Tag: publication

Posted in inspiration, inspirational, publication, published

A Writer’s Wings Book Release!

Posted on by Cynthia D. Griffin

A Writer’s Wings is finally published! This book took awhile for me to put together and edit. Even though I mostly copied entires over from a journal I kept for years, the formatting and editing process took a long time to complete as I had a lot of upheaval in my life while attempting to finish this project. So I am glad and proud that this particular journey is over and I can release it into the world.

While I understand that this kind of book may not appeal to some people, I found it important to put down my story to show as an example of how incredibly important journaling can be to move a person forward in their personal growth. People ask me all the time about journaling and how to do it. Well, this book is the best example I can give.

If you’ve been wanting to journal and didn’t know how to start, then read this book. If you are journaling and want a reminder of why to keep journaling, then read this book. If you are simply curious about me and my life, then read this book.

Here’s the book blurb…

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Posted in publication, published, writing

Bella’s Adventures The Big Move Book Release!

Posted on by Cynthia D. Griffin

I am incredibly happy and proud to announce Endless Journeys’ first publication, as well as my eleven-year old son’s first published book. Caleb has been working very hard the last few months on writing Bella’s Adventures The Big Move as part of a homeschool project. He decided in late 2018 that he wanted to complete The Big Move, and go through the many tedious steps of publication. This is his final product.

This book takes place from our dog’s Bella’s point of view…

Bella is having a dream about being the superhero Speed Dog, when she is suddenly awaken by her Pack. They are acting super strange, and little does Bella know she is about to take a real life adventure of her own!

Learn more about Caleb in the interview below…

Q: What made you choose to write this particular story?

A: Well, I did the cover as a project for Homeschool, and I wanted to make a story for the cover, so I did.

Q: Why from your dog’s point of view?

A: I love my dog lots and lots, and I love making short stories about her. I like being challenged by doing a book by someone else’s point of view, because it stimulates my mind into thinking different ways.

Q: What is your most favorite thing to do with Bella?

A: Play with her. I love to see her running around, smiling, and being all happy-doggie. It makes me love her even more than I already do.

Q: What’s the funniest memory you have of Bella?

A: She’s done so many funny things while she’s been with us; it’s hard to choose!

Q: What sort of things do you like to write about?

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Posted in Blood Feud, Emperors of Ethia, Other Writing Stuff, The Writer's Toolbox, the writing journey, the writing process, write, writing

My NOT Marketing Plan

Posted on by Cynthia D. Griffin

I know I’m not the only one who can claim to have a very busy life. Everyone is busy these days. No one has time for any extras, and it’s just plan impossible to squeeze in time for things you really, really don’t want to do. I wear many hats as a wife, mom, homeschool teacher, friend, Reiki healer, writer, sometimes employee, and a very sometimes blogger. Lately, I’ve added another job as packer and mover with our family’s relocation to Florida in the next few weeks. I really don’t have time for anything extra, especially for something I don’t want to do and something that’s most assuredly going to add more stress to an already stress-filled life.

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog, you know I recently published my first novel last month. Most writers would be marketing their little hearts out and plastering the internet and anything else they can think of to get the word out about their new book! And why shouldn’t they? It was hard work and it’s time to reap the benefits. But I’m not like most people, I already got the “benefit” out of writing my book. I finished a really hard and tough project (well the first book of it anyways) and damn if that didn’t feel freaking awesome! If I actually sell some copies here and there… bonus!

But I did not become a writer to make money, and I do not and will not get to a point where I rely on book sales to supplement my income (that’s what my hard working husband is for–– love you Hun!). If I need money, I’ll find some other way to acquire it. That being said, it would be really, super awesome to at least earn back my investment in self-publishing my book, and I certainly appreciate anyone who has helped and will help to contribute to that goal!

I know there are a lot of hard working writers out there who do rely on writing as an income and my hat is off to them, but partway through my writing “career” I realized that’s not for me. I can’t write that way. I have to be one hundred percent free to be me when it comes to my writing and that means not limiting myself in anyway or stressing myself out over something I don’t want to do. And marketing is something I most certainly do not want to do.

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Posted in anthology, anthology project, short stories, short story

Apple Bites Anthology Cover Reveal!

Posted on by Cynthia D. Griffin

Well, you’ve heard me talking about it for a few months, now the time is close for when a super awesome anthology I’ve been working on with Denise Wyant is almost here. These short eight stories are filled with back to school romances (only adults are allowed folks!) ranging from male/male romances to regular female/male (me, me, I did one of those!), and it’s brimming with hot steamy relationships that leave you panting for more. I know it’s not my normal science fiction or speculative fiction, but sometimes you just got to do something fun and writing Gatekeeper was a whole lot of fun.

But I didn’t just stop at contributing a story to this anthology. On no. I also did all the graphics as well, including a teaser, an advertisement, and this super awesome cover that’s coming up. Did I mention I do graphic designing on the side (the way side folks because writing is my true passion)? But what can I say, I like to mix things up, because just writing can get a little boring sometimes (come on you know it can!). lol…

Anyways, if you like a good juicy romance (or eight of them). Look for Apple Bites coming up on August 25th. And without any other annoying delays (or words in parenthesis), here is my super awesome cover (because let’s face it black and white is totally super cool and sexy half naked guys is always an awesome thing.. and ha ha I lied about the words in parenthesis part).

Drum roll please!

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Posted in book publishers, first publication, getting published, Jane Friedman, novel writing, Other Writing Stuff, publisher, publishers, publishing, The Writer's Toolbox, writing advice, writing books, writing workshop

Novel Submission Part 1: The Query Package

Posted on by Cynthia D. Griffin

Untitled-2After many years, my novel is finally done, now comes the hardest part yet… it’s time to submit it. I have to admit, I’d rather write another entire novel from scratch then do what comes next, but paraphrasing Theodore Roosevelt, “anything worthwhile never comes easy.”

This summer I’ve been taking the first steps in getting my novel ready for submission by writing a cover letter (or sometimes called a query letter) and a handful of synopses (because it’s not good enough to have just one synopsis, but that’s another post!).

The first step I took in writing the cover letter and synopsis was to do research and see how the professionals were doing it. And I was also lucky enough to take a workshop about cover letters and synopses from science fiction author Gray A. Braunbeck last September. After a frustrating search, I finally managed to find my notes from his workshop. Yay!

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