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About Megan O'Russell
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Blog postIt's book release day for Heart of Smoke: The Complete Collection!
Heart of Smoke: The Complete Collection One will betray her. One will save her. One will destroy her world.
The Princess Trials meets The Hunger Games in this new paranormal dystopia.
Do the work, steal the goods, keep her sister alive―a simple plan Lanni has been clinging to. With the city burning around her and vampires hiding in the shadows, making it until morning is the best she can hope for.
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Blog postWhether you are writing a book, writing a personal essay, or even just crafting an email, people have some common pitfalls when writing. These mistakes can be avoided by having a clear idea of the purpose and message of your work. The following are some common mistakes people make when writing books.
Not Knowing Your Audience
People should know their audience and what they expect when they write. It is easy to get caught up in the moment of writing and forget that everyone wil -
Blog postRumination is the process of rethinking something traumatic more than is necessary. It's not something that most people do intentionally, but it happens if they don't have a strategy in place. The following are four tips you can use if you ever find yourself ruminating over something from your past:
Realize That You're in Control
Though you can't control which thoughts enter your mind, you can control which ones you entertain. Think of a traumatic event as a negative "ent -
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Blog postYou were born into a world of magic, but suddenly it all disappeared.
Every magician in the world lost their powers in one terrible moment.
What would you do to get your magic back?
How much would you sacrifice to make things right?
How close to darkness would you be willing to stray?
Those were the questions I had to answer when building the character of Jerek Holden in The Cursebound Thief.
At seventeen, he's already lost his family and his mag -
Blog postIt's book release day for Ash of Ages! The Heart of Smoke series is now complete!
Ash of Ages (Heart of Smoke, Book Four) One choice will change the world.
The Incorporation promised its people safety as they waited out the apocalypse. The Incorporation lied.
With the torment of Project Progeny wreaking havoc inside the domes, a single chance for freedom offers Lanni more hope than she’d dared to dream of. A life outside the glass without the threat of starvation or vi -
Blog postSneak peek time!
The Cursebound Thief is perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Heist Society, and I am thrilled to share the first chapter with you!
Before
Ari,
You are hereby invited to a heist of the highest order. Danger, deception, and the salvation of the feu are promised to those who commit to attendance.
Please R.S.V.P. at your earliest convenience,
Jerek
Jerek,
Sounds thrilling. Who could say no to a party that delivers sa -
Blog postIt's book release day for Eye of Stone!
Paradise is a prison.
After a lifetime spent imagining the safety inside the domes, the terrible truth has become impossible for Lanni to deny. The kep are willing to sacrifice their own to achieve the future the Incorporation demands. And Lanni’s turn for torment is coming.
With time running out, Lanni’s only hope of escaping the domes’ cruelty is to trust an ally she’s never met. But danger is gathering beyond the glass. The on -
Blog postIt's book release day for Myth and Storm!
A failed rebellion will cost more than blood.
Ice, storms, sorcery, and pain separate the Karrons from those they hold most dear. With his family scattered across the farthest reaches of Ilbrea, Adrial stands alone in a capital on the brink of flames, facing the dark truth of the Guilds he cherished.
Murder disguised as law. Assassins veiled by beauty. Innocents sacrificed to vile pride. A deadly plot to twist the fate of a kin -
Blog postSometimes, life puts you on vocal rest and makes you consider alternative solutions.
On this episode of A Book and a Dream, Megan's husband Chris is flying solo. Tune in to hear what a day in the life of a writer's spouse is like and how Chris contributes to the business.
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Blog postBuild a world. Insert characters. Add drama. Find resolution.
That's my job as an author. Sure, there are some other, more complex points, like eliciting an emotional response from readers and helping them to see our world in a different way.
But basically, it's just―Build a world. Insert characters. Add drama. Find resolution. All while using a lot of words.
One of the most interesting things I've noticed while repeating this process so many times is how often little -
Blog postHow many names does it take to build a world?
In this episode of A Book and a Dream, Megan digs into how big a world Ilbrea has become and how the expansive nature of the Ena of Ilbrea series impacts the creation of the upcoming Ilbrean audiobooks.
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Blog postFinding the balance between ambition and quality of life has never been my strong suit. I'm the type who pushes as hard as humanly possible until they collapse into a pile of useless goo and have to recover for a week before they can function.
Not the best way to work, I know.
But my body has been asking me to consider my choices more carefully, and the pandemic taught me to place a higher value on my time. When you're working until you break, it's hard to see beyond the mount -
Blog post2020 taught us never to get cocky in our plans. 2021 seems determined to reinforce this lesson.
In today's episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan digs through her plans for 2021, exposing some...mistakes, and some awesome achievements (can you say more audio?) Great things happen when you learn to accept the gifts the world smashes into your face.
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Blog postBeing an author is an amazing job. I get to create worlds and characters. I get to tell stories that will whisk my readers away. I could work in a cave with my computer as the only light source.
I never thought the ability to work while hiding in a cave would be the biggest selling point.
Fun fact: I was diagnosed with lupus twelve years ago. Not so fun fact: apparently I'm now light intolerant. And not just sunlight. Fluorescent light.
You know...the kind of lights th -
Blog postHiring a narrator for an audiobook means turning over control of your characters. From how your protagonist is portrayed to how that laugh line lands, your audiobook listeners' journey through your story will be dictated by your narrator's performance.
In the case of Ena of Ilbrea, her journey through a society that holds onto negative stereotypes of strong women could end in triumph or disaster depending on how the narrator depicts her battle against the Guilds.
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Blog postThe twenty necessary steps to surviving the editing hole:
1) Make sure you have enough food in the house to last you at least a week.
2) Make sure your food ordering apps are up to date.
3) Make sure you have enough coffee to make it to Mars.
4) Set reminders in your phone so you know when to shower.
5) Are you really sure you have enough coffee?
6) Set achievable daily goals.
7) Tear the goals up when you realize you were delusional. -
Blog postHow many words does it take to complete a character arc with integrity while contributing to the greater narrative? How many miles can a rowboat travel along a coast in one day? How much backstory will your readers need, when do they need it, and what's the most efficient and entertaining way to offer that world building?
All of these questions become monumentally important when orchestrating an epic fantasy narrative.
On this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell -
Blog postPlanning on making that move through the wardrobe a permanent one? Here's a helpful list of questions to ask before deciding to apply for citizenship in a new fantasy world.
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Blog postIt's book release day for Soul of Glass!
Safety demands sacrifice.
Torn from the only life she’s ever known and thrown into paradise, Lanni has fulfilled the plan of the father she’s never met. No more danger. No more blood. All she has to do is live as a normal teenage girl, protected from the end of the world by the might of the Incorporation.
But the shadows that stalk her have found their way inside the glass.
Assassinations and sabotage have shattered the -
Blog postIt's release day for Soul of Glass, book two in the Heart of Smoke series!
In today's episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan shares the top four reasons you'll want to escape into this paranormal dystopian with chemically induced vampires...as if chemically induced vampires weren't enough of a reason.
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Blog postDid you know the love interest dies on page 235?
Did you want to know long before you hit the tragedy that destroyed the hero's heart?
Whether you like to know the trauma ahead or want to be surprised as you turn the page, spoilers can ruin or (allegedly) improve the reader's experience.
Dive into the pros and cons of knowing the plot twist in advance in this week's episode of A Book and A Dream.
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Blog postI love the feeling of deciding to just dive into what you want while blithely ignoring the consequences.
It can sometimes be a horrible idea, but the diving part is super fun.
For a long time, I've wanted to really, truly, with bleach treatment and all, dye my hair blue. From a logical standpoint, it makes no sense. Blue hair is a pain to maintain. Blue hair isn't ideal for musical theatre performers. Blue hair could be off-putting to some readers on social media. Blue hair wo -
Blog postFrom fonts to story formula, branding has a huge impact on how readers perceive authors.
Whether an author presents a chipper personality or offers a stark website, every interaction with readers fosters a future relationship.
As an author, it's your job to create a consistent brand that clearly tells your readers what to expect. As a reader, you (often subconsciously) interpret these cues to decide which books to adore and which to pass over.
Peek inside the making of an -
Blog post700 years ago, the Great King of Inisvarden did...a bunch of stuff you won't need to know about until book six, but the author is dumping the information in the first part of book one.
If you've ever come across moments like this while reading, you're not alone. If you've ever come across moments like this while writing...you're NOT alone. The good news? There are many ways to avoid these info dumps.
Learn the tell-tale signs of a dreaded info dump and how to avoid them -
Blog postTo free, or not to free...
Offering the first book in your series for free can be a powerful marketing tool, but the method is neither foolproof nor danger-free.
From negative stereotypes to being lost in the chaos, this episode of A Book and A Dream will give you a crash course on navigating the free-books waters.
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Blog postSpring is almost here! The end of the pandemic finally feels like an actual light at the end of this horrible tunnel...
And overwhelming joy still hasn't burst through our lives.
Like heading to your favorite restaurant for dinner only to find out they've been closed by the Health Department, the disappointment is overwhelming.
After a horrifying year that will leave scars on the world long past our lifetimes, shouldn't we all feel artistically inspired, personally ful -
Blog postReviews can make or break a book, but how does an author capture these illusive unicorns?
From searching for help to begging online, there are many mythical paths to reviews. But the way is dangerous.
Take the tale of my woe with you. It's dangerous to go alone!
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Blog postWe've finally reached it―the time we all hoped would never arrive but scientists promised was coming. We've all been dealing with the pandemic for one solid year.
Yep.
Already, I've seen a ton of posts on my social media from actors talking about having hit one year since all our shows closed and the thing we love to do just...disappeared. The fact that live theatre is still not back in full and will never be what is was twelve months ago is heartbreaking. And every week that -
Blog postAre you beginning to build your writing career?
Do you find humor in the unfortunate mistakes others have made?
Either way, this episode of A Book and A Dream is right for you.
From learning what advice invites chaos to the importance of building a digital home base, these are the top five things Megan O'Russell wishes she'd know when she was just beginning her journey as an author.
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Blog postFrom sacrificial bleaching to rebellious chopping, hair changes have long been a way of outwardly displaying internal transformations.
From the sexist to the meaningful, it's time to dive back into a discussion full of tropes and truths.
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Blog postDenali National Park is an amazing place that will always hold my heart. I've been lucky enough to work just outside the park's entrance on four separate occasions.
I have a horrible case of wanderlust that has taken me all over the world. I love hiking, so I try to find a trail or two wherever I go. But there's something special about the mountains in Denali that I've never found anywhere else.
I don't know if it's just the amount of time I spent there, or if there really is -
Blog postNurturing readers from buyers into fans is a long process filled with many perils.
But those special fans who become advocates for their favorite books can help keep authors from feeling like they're screaming into the void.
From Bookstagramming to creating social proof, dive into how unicorn readers can change an author's outlook and career.
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Blog postAside from being an author, I am many things. An actor, a traveler, a wife, a friend, a sister, a troublemaker, and in the summer of 2020, I added crazy cat mom to that list.
After years of wanting cats, I finally adopted two fur babies.
Shortly after adopting Meeny and Mo, Mo became very ill with FIP, a disease most vets will tell you is 100% fatal. I was told to put Mo down.
Needless to say, there were a lot of tears. But I'm an author. It's my job to get characters -
Blog postWhen travel isn't possible, technology can save the day.
From virtual reality to obscure documentaries, there are many possibilities for doing worthwhile research from home and exciting possibilities for readers who want to dive further into their favorite stories.
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Blog postI firmly believe waiting for an important email is a uniquely universal form of panic.
You look at your phone's lock screen.
It's just your cover photo of Greece.
You look at your phone again.
NPR is telling you the new way the world is being consumed by chaos.
You open your phone, double check that you really do have it set to alert you on the lock screen when an important email comes in. You did set up the alert, but you decide to check your email any -
Blog postLegacy. What is a legacy?
The words of an author can last long after they are gone, continuing to resonate with readers for generations. Or centuries.
The concept can seem surreal. But the passing of an author, reminder of copyright law, and durability of print books can make the question of a legacy panic-inducing and immediate.
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Blog postI love doing research for books. Finding things that can add to the reality of books or inspire new plotlines feels like a treasure hunt.
In creating the dystopian/post-apocalyptic world of Girl of Glass, finding ways for the human race to survive after a disaster was vital for world-building. The Svalbard Global Seed Trust is definitely a gem.
",The Vault is the ultimate insurance policy for the world’s food supply, offering options for future generations to overcome the -
Blog postFeeling a little trapped?
Staying safe has meant locking ourselves away from the world. But maybe our cages are cocoons.
From publishing new books to learning new skills, in this episode of A Book and A Dream, Megan O'Russell explores the transformations to carry with us as we break back out into the world.
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Blog postA community of book lovers, a few curses, and some wardrobe issues.
What do these have in common? Thousands of views on social media.
For this week's episode of A Book and a Dream, Megan takes a dive into the world of TikTok and the strange encounters and epic viewership that can nurture a bridge between author and reader.
As mentioned in the episode, you can order your copy of Heart of Smoke by visiting https://books2read.com/heartofsmoke
You ca -
Blog postLooking for your next read? Amazon categories will guide you even if you don't shop in the Kindle store.
From some of the unfortunate mistakes authors make to how categories affect your next book binge, peek behind the curtain and see the nuts and bolts behind this literary love story.
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Blog postImmense changes can be necessary between when the author feels a manuscript is ready and when the readers finally receive the book.
From standing up to an editor to preserve the heart of your story to adapting how you lure your reader into the world you've created, there is a fine line between what's worth fighting for and when you should simply hit delete.
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Blog postWhere is the line between productivity and madness?
For planning her 2021 publishing schedule, Megan O'Russell has pulled in her best resource to help her establish that fine line―her husband Chris.
In this special guest episode, Chris agrees to some projects he may later come to regret. If you're having problems choosing realistic 2021 goals, this episode is for you.
As mentioned in the episode, you can find the "wheel of Ilbrea" by visiting https://www -
Blog postSlogging through tough times can teach us valuable lessons.
While 2020 has been an undeniable disaster, Megan O'Russell offers some useful advice to carry into 2021, whether you're aiming to up your writing game or just trying to get through another Zoom meeting.
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Blog postThere are times to power through and times to step back and admit you need to change course.
Reconfiguring our plans is never a fun activity, but changing our expectations of ourselves and the world can be necessary for continuing to thrive artistically as the world throws one curve ball after another into your publishing path.
As mentioned in the episode, you can get your copy of The Girl Without Magic, book one in The Chronicles of Maggie Trent, by visiting https://books2r -
Blog postEver wonder what it's like to write a new story in a well-established world? Whether you're an author considering a similar course, or a reader who loves delving into the details of your favorite worlds, you won't want to miss today's episode of A Book and A Dream.
Spoiler: Hope you like cats. There may or may not be a special guest appearance...
As mentioned in the podcast, Heart of Smoke is now available for preorder.
And Girl of Glass can be found at your f -
Blog postThe journey to twenty published novels in less than two years has been an interesting, crazy, and sometimes exhausting adventure.
The completion of The Tale of Bryant Adams rounds off my numbers with:
-Six Series
-Four Completed Series
-Six Audio Books
-Two New Complete Collections to be Ready Before Christmas
-One New Series Starting in January
-Two Feline Office Assistants
-Unknown Amount of Coffee Consumed
-One World's Best Husband Wh -
Blog postEvery story has its inspiration, and when drawing concepts from the real world, touching on the political becomes inevitable.
From revolutions to classism, this episode of A Book and A Dream looks at some young adult reading favorites and how their political leanings could be (mis)interpreted.
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Blog postAudiobooks may be the wave of the future, but there are hurdles indie authors need to conquer first.
If you enjoy audiobooks, especially if you are an Audible member, this episode is important for your listening future.
The path to great listening experiences is paved by the work of authors and narrators. If you want great audiobooks to continue to be produced, please remember the end of this story will be written by the listeners.
Titles By Megan O'Russell
