She's Reminded Me To Do My Job

(I'm listening to 18 by Moby.)

And I've reminded her to do her job.

My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, had the gall to remind me after her online marketing presentation today that I haven't posted anything to this blog for a couple of months. In a move she referred to as "deflection," I informed her that I've nothing to promote because she hasn't refined the final novel in the Choices trilogy. My lovely bride, Chariss, is stuck in a sort of literary limbo as far as I know.

So while Sandy fixes a snack for me, I'm posting a little something here at the blog. When I'm finished, she promises to work on the Choices Made for All edits.

As it turns out, it's important that I continue to spread the good word about the current novels in which you can read Chariss's story. Choices Meant for Gods and Choices Meant for Kings are now available in Kindle format, as well as hardcover and pdf for Sony eReaders and smart phones and iPads and such. Both are rather important to ingest prior to diving into the third novel in the trilogy. Of course, I can't confirm that statement because Sandy won't let me read the third--

I'm being censored.

She informs me that it would be wise for readers to be familiar with the first two novels, thus I need to stay on topic. Personally, I think readers should get the novels just to read about Chariss, but Sandy has this hangup about the story being all-important. (These crazy writers.)

I welcome everyone to support my concept of placing great importance upon the lovely maiden. Hopefully it will influence Sandy. For now, I must turn the computer over to her and watch her like a hawk to make sure she stays on task. I've held up my end of the bargain.

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Choices Meant for Kings, Chariss, fantasy author, Sandy Lender

She Announces the Release of Choices Meant for Kings

I'm listening to Michael Buble...his entire catalogue, it would appear...

My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, announces the exciting release of her latest fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Kings. The latest installment in my lovely bride's story of adventure and intrigue is now available at the front page of the ArcheBooks Publishing site at a 25% publisher's discount. (This is if you're interested in having a first edition hardcover pressing.) If you're interested in saving trees, as my dear mother Kora Taiman is, you can get the electronic version for only $3.99 from that same link.

I'm pleased to provide you with this information about Choices Meant for Kings.
There’s no doubt: Chariss is in danger. Her geasa is hampered by the effects of a friend’s marriage. The dashing Nigel Taiman hides something from her, yet demands she stay at his family’s estate where he and her wizard guardian intend to keep her safe. But the sorcerer Lord Drake and Julette The Betrayer know she’s there, and their monstrous army marches that way.

When prophecies stack up to threaten an arrogant deity, Chariss must choose between the dragon that courts her and the ostracized kings of the Southlands for help. Evil stalks her at every turn and madness creeps over the goddess who guides her. Can an orphan-turned-Protector resist the dark side of her heritage? Or will she sacrifice all to keep her god-charge safe?

All my best,
Nigel Taiman
Tags: Choices Meant for Kings, Fantasy Author, Sandy Lender, fantasy novel

She's Unveiling the Cover for Choices Meant for Kings

I'm listening to Don't Get Around Much Anymore by Harry Connick, Jr.

I'm very pleased to announce that my fantasy author, Sandy Lender, is unveiling the cover for her new fantasy novel Choices Meant for Kings this evening. I was going to make you go over to Today The Dragon Wins to check it out, but why?

Notice the lovely and sun-tanned Amanda Chariss, my beautiful bride-to-be, is featured up front there. I think that's as it should be. Of course, no artist can capture Chariss's charm and beauty, so this rendition is as close as one could come. Pity. But it pleases me that Sandy let someone try. I'm hoping she'll let someone like Megan Kissinger (the talented, award-winning artist from Southwest Florida who produced the map of Onweald for the Choices series) prepare a proper portrait some day. And perhaps a miniature portrait that I can carry in my pocket when Chariss is off running around taking care of unworthy gods...

If you'd like more information about the upcoming Choices Meant for Kings fantasy novel, which is off to the printer now, please visit the Books page of Sandy's Web site. If you still need to get your copy of the first novel, Choices Meant for Gods, visit Amazon or ArcheBooks right away. You're going to love Chariss as much as I do as soon as you start reading about her. Just a beautiful young woman. Just beautiful.

All my best to you,

Nigel Taiman

Tags: fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Choices Meant for Kings, fantasy novel

She's Being Unreasonable

I'm listening to No More Words by Berlin.

My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, will soon find herself chained to the writing desk in the den. I don't think I can stress just how irritated I am. She finished her online book tour July 3 and was to then focus her evening and weekend time on completing the editing of Book III of the Choices trilogy. Has she done this?

No.

Instead, she's made corrections to the galleys of Choices Meant for Kings. She's approved ads for magazines and Web sites. She's sent poems and first-chapter files to test readers for critique. She's fiddled around with Twitter and facebook so she'll have people to announce book release and signing dates to. She's even put together additional content for her Web site. But the thing that's really angered me is this sudden interest in some story about a young lady named Lace. By the gods! I've spent the past three years helping her promote and market my Amanda's story and here she is working on a story about some strumpet from some other world? I'll have no part of such nonsense while...wait.

I'm being censored now. Isn't that just dandy. Apparently, my fantasy author thinks she can work on multiple stories simultaneously.

We'll see about that. These chains that I have for the writing desk will keep her out of reach of the reference books she's using for the "Lace" story, I can tell you that much.

Tags: Twitter, facebook, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Choices Meant for Kings

She Says It's a Form of Flattery

I'm supposed to tell you all that my fantasy author, Sandy Lender, is currently listening to Mad World by Tears For Fears. I guess it would be more appropriate to say I'm listening to Mad World by Tears For Fears while I post something promotional for her and she leans over my shoulder to make sure my promotional efforts are acceptable.

Anyway. The reason she says this is a form of flattery is because we're stealing the "update on iTunes" from an agent's blog that she was perusing last night. She was most impressed with the woman's musical selections on her iPod (I actually know what that is, by the way. Sandy has one. An iPod Nano that...what? Of course they care. They'll want to know what you listen to just as you wanted to know what that woman listened to.)

I have just been informed that no one cares yet what Sandy listens to. But for those of you who don't already know, it's usually Duran Duran.

I've also just been informed that I've wasted everyone's attention span on this nonsense instead of promoting Choices Meant for Gods, What Choices We Made, or the upcoming release Choices Meant for Kings, so you'll have to come back another day to hear more about them. My apologies.

Nigel Taiman
Tags: Mad World, Tears For Fears, Duran Duran, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy author, Sandy Lender

She Has A Bizarre Early Review for Choices Meant for Kings

These writers can be so creative. Check out the format of the latest early review for Choices Meant for Kings at The ChrisChat Reviews. Thank you to Chris for the glowing praise!

And if you haven't already gotten your copy of Choices Meant for Gods, you'll want to check that out to get caught up on the series. The eBook is available for only $3.99 at the publisher's site. Or you can get the real thing at amazon, b&n, the publisher's site, etc. Enjoy!

All my best,
Nigel
Tags: Choices Meant for Kings, Choices Meant for Gods, ebook, review

She's on Suspense Magazine's Site

My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, is pleased to announce that Suspense Magazine's online presence now includes a page devoted to her and an early review of the upcoming fantasy novel Choices Meant for Kings. You can check out the direct link to the page here. At the site, you can see Megan Kissinger's map of Onweald in full color, a blurb about the book, and an interview of Sandy Lender (complete with inane ramblings about snails).

If you're still in need of the first book in the Choices trilogy, the easiest way to get your copy is through Amazon or the publisher's site. You can also walk into Barnes & Noble or Borders, etc., to order it if you don't see it still sitting on the shelf, but online ordering is faster, and, if what folks are telling Sandy still holds true, less expensive. It appears the book store's fees are more exhorbitant than the online shipping fees, and both Amazon and her publisher have discounts at the moment.

All my best.

Tags: fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Suspense Magazine, Choices Meant for Gods, Choices Meant for Kings

She Hasn't Repressed This One, Careless Memory #12

A Glimpse into a Writer's Life
When my fantasy author, Sandy Lender, was about 7 years old, she lived in an apartment complex across the breezeway from a child named Debbie. One day, Debbie and another girl, who Sandy can't even picture, much less name at this point, wanted to ride their bikes up to the convenience store a few blocks away.

Because Sandy's mother wouldn't let her go with them, Debbie and the other girl began to mock her, telling her she was "a baby" and "too little" to go with the "big girls" to the store. (That's mean. These were your friends?) Ah, back to the story. It gets strange, she tells me.

When Debbie and the other girl returned from the store, they taunted Sandy with the candy they'd bought (by the gods, you surely didn't remain friends with such people…oh, she tells me children are just cruel beasts in this society…great). As I was saying, the girls taunted her with the candy until they decided they wanted to go to the store again. This time, they told her that she was too little to go to the store, but she could watch their candy for them, if she promised not to eat any of it.

For pity's sake. I think we can all see where this is going.

As soon as the girls were out of sight, Sandy unwrapped all the pieces of gum and smeared them around in the dirt. (You've got to be kidding.) She licked some first to make the dirt really stick, she says. (Hey, she was 7; this was 7-year-old logic.)

Once all the pink gum pieces were lying there in their random disarray of dirty inedibility, she went inside to play with her dolls or something pleasing like that. (Your mind frightens me.) When Debbie and her friend returned a second time, they were incensed, of course, and came to Sandy's door to find out what had happened. Sandy quickly came up with (What? Thought up a lie and thought it up quick? What does that mean?) Sandy quickly came up with a story about some older boys riding by on their bicycles and stopping to smear the gum in the dirt, which the girls believed, and smugly went back to playing with her own toys.

I think I'll do everything she tells me to for the marketing and promotion of Choices Meant for Gods. It's available at a discount at the publisher's site, you know. And I think Amazon still has it on sale as well. Choices Meant for Kings is due out this fall.

Tags: writer's life, careless memory, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Choices Meant for Gods

Choices Meant for Kings Gets First Official Review

You can read the first official review for Choices Meant for Kings at Lisa Haselton's review and interview site here. My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, is thrilled. She wishes to extend her appreciation to Ms. Haselton for her time and for her positive comments.

When CMFK is available later this summer, we'll announce it all over the blogosphere. In the meantime, if you need a copy of the first novel in the Choices fantasy trilogy, Choices Meant for Gods is available at the publisher's site as either a hardcover edition or eBook (the eBook is only $3.99 so we're recommending that, of course), or at Amazon or anywhere fine books are sold.

Tags: Choices Meant for Kings, Lisa Haselton, Choices Meant for Gods, eBook, fantasy

She Announces Choices Meant for Kings has its ISBNs

My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, is pleased to announce that the second book in the Choices fantasy trilogy, Choices Meant for Kings, now has its ISBNs.

Hardcover (10): 1-59507-219-5
Hardcover (13): 978-159507-219-1
eBook: 1-59507-220-9

If you wish to read the first novel, Choices Meant for Gods, before the second book comes out, you can pick it up at Amazon or anywhere fine books are sold. The eBook version is available for only $3.99 at the publisher's site.

Tags: ISBN, Choices Meant for Kings, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, eBook

She's Watching the Mail for Returning ARCs

Prior to the release of novels, authors typically send out advance reader copies (ARCs) for marketing blurbs to put on the cover jacket and for professional review. My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, has been engaged in this practice for a couple weeks now, seeking out professional reviewers who a) read fantasy and b) will accept ARCs. It's surprising the fine line of time during which reviewers will accept a work for review. They want the book to be a published work, but they want it on their reading schedule while the book is "new". Considering the backlog some of these reviewers have, this means they should never read a "new" book. Be that as it may, she's having some success getting ARCs for Choices Meant for Kings out the door.

When the post office doesn't thwart her.

Here's why she's grumbling. She took one of these advance reader copies, beautifully spiral bound (which she spent a pretty penny to do, by the way), and mailed it from the post office to a reviewer in Canada who is anxiously awaiting its arrival. A day later, the package was returned. It needed a customs form. Considering Sandy had taken it to the post office for mailing, it seemed odd to her that the post office was returning it for something they should have "noticed" when she said, "this one is going to Canada; can I still send it by media mail, or is there some other way we have to use?"

So she hoofed it (her phrase, not mine) back to the post office yesterday to try again. The lady behind the counter gave her a form to fill out and did something Sandy did not expect. She didn't charge her to re-post the package. In fact, the lady printed a new postage label with the new date and affixed it to the package just below the original postage label. Sandy questioned this, but was told it would be fine.

Now Sandy's betting anyone who's willing to take the bet that this package gets returned again because the post office (read: government entity) will want more postage for having to touch the package a second time.

In the meantime, she's repeating her announcement that any professional reviewers willing to read the ARC for Choices Meant for Kings can contact her through this site. She still has a few left.

All my best,
Nigel
Tags: advance reader copies, Choices Meant for Kings, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, professional review

She Has Choices Meant for Kings ARCs Ready for Reviews

My fantasy author, Sandy Lender, has advance reader copies of Choices Meant for Kings prepared for professional review.

While she's contacted several reviewers who are placing CMFK on their summer review schedule, she wishes to make a more concentrated effort to gather opinions on this fantasy novel than she did with Choices Meant for Gods. As a complete novice with the first of this fantasy trilogy, she waited until the book's release before approaching reviewers, and found most of them disappointed that the novel would be "old" before their opinion could be shared with the world. She doesn't want to make that same mistake with the second book in the series.

Choices Meant for Kings rests at the publisher awaiting its turn on a backlogged production schedule. The release date could be sometime later this summer or early fall, so the timing is perfect to get ARCs to reviewers now. If you're interested and haven't already been contacted, please let Sandy know by leaving a comment here or at her blog.

If you need a copy of Choices Meant for Gods, she has the pdf available for reviewers. Readers can also find the eBook and hardcover edition at her publisher's site. The hardcover is also available at Amazon. If you take your copy with you to ConQuesT39 over Memorial Day weekend, she'll be happy to personalize it for you.

Tags: Choices Meant for Kings, Choices Meant for Gods, fantasy novel, fantasy trilogy, fantasy author, Sandy Lender, professional review, advance reader copy, ARC, eBook, ConQuesT39