Last week DESCENT was on sale for five days. Thank you to all of who shared my posts, commented, downloaded DESCENT and then went on to buy BLAZE.
I sincerely appreciate the kind and wonderful support.
Kristina
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Reblog: Love mystery, romance & thrillers? Get 4 great books for free!
TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY OF IMAJIN BOOKS SALE:
Reblogged from Donna Galanti:
This week my publisher, Imajin Books, has put four great books up for free on Kindle, including A HUMAN ELEMENT! Like mystery, romance and thrills? Then check them all out and load up on reading! ENDS TODAY.
PLUS, for a limited time somewhere in each of these books is a hidden “Easter Egg,” a link to 3 FREE novellas by 3 bestselling authors. Happy reading and hunting!
If you haven’t had a chance to read A HUMAN ELEMENT grab this now while you can…..
Too read the rest… DONNA GALANTI
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Farley’s Friday: SQUIRREL!
Farley here,
Look what Kristina did to me now. I’m thinking she can read my mind, just by the way I’m giving her my big brown-eyed, I’m-the-most-pathetic-dog-ever stare and she gets I don’t want to wear boots pulled up like socks.
“What are you thinking?” I bark.
Kristina scratches my ear. “There’s a ton of snow and it’s warm. You know what that means…Remember what happened the other day?”
I do remember. Kristina spent an hour getting snow clumps off my fur. I loved it. But, alas, I wag my tail and give in. Let’s just get out the door.
We hit the trails. I’m running as fast as I can in these silly boots, when I hear the tell-tale squeak of a squirrel. I glance to my left.
There it is! Without thinking I bound through the snow.
I chase and I chase, but I just can’t get him. He’s too fast.
Then guess what happens. My boot comes off. Oops.
Do you see how deep the snow is? Kristina didn’t wear snowshoes today, and she had to climb through deep powder to get my boot.
“Don’t come in here,” I bark. “You’ll never find it.”
She laughs and me, gets down on her hands and knees and crawls across the snow. She must really want my boot.
After a little digging, she actually finds it.
“Ta da,” she says.
Boo, I think. Then I jump on her and lick her face. I love to play and what’s better than playing with my human in the snow? Not much, really.
In case you hadn’t heard, Kristina’s first novel is on sale, but only until tomorrow. She’s very proud of DESCENT, so if you haven’t read it, now’s your chance to get the eBook free.
Woof Woof
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If You Need Mystery, Romance or Horror: The Choice is Yours for Free eBooks
Imajin Books presents: A GIFT TO READERS. With more gifts inside the books.
FOUR books here, and three more novellas inside the book. All you have to do is read one book to get three novellas free.
You can find the books on Amazon at:
Happy reading to all!
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Romance, Horror, Mystery Novels All Free
Yup. You read that correctly. Four free eBooks and three genres. But not for long.
Each of these books comes with a special surprise. Somewhere in each of the books is a hidden “Easter Egg,” a bold text link to 3 FREE Qwickie novellas by 3 bestselling authors. This is a time limited offer, so happy reading and hunting!
Don’t delay. Start reading a book published by Imajin Books today or you might miss out on both deals. Just click on the books covers to get your copy.
But first, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the shares yesterday. That just makes me feel loved, and speaking of love…
Perhaps you need some LOVE in your life?
Try DEEP BLUE by Kathleen Duhamel because love is the most addicting drug of all…
Barely-not-starving” Denver artist and cancer survivor Claire Martin has almost given up finding an older man with a youthful spirit when she meets charismatic New York soul singer Robert Silver of the legendary band Deep Blue. She soon learns that hero worship can be dangerous, especially when the object of her desire comes with a disturbing past.
Feel like being FRIGHTENED?
Experience A HUMAN ELEMENT by Donna Galanti because evil comes in many forms…
One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next. Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite in her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a madman, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his, and she has two choices—redeem him or kill him.
Is an ADRENALINE RUSH what you require?
Join me on the icy slopes of DESCENT because jealousy, secrets and betrayal are enough to drive even a sane to murder…
When Kalin Thompson is promoted to Director of Security at Stone Mountain Resort, she soon becomes entangled in the high-profile murder investigation of an up-and-coming Olympic-caliber skier. There are more suspects with motives than there are gates on the super-G course, and danger mounts with every turn.
Kalin’s boss orders her to investigate. Her boyfriend wants her to stay safe and let the cops do their job. Torn between loyalty to friends and professional duty, Kalin must look within her isolated community to unearth the killer’s identity.
Do you know what you would do to PROECT YOUR FAMILY?
Find out in SAFE HARBOR by Rosemary McCracken because family is everything…
Financial advisor Pat Tierney’s world is shattered when a visitor to her office tells her that Pat’s late husband is the father of a seven-year-old boy. Stunned by the revelation of her husband’s affair, Pat is even more shocked when the woman bolts from the office, leaving young Tommy behind.
When Tommy’s mother is murdered, police tell Pat that the boy may be the killer’s next target. In a desperate race to protect Tommy, Pat searches for the truth and uncovers a deadly scheme involving illegal immigrants, trafficking in human body parts and money laundering.
And Pat discovers that she’ll do just about anything to keep her family safe.
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Murder, Revenge, Jealousy – DESCENT Free
Got you tempted?
Please share this post and help me spread the word 🙂
In celebration of my upcoming release of AVALANCHE by Imajin Books, the eBook edition of DESCENT is FREE on Amazon starting today, but only for 5 days.
WHAT IS DESCENT ABOUT?
When Kalin Thompson is promoted to Director of Security at Stone Mountain Resort, she soon becomes entangled in the high-profile murder investigation of an up-and-coming Olympic-caliber skier. There are more suspects with motives than there are gates on the super-G course, and danger mounts with every turn.
Kalin’s boss orders her to investigate. Her boyfriend wants her to stay safe and let the cops do their job. Torn between loyalty to friends and professional duty, Kalin must look within her isolated community to unearth the killer’s identity.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO READ DESCENT?
Early Praise For Descent
“In this impressive debut, Kristina Stanley weaves a vivid, chilling tale of jealousy, secrets, and betrayal in a close-knit mountain ski village. Like its likeable young heroine, Kalin Thompson, DESCENT is both tender and tough.” – Barbara Fradkin: author of the Inspector Green Mysteries and two-time winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel.
“Murder rocks the competitive ski world in Stanley’s layered tale with enough suspects to keep readers guessing until the last chilling chapter.”– Brenda Chapman: Brenda Chapman: Author of the Stonechild and Rouleau Mysteries.
“From the first line, you’re strapped into a Stanley novel. Just turn the page, hang on, and enjoy the ride.” – Garry Ryan: award winning author of the Detective Lane mysteries and Blackbird trilogy.
“Descent is the first in a series of Stone Mountain mysteries. It’s an action packed story. Testosterone, stress, dangerous corners and pain lead to murder on the slopes of this remote ski resort. Kalin Thompson, head of security is ordered to investigate by her boss. A growing list of suspects leads Kalin to wonder if the dead Olympic calibre skier got what he deserved. Descent, a mystery that keeps you riding the lift for one last read and the killer’s identity.” –Don Graves: Canadian Mystery Reviews
CALL TO ACTION – PRETTY PLEASE…
To all my loyal supporters, this is a call to action. Help me share DESCENT with others by sharing this post.
Thank You in advance for a little help today 🙂
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Mystery Mondays: Ann Farnsworth on How To Write A High Concept Thriller
As usually Mystery Mondays continues to be a source of inspiration and and knowledge for me. Today we have Ann Farnsworth, author of THE THRONE OF DAVID.
HOW TO WRITE A HIGH CONCEPT THRILLER by Ann Farnsworth.
I found the idea for my book The Throne of David while reading the Old Testament and knew it was a high concept idea from the very first. Understanding the scope of the story helped me stay very focused as I wrote the manuscript and when I sent out queries, (two of them). Both agents wanted the book and I am convinced it was the high concept element that got their attention. So, I can hear you asking, just what is high concept and how do I incorporate these ingredients into my writing?
High concept fiction is a term hijacked from Hollywood. Think ‘visual’, ‘high stakes’, and ‘easily communicated’. It is attractive to publishers and agents and eventually, readers and moviegoers.
The reaction you want when an agent reads your synopsis is: “Why didn’t I think of that?” or “Why hasn’t somebody written about this before?” Or, “You tell me your amazing idea, and then I decide I have to kill you so I can steal it!” When people light up after you tell them about your book, you know you’ve got them. This is what high concept is all about.
The essential elements of a high concept book are:
- an original idea
- mass commercial appeal
- a great title
- a big problem
An original idea:
You need an idea that will be talked about. One that generates excitement and compels people (agents, publishers and readers) to get involved. Simply put, a high concept is an intriguing idea that can be stated in a few words and is easily understood by all. Take this sentence: An asteroid the size of Texas is speeding toward earth. This sentence is definitely high concept! It arouses an emotional response, and, using only ten words, tells us exactly what the book/movie is all about. It hooks us immediately.
THE THRONE OF DAVID is a historical thriller along the lines of DaVinci Code or Raiders of the Lost Ark involving a religious artifact, murder most foul and a mystery surrounding the king of England. I thought about contacting Dan Brown with the idea that became THE THRONE OF DAVID, but I finally decided to figure out how to write it myself. It was a little daunting to write such a towering book for a first novel but writing it became an adventure and I loved figuring out how to write around the bones of a compelling story.
Being able to reduce your idea into something powerful that can be expressed in a few words forces the writer to come to terms with what the story is really about. If the idea is too complicated and is difficult to explain or understand, it may never reach the people who make the decision to publish or produce your work.
Mass Commercial Appeal:
High concept books use hooks and compelling plots to give the story wide, mainstream appeal. Commercial fiction often has the ‘wow’ factor. If you can summarize what happens in your novel in a single, succinct sentence, and people ask where they can buy it, you might have a high concept book. Plot and the story drive the story, character choices and actions create drama that propels the reader forward with urgency.
If you aren’t sure if your story is high concept try to categorize your book by comparing it to other books that are similar and are easily defined as high concept.
A great title:
A great title not only tells the audience what the story is about, it reveals the genre. The title prepares us to experience the feelings associated with each type of genre, thrillers, mysteries, love stories, adventures and so on. Each of these different genres propels us towards a unique emotional adventure. A great title can catapult your book into the bestseller spheres.
A Big Problem:
The fourth element is THE big problem to be solved, the reason for the story, and the reason action has to be taken.
An asteroid is about to collide with the earth. A serial killer is loose in the . A baby is left on a doorstep. An invading army has to be confronted and defeated. An erupting volcano has to be escaped from. A man-eating shark has to be destroyed, and so on.
You will know it is a big problem if action has to be taken and taken immediately.
Great stories are about problems and once the writer introduces us to the problem, the problem must be resolved. It is the essences of any story, no matter how big or small, it must be focused on a problem. Every character will somehow be involved in that problem. Everything that happens will in some way affect the outcome of the problem. Revealing how that problem was created and how it will be resolved is the heart and soul of every story.
Of course, you should write what you enjoy reading. Read the classics in your genre, read the most recently released books in your genre so you know what is selling. If you enjoy reading high concept books and decide to attempt writing one, it is imperative that you think big and then write with sweeping, satisfying language. The crux of the matter is a big idea and making sure your idea will appeal to a vast audience of readers is the craft of the writer. Follow with a great title and be sure you introduce a big problem. Including all these elements will help you create a great story, and will help you sell your story on the front and back ends. Selling first to agents and a publisher, and then to booksellers and finally, readers and moviegoers.
Be assured that high concept books are sought after by publishers and readers alike.
Author’s work and plot of the book:
My book, THE THRONE OF DAVID, is a historical mystery and joins works such as the Da Vinci Code or Raiders of the Lost Ark, in unraveling ancient legends. The story follows the history of the throne of David, you might remember that king David was promised that his throne would endure until Christ came to personally reign on the earth. David’s throne has always been joined with a sacred stone and you might be shocked to learn that this throne exists today, hidden in plain sight.
The book is set in New York, London, Ireland and Scotland and is a fictionalized account of the intricacies of this great mystery. Prophecies about the throne abound and my book follows its history through time and across continents. The book ultimately reveals the likely resting place of the coronation stone – symbol of the royal throne of David.
It is a riveting story and it has been one of the great adventures of my life to research, untangle and then write about the royal stone.
I came to writing late, as I was busy raising a family of 10 children and devouring books on the side. Our youngest is now eleven and the stories that have been clamoring for attention these last 25 years are finally going to be given a chance at life.
Ann’s Bio:
Ann Farnsworth came to writing late, as she was busy raising a family of 10 children and devouring books on the side. Her youngest is now eleven and the stories that have been clamoring for attention these last 25 years are finally going to be given a chance at life.If you take Ann Farnsworth’s love of history, her admiration for truly great story tellers and a devotion to precise, descriptive vocabulary. If you add to those interests a true devotion to memorable characters it seems as if her book, ‘The Throne of David’, is almost an inevitable work of creation.
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Farley’s Farley: Busted
Farley here,
Last week we had a four year old boy visit our house. Did you know four year old humans are shorter than regular humans? Much shorter than the humans I’m used to.
This little boy needed a pillow on the chair to boost him up, otherwise he couldn’t reach his food. Kristina went to the living room and fetched (ha ha – I said fetched for a human) one of the fancy living room pillows for the boy.
After everyone went to bed, I snuck downstairs, crept under the table, and with my teeth, slid the soft pillow off the dining room chair and onto the floor.
Wow, did I have a good night’s sleep.
However, Kristina – my tall human – was a bit quiet and I didn’t hear her get up in the morning.
Busted! She caught me sleeping on the pillow.
What’s a dog to do except run to her, wag his tail, give her a big lick, and look as cute as possible.
What did Kristina do? She leaned down, gave me a hug and a cookie, and said, “No sleeping on my good pillows.” Yup, that’s going to keep me from stealing pillows in the future.
Woof Woof.
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Write Better Fiction: A Character Enters A Scene
Today on Write Better Fiction we’ll cover the First Time A Character Appears. Write Better Fiction is a process to help you critique your own manuscript and give yourself feedback. This will help you improve your novel, so you’re ready to submit it to an editor. Check the bottom of this post for links to previous Write Better Fiction articles.
In previous blogs, we’ve discussed listing the protagonist, antagonist, and all characters in a scene, but there’s more to keeping track of your characters.
I have a column to list the first time a character appears in a novel.
When I see this, I check the scene to evaluate if I’ve described the character clearly. Is there something in the description or action that will help the reader remember this character?
I don’t list unnamed characters unless they are important to the plot or story throughout the novel. I’ll explain.
- If your protagonist is in a bar and is served by a bartender, that’s there for setting, but not really for plot. The bartender doesn’t get listed in this column.
- If you’re writing a story where your protagonist is losing their mind and sees an unnamed character repeatedly, this is important to the plot and the character would get listed in this column.
I use this column to draw character arcs. I can see where characters enter the novel. You’ve probably guessed that I have a column to note when a character exits the novel.
This columns helps if I move scenes around. I don’t want end up having a scene with a character after they have already died. Although, in a paranormal novel, this may be okay. You as the writer have to decide.
I create a separate tab in my spreadsheet for character names. Every time I add a new character to this column, I add them to my character list. This helps me check for names that are too similar. Readers have a hard time distinguishing between Bob and Bill. They read the first letter, the eye skips the rest of the word, and unlucky for the writer, the reader is now confused. I try not to have any characters whose names start with the same letter. Sometimes this doesn’t work, but then I’m careful to make sure the reader is anchored when I refer to one of the characters.
Your challenge this week is to create a character arc with your characters. Check the scenes where a new character is introduced and see if you have described them well to your reader.
I critiqued DESCENT and BLAZE using the techniques I’m sharing in Write Better Fiction, and I believe this helped me sign with a publisher.
Please me know in the comments below if noting when your characters enter your novel is helpful to your writing process.
Thanks for reading…
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ANNOUNCING DEAL FOR AVALANCHE -A STONE MOUNTAIN MYSTERY #3
One of the most exciting days in the life of an author is the day she receives a contract for her latest novel.
The she, of course, is me.
Canadian Publisher, Imajin Books, has bought the print and eBook rights to AVALANCHE. Thank you Cheryl Kaye Tardif ,CEO of Imajin books, for believing in me and for this wonderful opportunity.
AVALANCHE is the third book in the Stone Mountain Mystery Series. DESCENT and BLAZE are the first two. Also published by Imajin Books.
On a cold winter morning, deep in the Purcell Mountains, the safe at Stone Mountain Resort is robbed hours before Kalin Thompson’s brother, Roy, disappears in an avalanche.
Under normal circumstances, as the director of security, Kalin would lead the investigation into the theft, but Roy is the prime suspect. The police and the president of the resort turn their sights on Kalin. She’s told to stay clear of the investigation and risks her job to covertly attempt to clear Roy’s name.
Threats against Kalin escalate as she gets closer to the truth. Is her faith in her brother justified? Was the avalanche an accident or did something more sinister happen? And is the truth worth destroying her life for?
I’m proud to be associated with Imajin Books and am excited about what’s to come.
Thanks for reading…
