Category Archives: Promotion

A Must For Fiction Authors

November 27, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

Do you need to pump up your characters’ emotions? Then have I got a deal for you!

My friend Stacy Juba is running a Black Friday sale on her Energize Your Writing Toolkit: Cheat Sheets for Character Emotions. https://shortcutsforwriters.thinkific.com/courses/energizeyourwriting?ref=60ad39 This 100-page printable toolkit is jam-packed with more than 4,000 emotional phrases arranged into easy-to-digest lists. Part reference book and part workbook, this system will grow with you throughout your writing journey. Having the right tool can get the words flowing and help you to write stronger scenes faster.

What this toolkit includes:

A 100-page PDF featuring:

Overview of nonverbal communication and body language.
Detailed written instructions and examples on how to use the cheat sheets.
A walk-through video of the toolkit.
More than 4,000 nonverbal prompts that span 21 categories and numerous subcategories.
See It In Action nonverbal snippets from published books.
Discussion questions that guide you through finding your strengths and weaknesses.
Plus, more bonus features are going to be added soon, and you’ll get access to any updates.

It’s suitable for all fiction genres and for creative nonfiction that conveys emotion (i.e. memoirs).

Through December 7, you can get the Energize Your Writing Toolkit for just $29. It’s regularly $49.
https://shortcutsforwriters.thinkific.com/courses/energizeyourwriting?ref=60ad39

To get the deal, put the code blackfriday20 in your cart at checkout and the sale price will show before you pay. If your characters and body language could use some help, take advantage of the sale before it’s gone. Order here! https://shortcutsforwriters.thinkific.com/courses/energizeyourwriting?ref=60ad39

Books, podcast, Promotion, YouTube

Ethiopia And The Untold History

October 21, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

I spoke to Dawit Muluneh the author, who is also a Deacon to the Ethiopian orthodox church. His love for religion, languages and his country is to be commended. And he’s still learning, not making it easy on himself. But Dawit feels that he has more to learn, more to say and more to teach others.

He learnt about the history of his country which he left when he was seven. When the calling came, he returned to Ethiopia and lived in a monastery as he studied the religion. Through study and reading books, he learnt about Ethiopia’s rich history. Surprised with what he discovered, he’s adamant that others will learn about the Untold History of Ethiopia.
Dawit is very open and passionate to the cause and what he wants his books to portray.

He’s a Deacon and an author on a mission.

Watch our chat here.

You can find out more about his books and Deacon Dewit mission and news about his next release.

https://dawitmuluneh.com/

You can find his first book on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Need-Answers-Deacon-Dawit-Muluneh-ebook/dp/B08942L1C9

Art, Books, podcast, Promotion, YouTube

Maanarak Is Opening Up Her Soul.

October 19, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

I spoke with Maanarak about her soon-to-be debut book. As authors, we always give a lot of ourselves in our stories and many are biographical.

Maanarak goes even further by writing poetry and these are powerful words that she spins into a tale of past experiences. She opens up her heart and leaves it on the page. Such a gift many would love to possess. Not only does she write this amazing poetry but she illustrates using her unique style to tell the story of the poem. And she doesn’t stop there. With each poem, besides it, she tells the truth behind the words.

If it wasn’t bad enough bearing your soul in poetry, to then write the story of where the words came from, is truly inspiring and terrifying at the same time and I take my hat off to her, (if I was wearing one) for being brave enough to let it all out. She doesn’t hide behind make-believe she tells it exactly how it is and that makes it so raw and honest.
Come and meet Maanarak, the lady Behind The Pen.

You can find Maanarak on Instagram and listen for the announcement of when this more than poetry book will be published.
https://www.instagram.com/maanarak.4/

Books, podcast, Promotion, YouTube

THE INVISIBLE AUTHOR

October 2, 2021 Karina Kantas 1 Comment

Many independent authors feel invisible. They write, publish and promote their books as well as they can, but they still can’t get sales, can’t find readers and can’t get reviews. In this episode of Behind The Pen, I chat with Mark Anthony Tierno. This is an author that has been writing and publishing for years. With over 30 books to his name and the size of these novels are enormous. We’re talking close to War and Peace size. But don’t let the size of his books put you off. The magic, the characters and the world building in his series Maldene, could rival the epic fantasy adventure, Lord Of The Rings.

Let me introduce you to Mark Anthony Tierno

Please help Mark become a visible author, by sharing and even reading his work.

-Website: www.maldene.com
-Amazon: author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007PTKI74
-Amazon- Maldene order: https://www.amazon.com/Maldene-One-Mark-Anthony-Tierno-ebook/dp/B07KWRXZZN
Maldene II: https://www.amazon.com/Maldene-Mysteries-Mark-Anthony-Tierno-ebook/dp/B07B3S5B11
-Amazon- Cyberdawn: https://www.amazon.com/Cyberdawn-Beginnings-Mark-Anthony-Tierno-ebook/dp/B08LHLLQF4

Books, new release, Promotion, YouTube

A Killer On The Heath – Paranormal thriller.

September 28, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

Yes, The Killer on the Heath is out now.

A woman is dead, and another is missing. The only person who can save her is Cassie.
With no clues and time running out, her brother, Detective Newbold, desperately needs her help. He is counting on Cassie’s clairvoyant and empathic abilities to locate Chantelle.

When Chantelle’s brother, Pedro, seeks out a psychic for help, he meets and falls for Cassie. Though he wants answers, neither Cassie nor Detective Newbold can give any, which complicates their relationship. To make matters worse, his overbearing mother adds further damage with her meddling.

Meanwhile, the killer has been caught, but he refuses to talk. Now, it’s up to Cassie to read the signs and rescue her lover’s sister.

Will she find the answers in time?

Amazon

Available as a paperback and on Kindle Unlimited

The Killer on the Heath is the first of a forthcoming trilogy.

Meet Cassie, the main protagonist in a character interview on the blog of J. M. Northup

He could be anywhere, I realised. He might be striding down this very street, seemingly normal. That’s what made him even more dangerous. He could be choosing another victim from the crowd while everyone else just thought him to be a regular guy. They wouldn’t know what he’s done, or the life he’s taken for his own gratification.’

I considered how and why people could be so cruel to each other. When I’d asked Seb, he’d said, “Not everyone’s wired the same. Some people think what they’re doing is okay.”“How is that possible?” I’d asked him.

“Take Plinth,” he continued, “being brought up by parents who didn’t give a damn and mistreated him set the stage for the man he’d become. He didn’t have a proper standard to compare to, and the power he enjoyed only reaffirmed his beliefs.”’

“You can stop that right now!” A shrill voice crashed into us, throwing us apart guiltily. His mother stood in the doorway, disapproval written all over her face. For a fraction of a second, her eyes lingered on my chest where my nipple stood erect. Once more she had caught me in a compromising position. I felt like a child being found doing something I shouldn’t. What is it with this woman? Couldn’t she have waited until we returned?!’

‘The original short story was born in 2018. I liked it, and wrote another and another. I soon had a collection of short stories.’

Addicted To Education

September 17, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

If Amy Rivers had her way, she would stay and keep studying for as long as she’s able. But having your own business, a family, and being a full-time author, has halted her addiction…. for now.

Not only is Amy a successful author, she’s also a pro when it comes to internet marketing. She has a major in Philosophy and Political Science and many other academic achievements and still can’t make up her mind whether to become a lawyer or not.

Amy Rivers writes novels, short stories and personal essays. She is the Director of Northern Colorado Writers, and was chosen as 2021 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Project.

Her novel All The Broken People was recently selected as the Colorado Author Project winner in the adult fiction category. She’s been published in We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor, Flash! A Celebration of Short Fiction, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Nurses, and Splice Today, as well as Novelty Bride Magazine and ESME.com.

In April 2021, Complicit, the first book in the A Legacy of Silence series was published. It recently won 2nd place in the 2021 CIPA EVVY Awards.

She was raised in New Mexico and now lives in Colorado with her husband and children. She holds degrees in psychology and political science, two topics she loves to write about.

Where to find Amy River and her books.

WEBSITE: http://www.amyrivers.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/am yrivers.writer

INDEPENDENT BOOK SHOPS: https://bookshop.org/books/complicit-9781734516043/9781734516043

Books, new release, podcast, Promotion, YouTube

Was Shakespeare Mental?

July 2, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

According to songwriter and author Robert Boog, Shakespeare may not have been the writer we always believed him to be. And that there is evidence that the playwright Shakespeare, was bipolar.

Let’s just stop for a minute. I hold my hand up, as do many authors, to admitting that we suffer for our creativity. Most writers suffer from depression and most fiction authors hear voices in our heads. Which makes us a little schizo.

The depression takes us to a dark place where the writing is gold, and the voices we hear are our characters leading us the right way or having a go at us for putting them in a situation that the character would never have got into…
Have I lost you yet? Bear with me.
If we authors go through these periods of mental anguish and what we refer to as being in the “zone,” then if Shakespeare or any other writer went through the same thing back in those days, would they be thought of as being mentally insane?

So could Shakespeare have been bipolar? Yes, he could have. If you look at his work: the sonnets, the plays, most are very dark tragic, and even the comedies are so ‘out there.’ That in that era, he could have been mentally ill.

Robert believes that the author of the plays and sonnets didn’t want to be attached to the work and allowed someone else to take the credit.

In this episode of Behind The Pen. I go behind Robert’s songwriting to the screenplays he’s written, and then we discuss his latest book Shakeys Madness. Enjoy.

WHERE TO FIND ROBERT

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Shakeys-Madness-Disorder-William-Shakespeare-ebook/dp/B08TM58JZW

Website: www.robertboog.com
Twitter: @robboog1
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/boogmusic
YouTube: https://youtu.be/jXvAxlz9AHs

Books, free books, Promotion, Writing Course

TIME MANAGEMENT BLUEPRINT

June 21, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

What every author needs!

My friend Stacy Juba, founder of Shortcuts for Writers, has released a brand new course called Time Management Blueprint for Writers: Transform Your Life and Finish Your Book. https://shortcutsforwriters.thinkific.com/courses/time-management?ref=60ad39. It’s on sale through June 26 at 9 a.m. EST with some fantastic limited-time bonuses. Be sure to use the code launchsale at checkout.

This self-paced, comprehensive course will guide you through the process of organizing your life one step at a time so that you can become healthier and happier while boosting your creativity and productivity. Although it’s geared toward writers, any creatives can benefit from this in-depth course.

It can feel impossible to balance your dreams with a day job, family responsibilities, household chores, and a never-ending list of distractions all vying for your attention. Everything seems urgent and you’re pulled in too many directions, which can result in fatigue, stress, irritability, and frustration that you lack the time and energy to pursue your passion.

Through a series of engaging written lessons and short video tutorials that get straight to the point, you’ll assess your life in four key areas: Electronic Clutter, External Clutter, Internal Clutter, and the logistics of Getting Things Done.

Stacy, a fiction author, longtime journalist, and freelance developmental editor, will cover:

Tackling email and social media
Organizing your digital files and bookmarks
Automating routine tasks
Decluttering your home and setting up an inspiring work or writing environment
Unwinding, improving focus, and getting into a flow state
Handling distractions and interruptions
Prioritizing, planning, and breaking down goals into manageable steps
Mastering your calendar
Pushing through creative blocks and setbacks
Deciding which devices and writing apps to use
Nailing your writing or work sessions

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and reclaim control, then Time Management Blueprint for Writers: Transform Your Life and Finish Your Book, https://shortcutsforwriters.thinkific.com/courses/time-management?ref=60ad39
I will give you powerful and practical tools to succeed and find balance. You’ll get a workbook, cheat sheets, habit trackers, spreadsheets, bonus Trello boards, a meditation for writers, and lots more.

You’ll get:

Four modules with written lessons and short demo videos
Extensive resource library filled with helpful tools like spreadsheets, habit trackers, and product recommendations
188-page ebook of the written lessons
39-page “blueprint” ebook of cheat sheets
45-page workbook to help you apply the lessons
Bonuses: Audio meditation from Melanie Steele of For the Writer’s Soul, four Trello boards from Brit Poe of Thriving Scribes, and a word count productivity spreadsheet from brand coach Rahel Wallace.

Snatch up the course for $49 before the price increases to $79 on June 26 at 9 a.m. EST and the launch bonuses disappear. Here are the limited-time bonuses:

Bonus #1 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Author Assistants ebook.
This includes Author Assist, what I can do for you, how I work, and why you might need my help. Get the full intel on my Author Assist affordable services.

Bonus #2 – The Reason You Aren’t Writing and How to Overcome It: a video and workbook from Colleen Mitchell, a life coach.

Bonus #3 – Katharine Grubb, founder of 10 Minute Novelists, has donated an e-book copy of Think Like A Writer in 10 Minutes a Day.

Bonus #4 – Listen to the relaxing Crystal Gazebo of Life guided meditation offered by Lara Piu.

Bonus #5 – Three free Canva templates for your social media profiles to maximize engagement with your followers. They were offered by Courtney of Grayson Creative Services.

Use code launchsale to get Time Management Blueprint for Writers, plus all of the above bonuses, for just $49. https://shortcutsforwriters.thinkific.com/courses/time-management?ref=60ad39

Don’t miss out on these amazing bonuses. Order the course today.

Books, podcast, Promotion, YouTube

Everyone Has an Angel & A Guardian.

June 5, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

Melanie Channell is an energy healer, tarot card reader, spiritual teacher and author. She was first granted permission to feel and hear the divine when she was at a conference and saw a guardian angel standing beside a man. From then she has numerous experiences and counts ArchAngel Micheal as a regular contact. to the divine.

In this episode of Behind The Pen Melanie opens up and explains the feeling and signs she gets. She also does a number and tarot card reading for me and explains how numbers can lead you to your correct path in life.

More about where you can find her book, Numbers Speak a Journey of Spiritual Guidence and learn more about the lessons she teaches.

https://www.heartworksnow.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZGT2YVF

Books, podcast, Promotion, YouTube

Can A Book Unite The World?

May 30, 2021 Karina Kantas Leave a comment

Yes, it can!

When I started chatting to Athena, I assumed she was just another author and surprisingly a songwriter. But as we continued to chat more and more about her life, dedication, and love came to light.

Please watch this episode and learn about the amazing lady and what she does and plans to do 😉

More about Athena
(Greek Goddess of warfare, wisdom and handicraft.
Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of various cities.)

Athena Goodman was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and was brought to Boston, MA, a couple of weeks after the infamous blizzard of ‘78. By the age of nine, she started developing her passion to write from her innermost feelings and thoughts.

Boston was a quaint new place to her. This prompted her to write more and put everything into writing. A beginning of a life-long journey to carve her fragile destiny with her mind and a pen as her tools to achieve everything she had ever dreamed of.

As a young girl, she finished reading all the books in her school library before the sixth grade. Goodman’s writing career began as a feature story writer in high school where her first story appeared in the Harvard Gazette.

In Virginia, she wrote for the Sundial Newspaper at a boarding college then named Randolph-Macon Women’s College. Later, she attended Radcliff College where she took graduate writing and editing classes then went to Harvard University, where her love for children’s literature was developed.