tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49204009243451846462024-03-13T03:31:26.844-07:00The Heart's SpringAmber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-69131883791623596332019-06-23T11:07:00.001-07:002019-06-23T11:07:55.469-07:00Finding Fairy SlippersOn a hike to Lupine Lake here in Western Montana, my husband, Josh, and I found no lupines (the flower mentioned in <a href="https://theheartsspringseries.blogspot.com/2014/05/sally-and-lupines.html">a scene of <i>Bleeding Heart</i></a>). However, we did find something I don't recall ever seeing in the wild before, something that I had wanted to spot someday but didn't expect to see on this hike...<br />
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i>Fairy Slippers</i></span></b><br />
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From a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL4tKKM1kXM">YouTube video by hike734</a>, I had hopes that maybe we'd come across one of these flowers at some point in Montana, but I felt absolutely thrilled and blessed to see some as such a surprise!<br />
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There was one standing prettily amid the duff, regal and exotic, but not pretentious. I became so excited when my gaze landed on it, and I proceeded to gush to Josh and take pics. I'm pretty sure it was in that moment that a mosquito took advantage of my distraction to give me a good bite on my finger, but it was worth it. ;)<br />
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We spotted another one as we continued on our hike—and then, on the way back, we saw so many more in the same location that we had missed! As much as they stand out once you notice them, you do have to keep your eyes peeled for them, as they're short and easy to overlook. But they truly are beautiful with their fancy purple petals and splash of yellow.<br />
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It felt like a gift from God to see them in the wild. ♥<br />
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This is the flower my Cinderella short story is named after. You can learn a bit more about the flower on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/fairy-slipper"><i>Brittanica</i>'s website</a>. And you can learn more about <i>Fairy Slippers</i> on my <a href="https://theheartsspringseries.blogspot.com/p/short-stories.html">short stories page</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5YPXYYCkow/XQ-_E4qUGHI/AAAAAAAAOgE/27kxedV-Ha0kX97wU3WVeLjq65A6yNpiACLcBGAs/s1600/Bellflower-FairySlippers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5YPXYYCkow/XQ-_E4qUGHI/AAAAAAAAOgE/27kxedV-Ha0kX97wU3WVeLjq65A6yNpiACLcBGAs/s320/Bellflower-FairySlippers.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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If you'd like to buy a Kindle copy of this short story (combined with my <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> retelling, <i>Bellflower</i>), you can do so on <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bellflower-Hearts-Spring-Amber-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00IWN23FW/">Amazon</a></b>! (And if you don't have a Kindle, feel free to leave a comment and let me know if you'd like for me to send you an .epub file, no charge!)Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-34163724688798133212019-05-21T08:30:00.002-07:002019-05-21T09:50:21.963-07:00Looking for Audiobook Reviewers (How a Star Falls)Hi, friends! (If you follow my main blog, <a href="https://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/">Seasons of Humility</a>, please forgive the repetition of this post. I just wanted to reach out to the subscribers of this blog, as well!)<br />
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You might already know that <i>How a Star Falls</i> is available in audiobook format. :) I once had a list of audiobook promo codes that I had started to share but then lost track of in an old email inbox... But now Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) has provided an easier way to share and keep track of new promo codes, and I'd love to offer them to any readers who would like to listen and review!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NxHzd9KAMjs/XOQVP5OU7FI/AAAAAAAAOcw/3e6tqPr8kMAoKDWp-rmt2wyJIAnS6qrwACLcBGAs/s1600/How-a-Star-Falls-audio-cover-new2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NxHzd9KAMjs/XOQVP5OU7FI/AAAAAAAAOcw/3e6tqPr8kMAoKDWp-rmt2wyJIAnS6qrwACLcBGAs/s320/How-a-Star-Falls-audio-cover-new2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Title:</b> <i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">How a Star Falls</span></i><br />
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<b>Genre:</b> sweet contemporary romance<br />
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<b>Length:</b> approximately 2 hours<br />
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<b>Narrator:</b> Patrick Wilson Mahaney<br />
(He does such a great job of conveying Derrick's character!)<br />
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<i>How does a star fall? </i><br />
<i>Quickly. Completely. Unexpectedly. </i><br />
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Derrick Knolane escapes to Trinidad Head most evenings, avoiding his apartment and planning for the day he'll break free of Humboldt County. Working in a music store might be fine for a while, but it's far from the goal he had in mind when he got his college degree. Not to mention the fact that his roommate is a jerk and his family won't stop trying to run his life.
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Then Brielle falls into his world.<br />
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She claims to be a star. Not from Hollywood, but from heaven. He thinks she's crazy. Certainly delusional. Yet, he can't just leave her alone on the cliffs. So he takes her home.<br />
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And his whole world falls apart.<br />
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A heartfelt and fanciful contemporary romance novella, <i>How a Star Falls</i> explores the uncertain season of new adulthood and shows that sometimes the worst inconveniences make for the best miracles of all.<br />
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<b>Listen to a sample:</b><br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/568133388&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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If you're looking for a sweet little story to listen to on your next drive or while working around the house, I'd love to share <i>How a Star Falls</i> with you! Even if you've read it before as an ebook or paperback, it's a lot of fun to hear Patrick give voice to Derrick. :)<br />
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Interested? <b>Send me an email (amberstokes@corban.edu) or leave a comment</b> with your email address, and I'll send you a promo code so you can download a FREE digital copy of the audiobook and then leave your honest review on <b><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/How-a-Star-Falls-Audiobook/B00UO2HJ9Y">Audible</a></b>. Thank you so much for considering!Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-80652298675455022642017-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:002017-09-28T00:00:06.585-07:00Fun with Flowers | Personality QuizWhich Heart's Spring heroine are you?<br />
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You might remember this quiz from the time I first posted it in 2015. :) If so, it's possible your responses (and thus, your result) might be different this time around! Or perhaps you have yet to discover which heroine from The Heart's Spring series you are...<br />
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<b><a href="http://snack.to/q7kfofqi?UA_PHPSESSID=jjmrgue3g6197cmc19v8pg9vi4">Take the Quiz!</a></b> </div>
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(via PollSnack)</div>
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<b>Possible results:</b></div>
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<li>Annabelle from <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bellflower-Hearts-Spring-Amber-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00IWN23FW">Bellflower</a></i></li>
<li>Elizabeth from <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forget-Not-Hearts-Spring-Book-ebook/dp/B00HY0XUMY">Forget Me Not</a></i></li>
<li>Sally from <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bleeding-Heart-Hearts-Spring-Book-ebook/dp/B00E5YG416/">Bleeding Heart</a></i></li>
<li>Margaret from <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bellflower-Hearts-Spring-Amber-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00IWN23FW">Fairy Slippers</a></i></li>
<li>Felicity from <a href="http://morningglorynovel.blogspot.com/"><i>Morning Glory</i></a></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: This quiz is just for fun! Results may vary and may or may not actually match your personality. :)</span></div>
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Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-26282718932359012282017-09-27T00:00:00.000-07:002017-09-27T12:53:01.061-07:00Fun with Flowers | Take Your Pic(k)!As our celebration of all things flowers continues this week (don't forget to check out the <a href="http://theheartsspringseries.blogspot.com/2017/09/fun-with-flowers-deals-for-week.html">ebook deals</a> and fun <a href="http://theheartsspringseries.blogspot.com/2017/09/fun-with-flowers-hearts-spring-book-tag.html">book tag</a>!), today's prompts are simple:<br />
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1. What's your favorite flower (AKA your top pick)?<br />
2. Share some flower pics you took this year!<br />
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I think my favorite would have to be between three choices: forget-me-nots, bleeding hearts, and lupines. Since writing <i>Forget Me Not</i> and <i>Bleeding Heart</i>, I get excited to spot either of those first two flowers. :) And I love the wealth of meaning behind their names and their appearances. As for the lupine, it makes me think of my mom, the fingerprint artwork I made in first grade and gave to her, and our past day trips in late spring to see the lupines in bloom on the hillside.<br />
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To pick just one, though, I'll go with the bleeding hearts. (These flowers are so gorgeous!)<br />
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Aren't these white ones so beautiful? I didn't realize all-white bleeding hearts existed until I came across some on a walk with friends. </div>
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And now, I present a visual garden, comprised of flowers I saw this past year, ranging from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska and Hawaii...</div>
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Your turn! What's your favorite flower? And if you'd like to share, I'd love to see some flower pics on your blog, Instagram, or Twitter! :)</div>
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Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-10602308528854646402017-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:002017-09-26T00:00:07.540-07:00Fun with Flowers | The Heart's Spring Book Tag<br />
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Welcome to <b>The Heart's Spring Book Tag</b>! Feel free to continue this tag on your blog, or you can simply post your responses in the comments below. There are only five prompts, so it should be a quick way to share with other readers about some books that have stirred your emotions. :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: The prompts are based on book titles/flower names and themes in The Heart's Spring series.</span><br />
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<b>Bellflower:</b> Name a book with beautiful writing or a profound plot that made you immediately fall in love.<br />
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<i>The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn</i> by Lori Benton has both wonderful writing and an engaging plot. My friend Courtney at <a href="https://thegreenmockingbird.wordpress.com/2017/09/19/lets-talk-rereads/">The Green Mockingbird</a> recently posted about rereading this book...and I think it's one I ought to reread sometime too! </div>
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<b>Forget Me Not:</b> Name a book you adored in your childhood and can't forget even now.<br />
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The Disney Girls series was a fave of mine in elementary school. I still have the collection of a dozen books, minus #11, which I sadly lost at some point. This one, <i>Adventure at Walt Disney World</i> (#7), is super fun, with the group of friends taking a trip together, and with certain chapters featuring a journal of their time. So cute!<br />
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<b>Bleeding Heart:</b> Name a book that made you cry with deep compassion for a character.<br />
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I would be remiss if I didn't feature <i>Against the Tide</i>. There are some scenes near the end that were gut-wrenching to read, making me feel so much compassion for the heroine of the story. You can read my full review <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-review-of-against-tide-cfba-blog-tour.html">HERE</a>.<br />
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I should also include <i>Yesterday's Tomorrow</i> by Catherine West, as that story affected me to the point of tears, as well. (My review can be found <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/2011/04/monday-for-military-yesterdays-tomorrow.html">HERE</a>.) Both are powerful reads!<br />
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<b>Fairy Slippers:</b> Name a fantasy book or fairy tale that utterly charmed you.<br />
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I absolutely enjoyed <i>Entwined</i> by Heather Dixon (a retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses"). This is another book quite deserving of a reread!<br />
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<b>Morning Glory:</b> Name a book that has not yet released but you just know you'll love.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Keturah-Sugar-Barons-Daughters-Bergren/dp/0764230247/">Keturah</a></i> sounds really good, and I love both the author and that gorgeous cover. :) This book is set to release February 2018.<br />
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I also have to mention <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Captured-Bride-Daughters-Mayflower-book/dp/1683224744/">The Captured Bride</a></i> by Michelle Griep, another author I love with a promising story premise! (The book is scheduled to release June 2018.)<br />
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Your turn! How would <i>you </i>answer these prompts?<br />
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Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-58451553748076700712017-09-25T06:52:00.002-07:002017-09-25T06:52:38.842-07:00Fun with Flowers | Deals for the WeekHello, friends!<br />
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We don't tend to see many flowers in autumn...although the tree's leaves often make up for that fact with their own variety of colors: red, gold, and burnt orange. Still, even though we've officially entered fall, I'm dedicating this week to all things flowers and spring. :)<br />
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I'm really excited to share a quick (and hopefully fun!) book tag with you all tomorrow! But first, I wanted to kick off the week by sharing some book deals. If you haven't read The Heart's Spring series, or if you wanted to gift any of the ebooks to someone else, here are some exclusive Amazon-only deals:<br />
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<i>Bellflower</i> + <i>Fairy Slippers</i> (Short Stories)</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bellflower-Hearts-Spring-Amber-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00IWN23FW/">FREE for Kindle!</a></b></div>
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<i>Forget Me Not</i> (Book 1)</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forget-Not-Hearts-Spring-Book-ebook/dp/B00HY0XUMY/">$.99 for Kindle!</a></b></div>
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<i>Bleeding Heart</i> (Book 2)</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bleeding-Heart-Hearts-Spring-Book-ebook/dp/B00E5YG416/">$.99 for Kindle!</a></b></div>
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These deals will last through Friday, September 29, 2017. See you tomorrow for some fun with books and flowers!</div>
Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-68607922301323435632015-08-23T20:30:00.000-07:002015-08-23T20:51:27.646-07:00The Bees Found MeOnce upon a time, my apartment was invaded by honeybees...<br />
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...and Rooglewood Press announced the theme for their next fairy-tale novella contest: Sleeping Beauty.<br />
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It seemed only right to connect the two events.<br />
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The latest WIP I've been working on sporadically? A project I've affectionately titled <i>Sting Me to Sleep</i>. (It's quite possible this title is as bad as <i>The Shedding of a Star</i> - the original title for <i>How a Star Falls</i>. It sounds quite epic and clever to me, but, um, you can see that I don't always have the best judgment when it comes to naming my work. So...let's just call this a working title for now and see what happens!)<br />
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What started as a terrifying experience has turned into story inspiration and an odd sort of fascination. I've even been collecting various bee paraphernalia (some items gifted by my mom): honeycomb-shaped bee dishes for my kitchen counter, bee pajamas, a bee notepad, and, from my most recent trip to the coast, a bee dishtowel, bee necklace, and a nonfiction book called <i>The Beekeeper's Lament</i>.<br />
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It's interesting how writing through your fears can be so freeing. A new perspective - a bit of distance to see the size and shape and solutions - can make a world of difference.<br />
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(Does this mean I won't freak out again next spring should I happen to hear buzzing in my stove vent? Mm, probably not. But still.)<br />
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<i>Sting Me to Sleep </i>has been quite fun to write so far. :) It's a contemporary romance with a slight fairy-tale flair. I don't know if I'm going to enter it into the <a href="http://www.rooglewoodpress.com/#!writing-contest/c22i6">Five Magic Spindles contest</a>, as I feel it's more a modern "reimagining" of Sleeping Beauty than a retelling. More "inspired by" than strictly following the plot. I'm really not sure how exactly it's going to turn out, but I hope to finish it soon-ish and find out!<br />
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If you'd like to see my inspiration board for the story, hop on over to <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/seasonshumility/sting-me-to-sleep-wip/">Pinterest</a>. Below you'll find a snippet from the beginning of my WIP and some pictures of honeybees hard at work at a rose garden I visited with my mom and sister on Saturday...<br />
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<b><u>Unedited Snippet from <i>Sting Me to Sleep</i></u></b></div>
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<i>There were two things I feared in life above all others.
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<i>Bees, and inconveniencing another person. </i><br />
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<i>The latter dread resided deep within me—a calcification built layer by layer, glare by glare, reprimand by reprimand, and solidified with my mother’s disappointed tears. That’s why I didn’t ask for help when the bees came. </i><br />
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<i>It was just last spring. I lived in a small rental home on the edge of town, where the grass grew a little wild because I had never bought a lawn mower and the nearest neighbors weren’t near enough to care. </i><br />
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<i>I liked the solitude. Any freelance editor would. And I was proud to have my own space after several years of rooming with strangers while building up my business. </i><br />
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<i>But the bees found me after only several months of peace. </i><br />
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<i>I had known they would find me, eventually. The kind of knowing that friends mock but always proves true. Maybe a self-fulfilling prophecy. </i><br />
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<i>Still, I wasn’t prepared for the battle that awaited me in my own home.</i><br />
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*<b>Note:</b> I haven't forgotten about <i>Morning Glory</i> (Book 3 in The Heart's Spring series) or <i>Where Trains Collide</i> (another NA novella)! I still plan to finish and publish both stories in time, Lord willing. Stay tuned!Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-65065901393802504332015-04-25T18:49:00.000-07:002015-04-25T18:49:15.044-07:00Which Heart's Spring Heroine Are You?Crazy4Fiction (Tyndale House Publishing) recently posted <a href="http://www.crazy4fiction.com/2015/03/25/whats-happening-wednesday-which-heroine-are-you-quiz-giveaway/">a quiz regarding their latest fiction heroines</a>, and I guess that inspired me, as I found myself thinking today about what sorts of questions I might include in a quiz for my books. :) So I created a personality quiz for "The Heart's Spring" series. Thought it might be fun!<br />
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<b>Find out which heroine you're most like...</b><br />
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(Possibilities: Annabelle from <i><a href="http://theheartsspringseries.blogspot.com/p/short-stories.html">Bellflower</a></i>, Elizabeth from <i><a href="http://forgetmenotnovel.blogspot.com/">Forget Me Not</a></i>, Sally from <i><a href="http://bleedingheartnovel.blogspot.com/">Bleeding Heart</a></i>, Margaret from <i><a href="http://theheartsspringseries.blogspot.com/p/short-stories.html">Fairy Slippers</a></i>, or Felicity from <i><a href="http://morningglorynovel.blogspot.com/">Morning Glory</a></i>)<br />
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<i>Disclaimer: This is just a for-fun sort of thing. If the description doesn't really fit you - or if it eerily matches you to a T - I hope you'll remember I'm not really a mind reader. :) Hehe.</i><br />
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<b>I'd love to know which heroine you are and whether or not you agree with your result!</b> Which heroine has resonated most with you from the "Heart's Spring" books you've read so far?Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-65634531967731835582015-04-13T00:00:00.000-07:002015-04-13T00:00:07.501-07:00When an Author Gets Off Track... (With Consolation Giveaway)Some seasons the words flow, and the story falls together as if everything you had previously experienced led to this collection of pages.<br />
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Some seasons the words won't come, or they feel all wrong, and the story closes itself tight within a bud not ready to be peeled open.<br />
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And some seasons...life happens. The words fit together if you force them, but you know there's a better way and a bigger picture if you would just stop rushing to see the puzzle completed.<br />
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* * * </div>
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Here I am once again, asking for your forgiveness. You'd think I'd have <a href="http://theheartsspringseries.blogspot.com/2014/08/1-postponed-project-1-new-project-less.html">learned my lesson with <i>Morning Glory</i></a>, but one can hope the lesson has at least sunk in deeper now.<br />
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(Note to self: Try not to announce target release dates until you have a first draft completed.)<br />
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I've come very close to finishing a first draft for <i>Where Trains Collide</i>, and there are some things I'm happy with, and others I'm not. I know for sure and for certain that there's no way I'll be publishing it on Earth Day, which was my goal - and for that I sincerely apologize. :( I think this story needs some work, and I still need to factor time in for editing by my proofreader and myself.<br />
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And it's quite possible that what this story needs, more than the energy that I don't currently have, is time and life. Perhaps I should factor that into my story process more often... That's what made all the difference with <i>How a Star Falls</i>. The story became something completely different and infinitely better when I let myself ponder it over the months and experienced life transitions in the meantime. When the time was right, the story flitting around in my head finally flew onto the page.<br />
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I know it won't always be easy. Sometimes the words will stop and start and eventually find the updraft they need to glide through to the end.<br />
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Sometimes life will plunge you into the sea, with words all around you but nothing to grasp onto yet.<br />
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My grandpa recently passed away, and between his loss and family turmoil and busyness at work and busyness after work, I've gotten off track (although I was already heading that way before his passing). And while I know it's not OK to make commitments and not keep them (and for that I'm truly sorry), I know it <i>is</i> OK to take time to ponder and feel and live. To readjust priorities. To rest. To remember.<br />
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* * * </div>
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Lord willing, <i>Where Trains Collide</i> and <i>Morning Glory</i>, whenever they might finally be released, will be better for the wait. </div>
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For now, I have a pair of extra paperbacks (<i>Forget Me Not</i> and <i>Bleeding Heart</i>) that I'd like to send one of you, which I'll be happy to sign to the winner. These are the updated matte/softcover versions. (The content is the same, but the covers are tweaked just a bit from the first batch, with the corresponding series number on the spines.) </div>
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The giveaway is open to <b>U.S. residents only</b> due to shipping costs. But I'm also running a sale this week for the Kindle ebook versions:</div>
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<li><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Forget Me Not</span></b>: <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forget-Not-The-Hearts-Spring-ebook/dp/B00HY0XUMY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393037847&sr=8-1&keywords=Amber+Stokes">FREE</a></b> April 13-17</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #e06666;">Bleeding Heart</span></b>: <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bleeding-Heart-Hearts-Spring-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00E5YG416/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393037847&sr=8-2&keywords=Amber+Stokes">Countdown Sale</a></b> April 14-21 (starting at $.99 and increasing incrementally)</li>
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Thank you so much for your constant support and friendship! I hope that whatever season you're in, you'll ultimately be blessed by those times you get off track and experience life in new ways.</div>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="15cee39739" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/15cee39739/" id="rcwidget_ixzer5an" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div>
Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-1595341589876441672015-03-30T23:55:00.000-07:002015-03-30T23:56:18.819-07:00Her Paul Bunyan - Sneak Peek at Where Trains Collide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Paul’s voice had turned a smidge deeper than she remembered, but it still had the ability to soothe her and bring her home. </i><br />
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<i>Her Paul Bunyan of the redwoods. </i><br />
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<i>In her happy memories, he wore his red “lumberjack” shirt, dark jeans, and hiking boots. Despite everything, it always made her breathe out a little laugh to think of him at the Trees of Mystery, standing on the boot of Paul Bunyan’s statue with his fists on his hips, trying to hold a straight face but failing miserably.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Unedited snippet from <i>Where Trains Collide</i> | Photo taken at the Trees of Mystery</span></div>
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* * * </div>
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Getting closer to "The End," friends. It feels a bit like wandering in the woods, but we'll get there, right? :)<br />
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Still have to incorporate my critique partner's feedback and have my proofreader read through the manuscript, so it's going to be a race down the track to get this next new-adult contemporary romance novella out by the end of April! But I'm not giving up hope yet. Prayers for guidance with this story would be much appreciated! More updates to come...Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-74554829723351754852015-02-16T00:50:00.003-08:002015-02-16T00:51:01.586-08:0015 Years Later... From a Certificate to an AudiobookHello, reader friends! How have you been since...*checks last blog post date*...um, November? Thank goodness I get to chat with most of you over at <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/">Seasons of Humility</a> and on my social media pages! Otherwise, you'd think I'd have fallen off the face of the earth - or perhaps out of the sky. (Lame <i>How a Star Falls</i> joke, I know.)<br />
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Today I just wanted to share with you a photo that my parents sent me. It was taken nearly 15 years ago, on my 9th birthday.<br />
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For those of you have read <i>How a Star Falls</i>, you might recognize the reference from my Acknowledgements page. :) This is me when I received as a gift an <a href="http://www.starregistry.com/">International Star Registry</a> certificate notifying me that a star in Orion's Belt had been named after me. Pretty cool, huh? And so fun to look back and see the beginning of one element of inspiration for my novella!<br />
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It was also especially neat to see this picture on the weekend that I approved the files for the <i>How a Star Falls</i> audiobook! Patrick (the narrator) has been so great about conveying Derrick's voice and taking into account my editing suggestions over the past week. We're just about set for launch now!<br />
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Assuming the files pass ACX inspection, the audiobook could be available in anywhere between 5-10 business days. Here's hoping we can release the audiobook before March! I'm so excited to share this and to chat a bit more about hearing a story come to life in a new way. :)<br />
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<b>Question for You: </b><i>If you could choose any constellation in which to have a star named after you, which would you choose?</i></div>
Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-90499864510644137552014-11-22T21:30:00.000-08:002014-11-22T21:42:08.075-08:00A Glimpse at Where Derrick and Brielle MeetThe <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/p/how-star-falls-blog-tour.html"><i>How a Star Falls</i> blog tour</a> continues! Today, enjoy a glimpse at Chapter 1's setting (Trinidad Head), where Derrick and Brielle meet...<br />
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Brielle's bench</div>
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View from the trail</div>
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Derrick's favorite spot</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Why yes, this is the current header at <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/">Seasons of Humility</a>!)</span></div>
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The cross where Derrick and Brielle sit</div>
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Trinidad, California, as seen from the trail</div>
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Just imagine this place at night in January, with a girl in a white poufy dress and a guy with earbuds in his ears, and there you have it! :) These pictures were taken on a walk with a friend of mine in June 2012.</div>
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Click the following links to learn more about the setting: <a href="http://www.trinidad.ca.gov/">City of Trinidad</a>, <a href="http://redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=1742">Trinidad a Seaside Village</a>, <a href="http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/TrinidadTrails_0000.asp">Trinidad Head Trail</a>.</div>
Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-37320603197385013432014-11-20T00:30:00.000-08:002014-11-20T00:56:37.282-08:00Catch a Falling (Paperback) and Put It in Your PocketThis is just a quick update to let you know that <i>How a Star Falls</i> is now available in paperback format! It's currently <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Star-Falls-Amber-Stokes/dp/0692330119/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416472168&sr=1-2&keywords=how+a+star+falls">$6.64 on Amazon</a> - the perfect little weekend treat or stocking stuffer (for you early Christmas shoppers). :)<br />
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Here's a glimpse at the full cover, designed by the amazing Lena Goldfinch of <a href="http://lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com/p/book-design.html">Stone Lily Design</a>:<br />
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I think I'm in love! ♥<br />
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I adore the font treatment on the back cover, and how Lena structured the blurb.<br />
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Also, here's a little fun fact about the front cover:<br />
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Notice the stars on the bottom half of the cover? In the initial mock-up, the stars are scattered. I asked Lena in a comment on our Secret Pinterest Board:<br />
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<i>I like the added stars around the title! I would love to have three stand out, as I'm planning on referencing Orion's belt, and there are the three "stars" (star systems) that stand out there.</i><br />
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And Lena (being the fabulous friend and designer that she is!) made my wish come true. See how the stars on the final version form a three-star line ending in the star that the model is "holding"? That's a nod to Orion's Belt, Brielle's constellation. :) It's all in the details, right? <br />
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I've ordered some of my own copies (including three to be set aside for the <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/2014/11/321-how-star-falls-has-launched.html">giveaway</a> winners), and I'm so looking forward to holding this book in my hands!Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-88575020597709090842014-11-19T00:00:00.000-08:002014-11-19T00:18:05.130-08:00How a Star Falls SoundtrackWell, <i>How a Star Falls</i> is officially out in the world. :) The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Star-Falls-Amber-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00O7GBOB2/ref=la_B00E6AMDH8_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416376260&sr=1-3">Kindle ebook</a> is now available on Amazon, and the paperback is *this close* to being published. I'll let you all know when it goes live!<br />
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For the next week I thought I'd feature some behind-the-scenes/extras here on the author blog. Today, let's talk music!<br />
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Below is my playlist for Derrick and Brielle's story. You can find all the YouTube videos together on the <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/seasonshumility/how-a-star-falls-soundtrack/">Pinterest board</a>, as well. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the songs, a few of which are actually mentioned in the story. Which is your favorite? Are there other songs you'd include that fit the plot/mood?<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><b><i>How a Star Falls</i> "Soundtrack"</b></span></div>
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<b>Prologue:</b> "Constellations" by Jack Johnson</div>
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<b>Chapter 1:</b> "Brielle" by Sky Sailing*<br />
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<b>Chapter 2:</b> "Shooting Star" by Owl City<br />
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<b>Chapter 3 (etc.):</b> "West Coast Friendship" by Owl City<br />
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<b>Chapter 4:</b> "Starlight" by Taylor Swift</div>
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<b>Chapter 6:</b> "If My Heart Was a House" by Owl City<br />
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<b>Chapter 7 and Epilogue:</b> "Shine Your Way" by Owl City and Yuna</div>
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*Don't forget that you can <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/2014/11/321-how-star-falls-has-launched.html">enter to win</a> <i>An Airplane Carried Me to Bed</i>, the soothingly beautiful CD that includes this song.Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-41319209066786979552014-10-07T21:00:00.000-07:002014-10-07T21:12:35.767-07:00How a Star Falls Now Available for Pre-order!When <a href="http://lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com/p/books.html">Lena Goldfinch</a> emailed me while I was on a mini family vacation a while back, sharing the news that Amazon was allowing indie authors to make their books available for pre-order, I was so excited. And I'm thrilled to announce that I'm trying out this new pre-order option for the very first time with <i>How a Star Falls</i>!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Star-Falls-Amber-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00O7GBOB2/ref=asap_B00E6AMDH8_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412731583&sr=1-4"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/How-Star-Falls-Amber-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00O7GBOB2/ref=asap_B00E6AMDH8_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412731583&sr=1-4" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCCqneDKPH0/VDS3Y7sFyrI/AAAAAAAALMw/bJml7jO2inQ/s1600/How-a-Star-Falls-ebook-cover2.jpg" height="320" width="196" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Star-Falls-Amber-Stokes-ebook/dp/B00O7GBOB2/ref=asap_B00E6AMDH8_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412731583&sr=1-4"><b>Pre-order a Kindle copy for only $1.99!</b></a></div>
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And yes, that means that I did finish a first draft. ;) A completed draft is required to begin the pre-order process, in order to minimize the number of unfulfilled commitments, I believe. Let's just say that I'm glad I didn't have the pre-order option with <i>Morning Glory</i>! Hopefully, I'll be extra sure of my release date next time around. *sheepish grin*</div>
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Anyway, Derrick and Brielle's story is now in the capable hands of my proofreader, <a href="http://rachellerea.com/editing-services/">Rachelle Rea</a>, as well as a couple of awesome beta readers. I can't wait to share more, and I do so hope the story will resonate with you, friends!</div>
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I'll probably wait a bit longer before getting things fully in motion for tours/reviews/etc. - just to make sure my first readers don't hate the story or anything. But if you want to be in the loop for the promotion side of things, I'd love if you'd consider becoming a "Gem"! You can sign up for the Amber's Gems Street Team <a href="http://seasonsofastory.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_29.html">HERE</a>.</div>
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More "star story" updates to come...</div>
Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-52510363855565461562014-09-29T23:14:00.000-07:002014-09-29T23:14:59.425-07:00Cold Sky, Warm Stars*Dusts off this little corner of the web*<br />
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In case anyone still bothers to follow this poor little blog that tends to get outdone by <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/">Seasons of Humility</a>, I just wanted to let you know that things are coming together for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22853651-how-a-star-falls"><i>How a Star Falls</i></a>, my upcoming NA contemporary romance novella! Here are a couple of quote cards that I've shared on Twitter and Pinterest (created via <a href="http://www.picmonkey.com/">PicMonkey</a>), in case you want a little teaser or care to spread the word. :) Hopefully there will be more good news to come for this project as I keep on moving forward!<br />
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<b>P.S.</b> I'm kind of, sort of in love with Derrick (the hero). He and Brielle are stinkin' cute, in my slightly biased opinion. ;)
Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-85088777223975851062014-08-07T22:00:00.000-07:002014-08-07T22:25:42.019-07:001 Postponed Project + 1 New Project = Less StressIn some ways I'm very excited to write this post, because of the relief it brings. But there's also an element of guilt, because I owe you all an apology. Let's just start there...<br />
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You know that book I've been promoting as a "Summer 2014" release? The one that I revealed the cover for months ago, mentioned in blog posts and newsletters, and created buttons for? Well, I don't think it's actually going to end up being a summer release...<br />
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I'm sure a lot of you saw this coming. I've been extending my time table farther and farther, hoping I could keep my goal. I even started thinking that "summer" counted up until the official end of the season (September 22nd). While that may be true, that was hardly what many of you were initially expecting, and not what I had been sharing previously on social media. *sigh*<br />
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So what does this really mean? <b> </b><br />
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<b>I'm postponing the publication of <i>Morning Glory</i>.</b> Please note that I haven't entirely given up on it. I mean, we're talking about Myghal's story! And look at that cover - I have to write the book just so I can claim that gorgeous piece of art designed by <a href="http://lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com/p/book-design.html">Lena Goldfinch</a>. ;)<br />
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I've been talking about this story for a long time now, so you might be curious as to why on earth I don't have the book ready yet. Here are my reasons/excuses:<br />
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<li><i>Life has been...well, life. </i>I can and will use the excuse of my recent move, which involved moving out on my own for the first time (excluding college, since I lived on campus), starting a new full-time job (also a first!), and all the ins and outs that go along with that. The truth is, though, that I could and should have had the book done even before the move. Yes, there were freelance projects, my 6-week stint at the grocery store, family drama, etc. - so I'm not going to say it would have been easy. But I probably could have done it. Probably. </li>
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<li><i>I haven't put as much effort as I should into the research.</i> I've done some research, but I sometimes get bogged down by all the little things I ought to check to make sure the story is historically plausible. It's all interesting stuff, for sure, but with the range of settings and the direction I went with some characters, I've been overwhelmed. Not that I necessarily have to look up a ton of information, especially when I'm just trying to get the first draft down on paper. Still, I've been worried that I'm being a little too free with my imagination and a little too unconcerned with whether or not I'm even remotely close to accurately representing certain things, especially toward the middle of the story... </li>
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<li><i>I think I've made a pantser error.</i> "Pantser" is a term applied to those of us who generally write "by the seat of our pants." It's all well and good (and kind of fun!), but there are times when you sometimes miss key story elements because you're not deliberately thinking through all the aspects of the story beforehand. I realized this when I glanced through the post shared on Seekerville last night: "<a href="http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2014/08/troubleshooting-tips-for-problem-plots.html">Troubleshooting Tips for Problem Plots</a>." It hit me that I've been writing <i>Morning Glory </i>almost entirely as a "reaction" - I can't really identify my characters' clear, pressing goals. It's more like I'm throwing issue after issue at them and then forcing them to react. No wonder I feel adrift in the middle of the plot here... I have nothing really pushing my characters or the plot forward beyond a vague idea of where I want the story to end. <u>The bottom line:</u> I love these characters. I love certain plot elements. But I think I would need to go back to the drawing board in order to fix the overarching plot. This would/will probably take a good deal of time, especially since I haven't even finished a full draft yet... </li>
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<li><i>My attention and passion have been consumed by a new project.</i> Yes, I've been distracted by a shiny idea that's been in my peripheral vision since last fall. I've known that because of where I am in life, I'd want to work on it sooner rather than later. Ideas have been slowly trickling into my mind during the last couple of months, and with the upcoming cover reveal (this Saturday, August 9th, hosted at <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/">Seasons of Humility</a>!) - which forced me to finally come up with a back-cover blurb - I've been completely swept away by the concept. The freedom of writing a contemporary has wooed me over to the "dark side," at least for now. ;)</li>
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To all of you who have been waiting for <i>Morning Glory</i>'s release, please forgive me for not following through on my initial publication date goal. I'm very sorry to keep you waiting and to have gotten any hopes up by circulating the buttons with my target publication month/season. :( Like I said, I do have high hopes of publishing this at some point in the future, but I'm not ready to commit to a new target date just yet. "Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies," as the saying goes. (Although it's a little late for that first time around. *sigh again*) I'm not sure how big the changes to my current plot will be, but I hope to still introduce you to most/all of these new characters someday, Lord willing and passion returning...<br />
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In the meantime, I do hope you'll consider genre-jumping with me and checking out the project I *hope* to publish next, <i>How a Star Falls</i> (a fanciful new-adult contemporary romance novella). I've added it to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22853651-how-a-star-falls?ref=ru_lihp_up_rs_18_mclk&uid=1815969102">Goodreads</a> (sans cover and blurb until this weekend), so you can add it to your shelves. And do be sure to check out the <a href="http://seasonsofastory.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_423.html">cover reveal on Saturday</a>, because Lena's cover designs never disappoint (and there's going to be a $10 Amazon.com gift card giveaway!).<br />
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Thank you all for reading and for your understanding!Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-10672320442354487742014-07-21T22:00:00.000-07:002014-07-21T22:00:06.525-07:00A Winner and a Loser (Or an Honest Look at My Writing Progress)Let's start with the happy news! I owed you all a post sometime last week announcing the "Name a Character" contest winner... I do apologize for the delay. Life has a silly way of distracting people - well, not to mention the books. ;)<br />
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Anyway, I entered the names into the List Randomizer on Random.org, and the winner is Carissa! She chose this name:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Rose</b></span></span></span></div>
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Lovely, is it not? And it will continue the flower theme in some small part, even in this non-flowery story. (Nice choice, Carissa!) Since I haven't given my full attention to <i>How a Star Falls </i>yet (but I'm really wanting to!), I haven't decided how I shall incorporate the name...but it will find its way into the book somehow. :)<br />
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Thank you to everyone who shared their feedback on the new <a href="http://seasonsofastory.blogspot.com/">Seasons of a Story Publishing</a> site and submitted character names! It's quite a fun list to draw from, so perhaps I might be asking to use some more of those names at some point.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjZgde6HXOY/U83uqBL2OwI/AAAAAAAAK6s/p3UKXh04MXM/s1600/Morning+Glory+Button3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjZgde6HXOY/U83uqBL2OwI/AAAAAAAAK6s/p3UKXh04MXM/s1600/Morning+Glory+Button3.jpg" height="118" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now for <i>Morning Glory</i>...<br />
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I've got to be honest: I'm not as far as I hoped to be by this point. I think part of me is distracted by all these other story possibilities - their shiny, shimmery splendidness I keep glimpsing out of the corner of my eye. I really can't wait to give more attention to each of these story seeds that keep promising me they'll bloom into beautiful things.<br />
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Another part of me is distracted by my new job and schedule. I'm certainly not complaining, though! One, this night owl is now learning how to actually get up at a decent hour in the morning. ;) Two, this is really my dream job, and I couldn't be happier with my position and the place I'm working.<br />
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Plus, if I'm honest, I probably could have been writing more the last week or two...but when I get home from work, a lot of times I just want to read! It's not my fault that these books are so darn engaging, is it? And then there's dinner and dishes and other "housekeeping" things, you know!<br />
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I guess I just feel sort of stuck. My passion for the story feels like an ember instead of a flame, and I wonder if I just need to push through it or if I need to accept it for now. But then I think of the commitment I made to all of you about publishing it this summer, and I don't feel right just giving up quite yet. My sweet friend and cover designer gave me some great brainstorming ideas, and I think the one thing I really need to do is just give myself time to sit down and think. Maybe do the research I keep putting off. Let myself get absorbed into the heart of the story again. I really do love these characters. I mean, how can I not love Myghal, really?? LOL. And each of the three sisters has a piece of my heart. In fact, one of them has asserted herself, not content to just be pushed to the side... <br />
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Anyway, I just wanted to be up-front with you, my dear friends and readers. Also, I would sure appreciate any prayers that the Lord's will be done with this and any story I write! <br />
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<b>Tell me:</b> What do you do to re-ignite your passion for a story when you're stuck in the middle of it? What is it about <i>Morning Glory </i>that you're looking forward to...or are you more excited about my upcoming experiments with new genres? ;)Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-43094327551321415902014-07-08T22:00:00.000-07:002014-07-08T22:27:56.614-07:00Check Out My Publisher Site - Enter to Name a Character!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://seasonsofastory.blogspot.com/"><img alt="http://seasonsofastory.blogspot.com/" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pQLIE84zPxY/U7zN6RnrT0I/AAAAAAAAK3w/5iPv14F90xU/s1600/banner4.png" height="95" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's finally here! My "publisher" has its own site now, to make navigating my books and author info that much easier. :) <br />
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You can check out the story behind the site at <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/2014/07/seasons-of-story-publishing-site-is-live.html">Seasons of Humility</a> today. But since this is my author blog, I thought I'd do something special here to celebrate the occasion...<br />
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Hop on over to take a look at the <a href="http://seasonsofastory.blogspot.com/">Seasons of a Story Publishing site</a>, then hop on back and share your thoughts. What do you like best about the design? Do you think it fits well with my author brand (my "theme," if you will)? Do you like the idea of joining a street team? Planning on participating in the cover reveal?<br />
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<b>Leave a comment here on this post regarding your thoughts on the new site, and you'll be entered for a chance to pick one of my character's names for <i>How a Star Falls</i> (one of my upcoming projects)! </b>There's no guarantee as to which character it will be (hero, heroine, secondary character, family member, pet, etc.) - this story is still in the brainstorming stage. :) But I'll plan on using the name somehow, LOL.<br />
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<i>Some semi-fine print:</i> This "giveaway" is open internationally. A winner will be chosen randomly via <a href="http://www.random.org/lists/">Random.org</a> and will most likely be announced here sometime next week. By leaving a comment, you're giving me permission to use the name of your choice for one of my characters (of my choosing).<br />
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Please do share in your comment the name (male or female) you'd like me to use if you win! We can also chat about naming characters, and what makes for a great character name. :) Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-51478741352499289122014-06-27T15:30:00.000-07:002014-06-28T00:36:02.772-07:00Confession Time: Writing ProjectsHello, hello! This poor neglected blog... <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/">Seasons of Humility</a> has been getting all the attention lately with book reviews and the super-fun <i>Five Glass Slippers</i> blog tour. :) But here I am again (finally), with a writing update.<br />
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<b>Morning Glory</b> <br />
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As you might have noticed by either my tweets or the WIP button in the sidebar, I've been making some progress on <i>Morning Glory</i>. But I've lost a bit of momentum... I think part of it is the fact that I'm moving next week. There are lots of details to take care of, people to see and things to do, and plenty to occupy the thoughts and emotions. Another part, though, is that I've reached Part II, and I'm at a transition for the book. I have vague ideas of where I want to take things, but I'm just not sure how I feel about them or how exactly I want to execute the plot. That's certainly fun in one sense (see <a href="http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2014/06/i-dont-know-its-mystery.html">Robin Lee Hatcher's post on Seekerville</a> today), but I'm also not sure how to inject life back into the story.<br />
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That could also be due to other stories begging for my attention...<br />
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<a href="http://www.rooglewoodpress.com/fairy-tale-collections"><img alt="http://www.rooglewoodpress.com/fairy-tale-collections" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KeOHP2XFWJQ/U63ulqnKsrI/AAAAAAAAKyE/1UTpoX4pxSg/s1600/BlogButtonforContest.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Arose</b><br />
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Maybe it's the inspiration of the <i>Five Glass Slippers</i> blog tour, maybe it's the creativity of books like <i>Cruel Beauty </i>by Rosamund Hodge, and maybe it's just my emotions right now, but I have an idea for the <i>Five Enchanted Roses</i> creative writing contest that recently captured my imagination! And I'm pretty sure I want to give myself permission to work on this for the next few days or so... ;)<br />
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I don't want to ignore my target release time frame for <i>Morning Glory</i>, but I think there's something to be said for giving some time to the idea that has ignited my interest and sparked my enthusiasm, so that I don't lose the passion. Plus, maybe taking a break to try to a different writing style will help me come back to <i>Morning Glory </i>with new ideas and perspective.<br />
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So, the current plan is to work on this story for a while. (Pinterest board: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/seasonshumility/arose/">Arose</a>) But of course, the main plan is to get through the moving process smoothly, so that I'm ready to start my new job!<br />
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<b>???</b><br />
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There's one more story (affectionately referred to as my <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/seasonshumility/secret-future-writing-project/">Secret Future Writing Project</a> on Pinterest) that's been on my mind lately. I already have a cover for it (thanks to the awesome Lena Goldfinch!), and I'm eager to get started! I think this will be a great project to work on in this new season of my life. It's in a different genre, one that will allow me to explore my experiences and interests in a more direct way. I thought I could focus on it when I send <i>Morning Glory </i>to my editor, so I'll have something to work on while I wait. :) We'll see!<br />
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<b>Seasons of a Story Publishing</b><br />
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This blog was started with the intent of updating readers on news about "The Heart's Spring" series, as well as offering behind-the-scenes information on the writing process and fun facts about the characters/settings/etc. But I've been working on a site for my "publisher," and I wanted to connect this blog with it - so that site would be more static, where all my bookish info would be in one place, and then this blog would be updated with newsy things. If that's the case, though, I guess I'll have to broaden this blog to encompass all my releases. Perhaps "The Heart's Spring" will still work, as I think that title would fit all my stories (they flow from my heart's "spring," and they come about in the "spring"/blooming season of my heart). So I guess I just wanted to give you all the heads-up about that, so you know that some changes are in the works! <br />
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And there you go...a convoluted glimpse into my author mind right now. I hope you aren't too scarred by the experience. ;)Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-57696011486063807892014-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-10T00:16:23.756-07:00Before This Brief Season Ends...Today is the last day to get <i>Bellflower + Fairy Slippers</i> (2 short stories in 1 ebook) <b>FREE</b> for Kindle! Even if you've read <i>Bellflower </i>already, this is currently the only way to get <i>Fairy Slippers</i>. (You can skip to <i>Fairy Slippers </i>via the Table of Contents, if you'd like!) So I hope you'll take a chance, download the ebook, and enjoy a not-quite-hour's worth of <i>Beauty & the Beast </i>and <i>Cinderella </i>in the West, as well as an added peek into some secondary characters' romances. :) And if you'd like to spread the word about the freebie, I'd be most grateful!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IWN23FW/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_y3lLtb081W95H">"The Heart's Spring" Short Stories - FREE for Kindle today (June 10th)!</a></b><br />
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Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-62585674451203550562014-06-07T00:30:00.000-07:002014-06-07T00:38:45.563-07:00New Paperbacks, New Twitter Account, & the New-sletter!So...it's about time I share a <b>new</b> post on here, isn't it? I apologize that I've been absent lately! I guess <a href="http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/">Seasons of Humility</a> has been getting all the attention. ;)<br />
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However, if you're subscribed to <a href="http://blogspot.us7.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=b5284729001390bd8d056f439&id=bf3bf23d39">my newsletter</a>, you should have received the "Spring Edition" in your inbox yesterday! And now that the newsletter has been sent into the world, I guess it's time I share some updates:<br />
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<u><b>Paperbacks</b></u><br />
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Now, not much has changed within <i>Forget Me Not </i>and <i>Bleeding Heart</i> (just an addition of discussion questions and series info in the latter), but the covers of these two books have been updated! Just a few tweaks to show that they're part of a series - plus they're now going to be available with matte (soft) covers instead of glossy. :) If you already own the paperbacks, there's no need to get the updated ones unless you really, <i>really</i> like soft covers and want to see the series numbers on the spines, LOL. But if you've been waiting to pick up paperback copies, now is as good a time as any!<br />
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Here are the purchase links:<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><i>Forget Me Not</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forget-Me-Not-Amber-Stokes/dp/061597600X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1394440798&sr=8-4&keywords=Amber+Stokes">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forget-me-not-amber-stokes/1118891599?ean=9780615976006">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Forget-Not/Amber-Stokes/9780615976006?id=5958503702959">Books-A-Million</a> | <a href="https://www.createspace.com/4682375">CreateSpace</a></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><i><b>Bleeding Heart</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bleeding-Heart-Amber-Stokes/dp/061586533X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1393037847&sr=8-2">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bleeding-heart-amber-stokes/1117516566?ean=9780615865331">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Bleeding-Heart/Amber-Stokes/9780615865331?id=5962197744048">Books-A-Million</a> | <a href="https://www.createspace.com/4393782">CreateSpace</a></div>
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Please note that I've approved the new versions and they <i>should</i> be available in their updated forms. But to be on the safe side...it wouldn't hurt to give 'em another few days just to make sure that the changes have been processed. And to be extra sure you get the matte versions, I'd suggest ordering directly from CreateSpace or Amazon. (OK, I'll confess that I get more royalties if you order from CreateSpace...but that's neither here nor there, right?? Right.) I think CreateSpace and Amazon (they're both connected) should be quicker with accepting the changes and are less likely to have a back stock of the glossy version. Please don't hate me if I'm mistaken, though! The glossy versions are still pretty. ;)<br />
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<u><b>Twitter</b></u><br />
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What's this about a new Twitter account? Well, with the success of fictional-character accounts like <a href="https://twitter.com/macneil_neil">Dr. Neil MacNeill's</a>, and with the thought of a) giving a face to one of my own characters and b) getting my creative juices flowing, I decided to create an account for Myghal!<br />
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If you're a) #TeamMyghal and/or b) eager for <i>Morning Glory</i>, I hope you'll consider following my Cornish character. I'm excited to see how he does in such a foreign world. ;)<br />
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<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large" href="https://twitter.com/Myghal_Tamblyn">Follow @Myghal_Tamblyn</a><br />
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<u><b>Newsletter</b></u><br />
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If you weren't previously signed up for my newsletter, you can still check out the Spring 2014 Edition <a href="http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b5284729001390bd8d056f439&id=4675d93e8c&e=[UNIQID]">HERE</a>! Even though I've divulged some of the info included in there, you can still find an unedited teaser from <i>Morning Glory</i>, news about a special Kindle freebie promotion, and an interview with one of my editing & publicity clients, Jaye L. Knight. In other words... I hope you'll check it out and not miss out on the fun!<br />
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And here's the button I included in the newsletter, in case you want to grab it and share it! You can link it back to this blog or the <a href="http://morningglorynovel.blogspot.com/">Morning Glory blog</a>. Thanks!<br />
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I guess that's enough "new" for now! Hopefully it won't be another month before I post again. ;)<br />
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Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-66715075313820325432014-05-06T03:00:00.000-07:002014-05-06T03:03:49.712-07:00Sally and the LupinesNope, I'm not referring to a new rock group by that post title. ;) I got to visit Bald Hills again this past weekend, and it brought to mind <i>Bleeding Heart</i>. The lupines are absolutely stunning this year, blooming in thick, lush patches, just as I'd imagined they would be for Sally, Myghal, and Joe. So I thought I'd share some pictures and a corresponding excerpt, to set the scene a little more and really show you what I envisioned...<br />
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***
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As the sun began to set, they came upon Myghal’s surprise so suddenly that Sally almost ran into Joe before she noticed they had stopped. Peeking around his broad back, she gasped.<br />
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“Oh…”<br />
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The gentle, green slopes were covered with purple flowers, all standing tall and bright in the last kiss of sunlight. They cascaded down the hill like a royal waterfall, swaying slightly in the evening breeze.<br />
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She let her pack and bedroll fall from her shoulders. “How beautiful!”<br />
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And it was – prettier than any of the flashy clothes Jacob had given her to attract men and more vibrant than anything she could remember seeing.<br />
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Without another thought, she started walking through the flowers. For a moment, she wished that no one else was there with her, just so she could run and dance through the carpet of color without anyone watching. <br />
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Eventually, she knelt down beside one of the flowers and examined it. Little round petals climbed up the stem, purple and white, glorious and pure. She placed her finger on one of the petals, fitting her fingertip to the gentle touch of the bloom. Her daddy had always told her that God would never leave her and never let go of her hand. Closing her eyes, she imagined God reaching out to her through the sweet caress of a flower.<br />
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“They’re called lupines. Sure, an’ they’re a sight.”<br />
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Reluctantly opening her eyes, she found Myghal standing close by, gazing out on the hillsides. She shook off her fancies. Her daddy hadn’t known all the horrid things she’d do once she left home. He might have had other things to tell her about God’s view of her if he had.<br />
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She stood and brushed her fingers across Myghal’s sleeve. “This is a great surprise. It’s beautiful.”<br />
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He rolled his shoulder. “I thought ye might enjoy it.” She was awarded with a small grin before he added, with a hint of melancholy, “Makes me miss my Irish mother, and our home in Cornwall.”<br />
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“Oh?”<br />
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When he didn’t respond, she whispered, “It makes me miss home, too.”<br />
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***<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vCxFp5jHwY/U2iyDO1BpmI/AAAAAAAAKQM/krVVOdw6CP0/s1600/BH-ebook-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vCxFp5jHwY/U2iyDO1BpmI/AAAAAAAAKQM/krVVOdw6CP0/s1600/BH-ebook-new.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
If you haven't yet read <i>Bleeding Heart</i>, it's available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bleeding-Heart-Amber-Stokes/dp/061586533X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1399370216&sr=8-2">Amazon</a> in Kindle ($2.99) and paperback ($8.99) formats! <a href="http://lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com/p/book-design.html">Lena Goldfinch</a>, my cover designer, has also worked on some updates for the paperback versions of <i>Forget Me Not </i>and <i>Bleeding Heart</i> - just little tweaks to really link them as part of a series (on the spine and back cover, mostly). This ebook cover has also been tweaked a bit to match the shading of the paperback. :) I'll keep you posted on when the updates are made official!<br />
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I'm thinking about trying matte this time for the paperbacks instead of the glossy, which would give them a softer feel and also make them a tad bit darker... Do you prefer the glossy or the matte? Inquiring minds want to know! Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-81944426601570819132014-04-27T22:00:00.000-07:002014-04-27T23:47:39.003-07:00Morning Glory ButtonWhile playing around with <a href="http://www.picmonkey.com/">PicMonkey</a> in preparation for a client's blog tour, I ended up getting utterly distracted. This is the result...<br />
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A graphic designer, I'm not, but I had some lovely pictures and fonts to work with, and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. :) Plus, I had some great inspiration with my previous book-release buttons, which were designed by <a href="http://anneelisabethstengl.blogspot.com/">Anne Elisabeth Stengl</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjLzSIVRh_M/U13goWYH5XI/AAAAAAAAKIw/Ba9MFZz6AWE/s1600/GrabButtonBleedingHeart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjLzSIVRh_M/U13goWYH5XI/AAAAAAAAKIw/Ba9MFZz6AWE/s1600/GrabButtonBleedingHeart.png" height="266" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vvrvg0ExqM/U13lHhlpyWI/AAAAAAAAKJY/Gh16vzilMrs/s1600/ForgetMeNotBlogButton4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vvrvg0ExqM/U13lHhlpyWI/AAAAAAAAKJY/Gh16vzilMrs/s1600/ForgetMeNotBlogButton4.png" height="266" width="320" /></a></div>
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Please feel free to take the <i>Morning Glory</i> button and share it on your blog/social media sites! Here are three simple steps:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Save the image to your computer.</li>
<li>Add the image to your blog's sidebar or wherever you'd like to share it! (If adding to your sidebar in Blogger, you might want to check the box for "shrink to fit.")</li>
<li>Link it back to this site or to the <a href="http://morningglorynovel.blogspot.com/">Morning Glory page</a>. Thank you!</li>
</ol>
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And while I'm here, I might as well give you a quick update on the writing front! Unfortunately, Camp NaNo didn't end up taking priority this month, and I'm not as far along in <i>Morning Glory </i>as I'd hoped. I still have my goal of publishing the book this August, so I'm just going to keep pushing on to meet that. I'll keep you all posted on my progress when life/time permits! And maybe I'll share some Myghal snippets, at some point. ;)<br />
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Hope you all have a great week! Now, back to work...<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">(Cover design by <a href="http://lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com/p/book-design.html">Stone Lily Design</a>. Crater Lake background © Mario Bonomi; Morning-glory flower image © Cao Zhengsong | Images purchased from Dreamstime.com)</span>Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4920400924345184646.post-55766238547646995162014-04-20T00:30:00.000-07:002014-04-20T00:37:02.124-07:00Holding onto HopeWell, it's been far too long since I've posted here! I'd like to say I've been spending all this time working on <i>Morning Glory</i>, but I've been distracted by the job hunt, publicity projects, books, and life. But I'm not giving up hope. While I'm certainly not as far along as I should be, I've written about 10,000 words this month, bringing my total for this first draft to about 15,000 (including the front matter, because I like to pad my word count however I can, LOL). I figure if I can write 3,000 words a day starting on Monday, I could get close to my goal and have a draft the length of <i>Forget Me Not</i>. And if I don't quite make that (because I do have some other priorities), I'll just "keep moving forward," as I was reminded by watching <i>Meet the Robinsons</i> tonight. <br />
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Anyway, I thought I'd share a little teaser from my first draft with you. This is an unedited snippet from around the point I left off last... It's been kind of a darker story so far, and it will continue to be so for a while, but there are moments of hope and cheer in the midst of it all. So I chose one of those moments to share, because today of all days (Easter) is all about hope! I <i>hope </i>you enjoy the sneak peek. :)<br />
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***<br />
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Cresting the mountaintop, Felicity came up short. A glimpse of indigo spread before her, incredibly rich and still. Dropping Frances’s reins, she rushed past Papa and Mama, Glory, Myghal, and Helen. She ran until she came to the rocky edge and could gaze across the splendor of a lake so deep, its blue seemed to bleed from the beating heart of the earth.<br />
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The shimmery, misty morning light enclosed the mountain in a warm embrace, giving a royal sheen to the water. Felicity couldn’t tear her eyes away, not even to retrieve her journal in order to capture what she was seeing. She wasn’t sure she should even attempt to do so.<br />
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Myghal slipped beside her, his own gaze riveted on the lake. Glory came up on her other side, and the three of them stood together in awe. The moment was sweet, soft. A mercy from a deep well. And slowly, hope poured back through the cracks of her heart.<br />
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The lake was wide, but not the largest she had ever seen. And yet, its rim met the sky in a purple-blue that went on forever above and forever below. All-encompassing. The little mountain within, rising from the lake, caught her eye. Trees covered the small peak, just as trees rose like hardy survivors along the edges of the crater to her right.<br />
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“There’s Wizard Island,” Papa declared from behind her. He didn’t continue, and Felicity glanced back to see tears in his eyes. Glory tucked herself under one of his arms. From somewhere, Felicity found the courage to tuck herself beneath his other.<br />
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All was silent again, but for the moment, it felt right.
Amber Holcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com3