5 out of 5 stars "A Great Spin on Werewolf Stories" When I first read this book, I thought it had too many plot lines and too many characters. However, after page 400, the author tied all the character stories together well. In general, the story was written excellently, with clear conflicts and character development. I enjoyed the explanation of how the wolf disease spread from person to person. I found the main character Liz to be likeable. I also appreciated the commentary on immigration, towards the end of the novel. My only criticism is that most of the chapters were a bit short. The sections where there were consecutive chapters dealing with a character helped to balance the brevity of some of the narration, but those consecutive chapters didn't come until towards the end. Otherwise, I recommend this read, whether you like werewolf stories or just plain good horror! (Yes, I am reading the next installment.)
0 Comments
5 out of 5 Stars I recommend this book and any future works by this writer August 3, 2018 Format: Kindle Edition I read romances a lot in high school and later in college. A romance has to be really engaging for me to pick it up and not your run of the mill plot, with stereotypical characters. I was genuinely surprised by this piece about a young college professor and an independent female business owner. The author portrayed the interracial intricacies, as well as age differences, well. I found the characters to be really human and the romance believable. It wasn’t overbearingly steamy, and that made the climax of the story worth the wait. I recommend this book and any future works by this writer. Also, kudos for capturing the Chicago setting so beautifully! (I too hate the renaming of the White Sox stadium.) Why? Because we new writers have to stick together. I am also procrastinating. Yeah. I posted this review on Amazon and a short one on Goodreads. 5.0 out of 5 stars "Great characters in this story!" July 15, 2018 Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story! Clarke Collins has done a great job of establishing tension between the characters and adding a dab of magical realism. I can't wait for more work from this author. I was talking to my husband about marketing my books and finally hitting some local bookstores on weekends. We are going to visit a bookstore in Hyde Park this Saturday, and I am going to distribute my monthly newsletter. I was going to create a new flyer, but why? Then, through my existential wah, I got some interesting advice from another self-published writer who suggested that I go on a blog tour. I had no idea what that meant, but she was advising that I connect with other bloggers in my genre, so that I reviewed their work on my blog, and they reviewed mine. I am going to try that. Reviews on Amazon and Goodreads do help out, so hopefully this exposure will generate more reviews. We also exchanged back and forth about giving book away for reviews, which has not worked out for me. Anyway, I have day full of meetings and have to jet! Keep on with your writing goals! #Resist! I told myself I would give myself a pass from writing these two weeks because it's time to prepare for school, but my energy plummets when I don't write. Plus, I'm in a funk, not quite a writer's block, maybe an existential writing funk. I have been reading the book sales reports, which I should not do. As you may know, I increased the price of my last book, so it would be distributed to more venues. Ironically, I probably made more profit from those print sales. However, the sales for my last two books have been low. Of course, that is not the point of writing. My goal should be to improve my craft, and I was really happy with the last novella I put out. That right there should be enough to, well, make me happy. I have also gotten a few more book reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. My sister who champions my cause, writes decent reviews, but she's a fan. (Yay.) Enough wah. My writing goals, as soon as I am done revising my syllabi are to write an hour a day. I still want to hit that August deadline to finish my novel, The Harvest. I gave myself a bit of a cushion in September, but I want to hammer it out in 100 more pages, if I can. The work will get done, when it is done. You can't dictate when the story is finished being told, which is a lesson that I re-learned with the last book. Well, keep on with your writing goals! #Resist! This publication was the saga that never ended. That just goes to show you can't force a book to get done, and La Bruja del Barrio Loco was a struggle. I had it copy edited twice, and I read it so many damned times before I launched it. I will spare you the details. You can get both print and Kindle versions on Amazon.
In case you are wondering why this book is priced at $5.75, I am trying to expand the readership via Amazon to university libraries. I haven't tried that feature before and may only do it with long works. The Kindle version is still $2.99. Well, today, I have spent over eight hours in union meetings. I'm supposed to be working on a newsletter, but my brain is spent. I don't even have the energy to read my own book or write, so my family and I are going to watch a much deserved movie for $5. Yay! Tomorrow, I plan on getting on a regular schedule to write The Harvest again. If not, I will honor my energy and get back on as soon as I can. Cherish all of your hard work, even if you are left rubbing two brain cells. #Resist! Finally, yesterday, I got the proof of La Bruja del Barrio Loco, and it has typos up the culo. So, I asked my editor to take a look at it, but I also asked another friend to go over it after she does. No self-published book is perfect, but damn it, I want to get as close as possible. Eventually, if I make enough coin, I will hire a professional, but at the rate I'm going, that will be next year, ahem. Enough wah. Let me tell you about the great things about the printed proof.
The cover is fucking awesome! I had the designer amp the pull quote in the back cover and put the title in the middle of the spine with my name way below. It looks amazing, and I've been getting compliments from real time friends on the printed cover. The design of the book also looks pretty great (that was all me). I also added a bit at the very end soliciting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. (The cool thing is that my sister Diana reviewed one of my books on Amazon and got me a sale. Thanks sis!) I also want to give a shout out to Mom Kat Reads for reviewing Wolf Trek. She writes great reviews, and I added some books on Good Reads based on her blog. She commented that my book needed another editing pass, so I guess I missed stuff. Typos, scourge of the fucking self-publishing business! I rebuke thee, typos! In tandem with some of her comments, I am going to aim for 100+ pages per book whether it's a long short or a couple of 50 page short stories. I came to that realization on my own, but her feedback helped validate my thinking. So, thank you Mom Kat! I hope you review more of my work in the future. Well, today, I'm going to proofread the hard copy of my book. Then, after I send it, my editor is going to have it done by Friday. Yay! Send me happy thoughts. Keep on and persevere! #Resist My son will maybe read the book. Perhaps give it a 5 star review. Kids, am I right?
La Bruja del Barrio Loco, #2 in La Bruja del Barrio Loco is out this week. https://www.instagram.com/p/BmLsKClhHpH/?taken-by=drmariajestrada Yeah, Awesomest is not a word, but you get what I mean. I'm having that feeling, you know, where life has great potential, and you just know you are going to make things amazing. That is what I'm going for this school year, despite the difficulties ahead. I am resolved to make this the most amazing year ever.
I mean, the summer has been pretty great because I am finally doing the pinnacle of what I love to do, which is to write. But, like most human beings, I have my flaws that I need to work one, which I won't list here. Working on those shortcoming is part of my Awesome Plan. Yesterday, for example to make life awsome, I went clothes shopping (I also bought my kids really nice used clothes and scored uniform shirts for Antonio, at 1/2 price). Now, some of you may say that's a necessity, which is true, but I rarely buy clothes. This time, I bought whatever I wanted and looked good, given my body size. I tried to go for better, fun garments. I'm resolved to go shopping in two more months or sooner at the Goodwill in the burbs to get sweaters and nice winter clothes and not complain about how fat I am, which is a downer. All this negative bullshit is not part of the Awesome Plan. Well, that's all I've got on that end. I am up a little too early to work on my novel. I got up at 3a.m., drank water, and made coffee. My head is not in the right space, and I don't write if I'm overly tired. Many of you know, I decided to go for six more chapters to finish The Harvest, so the end is near. I am also knuckling down and researching other presses. I linked the resource to my Bits page. That is my writer assignment for September, and then to pimp out the manuscript in October. I honestly don't know when the best time is to submit manuscripts, but like everything else, it will be a learning process. Oh, and I almost forgot. I came across this blogger on one of my writer Facebook pages, Mom Kat Reads. She writes great reviews and is also a cat lover. She is going to review Wolf Trek because it hasn't gotten any reviews yet. (Hint, hint.) Well, it looks like it's back to bed for me. I will most likely post another segment of my novel later this morning. Make your writing and life awesome. #Resist Yesterday, my amazing nephew Javi who is also a professional trainer suggested that I work out to increase my writing energy. So today, I went with my sister to her martial arts studio because they offer work out sessions. I got my ass kicked. Of course, I am returning on Wednesday. The class was awesome, and as the picture indicates focused on strength training. It wasn't so awful, but I am really out of shape. My diet a few weeks back backfired because I ate too much healthy food and got off the wagon.
That's it. No more diets for me. Plus, my good friend is going to work out with me, so I am going to investigate where HIT classes are a good deal back in Chicago. On the writing front, my writing energy is garbage, but I did get approved to have a Good Reads author site, so I set that up. It's not 100%, but it will get there. This morning, I also crafted a newsletter, but I need to proofread it. I plan on sending it out the third week of the month, unless there is a major launch. It will be a double-sided short read with upcoming pubs and promos. You can subscribe on my Newsletter tab. I also got my third book review from my sister Diana: Engaging and Scary Read. August 5, 2018 Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase A great, supernatural story that keeps the reader engaged and on edge. A scary read that is impossible to put down. If you enjoy folklore and scary stories, this is definitely a novella you want to have on your bookshelf. So, even though I haven't written, I'm making progress. Do something writing related. #Resist! |
Jesú Estrada
|