New Release- The Invitation

NEW RELEASE  The Invitation.

I am trying Smashwords self-publishing for the first time.  The site is fairly easy to maneuver and I like the features.

This book is a romantic fantasy with challenges, obstacles and time travel.

It is a novella and I am excited about it.

I am now beginning to start on my fourth book something different from the other three.  This book has witchcraft and some very interesting characters in it.

I will keep you updated .

Keep on writing and as always send me an e-mail or comment I would love to hear from you.

Free Kindle- Another Lifetime

Free Kindle- Another Lifetime!    Available 9/14-9/16.

Please leave a review after you have read the book...I would appreciate your opinion.  If you had read my previous Blog post. It gives you a little preview about the journey Nora Campbell treks along with her challenges and obstacles.

Would YOU make the same choices?

Enjoy..and please leave a comment or review.

Thank You
M



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I24RVCA

Nora Campbell

 Hi,
My name is Nora Campbell from the book-   Another Lifetime.
I wanted to introduce myself to you and give you a little background about myself.  I am an independent woman who has struggled with a wandering husband.  Listening to his convincing charms just lead down the wrong path.

I always yearned for love and a family like everyone else but it was always elusive.  I love nature and enjoy dealing with herbs and their marvelous healing abilities.

I enjoy hiking and that is where my adventure begins.  Who would suspect that I would be drawn into discoveries that no one could possibly imagine!.


Until next time-

Stay tuned.........

Buy One-Get One FREE

The Count Down....Buy One-Get One FREE

March 1st begins the promotion.

Purchase THE MAGIC HERB and I will send you the link for EVEN EXCHANGE.

Both romantic fantasy stories with  twists.

After you have purchase THE MAGIC HERB-
Send me your e-mail and the date you purchased it. After Amazons  7 day period for returns, I will then send you the link for the free book.

Please understand there are some that will buy the book then return it after reading it within the 7 day period.

It's not fair to the writer who works hard to create an interesting, entertaining story.

Please leave a review or comment.

Any questions please e-mail me at
macourt60@gmail.com

Fantasy Love Story

Do you enjoy reading fantasy love stories?

The Magic Herb is just that!  It's available on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.

Please leave a comment or review...I would appreciate it.

As I have said in previous posts I always use a part of a person's characteristics in my stories.  So many of my protagonists have similar personality traits of those that I know.

I find it interesting to write that way.

The Magic Herb
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015BKBV0G

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-magic-herb-maryann-courtney/1122675130?ean=2940150836433

Creative Writing- The Antagonist

In creative writing-- the antagonist how bad should they be?

In my previous post, mentioned about the protagonist in a story and there is always an antagonist as well.  I mean life has nice people and miserable people so it is important to have them in stories so that the reader can really relate and perhaps cheer for the character.

You need to have your antagonist  a bit of a bully or worse otherwise, how can you discover what your protagonist strengths and weaknesses are.

The reason for the antagonist is to bring out the best in the character otherwise the story is flat and rather boring.

So, how mean, nasty, or vile do you make the antagonist?

Of course, everyone likes a happy ending so it all depends on the authors ending.

In my book,  Even Exchange Amy faces many challenges and her weaknesses and strengths are exposed. And her antagonist was a nasty so and so. I am sure many of you have met or experienced someone like him.  

Again, a nasty person to make the story interesting.

Have a Happy New Year to everyone.

And for those who have purchased my books... The Magic Herb and Even Exchange 

Thank You!

Character Flaws in Creative Writing

Are character flaws in creative writing important?  When writing a story, I think it's important to make the protagonist with flaws. After all. no one is perfect even in a story.

It is important that the reader can "relate" to the protagonist. Bad habits, conceit, jealousy, miserliness we all have some of those flaws.

The more "real" the more interesting the character is and believable in the story. A goody-goody can be very boring and unforgettable while a mean or jealous character can become quite interesting.

That's  why I like to mix real people's traits into my stories- they are more believable and can be easily related to.

That's why Nora in The Magic Herb- you feel sorry for her. Her struggles and dilemmas that she faces along with the heartbreak are all things

Creative Writing

Creative writing enables the writer to create whatever story they like.

The writer can create nice people, nasty people ,devious people etc.

But what about the type of character?

Would you prefer to read about a strong person or a weak one? An optimistic or a pessimistic person?

A man or woman or both?

 Do you enjoy reading about their failures, joys, sorrows, challenges?

It's fun to create these people in my stories and as I have said before in my earlier post I usually use the character traits from people I actually know!

I believe it makes the story more interesting and the reader can usually relate to some of the characters dilemmas or knows someone facing similar issues.

What Do You Like To Read?

What do you like to read?  I read somewhere that a writer should write what they themselves enjoy reading.

I enjoy a good love story mixed with a fantasy that's probably why I write stories about love, relationships mixed with magic.

The book I am currently working on is just that but to be honest I am thinking of submitting it to a traditional publisher instead of publishing it myself.

It's again about challenges in love, but it has a three-way involvement. A mother/daughter and their troubled relationship and a man.  That alone spells trouble.

I truly believe reading  takes us away from our daily troubles and takes us on a journey inside other people's lives.

Until next time.....Keep reading and thanks for visiting my Blog

Cycles of Publishing

There are cycles of publishing that are impossible to gauge. They come in waves-  sci-fi, drama, horror, love stories.

Amazon indicates that science fiction and fantasy are big sellers, but a writer can't write in that genre if they aren't comfortable with it.

And yes, as a writer we should be able to write anything.....but I believe when you write what you enjoy you write better.

Myself, I enjoy writing about fantasy and love relationships. I wouldn't enjoy writing say a horror book. My experience is in relationships and my creativity seems to draw me towards writing fantasy.

So attempting to write for a specific genre at a certain time is not possible due to writing, editing, and then editing again before the story is perfect. By that time, the cycle would have moved on to the next one.

So as an author......when my book is complete  I publish it! Whatever cycle it  enters I rely on the readers to decide if they choose to read the book or not.

Sale

My ebook on Amazon is still on sale for $.99  due to the response I have decided to keep it at this low price for the month of November.

I enjoyed writing this story especially since I had met a woman similar to the one in Even Exchange. I try and create my stories that are close to life with one exception.they are fantasies.  I take some of the traits from the people and sometimes embellish them a little but not very much.

This young woman had low self-esteem to do what she did in the story. Love cannot be manipulated for any good. Many women have so much going for them yet they will lower their standards to have someone.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0150GDKIC

I hope you enjoy the story and leave me a comment or review.

Have a blessed day!

Letting Go

   

Letting go....Can you do it?
Can you let go of something you love?
What would be so essential to your decision to walk away from everything?

Letting go can be refreshing and good for the soul.

Letting go is another step in our journey in life but it must be made with care. Choices have consequences so a choice must be given a lot of thoughts.

Sometimes holding on too tight can be the worst decision for anyone.

In my book, The Magic Herb Nora faces some of these tough choices.

What she decides to do you will need to read the book and find out.

What would you do? What choice would you make?




Holding on is believing that there’s the past;  letting go is knowing that there’s a future.
—Daphne Rose Kingma

photo...goggle

How Far Will You Go For Love?

How far will YOU go for love?   Have you ever given it a thought?

In my book Even Exchange, a young woman had to decide that very question.

She wanted it all love, marriage, family....BUT could she have it?

Sometimes, we will go to far for that perfect relationship but at what cost?

Did she make the right decision?

Was it worth it?

Read and find out


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0150GDKIC

The Magic Herb

My Free ebook The Magic Herb is available for FREE to download this weekend.

This story is an interesting one that everyone can relate to the character.  It takes place in the Mountains of Pennsylvania.

The mystery around the story is an interesting one since today most people are searching for that perfect love. Someone to share our life with.

This character faces the struggles of loneliness and heartache.  But does she find new, love?

And the struggles to keep that new love becomes a challenge just like real life.

So please leave me a comment or review

Have a wonderful weekend

Love, Romance, Magic, Suspense,

What genre do you enjoy reading?    Love, romance, magic, Suspense?

Many people love to read magic with romance mixed in it. Some like love and magic. And others prefer Suspense with love and romance.

So many choices to choose from.  When I view my bookcase I see mostly romance, and suspense mixed with fantasy.

What about you?

Countdown on FREE Download

There are only 7 more days until you can download my second Ebook on Amazon FREE.

Again, I would appreciate a review if you would be so kind.

I am almost finished with my third ebook...This one is slightly different in its story content but interesting. Another fantasy story but with a twist to it.

I will post when it is published or you can e-mail me to ask when if you want.

macourt60@gmail.com

Welcome

This is my first blog post and I am eager to start posting.  I will be sharing my published Ebook links and I am hopeful that I will begin to interact with you.

I would enjoy your comments and look forward to them. I have written two fantasy Ebooks on magic and I hope you will buy them and let me know if you enjoyed them.

I am presently working on my third ebook- another book on magic and as soon as it is finished I will post it here.

Even Exchange is about  a young woman heartbroken from a  love affair moves to a new town and discovers that she can have what her heart wants but with a price!.

The Magic Herb is about a lonely divorced woman rents a cabin in the Pennsylvania Mountains and while on one of her walks she stumbles upon a magic herb. She discovers this herb can transport her to another dimension where she finds love and  romance. Is she willing to leave everything to go back to that other dimension?  And can she?


Here are the links:   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015BKBV0G

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0150GDKIC

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/even-exchange-maryann-courtney/1122678724?ean=2940150922204

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-magic-herb-maryann-courtney/1122675130?ean=2940150836433