IWSG — Out Of Order

Today’s the day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) where, on the first Wednesday of every month, writers get together to share their insecurities and offer encouragement. The IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can learn all about it and sign up for it here. Insecure Writers Support Group Badge

Now that I’ve finally gotten Book 2 in my Trouble series out into the world, I need to get back to work on my next project. There will be a Book 3, but the trouble is (sorry, no pun intended) that up to this point I haven’t done much with it. Instead, I’ve been working on another story that’s not at all related to the series.

This story, called The Road Once Taken, is also a fantasy adventure, but it takes place in another imaginary world with new characters and has an entirely different feel to it.

I’m about three-quarters of the way through the story, and the characters have been clamoring in my head for a while now for me to finish it.

I’ve already decided that this will be my next project, but I’m a little concerned about switching gears in the middle of a series. I don’t want to annoy those readers who enjoyed the first two books and are looking forward to the next in the series.

So my question is: As a reader, how much would it bother you if an author of a series you were following interrupted the series to write an unrelated — but still in the same genre — book? I’d love to know what you think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.

Blog Tour! With Cathy Kennedy!

I’m celebrating the release of my new fantasy adventure novel, Trouble By Any Other Name, the sequel to Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble! Today I’m over at Cathy Kennedy’s site, Curious as a Cathy. Stop by to read another teaser from the book. Happy Tuesday!

 

Trouble By Any Other Name

 

Amazon           Barnes & Noble          Kobo               iBooks

 

 

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.

Celebrate the Small Things!

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here. CelebrateSmallThings_Badge

Today I’d like to celebrate that I finally published my second book, Trouble By Any Other Name! I know, I’ve been celebrating all week, but I’ve gone so far past my original dream of publishing one book that I just can’t help myself. And when my order of print books arrives on Tuesday, I’ll celebrate some more! 🙂

I’d also like to celebrate blogging buddies! I’ve met so many wonderful people in the blogosphere since I joined it a little over two years ago. Kind, friendly, generous, encouraging, and supportive — there aren’t enough words to accurately describe them. I’d like to send out a HUGE thank you for helping me get the word out about my new book!!

This weekend my family and I will celebrate Memorial Day with our annual visit to the cemeteries to remember those lost. We will never forget.

What other celebrations are going on out there?

 

Trouble By Any Other Name

Amazon           Barnes & Noble          Kobo               iBooks

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.

Blog Tour! With Misha Today!

I’m celebrating the release of my new fantasy adventure novel, Trouble By Any Other Name, the sequel to Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble! Today I’m visiting with Misha, where I share the best ways to get your self-published books into libraries.

As Amy Collins says in her recent article, 9 Steps to Getting Your Self-Published Books Into Libraries (http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2016/03/amy-collins/):

“I want my book in libraries because I know that 68% of Americans have a library card and over half of those cardholders say that they have been in their local library in the last month. That is a huge number of potential readers that might need or want my book.”

Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.

Blog Tour! At Loni Townsend’s and Cathrina Constantine’s!

I’m celebrating the release of my new fantasy adventure novel, Trouble By Any Other Name, the sequel to Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble! I hope you’ll stop by and visit me today over at Loni Townsend’s, where I share The Case of the Disappearing Weapons, and at Cathrina Contantine’s, where I’m sharing a teaser from the book. Happy Wednesday!

*****

Trouble By Any Other Name

 

Tara Triannon is no stranger to trouble. She’s yet to find an enemy her skill with a sword couldn’t dispatch. But how can she fight one that attacks through her dreams?

With her nightmares worsening, Tara seeks answers but finds only more questions. Then her sister, Laraina, reveals a stunning secret that forces Tara to go to the one place Tara’s sworn never to return to. Her troubles multiply when Jovan Trevillion, the secretive soldier of fortune who stole her heart, is mentally tortured by an ancient Being intent on bending him to its will. And worst of all, the Butcher — the terrifying wolf-like assassin she thought she’d killed — survived their duel and is hunting her again.

Hounded by enemies, Tara sets out on a harrowing quest to discover the true nature of who she is, to come to grips with the new volatility of her magic, and to defeat the evil locked in a centuries-old trap that will stop at nothing to control her magic and escape through her nightmares.

 

Amazon           Barnes & Noble          Kobo               iBooks

 

 

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.

Trouble By Any Other Name Is Here! And Blog Tour at Tyrean Martinson’s!

Whoo hoo! Book 2 is finally here! I know it’s not Friday, but I’m celebrating anyway! This book hasn’t been quite as long in the making as my first one, but it’s close.

I’m kicking off my blog tour over at Tyrean Martinson’s, where I’ll be sharing my “5 Reasons to Create Maps for Your Stories.” Please stop by and join in the fun!

 

Trouble By Any Other Name

Trouble By Any Other Name

Sequel to Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble

 

Tara Triannon is no stranger to trouble. She’s yet to find an enemy her skill with a sword couldn’t dispatch. But how can she fight one that attacks through her dreams?

With her nightmares worsening, Tara seeks answers but finds only more questions. Then her sister, Laraina, reveals a stunning secret that forces Tara to go to the one place Tara’s sworn never to return to. Her troubles multiply when Jovan Trevillion, the secretive soldier of fortune who stole her heart, is mentally tortured by an ancient Being intent on bending him to its will. And worst of all, the Butcher — the terrifying wolf-like assassin she thought she’d killed — survived their duel and is hunting her again.

Hounded by enemies, Tara sets out on a harrowing quest to discover the true nature of who she is, to come to grips with the new volatility of her magic, and to defeat the evil locked in a centuries-old trap that will stop at nothing to control her magic and escape through her nightmares.

Available at:

Amazon           Barnes & Noble          Kobo               iBooks

 

https://youtu.be/jqKB887GCS8

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.

Cover Reveal! Book 2: Trouble By Any Other Name

This is it! I’m really excited to be sharing the cover for Book 2: Trouble By Any Other Name with everyone! It’s hard to believe I’m so close to publishing my second book. I want to send out a huge thank you to Carrie Butler of Forward Authority Designs for taking my vision for the cover and making it beautiful. She does excellent work!

And now I present the cover!

Trouble By Any Other Name

And here’s the full cover!

road receding into the distance

Title: Trouble By Any Other Name

Author: Lori L. MacLaughlin

Publisher: Book and Sword Publishing

Genre: Fantasy Adventure

The Blurb:

Tara Triannon is no stranger to trouble. She’s yet to find an enemy her skill with a sword couldn’t dispatch. But how can she fight one that attacks through her dreams?

With her nightmares worsening, Tara seeks answers but finds only more questions. Then her sister, Laraina, reveals a stunning secret that forces Tara to go to the one place Tara’s sworn never to return to. Her troubles multiply when Jovan Trevillion, the secretive soldier of fortune who stole her heart, is mentally tortured by an ancient Being intent on bending him to its will. And worst of all, the Butcher — the terrifying wolf-like assassin she thought she’d killed — survived their duel and is hunting her again.

Hounded by enemies, Tara sets out on a harrowing quest to discover the true nature of who she is, to come to grips with the new volatility of her magic, and to defeat the evil locked in a centuries-old trap that will stop at nothing to control her magic and escape through her nightmares.

*****

Thank you for visiting and celebrating my cover release with me!!

Celebrate the Small Things!

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here. CelebrateSmallThings_Badge

It’s almost May! Whoo, hoo! I’ll be glad when it gets here because I think April and March switched places this year. I don’t know what the average temps are supposed to be for this time of year, but it’s been in the 20s every morning this week. Brrrrr!

Crazy weather aside, I’d like to celebrate:

  1. That when it SNOWED earlier this week (ugh!), the snow melted quickly and was pretty much gone by the next day.
  2. Another bookselling event coming up on Saturday at the Women’s “We Care” Expo in St. Albans, VT!
  3. Another good book review on Goodreads!

Tune in on Monday for the Cover Reveal of Book 2: Trouble By Any Other Name!

Happy Weekend!

What other celebrations are going on out there?

 

 

 

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.

Celebrate the Small Things!

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it hereCelebrateSmallThings_Badge

This has been an absolutely fantastic week. It started with being contacted by a writers’ group from a neighboring town. They asked if I would come and speak to their group about my book and writing in general. I was surprised and flattered and said I’d be happy to talk to them. They seemed really pleased and excited, which put a smile on my face.

Then midweek, I received an official Library of Congress (LOC) cataloging number for Book 2. Whoo hoo! I didn’t get one for my first book, partly because as a newbie, I didn’t know I needed to apply for one before the book was published and partly because I wasn’t sure self-published books could get them. Without that all-important cataloging number and information, libraries aren’t likely to buy the book because they’d have to create the catalog entries themselves and few are willing to do that. Apparently it’s quite a complicated process, as I found out from trying to get Book 1 into my local library.

As it is, I had to go through a two-step process to get the number. First, I had to apply online for an account in the LOC’s Preassigned Control Number (PCN) program. Because I have my own publishing company imprint, my application was accepted, and I was given an account number and password. (Yay!) Then, I had to fill out another online application for the book itself. I received an e-mail the next day approving the application and giving the PCN number. (Lots of happy dancing going on!)

And then to top the week off, I received a stellar book review (which can be read HERE) from a high school student who had bought Book 1 from me at VT Comic Con last fall. (Happy dancing ten feet off the ground, at this point!)

I think I’ll be smiling well into next month.

What other celebrations are going on out there?

 

 

 

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.

Celebrate the Small Things!

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here. CelebrateSmallThings_Badge

I know it’s been awhile since I posted. I’ve been spending every free minute on my edits, and today I’m happy to say, I’m FINALLY done. It’s time to celebrate! Whoo hoo!!

Book 2 is a big step closer to reality. Unfortunately, it didn’t leave me any time to prepare for A to Z, so I’m going to have to bow out this year. I’ll be around to visit, though. I’m looking forward to seeing all the interesting topics everyone has come up with.

Can’t wait to see Book 2 in print! So far, I’m on target for May. Fingers crossed!

What other celebrations are going on out there?

 

 

 

 

© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.