Greed (Sins of the Fallen Series) Book Review

I believe in Authors helping Authors.
I have been privileged to review Greed book 2 in the Sins of the Fallen series by Karina Espinosa for YAReads Blog Tours!

 


“Maximillion can never return to the normal life he once had—not now that he’s Wrath—one of the seven Nephilim. After the failed battle with Abbadon and his demons, the death of a loved one, and the betrayal of the person he trusted the most—Max was forced to go into hiding. But not before devising a plan to look for answers: to search for the other Nephilim.

Max and his best friend/guardian angel, Jones are on the run for a month before their first clue leads them to Sin City, Las Vegas to find the Nephilim of Greed. But Nikolai’s reluctance to help and fear of an unknown force leaves Max with more questions than answers.

Will he discover who is hunting the Nephilim? And if he does, can he overcome the forces of evil against them?

Find out in the sequel to Sins of the Fallen, where Karina Espinosa pulls readers back to the saga unfolding in the world of angels and demons—a world where everything falls part.”

Greed picks up right after the end of Sins of the Fallen, with the lead character Max and his buddy guardian angel Jones on the run after tragedy has stuck. If you have not read the first book I will just sum it up with Max discovers he is the Nephilim Wrath with a very special power that makes him a wanted boy by the angels who are not so surprisingly angelic to fulfill a prophecy.

So back to Greed. In Greed Max and his guardian are on the run after a major event that ended in Sins of the Fallen. Max is also going through some major changes that brings them to discovering other Nephilim, namely the Nephilim Greed. They decide to go find him in hopes for answers. What they get is attacked by Abbadon and his demons, which leads to an unsteady alliance with Greed. Can they really trust him though?


My Thoughts

Greed is as ever as engrossing as the first book. Just as I say to myself, “After this chapter I am going to bed.” I find myself reading one more chapter. Espinosa takes you on an engrossing trip with characters that are fun, witty, and make you feel for them. The only down side I would say is that it was not a challenging read. With it being only 274 pages long I read the book rather quickly. It ended too soon.

For more info visit and to purchase:

Amazon U.S:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MADJQH8 U.K.:http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MADJQH8?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
Also check out the first book Sins of the Fallen!

http://www.amazon.com/Sins-Fallen-Karina-Espinosa-ebook/dp/B00I214NZ2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408066099&sr=8-2&keywords=Sins+of+Fallen


　

Is There Such Thing as Too Much Editing?

I am starting to wonder if there is such a thing as TOO MUCH EDITING.

It seems editing is never ending process. Also I think the more you edit the more you can screw up some how. Maybe it's me personally. Isn't editing suppose to HELP!

Maybe the rule is that you should never edit past your bed time? 

Never edit while holding a baby on your lap?

Never edit while you have twins who still don't sleep through the night?

 You know I was so happy to here from a friend of mine who posted my book on her Facebook page that one of her friends picked up a copy of my book on Kindle. The person then said they notices some errors couple pages in. I apparently was forgive because this was my first book. It still crushed me because I edited the death out of my book!

 I then realized well maybe I over edited. Is it possible to over edit?

 I did spend many nights up way past my normal bedtime to get the book done on my scheduled release date(which was October 31st.). I even postponed the original release date (September). Surprisingly people  actually were starting ask where is the book they thought it was coming out in September and they had not seen it yet.I was sleep deprived a bit, and  I am a single mom of 9 month old twins plus an 8 year old. So trying to edit while taking care of cherub children was a task. In trying to correct mistakes I was making mistakes as well.

For example the typo that the person pointed out. Oh yes I remembered that. I HAD meant to correct that, but forgot where it was. That is what I get for editing  from backwards to forwards. By the time I got to the beginning I forgot what needed fixing. Real smart of me, but forgivable considering I never get a full nights sleep whether I am editing or not. I am not bitter at my babies who still wont sleep completely through the night, no no...well maybe a little but it's due to sleep deprivation,  and hormones.

 I corrected everything in the Kindle version, but I can not change what is in print. Though its print on demand why can't I? People and their limitations pissh! Also Why did I not run spell check HELLO! I had myself editing, and a English degree graduate editing.Why did I need spell check? DUH! Then you had my eyes again on it checking the English degree graduate editing as well. Which was good, but I had to tweak here and tweak there so description or dialogue. I over tweaked maybe that was my issue. Add to that I also was nervous for I was self publishing my book! This was not an instant choice for me. I thought long and hard on this choice. I did research on the benefits of both self publishing and traditional publishing. I then looked at the style and topic of my book. Which direction of publishing did it fit? I mean why not millions of people do it.

So is there such thing as too much editing?

Check out Janny C book Here!

The Pleasure and Pain of Writing

I have done it! I finally have published my labor of love book Angelic Confessions!

It is all surreal and only fellow writers probably can understand the tumble of emotions that are flowing through me right now. Millions of people self publish books every day so it no big thing right?

Well for us writers, and me especially this is a BIG deal. The biggest thing in my life. It has been the most pleasurable thing in my life, and the most painfully joyful thing in my life.
 I will tell you why.


When I decided to write my mom was amazingly behind me. In truth  she liked it would keep me at home, which gave me more time to take care of her. She even offered to be my editor after I had managed to take a writing course at our local college. We all had to bring a sample of our work. I brought my sample of "Angelic Confessions" which was called "Sacred Angels" at that time. It was planned on being a comic book actually. After I read my sample the teacher goes "You know what your doing don't you?"
I was all "Yeah I guess." But I had studied the art of comic book script writing I was not aimlessly writing.

After class I told my mom  this. I think it made her curious in what was in her daughters imagination.

I was hesitant though for my writing was the window to my soul. My writing is where I laid naked, and everything was bare. Did I want my mom to see my soul? See my joy, my pain, my pleasure? In the end I let my mom be my editor to which she became my biggest fan, and supporter. When my mom passed away I did not think I could ever write again. I then thanks to a friend who was starting on writing her own book reminded me of myself and my love and passion I had for writing.  And she would of never thought of attempting writing if it wasn't for me. I amazingly inspired others to write themselves!

Now finally the book is done and it is a bittersweet moment. I wondered is my mom looking down on me. Is she proud? I'd like to think so. 

Inside Guide to Self Publishing

Thinking about self publishing? Here is an exclusive look as one author goes through the self publishing process.


My Self Publishing Walk-Through


Step 1. Make Sure Self Publishing is Right For You- I did not choose self publishing lightly. I researched options from traditional to vanity publishing with self publishing being in the middle. Being now that I recently gave birth to twins, and have one older child as well I really do not have time to research publishing houses, and writing agents. Research you say? Yes research. You do not just pick a agent, or publishing house then say take a look at my book please. You have review each agent, each publishing house to make sure your genre of book will fit them. That at least heightens your chance of acceptance a little better. Another reason why self publishing seems to be right for me is that my book is different. It falls in the paranormal romance genre but the PG-13 version if you will. Last reason is why not self publish? Others have done it. Why not take the chance on myself. To tell the truth I am completely terrified to do this.

Step 2. Choose the Right Self Publisher for you- Self publishing is a grow trend so there some so called self publishing sites that are actually vanity publishing company's claiming to be self publishing. Self publishing should let you do all the work yourself, but then offer you professional help as a cost if you so choose. Not pay me such and such amount and I will publish your book that is vanity publishing. Some good ones are Lulu.com and Create-a-space. I started to on Lulu but I just did not like the feel of the site. I then started to look into Create-a-space and I liked their process much better. 

Step 3. Edit Your Book or Hire Someone-  I had let my book sit for awhile as I contemplated self publishing vs traditional publishing.When I decided self publishing I knew I must edit myself unless I had the Benjamin$ to hire an editing service. If you do self edit do not just edit once, but twice, even 3 times. Let your book set for couple days between edits though so you get a fresh eyes on it every time. And let me tell you, you will probably find a mistake every time you look at it. Just keep on editing it till you find nothing left. You can then estimate you book is 99% error free.

Step 4. Start Marketing!- As of right now I have the interior of the book formatted for publishing. I next need to make a cover. I have paused right now to start marketing even though my book is not ready for sale yet. My book already has a website and follower so I updated my site and my follower.  I Twittered about it, Linkedin about it, made a book trailer. I even created a Facebook page for it!

Step 5. Well that is yet to come as I continue on my self publishing journey. Write On!

The Finicky Writer

Are you a Finicky Writer? I think I am a Finicky Writer. It seems to of taken forever to get my book Angelic Confessions to be just right. It first started out to be a comic book and was written in script form. Then it changed over to be an actual book. I did self publish the story under another name and even had two people buy a copy. Problem was the book was horribly filled with grammar issues. I had an editor, but I did not edit the editor. Everyone knows that even after the editor edits you are to go over the proofs once again making sure everything is as perfect as it can get. It was a learning experience let me tell you that.

I took it off the market and totally re vamped the book. I then thought I was done and tried to market it again. I was happy no one really took a bite because I was still unhappy with it. I had let it rest a bit then decided to check it over for some reason. I discovered again I was not happy with the book. It went through the editing board again, then again.  I am like what is going on! Will I ever be happy with this book? Will it every see the light of day?

Is this a common trait among writers? Are writers finicky people? I think they are especially of their own work. I mean each book, or article we write is filled with our love, our passion, our pain, blood, sweat, and tears! Yes everything even if we are writing an article on adult diapers, or how to screw in a light bulb we are putting passion in that article baby! Well as least I do. If you are a writer you should for otherwise why are you writing in the first place?  This is not a prestigious position. I am probably better off working at McDonald's for crying out loud. Especially if you did not get a chance to go to college. I self taught myself everything I know about writing and the publishing world. Add in thee blessings of encountering a couple of amazing writers who mentored me ( Rebbecca E. Check out her blog on being a writer it is awesome!). To make it I had prove my chops the hard way by my actual words. When I am hired I am not hired due to a prestigious degree. I am hired by my words, and the words of others who enjoyed what I wrote. To me that is a true testament that I am a writer. For there are many times I doubt myself. I wonder what the hell am I doing. I do not write for fame. I write to entertain, to make you think, to make you smile, to make you laugh, to make you sad. I write uniquely in way many do not understand. Not my best move, but I can only be true to me and there are people that want unique so I stay alive. I'm alive to write.

So ask yourself are YOU a Finicky Writer?

Writing a Dream (A ponder)

After all my struggles and accomplishments I still wonder is my idea of being a writer, my idea of writing just a dream. Being a writer is not an easy path. Is not a glamorous career really. I never got a chance to go to college to be taught from a professor. All my writing know how came from my teaching myself and learning the hard way from experience.

This does not seem so odd of my of course. I never in my life choose the easy path so why should my choice in a job be any different. Being struck with chronic back pain which took 4 years to diagnosis sort of set me up for this writing dream as well. Writing was all I could do. I have come a long way now having my own little writing website and writing for clients from all over the world.  Still I wonder if this idea of being a writer is a dream. It seems to the world around me I am still a fool not matter how much I have accomplished. Is writing a dream still should I just give up?

Query Away!

Lack of Internet in my home has kind of put a damper on my publishing goal. I work now from the local coffee shop, and work always comes first. So hunting for the right publishers and agents was always on hold. Remember folks you just do not want to go with any publisher or agent. It sometimes take a long and tedious process to find that one publisher, or agent that you think your book is fit for, at least it should do this.

I finally have gotten a break though! I have now just sent a query off to Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. I also reworked my query letter, and my synopsis of the book. I got a good feeling I presented myself and the book a lot better than I did in the past. I always look back at my unsuccessful attempts to find out that I did wrong in my presentation that might of turned them off. So those rejections,or no replies I get are very helpful in learning how to properly write a query letter. They also can help you in how to write a proper book synopsis too that will grab a Publishers or Agents attention. So the Query is away!!! Wish me luck!

Wow I Got Fans!

When I started on this writing journey I never did expect to get famous. I didnt want to be either. I wanted to be a writer for my job, my career. I wanted to write because this is my love my passion. I never expected to be well known, or a Pulitzer Prize winner or to even be in the New York Best Sellers list. That was not why I decided to write. I write because I love it. I write because maybe I have stories to share, and knowledge hidden inside me to pass on. One thing you got to know though is if you DO become a writer It can happen.

I have fans!

This is still a bit strange to me. I do randomly get emails, and comments from people who have read my articles and enjoyed my work. I have even gotten a comments on my beloved Angelic Confessions novella about how they love the story, it hooked then, they can't wait for it to come out. I of recent got another one of those emails. I then got a request that someone wanted me to write a script for them. Then another request if I could ghost write a novel for them. I had young writers who read an article I shared in writing and they wanted MY OPINION on a story they were writing with a friend. WHOA! I am just a lowly writer here if they only knew how hard this is and my paycheck really does not pay all the bills here. I'm not a success really so how can I accept this praise or give advice? Sure I have my own writing business, and I get paid to write. I still haven't found a publisher for my novella though I have come so close so many times. Starting to wonder if I ever will. The subject matter is a bit risque, so I guess probably no agent or publisher would want to take a risk except for Dorrance Publishing who keeps hassling me to publish with them or their sister company Rose Dog. Of course I would PAY them to publish my book so why not hassle me to publish with them. Some days I want to throw in the towel. Then I get emails from my fans, supporters, fellow young writers. This is why I continue on. Not only do I write for me I write for others more so. I write to inform them, entertain them, tomake them laugh, make them THINK! So to my fans, friends, supporters thank you. I love this business I love the written word! I can't leave it not not ever it has my heart and soul. WRITE ON ALL!

The Internet is a Writer's Lifeline

I have realized the internet is this writers lifeline. No internet means no job. No job means no income. So I have realized the vital importance that the internet and computers have taken shape in my life. Was being a writer the best career path now when it can all go to hell in a hand basket so easily with just the simplest technical glitch? How do I raise a family on such a precarious slope as the life of a freelance writer? What happens if something happens to my computer or internet? Well That happened of recent. Over the holiday season I lost my phone which then meant no internet due to I had dial up Internet. How was I going to work? Maybe I should of just given up on this writing dream. I had come so far though to destroy all my hard work to get to this point....I was not giving up, and apparently the universe did not want me to give up either. Out of frustration I decided one night to check what wireless connections I could get. Suddenly a wireless signal popped up that was named HeaVen. I clicked it on and I was instantly connected to the Internet. I was stunned to say the least, I mean could this really be? The connection is fleeting, and I never know when I'm going to get a signal, but it's been pretty steady to where I can get on it at least once a day. So I made the daring announcement I was back in business to my clients. I had contacted them earlier stating my peril and if they wanted to go with another writer by all means I did not know when Id be back in business. Amazingly they stuck with me saying they would wait. This week was my first week back to work and while again my connection was not steady or secure I still managed to complete my order and deliver on the deadline date.

Writing is meant to be...writing is me. Never give up when you know that you can do it, that it is possible and not just a dream.

Write on!

Writing is this a Job or a Hobby?

A writers life should never be like this. I do not think other writers' lives are like this...well maybe JK Rowling is the closest author I know who had a life like mine. I'm an infamous single mom trying to get her little novella published and be a freelance writer to boot. I currently have my own little writing business called JannyCWriter Freelance Writing Services. It has gone good so good in fact I had to give my clients the option of cancelling their order because I could not possibly fill all these orders on time. Sounds good right? Then why is everything so wrong? It raises the questions in my mind is writing more of a hobby? Can it possibly be a job or a career? I am a freelance writer, I write and people pay me, is that not a job? Or is it just a hobby that happens to pay?

Can You Succeed on Writing Alone? I'm Trying to Find Out

When you say you want to become a writer and they say do not quit your day job they were not kidding. I did not quit my day job though I got laid off with 2 other fellow employees. I got let go due to my declining health situation. I decided I was going to give writing a try again. I have previously dabbled in the writing/publishing biz before. It had been long time as well, so I had to start at the bottom and work my way back up. I had unemployment so I had time to build and work myself back up, to really give this a shot. Well things never work out as you planned do they? When you need the strength and support of your only family, and they turn their backs on you . When they ridicule all that you strive and work hard for as nothing but fodder. Sometime you wonder is this really worth it. Is writing really a job? Or is this just some little paying hobby.

Writing For Life

I take time out of my busy schedule to share the latest happenings for Janny in Publishingland.

Sadly negotiations with My Authors publishing failed so Angelic Confessions is once again on the market and looking for a home. The good news is I got statistic and reviews to wow the Publishers and Agents off their feet(I got to be confident for who else will be!). I put up Angelic Confession for a trial run to see if this book had a market value. Will people like this book? This is what Publisher and Agents want to know if your book has a market and an audience. After putting Angelic Confession up for a trial run online on textnovel.com I found out it does. People liked this book. I got emails from people stating how much they liked it, how they were hooked and could not wait to read more. So with these statistics under my belt I at least have a something to show the Agents and Publishers that this book has potential.

More Than a Writer

So you want to be a writer they say. Well they never said it was going to be easy. I am a writer yes, but I am also a mother and a women. Balancing writing and being a mom can be pretty difficult at times. The pay sucks and I'm deep in debt. Yet I love every minute of it. I write therefore I am. All other jobs I have had fall to the waste side. No wonder I lost all those past jobs they were not for me. This job right here being a freelance writer, a ghost writer and author, this is the job for me. I am good too otherwise I would not of gotten this far. I write for love and I write for money for I have made this my career. I write and give my clients the best. I am about quality not quantity though I can write pretty fast if thing go smoothly. Like say my Internet decided to kick me offline every 2 seconds making work hard to get done. I digress though.

Writing Against The World

It feels sometimes like I am writing against the world. Everything I have learned I have learned from teaching myself. My life has never allowed the luxury of college no matter how many times I tried to enter It just never worked out. I needed support and I never got it. It was like no one wanted me to better myself for perhaps I would rise above them and be better and not need them. No matter how many times I tried to crush my dream and love of writing the fire never would go out. Writing was never a hobby and little thing I dabbled in. Writing was my passion, love. No one understands it unless you are a writer yourself. You will never make a career of it either unless you drink, eat and sleep it.

Self Teaching

The fall college course catalog came in the mail today and I saw they offered some writing courses. I looked them over for I am always interested in learning and growing in my writing. What I learned though is I already knew the lessons they were offering. If these professional writers and professor were teaching about the love of writing, writing for money, writing with passion and purpose I then am wasting my 95 dollars for I have learned all that and sadly not by a professor of English in a comfy air conditioned classroom. I learned it through living it. I learned that if you do not love writing you will not get anywhere. To succeed a writer needs passion and drive and dedication, and they need to be a bit business savvy too for one thing I learned this is a business and its a serious one.

Why I write

The infamous question some Authors get asked. Some day I wonder why I write for its nothing but pain and sorrow. Once I crossed the line into becomes a writer there was no going back for me. It was like a destiny I could never escape. This is my path this is my purpose. To write and share, enlighten, entertain others with my words. While I am a freelance writer now and I do get paid for my work it still is not about the money. I write still even when I'm not getting money for it. Writing is my love and my job. Now how many can say that they love their job now?

Days of Writer Worth It?

These are troubled times and I wonder if the life of a writer is worth it. I wonder how many writers ended their lives due to the struggle. I really feel like I am a ghetto writer. I did not get the chance to go to school and major and have all these credentials that other writers seem to have to make them look good. I have learned all I have on my own by self teaching and just learning by doing. But looking outside myself I have come such a long way why should I just give it all up? I have a job title of independent freelance writer. Writing is my job and I get paid a bit to do it. While it's not much its something and I am quite proud of that. I have my articles published online and people that enjoy what I write and follow me. So I cannot be all that bad of a writer and I accomplished all that by myself and through hard work.

Some Days Do You Want to Quit?

Some days as a writer I want to quit. I wonder why I am kidding myself. I knew the odds going in and I swore to defeat them. While I have overcome some odds I have not overcome them all. Life also seems to always creep inside the career and I can not separate my job from my family and the people I was born into. All I have left is my writing so I can never stop. I can never stop because I need to know what is at the end of this story. My journey in being a writer is like a story in itself. I want to see how it ends. I just feel something glorious is at the end. Another reason why I just can not stop.