Thank you so much for the review of Date Shark, Vanessa!
Author: DelSheree
DelSheree Gladden was one of those shy, quiet kids who spent more time reading than talking. Literally. She didn't speak a single word for the first three months of preschool. Her fascination with reading led to many hours spent in the library and bookstores, and eventually to writing. She wrote her first novel when she was sixteen years old, but spent ten years rewriting it before having it published.
Native to New Mexico, DelSheree and her family spent several years in Colorado for college and work before moving back home to be near family. When not writing novels, you can find DelSheree reading, painting, sewing, and working with other authors.
DelSheree has several bestselling young adult series and has hit the USA Today Bestseller list twice as part of box sets. DelSheree also has contemporary romance, cozy mystery, and paranormal new adult series. Her writing is as varied as her reading interests.
Snow Day!!
This was actually from last week, but I still wanted to share our snow day fun.
The kids had a great time with their cousins trying to build snow forts out of the super powdery snow that didn’t really stick together at all. The walls only made it about a foot tall and the snowballs they tried to make didn’t really stick together, but they still had fun anyway.
The forts and snowballs may not have panned out exactly like the had hoped, but there were still plenty of snow angels, snow throwing, and running around despite the freezing cold!
Our puppy, Finn, had a good time romping around in the white stuff even though he didn’t really seem to know what the heck was going on. Poor little guy doesn’t have much to speak of as far as a winter coat goes, so it didn’t take too long before he was shivering to death and whining even though he wanted to keep playing.
I hope everyone is off to a great start in the new year. Here’s to lots of fun and good times this year!
Shrinks on Parade
Okay, I couldn’t resist the title, but it’s kind of true. All three male MCs in the Date Shark series books are psychiatrists. That’s how they all met, actually. These three became fast friends during their undergraduate classes, and then built their relationship to something pretty close to brothers during medical school and residency. They are there for each other no matter what, and in this series, they definitely need it.
So, let’s get to know them a little better…
Eli Walsh
The Date Shark concept was originally Eli’s baby. Okay, his obsession, really. It started out innocently enough with a few friends in college asking him for dating advice. That turned into a side business as a dating coach in between classes and exams, but it quickly became much more.
The smothering and harmful influence of Eli’s mother drives his desire to help the often unstable women who seek out his advice. Meeting Leila opens his eyes to the possibility of something more, but it means letting go of the Date Shark business.
While Guy isn’t a big player in this first book, Vance is the voice of reason behind Eli’s developing attraction to Leila. Not the Eli listens to him most of the time, but he’s there all the same.
Guy Saint Laurent
The last thing Guy wants to do is take over Eli’s business, but he’s not one to let down a friend who needs his help. A woman, though? Well, that’s another story entirely.
It isn’t commitment issues or a troubled past that keeps Guy’s relationships with women trivial. He bails as soon as things even hint at serious, not because he’s a jerk, but because he’d rather not lead a woman on when he has no intention of sticking around. He knows he’s hurt the women he dates, but until meeting Charlotte, he’s always rationalized away his behavior.
Charlotte needs his help, whether she’s ready to admit it or not, and even though his dating track record leaves something to be desired, Guy will never let a friend down. Vance and Eli are there to help and support their friend, but only Guy can decide whether Charlotte is worth the sacrifices staying with her will require.
Vance Sullivan
He’s been there for his friends when they’ve faced difficult decisions and emotional upheaval. That’s the role Vance is comfortable in. His work with patients who have experienced traumatic events role right into being the strongest leg of their mutual support system. When the tables are turned and suddenly Vance is the one in need of support, accepting it isn’t easy. In fact, it’s the last thing he wants to admit he needs. He’s the strong one, the one who’s life was supposed to be settled and perfect.
When everything comes crashing down around him, the only help he finds himself able to accept comes from the unlikely source of an ex-patient who’s barely holding things together herself. Natalie is desperate to rescue Vance from his grief, but letting her see his scars without causing her more pain than she’s already experienced won’t be an easy task.
All three of my Date Shark guys have their own style of running the business, dealing with life’s problems, and finding out where their strengths truly lie, but all three are will have you looking for your own Date Shark by the end of their stories.
Date Shark and Shark Out Of Water are already available, and the still untitled book three will be out sometime in 2015.
Date Shark (FREE)
Shark Out of Water
Runts and Writing
I’m one of those people who likes to do the things they don’t like first…except when it comes to cleaning bathrooms. I put that off as long as possible. It struck me, though, as I was eating some Runts, that you can’t really do that with writing. As I was picking out all the bananas and oranges to eat first because I like them the least but feel bad just throwing them away, I had the thought that most of my least favorite parts of writing and publishing can’t really be done first just to get them out of the way.
My two least favorite parts of writing are editing and marketing. Editing, I just don’t like because it’s time consuming and annoying and I can never remember how to use a comma properly in every situation. Marketing is just plain tough and time consuming and will totally eat up your whole day if you let it.
In a perfect world, I could just do both of those first, get them out of the way, and then move on to the fun parts. Writing. I can do it with food and chores, so why not writing? Admittedly, it’s tough to edit something you haven’t written, and even though you can start to market a book before it’s published, you still have to have something concrete to market and know how to do it right.
So, how important is having a plan and sticking to it when writing?
Important.
Here are a few thoughts to consider:
Marketing
The hardcore marketing will usually start once a publication date is finalized, but more general marketing needs to start 6-9 months pre-publication. How do you do that when you’re only on chapter 3?
Ask for input on social media.
- What do you think of these names for a (fill in the blank) type of character?
- Anyone live in ___________? What’s a great first date restaurant, unique location, bad area of town, etc.?
- Do you believe in ghosts/werewolves/demons?
Get them invested in the idea of your book before you ever even finish it. Make them a part of the writing process so they feel connected to it before they even read a single page. Just remember to include the title or working title in your posts.
Give readers sneak peeks.
Post a short excerpt. Tell readers what your character said or did that made you cry/laugh/stare at your computer screen in shock. Make some promo teasers like the one below with interesting quotes or taglines that readers can share.
The more you get readers involved in the pre-publication process, the more excited they’ll be to finally get their hands on a copy once it’s released.
Tours, Guest Posts, etc.
On a more technical note, you also need to be setting up tours, guest posts, events, etc. well before the day your book is going to come out. Most good tour companies are booked at least two months out. Plan ahead.
Writing
Sadly, there’s really no way to knock out the editing before you actually do the writing. So, how do you stay on schedule with your writing? Everyone is different, but here are a few ideas that have worked for me and author friends I know.
- Deadlines: whether this is a deadline for finishing the book, a chapter, or section, sit down and give yourself a reasonable time period to accomplish a set amount of work. Mark it on your calendar.
- Writing Groups: Make yourself accountable to someone else. Readers can be great at keeping you on track when they’re waiting for a new book, but a writing group that meets regularly and requires you to have something for the other members to critique can help you stay on track.
- Daily/Weekly Goals: whether this is a word count goal, set amount of time, plan a time that you will use just for writing. Your creativity often needs to be trained to come out and play at certain times.
- Bribery: Seriously, this works. Give yourself a reason to meet your goal. Chocolate? Shoes? A night out? Whatever motivates you, use it.
Sometimes we’re stuck dealing with the order things just have to be done in, but there are ways to make it work for you. I’d love to hear your ideas and suggestions for dealing with some of your least favorite parts of the writing/publishing process.
I don’t do resolutions
I’m not really a New Year’s Resolution kind of person.
I think about things I should probably do better at or start or finish, but I don’t set specific resolutions that I work toward throughout the year. Probably because I know I have the attention span of a gnat and the memory of a three month old puppy.
I write the same way I make resolutions. By the seat of my pants. It works for me. I like having a schedule, but not specific deadlines. I’m good at meeting deadlines. They stress me out, though. I’d rather have a goal than a deadline, which may sound like the same thing.
A goal implies having a plan to meet a certain objective. For me, a deadline is something unmovable that may or may not fit into the general mayhem of every day life. Sometimes, I do set deadlines for myself when something really needs to be done by a certain date, like with finishing Invincible, but most of the time I would rather set goals for when I’d like to have certain things done. If life gets in the way, I can always readjust.
So, what are my goals for 2015?
As far as writing goes, I do have a few things in mind.
New Books to Write
Wicked Revenge is on the writing slate this year, and will hopefully be finished and ready for publishing sometime this year. It will be the final book in the Someone Wicked series, so that series will be getting wrapped up. Yay!
I’m hoping to have time to start writing Oracle Lost, the third book in the Escaping Fate Series, but if I do finish it, it’ll probably be toward the end of the year, unless I get stuck on something else and jump into this one.
The third, and possibly final book in the Date Shark Series, still doesn’t have a name, but hopefully will by the time I finish it this year. This installment will focus on Vance. He’s been there to help his friends through difficult situations, but now he’ll be the one in need of help. I’ve had requests to write about Sabine, but if I do, it’ll probably be more in the novella category.
Books to Publish
The books above may or may not fall into this category as well. We’ll just have to see. On the schedule for sure, though, will be a couple of new romances and possibly a venture into the New Adult genre.
Torino Dreams will be popping up on ebook shelves this year, though I haven’t nailed down the date yet. This action packed romance may or may not be part of a series. I haven’t decided quite yet.
Memory’s Edge will be a two part series. I don’t have a for sure release date set yet for this one either. I may wait to release it until I have part two written so I don’t leave readers hanging for too long.
My nearly finished project, The Ghost Host, may or may not be on this depending on what I decide to do with it. I’m playing around with the idea of shopping it out to agents. I’m still undecided, though, so I’ll keep you all updated.
Projects that will take a while to finish
The one long distance project I’m working on is still under wraps since I’m still working out the concept and details, but it will be dystopian fiction, either YA or NA. It will deal with what really make us human and what takes us across the line of humanity into monsters. I’m really excited about this one, but it’s going to take me a while to get it just right.
Other than these projects who knows. I’m notorious for starting random new projects at the drop of a hat!
Connect with me online:
Facebook: AuthorDelShereeGladden
Twitter: @DelSheree
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Guys of Aerling Series
Meet the Guys of The Aerling Series.
Mason
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| Mason’s birthmark |
(I’ll leave it at Mason for those who haven’t read it yet. Don’t want to give too much away!)
For those who have yet to meet Mason, he’s got a few distinguishing features.
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| Mason’s silver eyes |
You might notice the interesting mark on his shoulder. It’s not a tattoo. What it means is a bit of a mystery until Robin comes stumbling into his and Olivia’s lives and turns everything upside down.
Notice anything unique about his eyes? If you’re around him long enough, you’ll not only be mesmerized by that odd silver ring, you’ll see how his emotions and power make it do some interesting things as well!
Lastly, if you meet Mason on the street, you won’t actually notice any of these things because, well, he’s invisible.
Hayden
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| Hayden |
You may have some conflicting feeling about Hayden when you first meet him. Trying to figure out whether he’s friend or foe is no easy task! What is easy to figure out about Hayden?
Deals with Hayden usually involve a running tab of basketball time. Does he care that you suck at basketball and can’t stand the game? No, not at all.
There’s pretty much nothing he won’t do for Olivia. And trust me, following Olivia’s lead can get a person into some pretty bizarre situations. Wear something that won’t show stains. Blood is tough to get out of clothes.
Trying to pull something over on Hayden won’t get you very far. You may not be able to figure out where his loyalties lie, but chances are he had you pegged the moment you met.
Shane and Conner
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| Shane (10 years old) |
You won’t meet these two cuties until book 2, but you won’t want to miss them. These two Aerling boys pretend to be polar opposites. We know the truth, though. Shane loves to cause trouble, cheat at games, and tease Molly relentlessly. Conner is the big brother to all of his foster siblings, and he takes that role seriously, especially when Sentinels are involved.
Either one of these boys will come through when you need them without a second
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| Conner (15 years old) |
thought, even if that means coming clean on a long held secret cheater tactic or going on the run and into hiding.
They’ll keep you laughing when the Sentinels aren’t knocking on your door, but when the chips are down, there’s nothing these two will back down from when it comes to protecting their family, friends, and world.
The Scarred Sentinel
(His name is being purposely withheld because…well, because spoilers suck!)
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| Scarred Sentinel |
What can you really know about a guy who attacks teenage girls in the middle of the night while walking across the basketball park, shows up at your house to diligently fix your dishwasher, or seems pretty much indestructible in a fight?
He may seem like a one-dimensional bad guy, but as the crew of the Aerling Series quickly realizes, very little is what it actually seems to be. Instead of spilling any secrets about this mystery man, I’ll just leave you with a question. If this guy is indestructible, where’d he get that scar?
Thanks for stopping by the meet the guys of the Aerling Series. If you’d like to get to know them a little better, I know just how to make that happen 😉 Book one is even FREE just ‘cause I know you’re all dying to get your hands on Mason and Hayden.
Invisible (FREE)
Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Smashwords : iBooks : Book Depository : Kobo
Intangible (#2)
Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Smashwords : iBooks : Book Depository : Kobo
Invincible (#3)
Kindle: http://amzn.to/1Gvw7Ke
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/invincible-delsheree-gladden/1120923627?ean=9781505529258
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/invincible/id952592971?mt=11
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/invincible-28
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/501425
Falling Flat or Finishing Strong
Ever feel like this guy when you’re trying to work out the ending to your book?
I agonize over the endings of my books, series endings especially. I’ve mentioned this before, but instead of just whining about it, I thought I’d share some insights I’ve learned and some tips from other authors.
Tips From Other Authors
KM Weiland offered up some great tips on her YouTube video. You can watch the full video for her whole discussion, but here are the highlights.
1. Wait until the resolution to tie up any loose ends. In other words, don’t interrupt the action to talk about Carlos’s shoe size or Betty’s grade on her science paper. 
2. Tie up loose ends BEFORE the climax. If you really need to let everyone know whether or not Skippy found his lost shoe, spit it out before Joe and Susie head off to fight the zombie horde.
3. Make the unfinished business exciting enough to be included in the climax. If Clara’s long lost aunt is going to drop back into the picture, she better have something to do with the solving the mystery or winning the fight or it’ll just be a distraction that pulls readers out of the story.
Brian Klems offered up some great writing tips in his Writer’s Digest article, but here’s what relates to finishing a book:
1. The hero should be the catalyst. No one wants to invest time and energy in a character only to see someone else step in at 
the end of the MC’s story and save the day. What was the point of that character going through everything they did if they don’t do anything in the end?
2. The hero should grow internally. What does this means? Basically, the problems the hero faced or struggled with in the beginning need to be resolved in the end and be part of the reason he’s able to triumph at the climax. If you’re dealing with a series, maybe the growth is incomplete, but there should be growth all the same.
3. A new and better hero should emerge. The MC needs to have earned the right to be called a hero by the end of the story. If they don’t demonstrate that they can do something the others characters can’t (and we’re not just talking supernatural abilities), why is he or she able to save the day over any other Joe-schmoe in the book?
What I’ve Learned
The ending can make or break a book. I’ve been disappointed too many times for it not to effect the way I write. I’m slightly obsessed with making sure my books don’t peter out in the last few chapters because, as a reader, I hate that! Here are a few of my own tips to avoid writing that ending that makes your readers cringe.
1. Complete your character arc. What was it in the beginning of the book that your character struggled with the most, that defined who he or she was and why they felt like they couldn’t meet their goals? Have you resolved it by the end of the book? I’m not talking situational problems. This needs to be deeper emotional wounds that have held your character back. Have they overcome some part of what’s been holding them back? If not, take note of what those wounds are and how they need to be fixed in your final chapters. 
2. Answer the freaking question! Okay, this makes me think of “Lost” and how confused and irritated I was when they wrapped up the sixth season and 90% of the hints and mysteries were completely abandoned. If you bring up a challenge, hint, clue, noticeable item, etc. and then never mention it again, readers are going to be left saying, “What about…?” And that’s annoying. Either get rid of those plot points that never panned out, or make sure they’re followed up on.
3. Redemption and justice are musts. Unless you want to end things ambiguously on purpose, take a look at the major players in your book and make some tough decisions about what they really deserve. Does your bad guy need to die, or will he find redemption? Is your MC going to save the day or meet with spectacular failure because of his less than stellar choices? If your readers don’t feel like everyone got what they deserved, even if it wasn’t the ending they saw coming or wanted, the ending will feel incomplete and leave them at odds when they set the book down.
Crafting the perfect ending can make you want to tear your hair out. Maybe it will never be perfect, but hopefully some of these tips will help you write a complete ending that will hold readers’ attention and leave them feeling satisfied and ready to go grab the next book!
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Facebook: AuthorDelShereeGladden
Twitter: @DelSheree
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Kids and Dogs and Clorox Wipes
Honestly, I don’t know who we’re trying harder to train, our puppy or our kids.
I get that Finn is barely three months old, and while I don’t know specifically what that compares to in a human child as far as intelligence goes, but he’s a baby still. He doesn’t seem to realize that the tail he keeps trying to bite the heck out of is attached to his body. Potty training and “no biting” is going to take time.
My kids, however, are eight and eleven. They should understand that they can’t leave their shoes on the floor to get eaten and actually have to keep an eye on the puppy and remember to let him out to pee when they’re watching him. Instead, shoes get gnawed on, floors get peed on, and Finn ends up trying to eat whatever toys get left on the floor. 
We’ve gone through a lot of puppy treats and Clorox wipes over the last few weeks. I wish offering my kids treats to get them to remember to help train the dog was as effective as it is with Finn. Instead, I’m considering putting them in obedience classes along with Finn. I wonder if they would give the kids dog biscuits or M&Ms? Actually my daughter would probably be okay with getting dog biscuits for rewards. She keeps asking if she can try on to see what they taste like.
So, while I search for a kid/dog training program along with the number for a good carpet cleaning company, give me your suggestions for training not only puppies, but kids as well.
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Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!!
Today’s the day! The journey to share Mason and Olivia’s story started over a year ago, but it’s finally come to an end. The final installment of The Aerling Series arrives today!
All those who pre-ordered INVINCIBLE got first crack at this book, and I’m willing to bet at least a few of them are already close to finishing. For everyone else, you can now grab a copy of Invincible and have it downloaded to you Kindle or phone or PC within seconds.
So, if you’re dying to know whether or not Olivia and Mason get to stay together and who wins the war…head over to your favorite ebook or paperback platform and put in your order. Books make excellent Christmas gifts, too. 😉 You’ve still got a little time, before tomorrow to grab a copy for your Aerling fan!
And don’t forget to let me know what you think! Reviews are always appreciated 🙂
Buy Your Copy of Intangible Here:
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Holiday Writing…or Not Writing: Choosing a Genre
With the holidays approaching, I’ve been seeing loads of posts and promos for Christmas books. I was even a part of one promo for #ChickLit4Xmas, which was lots of fun. I’ve never been particularly into reading Christmas themed stories. I have nothing against them. I’ve simply never been drawn to them.
As I’ve been seeing all the holiday books being promoted, I realized I’ve never even written a single Christmas scene is any of my books. At least I don’t think so. It’s been a while since I’ve reread some of my early books. I’m pretty sure all I have are some birthday parties and a brief mention of Christmas in Shark Out Of Water.
One might start to think I have an aversion to writing holiday scenes. It’s kind of funny actually. I really don’t know why I haven’t written a holiday scene before, but it got me thinking. How do writers choose what genre they’re going to write? Obviously, I can’t speak for all authors, and I didn’t think about this early enough to take a poll, but here’s why I write what I write along with a few tips on how to choose your genre.
I write in several genres and subgenres ranging from YA paranormal/sci-fi/dystopian/urban fantasy, to straight up romance, to new adult (a rather new venture), to some unpublished projects that are just plain YA drama no otherworldly twists and turns at all. So what genre for what story?
Basically, the way I decide how to choose a genre depends on three things.
1: What is the main conflict of the story?
Is it personal or situational? Personal implies a lot more internal struggles while situational may be more event-driven. Figuring out what you want the driving force behind the conflict to be can be a challenge, but this question helps you narrow down whether you’re going to be thinking along the lines of faster paced/question driven writing or deeper emotional trials that won’t need bam-bam-bam events to pull the reader through the story.
2. What type of stumbling blocks will your characters face?
This question in particular helps me chose the age range of my characters. With YA, parents are an issue, as are friends (more so than in other genres usually), limits on what they can and can’t do, firsts (big decisions, relationships, sex, drugs, alcohol, etc.), and self-discovery.
With New Adult, some of the YA issues still apply, but you add in facing the grownup world with jobs, bills, being on their own, dealing with consequences without parental backup, failure, and so much more. There’s more freedom for the characters in some ways, but a new set of responsibilities can limit them as well.
With fiction for adults, you’re facing day-to-day life with work and family, dealing with past mistakes, reality of the life they’ve chosen/ended up with, wanting more or something different, having to grow up and actually be an adult, serious relationship issues, etc. Asking yourself these question can help point you in the right direction for ages of your characters, which will help you narrow down your genre choices.
3. To paranormal or not to paranormal?
Maybe this isn’t a question every writer asks, but I do. So far, all of my published YA books have some sort of paranormal/sci-fi/urban fantasy element, but I have other projects, finished and unfinished, that just didn’t work as anything but straight drama. Why? Because the source of their main problems are real problems, not imaginary ones. My adult romance series, Date Shark Series, doesn’t have a single ghost, demon, curse, or magic power anywhere. I wanted to focus on actual relationship problems we’ve all faced at one point or another and I didn’t need anything outside reality to do that.
Figuring out the driving force behind your conflict will help you decide whether or not your story needs something paranormal.
So, these are the questions I ask myself when I start a new project. Sometimes I already have these worked out when the idea hits me, but sometimes I don’t. If you’re uncertain about what direction to take your story, try asking yourself these questions. If you have questions you ask yourself to help you decide, I’d love to hear them!
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