Our First issue!
April 26, 2016
Indie Life Magazine
About Us We are a group of authors, readers, and bloggers - just like you. Our goal with this is to have fun and to produce entertaining and enlightening content for our readers. In each issue you can expect to see information on new releases, new authors, author interviews, classifieds, poetry, and much more! Indie Life Magazine will help authors and bloggers network with one another, as well as being a great opportunity for cover designers and blog tour hosts to get their names out there. The indie community is a big place and sometimes it can be scary, but we sincerely hope this magazine and our efforts will help newcomers find all the information they need to make this journey a little smoother. Interested in advertising with us? Your first promotion with Indie Life Magazine is FREE. This is a basic promotion with text and a purchase link. Any promotions afterwards (sales, new releases, etc) will be $3, $5, $8, or $10, depending on which space you want. You can contact us for more information. Interested in writing for us? Please make sure to look for our contact info at the end of this issue to see how you can contribute to Indie Life. We're looking for interesting, exciting, informative, and diverse articles for our readers to enjoy! THINGS TO REMEMBER: Some pages are scrollable. Watch for the bouncey sections! There are also clickable links and some pictures can also be clicked on to purchase.
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NEW RELEASES
The Shift Genevieve Scholl Release Date: June 30th, 2016 Pre-order Links: Amazon - Smashwords Centurion T.K. Lawyer Available Now Amazon What the Heart Wants Layla Stevens Available Now Amazon Life's Hope Rebekah Raymond Release Date: May 4th, 2016 Pre-Order Link: Amazon
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In This Month's Issue...
Diversity and The Indie Community.....4 Interview with Martine Lewis.....5 Quickies.....6 Happenings in The Indie Community.....7 Wicked Steps by Cory Cyr.....8 Interview with S.H. Pratt.....9 Poetry Corner.....10 A Penny for Your Thoughts.....11 Classifieds.....12
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Article Title
“I am not advocating for diverse books instead of books featuring suburban white kids. I’m advocating for diverse books alongside of books featuring suburban white kids.” -Matt de la Peña Diversity, as defined by We Need Diverse Books: Diversity includes (but is not limited to) LGBTQIA, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. I have been part of the indie community since 2012, and until recently the majority of the books I read were from indie authors. The reason for this change? I decided to try and read 100 diverse books this year. Finding a well-written, diverse, indie book is much harder than it should be, and so I started to look elsewhere. After a couple months, I realized that going outside the indie world to read diverse books was not helping anything. I am an indie book lover and I felt I was losing touch with the community. I needed to figure out a solution. About a year ago, I realized the biggest block keeping authors from adding diversity into their stories was a fear of writing stereotypical and insulting characters. I decided to create a group that was supposed to be for readers and writers of diverse books to have a safe spot for discussions. This way, the authors could ask questions without fear of ridicule, and the readers and fellow authors could participate. Except I thought nobody would be interested. So I made it secret and left it alone. That is, until I saw some people talking about how they wished they had something similar to the very thing I had created. I decided it was time to finally make it public, and now The Kaleidoscope: Readers and Writers of Diverse Books is up and running. I recognize there is still much to do to help make the indie community more inclusive. For that to happen, more people need to understand what is going on and put forth a little effort. Young Adult, traditionally published fiction shouldn’t be the only book genre to step up and help create this change. For now, anyone who is interested in being a part of this diverse group is welcome to join. I hope to see you there! This article was written by J. Hooligan It was edited by Kimberley Tremblay of Write Right
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To follow Martine or to find out more about Crossing Barriers, click on any text below to get to your desired destination! FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM WEBSITE Book: Crossing the Barrier - Gray Eyes Series Book One Amazon - Goodreads
Martine Lewis Bringing High School Romance to a whole new level
Interview with Martine Lewis By Ellie Hart
There are many talents in our indie world. Among the talented, there is one author who brought us a story of love through a teen’s eyes. In the book, Crossing the Barrier, empathetic band member Lily Morgan, has discovered more than feeling for someone’s emotions when she has a run-in with varsity team wide receiver, Malakai.. The stakes are high in this tale of two unique individuals falling in love. I decided to go behind the pages of the good book and interview Martine Lewis about her endeavor. When did you first start writing? M: I started writing when I was eleven-years-old. My first written endeavor was a Duran Duran band fiction. Of course, I had a total crush on them and I wrote a story starring my friends and I with members of the group. Duran Duran. Interesting. Many people started off writing because they wanted to escape reality. During that time, have you ever wanted to escape reality? M: Actually, I wasn't escaping reality per se. I was more embellishing the reality my girlfriends and I were living in, putting our desires on paper and making us dream. My writing fueled hours of conversation and we all liked to live in that story. What inspired you to write your first book? M: If we are talking my first published book, then I can say my entire series (not just the current book) is actually inspired by the first twenty minutes of Roswell, the pilot episode. A lot more will be obvious in book two, however. Book two was also the first book to be written in my series, followed by book three, then book one. A big part of the inspiration behind book one comes from my attending high school football games. That universe; the band, the football players, the dancers, the cheerleaders, the parents, it's full of very inspiring moments and I tried to recapture some of that in book one. I always wanted to run away from high school instead of finding inspiration. When you mention inspiring moments in your school. What were they? M: Actually, the inspiring moments were not in ‘my’ school. They are in the schools where I currently attend football games. I grew up in Quebec. In those years, there was no football, no band, no cheerleaders, nothing of the sort in high school. In fact, as we speak, football is only now picking up and games are absolutely nothing like the ones in Texas. They don't have cheerleaders and marching band, and very few attendees. No, the inspiration came from more recent years and my attending high school football games. I see how hard the kids work. I see how passionate the parents are. I see what I would have liked to have and never did see. That's where I find my inspiration. Tell us a little bit about your book? M: Crossing the Barrier, The Gray Eyes Series, Book One, is the story of a football player - Malakai - who falls for a clarinetist in the marching band - Lily. Lily also has the power to feel the emotions of people around her, which makes her an empath. The story is a coming-of-age journey where my characters struggle with their first real love and the challenges of growing up faster than what they are ready for. Of course, it's also a love story. What age group do you recommend reading Crossing the Barrier and what will the reader get from the experience? M: I recommend between 14 and 20 years old. It talks about first experience, about respect, about growing up, about taking a stand and not being afraid to be who you are, not being afraid to cross social barriers because in reality, they are not that important. I hope the reader will realize some of that. I hope they will see it's okay to grow up. It's okay to want to do your own way. And yes, college is right around the corner (or they are right there), and it's scary, but they can do it. How did you come up with the idea? M: The idea behind Crossing the Barrier really comes from observing the interactions at high school football games I attend. I'm actually one of the first to get there and one of the last to leave when I attend. I like to observe people; the interactions, the parents, and everything a high school football game entails. It's fascinating. That's really what inspired the book. Where do you see yourself in the next two years? M: In May 2018, I'll have 5 books out and a sixth, final one in the Gray Eyes Series will be under way. I am planning on publishing one book every six months; March and September. I will also have a first draft for my second series, The Blue Eyes Series; which is also set in the same universe and I am already planning. A lot of work ahead and no end in sight! And hopefully, by then, people will know more about me and I will be able to quit my day job too ;)
Kára and Gram have dreams but when Kára is taken by the gods to serve her true calling as a Valkyrie, all her mortal plans are destroyed and she begins fulfilling her destiny reaping warriors for Odin. Left behind, Gram searches for Kára and still wonders what happened to her on the snowy night she vanished. After the death of his mother five winters later, the prophetic raven appears to him, signaling that his demise is on the horizon. With Gram’s impending death sealed in stone, Kára wagers a deal with the gods that could reunite the two lovers in Valhalla or doom them both forever.
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Stage Fright
My palms feel sweaty and my heart is racing so fast I can't believe it hasn't popped right out of my chest. What in the world made me think I was ready for this? Looking around the room, I see a small crowd has gathered. I know I should recognize their faces, but every one of them is distorted. I blame the increasing sense of panic I am currently experiencing. These people mean the most to me, but their presence is making things worse. Would they hate me if I just took off running? I mean, I'm not being forced to do this. They cannot make me go through with it. And... Oh god...I think I'm already covered in sweat. I can hear the music beginning, signifying the start of the event, but I can't move. I know all their eyes are on me, and it is all I can do not to faint right here in front of the crowd. My eyes are on the hem of my dress, which is now probably ruined. Does sweat stain this fabric? I know I am becoming lost in my thoughts – it is my way of blocking out difficult situations. But I am immediately brought back to reality the second I hear her voice. It is the most angelic sound I’ve ever heard, each syllable she speaks is like the lilt of an angel. I am instantly calmed as her hand reaches for mine. My eyes trace slowly up her body, every inch and curve, until they reach her soft smile. "Everything okay?" She mouths, and for a second I can't, for the life of me, figure out why she would think it wouldn't be. Everything is so clear when she's around. I nod in response, offering her a smile in return before we both turn toward the judge.
Quickies
by Kaydence Rayne
by Alyssa Breck
Mark of the Raven
Wicked Wants, Book 2
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WHAT'S GOING ON?
by Selena Rivera
Unexpected Love
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When Kaylee decided to look for her natural mother, little did she know she was also going to find the love of her life, her soul mate, in the most unique and unusual place. It could not have been predicted. It was the beginning of an emotional storm that will rock her world. Will the past come back and haunt her, a past she didn’t know existed? Will this new life and love be at stake? Will she lose the man of her dreams?
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wicked steps by Cory Cyr
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I could tell you I married Hartman Wick out of love, but it’s complicated. We were friends. He was dying. And he needed me. He also made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Of course, I agreed with the very best of intentions. But we all know what the road to hell is paved with. All I ever dreamed of was owning my own gallery. A place where my best friend and I could introduce the masses to inspiring and new artists. Hartman promised me the deed to the gallery, wealth, and security for the rest of my life. Instead, I find myself in a war with his estranged son Kieran—my stepson and one of the most prolific painters, known for his erotic shock art. He’s been plotting revenge against his father for years, and now that Daddy’s dead, he’s seized the opportunity. Between the constant battles, heated exchanges, and threats of blackmail, I find myself inexplicitly drawn to this twenty-four-year old. He’s beautiful, seductive, arrogant, and evil. Not only is he a gifted artist, but he’s certainly inherited some of his father’s more unsavory traits. He truly is a Wick. But then he takes things too far and pushes me to my breaking point. I’ve had enough. In retaliation, I make a plan. And I almost feel sorry for him—almost. I’m sure, even as a child, he was never read a single fairy tale. Poor bastard. He has no idea how truly wicked a stepmother can be.
If anyone had asked ten years ago, I never would have imagined I’d be a thirty-five-year-old widow today.
Strong language, explicit sexual situations, M/F. F/F. 18+ (Click the pic to purchase!)
S.H Pratt has a style of writing that is charming and romantic. In the Green Brother novels, S.H. Pratt takes you on a journey with the Green brothers — Adam who vowed never to get involved with women because they are heartless, falls for the hopeless romantic Angie Hartman. His twin, Austin who has always craved warmth and compassion from women, finds himself being a beacon of light for Fiona — an independent spirit, who seeks more than a small town life. Every author has a story behind the pages they write. I had the pleasure of having a fun conversation with Ms. Pratt about her writing. When did you first start writing? S: I started writing in high school out of sheer boredom. I stopped writing when I graduated because I thought I should get a ‘real job.’ I picked it back up again when my middle nerdling was a baby, to maintain some sort of reality that didn't revolve around children under 3. What inspired you? S: The very first book that I finished was just after high school and I wrote it out of boredom and the desire to have an exciting life. It was lost in the many moves I've done since then and was formatted to WordPerfect. The first book I wrote after I restarted was a means to deal with my husband's infidelity... I killed him in effigy a lot in the first few books. LOL I did read somewhere that there are young adult stories you have written to inspire kids to read. This started when your children were young. Are you planning to bring them to the publishing world? S: I do have a series of books that I'm working on (slowly) that I hope to publish one day. I've struggled to find beta readers for it as it's a fantasy series that is primarily aimed toward young readers. Obviously, if I publish these, they'll be under a different name so I don't have kids stumbling across my romance books. LOL I'm glad we are doing this interview, this may help you find Young Adult Beta Readers. S: I can hope for beta readers. :) What do you have in store with your upcoming series? S: My current works in progress (and yes, works) are the second book of the Picture of Love series and the third book of the Crazy Mountain series, both of which are Green Brothers books. I say I'm working on both of them because they take place concurrently so I have to write them together to make sure the interlapping parts are done right. It takes longer to write because I'm constantly switching from one book to the other, to keep them straight and to avoid story line malfunctions. How did you come up with the idea? How did it come about? S: For instance, in one of my books, I was inspired by church, but the idea of how to write the story using a folklore legend was from watching Disney's Brave with my kids. Using the story of the twins, I believe was from the Green Brothers books, how did you come up with the idea to have them as twins and where did the concept of what the book would be like come from? S: For the Green Brothers... well, in 2013 I had completed all my WIPs (something that has not happened since) and I hosted an event on Facebook called ‘Prompt my Muse,’ in which I asked readers to give me a picture, song, or whatever to inspire my next book. Of the two dozen or so entries, my sweet friend, Gemma, submitted a song called, Depth Over Distance by Ben Howard. It made me think of my home in Montana, which then brought to mind my favorite mountains there. Austin and Adam Green came from that and This Crazy Love. Originally, it was supposed to be a standalone, as all of my books at the time were, but when I finished it, I knew there was more to their story and I started This Crazy Heart and the Crazy Mountain series was born. After a whole lot of coercion, my readers convinced me that Austin's twin, Adam, needed his own series. As for why twins... no idea, that's just the way the story came to me... I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kinda writer. LOL Where do you see yourself in the next two years? S: In two years, I see more books, less stress (I can dream!), more sales (still dreaming) and with any luck a NYT or USA Today bestseller. Yes, I really am a dreamer. LOL You never know what two years will bring. S: I run on hope. LOL
Interview by Ellie Hart
To follow S.H. Pratt and find out what she has planned in her next novels, click the links below: Website | Facebook Twitter | Amazon B&N | Goodreads Newsletter | Personal Facebook
Through the Eyes of
S.H. Pratt
The World of Writing
Poetry Corner
Baby Steps in the Book World How one small bookshop is dreaming BIG By Tonya Ridener When you think of online retailers and buying books, there are probably a few big names that come to mind; Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. They are, without a doubt, three of the top websites to sate your hunger for literacy, but what about lesser-known sites? E-books are definitely in demand all over the world. They are convenient for readers on-the-go, and a lot of people enjoy being able to read on their e-readers because then the crowd around them cannot judge them by the cover. E-books are all the rage (though we haven’t forgotten our love of paperbacks), and there are many smaller businesses offering them to the public. One such small business is Serendipity Books & More. Officially opening its virtual doors on October 31st, 2015, they began offering the works of indie authors for the public to enjoy. Their goal is very simple: get lesser-known indie authors known and help them grow. With twelve authors on board already, Serendipity Books & More hopes to bring on more authors in the future – to help them grow their brand and get the names of indie authors out there. One of the best parts about this store is the fact they work hard to ensure their authors get a fair trade when it comes to royalties. Authors receive 85% of royalties made through Serendipity Books & More. As for readers, the goal is to help them enjoy reading again. Serendipity sincerely hopes more attention will be given to the small businesses out there, and people will support these lesser-known companies rather than fueling the mega corporations. This is a bookstore built on the belief of community, and they want to help out everyone in the indie book world as much as they can. “We have teamed up with IABB in the past to raise money to help families who needed tools, or to make a Christmas wish come true,” Ellie Hart, owner, said. “Awareness is also one of the most important parts of society. We have so much hatred when it comes to not understanding a person who is different. Our store is just like a blog and we show people that it's okay to be different. By writing small articles about special needs, or what it's like to be bullied. Most importantly giving folks the tools in order for them to not lose hope or faith.” Serendipity Books & More is still growing and hopes to do more for the community, and their authors over time. Be sure to stop by their Facebook page and website to learn more about them, and to support the store by purchasing a new read!
Strawberry season, Pumpkin season, Swimsuit season, Football season. When is your Reading season? Is it in spring? While sitting under a tree Surrounded by fresh flowers? Is it in summer? Lying in the sun and warmth With sunglasses and a floppy hat? Is it in autumn? Surrounded by crispy leaves Wearing a cozy sweater? Is it in winter? In front of a crackling fire Wrapped in a warm blanket? Planting season, Growing season, Baseball season, Hockey season, Why wait any longer? Anytime and Anywhere You can make your Reading season. When will you find yours?
Reading Season
by Cassandra Johnson
'Bob The Zombie' by Jaime Johnesee and Jeffrey Kosh
Ode to Prince By Andrew Prete I admit; I was never a big Prince fan. He was never my taste in music, a bit too poppy, and a bit too sexually provocative. But that was when I was younger. As I got older, I began to appreciate his music, his image, his message, and his absolute instrumental talent and genius. The impact he had on pop music can never be denied, nor his charisma, nor his pure, sheer, unadulterated talent. A bright light in the music world has gone dark. He shall be missed. RIP, Prince. I hope you're jamming with Bowie, Frey, and BB while you're up there.
Last Great Read
A Penny for Your Thoughts...
Read More on Amazon
"For me, the most important thing is to figure out why I’m blocked. Is it that another scene is vying for attention (write that scene instead, and then come back). Is it that another new pretty manuscript is waving from the sidelines (word vomit down whatever you need to in order to get that out and then come back to original manuscript). Find what works for you, then mix it up when it stops working. " Michelle Irwin, Declare
How to Overcome
"To get past the tedium and very frustrating black hole many of us call ‘writer’s block’, here are some tips: -Write a pen pal letter/email/text to your protagonist/antagonist -Imagine the ending of your story and write it as the complete opposite. -Turn to another work in progress. -Pick an every day routine in your life and write it from a different perspective (how violated would your toothbrush feel after a good brushing in the morning?) Try these to unblock that amazing mind and unstopper the ink in your great pen." Rebekah Raymond, Life's Defeat
Writer's Block
"When my story hits a wall or my imagination just won't muster anything, I create in other ways. Jewelry making, swag making, drawing, you name it. I read, watch a movie, or listen to music. Take a break and don't stress too much. It'll come back to you!" Courtney Shockey, The Cover of Love
"The book is, as the title suggests, about the 'unlife' of a zombie named Bob and his hilarious look at life and the struggles of being in the supernatural community. Since having searched and read most of the free kindle books about zombies on Amazon, almost everyone about end-of-days scenarios I found this book very refreshing and funny!" Daria, Sweden
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