Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Carpenter's Wife



The Carpenter's Wife
by Mysti Parker
     Her screams jarred the peaceful night. A donkey brayed. From the rafters overhead, startled doves flew away in a burst of annoyed coos and wing beats. The young woman was no stranger to childbirth, having assisted her own mother on many such occasions in their village. But here they had no one to call upon for help. The thought occurred to her that she might die, that the stunning proclamation had been a dream, that their little family was no more important than any other.
     Her husband knelt in front of her, holding her knees apart. He didn’t flinch at her cries, nor did he look her in the eye. Only a brief crease in his brow indicated any concern on his part.
     She treasured that one gesture, listening to his monotone instructions, straining to hear the slightest hint of his love. “Push. Good. Now breathe.”
     The contraction eased. She allowed her head to fall back on the rolled-up horse blanket he’d provided when the pains began. The months had crept along until this night. She thought about the quiet dinners they shared back home. About all the times when he caught her staring at him while he focused on his bread and lentils. Their stagnant marriage teetered on this one event.
     She had known all along the doubt remained, but she was so grateful for this man who had taken her in despite everything. He worked tirelessly until his hands blistered and bled. His furniture was highly regarded, yet he never boasted. She admired the pride he took in his creations, and she loved to watch him work. Wood surrendered to his skilled touch. Chisels and saws were like an extension of his limbs. She wanted nothing more than to be the wife he deserved, yet the desire to pick up a doll or chase her younger siblings down the dusty streets still pulled at her heart. And, of course, people still whispered.
     Another pain. Then another. Wave after wave. Sweat poured from her brow. The surroundings blurred with every excruciating squeeze. She felt the baby leaving the warmth of her womb, coming closer to the chilly night. Would he be all right? What if something she did while he was in her womb caused him to be stillborn or crippled?
     “Push! I see the head. It’s almost over.”
     His voice was louder, his eyes wider, sparkling with more excitement than she’d ever seen before. She focused on his face, on the promises of God, and pushed with all her might.
     The child came in a sudden whoosh, leaving her weeping with relief and a feeling of emptiness. Her husband caught the baby in the softest bit of cloth he could find, supplied by the innkeeper, perhaps out of guilt for their lowly accommodations.
     “It’s a boy!”
     “Is he all right?”
     The baby cried, easing her fears. Her husband nodded. “Yes, he’s beautiful, like his mother.”

     She smiled through her tears at the joy in his voice and his beaming smile. He cut the cord and swaddled him as gently as if he were his own child. Then, he handed the tiny infant to her. She took him in her arms, astonished at how insignificant the boy felt within his wrappings. Red, wrinkly, and bald, he didn’t look like anyone that could save the world. Yet, as her husband wiped tears and nestled close to her side for a better look at their son, she knew that this tiny babe had already resurrected Joseph’s heart. The rest was up to God. 
****
This story was published in the anthology Christmas Lites. All proceeds go to the NCADV (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). Grab your copy on Amazon Kindle for just $3.99. Also, be sure to pick up Christmas Lites II and Christmas Lites III. They make great gifts!!!
Buy it HERE!
Buy it HERE!
Buy it HERE!




Monday, December 16, 2013

Winner of the 50,000TH Hit Giveaway Grand Prize!

Congratulations Deborah Parker-McGee! She won the GRAND PRIZE of a Kindle e-Reader and $15 Amazon gift card as part of my 50,000TH Hit Giveaway. The party turned out to be a wonderfully fun event and the longest such giveaway I've ever hosted. However, I think the format worked great, so I will likely do the same for my 75K or 100K Hit celebrations. Though, technically, I've not quite reached 50K yet (counting error on my part after I'd already announced the date), it's close to the mark, so I want to thank everyone who's visited, commented, or participated in any way.

2014 is looking to be a fun year with exciting contests and events here on Unwritten, as well as writing-related articles, reviews, interviews, and more. I hope you'll stay tuned. Until then, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Friday, December 13, 2013

Exploring Marketing Sites, Part I: Authors Den

If you're an author, you've probably been told to promote your work widely and often. But if you're like me-- rather lazy in the promo department- you probably stick to one or two places online and fear leaving your comfort zone. Never fear dear writers, for over the next several weeks, I'll be donning my online walking shoes to explore some of the lesser-known author/reader online hangouts and sharing the PROS and CONS of each. Let's start with...

PROS

Networking potential: There's an Authors' Roundtable with discussion threads by and for authors, though you'll have to fish around a bit to find useful information. You can also explore listings of authors by name or genre, and connect with them. As you can see, your "Den" has a wide variety of links that you can utilize to share info with others...


Membership Options: Paid memberships give you more options, naturally. But there are several to choose from, with the cheapest being pretty affordable. Some of the options seem particularly useful. Den Storage, for instance, allows you to upload things for your readers like newsletters, blogs, audio interviews, sample chapters, and more. Could be a good "headquarters" for sharing current news and storing future information.

Buying/Sharing Made Easy: Your books can be linked directly to the booksellers so readers can easily click and buy. There are also buttons for readers to share your book page on Facebook. 

Control of Content: You can add/delete your books, articles, stories, etc at any time.

Authors' Marketplace: If you provide any services like editing, book cover design, etc, you can advertise and get hired through the marketplace. You get to keep 90% of the profits.

Publishing Options: AD allows you to upload entire book files, stories, articles, poetry, news, and events that will be visible to all site visitors. However, keep in mind that anything you publish here IS considered published, which could interfere with any other plans you have for that piece.

Link to Your Website/Blog: AD provides a variety of HTML codes you can add to your blogs and websites so readers/authors can find you more easily.

CONS

Reaches more writers than readers:

http://voices.yahoo.com/authors-den-springboard-writers-dead-end-148728.html

The above article I found very informative in describing the site as a "closed network" with more networking than marketing potential. Like every online media, however, it can only be as successful as the amount of work you put into it. This is where adding as much information as possible on your pages, linkbacks, etc would be very beneficial. One might even get creative and host contests or giveaways from the site (I'll have to explore that in more depth).

Time CommitmentAdding all your book info, including all the different ID's from various booksellers, your blurbs, covers, etc. takes a big chunk of time. Once it's done, it looks nice, but expect to spend a good couple hours sprucing it all up.

Authors' Marketplace: Yes, this is also a con, in that the page seems pretty devoid of action. Plus, there are advertisements for paid book reviews, which I think is a shady practice in most cases. Unless you're utilizing a well-established entity like Kirkus reviews, paying for book reviews is a big no-no to me.




No Blog Feed: AD does supply you with a blogging function (even for the free membership), but there's no automatic feed from any blogs you have outside of the site. Should you want to share those blog articles there, you'd have to cut/paste/format everything.

****
If you're an Authors Den member, feel free to comment on any PROS and CONS you've discovered. We'd love to hear from you!

Monday, December 9, 2013

50,000TH Hit Giveaway--Strapped for Time? Read some Short Stories!


Welcome to Unwritten's 50,000TH Hit Giveaway in honor of everyone who's dropped by to read this blog! Each day of the giveaway will focus on a different genre, and each giveaway will run for a week. Many generous authors have offered their books for this event, so if you win a book, please consider leaving them a rating/review on Amazon, B&N, and/or Goodreads when you get a chance to read it!

***GRAND PRIZE***
Kindle E-Reader & $15 Amazon Gift Card
Click HERE to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/nuwmaal

Join our Facebook Event page for updates and fun:  https://www.facebook.com/events/318710204933906

Giveaway Schedule 








*Author Goodies - Dec. 10 (Special prizes for our participating authors only!)


Our VERY LAST genre features stories that our short, but not too sweet! If you're short on time, the zombies, ghosts, and fairies of these SHORT STORIES are sure to provide a quick but fun read. (PLUS we have a missed Non-Fic entry added here too). We've got a great selection, so take your time, peruse each author's books and prizes, and be sure to enter the giveaways for those you're interested in. All winners will be drawn a week from today. All e-prizes are available worldwide. Physical prizes may have limited shipping (e.g. US/Can only).

1. Haunted Chemistry by Lindsey R. Loucks (1 Kindle)

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2. Horde Trilogy by Gregory M. Thompson (5 E-Book Sets of All Three Novellas)
3. My Only One by Gregory M. Thompson (5 E-Books) *Note: 113 Pages--not exactly a "short" story, but I missed posting it in the Sci-Fi category!*



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4. Away With the Fairies by Jenny Twist (1 PDF or Kindle)
5. Mantequero by Jenny Twist (1 PDF or Kindle)
6. Doppelganger by Jenny Twist (1 PDF or Kindle)



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7. Steve Prefontaine: Rocketman by Bree T. Donovan (1 Print-Available Worldwide***Please note this is an entry I missed in our NONFICTION Category: 167 pages)

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Sunday, December 8, 2013

50,000TH Hit Giveaway: Tell Me no Tales With Inspirational & Nonfiction Books!


Welcome to Unwritten's 50,000TH Hit Giveaway in honor of everyone who's dropped by to read this blog! Each day of the giveaway will focus on a different genre, and each giveaway will run for a week. Many generous authors have offered their books for this event, so if you win a book, please consider leaving them a rating/review on Amazon, B&N, and/or Goodreads when you get a chance to read it!

***GRAND PRIZE***
Kindle E-Reader & $15 Amazon Gift Card
Click HERE to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/nuwmaal

Join our Facebook Event page for updates and fun:  https://www.facebook.com/events/318710204933906

Giveaway Schedule 







*Short Stories - Dec. 9- Dec. 16

*Author Goodies - Dec. 10 (Special prizes for our participating authors only!)


Today's INSPIRATIONAL & NONFICTION works are sure to touch your heart. We've got a great selection, so take your time, peruse each author's books and prizes, and be sure to enter the giveaways for those you're interested in. All winners will be drawn a week from today. All e-prizes are available worldwide. Physical prizes may have limited shipping (e.g. US/Can only).

1. Today Only by D. Love (2 Signed Prints & 2 E-Books)

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2. Saying Goodbye Without Saying Hello by RaeBeth McGee-Buda (2 E-Books)


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3. My Angel by Jamie Gibson (2 Kindle and 3 PDF)
4. My Baby Sister by Jamie Gibson (2 Kindle)


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5. Letters to Daniel by Amy McCorkle (3 Doc)

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Saturday, December 7, 2013

50,000TH Hit Giveaway: Teenage Drama by Any Other Name is...Teen & Young Adult Fiction!


Welcome to Unwritten's 50,000TH Hit Giveaway in honor of everyone who's dropped by to read this blog! Each day of the giveaway will focus on a different genre, and each giveaway will run for a week. Many generous authors have offered their books for this event, so if you win a book, please consider leaving them a rating/review on Amazon, B&N, and/or Goodreads when you get a chance to read it!

***GRAND PRIZE***
Kindle E-Reader & $15 Amazon Gift Card
Click HERE to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/nuwmaal

Join our Facebook Event page for updates and fun:  https://www.facebook.com/events/318710204933906

Giveaway Schedule 







*Short Stories - Dec. 9- Dec. 16

*Author Goodies - Dec. 10 (Special prizes for our participating authors only!)


They may be pimply-faced kids in high school, but passing their chemistry final isn't their only problem. Today's TEEN & YOUNG ADULT FICTION takes us on some wild and crazy journeys with not-so-typical teens. We've got a great selection, so take your time, peruse each author's books and prizes, and be sure to enter the giveaways for those you're interested in. All winners will be drawn a week from today. All e-prizes are available worldwide. Physical prizes may have limited shipping (e.g. US/Can only).

1. The Grave Winner by Lindsey R. Loucks (1 E-Book)

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2. Sara Ghost by Matt Posner (2 Print OR 2 E-Book, Winner's Choice)

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3. Call of the Canyon by Nancy Pennick (1 Signed Print-US/CAN Only)

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4. Refuse to Sink by D.C. Garriott (3 Print)



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8. Prismatic (Book#1 of the Harmony Run series) by Sarah Elle Emm (2 Kindle)



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9. Forever Changed by Jamie Gibson (2 Kindle & 3 PDF)

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Friday, December 6, 2013

50,000TH Hit Giveaway: It's Gettin' Hot in Here with Erotic Romance!


Welcome to Unwritten's 50,000TH Hit Giveaway in honor of everyone who's dropped by to read this blog! Each day of the giveaway will focus on a different genre, and each giveaway will run for a week. Many generous authors have offered their books for this event, so if you win a book, please consider leaving them a rating/review on Amazon, B&N, and/or Goodreads when you get a chance to read it!

***GRAND PRIZE***
Kindle E-Reader & $15 Amazon Gift Card
Click HERE to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/nuwmaal

Join our Facebook Event page for updates and fun:  https://www.facebook.com/events/318710204933906

Giveaway Schedule 







*Short Stories - Dec. 9- Dec. 16

*Author Goodies - Dec. 10 (Special prizes for our participating authors only!)


You just might need a cold shower after you browse today's giveaways in EROTIC ROMANCE. We've got a great selection, so take your time, peruse each author's books and prizes, and be sure to enter the giveaways for those you're interested in. All winners will be drawn a week from today. All e-prizes are available worldwide. Physical prizes may have limited shipping (e.g. US/Can only).

1. Watch Me Walk Away by Jill Prand (5 E-Books & 5 Signed Bookmarks)

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2. Soft Sounds of Pleasure by Eden Connor (3 E-Books)
3. Wildly Inappropriate by Eden Connor (3 E-Books)



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4. Shuttered Affections (Cornerstone #1) by Rene Folsom (2 E-Books)

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

50,000TH Hit Giveaway: Books That Make You Go "Ahhhh"--Romance!


Welcome to Unwritten's 50,000TH Hit Giveaway in honor of everyone who's dropped by to read this blog! Each day of the giveaway will focus on a different genre, and each giveaway will run for a week. Many generous authors have offered their books for this event, so if you win a book, please consider leaving them a rating/review on Amazon, B&N, and/or Goodreads when you get a chance to read it!

***GRAND PRIZE***
Kindle E-Reader & $15 Amazon Gift Card
Click HERE to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/nuwmaal

Join our Facebook Event page for updates and fun:  https://www.facebook.com/events/318710204933906

Giveaway Schedule 







*Short Stories - Dec. 9- Dec. 16

*Author Goodies - Dec. 10 (Special prizes for our participating authors only!)


That's right, peeps! Today's giveaway features those stories that make your heart flutter and are best served with a hot cup of coffee while you're curled up under a comfy afghan: ROMANCE. We've got a great selection, so take your time, peruse each author's books and prizes, and be sure to enter the giveaways for those you're interested in. All winners will be drawn a week from today. All e-prizes are available worldwide. Physical prizes may have limited shipping (e.g. US/Can only).

1. Tallenmere Fantasy Romance Series by Mysti Parker (PDF, Mobi, or ePub: 3 sets available)




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2. Domingo's Angel by Jenny Twist (1 PDF or Mobi)
3. All in the Mind by Jenny Twist (1 PDF or Mobi)



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4. Sweet Lenora and To the Wind by Ute Carbone (1 Set of both E-books)



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5. Hemphill Towers by Leona Pence (2 Sets of E-book, signed 4 x 6 book cover & ink pen--Available Worldwide)
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6. Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy by Tori L. Ridgewood (3 PDF or Mobi)
7. Mist and Midnight: Prequel to the Talbot Trilogy by Tori L. Ridgewood (3 PDF)
8. Merchandise by Tori L. Ridgewood (US/Can Only):
Wind and Shadow signed bookmark (3) 
Wind and Shadow / Mist and Midnight combo mug (1 ) 
Wind and Shadow / Mist and Midnight combo pen (2) 
Wind and Shadow notebook (1)

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9. Dreamz (Wunder 0.5) by A.R. Von (3 E-books & 3 Signed Bookmarks--Available Worldwide)

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10. Florida Heat by Jody Vitek (2 PDF)
11. Rescue Me by Jody Vitek (2 Print Copies-US Only & 2 PDF)


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12. Venice in the Moonlight by Elizabeth McKenna (2 E-book or Paperback--Available Worldwide)


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13. Merry Christmas, Henry by Aubrey Wynne (1 E-book)


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14. Covert Exposure, a Nick Spinelli Mystery by Valerie J. Clarizio (1 E-Book)

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15. The Man Behind the Mask (Releases Jan 2014) by Barbara Wallace (2 Print-US/Can Only)


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