authorajalexander

[authorajalexander]

The Council Of Twelve - Dream Walker & Art

Bounty Hunter, the fifth book in The Council of Twelve series, was published on November 25, 2022, almost two years ago. Koyu thought she had done her duty, but deep inside she knows it will never be over. She is bound to her master forever and will have to execute his every command. But when he demands she’ll invade his sworn enemy’s dreams, she chooses to rebel. Koyu risks her existence to…

[authorajalexander]

Happy Halloween 2024

In my past few Halloween posts, I wrote about the origin of ‘All Hallow’s Eve’, the legend of ‘Jack-o-Lantern’, and the superstition about black cats. Today I will take yet another path down history lane. Where does the ‘Trick-or-Treating’ come from? Picture courtesy of Rawpixel.com It’s almost that time of year, when kids get into costume and traipse around the neighborhood ringing doorbells…

[authorajalexander]

A.J.'s Writing Adventure - https://mailchi.mp/c305ae1259ca/ajs-writing-adventure The October Newsletter is out, this month entirely focused on autumn and Halloween. Books, recipes, writing, blog posts, wrapped up in one convenient Newsletter packet. Don't forget to subscribe! https://shorturl.at/LESzW#AJAlexander#Newsletter#October2024#Halloween

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[authorajalexander]

Meanwhile, at 5 am...

Tjara: After successfully waking up Mami, I had to show her her place. You move over, lady. This half of the bed is mine! #ajalexander #middleofthenight #5am #maincooncat

[authorajalexander]

Self Care For Writers - After Your 50th Birthday

Self-Care For Writers - when you're 50! And that does not mean, that younger authors cannot read it! Enjoy!

Hello fellow authors If we know one thing by now, aging is inevitable, and nothing will stop that process—nope, not even your neighborhood plastic surgeon. Botox is not your best friend, and writing is becoming increasingly fun—so much so that we sometimes forget how to take care of ourselves. By the time you’re 50 years old, there are a few things that you should be aware of: you don’t need…

[authorajalexander]

Teddy's 1000 Lives - Vive Le Roi- PART V

While the queen’s ball approached, the subtle changes in the royal couple’s services were barely noticeable. Chamberlains, servants, even tailors, and wig manufacturers were temporarily replaced by Musketeers. Porthos once, out of pure silliness, slipped into the new tailors’ ice-blue jacket, shoes, and knickerbocker, borrowed another courtier’s wig and high heels, and sailed enthusiastically…

[authorajalexander]

Book - To - Movie Adaption

Lately, I have been discussing books and movies, and a friend admitted he loved the Percy Jackson movies. At this moment, I realized one thing. Despite my wish to have my books turned into movies, like so many other authors, before the outcome ends, like the Percy Jackson films, I refuse to permit anyone to turn my stories into movies. When I read Riordan’s book series, I was enthusiastic. He…

[authorajalexander]

Monday Funnies - By The Story Reading Ape

For too long I have not re-posted one of The Story Reading Ape’s Monday Funnies. Today it’s Maxine – about Halloween. Thank you for the smiles and giggles, Chris! Monday Funnies…

[authorajalexander]

Grammar Rules: That and Which – Written By Melissa Donovan

(This post has been published before on The Story Reading Ape’s blog) on Writing Forward: There’s a lot of confusion about that and which. These two words are often used interchangeably, even though they’re not necessarily interchangeable. Historically, that and which may have carried the same meaning, and some English dialects may allow for that and which to be swapped without affecting the…

[authorajalexander]

What’s Your Character’s “WHY”? – Written By Sarah (Sally) Hamer

(This post has been published first on ‘The Story Reading Ape’s blog) on Writers in the Storm: Writing a strong, interesting, and compelling character is one of the most important aspects of creating a successful novel. How do you do it? By giving that character a strong goal, motivation and conflict. It works like this: the goal is the “what?” the character wants, the motivation is the “why?”…

[authorajalexander]

The Climax (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 11 of 12) – Written By K.M. Weiland…

(This post was published before on ‘The Story Reading Ape’s blog) on Helping Writers become Authors: The Climax is the pièce de résistance of your gourmet meal of a novel. When you wheel out the Climax and lift the serving dish’s gleaming silver lid, this is the bit that gets all the oohs and aahs. The Climax should have readers on the edge of their seats. They should be breathless, tense, and…

[authorajalexander]

Promise, Progress, Payoff–in Stories, Acts & Scenes – Written By September Fawkes

(This post was published first on ‘The Story Reading Ape’s’ blog) When lecturing on plot, New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson often breaks structure down into three parts: promise, progress, and payoff. These fit beginning, middle, and end, respectively.  While I find this approach too simplistic for what I need to write a great story (hey, I’m not Brandon Sanderson!), it is an…

[authorajalexander]

4 Tips on Writing Action Scenes – Written By Janice Hardy

(This post was first published on ‘The Story Reading Ape’s’ blog) on Fiction University: A good action scene starts with the character. Seriously. I love action in my entertainment. Books, movies, TV shows, even games. I also enjoy a great story to go with it, but I like the external forces that cause the true nature of a person to bubble to the surface. I want to see what people do and…

[authorajalexander]

How to Identify Your Writing Business Relationship Type – Written by Coleen M. Story

(Published first on The Story Reading Ape’s blog) on Writers Helping Writers: Try this: Think about your writing or writing business as a partner. Start by giving it a name. What would you call your writing (if you haven’t started selling yet) or writing business (if you are selling books)? Mine is “Dolores,” because she’s demanding. (If your name is Dolores, my apologies!) During all my…

[authorajalexander]

Stakes: How to Hook an Audience All the Way to THE END - Written By Kristen Lamb

Stakes, bizarrely enough, are a key ingredient missing in many stories. If the characters don’t have skin in the game, why would the audience? The bigger the stakes the better the page turner. Whether on the page or on the screen, what keeps audiences enraptured the most? What makes us spend an entire weekend inhaling a book, a series, or binging that Netflix series? We want to have to know…what…