Realms Of Fantasy
Or...The Dragon needs her fantasy fix

I've got to get my hands on the August issue of Realms of Fantasy magazine. My copy hasn't arrived yet. The town where I live (Retirement Village, USA) doesn't have it in stock in the book stores (imagine what it's like getting my books stocked here). So I'm DYING to see the fabulous review ROF reviewer Matt Staggs gave Choices Meant for Kings in print. Eegads. I'm gonna need a sedative.

You can see the review in downloadable digital format if you order your copy of the August issue here: http://www.rofmag.com/subscribe/buy-kindle-or-pdf-realms-of-fantasy/

Or you can go to a book store in your normal town and get the print copy off the rack.

I also encourage you to sign up for a subscription. ROF had a scare with going out of print about a year ago (welcome to the world of magazine publishing in a nutshell). Luckily, there were folks willing to step in and carry on the publication. They're doing well with editorial and advertising, but the bad PR of "we're out of print" led to a steep decline in subs. That's not so good. So if you're on the http://www.rofmag.com/ site, please go ahead and get yourself a subscription to have the mag mailed to you. It's bimonthly, so you're only committing to reading good stuff six times a year...not a huge time commitment on your part...but good stuff to read. And, hey, you'll get announcements when my new fantasy books get released. ;)

In the meantime, please look for that fab review of Choices Meant for Kings!
"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Realms of Fantasy, review, fantasy books, Choices Meant for Kings

Color My Dragon
Or...The Dragon discusses the importance of proper dragon coloring

Back when I was in high school, my dad gave me a book called What Color is Your Parachute? It was one of those self-help guides to help you figure out what you want to do with your life/career.

As a fantasy author, I use the concept when coloring dragons. You see, it drives me batty when authors put a couple dozen dragons together in a grouping, and then “color” them according to their jobs or skill set. This is insanity. A dragon should be colored according to its locale and climate so it blends into its environment. Camouflage equals long life, my friends. This is part of world-building.

Take our real-world dragons as examples. The water basilisk hides amid floating leaves and branches. He blends because he’s green and brown.

Bearded dragons have the colors of the sandy environments in which they live. Green iguanas hide their green bodies in green trees. Rock iguanas lounge their gray, brackish bodies among the dark rocks of the Galapagos. There are tons of examples of lizards using camouflage to avoid becoming prey items.

Those big ol’ dragons in our fave fantasy novels need to avoid slayers in much the same way. Green ones in the green trees; brown ones in the rocky mountains; white ones in the snowy regions. These dragons may get different jobs and skill sets, but would they all live together? Not if they come from different regions, right? In Choices Meant for Gods and Choices Meant for Kings, readers’ favorite dragon Malachi is dark in color—purple, deep blue and black scales blend beautifully against the dark night sky. And guess what: He only comes out at night. It works.

So let me hear your opinion. What colors do you tolerate in the dragons you read about?

“Some days, you just want the dragon to win.”
Tags: fantasy, dragon, world-building, Choices Meant for Gods, Choices Meant for Kings, water basilisk, iguana

Meet Me At Annette's Book Nook
Or...The Dragon offers another holiday book-buying opportunity in Southwest Florida

Please note that the book signing at Barnes & Noble in Ft. Myers (for Nov. 21) has been moved to February. So your next opportunity to come out and get an autographed copy of the new fantasy adventure from Fantasy Author Sandy Lender, Choices Meant for Kings, is Saturday, November 28, at Annette's Book Nook in Ft. Myers. She's just off Bonita Beach Rd (which turns into all sorts of numbers and names once you get over the bridge toward Lover's Key). Bebop toward Estero Bay and look to the right. She's at 7205 Estero Blvd., Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. I'll be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Saturday after Thanksgiving to promote Choices Meant for Gods, What Choices We Made, and my newest release Choices Meant for Kings. I believe I'll be stationed right outside the store so the sword might be illegal to wave around, but I promise you won't be able to miss my display.

For those of you seeking holiday ideas for corporate parties, employee bonuses, etc., check out my post below.

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Annette's Book Nook, book signing, fantasy adventure, Choices Meant for Kings, Sandy Lender, sword

Promotion Tip: A Successful Book Signing
Or…The Dragon offers some nifty ideas to augment your book signing

(Ed. Note: I'm writing this post late at night after a long day of editing and working and not getting in a nap, so please forgive all rambling and errors.) I’m sure you’ve heard the rumor that e-mail is dead. So how do you invite people to your book signings? Believe it or not, for the signing I had Saturday morning, I snail-mailed a few postcards…not many, of course. But I also sent out a notice to my fan page on facebook, and to my friends on my “normal” page on facebook. Then I did a status update on LinkedIn. Tweeted on Twitter. You get the picture. Of course I sent e-mails to those friends who don’t network. (Yes, I have friends who don’t spend 20 hours a day on the computer. In fact, I have friends who needed the postcard in the mailbox…)

Anyway, once you’ve invited the fanbase, you want to have an attractive display in the book store to catch the attention of browsers. Don’t skimp on this. Go all out and make it fabulous! I lost track of how many compliments I received Saturday on the Choices Meant for Gods and Choices Meant for Kings setup. I write fantasy so I wanted everything to look immediately identifiable as “you can enter a fantasy world here.” No question about it. With antique, romantic boxes of purple candy and business cards and decorative, olde world-looking book stands to hold the recent magazine that published one of my short stories and to hold the newest release, the ambience was set. I used a royal purple tablecloth to cover the risers that the book stands were on, which stood out nicely against the shiny white tablecloth I put down beneath everything. Of course I had my big ol’ banner up behind me and my purple pens for signing. In the picture of Marci and me in this post, you see us goofing around, but you also see Marci pointing to one of the purple dragon magnets I also had on the table as a nice little give-away for folks who appreciated the humor...

I had to hold the sword because there just wasn’t room for it on the table; I wore a finger weapon on my left hand and a purple gem on my cheek, just like Chariss.

That’s all I’ve got the energy to put in this Promotion Tip post, but I hope it’s useful to new authors and first-time book signers. Note that I don’t mention the table in my description above. It’s always a good idea to have a folding table in the trunk of your car for just in case the book store doesn’t have a table ready and waiting for you. The ladies who put together the book events at my local Barnes & Noble have got it together, though, and there was no fear of being without a table. They even gave me water. Aren’t they lovely?

It was a wildly successful morning, even with an empty-parking-lot start at 10 a.m. Things really picked up and we had a lovely time. There were several cameras clicking around so hopefully those pictures are going up on facebook and blogs just everywhere.

“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”

Tags: book signing, Barnes & Noble, Choices Meant for Gods, Choices Meant for Kings, fantasy, purple, gem, facebook, LinkedIn, twitter

Does it Matter Who Follows You?
Or…The Dragon recommends careful online social networking

As many of you know, I completed a month-long online book tour in June. During that tour, I garnered a lot of attention at Twitter for the first ever Tweeterview with my good author friend Jamieson Wolf. During the week leading up to the Tweeterview, which you can read in its entirety at a special blog site, and in the weeks after, I found a plethora of twitterers lining up to follow me. That’s fantastic! More followers means more friends in the cyber world. It also means more flow of information and more folks to announce the release of Choices Meant for Kings to.

Some of those twitterers were not the type I want following me. Now, some marketers would look at that statement and think I’m insane. A follower is a follower is a follower, right? I don’t think so. Anyone looking at my profile and seeing that twitterers with names including “boobs” or “nasty” or “hire my body” or other less-clean examples would start to wonder just what kind of content I was providing to attract such clientele.

I don’t provide content that would attract such clientele. Nor do I wish to provide such content.

So when a twitterer with a questionable name links to me, I check into the situation to see if I should block that person from following me. If the name (or profile photo) is only marginably questionable, I’ll take a quick peek at his or her profile to give him or her the benefit of the doubt. A quick judgment call later and I either block or move on. It takes something eye-catching or downright intriguing to get me to follow back because, frankly, I have no time in my life. You have to offer some pretty interesting-to-me content for me to follow you on twitter. (or be a real-life friend or member of Duran Duran)
“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”
Tags: twitter, follow, Duran Duran, Choices Meant for Kings, Jamieson Wolf, tweeterview

World’s Coolest Christmas Gift from a Writer Contest
Or…The Dragon offers to write a personal novella for one lucky reader

During the month of November, Fantasy Author Sandy Lender will write a short novel…to your specifications. I’m participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and I want to make the fruits of my labor special for one lucky reader of mine. If you’re an established fan of Fantasy Author Sandy Lender, you know what a treat this will be. (Go ahead and say so in the comment field.)

Here’s what you win:
Sandy Lender writes a novella (20,000 to 50,000 words) in the genre of your choice, with your specifications as outlined on Sandy’s spec sheet, during the month of November. She will print up the novel and, if you wish, gift-wrap it for a Christmas present. She will mail it to the destination of your choice during the first week of December so there’s plenty of time for Christmas delivery.

Here’s how you enter:
From Oct. 1 through Oct. 24, visit Amazon.com, ArcheBooks.com, BookHitch.com, Barnes & Noble.com, or a local book store to purchase a copy of either of Sandy’s hardcover novels Choices Meant for Gods (2007) OR Choices Meant for Kings (2009). (These lovely hardcovers make great Christmas presents themselves…) Once you’ve completed your transaction, forward a copy of the receipt to sandy_lender at yahoo dot com with “Christmas Novel Contest” in the subject line. Sandy will draw the lucky winner from the pool o’ receipts on Sunday, Oct. 25, and contact that person by e-mail that day. (Yes, you may enter the contest more than once. Like if you buy CMFG and realize you’ve JUST GOT to read CMFK before you lose your mind figuring out “what happens next?”, send that receipt to me by midnight of Oct. 24. Or if you have 17 people on your Christmas list who need to read CMFK, by all means, send me 17 receipts. It’s e-mail so you’re not paying postage.)

Here’s how you give your specs once you’ve won:
On Sunday, Oct. 25, Sandy will send the congratulations message to the lucky winner along with a questionnaire. That questionnaire will ask you to select your short novel/novella’s genre as well as your main character’s defining qualities and name. You can see the questionnaire below. Please note that it allows you to specify whether this novel is for you or a gift for a friend. The winner MUST return this questionnaire to Sandy by Nov. 1, so start thinking about your specifications now. Wow…what kind of novel would YOU ask a traditionally published author to write you for Christmas?

Remember the rules? 1) Buy one of the hardcovers online. 2) Forward the receipt to Sandy at sandy_lender at yahoo dot com. 3) Start thinking now of your specs for the examples below. 4) Watch your e-mail Sunday, Oct. 25.

“Some days, you just want the dragon to win.”
Tags: Christmas contest, book contest, novel, prize, NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, December, November, October

Excerpts From The Specification Sheet for
The Sandy Lender Christmas Novella Contest

Will this book be for you? ______ Or a gift for a friend? ______
Will the friend be a main character in the book? _____ Or am I just writing it for him/her?
Will YOU be a main character in the book? _____
Please answer the following questions for the person who will be receiving the book as a gift (whether that’s you or a friend).
Favorite type of music:
Favorite movie of all time:
Dogs or Cats?
Favorite “room” at a museum:
Do you have any objections to violence in your novel?
Would this character be afraid of snakes?
Favorite genre from these choices:
___ fantasy ___ sci-fi ___ horror
___ suspense/thriller ___ paranormal
Preferred rating for your novel from these choices:
____ PG ____ PG-13
What one thing are you deathly afraid of and that I should avoid putting in the novel?

Choices Meant for Kings Online Book Tour Update
Or...The Dragon says hope springs eternal

There's a very good possibility that Fantasy Author Sandy Lender will be appearing at the following this week:

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Liana's blog interview
Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 a.m. ET: Authors Connection Radio Show
Thursday, Oct. 1: Penny's blog review
Friday, Oct. 2: Penny's blog interview

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: fantasy author, Sandy Lender, online book tour

Another Week Atourin’
Or…The Dragon has more stops for your contest-winnin’ delight

If you’re still learning about my newest release, Choices Meant for Kings, or still trying to win a copy of the first novel, Choices Meant for Gods, you’ll enjoy using the easy research stops of my online book tour spots this week. We have a couple guest posts and a couple interviews for your entertainment. Just leave a comment or question at a blog stop or two and you’ll be entered for the chance to win the book, and you’ll learn more stuff, too. Have fun!

(And remember that you can get a free dragon magnet if you’re one of the first 25 to get yourself and a friend signed up as followers here. Details in the post below.)

Monday: Morbid Romantic
Tuesday, 22nd: LoveRomancePassion
Wednesday, 23rd: Chris Redding AND Katie Hines
Thursday, 24th: a day off
Friday, 25th: Inspiration Ink
Saturday, 26th: nothing confirmed yet
Sunday, 27th: nothing confirmed yet

“Some days, you just want the dragon to win.”
Tags: online book tour, Choices Meant for Gods, Choices Meant for Kings

The Tour That Keeps You Guessing
Or...The Dragon should have a separate contest for guessing which dates will work

I think I'm being cynical this morning. It might be a function of lack of sleep or lack of reimbursement for expenses I turned in more than three months ago. Take your pick. BUT! In fabulous news, I'm on an online book tour to support the brand new release of Choices Meant for Kings, available now as a fancy dancy hardcover (perfect for holiday gift-giving) or an eBook (only at the Amazon-safe publisher's site).

If you'd like to read some cool interviews and cool guest blogs from moi and then interact with the tour hosts and me, then you have the perfect opportunity to do so from now until Oct. 4. Now, so far, the tour dates have been hit or miss, but, hey, stop in and see which hosts have remembered to post their interview or guest blog from me on their day. It's like a game...a not-so-professional game that toys with my budding career as a fantasy author, but a fun little game nonetheless. Woo-hoo!

This week is underway so let's start with today's stop, which isn't up as of "press time," but that doesn't mean it won't be there later today. Time zones and all...

Tuesday: Amber Scott Project
Wednesday: Anne Kane
Thursday: Laurie Edwards
Friday: Elaine Cantrell
Saturday: Lily Stone Books
Sunday: Hywela Lyn

Now, you may notice that a few of the tour hosts along this online book tour write books themselves. And some of those books are of the hardcore romance variety. That's okay. Choices Meant for Kings is still all fantasy all the way through, with just that sweet romance between Nigel and Chariss. (You can check the reviews at Amazon to reassure yourself.)
I'll post next week's roster later (read: as my tour guides confirm everything for me).
Oh! Don't forget the best part of this whole online tour thing for you happy visitors! If you leave a comment at one of the blogs WITH your e-mail address in the comment, you get entered to win a hardcover, first edition, autographed copy of Choices Meant for Gods. How cool is that?

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Choices Meant for Kings, online book tour, fantasy

Writing Contests, Book Tours, Literary Festivals, Signing Updates
Or...The Dragon should update more often

First, the 3-Day Novel Contest was a fantastic exercise. I completed a 50,072-word sci-fi horror novel by 1 p.m. Monday and spent the rest of the time editing, adding scenes, fixing strange things I'd typed during those "hallucination" hours (you know...3 a.m., 4 a.m.). I discovered something intriguing about myself. My subconscious does not appreciate the alarm on my alarm clock and will control my body to the point that "I" get up, turn off the alarm, and lay back down to continue sleeping until one of the characters in my brain starts screaming that we're "wasting time."

Second, my current online book tour in support of CHOICES MEANT FOR KINGS is going very well. We have a variety of guest blogs and interviews lined up through Oct. 4 at the different tour stops. We also have an opportunity for one lucky participant to win a hardcover, first edition, autographed copy of the first fantasy novel in my CHOICES series, CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS. All you have to do is stop in during one of the tour dates and leave a comment at that day's fabulous blog to have your name entered in the drawing. (Remember to put your e-mail address in your comment so we can reach you if you're the winner!) A list of tour dates and blogs to visit is at the Goddess Fish blog site.

Third, I'm doing some IRL appearances this fall to support CHOICES MEANT FOR KINGS. I'll have more announcements about that and how these appearances are coming about...because it's that cool...as soon as contracts are complete and I have permission to blab. :) In the meantime, if you're in the Tampa area Saturday, Sept. 12, I hope I can see you at the Deep Carnivale literary event on the Hillsborough Community College Campus. I'll be set up in the Performing Arts building with my fellow ArcheBooks authors Jane Kennedy Sutton (The Ride), Tina Murray (A Chance to Say Yes), and Henry Hermann (Beginnings) to sell & sign books from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and would love to meet some new Florida readers.

I've just confirmed a book signing at the Waterside Shops Barnes & Noble in Naples, Fla., for Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to noon where I'll be signing all three of my titles. There are additional events listed on my fantasy Web site and I encourage you to check back there frequently for updates.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Deep Carnivale, fantasy, Jane Kennedy Sutton, Tina Murray, Henry Hermann, Barnes & Noble, Choices Meant for Kings

Be it Ever so Humble…
Or…The Dragon gives some insight to aspiring authors

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like the early stages of a budding career. You know those days. You’re not famous yet. You don’t have the oodles of cash and a limo waiting curbside when you land in a foreign city for the book tour date that your publicist set up for you.

Please please please don’t read this post as a complaint, because I’m not really complaining. Part of me is laughing at myself. Part of me is terminally grateful for the opportunity I’m in the middle of. Part of me is shaking my head at the opportunity swirling down the drain as Fate cackles somewhere in the background…

I’ll start with the humbling experience of rolling quarters, dimes, etc. so I’d be sure to have enough money in the bank to cover the expenses this weekend. There’s a note for aspiring authors to write down. When budgeting for marketing expenses, remember that bizarre stuff will creep up in the weeks before a planned convention, conference, book signing, speaking engagement, etc. (If the event you’re to attend is out of town, the bizarre stuff will be more expensive.) I advise having an “emergency” marketing fund stashed somewhere. I used my emergency marketing fund to purchase a few copies of the brand new fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Kings, to have here at Context 22. Oops. One of the “bizarre stuffs” was the printer’s inability to get it here in time for the convention. Rar.

Another note for aspiring authors is that you’ve got to be assertive and take the bull by the horns. You’ve heard this elsewhere. This is not new. But apply it to travel as well as your writing, pitching, and marketing. I sat in one of my two connecting cities (did I mention that I’m doing this on a budget?) yesterday listening to an American Airlines gatekeeper inform us that the plane had a mechanical issue. Maintenance was checkin’ on that. They’d give us an update. When we still had no joy on the rockets at one hour past takeoff, I went up to the podium and asked them to put me on a new flight. They did. I made it to my destination in time for all three of my scheduled events at Context. I found out (when seeking my luggage around midnight last night) that the original flight didn’t leave Miami until 5:30ish. Not good. (My copies of Choices Meant for Gods are in my luggage. So I have one copy of each of my works with me. Can’t sell those! But I can give away the postcards and bookmarks I brought in my carryon.)

So while I was washing out my clothes with the hotel’s shampoo, I thought of this blog entry. It’ll make a great story to tell on Oprah one day. “I didn’t have enough money to be extravagant, so I ate a bag of nuts and the cookie that the Doubletree Worthington hotel gave me upon check-in that day. I washed my clothes in the sink and hung them to dry over the heater. Thank God they had a complimentary breakfast included in the Context 22 room package.”

He he he. The really cool thing is everybody here is exceptionally nice. We’re all book geeks and sci-fi nerds. I love it! I’m among my kin. I’ll post another blog later in the weekend to give a rundown of the coo-el stuff we’re doing (first—to knock this moaning thing out of the top spot on the blog and second—to let you guys know how fab this con is). If my luggage arrives, it’ll have the cord for my camera…and I can post pictures…

“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”
Tags: Context 22, budget, Choices Meant for Kings, writing, pitching, marketing, convention, Doubletree Worthington

ArcheBooks Publishing Releases Choices Meant for Kings
Or...The Dragon announces the release of the second novel in the Choices trilogy today

Amazon.com and the bookstores will have their copies soon, but until the book-publishing-industry hoops are jumped through, you can order your copy of Choices Meant for Kings from the ArcheBooks site with a 25% discount now.

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender will post a few excerpts from the new fantasy novel at her Web site this weekend, but early testimonials, information, and a free sample of the first few chapters is up at the publisher's site right now. Get your hardcover edition with the publisher discount or get the eBook format for only $3.99.

Enjoy!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: fantasy author, Sandy Lender, fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Kings, discount

Calling All Fantasy (and Sci-Fi and Horror) Readers to Context 22
Or...The Dragon invites you to Columbus, Ohio

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender will participate in a variety of panels at this year's Context convention in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 28-30. Get more information on this inexpensive but jam-packed convention for Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror enthusiasts at www.contextsf.org. Special Guests include the Nebula Award-Winner Catherine Asaro. I bring her name to your attention not only because she rocks, but also because one of the reviewers for the upcoming Choices Meant for Kings compared my work to hers. Nice?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Context 22, Nebula Award

The Dragon Unveils the Cover of Choices Meant for Kings

Or...The Dragon is so stoked

Here it is: the long-awaited, much anticipated cover for Fantasy Author Sandy Lender's second fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Kings. Book II of the Choices trilogy is on its way to the printer. I'll have a release date for you shortly. Stay tuned. In the meantime, tell me what you think of this depiction of fantasy, adventure, and suspense!

If you'd like to get info on the upcoming novel, check the Books page at AuthorSandyLender. Also, the first novel, Choices Meant for Gods, is on sale at Amazon and ArcheBooks, as well as half a dozen other places around the 'net.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Choices Meant for Kings, fantasy novel, adventure, suspense, fantasy

I’m Thankful for my Job
Or…The Dragon gives you a writing assignment

What do you do for a living? I have the good fortune to be a magazine editor. I love it. It’s “in my field” so to speak. I have a degree in English with all those communications and journalism credits that I’ve put to use for just about 17 years now. I feel blessed.

I feel especially blessed due to our current economic climate. The reason I’m writing about this today is because someone recently reminded me of what it looks like to be ungrateful for what you have. So I’d like to share the bizarre story and ask you all to write in and tell a good story.

Here’s the bizarre story. A knock sounded at the front door a little past 6 the other evening. I answered because it was the UPS man with an overnight letter. While I signed for the letter, I said, “They sure have you workin’ late this evening.” His response surprised me. He grimaced and said, “They don’t want us seein’ our families anymore.” It sounded rehearsed. And a little angry. In a psychotic sort of way.

Now, a friend of mine had, a few months back, applied for a job with UPS. He learned that there is a waiting list for fulltime jobs with UPS here in the town where we live—and that’s just to move boxes around in the warehouse area for $10 or $11 an hour. To become a driver and make the big bucks, like this fellow at my door, you have to put in your time in the warehouse for a certain number of months, waiting for a driver position to open up. That means this fellow at my door has people lined up waiting for his job.

The same is true for meter-readers for the local electric company. A pool of potential workers who have already been tested, interviewed, and screened exists so when a meter-reader retires, quits, or is fired, a new person can be called in at a moment’s notice.

Right now, employers have the upper hand when it comes to hiring employees and keeping qualified talent. If I were that UPS man at my door, I don’t think I’d complain about getting extra hours of pay. I think I’d smile and nod like a good team-player to protect the job I’d be thankful for.

And that brings us back to my situation. I’m truly grateful for my job not just because it’s a job, but because it’s in my area of expertise. I’m very fortunate to get to do something that I enjoy, and I know it. Having my books published doesn’t pay any bills yet—in fact, I still lose money on that venture due to marketing expenses—so keeping a day job is necessary. But I know how fortunate I am to have been published, too. Choices Meant for Kings is due out any day now, and I’m really looking forward to pushing it. Again, it’s a job I’m thankful to have!

Now let’s hear what you’ve got to share. Tell us what you do for a living and what about it you’re most thankful for. This is good, positive energy here!

“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”
Tags: Choices Meant for Kings, UPS, jobs, workers, employers, talent

Monday, October 27, 2008
Word of the Day
Vulnerable (adjective) – susceptible to injury, harm, danger, attack; not well defended against attack (etymology: from Latin "vulnerare" meaning "to wound")

Word in a Sentence: In the upcoming fantasy novel Choices Meant for Kings, Nigel believes Chariss will be vulnerable to her enemies if she leaves the safety of his palatial estate to take Rohne on his quest to the Southlands.

Your turn! I'm going for somewhat spooky words this week, for obvious reasons. What not-so-safe thoughts can you come up with to share with the audience out there? This is your last week to get in on the October Word of the Day contest!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: word of the day, grammar, fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Kings, dragon, vulnerable

The Dragon Announces a Word and Book Contest
Or…let's do this right

I failed to give good particulars about this when I got back from DragonCon. And then I failed to post Word of the Day on a regular basis so folks would have a fighting chance at entering the contest. Let's face it: I failed.

I'm making up for it now! Hooray!

At the end of October, I will have two (count them) two books available for your reading pleasure. One is the already available Choices Meant for Gods, which is the first fantasy novel in the Choices trilogy. The second is What Choices We Made, a short story anthology that highlights some characters and backstory from the Choices trilogy. (It also has a deleted scene from the first book and a teaser scene from the second book. Be warned: you will want to shoot me.) The good news about releasing a cliff-hanging teaser in this anthology is that the second book in the Choices trilogy, Choices Meant for Kings, is due to be released shortly. So you haven't long to find out what happens.

But I digress.

The point of this post is to get everyone excited about participating in the Word of the Day contest because, at the end of the contest, October 31, I will draw the name of a winner who will receive (drum roll please) the electronic versions of Choices Meant for Gods and What Choices We Made.

How's them apples?

Both novels will still be available in print editions at that time, but the eBook is easier to get to you. At least, it's easier if you share your e-mail address in some cryptic fashion or another in your message when you participate in the Word of the Day. See today's Word of the Day (next post) to see what I mean…

And good luck to you!
"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: contest, Choices Meant for Gods, What Choices We Made, short story anthology, Choices trilogy, fantasy, dragon

Writers Write
Or…The Dragon has a bone to pick with folks who spend their writing time on promotion

Let me start by saying this will be a controversial post. I apologize and welcome your discussion with one another now.

First, writers write. They must, as a function of today's publishing industry, also promote their work.

But the writer who sacrifices his or her writing time to sit on a panel at a convention or to package up pens and bookmarks to send to a convention where he or she can't participate in the flesh or to stand by a photocopy machine making advance reader copies (ARCs) of the latest manuscript for reviewers ceases to be a writer and steps into the role of a publicist. I have performed each of the above-mentioned tasks and more in the promotion of Choices Meant for Gods, Choices Meant for Kings, and What Choices We Made because I can't afford to hire a publicist, but I have not performed these tasks to the detriment of my writing schedule. I would lose my mind if I didn't have my writing time.

Recently, someone in an online promotional group that I belong to wrote a message chastising the members of the group for not participating more in the free opportunities the group affords. We were being called on the carpet for not taking time to post oodles of links and information about our work. I didn't have time to respond to the message, and was irritated that the message with the scintillating subject line had turned out to be a waste of my reading time. So I decided to use it during my blogging time to educate others.

If you've set aside time for writing because you're a writer, guard it with your life. Don't let promotional activities take away your opportunity to create. If an interview is scheduled during the hour or two hours that you've scheduled for writing, then re-schedule those writing hours for a different time; don't let them slip away. If you have to travel to speak on a panel, write on the plane. Write in the hotel room. You can ask for that wake-up call to be as early as you need it to be…

What I'm trying to get at is this: time is precious. Your writing time is precious. Once you let it get away, you don't get it back. It's more important than responding to a group message or to a blog post. It's more important than opening your e-mail to check "one thing" that sucks you in for an hour. It's more important than the laundry that could be drying while you finally catch up on sleep later.

I'm not going to tell you that scheduling and re-scheduling your writing time is easy. Some writers out there are balancing writing with raising a family with promotion with getting a dog to the vet, etc. There's always something. I have a fulltime job that requires more than 40 hours a week, an illness that requires frequent doctor visits and tests, some of which last more than three hours at a pop, and a couple legal matters that require visits to attorneys (with homework). That means I have to stay organized to keep the writing and promotion up. It is possible.

And it's what makes me a writer.

Which are you?

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: writer, writing time, Choices Meant for Gods, promotional activities

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Word of the Day
Callow (adjective) — immature; inexperienced; unfledged; not possessing adult sophistication (etymology: from Middle English "calwe" and Old English "calu" meaning "bald")

Word in a Sentence: In the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Kings from Sandy Lender, the callow Abigail Farrier assumes her appearance at Arcana will cause the Taiman family to bow to her wishes.

Your turn! Do you have any sentences of shallow subject to share with others? Click on the comment link just below this post to participate in today's Word of the Day — I've got a fabulous prize that awaits at the end of the month!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Choices Meant for Kings, Sandy Lender, fantasy novel, word of the day, prize, dragon, callow

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender Recaps DragonCon 2008

Or...you should have seen the fabulous t-shirts...

I apologize that it's taken me two weeks to get to the "recap" of my little version of DragonCon, but I have a good excuse. After getting home late Tuesday night, I had a chemo treatment Wednesday morning that really knocked me out. Then there were some legal issues to deal with while keeping up the day job...busy busy busy. As luck would have it, I kept track of the camera, though, and can bring you a few of the coo-el

pictures I took. For instance, check out the monster from outer space from Sesame Street! Yyyep yep yep yepyepyepyepyep!

I took the pictures you see here at the masquerade contest Sunday night where the Sesame Street monster took "audience favorite". As well he should have because the audience went nuts when he came out to do his little skit. I was pleased. I don't remember what the other creatures, like the Adult Swim Chicken, won, but they had intricate and fabulous costumes that appeared to take great amounts of time and attention to detail, so I snapped their picture. (I also don't remember scantily clad superheroes clinging to the monster from outer space in the TV show, but we've got a couple in my photos here...)

Saturday night, my sister and I went to a Firefly shindig where we met up with a couple of friends to share the evening. You wouldn't think some small plastic dinosaur toys and oversized plastic jacks on a table would entertain adults as much as they did...What did these party planners know about us that we didn't? None of the cast members were brave enough to attend the shindig (probably wise), but my sister and I got to meet Nathan Fillion (captain Mal) and Alan Trudyk (pilot Wash) earlier that afternoon and got autographs. That was most cool. My sister also got Sean Astin's autograph while I merely shook his hand and told him how thrilled I was to see him at DragonCon this year. All three of them were fantastic celebrities to meet. They were wonderful gentlemen who seemed pleased as punch to be meeting their fans and hanging out with everyone. Very personable and friendly. When I'm famous, I hope I'm that outgoing and charming. :)

Anyway, I've mentioned my sister. She's a huge fan of all things SciFi the way I am so when I asked family members if anyone was interested in coming to DragonCon to help me survive the effort, she pounced on the opportunity. She's a seamstress as well as a fan so she made the costumes we wore for the parade on Saturday. Oh, yes, I put her to work handing out candy with me during the parade. I had wrapped it in a flyer promoting Choices Meant for Gods because I wasn't going to risk passing out from overexertion for nothing. Bwuahahahaha. The good news is all went well and we had a grand time. Most of the con was spent trapped behind my table so I could sell my book and hand out flyers and bookmarks.

That gave us the perfect opportunity to read everyone's t-shirts. One of the remarkable things about a group of SciFi/Fantasy fans is the IQ level. These people read and watch intelligence-building culture. Face it, you have to be smart to follow the plotlines of most SciFi literature and television programs. Thus you have a heightened sense of humor. And at a convention such as DragonCon, you have 30,000 people from a subset of America who understand each other's jokes walking around four hotels in the heart of Atlanta. If someone walks by with a button that says, "Also, I can kill you with my brain," you know that person is a Firefly fan who appreciates River's abilities. (You also laugh because that was a funny moment in the show.) I saw a t-shirt with a mad scientist hugging a nuclear reactor. I saw t-shirts with paradies of superheroes, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. I saw t-shirts with quotes out of Dr. Who, Stargate, the Bible, etc. My favorite was Yoda with the quote, "My finger, pull."

Overall, DragonCon was a great opportunity to promote Choices Meant for Gods and the upcoming Choices Meant for Kings, but it was a great opportunity to have a SciFi/Fantasy vacation, too. It's wonderful to escape from reality once in a while. As a writer, I get to do it daily during my writing time. As a fantasy fanatic, I get to do it at these conventions as often as I'm allowed.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: DragonCon, Choices Meant for Gods, Nathan Fillion, Firefly, Sean Astin