Day Two of Ruby's Fire launch, win great swag & meet Ruby!

Ruby's Fire is out! To celebrate, we're having an epic Ruby launch celebration! We've got cool Rafflecopter prizes, and fun quizzes on blogs. Thanks to all of you amazing bloggers who are hosting features, and thanks in advance to anyone who buys, reads and reviews Ruby, and walks with her on her perilous journey. Props to all who tweet and RT about the book.
After all, readers make the world go around.

Where to find Ruby:

illustrated paperback, Kindle ebook, Nook ebook

Tuesday, June 25th revelers: The Warrior Muse, From the Writer's Nest, Amy Kathleen Ryan, Share my Destiny, Teen Blurb, Kordugum Hayalle & Yorum Duragim (two Turkish blogs, who would've thought?!)
About the novel:
“Seventeen year-old Ruby and her little brother Thorn, have only known a life blighted by the extremist Fireseed Cult. The night Ruby is set to be claimed by one of its cruelest and oldest leaders, she makes a bid for freedom. With Thorn in tow, she stumbles into the world beyond, and finds an opportunity for a fresh start in Skull’s Wrath under the guidance of Nevada Pilgrim, a woman who may not be all she seems. Ruby's new life could bring her friendship, love, even fortune, but nothing comes without a price. Is Ruby's talent for elixirs keeping the roof over their heads, or do some of her associates have a more sinister and lucrative interest in them? Life outside a strange cult isn't without its dangers, and the experience leaves Ruby transformed and communing with the Fireseed more closely than she ever would have imagined. Stine delivers a thrilling adventure led by an exciting cast of characters, and the romance is really well handled.”   -YA’s The Word

Here are Monday's revelers: Meradeth Houston's blog, Laurel's Leaves, M Pax, The Write Game, The Story of a Writer, Books for YA.

Before you hop off, please copy a tweet to tell friends about Ruby! Catherine will give you a big, grateful virtual hug.

YA future thriller, Ruby’s Fire is out! Come on her perilous journey. http://tinyurl.com/l6y6qem  #YA #kindle #hotread #romance #beachread


She escaped a dangerous cult, but why is Ruby’s blood turning green? http://tinyurl.com/l6y6qem #hotreads #beachreads #YAscifi #lovetriangle

Ruby's Fire, love triangle, escape from cult, bad drugs, mutations. http://tinyurl.com/l6y6qem
 #pageturner #YAscifi #kindle #newreads #romance

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal for Cherie Reich's Men of Foxwick

Men of Foxwick by Cherie Reich is now available! This fantasy short story collection features five men from the Kingdom of Foxwick.

A blind teen seeks a place in the kingdom. A dragon seer journeys to Wintermill to spy on the queen. A sword master’s worst fear comes true when he fails to protect the royal family. A king falls in love with an herb witch, but will she feel the same way? A hunter will rise to the challenge to hunt down a man-eating monster.

Short stories in this collection: Blind Scribe, Dragon Spy, Sword Master, Courting Magic, and Monster Hunter

To purchase: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords / Kobo / Nook

Click here to add on Goodreads.

About the Author: A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and the fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms.

Her debut YA Epic Fantasy novel Reborn, book one in The Fate Challenges, will be released on May 23, 2014.

For more information, please visit Cherie’s website and blog.

Also, Cherie has a special announcement for her email newsletter subscribers. Click here to sign up for her updates and receive a coupon for a free copy of Women of Foxwick.

Indie Life Wednesday-the art of revision

Today, for Indie Life, I'm talking about revision, that dreaded word, or not. As for me, I love it. I'd rather be polishing a draft than banging out the first, rough one. You need to learn to love it, ESPECIALLY as an indie author, because anything you put out into the world needs to be flawless--the plot, the grammar and punctuation, the characterizations.

Tools to help in this regard:

Scrivener: I love their virtual corkboard where you can endlessly rearrange a set of virtual Index cards that you create. If your eyes cross while staring at the cards, you can toggle between this and a more traditional line-by-line plot outline.

Upload your daily revision to your Kindle and read it with new eyes: It looks like a book, it reads like a book (well, an ebook), and you'll notice errors that you never saw when you read it on your screen or paper manuscript.

Nanowrimo: National Novel Writing Month, where you bang out a novel length manuscript in 30 days. It'll either break you or make you super strong (Or both?). You'll be amazed at how much you can write. No really! Now they even have July and August summer camp with virtual bunkmates.

Your writing group: get in one, trust them, and run everything by them. Only choose authors whose work you love and respect.

I'll leave you with a few awesome quotes from authors on the revision process:

“By the time I am nearing the end of a story, the first part will have been reread and altered and corrected at least one hundred and fifty times. I am suspicious of both facility and speed. Good writing is essentially rewriting. I am positive of this.” — Roald Dahl

“Don’t look back until you’ve written an entire draft. Begin each day from the last sentence you wrote the preceding day. This prevents those cringing feelings, and means that you have a substantial body of work before you get down to the real work which is all in the edit.” — Will Self

“Mostly when I think of pacing, I go back to Elmore Leonard, who explained it so perfectly by saying he just left out the boring parts. This suggests cutting to speed the pace, and that’s what most of us end up having to do.— Stephen King, On Writing

Wishing you a productive and creative revision process!
What's your most helpful revision tool?

Help celebrate Ruby's Fire launch, June 24-28

I've been busy, busy, busy getting Ruby's Fire illustrated, formatted and sent to my book designer. Now, it's time to plan the launch celebration! This is where you come in. If you'd like to help get the word out, sign up on the Simply Linked form below and I'll get you all of the elements for a post anytime during the launch week of June 24-28 (or even a few days later if you're booked that week). I'll be very happy and grateful to you! A giveaway of a Ruby's Fire ebook is part of the launch if you'd like to offer one to your readers. I'll have mobi and ePub files for Kindle and Nook. Just let me know who won what so I can send them their swag. On the launch week I'll post the links to the bloggers who are helping celebrate so people can go say hi. For book reviewers and book bloggers who are not around during June, consider signing onto my July/Aug tour through Xpresso (Banner link's on upper right side of this blog).
Sign up here to help celebrate the Ruby's Fire launch!

Ruby's Fire Cover Reveal & More Bookish News

Today is the Ruby's Fire cover reveal. Isn't it beautiful? My cover artist, Jay Montgomery did a stellar job. Thanks so much to all of you who are participating in the reveal! 

The novel launches on June 24, and I'd love for anyone who wants to help celebrate to consider joining in a post during that week (June 24-28), whether it be a simple mention, a feature, or an interview. I will provide content. Email me at kitsy84557 AT gmail DOT com and let me know what you prefer. If that week is not convenient, then please consider signing onto the official tour, with Giselle over at Xpresso. That tour starts on July 29, and here is the link.

In other news, Fireseed One won finalist spots in the USA Book News International Book Awards for both YA AND sci-fi. I was floored to receive it.

I would love for anyone who wants to read Ruby's Fire to put it on their TBR list over at Goodreads. This helps raise awareness of the novel. Thanks so much in advance!

And please consider subscribing to my newsletter for news of giveaways, contests and more. (Link is on right banner)

What's exciting in your world today?

Newsflashes: More awards, Ruby's Fire tour, cover reveal sign ups and early blurbs

Fireseed One was awarded an Indie Reader Approved stamp! This followed the good news that it also won the Bronze Wishing Shelf Book Award. It's lovely to get these votes of confidence, after all of the hard work of trying to craft a gripping novel.

More news: I've signed with the awesome Giselle over at Xpresso Book Tours for my forthcoming novel, Ruby's Fire. It will be rolled out in stages. The first is a cover reveal, which happens this week, on Thursday, May 23rd! There's still time to sign up to join in on the cover reveal. Just click here and fill the app. Thanks! Ruby is smokin' in her futuristic cowgirl/huntress gear. No prom dress for this badass survivor! She has to be able to crawl around in desert caves, hunting poisonous lizards and other weird critters. You can't do that in spike heels. She's still fashion conscious, especially her ruby-hued jewelry and her fingernails, each painted in a different shade, complimenting the desert environs. Wait for it...

Ruby's Fire will have a book blitz buzz and the actual launch in June. Later, on July 29 the big tour begins. For the June launch, I will be seeking participants to help me celebrate in any way they see fit. I will keep you posted as to the actual date.

In the meantime, I'm very grateful to have gotten some amazing blurbs from early readers. Here's a sampling, such as this one from our own sci-fi diva, M Pax:

“Gripping and addictive, Ruby had imagination packed into every page and scene; Unexpected and original.”  -M. Pax, author of The Backworlds series
And from the fabulous Susan Kaye Quinn:

“This haunting story unfolds, layer by layer, like a Fireseed plant reaching out and calling you to figure out the mystery, mystery. What’s revealed is even creepier than expected in a world already steeped in exotic technology and bioengineered strangeness. Great science fiction imaginatively told, Ruby’s Fire is a wonderfully crafted story that will make you think – and be glad for a cold drink of water ready at your fingertips.”   -Susan Kaye Quinn, author of  the Mindjack trilogy

One last bit of news, I've joined a NetGalley author co-op, Patchwork Press, so that reviewers, librarians and bloggers have access to read and review. To request a book, visit our site here.

Award News, Ruby's Fire Cover Reveal & I teach at Philly Writers' Conference June 7, 8 & 9

Fireseed One just won a Wishing Shelf Bronze Book Award! The Wishing Shelf Award is a unique one because it's decided in large part by high school students. Students in the UK and Sweden voted for their favorite books. A big thanks to these participating schools: Worsley Bridge Primary School, Rokesly Junior School, Montpelier Primary School, Meadlands Primary School, St George the Martyr Primary School, Gainsborough Primary School, Gospel Oak Primary School, Mossfrd Green Primary School & Pelham Primary School.

I will teach Writing and Publishing Teen Fiction at the Philadelphia Writers' Conference on June 7, 8 & 9. This is always a fun and informative event, located in Philly's historic old city, near the Ben Franklin Museum and the Liberty Bell. For more details and info on registration, click here.

The cover for Ruby's Fire is officially done! Xpresso Tours is setting up a cover reveal blitz. I will have a book launch in June (and a tour with Xpresso in July and Aug). There will be a sign up for anyone who wants to help celebrate. Stay tuned. I will also be featuring the cover artist Jay Montgomery on Idea City.

Tomorrow, I'll have a left knee replacement. Yipes! I did way too many step aerobics classes, and jumped up on way too many high risers. No cartilage left. So, if it takes me a couple days to get back online, you'll know why. A heads-up to those who are jumping on pogo sticks, and rollerblading or running on hard asphalt--protect your knees.
Mad love for the online community, and for those indie authors and book bloggers who have already blurbed Ruby's Fire. Thank you!