Empathic Ink

I'm not one to rant... but I'm making an exception today.  I got a call from my sixth grade daughter (who was at school, crying) recently and was told I needed to bring her some clothes to change into because hers weren't 'appropriate' for school and went against the dress code. What??? I thought back to what she had on that morning, which was actually an outfit she wears to church; leggings & a baby-doll style top that came to her thighs--completely covering her butt--and a long-sleeved blue-jean jacket. I took a deep breath and told her I would be right there.  Well, when I got there, she was upset and embarrassed that she had to be taken out of class (missing her lesson) so she could wait on me to bring her clothes. When I asked the office why her clothes broke dress code, I was informed it was because her top didn't come within an envelope's width of her knees. Really? So, let me make sure I understand. She can't wear leggings when she w...

10 Years ago, a legendary story was born. Firstly, let me tell you that when it comes to either being a lover or a hater of the Twilight Saga , I'm an obsessor. I love it to the point that my heart literally aches when "Leave Out All The Rest" starts to play at the end of the movie. And don't even get me started on the feels that "A Thousand Years" incited. With that being said, it's hard to understand how someone couldn't like this series as much as I do (or at least a small fraction), but then I tell myself that there are also readers who don't like Harry Potter  * gasp * , so I do understand that not everyone likes the same things and has their own opinion. However, the bashing of this series and the bullying of this author, no matter your opinion, has become ridiculous. Even if I wasn't a lover of Twilight , I wouldn't do or say some of the things that have been done and said by readers and fellow 'professionals' in the boo...

Are anthologies going to be the new trend dominating this list in the near future? "You made the NY Times Best Sellers list... with eleven other authors... for a .99 anthology? Um... congrats?" I've heard some readers, bloggers, and other authors talking about this lately. How is it that so many authors—virtually unknown authors—have made it onto the once highly regarded NY Times list with books that have never been heard of by most of the population? Well, when you put together a set of 10-15 books, sometimes more, and list them all for only .99, readers are going to buy them. Hey, who wouldn't want that many books for a dollar? Even if only a couple were actually good, it would be worth it. The problem for me is that some of those books, if not all, are making it onto the NY Times list because people like a bargain, not because they are actually great books and being read. Personally, I find fault in that and think that the NY Times listing qualificat...

Hello... my name is Beverly, and today I'm not only going to be interviewing the author of the FOR ALWAYS series, Janae Mitchell, but I'm also going to interview all of the main characters who star in this hauntingly romantic story. We all decided to meet here at Janae's house, which is located near where this story takes place, right in the heart of East Tennessee.   (As everyone settles down and gets comfy on her wrap-around couch, I get started with some warm-up questions.)  First off, I'd like to thank you, Janae, for having us and allowing this exclusive full cast interview to take place here in your home. Janae:   You're welcome! They all practically live here, anyway, so... (She smiles and shrugs.) Janae, would you care to introduce your characters to those who may not be familiar with them, maybe sharing an insider's secret about them that no one else knows? Beau:   Secrets?  (He winks at Malyn, who is snuggled close to him, holding his hand ...

THE BODY by D. Nichole King Spirit Trilogy #2   They vowed to never return. Their lives depend on it. With last summer behind them, Lucas and Carrie think they’re safe. Only the Moore House isn’t through with them.  When Lucas receives bad news, the search for the elusive half-demon who holds the key to Lucas’s death becomes first priority. The creature might be Lucas’s only shot at finding his soul. Problem is he doesn’t want to be found. Dead ends and blocked attempts leave them wary. Lucas seems to be fading away. His eyes no longer glow, his skin pales. Exhaustion consumes him, leaving him distant when he’s with Carrie. Not knowing what’s happening to him kills her. From all around, shadows creep in, and there’s nowhere to hide. Then, a mysterious stranger suddenly appears in town and unlocks a deadly secret from Lucas’s past.  When the Moore House becomes their only escape— No one is safe.  Find THE BODY on GOODREADS Pre-Order THE BODY on ...

No, they really didn't. When I first saw Jasinda Wilder's cover, I was like No... flippin'... way ! Not only did her cover include the same picture, but her title was also very similar. I immediately notified my publisher. How can they do this? Isn't this some kind of copyright infringement or something? Oh, my word... it's just like mine! M y publisher quickly calmed me, of course, saying that she doubted a NY Times Bestselling Author would copy us. I could have been offended, but I wasn't; she was right. But I was oh-so glad that my book came out first so people wouldn't think I  copied her . Of course, I've learned a lot since then and realize that this happens... quite often, actually. I can't tell you how many covers I've seen and have been like Oh, that's so-and-so's book , only to realize it's not—just their cover. For those who don't know, this happens because cover designers and authors use stock photos which...

(Well, this was my reaction, anyway.) Your manuscript was accepted and is being published...woop woop! Now what? Once I had a publisher, I thought the hard part was over, but I was wrong. Just because your book is being published doesn't mean people will automatically read it. Yes, your friends and family will read it just to see if you're any good or what you have to say... or if they're in it. But how do you get a stranger to read it? Or better yet, how do you get a stranger to buy your book and not read it on a website that's published every single blood, sweat, and tear-soaked chapter illegally? Well, I'd like to give you step-by-step tips on how to do just that, but sadly, I have no clue. Famously seasoned authors don't, either. Why? Because we can't control what others read or how/where they read it.  However , we can control the number of sites that enable people to illegally download or read our books for free... at least some of t...