Catharina Shields © 2016
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FINALLY! The second installment to The Girl in the Leather Jacket is almost here.

It will be officially released on MARCH 1, 2016, but you can pre-order it at 50% off for $1.99 at any of the retailers to your left on the sidebar.

Of course, pre-order means that the book won't be available until MARCH 1st, but at least you'll get it for half off if you purchase it now.

So don't delay! Take advantage of the 50%!

Thank you for supporting Indie Authors!

 

Amazon * Smashwords * B&N * Kobo * iBooks

 Synopsis

Lola and her new group head for Bel Air to liberate Andy's mother, but a redheaded Vamp swoops in and snatches him out of her Ghia. A fight ensues and they struggle to free him from the redheaded vamp's talons.

Now she understands that they're far from ready to confront dangers of that scale because if they can't even best a regular vampire, how were they going to face the powerful Ridleys?

Forced to postpone the rescue mission, Lola concentrates on training her rag-tag group of witchy-dudes and to get them to get it together, because she's discovered that the formidable Ridleys aren't the only enemies they have and who want them destroyed.

Watch the official book trailer for ILLUMINATUS 

 

Catharina Shields © 2016
All Rights Reserved
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I'm putting the finishing touches on this second book to The Girl in the Leather Jacket series, and it's going swimmingly. The Girl in the Leather Jacket 2 (TGLJ-2), entitled, Iluminatus, will focus on Lola Fox's new coven and how they gain and use their powers.

The opening scene has the group heading for Bel Air to liberate Andy's mother, but a redheaded Vamp (Lola later refers to her as RedRude) swoops in and snatches Andy out of her Ghia and they struggle to free Andy out of the redheaded vamp's talons.

Lola understands that they're not yet ready to confront dangers of that scale. If they can't even best a regular vampire, how were they going to face the powerful Ridleys? So she postpones the rescue mission in order to help train her rag-tag group of witchy-dudes, initiates Andy into their Coven, and then goes and does a little investigation into who's behind wanting them destroyed.

As I've mentioned above, the story is basically writing itself and it will be ready for preorder in a couple of days! When it is, I'll make a link. Preorders are 50% off of the regular price ($3.99), so be sure to preorder your copy before March 1st! Illuminatus is due out March 1, 2016!

Revised book cover for Illuminatus and its release date

I've revised the book cover for "Illuminatus" as you can see in the banner above. You can have a good look at it by clicking the third dot at the bottom of the banner.

I've also designed the book covers for the last two books to The Girl in the Leather Jacket series. When I was redesigning the book cover for Illuminatus, I felt creative all of a sudden and decided to design the book covers for the last two books, as well. Since I know what the books are going to be about (duh - I'm the author), I was able to visualize how I wanted my book covers to look and - voila!

As you can see on the release dates posted on the book cover images in the banner, I finally decided to announce concrete release dates for each book, too. I figured, you've been patient enough, waiting for the next installment after the first book, so it's the least I can do.

I would like to have the last book published by February July 2015 at the latest. But with holidays and all that, well, I can't give a definitive month when it will be finished. Good thing all books can stand alone even though it is a series. Anyway, I figured it was high time I posted something on this blog so, here it is!

If you haven't already, why not follow me via e-mail? Why, you ask? Well, for one (and it's a biggie) I would deeply appreciate it. Two . . . you'll automatically get updates in your Inbox when I post something new. As you can see, I don't post that much so your Inbox won't overflow with e-mails from me, but you will get a head's up when the upcoming books are about to be released.
Sounds good? Well, sign up!

Focused on writing the 2nd Book to The Girl in the Leather Jacket series

Catharina Shields © 2013
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It's been a long time in coming, but I'm finally focused on writing - and finishing - the second book to The Girl in the Leather Jacket young adult series entitled, "Illuminatus".

What I like about writing on this series is the fact that I'm writing it in the first person, from Lola Fox's p.o.v. I usually write from a third-person perspective, so this is refreshing and new to me. I was pleasantly surprised to discover what a joy it is to write a novel from this perspective. I never thought it would be this much fun.

I only decided to write the TGLJ series in the first person perspective since it's about Lola Fox and how she sees and experiences her world. It just seemed to be the smarter thing to do; to write the story from her p.o.v.

It's been doing very well, and I've been asked to please hurry with the second segment. So that's what I'm going to do now that I've finished with my contemporary romance for 18-plussers, "For Elise ~ A Romance About the Deepest and Truest Love".

If you're interested, you can find a description of Illuminatus on my official author's website. It's on the Home page near the bottom. So if you're interested, follow the link and find out what's in store for our courageous vampire/human heroine in the second book of the series.

Writing on TGLJ 2, "Illuminatus"

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I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything on this blog. I've been busy finishing up an older story of mine that's for 18-plussers and I've been posting updates on my Catharina Shields' Romantica Blog.

I've also had to take care of one of my pricey exotic goldfish, Feisty, who was under threat of going belly-up! She is supposed to be able to have protein rich fish food (for that bumpy growth on their head they're famous for called the "wen"), but for some reason, it created a growth on her side instead (see image where I circled the strange growth) I was so afraid I'd lose her. She, and the rest of her tankmates, btw, are all on medicated food (Medi-Gold and Metro-meds) for 14 days. I just started them on it last Saturday, so I can stop feeding it to them on Friday, August 17th.
Despite the above, I have found time to write on the second book of "The Girl in the Leather Jacket" entitled, "Illuminatus", which is Latin for enlightened.
I've also worked hard at redesigning the book cover for it (helps with inspiration!) and you can see what I've come up with above.
This book continues where the first book ends - in Lola Fox's Karmann Ghia as they head for Bel-Air to rescue Andy's mom.
This book is about the power struggles and growing pains within the newly formed Illuminatus Coven that Lola finds herself the reluctant leader of while having to arbitrate between the members as she also struggles with feeling torn between her attraction to Zach Ridley and her growing love for Andy. 

Need to redesign a book cover for an upcoming book

          I'm currently writing the second book to The Girl in the Leather Jacket (TGLJ) series entitled, Illuminatus. The thing is, I'd already designed its book cover, but I've suddenly decided I don't like the way it looks. Too dark and too much "sepia". I want a more crisp cover like the first one so they'll look good shown next to each other. And I need to add in the six members of her new group, too, which wasn't in the first one. I guess that's what I'm going to have to do, then.
          I've also opened another blog that's attached to this one, and it's for my more spicier romantica books. You can see the tab above that will take you to it. I don't know why I did that. It's a lot of work keeping one blog updated, but double work keeping them both going. I guess I wanted to make sure they're separate just to keep things real for me. The good thing about being an Indie Author/Publisher is, I can pretty much do as I like so at the moment I'm thinking about publishing all my books (except TGLJ) for readers both 14+ and 18+. My work, except for TGLJ, lend themselves well for this.
          I'm currently finishing Part 10 to my Of Vinegar and Honey series. Then there will be two more parts to write and I can combine all parts, break it down into chapters, and paperback publish the whole thing. I'm amazed it's been such a hit on free sites where it originated and where I've honed my skill at writing full, plot-driven stories correctly. It's an excellent way to get peer reviews and whether or not a story has "legs". Anyway, it's one of my romantica books since there are explicit scenes written in it, but there aren't a lot of them.
          I have so many stories, so many books already in my private library (they all need editing and rewrites, though, since they're all drafts) that I can be busy writing forevah. Anyway, I intend to post them on free sites to see how they take.
          I've had the "pleasure" of giving my Chow-Chow, Powee, and my Pug, Harley, a bath today. It wasn't something I'd planned (since it takes me away from writing and giving a Chow a bath is a tedious chore), but it was necessary. I'm glad I have done it, though. Both Powee and Harley look really good now. At least that's something.
           

Yep. Finally updated my Blog's look

          I just needed to know how I wanted to my blog to look. In between writing, editing, formatting, and publishing my latest books (The Girl in the Leather Jacket & Equilibrium II: Rebirth - in paperback) I needed to know how to set up my blog since it's connected to my official website. I've finally settled on the above. I hope you like it.

         I've discovered formatting to e-publish my books is far easier than formatting them for paperback publishing. Everything, and I mean everything is different. Different rules make for a much more complicated process, but once I got the hang of it, it went pretty smoothly.

          I'm currently waiting for Createspace to finish processing Equilibrium II: Rebirth so I can order copies of it at the same time as The Girl in the Leather Jacket. It saves on shipping! Oh, and since I design all my book covers from scratch and prefer not use the templates offered at Createspace, I know I only make it more difficult on myself, but I hope my readers will agree the result is worth it. I need paperback copies of The Girl in the Leather Jacket because they'll be used as a giveaway (together with matching bookmarkers) in collaboration with Nikki Lipstick's new spring fashion line.

          I'm still working on the finishing touches to For Life for Fine Stories, and although some of you have written me and believe you know where this story is going, I hope I can surprise you. I realize I promised to have it up last weekend, but writers are notoriously unpredictable, aren't we. :-) Making no promises, I hope to have it up this weekend.

Chapter 7 to For Life, New YA series, Equilibrium

Chapter 7 to "For Life" has been submitted for publishing at Fine Stories. Please allow some time before it appears although Fine Stories is pretty quick with publishing stories, unlike other sites I know.

I know this took longer than I promised (approximately one day overdue, but still), but I hope it's worth the wait.

In this chapter, more and more is being revealed that intrigues both main characters, Wolfgang and Danielle, while slowly locking them to one another in curiosity and attraction, silently guided by his patient hand. A series of missing persons events are escalating around Queens, finally catching Danielle's attention, and she begins to wonder just how much she can trust this new employee of her father's business.

I've also been busy working on my new YA urban fantasy and paranormal romance due out by the end of this month. You can see the countdown ticker to your left.

It's about a girl named Lola Fox who lives in San Marino, Southern California, and who just turned sixteen. On her sweet sixteenth, she learns she's not what she had always thought she was, and as a young girl, she finds she's slowly coming into her own with all the pitfalls and mistakes that entails.

To date, I've planned a four book series, but it might be more, depending how I feel.

Also, I'm working on my upcoming Featured Author guest spot for Equilibrium at Lauries Thoughts & Reviews for January 28, 2012. I plan to offer a digital copy in any format. So if you're interested, please click on the name hyperlinked of the site here above and join her blog to win! I wish you good luck!

I guess it's TTFN, because I really need to get back to work! I hope you'll enjoy the latest chapter of For Life, and I hope you'll send me feedback or leave a comment and tell me what you think. 

How Ebook Buyers Discover Books

An interesting piece by Mark Coker of Smashwords.

<snippet>

"As of this writing, 206 people answered the survey. Click the image to enlarge it.

Key findings, plus my observations:

1. The most-selected answer was "Recommendations from fellow readers on online message forums, blogs and message boards," with 29% of respondents choosing this. By contrast, only 4% selected, "Personal friend/family member recommends it to me." I think this is fascinating, because it implies readers might trust the collective wisdom of strangers and online acquaintances more than they trust the recommendations of immediate friends and family. At the risk of placing too many eggs in this basket, remember 71% selected something else.

2. The second most common answer was, "I look first for my favorite authors," coming in at 18%. This makes sense. As I mention when I present my Seven Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success talk, the author is the brand and if the author can earn the trust and loyalty of readers, readers will return to that brand for their next read. Readers in this group may also be more risk-averse. One respondent commented, "I'm at a point in life where I mostly stick with authors I already know and like. Why waste time and money on something I may not like?"

Read more at the link:
How Ebook Buyers Discover Books

Book trailers Equilibrium: Slayer's Heart, Rebirth, and Of Vinegar and Honey

I've finally gotten around to cutting book trailers for my books. It's been a long time coming, I know, but here they are! (right sidebar, lower half)

I'm also, simultaneously, working on putting the finishing touches to the second book of the Equilibrium series entitled, "Equilibrium II: Rebirth". It's release date has been postponed as you can see on the counter to your left.

It's new release date is December 17, 2011.

Thanks for visiting!

Busy! Busy! Busy!

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