Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Suspension of Disbelief in Writing: Guest Post by Madeleine McLaughlin


Today I'm pleased to have fellow Muse It Up author Madeleine McLaughlin return to my blog for a guest post on the logic (and importance) behind establishing a sound suspension of disbelief in writing. She is the author of the dark fiction novel THE MOUNTAIN CITY OF BRONZES. Welcome back, Madeleine!


One of the first lessons for any writer is to make the reader suspend disbelief. This is especially important if you're writing science fiction or fantasy fiction because in all cases there will be a lot of things happening that just aren't possible.

So you have to use logic and a good knowledge of human behaviour and reactions. If a character is in a house and someone scary is coming for them, the first question is: why don't they call someone? And so it is true in all genres. Why doesn't the man floating in hyper-thermal space call his friends for help?

It's important then to build the fiction world to answer this question. Maybe his hyper-thermal space communicator doesn't work or he lost it; it floated away. You can easily build this because the reader knows that in space there is no gravity. Logic plus the human making a mistake. The man in space will have to take the next logical step, even if there is a make-believe idea behind it. Like the extra hyper-thermal space devise that you've already introduced to the story, just so the reader will know the logic of what your character is doing.

In fantasy, all you need is magic for explanations of why something happens. How, will depend on your human characters, which all your readers will know about. If you have gnomes, for example, you will have to make up their traits so if something humanly illogical happens, they can always say, “It's because he is a gnome.”

Although these are simple, easy words—logic, psychology—It takes a lot of hard work to make an alternate world that will interest and hold the reader with all its twists and turns. Keep writing!


The Mountain City Bronzes continues to be enjoyed by 100% of those who read it. It is consistently given four or five star reviews by readers and the sales continue. Get in on the fun of horror.

Available from Amazon and Muse It Up Publishing.

Madeleine, you are absolutely correct--even in fantasy writing, everything that's done must be done for a logical reason. As long as authors understand the "rules" of the world they've created, then it makes it easier for their readers to follow along and believe those rules, too! Thanks for the great advice!

--KSR Writer

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

THE KING'S RANSOM: An Arthurian Legend for Kids


I love stories about King Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, and Merlin, and my guest today has taken those legends and written a hero's journey for middle graders. Cheryl Caripinello is the author of THE KING'S RANSOM and is here to share her own journey. Welcome, Cheryl!


Tell us a little about your background and how you became an author.

I am a twice-retired high school English teacher. I’m afraid I’m one of those people who do not do retirement well.

I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. I even used to find the books my parents would get me for Christmas and read a few pages before they wrapped them! Teaching students in high school who didn’t like to read or who found a million other activities to do rather than read motivated me to dig deeper into my curriculum.

It is always challenging to find reading material that excites every student. In fact, it is nearly impossible. Then one spring I decided to do The Once and Future King by T. H. White. My freshmen were ecstatic. We read; we discussed; we drew murals of chapters; we wrote poetry and songs; and we attempted to earn Knighthood in seven days! Boy, what a discovery I’d made.

For next 20 years, I continued to teach the King Arthur Legend, and the enthusiasm never waned. I had students who would give 100% on this unit when I struggled to get them to read other literature. These kids were my inspiration for choosing the legend of King Arthur for my writing.  In 2007, I started my first Arthurian legend book Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend. I published that in 2009. The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table), published in May 2012, is my second book in that genre.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table never seem to lose their appeal to readers of all ages. When I talk about the Medieval Times with kids and adults, the talk centers around the exploits of the knights, heroes like King Arthur and Lancelot, and magic and Merlyn. I use the appeal of King Arthur to encourage young kids to read more and to believe that they can write. I always come away from a school visit believing that I have helped the students relate better to their writing, and hopefully, ignited a little spark in the reluctant readers to pick up a book. It is so important to hook kids early to make them life-long readers and writers.

Working with kids is a passion I have never lost. I regularly conduct Medieval Writing Workshops for local elementary/middle schools and for the Colorado Girl Scouts where we explore writing and reading, and it is fulfilling to see young students excited about writing and reading. The kids thoroughly enjoy writing their own medieval stories complete with dragons, wizards, unicorns, and knights.

You sound like an expert in Arthurian Legends! 

What is one of your favorite books and why?

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. I first read these books in 1973. I was newly married and looking for my place in the world. Looking back, I see it was the journey of Bilbo and Frodo that drew me in. Like them, I was also on a journey and had no idea of the ending. A few years later, I discovered Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey. I realized that this was the attraction for me in the works of Tolkien, T. H. White, George Lucas, and J. K. Rowling.

What inspired you to write THE KING'S RANSOM?

In talking with kids and from my own reading, I discovered that the Hero’s Journey is a huge attraction for everyone. Since I had already experienced first hand the attraction the Arthurian legend held for students, I set out to write a story that would couple that with a hero’s journey. After all, heroes abound in the legend.

However, I’m also a romantic, and it’s that side of the legend that appeals to me. I like the ideas surrounding the legend like might is not right; how when seen from the air, there are no lines or boundaries on Earth—we are all here together, and we need to learn how to get along; and how in Arthur’s time hope still lives. Underneath it all, I believe this is what draws young and old to the legend. What the legend says to kids without them realizing it is that there is a right way and a wrong way to live. This is done with the stories of the knights with their quests, their jousts, their rescuing of the damsels, and their fighting for the underdog. These stories present young readers with vivid accounts of honor, loyalty, and friendship. This is what I tried to focus on in The King’s Ransom.

How would you describe your writing process?

Once I get an idea for a story, I write out an outline. It’s not overly detailed, just an overview of the entire story. Then I spend several days doing what I tell my students is brainwork. I just think about what I’ve outlined, the possible characters, the storyline, conflicts, etc. I then go back to the outline and fill in some of the missing pieces. I do more brainwork and then finalize the outline. Once that is done, I start writing. I like to write the entire story without making any editorial changes. Once the story is done, I go back over my outline and see how the two fit or don’t fit together. Then it is editing and revision time. I generally go over a work three or four times, in addition to letting my editing partner have a go of it. Before I submit my work anywhere, I have a professional editor read and edit the manuscript.

One thing I’ve learned as an English teacher is that a writer cannot edit their own work enough. And then when you think you’ve got it perfect, it needs to have a different set of eyes go over it. Even then, there will still be errors. You just hope that those will be unnoticed by most readers.

I'm a big proponent of outlining, too!

How have you marketed your book?

Having self-published Guinevere, I learned that marketing is a never-ending job. In fact, most of the time it can be overwhelming. Getting a book in front of as many people as possible is the key to successful marketing. I blog about my books on my blog site Carpinello’s Writing Pages. I’m also a believer in gaining exposure and visibility by entering contests. Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend was a finalist in the 2011 Global eBook Awards and that has boosted my sales.

Specifically for The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table), I’ve done the same types of marketing. I’ve done blog interviews, and right now this is my second stop on my three-month blog tour that includes interviews, book reviews, blogs about the King Arthur Legend, and upcoming blogs about mythology and kids and parenting.

I’ve also entered The King’s Ransom is several contests. In July 2012, the book was honored by the Children’s Literary Classics with their Seal of Approval and accorded Recommended Reading status on their website. This is really a boon for me as one of my main target audiences in elementary school classrooms. School visits in connection with my medieval writing workshops have to be my favorite marketing tool.

Additionally, for The King’s Ransom I’m trying something totally new. I’ve written a 40-plus page promo book that is available on Amazon. The promo book includes my characters’ interview, an author interview, previously unpublished material from the original manuscript, an excerpt from The King’s Ransom and other goodies. I enrolled Behind the Scenes of The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table) in Amazon’s KDP program, and on Sept. 20 and 21, readers will be able to pick it up for free. I have advertised on about 20 sites, and it has only cost me $10.00.

Medieval workshops for kids sounds like a great marketing/educational tool! 

What advice would you give to other authors?

I know it’s been said many times, but writers need to write what they love. Also, don’t be afraid to explore and expand on that. It was my love of those early works along with the connection to Joseph Campbell and the hero’s journey that inspired me in my writings. And it has taken me beyond Arthurian Legend to ancient Egypt where a young pharaoh embarks upon his own journey to write a wrong and be united with his one true love.

Sometimes a person’s writing can take them places they never imagined. Rejoice in that and embrace it!

Please provide a favorite excerpt from your book.

In this excerpt, Gavin and Philip have been listening to Gavin’s father, the king, talk with his two oldest sons about the Wild Man who has been arrested for murder.

         “Father, he had to have done it. The bloody knife was found in his blanket,” argued Sean, Gavin’s oldest brother. “We don’t know where he’s from or how he came to be here. Besides, how could he have gotten inside the castle if Aldred didn’t know him?”
         “I’m not so certain he killed Aldred,” said Robert. “He’s pretty harmless from what I’ve heard and seen.”
         “What do you mean ‘harmless’?” Sean asked. “He killed Aldred to cover up the theft and to keep him from spreading the alarm.”
         “I’ve seen him with Gavin and his friends, Philip and Bryan.”
         “What?”
         “The boys worship him. He often watches Gavin practice and gives him good suggestions for improvement. I’ve even seen him instructing Bryan in sword fighting. He’s handy with a sword. He also works for the friar and helps Philip with repairs around the church.”
         “I don’t call a stranger who shows up out of nowhere and is good with a sword ‘harmless.’ And why’s a man like that passing time with a prince of Pembroke?” Sean asked.
         “That has little bearing here,” King Wallace pointed out.
         “I disagree. The people are angry over Aldred’s death. I’m afraid if we don’t convict this Wild Man, the people may take that to mean we are unwilling to prosecute a guilty man because of his friendship with Gavin,” Sean said. “Maybe that’s what he counted on.”
         Philip gripped Gavin’s arm. What if the Wild Man had killed Aldred and stolen the King’s Ransom? What if he’d used Gavin’s friendship to do just that? What if the Wild Man had used them all? Philip calmed himself and squeezed Gavin’s arm harder, knowing he was thinking the same thing. When Gavin turned, Philip shook his head and mouthed the word “No!” twice. Gavin nodded.
         “The people do not enforce the law here. I do!” King Wallace declared. “I’ll decide if the man is guilty or not, and the people will live with my decision.”
         “As you say, Father,” both sons replied, subdued.
         “It troubles me that there was no sign of the King’s Ransom with this...this Wild Man’s things,” the King continued. A chair scraped on the floor. The noise made Philip jump. He relaxed when someone, probably the king, paced.
“Why keep the knife and not the medallion?” King Wallace asked. “You two take a small contingent of knights tomorrow and search his camp. Find that medallion. He must have hidden it nearby, knowing it would be worthless around here. Probably planned on leaving the area after the uproar calmed down, never thinking we would be able to follow his trail so quickly. I bet he has a buyer for it.” The king pounded his desk with his fist.
Gavin and Philip jumped.
“That’s it! And I’d wager his buyer is King Edward,” the king said.
         “Of Manorbier Castle?” Sean asked.
         “Why not? You’ve heard him threaten often enough that he’d like nothing better than to buy up all of Pembroke and get rid of us for good.”
         “Why don’t we confront him? That might throw him off guard,” Robert suggested.
         “No. Unless we have proof, King Arthur would have my head if I provoked a conflict. It took him long enough to convince Edward to end his raids. Confronting him isn’t the answer.”
         The scraping of chairs startled Gavin and Philip again.
         “Go out tomorrow. Search well. When you return, have the knights question the villagers. If you turn up nothing, we’ll apply pressure to our prisoner.”
         Both sons started to protest.
         “I know, you want to question him now. However, some time without contact will put him in a more agreeable mood. Might make him eager to tell us where he’s hidden the King’s Ransom.”
         “What about King Arthur?”
         “He will be here in four to five days. Either I have the medallion to present to him, or I give him the man’s head. Close the door behind you. I need to think.”
         “Yes, Father.”
         Gavin signaled Philip to return the way they had come. When they reached the tapestry, Philip let Gavin move ahead to make sure the way was clear.
         Once outside, they sat on a shadowed bench across from the dungeon.
         “If we can’t prove the Wild Man’s innocent, then your father, I mean the king, will have him killed,” Philip said.
         “I know.”
         Both boys sat quietly.
         Finally Philip said, “Gavin?”
         “Yes?”
         “Do you think the Wild Man would use our friendship?” Philip’s voice trembled.
         Gavin didn’t answer.


I love the excerpt! Where can readers find you and your book?

My main website Beyond Today (Educator) contains information on both Guinevere and The King’s Ransom. The events section is a picture gallery of the Medieval writing workshops I do with the Colorado Girl Scouts.

On my blog Carpinello’s Writing Pages, I review Children/MG/Tween/YA books, conduct interviews with authors, and post ideas to get kids involved in reading and writing. Visitors can still do the virtual blog tour of the book’s settings in Wales that I posted when The King’s Ransom released.

I would love to have my readers visit my author page on Facebook and leave me a message. I'm also on Goodreads and Twitter

The King's Ransom is available at the following sites:

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Amazon

Muse It Up Publishing


It sounds like you've have some great success writing about the Arthurian Legend--it's definitely a story that kids and adults both love, and one that my own kids would enjoy! Thank you for being here today, Cheryl!

--KSR Writer

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Meet Katie Carroll, Author of the YA Fantasy ELIXIR BOUND


Today I'm pleased to introduce Katie Carroll, author of the YA fantasy ELIXIR BOUND, recently released by Muse It Up Publishing. Katie shares her personal story and how that shaped her new novel. Welcome, Katie!

Tell us a little about your background and how you became an author.


I’m not one of those writers who always wanted to be a writer. Growing up I wanted to be a baseball player for the Yankees (age 3), a teacher (age 5), a professional soccer player (age 13), and a physical therapist (age 17), but never a writer. It wasn’t that I didn’t like to write; I’ve always enjoyed making up stories. It just wasn’t on my radar as a potential career…until my 16-year-old sister, Kylene, unexpectedly passed away. I was 19 years old, a sophomore in college with a 5-year plan, but when something like that happens, plans tend to change. I reevaluated what I was doing with my life and decided to really go for it and pursue being a published novelist. Ten years later my first novel is being published in Elixir Bound, and a character named Kylene just happens to play an important role in it.

Losing a loved one is so difficult. It's inspiring how that experience shaped your writing career!

What is one of your favorite books and why?

The Giver by Lois Lowry has always been one of my favorite books. There’s this one part of the book (I won’t say exactly what it is and be a spoiler) that totally took me by surprise and changed the way I viewed the world Jonas, the main character, lived in.

What inspired you to write this book?

After Kylene died and I decided I wanted to be a writer, my dad suggested I write a story for her. She loved the Harry Potter books (although she only lived to read the first four books) and shared them with everyone, making many reluctant readers into excited readers. In Elixir Bound, I decided to give her a fantasy adventure of her own. Originally I wanted to make her the main character, but it was emotionally too hard at the time. I’m currently working on another story that takes place in the same world as Elixir Bound and Kylene is the main character.

How would you describe your writing process?

A mess, literally. I create these working files that have all kinds of character studies, research, plot points, scenes, maps. Some of them are computer files and others are scribbles in notebooks. Sometimes I even have novels written by other people as reference tools in my “mess.” Eventually I take all that mess and start writing out the story, from page one to the end.

How have you marketed your book?

I’ve been very active in the kidlit writing community for many years now, being a member of the SCBWI, attending conferences, and participating in kidlit discussion boards, among other things. That has helped me tremendously as far as surrounding myself with a supportive group of people who understand what it is to be a writer. Those relationships are the core of my marketing because those are the people who I hope will help spread the word about my book. I’m also doing a blog tour (this post is part of that) and an in-person event at my local library. I hope to be doing some school visits as well.

I love school visits--there's nothing better than getting in front of your audience!

What advice would you give to other authors?

You’ve probably heard it before, but read, read, read…and write, write, write. My own writing process is painfully slow at times. I’ve gotten better at making regular time for writing, but I still have a family, work, and a life that tends to get in the way. So do as I say, not as I do!

Please provide a favorite excerpt from your book.

Since I’ve talked a lot about my sister today, I provided one that is a sweet moment between Katora, the main character, and her sister Kylene. It definitely mirrors some of my own sisterly moments growing up where it seemed we’d be fighting one minute and okay the next.

A light pitter-patter of sound woke Katora the next morning. Raindrops sizzled as they hit the ashes from the night’s fire. Both indistinct gray, it was hard to tell where the ocean ended and the sky began, not at all like the first time Katora saw the ocean with its angry, white-capped waves. The second time she saw the water from atop the cliff, it looked content, an endless blue pool. Today, the sea seemed melancholy, as if mourning a great loss.
The mood matched Katora’s sour emotions. She felt bad for how she treated Kylene. She rolled over to see who else was awake and paper crunched beneath her head. She found a note tucked into her hood. Everyone else slept, except for Kylene who was nowhere in sight. Katora propped herself on her elbows and opened the crumpled paper. It read, “Sorry I was mean to you last night. Love, Ky.”
Katora had more reason to apologize than Kylene, but the note indicated Kylene forgave her. Not two minutes passed before her sister emerged from the forest with an armful of food. Katora suspected Kylene watched and waited for her to read the note. She stuffed the note in her pocket and smiled warmly. Ky grinned back. 



What a touching moment between sisters!

Where can readers find you and your book?

Elixir bound can be found on the MuseItUp website, Amazon, the Barnes and Noble e-book store, and many other e-book vendors. To learn more about me visit www.katielcarroll.com

Thank you for being so candid and for being a guest today! I love stories with magic, and Elixir Bound sounds like a great read!

--KSR Writer

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Win Family Friendly Books in this Giveaway Hop!



Congratulations to Elizabeth H. and Ricki D.--you are the two winners of the giveaway hop! Thanks for participating and watch for more giveaways in the near future!


The kids are back in school, so there's no better time to participate in a blog giveaway hop, especially one featuring family friendly books! Thank you to Clean Teen Fiction, One Librarian's Book Reviews, and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for hosting!

My new young middle grade novel, ANIMAL ANDY, just released with Muse It Up Publishing, so I am giving away TWO free ebook copies (format of choice)! Simply fill out the form below (following this blog is the mandatory entry).

Please spread the word about this great giveaway hop and be sure to stop by all the other great blogs participating! Good luck!

--KSR Writer

About ANIMAL ANDY:

Ten-year-old Andy Ohman is spending his summer working at the Aksarben City Zoo where his dad is curator. There are rumors the city might close the zoo due to budget cuts. An anonymous donor has given the zoo an antique animal carousel, and Andy’s dad is hopeful it will help boost attendance. Andy’s doubtful that an old kiddie ride will make a difference. He doesn’t see what’s so special about it. But when he takes it for a spin, he unlocks the magic that will help save the zoo.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sneak Peek at a new MG Novel: THE REALM OF THE LOST


I'm so happy to host a fellow children's author today! Emma Eden Ramos is the author of the middle grade novella THE REALM OF THE LOST, which releases Sept. 14th with Muse It Up Publishing. Welcome, Emma!


Tell us a little about your background and how you became an author.

I have wanted to be an author ever since the fifth grade, when I read Lois Lowry’s The Giver. While I’d always loved reading, I don’t think I fully understood the power of strong writing until I read The Giver. As I finished the novel--and I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t read it--I remember feeling a deep sense of relief. They actually made it…. Wait a minute. No! My relief turned to dread, then awe. Good writing is vivid description and clear storytelling. Great writing surprises, even shocks, and provokes interpretation. An ending can be tragic or triumphant. The words on the page are the same no matter how you look at them. It’s up to the reader to decide. Once I discovered the effects a great book could have on a reader, I knew I wanted to write and, hopefully, one day be able to achieve what Lois Lowry had done with The Giver.

What is one of your favorite books and why?

Aside from The Giver, I’d say that To Kill A Mockingbird is another novel that inspired me to write. These days, with all the new categories and genres popping up, writers can feel pressured to adhere to stringent guidelines. Is your book middle grade? Then why in the world do you have a nine-year-old main character? You’re writing for young adults? Where’s the romance? You can’t write YA without an element of romance. At a certain point, you begin to feel like it’s the person writing the guidelines who is now writing your book. You begin to panic, maybe shut down your laptop. Then you remember Nell Harper Lee. Literature can transcend genre. You can imagine a novel starring an eleven-year-old girl and write it in such a way that readers from eleven to ninety-nine will be captivated by your story. For me, To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel that can resonate with anyone. That makes it one of my favorite books.

What inspired you to write this book?

My middle grade novella, The Realm of the Lost, was initially conceived during a family gathering. My cousin was getting married; there were people from ages three months to ninety-three-years present. I began thinking about the life-cycle and what happens when we die. What do we leave behind? Where do you go? These questions stuck with me, and I began The Realm of the Lost on the flight home.

How would you describe your writing process?

I like to get to know my characters long before I start writing. For some reason I think of Louis Malle’s Vanya on 42nd Street whenever I begin a new story. Just as the director in the film gets his actors interacting before they embark on Chekov’s intimate play, I like to sit around with my characters for a bit and get a feel for how they react to certain situations and, ultimately, how they will react to each other. Once I’ve established that, I begin to build the story.

How have you marketed your book?

The Realm of the Lost comes out on September 14th. I have set up a facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/TheRealmOfTheLost) for my novella. As the release date nears, there will be some surprises on the page. I have also set up a number of reviews and interviews.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Read, write, and don’t get discouraged. Not everyone has the same taste and the same opinion about what it takes to write a great story. Don’t expect everyone to love your work. Learn from criticism, be humble and open to praise.

Please provide a favorite excerpt from your book.

The Realm of the Lost: what if you were to die before your time?

The Realm of the Lost tells the story of thirteen-year-old Kathleen "Kat" Gallagher. After a tragic accident, Kat finds herself stuck in the place where people go when they have died before their time. Upon her arrival, Kat meets two of the young inhabitants of The Realm of the Lost. Will she learn to embrace her new surroundings? Little does Kat know, the relationships she builds in death will teach her to appreciate the ones she had in life.

Excerpt:

It was warm when I came to, and I felt no pain. Standing with ease, I bent over and inspected my pant-legs, searching for some remnant of dirt or ice. Nothing. Could this be a dream?
Then I noticed a bright orange ray reflecting off my necklace. The glare almost blinded me. I surveyed my surroundings.
Positioned atop solid dirt ground, I gasped in awe. Pine trees stood skyscraper high, haloed by dusty golden light. The sound of chirping birds echoed all around, and I spotted, to my left, what looked like a duck, but with a sharper and more pronounced beak. Bending down to inspect the creature as it waddled past, I heard a small voice from behind me.
"If you're a poacher, you belong in the under realm."
"What?" I asked, turning to face a boy who couldn't be more than eight. He wore navy blue shorts that folded at the tips of his scrawny knees. His white-collared shirt, grey vest and checkered cap reminded me of something out of an old movie. I couldn't help smiling as he stood, arms crossed, with an air of authority.
"If you're a poacher, you are in the wrong realm," the boy said.
"I'm not a poacher. I've been in an accident andwrong realm?"
The boy sighed, twiddling his thumbs in a way that made me think of my brother.
"Okay," he continued, after an awkward pause. "Well, first, do you know where you are?"
"Like I said, I was in an accident. I guess I passed out. I don'tI'm not sure if my mother knows"
"Oh. No. She wouldn't know a thing like this."
"A thing like what?" I demanded, stomping my foot.
"That you've come to the Realm of the Lost."

Chapter two
First Journey

I opened my mouth to respond, to tell the odd boy I wasn't in the mood for fantasy and games, but I was cut off by a more grown-up sounding female voice. "Mikey! Mikey, how many times has Miss A told you? You're not to explain anything to the newcomers!"
"She asked," Mikey protested, fidgeting with his hands. "I can't help if people ask me. And you can't blame me this time because I was the first one here."
"Shush!" the voice snapped, its owner walking out from behind one of the tall trees. She was in her mid-teens and had beautiful olive skin. Her thick black hair fell past her waist, and I immediately felt captivated by her deep-set brown eyes. "You can be such a pest." She glared at Mikey. "And she didn't ask. I know that be—"
"Excuse me," I interrupted. "My mother is home with my brother. I should be with my sister Ellie. We were supposed to walk to school together, but we had a fight and Ellie—"
Mikey’s eyes bulged. "Your own sister killed you?"


Where can readers find you and your book?

The Realm of the Lost will be available through MuseItUpPublishing’s bookstore. It will also be at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, and a number of other venders.

I love the excerpt--sounds like a great premise! I'll put this one on my "to read" list! Thanks so much for being here Emma!

--KSR Writer