Category: A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Carnival Tricks (A Double Helix case files #1) by Jade Kerrion

In a world where genetically mutant humans are the norm, Sofia’s telekinesis skills are too mild to be called anything but Carnival Tricks. Waitressing while going to nursing school, Sofia finds herself in the middle of an illegal exchange of data between some scientists and the mob.  During the exchange she is shot up with the microchip and finds herself on the receiving end of a massive manhunt-for her. Kyle Norwood, hired to protect the scientists stays one step ahead of the mob in finding Sofia and ends up helping her keep the information out of the wrong hands. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Carnival Tricks (A Double Helix case files #1) by Jade Kerrion” →

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: The Big Ripoff #Sundayblogshare #editorial

As most of you know, I finished my first novel, Midnight Metamorphosis. It was hard work, but totally rewarding when I think to myself that I actually completed writing a novel. Wow! It would be wonderful to get it published traditionally, but I know that takes a lot of time and effort. I have sent out some query letters, synopsis, chapters, etc., and have gotten a bunch of rejection notices. Frustrating, but also not unexpected. I had a friend tell me that she got 300 rejections before she got a yes. Well, that could take years just to get that many sent out!  Lol.  I do have a full time job, husband, and other responsibilities. I have my blog too!  Which I totally enjoy and will not give up. Other than posting a Chapter a week on my blog, and also on Wattpad, I have been busy with life doing other things, and trying to kick start myself into sitting down and getting started on the second book in my series. This week, I got an unexpected call at work that gave me a jolt.

A publishing house named Dorrance Publishing called and said their researchers found my title while searching the newly copyrighted books on some website. Not sure how that happens, but I guess nothing is private anymore. ( My husband tells me they found it on The Libary of Congress website.) Anyways, after an exciting phone call, I have lunch with my husband and we decide to look into this publishing house. Apparently, it’s a big scam. They actually try to get up to $11k out of people by doing what a normal publisher would do for free ( or at least a % of book sales)!  Of course, I felt really let down, but in my experience when things happen that easily, it’s too good to be true!

SCAM ALERT!!!

The good thing about this scam happening to me is that it lit a fire under my ass. I may not get published the traditional route, but I may self publish on either Kindle, Smashwords, or even both if that’s possible! 
My question to all of you is this – Have any of you self published? Who did you go with? Is it working? What are the challenges? What are the great things about it? Anything you all could tell me would be a great help!

Have a great week!

Deb


P.S. Also, if you have a moment, read the chapters I’m posting weekly. I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

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This Chick Read: Feversong (Fever #9) by Karen Marie Moning

Atten: slight spoilers ahead!

Feversong, the final installment in the Fever series, wraps up Mackayla and Barrons storyline. At the end of Feverborn, Mackayla has to use the Sinsar Dubh to save Jada/Dani’s life, and becomes possessed. Finally!  We knew we were heading to this conclusion and that Mac would have to be possessed in order to conquer this evil. She did it in spectacular cannibalistic fashion. Yuck! However, after becoming evil incarnate, the rest of the Scooby gang led by the incomparable Barrons, is determined to help her overcome the odds and get free. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Feversong (Fever #9) by Karen Marie Moning” →

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This Chick Read: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae takes reading a novel to the next level. It is part book, part graphic novel, and all fun! The story of Kady Grant and Ezra Mason is told through a series of emails, military diaries, memos and narrated videos. It is set in 2575, and starts pretty normally with Kady breaking up with Her boyfriend Ezra. That should have been the most dramatic thing to happen that day, but it wasn’t. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff” →

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This Chick Read: Future Threat (Future Shock #2) by Elizabeth Briggs

Future Threat takes up six months after Future Shock ends. Elena and Adam are together, at least as much as Elena can be with her survivors guilt and PTSD from the results of their last trip into the future. They are trying to get on with their lives after Aether Corp. messed with their future. One day Aether comes calling and asks Elena, Adam and Chris back to run some tests. They end up being drugged and forced to go back into the future to rescue another team that had not come back from their most recent mission. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Future Threat (Future Shock #2) by Elizabeth Briggs” →

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: The Wish Granter book signing with CJ Redwine #Sundayblogshare

Another week and another book signing at Parnassus Books in Nashville! This time, CJ Redwine is signing the second book in her Ravenspire series, The Wish Granter. The Wish Granter is a fairytale retelling, this time from the classic Rumplestiltskin. Even though this book is the second in a series, it can be read as a stand alone, set in the same world as The Shadow Queen, but the stories aren’t connected. CJ, in person, was so charming and funny! She should truly have a stand up routine because I could’ve listened to her for a lot longer. Continue reading “This Chicks Sunday Commentary: The Wish Granter book signing with CJ Redwine #Sundayblogshare” →

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This Chick Read : The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by CJ Redwine

If you like updated versions of fairytales, then you will love The Shadow Queen. I hadn’t ever read one, so I was unsure if I’d like it, but I am happy to say that other than some of the basic plot points this storyline was as different from Snow White as you could get. Ok, there was an evil witch, and some rotten apples and some rather scary creatures that aren’t for the faint of heart! There was also a heroine who looked pretty similar to Snow White, with raven locks, pale skin and a healthy glow in her cheeks, but this was a Snow White with an edge! She knew how to fight! Continue reading “This Chick Read : The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by CJ Redwine” →

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This Chick Read: Written in Red (The Others #1) by Anne Bishop

From the first scene, as Meg Corbyn is running in the snow towards the lights of the Lakeside Courtyard, I was gripped with tension, my eyes moving rapidly over the words that would take me to the next step in this plot. When Meg meets shapeshifter Simon to apply for the Human Liaison job, this authors words filled me with hope that he would give it to her, to help keep her from the people chasing her. That was before I even knew what they all were! Anne Bishop set the stage for an amazing new world of shifters, vampires, elementals, etc. and  most importantly what Meg is, a Cassandra Continue reading “This Chick Read: Written in Red (The Others #1) by Anne Bishop” →

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This Chick Read: Storm and Silence (Storm and Silence #1) by Robert Thier

In one of my favorite scenes in this book, Lilly Linton, dressed as a man because women do not yet have the right to vote, stops outside a polling place to give advice to a stranger about a house he was thinking of buying in her neighborhood. The man, businessman Rikkard Ambrose, is so impressed with this young man’s willingness to help and give good advice, offers him a job. No, really, he forces the job offer on Lilly.  She takes his card and kind of shrugs it off, after all, she is off to vote! Continue reading “This Chick Read: Storm and Silence (Storm and Silence #1) by Robert Thier” →

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This Chick’s Sunday Commentary: All Hail the Queens Book Tour


I live in Nashville, TN, and there is this fab-u-lous book store called Parnassus Books.  They have an amazing amount of authors who come in to do book signings, I think because the owner is a published author herself, Ann Patchett, and co-owner publishing veteran Karen Hayes. The book signing often includes a brief speech, or in this case interview with the authors. Last Wednesday I went with my mom and sister to Parnassus to see Victoria Aveyard and Sophie Jordan’s book signing. Victoria Aveyard has a very successful series called the Red Queen and she was signing the third book, which was just released, called Kings Cage. She is touring with Sophie Jordan who is releasing the second book, Rise of Fire,  in her series Reign of Fire.  Both of these books are young adult fantasy novels, a genre which I love and I thought it interesting that the audience was not just filled with teenage fans. I am not young myself, and my mother has read both series and she’s in her mid seventies.
Continue reading “This Chick’s Sunday Commentary: All Hail the Queens Book Tour” →

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