Cynthia D. Griffin

Book Review: The Charmed Locket by Elina Vale

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

The Charmed Locket by Elina Vale Book One of The Treasure Hunter’s Heart is now available on kindle.

Elina Vale contacted me through this blog, asking if I would read and review her upcoming novel. I was happy to do so. I’m so glad I did, because I discovered a really lovely story.

This story follows the life of Gina Mansfred, a merchant’s daughter by day, and a thief named Lily by night. She’s struggling to find her place in a man’s world, as she decides where her heart is leading her. She feels obligated to continue the family business as a merchant, but during one of her nightly escapades, a mysterious locket lands in her possession that leaves her unsettled.

Gina’s life becomes even more complicated when she suffers a terrible loss that has her traveling across the sea to visit a family relative for answers about what she should do next. During her travels, she meets a mysterious man she can’t stop thinking about, and who leads her into dangerous waters. She also runs across alarming secrets connected to the locket that sends her world into further chaos.

The Charmed Locket kept me on the edge of the seat almost the entire read (I finished the novel in two days). Elina Vale does a great job in plunging the reader into external and internal conflict that keeps the reader hooked. If you love adventure and romance with a twist of darkness, then this book is definitely for you!

This is the first book in The Treasure Hunter’s Heart series. There is a prequel novella called FireHeart available now, and the second book of the series Hidden Truths is available for preorder.

A Writer's Life, better life, better writing, creativity, inspiration, The Writer's Toolbox, writing, writing better

A New Way of Writing: The Magic of Inspired Action

Posted on November 7, 2019November 7, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

Have you ever been here? You look at your desk, and it’s piled high with unfinished projects. You also have a notebook of projects ideas you haven’t even started, but really want to. But the frustration eating at you to complete something doesn’t really give you freedom to tackle… One. More. Thing. *heavy sigh*

That’s how I used to be, until recently. Not that long ago, I realized something. I realized I had other loves other than writing. And that I worked better when I wasn’t solely focused just on writing. Instead of being stuck with one project, and only that project until it was completed, I began to mix things up.

One day, I’d work on book cover art. Another day, I might edit. And maybe a few days, I’d actually sit down to write. Some days, I even managed to do a little of everything. It’s a far cry from the old days.

I remember the days when I would work on my novel Blood Feud for weeks, months at a time, and I would not allow myself to do anything else. If I was writing, that was what I would work on, even if I didn’t feel like it. I eventually finished the book by sheer will alone, but I was exhausted and completely burned myself out of writing for a long time. Getting that book completed and published was not worth the price I paid.

Now, many writers say that’s how you get novels written. You put your butt in the seat, and you write, even if you don’t feel like it. And yes, eventually the faucet does turn on, but it feels like pulling teeth to get there. It’s damn uncomfortable, and for me, not productive considering how much time I spent just trying get myself in the mindset to write.

I have found a better way. It’s by working through inspired action. I don’t act, until I feel inspired to act. In working this way, my productivity has sky rocketed.

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book cover design, ebook

Now Available: Full Book Cover and eBook Design Services

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

I have been wanting to expand into book cover designing for awhile. I have enjoyed making my own book covers, and helping friends with their designs over the years. Now I am offering these services to any who want them.

Recently, I sat down and came up with four cover design packages that I think will fit a variety of cover needs, but I am also open to customizing depending on a clients needs. Here are the four packages.

eBook Cover Only Designs

Basic eBook Cover (regular price $30/sale price $15)

This package includes…

front ebook cover design
1 revision
2 source files

An extra $10 for each image if customer does not supply images for designs.

Basic eBook Cover with 3D Mock-up (regular price $60/sale price $40)

This package includes…

front ebook cover design
2 revisions
1 style variation
3D mockup
3 source files

An extra $10 for each image if customer does not supply images for designs.

Full Cover plus eBook Cover Designs and More

Full Book Cover w/ 3D Mock-up (regular price $200/ sale price $125)

This package includes…

full cover design (front, back, and spine)
ebook cover
3 revisions
1 style variation
up to 2 3D mockups (1 book cover, 1 ebook cover)
2 images supplied for design included in pricing
up to 3 source files for each design

Full Book Cover w/ 3D Mock-up & Banner Ad (regular price $400/ sale price $275)

This package includes…

full cover design (front, back, and spine)
ebook cover
3 revisions
2 style variations
up to 2 3D mockups (1 book cover, 1 ebook cover)
Banner Ad (up to 2 different sizes)
Up to 2 images supplied for designs is included in pricing
up to 3 source files for each design

If you don’t see a package that fits your needs and wish to customize your order, please contact me and we can work out a specialized package for you.

Each package is on sale until the end of November.

Click on link to package to see sample of my work.

If you aren’t completely satisfied with your final cover design, I will refund the entire amount of package price back to you. My goal is to help provide a valuable and needed service, while doing something I love. Let’s get started on making a cover you are excited about!

Boosting Creativity, creative writing, The Writer's Toolbox, writing, writing exercise, writing practice, writing prompt

Writing Prompts: Daily Writing Prompt App

Posted on October 29, 2019November 7, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

Recently, I decided to start doing daily writing prompts to get my creativity moving a little more fluidly. I have two apps I’ve been using specifically for this. Both have been useful in their own way, but today I want to talk about the Daily Writing Prompt App.

I have been using this for the last week, and I’ve really been enjoying it. This app has a new writing prompt every 24 hours. Sometimes it will have pictures, a list of words, or an idea as a prompt. It’s always fun to see what they have, and within a few moments it sparks an idea, and I’m writing!

I really look forward to doing these prompts each day, because I’m usually pleasantly surprised with what I come up with. And it’s just a great way to have fun writing. I sometimes get a little too “serious” with my writing. I put so many obligations on myself that it’s fun to make a connection with a carefree approach.

This app is available for iphones. You can do a search for writing prompts, and it will come up. This is a free app. It doesn’t have the best reviews, but that’s because many people would like to go back and edit (which it doesn’t have an option for). I personally don’t mind. I believe these quick prompts are for spurring creativity, not perfecting editing skills. In fact, I like the idea of not being able to edit. It leaves me free to create, and that’s it.

Want to give one of the writing prompts a try? This is the first prompt I did. I only spent about 20 minutes on this so ignore any “issues” it might have. Anyways, this prompt was submitted by Libby Anderson (which––by the way–– you can also submit your own writing prompts too). Here it goes…

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book review, ebook, read, reading

Book Review: The Goddess’s Choice by Jamie Marchant

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

The Goddess’s Choice: Book 1 of the Khronicles of Korthlundia by Jamie Marchant is available in paperback and on kindle.

I really fell in love with the characters in this book. I loved the main characters from start to finish, and I even liked a lot of the secondary characters as well. It is obvious that Marchant spent lot of time developing and molding people the reader can get deeply invested in. The other remarkable thing was that her book has a very large cast of characters, and she switches back and forth between them quite a bit. But Marchant does it in a way that is understandable and at just the right times.

This is a story of magic, legend, love, and lust of power. It follows the main characters of Korthlundia’s Crown Princess Samantha, and Robbie, a peasant farmer’s son with the magical power of healing. The Princess struggles against power hungry nobles who want to marry her and become her consort and the new king. Meanwhile, Robbie deals with persecution from his own people for being considered a demon because of his magic and skin color.

The danger at the palace increases as Samantha’s father, the king , becomes ill. And Robbie learns of a mysterious destiny he must fulfill while also learning more about his vast healing abilities. The two major story arcs are masterfully woven together to create a rich and unforgettable story.

If you love adventure, magic, love stories, and fantasies this book is for you. There’s a lot of action and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is the first book in a series of four. I really look forward the reading the next book The Soul Stone.