires in capturing the unicorn for themselves. 

Three Things to Know as You’re Reading…

  1. Drystan's father, Hamond, a wealthy landowner and owner of a dragon breeding business in Hardinggate, is battling failing health.

  2. All the while, Drystan is battling with Hamond's decision of selling four-year-old Soren for an extremely lavish price. Come morning, the Prince of Aledonia, the Elvish kingdom to the North, will have a dragon of his own…

  3. This is their final flight, their last moments together before daybreak disbands true friendship. But, it’s blessed with the light of a phenomenon, one that triggers Drystan to leave home in search of something that could cure his ailing father. 

Where Can You Find Me. . .  

There’s this coffee shop in Middletown, CT called Perkatory. I’m usually there with a turmeric latte… No, I’m playing. I’m active on Instagram @m.wednesday’s_inkwell. Once Moon Reign is published, which all my stars are aligned to hopefully be published by the end of spring/early summer 2019, my debut will be available on all indie author platforms. I’m aiming to have Moon Reign in a few local bookstores in my town that support indie authors, as well.

From . . . Moon Reign . . .

The sun had diminished to a bright orange streak, inky clouds crowning the sky. The cliffs called to them, as they always did. A place of silence and solitude. A place where flight broke free. 

Thundering waves attacked the rocks on a lulling metronome. Drystan’s attention folded to the looming castle behind… Nothing. No signs of movement. No wings rounding elegant towers. A sigh hopped him onto Soren’s back.  

Claws gripped the edge of the land, particles crumbling to hissing whitewash. This is it… this is… our last flight. He gulped down the impaling thought. But, you’re right beside me. And nothing in this moment could separate that. He inhaled the ocean breeze and all the scents carried within. Breathe. All he had to do was breathe and his wings would carry them away into the patient sky. Eyes fluttered open to clustered stars. The sky always understood, always waited. And, with a small confident leap… 

He dove.

Dove them into a time-stopping fall. Dove to abandon all despondent thoughts. The air, the rush, revived and renewed with fleeting euphoria. Oh, how he wished their fall could plummet them out of tomorrow’s sight. 

Parachute wings braced their fall, angling them with the land. Hardinggate’s dimly lit seafront came into view. Piers and ships along a cluttered boardwalk. The curve of lights along the coast. Up… Up, and over the city, wide easy arches combed velvety moonlight. Wings pivoted towards the black sea. There, still miles from the harbor, a triad of ships sailed towards land. 

Playful circles rounded above, swooping closer. 

With each.

Large. 

Bend. 

Coasting alongside their decks, wingtips smacked the waves between paralleled glides. Spray from the bowsprit blew with salty kisses. If anyone on board observed the dragon’s ballet at their port side, he didn’t know. And, if they hadn’t, they were too late. Soren surged upwards in a leisure spiral.  

He leveled on an air current, somewhere between planet and stratosphere. All was quiet, save for the occasional drum of his wings. Beyond, ocean and oxygen melted into abysmal darkness. Above, stars and distant galaxies seemed wet enough to smear, watercolor on canvas. Sceaobyss sliced through the masterpiece with its neon blue rings, Arigae’s tropical neighboring planet. Thin gridlines of starships, strung high past the moon, laced between the two planets. 

Their bond, fastened under the network of stars above, grounded deeper than the ocean below, could not be swayed even with approaching dread. Neither spoke. Words would not express the grief, the fear, that lay just beneath the surface of their bliss. And a satisfying silence capped their flight.  

Drystan released his grip, unbinding his hands from the leather straps, and sat upright. He kicked his shoes from the short stirrups, letting his legs hang casually. Heights inflicted no fear. Gaze meandered to the heavens. 

But, expectation was thwarted. 

He strained his eyes. Refocusing. Blinking. No, it was there. It was definitely there. Parting stars and atmosphere, a wispy pattern of dusty rose in its wake… “Soren, look.” He tapped the dragon’s neck… “Look up there. You see that?” …And Soren craned his eyes. Blackness was seared with a captivating streak of magenta light. A curious head-tilt angled Soren’s wings. “…What is it?” He tightly flattened into Soren’s ascent.   

 “I don’t know.” Hushed interest hooked in his rasp. “It looks like… a comet.” 

 “A comet? No, that’s too fast to be a comet.” Arigae welcomed it, magenta igniting to neon pink as it punctured another layer of sky. 

“Maybe a shooting star? I didn’t think there was such a thing as pink stars, though.”

 Reply came distantly. “… Neither did I.” 

And Soren’s giggle-snort came with delight. “It’s the Birth of a Unicorn.” 

Drystan shook his head at Soren’s reference to the fabricated children’s tales. “Right, that’s exactly what it is.” Pink gaseous trail smudged in its wake. But, the bedtime stories he’d heard growing up… The stories of legend and magic and brave hunters who fought the most powerful unicorns into extinction… They watched neon-rose slowly dissolve into space, following until the East swallowed it up. “Who’s to say they even existed in the first place?”  

 “Well, I think they were real,” Soren muttered. 

 “Horned space horses. Known as the only creatures to possess star magic, whose one desire was to bring love and peace to the galaxy, devoured under man’s blade and never to be seen again. Right.” 

 “Oh, c’mon. Remember Hamond telling us those stories that one winter? We were little, but –”

 “You were little. He was telling you those stories.”          

 “How did it go? Something that they were all stars…?” 

“That unicorns were mere stardust. And, when they died here in our world they would return to the stars, to be reborn in another. Yeah. Something like that. You know how it goes. I’m sure every kid grew up hearing the same stories.” Recalling young nights by the fire with his father, a quilt and socks, a hot mug in chilled hands… “Even if they were real,” he huffed, thwarting memories, “They haven’t existed for hundreds of years. Hunters slaughtered ‘em all. Because, supposedly, they had the most powerful magic in all of creation. S’pose to be more mind-blowing than any magic. Even the Elves’ magic. Or, dragon magic.”   

“I don’t have any magic,” Soren answered flatly. 

“Well,” came a shrugged eye-roll, “Alright, wild dragon magic.”

 Soren pondered over denying words and old fables, all the while admiring where plunging magenta had scored the night. “I think it’s a legend,” he decided, a glimmer in his eye, “And, legends stemmed from truth at one point in time. Don’t you think?” 

A chuckling smile pushed dark hair from the wind. “Whatever you want to believe, Soren. That’s fine with me.” The last wisp of pink dust faded, blurred, and the night claimed its unknown destination.  

 

Read More

Latest Posts

Featured
The Cipher of Tolo
Read More →
Bring Back the Dystopian Craze of 2012
Read More →
Substack Cover.png
Imposter Syndrome: Tools for Authenticty
Read More →
56720D86-1135-4EDE-A90F-62CD817669A0_1_201_a.jpg
June Read Along: In the Echo of this Ghost Town
Read More →
The-Messy-Truth-About-Love-Apple.jpg
New Post on SubStack tomorrow!
Read More →
Gabe.png
March Read Along: The Bone of Who We Are
Read More →
Seth.png
February Read Along: The Ugly Truth
Read More →
2CDFB325-65E1-4EE3-8BEA-DF993197284A.png
2024: Year of the Read Along
Read More →
9D936C3D-EE6A-4591-9ED6-A66F83B6373C.jpeg
Unhealthy Relationships and Romance Books
Read More →
0F2F4A8D-5652-4EE1-A56C-8E95D7646A29.JPG
Relationships: Isolation versus Autonomy
Read More →