Tag Archives: War Unicorn

Back in the Game — A Book Signing

Posted on by under Author Presentations, Book signing, Unicorn Books, unicorns

I am finally getting back into the game. (This pandemic and move to Wisconsin has limited much.)

I have a book signing on December 11 at Rare Vision Books in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin. Hurray! I’ll be there along with Santa Claus. He’ll be listening to children and having his photo taken with them. I’ll be reading from War Unicon: The Ring for part of the afternoon and signing copies of my book.

*** Another interesting item of business for those interested in ebooks, Smashwords is having a sale on Books We Love Publishing books. All four of my War Unicorn books are available here.***

Scenic North Country Trail…Again. The Blue Bridge

Posted on by under Hiking, Nature, Scenic North Country Trail

 

I know they are giving out awards for people who have hiked 100 miles of the Scenic North Country Trail in 2019. Do we get a thumbs up for hiking 30 miles?

Last Friday, with overcast and wet ground, and in the lower 30’s all morning, we chose a close-to-home hike on the Scenic North Country Trail, starting at Helmer Road and going west along the Kalamazoo River — that wonderful river which flows past the ghost town of Singapore (which I wrote a historical fiction about, The Town That Disappeared), and draining into Lake Michigan.

We’ve hiked this trail before, and ridden it on bikes. Each time is unique.

And did I mention overcast Friday morning? Did I mention in the lower 30s? Did I mention the wind? No? Well, at the beginning of our hike, there was a nippy wind greeting us, from 5-15mph, so said the Weather Channel. Chilly but undeterred, we hiked on.

 

We carefully trod over the lichen-covered blue bridge, a bridge I’d seen from across the river for over a decade before we finally hiked to it. Poor blue bridge. Did I mention covered with lichen? It was. Did I mention the boards are rotting and quite slippery? They are.

 

We saw a tank painted on the walkway. Jeff commented that as a solo tank, it was ungrateful. Two would have make it…tanks (thanks).

 

There were also some amazing mushrooms at the base of a fallen tree. I’m working my mind around my next story which will be concerning mushrooms. But then on Friday, Jeff finished the fourth of my War Unicorn Chronicles books, and asked for more (unicorn tales). Such a dilemma.

 

Oh. And while walking alongside the Kalamazoo River near mowed areas, don’t be looking around at the pretty nature sights. Instead, mind your step, or you may just land in some goose poop. And those rust streaks are old, stained goose left behinds, but old enough not to be squishy.

Funny how about an hour after we got home, the sun burst forth at last. But the temp was still in the lower 40’s. I imagine the sun brought people out into the great outdoors. During our overcast and chilly hike, Jeff and I had the trail to ourselves. Also, with the bonus of no mosquitoes!

 

May your days be mostly sunny, but may you also walk briskly through the overcast, chilly days.

Marketing and Promoting Your New Book

Posted on by under fantasy writer, Marketing and Promting, writing

War Unicorn has been published with Books We Love Publishing, LLC.

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So how do you go about marketing and promoting, especially if you (like me) had surgery immediately after it was published? There are several sit-down ways to start your promoting. Here are a few to consider with your own new release:

  1. Update your website to include cover photo, short synopsis, and links to buy the book.
  2. Tweet it, post the cover on Instagram, shout your hurray on Facebook, or any and every other social media platform on which you are involved.
  3. Consider doing a book launch, a blog tour, and/or a physical book-signing tour. (Requires about thirty times more contacts for every one interested party, as well as much planning.)
  4. Seek reviewers. (Reviews are an author’s golden treasure.)
  5. Start contacting libraries, schools, bookstores, etc. for signings or speaking engagements.
  6. Do giveaways on Amazon and Goodreads (or others) to stir interest in your book.
  7. Enter your book in contests – however, only those which you’ve researched and know are ligit.

And while you’re at it, why don’t you go check out this new and fabulous MG fantasy by S.L. Carlson:

WAR UNICORN Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1773627201/

WAR UNICORN Ebooks: http://books2read.com/u/3Ro6jp

And if you are so inclined, please leave a golden token (review on Amazon or Goodreads). Happy reading!

WAR UNICORN, tween fantasy by S.L.Carlson Release Date Today!

Posted on by under author interview, fantasy writer

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DEAR Readers

My tween fantasy, WAR UNICORN, is now released for publication today by MuseItYoung, available at MuseItUp, Amazon Kindle, B&N Nook, and several others. I’ve been answering author interview questions this past week to be posted over the next couple of months with various blogsters. So, I thought I’d do an author self-interview to get the ball rolling.

*I also have three eCopies of my book to randomly be given away to the lucky three picked from those leaving a comment here. Good luck!

Sandy: So, S.L., welcome to my blog. When I think of unicorns, I think of cutesy mythological animals who are calm and lovely. Whatever made you think to make a unicorn into a warrior animal?

S.L.: Good question, Sandy. And, by the way, thanks for interviewing me on your blog today.

Sandy: My pleasure.

S.L.: To your question, that is the whole point behind my story. (Was there a pun there?) I was thinking of various fantasy creatures and thinking what twists I could give them. Then it struck me to give the loveliest of all animals, the unicorn, a very different twist.

Sandy: Hence, War Unicorn.

S.L.: Hence, War Unicorn.

Sandy: I’m aware that you’ve self-published several historical fictions for middle graders — all of which I’ve enjoyed. Tween fantasy is for a different age and a different genre. Are you finding that difficult to separate the two?

S.L.: Actually, no. That is the very reason I chose to use my initials for my fantasy books, to separate the author name with age group and genres. My middle grade historical fictions go by my common name and my tween fantasies go by my initials, S.L. Carlson.

Sandy: Did you intend to let it slip that you have other fantasy books in the works?

S.L.: Ha. So you caught that, did you? Yes. I actually have a middle grade fantasy out already called Star Opening, which was the first full story I wrote decades ago, revised and rewritten many times of course. I’m working on two other tween fantasies, one, the sequel to War Unicorn, and the other a collaboration with my son John.

Sandy: I’m glad to hear there’s going to be a sequel. And a collaboration with your son? That sound interesting.

S.L.: Thank you. The collaboration is indeed interesting, rather like two books in one…or three.

Sandy: I’ll look forward to those. Thanks again for coming onto my blog today. Please let us know when your other interviews come out, and especially when your next tween fantasy is available.

S.L.: You can count on it.

Sandy: Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment below for your chance to win a free copy of War Unicorn by S.L. Carlson. Contest ends September 7 at midnight.

You may purchase your own copy at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MV8VDYG among other places.