TILT News and Trailer Release!

If I could do back flips without earning a trip to the ER, I'd be doing them all the way down the street. Possibly even in heels. Why am I so excited?

For starters - MY SEQUEL COMES OUT IN 2 WEEKS!! Honestly, waiting for this second book has been in some ways far harder than the first. Partly because I finished it in February (which feels like YEARS ago right now), but partly because this time around I know more about what to expect from a book launch and I'm dying to take the bull by the horns. And even though it really, totally, and uber-completely feels like it sometimes, I have at least finally come to the conclusion that I won't actually die from the anticipation.

That Never-Ending Moment of Anticipation 

The other reason for my excitement also led to another realization: Inspiration is the bitter ex-wife of the Sandman. I'd decided long ago that I wasn't going to do a book trailer for TILT because it takes such a huge chunk out of my already limited writing time (and I'm making headway on the 3rd book!). It takes time to write the script, research images/video, find music, get the narration worked out...  You get the picture. And, to be honest, I wasn't 100% convinced of the merit of book trailers. 

But that's where the vengeful Inspiration and the dysfunctional relationship with her estranged ex come into play. Last Thursday night I was happily drifting off to sleep when suddenly the thought hit me: "If I were to make a trailer, how would I tell the story?" By the next morning I had - in addition to bags under my eyes - a working script in mind along with image concepts that I was bent on spending the next night refining. Then I got the thread of a song in my mind that I could make work perfectly with the narration. Long story short, after 24 hours of work in one frenzied weekend I managed to compose and record a piano score, write and record the narration, assemble and edit the video, and then drink happy amounts of beer to celebrate.

And now I have the pleasure of sharing with you the little book trailer that refused to not be made. 

FREEBIE ALERT BELOW!

I hope you enjoyed the trailer! As another part of the launch festivities, ALICE WILL for Kindle will be FREE from October 10th to October 14th! If you haven't downloaded your copy yet, mark it on your calendar to get your copy in two weeks! 

Goodreads Giveaway!

Check it out!! 

Click the widget below for a chance to win one of 3 copies of Alice Will to be given away at the end of the month!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Alice Will

by Ashley Chappell

Giveaway ends January 31, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

The Trouble With Smiting Envy

"And Lo, with my cart I shall smite thy ankles..."

I think all writers embed traits in their characters that they identify with on many levels whether or not we’re even aware that we’re doing it. Sure, we can make our characters noble, strong, and full of integrity and other do-gooder stuff. It’s always fun to write a hero because just about all of us spent hours in childhood running around with blanket-capes, make-shift swords, or feather duster magic wands rescuing neighbor kids or the family dog from some unthinkable dragon or other beast. As a kid, you dream about being the hero everyone loves. But then we grow up and start secretly dreaming about being the villain because at some point we discover that the bad guys really do have all the fun.  Think about it… how often during the day do you pause to daydream about saying what you REALLY want to say to that customer, or getting even with the jerk on the road, or saying something inappropriate to the 8-year old in the line behind you at Walmart that keeps banging your ankles with the cart while his mom plays on her iPhone?

If any of those last three scenarios ring true to you, then Congratulations: You’re well on your way to villainy! Maybe not on a world domination level, but you’re certainly not alone in your secret evil-doer desires. In fact, just last night Steven made me aware of one of my own villainous day dreams I've been living out through my writing, completely unaware (or in denial), of course. 

We were trying to leave Publix during rush hour and it turned into a game of Dodge the Idiot about to back into you, Dodge the Idiot about to walk into your car, and ended with sitting stuck behind the person who took a good 5 minutes to decide which way to turn. That trip gave me a fresh reason to curse someone on an average of every five seconds. And curse them I did! That was when Steven made the connection for me: “It’s a good thing you don’t have a smiting problem,” he said.

But oh, how I wish I did!

The smiting problem referenced is a constant growing pain of the young demi-goddess Trotter in my fantasy series. Her smiting finger has a mind of its own; anytime something frightens her or just particularly irritates her, her out-of-control powers decide to smite the offender for her. Usually it’s by accident. But Steven made me realize that I’ve been writing my own secret revenge dreams not into my villains, but into my hero! I’ve had a ton of fun writing about the smiting debacles, but with her it’s an unconscious reaction rather than a conscious intent to burst some annoying person into flames.

Maybe it’s because I managed to sneak my own villainous urges into my hero that I didn't recognize it for what it was – apparently my guilty subconscious pulled that one off right under my nose – but now that I've made that connection to Trotter, I feel like I’m more open to explore this dark side that I've already planted in her from my own evil roots. Even heroes blow up at people when they’re stressed (notice I said blow up AT people, not blow people up), so it might even help me make her a more tangible character as I work my way through this series. Nobody can believe in a perfect hero anymore, after all.

I think my next writing exercises are all going to involve putting her in some dark scenarios and letting her just do what comes naturally. Besides… I have to make a Walmart trip again soon and I’m sure I’ll have plenty of pent-up villainous urges to deal with J

Signed 'Alice Will' Book Giveaway!

As promised: Your chance to win!

I'll be giving away a free SIGNED copy of 'Alice Will' so I can share my book launch excitement with someone :-) It will even come with its very own linen tote to make it easier to carry it from shade tree to shade tree without having to spill your wine.

The contest starts at 12:00 AM, Wednesday 11/27 and ends at 12:00 AM on Wednesday, 12/5. There will be multiple ways to enter, and each entry increases your chances of winning! Enter from the widget below or from Facebook. You can enter every day. Go ahead; stack the odds! :-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tomboy Diva

I’m a natural-born tomboy and I always have been. Give me a pair of jeans, cargo pants, a hippie-looking pull-over, or a tool belt and I’m right at home. Set me loose in a department store full of accessories and fashionable clothes and I’m likely to have a retail-induced panic attack. It’s probably the same way Captain Rogers felt when he walked out into modern day Manhattan surrounded by strange and alien modern contraptions.

Yes, this is me at my best. 

So why am I suddenly obsessing over clothes, nails, jewelry and hair for next week? The biggest thing that has ever happened to me in my LIFE is happening next week (I can still say this is the ‘biggest’ because I haven’t gotten around to popping the question to Steven yet). My first novel hits the shelves on Tuesday, and on Thursday we’re heading down to Miami for the book launch at the Miami Book Fair. What I should be thinking about is honing my pitch, being sure I’m ready to discuss every aspect with it, having at least 20 quick answers for ‘What’s it about?’ and generally just being professional and prepared.

Instead, I've been digging through my cabinets for make-up that I haven’t worn in ages and trying to perfect the ‘author look,’ as if there even is such a thing. I’m even going shopping again tonight (albeit at Mountain High Outfitters) to try to find the perfect shirt of the Prana persuasion. My nails are perfectly purple, and I even had my hair dyed at a salon for the first time in about 4 years. Though, I have to admit I’m really enjoying that last part; not seeing the gray for a change is nice.

I've been thinking about this completely out-of-character recent behavior of mine and I’m no longer afraid that I’m suddenly turning from a die-hard tomboy to a prissy prom queen. It was a concern at first, especially considering I don’t have enough room in my closet to support a shoe habit, but then the zits started popping up and two things happened. First, I howled like said prom queen upon finding zits the morning of prom. Not little bitty ones, either. Big, painful, red welts on my cheek of the sort I haven’t had since high school. Horrifying timing, of course. Second, I realized that they were the physical manifestation of the stress I've apparently been channeling into the ‘Gossip Girl’ kind of persona I've been wearing lately. *Note: I hope that’s a good analogy. I've never actually seen an episode of ‘Gossip Girl,’ but the title and commercial strikes me as the type of show where shallow reigns and geek stains.*

I’m not prone to stress, so I guess it’s not surprising that I’d been suppressing the reaction until the cauldron of stress and chocolate started bubbling over with some odd side effects. And now that I recognize what’s going on with me, I can at least start getting my head straight. So I’m nervous. Big deal, right? I SHOULD be nervous, but most of all excited and satisfied that my years of working on my writing have finally begun to pay off in the way that I've always dreamed. But on that road I’m going to experience my first public bad reviews, my first nerve-wracking appearances, and I’m going to have to learn to be a more social and outgoing person. Normally I like to hide at the back of a room and sneak out before anyone realizes I’m there. Not in the creepy Unabomber way; more like the awkward wallflower way.

So yes, there is plenty of reason for me to be nervous and anxious, but there is plenty of reason for me to be proud and confident as well. I’m still going to go shopping tonight, but I’m not going to obsess like I have been. I’m going to relax and have fun. I’m going to make fantastic new memories and meet incredible new people along the way. I've worked hard to get where I am and I’m going to continue to work hard and take this new direction as far as humanly possible.

And it all starts with showing up and being comfortable with myself next week in Miami, no matter how many pimples I get.  Besides... that’s why God invented Photoshop.

And The Winner Is....

Well, well, well, after some technology surprises, fails, and slight misdemeanors, my first giveaway is officially at an end! I've had the chance to meet so many new people during this swag event and I've even gotten to know where the pitfalls are in using the internet for things like this. We have so many devices and so many different browsers with which we access webpages now and they all have their own little quirks; some of them are more set in their ways than a little old lady of 110 years. Some blocked the comment form, but let folks email me, some blocked emails and let folks comment or follow me, and some couldn't get to me at all through Blogger and sought me out through Facebook. Next time, I’m going to go even simpler and do it through Facebook – anyone who leaves a comment gets an entry! J

And now for the moment you've all been waiting for...

Congrats to the following ladies for being the winners of my first giveaway: 

Diane Carlisle, Shanna Hartwell, and Aubrey Oberlander!

I'll be getting with each of you so I can ship your packages, but in the meantime, go buy a lotto ticket because today is your lucky day! :-)

EXTENDED - Swag Time!!!

Just look at all those goodies!

Due to late interest and a quirk in Blogger that's keeping some folks from commenting, I'm going to extend for 24 hours! NEW DEADLINE: 7:00 PM Wednesday, 11/17. Winners will be announced by 6:00 PM on Thursday. Good luck, everyone!

It's time for me to start giving stuff away! I thought about some different ways of doing this particular giveaway (there will be more down the road), and came up with some pretty creative ideas involving everything from trivia to Twister. Then I decided it might be best to not scare off my readers before I even have any. "Simplify," said Thoreau, and if anybody can be simple it's me, gosh darn it.

The Goods

I'll be choosing 3 random winners per the rules below to win a package with a lovely linen tote, a marvelous mouse pad, and a boss bookmark. Keep in mind I can ship only within the Continental U.S..

The Rules

So, you feel like winning something? (Auburn Tiger fans pay special attention: This might be the only other thing you win all year :-)) As promised, I'm keeping it simple. Follow all three steps listed here and the beautiful gifts in the picture can be yours!

1. Comment on this post. That's a toughie, isn't it? 
2. Follow the blog. If you're already among my followers, then you've not only joined my list of favorite people, you've also saved yourself a step. If not, simply use the handy-dandy gadget on the right side of this blog (The "Join this Site" with Google Friend Connect button).
3. Last but not least: Email me here to let me know you've entered. Don't worry, I won't sell your email address to annoying salesmen, government spies, stalkers, or anyone else for that matter. I'll simply use that email address to contact the winners for their postal addresses.

The entries begin at the time of this posting and continue until 7 PM CST on Tuesday, October 16th  Wednesday, October 17th (tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow).  I'll announce the winners here on Wednesday Thursday, so check back soon and good luck to everyone!

Upcoming SWAG

COMING SOON!

I know I've been gone awhile, but keep your eye out for a giveaway I'll be hosting here for Alice Will swag! There will be tote bags (pictured below) and mouse pads for 3 lucky new followers. Stay tuned!

Small Tote Bags by Vistaprint

Tomorrow is Always a Day Away

Today’s blog is about not blogging. And about not writing, not exercising, not dieting, and in general just not doing. The past few months I’ve been juggling so many hats and projects and lately I feel like I’m always on the run, always working on something, or something is always hanging over my head as something else that has to be done in short order. So those precious times when I find myself with an evening or even just a few hours during which I don’t absolutely have to be doing something, I’ve been pushing off the things that, while they have value to me, aren’t on that list of absolute requirements and doing a blissful amount of nothing instead.

For instance...

I really need to start exercising...

I really need to finish writing that chapter of ‘Tilt’...

I really need to finish woodburning the dragonfly clock...

I really need to update my blog...

I really need to organize the stuff from the move...

I really need to de-cat-hair the Catio

I really need to finish the book trailer for ‘Alice Will’...

I really need to cook a healthy casserole for lunches this week...

But I can do all of that tomorrow and enjoy tonight, right?

The "Catio." My writing studio, Fortress of
Solitude, and Bat Cave. Oh, and it has cats.

Wrong. I’ve been consciously lying to myself for weeks now by deciding to do something on the morrow -  and YES, it is a lie because I know I’ll probably go through the same song and dance again the next day. And the next day. Tomorrow is the day that never comes and I’m going to have to start making myself do what I know I should be doing today, not tomorrow.

Now that was Part I of confession time today. I’m a slacker hobbyist and I know it. But Part II is that I know I’m not going to change overnight. Or maybe not even overyear. Sure, there are lots of passive incentives for getting these things done (along the lines of “I’ll feel better for having done this”), but there are plenty of those for sitting my lazy ass on the couch and reading a great  book, too. I think my solution might lie in negative incentives for NOT doing them.

I’ll start small... All of those things listed above are things that I could do every night and any night when the chores and whatnot are complete. Maybe I need to pick one totally at random per night and spend at least an hour doing it. The negative incentive? I'll do exactly what Mom did when I was a kid who wouldn't do my homework: I don’t get to read/eat ice cream/watch Battle Star Galactica until I’ve spent that hour in productive mode. I may even have to rope Steven in to be my conscience and keep me honest in this endeavor, although there is the danger that he might enjoy the role of task master a bit too much. Granted, this may end with me spending some nights staring at a blank wall because I can’t motivate myself, but I think maybe I’m on the right track.

And you know what the best part is? I’m going to start tonight. Because tomorrow will always be a day away.

Book Release Date, Pre-orders, and Cover Reveal!

And now for the announcement I promised in yesterday's blog post...  Alice Will, my debut novel, will be released  by Center One Publishing on November 13, 2012! I'd call that perfect time for stocking stuffers, wouldn't you?  For a special May Day treat you can head over to Center One's website and pre-order a copy now  :-)

The cover art might change slightly between now and publishing, but I'm thrilled with the way it turned out! The publisher asked me in the beginning if I had any suggestions for the cover art and, knowing that I have NO talent for creative design at all, I turned it completely over to them. Now that I've seen their fabulous work I couldn't be more glad that I kept my hands out of it.

This is my first ever publishing experience and I have to say I have been very happy with it so far. I see horror stories from emerging authors on forums and other boards and I think I have to count myself very lucky. My experience has been positive, the publisher so responsive, and the quality top notch.

But nothing I ever imagined, no fantasies from childhood, no day dreams from when I first decided I wanted to become an author, could possibly match the elation I felt when I first laid my eyes on the cover art with my name on it. I did mental back flips and pirouettes when I received the contract offer and ran around the house squealing when I signed the contract itself. Seeing the artwork with my name on it made it seem so much more real, but I think my nuclear spastic crazy squealy celebration won't officially happen until I hold my book in my hands for the first time. That will be the day that I finally feel like I've reached the culmination of a near life-long dream!

Wait... culmination? Maybe that's the wrong word. Because this isn't the last stop on my authorial journey - my next goal is to do this over, and over, and over, and over, and over again :-)