E-Readers…the next best thing since sliced bread?

The release of my first novel, Knight Dreams, came out last week. What a grand day! It was almost…almost as exciting as the birth of my two children. Granted, having my first book published is cause for celebration.   My children, however, take the award for the celebration of life changing events.

E-ReaderAs the week went on I found myself explaining what an E-Book or even an E-Reader was and how it worked. And why would I ever choose to have my book published that way? Some of my darling family, friends, and even strangers can only imagine holding a book made of paper. I had indeed traveled to the dark side. Ah. I wonder if that is what we thought when manufacturers brought out those other silly inventions.

 

Do you like your car? Do you remember your very first vehicle? Heck, I was impressed with my first car that came with power steering. The cars of yesterday didn’t have the bells and whistles that they do now.   Where would some of us be without power steering and brakes, the radio, the CD-Player, GPS, and Lo-Jack? Tired, tuneless and lost.

Do you love your laptop? Do you remember your first computer? Can you imagine life without it? Or can you imagine hauling the larger versions around on your back?

How about your cell phone? Can you recall the first cell phones? They came in a bag and you plugged it into the car. Or better yet, remember the first cordless phone?  It was like holding a brick to your head.

How about your IPOD? Before it,  came the 45’s, 33’s, the 8-tracks, the cassettes, and the CD’s. And should I bring the memory of the boombox back to mind? 

Each improvement didn’t really negate the one that came before it. (Okay, I admit, I’m thankful the tangle of 8-tracks are gone.)  The inventors enhanced the product and brought more choices to the table.

 Rest assured, I don’t plan to give up my tree-books forever. They are marvelous for research and there is something wonderful about holding them in my hands. But when I’m traveling and don’t want to pay the airlines another surcharge for the weight of my many books, the E-Reader is the way to go. If I’m at the gym and I want to workout both of my arms instead of using one to hold the book and the other to move the machine, I’m going to use my E-Reader.  If I’m sitting beside my darling man and he wants the lights off to enhance the movie and I want to read, I’m going to sit beside him and read with my Sony E-Reader’s little light on.  

Ah…life is enhanced! And life is enjoyed!

 So come on over, discover the E-Reader that fits your lifestyle. I’ve attached a link to help you on your new adventure. Be sure to check out the latest Digital Book Readers.  AKA / E-Readers.  

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1929387,00.html?xid=rss-topstories-cnnpartner&imw=Y

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1929384,00.html

You know you’re gonna want one!

KNIGHT DREAMS: Knights of the Swan, Book 1 releases TODAY!

KNIGHT DREAMS, October 6, 2009

Knight Dreams by C.C. Wiley

ISBN: 978-1-60504-674-7
Length: Novel
Price: 5.50
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Cover art by Angela Waters

For king and country…or the love of one woman?

Knights of the Swan, Book 1

Wales, 1415

Terrwyn, the daughter of a dispossessed Welsh lord, is blessed with unusual talents. Her skill with a bow and cursed ability to dream the future, however, didn’t save her younger brother from conscription into the English army.

To honor a deathbed promise, she sets out to bring him home—and discovers that one of the king’s knights holds the key to locating her brother. Now she must stay close to her sworn enemy…and try to ignore the growing heat between them. A difficult task, when they wind up manacled together.

Sir James Frost, confidante to King Henry V, can trust no one, particularly the young Welsh maiden impersonating an archer within the ranks. With treason brewing, the last thing he needs is the secretive beauty chained to his side. The connection between them, though, becomes stronger than any links of metal.

When an assassination plot places their lives in jeopardy, James is torn between duty and the woman he loves. He must choose where his fealty lies…and Terrwyn must decide if changing Fate is worth the price.

READ MORE at  samhein_link2http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/knight-dreams

Need a Moment?

PICT0001_editedThere are so many things to do in life. Some are loathsome and some are mundane. Other tasks brighten our lives with color. Lately, I’ve returned to an old love from the past. Painting. 

When I can’t get rid of the internal editor that nags and nags in my ear, I’ve learned to shift my struggles from writing and focus on what’s around me. What do I see? What details do I miss when I’m in a rush? 

What do you do when you can’t seem to write another coherent word? What creative well do you go to that brings new life?

Oh, the Marvelous Wondrous Things You Will Find

I’ve been jamming at my desk all day. Sadly, not with creative writing. But it has to be done. Let’s face it, I can’t even think straight with all the stacks of papers on my desk. I’ve been trying to convince myself that it’s my brand of filing system. I know where everything is. Sorta…

After several hours of forced labor, I couldn’t take it anymore and strayed from the drudgery. And oh my, the fun things I found on the Internet that carried me away. There are blogs that make you laugh, friends to find on Facebook, Twitter to make you…tweet, and that doesn’t even count the interesting facts that you wander upon.

Finally, on a whim, I did a Google Search of my name. There it was. Surprise! In several places! And…and…there was my name, C.C. Wiley, along with, KNIGHT DREAMS. Better yet…my book is up on a bookstore website.  http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=511642 There it is in all its glory! With the cute little word beside it. BUY!

Whee! I’m all a tingle. If I had wings, I think I’d take off and fly. What a wild feeling to see it come to life.

KNIGHT DREAMS, Releases October 6, 2009!

KnightDreams300

Knight Dreams” by C.C. Wiley

Read An Excerpt Online
Genre:

ISBN: 978-1-60504-674-7
Length: Novel
Price: 5.50
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Cover art by Angela Waters

For king and country…or the love of one woman?

Knights of the Swan, Book 1

Wales, 1415

Terrwyn, the daughter of a dispossessed Welsh lord, is blessed with unusual talents. Her skill with a bow and cursed ability to dream the future, however, didn’t save her younger brother from conscription into the English army.

To honor a deathbed promise, she sets out to bring him home—and discovers that one of the king’s knights holds the key to locating her brother. Now she must stay close to her sworn enemy…and try to ignore the growing heat between them. A difficult task, when they wind up manacled together.

Sir James Frost, confidante to King Henry V, can trust no one, particularly the young Welsh maiden impersonating an archer within the ranks. With treason brewing, the last thing he needs is the secretive beauty chained to his side. The connection between them, though, becomes stronger than any links of metal.

When an assassination plot places their lives in jeopardy, James is torn between duty and the woman he loves. He must choose where his fealty lies…and Terrwyn must decide if changing Fate is worth the price.

Warning: This story includes steamy sex scenes with a hot knight who holds magic in his hands and a spunky Welsh archer who knows exactly where to place her arrows.

Read An Excerpt Online

Learning Curves

winding road

This has been a summer of learning curves.

Change of names. Change of titles. Change of lifestyle.

Change of attitude. Change of plans.

How did all these learning curves come about? It started with a dream.

My first novel, Knight Dreams, comes out in less than a month! When I signed the book contract, I didn’t know it at the time, but a different journey into the writing world had begun. Heck, this was my third completed novel. Surely, it was an easy ride from here. Right? 

The first curve I met was the pen name. Do I keep what I’ve known all my life or am I willing to change it just a bit? Either way, I learned there are consequences. You use your real name and everyone can find you. A pen name may allow you anonymity but a price tag hangs from your peace of mind. It reads: Additional Time and Effort Required.

My second curve was agreeing to change the title. Renaming a piece of work that I’ve had in my head for several years takes some getting used to. Hello, who renames their babies?

My publishing editor brought my third set of learning curves. The edits came and went with the speed of hairpin-turns. At times, they left me teary-eyed and frustrated. Other times, I just knew it was right. By the last round, I had learned to hang on, accept or reject the edits and comments, make the changes and meet the deadlines. I cannot always wait upon the creative muse to make an appearance. I must place my butt in the seat, ignore the self-doubt monkey on my shoulder, and write one word at a time.

The fourth set came as a series of long-rolling curves filled with breathtaking peaks and valleys. These are the hardest curves to maneuver and they require a great deal of balance. It is the change of attitude and lifestyle. My free time was now lost in the ocean of trying to do everything at once and not knowing how to do most of it.  As my heart raced from anxiety and my hips widened from sitting in front of the computer for hours and hours, I realized I have to shift my balance so that I don’t fall.  

I know there are more learning curves up ahead. In fact, I can see them looming as I renovate my attitude about diet and exercise. Although there is a plan forming, I know it will change just as my story plots often change. As long as I keep writing and the learning curves continue, it looks like it’s going to a great journey. 

It’s my life between words.