Insecure Writer’s Support Group – Ups and Downs

Published on October 2, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle24 Comments

I can’t believe it’s already October. Where has this year gone? Before I get into my insecurities for this month, I wanted to give a shout out and congrats to our fearless IWSG leader, Alex Cavanaugh. If you haven’t read his Cassa series cumulating with CassaStorm, which was released last month, you are missing out.

Thanks to the #IWSG co-hosts this months, Julie Luek, Rachna Chabria, Beverly Fox, and Ilima Todd! Please be sure to thank them for their time and effort to make all IWSG members feel welcome.

#IWSG – The ups and downs are inevitable in this journey. It is like life I guess, some days the words are flowing, the goals are being met, your on top of things. Other times, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the weight of it all.

September was a particularly unstable month for me. Here are some of the highlights:

I started the month on a four day solo writing retreat to The Hill Country near Lake Travis (North of Austin, Tx). – UP

The hotel I stayed at was a hole. – DOWN

I found an amazing spot to gets some work done and finished edits on my WIP. – UP

I sent my WIP out to some amazing people who agreed to beta read it for me. – UP

I started my own read through and found so many grammar issues, I recalled it from all the beta’s. – DOWN

I thought I had found a new critique group with two ladies who write in my genre. – UP and super excited to have some feedback from fans and writers of NA.

After emailing them my WIP, they decided I wasn’t right for their group after all. – WAY DOWN and a little defeated.

I submitted my query letter to Unicorn Bell Query Workshop and received the most amazing feedback and suggestions and from that I created a query letter that I am so proud of. – WAY UP and renewed my faith in this amazing writing community.

I pitched my story during #PitMad and got two partials and a full request, one from my dream agent. – UP

I sent a query letter to another dream agent and got a partial request based on just the query letter. – WAY UP

I am still editing my WIP because every time I read through it I find something that needs to be improved. – UP & DOWN

How do you deal with the ups and downs of being a writer?

CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh – It’s Finally Here!

Published on September 16, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

Comment on Alex’s blog this week for a chance to win a Cassa mug, mousepad, magnet, and swag!

When Alex volunteered to answer our questions, I’m not sure he knew what he was getting into. It was a great idea in order to engage his fans and allowing us to be a part of the most anticipated book release of 2013. My question:

What technological advancement in the Cassa series is most likely to be invented in our lifetime? What is the least likely?

We already have computer tablets in the form of iPads, although ours aren’t connected to a network at all times and no matter where we are. That would be handy. I can also see us developing spaceships with full gravity. (If we work fast enough.)

Sadly, I doubt we’ll ever see teleporters in our lifetime. Bummer.

Bummer is right. I would pay big money for a teleporter. No more planes and no more traffic!

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh

From the Amazon Best Selling Series!

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse

“Cavanaugh creates such an unforgettable world, and these characters will stay with you long after their story is over.” – Cassie Mae, author of Friday Night Alibi and How to Date a Nerd

$16.95 USA, 6×9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera

Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019

$4.99 EBook available in all formats

Find CassaStorm:

Barnes and Noble Amazon Amazon Kindle Goodreads

Book Trailer:

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh

Alex, Why Do You Blog?

Published on March 25, 2013March 24, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle48 Comments

While I was made aware of a presence on the Internet known as the Ninja Captain during last years A to Z Challenge, I felt privilege to have his words grace my blog on May 2, 2012. Alex commented on a post I wrote during my first month as a member of the IWSG, Distracted, Again.

His words of wisdom: “Certain movies will distract me, although I’ve gotten good at writing with the TV. And music playing. Yes, I really know how to create a peaceful writing environment!
Thanks for posting for the IWSG today.”

And, he has been a solid resource, support and source of entertainment ever since.

So, Ninja Captain Alex, why do you blog?

Why I blog has changed over the years. The transformation is probably just as interesting as the end result. Life isn’t so much about the destination as the journey.

I began blogging to build an author platform. When I signed the contract for my first book, CassaStar, I wasn’t even online. I had no interest in social networking. However, my publisher told me in no uncertain terms that I was to get my butt online, and I opted to start a blog.

It took a while to understand the connection part. I figured that since I was a science fiction writer, I needed to follow a lot of science fiction blogs and I’d be set. Sadly, most weren’t interested in a not-yet-published science fiction author who didn’t seem to know what to blog about.

It wasn’t until the very first A to Z Challenge in 2010 that I began to understand how to connect with other bloggers. It was then that I found my groove. Now, a lot of writers and authors post on their genre or on writing. Science fiction alone just wasn’t enough for me and I guarantee no one wanted my writing tips. (Believe me, you still don’t want my writing tips!) However, I could talk about my favorite subjects, which included movies, music, tech, and geek stuff. I’d found my groove and I was off and running.

By the time the second A to Z Challenge hit though, that began to change. My topic that year was blogger buddies that corresponded with each letter. I had fun featuring my friends. After the support from everyone when CassaStar was released, it felt good to give back to the community.

That eventually led to the Ninja News and the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. It wasn’t about me anymore – it was about my friends. And as I amassed even more followers, I realized that I could make a huge difference in the community. With a Ninja Army of 1800, I can really make an impact.

Which brings me to why I still blog today. Yes, I do have another book coming out this fall, CassaStorm. I never planned to write more than one book, but spurred by the success of the first and second (CassaFire) I’ve continued writing. And blogging.

But that’s not why I’m here.

My blogger buddies are the reason I blog. Every accomplishment, success, and struggle of theirs that I can share means a lot to me. I know what it’s like to wonder if anyone truly hears me and even cares. If I can shine a light on someone who needs it, then that matters more than all the book sales in the world.

Why do I blog? To give back to the community.

Why do you blog?

Alex J. Cavanaugh

http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, his third book, CassaStorm, will be released September 17, 2013.

The Ninja Captains Big Reveal!

Published on February 22, 2013February 21, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle11 Comments

CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh

http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, his only struggles are occasional rogue pirate raids and endless government bureaucracies. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, shaking Bassan to the core and threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could be on its way back. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

Release Date: September 17, 2013

Science Fiction – Space Opera/Adventure

Print ISBN 9781939844002

E-book ISBN 9781939844019

My Weekly Update – Good Week

Published on February 17, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle12 Comments

New Stuff

Last week I wrote about how moving back to the States has allowed me to start fresh and new with everything in my life. In the next four months I will be looking for a job, buying a new car and finding a new place to live among other things. Well, I made some progress.

I acquired a project that guarantees me a paycheck until June 1st and possibly longer. It is one of those projects where my responsibilities changes from week to week culminating in a huge charity event in May. I enjoy these type of projects. I get bored easily.

I bought a car. It’s a 2013 Honda Civic, black and beautiful. I call her Bella Noir. My family names all of our cars and refers to them by name. Weird? Any way, I know her name sounds a bit stripper -ish, but you can call her Bella for short.

The best thing about Bella, we are linked, through my iPhone. One touch and she makes calls, plays my music and gives me directions. Love Bella.

Blog Anniversary

I can’t believe it’s been a year already. Now, I realize I have post dating back to June of 2011, I starting doing something online in June 2011. I wouldn’t call it blogging, though. It was crap, don’t read it. Then, in February, I switched over to WordPress. It took me a month to get in the groove and to decide I was going to keep at it for at least a year.

A lot has happened in a year and I’ll be spending the month of March reminding myself and the world why we do this.

Stay tuned, it’s going to be a fun month.

What did you do for your 1 year blog anniversary?

Post to Review

101 Tweet-Tastic Tools for 2013 by Lilach – We all love Twitter, but are you using Twitter to its full tweet-tastic capabilities?

Bring Your Fiction to Life with Emotion: An editor’s how to guide by Robb Grindstaff – I made some progress in editing this week because of this post.

The Essential Checklist for Submitting Your Novel to Agents by Brian Klems – I am working on compiling my agent submission list.

Ouch! It’s an Outline by Just Jemi – I’m a plotter at heart, but I write short stories as a panster. It’s not too bad.

How Do You Begin Your Story? by Donya Lynne – This changed the beginning of my current Edit in Progress. Great tips

New Followers

A. Michael Marsh

Tuan Ho

Styleads

Tasein Mirzasaad at Transcending Borders Blog

Elizabeth Hein at Scribbling in the Storage Room

Next Week’s Schedule

Tuesday – Level Up! Blogfest – A day early

Wednesday – Progressive Book Club Post – Bird by Bird Blog Post

Friday – CassaStorm Cover Reveal

Sunday – My Weekly Update