My Favourite Genres [CC]

  Ending the year by telling you all about my favourite genres! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

 

Jessie is trying to ease Meera's pain without her knowing...

BUY HERE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

[ID: A graphic with a red background and the header of Cramping Chronicles: The First Twinge and underneath the words: out now in ebook & paperback. The excerpt reads:

 

“What?” Gray said, sounding confused. “What are you talking about?”
I opened my eyes. “I'm talking about fixing the pain. If I solve the root of it, the cause, then Meera never has to know, right? That way she won't be hurting and neither will I. It's a genius idea, Gray, trust you to come up with it.”
“I didn't come up with that!” he protested.
“Well, it's a genius idea anyway.”

 
At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.]

 

How Goals Work - The Creative Process

 

HOW GOALS WORK

It's that time of year, the holidays are almost over and we're all looking to welcome in 2021 and with that, maybe, we're setting goals. Personally I do monthly goals, bi-monthly goals, and yearly goals as well. I also check in with those yearly goals through the middle of the year and make sure that I'm on track to get the big things done.

So today I thought that I'd give you some pointers on both making goals and how they work for me, and other writers. You don't have to be making yearly goals, if you feel monthly or quarterly are better for you, then you can still use these tips and make yourself the right kind of goals for you.

The one big things about making goals is that they should be manageable, they should be something that you, reasonably, can achieve in the time scale. When I make bi-monthly goals, I always make sure they are things that have to be done in that time scale, if I make a goal that has some flexibility to it, then I find I don't really get it done. Like I've been trying to research ads for the past year or so, but because it wasn't something with a deadline, I've been putting it off. So now I've added a deadline and I'm motivated to get it done.

Goals work because they stretch you slightly, there's no point in setting goals that you can manage really easily because then it's just a case of you ticking them off, and there's no pressure to get them done. It's easy to fall into the trap of setting goals for things that you know, without much effort, will get done. I've fallen into that from time to time, but now that I'm doing bi-monthly goals and such, I'm finding it good to start stretching myself a little bit at a time.

There are some parts that I can't stretch myself on, because I have several chronic conditions, I can't keep pushing to the point where I make myself unwell. But that doesn't mean that I don't push myself at all. I try to aim for things that I don't know my limits yet, and am still trying to feel them out. That's what goals can do, they can help you find your limits, and show you just how far you can stretch to reach a bigger point, or more, and all of that.

Goals are a great motivator, but you need to be sure that you're hitting the right things, and part of them comes from practise, some it is a bit of trial and error. Like when I first started setting myself chapters for the month, I didn't start with chapters themselves, but pages, and from there, after a few months, I found what worked for me, and hitting those goals are good because I'm pretty sure that I can hit them. Of course there are times when I don't hit them, when I'm sick, or when things aren't possible, other things will get in my way, but the point of the goals is that I'm motivated to try and reach the final limit.

Goals can be a great thing to use to make sure that you hit deadlines, they can be a way to help you stay productive, but you do need to be careful, about, as I said, not stretching to the point where you're going to burn out or push yourself (in my case) into a flare. It's really important that when setting goals that you leave some wiggle room for either catch up days and days off because you can't except to turn up everyday and get the same output. It works for some people, but I've found that it's not healthy, and inevitably ends up leading to burnout.

So there are my bits and pieces about goals, when you're ringing in the new year, no matter which kind of goals you make, think about making sure they are goals that can work for you, and also allow you some breathing room. Go forth and make your goals and I wish you every luck in achieving them!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments below!

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Review of Spell Linked by Theresa Kay

 

 School sucks, even for the supernaturally gifted.

The fallout from last quarter is worse than I could have ever imagined and hostilities between shifters and witches are intensifying by the day. OSA has practically taken over campus in their search for Bitten witches—and any traitors who didn’t report them. Including... me.

But that's not the only secret I have to hide.

My powers are growing, while my control over them is not. Unfortunately, there's no one I can turn to for help. My roommate's already suffered the consequences of being drawn into my problems, and after a magical mishap ends with another friend being blasted across the room, I refuse to endanger anyone else. Still, I'm a little tempted to give some magical payback to the arrogant witch-boy who kisses me one minute and gives me the cold shoulder the next.

All of this aside, I still have to find a way to pass all my classes. With the end of semester tournament closing in, there’s no time for mistakes. In this volatile equation, one little slip-up could be deadly.

Amazon

My Review:  5 STARS

I picked this up having read the first book and desperate to read the second. The story had me hooked from the first page, and I was desperate to know more about how Selene’s life was going with all these new obstacles in her way. The characters were well-rounded, jumping off the page and making you relate and love them all completely. I loved the twists that had left me guessing until the very end and I can’t wait for book three, will be picking that up ASAP as I need to know more about this series. Overall, highly recommended!

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Goals For 2021 [CC]

  Setting goals for 2021 and seeing what the year may hold for me! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

 

#TeaserTuesday

 

Talking to Meera ends up with a slap in the face...

BUY HERE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

[ID: A graphic with a red background and the header of Cramping Chronicles: The First Twinge and underneath the words: Coming October 13th 2020. The excerpt reads:

 

She turned back to look at me. “Yes, and you're Jessie,” she said.
It didn't sound friendly or welcoming. She actually gave the impression of being quite cold and distant.
“I mean no offence, Jessie, but I'm actually trying to look for a book here. I have an essay due and unlike some people, I can't wait for someone to do it for me.”
“What's that supposed to mean?!” I said, losing my temper a little.

 
At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.]

 

Looking To The New Year - The Creative Process

 

 LOOKING TO THE NEW YEAR

It's getting to that time of year again where we start to wonder about what the new year will hold for us. Let's be honest, 2020 has been a disaster, and for a lot of people, seeing it end is going to be a good thing. For me the year has been a mess. I've spent about 8 months in lockdown because of being vulnerable to the virus. I have written two books, started another two, and gone through three different books editing wise. I have been dealing with a lot more pain than I was used to because of a finger tumour, and at the time of writing this, there's no end in sight for that.

But that all aside, what can we as writers do to look to the new year? What good things do we have that are awaiting for us in a new year? If you're someone who has struggled to write during the stress and everything else of 2020, then I don't blame you for being nervous or burned out when it comes to the thought of another year like this. I'm looking to the new year as a brand new start to whatever awaits me there, and I'd like to give you all some tips about how to set aside the concern and anxiety and think about what you can manage in a brand new year.

#1 IT'S A BLANK SLATE
This is something that has always appealed to me when it comes to a new year, as a writer and as a person. I have my birthday during the early days of the new year so I get to start a brand new chapter of my life. You can look to the new year as a time to start afresh. You can think about all the things you wish to achieve in the new year, and you can, maybe, somewhat leave some of the bad of the previous year behind.

I know it's not as easy as that. I know that I can't remove my tumour on December 31st and start the year with less pain, but I can try and hope that the surgery will happen, and then if it does, I can focus on the words I'm going to write, the stories I'm going to tell, the books I'm going to be releasing, and focus on the positives. It's not a case of simply shedding your worries and pretending they don't exist, but you can work towards helping yourself start afresh.

#2 YOU CAN TIE UP THE YEAR
When you get to the point of the end of the year, you know that a lot of what you've done that year is going to be tied up. As an author, I have a lot of end of year admin to do, like getting my yearly sales total, and checking in with the goals I made last year, as well as making sure I have everything in place for a brand new year.

For me, I like to have a brand new folder for royalties made, and come January 1st I can download all my sales spreadsheets and set things up for the coming year. I can get things ready for upcoming releases, sending off the covers for a nice cover reveal gif ready for when it's time to reveal it. I have to get things in place to make the releases less stressful and I can make sure that I have everything I need to keep moving forward.

#3 TAKE A BREATH AND START AGAIN
Like I said above, a new year means a blank slate. Whether that means that you continue on with the good things in your life, and leave the bad behind, it's up to you. But you can also look back at the hell of a year 2020 has been and realise, you did it, you got through every bad day, you made it, you're going into a brand new year and while things don't change instantly, there's the potential for it to do so.

Take a breath, pat yourself on the back and remember: you made it.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments below.

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Review of Shifters And Secrets by RL Medina

 

Senior year was supposed to be the best part of high school. I planned to skate by and figure out what I wanted to do with my life— but the universe decided for me.

I was promised to some evil witch coven before I was even born. Thanks, Mom. To make it worse, I develop the ‘sight’, which is the snooty way of saying I can see things normal humans can’t. Like my dad’s ex-employee turning into some freakish jaguar-man. Trust me, you don’t want to see what I’ve seen.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, I’m orphaned and forced to live with my only remaining relatives. A filthy rich family of monster hunters a.k.a. GRIMM, determined to add me to their ranks.

Now, I’m forced to attend their academy filled with the wealthiest and elitist pieces of sh** in Malibu. None more arrogant than Grayson Chapman— a real stickler for rules, that one, but le dang does he look good in uniform.

I promised my cousin a year. With all their stupid policies and grueling training, I’m not sure I can make it a day. They say not all have what it takes to be a GRIMM, but all those with the sight must serve. It’s my duty, they tell me.

Except I don’t do what I’m told.

The academy wants a soldier…
I’ll give them a rebellion.

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked up this book because of the blurb and cover. I’ve already pre-ordered the second because once I got into the world I couldn’t leave it there, I had to know more about Rose, about the world around her, about the GRIMM and all that went along with it. The story had me hooked from the first chapter and I was desperate  to know more and find out what was going to happen to her at this new school, with all these people who’d grown up in this world. I adore the storyline where someone suddenly has new found abilities, and this one didn’t disappoint in that respect, and that ending has made me desperate to read the second book ASAP! Overall, a great read and one I recommend!

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Review of 2020 [CC]

 Looking back over 2020 and reviewing the goals I set myself in 2019! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

 

Jessie might've made a new friend, but the empath ability is triggered too...

BUY HERE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

[ID: A graphic with a red background and the header of Cramping Chronicles: The First Twinge and underneath the words: Coming October 13th 2020. The excerpt reads:

 

“Are you okay, Jessie?” he asked.
I looked around to see if there was anyone close by. There was. The girl I’d seen in the canteen, the beautiful girl who had drawn my gaze was in the library stacks, not three steps from our table.
Oh great, she was activating the ever-present twitch. My luck sucked balls.

 
At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.]

 

5 Facts About My Current WIP: I Wish I Could Stop You

 

5 FACTS ABOUT MY CURRENT WIP: I WISH I COULD STOP YOU

Last week I talked about one of my current WIP and I did the five facts about it. (Piece found here) If you didn't know, I write two books at once and have found that it works really well for me, so of course giving you five facts about one means doing the same for the other.

I Wish I Could Stop You is the third, and final, book in the Penney Note series. It's a mixture of urban fantasy and paranormal/mystery, and a young adult as well. The premise for the series as a whole is basically that psychics are naturally born to some people, and there's a whole world and culture around that. Penney is seventeen, adopted by her two mums, and one of the lucky to be born psychic. I can't give too much away about this book without spoiling the first and second one. But I shall do my best to give you five facts!

#1 PENNEY IS CALLED TO A LEADERSHIP ROLE
With everything going on with the academy, with the threat they pose to Penney and her friends, it makes sense that she would be the one the others look up to. There's more than just the academy they have to be ready to protect themselves from, and Penney is well aware of the cost they'd pay if they don't pull things off. She's not prepared for them to fail.

#2 PENNEY IS IN A POLY RELATIONSHIP
Penney has been dating for the whole of the trilogy, but the relationship that's developed between the three of them has been a joy to write. Penney is very happy with her partners and it allows her to have some help for aforementioned leadership role.

#3 HER DISABILITY MAKES HER POSITION UNIQUE
One of the things to come out from the trilogy has been that Penney is in a unique position because she's not just psychic, but she's also disabled with EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome). The disability itself has a knock on effect to what Penney is able to manage and for her, it's a big deal to both balance staying healthy and out of a flare, and also be the psychic that people need her to be. Her parents have been so supportive and also ready to look out for Penney whenever she needs that time off to rest.

#4 THE CLOCK IS TICKING
The problem with taking time off is that the clock is ticking to when the psychics in Penney's group have to pull off their plan or else fail and end up with the weight of the world on their shoulders. I can't go into too many details here because spoilers, but Penney and the others, are very much aware of what's been asked of them, and throughout the book, they will be put into a position that should never have been left on the shoulders of young teens.

#5 ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR
It's not just Penney who has a POV in this final book, there's a second character and for them, love is most definitely in the air. However, they've been struggling with the choices forced upon them and because of that are a little blind to everything else going on. While Penney and the others have picked up on it, the person in question is missing all the signs, but will they notice by the time it all ends? We shall see!

So there we go, those are five facts about my other WIP, and I have to say that I am loving where this series and book is going. I'm enjoying writing all the characters, and getting to know them all better. It was a joy to start NaNoWriMo with this project and I look forward to writing the end!

Got any questions? Lemme down in the comments below!

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Review of Blessed Prey by Miriam Cumming

 

 Soulmate or prey?

It would take a miracle to turn fifteen-year-old Tulip's life around—or at least a whole lot of magick—so when her coven decides to cast love spells, Tulip is all in. The right person could give Tulip the strength she needs to escape the cycle of abuse that binds her.

Experienced Druid, Victor Chasen, seems to be the answer to Tulip's prayers. Despite her coven's warnings, Tulip finds herself irresistibly drawn to this man who promises access to magick's deepest mysteries.

With the law at odds to what feels right, Tulip's ability to discern ally from enemy warps. Alone, she must discover the difference between divine will and manipulation before she loses herself to that one ill-wrought spell.

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked this up because the blurb and the cover. I started the book and was a little worried with how the story unfolded, but as it became clearer what the author was doing, I was hooked and in for the ride. Tulip is a complicated character with an amazing character arc, the difference between Chase at the start to the end just shows the levels he goes to. Overall, I read this in one sitting, desperate to finish and find out what happened and the end. An author to watch, and a book I very much enjoyed! 

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Life Of Joey - December 2020 [CC]

  Talking about what I've been up to in the past month, and how NaNo went for me! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

 

New school, new friends, and a girl she likes, but Jessie's in for a ride...

BUY HERE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

[ID: A graphic with a red background and the header of Cramping Chronicles: The First Twinge and underneath the words: Coming October 13th 2020. The excerpt reads:

 

As our eyes met again, I couldn’t help but smile back, a warmth filling me just for a heart beat, lifting my hand to wave, before she cut me down with a glare.
She looked royally pissed off, and I didn’t have the first clue why.

 
At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.]

 

5 Facts About My Current WIP: Project: Isolation

 

5 FACTS ABOUT MY CURRENT WIP: PROJECT: ISOLATION

I've only recently started writing this WIP, and I've already done one of these for the first book (piece found here) but since I am technically writing a brand new WIP it makes sense to give you five more facts to keep you going!

The Abby Delany series is a young adult urban fantasy that deals with both chronic illness and a pandemic. I was inspired to write this as mixture of the current pandemic and the journey to getting a diagnosis for the majority of people with chronic illness. It's never an straight line and can be a lot of back and forth, especially when you throw in other factors. Abby is a witch, who's learning that chronic illness effects her magic well, and leaves her unable to do even the simplest magic.

So what are five facts about the second book in the series? Let's get right to it!

#1 ABBY IS DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
With everything she's gone through the past month since the lockdown started, Abby is not in a good place physically or mentally. She's having to adapt to not having her friends and partner in easy reach. She's hitting a new low when she finds that her parents aren't as willing to help her as they had been before everything went wrong. She's having to adapt to not just a new location, but to the loss of everything she knew before, and that has a huge impact on her mental health.

#2 HELP MAY COME FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES
While before Abby was living at home, the place she'd grew up in and where everything was familiar. The healer she was seeing seemed to be on the right track, and it was just a case of waiting out the symptoms and the pandemic to allow her to finally start moving forwards in her journey to a diagnosis. Now she's somewhere she didn't even know existed, in a small village and unable to talk to her friends, her partner, her coven, and on top of that, her healer. So it's a big learning curve for her when help does present itself, just not from the source she thought it would come.

#3 ABBY IS STILL DETERMINED TO HELP
Part of what got her into this mess was the fact that she couldn't stop helping people who had other people to turn to. Now that the truth has come out in a big way, Abby is finding herself unable to turn away from people reaching out to her. She knows the dangers involved, but at heart, Abby wants to do the right thing, even if other people, her parents for example, don't agree.

#4 PEOPLE ARE STILL KEEPING SECRETS
A big problem during the first book was that some people wanted to continue to keep secrets, but they didn't seem to realise that doing so was going to leave them unprotected, or worse, leave someone else they care about without any help at hand. Abby has tried to trust that everyone around her is being open, is helping as much as they can, and telling her everything she needs to know, but the honest truth is, some people don't want to help no matter the risk.

#5 ABBY IS HIDING FOR HER LIFE
With the end of the first book behind her, Abby is starting afresh, but that danger that lingered before, hasn't completely gone away and now Abby has to decide whether she should stay in the shadows or risk getting caught to do the right thing. Overall, it comes down to a choice about who to trust and Abby may find herself trusting the wrong ones.

So there we go, that's five facts about one of my current WIP, and if you want to know more, stick around and I'll be doing more of these as the process of writing carries on. I am only just in the end of the first act and into the second, and loving every second of it. This was one of the projects that I started for NaNoWriMo and I imagine I'll be writing it long into the new year.

Have any questions about my WIP? Lemme know in the comments!

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Review of Reign Of Angels 2: Deception by LG Castillo

 

Blinded by faith, I hold on to Tristan’s vow to keep my family safe. Even after learning my parents aided disloyal angels hell-bent on destroying the world, he stays by my side.

When whispers and suspicions continue, Tristan is forced to choose between his angelic family or the daughter of traitors. Even as he distances himself from me, I hold on to the hope our friendship will prevail.

But when the angels come for me, it is another who fights for my life. Friends turn to enemies, and protectors become traitors. Deceit and betrayal surround me, and I don’t know where to turn. Tristan’s promises may be the greatest deception of all.

Amazon 

My Review: 5 STARS

I read through the first book and devoured the second in one sitting. I adored the worldbuilding, the viewpoint from Tristan and Karenna and the way the story was woven into the words. I adored it, and will be following this series onto the next book. Castillo has a way with words that makes you want to keep turning the page and try and guess what comes next. The whole cast of characters were three-dimensional and the character arcs were pleasant to see through to the end. And that ending almost killed me! Highly recommended!

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

44 More Facts About Joey [CC]

 Giving you 44 more facts about me! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

 

Ableism comes in many forms and sometimes you find them in the places where they're supposed to be helping you...

BUY HERE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

[ID: A graphic with a red background and the header of Cramping Chronicles: The First Twinge and underneath the words: Coming October 13th 2020. The excerpt reads:

 

"I am going to have to insist that from now on, the table stays where I put it. Am I clear?" She spoke in a tone that was patronising and obviously not open for any input from me.
I didn't say anything. I just stared at her. I wasn't really sure exactly what I should say to that. I hated to admit it, but I think Craig and Roe were right. My parents needed to know and to deal with this.
"Am I clear, Ms. Oliver?" she asked again, her tone more forceful.
"Y-yes," I stammered.
She raised an eyebrow. "Yes, what?"
"Yes, Ms. Gibson," I said.

 
At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.]

 

Writing Every Day Revisited - The Creative Process

 

WRITING EVERY DAY REVISITED

On the last day of NaNo, I just wanted to touch again on the subject of writing every day. I did a piece about it way way back when I was first starting out on my blog (piece found here), and now it seems prudent to come back to it, especially after the piece a few weeks ago about self-care (found here).

NaNoWriMo is an amazing challenge to get through and whether you will be ending it with your goal met, the 50K written, or not, you should still feel proud for all that you've accomplished. At the end of the day, you showed up, and wrote words that you didn't have before. There are really no losers here. Personally, I'm hoping that I managed to write my 24 chapters and 50K, but I won't know until I get there since I write these pieces in advance.

However, there is one nagging worry in the back of my head when it comes to NaNo, and it's not the level of energy expended, but the mantra that you must write every day. I know that as a spoonie, I can't do that, and I also know that a lot of people out there would, and have, found it impossible or too much pressure, and maybe they've felt that doesn't make them a "real writer", and I don't want anyone to feel like that.

Here's a not-so secret secret. I have drafted over 30 books, I have 18 published with my next two gearing up to be published in 2021. People call me prolific, and organised, and author goals, and how productive I am. I always say that it's just the fact that I get to do this full time, that the organisation and all of that is a part of my personality and just sheer luck after years of trial and error. But I don't write every day. I never have.

Why? Because I'm human, I need breaks, I need to have time in the planner to be able to say: okay today is not a writing day. I work most days sure, but the level of work depends just what needs to be done that day. I posted a weekly writing vlog on my authortube channel (found here) and I showed that I do work every day, but I don't write every single day. And you don't have to either.

I know that people think that allowances are made because I achieve so much in the time I do write, but that's just practice, and again all that trial and error and finally finding something that works for me. You don't have to be super organised, or type fast, or write fast, to be valid as a writer. You are valid so long as you write. And it doesn't have to be every single day. You can take breaks, in fact I advocate for them!

While doing something like NaNo, it can be a nice community thing to write every day and hit those 1,667 words you need, but what you need to take from it, is that routine you've created, not the idea that you need to keep going every single day because you will burn out, and it won't be pretty. I've been there, this time last year I was going hard at NaNo so that I could write 32 chapters, and I paid for it in December. And I don't want that to happen to anyone else.

So be gentle with yourself, remember you don't have to be writing every moment of down time you have, take breaks, self-care, and breathe. You're valid, you are a writer, and it's okay if you take your time. It takes as long as it takes, and that's okay.

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Review of Power Up by Aella Black

  

Out of the frying pan into the fire…

Xander Aldrich’s life has been upended in ways he never could have imagined. Tossed in prison. Then thrown in another one. Falling for a girl he’s known his entire life. 

Well, that’s not exactly new. 

What is new is Lansing’s warden, along with the unquestionably barbaric game she’s playing. Xander has no idea what the objective is, but he has no intention of letting her win.

Though Xander still sees most of the friends he’s made behind bars, he often doesn’t see the one person he wants:  Phoebe.

She’s made friends at the new prison, and one, in particular, gets under Xander’s skin. Whether it’s due to the guy’s close proximity to her, or their increasingly close relationship, Xander has yet another reason for them to escape captivity.

Good thing he’s always up for a challenge.

Phoebe Atkinson’s ability has made her a target since she first entered the supernatural prison system. Her arrival at Lansing ensures the target on her back is now bigger.

With new inmates to contend with and a complicated new warden, Phoebe tries to find her way without the help of many of her friends. One, in particular, she misses more than the others:  Xander. 

They may be trapped in the same building, but she’s never felt further apart. In a place where it’s often every man for himself, not having him near is even harder.

But there’s been a void in Phoebe’s life for the past year, and it has nothing to do with Xander. 

That doesn’t mean he can’t help her try to fill it.

 Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I read the first book, and was desperate to dive into the second. From the first page, I was hooked on the story, wanting to know how Phoebe and Xander would manage. The story is engaging, enthralling and takes you along for a hell of a ride. Black has a way with words that paints a vivid picture and you don’t want to ever look away. I ended up flying through this book in one sitting, desperate to know what happened next, and leaving off with the ending, I am desperate to read book three and find out how this series ends! Overall, an amazing read and one that I recommend!

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Year Of Writing Count: 2020 [CC]

 Adding up all the chapters, pages and words I've written over the past year! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

 

The last thing Jessie wants to do is make things worse for Meera, but no matter what she does it seems to have the wrong effect...

BUY HERE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

[ID: A graphic with a red background and the header of Cramping Chronicles: The First Twinge and underneath the words: Coming October 13th 2020. The excerpt reads:

 

“I’m sorry, the last thing I wanted to do was make things harder for you,” I said, sheepishly. “Is there any chance they’ll let you stick to the study group?”
Meera glared at me. “For now, they’re buying it, but they are demanding that I stop messaging anything that’s not school related, and since we know they have access to my phone, I can’t just reach out any more,” she leaned back against the wall, sighing angrily. “You can’t just be texting me, I can’t risk this happening again! Not unless it’s actually school related.”

 
At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.

END ID]

 

Reading Revisited - The Creative Process

 

READING REVISITED

I've talked about this before (piece found here) but I thought that since I am now in a year where I will, most likely, read over 300 books, it was a good time to revisit the subject, talk about why reading matters as a writer, and also just discuss the ways that reading helps, and also why it's not the end of your writing career if you don't read as much as I do. So let's go through those now!

WHY READING MATTERS AS A WRITER
You'll have heard this talked about I'm sure, most writers start out as people who love stories and then grow up and want to write them. It's also a big thing that if you don't read, how do you know what kind of stories there are out there? But at the end of the day, reading matters because it's a way to feed your creative well. I know that everyone is born with an imagination, some great, some spectacular, some not, but at the end of it all, if you don't read as a writer, then you're doing yourself a disservice.

Reading matters for a number of reasons, it helps you learn how stories are told, helps spark those seeds of ideas and allows you to grow both as a reader, but also as a writer. You'll find yourself getting lost in other authors' worlds and from there you can find your own ideas, can see what works, what you like, what you don't and all of that. At the end of the day, you can discover these ideas from other forms of media, like film and TV, art and music, but you'll also end up finding out the hard way that if you don't read as a writer, it's harder to work out what genre, what category, who your target audience is, and what other books they may have enjoyed.

Speaking as someone who has always been an avid reader, I grew up on Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl, and Jacqueline Wilson and I lived and breathed stories, all of which helped me come into my writing shoes as a child and then later on in life. Reading has made me the writer I am today, as have writing books, but the point is, I read so much because I live for finding new things to devour. And that is a big part of how and why I tell the stories I tell.

That said, WHY YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ MASSIVE AMOUNTS
I usually, bar the last two years, read 150 books a year, which is always a massive amount, but then this year, and last year, I found myself jumping into so many stories that I ended up having to extend my goal, and for that reason, I'm not almost at 300 books read. Does that mean that you have to be reading in the hundreds every year? No, not at all.

Everyone writes differently, and the same can be said for reading. I read, almost exclusively, on my Kindle, so that I'm able to take it with me and always have enough books to read. When I read paperbacks and such, I read so much slower because of the pain from holding the book open. That's why the Kindle has opened so many doors for me. But you don't have to be reading a hundred plus books a year to grow as an author. You can read ten, or twenty, or even smaller than that. I know some of my friends on Goodeads who go for one a month, and that's completely okay and valid.

You dictate the pace you read, but don't shoot yourself in the foot because you're not reading massive amounts, a book read is still a step forward in your writing, no matter how you consume that, be it audiobooks, or screenreaders, or ebook or paperback, the point is to read, everything else is irrelevant.

So how do you feel about the whole reading as a writer subject? Lemme know in the comments below!

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Review of Reign Of Angels 1: Revelation by LG Castillo

 

Graduation is meant to be a new beginning. For me, it might be the end.

Sneaking off to Vegas was supposed to be fun and exciting. Nothing more than a getaway with my best friend to celebrate surviving high school.

But I can’t shake the feeling someone’s watching.

Determined to enjoy my newfound freedom, we hit the strip and meet Tristan, a wildly popular magician who’s worshipped by adoring fans.

Burned by guys like him before, I resist his advances. Yet, his smoldering blue eyes compel me, and I can’t help falling under his spell.

When the world erupts in chaos, and Tristan’s magic act turns out to be more than just an illusion, my entire life changes.

Suddenly, I’m catapulted into a world where angels walk among us, and Tristan is one of them.

Some are out to destroy us.
Some will protect us.
The real question is, which side is Tristan on?

 Amazon

My Review:  5 STARS

I picked this up because the whole idea of the world ending with angels appealed to me. I loved it from the first chapter, an explosive start, a thrilling ride, and then that ending almost killed me! The story was beautifully told, engaging and a rollercoaster of a ride. I loved Jo and Kareena and I adored their friendship, adored their values and the way they both responded to what happened. The world building was amazing, slipping in cultures and histories so naturally in the words. Overall an amazing read and one that I very much enjoyed! Highly recommended!

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

Top 5 Writing Tips I've Had [CC]

 Talking about the top 5 writing tips I've had! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

 

Jessie may be new to being an empath but she's surrounded by friends who get it...

BUY HERE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

[ID: A graphic with a red background and the header of Cramping Chronicles: The First Twinge and underneath the words: Coming October 13th 2020. The excerpt reads:

 

How did you find out? R x.
Gray, take it away! J x.
Jessie was seeing things in my life when I was going through some stuff. The first time it was my grandfather dying. She knew about it but she also saw scenes that I didn't know about. When it happened the second time, well I didn't tell her I just waited to see if she'd know. And she did. That's when we worked out it was people she cared about. G x.
So before now it's just been Gray? R x.
Yeah, and my parents. My mum gets migraines and those always lay me out. J x.
Then why Meera? R x.

 
At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.

END ID]

 

Working With Editors - The After Process

 

WORKING WITH EDITORS

Over the years of writing, I have worked with a handful of editors, and while I have done pieces on the editing process before (found here, here and here) I thought that I would talk to you a little today about what it's like to work with an editor. A lot of people will tell you about the types of editors, and what they do, but they don't go into too much detail of what that editing relationship is like, and since I've been with the same editors for long periods, it felt like I could give you that insider look.

For the purpose of the piece, I'm gonna be talking about working with Kim (developmental/content editor), B (line editor), and Natalie (proofreader) just so that everyone knows who's who. I might also talk about Toni (former line and content editor) but since I haven't worked with her for a number of years, I probably will focus more on my current line up.

The big thing people tell you when looking for an editor is to make sure you click, and the reason for this is that during that editing process, you're gonna be working with them a whole lot. And if you don't get on, if you clash personality wise, then you're in for a not nice time, and that's never fun. The editing process itself is already difficult to go through, without adding in personal issues as well.

Working with Kim has been a lot of trial and error when we first started working together. To begin with we used Word, she would take the book and make corrections in comments and then send it back to me when she was done, or in big chunks. This worked somewhat, but it meant that if there were, what we call cascading failures, it would be a headache for the both of us.

Now we use Google docs and we'll go through chapter by chapter and make the changes. She'll change grammar and such like that without needing to mark it, because I trust her grasp and style. If it's content stuff, she'll mark it and then I'll make the changes, mark it and she'll either call it done, or we might end up discussing ways to make it work better. At the end of the day, it's my book, so I get final say, and if these changes have a knock on effect over the remainder of the document then I'll go through and try and catch and make all those changes so that it makes things smoother.

Kim and I have been friends for over ten years, and she and I, usually, share a vision for how the book should go. At the end of the day, it's down to me to say whether this change is gonna stay in the book or now. Working with her over the past five books or so using Google docs has been easier than using a word document and because of that, it's the same way I go through edits with B and Natalie because it's just so much easier to have it all in one place.

B and I have been friends for over twenty years and she's pretty good at knowing how the story should go, and also pointing out anything that might've been missed by Kim and I. As a line editor, she's gonna get nit-picky about some of the phrasing and such. That's literally her job, going through things on a line by line basis and deciding if it matches the story, the voice and so on. Like with Kim, I can discuss changes with her without having to use the chat function, and it means that the process goes a lot quicker and is a lot smoother.

And finally Natalie and I have been working together for a number of books, I actually forget how many, maybe ten? Anyway, unlike B and Kim, she can't make changes to the document itself, she has to mark everything and I'll go and make the changes. This is simply so that I can make sure that formatting and such stay the same since it's the final check before it goes out to ARC readers and gets published.

I've made no secret of the fact that I am not fond of the editing process, but it's nothing to do with the people I work with, and everything to do with the process itself, but working with these three does make it slightly easier because at the end of the day we have a shared goal, and we're all working hard to get the book to the point where it can be published.

Do you have any questions about working with editors? Lemme know in the comments below!

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

How I Juggle Multiple Projects [CC]

 

Giving you some sneak peeks at how I juggle multiple projects! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

Review of Lock Down by Aella Black

  

My superpower? I can't die. You can imagine how much it hurts when they test that out...

Phoebe Atkinson has always felt different, but in the typical angsty way most teenagers do. She had no idea just how different until that fateful day she died—and then came back to life.

It appears that sort of thing is frowned upon, because Phoebe awakens to find herself locked up in Leavenworth, a notorious prison that now holds teens with supernatural abilities.

Behind bars, some are welcoming and others are… not. One group in particular seems determined to make the lives of Phoebe and her new friends as miserable as possible.

Although Phoebe’s life before being imprisoned was far from perfect, she wants it back. And she will… if they don’t find a way to kill her first.

Regardless, she’s no longer going to stand by and be the rule-follower she’s always been.

Look where that got her.

Amazon 

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked this up because the cover and blurb called out to me. The idea of a superpower where you can’t die, and then being forced to stay locked up and segregated from her friends, family and anyone else who doesn’t want to study her for the science. The story pulled me in from the first word, the first chapter, and I flew through the book before diving into book two. Black has a way with words that makes you hooked on the story and everything else disappears into the background. I would’ve finished this in one sitting had there not been silly things like sleep that needed to happen. Very much recommend and will be following this series to the end!

Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here.

 

Life Of Joey & Bi-Monthly Goals - November 2020 [CC]

Telling you all about what I've been up to in October and reviewing the goals I set myself two months ago and setting new ones! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

  

The things Jessie sees tell her she has to help Meera...

BUY HERE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

[ID: A graphic with a red background and the header of Cramping Chronicles: The First Twinge and underneath the words: Coming October 13th 2020. The excerpt reads:

 

“Sai, they're threatening our daughter! You’ve no choice. If you don't do this, then Meera will pay the price,” the woman pleaded. “You can't go to the police, but you can't risk our child, Sai! Listen to reason please!”
“And what happens to Meera when her father is arrested? What happens to you? What happens to us?” Sai said.

 
At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.

END ID]