Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

Shame on Scholastic Books

Saturday, April 15th, 2023

Scholastic: Money before Honor

Author Maggie Tokuda-Hall wrote a Children’s picture book titled Love In the Library, a story based on her grandparents and the US internment of Americans of Japanese descent during World War II. The book is published by Candlewick Press. Scholastic inquired about licensing the book for distribution in their channels, but the offer was contingent on Tokuda-Hall agreeing to remove references to racism. I urge you to read her blog post about the offer from Scholastic and the reasons she refused a dream contract. To the detriment of her career, by the way.

Publishers talk a big game about how they publish works that contain ideas some might disagree with or that challenge entrenched views. They talk about wanting to do better publishing for diverse readers and acquiring diverse voices. Scholastic makes a mockery of those professed ideals by caving in to people who want books to reflect their narrow, bigoted, racist, and hateful views.

Those who crow about Freedom aren’t asking schools to prevent their children from reading certain books. They don’t want any child reading books they don’t like, no matter the opinions of other parents. It’s their choice for everyone. They started with schools, and now they’re working on public libraries. Book sellers are next, online and brick and mortar.

Shame on Scholastic

Their cowardice is just one of many reasons that the consolidation of traditional publishers is bad for readers and authors alike. There’s no one else who competes in the Scholastic space and therefore no one else who could grow a spine and stand up to the voices of hate. They want to talk about how wonderful they are for putting books into the hands of children, but apparently only if those books have been sanitized enough to cater to the racists and homophobes.

Here’s where to contact Scholastic and let them know what you think.

Love in the Libary

Links to buy Love in the Library can be found at the author’s website. Hopefully most library readers can find the book at their local library.

Updated to add subsequent Scholastic spin: via NPR

Make no mistake. This isn’t a one-off situation, and chances are white authors are not hearing about the reality of non-white, cis authors. It’s critically important for people like me (white, straight, cis-gender) to understand that not hearing from the marginalized about the impact on them in no way means it isn’t happening. It is.

My DMs have been absolutely full,” [Tokuda-Hall] said. “People sharing pretty horrific stories that they’re just too afraid to share in public.”

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They’re On Sale Now!

Thursday, March 9th, 2023

My Wicked Enemy and My Forbidden Desire

Are on sale everywhere! I am so, so happy this day has finally come. For a limited time, both books are $0.99. On April 15th the price for My Forbidden Desire goes up. All the books have been updated in line with the editorial changes I made in these two books. The changes aren’t massive, but if you have any of the other books, you might want to update your file.

Cover of My Wicked Enemy. Features a handsome sexy shirtless man looking right into your heart. Background is glowy purple.

Cover of My Wicked Enemy

A demon warlord’s sworn enemy is the woman he desires more than anything in the world.

Carson Philips flees an abusive home only to encounter a man who claims he’s the demon Nikodemus, and she’s a witch who murders his kind. With deadly enemies of untold power in pursuit of her, Nikodemus may be her only hope for survival. Proving she’s not his enemy leads them to an intimacy so dangerous more than their hearts are at risk. She’s willing to follow where desire takes them, but is he?

Kill the witch and get on with his life. What could be simpler?

Nikodemus craves revenge on the magic users who enslave his people. The witch Carson Philips is just the first step toward the revenge he craves. But she’s not what he thinks and the longer he’s with her, the more entangled their hearts and their futures become. His people need his power to protect them, but if they won’t accept a warlord whose lover is a witch, will he lose her forever?

Read Chapter 1

 

Where to get My Wicked Enemy

Smashwords | Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | Google Play | Print

Second Edition, cJewel Books.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-937823-19-1
Print ISBN: 978-1-937823-20-7

My Forbidden Desire

When hatred turns into forbidden desire…

A witch and a demon must trust the passion that binds them or risk annihilation.

A fierce and deadly demon, Xia isn’t happy when he’s ordered to protect a friend’s sister. He knows he’s perfect for a simple assignment that won’t take long. But dangerous forces are aligned against her, and they’re soon on the run from foes determined to see her dead. Before long, his fate and his heart are forever entwined with a woman who turns out to be the one thing he hates most in the world: a witch.

…who dares take the first step into dark passion?

Alexandrine Marit doesn’t believe she needs a bodyguard until the demons break in. If it weren’t for the gorgeous and very unpleasant Xia she’d be dead. As she fights to stay alive, she gives more than her heart to the demon who hates her.

Can they trust their hearts or will their enemies keep them forever apart?

Read Chapter 1

cJewel Books Second Edition.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-937823-66-5
Print ISBN: 978-1-937823-67-2

Where to Get My Forbidden Desire

Smashwords | Kindle | Apple Books | Kobo | Google | Nook | Print

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Quick My Immortals Update

Sunday, March 5th, 2023

My Immortals Update!

I have uploaded the files for My Wicked Enemy and My Forbidden Desire, and I am waiting for the various vendors to get the books on sale. Amazon has my reversion letters but how soon they’ll realize that and put the books on sale is anyone’s guess. Once all the vendors have published the books, I can post the various buy-links.

Pricing

For 30 days both books will be $0.99 US and whatever the closest currency conversion + VAT is in other countries. My Wicked Enemy will probably stay at that price, but the price of My Forbidden Desire will go up. If you bought these books from the original publisher, there’s no simple way to get the updated versions without buying the books again, hence the low price. However, I will likely set up a way for people who already bought these books way back when to get the new versions. Stay tuned for that.

 

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Miscellaneous Updates etc etc etc

Sunday, December 18th, 2022

Reversions

December 17 was the official reversion date for My Forbidden Desire. I hope to have the reversion in hand soon. It will take a few days to get the various vendors on notice about the reversion before I start uploading the two reverted books . . .

Social Media

Many of you may have noticed how bad I am at Facebook. I apologize for this, but I’m there and I post on my Author page and on my Reader Group page. Both those will be somewhat more interesting places for a bit once the reversion comes through and I start uploading. Technically, I’m on Insta, but I almost never post because I do not allow Facebook and its related entities on my phone. I may or may not have a Pinterest account at this point since that company persists in informing me that I am some kind of bot and won’t let me login. ::shrug:: Whatever.

The one social media app I was good at and actually enjoyed was Twitter, which I joined in 2007. Sadly, recent events there have led me to deactivate my Twitter account. I simply cannot personally justify being present on what the app has become. I also cannot justify the security risk given all the talk about forcing users to share data and personally identifying information without the ability to opt out.

You can find me at Counter Social (@cjewel) or on Mastodon (@cjewel@sfba.social). Mostly you’ll find weather reports and pet news, but some writing news as well. Regarding the two, I think I like Counter Social better. I get more friendly post engagement there (which is not to imply that there is unfriendly engagement. There hasn’t been at either site), but there are more people and organizations I want to follow on Mastodon. And, Mastodon has #Mosstodon which is an ongoing thread of pictures of moss, many of which are absolutely stunning.

I was in mourning over Twitter turning into a cesspool, but I’m over it now. I hope those who remain there stay safe and/or are able to find safe and welcoming alternatives. Mastodon is currently somewhat absorbed in conflating “Not Twitter!” with being safe for all voices, and that will prove to be untrue because people are imperfect and flawed and some of them are trash. However, I have far more hope that, at the right mastodon server, there will be progress. Counter Social is very aggressive about bringing down the hammer. For the interested, Counter Social is a fork of Mastodon but not a part of the Mastodon federation of servers.

Holidays!

My son will soon arrive for a visit. I haven’t seen him in two years! I have some time off to spend with him. May everyone’s holiday season be wonderful and joyous.

 

Here is a picture your your enjoyment:

close up of a bouquet of calendula. There are two colors of flow They are either orange, and shades of yellow. They are about the size of the average palm and have narrow petals with an oval tip. The orange ones have a dark center while the yellow ones have a yellow center. There are some water drops on the petals because I'd just put them in the vase. They are very cheerful!

Orange and yellow Calendula. Photo by Yours Truly.

 

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Reversions and Covers!

Saturday, October 15th, 2022

Reversion News and New Covers

The first book in the My Immortals series, My Wicked Enemy, reverted to me a few weeks back. The second book (My Forbidden Desire) should revert in mid-December. As soon as I have that reversion, I will publish these books myself and, at long last, have full control of the series and its marketing. As you can see, I have already commissioned new covers that fit with the series as I’ve published them. The artist did a great job making covers that match the others.

Normally, I would not edit a reverted book, but with these I have, and both will be re-published as second editions. That editorial work is essentially complete now, and I am elated to produce editions that I love. Some of you may know that settling on a title for the first book was a fraught experience. The publisher’s suggestion was so terrible (in my opinion) that I told my agent if they insisted on that title, I would give the money back and take back the book. The book titles were a compromise. In a perfect world I’d retitle them all, but that would cause chaos and confusion that just isn’t worth it. The titles are sufficient.

Funny story. One time I was meeting with someone from a large tech company’s eBook division. This person looked at my covers for this series and made a face when he saw the first two, and I said, “There’s nothing I can do about those two covers.” He looked so relieved that he didn’t have to find a nice way to tell me those covers weren’t doing their job very well. Anyway, here’s a look at the two new covers and the new back cover copy.

My Wicked Enemy

Cover of My Wicked Enemy. Features a handsome sexy shirtless man looking right into your heart. Background is glowy purple.

Cover of My Wicked Enemy

The new back cover copy:

A demon warlord’s sworn enemy is the woman he desires more than anything in the world.

Carson Philips flees an abusive home only to encounter a man who claims he’s the demon Nikodemus, and she’s a witch who murders his kind. With deadly enemies of untold power in pursuit of her, Nikodemus may be her only hope for survival. Proving she’s not his enemy leads them to an intimacy so dangerous more than their hearts are at risk. She’s willing to follow where desire takes them, but is he?

Kill the witch and get on with his life. What could be simpler?

Nikodemus craves revenge on the magic users who enslave his people. The witch Carson Philips is just the first step toward the revenge he craves. But she’s not what he thinks and the longer he’s with her, the more entangled their hearts and their futures become. His people need his power to protect them, but if they won’t accept a warlord whose lover is a witch, will he lose her forever?

 

My Forbidden Desire

 

Cover of My Forbidden Desire featuring a sexy shirtless man with a hand on his head, elbow to the side so we can all appreciate his time in the gym. Background is a glowy green.

Cover of My Forbidden Desire

New back cover copy:

When hatred turns into forbidden desire. . .

A witch and a demon must trust the passion that binds them or risk annihilation.

A fierce and deadly demon, Xia isn’t happy when he’s ordered to protect a friend’s sister. He knows he’s perfect for a simple assignment that won’t take long. But dangerous forces are aligned against her, and they’re soon on the run from foes determined to see her dead. Before long, his fate and his heart are forever entwined with a woman who turns out to be the one thing he hates most in the world: a witch.

. . . who dares take the first step into dark passion?

Alexandrine Marit doesn’t believe she needs a bodyguard until the demons break in. If it weren’t for the gorgeous and very unpleasant Xia she’d be dead. As she fights to stay alive, she gives more than her heart to the demon who hates her.

Can they trust their hearts or will their enemies keep them forever apart?

Stay Tuned and Subscribe!

Expect, at long, long last, a newsletter from me when these books are ready. If you aren’t a newsletter subscriber, there’s a link in the sidebar or Click Here To Sign Up.

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News! Bound in Smoke

Sunday, February 9th, 2020

Hello! I have sent Bound in Smoke to a trusted reader before it goes back to my editor.

You can read the new chapter 1 here.

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Risen From Ash – Cover

Friday, January 17th, 2020
Cover of Risen from Ash, Southeast Asian woman with sword against red smoke and fire background including Golden Gate Bridge
Cover of Risen From Ash, Street Witch Series Book 3

And. . . here is the cover for Risen from Ash, Book 3 in my Street Witch series. I love the covers and I hope you do, too.

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Born in Fire – Cover

Friday, January 17th, 2020
Cover of Born in Fire, Street Witch Series Book 2

Here’s the cover of Born in Fire, Book 2 in my upcoming Street Witch series. I’m so excited!

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Street Witch Series

Thursday, December 19th, 2019

I am going over the MS for Bound in Smoke before it goes back to my editor. I’ve been going through the “Action Items” list I use to keep track of details or items I need to double check.

Also, today I saw the comp for the cover of book three in the series.

I can’t wait to show it to you!

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The Fork is Out

Sunday, April 21st, 2019
Fork against a blue sky with white clouds
The Fork

You guys. I have sent Bound In Smoke to my editor. The fork is out. Photo by yours truly. It’s one of my best on-accident photos.

Repeat! THE BOOK HAS BEEN SENT TO MY EDITOR!

Here is the cover of Bound in Smoke, by the way.

Cover of Bound in Smoke, Book 1 in the Street Witch series. Cover features a tough looking witch admd a fiery, dramatic, urban gritty background.
Cover of Bound in Smoke

Bound In Smoke is book one in a new paranormal romance series. It’s got witches and demons and there’s enforcement zones, and it’s pretty awesome. I do not have a final blurb yet, but you can read a little bit about the series here.

Ember Azuria is a street witch who accepts a job from a trained witch and ends up blamed for the disappearance of a valuable talisman and with a demon warlord sent after her. The problem is, you just don’t want Ember pissed at you.


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