fbpx

Follow Me

Stay connected with us on social networks.

Category: Blog

Sneak Peek!
About my latest release – A sneak peek!

About my latest release – A sneak peek!

By | | Comments 0 Comment

11.4 2020: About my latest release – A sneak peek!

Hello, Shiny People in this world!
It’s Saturday again and I wanted to bring you something new. As the title already says, it’s going to be a sneak peek at my latest release.

Following the trend I have started with the previous release, I wanted to try something new and moved away from my comfort zone. The inspiration for this one came from my interest in voodoo rites, connected also with my African journeys.

This story is set in the Congolese rain forest on the stretches of the Virunga National Reserve.
For me, that place holds a lot of memories, I keep dearly in my heart, and that is the reason why I haven’t set the story in a place like Togo, or Benin, where the voodoo is practiced.

To tell the truth there isn’t a direct connection with voodoo in particular, but with a general idea of the forces governing the underworld.
This time, I decided to bring you an excerpt from the novel, more precisely the introduction chapter:

INTRO

The heat in the bar was almost unbearable; The fan on the roof creaked on its rusty rotor, lazily stirring the air in the bar, overheated by the constant humidity of the stretches along the border with the thick of the rain forest.
Jason slammed his empty glass on the scarred wooden table, scattering hardened food remnants from earlier patrons.

He glanced around and took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Omar, the bartender, watched with his dark eyes as he dried spotted glasses, fresh from the old dishwasher. From time to time, he flipped the dirty rag to shoo the flies and mosquitoes that had taken up residence.

Old programs ran on the television over the bar, the decades-old voices a drone behind the din of the patrons.
“Bring me another one, Omar, will you?” Jason shook the empty glass in the direction of the barkeeper.

Omar arched an eyebrow. “Your mistress won’t be pleased to have you drink so much. Besides, it won’t be good for your health.”
He placed the rag on the table, and as he grabbed the whiskey bottle, he walked to the table where Jason was seated.

“She is never pleased with me anyway, so why bother? Concerning my health, I am afraid death will not come soon enough,” he observed as he watched Omar reaching his table and pouring the whiskey in the glass.
“Leave the bottle here, it will make things easier for you,” Jason added.

“As you wish, boss. I am just giving a bit of friendly advice,” Omar replied, walking away on the squeaking wooden floor, creaking at every step, threatening to fail any minute then. “The only suggestion I can give is that when things are desperate, you should do all it takes to avoid turning them into something worse.”

“Ah, the old wisdom of the elders…” Jason mumbled, observing the color of the whiskey in his glass.
He never thought he would have been stuck in that God-forsaken spot in the heart of Africa. He never even considered it possible for a mzungu to be grounded there. Where am I, by the way? This place is not even mentioned on any map.

It’s like being brought to another dimension or another nightmare.
“She told me soon another guy will arrive. I hope he will be wise enough not to disappoint Her in any way. I will warn him about the dangers, but in the end, it will be all up to him.”
Omar peered at him with a surprised expression, pausing from drying the glasses. “I really wish so too. One mzungu is enough to have in this bar.”
He laughed heartily, showing his white teeth.
“I agree with you, but it’s not because I wouldn’t like to have some company, rather because I would never wish for anyone to have my same fate,” Jason replied.
“Do you know already when he will come?”
“No, I have no idea, but she said he will soon be ready, and she is never wrong…”

I hope you enjoyed this small sneak peek to this novel, if you want to know more, you can check it out at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085XNHK34
Of course, if you have any question, you can drop me a message, even in the comments or through messenger: https://www.facebook.com/paperpenandinkwell
Stay safe and stay at home!
Paula
The new release day is set!

The new release day is set!

By | | Comments 0 Comment

I believe no writer in the world hasn’t struggled, the period before the publishing of her novel.

I am one of those.

Particularly the publishing of this book was something Destiny opposed strongly. Now, at two weeks to the release day, also Karma is looking more kindly upon me, and I can finally see the deadline approaching.

This has been a roller coaster in many ways. Firstly because of paranormal suspense is a new genre.

With this novel, I wanted to bring to life something about my journeys in Africa.

During one of my latest trips through Benin and Togo, I visited sites where voodoo is the third religion practiced. This inspired me to explore something that goes beyond the general understanding.

Africa, together with India is one of the most diverse continents on Earth, culturally, ethnically, linguistically, and from the beliefs’ point of view. Tribal religions are so different and complex that I needed to use a literary license to describe facts and customs.

The paranormal/supernatural factor helped a lot in this quest, although research was something necessary, that couldn’t be discarded.

The first obstacle I encountered was me.

Doubts gripped me, despite I was drafting something that excited me. Writing a new genre was a leap into the unknown.

I feared, and I will fear for the rest of my life.

I’ve sent the manuscript to my editor, trembling as I waited for her comments, fearing a suggestion to start something different.

Yet, as she seemed to be engaged by the story, a big stone fell from my heart, and confidence returned to brighten my sky.

Then, the second obstacle: the cover art.

The creative process started with a mask and a map. From there, I produced more than twelve covers. Creating, discarding, taking back, and combining until I reached the final one.

Totally, it took two months when I had to focus all my energies on the creatives. It has been painful, to say the least.

I haven’t written anything new or done anything else unrelated to this issue.

My husband patiently helped me, when I understand, I am a difficult person to work with, particularly when I am creating.

Also, the planned release day was something going wrong. In the beginning, it was supposed to be released on Christmas day.

Hmm… Nope!

The next scheduled publishing day was for Valentine… Nope too.

Now, I have finally everything (or almost) ready.

The blurb is done, the cover art ready, the editing is fine, and going through beta readers and my second reading.

Everything seems okay and mark the date, as the 17.3 the release is scheduled, and I can’t see the time.

Wish you all a great weekend!
Something more to W(o)nder about – what about genres?

Something more to W(o)nder about – what about genres?

By | | Comments 0 Comment

This week, I am going to discuss what actually to write in your book.

Concerning me, my writing flow starts with an idea, and that can be really whatever. That idea will spark the creativity flame, and I will start to write a story coming up in my mind.

Since a writer should not have any taboos about what to write. Should he or she focus on a particular genre, or should he or she expand her experience to other genres too?

Now, to this question obviously, there is no right and wrong answer, it is all about what you will feel like to write.

If what inspires you is romance or whatever other specific genres, then go on and be blessed by the muse, which inspires you.

However, if you feel like there is more in your sleeves. If you wish to explore other genres, it shouldn’t be a problem. Eventually, it can also give you the chance for a wider readership.

Yet, not everything is well under the sun, and writing a multigenre will bring you to a labyrinth in which navigating might become tricky.

In my experience, writing in more than one genre gave me the chance to expand my range of inspiration, improved my storytelling skills, and opened the world to a broader range of creative tools.

The problem comes from the same opportunity. Writing more than one genre offers you the possibility to broaden your readership. At the same time, you need to put extra effort when you create your mailing list, or you market your writing.

To overcome this, when you create an ad to add subscribers to your mailing list, you will need to target those people who are interested in all the genres you intend to write. Certainly, these won’t be as many as those coming from one single genre, but they will be your best asset for your promotions and as members to your street team.

Another way is to create several pen names for each genre you want to explore. Be warned, though, this is going to be a lot of work because you will have to create and follow ads and mailing lists for two or more authors.

I am still in the experimental phase of what is going to work better, and I have noticed that there is absolutely no size fits all. One way of promoting your books will not obtain the same results as it did for other authors. My suggestion is to follow what other successful authors have done, repeat, tweak, and modify until you have the method that works for you. It’s a creative job, involving passion.

Without passion, nothing is not going to work.

To all the writers, who like myself are working hard to get their place in the spotlight. Don’t give up!

Have a great weekend!

About Author

Follow Me