YA Indie Carnival: The Reader who Saved the von Strassenbergs

Filter was originally published first on Smashwords and then on Amazon in August of 2010. After a few months of floundering in the sea of self-published ebooks, I was convinced writing was not for me. My book was not meant to be successful. I was not meant to write. So Filter was yanked and I went back to doing my homework and trying to imagine myself in a regular 9-5. 
In early 2011, with graduation looming, it occurred to me that Filter should get another chance. So it went up for sale again and I launched an aggressive marketing campaign....without any financial backing for ads or such. Still sales were slow but better than they had been. Reviews slowly rolled in. 
Months went by and I had sold fewer than fifty books.
I was ready to throw the towel in again. 
One night, after a particularly lackluster review which misrepresented Filter, I raged against the whole idea of me being a writer. Well....a novelist. I would have to stick to journalism. In a fit of tears and prayers I swore the existence of Filter and any subsequent books would all hinge on the next review. If it was bad. I would give up writing. 
A few hours later, two five star reviews rolled in.
The first was from Dani Snell of Refracted Light Reviews.
It wasn't just that she gave Filter five stars, it was that she actually got it. From her review it was obvious to me that she saw the story as I did...a sweeping, gothic romance heavy with suspense and laced with hints of horror. That was the review that saved me and Filter and that still encourages me to carry on even when times are tough. 
Even more importantly than the review, Dani has become a good friend of mine and she is such a blessing. It is doubtful that without her and Heather and Angie and the others that BlueStocking Girl would ever have gotten started. 
See Dani's review of Filter here: http://refractedlightreviews.com/?p=41

Don't forget! When I reach 100 blog followers some lucky friend will win a signed copy of Filter and some von Strassenberg swag! Follow for a chance to win! (scroll all the way down to see the swag in my Zazzle panel!)


ALL RIGHT! Through the holidays you can download Filter from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or Smashwords for  99 cents. Times are tough and I want to help spread the Christmas cheer! And, shouts of joy!, Amazon lowered the price of the paperback to match Barnes and Noble! Now it's only $11.11!

MORE YA INDIE CARNIVAL NEWS!!!!

Courtney Cole released her Bloodstone Saga finale, My Tattered Bonds.  It is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Get your scare on at The Paranormal Plumes Haunted Book Tour in Savannah Halloween Weekend! www.theplumessociety.com

For a limited time, Kimberly Kinrade is selling signed copies of her YA paranormal thriller/romance Forbidden Mind. As an All Hallow’s Read bonus, she is also including some awesome gifts with each purchase… including a very special bonus to the first 5 lucky people who place an order. Get a copy for yourself and buy one for a friend in celebration of All Hallow’s Read. For more details, CLICK HERE. 

30% of the royalties of Lexus Luke’s Manitou The Sky People Saga go to the ASPCA.  It is available on Barnes & Noble & Amazon

FOR MORE FAVORITE FAN MOMENTS CHECK OUT THESE OTHER CARNIES

Fisher Amelie (Author of The Understorey)

K. C. Blake (Author of Vampire Rules)

J.L. Bryan (Author of the Paranormals series)

Courtney Cole (Author of The Bloodstone Saga, Princess & Guardian)

Rachel Coles (Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie and other stories)

Laura Elliott (Author of Winnemucca)

T. R. Graves (Author of The Warrior series)

P.J. Hoover (Author of Solstice)

Kimberly Kinrade (Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind)

Patti Larsen (Author of the short story, Henry and the newly released Run)

Michelle Leighton (Author of the Blood Like Poison series, The Reaping, Wiccan,Caterpillar, and the upcoming Madly series)

Lexus Luke (Author of Manitou and The Sky People Saga)

Amy Maurer Jones (Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy)

Alicia McCalla (Author of the upcoming debut novel Breaking Free)

Cheri Schmidt (Author of the Fateful series and Fair Maiden)

Heather Self (Author & Book Blogger)

Madeline Smoot (Author of Missing)

Dani Snell (You are here. Book Blogger)

Cidney Swanson (Author of Rippler)

Suzy Turner (Author of December Moon and Raven)

Nicole Williams (Author of Eternal Eden and the much anticipated sequel, Fallen Eden)

Casting Call at The YA Indie Carnival

If you've been following my blog (or searching Tom Welling's name), you know that "who should play the men of Filter" is not a new topic of discussion for me. Interestingly enough, no one seems concerned with who should play Rocky or Katherine. My 13 year old cousin, however, volunteered herself for the role of Rocky. lol

The ladies on my Facebook page voted for Alex Pettyfer as that mysterious hottie Peter Strauss, Max Irons as William Drexler the Third (sigh....), Gary Oldman as his creepy father, and Klaus von Strassenberg would be played by Ronald Guttman. And when you look at Ronald Guttman and his sharp nose and high cheek bones, it makes perfect sense to have Tom Welling play his heroic son.

Tom Welling would be sublime as the dashing Viktor von Strassenberg. O ladies....I can see it all play out in my head and it makes me weak in the knees.


Filter is available for Nook, Kindle, at Smashwords and in paperback! For reviews check out Goodreads.

UPDATES!!!I believe I have found the girl who most reminds me of my mental image of Katherine. Janelle Froehlich from the Twilight Saga. 
And thanks to one of my lovely readers I have now found the perfect young man to play William III! Brant Daugherty!

Brant Daugherty

Also, if you haven't seen. The Bluestocking Girl is now available

 in paperback and for your Nook or Kindle!

YA Indie Carnival--Spotlight

Yea. My post is a little late, but it's Refracting Light's fault. 
She distracted me.
My Indie Idol is Tess Oliver who commandeered my day with her YA paranormal romance, Camille. 


From GoodReads:
At a time when society conforms to the strictest rules and most proper etiquette, sixteen-year-old Camille Kennecott and her guardian, Dr. Bennett, live a most unconventional life. They hunt werewolves.When unwitting victim, Nathaniel Strider, wanders into one of their full moon pursuits, Camille and Dr. Bennett believe they have found a specimen for their study. Finding a scientific key to unlocking the mystery of lycanthropy would end their late night excursions. Yet beneath the irresistible exterior, Nathaniel is transforming into a flesh-tearing monster, and as each experiment fails, Camille loses another inch of her soul to him. In a month’s time, she must face the prospect of destroying the boy who has stolen her heart.


Camille is set sometime in the early twentieth century, when girls were expected to be all lace and manners. The story takes us to the dirty, nasty side of London and Oliver brings it vividly to life...the soot, the rotted teeth, the refuse in the gutters. More importantly, she brings the enigmatic bad boy about town, Nathaniel Strider to life. For me, Strider is right up there with LJ Smith's Damon Salvatore of the Vampire Diaries. It was the romantic tension, the emotional turmoil and the unexpected AHA! moment that kept me engrossed for an entire day (even at my niece's birthday party...it helps to have your Nook on your phone). 
Camille was definitely worth the 99 cents I paid for it, worth that and so much more! What a fun romp. And you can bet your bippy I'll be reading BitterRoot Crossing as well. And anything else by Tess Oliver. 

Visit our other carnies:

• Fisher Amelie (Author of The Understorey)
• K. C. Blake (Author of Vampire Rules)
• J.L. Bryan (Author of the Paranormals series)
• Courtney Cole (Author of The Bloodstone Saga, Princess & Guardian)
• Rachel Coles (Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie and other stories)
• Laura Elliott (Author of Winnemucca)
• Wren Emerson (Author of I Wish…)
• T. R. Graves (Author of The Warrior series)
• P.J. Hoover (Author of Solstice)
• Kimberly Kinrade (Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind)
• Patti Larsen (Author of the short story, Henry and the newly released Run)
• Michelle Leighton (Author of the Blood Like Poison series, The Reaping, Wiccan,Caterpillar, and the upcoming Madly series)
• Lexus Luke (Author of Manitou and The Sky People Saga)
• Amy Maurer Jones (Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy)
• Alicia McCalla (Author of the upcoming debut novel Breaking Free)
• Cheri Schmidt (Author of the Fateful series and Fair Maiden)
• Madeline Smoot (Author of Missing)
• Dani Snell (Refracted Light Reviews)
• Cidney Swanson (Author of Rippler)
• Cyndi Tefft (Author of Between)
• Suzy Turner (Author of December Moon and Raven)
• Nicole Williams (Author of Eternal Eden and the much anticipated sequel, Fallen Eden)