Ocean Passion
After publishing, ‘Earth’, the final book in The Akasha Series, I’ve had some great success with sales! Though I promised myself a short break, the sales are motivating me to begin my next series. MERMAIDS AND WEREWOLVES Y’ALL!!! I’m already several chapters in, and hope to have the first book published in/around September this year. Until then, it will be my job to get you all excited about what goes on in the deep. More importantly, I want you passionate about the health of our planet’s oceans. I’ve done a lot of research, and so far this video best portrays the dire situation. It is a documentary narrated by Sigourney Weaver, originally aired on Discovery Planet Green. Please take the time to watch this video (it’s 20 minutes – if you don’t have time now, bookmark it to watch later):
On a lighter note, if you aren’t already an email follower of my blog – sign up now! Over the next few months, I’ll be posting snippets of my new series as I write it. I have to know what you guys think!
Earth Day
Today is the day! ‘Earth, Book Four of The Akasha Series’ is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords. $4.99 will get you through the exciting conclusion to the series. Join the already over 200 people who have added ‘Earth’ to their TBR list on Goodreads, now. Plus, Goodreads already has 4 reviews and 5 ratings – I’d love if you could add yours! Did you know each book is available in print, too? You can find Water, Air, Fire, and Earth on Amazon (just make sure you are purchasing the print version, not the Kindle version).
I am also currently in the middle of creating audio books for the entire Akasha series. The ‘Water’ audio version should be out sometime late May, with the rest to follow. Check out the very talented narrator I chose for the series, Emily Lawrence. I chose her out of 15+ auditions for her great voice, her knowledge about the business, and her reliability and professionalism. Plus – she is an author, herself. What a great match!
Also, by the beginning of May, I will release ‘Akasha, The Complete Saga’. This is a boxed set of all four books (available in electronic formats only), for $9.99. The boxed set will include never before published bonus content; short stories for each of the main characters (including one for Bee – twenty years into the future). I certainly understand that many of you will have already purchased the entire series, and don’t want to spend ten bucks for a few short stories. You can still get them – without spending the money! All you have to do is send me a link to a review of each of the four books (preferably on Amazon or Goodreads), and I will send you the bonus content (just the bonus content – not the boxed set) – for free! Please remember, they have to be a review (one or two sentences is fine), not just a rating.
So – on to the important stuff. How are you celebrating Earth Day? This weekend, we kept our celebration small and planted an herb garden on our outdoor deck area. Thyme, dill, parsley, sage, mint, basil, and some lavender thrown in for scent. Herb gardens are great; they cut down on pollutants, save you money, and green your area. They can be done inside or outside, whether you live in a house or apartment. And trust me – those summer mojitos with fresh mint are totally worth it! We have about ten of these planters, and can’t wait to start cooking with fresh herbs!
Not sure what to do for Earth Day? Go to www.google.com, check out their interactive, animated doodle – then search for evens in your area!
Cover Reveal and a Surprise for My Followers
Two surprises, really. One of which is a cover reveal:
This is the cover for the ‘boxed set’ of all four books in The Akasha Series, which will be available for $9.99 shortly after ‘Earth’ is released on April 22nd. The boxed set will only be available as an e-book, but will include bonus content – short stories for each of the main characters.
Once again, a big shout-out to my cover designer, Keary Taylor for doing such a great job with this series!
Now for the second surprise. From now until April 22nd, anyone who e-mails me at: terra.harmony11@gmail.com, will receive a free advanced e-copy of ‘Earth, Book 4 of the Akasha Series’ as a .pdf, .mobi, or .epub. The hook – you must be a follower of my blog. Sign up via e-mail over there on the right, then e-mail me. If you don’t hear back within 24 hours, leave a comment here to remind me (your e-mail may end up in junk mail and I don’t want to miss anyone).
Why? Because I love you! Seriously, I love you, man. Also, I am hoping to get a few reviews up before the release date. If you do receive an e-copy, please, please, please leave a review on Goodreads, Smashwords, B&N, iTunes, or Amazon. Or better yet, all of the above, if you can. Ok – I’m staring at my inbox now, just waiting for your emails!
New Adult Blogger Interview
Time for another interview with another great book blogger. I met Navaeh through the New Adult Book Club on Goodreads. Then…I met her in person. Crazy, right? But yes, in this virtual world of blogs and electronic books and uploads and downloads – we sat down and had coffee and talked face to face.
Neveah runs a New Adult Book Blog, be sure to check it out! Her book reviews are packed with wonderful extras; a sense of humor, songs that remind her of the book, pictures, short samples of text – I love perusing her blog!
Anyway – on with the interview:
Terra: First thing is first – how did you get into book blogging?
Neveah: I read a ridiculous amount of books and found that I needed an outlet to express my feelings about those books, as well as keep track of who’s who and what happened in which book. I also love to discuss books I’ve read and have few friends who enjoy the same type of books I do…now I have tons! Also, I wanted to get into the daily habit of writing so that I might actually get something published someday myself. I have found that it is a double-edge sword though; I am writing every day now, but mostly reviews and find little time for writing anything else. Hopefully, I’ll learn to balance my time better soon.
T: Tell me more about Nevaeh’s New Adult Book Blog.
N: The blog was borne out of my resolutions for the new year, and is one of the few that has made it all the way until March ;o). I realized that most of what I have been reading could be considered “new adult” (NA), and after reading about the rising popularity of books in this genre, I decided to focus my blog reviews here. Not that I don’t read some YA and adult literature, but unless it crosses over and can also be considered NA, I don’t review it on the blog. There are plenty of YA blogs out there, and far fewer NA blogs. Most of what I review is contemporary romance, but I love to throw in a little dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy just to keep it real ;o).
T: White wine or red?
N: Red, definitely. After living in Argentina, I grew to love Malbecs but love a good Cabernet as well.
T: OMG – Malbecs are my favorite! I think it’s because they remind me of meat, and I am a total carnivore.
N: And that is really funny because I a vegetarian. A native Texan who lived in Argentina, both locales known for their beef, and I decide to go veggie. Go figure.
T: What is your favorite part of the ‘job’?
N: I have really enjoyed “meeting” authors, reading their work (many of which are debut novels), and sharing their work with others, who might not have seen or heard of their books otherwise. It feels good to be a part of getting the word out about those who are deserving of a chance to have their stories be heard.
T: What is your not-so-favorite part?
N: Technology. I am admittedly not tech-savvy and have no desire to be, but obviously that is part of the blogging “business”. I love reading and writing, but it’s definitely a challenge to make myself learn how to actually build a better blog.
T: I think the term is tech-tard. At least, that is how I refer to myself. It’s like we have to be multi-talented when we barely have time to use one talent. How many hours would you say you spend on reading? How many hours on reviews and your blog?
N: Way too many but also not near enough ;o). Between reading and writing the reviews, I probably spend at least five hours a day (most of which is spent reading). I’m a night owl and operate on very little sleep, and have horrendous self-control when it comes to putting down a good book.
T: Tell me about the New Adult Genre.
N: Although some argue it isn’t a genre, and maybe it isn’t yet, I do feel it should be. To me, there is an obvious distinction between NA and YA books. New adult literature tends to have more explicit sex, significantly more swearing (and use of “harsher” swear words), and often deals with extremely mature issues (ie. sexual and/or physical abuse, suicide, illegal drug use and abuse). Characters tend to be in the age range between 18-25, though sometimes one of the main characters is older or younger. In the libraries, these books are often mixed in with YA books (since there isn’t currently a New Adult section), and I hate the thought of 12 and 13 year-olds coming across them, when they really aren’t geared toward them. Fortunately, many authors of new adult books have been responsibly putting a warning at the beginning of their books, warning that the content is more suitable for ages 17+. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that younger kids aren’t picking them up and reading them anyways.
T: I have to say, I wasn’t aware of the NA genre when my books first came out (not sure if it was around then), but I’ve grown to love it. I feel like it’s what I’ve been looking for all along! What kind of book is worthy of five wine bottles?
N: One that I never want to end. One that tugs on my heart strings, makes me laugh and maybe even shed a tear or two. One where I prefer their reality over my own, even if mine is easier. One where I say to myself, “Damn, I wish I would have written that book!”
T: Perfect answer – I agree! Who are some of your all-time favorite authors and series? What about your favorite movies?
N: In the New Adult genre, I love anything written by Colleen Hoover (Hopeless, Slammed, Point of Retreat…all incredibly written). Rebecca Donovan’s “Breathing” series (Reason to Breathe, Barely Breathing, and the yet-to-be-released Out of Breath) is ultra-intense; definitely “five-wine bottle” books. Jennifer Armentrout (also writing under the name J. Lynn) is very good, as well as Jessica Sorenson, Jamie McGuire, Abbi Glines, and Tammara Webber.
There have also been some fantastic YA series (some that border on NA). For example, The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare, Divergent series by Veronica Roth, the now world-famous Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and of course, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.
Let’s see…movies. That one is trickier because I’d pick a good book over a movie any day (and most often I do). Really anything with a good love story and a happily-ever-after ending. I guess if I had to pick a favorite I would choose Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley version)….love that Mr. Darcy!
T: What is next for you?
N: I am hoping to concentrate more time on bettering the blog, both in appearance and content. I have focused almost solely on review writing and would like to do more interactive posts, with giveaways, interviews, etc. Outside of the blog, I’m also hoping to write something other than reviews and be published (self or otherwise) by the end of this year; that’s the goal anyway. I’ve been working on a book in the new adult genre and another novelette is begging to see the light of day.
Thanks, Navaeh for your time – it was wonderful meeting you in person and I look forward to many more of your blog posts!
Be sure to check out Navaeh’s blog!
Amazon to Buy Goodreads
I woke up to this news this morning. (Official press release here.) And I have to say – I’m shocked…and worried. Kudos to Amazon, though. It makes me wonder if their competitors are all:
I know I am, a little bit. The problem is, Amazon tends to roll out incentives to those who publish exclusively to them, and punish those who don’t (KDP program and certain royalty rates). It makes me wonder if I, as a self-published author, will not be able to reap all the benefits Goodreads has to offer because I am not exclusive to Amazon. In fact, I would be hard-pressed to even think about it, considering the majority of my sales now come from iBooks.
On the plus side, I think Amazon can help bring Goodreads into the digital world. So far, Goodreads hasn’t really been integrated into e-readers, and I am sorely disappointed in their smartphone app. Heck – Goodreads doesn’t allow ebooks in their giveaway section. It is print books only.
Until now, Goodreads has been a wonderful ‘crowd-sourcing’, review generating outlet. I hope it doesn’t lean too far toward its for-profit owner, but how could it not?
If Shelfari (Amazon’s other review site) is any indication of what’s to come, we can say goodbye to Goodreads and hello to whatever new book review platform Google or Apple might roll out. Maybe – just maybe, Amazon competitors are cheering…
What do you think?
Earth Hour 2013
This Saturday, on March 23rd at 8:30 pm local time – turn out your lights! Earth Hour is a global movement uniting people to protect the planet. Towards the end of March every year, Earth Hour brings together communities from across the world celebrating a commitment to the planet by switching off lights for one designated hour.
The symbolism of the hour is incredibly important in bringing people and communities together across the globe. Earth Hour has also launched ‘I Will If You Will‘, a platform to inspire individuals to share their commitment to the planet with their friends, colleagues, leaders and networks. Watch this short, 3 minute video about both initiatives:
Kids are Stupid
Introducing another one of my blogs; Kids are Stupid
I’ve had this blog for a while – it is really just an outlet for my personal life, mostly so I don’t bombard you with that stuff here. If you are interested, here are some of the better posts:
Trouble is knocking, and his name is…
Fair warning, this blog has nothing to do with The Akasha Series (or vampires or mermaids, for that matter), and there will be pictures of my kids plastered all over it. Enjoy!
Any Listeners Out There?
With the completion of The Akasha Series on the horizon, I am taking the plunge into the world of audio books. This is completely new and strange for me – I really never got into the whole audio book thing. I’m going with ACX who will publish the audio book on Audible.com, Amazon.com, and iTunes. Several narrators have submitted auditions, and I find myself asking – what makes a good narrator? What allows an audio book to stand out from the rest?
Needless to say, I don’t have those answers. Do you? Leave a comment and let me know!
Cover Reveal – Earth, Book Four
Finally! The announcement can be made. ‘Earth, Book Four of the Akasha Series’ will be released on April 22, 2013. This is also Earth Day – how cool is that?! For those of you buying via iTunes, ‘Earth’ may not be available for a couple weeks after the release date, as you may have experienced with ‘Fire’. April 22 seem too far off? Maybe I can satisfy you with the cover and blurb:
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OMG – and please keep in mind it is ultra-hard to make dirt look magical!
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After an elemental apocalypse, the fate of Earth hangs in the balance.
The hunt for Micah in a world that has gone dim leads Kaitlyn straight to Shawn and One Less. While struggling to survive, she battles a side of her that is as dark as the rest of the planet. In the exciting conclusion to The Akasha Series, our heroine is no longer a part of The Seven or One Less. Now she is on Team Kaitlyn; who will join her?
So here you have it – the complete cover set to The Akasha Series and a huge shout-out to Keary Taylor for the cover designs:
I have to admit, I am nervous about releasing the conclusion to the series. ‘Earth’ is a different from the other books. The world has no power, Kaitlyn goes a little crazy, and Shawn tries to redeem himself. Be warned – this is no fairy tale ending. Can’t wait to hear what y’all think of it! Add it to your Goodreads TBR list now…
The Boys of the Akasha Series
This Contest is Now Closed
Congratulations to our Winner – Stephanie W.!
For all the ladies out there, single or not, the boys of The Akasha Series wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your gift (besides the obvious eye candy, of course), is the chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card in the ‘For the Love of Swoon Hop’ hosted by The Book Hook Up and I Am a Reader Not a Writer. To enter, simply complete the entry form at the bottom of this post. There are extra entries available for liking my page on Facebook and following on Twitter.
Don’t forget to click on the Swoony Boys Hop poster and follow the linky for more great prizes!
Introducing the boys of the Akasha Series; Micah, Shawn, and Alex.
During an interview with Cami from My Reading Addiction, I was asked which actors might best portray my characters. Well, there you have them – packaged up in sexy Valentine’s cards for you. Oh, and never to be upstaged, Kaitlyn has her own little card for the guys:
How to Enter: You must fill out the form below for one entry. Answer the questions at the bottom of the form. For extra entries, click below:
Like my Facebook Page for one extra entry
Follow me on Twitter for another extra entry.
Or, Follow my blog via e-mail for 3 extra entries (at most, I post once per week) – sign up under the ‘Follow Terra Harmony’ widget on the right.
Giveaway Details:
This giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway is open until midnight EST on Feb. 20th. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to reflect the winner. Winner will have three days to respond, or a new winner will be selected.
Good Luck!
