Maya's Musings: #reading

Showing posts with label #reading. Show all posts

September 18, 2023

It's A Numbers Game

I started Maya's Musings in January 2014. I was a baby writer ticking the boxes on the "How To Be A Writer" guide. I don't actually think there's a definitive list, but maybe. At the time, and still to this day, "they" (whoever they are) say a writer needs a blog (and a website and a social media presence). Blogger offers a (free and) simple format. You can do all sorts of things here, but I only use it for my blog.

At the beginning of this year (in January, February, March, and one day in May), I had a human rights hearing. During the hearing, my blog (and the time I spent and compensation I received) was brought up. So, I made a chart. This data was correct as of February 7, 2023.

Managing a blog can be very time consuming so I learned to outsource the work (as much as possible) to guests and other author promotions. New content, minimal effort. I also (by 2019) started posting my Quote of the Week and #TirgearrTuesday pictures to my blog to maximize my potential audience. These were also cross-posted (via social media schedulers) to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I don't make any money from my blog. Honestly, maybe I'm not technologically savvy enough to monetize it. And paying IT support seems like an unnecessary expense as my writing expenses already outweigh my book royalties.

Anyway, so aside from pointing out during the hearing that I have a blog and am losing so much money on my writing (thanks a lot, I feel so validated - not), my views have exploded! Maybe it's my employer and its team of industrious lawyers spying on me, but maybe it's new readers and fans. I like to believe the latter. And, seriously, if you are new to my work, I have six books out and I would love your support (aka please buy my book).

My posts see an average of 25 views. And this past month, like I said, my views have exploded!

Views - All-Time

Views - Last 30 days

And, surprisingly, the majority of these views are coming from Singapore!

Locations of Viewers - Last 30 days

So, welcome, my Singapore visitors! I am open to author interviews and visiting podcasts. Just email me. Or contact me via socials. I'm very interested to know why I am suddenly so popular in Southeast Asia. My last release, Designed by Destiny, was very popular in Australia. Anyway, it's super cool and I'm hyped about it.

I've loved reading and writing my whole life. And it's a privilege and an honor to share my interest with all you wonderful people out there!

May 2, 2022

#TirgearrTuesday

Set your calendars...

Voting for A Fairy Godmother's Redemption starts next week.

October 26, 2021

An Excerpt from A Fairy Godmother's Redemption for #TirgearrTuesday

Madison bit her bottom lip, looking guilty. “We notice lots of stuff when people don’t notice us.”

An invisible force tugged on his heartstrings. Shit. I’m complete shit at this parenting thing. “I’m an adult. It’s my job—” Right now anyway. “—to worry about you. Not the other way around.”

Madison’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “It’s all our fault.” She turned on her heels, escaping into her bedroom.

Mackenzie, looking tough as always, glared at him. “Now, you’ve done it.”

Resisting the urge to smack himself in the face, Drew pushed down the frustration of feeling like a constant failure. “Okay, I’ll bite. What’s bothering Madison?”

“We really liked Jana.” Mackenzie’s bottom lip quivered. “Madison was afraid she broke up with you because she didn’t like us.”

“Oh, half-pint. Jana did like you. She’s mad at me for something I did. Grown-up relationships are complicated, but—” He grasped for a way to explain that they’d understand. “Children are never to be blamed for adult problems.” His mother’s bitter scowls whenever she looked at him—whenever she bothered to be around—flashed in his memory. Not if I can help it.

Mackenzie plopped onto the couch, resting her head in her hands. “Daddy was going away.”

She spoke so softly Drew had to strain to hear her whispered words. It took him another moment to let their meaning sink in. Their father—his father—had been about to abandon another family. “What makes you think that?”

“We heard him yelling at Mommy.” She blinked away her tears. “Mommy told us she and Daddy were going for a drive. Our neighbor came over to watch us. And—”

She didn’t need to finish the sentence. He knew that had been the last time the girls had seen their parents alive. He clenched his hands into fists. That damn bastard. If he was still alive, I’d kill him.

Seemingly unaware of Drew’s brewing anger, Mackenzie continued speaking. “—our fault.”

“No, half-pint. Your dad was a selfish ass—jerk who only thought about himself.”

“Is it bad— that I still miss him?” Conflict flickered openly in her eyes.

“No, not at all. I’m sure you have plenty of good memories.”

“We do.” Mackenzie opened her mouth but closed it again without saying anything.

“What else is on your mind, half-pint?”

“Sera seems nice.” She squirmed in her seat. “Is she gonna be your new girlfriend?”

Drew stifled a chuckle. “It’s too soon to tell. Going on a date or two doesn’t mean you’re in a relationship.”

“What happens when she goes away? She’ll go on tour and forget all about us—you.”

“There are no guarantees in life, Mackenzie. Sometimes, you have to go for it and, you know, if it doesn’t work out, then you live with it.”

“Drew?”

At the sound of Madison’s plaintive voice, he looked up and spied her leaning against the doorframe of her bedroom.

“Are you going to go for it? With Sera?” Hope warred with fear in her eyes.

***

In November, I plan to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)... #TirgearrTuesday will return in December... depending on how NaNoWriMo goes.

October 5, 2021

An Excerpt from A Vampire's Tale for #TirgearrTuesday

“How about you?”

“Not much to say about me.” She shrugged in the dark then realized Corgan was watching the road, not her. “I'm twenty-three. I studied business in college before I dropped out. My parents didn’t support my decision. They thought they could change my mind. When I stuck to my guns, they, well, they disowned me. I worked for a newspaper, but I hated it there, so I quit my job and started writing novels.”

“Your parents hurt you.”

Marisa stared out the window. “Yes.”

“Despite what they said, they are still proud of you.”

“I don’t think so, Corgan.”

Trust me. “Leaving your job was out of character for you.”

“Definitely. My friends didn't understand. They thought I’d completely lost it. In their minds, I left a decent paying job to chase a pipe dream.”

“You needed to find your own way.”

“You get it.” Marisa bit her lip, thoughtfully. Corgan understood her. She didn’t know how, but it seemed like he’d known her longer than a few days.

“Sometimes your own way isn't the easy way.”

“Damn straight! The term 'starving artist' comes to mind.”

“Do you go without, love?” The alarm was evident in his voice.

July 31, 2020

Featuring Chloe MacGregor from Warwick's Mermaid

Welcome back to 'My Character's Favorite Quote.' This week's guest is Chloe MacGregor from Warwick's Mermaid by Ellie Gray.

Her breath was coming in short, sharp gasps as she boldly faced the man standing in front of her. His penetrating gaze once again searched her face, a gaze that spoke of wanting to understand her. A gaze that had never once crossed Chris’s face. Chris. Chloe took a deep breath and turned her face away from Luke’s scrutiny, unaware that she was speaking until she heard her words whispered into the cool night air. “I’m worth more than that.”

Warwick's Mermaid by Ellie Gray

Having escaped an abusive relationship, Chloe MacGregor is determined to put the past behind her. The little cottage high up on the cliffs overlooking the beautiful North Yorkshire town of Whitby is her safe haven, somewhere she is free to be herself.

When the arrival of her new neighbour and boss, Luke Warwick, threatens her peaceful, sheltered life, Chloe is forced to confront her past and to re-evaluate who she really is. Falling in love with Luke is not part of her plan but, to her surprise, Luke is falling for her too. The only thing preventing their happy ever after is Chloe herself. Will she ever truly learn to leave the past where it belongs?

http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Gray_Ellie/warwicks-mermaid.htm

June 26, 2020

Book Spotlight - New Release - Fall by A.K. Morgen

Songs of Destruction: FALL's Playlist by A.K. Morgen

Music is such a big source of inspiration for me. I wrote FALL (The Ragnarök Prophesies: Book Two) over the course of a year way back in 2012-2013. When prepping it to republish this year, I considered coming up with a whole new playlist as I worked my way through edits. But I quickly found that the original playlist I created way back then was already exactly what I needed for this story.

In FALL, we see this struggle unfolding between Arionna Jacobs and Dace Matthews (our apocalypse stopping heroine and hero) where they both have their own ideas on what's best for everyone. They end up clashing over those differences of opinion and reacting to this added element of angst in their relationship in some pretty intense ways at times. As a result, this created a sort of dark, melancholy tone for FALL in places.

I'm not exactly a dark and melancholy kind of person, so it was critical that I found music that captured that feeling while writing or it simply wouldn't have worked. Luckily, there was an endless supply of music out there that really captures the more angsty parts of FALL, so I had a lot of good choices.

Revisiting them again while editing was, surprisingly, a lot of fun. I hadn't heard some of these in a few years, so it was really nice to queue them up and remember why it fit so well.

Here are some of my favorite angst-ridden songs from FALL's playlists.

Letters From The Sky - The Civil Wars - This song so perfectly captures Ari and Dace's relationship, and the whole hopeful yet melancholy apocalypse theme of the series, I added it to the list the first time I heard it.
Closer - Burn Season - This song reminds me so much of Dace at times. He's so screwed up, and yet so amazingly good at the same time, I always feel a little sad for him.
Maybe Tomorrow – Stereophonics – I can't think of any other song that says so much with so little. It's sad, it's hopeful, and just all around powerful.
All Falls Down – Adelita's Way - This song was an early favorite. I love it for Ronan, who we see a lot more of in FALL, and really start getting to know. It also perfectly captures some of the darkest points of the entire Ragnarök series.
Radioactive - Imagination Dragons – This song has such a great feel to it. There's that apocalyptic vibe, and then that self-loathing vibe, and then underneath all of that is the story of an awakening or desire to change. We see a little of each in FALL.
Always – Saliva – This is one of my all-time favorite pissed off songs. It's so spot on when it comes to that "breaking point" of relationship angst. I rocked it a time or five.
One More Night - Maroon 5 – This is another great dysfunctional relationship song. Plus, I don't know anyone who can make dysfunction sound as hot as Adam Levine does.
Hold it Against Me – Sam Tsui – Speaking of hot, I love, love, love Sam Tsui's cover of this song. It's so raw and lovely at the same time. There's a specific scene in FALL where this song fit perfectly.
Tears of an Angel – Ryandan – If I had to pick a single song to listen to while writing the entire Ragnarök Prophesies series, this song would be it. It's haunting, beautiful, sad, hopeful, and just all around amazing.

About FALL (The Ragnarök Prophesies: Book Two):

How do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?

Those called to stand guard against the end are broken, and Sköll and Hati run free. Now Arionna Jacobs and Dace Matthews face a threat unlike any before. Ragnarök is coming and they aren't strong enough to stop it.

Arionna thought she understood sacrifice, but she never counted on her destiny tearing Dace apart. Ever since she nearly died, he has been consumed with guilt. Now it threatens to turn him into the monster he always feared.

It's up to Arionna to stop him before it's too late, but the path to hell is paved with good intentions, and Dace is hurtling toward self-destruction. This time, Arionna isn't sure she can save him from himself.

Can she convince him to let the past go, or is her true destiny to sacrifice her heart in exchange for the lives of the people she loves?

Catch up with FADE (The Ragnarök Prophesies: Book One): Amazon Worldwide | All Retailers

About the Author:

A.K. Morgen is the Amazon Bestselling author of the Ragnarök Prophesies series. She lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of sixteen years and their furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army.

She graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law.

She puts her education to use as a 911 Dispatch Supervisor, where she's responsible for leading a team of dispatchers as they watch over police, EMS, and firefighters for her county.

Ayden also writes steamy romantic suspense under the penname Ayden K. Morgen. You can visit her online at http://akmorgen.com or at the links below.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/akmorgen1

Twitter: http://twitter.com/akmorgen

Instagram: http://instagram.com/aydenmorgen

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k8v9e2

Tirgearr Publishing: http://www.tirpub.com/akmorgen

AllAuthor: http://akmorgen.allauthor.com/