Categories
IWSG

#IWSG July 2015: #IndieBooksBeSeen

72b25-iwsg2bbadge

Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

****

Today is a special day for many reasons.

1. It’s IWSG Day. Ever since I joined this group I have felt more focused as a writer and blogger and at ease with the emotional rollercoaster that is book promotion. I don’t have it all figured out; I have good days and not so good day, but I know I’m not alone.

2. It’s Indie Pride Day! Started by the group #IndieBooksBeSeen, this is bound to be a movement and I’m doing all that I can to help make it happen. Please see what I’m up to today if you have the time.

ForBlog
Click image.

3. I’m actively working on two new publications and am in the zone. It feels good to finally be putting these outlines and notes together to work on first and second drafts. Betas will be needed soon.

****

So that’s all that I have today.
I’m so excited right now, aren’t you?

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
S.A. Larsen,
AJ,
Tamara Narayan,
Allison Gammons, and
Tanya Miranda!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #106).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Promotion

Much love today for a Cassa Series box-set by @alexjcavanaugh & @DancingLemurPre #sci-fi

Image from alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com; go check him out.

Once upon a time in

a galaxy far far

away…

No, this isn’t that story, but it’s right up there with it in awesomeness!

If you haven’t read the Cassa Series yet, this is the perfect time to do so. This new boxed set puts the whole trilogy in one place for you devour in a matter of days…
because yeah, it’s that’s good!

Spaceship battles, military banter, aliens, high action, bromance,
and so much more! 😉

The Amazon Best-Selling Series box-set releases today!

CassaSeries
By Alex J. Cavanaugh
ISBN 9781939844118
Price – $5.99 eBook boxed set
Science fiction/adventure (FIC028010) and science fiction/space opera (FIC028030)

CassaStar – Few options remain for Byron. Slated to train as a Cosbolt pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth to his instructor, Bassa. As war brews on the edge of space, Bassa must make a decision that could decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission destined to stretch their abilities to the limit?

CassaFire – Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters behind him, the detection of alien ruins sends him to the planet of Tgren. Forced to train a Tgren named Athee and deal with an eager young scientist, he feels invaded. Tensions mount as the ruins reveal a potential weapon, plunging him further into the chaos. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

CassaStorm – Commanding the base on Tgren, Byron watches as a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the planet. When the war hits Tgren, it triggers nightmares in his son. The ancient alien ship begins transmitting a deadly code and the probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago returns. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

Find it here: Amazon US | Amazon UK

 Barnes&Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

Meet the Author

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and co-host of the A-Z Challenge.
Blog | IWSG | Twitter

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
IWSG

#IWSG June 2015: Wanting to be wanted.

72b25-iwsg2bbadge

Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

****

Before I bum everyone out with my insecurities, I’d just like to say that launching the sequel to my Eternal Curse Series at a local Comicon was the best decision I’ve made in a long time….

Now, lately I’ve been trying to look at myself objectively and reevaluate my role as author, blogger, and other. In my day-to-day life, I know exactly who and what I am. I’m a wife, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, and a teacher. These are roles that come easy to me, though teaching is the one that seems to stretch me the most. Working with the children is easy; working with other adults and the politics of the educational system is where things get a bit tough. Even with the challenges of my day job, I know where my place is and what my purpose it.

Now when it comes to being an author and blogger, I still feel a bit lost after all these years. Don’t worry, this isn’t a farewell statement of any kind, but to say I have insecurities would be an understatement. For the first time since I started the blogging journey I’m starting to feel a sense on synchronicity between my role as author and blogger. I actually feel as if these two roles are mutually beneficial, whereas in the past one seemed to interfere with the other, and vise versa, at all times.

While that is all well and good, I don’t feel comfortable in my mission, content, and or niche. I honestly don’t know that I fit into a niche, which is probably the root of my problems. I feel like the ideas and desires I have for reaching out to readers goes against whatever it is that readers actually want…but I just can’t seem to change my mind. I want to be flexible and free to express myself through many genres, but I run the risk of losing interested parties who are only interested in a particular thing I’ve done.

I had a silly notion of creating a You Tube presence that would connect me with other writers, which would in turn connect us all to a whole new audience of potential readers and fans. The problem is that writes don’t do anything on camera. So I’m trying to refocus my efforts to just interviewing on my blog, but many authors don’t seem to be interested in that either. I feel like I should stop reaching out to authors all together, even though I don’t want to.

I’ve tried reaching out to readers, offering pieces of myself and trying to connect with them, but not many seem to be interested unless I’m giving something away, and even that doesn’t  bring in too much interest. I know that I write because I love it and I know that I blog because I love it, but unless I start addressing all my content to myself, I’m left wondering, who am I reaching out too?

I wish I could make a difference.

Need to find a niche.

Wanting to be wanted.

So, have you found where you belong?
Do you know who you’re reaching out to?

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
M. Pax,
Tracy Jo,
Patricia Lynne,
Rachna Chhabria,
Feather Stone, and
Randi Lee!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #108).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords