July 12, 2013

INSIGHT Book Blast!

Ever heard of a Book Blast? Simply put, it's when everyone buys a book on the same day, so it jumps to the top of the selling charts, thus increasing its visibility and marketability.

Why do I tell you this? My publisher is organizing a Book Blast for my novel, INSIGHT, on Monday, July 15, and I'd love anyone and everyone to participate! Even purchasing a less expensive ebook will still help! In fact, ebooks will be on sale that day for only $2.99! (a big discount from the usual $6.99)

As crazy as it sounds, I'll even be purchasing a book or two myself. I know many of you have already purchased my book, and I'm forever grateful. To help you justify another purchase, think of a friend or relative who might want it as a gift. Perhaps a library donation? All you have to do is save your money from one fast food meal, and you have enough for two ebooks. Overall, consider your purchase an investment in my my success, because that's exactly what you're doing!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PLEASE SHARE, SHARE, SHARE THIS EVENT!!!!! Why? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card, plus more!

SHARING CONTEST DETAILS:
Share this event via facebook and twitter. Anyone who uses the hashtags #InsightBookBlast or #InsightGiveaway will get ONE entry per post. The more you post and share, the more entries you will get, which increases your chances of winning.

1st Place - $100 Amazon gift card and an Insight t-shirt
2nd Place - 2 Insight t-shirts
3rd Place - Insight t-shirt
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Lastly, PLEASE BUY, BUY, BUY MY BOOK (on Monday, July 15)!!!

If you're wondering if INSIGHT is worth the buy, here are two review links (shortened URL) to help you decide...
Goodreads - http://goo.gl/AydQO
Deseret News - http://goo.gl/XUWEN

My preferred purchase method would be through Amazon (http://goo.gl/QiGmE). All other purchase links for INSIGHT can be found at the bottom of the page on my website (http://www.TerronJames.com/).

July 11, 2013

Guest Post - Ann Marie Meyers


Today I have the privilege of introducing Ann Marie Meyers, one of the most kindest, sweetest people I've ever met. Ann Marie grew up in Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies. She has a degree in languages and translates legal and technical documents from French and Spanish into English. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and energetic daughter. Ann Marie is also the author UP IN THE AIR, which just released on July 6, 2013. Here's a little synopsis of the book:

Ever since she can remember, ten-year-old Melody has always wanted to fly.

And when she leaps off a swing in the park one day and lands in the mystical realm of Chimeroan, her dream finally comes true. She is given a pair of wings. She can fly! Life cannot be any better.
Yet, dreams do come with a price. Even with wings, Melody realizes she cannot outfly the memories of her past. The car accident that has left her father paralyzed, and her unscarred, still plagues her with guilt—she believes that it was entirely her fault.

In Chimeroan, Melody is forced to come to terms with her part in her father's accident. She must choose between the two things that have become the world to her: keeping her wings or healing her father.

Find Ann Marie on Facebook, Twitter, or via her Official Website.
UP IN THE AIR is available via Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Read updated reader reviews via Goodreads.

As I side note, I think that people with legal document experience make incredibly talented authors.

Now, without any further ado, I turn the floor over to Ann Marie.
*holds up APPLAUSE sign*
(Make sure to keep reading to the end, where you'll find a $25 Amazon gift card giveaway!)

The Different Faces of Social Media

When I was a kid, I remember my father saying that many business deals were made on the golf course.

Well, to some degree, social media has become the golf course for authors.

You have no idea how long I have avoided being sucked into the world of Social Media. However, in the past few months of social networking, I have begun to see that the advantages of interacting on such a global scale.

Nowadays there are many very successful self-published authors who use social media to promote their books. Even traditionally published authors have been able to expand their fan base and attract readership and buyers.

Still, the many options available are a bit daunting because there are dozens of social media sites. I have personally stuck with a few: FB, Twitter, Pinterest (a new addition), Goodreads, Google+ and my blog. Hmm, so maybe a bit more than a few. I’ve definitely caved in.

Facebook connects people with friends and colleagues around the world. It is also a great way for authors to promote themselves and gain a large following. The Facebook Author Page also allows authors to be personable and to show a side of themselves that potential readers would normally never see.

Twitter has a different focus. Unlike Facebook, you are only allowed 140 characters per tweet. You need to be concise and to the point while getting as much information as possible across. Twitter has a broader fan base and is able to connect not only with friends and colleagues but also celebrities, experts in various fields, even the news media. Plus you can attach links to blogs or any site on the web. It’s also okay to retweet the same thing several times (be careful of spamming though).

I’m not too familiar as yet with Pinterest, but from what I have seen, it allows people to connect on a visual level and conveys a side to someone you might never see with mere words. You can also post the cover of your book, trailers and others pin these to your ‘boards’. People then pin what attracts them to their boards; they may even tweet about it, send it via FB. And the word spreads…

Goodreads is an amazing site for recommending books, and it’s also a way to get reviews for your book. Another way to promote your book is by offering Giveaways. You can imagine how successful that can be.

With just these few social media venues, I have been able to make more connections than I could have every imagined a few months ago. And I’ve only just started.

Done properly, social media can create for you a fan base of thousands. Let’s say then that only 10% of those people read your book (and like it) – that’s a few hundred people who can potentially spread the word to their friends, who just may buy the book and spread the word to their friends, and so on and so on…

Therefore, though somewhat daunting, it seems that social media Is here to stay – and who knows what the future will hold.

Of course there’s always a downside. The challenge is to keep social media interaction to a level that minimizes the risk of socializing too much over writing. And please don’t take an absence of ‘likes’ to your FB posts or a lack of responses to tweets or blog posts as a personal affront. I won’t get into this here because that’s a whole other topic.

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July 4, 2013

Family Trek 2013

I'm going to steer away from book talk for this entry and spend some time sharing my experiences on family trek last week. Trek? What's that? Utah has an inspiring legacy of pioneers who sacrificed everything to cross the United States in search for a location void of religious persecution. Most of these pioneers traveled either by covered wagons or handcarts. The handcart companies had an especially difficult time, many people giving their lives to ensure the survival of their friends and families. Nowadays, groups can participate in a multi-day excursion of pulling handcarts out in the hot desert sun, all in remembrance of those handcart companies. In Utah, large youth groups (ages 14-18) often organize treks together. I've participated in youth trek before, but the trek I went on last week was organized by my wife's extended family. As you can probably imagine, pulling a handcart with your own young family provides an entirely different experience than pulling with a handful of teenage youth. You might think it sounds miserable, and you're absolutely right, but it was also one of the most fulfilling experiences I've ever had. My wife comes from a great family and I'm eternally grateful for their efforts with this trek. I'm not joking when I say I'll refer back to my experiences last week for the rest of my life. I'm a changed man. An improved man.

I believe that inside each of us dwells a spirit created by our Heavenly Father. This spirit is what gives our mortal bodies life and direction. Unfortunately, we often ignore the promptings of our spirits and give in to the carnal desires of mortality. This is why I love religious fasting (going without food or drink for extended periods of time). When fasting with a purpose, we force our bodies into such a weakened state that spiritual promptings finally break through. Once I bypass that barrier, no longer agonizing over my physical hunger or thirst, I can commune with my Heavenly Father on a very intimate level. Revelation and inspiration flow. I like setting goals during this time because I know that, for once in my life, I have my head screwed on straight. Such is the case with trek. Exposure to heat, wind, dehydration, hunger, physical pain and exhaustion... all of these work together to strengthen our spirituality, IF we approach it with the right perspective. Few things drive the spirit away as effectively as a bad attitude and murmuring.

Trek can be organized in many different ways and in various locations, but if you're lucky enough, someday you'll get to participate in a trek along actual pioneer trails. Last week, we trekked in Wyoming at Martin's Cove. I won't bother you with a ton of historical information, but you should know that this specific area contains a lot of emotional history for the Willie and Martin handcart companies of 1856.

When we arrived at our base camp, my wife's family handed out packets to everybody. Each of these packets contained names of actual pioneers and their history with the handcart companies. We were each assigned a specific person, which made the experience extra special as we pulled our own handcart along the trails. When we stopped to discuss the history of a certain location, it was easy for me to identify who among us held the names of those significant to that location. Their eyes would brighten and they'd look around  like, "That's me!" It was a great idea. It made the experience more real for many of us.

A particularly emotional story came from two names assigned to my 8-year-old and 3-year-old sons. By the time the handcart companies had reached the Martin's Cove, WY area on their way to Salt Lake City, UT, their resources had completely depleted. In the middle of a terrible snowstorm that prevented travel, the companies waited to die. Gratefully, the next day brought rescuers who had rushed from Salt Lake City to help, yet there was only so much those men could do. They were only an advance rescue team, many days ahead of the supply wagons that followed. The handcart companies were grateful for the help, but they knew that if they stayed there waiting, they would not live to see the supply wagons. They had to continue forward to close the gap between them. The next step of their journey was Rocky Ridge, a 12-mile ascent up a mountain over rugged terrain. This journey would be difficult for anyone, but to those companies, starved, exhausted, on the edge of death, it was nearly impossible. An 11-year-old boy, James Kirkwood, was put in charge of his 4-year old brother. "Get him to the top of Rocky Ridge," was his mother's request, and James took the request very seriously. For 27 hours, James coaxed, carried, dragged, pushed, and pulled his little brother up the trail through knee-deep snow. He accomplished his mother's wish, delivering his little brother safely into the arms of the rest of his company, then James laid down and died. As the company continued on the next day, James's mother saw packs of wolves closing in on the burial ground where her son and 14 others were buried, but their was nothing they could do. So many stories of sacrifice.

I learned two very important lessons while on trek, lessons that I'll remember for the rest of my life.

One:
With four boys of my own, ranging in age from one to eight, it isn't my lot in life to get much out of spiritual meetings. Instead, I usually spend that time trying to keep my children quiet so others can receive inspiration. Sometimes I find myself wondering why I even bother at all. Why not just stay home? I'd feel less frazzled and others would be guaranteed peace and quiet. It seems logical, and I admit that I've even given in to this logic a few times. Trek taught me differently. It's not about doing what we believe is logical, but about doing what's right. Perfect obedience without complaints, especially when it requires sacrifice. God has a bigger perspective than us. Many of my pioneer ancestors questioned the call to move west so late in the season. Seems logical, especially since they knew they'd be caught in winter storms with few provisions. Some even chose not to go. The important thing to remember is this. Those who chose to go, with the right attitude, developed an unshakable relationship with their Heavenly Father. Their faith never wavered. God has promised us that sacrifice brings blessings. It's absolutely true, but sometimes those blessings aren't tangible or readily visible. Sometimes, as with the case of the pioneers, it does nothing more for us than strengthen our character and resolve. But step back and look at the bigger picture. I keep talking about the legacy left behind by the handcart companies. I doubt many of them, if any, were thinking about that while trudging across the plains and through the snow. They didn't know that 143 years later, their experiences would still inspire the hearts of millions. My family got home late on Saturday night, exhausted, sunburned, and seriously lacking in sleep. Yet, I can't remember ever feeling so motivated to wake up and go to 9 AM church the next morning. And we did, on time and everything!

Two:
This lesson is a little more complex. I've tried explaining it to a couple people, but without much success. Perhaps my sweet author skills will do the trick. As I already explained, I didn't get much out of the meetings, devotionals, and stories on trek. Even my assigned pioneer name did little for me. My four boys are a handful, and as my dad kindly pointed out to me during trek, it's all my fault. I sat around watching my wife's siblings and their children, all calm, reverent, and respectful. Then I turned my attention to my own children. *sigh* Why is it my fault they're so out of control? It's in my genes. Excess energy, imagination, excitability... did I mention energy? Yeah, I was just as bad growing up, if not worse. Maybe it's that mother's curse coming back to bite me in the butt, "I hope your children grow up to be exactly like you!" Not sounding very lesson-y, is it? Stay with me. While on trek, we walked 12 miles in two days. It sounds pathetic in comparison to what the pioneers accomplished, but let's be honest. They were used to a much more rigorous and physically demanding life than us. For crying out loud, we can't get our boys to walk 1.5 miles at home for a free lunch without oodles of complaining. Yet, my 6-year-old son, the lazier, stubborn, like-his-father type of our four boys, walked the entire 12 miles of trek without a single complaint. What's more, he spent most of the time helping pull the handcart. My 8-year-old had the same attitude. No complaining whatsoever, when whining seems like his knee-jerk reaction to every challenging circumstance at home. I felt my fatherly love growing for my family with every passing minute, and my desire to help and protect them increased accordingly. As I toiled, sweated, hungered, pained, and altogether struggled alongside my wife and boys, I briefly identified with those pioneer men who gave their lives to preserve their families. Those men who waded waist deep into freezing water to carry others across a frozen river, knowing the effort would take their own lives. Those men who slipped their own rations of flour into the bowls of their starving offspring. Those men who died trying to dig graves for the deceased, just to offer closure and comfort to the living. The list goes on and on, and not just from men, but from women and children. My lesson then?

In the Bible, specifically the New Testament in 1 John 3:2, we receive the following insight: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." A similar reference can be found in the Book of Mormon in Moroni 7:48. My experiences on trek brought this scripture to a new light. Our goal in life should be to become a better person, thinking of others, serving, sacrificing. We should be adopting the characteristics of our Heavenly Father. We don't fully comprehend the kind of people we can become ("it doth not yet appear what we shall be"), but when we stand before God, having fulfilled our calling in life and received the eternal reward of dwelling in His presence, we'll realize that we have become like Him. We will understand that we are truly sons and daughters of God. We shall see him as he is, that he is our Father, that he loves us even more than we love our own children. How can we ensure that we receive this reward? It all goes back to my second lesson, which I'll finally share with you. We can do hard things. We must do hard things. I could spend the next 5489847 hours, more or less, writing about the satisfaction of hard work, but let me sum it up this way. Think back to the most satisfying times of your life and I'm certain that it was probably one of the busiest times of your life. On the flipside, the most difficult times of your life are filled with laggardism and laziness. I'm right, aren't I? Ha! I knew it, because it's the same with me. Try not to forget that, either. If we want true satisfaction and joy in life, we must do hard things! Stop looking for the easy way out and welcome those challenges with gritted teeth and a tightened buttocks. Shout a little, "Bring it!" if that helps, too.



Trail out of Martin's Cove



Good thing he had that hat...

...because he was COVERED in sand!



My dad came along, too, and was a hardworkin' Godsend!


We tried various techniques, but he just wouldn't wear a hat!

Women's Pull

July 2, 2013

Guest Post - Interview with Teri Harman

Although I've been lucky enough to maintain high reviews for INSIGHT thus far, the time will inevitably come when I have to suck it up and endure a terrible tongue lashing. Perhaps this seems rather obvious, but the pointed truth is that, as an author, it is impossible for me to please everybody. Someone, somewhere, is going to have a negative freakout over all the things they hate about my book.

To address this emotional subject, I have invited author Teri Harman to answer this one, painful interview question. Take a listen. It's definitely worth 5 minutes of your time.

Teri, authors open themselves up to unaltered public ridicule. Why would you choose such a potentially painful path? Do you hide in dark corners at night and poke yourself in painful places with a sharp needle? Is publishing a book just another dark pleasure for you?

Although my question is full of sarcasm, Teri considers this subject no laughing matter. Her response is quite serious, and very insightful.

Author Jessamyn West once said, "Talent is helpful in writing, but GUTS are absolutely essential." If you are going to put your work and yourself in the public eye, you must be prepared for and strong enough to take frequent evisceration (metaphorically, of course - this is not Tudor London, thank goodness).

When I first started writing my bi-weekly book column for Utah's ksl.com I was not prepared for the Internet lashings in the form of rude, mean, hurtful comments. As a newbie to writing for the public I had no perspective on this kind of feedback. It was hard not to take the comments to heart, to start wondering if I was a terrible writer. On many occasions, the dark space under my bed became rather inviting.

Slowly, with the help of a logical and wise husband, I realized there are two kinds of criticism: the kind that matters and the kind you completely ignore. Writing is mostly a closed door activity: seek out the valued opinion of a few, close the door to everything else. If we writers listened to every comment, opinion, review, lashing, etc. we'd never write again. Even the positive things can start to mess with your head.

Putting a novel out into the world is even worse than writing a column. Reviews are strange beasts. As the release date grew near for BLOOD MOON, once again, I found myself reading negative things about my pretty words, wanting to sit down and sob like a toddler whose Lego tower fell over. Although most of my reviews have been very positive, the few negative ones stuck in my head, had me moping around the house and seeking out chocolate solace. So I made a hard decision: I will not read reviews. Reviews are for readers, not authors. The only criticism I need to listen to on my novels is that from a few trusted writer friend beta readers and my editors.

So if you are considering being an author, ask yourself if you have the guts to take the lashings and/or ignore them. To stand in the storm or sunshine and remain unaffected. It's a glorious thing to put a book out into the world, to share your talent, but no two persons ever read the same book. Some people will love you, others will hate you. And that, I've realized, is totally okay because, after all, no one ever had any fun hiding in the dark space under the bed.

Well spoken, Teri, and speaking of well-spoken, Teri's debut novel, BLOOD MOON, released just a couple weeks ago! Rather than botch up a terrible explanation of her masterpiece, I'll share her synopsis instead.

Willa dreams of true events and her best friend is a ghost. Simon can heal any wound with a touch and senses others’ emotions, intentions. All their lives they’ve felt alone in their bizarre abilities, hiding behind a facade of normalcy, wondering why and how. The night Simon walks into the Twelve Acres Diner and meets Willa face to face, in a swirl of electric heat, they are bound to one another and glimpse the magic of who they are.

Across town a witch is held prisoner in the derelict basement of an old Victorian house. One night as it rains, she dares to reach her filthy, scarred hand out the window. Willa, walking home from work, recognizes the pathetic hand from a recent, terrible dream.

After a daring rescue of the witch, Willa and Simon are catapulted into the alluring but dangerous world of witchcraft and the magic of The Six Gifts. Answers to all their questions are within reach, but they’ve stepped into the middle of a deadly fight for the Powers of the Earth. Do they stay, risk their lives on the promise of power, or walk away?

Teri Harman's groundbreaking debut novel, the first installment in The Moonlight Trilogy, completely reinvents the modern concept of witches and magic. With its authentic translation of the history of witches into a fresh and entertaining package with unprecedented characterization, Blood Moon is sure to capture readers from the first page.


Purchase links to BLOOD MOON: Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Teri Harman online: facebook, twitter, website

Lastly, don't forget to sign up for this free giveaway of $25! It ends in just a few hours!
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