The joys of non-inspiration

I've been reading and thinking and attempting and reading some more, but words aren't flowing too easily for me right now. It could be the sense of constantly feeling like I'm forgetting something, or maybe my mind just needs a reset button, but so far nothing is working. Who knows? Maybe I just need to seriously sit back and think about the direction my writing is going and whether it's something I need to completely rethink (something I REALLY don't want to do). 

By that last statement, I mean continuing Legacy of Secrets through 4 books as intended, or simply ending it with 3. I don't want to do that either, because I don't think I can truly finish the story in 3 books while at the same time not having the slightest clue how I'm going to get to book 4 at the current pace. Decisions, decisions. 

So, on that note, I think I'm going to go to bed and think on this some more. I'll be setting up a serious schedule where I will add in more time to blog to myself (and whomever decides to read this) as well as writing time and marketing time. The excited part of my brain is beginning to lose steam and exhaustion is setting in. Blah!

Good night, lovelies and please don't hesitate to comment!

xoxoxoxo
Lisa

Writing & Breaking Dawn: Part 2 in review....

So as I work on Soul Covenant, I'm finding myself immersed in a completely different time and place. The other books in the series have touched mostly on the present, with Fire & Ice delving into the past only momentarily. This one, however, exists almost entirely in the past. A necessary part of Austin's story is figuring out how things came to be; why he is in the position he's in. I've started painting a pretty interesting picture thus far, but I'm not quite ready to share it yet!

As soon as I have the cover for this one, I will be sharing with the world! I'm pretty excited about it, as I say about pretty much any of my stories, but this is so far out of my element it can only be epic. It's hard to explain the feeling when you know something you're working on is leaning toward greatness, but trust me when I say it's a high like no other. (I'm a nerd, I know).

On another note, the boyfriend and I went to see Breaking Dawn: Part 2 yesterday. I was a bit torn, mostly because the reviews were less than impressive. I know, though, that there are a lot of people that simply bash anything Twilight, which is fine. I enjoyed the books for the love story's sake, but the movies sort of ruined it for me. I have to say though, I actually really enjoyed the finale. The surprises were FANTASTIC and it was so much better than I thought it was going to be. I'm not a fan of the screenplay, which has been pretty consistent throughout, but it could have just been the way it was portrayed by the actors. 

Now, I'm not saying I dislike the actors in general, just the acting in these movies. I'm not a huge fan of Kristen Stewart, but she's still a young actress and will hopefully grow into a great one. Although her portrayal of Joan Jett in The Runaways was probably the most entertaining she's ever been (in my opinion). I did see her in Snow White and the Huntsman and wasn't really impressed. Robert Pattinson has grown TREMENDOUSLY since Twilight. I've seen him in Remember Me (which if you haven't seen it, you're crazy!) and Water for Elephants (another book-to-movie adaptation) and both were pretty damn good. I also saw Abduction, Taylor Lautner's flick, and thought he did well as an action-man. He, in my opinion, has a little more of a need to grow into his craft. But, I am not an actor so what do I know, right? And, before you ask, no I don't have a "crush" on any of the "men" in the Twilight movies. The books made my heart melt for the love Edward and Bella shared. The movies, not so much. Without it being believable, how can you really fall in love with the movie the same as the books? 

But I digress...I must head off to greet the rest of cyber-space! Thanks for reading my informal review. I think I'll begin posting movie and book reviews more often. After all, I can always talk about myself!!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

For the love of books...

Hello, lovelies! Today is Friday and I am oh so thankful for that! This week has been busy and I didn't sleep much, but I'm alive and kickin' and ready for the weekend! In case you missed it (and are living under a rock), Binding Secrets was released on Tuesday. My very good friend, and apparent fan, Rachel A. Olson left a wonderful review for me on Amazon. She read it in about two days and text me often to gush about the characters and happenings. I was flattered and excited that she enjoyed it and I can only hope anyone and everyone else reading it feels the same way. 

On another note, I will have the cover reveal for Fiery Secrets before Christmas. I'm flippin' excited!!! Char, my graphic designer, is amazing and always manages to pull through for me with mind-blowing designs. I couldn't have done these covers on my own. I <3 her!

My next book will be another novella, centered around the back story of our wonderful friend Austin. There is a rich past that needs to be explored. Love him or hate him, everyone has a story to tell. His is one of great pain, but a story nonetheless. I've already started on this one despite the promise to myself to take some time off. Apparently the story just cannot wait. I will be mixing it up a little in this one, so be sure to follow me for updates on it. I'm looking at a release date near Christmas for Soul Covenant and a summer release date for Fiery Secrets. 

There will be a swag pack giveaway soon, although it is not set in stone yet. Also, I've been thinking of creating a Legacy of Secrets store on Zazzle for folks to purchase swag whenever they want. If I have enough people interested, I will start production on those soon so there can be lots of gift appropriate items. Who doesn't like swag?

Well, folks, I'm off! I have work to do (apparently that's why I have a regular job) and lunch to be had with my hunny shortly. Have a marvelous weekend! xoxoxo

Binding Secrets Release Delayed!!!! ***UPDATE***

As you all know, we were shooting for an October 31st release, but we've run into some technical issues that may not be resolved in time for Wednesday. Ahhhh!!!  

If the issues are not resolved by Friday 11/2, then we will release Tuesday 11/6!!!

I apologize to those who are waiting for the release and hope you all can stay with me! We've been working diligently to get any and all issues resolved, but some things are just unavoidable sometimes. I'll keep you all posted as soon as the book is available. Remember, you can always check the status on Twitter, Facebook or My Website.

Sorry guys!! :(

I'm such a tease :p

Hello again! I'm feeling rather productive this evening, as I've just closed one major hurdle of Binding Secrets that I was struggling with for days, or maybe weeks. Hooray! I'm excited that I managed to finally wrap up this part of the story and will be able to move on (yes it was that important!). 

As a means of placating those who are wondering about this book, I'm going to be posting Teaser Quotes on my Facebook Page for everyone to see! They'll also be posted on Twitter, but the running list will be in the Notes. I hope to see you all there!

~Heat Wave~

The heat must be getting to me! 

Life is just simply crazy right now. There's really no other way to explain it. I'm one of those people that is normally really laid back and comfortable in any environment, but lately I find myself restless and my anxiety is through the roof. Some personal issues have factored into this, but also I'm struggling to get back into the groove.

For about two months I was cracking out some good stuff, but lately my enthusiasm has been lacking. My characters are begging me to write their story almost as much as I'm begging them to finish it for me. I suppose, at some point, I'll have to hike into the wilderness and retrieve my muse from wherever she may be hiding. Maybe an upcoming vaca can cure it for me!

The little bit of news I do have is I'm definitely releasing the Cursed Secrets 2nd edition very, very soon. Fire & Ice will follow soon after. Once these are out and about, I will be (hopefully) finishing up Binding Secrets to publish by the end of the fall. Again, the timing for the sequel is tentative. I don't want to get myself into a bind with that, but I don't want to rush it either. You all, and the characters, deserve better than that. I refuse to rush perfection!

Unfortunately, I have no previews to post for you tonight. I know, I know, I'm lame! BUT...you can check out some samples on Scribd. I have some stuff up from Legacy of Secrets (LoS) and also a different story I was working on a few years ago. I don't know if it will end up going anywhere, but it's there for you to read anyway. 

Thanks for tuning in to my ramblings! You know where to find me...

:-) Lisa

Excitement runneth over!

 I've got some big news! 

I've decided to release a second edition of Cursed Secrets to include some bonus material and a brand new cover! This has been in the works for a while, but just recently it was decided to go ahead with the project. Part of the reason is that as my first novel, there were obviously mistakes and things I need to fix along with the fact that I hadn't a clue where the story was going when I finished. Now that I know, it hardly seems fair to keep it to myself! :)

I'll be releasing Fire & Ice within the next few weeks on Amazon, then remaining platforms thereafter. There is a new cover and the prologue is available to read here. I've been working hard to bring you all the best possible experience with these characters and I think you'll be pleased :). While Fire & Ice isn't technically part of the series, the characters are the same and follows closely to the storyline. While some have been desperate to know what happens between Christian & Lia, I can't say for sure what you'll find in this installment.

Binding Secrets is still currently set for release in Fall/Winter of this year. This is tentative and may change depending on where the story takes me. You can't rush perfection and I surely don't want to try! I can tell you that there will be some surprises in this installment. Characters you thought were bad may end up good and so on. As it turns out, Lia isn't the only one that has secrets...(wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

So, I shall leave you with a little taste of Binding Secrets to pique your interest. Check my website often for updates on Legacy of Secrets and releases. Also, a great community called Indie Author Network has been kind enough to showcase my work. Feel free to pop over and give them a shout and look around at some cool stuff. There are plenty of authors and books to choose from, not just the Fantasy types!

'Till next time!....

Where it stops, nobody knows...

Anyone else in need of a vaca? I know this girl is! 

The cover vote was a success!!! You all voted this cover in for Binding Secrets and with a few added touches, it will be just as epic as the story itself! For a teaser, click the picture!!!

 

For the last few weeks, I've been working closely with the Indie Author Network (affectionately called IAN). We've been creating a new interactive fansite for a group of incredibly talented independent authors and it's been exciting and exhausting at the same time. The members of IAN are all self-published, hard working and incredibly dedicated authors. I've never met a greater group of people!

The dead line for Fire & Ice is inching closer (I know, it's freaking me out!), but I have faith I will complete it in time. Char is working on a great cover for me and I can't wait to see it! Writing this novella has actually been pretty refreshing. I enjoy taking time trips every now and again to see how my characters lived before I knew them! I know it sounds cheesy, but I'm only a vessel folks! My characters are all alive inside my head...and no I'm not schizophrenic! *Sigh*

Currently, I'm reading The Ancient Fae by Terry Spear. I've enjoyed The World of Fae series and look forward to more from her. I decided that I needed to recharge by reading a nice, long novel and Terry sure did deliver! 

On a side note, I've met a new author recently. Her name is Rachel Olson and I think she has such great potential and a contagious positive attitude. She's definitely someone to look out for. Rachel is currently writing a Sci-Fi novel and is also co-writing on another project. Her vision is definitely intriguing and while she's not yet published, I'll definitely be buying her debut...won't you? :) You can view some of Rachel's writing here.

Well folks, I'm off! I promise to write you all more often once the whirlwind settles. Stay tuned for more teasers and special offers!

xoxoxoxo

Around the bend...

I'd like to thank those who wished me well over the last few days. I've been under the weather, battling some allergy irritations. Thanks for being patient as I intended to get this blog out at the beginning of the week. I'm still not better, but I'm well enough to pass along some good info!

The ebook giveaway is still going strong through tomorrow! Hurry and enter for a chance to win one of 10 signed copies. There will be probably one or two more chances to win a free copy over the summer.

I will still be holding the cover vote for Binding Secrets. I'm waiting on the samples to come back and then we'll begin! All info about the vote can be found on my Legacy of Secrets page.

Exciting news! I will be expanding LOS with novellas based on the characters from the main novels! Also exciting, I have plans on releasing the novellas for free! Crazy, right? I don't have many specifics for these yet, but I'm working with "my people" to bring you all some great reads! These will be significantly shorter than the novels, but won't skimp on the goods :p.

I will try my best to keep in contact with you all, but I may be scarce. There is some rearranging going on in my life as well as my books, so my schedule will be hectic. I promise to keep you all posted of any news and contests. 

I can always be reached on my Fanpage and Twitter as well as from My Website. I'll never hesitate to reply, whether you're a fan or aspiring author. Keep in touch!

xoxoxo

Lisa Logue <3

Through the rabbit hole...

It's been about a week or so since I've last written to you all, my apologies. Between school, work, children and some much needed sleep, it's been difficult to get back into the swing of things. Not to mention the terrible allergies right now; pollen counts are ridiculous!

Anyway, there are several things going on this month that I wanted to make everyone aware of so here we go!

1. Another ebook giveaway 

2. I'll be holding a vote on the cover for Binding Secrets, the sequel to Cursed Secrets

3. New selling feature for my fav books from my website

4. Official Binding Secrets blurb to be posted on my website

5. Q&A with some of your favorite characters from the Legacy of Secrets! (new series title) :)

So far, these are the main points on my agenda. To submit a question for the Character Q&A you can click here! Any and all information regarding me and my books can be found at my website. Of course, none of this would be possible if it wasn't for my friends at BookRix who helped make my book a bestseller! Love you guys!

It's been great chatting with you all...xoxoxo!

What dreams feel like...(with special preview)

With one book giveaway down, one ongoing and a few more to come, I'm honestly feeling good about this new career thus far. I've had the pleasure of working with the wonderful people at BookRix and they've been incredibly kind in helping to promote Cursed Secrets. Whatever events occurred that ended up bringing me down this path, I am truly thankful.

I've been steadily watching my Amazon stats rise, gaining a better following on Twitter & Facebook and connecting with so many readers on Goodreads. I am humbled by the kind words and excited that I'm sharing something I love with the world. Each day, I delve further and further into my dream.

It's definitely surreal to start from nothing and end up being a bestseller, no matter which platform it may be on. I wouldn't have thought in a million years that things would have happened this fast. I can't say I'm complaining, though!

As a means of saying thank you, I'm going to include a small excerpt from Binding Secrets, the sequel to Cursed Secrets that will be out later this year. The book cover is currently in development and will be released this summer for all of you to see and comment on :). 

EBOOK GIVEAWAY!!!

Facebook Events is hosting this month's free *signed* ebook giveaway! I'm excited! I have ten copies available for the winners!!!

The rules for the giveaway:

• The event will take place from March 19th-23rd

• Join the event

• Your name will be added into the drawing

• By midnight on the 23rd the names will be listed on my website

• Click your name on the list to send your info and receive your ebook

It's that simple!!!

Be sure to click the link to join!!!

Hope to see you there :)

Cloud 9...and a half!

Some amazing things have happened this week! I was given a pretty awesome review by my friends over at BookRix, my book sales have been almost doubling each day, and I've gotten many kind words from those who've read it. 

It's truly indescribable how all of this feels, but I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who's taken the time to read and comment on Cursed Secrets. During this whole process, I've been rather hesitant...okay, I won't lie, I've been totally freaked by the entire thing! 

Years of writing poems on any scrap of paper I could find and stashing them in notebooks definitely didn't prepare me for this! I'm incredibly humbled by the kindness and excitement my readers have conveyed in just a few short weeks. I'm more motivated than ever to finish up book two for everyone to continue the journey!

Please keep up with my website, Facebook, and Twitter for updates. All of these profiles are linked from my blog as well as just about everywhere else :). If you have comments you'd like to post about my books, please feel free to do so. I value everyone's opinion (yes, even if it's bad!). 

Again, thank you all and have a great weekend! :)

Just breathe :)

With Cursed Secrets finally being published, I've been taking a bit of a break. I'm trying to concentrate on school and a bit more time with my family, but I can't help when I'm bitten by the writing bug :). Recently, I've had a story churning in my mind. I've written a small part, literally the only piece of this story that is available, and I figured I'd share it with all my people! Follow the break to read!

Butterflies!!!

I've been working diligently to complete the last read through of my book with the aim of publishing this weekend. Every free second I get, I'm editing and polishing it up for you all!!! The closer it gets, the more the butterflies seem to be taking a permanent residence in my belly :-). While feedback has been incredible, I never imagined myself to actually be taking this step toward my dream. It's an amazing feeling!


Recently, I've had an awesome turnout on my Facebook Fanpage and I'm hoping the "likes" keep coming! I've also started a forum for other Indie Authors on my website, where we can all share information and showcase our writing and links to our work. With so many things in motion right now, I can honestly say that I can't wait to get back to writing again :-).


As of right now, I'm planning to have the sequel to Cursed Secrets published in the fall of this year, but nothing is set in stone as of yet. Unfortunately, I don't have a title for book 2, but I know it will follow in the same fashion. I'm hoping to bring you all some good stuff to read and talk about :-). Stay tuned!!!

Sights and Sounds

So over the past few weeks, I've discovered quite a bit about what it means to be an indie author. Not only must you put up with criticism (good and bad) from your peers and readers, but you must also be able to carry a load the size of Texas on your back. Between writing, editing, marketing, blogging, networking, and publishing things get a bit crazy.

But there is a silver lining. Some of it is...dare I say fun? Recently I've been working with my very talented graphic artist on a book trailer. For those of you who don't know, this is like a movie trailer for a book. Author R. Lynn's book trailer for The Descendants is a great example of a good book trailer:

Since R. Lynn was so kind to refer me to my wonderful graphic artist, I can also trust her judgement on what makes a great trailer! So stay tuned folks, the finish product should be out soon. In the mean time, enjoy this book trailer and keep an eye out for R. Lynn. She's taking the place by storm! ;)

Decisions, decisions...

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought this book would be as exciting as it is exhausting! Every time I turn around, there's something else for me to do or another decision to be made. But, it's what I've signed up for and I'm not turning back now.

So, my new website is now available. There are links to my blog and other work I've done. I've also linked my Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads (as I've done on here). Most of all, the website will be the hub of all of my books from here on out. There will be another book released later this fall in this series, but as of right now there is no name.

The first decision I've made is to sell Cursed Secrets on Barnes & Noble first. For those of you who do not have a Nook reader, the app can be downloaded for free. I will be releasing the book for a few weeks, then I will also have it available on Amazon and for the Kindle. I will be doing book giveaways at some point. I'm pretty sure they will be signed paperback copies (more on this after P.O.D. publication).

For updates, please follow my blog or at the very least on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you guys, so much, for reading and being a part of this journey with me. <3 you all!!!

We cool?

How do you critique authors? Do you speak honestly or try to spare their feelings? Should writing be considered as strict of an art as others? You have to give reviews to get reviews, so should you be nice or honest?

I have to say that I struggle with these questions. While attempting to review the works of my peers, I find myself wondering what type of criticism I should lend. I cannot lie and say that while reading (no matter if it's a rough draft) I'm constantly thinking of rephrasing sentences, spell checks, punctuation errors, etc. I try to be subjective, but my brain doesn't exactly work that way. So where do I go from here? 

I want to be a part of the community and contribute, but I also cannot go against my urges as a writer. What is an acceptable way to tell someone they need A LOT of work without sounding like a jerk? For instance, I would rather have people be honest with me, but not in a "bashing" type of way. I want to know what needs improvement or where things fell flat. I want to know about typos and other formatting errors. I want to know whether I'm even close to being on the right track. However, as anyone else who's been writing knows, it's a growing process. Just because your first few stories or poems are poorly put together, doesn't mean it was necessarily bad.

*Sigh*

What would you do?

It's here! It's here!

Yay! Preview finally available! Please click the cover below to read. Updates coming soon folks, so stay tuned! Thanks!!!!

To be, or not to be?

With publication a few weeks away, I can't deny that I'm FREAKING OUT! So much to do, so little time, and the pile keeps getting larger. My blurb is completed along with my book jacket and I'm so very excited! So I decided to share my finalized blurb with you all and be sure to check for the upcoming preview. Thanks so much!!!