Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Will O’ The Wisp by C.S Boyack @Virgilante #YA #Ghost #Bookrview

Hey everyone, look what I found. Halloween is coming. This one makes for great Autumn reading.

What are the readers saying?

It’s time for a bit of self promotion. I’ve never hidden the fact this is a writer’s blog, and one of its jobs is to promote my work.

My newest book is Will O’ the Wisp. This story has three facets the readers are enjoying.

• It’s a coming of age story.
• It’s a paranormal mystery.
• It’s a walk down memory lane.

The reviews are all suggesting this as well. Let’s look at the reviews:

So much fun! March 15, 2015 — I particularly enjoyed the fact that it was set in the 1970’s. I can relate to microwaves, writing letters, phone chords, and mercurochrome…

Bottom line? I loved it! Get the book. Read the book. You will NOT regret it.

Boyack’s Best Yet! March 16, 2015 — In my view, this is Boyack’s best yet, his piece de resistance! All his characters are strong and well defined, but Craig has excelled in stepping into Patty’s shoes; he has produced a most convincing teen, likeable one minute, and annoying the next, a self-reliant, independent and free-thinking child of the seventies, an era which he has expertly and admirably reproduced in this story, and which is certain to bring back many memories for many readers.

Although this story is classified as YA, I recommend it to anyone who is still young at heart (or who can at least still remember how being young felt).

A delightful read for young and old alike! March 15, 2015 —  It’s bad enough she has to deal with adolescent issues like attending her first dance; an overprotective mother who insists she wear leg braces Patty knows she doesn’t need; and friends who have waded into the dating pool when she’s still woefully single, but toss in the centuries-old curse and a neighbor who has been possessed by “the Wisp,” and Patty’s life is far from average. I won’t give away the ending, but the author pulled the plot threads together in a way that was not only satisfying but fun.

This is an engaging YA read, but it’s also a treat for adults who will remember the era in which this is set. I loved the glimpse into a small rural town/farming community and the magic and whimsy of friendship. Remember Quisp cereal, your first teen dance, roaming through fields at night, exploring old cemeteries, sharing secrets with your friends? All of that magic and more is here. Patty is an everyday kid you can’t help but cheer for and admire. A delightful read for young and old alike.

Great YA Urban Fantasy April 14, 2015 — I  loved this book, and it had something to offer on every page. Patty, and indeed all the characters, are drawn excellently and I cared what happened to them all. The world building, plot, pacing, and character development were brilliant.

Will O’ the Wisp  April 20, 2015 — If Sci-Fi and Paranormal fiction had a teenage daughter, it would be Will O’ the Wisp.

Will O’ the Wisp takes place in the mid-70s and stars Patty Hall a fifteen year old girl with a fascination for space, an over protective mom –who expects too much from her, an easy going step dad, and a family curse.

Can Patty end this curse?

You’ll have to read to find out.

Thrilling – don’t miss this intriguing story! March 22, 2015 — Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this mastery with this story – he created living people instead of mere characters. I was drawn into the story right away – very close to Patty. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a great time reading Will O’ the Wisp. It is a very enjoyable read.

WOW! What a remarkable book! March 17, 2015 —  This YA novel will chill the spines of young and old alike, and is guaranteed to give you goosebumps. The characters are well-developed, the setting is vivid, and the time-period is told perfectly. Mr. Boyack really outdid himself with this wonderful tale of The Wonder Years meets The Exorcist.

***

Wow! Compared to Hemingway. It’s the beard, I know it is. All joking aside, I really enjoyed writing this one. I also believe in it strongly. I would appreciate a few more of you adding it to your reading lists.

Here are the inevitable buy links:

North American Continent http://a-fwd.com/asin-com=B00UPH6BNS

Rest of the world http://a-fwd.com/asin-com=B00UQNDT2C

Will O’ the Wisp stop for Saturday

The Will O' the Wisp blog tour stops at the site of Carol and Tom Phipps today. The topic is the amount of research that went into this story. Please stop by and check it out Carol & Tom Phipps Fantasy Blog.

 

Blog Tour Day #1

I'm being hosted by Robin Chambers today. He's got an excerpt from Will O' the Wisp. This bit involves the first sighting of the wisp. Please visit Robin here: http://myrddinsheir.com/blog/?p=103#comment-56

Mae Clair Presents: Will O’ the Wisp by C. S. Boyack #YA #MagicalRealism

Mae Clair has some wonderful things to say about Will O’ the Wisp on her blog today. She has an interesting blog, and is worth visiting even when I’m not the topic. Please consider supporting this wonderful blogger.

From the Pen of Mae Clair

Have I got a treat for you today! Blogging friend, Craig Boyack, has just released a tale guaranteed to appeal to young and old alike. I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of this wonderful novel, which combines elements of magical realism, mystery, and fantasy, as well as a highly appealing coming of age theme. As I don’t post reviews on my blog, you’ll have to check Amazon for my five star review/rating—but I do have to point out several things that stood out for me about this novel:

Title and book cover:
I’m a Will o’ the Wisp fanatic from long ago. That bobbing, weaving sphere of light might not get as much exposure on my blog, as say my favorite cryptid, the Mothman, but I’ll readily devour any novel built around the legend of a “hinkypunk” or “spook light” — especially when the myth is so cleverly woven…

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Book Review | Will o’ the Wisp by CS Boyack

Another great review for Will O’ the Wisp. I love the part where Ali uses them there fancy words like “piece de resistance! ” Thank you Ali.

Will O’ the Wisp

Amazon came through, and it appears to have worked without a problem. This post will include links. I’ve been talking about this story for quite some time, and it’s time to let you know what it’s all about.

A Will O’ the Wisp is a rare natural phenomonon. Scientist aren’t entirely sure what it is, but the prevailing belief is it may be a fourth stage of matter called plasma. It produces a glowing light that seems to move around. It is most frequently seen over wetlands and bogs, but has been seen over old cemeteries too. The wisp may also appear around fault lines, and some believe this is cause by friction.

Wisps have been seen all over the world, and are getting scarce. As humans fill in wetlands, and relocate old cemeteries they are spotted less frequently.

As you might imagine, the wisps have legends from every culture on Earth. I simply took the legends and ran with it. You didn’t really expect a geology story from me, did you?

Patty Hall is a fifteen year old girl who wears corrective leg braces. This was a relatively common situation in the 1970s when the story takes place. I was around and everyone knew at least one kid who had to endure these. Patty likes stargazing, is enamored with the space program, and is into science fiction. It is while stargazing one night that she first comes across the Will O’ the Wisp.

I don’t want to put out too many spoilers, but the wisp has been targeting Patty’s family for generations. If she doesn’t figure something out soon her next stop is the local cemetery.

I think this is the best thing I’ve ever written and I would appreciate it if you’d check it out. There are two different versions published. I wanted to acknowledge that teenagers love their music. It’s a natural thing for them. I always have a couple of personal challenges in each story, and one was to learn about Copyright and obtain a license to quote some lyrics. I was moderately successful, but could only obtain the license for North America. Therefore; one link for the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The other link is for the rest of the world.

I tried my universal link thingie, and these links should take you to the proper store. If anyone has any problems, please let me know.

Northern American Continent link http://a-fwd.com/asin-com=B00UPH6BNS

Rest of the world link http://a-fwd.com/asin-com=B00UQNDT2C

My other challenge was to write something in first person point of view. I’ve never done it, and it was a fun experience. Of course I chose the POV of a fifteen year old girl. Why make it easy and use a grouchy old man? My rule was if Patty cannot see it, smell it, or read it, it didn’t get into the book. It was challenging, and you’ll have to let me know how I did.

I learned a new term last week, street team. Without knowing it, I used a street team to help with my promotions. A group of wonderful people agreed to read an advance copy and help me out. I won’t embarrass anyone by calling out names, but I am eternally grateful to these wonderful people. I also know that I’m getting honest reviews from these folks and they won’t cut me any slack if I made a mistake.

I’m also indebted to my street team, and if they ever need me on their team, I would be honored.

I still have a lot to do, including figuring out how to use the sidebar with two different links. I hope I don’t have to add the cover twice.

Remember, early sales really help, and the lending library is an option too. There is a link in my sidebar where you can get a free reading app if you need one.

Saturday writing, scheming, and musing

I thought my daughter was home this morning, so I spent my time reading blogs. I fully expected her to come talk to me any minute. Turns out she helped a girlfriend with her hair last night and stayed over there. I figured it all out when her car wasn’t out front.

I worked on a short story and finished it at 4569 words. This one involves Lisa Burton in a story tentatively named Bombshell Squad. I don’t love the name, and the story still needs a little something. Do short story writers work on draft after draft, because this is where I’m at with it? Part of writing about the robot girl is she needs to be more than human to come across well. I have to put my thinking cap on here and let it ferment. Still, it’s a fun story.

I’m not going to run these on my blog. I have it in mind to bundle them up with some Macabre Macaroni micro fiction and publish it.

I went back to my final (maybe, fingers crossed) pass through Will O’ the Wisp. It’s nearly ready, and re-reading it got me really excited. I have to send out some emails to the readers and make sure they are ready at launch time. Some have weighed in, some have not.

I also made contact with a blog tour company. I don’t have a lot of young adult contacts, and Wisp is a young adult novel. I don’t know whether to beg the blog world, or use a company to help me spread the word. My theory is this company has a broader reach than I do. Of course, I still have to write all the posts. Maybe I can do a bit of that this afternoon.

I jumped ahead with my critique group and sent them an important section of Wisp. I really want their input on this section, and won’t send them Wisp chapters after it’s published.

I also managed about three paragraphs in my current novel. I’m still chopping my way through the middle and had to abandon a scene that wasn’t working. I don’t feel any pressure here, and getting it right is more important than speed.

I’m also trying something new in my marketing approach. I’ve tried the Kindle Countdown and the free days. Every time, I moved a bunch of books, but with no real purpose or benefit that I can see. There have been a few folks who expressed interest in one story or another. I’ve been offering them copies via email. Maybe giving select copies away is more like casting bread upon the water. I haven’t asked anything in return, and don’t intend to. Maybe I can change my Karma somehow.

In other news, I began a regimen of pumpkin seeds (raw) and saw palmetto tablets. The pharmaceutical to reduce my prostate has some side effects that I’d rather avoid, and it is a treatment for life. Since prostate issues are slow going, I figure my next PSA blood test will let me know if these work. If they don’t, I can start medication at that time. In a perfect world it would all just go away, or there would be a one time treatment. Since that isn’t the case, I’m exploring all my options.

Questions for the day: Hit up the blogging world or hire a tour company? (This book is worth it.) Should I allow a gap of a few months and do both? Am I in the right ballpark for a short story word count? Would anyone like to read it and offer an opinion?