Tag Archives: Blood Angel

Why YOU should follow ME!!!

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Hi, my name is Nina Soden and I’m an author.

Wow, it feels really funny to say that. I mean, I am an author. I have four published books, 3 novels (the Blood Angel Series) and 1 poetry book, but calling myself an author still feels strange.

Author is only one of the many hats or ‘personalities’ I wear throughout my day. My most important? Mommy, that one simple word means the world to me and hearing it when my kids call me – well, that melts my heart. The other hats I love to wear: wife, daughter, sister, actress, and artist. The hats I wear because everyone has to make a living and keep the house in order: employee, consultant, chauffeur (when you have kids – you are nothing if not a chauffeur), cook, assistant cheer coach, etc., etc., etc. Hats I’m learning to wear: self-publicist, marketing specialist, social-media specialist, and all the others that go with being an Indie-Author – man, it is HARD WORK!

This blog was originally started to keep a record of my journey as I wrote, edited, and published my first young adult series ~ the Blood Angel Series ~ Awaken (book 1), Beginnings (book 2), and Revenge (book 3). Well, I did it! It was a long yet exciting adventure and the final book was published in August of 2014. Before publishing the final book I put the first two books through a rigorous re-edit and rewrite in order to make sure that they were the best they could be. Now, I feel fully confident that all three of my books are exactly how I want them to be. I would love to share them with you and find out what you think. If you are interested in learning more about the Blood Angel Series please take a few seconds and spend the few dollars it takes to download my eBooks or order your printed version – and please tell your family, bribe your friends and blackmail your enemies into picking up a copy of their own.

Where to “follow”, “like”, “subscribe”, and buy the Blood Angel Series:

 

What Is Next?

Now I begin a new journey as I work on my next series. I can’t say too much, but I promise to keep you all informed as I learn more about where this new adventure is going to take me – and my readers.

Hop on… join the ride… and click follow to come along on this new adventure.

And, if all that isn’t enough… follow me because I randomly (often) get writers block and end up going way off topic, and challenging myself to discover new things about myself, or just new things about the world in general!

 

Want to know when my new releases are available for pre-order before they hit the shelves?

Just fill out the following form and I’ll be sure to let you know about any discounts, giveaways, and pre-order offers I’m having!

It’s GIVEAWAY TIME – ENTER TO WIN!!!

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giveaway-time

That’s RIGHT – it’s GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

I’m giving away FREE BLOOD ANGEL SWAG!!!

Swag #1

What you’ll get if you win:

1 copy of Awaken (book 1 ~ the Blood Angel Series)
1 copy of Beginnings (book 2 ~ the Blood Angel Series)
1 Blood Angel Series travel mug (with covers of all three book covers)
1 Blood Angel Series small notebook (with covers of all three book covers)
1 Personalized postcard
 

The Winner Will Be Drawn and Announced:

As soon as the Blood Angel Facebook page hits 175 ‘Likes’

 

How to Enter:

Entry into the giveaway is easy. It takes only three (3) simple steps:

 

#1

On any (ALL is even better) of your social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Blog, etc.) post the following:

#YA Book Swag #giveaway via author @Nina_Soden at http://wp.me/p1Ft9W-lO Follow the link to find out how you can enter to win.

#2

‘Like‘ the Blood Angel Facebook page www.facebook.com/BloodAngelSeries

Don’t forget this step because… the winner will be drawn and announced as soon as the Blood Angel Series Facebook page hits 175 ‘LIKES’

#3

Submit your information in the entry form below:

DISCLAIMER: You do not have to provide a mailing address at this time. However, if you win you will be contacted, via the email address you provide, and a mailing address will be requested. If you fail to provide a mailing address you will be forfeited as the winner, and the next person drawn will receive the Blood Angel SWAG!

Scan-Amazon-Badge-Gray - Amazon Books Scan-Facebook-Gray - Facebook Scan-Google-Gray - BloodAngel Google+ Scan-Twitter-Gray - Twitter Scan-Website-Gray - Amazon Author Page Scan-Website-Gray_2 - Blog

If you are as excited about this GIVEAWAY as I am then post a comment below and tell me and my readers why you want to win!

Blood Angel Series – KickStarter Project

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Hello to all my wonderful followers…

I am here seeking your help. I just launched a KICKSTARTER Project to help me fund the Blood Angel Series.

Please click on the following link to check out my video and the details of my project:

The Blood Angel Series KICKSTARTER Project

I hope that you will take the time to visit my KICKSTARTER project and maybe even donate a little to help me reach my goal. Every dollar counts and for your donation of $5 or more you’ll even receive a special reward directly from me!!! You’ll have to click on the link above to find out the details of all the available rewards.

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Blood Angel Series Cover Poster

WHAT IS THE BLOOD ANGEL SERIES ABOUT?

The Blood Angel series is set in a world very much like our own, yet Atlanta isn’t just an ordinary city and Alee Moyer isn’t just an ordinary girl. Having barely survived her childhood, it will take the death of her father for the truth of her bloodline to come out, even if it means losing her life or her identity. Watch as Alee struggles to understand her true destiny as the first surviving Dhampir in history. Surrounded by a new world ,where the horror films she grew up watching have become her reality, the most unlikely characters have become her lifeline. Follow as Alee discovers herself and her purpose.

Camouflaged by the mundane happenings of a high school existence, Alee would never have guessed what was happening below the surface in, “The Underground”. If she thought hunting in the wild and drinking blood was bad, what will she think when she becomes one of the hunted?

Will Alee be able to survive her destiny, or will it prove to be more powerful than she is?

The Blood Angel Series by Nina Soden
The Blood Angel Series by Nina Soden

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nina Soden, Author
Nina Soden, Author

I have always been creative, be it art, theatre, film – anything but singing…trust me, you don’t want to hear that! I earned my bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Military Science from Eastern Michigan University where I spent most of my time either on stage, rappelling down buildings, or working one of three jobs. After college I moved to Los Angeles like so many other starry-eyed actors in pursuit of fame and fortune in tinseltown. While there, I worked to pay the bills but my love was always acting. I was able to achieve some level of success, mostly in commercials and independent films, and I consider those experiences as some of the best of my life.

After some major life changes, I self-published my first book entitled PRIVATE WORDS UNSPOKEN, a compilation of self poetry. Since then, my literary interest has grown and I would like to think my storytelling ability has improved. I have done everything from office administration, to business development, to being the Director of a private preschool. I have jumped out of a C130 aircraft, fired a M16 machine gun, and given birth – TWICE! But I always return to my art.

Though I’ll forever be a Michigan girl at heart, I now live in the South where I am married with two wonderful children. If I’m not working on my latest story you can find me lounging with a good book, playing with my kids, or indulging in my unhealthy addiction to Starbucks coffee.

To learn more about me and my books you can check out my website, or follow me on one or all of the various internet/social media sites.

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Blog

MY KICKSTARTER PLANS

Although I have been writing for quite some time, the Kickstarter Project opportunity is very new to me. I am the author of the Blood Angel Series. Book 1: AWAKEN and Book 2: BEGINNINGS, have already been published and are available to the public. However, with the steady increase of positive feedback I have received of late, I realize that my books will need additional editing in order to have a significant impact in the world of Young Adult Supernatural Fiction.

With that in mind, I have put together this Kickstarter Project in order to raise money to do the following:

  • Professional Editing, formatting, print and re-release of Awaken (book 1 ~ the Blood Angel Series)
  • Professional Editing, formatting, print and re-release of Beginnings (book 2 ~ the Blood Angel Series)
  • Professional Editing, formatting, print and release of Revenge (book 3 ~ the Blood Angel Series)
  • Marketing for the Blood Angel Series

I have found some amazing editors and formatters on elance.com and plan to work closely with them to ensure that my books are properly edited and formatted in order to give my readers the most enjoyable reading experience possible.

HOW WILL THE MONEY BE USED?

Traditionally, published authors receive an advance from a publisher in exchange for the chance to publish their book. Unfortunately, I have not been afforded this luxury – I’m an Indie Author. So, Kickstarter is my advance. It is a way for me to fund my literary project and produce a much higher quality product.

Here is an estimated breakdown of where the money will go:

  • $1050 for professional editing fees ($350 per book)
  • $400 for print and e-book formatting
  • $400 for the first paperback print run
  • $150 for fees and shipping costs

Any/all excess funding will go towards marketing/promotion of the Blood Angle Series, as well as, investment into the future of the series.

WHAT IF YOU DON’T READ YOUNG ADULT (YA)?

That’s okay!!! Even if you don’t read or even like Young Adult Fiction or the Supernatural Genre, I can guarantee that you know or love someone who does! Every reward level of this project can be given as a gift to someone else. Just pledge the amount for the reward you’d like to gift to a friend, and when the surveys are sent to collect your information you can let me know whether or not it is a gift and who to send it to. I’d even be happy to write a special gift message for you as well.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

So, you’re convinced and want to be a part in making the BLOOD ANGEL SERIES a reality? Awesome! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! All you have to do is click the button that says “BACK THIS PROJECT” at the top right of this page and pledge any amount over $1.00. Then, choose your reward, follow the instructions to pay, and I’ll keep you updated on the project every step of the way!

Even if you can’t pledge today, I would like to personally thank you for stopping by and giving me your time. Please feel free to share this project with your friends and family!

SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to my wonderful husband, Eric and my beautiful children, Sydney and Ethan, for all of their love and support.

Progress!

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Progress means different things to different people.

A-Work-in-Progress-Final-2

The dictionary defines progress in the following way:

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prog·ress [n. prog-res, -ruhs or, esp. British, proh-gres; v. pruh-gres]  Show IPA 

noun

  1. a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage: the progress of a student toward a degree.
  2. developmental activity in science, technology, etc., especially with reference to the commercial opportunities created thereby or to the promotion of the material well-being of the public through the goods, techniques, or facilities created.
  3. advancement in general.
  4. growth or development; continuous improvement: He shows progress in his muscular coordination.
  5. the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.

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For the purpose of this post I am going to talk about progress as referenced in #1 above.

In my post titled 2014 – New Year’s Resolutions!!! I stated that one of my new year’s resolutions was to publish my third book; Revenge – the 3rd book in the Blood Angel Series. Well, today I got one step further in that process.

Let me explain.

What steps do I take when writing a book, well… since I am only on book 3 I haven’t really figured all of that out, but here is my basic process:

  • Decide on a topic
  • Map out a basic outline (I don’t write this down – I just want to know where I think the story will go)
  • Start writing… This is when I find out that my characters were laughing at me when I was thinking through the story line, and that they actually have a much different story in store for me.
  • Once the first draft has been finished I send it off to editor #1
  • Re-writes
  • Send it off to editor #2
  • Re-writes
  • Send it off to editor #3
  • Re-writes
  • Reread (I normally go through the book cover to cover two or three more times to see if I catch any more edits that need to be made or to make final rewrite changes that I feel are important).
  • Publish

Okay… where am I in the process now? The answer is PROGRESS!!! I just did the re-writes after receiving my edits from editor #2. Now I am just waiting for the edits from editor #3 so that I can do the final re-writes, read through two or three times, and then publish.

I know it doesn’t seem like I’m almost done, but trust me I am. That makes me a very happy girl… BUT…

After getting the edits back from Editor #2 I am seeing a trend… so far 2 out of 3 editors have told me that there now needs to be a BOOK 4 in the Blood Angel Series. When I started this series the plan was to write a trilogy… it looks like, unless some major changes happen, the trilogy isn’t going to be a trilogy any more. I guess I have some thinking to do before I get the book back from Editor #3.

What do you think? Have you read books 1 and 2? If you have I would love to know your thoughts… Where would you like to see the story go? Do you want it to continue or do you like the idea of a trilogy?

Either way… progress is progress  and I have made movement toward my goal – I AM A HAPPY GIRL!

Behind Locked Doors – A Drifter…

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A drifter in the night he lurks within the shadows and under the cover of the ever forgiving moon-light. Year after year and century after century he finds himself searching for the one who started it all. The one who turned him!

Visions of piercing blue eyes, long red flowing hair, and lips covered and dripping with blood race within his mind haunting his dreams. Every time he hunts – feeds – kills, he sees her face reminding him of the monster he has become. For he will never turn another, never condemn another soul as his as been condemned to live for all eternity in a life of blood lust – a life of sin! Forever alone!

Egypt, Rome, Vienna, Paris, England, Montreal, Asia, Africa, America, nowhere in the world has he found peace. For years he has hidden, deep beneath the earth, within the abandoned mines once rich with gold now dank and dusty. He roams the night, living by only the light of the moon and stars above. He has learned to control the thirst – the hunger no longer consumes his every thought, but still the life he lost taunts him. 

A decision… a mission… a wooden stake to his heart… and no longer shall he walk the earth alone.

Behind Locked Doors – Life After Death!

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Photograph by William Tapaninen

Photograph by William Tapaninen

She woke up cold and unaware. Laying down she couldn’t tell where she was, and she was unable to move. She could feel straps across her legs, holding her arms down and across her chest. She wasn’t wearing any clothing and her skin felt numb yet wet.

The darkness surrounded her attacking her with voices and noises that couldn’t be identified. She couldn’t scream for the cloth shoved in her mouth so tightly every time she tried to speak she gagged. Tears poured down her face as she struggled to get free. Fear built within her until she could no longer breathe.

When she awoke again alone in the woods under the cover of leaves and grass, the draining process had been completed and the final stages of her transformation had begun. Her hunger was growing strong. But deep within she felt a sense of calm, strength and power. The fear was gone replaced with excitement for the new life ahead. Eager to learn she rushed into the woods around her. Within moments she was running, leaping, lunging. Feeding on a wild lion it was the most alive feeling she had ever had, and to think it was the first thing she had done since she died.

(c) Soden, Nina 2013

Revenge ~ a Blood Angel novel ~ BOOK 3

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Hello anyone and everyone who may or may not be out there somewhere reading this post… So, books 1 and 2 have been written, edited, rewritten, edited again and again and again, and finally published. WOW! It was a long road, but I did it. Two books down and the third yet to come.

That’s right, the Blood Angel series doesn’t end with BEGINNINGS… Nothing ever ends after a beginning, right? Right!

So, what is next in the Blood Angel series? REVENGE! For those of you who have read AWAKEN and BEGINNINGS you might be wondering, Revenge? But, trust me after what Alee had to go through in book 1 and then book 2… someone better be getting a little revenge! For those of you who have not yet read AWAKEN or BEGINNINGS you need to pick-up your copy today and start reading.

So, I begin my journey into REVENGE a little more timid than I did the last two books. Why? Because the last two books just seemed to spill out of me. I think I had more time to write, or maybe less stress in my life – or more I’m not really sure. Anyway, book 3 is in my head and I want it to come out, but for whatever reason… it doesn’t want to come out yet. Instead of sitting at my computer and forcing the words into print, and inevitable turning out a bad product, I’m giving myself a week to rest… de-stress… and focus on other things (work – my real job, family – hubby and kids, home – house work and laundry, and of course summer) just for the next week. Then once I’ve completed my week of solus… I shall write. I plan to try to spend at least 1 hour a night in a quiet room – alone – just writing. Sure, that doesn’t sound like a lot to you avid writers, but for me (a mom who also works full-time) an hour of alone time each night to just write – well, that sounds like heaven and like a true fantasy that will probably never happen.

Recap – My goal is that starting Monday June 17th I will steal 1 hour each night to just think creative thoughts and write.

Wish me luck…

Revenge ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 3) by Nina Soden Coming soon to e-readers everywhere!

Revenge ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 3) by Nina Soden
Coming soon to e-readers everywhere!

BEGINNINGS is finally here!

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Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 2) by Nina Soden NOW AVAILABLE on e-readers everywhere!

Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel (BOOK 2) by Nina Soden
NOW AVAILABLE on e-readers everywhere!

That’s right – you read the title correctly. Beginnings ~ a Blood Angel novel is finally here!

CLICK HERE to download your copy today!

BEGINNINGS ~ a Blood Angel novel

by Nina Soden

Surrounded by a new world where the horror films she grew up watching have become reality Alee finds that the most unlikely characters have become her lifeline. If she thought hunting in the wild and drinking blood was bad, what will she think when she becomes the hunted? Newly armed with the knowledge of being half witch and half vampire Alee, the only surviving Dhampir in history, is forced to learn to control a lifetime of magic and vampire powers if she wants to survive.

Part horror thriller – part tender romance, Beginnings will leave readers wanting more!

E-BOOK AVAILABLE NOW!

Rewrites… Week Six In Review!

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Okay, week six is over and I know I promised to send the book to the publisher by the end of week six but… I just can’t. You see I recently read a review of my first book on Amazon… I know, you should never read reviews, but I did! It was a 2 star review called ‘An Interesting Idea’ and this is what it said:

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Okay, so it wasn’t entirely bad. I mean the writer is still planning to read my next book, but still…
So, I have made the decision to hold off just a little while longer – one more week to have yet again one more set of eyes read, review, and edit the book and then the short time it takes to review and adjust for the changes.

I’m a self published author – I don’t promise not to have any grammar or spelling errors, but I don’t want so many that it takes away from the book and is distracting.

Personally I like my story line and character development, and I hope I don’t disappoint my readers with a lack of structure, hooks and cliffhangers again in book two.

So, for you… My readers, I am going to go through one more round of edits. And, I hope to deliver an end product that makes you all want to come back for more!

Thanks for understanding.

Rewrites… Week Five In Review

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Haven't checked out the Blood Angel series on Facebook yet? Well, you should!

Haven’t checked out the Blood Angel series on Facebook yet? Well, you should! www.facebook.com/BloodAngelSeries

Why is it that when I’m approaching a personal deadline my life gets crazy CRAZY busy?!

Tech week… performances… babysitter cancelling… work deadlines leading to me having to work LATE EVERY NIGHT… stress… StReSs… STRESS!!!

Wow… So I didn’t have much time to do anything this past week, but I did get the book uploaded to the online self-publishing software. Now I just need to make the final edits, error corrections, format adjustments, etc. and then hit send!

Okay, it feels crazy that I am this close to publishing book two. If someone would have asked me two years ago if I believed I would publish a novel I would have said, doubtful! I definitely would never have guessed that I would have two full-length novels published! But man does it feel good.

Okay so here is a recap…

  • Week 1 – Reread the book and all editor’s notes – (YEAH, THAT DIDN”T GO AS PLANNED)
  • Week 2 – Outline changes, rearrange chapters (if needed) based on editor’s notes – (NOT REALLY GOING TO NEED TO OUTLINE CHANGES AND REARRANGE CHAPTERS – I WILL JUST USE THIS WEEK TO FINISH THE REREAD!)
  • Week 3 – Rewrite cover to cover – (YES IT WAS AMBITIOUS, BUT I DID IT AND I AM PROUD OF MYSELF FOR IT. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING EVERYTHING I HAVE ON MY TO DO LIST RIGHT NOW.)
  • Week 4 – Reread the book for content, timeline, character motivation (YEAH, I KIND OF CHEATED AND TOOK CARE OF THIS DURING WEEK 1. HEE HEE HEE)
  • Week 5 – Reread the book for edits: grammar, spelling, etc. (DONE and THANKFUL FOR IT!)
  • Week 6 – Final changes, format, upload, and publish (VERY EXCITED TO SAY THAT THE BOOK HAS BEEN COMPLETELY UPLOADED AND FINAL ERRORS WILL BE WORKED ON THIS WEEK. I HAD PLANS TO HIT “SEND” AND SUBMIT IT TO THE PUBLISHER BY THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK, BUT THAT ISN”T GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM CROSSING MY FINGERS FOR SUNDAY!)

Yes, it was short but sweet… Next week my update better say “PUBLISHED”. However, I am not going to get down on myself either way… Just going to think positive!

Now, off the subject… Sunday was Mother’s Day and mine was great! My kids and husband got me the prettiest charms for my favorite bracelet and we got to go out to dinner after a day at the theatre. Spending the day on stage with my hubby and being backstage with my kids at the theatre (because the babysitter cancelled) was actually very nice. They were very well-behaved and loved by everyone.

Okay… back to work.

When you get a chance tell me how your writing is coming along. I know I talk a lot about myself here, but I really do care how my readers are doing and what you are all up to. Please share!