IWSG, Author Websites, News, and a Story Slice

IWSG, Author Websites, News, and a Story Slice

This post is part of a monthly blog/website hop that has been ongoing for over a decade. If you want to know more about the IWSG, check out the main website.

IWSG

Website / Facebook Group / Twitter / Book Club
Reedsy Discount / Past Issues

Purpose: To share and encourage.

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

The awesome co-hosts for the February 7 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine!

Author Websites

OPTIONAL February 7 question: What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books?

I'm going to turn that question upside down and re-ask: What do I like about visiting author's websites? What do I think works?

My answer: Clarity and authenticity. 

I want to know who the author is, what they write, and a little bit about how they view the world, and what they think/feel specifically about their writing and the writing life. 

I enjoy fun memes, gifs, pictures, and slices of life, but the most important pieces I look for when I go search for an author online are usually to find their books and to discover their unique perspective. 

I have been taking a class that recommends an extremely clear author website that makes it easy for readers to find books and to take a side jig over to an author page. I can see the benefit of that. I have always opted for "here I am," and "oh, over here are my books" kinds of blogs, websites, and such, but I may be recreating something that is easier to navigate from the front page. 

What do you think?

What do you like to see on author websites?

News:

The New Year's Quest Newsletter Book Funnel is still going through February 10th. If you missed it, be sure to check it out for some free reads!

Check out all my links and socials here: Tyrean’s Link Tree.

Story Slice: From Resonance (The Rayatana, Book 3)

This story is still subject to small changes, and this is from chapter 2, so be prepared to be thrown into the fray. BTW, if you can spot an Easter Egg type reference to a popular sci-fi film, tell me in the comments.

“Niowlach Terran Protectorate Station to Explorer, please state your business.” The nasally, officious voice echoed throughout the ship, for Amaya had insisted the entire crew know what was going on during the mission.

Lumien responded from his ship. “Niowlach Station, this is Lumien, Captain of the Explorer, and member of the Neutral Zone Alliance. I have special cargo for your station.”

They waited for several moments, and Amaya forced herself to breathe calmly, glad for the steady presence of Sol through their bond.

“We see you have two other ships in your party. Please explain their presence.”

“These ships are commanded by my crew. We acquired them recently. As you can see they are old, but they are fit for the special cargo we have, all healthy for delivery.”

“How many?”

“125 units.”

“So few, for three ships?”

“We lost some when we acquired the ships.”

“That kind of acquisition could get you a privateer’s license from her majesty.”

“I had not dared hope,” said Lumien in a weaselly tone.

Amaya winced, thinking of the way Lumien played an oily, hardened privateer so easily.

“Bring them in. Docking Bay 5, slips C through E. We’ll inspect them and give you the running bid for healthy units.”

“Docking Bay 5, affirmed.”

The comms went silent until Captain Prya clicked off the ship-to-ship comms and turned on the ship wide comms, “Everyone to stations. Armed and ready.”

Amaya checked her weapons one more time. She had two grenjen strapped to her legs, a bandolier of knives, and her inner Power, pulsing rhythmically with the beat of her heart. According to Sol, she wouldn’t need anything other than the burning light inside of her, but she felt safter with more weapons in hand, just in case someone else’s gift overcame her own.

When the ship’s anchors clunked into place in the docking bay, and the dock’s doors had closed behind them, sealing out the cold of space, they had all taken up positions in the hatchway door, which was not the usual main entrance to the ship. Instead it was off a small hallway, in which they could duck inside alcoves they had built on the walls as they waited.

The door hissed open and revealed the inspection crew, four Terrans carrying blaster weapons and one carrying a clipboard, all dressed in yellow and black uniforms. They paused for a moment.

Sol threw his Charm into his voice and spoke to them, coming out from around an alcove, “Greetings, Loyal Terrans. Lay down your weapons.”

One of the inspectors started to drop his weapon, but another jostled him. “What are you doing, Zeb? That’s the other princeling. The disavowed one. Orders are to shoot him on sight.”

Zeb retrained his weapon on Sol.

Amaya called on her power, formed a shield, and threw it out with her hands, catching the first of the weapon’s fire before it hit Sol.

The inspectors continued to burn through their blasters, firing continuously.

Sol moved back to Amaya’s position and placed his hand on her shoulder, sending his own gift flooding into her. “Anytime, Amaya. I’m ready.”

Amaya nodded and shoved her shield at the inspectors, knocking them off their feet.

Last thought for Newsletter peeps

Just to note, while this is a cross-post for IWSG, you are the only group that received the story slice. Hope you enjoyed it!