It is my extreme pleasure to have Rachel Thompson, author of the bestselling Broken books, as a guest blogger. Rachel and I have many things in common. We are both authors (duh), both geek girls, and both advocates for women. Rachel is a voice of reason and intelligence when it comes to advocating. This piece is a great example of that. In this post, Rachel takes on the unenviable challenge of discussing interruption and sexism, what it means and even why it happens. Please read carefully before commenting because commenting without reading is akin to interrupting. Interrupting, as Rachel will explain, is often sexist, and is definitely not sexy. This is the Reason Interrupting is SexistMe: I wanted to share this piece I just wrote and… Him: Oh, you know what you should say? You should discuss how I made that hilarious comment about the Kobayashi Maru. You know, about the no-win scenario. Me: Well, you don’t even know what I wrote, or if that’s even relevant... Him: Oh, well, go ahead. I just didn’t want to forget. It’s a great line. Marriage Interruptus. Twenty-two years of it. I saw the red flag of trouble when we dated but you know, love and shit. Somehow, the Kobyashi Maru ended up quite relevant after all. One of many reasons he’s now my ex-husband. A minor reason, to be honest, but one that, over time, was indicative of larger issues: inability to listen, disrespect for my abilities and thoughts, money issues. Typical reasons marriages die. Nothing sexist about that…or was it? Sometimes it felt that way. Is Interrupting Sexist?Is the act of men interrupting women truly about sexism? Is that a stretch? If you’re a man, you might think so because it’s likely because you’ve been conditioned to talk over women, and probably haven’t given it a second thought. Or maybe you’re thinking, “Well, women interrupt, too!” And you’d be right. We do. Humans interrupt one another. But, at the same ratio in the same situations? Think about this: have you been on the receiving end of constantly being interrupted and mansplained to? Perhaps you have, in a work situation. If you’re in a position of leadership, you are likely used to people (male and female) deferring to your voice over theirs as a way to assert your power. In other words, you might interrupt and not even know you’re doing it. But we know. Is Interrupting About Mansplaining?Some would argue that my ex was unknowingly mired in ‘mansplaining’ mode (defined by the brilliant Rebecca Solnit in her essay “Men Explain Things To Me,” as that “intersection between overconfidence and cluelessness where some portion of that gender gets stuck”), and I wouldn’t disagree. I don’t believe my ex intended to be manipulative or hurtful – I believe he simply felt his opinion mattered more than mine in a way that (many, but not all) men do. In my corporate life, I had many male managers who constantly interrupted both the men and women they managed. It was the norm. The man I’m with now is interruption avoidant to the extreme – it’s something we’re working on with me and with my kids – we’ve all learned to interrupt, I believe, as a coping mechanism, as a way to be heard. This breaks my heart a little. Examples of Conversation Interruptus Two recent examples come to mind of egregious conversation interruptus: Kanye West and Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs, the video which has now been viewed almost 29,000,000 times as of this writing. West ran onstage, grabbed the mic and said, “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’mma let you finish but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!” In his shockingly inappropriate fit of interrupting and ultimately, condescending mansplaining, it’s obvious Kanye was not happy for her. Even Beyoncé looked mortified. Another example is the recent first Presidential debate in late-September of this year. According to Vox.com, Trump interrupted Clinton 51 times during the debate, often with “petulant asides” while she spoke, such as “Not,” or “Wrong.” Clinton, on the other hand, interrupted Trump 17 times, often patiently waiting for him to finish his interruptions so she could continue her allotted time. Politics aside, because that is decidedly not the goal of this article, it’s interesting to note that Twitter exploded with women who related to being in that same position as Clinton (albeit in work situations). Key Interruption FactsLet’s take a look at these studies and facts (Source: Bitch Media):
“Men don’t just talk more in face-to-face conversations, but in our media conversations. According to a 2012 study by the OpEd Project, women write 20 percent of traditional opinion pieces, 33 percent of online opinion pieces, and 38 percent of college newspaper opinion pieces. Bylines on literary reviews and creative nonfiction also skew male, according to the annual VIDA count. And when it comes to coverage of politics, a 4th Estate analysis of 2012 election coverage showed women were vastly underquoted.” On Twitter, men are retweeted more often than women. This is from a 2012 study, so I’d love to see updated numbers, but it is interesting to note that the majority of Twitter users are women, yet men are retweeted more often Interruptus ResolutionsHow do we solve this disease of interruptus? Because it is a dis-ease, isn’t it? When we, at the receiving end are interrupted, we are not at ease; conversations become stilted, uncomfortable and awkward. Feelings are hurt, whether it’s in a personal or business situation. Do women need to be more like men? Do men need to be more like women? That’s not likely to happen on a grand behavioral scale, particularly if the perpetrators of the behavior are unaccepting that it exists (most men don’t believe sexism is real, but that’s an entirely different conversation for another day), or are unaware they are even behaving in this manner. So, what’s the answer? Maybe we need to meet somewhere in the middle. Noted feminist Soraya Chemaly believes women need to stop men from talking over us through the use of these ten little words every girl should learn:
Chemaly explains that girls are taught to be overly polite and active listeners in conversations, but men are not taught to socialize this way. As the parent of both a boy (age 11) and a girl (age 17), I’ve become very conscious of these words in dealing with men, and in teaching them to my children as well, because we all deserve to be heard. Or, perhaps, it’s not about interrupting so much as it is more about learning to listen, regardless of gender or role. According to mega-successful businessman, author, job placement expert, and millionaire Cash Nickerson (who is a heck of a nice guy), listening is a martial art. “Never, ever interrupt someone. It is the cardinal sin of listening.” I believe the resolution is pretty simple: it comes down to respect. Whether you are aware of it or not, reading non-verbal clues during conversations doesn’t take a genius. Clue in. Your voice is not the only voice. Interrupting someone is rude and it blocks effective communication. So, make a conscious choice and stop interrupting.
If you respect the people you are with, take the time to listen to them. Talking over someone is a true sign of disrespect, doesn’t win you any points in the Relationship Department, and ultimately, is a true no-win scenario. About Rachel ThompsonRachel Thompson is represented by literary agent Lisa Hagan, and is published by ShadowTeamsNYC. She is the author of the award-winning, bestselling Broken Places (one of IndieReader’s “Best of 2015” top books and 2015 Honorable Mention Winner in both the Los Angeles and the San Francisco Book Festivals), and the bestselling, multi award-winning Broken Pieces (as well as two additional humor books,A Walk In The Snark and Mancode: Exposed). Rachel’s work is also featured in several anthologies (see Books for details). She owns BadRedhead Media, creating effective social media and book marketing campaigns for authors. Her articles appear regularly in The Huffington Post,The San Francisco Book Review (BadRedhead Says…), Feminine Collective, IndieReader.com, 12Most.com, bitrebels.com, BookPromotion.com, and Self-Publishers Monthly, Not just an advocate for sexual abuse survivors, Rachel is the creator and founder of the hashtag phenomenon #MondayBlogs and the live weekly Twitter chats, #SexAbuseChat, co-hosted with certified therapist/survivor, Bobbi Parish (Tuesdays, 6pm PST/9pm EST), and#BookMarketingChat, co-hosted with author assistant Melissa Flickinger (Wednesdays, 6pm PST/9pm EST). She hates walks in the rain, running out of coffee, and coconut. She lives in California with her family. Connect with RachelAuthor Site: rachelintheoc.com
BadRedhead Media Site: badredheadmedia.com Twitter: @RachelintheOC Twitter (Business): @BadRedheadMedia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRachelThompson Facebook (Business): https://www.facebook.com/BadRedheadMedia Google+: https://plus.google.com/+RachelThompson/ Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/rachelintheoc/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachelintheoc/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rachel-thompson/24/784/b95
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Are we supposed to hibernate? Is there a long restful piece of my soul waiting to be abated? Does it attack my head and make me snap because I do not answer it? The leaves are sleeping, my chickens are fat--nestling close and clucking less. Should I grow fat and hide in the folds of my blankets? I'm half-way there. I raked the leaves and cleaned the last of summer from my lawn in the soon to be fading sun. I saw all I did not do laid out in the empty spaces of thicket. I meant to clear that brush and make a fenced area, for a reason my brain does not yet know. I meant to. I did not. Summer was time for moving and grieving and playing and growing and gathering and walking until I ached. I could make and create and clear all autumn and winter, through the death and decay and dismal dripping rain. But my mind won't want to. It will want to stay. Drink tea. Eat scones. Write, edit, write, edit, write. So I guess that's it. That's my hibernation. The time for work of the soul and mind. But we who can take the time are lucky. Many persons never rest, either their body or mind work through the fog of chilled days and frigid nights. They duck under the rain on the way to that office or to fix that drain. They wonder, through and past and under the gloom, if they were meant to hibernate. And their bones and brains ache to stop and stare and warm next to a roaring blaze. And I think...yes we are meant to hibernate. Sort of. You were meant to rest. Mind, body and soul need a deep sleep, uninterrupted by the race we put ourselves through. Rats in an never ending maze. We have become too busy to be well. And everyone wants to tell us what we should be doing. Here's my advice for you: take this autumn, this bleak and chilled winter: rest. Watch snow fall out your window. Sit with a steaming cup in gloved hands under the turning trees. And don't worry, for a time, about what others want you to be. I've been writing, lately, but it's been a lot less blogging/marketing oriented and more short stories/poetry. My writing moods vary depending on my life situation, as is the case with most writers. And lately, I've been extremely uninterested in blogging. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike writing blogs, but I often do it as a "reach out" exercise. I am reaching out to potential readers, geeks and friends when I blog. And that drive has somewhat diminished lately.
I know why. It's not a mystery why the untimely and too early death of my brother-in-law would remind me of the early death of my father when I was still a young adult and the importance of appreciating the little moments. The moments that are easy to dismiss because of their ordinariness...the moments that I sometimes push away, attempting to make a name for me. But what's a name worth? I'm not sure. I've been taking time, lately, to walk with friends, talk with family, and be with my kids. I've been writing, too, because I love to write. I've been writing shorts and portions of my novel, things that tap into my creativity and intense feelings more than the non-fictional writing I do when I blog. My blogging taps into these things, too, but it's more intentional, I suppose. This week I interviewed for a job. "But H.M.," you say, "your job is writing!" Writing can be a full-time job and is sometimes lucrative. However, I'm learning that is less and less the case for so many writers, even ones signing with big companies and agents. That might make some writers angry. At best, I'm apathetic. I don't want to be famous, a household name. I love writing when I write. I enjoy interacting with a small fan base. I won't mind if people start buying my work more often and I make more money, but I don't depend on it, and I'm feeling the need to exercise my other skills and do something that actually makes money. I know, at one time, I had big aspirations of signing with this and that company, but I'm finding that the reality is that any job has problems. The downfall of full-time writing is a span of time when you make nothing and hear "no" more often than "yes." That's fine. I'm not giving up. I am just less concerned about it happening right away or even at all. I enjoy writing. I enjoy my readers and my fellow writers. I am concentrating on enjoying the process and practicing it as often as I can. I hope it pays off tangibly. It does not do so right now, and, alas, I want a job that does. We all know that story. So, I'm applying for jobs, and I think I'll be offered one. My kids are back to school and I'm looking to have a resume of experience working jobs with moving people and not characters in my brain. Mostly, I'm missing my children. I'm longing for the end of school at the beginning of the school year like most parents are longing for the end of the summer and celebrating with pumpkin lattes. But I'm not. The more people I lose in life, the less I think life is about what I'm doing, the recognition I get from it and the paycheck that comes in. I'm realistic. I need to make money. But I'm not eager for the time away from my kids. I thought I would be. I never wanted to be a mother until I was, and then I wasn't great at it right away. But I am good at it now. And I'm aware, more every day, with every wrinkle and ache that sneaks up on my still young body, that I have a very limited time with them, with everyone. All this makes me cast my net closer to home. Accepting a job makes me nervous and worried, though I think it's the right choice to try something new, something that will lend itself to personal advancement. But it makes me sad, like I'm sad when my kids want to hang out for just an hour more, but we have to get them to school and I'm left too saddened by the reality of their aging to even want to write. I'm in one of those writing moods that makes it difficult to write lucratively. I am writing for me. Not for an audience. It's selfish, sure, but sometimes necessary. I am seeing the span of my life in years and it seems so short. I am watching my children get taller every day and the "jobs" I do feel so much less fulfilling. I used to think that my life would not be as full if I didn't achieve this or that position. Now...I'm not so sure. My revelations aren't new, they're just where I'm at. I'm not offering advice or asking people unlike me to find solace in the same things I find solace in. This is a selfish post. And perhaps an explanation for my lack of geeky gusto in writing. I am taking some time to experience the life I have and not worry about what I don't have. I hope my readers will excuse this contemplative and perhaps sad little post. I hope they will be patient with me when my writing lags. If they aren't, I have other things that bring me joy. Disclaimer: Not all these books are recent. They are just recent for me. I read them this year, so they are on my 2016 list. Enjoy. Ghostly Echoes, William Ritter, Pub. 2016 Algonquin Press I was lucky enough to get a pre-release copy of this book, when I went to visit Mr. Ritter at Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo, WA. Other local authors Megan Chance and Suzanne Selfors were also present, which was a nice surprise. Ritters is a humble being, personable and very talented. His books are riveting, fast paced and inclusive. While the main characters are, in many ways, privileged, there is an entire cast of characters, especially in this last book, that is diverse and well developed. This book is part fantasy, part historical fiction, part Sherlock Holmes mystery and all parts awesome. Ritter has a way of keeping you guessing until the end, writing important truths while also entertaining, and a way with re-creating old tropes in a new and interesting way. If you haven't picked these books up yet, get on it. You'll be up all night cursing me. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, J.K. Rowling, 2016 Speaking of cursing, there's been a lot of complaints about this book from big fans. I'm a big fan of the HP books, so let me give my two cents. I liked it as a screenplay. I thought the idea behind what would happen if the time turner ended up in less responsible hands was awesome and answered a lot of issues people had with HP 4 (though that's my favorite book, actually). I liked the ways in which I could picture what was happening if I were to go the play. As a thespian, I could really see the play coming to life in a touching, magical way. I didn't love it, as much, as a book. I kinda hope it gets turned into a longer, more detailed book. There were a lot of points in which I wanted more, a fuller HP novel with the silly jokes, intriguing magic (which inevitably fails), and the detail of feeling. I think this had all those things, just on a smaller scale. So, yes, read it. Expect a play, not a book, and you'll be very happy. It was a good story with some of my favorite characters, and I liked that we got to see them more grown up. I enjoyed the new characters and was very touched by the sneak peeks I got of those characters who passed. There was a lot of nostalgia and character development that I enjoyed. A must read. The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern, 2011 Yes, I just got around to reading this at the beginning of the year. You may kick me. Truly. I wish I had read it sooner. This book is magical without being too high fantasy. It has a realistic historical feel without being historical fiction. It's a game and love story and traveling show all in one and I adore everything about it. The magic was breathtaking, the circus was otherworldly and the story was very real, emotionally raw and beautiful. If you haven't yet read this, allow me to kick you. It is one of my all time favorite books now. If I could sink into any world, I'd loop a red scarf around my neck and follow the Night Circus wherever it went. Spaced Out, Stuart Gibbs, 2016 This book, like those that came before it, is hilarious. I truly love the voice of the protag, who is realistically a bored young boy stuck in the most stifling environment you can imagine. Gibbs does such a wonderful job really laying out the pitfalls and joys of life on the moon. And, as the protag will tell you, there's more to hate about living on the moon than there is to like. From the crap food to the crap company to the seriously strange mystery that must be solved, this book is one of the most entertaining reads of 2016. If you like a little intrigue, mystery and science, splashed with space humor, this book is a no-brainer. The Marvels, Brian Selznick, 2016 Excuse me while I blow my nose and wipe the tears from my eyes. Be ready to be moved by the beautiful, old-world meets new world art and the phenomenal text of Selznick's latest work. I adored Hugo Cabret, loved Wonder Struck, but my favorite book of his is now The Marvels. If you are a lover of antiques, the stories they might tell, the craftsmanship and wonder of them, read this book. You'll put the book down and immediately want to throw off your ties to this time. Or maybe you'll immediately want to tell a story, a story that's not quite true and not quite fiction, a story that heals. Perhaps you'll remember your days acting and think, "I never felt more alive than when I was acting out another life." I felt all those things and more. This story healed me. It made me appreciate life and love and family in a way I can't explain. One of the best books I've read, ever. Pick it up. A Spell in the Country, Morgan Smith, 2015 This book is part military fantasy and part magical scare the shit out of you fantasy. Seriously, this book gave me chills in the way only Goosebumps did for me as a kid. Had some super cool spooky elements that were extremely surprising, especially coming from an otherwise high fantasy book. I really appreciated the protag. She is who she is; strong, smart and socially awkward, and extremely adept at military planning and intrigue. She's the complex kind of heroine that every person needs to read, and will love immediately after so doing. The characters are interesting and well developed and the plot knocked my sock off. Did I mention it was nominated for a Hugo? Pretty cool, huh? It is. Go buy it with your monies. The Golem and the Jinni, Helene Wecker, 2013 Really, Jones, it took you three years to find this gem? Shut it! I'm busy. But find it I did, much to my great amusement. This book has a very historical fiction feel to it. In fact, Wecker goes out of her way to re-create an authentic old-world America setting with accurate details. So it's historical fantasy, which is a combination I love. We get to see the life of immigrants in more than one way--through some of the main Jewish characters and through the fantastical immigrants, Jinni and the Golem. And it's a delightful, feeling, wondrous journey Wecker takes us on. The way she meshes fantasy and reality is so well done that she convinced me that the fantasy-like characters were just as believable as any of the other human immigrants in the book. This book delves into morality, what it is to be an American immigrant for humans and fantastical beings alike, and what it means to find your voice as a woman who was born with no say. The implications of the stories in Wecker's book go way beyond fantasy and touch at topics that are still important today. I love this well written, touching, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking book. Also, I wrote Wecker to tell her how much I loved it and she *happy giggle* wrote me back and told me to keep writing. I shall, Wecker, but I may never write a book like this one. Never Let Me Books, 1-3, Jennifer Brozek, 2015 I zoomed through the books as if they were air and I needed them to breathe. These are up until your eyes hurt types of books. They have a lot of action, a lot of "if I put this book down, I'm going to just be awake wondering what happened" moments. These are military/strategy books, sure, but I usually don't like that sort of book and I loved these. Because they are also a bit dystopian, a bit sci-fi, a bit fantasy, and a lot of awesome. The protag is a woman with mental health issues (yay! a protag who represents), who is dealing with them as best as possible while also trying to save the world. What would it be like if you were prone to hallucinations, and had to deal with things that are real but don't seem real? Read and find out. Truly, though, Brozek does a wonderful job merging several types of books I love to pick up into exciting, fast paced reads with a protag who is complex and different. The ways in which Brozek highlights the misgivings people with mental illness suffer while also creating a thrilling couple of books with great characters is wonderful. Great job, Brozek. Keep it up. Princess Academy Palace of Stone, Shannon Hale, 2012 I adored Princess Academy, the first book, but it's been a while since I've picked up Shannon Hale. My daughter, however, is very interested in princess books, so we listened to the first book last year. She loved the mental strength of Miri. The fact that she had power apart from being a princess (and is not sure she really wants to be a princess) was a perk for mom. So, we picked up the second book this year and: YES! This book has so many of the same wonderful characters as the first, with their singular identities and drives. It takes us from the "happily ever after" of the girls, including the princess to be, to "what actually happens after." And the way Hale takes us on a ride through a historical-like landscape of scandal and intrigue is magnificent. Miri's growth is astounding, the things she faces as a young adult are real and the story is important in the same way the first was important. It's important because it says, "These are the things young girls worry about on a small scale. And these are the things all humans have had to worry about since the dawn of time." Loved both of these books so much. Pick them up for your young readers. These are perfect reads for those who romanticize earlier times and politics. What would it really be like to be a princess people didn't want? Dangerous. Transmutations of Fire and Void, Matthew P Buscemi, 2016
This book is strange, witty, experimental and seriously compelling. The author takes you through shorts of every sort: sci-fi, fantastical and speculative. All of them have characters who are intriguing and realistic. The writing is beautiful at times, sarcastic at other times, but always smart, and often playful. I was sucked in with these short stories. The editing, the formatting, the cover and the content are top-notch. Pick up this book and read it. Then read it again. Buscemi is a treat; he is such a smart writer with strange and compelling stories to tell. I've been spending a lot of time writing short stories lately. I've had people ask me if I'm bothered that my short story work gets more attention than my novel writing (my more "serious" work, they say) and I'm often not sure how to answer that. Because I take my short stories pretty seriously. Actually, I write and publish more shorts than I do novels. I have some novels in the works right now, but they aren't what's paying the electric bill. Writing short stories is not just "practice" writing. I'm not sure when it came to be known as less difficult than novel writing. Sure, it's shorter, so it often takes less time in the long run. But making a story with full characters and a believable, intriguing plot is hard work. I've spent hours weeding out words, crafting one perfect sentence that will convey a great deal of meaning, motion or time. It's pretty hard to create a connection and convey backstory with one sentence. But some people do it. I'm learning to do it. And I find it more difficult than giving pages of backstory, being the loquacious woman I am. Try Googling macro stories. There are some phenomenal stories out there that are under 500 words. Some fall under 100. I have a hard time falling under 3,000, so I'm always really impressed by people who convey so much meaning in so little space. It is an art. But beyond the fact that I find short stories to be a good challenge and know them to be just as full and intriguing as novels, short stories seem to be growing in popularity for readers, as well. And since we're all writing hoping that our words will be read, having a readership for our literary pursuits is a big deal. Telegraph.co.uk explains, "Publishing wisdom says short-story collections don’t sell. But the prognosis is good. According to The Bookseller, the trade magazine of the publishing industry, short-story sales rose 35 per cent in 2013 – and that was before Saunders won the Folio." The site goes on to suggest that short stories are growing in popularity because modern attention spans are shorter and because shorts are the perfect size for our mobile devices and websites. Writer's Digest concurs saying, "Short stories are having a revival in the digital age. As book marketing guru Penny C. Sansevieri wrote in The Huffington Post, “Short is the new long. Thanks to consumers who want quick bites of information and things like Kindle Singles, consumers love short.” It seems the short story is back—on an iPhone near you." The focus is back on short stories for modern readers and many modern writers. And, honestly, even my novels are becoming more concise as I become a short story writer. Monochrome (due to be re-released in late August with Feminine Collective, as a 3rd edition) clocked in at a little over 300 pages, and most readers considered it a long read. That wasn't a complaint, just a statement. As a graduate student of English Literature, a long book was 1,000 pages, not 300. But readers seem to differ on that view. My follow up book to Monochrome will probably fall under 300. Not because I think 300 is long, but because I'm writing for an audience. And that audience seems to prefer brevity. Some writers will moan about the days when people read...I'm not going to do that. I think people are still reading; they are just reading differently. And, really, people read my novel, too. Probably because I don't release crap. My writing is solid, but it's not because I practice with short stories. It's because I challenge myself in all aspects of my writing (detail, characters, plot, setting, and length). I kind of love the short story trend. I remember being completely blown away by Hawthorne's short stories and being astounded that The Scarlet Letter was deemed his best work. Sherman Alexie is one of my favorite authors, and, in my opinion, his best work is in his short stories. Read The Toughest Indian in the World sometime. You're welcome in advance. Overall, short stories themselves aren't changing. The perception of the short story is. People are beginning to see it as the valid and moving form of art it's always been. And that makes this short story enthusiast pretty happy. Short Stories by H.M. Jones"The Light Storm of 2015" Masters of Time, Creative Alchemy "Tiptoe Through Time" HMJ Books To Be Released 2016/17: "Nessa, Iggy and the Murky Toilet Selfie" Untethered: A Magic iPhone Anthology, Cantina Publishing (pre-order available) "Gypsum Jane's Inkscapes" Unveiled: A Magical Realism Anthology, Creative Alchemy (October 2016) "Madame Tarragon" Chimeras & Phantasms, Fuzzy Hedgehog Press (late 2016; early 2017) Several Stories, Meanwhile in Washington..., Madame Geek Publications (late 2016) H.M. Jones is the author of the fantastical, the sardonic, and the severely moody. She's also responsible for the soon to be re-re-released dark fantasy, Monochrome, a B.R.A.G Medallion book and N.E.I.A 2016 finalist. A poet with a mood disorder, Jones' work can be best described as colorful. Google her *gently* or visit her website at www.hmjones.net. If you're at all cool, you're thinking what I'm thinking right now: that's an awesome cover. And you'd be right. Having worked with USA Today Best Selling Author Samantha LaFantasie, I can assure you that the insides match the out. She's a wonderful writer and true talent. Continue reading on, if this cover tickles your fancy: The Complete Nepherium Collection Made to Forget There’s something that lies within my memory. Hidden in the dark. Something that can kill me and those that I love. But I was in an accident, covered in mystery and deception. And my memory…was lost. There are those who want me to remember. I don’t trust them. And those I do trust…are fighting for me to forget. Elsabetha Ellery wants to get her memory back, even if it kills her. After waking up in a hospital with no memory, Elsabetha quickly learns those who claim to be her friend are anything but. And those who are her true friends keep themselves unseen. Stuck with piecing together her broken memories alone, Elsa struggles with having faith in those she trusts and heeding the warnings of the dangers in recovering her memory. Ignoring them, she faces heavy consequences. Ones she doesn’t see until it’s too late, and a life is lost. Echoes of Memories Traitor… Liar… That’s what they call me. No one believes me. Not even my team. I know it’s up to me to get the answers. To stop the corruption and unlock my memories. I’ll do anything to get them back. Even if my hands will be covered in blood. Elsa's every move is scrutinized. She’s labeled a traitor by those she sought for protection, and kept from her family and team. Regaining memories has been a slow process. Too slow for the Council's liking, taking matters into their own hands. The new captain has history with Elsa and operates with a hidden agenda. Even Elsa’s team reacts differently toward her. If only she could unlock her memories. Everything is playing right into Alexander's hand, even amassing an army with unconventional methods, designed to annihilate the Nepherium—starting with Noah. Elsa will do anything to stop Alexander ... even kill. Forced to Remember The weight of the world feels heavy on my shoulders. Desperation touches everything. Memories forgotten, truths untold. Humanity is threatened. Their safety granted in exchange for me. But I won’t go without fight. With strange occurrences taking place in the city, it’s up to Elsa and her team to discover why. But an odd encounter at an abandoned warehouse leaves the team with more questions than answers. Just when the team least expects it, Alexander returns, and he’s not alone or without demands: the world’s safety in exchange for Elsa. They have only one week to decide while the world falls under Alexander’s wrath and his powerful army of followers. Avalon seeks help from every Nepherium that can be spared and hope it will be enough to stop Alexander. Release Date July 31, 2016 Preorder Available July 12, 2016 – Kindle only http://amzn.to/1U6r89p About Samantha LaFantasie |
AuthorH.M Jones is the author of B.R.A.G Medallion Honor and NIEA finalist book Monochrome, its prequel Fade to Blue, the Adela Darken Graphic Novellas, Al Ravien's Night, The Immortals series, and several short stories. Archives
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