Goodreads Giveaway!

Some great news! My book, WILD VIOLET, has been approved for a Goodreads giveaway!

Like the idea of opening up a package and finding a brand new book that you got for free? Click the button below for a chance to win one of 5 paperback copies!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Wild Violet

by Ariel C. Horn

Giveaway ends June 23, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Hope you all have a great day!

Special Update!

Dear Readers,

I'd like to inform you that my novel, "Wild Violet" has been published on amazon.com!

The ebook is available for the low price of $3.99!

I'll be sure to let y'all know when the paperback makes it debut, if you have a thing for the feel of a hot-off-the-presses book in your hands.

If you're looking for adventure, love, and page-turning action in the Old West, featuring a strong female main character, well, do I have a book for you!

Go click on the link. I dare you.

http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Violet-ebook/dp/B00CZDW3HI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1369520913&sr=1-1&keywords=wild+violet

Love,
Ariel

Just the Beginning

Okay, so I lied about posting every Thursday. But every two weeks is better than two months, and today is Thursday, so extra points for that.

I have lots of things to update on. First off, the cover of my upcoming novel is finished:

Look at that! Ain't it purty? Designed it myself. Shh... don't tell anyone. ;)

Also, I listed it on goodreads. You can check it out here, Wild Violet.

My book will be released tomorrow on amazon.com I had originally set my lofty publishing goal as May 17th, so it's a week late. But it's finally getting published, and that's the most important thing.

I've experienced an emotion today I did not expect to at the imminent launching of my novel, along with the normal excitement and anticipation, I feel nervous.

Nervous.

The same kind of nervous I felt when I performed at my first ever piano recital when I was seven. Sitting down on the piano bench and plinking out my best rendition of "Deck the Halls".

But instead of performing a beloved Christmas carol to a room full of parents, that I had been practicing for months, I'm showing the world my literary creation that I have been working on since I first thought of the idea when I was eighteen years old on vacation in Branson, Missouri. This is my first book, and I'm letting it loose in the wilds of the internet. Will anyone buy it? Let alone read it? Will it get lost and not be able to find its way to readers? Will anyone like it, and will they review it? These questions and more have been nagging at me today.

I think my mom put it the best way, "This my baby, hope you like it!"

I was so nervous that I had to calm myself with a hot beverage sweetened with an inordinate amount of sugar, and listen to the Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger's voice is soothing to me, I have no idea why).

I don't know how successful my book will be, this is my first time. My hope is that the people that want to read a story like mine will find it, and ultimately enjoy it. If I can entertain, uplift, and provide escapism for a reader then I have done my duty as a writer.

I'm going to listen to Elvis now.

The End of a Semester

It’s been a while. I probably shouldn’t get into the habit of opening every blog post with an apology. Pretty soon I’ll be posting something every Thursday, so no more apologies will be needed.

Today marks the end of the semester. I had a great run-- Astronomy, Algebra and Public speaking.

I have to say, the class that scared me the least when I signed up for it turned out to be a huge thorn in my side… I’m talking about Astronomy.  I thought it was going to be memorizing the names of constellations and looking up at the stars. Boy, was I wrong. There was some stargazing, but the majority of the work was mind-numbing lab work and calculations. I just wanted to look at stars! I was roped in by my foolish, wide-eyed naivety about the cosmos.

I was trepidatious (to say the least) about Public Speaking. The first time I got up to introduce myself I was literally shaking. After I got over the shaking, turns out I’m actually pretty good at getting up in front of people and talking.

Algebra has been my nemesis since High School. Back then, if I were to equate the hatred I had for Algebra to a person, I would probably say Adolf Hitler or Benito Mussolini. Fortunately, after many semesters of taking math classes, I have reconciled with Algebra. Turns out Algebra is more like a person that’s hard to get to know and understand at first, but once you get to know it better, they’re really just an easy-going, misunderstood, nerd. Perhaps that was too generous… but still, I did come out of that class with flying colors. I have to thank my teacher for that, and lots of hours with my head in my text book, scratching away at homework.

The first question my dad asked me after I came home from school today was, “What are you going to do now?”

Well Dad, I’m not entirely sure, but one thing is certain—I will be working on writing. I will publish my book, and start another one. That is my plan for now.

Coming back to life...

I've been a very bad girl. It's been a long time since I've posted anything on my blog. I could give you excuses about how busy I've been, and believe that I have many, but I'll spare you.

Here's an update on the results of of queries: I got nothing. Quite literally. No agents deigned to pick up my novel. I've made my peace with that. Perhaps it wasn't for them, or they felt like they couldn't market it. I understand. I read it in many a form letter. It's hard to market a Western like mine.

I've decided to go down the road that I once looked down upon with shame (no, that's not what I'm talking about... get your mind out of the gutter)! Many a writer who has tried to go the traditional publishing route first understands what I am talking about. Yes, I've decided to self-publish. No, I am not disappointed.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to pimp self-publishing or bash traditional publishing. I respect all writers and whatever method they choose to best reach their reading audience. I just feel like this is the right decision for me and my novel at the moment. Sure, I could query to 50 more agents and hope that I get a nibble, but I have places to go and people to see! To quote Bob Dylan: "The times they are a-changin'." The age of kindles and ebooks has blossomed like a sweet yellow rose. I feel more confident than ever that my book can flourish in the growing market.

Marketing. That's the hard part. Writing a 300 page novel is easy compared to getting it out to potential readers. Do you know how many books there are on Amazon.com? Of course you don't, neither do I. It's bordering on astronomical. Considering that I only have 7 twitter followers, and probably only 3 people will ever read this entry... I have a long road ahead of me. The trail of self-publishing is at once rocky, lonely and traveled by many, but I ain't scared. Don't you worry about me.