R.S.Sharkey

Just one of my links it a bit different from normal today, the other is pretty normal. Oh! And as this is my tenth Bookmark Monday, I’m throwing in two articles covering a checklist for self-publishing!

Pictures: Volcano Lighting, Illuminated

A pictures article! From NatGeo (National Geographics). I’ve never heard of volcano lighting until I saw this series of pictures, pretty cool looking and a bit inspiring. Take a look!

Joss Whedon’s Top 10 Writing Rules

Joss Whedon, known by his fans for creating the TV series Firefly and more recently writing The Avengers script, gives his top ten rules for writing.

An Indie Author’s Best Kept Secret: The Ultimate Pre-Publishing Checklist

 Not quite ready to publish? Still tying up your loose ends? Here’s a checklist to make sure you’ve thought of everything prior to jumping into publishing

An Indie Author’s Best Kept Secret Part 2: The Ultimate Book Publishing Checklist

 You’ve checked everything off of your pre-publishing checklist and now it’s time to start building your books. Here’s the next installment in your checklist.

Posted in Articles
Tags: articles, Joss Whedon, lists, Monday, NatGeo, pictures, publishing, Ultimate, Wise Ink Blog, writing

Ah! Excitement is/was in the air. Last Friday was the opening of my college’s first student show of the year and I had had a piece selected to be in it. Quite exciting! The show is one they host towards the beginning of every semester and it is comprised of student work selected by a professional juror. My piece was a set of images created with a single etching (cut into six strips). See some photos after the break.

Next week’s Wednesday post: Review – Truth

Continue reading ‘Gallery Showing!’

Posted in Art
Tags: art, etching, gallery, RSS, showing

So, along with the list of 25 Things Writers Need to STOP Doing (my blog), I found a companion list called 25 Things Writers Need to START Doing (TerribleMinds blog). From the same site as the first series, this list also needed some editing. Instead of doing posters this time, I decided to try making postcards. Enjoy everyone!

Continue reading ’25 Things Writers Need to START Doing’

Posted in Art, Writing in General
Tags: 25, art, books, lists, tips, writing

So, something popped up on my blogroll this Thursday and I figured it’d be a good thing to share. Along with a link to that, I’m linking an article on stress. As a note, I think I’m going to shake things up a bit next Monday. Be prepared for something interesting.

Free Website and Social Media Feedback for Authors!

 I always get people coming up to me, wanting me to take a look at their webpage, their blog, their facebook group… In the comments below, post links to the social media or website pages that you want some feedback on.

Hey! Great opportunity for you authors out there!

Make Your Stress Work for You

 Simply telling ourselves that our stress is good for us can change our state of mind and our performance. I wonder how we could change our day-to-day experience by applying this in our lives.

Some really great tips on how to use stress to your advantage.

Posted in Articles
Tags: Amanda Luedeke, articles, author, Monday, opportunity, Rachelle Gardner, stress, writing

Well, I’m trying out yet another thing here. While writing I normally listen to music and occasionally I find some really great music to write by! On those occasions, I plan on sharing that music with you. Right here! In a post on my blog. To start things off I’m currently listening to:

The Eldar Scrolls IV: Oblivion OST

You can find the songs on Youtube or for purchase on DirectSong.

Instrumental and atmospheric, not quite like TSfH. This is game music and has to adapt to the player’s environment and choices, there is variety and having played the game I found the return to the audio or the world quite enjoyable (without it affecting my focus).

Next week’s Wednesday post: 25 Things Writers Need to START Doing!

Posted in Music, Writing in General
Tags: music, tips, writing

Eon is the apprentice of Dragonmaster Tozay and one of twelve other boys who will be competing for selection by the Rat Dragon. The only things is, Eon isn’t a boy. Eon is really Eona, an orphan chosen by Master Tozay because of her strange power known as the dragon sight; the ability to see any of the eleven elemental dragons. The year of the Rat Dragon approaches, but a childhood injury to her leg continues to hang over Eon as an imposing obstacle. Barely able to perform the traditional sword dance, her chance of selection is small compared to the other apprentices.

But failure isn’t in Eon’s future. This year’s selection ceremony is brimming with changes, the greatest of which applies to Eon. Though the dragon cycle happens every twelve years, it has been centuries since the Dragon Dragon, the Mirror Dragon, has been seen. Eon changes that. Chosen by the Mirror Dragon makes Eon the coascendant to the Rat Dragon, the Mirror Dragoneye, and a guest of the palace. All of which place her in a dangerous position. For, while trying to discover what she can about her dragon, Eon must continue her charade as a boy and choose a side in a battle for the throne of the empire.

Continue reading ‘Review – Eon: Dragoneye Reborn’

Posted in Books, Review
Tags: Alison Goodman, book, Dragoneye, Eon, Eona, review

Three part blog series today! Talking about book marketing, which I’m sure might be a welcomed topic to some people.

I’ve had several authors ask me about marketing their books recently. May I offer some thoughts?

Where do I start marketing my book? (part 1)

Where do I start marketing my book? (part 2)

Where do I start marketing my book? (part 3)

Posted in Articles
Tags: articles, book, marketing, Monday, publishing, writing

The true light. The false light. One loves, the other deceives. How do I know which is which? How do I know whom to trust? Shadows to the left, darkness to the right. The choice is up to me.

I’ve decided to dig up an old novella of mine. Some of you may recall A Simple Invitation and if you don’t, poke me. I’d really like to start and finish it sometime this year.

Next week’s Wednesday post: Review – Eon

Posted in Short Stories, Writing in General
Tags: 50 words, character, character development, Nykaela, story development, writing

Classes start today!

I’ve returned to school for the year and the days leading up to this transition were filled with apprehension, glee and confusion. It was amid the eve of school that I was up late one night chatting with a good friend of mine (BushMaid). I was babbling the reasoning for my apprehension to her (to which to listened with great patience), getting totally lost in my fear and worry towards the coming months. Busheh was quite firm in making me promise not to let my fears get the best of me and, in my natural quirkiness, I replied, as the title of this post says, that:

 This year will be cupcakes!

Now, my reply was made with some haste (I did give thought to my words before hitting enter). Needless to say, at that point the year seemed far from being cupcakes… whatever in the world I meant by that! Now that I’ve been able to give my response some pondering, I’ve come to realize what I (subconsciously) meant by cupcakes.

Cakes (birthday, wedding or cheese) are known to be delicious, decedent, treats. They happen all at once, with left overs occasionally happening, but they come only on occasion, once a year or even once in a lifetime (depending on the type of cake). They tend to be reserved for a single special event and must be cut to pieces in order to be shared. Cupcakes, on the other hand, are small, delightfully pleasing bits of tastiness. They come in smaller packages, need no special reason to be made, and come prepackaged to be individually gifted!

This year, instead of having one wonderfully beautiful event happen and having to divide it up between the rest of the year, I want to have a marvelous collection of smaller events that, though they may be tiny in comparison, will be pleasing spread out. Huge events are awesome! And I am willing to welcome them as they come, but cupcakes come more often and are just as pleasing (without having to stuff yourself).

I can imagine that this post will give a author friend of mine a few more reasons to spread her digital cupcakes across the internet. There is no wrong time or place for cupcakes, they’re cute little things!

Posted in Beginning
Tags: CUPCAKES, RSS, school

Hehey! Today you finally get one article! ….in four parts! Got you didn’t I? Today I bring you a collection of four consecutive posts on promoting yourself at a conference.

We’re all at RWA this week, and if you’ve never been to a BIG conference, then do yourself a favor and sign up for one. Lots of great information, lots of big-name authors, lots of agents, editors and aspiring writers.

Promoting Yourself At A Conference: Part 1

Promoting Yourself At A Conference: Part 2

Promoting Yourself At A Conference: Part 3

Promoting Yourself At A Conference: Part 4

Posted in Articles
Tags: Amanda Luedeke, articles, conferences, Monday, promotion, writing