Fade Into Me: Created by Aliens?

It's book tour week, but instead of the usual book promotion posts, I'm changing things up a bit. I'm mashing them up with the "what if?" posts. It's an experiment, so you'll have to tell me what you think.

Our final "what if?" question of the week comes to us via our very own Charity Bradford...

How would you react if you learned the earth and humans were created by aliens--aliens that live all around us, look just like us? More importantly, would you marry one of them if he or she said the future of your world depended on it?

Thank you, Charity. And make sure to check out Charity's newest book, which has just gone live...

Fade Into Me

Caeden Frey doesn't believe humans will evolve to see the magic, much less control it. Even so, he has two months to marry a human or face the wrath of the High Council. Bitter about a responsibility he thinks prevents him marrying for love, he figures any human girl will do. He’s ready to propose when his soul mate stumbles into—and right out of—his arms.

Human, Ryanne Killian might be Caedan's one shot at happiness while still fulfilling his duty. Unfortunately, she guards a dark secret. She’s determined to push Caedan away to protect him from her past.

Caedan must convince her she’s worthy of his love before a rival family puts an end to his wedding plans. If she can see her own worth, she just might save herself and his people.

Links:
Buy it in Print
Buy it for Kindle

Website
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Fade Into Me

In case you missed it, Charity Bradford's Kickstarter project is fully funded! Hooray!

Didn't hear about it? That's okay. When it's released, you can buy the book and support her that way.

What's it about? I'm glad you asked...



Aliens live among us. Their purpose: to protect and nurture their greatest mistake—mankind.

Caedan Frey’s family has fulfilled this duty for thousands of years, but it doesn’t free him from his obligation as prince of the Reparation. Although he doesn't believe humans will evolve to see the magic, much less control it, he has two months to marry one or face the wrath of the High Council. Bitter about a responsibility he thinks prevents him from marrying for love, he figures any human girl will do. He's ready to propose to one when his soul mate stumbles into—and right out—of his arms.

Human, Ryanne Killian might be his one shot at happiness while still fulfilling his duty. Unfortunately, she guards a dark secret within her co-dependent personality, and she thinks the only way to protect Caedan is to push him away.

Caedan must convince her she’s worthy of his love before the men from her nightmares return for a second round. If she can see her own worth, she just might save herself and his people.

Coming February 2015 (unless I can get it out in January)

Link to read the first 2 chapters:
http://charitybradford.wix.com/the-magic-wakes#!fade-into-me/cppd

Congrats, Charity.  

Things I've learned about Kickstarter

Get ready to read me thinking out loud...

I set up and launched my first Kickstarter project last Thursday. Before I hit launch, I thought I was ready. The pledge levels were set up. I'd contacted the editor and received prices for services. I accounted for the cost of the books I would be giving away for rewards and so forth. There's even a video of me talking about the project.

Do you have any idea how uncomfortable I am in front of a camera? It took an hour and a half to make the 3 minute clip! Luckily, I think it turned out fairly well. Except when I hold up my books the words are backwards since I don't have 'mirror flip'. At least I don't think I do. (The video at the very bottom is my attempt at said video.)

*sigh*

Anyway. Although the process of setting up the project was easy, I'm not sure I thought it through completely. If you're planning on doing a kickstarter, here are some questions I suggest you think about, along with some of my false ideas.

1. What is the purpose of this project?

My first thought was--raise money to publish my book without any out of pocket expense. This would ensure continued marital bliss. Because this was my goal, I very carefully thought out the prices and then rounded up, up, up to cover any costs I hadn't thought of yet.

What I've learned--don't do that!

Once I stepped back and looked at what I needed, really needed, I tweaked the pledge amounts and rewards. What is the value of a signed copy of the book? I plan on selling it for $12 when it's released. That means the pledge for $12 is a good deal. You get exactly what you would pay if you stumbled upon the book on Amazon. Except I'll get it first and sign it for you.

There's still a slight mark up in some of the levels, but its minimal now.

2. Do you think FUNDRAISER or just raising funds?

I think that was also part of my problem from above. As a mother of four kids in school, I'm well acquainted with the FUNDRAISER. Companies double prices so they can make money and have some left over to give to the school.

Kickstarter is NOT a fundraiser. Just try to remember that. Preferably faster than I did. Your goal is to raise the money you need to publish the book. Not make extra to put in the bank. I need money to pay the editor/typesetter, renew my domain name, buy bookmarks and other swag as well as the print copies to mail as rewards.

3. Writer's brains aren't always the most mathematical

I'm still not sure I'm looking at the amount I need correctly. :) Since the pledge pays for the cost of the book, plus I added $2 for shipping, will I have enough extra to pay for the editor and the books? That twisted sentence matches my muddled brain! My guess is yes! The e-copies of books won't cost me anything (except I still need to pay for FADE INTO ME to be put in all e formats). *sigh* There should be enough. Until I have the final page count there is no way of knowing the cost of the print edition.

Suggestion? Have someone NOT a writer help you plan and carry out your project. Preferably someone logical and business minded. :)

Can you help me spread the word? The Project--FADE INTO ME an Urban Fantasy Novel

Blurb:

Aliens live among us. Their purpose: to protect and nurture their greatest mistake—mankind.

Caedan Frey’s family has fulfilled this duty for thousands of years, but it doesn’t free him from his obligation as prince of the Reparation. Although he doesn't believe humans will evolve to see the magic, much less control it, he has two months to marry one or face the wrath of the High Council. Bitter about a responsibility he thinks prevents him from marrying for love, he figures any human girl will do. He's ready to propose when his soul mate stumbles into—and right out—of his arms.

Human, Ryanne Killian might be his one shot at happiness while still fulfilling his duty. Unfortunately, she guards a dark secret within her co-dependent personality, and she thinks the only way to protect Caedan is to push him away.

Caedan must convince her she’s worthy of his love before the men who hurt her before steal more than her virtue. If she can see her own worth, she just might save herself and his people.

  Trailer:
 

Question for you: What are your honest thoughts on programs like Kickstarter and those who use it? 

Stellar Cloud

Today Charity is taking some time from her summer vacation with the kids to tell us about her story collection. And she's agreed to answer the usual questions...

1. Where did the initial idea for Stellar Cloud come from?
All the short stories in Stellar Cloud started as blog fest pieces over the last few years. These are the ones that I really liked. The ones that took root in my mind and begged to be looked at a little deeper. After getting my first novel published I was curious how self-pubbing would be different and this pile of shorts was a great opportunity to try my hand at it.

2. Which part of the publishing process was most surprising?
I was surprised at how easy it was through Amazon. The hardest part was getting the formatting to work. It would show one thing on the screen, but when I ordered a print copy it was different. I think I "tweaked" for at least a week until things looked the way I wanted. I loved that if someone reported a mistake I could go in and fix it.

3. If you could give yourself any piece of advice before you started writing, what would it be?
Stop worrying what everyone else will think and just write the story in your heart. I worry too much what family or friends will think about certain elements in my stories. Sometimes it stifles me to the point of not writing at all.

4. Plotter or panster?
Panster! However, I'm learning how to plot on a macro level to help shorten my processing time. I found that if I plotted on the micro level I lost the desire to write. There was nothing left to discover.

5. Quiet room or noisy room when you're writing? How quiet do you need it? What sort of noise?
It really depends. Sometimes I need quiet, but other times I can slip into the zone and it doesn't matter what's going on around me. I love those moments. During the summer I love to sit in the shade at the pool and write. The sound of splashing and laughing kids is somehow comforting and doesn't bother me at all.

6. Your writing area/desk: a place for everything and everything in it's place or if anyone ever straightened it you'd never find a thing?
I like it clear of clutter. The only thing I want with me is a water bottle, a box of Junior Mints and my reference books.

7. What is your current pop culture obsession (book, TV show, movie, webcomic...)? What are the rest of us missing?
Summer has most of my shows on break, but I LOVE So You Think You Can Dance and Master Chef. Those are the only two I care about in the summer. I do however love Netflix. This summer I'm re-watching all of the X-Files in preparation for next year's A to Z Challenge. :)

Stellar Cloud
A soldier struggles with the emptiness left behind by amnesia until he learns he is more than the world would have him remember. The earth is desolate, and only one ship of humans remains. An assassin plays god, dealing out justice and mercy as he sees fit.

Explore the outer reaches of the imagination through these and other short stories. From brainwashed clones to winged aliens of destruction, the stories in Stellar Cloud will pull in any lover of science fiction and fantasy.

Links
Amazon 
Goodreads
Blog
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Charity Bradford and The Magic Wakes

Charity Bradford. My muse, my pearl of great price, the third leg of the tripod that is UnicornBell.

Between Marcy, Charity, and myself I guess you could call us the Three Authors. Lives changed by association. Paths joined by friendship.

Published by WiDo Publishing, here is Charity.

Tell us about yourself.

The “Official” version—I’ve been a voracious reader ever since my 5th grade teacher introduced me to the world of books with Where the Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkeys. I’m the mother of four kids that keep me on my toes, constantly reminding me that imagination still makes the world go round.

Unofficially, I’m probably certifiably crazy. J I have entire civilizations living in my head and I tend to project hop with the best ADHD kids on the block.

Tell us about your book.

My first published novel is The Magic Wakes, a touch of science fiction, more fantasy, and a healthy dose of adventure and romance. It’s got a little bit of everything and not too much of any one thing. It’s just a fun ride and escape from reality.

If you could only have one superpower what would it be?

To travel at the speed of light. I have so many things that I need and want to do that there just isn’t enough time in the day to do them. If I could move faster I could get so much more done.

Who is your favorite character from one of your books and why?

Talia from The Magic Wakes and not just because she’s the only one that got published. All of her fears, insecurities and weakness are me all the way. I have to tell myself that she’s destined for greatness so I must be too.

What are you working on now?

Too many projects! My head is just so crowded that I keep chipping away at several stories at once. I do wish I could focus on one at a time and finish them. My top projects are: YA Fantasy—Fade Into Me, a science fiction short story anthology, novella to continue my Sendek Saga—Demon Rising, a romantic suspense—Last Christmas and a non-fiction book on dealing with depression and how writing saved my life. The last is not really a memoir. Instead it’s a religious “how to” aimed at other women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What’s your favorite movie?

I have no idea! Can I list a few? Anne of Green Gables, BBC Pride and Prejudice, Star Trek (the new ones) and Independence Day. I can watch them over and over.

What’s your favorite quote? Do or do not, there is no try~ Yoda

What genre do you write and why? I’m all over the place. J Why? Because I can. I figure I need to try lots of things to figure out what I’m best at.

Name five things that are on your desk right now?

My purse, an empty pen holder, my ipod shuffle, the base to my computer with the built in fan (no computer

at the moment) and all the mail.

Chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake, apple pie, or pecan pie? Oo, I thought it was chocolate cake all the way until you hit pecan pie. I choose…a chocolate pecan pie!

How can readers find you?

Blog            

Website          

Goodreads      

Facebook       

Twitter                      

Blurb:

Scientist Talia Zaryn has always dreamt of an alien invasion and her own death. She’s kept it a secret, hoping it is nothing more than childish nightmares. But when the face in the mirror matches that of her dreams, she fears they are real. If she can prove that life exists beyond her planet, Sendek, perhaps people will then prepare to fight.

Her work at the Space Exploration Foundation leaves no time for personal relationships, but Major Landry Sutton isn’t looking for a friend. He’s looking for a traitor. His ability to sense emotions convinces him Talia is that traitor until a touch sizzles between them. In an instant their minds are connected and they can communicate telepathically. Just as the two begin to trust each other, the invading force arrives.

Talia and Landry must uncover the secrets of Sendek’s past if they hope to defeat these terrifying creatures. Talia is the key–if she can learn to trust the magic coursing through her veins.

View the trailer HERE.
Read the Prologue and part of Chapter 1 HERE.