Wednesday, December 19, 2012

In Dedication...


In dedication to those who lost their lives in CT on December 14th.  I hope this brings comfort to those families in mourning.

Arms Open Wide

I think of the day when my life ended so quickly, I remember it well and think of it often. I was sitting in school, as my teacher was speaking when she instantly pushed me and shoved me to hide. I woke up in heaven, staring down at my family, all had tears in their eyes and my heart filled with sorrow. Jesus approached me, his arms open wide. " Fear not, you are with me and your family will miss you, but they will be filled with comfort and peace. Your time on earth was brief, and sadness fills the air, but all will be well."  I watched as my family laid me to rest, their goodbyes were heartfelt and joy filled my soul. I know that I left you, I know you are sad, but fear not He is with you, and time will go quickly, for I'll be waiting with my arms open wide when the day finally comes when we're together again.
                                                                                                                            ©Alicia Rivoli

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Signed Copies of Mere Enchantment!

Hey Everyone!
  I have decided to sell SIGNED copies of Mere Enchantment book 1 in the Enchantment Series for $18* here on my blog. If you are interested in a copy, please email me at: mereenchantment@gmail.com and I'll send you information on how to purchase a copy.

*Lower 48 States Only

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Book 2 teaser!

After a lot of writing, I decided to put up another teaser, to give you all a taste of what I'm doing.  It's not much, but I hope it's enough to 'wet your whistle' so to speak.  :-)


Jason breathed heavily, his body was tired.  A loud hissing noise across the canyon caught his attention.  A large snake, roughly the same size as Iraad stood staring at him, his tongue flicking, tasting the air around him.  Jason could feel the Myter trying to force his darkness to overtake him, but Jason had learned how to keep him out.  As long as he focused on his own heartbeat, listening to its rhythm, he could keep the Myter’s powers at bay.  The Myter screamed angrily, unsure if it could make it across this large hole.  The Myter rose up toward the sky, until it stood on it tail.  Jason peered upward, not sure what the creatures plan was, but he knew he didn’t like it. 
     “Chloe, I need you!”  He screamed toward the fiery inferno behind him.  “I know how to defeat the Myter!”
     “Jason just stick with the plan, we have to capture Howakhan first.  I will help you, but not until we capture the Puzzler.”  She yelled back.
     “I can’t hold off the Myter much longer, he’s figured out a way across the canyon.” He yelled.
“Just a few more seconds, and this will be over.  Do what you can, and we’ll be there soon.” She answered back. 
Chloe knew that Jason was almost out of time, but she was struggling herself, she wasn't sure they could hold off the Myter, let alone a fierce fire breathing dragon.
                                                                                                   ©Alicia Rivoli 2012

Reviews Needed

Just a quick pitch to ask those that have read Mere Enchantment to please leave your reviews on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Goodreads.com, Smashwords.com, etc...  Reviews help tremendously, and as a self published author it helps even more.  Also you can find me on Facebook at Alicia Rivoli Books, and share the page with your friends to help spread the word.

Thank you to everyone who has already reviewed it, and thank you to those that have read it.  I am enjoying all the feedback I am getting, and will be posting another "teaser" for Book 2 a little later.  :-)  Happy Reading!!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Great News for UK fans!

Great News for my over seas fans, Mere Enchantment is now available for NOOK in the United Kingdom!!  It is listed for £0.77 pounds. You can check it out HERE !!!!  Happy Reading, and don't forget to leave your honest reviews. :-)

Monday, November 26, 2012

New Review!!

Many thanks to www.bookreviewsandmore.com for the latest review of Mere Enchantment!! You can read the review here...

http://www.bookreviewsandmore.com/mereenchantment

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Character Conundrum

I have a slight character conundrum. I have an entire page in my outline for The Enchantment Series that is dedicated to my characters. Their names, ages, hair color, etc... are all typed up in a "no one but me can understand this mess" kind of thing. As I was writing a couple of days ago, I realized that maybe every single person might not need a name, after all, the book isn't about the maid in the castle of Loch, or the boy that watches over the horses, it is about Chloe, Jason, Preston, Megan, and Zach. So why do I feel it so necessary to give a name to everyone else? The only answer I could come up with is each one of these people had names when I dreamt the story of Mere. They walked and breathed, and had feelings. Giving each person a name brings the world to life. It helps me visualize the surroundings, and get a better feeling for my main characters. I have been trying to provide my readers with a little less character, and a lot more action in book 2, so hopefully you all will be able to put more focus on the lives of the five characters the story is made for. I do however want to know, what is your character limit? Also who is your favorite character, and why? Not just from Mere Enchantment, but from any book.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Author Signing!


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The {Booker} Award!

A big thank you to Cassandra Giovanni for the nomination to receive The {Booker} Award!  This is an award just for Authors that prompts us to tell about our five favorite books, then nominate five fellow authors who we feel deserve the award as well.




A list of my five favorites are below:

1. Okay I know this is kind of cliche', but I love Stephenie Meyer's Twilight!

There is just something about this book that draws you in.  Her writing makes you want to know more.  I don't typically pick up a book about Vampires or Werewolves, but I had to see what the hype was all about and fell in love with the first book in her series.  The others are okay, but this one is awesome!  The story of a girl falling in love with a vampire isn't something that is new, there are many books that do the exact same thing, but there is just something enchanting about the way Stephenie writes the story that makes is so hard to put down.








2: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen!

 Oh my, this book is by far my all time favorite book.  I find myself speaking in the language for days after I have read this book, I even dream in the mystical language.  The way Elizabeth refuses to become the girl that society demands, keeps me coming back to this book.  Mr. Darcy starts as a pig, and ends up as the hero of the book.  If you haven't read this, you should, it's a classic after all. :-)











3. Double Exposure by Blaine and Brenton Yorgason

Seriously this is a high contender for my favorite book.  The novel takes place in current time with two people wanting something different.  After their plane crashes they find themselves "lost."  Truly a magnificent book,and one of the first books that I really sat down and read.  A must read, if you can find a copy.









4: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

 The magic in this book truly grabs you and sucks you in.  This book helped inspire me in writing my own book.  The thoughts of having your grandparents somehow be caretakers of the fantasy creatures living in today's time is intriguing.  Brandon does a magnificent job or getting you involved in the characters lives.  A great book for children and adults of any age.






5: The fifth book is a little more difficult for me, as I have so many that I love, but if I had to choose one, I would choose, The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks.
I am not a big romance book reader.  I was very skeptical when I picked up my first Nicholas Sparks book, as I had heard so many negative comments about "how anyone could write a Nicholas Sparks book."  From a writers perspective, this is incorrect.  Yes most of his books are tailored around the same things, the "girl likes guy, guy likes girl,there's a problem, but they usually get together in the end." kind of thing, but it takes a lot of talent in my opinion to write a romance book that makes it feel like it's real life, like these things are really happening and you are the one watching it all unravel.  So kudos to Nicholas Sparks for keeping me coming back for more!







I have a lot of favorite books, these are just a small list of some of my favorites.  You can also check out The Dragon Keeper Chronicles by Donita K Paul, The Percy Jackson Series, Harry Potter, The Heroes of Olympus, The Kingdom Keepers, and The Chronicles of Narnia.  These are all books that would be on this list also.

Now for my nominations...drumroll please
1. Jessica Sorensen-author of The Fallen Star Series
2. David Estes- author of The Moon Dwellers
3. Jessica Day George-author of Dragon Slippers
4. Ann Haines-author of Brunswick
5. Travis Hall-author of the Sonora series.


Goodreads Choice Awards!

It is that time of year when Goodreads opens up the "Goodreads Choice Awards".  Help Mere Enchantment get to the top! You can click on the link here to vote.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

A Great Big Thank You!

My book signing is winding down, and I have completely sold out. I want to send a great big thank you to all my new readers that saw my book in the last two days and had to have a copy. It has given me that second wind to keep on writing! I look forward to releasing book 2 soon!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

What do you think?

I want to know...what do you think I should call book 2 in The Enchantment Series?  Leave me a comment, or like my Facebook page and let me know there.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

I'm still alive...

You will have to forgive me for my lack of posts recently. As a friend commented today at my response that I wouldn't be able to attend something at my church because of prior commitments, "You are always so busy!"
I wanted to give you all an update on what I've been doing lately so you know that I am still alive. I am writing a lot, and re-writing what I've previously written to make it better. I am still contemplating on titles for Book 2, but am narrowing it down. I am also preparing for my first ever book signing this coming weekend which will be a 2 day event. It begins Friday the 19th from 9:00 AM-9:00 PM and continues at the same times on the 20th at the John Q. Hammons center in Rogers Arkansas. This has been keeping me extremely busy. All of this and my two busy children and you have one tired mother/writer. So be patient with me and keep checking for an update soon of book 2 in The Enchantment Series!!!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Music and writing

In past interviews, people have asked me if I listen to a certain type of music while I write.  My response was always no.  I love to have it completely quiet while I write and could never understand how anyone could write otherwise.
Lately however, I have been struggling to find my special place in my mind where I go when I write, and decided to try and have a little 'quiet' spa like music playing in the background.  As I pulled up my manuscript, I instantly fell into a routine, quickly finishing a chapter, and writing several more pages with no problems.
That is when it struck.  I realized my writing had changed to match the type of music I was listening to.  This particular part of the story required Chloe to perform a certain type of magic.  When I thought about this scene a few days earlier I struggled with how I was going to get her to do this. It was going  to be difficult for me to describe to the audience how I saw her task in my head.  While typing, I could hear the calming sound of chirping birds, and babbling brook, and before I even realized it, I had typed the entire scene so beautifully it made me smile.
So now I realize why some people need music to help them write.  I will defiantly need to find a type of music to help me write the upcoming battle scene with Jacan.  So I need your ideas, what type of songs do you think would help me write a big battle scene?

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Book 2 Teaser!!!

Okay I have been getting a lot of requests for a little sneak peak of Book 2 in the Enchantment Series, and after a lot of thought I've decided to give you all a little teaser to hold you over for a little while! Enjoy!!

Megan was frantic. Her eyes red from the many tears she had spilt.  She couldn’t believe that Preston had disappeared so quickly.  The abyss grabbing hold of him instantly and sucking him down so fast not even Zachi’s magic could get him back, or even her control of the water.  She had tried to get the water to bring him back up like she had done when fighting Cane, but the magical barrier was just too powerful, and she was still too weak to get it to release its grip of him.  Dakila had even tried to swim quickly after him, but he had disappeared too swiftly.  Megan had known that she had to keep her concentration, because if she faltered at all, she would lose hold on the magic that was keeping Preston a merman.  She cleared her mind, trying to connect with him, to feel his mind in hers like she had done since leaving Rill, but she couldn’t touch him.  Her grandmother had taught her to make the connection with her brother so she could keep him a merman, and when he was sucked down into the depths of the sea, she continued that connection as long as she could but she was only able to hold her concentration for a short time, and now something felt terribly wrong.  She couldn’t feel his mind anymore, which meant that she couldn’t keep him a merman. 
© Alicia Rivoli 2012

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Amazon UK

Mere Enchantment is available to my friends in the United Kingdom and other countries by clicking HERE
It is available in both eBook and Paperback.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

AUTHOR EVENT

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Great News!!!

Mere Enchantment can now be downloaded from the iTunes Library for $0.99!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

A little Update...and an "experiment"

Hey everyone!  I wanted to give you all an update as to what has been happening lately.  Book 2 in The Enchantment Series is coming along nicely.  I am so excited to get it out for all of you to read.  Chloe, Megan, Preston, and Jason are learning more and more about where they belong in their new lives, but Jacan is getting closer to his own goal as well.  I am working hard to have it finished and ready for publication hopefully this Fall,   I am not sure on an exact date yet.  I do have a name chosen, and I will share it will all of you soon!

I also want to share a little writing I have done on a separate topic, and also experiment a little.  The writing is something that came to my mind as I was lying in bed.  I picture it would be something to be read aloud to a crowd whose eyes are closed to help them use their imaginations to picture what the reader is trying to get them to picture.  As I can't have you all "close your eyes" I ask that you share your thoughts about how you felt as you were reading.  Did it make you feel sad? Happy? Dreamy?  Leave me a comment, and let me know what you are thinking.

I stood silently.  The wildflowers in the meadow swayed rhythmically in the cool spring breeze. The sun's heat radiated down my neck, and glinted off the drops of dew on a nearby fern as my fingers felt its smooth surface.  I closed my eyes and listened to the song birds as they sang, calling to each other.  It smelled slightly of pine and freshly fallen rain.  A chill down my spine made me realize that I wasn't alone, I was being watched.  I walked slowly, my fingertips grazing the top of the tall grass.  The sound of silence reached my ears, the song birds no longer singing, the breeze had fallen silent.  I continued my walk, my eyes closed.  Another chill, this time each little hair stood up on the back of my neck, alerting me of danger.  There was something, or someone behind me.  I slowly turned, my fingers still sliding along the tops of the thick grass.  A blast of heat blew into my face, a snarl cutting through the silence.  I opened my eyes, only to find a pair of yellow eyes looking back at me.  I smiled, I had been waiting for him to come, waiting for the dreams to return.  My hands slowly lifted.  Trembling, I reached for him, knowing that he would never allow me to touch him, but I tried anyway.  I inhaled slowly, I could almost feel his soft grey fur.  A low growl escaped his teeth, I knew that he was warning me, telling me I was to close, but I continued to reach for him.  I had been waiting so long to be this close, I hungered to finally face my fear.  Another growl, this one more threatening, but I continued to reach.  I could feel the heat from his body, I breathed slowly, not moving my eyes from his.  My heart raced, urging me to run, to flee from danger.  I couldn't run, not now, I was so close.  I could feel the top of his fur, it tickled my fingertips.  The wolf snarled, his teeth showing a brilliant white.  I stared at him, the piercing yellow eyes of my father as I laid my hand on his neck.
(Alicia Rivoli, 2012)

Alright, now it's your turn I want to hear from you, what do you think of this little story?

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends.  Today is a day to reflect on how the USA became what it is, and celebrate our freedom!  To all those fighting for our country to keep us free, Thank You!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Giveaway and Author Interview

Thank you to Martha at booksbooksandmorebooks for the Author Interview.  I will also be giving away 2 copies of Mere Enchantment for either Nook or Kindle.  So go on over to her website and check it out!

You can view the interview and giveaway Here

Friday, June 22, 2012

New Review Posted!

Thank you to Martha at Books Books and More Books Shhh...I'm Reading for the review.  You can read the review on her webpage by clicking the link above or by clicking Here.

Also thank you to Nic from Book-Mark Reviews who has also posted a review of Mere Enchantment.  Click the link above to read the review from Nic on his website or click HERE.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Author Interview

A big thank you to Kelly Matherly for the author interview.  Click here to view it from www.readinhouston.blogspot.com and learn more about Kelly as well, or click here to learn more about Kelly's new book Heads Will Roll.

Author Alicia Rivoli
Genre Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Latest Published Mere Enchantment
Currently Working On Book #2 in the Enchantment Series
Hometown Small town in Southern Idaho
Current Residence Northwest Arkansas
Married Yes
Children Yes


 
Quick Bio:


Alicia Rivoli is the author of the Enchantment Series. She is a stay at home mom, and currently resides in beautiful Northwest Arkansas with her husband and two sons. She enjoys reading, writing, spending time with her family, and traveling.


Questions:
(Me) - What is your favorite part of Mere Enchantment? Your favorite part(s) to write?
(AR) - That is a tough question, I have such a strong connection with all my characters that it's hard for me to narrow it down to my "favorite" part. I guess I would say that I loved writing the first chapter. It was actually the very last thing I wrote, and it made my connection with Mere and Nebula even stronger. I also really enjoy the part where I introduce the mermaids. I have always enjoyed stories with mermaids, so including them in the story was a simple decision for me.

(Me) - Did the idea for this book come to you in a dream (like many famed writers before you) or were you just thinking as you were slipping into sleep?(AR) - Actually it was a story keeping me awake. I couldn't fall asleep because the story kept replaying over and over again in my mind. It was hard for me to wait until the next morning to start writing, but when you have a young child, sleep is very important. :-)

(Me) - You are working on a 2nd book to Mere Enchantment (the Enchantment Series) do you have a name for this book?
(AR) - I do have a name that I am playing with, but I'm unsure if it will stay so I can't share it with you just yet.

(Me) - I know this is a self-published book, and you attempted to get a publisher. If you could go back in time, would you do anything different regarding the publishing of this book?
(AR) - I did submit to several different publishers, and after years of trying and getting so many different rejections, I don't think I would have done it differently. Self publishing gave my husband a chance to really get involved. It became not only my project, but our project and I think it brought us closer together. However, if a publishing company wanted to pick up my book, and help me with the rest of the series, I wouldn't tell them no. ;-)

(Me) - After the Enchantment series, do you have any plans for a new series?
(AR) - I do have an adult fiction book that I've written down idea's for, but we will just have to see what happens. I love writing fantasy, as my mind seems to never leave it, it may be hard to stray from it.


(Me) - What do you do to keep yourself motivated to write?
(AR) - I read. My ideas always come from my love of reading. Most of the time I get my best ideas while I am reading someone else's masterpiece.

(Me) - Do you enjoy reading young adult?
(AR) - Yes, it is one of my favorite things to read. I am a big Twilight fan, as a lot of people are, but I also loved The Inheritance Cycle, and many other books that are targeted toward young adults.

(Me) - Did you always want to write, or did it just hit you one day?
(AR) - No, growing up I had a lot of ideas of what I wanted to do with my life but writing was never on that list. I wanted to be a National Geographic photographer, a singer, a chef, a musical conductor, and I'm sure many others. I didn't discover my love of writing until after I was married.

(Me) - What is the weirdest thing a fan has asked or said to you?
(AR) - With Mere Enchantment being my first published work, having someone ask for my autograph is the weirdest thing. It feels so strange when someone asks me to sign a copy of the book, I don't feel like I am worthy enough to have someone ask me that. :-)

(Me) - If you were stranded on a desert-island and could only take one book, what would it be?
(AR) - That's is a good question, if I had to choose one, and it couldn't be my own, I would take Pride and Prejudice. There is just something about the language of the book that makes me happy. I relate so well to Elizabeth, she reminds me of myself, except I don't have the awesome English accent.



You can find more information about me and Mere Enchantment on my author blog www.aliciarivoli.blogspot.com, you will also find links on my blog to where the book can be purchased, and an excerpt for your enjoyment. Also I love getting feedback from my readers and look forward to answering questions, so please let me know what you think about Mere Enchantment.
-Alicia

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Spread The Word

Help me spread the word about Mere Enchantment.  If you have read the book and enjoyed it,write a review by clicking on one of the following links, Amazon HERE, Barnes and Noble HERE, or Goodreads HERE. You can also follow me on Facebook HERE and spread the word on your own wall with your friends!

To those who have read Mere Enchantment, thank you! I hope you enjoyed the book.  If you have comments, suggestions, or feedback that you would like to share with me, please leave me a comment and I'll respond as quickly as I can.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Battle of Words

As I have stated previously, writing was never on my radar of things I wanted to do in my life.  I was never very talented with school work, math especially, so doing something like this was far from my mind.  As I got older, and became more mature, I realized my love of coming up with stories in my head, so why not write it down.  When I realized I actually had a knack for this skill, I kept going and Mere Enchantment was born.  The problem, my story was much to long for just one book, and I knew after I hit around 90,000 words that I was going to have to make it a series, so The Enchantment Series was then put into play.  I finished up the first book, and published it for all to read a few years later.  
Life got busy, my kids started growing up and their schedules began to fill up my calendar. Now I'm sitting in front of my computer, looking around at my somewhat clean house, listening to the quiet breathing of my dreaming son in the next room, trying to battle my mind for the right words for each character.  
I have dubbed this problem, The Battle of Words.  Each sentence gives new life to my book, creating more excitement, and I hate to say it, more battles with the right words.  Who knew that writing a series would be so difficult.  Trying to tie things in from the first book, so those that read the series won't miss a step is becoming quite the challenge, but one I am thrilled to dive into.  Each time I pull up my laptop, and open up my book, my mind races to get everything out at the same time, causing me to type so fast I end up erasing many many errors. :-)  So here is to those who came before me, those that have written many series, kudos to you.  I only hope that my fingers can keep up with my "dreamer" mind!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Author Event!

I have the pleasure of doing an Author Reading for the 3rd and 4th grade students at Elm Tree Elementary on June 8th.  After the reading, there will also be a Q & A and I also will be available afterwards to sign copies of Mere Enchantment that were purchased in advance from www.amazon.com or  www.bn.com.  Please feel free to contact me at mere.enchantment@gmail.com with any questions.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Great Author Interview!

Thank you to Ann Haines, the author of Brunswick, for yet another wonderful author interview! Visit her blog  HERE

**********************
Our interview today is with Alicia Rivoli, Author of Mere Enchantment. Alicia Rivoli is a stay at home mom, currently living in beautiful Northwest Arkansas where the weather is ever-changing! She loves to sing, write, read, spend time with her family, and travel. She also loves chocolate, and gooey caramel, together they make the perfect candy.

Welcome Alicia thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.

Q: Tell us about Mere Enchantment (The Enchantment Series, book 1 )………………

My new book is actually a magical tale of five friends who have to fight for their freedom in a kingdom that they never really knew existed. They find that they are being tracked down by a man that betrayed the crown and knows that their presence in Mere threatens his plans to overthrow the entire kingdom. They have many challenges that they must overcome, but the biggest one is discovering who they really are, and who and what they think their friends are.

Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?

I choose to write for the juvenile/young adult genre, because that is what I find interesting. Nearly every book on my shelf is from these two genres. My mind is constantly dreaming up different stories that appeal to a younger audience.

Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?

The biggest challenge I have faced is trying to find a publisher. With so many books being written, breaking into the industry is very difficult. I received my share of rejection letters, and finally decided to self publish.

Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?

My imagination is always running wild, so when the story of Mere came to me while lying in bed one night; I decided I needed to write it down. Also every time I read a new book, more and more story plots come to mind, so I have to keep reading, to keep my mind open to more ideas.

Q: Who or what are your influences?

My husband and sister have been my two biggest influences in my writing process. My sister helped me keep going when I found myself stuck, and my husband gave me the final push to become a self-published author.

Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub journey?

Marketing!! It’s so hard to get your book noticed. There are so many good books out there, and to get people to realize that they want to read your book out of the thousands to choose from is not an easy task. It’s tough to know where to go to get the best audience for your work.

Q: What format are your books available in?

Mere Enchantment is currently available in paperback, Kindle, and Nook editions. Other versions will be available soon as well. It can be purchased online from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Q: How many books have you published so far?

This is my first published work.

Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?

We found an amazing artist to do the cover art, and we also hired an editor. I highly recommend an editor before publishing. They help a lot!

Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?

The best advice I received is to never give up. It might take a long time, but eventually the story will be heard.

Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?

Keep writing!! Things are never easy, but as long as you keep trying, you can never fail.

Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?

I am currently working on the 2nd installment in The Enchantment Series. I hope to have it available to readers by the fall of 2012.

Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?

That’s a tough one, I have many authors that I recommend, some of my favorites are Nicholas Sparks, Brandon Mull, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Richard Paul Evans, JK Rowling, and Donita K. Paul. There are a lot more, but that’s a good start.

Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes……………….

“I never said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it!” (Jesus Christ)

Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle………………………….

I have an extreme fear of spiders! It doesn’t matter how big or small, they creep me out. Even if I see them on television, they give me the chills.

Thanks for taking time out for us Alicia, it was lovely chatting with you. Good luck with everything.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Writing Style

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my writing style. Growing up, I never thought I would write a book.  I disliked everything about school, and English was no exception.  At the end of my High School career, I began filling out the dreaded college applications, and when the question came up about the type of major I was interested in, English wasn't even part of my thought process.  After awhile, I decided I wanted to be a Culinary Arts Major. Why? I have no idea, I couldn't really cook, I am extremely picky about what I eat, so this really wasn't a great option, but I pressed forward.

My first semester, I entered into one culinary class, and immediately knew this was NOT for me. Before I had the chance to change my major to something more up my alley, I got married and dropped out of college to help my husband go to school.  This was also when I discovered my love of reading.  When the story of Mere came to me years later, I was surprised by how much I LOVED to write.  Sitting in front of the computer, listening to the click of the keys on the keyboard was soothing, and I found myself finally comfortable with something that I had chosen to do.  Now here I am, ten years later, enjoying the sweet sound of my laptop whirring on my desk, as I make the all to familiar sound of the clicking of the keys, asking myself what type of writer I am?

Am I the "OCD" writer that always has an outline, follows the outline, lives by the outline, and never strays from the outline?

Am I the "COPY" writer, that writes out the story on paper, reads it, and then transfers the story word for word onto a computer file after every possible change has been made?

No, I am what I like to call the "DREAM" writer. I have no outline, no pencil or paper, I have only my dreams.  I read through what I had written previously, and go with whatever pops in my head that I think will make a great lead into whatever is going to happen next.  I dream about the story at night, think about it all day, then sit down, and write it all down.  Most of the time, I'm putting the story together as I write, word for word, thought for thought. I am the type of writer that looks out her window, and watch as the birds fly by, thinking about how maybe they could be a fairy in disguise, or listen as the rain makes the pitter patter sound on the rooftop and think to myself that maybe it's tiny footsteps of little elves as the make their way to their home hidden on my roof.  Of course this is silly, but that is why I call myself the "DREAM" writer.  This is how my little mind works.  Even growing up, I could always come up with a story.

So if I could go back to those college applications, and fill out my selected major I would want to put down that I would like to become exactly what I am now, a dreamer that loves to share her dreams.

So now I want to know, What type of writing style do you have?  Are you a "dreamer" like me, or are you a different type of writer?

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Another Great Author Interview

A big thank you to Jessica Sorensen, the author of The Fallen Star series, for the wonderful interview. Check out her author blog by clicking HERE

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Can you tell us a little about your book?
When a newly formed group of friends finds themselves fighting for survival, little did they know that was just the beginning.

When Chloe, Megan, Jason and Zach are forced to take cover in a nearby cave from a violent storm they find their new friend Preston there as well. Zach guides the group through the cave but as they go deeper strange things begin to happen and they find themselves separated in a magical kingdom surrounded by unusual people and wizards. Things get even more dangerous as they travel the kingdom in search of the city of Mere and each other.

As their journey unfolds, Preston discovers that the bedtime stories he was told as a child are true and that his rightful place in time must be realized. The kingdom itself has gone under attack as Jacan, a traitor to the crown, forces his armies through the magical borders.

Looking back Preston should have recognized that it was all real. He should have seen the signs. But how could he have known? After all, Jacan was just a villain in a story that took place in a far off mystical land. How could he have imagined that the stories that his father told him as a child were true?

How could any of them have known that their destinies were already written, and that to discover who they really are would take courage that they never realized they had?

Where did you get the idea for this book?

This story came to me as I was lying in bed one night. I knew that it would make a great little story, but never expected it to turn into what it has become.





Is this book part of a series? If so, how many books will there be?
Mere Enchantment is the first book in The Enchantment Series. I am currently working on the 2nd installment, but I'm not sure yet if it will be the last book.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
 
No. Growing up I thought I would do many things, but writing a book was never one of them. Things changed when I got older and I realized that I loved to read, and would love to be able to write my own story for the world to read.

What kind of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite book?
 
I love any book that can catch my interest. I'm a big fan of Twilight, Harry Potter, Fablehaven, etc... but I also love a good clean romance, like Nicholas Sparks, and Richard Paul Evan's books. I'm not sure I can tell you my favorite book, there are to many to choose from.

What is your favorite snack?

I love Caramello candy bars. There is just something about chocolate and caramel that makes the perfect combination.

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite comedy has to be "Robin Hood, Men in Tights" that movie is hilarious. I also like "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"
If you could have any supernatural power which would you choose and why?

I have always thought having magic would be the awesome. With a flick of my wrist, I could do anything I wanted, like have my house cleaned for me in an instant.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

The Journey of Mere Enchantment...

     Sometimes life catches you by surprise, and takes you down a different path than you thought you were meant to discover.  This is exactly what happened to me seven years ago as my writing journey began.

     While lying in bed one night, the story for Mere Enchantment came to mind, and I thought it would make a fantastic little book to share with my kids someday.  A story of five people lost in a land of magic, trying to discover who they really were.  The story seemed so simple to me, and by simple I mean something I could write down quickly when I had a few minutes peace and quiet.  The next afternoon, I laid my young son down for his nap, and sat in front of the computer to write down this little story, and eighteen months later, I realized my little story had somehow turned into a ninety-five thousand word novel, and it still wasn't finished.

     I decided as I was putting the finishing touches to the last couple of pages, that it would need to be a series, so it would need to leave off with people wanting to know more about these characters and the world that they had found themselves in. Even though I am unsure how many books will be in the series, I was excited for the chance to keep writing.

     After finishing the novel, the editing began.  This was going to prove to be a difficult task for me, as I had never done anything like this before, and had no formal training, minus one year of college, to go by.  I read my book from cover to cover, fixing errors that I recognized as I went.  After I had gone through it a couple of times, I asked a nine year old girl to read my manuscript and tell me her thoughts.  I repeated the process with a couple more friends, fixing the errors that were pointed out and doing my best to make it perfect, even changing the name of the book along the way. 

     When I had put on the final touches, I printed it off one last time and sent my "baby" off into the world of publishing.  This was surprisingly quite expensive, but I wanted to see what would happen.  There are a lot of publishing companies out there, and a lot of them only accept submission's from Literary Agents, so I had to choose those who would accept unsolicited manuscripts.  The first rejection letter came twelve weeks later, followed by another a year following the first.  Rejection is not something I am good at, so it kind of shut me down for a time.  My husband and I discussed the book occasionally, talking about self-publishing, but for the most part, I was busy being a stay at home mom of now two beautiful sons, and my schedule was full.  Mere Enchantment was put on the back burner, every now and then the heat would be turned up to keep it warm, but it was never fully ready for consumption.

     After four years after it  was completed, my husband gave me the final boost I needed to self-publish.  We hired Christine LePorte, and Danijel Firak to edit the manuscript and create the amazing cover art for us,and began the process of becoming an Indie author.

     Deciding to become an Indie author was a new experience for me.  I had no idea where to start, or what to do once the book became available.  Luckily my husband is good with computers, because I couldn't have done any of this without him.  We formatted, and re-formatted depending on what type of book it would be, Kindle, Nook, Paperback, iBook, etc... Once the book became available, we found errors, and had to re-submit.  We talked with other Indie authors and received valuable information to guide us in the right direction.  It was weeks of planning a preparation, but finally it was ready.

     Getting my book noticed is definitely the most difficult part of being an Indie author.  I am the one responsible for people trying to find my book, and encourage them to read it.  I recommend finding book reviewers in your chosen genre, I'm learning slowly that reviews and word of mouth are the best ways for a book to be discovered.  I started an author blog, and a Facebook page, joined book groups, found friends on Goodreads, and Facebook that were interested in the same genre, these are all things that have helped me on my journey.

     Being an Indie author is difficult, I just have to keep reminding myself that I just need to keep trying, I might fall down every now and again, like a child learning to walk, but if I get back up and keep trying, I'll eventually reach my destination.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

NOW AVAILABLE!

Mere Enchantment may now be purchased in paperback from Barnes and Noble online. Click the link below to get your copy today!!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1110060328

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Author Interview

Thank you to the wonderful people at http://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com/ for the author interview. You may find it below, or by clicking here.
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Interview with Alicia Rivoli, Author of Mere Enchantment
April 18, 2012 at 11:16 pm | Posted in Author InterviewFantasyYoung AdultYoung Adult fiction | Leave a comment
Tags: 

Alicia Rivoli is a stay at home mom, currently living in beautifulNorthwest Arkansaswhere the weather is ever-changing!  She loves to write, read, spend time with her family, and travel. She also loves chocolate, and gooey caramel, together they make the perfect candy.  Visit her author blog athttp://www.aliciarivoli.blogspot.com.
Thank you for joining us today, Alicia. Can you please start off by telling us a bit about yourself?
I am busy stay at home mom.  I am constantly running around from baseball practices and games, soccer games and practices, cub scouts, and school activities.  I love chocolate, and think the best candy ever is a Caramello. There is just something fantastic about the chocolate, caramel combo. I find myself constantly daydreaming, which is the main reason I decided to write.
When did you first get bit by the writing bug?
I was lying in bed one night, unable to shut off my thoughts, when the story of Mere came to my mind.  The next afternoon, after I laid my son down for a nap I began writing.  That was seven years ago now.
Why did you decide to write stories for the YA market?
A lot of books I read are from the YA genre, so I felt it was the best option for the book that I was writing.  Although Mere Enchantment is targeted towards the YA market, it’s also a good fit for the Juvenile market as well.
What is your favorite part of writing for this group? What is the greatest challenge?
My favorite part is I can be more open.  Young adults usually have more of an open mind, and can think a little outside the box.  The challenge I have found is actually also that they can think outside the box.  It makes it challenging to find a story that will appeal to this age group and hold their interest.
Can you tell us what your latest book is all about?
My new book is actually a magical tale of five friends who have to fight for their freedom in a kingdom that they never really knew existed. They find that they are being tracked down by a man that betrayed the crown and knows that their presence in Mere threatens his plans to overthrow the entire kingdom.  They have many challenges that they must overcome, but the biggest one is discovering who they really are, and who and what they think their friends are.
What inspired you to write it?
I have always loved stories where I could be swept away from wherever I am and taken to a land that only exists in my imagination.  Being part of a royal family, and having the ability to make something magically appear, is something that I always find myself dreaming about.  To write down my imagination and share it with those willing to read it seemed like the best way to have someone else escape into their own imaginations.
Where can readers purchase a copy?
Mere Enchantment can be purchased in Paperback,  Kindle and Nook editions.  I also expect it to be available for iPhone, iPad, and other reading devices soon.
Paperback – CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/3841134
What is up next for you?
I am currently writing the 2nd installment of The Enchantment Series to hopefully be released this fall, if all goes well.
Do you have anything else to add?
I would love to receive feedback on Mere Enchantment, what you liked and didn’t like about the book, what you hope to have happen as the series progresses, etc… You can contact me on my author blog at http://www.aliciarivoli.blogspot.com and tell me all about it!
Thank you for spending time with us today, Alicia, We wish you much success.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

PAPERBACK & NOOK NOW AVAILABLE!!!

You can now purchase the paperback of Mere Enchantment on Createspace HERE and Amazon HERE

Nook version available HERE

Happy Reading!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

GIVEAWAY!!!





Goodreads Book Giveaway





Mere Enchantment by Alicia Rivoli



Mere Enchantment


by Alicia Rivoli



Giveaway ends June 15, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.




Enter to win


Friday, April 6, 2012

Great News!

If you don't have a Kindle, Nook, smart phone, or another type of eReader, but would still like to read Mere Enchantment, it will be coming soon to online distributors in Paperback!  Check back late next week for more details!!

Smashwords Edition Now Available

Click Here to purchase Mere Enchantment (Book 1) from Smashwords!  Other eBook formats coming soon.

Now Available!

Mere Enchantment book #1 in The Enchantment Series is now available to all Kindle users!
http://www.amazon.com/Mere-Enchantment-The-Series-ebook/dp/B007RTO0EO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333713138&sr=8-1

Sunday, April 1, 2012

BOOK ONE!

Mere Enchantment, book 1 in the Enchantment Series is coming soon!  I am hoping it will be available as an eBook on all devices with-in the next month.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Coming Soon!

Check back soon for information on my new book!!!