The Promised Picture!

  Well, ladies and gentlemen (but I'm guessing mostly ladies,) here is the promised picture of Princess What Gruman, Bad Ass, and Good Ass. In the background you can see the weeping willow, and the glass castle on the cloud that she lives on. 
   Thanks to my dad for fixing his scanner- I am so excited to finally be able to get this up! For those of you who don't know (and that's basically everyone, since no one has read this book yet) What Gruman is green because her father King Golden Goblin... Well, he's a Goblin. She's not green like grass because her mother's human. Except her mother has gone MIA. But you don't know about that yet. ;)
   All right. Well, to get right down to business, here is the picture.

   So, what do you think? I didn't work on it for too long, though, so if you don't like it... Oh well! I'll try again some other day. 

   In other news.. There's really no other news. I haven't done any work today, but I plan on editing a friend's story just after I wash the dishes. I love editing almost more than I love writing, because you get to be so horrible brutal, and no one can get mad at you- because after all that's what editors are paid to do! And most of the time people request you do edit their stories. 

   Well, I'll try to take it easy on him, but for now I'm off. If you have any feedback for me you know where to email me- eva_gould2000@hotmail.com.

   I love you all, first-timers, those of you coming back again, and all my friends and family. Thank you so much for everything, and be sure to have a wonderful day! Yours always,

                                                                                                -Eva Gould, Author

The Scarlet Sash Cover

Nieces and Writer's Block

    First I would just like to say that my sweet niece Inga is spending the night tonight, and it's just her, me, and mom and dad (her grandparents). She's very adorable, and her and mom are coloring together now as the brownies that they started cooking finish up. After they had mixed up the batter she sat there and licked the spoon while making "Mmm"ing noises for a good five minutes, then she said "I never tasted brownies before!" I don't know if that's true, but if it is... Well, she's in for a treat. 
   She also asked me to let her play an easy flash game that I was playing, and she was nearly as good at is as I am. People, this is one very smart 4-year-old. She's so excited about spending the night all on her own that she keeps giggling about silly stuff, and it's super adorable. I love all my nieces and nephews, every little bit of them. Okay, not the bit where I have to change stinky diapers, but all the other bits. :D
   In book news, I've been working on my new story, which I don't have a title for and have been simply calling What Gruman, and it hasn't gone so well. Writer's block is a terrible, terrible thing, folks. I have been writing more of the story in the notebook as I move it from notebook to computer. I still haven't got it all moved over, since so far I have been writing faster than I move it. Which is good, I suppose. 
   But I'll have a few days to relax and work on my writing, since I don't work again until Saturday. Not so next week; I work five out of seven days, which is unusual because I usually work two days, but also good, because while I love writing it's not exactly profitable. I think that I've made a total of two dollars and forty cents from writing, but that's not what I care about. I just want people to read my book! I want to make them happy!  
   In any case, I have finished my picture of What Gruman and the Asses, and I think that it turned out pretty good. I was super excited to get it up to show you all, but just my luck that my dad's scanner wasn't responding right, and the scan button on my mom's printer is jammed. I will still be doing everything in my power to get the picture to you, but in all likelihood I won't be able to get it up until at least Wednesday, when I am going to visit a friend with a printer/scanner. No promises, but I'll see what I can do! 
   Also, I'm thinking that a good way to unblock my creative glands is to focus on writing something else for a while; in this case a short story. I'd love ideas, if you have any! You know my email address, don't be shy about using it.
   In an update; the goodreads book giveaway is up to 146 request entries, which is fantastic. I know that it's not as much as some books get, but that's all right, because my book isn't as good as some, either. As long as people keep wanting to read it I'll be one very satisfied author.
   Well, the brownies that Inga and mom made are beckoning with chocolaty, delicious fingers, and I have business to attend to (that's code for I'm going to do some gaming and maybe some writing). I am off, my dear friends and readers. Thanks for reading, and have a terrific day. As a thank you, I will post below cute pictures of baby sloths. Love always,
                                                          -Eva Gould, Author

Updates and llamas.

   In a quick comment, I'd just like to add that I somehow managed to follow myself as an author on goodreads.com, and my blog is linked into my goodreads author profile. So, whenever I post a new blog I get a notification, which can be annoying or amusing, and means that I will be getting another notification as soon as I post this.
   Also, the number of people who have added my book to their to-read list on goodreads is up to 16, and there are 121 people requesting it in the giveaway. By the way folks, if you're a reader and you haven't tried out goodreads, give it a try, it's pretty awesome.
   Well, that's all that I wanted to say! Sorry for the comment so quick after my last one, bu it always seems like I remember something else to write as soon as I've finished a blog entry. Oh well, such is life!
   In conclusion, here are some pictures of llamas. Just because.

  I really will be posting the picture of Princess What and Bad Ass and Good Ass later today, so keep checking back for that.  
  So, thanks for reading and come back again! Love you all.
                                                                        -Eva Gould, Author

Quick Post

   Hello there and good afternoon!
   So, I said I was going to buy a domain name today, but due to a lack for foresight I didn't get the opportunity to. My bank is closed on Saturdays, and I had needed to put some money in my account. So, I won't be doing that here for the next couple of days.
   Meanwhile, I'm going to be getting an idea of what I want the website to look like and have on it. I am off of work after tomorrow, until next Saturday, so that's what I'm going to working at.
   Also, my picture for the newest story is coming along quite well. It's almost finished, so I'll post it tonight after I finish it. I think that I'll need a nap first, though, I've been awake for too long to finish it now.
   So, in news... Basically nothing is new. It is nice outside, though, sunny but a little chilly. I bought a cherry-dipped ice cream cone from Dairy Queen earlier today, and it was heavenly.
   All right, well, just because I need to do some work on my writing today; does anyone know some author-hosting blogs? I know that there are some, but I must be googling the wrong words, because I can't seem to find any!
   Well folks, that's all for now. I know that there's not a lot of interesting things going on, but I'll try and remember to post that picture later. I've been working hard on it, so I hope you like it.
   Naps all around! Peace and love,
                                        -Eva Gould, Author
P.S. If you have any questions for me, or anything in particular that you want me to write about on my blog, please feel free to let me know. My email address is eva_gould2000@hotmail.com

Early Morning!

   Good early morning to you! 
   As you can tell, I'm awake late again. I am tired, due to babysitting and working, but I'm going to bed as soon as I finish my update here!
   Due to being busy today I haven't gotten any work on my book done as of right now. That's right, no moving the story from messy notebook to equally messy computer, no self-promotion, none of that! Instead I had the longest four and a half hours of my life. I would just like to say, people, that I love my job very much. There are wonderful things about working at a clothing store. However, there are also some not-so-wonderful things. 
   Here, from the tired, grouchy, sales associate side of me is a list of things that really annoys us in the clothing industry.
   1.) Hanging stuff back out on the floor after you try it on. I know you think that you're doing the world a favor, but the truth is that often we will have to just go out, hunt it down, and rehang it. We are trained to do this.
   2.) Trying on a million things and only buying one. All right, maybe you meant to buy a lot of stuff, but if you're just planning on buying one shirt, do you really need to try on twenty different things? Really. If you're going to buy a shirt... Just buy one, all ready!
   3.) Buying a whole bunch of crap and then returning it. This isn't so bad if you hadn't tried the clothes on before you bought them; sometimes you just don't have time. However, if you all ready tried them on, just stick with them. Seriously. Maybe they'll grow on you.
   4.) Doing things like leaving used tissues in the changing rooms. Okay, I thought this would have been a no brainer, but apparently not.
   5.) Lingering after closing time. I understand that you want to shop, and as long as you're hurrying to get it done, that's fine with me. However, there's a difference between actually "shopping", and just "looking".  Don't be a looker. Everyone at the store just wants to close up and go home, and it'll still be there if you want to look in the morning.
   All right, that's it for tired, irritated Eva whose feet are hurting after work. Now back to Author Eva.
   So, my dear wonderful cousin Seth has decided to help me build a website, which is pretty darn awesome! For what I can tell, I only have to buy a website from godaddy.com for now. I can manage that.
  One last note; I am so excited to say that my goodreads giveaway hit just over a hundred requests today, and five more people have added The Scarlet Sash to their to-read list. Thank you people!  
 Thank you to everyone who supports me in my writing, in my grouchy saleswomaning, and in my personal life. You guys are wonderful and I love you all. Good night.
                                                    -Eva Gould, Author 
P.S. I had a thought today; what if clothing stores handed out little activity pamphlets and crayons to little kids and bored husbands? Also, we should have a couple recliners just for those tired men of ours. :) 

Second post in very few hours!

   All right folks, I know that I've all ready made a blog post in the last 24 hours, but my mind is just racing and it won't stop. I've been feeling a lot better than I was earlier, and I've gotten some work done. Yeah, at the end of last post I added that I finally found that notebook. Well, I've been converting it onto the computer, and so far I've reached about page 20, which may not sound like a whole lot, but trust me... It is. 
   Since I don't really have anything to talk about in particular, I thought that I might add a bit from the new book. I'd like to get some feedback. Now, first I have to say that when I say Ass in this book, I'm not swearing (well, not really) I'm referring to the characters, who are actually donkeys. So, go ahead and let me know what you think, please. Here goes. Now, the Princess just became engaged, and this happened the next day.
            "Princess What was in the courtyard early the next morning. She yawned widely as she deposited one last bag to the small pile on the cobblestones. It had been a late night; the king had announced her betrothal to the entire court, and the news had been received with joy. There had been three cheers for the young couple (among them were ‘hip hip, hooray!’, ‘Eagles have all the zest, Eagles are the very best’, and  that time-honored favorite ‘Be aggressive, B-E aggressive!). After this there had been an impromptu feast. What would never know how so much food could be cooked so quickly, and was led to conclude that it must have been started almost as soon as the prince had ridden in on his Pegasus and declared his intentions for one and all to hear. This in turn led her to wonder how many other feasts had been discarded when her previous suitors left empty-handed.

            In any case, what and Prince Valiance had been seated on either side of the king, so it had been unable to hold a conversation. Still, he shot her glances and smiles, each of which caused her stomach to lurch funnily, and she ended up not actually eating very much.

            Finally What had ended up being bundled back into bed without being able to so much as say good night to her prince. She had pictured his beautiful blue eyes until her body forced her eyelids to close, and when she slept it was with a smile on her face.

            Crimsone had woken What the next morning and helped her to pack. She stifled a yawn and asked What “So why are you doing this, again?”

            What sighed but explained patiently. “The prince had a curse cast on him by an evil crone. He can’t marry until the one that he’s promised to finds what she is searching for.”

            Crimsone had merely yawned again and said that it sounded like a stupid kind of curse. Then as she finished packing she turned to her friend and hugged her.

            “I’m sorry that I can’t go, What.”

            “That’s all right. I’ll try to keep in touch, at least.”

“Yeah, and at least you won’t be going alone.”

Chapter Three

Now What was the one to sigh and stared down at the cobblestone. She would miss Crimsone, but this was for her and Prince Valiance. And sure, in What’s books it was the prince who always went on a quest for the princess, but when Valiance had looked up at her so pleadingly as though his heart would break if she said no…

The noise of someone trotting across the courtyard woke her from her reverie, and she turned, hoping to see those blue eyes again, but it wasn’t Prince Valiance.  Two very odd-looking donkeys were trotting out from the stables to meet her. One was all black, except for flames tattooed on his muzzle, and a bit of red in his ears. He wore dark sunglasses, and he looked… cool… Maybe it was his saunter,  but it distracted you from his companion. When you did notice his companion, though, the knee-jerk reaction was surprise that you hadn’t noticed it before. This donkey was pure white with angelic blue eyes, and above its head a bright halo hovered. What tried not to look surprised and smiled politely at the two.

“Good morning. You must be Good Ass and Bad Ass.”

Bad Ass looked her cooly up and down once, and then proceeded to ignore her, but Good Ass came up to What and bobbed his head. “It’s a pleasure to travel with you. I will do all that I can to make this an easy quest for you. You are as lovely as the prince said, princess.”

Princess What felt herself flushing and thought that she was probably smiling like a fool. “Thank you. Are you two ready to go?”

Good Ass nodded and said “I’m ready,” and Bad Ass condescended to snort and say “I only need me.” So, What tied the packs onto Good Ass and they left out of the wide open portcullis.

At the very end of the cloud was a large platform floating in midair. A rail ran around the platform at about waist height so that people wouldn’t fall off. That would just be bad form.

They all climbed aboard, and as it jolted into movement What rubbed that sleep out of her eyes. It fell to the floor of the elevator in the form of a pitch black square of cloth about the size of What’s hand. Very carefully she picked it up and put it in her pocket.

What had never been off of her home cloud, not since her mother the queen… Well, she had just never been allowed to leave, that's all. Now What looked around in amazement; she had never seen anything like it except for in pictures. The castle on a cloud was too high up to get a really good view, but now as they descended she saw everything. A road began at the spot on the ground where the elevator landed, and it wound its way through fields and over hills before disappearing side by side with a stream into the distance. Scattered here and there were fields of flowers and tall grass, broken only by the occasional dairy, wheat, and corn farms. Far off in the distance a forest began, its dense trees just a black line on the horizon."

Okay folks, there's the sneak peak! More to come, if you'd like.... ;) Give me your opinions, I'd love to hear them. Once again, thanks for dropping by, and have a wonderful day.

                      -Eva Gould, author

Some More about my Publicity

   Well, here I am again! So today I am at home, sick as a dog. Or just as sick as someone who's really sick. I think it may be strep throat, which would be really bad due to a lack of insurance, so I'm just going to try and wait it out.
   In any case, a little bright spot on the horizon is the book giveaway I'm hosting on goodreads. It's doing wonderfully well, I have 74 people requesting today. Also my darling big sister Rebecca added a review on my book. Which is good, but a little sad at the same time. I can't wait for the day when the reviews come flooding in. Well, trickling, at least.
   However, things are going fairly well, thanks to a wonderful author named Neil Leckman. He has helped me beyond measure, and gave me numerous resources I would have had no idea about if it wasn't for him.
   Now, I said at the end of my last post that I'll be working on the next installment of my book, but I've been thinking of taking a break from the Scarlet Sash series and doing a different sort of book, somewhere between the Dealing With Dragons series and Piers Anthony's world of Xanth. So, an easy read. In fact, I had started on a story some time ago. I was pretty far in and everything was going well, but now for the life of me I can't find the notebook I started writing it in! So I basically said "forget that" and have started thinking about an idea for a different book using a few of the same characters. Namely the donkeys that were accompanying the main character on her quest. 
   Bad Ass, Good Ass, Wise Ass, and Smart Ass. Perhaps I can add in Dumb Ass and Unwise Ass this time, but we'll have to see. In any case, I thought that I could make a series of stories in which these donkeys helped people on their quests. But I'll still keep looking for that notebook, because it was a really good story, full of things like sandcastles that are actually castles make out of sand, and the Grapevine is a magical, giant grapevine that tells people the news, but belongs to a farmer named jack who specializes in giant crops.
   Well, if you have any ideas for books feel free to let me know, I could use a little inspiration right now. Also, I've been meaning to write some short stories and submit them to magazines, probably online. In fact, I think that a short story will be my next project, it might help unblock my idea gland (also known as my brain). Also, our public library always has writers in to speak, but I don't know if anyone goes to listen. So I'm going to go to one, and if there's a good turnout maybe I'll see about doing a bit of public speaking. Yeesh... Kind of scary!
   So here I am, couch-ridden at home, thinking of things to do. I'd love to do some artwork from my book, and from any other writing that I've been working on. If you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see, please let me know. As a matter of fact, I've been working on some pictures all ready, so I'll post them on here as soon as they're done.
   All right! I think that it's just about time to get some writing done! :) 
   Thanks for dropping by, and I hope that you have a healthy and productive day!
                                              -Eva Gould, Author


p.s.. I just found the story I had lost! :) Working on it now!

My First Post on an Author Blog

   Today is my first day as a blogging author. It's a bit exciting for me, but it may be boring for you. Still, hang in there. I promise it'll get better.

   First I would just like to say that anyone who tells you getting a book published is difficult is lying. It's one of the easiest things that I ever done, and I have to say, one of the most rewarding. No, that part is all peaches and cream, but the REALLY hard part, the part that'll give you headaches is what comes afterwards.

   If you're thinking about getting a book published, read what I have to say first. Please. 

   I became a first time independently published author on April 12th of 2012. I had been working on my book for quite some time, and I finally finished it and was so excited, because it was done, and then I had it published for free (thank you Amazon.) What I hadn't anticipated is the work that I'd be putting into getting the word out. 

   You see, just because you publish a book doesn't mean people are going to start buying it and you'll get famous overnight. Chances are, they don't know your book is out there; not if you publish independently.

   So it begins. The insanity of emails, creating accounts on innumerable websites, making useful acquaintances, begging, pleading, and crying to get someone to write about you on their blog. And that's just the beginning. I was lucky; I met someone, who knew someone, who knew someone. So, basically I'm doing better than most first time authors.

   The headaches, the constant thinking, wondering... If you want to speak at the library, do you call them, or do they choose who they want? Would anyone show up? Will you be able to do an interview with a famous promoter? In my case, I was lucky there, but with the blog I got sent from one person to the next, to the next, finally washing up with a bit of relief on a handy little website called Indie Ink. Authors out there, if you have an ebook published on Amazon, check this place out, because it's worth it. Or if you're looking for something to read cheap; some books go for free.

   In any case, the point I'm making is that you'd think being an author was easy... Well, think again. But if you think it's insanely rewarding, you may be right. 

   I need to explain something about my obsession with publicity, quickly. The truth is, I don't care about the money. I could just not make a penny from my sales, and I wouldn't give a rat's... Well, you know... But I want people to read it. I want all the fantasy-loving young nerds of the day and age to pick up my book, take a good long look, and then read it all in one night. Sometimes I wish that the whole world was a person so that I could walk up to them, wave my book in their face, and go "Hey! Read this, because you'll like it if you do!"

   Really.

   Well, I am headed out for the night. It's been a productive day publicity-wise; I put a snippet of my ebook on Indie Ink, and so far 58 people have requested my book on a giveaway that I'm hosting on goodreads.com. And just been one day. As for writing book number two... Well... I'll work on it, but right now being my own agent is a full time job!

   Love and thanks to all you readers. I hope you weren't bored into a comatose state. Yours,

                                                 -Eva Marie Gould, Author