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Monday, June 21, 2021

Fantasy Author Ivy Keating: Ink Well--One writer’s process explained for the reader + giveaway

I found there are 4 basic steps to reaching a goal. If you’re a writer, creating a novel and finding an agent or publisher can be daunting. These steps can help you succeed. They are: identification, research, action, and reward.

1-Identification
It helps to know the goal you are trying to achieve. Let's say you want to write a book. Is finishing the story the goal or is getting it published? Be specific. When I started writing, my goal was to find a publisher and not self-publish my story. I wanted it to go through rigorous editing and I felt working with a publishing house was the best way.

2-Research.
What will it take to reach your goal? I looked up everything from the desired average length of a fantasy to which acquisition editors wanted to see this genre. Don't let this step hold up your progress. I didn't look up publishing houses until the novel was complete.

3-Action
Do the activities that will help you reach your goal. To write a book you have to have a story and create a novel. This is the step that is most likely to stand in your way. The key is to understand that goals are often not reached in a day, however, they require movement in the right direction. It is a step-by-step process. I did not get overwhelmed because when the task seemed too great, I focused on only what I had to do next. For example, while I was writing—all I had to do most of the time was to write the next sentence. I could do that!

4-Reward
Acknowledge your accomplishments. You can even give yourself a gift, praise, or both. It will help reinforce the concept that you can obtain your goals.

Sarana and the Dark King
by Ivy Keating
March 22, 2021
Genre: Fantasy
ASIN: B08Y81T7C4
Number of pages: 268
Word Count: 82,700
Cover Artist: Sevannah Storm
The time for hiding is over.

The fearsome Dark King of Bounten, with a magical creature known as a Valomere by his side, is on a quest to find the rare metal tarilium. His brutal ways incite the powerful psychic Allani. But when news of his plans to invade the kingdom of Attaveer spread, a new opponent emerges---Sarana, the daughter of a farmer…or is she?

At birth Sarana was sentenced to death for her "cursed" white hair. The delivery nurse, Meriden, whisked the fair-haired babe to a loving home across the waters from Bounten. Her entire life she hid her appearance to avoid prejudice. Things changed when she discovered she too had a Valomere. She strived to learn the creature's magic and master fighting skills with the hope of becoming a warrior. Her dreams came true when she was allowed to join the Attaveerian king's network of spies--a group poised to help defend the kingdom from an invasion by the Dark King and his powerful army.

When word of the white-haired messenger reached the Dark King he vowed to stop at nothing to capture or kill his opponent.

The time for hiding is over.

Can Sarana save herself and her kingdom? Follow Sarana from death to destiny as she joins forces with psychics, Valomeres, and the power of inner strength, to defeat an evil king.


Teaser Excerpt:
“The sight in the dark space under the platform made her gasp. Storm! The Shiny golden eyes of the king’s Valomere. The creature that led a pack of gray wolves. It was the size of a jackal and had the narrow snout of a fox. The thought of its magical ability to kill with undetectable speed made her tremble. Everyone in Bounten knew, at the king’s whim, Storm could pass through her victim’s soul and destroy it.”

About the Author:

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Motivated by nature’s mysteries and the complexity of human behavior, Ivy Keating writes science fiction and fantasy novels that explore the relationship between mankind and the natural world. A master’s degree in social work helps her understand the nature of her characters as they struggle with the repercussions of their actions.

Her first novel, Camouflage, was inspired by the landscape and natural beauty of New England. Sarana and the Dark King, was imagined from a mental picture of the Great Lakes. The proximity of these bodies of water and the land that surrounds them conjured the images of separate kingdoms—at least they did in her mind. Ivy believes that her challenge as a writer is to take a setting that intrigues her and create a plot that is both clever and surprising.

Tweet:
The Dark King ravages his kingdom in search of a rare metal known as tarilium. His power is enhanced by a mystical creature known as a Valomere. Only one thing can stop his reign of terror—a commoner with a secret past and a powerful Valomere of her own. https://amzn.to/3eoeKGx
#fantasybook #magiccreatures #wizards #fantasycreature #fantasynovel #fantasylovers #evilking

Tour Giveaway
3 - $10 Amazon Gift Card
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9 comments:

  1. Neat cover, this sounds like a good book. Congrats on the release!

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  2. Sounds like a good book to read.

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  3. I love the blurb, excerpt and the cover.

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  4. Thanks for the great post. I enjoyed it.

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  5. Thank you all for your thoughtful and encouraging comments! And, thank you Sharon from "I Smell Sheep" for introducing me and my new book to your readers!

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  6. I love the cover. It sets the tone for the book.

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  7. Thank you! The very talented Sevannah Storm gets all the credit. I love the cover, too.

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