tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30291531305639017422024-02-06T21:08:43.342-08:00Anna QuesterlyAward-winning author of The Minstrel's Tale Trilogy and dozens of separately published fairy tales, suitable for all ages
Writing for adults as A.J. Questerly
When Anna's not writing you'll find her at her favortite bookstore, Dog-Eared Pages bookstore in Phoenix, AZ.Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-43600354298629548512019-07-04T09:22:00.002-07:002019-07-04T09:22:37.533-07:00Reviews Matter!<div class="reviewedBy" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<b style="background: url("https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/author-central/icon-offsite._CB189385742_.gif") right center no-repeat transparent; box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: -2px; outline: 0px; padding-right: 17px;"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JT8k3aOD111mwinWolcKE_eN2hjGxgsab6RRUUg9AIitqX9SIn-2Dt6qmQ-1rdEVPB0_IFgyuAACxZNTC4z6gL9AhPIEaFGtYpIUJ8QeiG8rnogzH2Ltm0NV4Fs7PVxhny8xsCNEecpd/s1600/blowing+kisses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="551" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JT8k3aOD111mwinWolcKE_eN2hjGxgsab6RRUUg9AIitqX9SIn-2Dt6qmQ-1rdEVPB0_IFgyuAACxZNTC4z6gL9AhPIEaFGtYpIUJ8QeiG8rnogzH2Ltm0NV4Fs7PVxhny8xsCNEecpd/s320/blowing+kisses.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
<div class="reviewedBy" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<b style="background: url("https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/author-central/icon-offsite._CB189385742_.gif") right center no-repeat transparent; box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: -2px; outline: 0px; padding-right: 17px;">Thank you all so much for leaving such touching reviews on Amazon! </b></div>
<div class="reviewedBy" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<b style="background: url("https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/author-central/icon-offsite._CB189385742_.gif") right center no-repeat transparent; box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: -2px; outline: 0px; padding-right: 17px;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="reviewedBy" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<b style="background: url("https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/author-central/icon-offsite._CB189385742_.gif") right center no-repeat transparent; box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: -2px; outline: 0px; padding-right: 17px;">I'm sharing a few of my favorites here. Whenever I consider giving up on publishing new books, I read through a few. It means more than you'll ever know. Thank you! </b></div>
<div class="reviewedBy" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="reviewedBy" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;">PattiBay reviewed The Minstrel's Tale (The Minstrel's Tale Trilogy Book I)</span></div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="12" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._CB192240867_.gif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="64" /> <span class="reviewTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">A wonderful tale of travel, mystery, and adventure!</span> </div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
As Ms Questerly tells her story, the reader travels along with her to a place and time where the stories are not written in books such as we have today, for that type of manufacturing is centuries away. Rather the stories are told by a minstrel as HE shares his travels and stories with us and as he teaches his skill to his new apprentice. This story weaves a tale mixed in with some historical facts that leave the reader looking forward to turning the next page, as the adventures of the minstrel and his apprentice have that hint of historical familiarity.</div>
<div id="full_R272F66KBZ3W9W" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
Although Ms Questerly's target audience may have been a bit younger than this reader, there are more than enough twists and turns to satisfy me. I enjoyed every page of this story, and I look forward to her next book!</div>
<div id="full_R272F66KBZ3W9W" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div id="full_R272F66KBZ3W9W" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="reviews" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 12px; list-style-type: none; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr id="R2Q2NHXSUW92YY" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="reviewNum underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </td><td class="underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="reviewedBy" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<span class="new" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span>GeorgeP<span style="font-size: 13px;"> reviewed </span>The Minstrel's Tale (The Minstrel's Tale Trilogy Book I)</div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<img border="0" height="12" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._CB192240867_.gif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="64" /> <span class="reviewTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Wonderfully entertaining!</span> </div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
I loved every part of this book. Obviously it is "easy" reading but a beautifully constructed tale that is thoroughly entertaining. Now I am just looking forward to Book Two!</div>
<div id="full_R2Q2NHXSUW92YY" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
I'm an "upper middle aged" man who reads a variety of different milieu. This book was a delight and I recommend it to anyone who wants to read a book simply to enjoy reading!</div>
<div id="full_R2Q2NHXSUW92YY" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="full_R2Q2NHXSUW92YY" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="reviews" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 12px; list-style-type: none; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr id="R2X2ACFVUVLACE" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="reviewNum underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; padding: 15px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"> </td><td class="underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="reviewedBy" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;">
<span class="new" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span>Walter Edward Carver<span style="font-size: 13px;"> reviewed </span>The Minstrel's Tale, Book II</div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="12" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._CB192240867_.gif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="64" /> <span class="reviewTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Perfect for young adults</span> </div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
As a confirmed bibliophile, I gave two of these books to two very precocious nine year olds. As a follow-up, I found that the young ladies were thrilled, and enjoyed the books tremendously. I had read the books before giving them, and discovered them to be both interesting and well-written for any age. Ms. Questerly has also recently published THE MINSTREL'S TALE II, which is equally well-written. I highly recommend this book, and the series which appears to be at its beginning, to young adults and the adult reader as well.</div>
<div id="full_R2X2ACFVUVLACE" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div id="full_R2X2ACFVUVLACE" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="reviews" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 12px; list-style-type: none; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr id="RG8EQIDDFA8MT" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="reviewNum underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </td><td class="underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="reviewedBy" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<span class="new" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;"></span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><b>Charner V.</b> reviewed </span>The Minstrel's Tale III</div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<img border="0" height="12" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._CB192240867_.gif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="64" /> <span class="reviewTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">The Minstrel's Tale III</span> </div>
<div id="full_RG8EQIDDFA8MT" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
I waited all summer for this! What a well-researched and well-woven saga!Thank you, Anna Questerly, for tying up this tale. I do wish the 'fairy tales' were available in book form, as I would love to share them with younger children.I have been wondering about Amos Jr.'s pirate adventure, though - was it just another 'tale'? I would recommend this series to any age group.</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="R2BPFB6ELR9ZDT" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="reviewNum underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td class="underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="reviewedBy" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<span class="new" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span>Christine<span style="font-size: 13px;"> reviewed </span>The Minstrel's Tale III</div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<img border="0" height="12" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._CB192240867_.gif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="64" /> <span class="reviewTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">What an awesome read</span> </div>
<div id="full_R2BPFB6ELR9ZDT" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
I love this series. What an awesome story line and Anna Questerly is an amazing author who creates a spellbinding story leaves the reader wishing that the story would never end!! These Minstrel's Tales will become classics! I highly recommend this series for both adults and older children. I look forward to Ms Questerly's future writings!</div>
<div id="full_R2BPFB6ELR9ZDT" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="reviews" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 12px; list-style-type: none; padding: 0px;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr id="RZX9T7Y4G6MMP" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="reviewedBy" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
Peaceseeker<span style="color: black; font-size: 13px;"> reviewed </span>Pangaea: A Utopian Fantasy</div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<img border="0" height="12" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._CB192240867_.gif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="64" /> <span class="reviewTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Well play me a salsa, this book could blow your mind</span> </div>
<div id="short_RZX9T7Y4G6MMP" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
I always respond positively to authors with the skill to construct flowing, ‘blank-verse’ sentences disguised as prose. Just one example will give you a flavour: “This vision quivered in her mind, much like the heat radiating from a highway in the distance on a scorching summer day.” This is a well written, well-structured book with cleverly woven story strands, perceptive characterisation and important issues to ponder.</div>
<div id="short_RZX9T7Y4G6MMP" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="short_RZX9T7Y4G6MMP" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="reviewedBy" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
DH<span style="color: black; font-size: 13px;"> reviewed </span>Pangaea: A Utopian Fantasy</div>
<div class="foundHelpful" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
<img border="0" height="12" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-5-0._CB192240867_.gif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="64" /> <span class="reviewTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Awesome story!</span> </div>
<div id="full_RJ84PN1YUV1RJ" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px;">
I previously read this author's Trilogy, The Minstrel's Tale, and was highly anticipating the release of PANGAEA and the wait was well worth it!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The book is an amazing fantasy, verging on reality in a perfect world and the all the characters have such descriptive personalities, that I felt I was part of the story and I was consumed by every chapter.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Pangaea was easy to read (though the story was told in 1st person and 3rd person) because the chapters were short and very well written.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy/reality historical love stories!</div>
</div>
<div class="actionsLinks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; padding-top: 10px;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="RJ84PN1YUV1RJ" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="reviewNum underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b style="background: url("https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/author-central/icon-offsite._CB189385742_.gif") right center no-repeat transparent; box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: -2px; outline: 0px; padding-right: 17px;">Thank you! <br />Gracias! <br />Merci! <br />Grazie! <br />Arigato! <br />Do Jeh! <br />Daw-Dyeh! <br />Danke Sehr! <br />Khop Khun Mak Kha! <br />Xie Xie! <br />Tak! <br />Dank U! <br />Kiitos! <br />Hvala!<br />Qatlho!</b></td><td class="underlinedRow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="reviewedBy" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<span class="new" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-55726183227737079782018-08-06T15:54:00.001-07:002020-02-18T16:27:36.590-08:00Wise Writer's Resources!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
If you want to be a writer, there is so much to know these days. I thought I'd give my writer friends a few shortcuts and several great resources to make their lives a bit easier. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed17/frontmatter/toc.html" target="_blank">The Chicago Manual of Style</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.grammarly.com/" target="_blank">Grammarly's Online Editor</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.agentquery.com/" target="_blank">Find a Literary Agent</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-register.html" target="_blank">Register Your Copyright with the Library of Congress</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.myidentifiers.com/" target="_blank">Order your own ISBNs</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/" target="_blank">Writer's Digest</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you know of any helpful websites for writers, please let us know in the comments!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A big THANK YOU to Ashley & Sam for the following resource https://www.zenbusiness.com/info/writing-careers/</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Check out Anna Questerly's writer resources below</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Questerly/e/B004YXOJH4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1533595933&sr=8-1">Amazon.com</a> or at <a href="http://www.dogearedpagesusedbooks.com/" target="_blank">Dog-Eared Pages </a>bookstore in Phoenix, AZ</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHR7RIfLhaY10KZ8zB3hE0zti7CaGs7v1mxadt4y-dwEI_idsyT656-XMTL0vgI-P5tCaZH_BZxcArTdP68ICyDu-G5T9Ji4EFOA4KrkY28-xOvXRn2TTMfXTFY_b0p5usFyo10BiALshS/s1600/Strategic+Rewriting+promo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="958" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHR7RIfLhaY10KZ8zB3hE0zti7CaGs7v1mxadt4y-dwEI_idsyT656-XMTL0vgI-P5tCaZH_BZxcArTdP68ICyDu-G5T9Ji4EFOA4KrkY28-xOvXRn2TTMfXTFY_b0p5usFyo10BiALshS/s320/Strategic+Rewriting+promo+2.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Rewriting-Critique-Group-Guide/dp/1482339757/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1533595101&sr=1-1&keywords=Strategic+Rewriting" target="_blank">Strategic Rewriting</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1037" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKFJOGJdEbeMaeyDk5Ikv83gDrGVFOX60Ov-nCvZd6WoT23dlNTO0lNATbrQGIQH356a1K9hSX9oMJsDJ3SXsfHGQGg1Qkud6KuoLmLtT4yekmN6Au5NEaJg9-2ovTirCLZcEPweKxnUk/s320/Wise+Writer+Concept+Journal+Cover+6x9.jpg" width="207" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1723034541?pf_rd_p=d1f45e03-8b73-4c9a-9beb-4819111bef9a&pf_rd_r=C7E4C2K1GV1BX8QJAXP5" target="_blank">Wise Writer</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1723034541?pf_rd_p=d1f45e03-8b73-4c9a-9beb-4819111bef9a&pf_rd_r=C7E4C2K1GV1BX8QJAXP5" target="_blank">'s Concept Journal</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIPIWAVrkfLfQbf_9uh2xL3AC6ZpVKuUYUTBEHBbOl2h6TrWz8fjC2rAofl-u-F-v-OVmJ8z6b8HZkV53fN3mHMRF98EGPnV934YUQW95G5aPB6QksoSqE3VLyM-1JOx0ye3siGRE6rC7/s1600/Wise+Writer+Workbook+promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1194" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIPIWAVrkfLfQbf_9uh2xL3AC6ZpVKuUYUTBEHBbOl2h6TrWz8fjC2rAofl-u-F-v-OVmJ8z6b8HZkV53fN3mHMRF98EGPnV934YUQW95G5aPB6QksoSqE3VLyM-1JOx0ye3siGRE6rC7/s320/Wise+Writer+Workbook+promo.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1272318114"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1987408845/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">The Wise Writer's Workbook</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span id="goog_1974627770"></span><span id="goog_1974627771"></span><br />Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-73626380315029072112018-03-26T10:11:00.003-07:002018-03-26T11:52:11.358-07:00Springtime Update!I'm so honored to be included in HBS Author Spotlight! If you're interested and would like to read more, here's the link. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://bit.ly/2pGNEQ5&source=gmail&ust=1522170050344000&usg=AFQjCNHq0oR4GL53prgVHzwvBxeHyCkMcQ" href="http://bit.ly/2pGNEQ5" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2pGNEQ5</a><br />
<br />
I will also be signing my books at Dog-Eared Pages's Authorpalooza! On Saturday, April 21st. Stop by for a hug if you're in the area!<br />
<br />
My newest book should be available by the end of April (fingers crossed!) It's a workbook for authors and a way for me to keep things straight for my own books going forward!<br />
<br />
Between events, I've been writing away on several projects so stay tuned and thanks for visiting!<br />
<br />
Oh, and I almost forgot to share my latest television appearance on my own website! This was right before Christmas 2017. Jeesh! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUAvAc89SVQ" target="_blank">Your Life AZ</a><br />
<br />
AnnaAnna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-39453599886337370402017-01-26T10:10:00.001-08:002017-01-26T10:11:41.640-08:00Anna is a member of The Alchemist's Guild!Check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Alchemy-Essential-Oils-Living/dp/1540611353" target="_blank">Basic Alchemy with Essential Oils</a> by The Alchemist's Guild on Amazon!<br />
<br />
<br />Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-50403182884562257852015-07-02T11:22:00.000-07:002015-07-02T11:22:10.898-07:00Even With Our Extra Second, Not Enough Time!If you're a Facebook or Twitter friend, you probably already know why I haven't been posting on my own blog. Such exciting things are happening, I'm getting to the point of needing a full time assistant or a strait jacket. I'm not sure which. <br />
<br />
First, I'm getting more and more speaking and books signing engagements. I can't seem to say no to these requests, they are always a lot of fun. I'll be speaking later in July for The Christian Writers of the West, which I'm looking forward to. Here's a link to their site: <a href="http://www.christianwritersofthewest.com/">http://www.christianwritersofthewest.com/</a><br />
<br />
Last week, I spoke at a meeting of the Scottsdale Society of Women Writers and had a great time with those gals. They loved the Indie 800 project and are really pushing for location closer to Scottsdale. I can't blame them. There are only two bookstores left in the entire town. One of the writers is a journalist, and she offered to write articles about each of our Charter Members to promote it! <br />
<br />
Which brings me to the second thing, the Dog-Eared Pages Indie 800 project. We've received bunches of submissions already. My board and I are diligently researching and reading works by authors to determine if they qualify to join our Indie 800 Club. So far we've approved four members and raised $20,000 toward our goal of $4,000,000. We still have a long way to go, but I can't tell you how excited I am at the caliber of authors applying!<br />
<br />
Here's the link if you'd like to know more: <a href="http://bit.ly/1IgC0xZ" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1IgC0xZ</a><br />
<br />
If you get a chance, check out books by Alan Black, Kris Tualla, and Michele Venne either at Dog-Eared Pages for signed copies or on Amazon. You'll see what I mean.<br />
<br />
Third, even though summer is a slow time at the bookstore, there's still plenty to do. Stocking shelves, pricing books, cleaning books, cleaning the store, culling books for the bargain room. Doing the newsletter and all of the social media marketing.<br />
<br />
Finally, I've been getting a bit of writing in. I've been invited to contribute a few stories to a Flash Fiction Anthology. Turns out these short little stories are almost as tough to write as a novel! Who knew? Anyway, it's fun and I'm honored to have been included. I'll let you know when it's available. <br />
<br />
That's it for now. I've gotta get back to reading submissions for the Indie 800 applications! Yeah, I know; it's a tough job. <br />
<br />
Happy 4th of July to you all. Stay safe and have bunches of fun!<br />
Anna<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-28484627378636425752015-04-15T11:24:00.001-07:002015-04-15T11:24:08.190-07:00Authorpalooza!I'm so excited to be signing with a dozen amazing authors this Saturday from 1:00-4:00 at Doge Eared Pages in Phoenix, AZ! Stop by if you're in town. <br />
<br />
Also, for those of you interested in what it takes to build a fictional world, here is my interview with World Builder's Anvil. If you've never heard his podcast, it's fascinating to listen to how other authors build their worlds. I've learned a lot from this series. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/worldbuilders-anvil/id956705643?mt=2" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" target="_blank">https://itunes.apple.com/us/<wbr></wbr>podcast/worldbuilders-anvil/<wbr></wbr>id956705643?mt=2</a><br />
<br />
I'm still working on my top-secret project, and so far, all is going according to plan. I can't wait to share it with all of you!<br />
<br />
My new line of journals is doing well both on Amazon and in our store. A new one, I designed for a friend's wedding, is really catching on. It's a newlywed journal to document their first year and makes a great wedding gift. If you type 'Questerly' in the Amazon search bar, you should be able to find it along with all of the other new designs. Again, let me know in the comments if you'd like me to do a specific theme for you or someone you know.<br />
<br />
I'm loving this warmer weather and will be complaining about the heat in about a month. To my friends in the rest of the US, I hope spring has sprung where you are and you're taking the time to watch the greenery sprout and the flowers bloom. <br />
<br />
Take care, my friends.<br />
<br />
AnnaAnna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-845768997843160162015-04-07T11:19:00.003-07:002015-04-07T11:19:34.190-07:00Working on a Top-Secret New Project!Hi, my friends. I'll be offline for a few weeks. I'm working on a new project and should have exciting news soon. Hope all is well with you guys!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anna</div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-11923435861019197762015-03-27T11:25:00.001-07:002015-03-27T11:45:36.684-07:00It's Meet My Friends Friday! This week's guest is Alan Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBHW_4MlPk4_-5KE0XM1ob6lzVUCVTElBDcaAyXM4-d9OIRURCvKb-dfh2hTmV_reONVnA897blDmGlFUnM7kOMpSewIBBnuhmiKH27U8HwIPefj73YLi0UWvrsdIZRh9OaDdrEtTZUrG/s1600/FullSizeRender+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBHW_4MlPk4_-5KE0XM1ob6lzVUCVTElBDcaAyXM4-d9OIRURCvKb-dfh2hTmV_reONVnA897blDmGlFUnM7kOMpSewIBBnuhmiKH27U8HwIPefj73YLi0UWvrsdIZRh9OaDdrEtTZUrG/s1600/FullSizeRender+(4).jpg" height="344" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Friday, my friends!<br /><br />I'm so excited to introduce you to one of my best buddies, Mr. Alan Black. Alan is not only a friend, but is also one of my beta readers and has given me so much help with my writing, I can't thank him enough.<br /><br />I snapped this picture when we were at the Tucson Book Festival two weeks ago. I think it captures his fun and quirky personality pretty well. He is, as they say, a card. Which card, you ask? The joker, of course. By the way, Alan and I will be signing at the Book Vault in Mesa Saturday 3/28/15 from noon til 4:00 along with Kris Tualla, Deena Remiel, and Gini Koch. If you haven't met them yet, try to stop by if you're in the area. It's a great store. If you're not in Arizona, I'm sure I'll get them on here one Friday soon, so you can meet them, too.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have a sense of humor, I'm sure you'll find his books to your liking.<br /><br />Take it away, Alan!<br /><br />I've been writing novels since 1997 when I started Eye on The Prize. My writing tastes are as eclectic as my reading preferences. I admit that I love writing much more than editing and the whole publishing process. Marketing of my work leaves me as baffled as the whole string theory thing.<br /><br />I was born in central Kansas and grew up in Gladstone, Missouri. I graduated from Oak Park Senior High School and eventually earned a liberal arts degree from Longview Community college. I spent most of my adult life in the Kansas City area. The exception came at the orders from the U.S. Air Force when I was stationed in Texas, California, Maryland, and Japan. My wife and I were married in the late 70s and moved back to Independence, Missouri, but now we live in sunny Arizona. The dry desert air stimulates my creativity more than the juicy air in Missouri (pronounced here as 'misery') and I've yet to shovel sunshine out of the driveway.<br /><br />My desire to write started in the second grade. I was given an assignment to write a short story about Greek mythology. My teacher took the time to call my parents and express her appreciation of the story. Although neither of my patents remembered the incident, it had an impact on me, eventually leading me to write Eye On The Prize, taking two years to complete. I've gotten faster since then completing a recent manuscript in three weeks<br /><br />One of the things I was most exited about was becoming a #1 bestselling author on Amazon and Kindle for Metal Boxes, a young adult, science fiction, military, action adventure. I have published eight. I'm a self-published multi-genre writer. One writer friend called me 'timeless' because I wrote historical books, novels based in the present and tales of the future. My main goal is to write story driven novels with scifi novels that are more character and action driven than focused on science, story driven historical that are not history lessons and entertainment based literary fiction.<br /><br />My vision statement: "I want my readers amazed they missed sleep because they could not put down one of my books. I want my readers amazed I made them laugh on one page and cry on the next. I want to give my readers a pleasurable respite from the cares of the world for a few hours. I want to offer stories I would want to read."<br /><br />Feel free to ask any questions in the comments or connect with me at <a href="http://alanblackauthor.com/" target="_blank">AlanBlackAuthor.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxpG2NUc5ymOKCAkaUYWGeODaRkVxgvrE1kvD-wlaZEXFCqFpZOPuDOXl_c5Ida4UAyVAGjgwEeq2y_ceTw6eRJ92N30JyGeVYL0AHmZhFpETFnJ1aKSyuNrfka1UNTKeaDfTrnAQ3m2g/s1600/Chasing_Harpo_Cover_for_Kindle+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxpG2NUc5ymOKCAkaUYWGeODaRkVxgvrE1kvD-wlaZEXFCqFpZOPuDOXl_c5Ida4UAyVAGjgwEeq2y_ceTw6eRJ92N30JyGeVYL0AHmZhFpETFnJ1aKSyuNrfka1UNTKeaDfTrnAQ3m2g/s1600/Chasing_Harpo_Cover_for_Kindle+(1).jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRzV17KHE93Q2p6SSYbIf-DhwyG2gEyPGeXuolX8dG6NZPOloHV2vyB19Gr7lusytx14TQVznhWJXpJQcG-fHVuFhedlZCqviCuSosSjQSCLjpVq7_pw5Yg_P8hdMlFws4SEKEAgXvS8y/s1600/A+Cold+Winter+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRzV17KHE93Q2p6SSYbIf-DhwyG2gEyPGeXuolX8dG6NZPOloHV2vyB19Gr7lusytx14TQVznhWJXpJQcG-fHVuFhedlZCqviCuSosSjQSCLjpVq7_pw5Yg_P8hdMlFws4SEKEAgXvS8y/s1600/A+Cold+Winter+front+cover.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp-WdWDcStQoNAUH_8_LJKdszf6Cke0FKmDTQtJUqghslLIzdnor-zkr6TRwuW6orhacmpoP8nlCQn6mgymjtq_LbZLz5ax_TyHHgM-PSDt2VzQM_QCRAtHeGSfKc7SSq6hgMMvyxT6Af/s1600/The+Heaviest+Rock+Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp-WdWDcStQoNAUH_8_LJKdszf6Cke0FKmDTQtJUqghslLIzdnor-zkr6TRwuW6orhacmpoP8nlCQn6mgymjtq_LbZLz5ax_TyHHgM-PSDt2VzQM_QCRAtHeGSfKc7SSq6hgMMvyxT6Af/s1600/The+Heaviest+Rock+Cover.png" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVkffA83L19rPLVU6yvB_XhUhww_uCSmBp54Mq1n56zIOWD5Tob7Sb33updx1BeuAkStGrLG1sb1-zpPo2s5SUH0crV1_47JcCczMcI7DYFsrcBvol6oDZKYno7-US7yl8dQ7nBOYn2vI/s1600/Titanium+Texicans+cover+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVkffA83L19rPLVU6yvB_XhUhww_uCSmBp54Mq1n56zIOWD5Tob7Sb33updx1BeuAkStGrLG1sb1-zpPo2s5SUH0crV1_47JcCczMcI7DYFsrcBvol6oDZKYno7-US7yl8dQ7nBOYn2vI/s1600/Titanium+Texicans+cover+(1).jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dVRX6PdvZbyhLibyIjy8AZYYFcZjP0thwscWrcqw0Ta6Wij8XzF6QWfLfc9UKYupRfVQsmCe4m8BKcYiWrJ5Ga7bqxIc2dt6cP1PPXCKqQ-ifOYrFswJA7MAfIR6CAjJng3pNUbOlafN/s1600/The+Granite+Heart+Red+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dVRX6PdvZbyhLibyIjy8AZYYFcZjP0thwscWrcqw0Ta6Wij8XzF6QWfLfc9UKYupRfVQsmCe4m8BKcYiWrJ5Ga7bqxIc2dt6cP1PPXCKqQ-ifOYrFswJA7MAfIR6CAjJng3pNUbOlafN/s1600/The+Granite+Heart+Red+cover.png" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oRTENy8oc4clrf8lSEhGkF6bvVWkR6zJN_C3iRf-KPhAFF4im-5LC8l4ehRw4g08t0YsLKO7wWO4CiH-dSI2nj6pRUtvQgPEaoGBzZJex1saDt_4Q2_m4_CJDQImSRJqN9BmuL5Wzt0q/s1600/The+Friendship+Stones+Red+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oRTENy8oc4clrf8lSEhGkF6bvVWkR6zJN_C3iRf-KPhAFF4im-5LC8l4ehRw4g08t0YsLKO7wWO4CiH-dSI2nj6pRUtvQgPEaoGBzZJex1saDt_4Q2_m4_CJDQImSRJqN9BmuL5Wzt0q/s1600/The+Friendship+Stones+Red+cover.jpg" height="320" width="203" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrYk6cXTTsqjIDLiqw2IsNM945f9XlNiiUUd2hdrBysZoA3lIcPSISJYmERIy6_lexu-YxddYUdyOkO72qfDCdPP874_45myjq-Kfj0XzV5mUa3K7ZUsKlex1Ec_Gtxffx37xWXbdWGeh/s1600/steelwalls+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrYk6cXTTsqjIDLiqw2IsNM945f9XlNiiUUd2hdrBysZoA3lIcPSISJYmERIy6_lexu-YxddYUdyOkO72qfDCdPP874_45myjq-Kfj0XzV5mUa3K7ZUsKlex1Ec_Gtxffx37xWXbdWGeh/s1600/steelwalls+front+cover.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrjpWXrZD7EwAt672Kix98fD9M3ucERKJ_CVDAy3ghFDy-7XjxK1_0B9hZLRWyGvlDW-AatlxqCWf1Qbp6NSxYh6DJnF42OXTwUJU2UoSBTWmDudrdUNZNz-2Dq8TgB1M6x3UOk0-fRTT/s1600/EMPTY+SPACE+EBOOK+COVER+COMPLETE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrjpWXrZD7EwAt672Kix98fD9M3ucERKJ_CVDAy3ghFDy-7XjxK1_0B9hZLRWyGvlDW-AatlxqCWf1Qbp6NSxYh6DJnF42OXTwUJU2UoSBTWmDudrdUNZNz-2Dq8TgB1M6x3UOk0-fRTT/s1600/EMPTY+SPACE+EBOOK+COVER+COMPLETE.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pZbPg4DgMKcHu0ADRXLIdaQAa0k7VBgIWx9YY74k5FyP37u3NB33l7-uBVj47u2bcQNkklbVMlwYT1nfOtx4Ecb8rDPwQ97PLBuCBtt3DAmVeoLdZ9XLtaWAzBTe8xyGaBNO_9QT1Gum/s1600/Metal+Boxes+by+Bill+Wright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pZbPg4DgMKcHu0ADRXLIdaQAa0k7VBgIWx9YY74k5FyP37u3NB33l7-uBVj47u2bcQNkklbVMlwYT1nfOtx4Ecb8rDPwQ97PLBuCBtt3DAmVeoLdZ9XLtaWAzBTe8xyGaBNO_9QT1Gum/s1600/Metal+Boxes+by+Bill+Wright.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-20907624398534169582015-03-20T11:10:00.000-07:002015-03-20T20:59:02.683-07:00Meet My Friends Friday with Lauren Lynne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JJglUvS3HVhnWjx9BBuUrbt8z3rLWmn1TyZyxRfAezzMmdTPRR4c9sPfCAObEr4nWisZlAB9Ny1kMCuB1GfvZoHu6Hd7KS3OkL1t_YaNF7cOpVBmKHiT4ro0sfGCIuAxDo04YH4oEDyC/s1600/Lauren+Lynne+300X300+crop+(275x300)%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JJglUvS3HVhnWjx9BBuUrbt8z3rLWmn1TyZyxRfAezzMmdTPRR4c9sPfCAObEr4nWisZlAB9Ny1kMCuB1GfvZoHu6Hd7KS3OkL1t_YaNF7cOpVBmKHiT4ro0sfGCIuAxDo04YH4oEDyC/s1600/Lauren+Lynne+300X300+crop+(275x300)%2B(1).jpg" /></a></div>
I first met Lauren on Twitter, and with both of us writing for young adults, we soon became fast friends on Twitter and on Goodreads. I can't wait to meet her in person some day. Maybe even hold a signing for her at Dog-Eared Pages!<br />
<br />
Anyway, her series is intriguing and I wanted to know what motivated her to write it. So I asked. Here's what she says:<br />
<br />
I work in low-income (Title 1) schools as a substitute teacher. I was moved by male reluctant readers. I have a personal love of underdogs and the characters Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Alex Rider. I wanted to reach out and engage young and sometimes troubled youths and to connect them with a character that struggles everyday to do the right thing and make the most of his situation. My protagonist never claims to be perfect and often doubts himself. Some people see him as a troublemaker and others as a hero.<br />
<br />
My young adult novels teach about living with consequences, talking things out, trusting in yourself as well as thinking of others and not just yourself. There are also underlying themes of anti-bullying and anti-gang.<br />
<br />
I gave Owen, the protagonist, the special ability to be able to sense bad things that had happened to people. He is then driven to make them right, or at least better. He develops a genuine desire to help others. It is both Owen’s nature and destiny to be “good”, to fight against people who hurt others.<br />
<br />
I hope that helps.<br />
Thank you for your interest and if you would like to know more… please visit my website.<br />
<br />
http://thesecretwatchers.com<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br />
<br />
Don't you just love her covers? :)<br />
<br />
You can touch base with her on Twitter at @LaurenLynneYA or on Goodreads or Facebook. Stop by and tell her, "Hi!" when you get a chance. She'd love to hear from you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNsvNU0AHiJi3lGyf-KPboEKkcdIO2oEXGEsL1UMgYGblLp4CnExDcYr4V7r0WGizDJ1jE3IFoAgh1Kk2JEFnZVzhde5RMqSz0kIhyNG3aXHRnuiK4s9OCHSJPRhOyD7vErc26ww_o8rN/s1600/Lauren's%2Bbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNsvNU0AHiJi3lGyf-KPboEKkcdIO2oEXGEsL1UMgYGblLp4CnExDcYr4V7r0WGizDJ1jE3IFoAgh1Kk2JEFnZVzhde5RMqSz0kIhyNG3aXHRnuiK4s9OCHSJPRhOyD7vErc26ww_o8rN/s1600/Lauren's%2Bbooks.jpg" height="240" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly" style="text-align: start;">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share" style="text-align: start;">Tweet</a><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly" style="text-align: start;">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-12447526303572880462015-03-13T10:26:00.002-07:002015-03-13T10:26:29.249-07:00Meet My Friend, Karen Cafarella!Happy Friday! Today, I want to introduce you to my friend and fellow book-lover, Karen Cafarella. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask her for a photo, so I'll try to give you a glimpse of her. I secretly believe she's a sprite. Really! She's just a slip of a woman with a pixie hair cut, sparkling eyes, and a wide, welcoming smile. As soon as you meet her, you know you're going to like her. Like I said, she's a sprite!<br />
<br />
I've known Karen since we opened Dog-Eared Pages. She was one of our very first customers and has always been supportive of our author events and our store in general. She paints, writes, and teaches yoga. As a matter of fact, when she first began teaching yoga, I was part of her 'practice class' and we held classes in the bookstore before we opened until she received her license.<br />
<br />
She's also an organizing guru, so I asked her to write a bit about that since we probably all need a bit of help there.<br />
<br />
Take it away, Karen!<br />
<br />
Writing and Organizing! ! ! by Karen Cafarella<br />
<br />
I am an Organizer by heart. For as long as I can remember I loved to keep things in<br />
order. I understand not everyone is that way but you can be organized and feel at ease<br />
with these few tips.<br />
<br />
When people think about organizing, they think about getting the closet in order or the<br />
kitchen, bathroom and garage in order; but what they don’t think about is the computer.<br />
<br />
With most of us using our computers for just about everything we do from grocery lists<br />
to writing poems or short stories or novels; our computer can get disorganized. So here<br />
are a few tips to help:<br />
<br />
If you are like me and still enjoy writing in a notebook, since they are much easier to<br />
carry around; and you only keep a few pages in that notebook either transfer it to your<br />
computer or scan directly onto a USB drive. As much as I love to write, my organizing<br />
brain says I don’t need to keep all those notebooks and lets face it they can be hard to<br />
store. Scanning is one of the easiest ways. It keeps all your writing in one place.<br />
<br />
At times I do keep poems or stories on my computer for entering a contest. This way<br />
they are readily available. In that case I set up folders. Instead of all your writing in<br />
one folder separate by categories, short stories, poems & haikus and novels. If you<br />
have a novel started but never finished and decided to work on another one, keep those<br />
folders separate. Name them so it will be easy to locate when you want to work on<br />
them. You can also keep a folder just with ideas in them.<br />
<br />
Other parts of your computer can get cluttered at well. E-mail, go through daily if you<br />
can and only save what is important. What needs to be saved for future reference put<br />
in drafts, this way the messages don’t get deleted by accident. Favorites, go through<br />
those every few months. We put so many sites on our computer to look at but most<br />
times forget or never get around to it. By looking at them every few months it helps<br />
keep the computer clean and organized.<br />
<br />
Remember whatever you are organizing a little bit at a time goes a long way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBMvwQYLIo5decsYOtQsYGaCpxP5ldh5DCPy8wA6dBO-1Cu-i1S0iG-ogFZezb0wir0wtGxekHEWMoaHexbDEPrmAyYNB0x752Ouq7VDHPeJy-F8eCziINiHN2lGn1464mIj1DycUswcp/s1600/Karen's%2BBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBMvwQYLIo5decsYOtQsYGaCpxP5ldh5DCPy8wA6dBO-1Cu-i1S0iG-ogFZezb0wir0wtGxekHEWMoaHexbDEPrmAyYNB0x752Ouq7VDHPeJy-F8eCziINiHN2lGn1464mIj1DycUswcp/s1600/Karen's%2BBook.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you're interested in checking out Karen's book, you can pick up a signed copy at Dog-Eared Pages in Phoenix or on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Genuinely-Organized-Simple-Guide-Clutter/dp/1438269390/ref=la_B00JNPE99Q_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424903888&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a> <a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a> <a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a>Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-81472620714868616082015-03-11T14:17:00.001-07:002015-03-11T14:17:25.736-07:00We Have a Goodreads Giveaway Winner!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVOrZjdqFTFleHsOjd2XxZisvXDcp2u4Yn_hHeEFPHJgiy3RR7FYnqcZEAqwG7n2tXcnca0O5kv1AhE-nScPrXpYJC8ac73DrrZWnzcol8Igi30YvgTKpVyo4nUkNNaNxxU9Rhw-Mqf3X/s1600/Pangaea+front+Cover+med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVOrZjdqFTFleHsOjd2XxZisvXDcp2u4Yn_hHeEFPHJgiy3RR7FYnqcZEAqwG7n2tXcnca0O5kv1AhE-nScPrXpYJC8ac73DrrZWnzcol8Igi30YvgTKpVyo4nUkNNaNxxU9Rhw-Mqf3X/s1600/Pangaea+front+Cover+med.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Hi, everyone and thanks for entering the Goodreads Giveaway for Pangaea. <br />
<br />
The contest is now over, and we have a winner! Congratulations to Jeremy Martin!<br />
<br />
I've signed your book and it's on it's way, Jeremy. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
If anyone else would like a signed copy of Pangaea or any of my other books, they are available through my bookstore at www.dogearedpagesusedbooks.com.<br />
<br />
Thanks again for entering and happy reading to all!<br />
<br />
Anna<br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a> <a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a> <a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a>Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-51295464464814335332015-03-06T09:05:00.006-08:002015-03-06T09:08:24.627-08:00Meet My Friends Friday Today's Guest is Sharon Moore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqJ7F7FnImlIAfA0Y7RjLwplZjd_dtK8z9oZ8eEhYvcB3_IQq0qYFbkBNyz6do9EzQzhpMIpK7_CyZiIkrU-M3ueMEm4op1qEWsxRArO4SyOEqbd0vpusVzWlyMZRBnwSJ8eZybS8aMEl/s1600/sharon+moore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqJ7F7FnImlIAfA0Y7RjLwplZjd_dtK8z9oZ8eEhYvcB3_IQq0qYFbkBNyz6do9EzQzhpMIpK7_CyZiIkrU-M3ueMEm4op1qEWsxRArO4SyOEqbd0vpusVzWlyMZRBnwSJ8eZybS8aMEl/s1600/sharon+moore.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
Happy Friday, my friends! I've been so excited to begin introducing you to some of my friends and today, I get to start with a wonderful woman and a fantastic writer, Sharon Moore. Although her photo is lovely, it doesn't begin to show how sweet Sharon is. In person, she's an absolute doll and hilarious. Whenever we've been at a signing together, she's had me and everyone else around her ROFL.<br />
<br />
I know she looks quite innocent, doesn't she? Don't let her fool you, this lady has a wild side, too. (more on that later).<br />
<br />
For now, I'll let Sharon tell you a bit about herself. If you like what you read, reach out to her, and say "Hi!" She's a fun friend to have. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“Cooking Up a Mystery with 13 Elements”</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AjqdAU_RxPYe-HyIy6tiu2SuHBI-ORoBDCJNLCI0CJvGSF0zBf8FjPnCqe7UJwDTfxrzH1eENZJUa040jAezzSfKi61CPY7wXmqxU8_LSzO2kJcrS1Faok44IJmscTX6MJ50hjcLivVx/s1600/Mission+Impastable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AjqdAU_RxPYe-HyIy6tiu2SuHBI-ORoBDCJNLCI0CJvGSF0zBf8FjPnCqe7UJwDTfxrzH1eENZJUa040jAezzSfKi61CPY7wXmqxU8_LSzO2kJcrS1Faok44IJmscTX6MJ50hjcLivVx/s1600/Mission+Impastable.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am thrilled to be the first guest post on Anna Questerly’s blog. I have admired Anna for a while now and have happily hosted her on one of my blogs. You might want to check her “Dash of Romance” at http://angelicafrench.blogspot.com/2015/02/guest-post-dash-of-romance-by-anna.html</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I write a wide-range of genres, but today I am talking about cozy mysteries, as sub-genre in the mystery realm. I write culinary mysteries, a sub-genre of cozy mysteries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the oddities of the cozy is that were it true that so many crimes and murders occurred in the same small town, no one could afford the insurance rates to live there! The reader is willing to suspend disbelief in order to see what their favorite cozy mystery sleuth will get into this time. But in real life, no one would encounter so much mayhem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At root, mysteries are puzzles to be solved. Some are gritty and hard-boiled, but if you are interested in writing a cozy mystery, either culinary or bookstore or knitting or gardening---or some other hobby or interest--there are some specific elements you will need to include.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) Cozy mysteries are most often set in a small town or rural setting so you get to know residents across books. That’s called a “closed circle” mystery. Strangers don’t “do the deed” very often.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) Almost all cozy mysteries are part of a series that usually has a theme/occupation/hobby to tie it together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) Cozy mysteries often have punny titles tied to the theme/occupation/hobby of the series. My culinary mysteries for example have titles of <i>Mission Impastable</i>, <i>Prime Rib and Punishment</i>, <i>Potluck</i>, <i>Cooks in the Can</i>, and <i>Ancient Grease</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4) Whereas cozies are generally G-Rated, they have evolved to where there may be mild cursing and the mention of sex “off stage”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5) Cozies often have humorous components and/or quirky characters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6) The reader has access to all clues the sleuth has but they are obscured with red herrings and false leads.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7) Most cozy mysteries feature a murder but it could be some other serious crime.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8) Typically the victim is not an admirable person, so the crime, while not justifiable, may be understandable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9) Often the murder (or other significant crime) occurs near the beginning. But not always. Cozies can introduce the murder well into the story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10) Murders take place “off stage” so there is little or no explicit violence or gore described. Often those details are cloaked or even omitted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11) Cozy mysteries use plot devices (like false identities, hidden motives, camouflaged murder weapon or locked room) to further the confusion of clues, suspects, and timelines.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12) The amateur sleuth is reluctant and uses common sense to solve the mystery. The sleuth is drawn into solving the crime by unavoidable circumstances.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13) The clever villain is never as clever or smart as the amateur sleuth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cozy mysteries are very popular with readers, but it is also quite a crowded field for publishing. Readers tend to gravitate to particular authors who might have several series and/or to cozies in an area of interest to them, like cats.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When choosing the focus for your reluctant sleuth, begin with a passion of your own and then imagine what might cause you to get involved in solving a crime. Would you take it on if your reputation or freedom were at stake? Would you search for a missing child you love? What if your best friend or mother might go to jail?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cozy crime solvers would much rather get back to cooking--or whatever--but if they don’t step up, they believe the crime will go unsolved. After it’s over, life goes back to normal. Until the next dust-up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Bio:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 39 years as an educator, Sharon Arthur Moore "transitioned" to the life of full-time fiction writer. She's an intrepid cook, game-player, and miniatures lover.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She writes culinary mysteries, women's fiction, historical fiction, short stories, plays, paranormals/fantasy/science fiction (as River Glynn), and erotic romance (as Angelica French).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>You can follow Sharon on:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Website: www.sharonamoore.com</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blog: “Parsley, Sage, and Rosemary Time” at www.sharonarthurmoore.blogspot.com</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Twitter: @Good2Tweat</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Facebook: Sharon Arthur Moore Fan Page</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you so much, Sharon for coming onto my blog! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anna<br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a> <a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a> <a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a><br />
<br /></div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-6260966246788833922015-03-03T12:40:00.002-08:002015-03-03T12:40:46.528-08:00Goodreads Giveaway<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget127929">
<!-- Show static html as a placeholder in case js is not enabled --></div>
<br />
<div class="goodreadsGiveawayWidget" style="border-radius: 10px; border: 2px solid #EBE8D5; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 350px; padding: 10px 15px;">
</div>
<br />
<style></p>
<p>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px;</p>
<p>
font-style: normal; background: white; }</p>
<p>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; }</p>
<p>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; }</p>
<p>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; }</p>
<p>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; }</p>
<p>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; }</p>
<p>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important;</p>
<p>
text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;</p>
<p>
border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:"Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;</p>
<p>
background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_button4.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596;</p>
<p>
outline: 0; white-space: nowrap;</p>
<p>
}</p>
<p>
.goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_button4_hover.gif);</p>
<p>
color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer;</p>
<p>
}</p>
<p>
</style><br />
<h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0 0 10px !important; padding: 0 !important; text-align: center;">
</h2>
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="float: left;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24716495"><img alt="Pangaea by A.J. Questerly" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424860168l/24716495.jpg" title="Pangaea by A.J. Questerly" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0 0 0 110px !important; padding: 0 0 0 0 !important;">
</div>
<br />
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
</h3>
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24716495">Pangaea</a><br />
<br />
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
</h4>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13198577.A_J_Questerly" style="text-decoration: none;">A.J. Questerly</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="giveaway_details">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Giveaway ends March 10, 2015.<br />
<br />
<br />
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/127929" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a><br />
at Goodreads.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/127929">Enter to win</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<script charset="utf-8" src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/127929" type="text/javascript"></script>Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-32821546339778131792015-02-26T12:03:00.001-08:002015-02-26T12:03:20.250-08:00I've Got An Author Page On Goodreads!One of the recurring pieces of advice every author gets these days, "You must have a platform on social media." is repeated almost as often as, "Write hot: edit cold."<br />
<br />
I've played on Facebook, Pintrest, Plague, and Twitter and yet never quite got the hang of how social media works for marketing books. I usually just end up reposting, retweeting, and repinning stuff, and making a lot of new friends, (mostly other authors) and spending a huge amount of time lost on the screen.<br />
<br />
Then it hit me. I need to connect with readers. Guess where most of the readers on the internet are? Goodreads! Yep, only took me about four years to figure that out.<br />
<br />
Anyway, having an Authorpage allows me to do giveaways and lots of other fun stuff. Right now, I have a giveaway running for a signed copy of Pangaea. Go ahead and enter if you'd haven't yet. The other neat thing is that each of my blog posts shows up on my Authorpage along with books I'm reading and any reviews I'm posted for books. So far, I really like having everything all in one place like this. <br />
<br />
Here's the link if you'd like to check it out. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4496797.Anna_Questerly?from_search=true" target="_blank">Anna Questerly on Goodreads</a><br />
<br />
I'm also going to change things up a bit on my blog. Like I said, I've met a lot of amazing writers, both online and in my store. Starting next month, I'll be introducing them to you each Friday. I've learned so much from these folks, or simply enjoyed their writing, and can't wait to share them with you.<br />
<br />
Right now, I'm getting ready for the Tucson Festival of Books. Just made our hotel reservations, Yay! This is Arizona's largest book fair with more than 500 authors and 100,000+ readers attending the weekend event. Last year, I had a young woman come up to see if I had anything new out. (I didn't.) and the look of disappointment on her face, forced me to set the deadline for Pangaea so it would be available for the festival. If you're going, look me up. I'll be in booth 106 along with about twenty amazing authors.<br />
<br />
Oh, dear! We just received a huge collection of children's books into the store and I need to get busy shelving them, We'll talk again soon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-13613070998792857962015-02-18T09:16:00.001-08:002015-02-18T09:16:21.128-08:00What Exactly is a Beta Reader?<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my Twitter friends recently asked me this question,
and since it takes more than 140 characters to answer, I thought I would share
it here. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beta readers are God’s gift to authors. These are the folks
who read through an early draft of your novel, looking for the holes and gaps,
you, as an author, are too close to see. They can be writers or readers, but
ideally they enjoy the kind of book you are writing and are familiar with its
genre. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep in mind, there are two steps in the editing process.
The first is a story edit also called ‘Chunking Edits’ where major changes take place. The second is more of a line edit, focusing on word choice,
descriptions, grammar and the like. Beta readers are perfect for your first
round of editing.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They should be people you trust to tell you the truth, both good
and bad about your book. What’s working, what’s not, what’s missing, what’s
repetitive, and so on. They may offer suggestions and may even send your story
in a different direction, as happened to me with The Minstrel’s Tale.<br />
<br />
Whether you
take their suggestions or not, their feedback is invaluable to authors. It’s
your first glimpse at what readers think of your story.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They’re not looking for grammatical, punctuation errors,
although they may find a few for you. They’re really great at making sure your
story arc is on the mark, or that your characters have unique voices and don’t all
sound the same. They may draw your attention to facts you have wrong or let you
know when something isn’t clear. They will tell you if your character is doing
something that doesn’t make sense. In short, they’ll find all the things Amazon
reviewers will find if you publish without a good edit. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I use 5-7 beta readers with my novels, but I was able to
have an entire 5<sup>th</sup> grade class beta read The Minstrel’s Tale. They’re the ones who made me take the second
book in a new direction.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So where do you find these readers?</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rounded up my first few Beta readers from authors I enjoyed
working with in my critique group. I also corralled friends and family members, and I captured a few at my bookstore when I
noticed they were reading something similar.
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Do you need both a critique group and Beta readers?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think so. I loved being part of a critique group in
my early attempts at writing. Their suggestions made me a better writer, but it
takes a long time to get an entire novel through the critique group process.
After my first book, I switched to Beta readers exclusively. I know some authors who have always used
critique group feedback, so there is no one right answer. Find what works for
you as an author and keep tweaking your system.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<b>What should I expect to pay a Beta Reader?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Most Beta Readers don't charge, thank goodness! But if you're asking an author to Beta Read for you, expect to reciprocate at some time in the future. <br />
<br />
<b>How do you keep your Beta Readers?</b><br />
<br />
Once you find a few Beta Readers you respect and can work well with, don't forget to thank them in your acknowledgements and gift them a copy of your book upon its release. <br />
<br />
<b>So what's an Alpha Reader?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
An Alpha Reader is the person you trust the most to read your writing first. A spouse or best friend who gets you and can give you an almost unbiased critique works well. After making changes my Alpha catches, then I give the book to my Beta Readers.<br />
<br />
Hope this helps! Feel free to add your opinions or experiences with Beta Reading in the comments.<br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a> <a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a> <a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-50700897403078542742015-02-11T12:14:00.000-08:002015-02-11T12:14:11.460-08:00The 'Other' Pangaea<div class="MsoNormal">
I was in 5<sup>th</sup> grade the first time I heard the
word, Pangaea. At the time, it seemed to
me to be a magical place that once existed right here on Earth. This wasn’t
another planet, only another time. To my young mind, this was a world filled
with dinosaurs and unicorns and so much more at a time long before man walked
the coastlines of the continents.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I bumped into the word from time to time throughout the
years. Even with its various pronunciations and spellings, Pangea, Pangia,
Panjaea, the name still conjured images in my brain and led my imagination on
exciting adventures. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I decided to write my novel, I looked up the title on
Amazon and found several non-fiction and new age type books, but no
sci-fi/fantasy novels, nothing like what I was planning to write. Perfect.
Curious to find out if the word held the same magic for others as it did for
me, I decided the title of my book should just be Pangaea. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The big day came and Pangaea went live on Amazon. I looked
it up to make sure all was right, and guess what I found? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another sci-fi/fantasy novel with the same name published a
few weeks before mine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I had to read it to find out what journey the word
took this author on and to find out if our books were at all similar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
To my relief, the two Pangaeas were nothing alike. I wrote a
review for the ‘other’ Pangaea. Here’s the Goodreads link if you’d like to
check it out. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1193745378">https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1193745378</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-1586707823762050672015-01-30T06:55:00.003-08:002015-01-30T06:59:35.418-08:00A Free Gift!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb04i1zwVOBVUrIcvzjxtqEUH2q3GCEIQjxHr0mdWXjv1eOuoGnmelciKeG38_l_OhoDMbDHNGbQwQ3rvuFb_jQ0XEcFGMoyJtyevh5pZ2cWlLGVcHRV1QFNkRTQip7drXtYmZ0EUkOh7/s1600/Strategic+Rewriting+Cover_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb04i1zwVOBVUrIcvzjxtqEUH2q3GCEIQjxHr0mdWXjv1eOuoGnmelciKeG38_l_OhoDMbDHNGbQwQ3rvuFb_jQ0XEcFGMoyJtyevh5pZ2cWlLGVcHRV1QFNkRTQip7drXtYmZ0EUkOh7/s1600/Strategic+Rewriting+Cover_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amzn.to/1ETPxtc" target="_blank">Strategic Rewriting Kindle edition</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Free today and Saturday!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you find it helpful, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
please review on Goodreads and/or Amazon!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With the utmost gratitude </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anna</div>
<br />Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-47692037287929428692015-01-27T15:14:00.002-08:002015-01-27T16:01:16.004-08:00Glendale Chocolate AffairIf you've never attended this FREE event, you simply must this year.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Downtown Glendale on Friday and Saturday January 30 & 31st </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll be there signing along with dozens of amazing authors. Stop by and see us as you make your way through a maze of chocolate vendors and dancing revelers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We'll also have free workshops for writers going on all day Saturday. Ig you've been thinking about writing or want to improve your craft, you don't want to miss any of them. The schedule is below.</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;" /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460150" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10 AM</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Workshop:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Isabelle Clayton</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Bio: Isabella Clayton is a psychic medium, paranormal investigator, writer, artist and speaker. She has seen human spirits, non-human entities and things that go bump in the night since childhood. Her psychic abilities have always been a part of her. At three, she would speak with relatives or friends on her play telephone and tell her Mom when they would be having company. Mom always made sure she scrambled to clean the house. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Throughout the years, Isabella has continued to develop her abilities so that she could help people. She has helped people (adults and children) with night terrors, with any kind of haunting, readings or by speaking with friends/family that have passed to the other side. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">A few years ago she wanted to understand the science side and has since joined several paranormal investigating groups. This has helped her with debunking skills, and has increased her exposure with the spiritual possession. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">When she’s not traveling around the country with her guy, she’s at home with her cats, friends and family having the time of her life.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Workshop: Separating Fact from Fiction in the Paranormal World</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Avoid the pitfalls when writing about the paranormal world. We'll explore the differences in the entities and explain the latest investigation techniques.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460151" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11AM</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Workshop: Hips Don't Lie by Carolyn Hughey/K.T. Roberts</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">SYLLABUS </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Communication is at the very heart of everything we do regardless of whether it's verbal or non-verbal. In this inter-active workshop, K. T. Roberts focuses on teaching you how to read signals to help you make your characters jump off the pages of your next novel.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">BIO</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Multi-published author Carolyn Hughey aka K. T. Roberts has a varied background where from time-to-time, public speaking played a role. From training cooking classes in her home, to teaching young chefs how to operate their businesses, she enjoyed sharing her knowledge with her students in a fun-filled classroom environment. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460152" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">12PM</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (</span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460153" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Noon</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">) Workshop: Ethan Erway</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Biography:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Ethan Russell Erway is the author of the ADVENTURES OF MICHAEL BELMONT, a young adult fantasy/adventure series, THE BLEEDING STAR CHRONICLES, a Science Fiction adult novella serial, and BLOWING OFF STEAM, a Western Steampunk adventure series. He has been a #1 amazon bestselling author in several categories, including Young Adult Religious Fiction and Science Fiction- Space Opera.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Ethan has been a life-long fan of science fiction and fantasy, and began writing short comedic stories in middle school. He published his first novel in 2011. He is a regular participant in Phoenix Comicon and other sci-fi/fantasy conventions. He is currently the Minister at Agua Fria Christian Church in Humboldt, AZ where he lives with his wife and children.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Blurb</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Movie Arcs for Novels- How to Write the Best Stories in Your Genre</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Have you ever been watching your favorite movie and thought, "I wish I could write something this great"? The good news is, you can! Join #1 amazon bestselling author Ethan Russell Erway as he discusses how to extract essential plot points from your favorite works of fiction, whatever the genre. From Romance to Action/Adventure, from Paranormal Romance to Science Fiction, you'll learn how to mix the essential ingredients to form your own best selling work of fiction.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460154" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1PM</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Workshop Cathy McDavid</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Bio: In the third grade, NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathy McDavid made it her goal to read every Walter Farley book ever written. Who knew such an illustrious ambition would eventually lead to a lifelong love of all things western and a career writing contemporary ranch stories for Harlequin American? Much too active in her local Romance Writers of America chapters for her own good, she currently resides in Tempe, AZ, where she gets to pen stories about good looking cowboys riding the range or busting a bronc. It a tough job, but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Workshop: Riveting dialogue, let's talk about it!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">They say (no pun intended) that dialogue is one of a writer's best tools to maintain a reader's interest. Dull dialogue, or a lack of it, can slow the story's pacing to a crawl. Learn to make the most of your dialogue in this hands on workshop.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">SPEAKING OF WHICH...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Riveting dialogue, let's talk about it!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460155" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">2PM</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Workshop: Tina Gerow</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">BIO: Tina Gerow has always had a passion for romance and anything paranormal. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">And even in school, was encouraged to put her writing skills to good use, but always with the admonishment to ‘stop writing the weird stuff and tone down the sarcasm.’ But what fun is that?! So, in 2003, she finally decided to try her hand at writing a novel, but still firmly embracing the ‘weird stuff and the sarcasm.’ Her first book, Into a Dangerous Mind, won the award for Romantic Times Best Small Press Contemporary Paranormal for 2006. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Since then, Tina has published several more books, including her latest release, Sleeping With Shadows, the popular Maiden series, the Seduction Series for Kensington’s Aphrodisia line as Cassie Ryan, and the Sisters of Darkness series with Berkley, also as Cassie Ryan. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Workshop: The Art of Writing Love Scenes</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Writing love scenes is so much more than describing whose lips are where, doing what. Good love scenes should read smoothly and clearly, and communicate who is doing what to whom as well as when and how, but without sounding like a How-To manual.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">It should convey emotions and passion, and reveal new insights into the characters as well as advance the plot. Sound like brain surgery or rocket science? Nope - no Doctorate degree required - I promise! So hold on tight for some no-nonsense discussions about how to thread all of this together into love scenes that readers will devour, and you will love to write - regardless of if you write sweet or smokin' hot. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460156" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3PM</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Workshop: Kiki Swanson</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">BIO: Kiki grew up happily, playing the piano, working in a library and close to her church. Near-by Chicago offered enriching opportunities. With degrees from Smith College and San Francisco Theological Seminary she taught high school English and Journalism. The family arrived in Scottsdale in 1959. While Don owned businesses and served on the school board, Kiki traveled as a capital campaign consultant for the national church. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Most recently she directed the senior adult ministry in Valley Presbyterian Church living in Scottsdale with her husband and close to three sons and their families.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Kiki’s novels revolve around a strong woman who reminds readers of their relatives or neighbors or school friends. Their life stories come out in conversation and their relationships to others. She weaves in historic research, her own love of music, cooking and sewing, and geographic settings from her own life.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Workshop: Writing your Memories</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Start right now to record some of your precious </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">memories for your heirs! You will find ideas and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">inspiration in this group, guided by hand-outs to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">keep you writing until next year! There are </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">several approaches to the project, and it is </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">guaranteed to start your creative thinking. You </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">will want to take notes, so bring a pen! However, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">no tests or grades. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460157" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4PM</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Workshop: Maria Crimi Speth</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">BIO: Maria Crimi Speth, a shareholder in the law firm of Jaburg & Wilk, P.C., practices in the areas of intellectual property, internet law, and commercial litigation, representing clients throughout the United States. She is in the Top Lawyers list published by Arizona Business Magazine and the American Trial Lawyer’s Association. She has been practicing law for 25 years and is admitted in dozens of state and federal courts around the country. Maria is the author of Protect Your Writings: A Legal Guide for Authors and Apple v. Samsung, The Balance Between Patent Rights and the Free Market.. She has numerous published articles and dozens of published court cases. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Workshop: Protect Your Writings</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">It's the weekend of the big game, in the host city, surrounded by the delicious taste and aroma of chocolate. What better setting to learn the sweet lessons of legal offense and defense to best protect your manuscripts, articles, blogs and other writings? If you think copyright law is boring, you haven't heard it taught by Maria Crimi Speth, Intellectual Property attorney and author of Protect Your Writings. Join us for a comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand, presentation of applicable laws that affect writers and their creative work. You will learn everything you need to know about the laws relating to writing, including how to AVOID making common, costly legal mistakes. This will be a sure touchdown!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_735460158" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5PM</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Workshop: Caris Roane</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">BIO: Hi, Everyone! Caris Roane here! I’m a USA Today Bestselling Author and I write super-sexy paranormal romance fiction designed to be as much an adventure as a soul-satisfying experience. With every book I write, I try to give a taste of real life, despite the fact that I’m writing about hunky vampire warriors. You’ll come away engrossed in the lives of my vampires as they wage war, as they make love, and as they answer the tough questions of life in terms of purpose, eternity, and how to raise a family! I began my career with Kensington Publishing writing Regency Romance as Valerie King. In 2005, Romantic Times Magazine honored me with a career achievement award in Regency Romance. I’ve published fourteen paranormal novels to-date, some self-published and some for St. Martin’s Press! I’ve also branched out into Contemporary Romance with A SEDUCTIVE PROPOSITION! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br style="font-family: Arial;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial;">Workshop: The Hero's Journey</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;">Ever wonder why the myths of old are still with us today or why STAR WARS became such a hit? Want to know how the answers to these two questions can impact your novel in an amazing way? Come hear my thoughts on the Hero's Journey, what it is, why it will always be relevant to storytelling, and how to apply these concepts to the unfinished novel hiding under your bed. </span></div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-45334537767526641842015-01-24T16:38:00.000-08:002015-01-24T16:58:42.349-08:00Link to Pangaea Kindle editionHer's the link. Remember after Sunday night, the price will be $5.99. I hope you'll leave a review if you enjoy it!<br />
<br />
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SK5R55A/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?qid=1422146261&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&dpPl=1&dpID=51ODTXX%2BXfL&ref=plSrchAnna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-5348455100310503492015-01-23T09:28:00.000-08:002015-01-23T09:32:26.220-08:00Twilight Time<div class="MsoNormal">
There comes a time in the life of every book, where the rewriting is done and the only thing left to do is proofread and polish. This is one of my favorite phases of writing. I call it twilight time. Those precious moments before my new book will see the amber <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>light of a reading lamp in a stranger’s living-room.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point, my analytic mind is put to task, hunting homonyms and corralling commas, leaving my creative side free to roam. It reminds me of the ring of the final bell in elementary school, and running through the doors, eager to explore the world unfettered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is when I get to discover my next book, meet its new characters, and figure out if I like them enough to want to play with them over the next couple of months or even years. I have a chance to explore different worlds, walk new streets and climb higher mountains, will I want to live in this place for a while? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the treasured moments, before I've made a commitment, and not one word is on the page. So many ways I can go with this story, there are no limits. I feel like I’m flying.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the past two years, I've jotted down ideas for my next book, in my journals, on sticky notes, in my phone, and on napkins. Now, I get to have a little fun with all of them, listen as these strange characters tell me their problems, peer into their souls, and decide who I want to travel with on my next adventure. Like a teenager in a game store, so many possibilities, I want to write them all!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that I've done all of that, and the big day is finally here. I'll be hiding out in my new story because I know the terrifying thrill of sending a new book out into the big, bad world, As much as I enjoy twilight time, my absolute favorite part of writing is getting that first glimpse of story. It’s like seeing your new-born baby smile for the first time.<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #050515; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13px;">If you’d like to connect, I’ll be on Twitter (@AnnaQuesterly), Facebook (Anna Questerly Author), and my website/blog www.annaquesterly.com.I'd love to give you a complimentary ebook of one of my short stories, email me at annaquesterly@gmail.com and request to be added to my monthly newsletter, and I'll send it right out. Let me know in your email if you’d prefer me to send The Book People or The Scribe’s Dilemma as your free gift.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13px;">(By signing up for my newsletter, you’ll receive early notice of new releases, sales, giveaways, author interviews and all kinds of fun stuff. I don’t spam and only send out newsletters twice a month. You can also rest assured, I will NEVER share your information.)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13px;">This post apperared earlier on Starbound Lovers blog</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a> <a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a> <a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-89083929838796126372015-01-09T10:36:00.000-08:002015-01-21T11:55:41.106-08:00Sneak Peek at Pangaea!<h1>
Prologue</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ossani, Morgan of Pangaea, opened her eyes at one minute
past midnight and fought to draw a breath. The burden of the Bidding she had
borne easily for so long, now a crushing weight. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her long-time attendant and friend, Adelev rushed to her
bedside. “I’ve called the healer.”<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ossani’s chest rose slightly, allowing enough sweet air into
her lungs to force out her command in a whisper. “It is time. Bring my daughter
to me.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Adelev adjusted the Morgan’s pillows, blinking back
half-formed tears. “I will see to it at once.” <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ossani found her next breath easier and patted her friend’s
hand. “I’ll be fine. I didn’t expect it to be so painful this soon. Go … Bring
Amia home.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her eyelids grew heavy, but she struggled to keep them open
long enough to watch Adelev depart. She had the utmost faith in her friend.
Everyone on Pangaea knew the significance of this day. Like the phases of the
moon, the succession of the Morgan never varied. After twenty years, her
daughter’s potential began it’s waxing cycle, and Ossani’s power and life would
begin to wane. There could only be one Morgan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Had it not been for the Brotherhood, she could have summoned
her daughter sooner. There was barely enough time to prepare Amia for her new
role. Adelev would not let them down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A moment later, the traditional pale blue of a healer’s gown
appeared next to her bed, and a soft hiss of the med-gun brought instant
relief. She breathed deeply, relishing the vital act, and regaining strength
with each inhalation. “Thank you, Healer Enari.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The healer bowed her head. “I will remain by your side for
the next month. I’m sorry I cannot stop your decline, Morgan Ossani, but I can
make the pain easier to bear.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ossani managed a whispered laugh, “If my daughter is
anything like me, I will need every bit of your assistance.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<o:p> </o:p>Chapter 1</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">Getting drunk wasn’t as
easy as it seemed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">Right away, I could see at
least two problems. First, I had to order. The legal age to purchase alcohol in
Massachusetts is twenty-one. Today was my birthday, but I’d only turned twenty.
Not to worry, determination has always been one of my strengths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">All my life, I’d played by
the rules. After this morning’s disaster, I figure it was time to break a few. Yeah,
underage drinking. You’re a real rebel, Amy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">A girl’s gotta start
somewhere, right? I wrestled the fake ID from within the depths of my bag with unsteady
fingers. I’d never had to use it before, but then I’d always been with my
fiancé, Ken. Everything came easily to Ken: a high-paying job, a great
apartment, and a nice car. Maybe things worked out so well for Ken because he
met every standard set by society. He was a tall, attractive, white man in
blue-blooded Boston. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">Whatever the reason,
Fortune often smiled on him. Me, on the other hand, if something could go wrong.…
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">Relax. It’s a good fake;
Ken only buys the best. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">At the bartender’s
approach, I leaned one hip against the curved edge of the bar, slid my card
across the polished surface, and smiled. The soft lights behind the bar sent
sparkles of light bouncing off of my ring, the stone larger than I would have
chosen, its platinum band in vivid contrast to my dark skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“What’ll you have?” he studied
my card for a nanosecond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">All that anxiety for
nothing. I slid onto the worn wooden stool and tucked the card back into my
bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">My second problem, I had
no idea what to order. I don’t drink. I’d been in bars before with my friend,
Liza. We’d grab a quick dinner of burgers and potato skins or maybe a hot bowl
of clam chowder and a soda. Even when Ken and I went out, I ordered iced tea or
water. The only reason I needed the card was to get into the clubs to dance.
Today, I wanted a drink. “Whatever’s on draft.” I answered, parroting Ken and
his friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“Got a new micro-brew in.
Wanna give it a try?” I had no idea what a micro-brew tasted like, but his
smile encouraged me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“Sure, why not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">A moment later, he placed
the foaming concoction in front of me. I lifted it and took a deep drink. And
that would be another problem with getting drunk — Eww! Sour, bitter not at all
like I’d imagined. How did people drink this stuff? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">Like I said, I’m
determined. I took another long swallow and shivered it down. The many years of
Emma’s ingrained ‘Stranger Danger’ kicked in, reminding me to take note of the
darkened pub – Emma, my guardian since I could remember, and the closest thing
I had to a mother – How was I going to break the news to her? That particular
question called for another deep swig of brew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">It was too early for the
bar to be busy. Soon the lunch crowd would storm the place, but for now there
were only a few patrons. An old man sat at the other end of the bar, apparently
captivated by the bottom of his glass. A guy close to my age tapped away on his
phone. I shifted on my stool to check out the back of the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">A nice-looking man, alone
in a booth, who looked to be in his late thirties raised his glass in my
direction. I returned the gesture, making sure my shiny new diamond flashed on
my finger when I lifted the glass to my lips, and then turned back to the
bartender. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">Funny what a single
appreciative glance from a man does to a girl’s self-esteem. I’m not used to
being flirted with. I’m not what anyone would consider beautiful. Pretty maybe,
I have that caramel skin tone other women spend hours in tanning salons trying
to achieve, but my hair is too straight, my lips are too full, and I’m too tall.
Besides, I rarely wear makeup or do any more to my hair than tie it back in a
ponytail. Anyway, I didn’t come here to get picked up. I had more important
things on my mind today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“Birthdays are supposed to
be fun. Good things are supposed to happen on your birthday, right?” I asked
the bartender after I downed the rest of the glass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"> “Great things.” He grinned and slid another
foaming micro-brewed wheat beer over to me. “Happy Birthday. This one’s on the
house.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">I shot him a half-smile in
return. “Thanks.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"> He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the
bar. “So, tell me what happened.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">Somehow, it felt weirdly
right to tell this guy I’d never met my problems even before I told my fiancé
or my guardians. “I got kicked out of class. I’ll probably lose my scholarship.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“Ouch. That hurts.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">I shrugged. “More than you
know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“Believe me, I know. Why
do you think I’m here tending bar instead of in school?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“You lost a scholarship, too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“And then some.” He raised
a finger signaling he’d return in a minute, moved away with an amber bottle in
hand, and refilled a shot glass for the older man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“So what happened,” I
asked once he’d returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">He picked up a glass and
began to polish it with a white bar towel. “I was recruited to play hockey for
the Boston Terriers; full ride.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“And?” I finished my
second micro-brew. It didn’t taste too bad anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“I tore some ligaments in
my knee.” He shrugged and placed another full glass before me. “The team doc
fixed me up and sent me back out to play. Messed up my knee even worse. Now, I
can’t play, so they don’t pay, and I have to go through life wearing a brace
and dealing with the pain.” He scowled. “I hear it only gets worse with age.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“That doesn’t sound fair
either. They could’ve at least let you finish school.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">The man at the end of the
bar spoke up. “Life’s not fair, missy. Might as well learn that lesson now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">I spun to face him. Why
did people seem to think it their duty to inform me of this? I might have to
deal with it when it came from my guardians, but I didn’t need to take it from
this stranger eavesdropping on a private conversation. “Maybe not, but it
should be.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">I lifted the glass and sipped
at my third brew. I expected a tingly buzz in my head from the beer, but
instead a relaxing warmth infused my legs making them feel as if they were made
of heavy syrup. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">The old man slid a few
bills on the bar and stood to leave. “Ah-yep. Should, but it ain’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">The bartender scooped up
the money and frowned at his tip. “So what are you going to do now?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“I don’t know.” I picked up
the glass and upended it. Before I was half through, I slammed it down onto the
bar. “Yes, I do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">His brow quirked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“I’m gonna go have a word
with the dean. I’m not going down without a fight. Here.” I shoved two twenties
into his hand. I had no idea how much beer cost, but life had been unkind to
him. “Keep the change.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">I slid off my stool and
realized the next challenge was to walk on legs made of rubber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“You okay? I can call you
a cab.” Concern brushed his features, but I shook my head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“No, thanks. I just need a
minute.” By which I meant, a nap. I shook off the sudden lethargy claiming my
limbs, drew in a deep breath, and stepped to the door, carefully placing one
foot in front of the other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">“Hey, what’s your name —
?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="letter-spacing: .2pt;">I was too busy navigating
the weight of the door to answer. Maybe I’d stop back tomorrow and have another
microbrew. The last one tasted pretty good, and I kind of liked this warm,
heavy feeling which had by now spread throughout my body. I certainly
appreciated the new clarity of purpose. Instead of accepting Maestro’s word
about my scholarship, I’d go right to the top – to the dean himself. We’d set
this mistake right, and I’d get back on track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a> <a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a> <a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a><br />
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><br />
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><br />
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-87121057701714076992014-12-11T11:09:00.001-08:002015-01-21T11:56:34.561-08:00Indie Bookstore, Dog-Eared Pages, names 2014's top 15 Indie Authors Every year, we have tons of indie authors who drop off their books for our store to carry. I try to read as many of them as I can, and always ask my customers what they think of the books. The following, in alphabetical order, are our top-selling and best-reviewed indie authors. Congrats to all of you!<br />
<br />
Signed books by these authors are available at Dog-Eared Pages in Phoenix, AZ or online at<br />
<a href="http://www.dogearedpagesusedbooks.com./">www.dogearedpagesusedbooks.com.</a><br />
<br />
If you've read any of these authors and enjoyed their work, please make sure to tell your friends. The more readers they have, the less marketing they have to do themselves, and they'll have time to write more great stories for all of us!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Linda Andrews-paranormal, apocalyptic, sci-fi</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Alan Black-sci-fi, young adult-humor</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Les Brierfield-supernatural mystery</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Tia Dani-romance, erotic romance</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Ethan Russel Erway-sci-fi, middle grade children</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Morgan Kearns-contemporary sports romance</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Gini Koch-sci-fi, humor</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Bill Lamperes-mystery-historical-humor</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Virginia Nelson- paranormal romance</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Deena Remiel- paranormal romance</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Vijaya Schartz-sci-fi, historical, fantasy</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>J.D. Scott- young adult</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Sharon Skinner-young adult, fantasy</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Kris Tualla-historical romance and historical suspense</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Todd VanHooser-fantasy, RPG</b></span><br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a> <a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a> <a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a>Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-39008264398975620842014-12-09T10:38:00.001-08:002014-12-09T10:38:07.689-08:002015 Writing Workshops BeginningIf you're in Phoenix, stop dreaming about it. Become a writer this year!<br />
<br />
Learn the ins and outs of writing, rewriting, editing, proofreading, critiquing, layout, formatting, and publishing in this series of workshops.<br />
<br />
Find out more on Saturday, December 27th from 1:00-2:20 at this FREE Orientation to Anna Questerly's 2015 Writer's Workshop Series at Dog-Eared Pages bookstore.<br />
<br />
16428 N. 32nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85032.<br />
Store is 1/4 mile south of Bell Road on the west side of 32nd Street. <br />
<br />
Hope to see you!Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-47685448341961835632014-12-02T13:35:00.002-08:002014-12-02T13:35:44.252-08:00Pangaea is coming...Just finished the interior formatting!<br />
Cover is being designed as I type this!<br />
Just a few more proof-reading read-throughs to go!<br />
<br />
We're looking at Saturday, January 24th for the Release Party at Dog-Eared Pages in Phoenix, AZ.<br />
<br />
I can't wait until you can visit this world. Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029153130563901742.post-77851470900809341862014-10-31T11:38:00.000-07:002015-01-21T11:57:23.911-08:00A Novelist's NightmarePreviously posted on Starbound Lover's Blog:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish the following story was fiction. I’d hoped it was no more than a dystopian vision of the future of the United States of America. Then, I wanted it to be a publicity stunt for the author to sell more books. Unfortunately, it was none of those. This is what it’s come to and it paints a terrifying picture for every writer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On September 1, 2014, <i>The Atlantic</i> published an article<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> titled, “In Maryland, a Soviet-Style Punishment for a Novelist.” For anyone who reads or writes, it’s worth taking a look at, and includes links to the disturbing original reports from local media. For now, let me just give you the highlights.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A twenty-three year old Language Arts teacher has been ‘disappeared’. He was never arrested, no charges have been filed, he’s not allowed to leave, and the police will not reveal his location. Before he was spirited away, he was forced to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and his home was searched for weapons and explosives – none were found.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because he self-published a book depicting the most tragic school shooting to ever happen – 900 years in the future. That’s right, he wrote a sci-fi story someone in the Sherriff’s Department and on the School Board, didn’t like and <i>poof </i>he’s gone. No charges. No trial. No … what was it called? Oh, yeah, that pesky little right guaranteed to every American Citizen – habeas corpus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If that doesn’t send a shiver through your muse, the spin by the local media will. You see, he used an <i>alias </i>on the cover of his book<i>. </i>Not a pen name, pseudonym or nom de plume: an <i>alias,</i> as in “using a false name with the intent to conceal one’s identity in performance of a criminal act”. In addition, his photo is being circulated around the community, through law enforcement circles, and the throughout the school system to make everyone aware that he is prohibited from being on school grounds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So basically, because he wrote a book, his life is ruined. When he’s released from wherever he’s being held, he’ll probably have a hard time finding another teaching position, (at this time, he’s been placed on <i>administrative leave)</i>. I’m sure his neighbors think he’s a psycho by now. I can only imagine what must be going through the minds of his friends, family, and students. The one bright spot is that the article in <i>The Atlantic</i> includes a link to his book on Amazon, and apparently the news coverage has increased the sale of his books. Good thing: <i>if</i> he ever gets a trial, he’ll probably need those royalties to pay legal expenses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After reading this, I’m hesitant to publish my newest book, <i>Pangaea</i>. There’s sure to be someone in law enforcement who will take issue with my utopian vision of a world without gods, government, or gold. Will police raid my home, search through my things, and then lock me up in a psych ward for writing it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m hoping there is more to this story. At least, some type of threat or credible reason to detain this man besides the fact that, like most writers, he has an overactive imagination. Otherwise, this does not bode well for the future of fiction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m also surprised, I’m not seeing this play out more on social media. I posted a link to the story on my Facebook page, but haven’t seen anything else about it. Coverage is also glaringly absent from major news media, and I find that a bit disconcerting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As writers and readers of sci-fi and fantasy, I think we should all keep a close eye on this story and see how it plays out. Maybe I’m making too much of it? I’d be interested in reading your comments.<br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AnnaQuesterly">Follow @AnnaQuesterly</a> <a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a> <a class="twitter-mention-button" data-related="AnnaQuesterly" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=AnnaQuesterly">Tweet to @AnnaQuesterly</a></div>
Anna Questerlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945392963912020309noreply@blogger.com0