Using Summer to Add Depth and Dimension to Your Story
By: Ginger | Posted on June 28, 2024
When woven into your narrative with finesse, a season like summer can become more than a mere backdrop—it can transform into a dynamic force within the story. Much like winter in Game of Thrones, where the relentless cold amplifies the harshness and isolation of the plot, summer, too, can infuse a story with its own distinct energy. Long hours of daylight, oppressive heat, and the unique sounds and smells of the year’s hottest season all become integral to the character’s journey, bringing your setting to life and adding richness to your story. In this week’s blog, Ginger explores how the essence of summer can create a vivid and immersive environment that adds yet another dimension to your story. Through a variety of examples, he demonstrates how by tapping into the sensory richness of the season, you can evoke powerful emotions, mirror character development, and enhance thematic depth. Ultimately, summer can… Read More >
Women’s Fiction books to Pack on Vacation
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on June 25, 2024
Women’s Fiction books can vary widely in terms of theme, but what they all have in common is that they are centered around a women’s life experiences. These books are generally targeted towards female readers and their popularity comes from how relatable many of them are to the women that read them. With summer just around the corner, if you’re looking for a great women’s literature/fiction book to pack on vacation, take a peek at these titles that our Hidden Gems readers recently loved. Unwavering Branches by Kelly Comiskey With 15+ reviews and an impressive 4.8 star average on Amazon, Unwavering Branches tells the story of four different women impacted by World War II. Readers are touched by the stories of hope, courage and of course, sacrifice. Kristy raves in her five star Amazon review, “I have read every [World War II] historical fiction book I can get my hands… Read More >
Using Fiction as a Protest Against Injustice
By: Ginger | Posted on June 21, 2024
In the midst of a world that continues to feel unsettled and divided, the power of storytelling shines as a beacon of hope and change. Authors have a long history of addressing real-life problems through fiction, weaving tales that not only entertain but also provoke thought and inspire action. In today’s blog, Ginger explores the profound impact that literature has historically had in challenging the status quo and the vital role that we, as writers, play in shaping societal perspectives. Literature has always been a powerful form of protest, especially during times of outrage or when the desire for change burns brightly. By reflecting the world’s injustices and offering a glimmer of hope, these stories resonate deeply with readers, regardless of whether the author is traditionally or self-published. What truly matters is that we harness the power of our words to address the complexities of our times, create works that… Read More >
Hot Romance Books to Further Heat Up Your Summer
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on June 18, 2024
If you’re searching for some early summer, heart-fluttering romance, today we’ve rounded up a collection that includes a variety of hot romance books that have been popular and well-liked by Hidden Gems ARC readers. Devilish Ink by Sienna Blake With over 500 reviews, Devilish Ink is for you if you like “touch her and die” vibes and morally grey book boyfriends. One lie leads to another in this hot romance book, evolving from stalking to possession. Now, he’ll stop at nothing to keep her, even if it means fathering a child with her, risking his bond with his brother. “It was a page turner and very well written book,” wrote Anonymous in their 5-star review. “It is a dark romance and would highly recommend reading the TW before buying or reading this book. Ry (FMC) was a broken character who has a past, that made you feel for ( I… Read More >
Determining the value of Newsletter Promotion Sites
By: Michelle Hazen | Posted on June 14, 2024
I’ve worked with Michelle quite a bit over the last few months, and have come to realize that she’s one of the most organized author’s I’ve ever met. She keeps stats and spreadsheets on all of the marketing and advertising she does, which gives her invaluable insight into what is working and what isn’t. I recently asked whether she’d be willing to share some of this knowledge with our community, and she graciously agreed. After years of using a variety of newsletter promotion sites to market her novels, Michelle has come up with a simple metric to assess their price-to-subscriber value. In today’s guest blog, Michelle explains this metric and uses it to rank the value of close to 20 different newsletter promotion sites. Even if the list below is missing some of the newsletter sites you use, you can easily use her metric to rank them yourself and determine… Read More >
YA Books for Your Summer Reading Program
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on June 11, 2024
Are your middle-grade or young adult readers looking for books to participate in summer reading programs? Our Hidden Gems ARC readers recently loved the following titles, and we bet the middle-grade or young adult reader in your life will, as well. Who knows – you may find yourself a fan of the following titles, too. Ice Queen by Felicia Farber With 45+ ratings and a 4.5 average star rating, Ice Queen is the tale of what Blair did during her senior year with the Ice Queen’s ex. Things get heated, especially on social media and Blair must find a way to overcome, and clear her name. Ice Queen has reached Amazon Bestseller status with a #1 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Bullying and #2 in Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance. “The book is well written and provides timely information about the harsh reality of cyber bullying. This… Read More >
Balancing Action and Character Development
By: Ginger | Posted on June 7, 2024
Balancing action with character development is an art form that can make or break a novel. Too much focus on action can lead to flat and underdeveloped characters, making it difficult for your audience to connect with the story. To truly elevate your storytelling, it’s essential to balance thrilling sequences with effective characterization techniques. In today’s blog, Ginger delves into various strategies for achieving this balance by examining a variety of popular movie and literature examples. From understanding the power of pacing to using action scenes to reveal character traits, his advice can help you harmonize high-octane adventures with introspective emotional journeys, ensuring your stories resonate more powerfully with readers. Recently, I went to see Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. It was a terrific, fast-paced movie that delivered on the action and didn’t take itself too seriously – but as I was watching it, I also appreciated all… Read More >
Exciting Fantasy Books to Read This Summer
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on June 4, 2024
Journey into worlds and universes unlike our own in these 5 exciting fantasy books recently read and reviewed by Hidden Gems ARC readers – and remember, if you want to receive free fantasy novels like these – or others from 15 different genres – just sign up today and select your favorites. Demon Bonds by R. W. Hert With an impressive 4.8 average star rating on Amazon, Demon Bonds is a coming of age epic fantasy. Zade is haunted by how effortlessly Vrieg defeated him, shredding his demon half and taking his closest friend, Tiani. Vrieg got everything he wanted—except access to the demon world portal. But he’ll return, and the villagers are well aware of this. Without their “demon ninja” to protect them, they seek help from the one who created him—the demon king himself. He has a few ideas that might work, but only if the villagers are… Read More >
