Looking For An Awesome Spin On The Fairytale Novel? Then Elissa Sussman's "Stray" Debut May Be For You!

Some of you might remember the cover reveal I did for this book a while back. Now the time has come for my friend Elissa Sussman's debut release, Stray! Here's a little more about it, and a trailer!

“I am grateful for my father, who keeps me good and sweet. I am grateful for my mother, who keeps her own heart guarded and safe. I am grateful for my adviser, who keeps me protected. I am grateful for the Path, which keeps me pure. Ever after.”

Princess Aislynn has long dreamed about attending her Introduction Ball, about dancing with the handsome suitors her adviser has chosen for her, about meeting her true love and starting her happily ever after.

When the night of the ball finally arrives and Nerine Academy is awash with roses and royalty, Aislynn wants nothing more than to dance the night away, dutifully following the Path that has been laid out for her. She does not intend to stray.

But try as she might, Aislynn has never quite managed to control the magic that burns within her-magic brought on by wicked, terrible desires that threaten the Path she has vowed to take.

After all, it is wrong to want what you do not need. Isn’t it?

(From Goodreads)

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I consider myself lucky to have read this story before it was cool. It's that awesome! Now I just have to wait for my hardback to arrive. All the elements that I love about fairytales has been made fresh again. So fairytale fans rejoice - you won't want to miss out on this one! 

Amazon        Barnes&Noble         IndieBound

And if you want a chance to win a copy, drop me a comment below. I'll do a random raffle and announce the winner next week.

Congratulations, Elissa! This is the first of many more to come. 

I'm David, and "don't Stray from the path ..."

IWSG: Crossing The Finish Line: What It Means To Be A Writer After Signing My First Publishing Deal

Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer's Support Group gives bloggers a monthly chance to express their concerns, worries, and insecurities without fear of reprisal. It's a seriously big group now, and with well over 300 participants, it shows no signs of slowing down! I'd like to thank Alex for keeping this group going for so long, as it has proved wonderful in the supporting of fellow authors and the revealing of needed and sound advice.

And for its first year, the IWSG website is collecting today's posts for an anthology to help writers on their journey with instructions and tips on writing, publishing, and marketing. And this is my entry:

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I once had an idea that wouldn’t leave me alone. So I wrote a book about it. I haven’t stopped writing since. That was seventeen years ago. And while others have waited longer (and others much shorter), I will soon know what it’s like to be a traditionally published author.

There’s much to be excited about, a lot to be grateful for. You would think accomplishing what I set out to do after all these years I’d be dancing the celebratory jig for the rest of my life. But the truth is, I’ve never felt more exhausted. I assume this feeling isn’t new for anyone’s writing journey. Yes, I crossed the finish line. Countless rejections and trips along the way has left me staggering to catch my breath, wondering if I can keep running ... or maintain this pace.

In my pursuit of getting published, I’d forgotten something that was once clear: I’m a writer. It’s what I wanted to be since high school. It’s what landed me A’s in English classes. I have a greater sense of who I am because it forced me to reach into the cavern of my soul.

But it took an advanced copy of my first book, in the hands of my oldest son, for me to realize what I’m really doing this for.

This art, this business, isn’t about me. For me, this isn't about fame. For me, this isn't about money. We're conduits. We receive messages and jot them down for others to read. Learn. Be enlightened. Tuning ourselves to the right frequency is the tricky part ... No guarantees without constant adjustment. The finish line is a breather before the next run. Crossing that line doesn't mean I'm finished. The marathon is over, yes, but now comes the sprint. And I plan to keep going. Because someone out there is waiting for what I have to say.

And you as well.

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This is going to be a great month, I think. I have a lot to catch up on, more words to tackle, and lot's of exciting sci fi/fantasy awesomeness to bring up. Hopefully I have some cool news, too. Stay tuned.

Where are you on your writing journey? If you've signed a publishing deal, how has life treated you afterward? What is writing for you?

I'm David, and we're the conduits for a story that's yet to be told.