As my time with the Debutante Ball winds down, I can’t help but find myself looking forward. There are very few certainties in publishing, and so many secrets that cannot be shared due to contractual constraints (say that five time fast) that looking forward means something different to career writers. While I do have works in progress as well as works on submission, the one thing I can publicly speak…
Ahhh! It seems like yesterday that I was hastily typing up my application to join The Debutante Ball. I was so excited– and nervous- to apply. My debut was coming out in January, in the middle of a pandemic that seemed like it wouldn’t let up, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do with myself. I mean, yeah. I had a book coming out. I had…
Every year since 2007, five debut women authors have taken part in The Debutante Ball, a group blog for authors making their debut in the literary world. Former Debs include bestsellers in the genres of women’s fiction, mystery, literary fiction, nonfiction, young adult, and more. It’s time for the Class of 2021 to pass on our tiaras. We’re looking for female or non-binary writers who have not previously had a book…
This week’s Debutante Ball topic is dedicated to deleted scenes. We all have them. It’s an inevitable part of the editing process. There’s even a tried-and-true writing adage about it: kill your darlings. Many, many darlings were ruthlessly murdered throughout the drafting process of THE FROZEN CROWN. At the time it was painful, culling these scenes from my still-maturing manuscript. We all have ideas of what our books are, but…
We are thrilled to welcome AJ Super to The Debutant Ball this week! EREBUS DAWNING is jam packed full of space pirates, mutiny, AI and technological gods! Keep reading to learn more secrets about AJ’s writing journey and EREBUS DAWNING! Share or comment below for a chance to win a copy of her book. ABOUT AJ Angela Super earned two Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Idaho in the Creative Writing and Theater…
To plot, or not to plot? It’s the perennial question writers everywhere eventually face. The internet is rife with articles waxing poetic about the virtues of Plotting vs. Pantsing. It’s the Empire vs. Rebellion of the writing world. Do you plan out your story before you write? Then you’re a Plotter. Do you let the muse guide you along the journey without a plan, or maybe with an end-point in…
April 24th is Indie Bookstore Day and to celebrate, I wanted to shine a light on my favorite local indie, Blue House Books in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blue House Books is everything you want from a local bookstore: not only filled with amazing books from every genre you love to read, but owned and operated by a warm and welcoming bookseller. Samantha Jacquest is a one-woman small business maven who started…
One of the things that new writers hear about all the time is the need to find a brand. As if authors are breakfast cereals that can be boiled down to zingy catchphrases like ‘delicious and nutritious’ or ‘heart-healthy.’ Not gonna lie, the idea of defining my author brand was the stuff of nightmares. But it was a nightmare I knew I’d have to face… someday. Well that someday came…
There were—and are—many stories that inspired me to dive into writing, and specifically writing fantasy. From THE LORD OF THE RINGS to THE WHEEL OF TIME, these are expansive universes filled with heroes and villains, wild magic and desperate battles. But few stories made me feel like writing was an actual thing I could do than the Old Kingdom Series by Garth Nix. I first discovered Garth Nix in high…
This week’s topic is all about highlighting the resources that helped me along the way to publishing. The websites and podcasts I’ve listed below were (and are) all invaluable sources of information and support in a journey that can often be a lonely one. So saddle up and read on for my favorites: First Draft with Sarah Enni There is so much here to love about Sara Enni’s podcast. She…
