A Love Letter to Books & Imagination

I happened across this brilliant short animation from Moonbot Studios this morning: 'The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore'. If you love books and writing, you MUST see this. I was in awe, in tears and inspired to get more of my writing actually done and OUT there for readers.

Grab a Kleenex and give yourself over for a few minutes. Utter brilliance. I love the homage to Buster Keaton idea as well-- this is truly a thing of beauty.

When you're done, dry your eyes, turn off the computer and grab a book. Or, if you must stay on the computer, open up a Word file and start writing.

But first, click below and watch this wonderful gift from Moonbot Studios:

http://vimeo.com/35404908

Encouraging Words!

A Bit of Gothic York to Whet Your Appetite...

I have been getting excellent feedback from readers so far on Base Spirits. I had a lovely e-mail just yesterday- what writer wouldn't want to get this in their in-box?

"Finally got to sit down and read your book... and I read it all in one day!!!! I am generally known as a boring old lady who reads only non-fiction... (don't think I have read fiction since high school). Three weeks ago I got up on Sunday morning and began to read... and I read ... and I read ... and I read until I was done the book. Just couldn't put it down. I really do not like the word "awesome" but that is the only word I can think of right now to describe your writing. The book had so many little twists and turns I couldn't wait to see what was "right around the corner."

Wow.

This gives me confidence. One gains an audience one reader at a time, and that kind of enthusiasm is (I hope!) contagious. Almost across the board, I've been told it's a page-turner and I'm keeping folks up nights. Hey- they like me!

The KDP Select experiment has worked in many ways so far. I decided to do the free giveaway promotion in spurts rather than the whole 5 days at one. I had around 40 downloads the first day of my 2-day giveaway, and well over a thousand the second day! Considering I was so under the radar I was invisible, this is good news. I even reached the 'Top Ten' in my 2 categories of 'ghost story' and 'historical'. It was pretty cool to be on the same page as Edgar Allan Poe.

Since then, there has been a spike in sales- not huge, but definitely an encouraging improvement over the relative inactivity at the end of 2011. I am going to band together with some other writers and do a kind of cross-promotion KDP giveaway in March, so we'll see how that goes. It's the Wild West after all, right? I'll let you know details closer to the time. We're still just scheming right now...

If you're curious to see what keeps people glued to the pages of Base Spirits, have a look here:
http://www.amazon.com/Base-Spirits-ebook/dp/B005L38G8E
I'd love it if you would at least 'like' the book and agree with some of the tags. Every little bit helps, and that doesn't cost you a dime. And if you are an Amazon Prime member, you can borrow my creepy historical ghost thriller for free. Win/win!

If you are one of the many who grabbed a free copy, I do hope you like it. If you do, please consider revisiting the Kindle page and leave a rating/review. As I say, this is a case of winning a reader at a time. The more people who become aware, the better. Thank you.

Meantime, I am fiddling with some shorter works so that I can put up some new things on Kindle before too long... quick and creepy fare is on the way!

My KDP Select Experiment with Base Spirits

So, after sitting on the fence to see how it was working for other writers first, I decided to take the plunge and try the KDP Select program for 90 days.

Readers! Come grab a free e-book!

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the details are here: http://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/KDPSelect

Despite the benefits offered, I'm not altogether happy about the exclusivity demanded by Amazon: I resist any attempt by an already powerful company to dominate a market and dictate the rules. It would be easier to take if I had a number of books, but I only have one available so far. (I am working on a new novel and getting a few shorter works ready, but that's another story-- stay tuned!) Those who have a number of titles can use KDP Select to push one that is losing its momentum and still have their other work available everywhere. It still sorta sucks, though. If it was a traditionally published book, would it not be available in any bookstore?

But the pros outweigh the cons in the end. If I find I don't like it, I can always opt out in 90 days. Frankly my sales on Smashwords & affiliates were very low, so I doubt anyone will be too miffed to find my book is temporarily unavailable. The lending library's pooled fund will pay me almost as much for a borrowed book as an actual sale, and the free promo days will hopefully garner attention and new audience. I really just need to get the word out and get people to read and then talk about my novel. It's simple, really.

I know Base Spirits is a good book. The word of mouth feedback and reviews have all been excellent. I just had another nice e-mail stating 'My husband gave me a signed copy for Christmas and I had to tear myself away and force myself to turn out the light and go to sleep-- and I finished it the next day before dinner'. The general consensus is that it's a page-turner and a chill-ride, so if you like ghost stories then chances are you will enjoy my novel.

And you can grab it for FREE on Kindle on Jan. 13 and 14th! http://www.amazon.com/Base-Spirits-ebook/dp/B005L38G8E Please 'like' the book on its sales page and tick off some tags while you're there. Apparently that helps! And please pass on the word to your ghost-loving reader buddies. Tweet, share on Facebook and Goodreads or any forums or readers' groups you belong to. I'd love you for it. And if you love the book, please come on back and leave a review. That is hugely appreciated!

If you miss the freebie, stay tuned for more to come... and in the meantime look into borrowing it through the Kindle Lending Library- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000739811 It's free for Prime members, and it would make little ol' me-- and the thousands of other authors who have great books available-- really happy! Hell, even just take the plunge and buy it. You can't even get a really good specialty coffee for $2.99. And think of all the good karma you'll get along with your chills and thrills!

Looking Forward, Looking Back...

I promise myself I will get back to England this year...

Happy 2012 to everyone! I hope that this year brings you excellent health, abundance and happiness in all that you do.

It's a time of year when we look back and reflect upon the past 12 months. What were you doing a year ago? How far have you come since?

Me? I don't remember the first week of 2011. At all. I had a bad flu which led to me suffering a terrifying condition called hyponatremia.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia If my friend Craig had not been present when I collapsed in a delirium on January 2nd, I would not be sitting here right now writing this blog entry. As it was, I landed in ICU and a coma was induced for the best part of a week while Craig, my brother Dave and my Mom sat vigil. They'd been warned that I may not wake up, and if I did the chances of my being severely brain-damaged were high.

Obviously, I came around. Recovery took over a month.

To say this was horrifying is an understatement. I am glad I don't remember many details. But this was the third dance with mortality in as many years for me due to medical conditions (the other two bouts being due to pulmonary emboli in 2008). Despite the odds, I am still here.

I took the hint that life is short in 2011. I decided to stop pursuing the traditional publishing path and try my hand at indie publishing. Base Spirits (http://www.amazon.com/Base-Spirits-ebook/dp/B005L38G8E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325623793&sr=1-1) was a long time coming, but it's here and I'm proud of it. In the coming year I intend to see it make an impact with readers as I work on getting more writing out in general. I'm pleased to announce that my short story 'The Transformation' was accepted for the Dark Light anthology coming out in March from http://www.crushingheartsandblackbutterfly.com/ So far, so good. I have a few works in progress of various lengths. I will share them as soon as they are ready to be seen.

Not only was 2011 a personal struggle with health, but the wider world seemed to be going insane (more than usual!) Politics-- both here in Canada and abroad-- have taken strange and sometimes worrying turns, and the international economic turmoil and power struggles seem to be building toward a pitched battle between the forces of Good and Evil on a very fundamental level. I have felt the weight of the world very much this past year and it had me feeling battered and torn at times.

My mantra heading into 2012 is a two-fold one:

First, in the words of Douglas Adams, "Don't Panic". It's short and sweet, and covers most issues one may find themselves facing, large or small.

Second-- and more heartfelt-- are the parting words from the deeply mourned Canadian politician Jack Layton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Layton He had his own, very public battles with bad health in 2011. Unfortunately for us all, Jack lost his fight.

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

This love letter to Canada can be found in its entirety here: http://www.ndp.ca/letter-to-canadians-from-jack-layton Wherever you live and whatever your political leanings, it is well worth reading and applying to your own life.

So my friends, let's all have an excellent year and change the world... if only in small ways.

Creepfest e-book Winners!

Hi folks! I know Creepfest is officially 12 days, but Christmas is a-coming and I have a lot to do and people to see. I don't want to take time away from company to blog. Even I have limits.

So... I had a lovely assistant do a blind draw of the names entered in the Creepfest e-book draw. I decided to have 3 prizes instead of one. Just 'cause.

The grand prize of a package of awesome e-books goes to *drumroll*

James Garcia Jr.!

My two runner-up winners of a copy of Base Spirits are *another exciting drumroll*

Jason Darrick

and...

*drum flourish*

Ash Krafton!

*cymbal clash and wild canned applause*


My lovely and somewhat bemused assistant can now go back to their morning coffee. I will get in contact, guys-- congratulations! Please bear with me as I coordinate how to get all the books out to you. It may be a juggle contacting the other authors over the Christmas break. But you'll have lots of good stuff to read in the New Year!

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and a HUGE thank you to all the wonderful guests who wrote such splendid posts over the past week and a half. I wish one and all the very best of the season-- whatever you choose to call it, or whether or not you choose to celebrate any specific rites and traditions. May you enjoy good company, laughter, a feast or three-- and may 2012 bring you all excellent health, good fortune and love.

I may be done, but Creepfest is not! Click on Poe's picture to carry on creeping!

Horror for Good: Mark Scioneaux on Creepfest

One last chance to enter the draw for a pack of Creepfest e-book goodies! http://ruth-barrett-spiritedwords.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-to-12-days-of-creepfest.html

My final guest on the 12 Days of Creepfest blog hop is the talented and kind-spirited Mark Scioneaux.


1) "My true love gave to me..." -- Your most amazing/weird/stupid gift ever-- given or received.

One of the best gifts I have ever received came a few Christmases ago when my wife gave me our first Keurig machine. I am an avid coffee drinker and I used the hell out of it. As far a weird gifts go, the two that stick out in my mind were both from my aunt. One Christmas, she gave me a sweater that looked like a rainbow had thrown up all over it. Needless to say that was returned quickly. The other gift was a long time ago when "Santa" brought me my first Playstation. I received a gift from here that looked suspiciously like a Playstation game. But when I opened it, it was a Duran Duran CD. My sister received a Coach purse from her. WTF?!?

2) Ghosts of Christmas Past/Present/Future -- Highlights (or disasters) of past holidays, and/or aspirations for the ideal future Christmas.


I am blessed to say I never had a bad Christmas at my house growing up. Each morning the tree was surrounded with gifts and my sister and I would open so many that we would get bored after a while. We were spoiled to say the least and its something I look forward to doing to my children one day. From this fortunate upbringing sprung this desire for me to help others who maybe didn't have it as good as I did.

For my ideal future Christmas, it would be watching my children open their gifts surrounded by their parents and grandparents. Then I could sit back and smile, knowing that my entire life had led up to this one perfect moment.

3) The best book you ever got for Christmas.

A few books stick out in my mind. Jurassic Park and Jaws were two of my favorites that I can read over and over again and never tire of. One Christmas I received the entire collection of Edgar Allen Poe. His poem, "The Raven," is one of my favorite pieces of literature of all time. I also received a book of Greek mythology and read it until it fell apart. I love Greek mythology and I find it fascinating.

4) Tell us about your upcoming charity anthology!


Horror for Good was created one day as a simple idea to put an anthology together for charity. It turned into something far greater than anyone could have ever expected. Proceeds from the book sales will go toward amfAR, an international charity for fight against AIDS. It features Stoker winners, international best sellers, and authors new to the horror writing scene. It will be out sometime in the Spring of 2012, and the editors are Robert S. Wilson, R.J. Cavender, and myself. It will be published by Cutting Block Press.


I want to help make a change in the world, and I am asking for the help of the writing world to do it.

One person cannot make a dent, but when he/she is teamed up with many, anything is possible!

Amazing idea, Mark! Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/horrorforgood

"The Glass Coffin"
Tyler Webster is a ruined man. With age creeping up on him and his marriage failing, he seeks solace in the arms of another, leaving his wife and sick daughter behind. When he returns however, the unthinkable has happened. The dead have come to life and are hunting the living. Tyler soon finds himself helpless, and worse, powerless to do anything about it as the macabre situation unfolds. He is trapped inside his glass coffin while the world around him turns to madness.

If you are a fan of classic, Romero-style zombie action, then this is a must read. A true zombie lover's delight scripted by Mark Christopher Scioneaux, the author of the zombie thriller, Hollow Point, and founder of Horror for Good.



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006GC6QM2/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d1_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1TXRC9PYNJQ37TBQPEMJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

And in true charitable style, Mark submitted links to his fellow editor's book!


Shining in Crimson by Robert S. Wilson
Set in a dystopian, religiously-demented American Empire, the city of Las Vegas is no longer a city of sin. Now called Necropolis, it is a city that eats sin. The vampires of Necropolis wait patiently for the Empire's weekly drop off of guilty Penitents; sinners and criminals full of fresh blood.

Hank Evans is one of those Penitents and he would gladly let the vampires take every drop of his blood if it weren’t for one detail: Toby. Toby is Hank’s only son. Now, Hank must do whatever it takes to escape the city of the dead and save his son from an Empire as bloodthirsty as the vampires it uses to keep its people in line.

"A big-scale vampire thriller that changes the rules."--Scott Nicholson, Liquid Fear, The Red Church, and They Hunger.

http://www.amazon.com/Shining-Crimson-Empire-Blood-ebook/dp/B005LD2TKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1323836967&sr=1-1

Solstice Treat with Kim Koning on Creepfest

Welcome (and Bright Blessings, if today is your Solstice... and Chanukah Sameach for other Jewish friends!) There's still time to enter the draw for a Creepfest gift pack of e-books: http://ruth-barrett-spiritedwords.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-to-12-days-of-creepfest.html

Pull up a cosy chair and get ready for Kim Koning- she went above and beyond with her poetical take on the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future!

Twas the night before Christmas and as I lay down in bed I sent out a Christmas prayer.
"Christmas Spirits, both ancient and present I plead with you this dark night lit only by the moon.
My Christmas wish tonight is not for gifts of gold and silver wrapped trinkets or sweet morsels to fill my mouth.
My Christmas wish tonight is not for earthly peace nor endless sunshine and cloudless skies.
No, my Christmas wish is a touch, a kiss, a warm embrace, the whisper of my name on breath long disappeared.
My Christmas wish is for the living and the spirits to meet once more, even for a few hours.
My Christmas wish is to tell those that left me how I loved them and how I missed their presence in my life.
My Christmas wish is to hear the sweet tinkling bells of their laughter and to feel the warmth of their smiles.
My Christmas wish is to tell them that though their spirits now walk this realm and the next, their love remains alive in my heart.
Christmas Spirits, both ancient and present I plead with you this dark night lit only by the moon."

As the moon disappeared behind veiled clouds of deep grey, I fell asleep with trickling rain dripping down my cheek.
It was not long and I heard a sound and felt a warm caress dry the rain's tears from my cheek.
A voice bent down to my ear and whispered my name and I heard tinkling laughter coming from all corners of the room.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked to see what marvel had appeared in my room under the clouded sky.
There in a bed, covered up to the chin by a heavy blanket of death-white, lay a girl with a dried tear on her cheek.
Her hair was smooth and dark against the white of the pillow and her lips were bruised as if some kiss had longed to punish them.
I heard the tinkling laughter then and looked to my side and behind me.
There were ethereal specters there all around the bed of this lost girl.
The moon had disappeared but pale light shone through their shadowy forms.

I looked back at the girl wondering where I had seen her before.
One of these specters looked at me then for the first time and smiled a smile that embraced my soul in warmth and light.
The specter's lips did not move but a low melodious sound came from him like a cello chasing the sound of light in a moonless night:
"We heard your Christmas plea little one. You did not ask for earthly peace nor endless sunshine and cloudless skies.
You did not ask for gold and silver wrapped trinkets or sweet morsels to fill your mouth.
Your Christmas wish was for the living and the spirits to meet once more.
So here we come, at your call and as you wished...all the spirits who loved you once and missed you long."
But dear one the living must sacrifice life itself to walk with the spirits...Your sacrifice has been a tender gift for us this Christmas Past."

Then he stretched out his hand and he touched mine.
I trembled in fear at his words and wished to take back my Christmas plea.
I had not wished to sacrifice life, what of all those I love this Christmas Present.
His hand went right through air and though I could feel his strong grasp, there was no hand to cling to in return.
I looked down again at the lost girl lying asleep in eternity and knew that my heart would ache to feel the tears of rain or light of the moon again.
No more endless sunshine nor cloudless skies for me. No earthly peace nor gifts of gold and silver.
No touch, no kiss, nor embrace, sweet laughter, nor whispers of my name.

These specters were only veils of what had been warm breath and soft laughter, shed tears and sweet memories.
The lost girl lay in bed as the clouded sky gave way to the all seeing eye of the morning.
All around I could hear carolers singing and in the house far away I could hear mother and father calling out "Merry Christmas."
The lost girl did not stir. Christmas Eve had come and passed taking her with it.
I watched the two people I had once known as mom and dad come running in with gifts of gold and silver wrapped trinkets spilling forth from their embrace.
I saw the woman collapse to the floor before he could catch her and the sounds that poured forth from both pulled a veil over the sun, their misery was so great.

I knew then, looking at the ugly grief of the couple where I recognised that lost girl.
She had been this same specter once before when it breathed, laughed, hoped and loved.
I took one last glance at the lost girl and the grieving couple and I bent down and whispered my forgotten name in the woman's ear.
She shivered at the sound of my whisper and glanced wildly around searching for that missing girl
I touched the man's arm but he shook my touch off as if a cruel thing had pierced him.

The specter who had spoken so melodiously before beckoned me once more.
The other ethereal forms had drifted off as the moon had been swallowed by the morning.
He looked at me once again and his face showed pain so great and so forlorn:
"Come child, you are no more. Now you walk the realm with those who have gone before."

Now I walk this realm and the next longing for a warm touch, a sweet kiss and shared laughter.
I visit all the homes of my loved ones each Christmas, silently coming in with the moonlight and leaving with the sun.
I am moonlight and stardust, wind and water but ancient spirit I remain.

Heed the wishes you make on Christmas night for twas a wish such as this that took my breath...
Heed the living and love the present for the realm of spirits leaves much to be attained...

Heed the Christmas wish that regrets the past, forgetting your gift of Now but love life lest you sacrifice it.

Christmas Spirits, both ancient and present keep your silence, the living seek you out...

_____________________
Thanks for having me on your "Spirited Words" Ruth. I truly enjoyed the Christmas prompts.
Happy Creepfest everyone.

Open the gateway of darkness at: http://kimkoning.com/wp/
I can be found Wrestling the Muse : http://kimkoning.wordpress.com/
I can also be found on twitter @AuthorKimKoning
Like my facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Kim.M.Koning?sk=app_106171216118819
My first short story is available in this anthology along with 33 other great authors including The Neil Gaiman:
http://randomstatic.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=51
(I am also giving away an ebook copy of this anthology on my blog "Wrestling the Muse" for Creepfest in a Creepmas Contest.)

I see ghosts and tell tales of their visits.
I write by the light of the moon and under the gaze of the stars.
Draw up a chair, light a candle, close the windows and let me weave you stories of darkness and gateways of light.