Archive for March 2014

The Woes Of Editing And Today's Video: Behind The Scenes

Today's video is the Behind The Scenes for my cover reveal. The whole process was just insane. But I think it was worth it. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and I've heard only great things about the cover. So, thanks everyone! The video is below.

The book itself is moving at a steady pace. Editing is always hard. Writing is by far the fun part, but it's also the easiest. The problem I'm finding right now is that I'm no longer a reader. I'm an editor looking for mistakes and ways to make it better. My eyes have turned into unfeeling cameras, always looking for the problem. When I have to put myself in the moment to rewrite something, I can get right into the character's skin without a hitch. I just can't go back and read it all, and see it, as a true reader would.

This leaves me with a lot of doubt. Excuse my language, but insecurity is a bitch. It curls up in your stomach like an achy mass and spreads its tentacles through your body. Ugh.

How do I know if it's good? What if I bust my butt to get it ready for publication and all of my beta readers come back with horrible reviews? I simply have no way of knowing. All it takes is one person to say they don't like it and the doubt monster starts squirming.

So, yeah, there's really nowhere to go from there. I don't have some happy solution to make it all better. At this moment, I'm standing on a shaky bridge and hoping that I can make it across.

Alright, that's enough metaphors for one blog post. I hope you guys watch and enjoy today's video. It's much lighter than this post was lol. Links for THE BEAST are below. Talk soon!!!

The Beast on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/17WVJ6t
The Cover Reveal: http://bit.ly/PaYCcQ

Can't see the video? WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE!

---- MY BOOKS ---
The Beast: http://bit.ly/17B6J90
Unpurchased: http://bit.ly/1c6inKq
The Jungle Cure: http://bit.ly/SdeMwJ

---- MY LINKS ---
Main YouTube Review Channel: http://bit.ly/1ag5dGm
Personal YouTube Vlog Channel: http://bit.ly/14IH76t
Website & Blog: http://lindsaymead.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lindsay_Mead
Google+: http://bit.ly/qmtx7P
Instagram: http://bit.ly/M9agTT
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/lU0rlI
Business Inquiries & Review Requests email: exaulta@hotmail.com

Music provided by Royalty Free Music

---- DISCLAIMER ---
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use

---- FTC DISCLAIMER ---
As mentioned in this video, some of these books were sent to me for review and some were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review or mention them. Receiving review copies does not influence my review, all opinions in my reviews are my own.

'The Beast' Cover Reveal

--- ADD ON GOODREADS ---
Demon possession has swept through Glace's neighboring kingdom, turning humans into Hellhounds. These great, fanged wolves are wild, desperate, and hungry. Only the sworn Hunters have kept them back for five long, bloody years.

At the young age of fifteen, Belle LeClair became a Hunter. She no longer remembers how many hounds she's killed, or how many friends she's buried. Still, Belle leads the hunt till a tragedy forces her deep into the dark kingdom. Her heart will be turned, her loyalty tested— and fate will intervene.

Amid a backdrop of Steampunk inventions and a harsh winter landscape,
 The Beast is a re-imagining of the infamous love between a beauty and a beast.

EXPECTED 2014 RELEASE

Can't see the video? WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE!
So there it is! The much anticipated cover. Gah, I've been dying to share it with you all for so long and now it's finally here. I really hope you all like it. Really. Really. REALLY, hope you all like it. Personally, I'm just in love with the cover. The title font couldn't be more perfect. Mooney Designs did a wonderful job with it. 

I hope you guys liked the reveal video as well. It was so much work lol! So many takes. Honestly. I'm even working on a Behind The Scenes to post on Monday. There were just so many unexpected factors while filming this video. However, I think it turned out pretty good and, at the very least, it was a unique way to reveal a book cover.

Thank you guys so much for clicking the video or clicking on this post just to see my cover. Thank you to everyone who lent their help in sharing this reveal as well as beta reading. This cover is going to end up on a lot of awesome blogs. To check some of those out, just look in the description of the video.

BOOM BABY!


'The Beast' Update: Help Needed

Email me: exaulta@hotmail.com
'The Beast' on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/17WVJ6t

Beta readers, reviewers, and supporters needed! THE BEAST is coming along fast and I'm gunna need people to help me finalize it as well as help spread the word. If you think you can help in any way, please contact me!!

This Thursday I'm posting the cover reveal. It's extremely exciting. I really wish I didn't have to wait till then lol. But this week will give me some time to find people who want to participate. If you have a blog or a channel and think you might want to reveal the cover on Thursday, just give me a shout. Otherwise, I'll see you all on Thursday!



---- MY BOOKS ---
The Beast: http://bit.ly/17B6J90
Unpurchased: http://bit.ly/1c6inKq
The Jungle Cure: http://bit.ly/SdeMwJ

---- MY LINKS ---
Main YouTube Review Channel: http://bit.ly/1ag5dGm
Personal YouTube Vlog Channel: http://bit.ly/14IH76t
Website & Blog: http://lindsaymead.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lindsay_Mead
Google+: http://bit.ly/qmtx7P
Instagram: http://bit.ly/M9agTT
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/lU0rlI
Business Inquiries & Review Requests email: exaulta@hotmail.com

Music provided by Royalty Free Music

---- DISCLAIMER ---
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use

---- FTC DISCLAIMER ---
As mentioned in this video, some of these books were sent to me for review and some were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review or mention them. Receiving review copies does not influence my review, all opinions in my reviews are my own.

Greating Writing Backups

It's crazy important to make sure you backup your writing. But if you're like me, then you constantly forget. Well, I found a solution to this problem. This is by far the best writing backup I've ever found.

----FEATURED PROGRAMS---
Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/
Scrivener: http://bit.ly/1dVz8KK

WATCH THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE


---- MY BOOKS ---
The Beast: http://bit.ly/17B6J90
Unpurchased: http://bit.ly/1c6inKq
The Jungle Cure: http://bit.ly/SdeMwJ

---- MY LINKS ---
Main YouTube Review Channel: http://bit.ly/1ag5dGm
Personal YouTube Vlog Channel: http://bit.ly/14IH76t
Website & Blog: http://lindsaymead.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lindsay_Mead
Google+: http://bit.ly/qmtx7P
Instagram: http://bit.ly/M9agTT
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/lU0rlI
Business Inquiries & Review Requests email: exaulta@hotmail.com

Music provided by Royalty Free Music

---- DISCLAIMER ---
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use

---- FTC DISCLAIMER ---
As mentioned in this video, some of these books were sent to me for review and some were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review or mention them. Receiving review copies does not influence my review, all opinions in my reviews are my own.

IMM/Book Haul *Random* (20)

My book hauls consist of books that I have purchased, were gifted to me, or sent to me for review. I mostly read Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal, but will read other genres. The ARCs will eventually be given away, so please subscribe to enter those!
List of my Book Hauls: http://bit.ly/Qxm9PX


CAN'T SEE THE VIDEO? WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE.


----BOOKS FEATURED---
Glide by Bill Gourgey: http://amzn.to/1fADLd4
Nu Logic by Bill Gourgey: http://amzn.to/1fW5KVK
The Forbidden Universe By Lynn Picknett: http://amzn.to/1gfbsMq
Captivating by John Eldredge: http://amzn.to/1nViLzx
Coincidence by J.W. Ironmonger:  http://amzn.to/1gu63Sr

---- MY BOOKS ---
The Beast: http://bit.ly/17B6J90
Unpurchased: http://bit.ly/1c6inKq
The Jungle Cure: http://bit.ly/SdeMwJ

---- MY LINKS ---
Main YouTube Review Channel: http://bit.ly/1ag5dGm
Personal YouTube Vlog Channel: http://bit.ly/14IH76t
Website & Blog: http://lindsaymead.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lindsay_Mead
Google+: http://bit.ly/qmtx7P
Instagram: http://bit.ly/M9agTT
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/lU0rlI
Business Inquiries & Review Requests email: exaulta@hotmail.com

Music provided by Royalty Free Music

---- DISCLAIMER ---
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use

---- FTC DISCLAIMER ---
As mentioned in this video, some of these books were sent to me for review and some were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review or mention them. Receiving review copies does not influence my review, all opinions in my reviews are my own.

Odd Genre Reading Challenge

The Odd Genre Reading Challenge is about forcing you out of your comfort zone, getting you to read new things, and hopefully expanding your mind. At least that's why I'm doing it.

This challenge is not meant to change the way I read completely. I will never be an avid Mystery or Contemporary Fiction reader. I know what I like and it just won't happen. I generally don't like Mystery because it's predictable. It's not very often I can't figure out the bad guy early on. Contemporary Fiction just can't hold my interest. I get bored. If I thought the everyday stuff was interesting, I wouldn't need to read. That's why I like fantasy adventure. It can take you anywhere.

But, that being said, it's important to try new things. I can't guarantee I'll read any of the books mentioned in today's video-- except Michio Kaku's The Future Of The Mind. The other books might be fun and entertaining, but Michio's book will broaden my horizons and help me to see things in a different light. If I really like the book, then I might end up reading more sciency books instead.

If you're interested in doing this challenge too, just comment on the video or below to let me know. Good Luck!

Can't see the video? WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE.


----FEATURED BOOKS---
The Future Of The Mind by Michio Kaku: http://amzn.to/1cO7LvE
One For The Money by Janet Evanovich: http://amzn.to/1cr2hxo
The Darkest Part by Trisha Wolfe: http://amzn.to/1apatNm

---- MY BOOKS ---
The Beast: http://bit.ly/17B6J90
Unpurchased: http://bit.ly/1c6inKq
The Jungle Cure: http://bit.ly/SdeMwJ

---- MY LINKS ---
Main YouTube Review Channel: http://bit.ly/1ag5dGm
Personal YouTube Vlog Channel: http://bit.ly/14IH76t
Website & Blog: http://lindsaymead.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lindsay_Mead
Google+: http://bit.ly/qmtx7P
Instagram: http://bit.ly/M9agTT
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/lU0rlI
Business Inquiries & Review Requests email: exaulta@hotmail.com

Music provided by Royalty Free Music

---- DISCLAIMER ---
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use

---- FTC DISCLAIMER ---
As mentioned in this video, some of these books were sent to me for review and some were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review or mention them. Receiving review copies does not influence my review, all opinions in my reviews are my own.

Currently Reading & Just Finished: Taking On The Dead & Breathless

I've been in a bit of a slump. Slump isn't the right word for it either. A reading slump is when you can't find anything that you can get into. That's not my problem. My problem is that I simply don't want to read. The desire is gone.

I've theorized on twitter that this might be because I'm working so hard on my books. I'm writing and editing all of the time-- that's a lot of words coming at me everyday. So maybe, that's why my reading drive has been out of gas. My brain is feeding on my books.

Good news is that I think I might be getting the desire again. I'm still writing and editing a lot, so maybe this is a temporary feeling. Still I just finished BREATHLESS by Sophie Jordan. Breathless is a spin-off novella about the FIRELIGHT character, Az.

If you followed my YouTube channel this week, then you know that I recently read
the entire Firelight Series from beginning to end this year. I did a quickie video review here. While I did enjoy those books, I can't really say the same about this novella.

Breathless by Sophie Jordan
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I should probably stop reading Novellas. I don't think they ever leave a lasting impression. This one was no different. It was well written. The romance was nice. The story was ok. Nothing exceptional.

Recommended *If you love the series enough to read it.

Yes/No Checklist:
Sex: No
Gore: No
Rape: No
Magic: No
Drugs: Presence of alcohol
Star Categories:
Romance: 4 Stars
Action: 2 Stars
Pacing: 4 Stars
Writing: 4 Stars
Plot: 3 Stars
Overall: 3.5 Stars
Protagonist Meter:
Damsel-*---------Badass
There's no action or excitement in this story to really give us an idea of how useful Az would be in a fight. However, she played the part of the damsel in the actual series, so I imagine it would be the same any other time.

View all my reviews

It took me longer to finish Breathless than it should have, because I didn't have the
drive to read and the story itself wasn't exactly a big draw either. But a few days ago I came across TAKING ON THE DEAD by Annie Walls. Its been on my mind ever since. A zombie novel. Just what I need. A good-old, gritty survival story.

My pure excitement for the book got me to finish Breathless this morning, which couldn't have take me more than 10 minutes. I finished it, opened up Taking On The Dead, and started reading. I didn't read a lot, just a few pages. Long enough to see the first zombie-- and it was GREAT! I'm already in love with the writing and the setting. I can't wait to keep reading.

Btw, when I went on to Goodreads to add this to my reading shelf, I noticed that a lot of you already had it added as a "To-Read". How dare you know about this awesome zombie novel with loads of potential, and not tell me! For shame. For shame on all of you ;P

Anyway, (Not that anyone ever comments, but just in case) what are you guys reading and what did you just finish. Anything good? Hiding any zombie novels that I should know about? Well, off to do some more editing. Talk soon guys! -Lindsay Mead

Firelight Series Review

NO SPOILERS. This is my overall opinion of the FIRELIGHT Series by Sophie Jordan, which I recently completed. If you would like to read my written reviews for more detail, click here:

----FEATURED AUTHOR---
Sophie Jordan: http://sophiejordan.net/

----FIRELIGHT SEQUELS---
VANISH REVIEW
HIDDEN REVIEW

Can't see the video? WATCH ON YOUTUBE.
Firelight (Firelight, #1)Firelight by Sophie Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my second time reading this book. I read it once as an ARC and loved it. I loved it just as much the second time through, but this time I'm able to jump right into book 2,Vanish. Sophie Jordan has gorgeous writing. Every sentence flows right into the next and I think that's what really keeps me turning the page. Firelight starts off with a lot of action and turns into an emotional roller coaster. I warn you though, the ending will have you screaming. I talk about this book and others on my YouTube channel, here: http://bit.ly/RN2j5n
My Spoilery Thoughts:
I would say that my biggest complaint about this story is Jacinda's mother and sister, combined with Jacinda's lack of self confidence. Jacinda's mom rips her away from the pride all because they might clip her wings. That is horrifying, but isn't Jacinda's mom doing the same thing to her daughter by taking her to a desert? In fact, isn't her mother worse because she wishes to kill Jacinda's Draki completely. Jacinda is constantly being told that she's selfish and she even berates herself with this. However, I believe that it is in fact her mother and sister who are selfish. They didn't leave for Jacinda, they left because they were unhappy with the pride. They just leaped at the first excuse that came along. All I wanted during this book was for Jacinda to finally take care of herself. Stand up for yourself! Stand up to your family! Don't let them destroy you! I kept hoping that at some point she would do this and then leave them-- go find people who will love and respect her or at least someplace where she can be free.

I hope Jacinda will at some point actually breathe fire. Steams cool and all, but I wanna see her charbroil someone. Just sayin.

On a different note, I pictured Zach Efron as Will. Don't know why, but it was awesome. Especially the beginning scene with him in the water and entering the cave. Yum.

Recommended & Best of The Best

Yes/No Checklist
Sex: No *A few hot kisses
Gore: No
Rape: No
Magic: Yes *Dragon & dragon magic
Drugs: No

Star Categories
Romance: 5 Stars
Action: 4 Stars *Coulda used some more.
Pacing: 4 Stars
Writing: 5 Stars
Plot: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars

Protagonist Meter
Damsel---*-------Badass
Yeah, I'm gunna rank her a bit low. She pretty much gets her ass handed to her any time she could have been awesome. Hopefully that will change.

*DISCLAIMER: This was a review copy sent to me from the author. Receiving review copies does not influence my review; all opinions in my reviews are my own.</["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

View all my reviews

We Have A Description: THE BEAST!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a description! Finally, I'm giving you more about THE BEAST than just a nice tagline. You have a full book blurb to enjoy. I'm eager to hear thoughts, so without further ado, here it is:


Demon possession has swept through Glace's neighboring kingdom, turning humans into Hellhounds. These great, fanged wolves are wild, desperate, and hungry. Only the sworn Hunters have kept them back for five long, bloody years.

At the young age of fifteen, Belle LeClair became a Hunter. She no longer remembers how many hounds she's killed, or how many friends she's buried. Still, Belle leads the hunt till a tragedy forces her deep into the dark kingdom. Her heart will be turned, her loyalty tested-- and fate will intervene.

Amid a backdrop of Steampunk inventions and a harsh winter landscape, The Beast is a re-imagining of the infamous love between a beauty and a beast.

EXPECTED 2014 RELEASE -- ADD ON GOODREADS

So what do you think? Do you like it? After reading that, do you think you'd want to pick up the book?

Let me tell you, writing book descriptions is NOT easy. I think it might even be harder than writing the actual book lol. I want to tell you what the story is about, but I also don't want to give anything away. Have you ever read one of those blurbs that make you feel like you already know everything that's going to happen in the book? In fact, you start reading said book and you realize that it has no pull for you-- there's no surprise because the synopsis told you wants coming.

Twilight comes to mind. I read that before it was popular; back when most people hadn't heard of it. The first part of the book kinda sucked for me (Haha, unintended pun) because the back of the book said straight out that Bella falls in love with Edward and Edward is a vampire. So during those scenes where Bella is confused and trying to figure out what he is, all I wanted to do was bang my head against the wall. After that, the book was fine because the blurb didn't mention anything beyond that.

So yeah, writing descriptions is hard. Which is why I took so long to write one for this book. But hopefully I pulled it off. Special thanks to Trisha Wolfe for helping with edits. I swear I couldn't finish anything without her approval.

In other related news: THE BEAST's cover reveal is coming soon and I'll be looking for people to join my street team too. They'll both be happening around the same time (In a week or two). Anyone interested in this book should keep an eye out for both of those. Things are happening fast and soon I'll be needing lots of help spreading the word.

Thoughts Of Quitting YouTube

I've been making videos since 2007. It has been an up and down journey ever since. I can honestly say that I am not where I thought or wanted to be at this point. Then again, I can say that about a lot of things in my life.

Whenever people tell me that they're thinking about starting a channel and they want some advice, I always tell them that they've gotta make sure they're filming about something they love. Ya gotta love it and wanna do it, even when the views aren't there-- and a lot of the time, the views won't be. If you don't care for what you're talking about or are only lukewarm about it, then you won't last without the views. No one will be watching and you'll just stop. So, you gotta love it.

The hard part is finding something you love like that. Hell, I'm still trying to figure it out and I'm starting to think that I can't do just one thing. I love books, but only doing book videos doesn't work for me. I'm burnt out! I'm out of ideas! I've also done spiritual videos and dog videos and tried all sorts of stuff.

I'm starting to think that the only way for me to survive without the views on youtube is to post videos about all different aspects of me. Not just books, not just writing, not just spiritual stuff! A little of all of that, plus some singing and maybe some ranting.

Then there's the big question: If I post about all sorts of things, then what will be the draw to my channel? The answer to that is easy-- me. The host should be the draw and for most successful channels, it is. But really, would "me" ever be enough? I suppose that's exactly what I'm gunna find out this year.

Holy crap, that's scary.

So in today's video I talk about my views and my subscribers. And how low both have been. More importantly, I talk about how this lead me to think that maybe it's time that I quit YouTube.

Can't seeing this on Goodreads? WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE!


----YOUTUBERS MENTIONED---
Philip Defranco: http://bit.ly/1n2r8sL
Charles Trippy: http://bit.ly/1hZ5se1
Shay Carl: http://bit.ly/1fCxlLf
Vlogbrothers: http://bit.ly/1cxopRI

---- MY BOOKS ---
The Beast: http://bit.ly/17B6J90
Unpurchased: http://bit.ly/1c6inKq
The Jungle Cure: http://bit.ly/SdeMwJ

---- MY LINKS ---
Main YouTube Review Channel: http://bit.ly/1ag5dGm
Personal YouTube Vlog Channel: http://bit.ly/14IH76t
Website & Blog: http://lindsaymead.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lindsay_Mead
Google+: http://bit.ly/qmtx7P
Instagram: http://bit.ly/M9agTT
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/lU0rlI
Business Inquiries & Review Requests email: exaulta@hotmail.com

Music provided by Royalty Free Music

---- DISCLAIMER ---
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use

---- FTC DISCLAIMER ---
As mentioned in this video, some of these books were sent to me for review and some were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review or mention them. Receiving review copies does not influence my review, all opinions in my reviews are my own.