C. M. Skiera's Blog

I'm approaching my first KDP Select giveaway  (in May--stay tuned), but my conundrum is that the event will be for the second e-book of a series ( Mirrors & Mist ), and I'm worried about the appeal (or lack of) for a free e-book that's mid-trilogy. Obviously, if you don't have the first book ( Crimson & Cream ), getting the second book of a trilogy for free isn't that special, so I'm trying to make them both available for free over that short time period. I didn't go the KDP Select route with Crimson & Cream (Book I), so I'm trying to coordinate a preemptive strike using Smashwords coupons to coincide with the KDP Select event for Mirrors & Mist. The problem is that while there are a plethora of websites to promote your KDP Select days on, I've found very few websites where you can promote your Smashwords coupons. If I happen to be missing any great sites to advertise your coupon codes, please clue me in! In lieu of that, I conduc...

Mirrors & Mist, Book II of The Oxbow Kingdom Trilogy  now available at Amazon Jetsam fled Dwim-Halloe as a runaway orphan, escaping both a zealous bounty hunter and a dragon-obsessed fallen knight. Now, the teenager finds himself a fledgling apprentice to the infamous wizard Seryn Vardan, the Oxbow Kingdom’s most wanted fugitive. When Jetsam attempts a heroic rescue during a foray with his teacher, catastrophe strikes as Seryn is captured and slated for execution. Jetsam vows to free Seryn from his mysterious captors before his public beheading in the city where they are both falsely accused of murder. With his canine companion, Jetsam attempts a risky homecoming by seeking aid from old friends. Can Jetsam save his beloved mentor from certain death, or will he once again be left homeless and alone with a bounty on his head? CM Skiera has managed to write another spellbinding tale, expanding on the first adventure while also tying in Seryn's past. -  Shaykitt...

Today, I'm featuring an indie book I read and reviewed in 2013. Why so late? Well, Corpses Rarely Wander: How I Became a Loveless, Trailer Park Nomad by Cynthia Polutanovich has been revisited, revised, and relaunched (as of this Valentine's Day, no less). As you can see from my 2013 review below, I enjoyed the memoir upon first read, and am looking forward to a re-read to discover the new content: Corpses Rarely Wander is a compelling read. In this chronological memoir, the author bares her soul to the reader, detailing the specifics of her difficult life with honesty and candor. The painful, sad, and sometimes harrowing events are not sugar-coated, nor is the author fishing for sympathy or casting blame. She reveals her inner demons while chronicling her efforts to rise above the adversity that haunts her like a stubborn ghost. Simultaneously poignant and humorous, the coming-of-age-style story kept me intrigued to the finish. The somewhat abrupt ending left me wanting to...

Do you ever struggle with writer's block, or feel like your brain is stuck in a rut, recycling the same old tropes? Do you wish you knew some time-tested techniques to nudge your creative mind in new directions? Do you have trouble establishing (or maintaining) a consistently productive writing schedule? If so, I have something that may help. I recently read the review copy of Opening the Creativity Diamond: The writer's guide to creative thinking by Tony Jones , which is a book designed to help writers unleash their potential. Tony Jones is a fellow indie author, blogger , and Google Plusser with  "years of experience as a trainer of creative thinking tools."  In his book, Mr. Jones reveals proven ways to 'jump-start' your brain, including detailed examples, puzzles, and brain teasers. Mr. Jones explains that  "I have tailored a diverse set of techniques for writers. The book contains many examples of the ideas in action along with a few exercises ...