The Shaman's Beacon

Buy now at Red Sage Publishing

Yee-haw!
Announcing the release of The Shaman's Beacon, now on sale at Red Sage Publishing, available in ebook format for all electronic devices.

What's Inside
A high-heeled workaholic meets a cowboy while on vacation in Wyoming and learns that not only is her new boyfriend hairy behind the ears, he’s being hunted by werewolf trappers bent on turning him into a designer handbag and her into an accessory.

The Story Behind The Story
Clayton McIntyre was the answer to a burning question, “What would a loving and nurturing werewolf be like?” Male werewolves are generally violent, aggressive, and severe. Clayton is the antithesis of the stereotypical werewolf. Sure, he can be a mean hombre when provoked, but his good nature and gentle manner heals even the deepest wounds of the heart. That’s precisely what Linda needs. 

As a pack shaman, Clayton gets all the perks of being an alpha without the worries that come with it. That gives him the freedom to practice his craft unabated. He doesn’t limit his treatments to weres only. He reaches out to all with a level of humanity rarely seen in humans or immortals. That’s because he sees the best in people, especially the woman he loves. Things don’t generally faze him, except when Linda decides to take on the pack’s enemies. That brings out the wolf, which leads him to hurt her worse than anything anyone has ever done. It’ll take more than shamanic healing to get her to forgive him and even more to forgive himself. This book is about the healing power of love and what it takes inside each of us to find it.

Book Description
Linda Menendez vacations to Lander, Wyoming and meets Clayton McIntyre, a Texas cowboy who insists he’s a werewolf. He’s a shaman too, complete with a talisman. She ain’t buying it, until that woo-woo turns into whoa-whoa when she sees a wolf being skinned alive. And not just any old wolf, a werewolf. Despite the implications of that, she won’t sit idly by while their corpses are dumped around the small town in Wyoming she’s fallen in love with. She’ll fight back no matter what it takes, but Clayton doesn’t like that one bit. He’ll hog tie her to keep her safe. But then who will keep him safe? 

Clayton recognizes his true mate, Linda, the moment they meet. The picture she carries around is him in wolf form, though she refuses to believe it. He mates with her, bonding her to him, and takes her on a shamanic journey to help her accept who she is and the truth about him. But Linda is one very stubborn woman, especially when she decides to take on the pack’s enemies, including a militia led by a fanatic half-blood intent on skinning weres into extinction. No matter how much Clayton tries to convince her that she can trust him, the woman keeps putting herself in harm’s way. If he can’t get her to slow down she’ll end up in the scrap pile right along with him.

Have A Taste
Linda applied more raspberry lip gloss.

“Why you putting that junk on?” Clayton waited for her to catch up and put his arm around her.

She dropped the lip gloss back into her purse and snapped it closed. “Think of it as a deterrent.” After they crossed the side entrance a strong waft of dung hit her. She grimaced.

Her date, however, wasn’t fazed. He led her past several rodeo crews and asked, “You hinting that I’m a bad kisser?”

“God no!” That was a little louder than she was going for, enough to get the attention of some cowboys working with a bull. She leaned closer to Clayton. “You’re the reason mothers warn their daughters about men.”

He chuckled and took her hand.

Clayton led her past a group of men who were preparing a bareback bronc rigging on a palomino while the rider was securing his gripping glove before his ride. They stopped and the men shook his hand one by one. He introduced her to them as ‘my girl from Los Angeles.’ They all offered her a warm greeting. Clayton might as well have announced she was his wife the way they were so happy for him, as though she signified some important event in his life. They seemed to know something she didn’t and it was disconcerting.

An older Native American woman with a chambray button shirt called out his name from another chute. He turned and that brilliant smile spread over his face when he saw who it was. She gestured to Linda and spread her hands inquiringly. He drew Linda close to him and shouted, ‘my girl.’ Damn, he sounded so happy and proud.

Linda’s felt her cheeks flush when a few people turned to look at her. She elbowed him, which felt like hitting a brick wall.

Clayton bent down and gave her a kiss that nearly knocked her feet out from under her. 

The lip gloss was an absolute failure.

Want To Talk About It?

I'm all over the place, me, my shelf, and likes. I do occasionally enjoy a tweet and for you couch potatoes out there, I do have a boob-tube channel. So don't be shy! Let's chew the fat with Bubba for a while.


All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any portion of the work mentioned above from The Shaman's Beacon in any form whatsoever in any country whatsoever is forbidden.

Creating A Book Trailer: Introduction

Some of you might be wondering how I put my latest book trailer together. I work as a graphic artist in a civil engineering company, mostly doing layout and some minor special effects. So I have intermediate knowledge on Adobe products, enough to do color correction, enhancements, and illustrations. This made it much easier to learn other Adobe software, specifically Premier and After Effects.

I was first introduced to After Effects when I began making machinima videos like Edge of Remorse (still my favorite of all time), which led me to seek out tutorials on creating special effects. I found Video Copilot (VC) on the net and was wow'd (yes, pun intended) by their professional tutorials. I began acquiring their products over time, but eventually the day job took over my life and I had to put my dream of becoming the greatest machinima designer in the world  on hold.

Several years later, I realized I needed to create a book trailer for my upcoming releases. So I went back to VC's web site where I absorbed as much knowledge as I could. Eventually, I created the book trailer you see for The Shaman's Beacon. I still wish I could spend more time on it, but that wouldn't be practical. I'm no After Effects expert by any means, but I tried in my most limited way came up with a script, storyboard, and ultimately compiled the images and scenes until I could put it all together in Adobe Premier, where I added sound effects and a few additional musical tracks.

I can't teach you everything I've learned for the past five years, but you can learn them yourself at Andrew Kramer's website, which I highly recommend. His products are so popular they have been used in Star Trek, Transformers 3, music videos, and even in Terry Goodkind's promo materials (book trailers, etc.).

Below I've compiled some awesome samples and/or behind the scene documentaries to whet your appetite.

The following video is an excellent behind the scenes look at how VC put their Demon Orb product video together, including how they created the special effects. Great stuff!




After using VC's products for years and learning from his many tutorials I still have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. BUT, I know enough to be dangerous. If you haven't already, be sure to watch The Shaman's Beacon book trailer here.

There are many throughout the entertainment industry who use VC's products, including the folks that put together Terry Goodkind's latest book trailer, The Omen Machine. Take a look and those of you who are familiar with Andrew's work will see and hear it below.



Below includes music from VC's Pro Scores. Optical Flares was most likely used as well. Trapcode Particular was also used (the little floating particles) which add a very nice effect.



The big thing here is to try, try and retry until you get what you want. There are countless tutorials out there and you can even buy pre-made templates for After Effects (like from CreativeLabs). You do have to have After Effects, but once you do the sky is the limit. That's the hard part--What do you put in your trailer?

My next post will go over script writing and storyboarding.

The Books, the Web, and All Things In Between

I've got a few things to share with you all. First, I've finalized my book trailer. Take a look and be sure to "Like" the video if you enjoyed it.

The novel is due for release September 1, 2011. You can pre-order the book now here.



I also launched my new web site The Hen House. There you'll find what's coming and some quirky things about me. It's a work in progress and no doubt will grow as more books are published.

I'm currently working on the next novel, By Virtues' Design, that is due for release October 15, 2011. The book cover is done, which I will post soon.

AAAAAHHHHHH-dvertising

I have worked in marketing for over twenty years and I can tell you sometimes the hardest part is coming up with an idea that is fresh, out of the box, and downright fun. This little commercial has it all. Take a look. I guarantee you'll laugh.


Dirt Devil-The Exorcist from MrPrice2U on Vimeo.

Change Your World

I have been so fortunate to work with individuals who look out of the box for solutions and ideas that not only work in a professional environment, but are tools to change your life.

Below is a video from Nancy Duarte, the author of Slide:ology and Resonate, who presents her structure that some of the greatest communicators and persuaders employ to convey their ideas in a moving way. She explains why Martin Luther King's speech was so moving, how Steve Jobs can enthrall an audience.

Take a look for yourself and let me know what you think.



Nancy Duarte's talk at TEDx East from Duarte Design on Vimeo.

The Sink Will Guarantee A Rise

The Shaman's Beacon takes the protagonist, Linda, to this wonderous place. This clip only gives you a hint of the gorgeous landscape surrounding the spot. Pine, aspen, craggy rocks, and Bighorn Sheep are but a few things you'll encounter should you venture there. I highly recommend it. Not only is it a beautiful place, it is almost spiritual in nature.

Book Trailer Madness

Here's a little video I've been working on that will be included in my book trailer. Its the Red Sage Introduction using elements and tutorial info from Video Copilot. Can I just say Andrew Kramer rocks? Well, he does. Be sure to check out his site here.

Let me know what you think. BTW, I mixed the music too. Yeah, I'm just that good. :p

So You Want To Write A Book

Writers more and more are turning to “vanity” publishing in order to get their work out there. There are several problems with that, which all can be boiled down to quality, or better said the lack thereof.

Let’s face it, we all have egos. We all think we’re pretty damn good at what we do and when we hear criticism or rejection we get defensive, including yours truly. If you let it get to you that’s going to be a problem if you want to be a successful writer. Yeah, I’ve heard the “I’ve got a thick skin” smack that holds as much water as a Dixie cup on the Titanic. Need proof? Simply send your work to a number of agents (not all at once, mind you as most don’t accept simultaneous submissions) and wait for their response. I guarantee you that when you read their bland form rejections again and again and again you’ll see a pattern here. That’s right, you’re work doesn’t cut it.

There are many factors that involve their decision. It could be a formatting issue. Agents generally require specific things in each submission, but most people don’t even bother to do their homework by checking the agent’s web site to find out what the agent wants to see. It could be grammatical errors in your query and/or synopsis. Nothing turns an agent off faster than grammatical errors. Why? Because the public hates them too. It also could be timing, where the market is saturated with the genre of your book or it’s on a decline. Oh sure, these are all legitimate reasons to reject your work. But the reason they send you that bland reply most often than not is because your work needs work.

After several rejections you turn to self-publishing (aka. vanity publishing). Hey, if Amanda Hockings can do it, so can you. Right? Actually, there's more to being an author than just writing a book. That's a fact. You spend a good portion of your time doing other things related to writing, but don't despair. Sometimes the other stuff can be just as much fun.

We all want our novel to shine, but in order to do that you have to spend some time researching and getting into the business side. Without this knowledge you can make fatal mistakes that turn your best seller to your best stinker. Things to consider are:

1. Sales data on genre. If it ain’t selling it ain’t selling. That means you could have something great on your hands, but if the market isn’t buying you’ll have a tough time selling it until the trends change. If you’re patient, great. If you’re not, try reading what’s hot and see if that genre is something you want to write in. However, and please read this very carefully, do NOT write something for the sake of it. If you’re not feeling the story (i.e., getting into the heads of the characters down to their dark little secrets) then forget about it. Stick with what you want to do. Who knows, you could prove everyone wrong by writing the best novel in that genre that’s ever been published.
2. Know your genre (even if it’s mainstream). There are specific things readers expect from their favorite genres and if you don’t deliver them they are most likely not going to buy the next book. In some cases you might even get a negative review. And trust me, readers do read these. I know. I do. In fact, that’s the first place I start, because I do not trust people to be honest about the work. Check association web sites (like Romance Writers for America or Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America) to get the latest scoop. These are fantastic resources for writers, and given that many have advice on writing, it behooves you to check them out.
3. Editor, for reals! Don’t have your family and friends do your editing for you. If you have to hire someone do it. You want someone who does this for a living in one capacity or another, preferably either someone who works in the publishing industry or has experience editing large documents and has a passion for reading (before you hire someone make sure to check Writer’s Beware for hacks and con artists). If the editor reads in your genre, even better. They will be able to give you insight on what’s working and not working in your manuscript, which can be vital to turning a story into a best seller. Remember, these are people who read a lot and know what’s out there. Keep your trap shut and listen. It doesn’t mean you have to do everything they suggest, you’re simply ingesting information. Who knows, it just might be exactly what you need to hear, even if they tell you “This stinks!” If they do tell you your work stinks have them quantify exactly what they didn’t like about it (i.e., grammar, plot, lack of character development, etc.).
4. Read. Seriously. Read until your brain is mush. Include blogs like Joe Konrath’s A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing and Eric’s Pimp My Novel. Joe is a prolific e-book author. Eric works in the publishing industry in marketing (he’s the guy who helps you sell your books, like imaging, branding yourself, etc.). Both have different takes on the industry, but their sage advice is valuable for all sides of publishing. If you’re publishing ebooks or heading into the traditional legacy house publishing both will provide you statistics on market trends, the health on book distributors like the big box bookstores, and tips and tricks to get you published. Eric goes into ebook sales, so its worth a look. There's also this fabulous blog entry from Nathan Bransford that goes into revenues and current trends. Very informative stuff.
5. Thou Shalt Not Criticize the Critic. Don’t go Howett on a critic. The worst thing you can ever do is argue with one. It’s not even advisable to argue over someone else’s work. Read #3 if you don’t get it, particularly the part about keeping your trap shut and listening. Critics take their free time to read your work and then offer their insight on what they liked and what they didn’t like. You can learn a lot about your work even through scathing critiques. You just have to chill out and process what they’re saying. And don’t chalk it up as “that’s their opinion.” Yeah, an opinion from someone who reads a lot and knows a thing or two. Countering a critic can lead to spectacular rejection by the public, even those who haven’t picked up your book. That’s what Howett is about. An author not only posted repeated arguments against the critic and his visitors, she resorted to throwing the “F” bomb. Do you know what happened to her ratings on Amazon? Yep, it tanked. People posted reviews of her work who blatantly declared they hadn’t read it simply because of her reaction to a critic. Bad form on the author’s part. Period.
6. Get Up Off of That Thang. Well, figuratively speaking. You want to be out there, in the public, and with all the social networking opportunities this is a great time to start publishing your polished work. Some great advice on this comes from Joe again, What Works: Promo for Ebooks. He goes into the nitty gritty about electronic and self-publishing. The man is brilliant and successful. One more thing I would include that he hasn’t, and that is getting involved in your local association. I’m a member of the Northwest Houston chapter of Romance Writers of America and I can tell you they’re a wonderful group of people. In just two visits, I learned about voodoo from an actual voodoo priestess (Ms. Ava Kay Jones) and how to dig up bones of your character (a lecture on the intricacies of introspection to determine character style, personality, and weaknesses). Plus, I’m surrounded by brilliant artists from all walks of publishing and their advice is like mana to my starving writer's soul. Getting out there gives you presence and that presence can have a positive effect on your writing and publishing, without a doubt.

The last thing I will tell you, but will not add to my list because it goes without saying, is to write. Take Amanda Hockings advice. Don’t get distracted. Sit down and write. When the other stuff starts to creep in, don’t get up off that chair. Focus and keep working on that chapter until you’re in the zone. If you have to, find a place where you’re alone. Tell your family and friends that you are working and not to disturb you. Remember, you’re investing time without pay for future rewards, which means you are working, on a job. It is your job to write and you’re the boss. If you have to, use Amanda’s trick or put a large picture of you shaking your finger at yourself or shut your door and don’t open it until you’ve written a chapter. That type of discipline is necessary. Trust me, it never gets easier. Something will always try to creep into your mind. The difference is you’ll learn to recognize it and have the appropriate arsenal to contend with it.

And above all, remember you can do it. The difference between an unpublished author and a published one is tenacity. NEVER give up on your dream.

Just a little taste...

The Shaman's Beacon is due for release sometime this summer. I'll post the hard date once I find out what it is. It will be available in electronic format only through Red Sage Publishing, a wonderful resource for some of the best romantic and/or erotic fiction on the market. They publish a number of New York best selling authors and have a wide range of stories from the paranormal to contemporary romance. I suggest you give them a try, if you already haven't.

For those of you new to my hen house, The Shaman's Beacon is a story about a high-heeled workaholic who meets a cowboy while on vacation in Wyoming and learns that not only is her new boyfriend hairy behind the ears, he's also hunted by werewolf trappers bent on turning him into a designer handbag and her into an accessory.

The story is set in Lander, Wyoming, a lovely town located at the foot of the majestic Wind River Mountains. Its a wonderful place for camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and mountaineering. Its also the quintessential small town with its quaint shops and cafes along Main Street, while still boasting fine restaurants to satisfy any palate. And the people are as good natured as I portrayed in the book. Lander and the regions surrounding it are rich with history, from South Pass City to Fort Washakie, you'll find yourself transported back in time as you visit landmarks describing life in the old Wild West. Yeah, I really like it there. :p

Linda is the primary voice of this story, told in third person. She's witty, strong, independent, but she doesn't like change. That's why she's been working for the same employer since she graduated college and puts up with a boss who thinks lap dances should be part of her job description. She's also practical and isn't inclined to believe in metaphysical explanations for anything. To her, everything has a real, logical explanation. That's why she isn't ready to jump on the furry bandwagon when she learns the guy she's been dating is a werewolf. It takes a lot of patience and understanding on Clayton's part to help her see that believing in werewolves is only a start to believing in something far more precious. If she wants real happiness, she must learn to believe in herself and in turn learn to believe in the power of love.

Here's a little teaser of the front cover, designed by a brilliant artist named Bree. I was floored when I saw the end product and can't be more proud of putting my name on that artwork. It conveys the spirit and essence of the story.

Home on the range...

Can't say the skies aren't cloudy all day. Since arriving, limping mind you, to The Woodlands there's been considerable rain. We've settled down in our humble abode and have been plugging along with our jobs and WoWing...until last Friday.

My editor contacted me with the edits to my manuscript and so I feverishly worked throughout the weekend into Monday and finally completing my edits on Tuesday evening. My boss was sweet enough to give me a few days off to get it done (yes, she is the best!) and I sent the edits back to the editor.

I received the cover art for my book that same day and let me tell ya, I went giddy squealing like a little girl. I remember when I was writing the story that I could almost feel the book in my hands. To see the artist work, to read my name on the cover, and hear the publisher's happy reactions to my story...its so validating and amazing.

I'm proud of myself, because this wasn't an easy task. Writing is not easy, but it is so rewarding. This is my passion and for it to be appreciated by friends and readers is humbling.

So on to the next project. I am working on a proposal for another book in another series. My goal is to get that completed in the next day or so and submit by Friday. Whew. So much to do. So little time. lol