Preening with Pride

Some of you may not know that in addition to writing, I am also a book reviewer for indieBRAG Medallion. I have been with BRAG for many years and I was honoured recently by having my debut novel, Time’s Tempest, receive an indieBRAG Medallion for excellence in self-publishing (not, I was not allowed to read my own book šŸ˜‰ ).

BRAG Medallion is taking the time to highlight many of its dedicated reader/reviewers this year in an effort to show the humanity behind the award process and share what drives their readers. I have believed in the mandate of indieBRAG from day one, and I’m honoured to be interviewed about what it’s like being a reader.

Here is a brief excerpt:

One Reader’s Voice Out Loud with Melissa

Our readers are the foundation of what makes indieBRAG unique. Ā They not only select the books to become the next B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree but give feedback to our authors. This feedback is important not only to the authors but to the reader as well. Readers carry a lot of weight in what we regard as quality in self-publishing. Not only that but how readers see authorā€™s platforms and performance on social media. Today, Melissa is sharing her thoughts about promoting books on social media and much more!

indieBRAG: How do you find books and what do you think of social media and books?

I usually find my print books by visiting my local book stores and browsing the shelves. I tend to find my ebooks by browsing Goodreads. Social media and books isnā€™t something Iā€™ve grown accustomed to yet, but thatā€™s probably because I spend so much time on my computer for work that Iā€™d rather get out of the house and explore.

indieBRAG: Do you go to an authorā€™s website or social media when looking for a book or do you usually pick a book based on a search, on sites such as Amazon?

I donā€™t actually search Amazon for books. I will go in with a title in mind (if I canā€™t find it locally) and then make my purchase. I do look at Goodreads recommendations though. I enjoy visiting websites for authors Iā€™ve discovered the old-fashioned way (and just so you know, Iā€™m not even 40 yet!) or checking out authors whoā€™ve found me via my review blog to delve deeper into who they are and what theyā€™re writing.

Click HERE for the full Interview.

Great News!

Time’s Tempest was just awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion for being a high-quality indie book ā¤

 

When time is your enemy and the truth will only get you killed, whoā€™s left to trust as the world threatens to crumble around you?

Embarking as a guide into the death zones that are the Deserts, Taya leads a group of civilians who blindly follow a prophet obsessed with preventing the planet Xannia from environmental self-destruction. Here, fate and destiny wage war propelling an epic search for truth amidst 2000 year old lies, in opposition to a government bent on burying ancient secrets and anyone who goes looking for them.

As Taya desperately attempts to keep the prophet and his followers alive, this journey forces her to grapple with the circumstances of her past which have aligned to hurdle her into her darkest memories; making choices she never wanted to consider; learning truths she was never meant to know.

 

indieBrag and BRAGMedallion.comĀ is owned and operated by indieBRAG, LLC, a privately held organization that has brought together a large group of readers, both individuals and members of book clubs, located throughout the United States and in ten other countries around the globe. The word ā€œindieā€ refers to self-published books, while B.R.A.G. is an acronym for Book Readers Appreciation Group. The name ā€œindieBRAGā€ and the B.R.A.G. logos are trademarks of indieBRAG, LLC. The B.R.A.G. Medallion is a certification trademark owned and controlled by indieBRAG, LLC.

Their mission is to discover talented self-published authors and help them give their work the attention and recognition it deserves. Our primary focus is fiction across a wide range of genres; however, we selectively consider non-fiction books as well.

~ Info courtesy of BRAGMedallion.com/About

You can find Time’s Tempest listed on the B.R.A.G. Medallion website HERE.

I can’t thank all of my readers and supporters enough for helping the series grow šŸ˜€

MJ

Book 3: Rebels Rein has Launched!

It’s official šŸ™‚

Book 3 of The Chronicles of Xannia is now live!

It’s been a long haul for this one but I’ve received a lot of great early feedback. The print copies won’t be ready online for another 2 days, but Kindle is up and ready for business šŸ˜‰

22 years ago the Resistance failed, ending in the Nine Seas Massacre.

Forced to travel the death-waters of the Nine Seas, the surviving rebels are crammed onto a museum-ship with only an antiquated relic to help keep them alive. But soon, the disparate crew face a living nightmare as a new leader, focused solely on survival of the fittest, takes charge.

Now the fate of the ship rests on the shoulders of two troubled women: Daria, who struggles to find a reason to live; and Sister Venra, whose crisis of faith threatens her lifeā€™s purpose. Their inner war amidst tyranny and desperation takes them on a journey that will bring an end to it all ā€¦ whether by salvation or damnation.

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If you’re Canadian, click HERE to check it out.

If you’re American, click HERE to check it out.

And if you’re in the UK click HERE to check it out.

It’s COVER REVEAL Time!

IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING …

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The Cover Reveal for Book 3 in The Chronicles of Xannia series šŸ™‚

~

rebels-rein-temporary-coverI can’t tell you how excited I am that book 3, Rebels Rein, is in its final stages of editing and is scheduled to officially launch either Tuesday March 27th or Tuesday April 2nd (really, it depends on when the final edits come back in but…) —

Next week, on Tuesday March 7th from 8pm-9pm EST I will reveal the cover for REBELS REIN!

Plan to stop by anytime within the hour and leave a comment in the DISCUSS THIS BOOK section at the bottom of my Goodreads book page HERE, or join in the conversation for a little while, and you’ll be in the running to win an e-copy of the book just for helping me celebrate šŸ™‚

 

I can’t thank you all enough for following me on this amazing journey ā¤

Conventions – Getting into the Spirit

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I am extremely lucky in that my preferred writing genre has such an extended fandom attached to it. Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to sell my books at a Guelph, Ontario’s Genre Con (a conference all about relishing in Toy fandoms). I didn’t make a lot of sales, but enough to cover the cost of the table I shared with my Writing Community Cronies.

But …

I made some great contacts and got to network with like-minded individuals about genre, craft, publicity, etc. And I had a blast! The pics in the slideshow above only give you a glimpse at the fun we had with the 501st (Serious Star Wars Cosplayers) and the average enthusiast.

I’d also like to take a moment and get a little giddy over a couple of Christmas presents I got from my mom this year. Pictured below you’ll see a steampunk hourglass and a dragon business card holder. I have been looking for fun ways to dress up my table author table at events and have spent the better part of 2 years looking for a version of both these items. Needless to say, I did squeal a little when I opened these gifts šŸ˜‰

 

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At the genre conferences I’ve been attending over the past year, I have also managed to weasel my way onto panels and into workshops as a “professional in the field“. Ā At Guelph’s Genre Con I had an opportunity to speak on a panel about NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month) as well as talk “prop creation” — something I actually went to university for … theatre production šŸ˜‰ The sword I’m holding below I carved mostly from wood, and the masks are made from a plastic bag, 3m masking tape, newspaper, and cardboard.

 

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As an author, just getting out and submerging myself in the culture of readers and lovers of storytelling simply makes my heart sing (and my gut laugh – see slideshow top).

Perhaps next time I’ll see you there too šŸ˜‰

MJ

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