For The Browncoats!!!

I've been debating about whether or not to mention this here, as it's not exactly something that I "wrote", per se, so I wasn't sure whether it should be included as part of this blog, or not.

But really, it's creative.  And it involves words.  And it has taken up a lot of my time and energy lately.  I am kinda proud of it, AND there will be versions for Carving The Light and Ebon Black soon, as well, so I figured, what the heck?  Throw it up and see what happens!  ;)

For all you Browncoats out there, I have created our very own fridge magnet poetry set!  You can find it on Etsy and Ebay, so go have a look at the newly revamped Magnet-y Poetical Lingo For Browncoats!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64081725/browncoat-fridge-magnet-poetry-set

I cut them by hand, which is more time-consuming and body-hurting than it sounds!  lol

And I package them all in wee Chinese food take-out boxes to make 'em appear more stylish and irresistably cute!

So go take a look...I'm getting faster at assembling them now, so I should be able to get orders shipped out quickly now.  And if I see you in person, all the better, because it'll save you on ridiculous shipping charges!  ;)

In the meantime, keep watching for my Ryerson ad around the city of Toronto, and enter the Spot The Ad contest for your chance to win!  Please also take a moment to check out the free preview of my next project, Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads! 

Lots on the go...'tis the season, I suppose!  So, with all that in mind, happy holidays one and all!

Until soon,

S.A.M.

Toronto - Spot The Ad Contest Now On!!!

Okay, Toronto, here we go!  The Ryerson ads are going up all over the TTC, across the city, and will be up through the holiday season!  Keep your eyes peeled, and your cameras at the ready, to give yourself a shot at winning any number of the fabulously crappy prizes available to be won!  :)

Reviews For Carving The Light!

Thanks in no small part to the Goodreads.com community, I have finally started receiving reviews for my book online!  They are all visible on my book page, but here are some of the highlights thus far:

DangerGirl says: 

Have tissues at the ready.


Ms. Maynard is so apt at creating characters that are both vivid and complete that you are immediately drawn into their lives and empathize with their struggles and their joys. She has knit together a journey that truly will have you laughing out loud with tears rolling down your face.


Arliss writes:

I enjoyed this story of three sisters who endured a tragic event during their childhood.


Ms Maynard allowed me to travel with the sisters, feel their painful experiences, and know the secrets they kept from each other. Through her writing I laughed, I cried, I cheered, and I pitied these girls as if I too was part of their family.

I look forward to her future writings.

And Delilah feels:
 
I thought that this was a great book. It spoke from the heart and was a very true account of the feelings of guilt people can carry around with them. It is so true about the fact that if more people would talk about their feelings it would avoid so many misunderstandings. I would highly recommend this as a goodread.


I will be posting individually on Goodreads, probably later this evening, but I wanted to say overall how grateful I am to each of those women for taking the time to post their thoughts about Carving The Light.  And I am REALLY happy that people are enjoying it!  The Collins girls and the fabulous people in their lives became very important to me while I was writing their story, and I suspect that they will always occupy a special place in my heart.  So, thank you, to everyone who's taking the time to look at my book, or to pick it up and read it, and to those who spread the word and let others know (and me, too) how they feel about it, or how it's affected them.
 
And if anyone feels like posting similar thoughts on Amazon, please feel free to do so!  lol
 
In OTHER news, we are now just mere weeks away from the beginning of the Ryerson Chang school's winter ad campaign, and I can not wait!  I got an update email from them today, letting me know that they will be submitting materials to other print publications and such, as well, so that is outstanding...I'd love to see where else I turn up!
 
I've started putting together small prizes for the contest, too, so get ready to keep on the lookout!  I just got a cute little Carving The Light totebag in the mail the other day, and there will be much more to come!  Pictures to follow, but for now, this is what the ad will look like. 
 

 
Watch out for it all over Toronto via the TTC, starting November 29th!
 
Until soon,
 
SAM

Everything Is Happening

So, here we are, with only 9 days left before I head to sunny California with my lovely girl for a whole week!  Mayhaps we shall even work on illustration ideas for Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads, especially when we will be exposed to such incredible ingenius ideas at Disneyland!  For certain, though, there will be much giggling and good times.  I can not wait.  :)

I am WAY overdue in sending out many thanks to the boys at my photo shoot last week!  Jim, Mark and Ted made it great fun for me, and it was actually kind of hard to leave!  I can't wait to see how it all turns out!  I will be posting it everywhere, once I get a look at it myself, of course!  ;)

Additionally, I have submitted Carving The Light to Guys Can Read, in the hopes that they might pick it as a finalist in their indie author contest!  Basically, they will announce a group of finalists on November 2nd.  If my book is among them, I will be looking for everyone I know to go vote for my book to win.  IF it wins, the guys will read and review it on their podcast!  Which is about the coolest thing I've heard in recent memory. 

I know my book is kind of girly at first glance (you know...all emotions and drama everywhere), but guys have been enjoying it, too, and I think it's likely because the characters are all easy to relate to, no matter what gender you happen to be reading from inside of.  So, hopefully, my little book will be given a shot at finally having a review or two done on it...and if some of those reviews come from the boys' perspectives, ALL the better!  I am really excited by the opportunity, and would encourage all of you to go check out their podcast/site, when you have a chance.  It's truly unique, and I look forward to hearing more from them as we go along!

OK, that's it for now.  I am too distracted to write much at the moment, apparently!

NINE MORE DAYS!  :D

Until soon,

SAM

Ryerson - Chang School Photo Shoot Tomorrow!!!

Everything is coming together for the ad I will be featured in for Ryerson's Chang School of Continuing Education!  The photo shoot is tomorrow morning and, with the exception of a still sore and bumpy eye, I am good to go!