YouTube Interview, The Dreaded Blurb, A Goblin Rant, & More!

 

Welcome to my Book Goblin Newsletter! Lots of fun book news, my life as a fantasy author, blurb strife, and goblin rant! Grab some tea and enjoy.

                              

New YouTube Interview!

With the release of my new novel, The Dragon Keepers,  I am also blessed with another interview by Elizabeth O'Carroll at the Gimme 5-Book Review & Author Interview, Link@ 

 Gimme 5-Book Review & Author Interviews~ - YouTube

The interview will be avaialble on July 16 on YouTube! Thank you Elizabeth for the wonderful talk. Check it out! We my new novel, discuss writing, stress amnesia, (which I suffered when I forgot a character name!) and love for the small publishing house.

The Dreaded Blurb Quest

Is writing a 100,000 word fantasy epic difficult? No. For me it is fun. I've got lots of stories and characters in my little head, thundering about like impatient trolls. Is it hard to write a brief and exciting 100 word blurb for your novel. Yes. It is a terror I suffer with each book I finish. As I start another new novel (New characters! New tale! Must remain silent now) I decided to do something new. I would have three things before I write: title, ending, blurb.

Now the first two are easy. I already have the characters and tale mapped out in my book bible. But that blurb? Always makes my head ache. But I made myself do it. After a miserable afternoon of tea and writing, I did it. Is it great? I hope so. It is a selling point to agents and publishers. But I think I did a good job weaving my new world into a brief blurb. 

Drafting My Novel: Madness, Tea, & Shortbread

My books start with a spark. An idea, an image, or a memory. I go through this process whenever I begin something new. I am in the process now of creating a new tale with new characters in a shiny new world. The process is different for every writer.

When I wrote The Bardess of Rhulon, I wanted to create a story about a dwarven female heroine in a secondary world. I began writing when I had her name: Rose Greenleaf. At first my impulse was to create a warrior, but then something else happened as I drafted my first chapter. Rose wanted to be a bard. Tell stories and lay music. Her parents and her village expected Rose to be like other girls. She wasn't. She was different and that caused her trouble. Rose longed for freedom to be an artist.

Her mentor, an aged bard supported her. Rose's parents did not. Rose's battle was for the right to be herself. Choose her own path. A warrior does not always need a sword. Sometimes they need a lute. And that is how I created the first novel of the Rogue Bardess trilogy. I love Rose. I am proud of what I created.

Sometimes you just need to let the tale flow. You cannot plan everything in a notebook. Only the raw beginnings which are later refined. So as an author, just let go and see what happens. 

Goblin Rant: Small Publishing Woes

I work with two smaller publishing houses, TANSTAAFL Press and Wolfsinger Publications. These two publishers may be small by big publishing house images, but they do awesome work. Sometimes these are called micro presses, which I think sounds demeaning. 

What people don't realize is how much harder the small publisher has to work. They must pay for everything, the editing, book covers, ISBN #, etc. They must promote the books, go to book fairs and conventions. The work is endless, but the industry has made things harder on them.   

As a writer with a small house, I also face the task of trying to promote my work on social media. It is daunting and makes me cranky. It's a struggle for us both. So when surfing social media or the book section on Amazon, seek out lesser known, You may be surprised at how wonderful we are. 

Speaking of promos, below is my library of novels you can buy on Amazon and other online book sites. Much magic to behold.                                                    

                             

That is all I have the enery for today. Applying my book covers to this newsletter became vexing. Forgive the spacing. Read more books, support libraries, as the librarian is our true hero/heroines. And support the small publishers! We publish quality novels all can enjoy. Read more! Explore imagination. 

Cheers,

Verna McKinnon

 

   

New book release of The Dragon Keepers! Planning new books, writing journals, & Book Goblins

 

NEW BOOK RELEASE!

                                                     

Greetings my book loving friends! It's been awhile since my last newsletter. Writing, work, and life in general (which make us all nuts now), have kept me busy and crazy. With ny newest book release, I am like a proud mother showing off her literary baby. So indulge me. Despite the chaos my writing has produced my newest novel, The Dragon Keepers, Rogue Bardess #3. Amazon link: https://bit.ly/4tz6Ltk

My wonderful publisher, Tom Gondolfi of TANSTAAFL Press worked fast to get this released when we finished our edits! This completes the trilogy for tmy Rogue Bardess series. I adore the cover. Below is the full wrap around for the paperback edition. I love it! We see Rose Greenleaf and her husband, Culain Ironheart is riding a dragon.  Hmmm, how did this happen. Read the novel and see. What do you think of the artwork? I love the colors. Plus I am obsessed with dragons. I also wanted to give my dragons a decent tale. I hope you enjoy the read.

 

Here is the complete trilogy, available at Amazon:

MY JOURNAL CURSE

Like many writers, I spend most of my writing time on the computer typing. But sometimes I feel adrift in this cold computer age. I always loved journals. Pretty ones, Colorful ones, enbossed and deisgned with cool themes and imagry. I have many. What can I say. I love journals but they usually stack up on my desk unused and sad.

I have been changing that. I am using my journals for tales, ideas, and plans. Writing with a pen creates a different energy. A creative energy. I like it. I also hope it will help me focus. I distract easily, like a squirrel with nuts.

THE BOOK GOBLIN

I have changed the title of my newsletter to "The Book Goblin." Why? Well, for a few reasons. Often, I feel like a pale goblin hunched over my computer with my hair in a messy ponytail. I also feel like ranting and stomping my little feet like goblin when the world makes me crazy (which is daily now). Plus., humor is needed now. Like writers, goblins are not appreciated enough in this cold world. This is my new female goblin avatar. She is cool, and demands apprecation and chocolate. She has a temper so beware. Have some choclolate handy. 

More to come later unless the world implodes. In that case, it will not matter.  Be creative. Read. Follow your dreams and run away from yout nightmares. Or have your goblin warrior kick them in the butt. 

 Cheers,

Verna McKinnon

My Interview On YouTube! Retro Book Review, & The Writing Curse

 

Author Interview On YouTube Just Dropped!

Wonderful news! Ellizabeth O'Carroll of Gimme 5-Book Review and Author Interviews YouTube channel interviewed me about my books, life as an author, and other fun topics. Elizabeth was a joy to work with. We had such fun together and had so much in common. I look forward to talking with her again soon. 

Check out the interview @  Verna McKinnon Author Interview

Retro Book Reviews: Tanith Lee's Black Unicorn

One thing that never goes out of style is a great novel. Black Unicorn is one of them. As I talked about Tanith Lee in my interview with Elizabeth O'Carroll, this novel came up. It is the first book of a trilogy, and is suitable for all ages. The pure fantasy and intriguing heroine of the tale, Tanquil, who does not relate to her self-absorbed sorceress mother, Jaive. Nor does she feel at home in her mother's magic saturated fortress. Industrious and always helping the servant's fix broken objects with great skill, on her desert hunts she finds a shimmering bone in the desert. Soon, she finds all the bones of this unknown creature, thanks to the reluctant help of her peeve, her  furry companion who wanted to keep the bones as his treasures. The peeve speaks in broken words thanks to Jaive's magic, but also frustrates Tanquil as much as it attaches itself to her. Tanquil's skill at fixing things goes beyond her imagining when she finds all the bones. The mystical skeleton comes alive, and a living black unicorn emerges. It escapes and Tanquil chases the unicorn to another world, her Peeve in tow.

Black Unicorn is a short and enthralling novel with vibrant characters and revelations. Read it. Enjoy the word magic.

The Writing Curse

Being an author has demands on my brain that I cannot control. I love being creative and writing tales. Time is cruel, which is also a curse. I want to write many fun tales, but there is not enough time. Most of you who are writers understand this. We must work for a living. So there is the stress of having my focus on things mundane so I can reap the paycheck. It is a common curse among us. It does not make it easier. It is just a fact. 

For now, I am in the process of creatiing two new novels. That is also my curse, Trying to do too much. But time slips away and I keep trying. I drink my coffee and forge ahead. We are all in this together. What do you do to cope? Let me know.

That is all for now. Thank you for reading. Until later, read some fantasy!

Cheers,

Verna McKinnon

The fate of fantasy, NaNoWriMo pressures, and small press pride!

 

Fantasy Fiction & Lost Imagination?

Fantasy has always been popular. It appeals to all age groups and genders. There are many forms of this genre. Old style pulp fantasy, to the gentler &more classic, (think Tolkien) to modern epic multi-book fantasy series (examples: Harry Potter & Brian Sanderson). Now this genre often does not get the respect it deserves. Some people think of fantasy or science fiction and automatically stigmatize it as bad writing. You know the type. As a happy nerdy girl, I gravitated toward fantasy and science fiction. Did I love the Bronte sisters and other forms of literature? Yes. I love good writing. I have a shrine to the Bronte sisters. I revel in Shakespeare & Dickens. I do not discriminate by genre.

There have been many great tales of fantasy. When I was young, it was still in a creative heyday. The fantasy novels I discovered off the book racks were filled with bright imagination. But now, no matter how epic or exotic the tale, I feel something is missing.

Consider the great era of pulp. Pulp had nothing to do with quality, but the type of paper used for publishing The Conan tales by Robert E. Howard are my favorite. The writers of Weird Tales introduced us to many great writers of the genre. Imagination abounds here, and your mind conjures images of his many quests. The works of the late great Tanith Lee, and more, the release of classic pulp fiction and growth of the fantasy and science fiction authors of the 70's & 80's rose a spectacular wave of exciting novels with original ideas. The characters were vivid, often flawed, and you could breathe in this fantasy world. Vonda McIntyre's Dreamsnake was a vivid and personal tale of a woman healer in a post-apocalyptic world. Then by chance, I picked up copies of Tanith Lee in used bookstores and discovered her library of wonder. She is my example of what we should be searching for. She wrote it all: fantasy, science fiction, horror, and children's stories, all brimming with imaginative worlds and characters, many with female lead characters before it was popular. Her Tales of the Flat Earth series, The Silver Metal Lover, Black Unicorn, and The Birthgrave are templates of fantastic speculative fiction. Ray Bradbury's sense of wonder enchants us. 

Now fantasy seems more curated to fit into certain boxes. I have noticed books all feel the same now. Tropes repeated. Stories that all seem the same. Imagination has been shoved into a closet for trilogies with bigger than life themes and specific categories. Grimdark, young adult, urban, magical realism, romantic fantasy, fantasy of manners, and more, break up the genre into little boxes. Young adult sections in bookstores delegates a section of Twilight or Percy Jackson separate from the rest. But why? 

We all loved fantasy and science fiction growing up because it was freeing.  Now there are so many trends-vampires, dragons, fairy, gritty girl hero or pone boy in a leather jacket. I have read the opinion that authors in this classic era relied too much on Lord of the Rings in the early years, but I disagree with that. A lot of great fantasy from my favorite authors do not use that Tolkien foundation. Tanith lee, Robert E. Howard, Ursula K. Le Guin, Anne McCaffrey, Poul Anderson, Fritz Leiber, and Jennifer Roberson. These are great fantasy/science fiction authors you should check out. They are my master class of imagination.

The bottom line is the individual feel in books seems a bit lost. When I discovered fantasy the tales I read seemed to create their own literary place. It has not been duplicated. Writers and readers need to search for something new explore. The digital age does not seem to have encouraged that.

The Haunting of NANOWRIMO

So glad November is well behind me as I step into the new year. Okay, I confess that have never participated in this novel writing challenge. Do I admire people who do? Hell yes. Will I ever do it? Hell no. Like most of you out there, I am a busy person. I do not earn my living by writing novels & short stories. I have a stressful job. I have a husband. I have two demanding cats. Many books to read. I cannot focus on this sort of thing. I cannot write every day. It is not possible. It's like the advice that writers should read every day and write every day. It would be lovely, but it is not my reality. I have written six novels that have been published by two wonderful small presses. Do I dream of achieving more? Of course I do. All I can do is keep writing. I have three novels I am working on now. And I have a fulltime job, a husband, and two demanding cats. We all do what we can as indie authors. 

Small Press Pride

Speaking of my small presses, my two are TANSTAAFL Press and Wolfsinger Publications. They are awesome and supportive. It is also an outlet who do not want to self-publish or cannot make it to a major publishing house. It takes connections and a lot of road bumps. Small publishers offer a great option. Check them out thoroughly. Do your research. Make sure the publisher is legit and is not asking you for any money. If they do, refuse & run. Even a small press will handle the publishing end and cover art, etc. So, beware and do your homework. 

TANSTAAFL Press is headed by Thomas Gondolfi. He is a driven writer himself and rescued one of my novels when the other small press folded (The Bardess of Rhulon). I have written two other novels for his publishing house (The Bastard Sorceress and War Poet). He works tirelessly to promote my works. He is supportive and patient. Boisterous. Fun. And loyal. I hope to write many books for him.

WolfSinger Publications is headed by Carol Hightshoe. She has had a strong indie publishing house for years and also works as a freelance editor. She has edited many of my works (books and short stories) before rescuing my Familiar's Tale series from oblivion. Now Gate of Souls, Tree of Bones, and The Fires of Rapiveshta have a home. Thank you, Carol!             

  

                                      

What now in 2025?

Write. Lots of writing. Much coffee and chocolate will be consumed. Have a wonderful new year. 

Cheers,

Verna McKinnon

Two New Book Releases & Specials, Promotion Angst, & Writing Wild Insights

 

Writing Wild

by Verna McKinnon

New Novel Releases

Greetings my friends! It has been quiet, but in my writing den it has been crazy busy. But my labors, fueled by lots of tea and chocolate have achieved some literary goodness. I have two new book lreases this March! Not one, but two, and there is a story behind that. More on that later. I am a very lucky author. I work with two small publishing housesm TANSTAAFL Press and Wolfsinger Publications. So I am a lucky girl to have new publishers release my books. First, let's review my happy new book news!

War Poet

Release Date March 15

Rogue Bardess Book #2

https://bit.ly/42QsAsI 

My second novel in my rogue bardess series is War Poet from TANSTAAFL Press. The release date date is March 15th and I posted the easy link below the cover! I just adore this book cover. The tale of my bard heroine, Rose Greenleaf, continues as she is hunted by strange fey and demons on her first mission as an agent into dangerous territory to resiuce a lost prince.The first novel, The Bardess of Rhulon, is having a special in honor of War Poet's release.  Go tohttps://bit.ly/4a6IW2V to get your free copy of "The Bardess of Rhulon," so you will be caught up on Rose Greenleaf's adventures before War Poet's release.

The Fires of Rapiveshta

Release date March 20

A Familiar's Tale, Book 3

https://amzn.to/3uO8QJO

The final novel in my Familiar's Tale trilogy will be releases March 20!

My writing heart is filled with joy that The Fires of Rapiveshta will be released March 20! Thsi is the third book in The Familiar's Tale trilogy. Carol Hightshoe frm Wolfsinger Publications picked up my Familiar's Tale series after I left my previous publisher. Publishing is hard and expensive, even in this so-called instant world of technology. Small presses struggle. We spent time releasing my first two novels, Gate of Souls and Tree of Bones onWolfsinger first. I am thrilled to see my trilogy complete! The journey of my mages and their familiars against the bloodstone magic and dark goddess, Obsydia, which threaten not only their lives, but their world, will be concluded. And there will be dragons.  

Before reading Fires of Rapiveshta, do read the exciting adventure sof Runa,and Mellypip, and friends in Gate of Souls & Tree of Bones.

So Sabine Fable does not feel put out. Check out The Bastard Sorceress fom TANSTAAFL Press. On sale! $6.27 for paperback!

https://amzn.to/3DPq77p

The Bastard Sorceress is not a new release, but she is on sale. The paperback edition on Amazon (normally 19.99) is now $6.27! That's better than thrift store prices and this is shiny and new. Explore the world of Sabine Fable, where she is a poor baseborn in a world where magic is currency. Can she acheive the magic she craves and save her mother from poverty? 

Wild Writer Insights

& my search for Zen in a crazy writing world.

Some folk think being a writer, all quiet and solitary at our writing desks, typing away, are seriious and studious folk. I have no idea what those folk are about. There is a circus of crazy in my head. I am one of those writers who does not see words in my head as I compose my tales. I see vivid scenes, like from an epic movie, only the special effects are better.  There is a musical soundtrack. I know what my characters look like and sound like. These images I translate into words. And since I have published several novels and short stories, my imagination is pretty crowded. When I write, I am usually hunched over my keyboard in a baggy tee-shirt looking like a goblin who never sees the light of day.

But that is me. Every writer has their own process. Creative people cannot be categorized. I accept that now. Do what works for you. Write the tales you want to read. Believe in yourself. We are lonely warriors of words in a strange world. More to come in another newsletter. 

Until then, read more fantasy!

Cheers,

Verna McKinnon

War Poet cover reveal, RadCon 2024 convention Feb 16-18, writing news, and more!

 

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2024! So much going on, but I had to survive the holidays first. My 2024 resolutions include doing more newsletters. Will this resolution become a reality and not a fantasy? Who knows, but I do write fantasy. But let's get started with some fun author updates today. Let's start with War Poet.

War Poet Cover Reveal

 Yes! I finished War Poet, the second "Rogue Bardess' novel about Rose Greenleaf, a Dwarven bard with a rare magical gift of the glam rhapsode. My publisher, TANSTAAFL Press, will release War Poet around April 2024. I am excited because I love this character and this cover looks the way I imagined Rose Greenleaf to look like. This cover is gorgeous. Plus, the bonus of the shadowy fey characters in the background. I would recommend you read the first book in the series, The Bardess of Rhulon. 

FREE Ebook offer for The Bastard Sorceress on Amazon

Yes, my publisher is offering a great free E-book offer for my novel, The Bastard Sorceress! Use this link https://www.amazon.com/Bastard-Sorceress-Verna-McKinnon-ebook/dp/B0BG6CQM4Z/

                                            

I will be appearing at the RADCON science fiction/fantasy convention at the Red Lion Inn in Pasco, Washington February 16-18. I will be sitting on several writing panels and having fun. There will be authors, artists, gamers, and more. Lots of fun. Contact info for Radcon is Contact Us – RadCon SciFi/Fantasy Convention

Hotel info:

Red Lion: 1-509-547-0701

Pasco Red Lion - 2525 N 20th Ave, Pasco, WA 99301   

More news to come. Have a wonderful New Year! Read more fantasy and enjoy the magic.

 

Fantasy & Science Fiction: Past & Present

When I was a teen and started buying my own books, fantasy and science fiction came in all sizes. The tradition now is for an average fantasy novel to be around a 100,000 words. Some fantasy novels out there are doubler or triple that size now. That is  the current mode and expectation. But when I first dove into reading science fiction and fantasy, many of these novels were much smaller, slim paperback volumes. But the tales within were epic! The small books from great authors now legendary:Tanith Lee, Ursula K. Le Quin, Robert E Howard, Ray Bradbury, and more. Everything is so complicated in the publishing world. This is why I love going into used bookstores, which is about the only place to find books these days outside of Amazon. There are some bookstores left, but few work with smaller publishers and carry their books. I understand there is an issue of profit and loss, but that hurts some genuine good authors who are looking to expand. So I take my shopping to the used bookstores or buy online. I miss finding those little gems. Of course, my personal library is stocked with my old favorites. But it would be nice to for publishers to think back on these slim books with so much impact. Not everything has to be a thousand pages to telll a great story. What are your favorites? 

Snow White: My Story

This story first appeared in print antholgy by Mystic Signals, Issue 13. April 2012. 

This short story was my retelling of onw of my favorite fairy tales, Snow White. This dark tale has so much wonder, and sadlly, not as appreciated. I do agree (as far as Disney film) their version's use of the seven dwarfs was silly. But the wicked queen and innocent Snow White had a deeper message. Being a strong character is not just about swinging a sword. Snow White was an innocent, but she was also strong. She was kind and generous. Her path thorny with trials and threat of death, but in the end, she rose form the ashes thanks to magic and found not only true love, but (this is often left out of movies and tales) made sure her wicked stepmother/queen was punished. I made sure to include that in my version of Snow White. These fairy tales are old, and predate Grimm. They gathered these tales in Europe, but they are hundreds, even thousands of years older than we know. Fairy tales are a fascination of mine. It's not about the kiss. It's about light being rewarded and darkness banished. The tale is free to to read on my website (with many others, old and new). It was originally published by Mystic Signals edition 13, 2012 print anthology only.  Enjoy! Here is the direct link: Snow White: My Story

War Poet

My second novel in the Rogue Bardess series, War Poet is nearly done. I have dragged my heroine Rose Greenleaf through the trauma trail as she faces goblins and fairy, a mad king, a cursed prince in a tower, and ancient legends with dark agendas. There are new characters along with our established ones. I hope to submit it to my published, Tom Gondolfi  of TANSTAAFL Press soon. Read the first novel, The Bardess of Rhulon, and cattch up on her adventure. Available at Amazon amzn.to/3Z3Oqar

You can read the first chapter of Bardess at TANSTAAFL Press atr The Bardess of Rhulon » TANSTAAFL Press

The Bastard Sorceress from TANSTAAFL Press, @ Amazon https://amzn.to/3DPq77p

And check out my new editions form my Familiar's Tale series at Wolfsinger Publications. Gate of Souls and Tree of Bones are available at Amazon & Wolfsinger in both Kindle and paperback formats.

First chapters can be read at Wolfsinger: Gate of Souls & Tree of Bones both here: Gate of Souls | Fantasy | WolfSinger Publications (wolfsingerpubs.com) 

And an excerpt from my writing life:

 

More to come later. Now that it is September I welcome autumn, hazlenut lattes, and crunch fall leaves. 

Verna McKinnon