O.D. Book Reviews: Guest Post by Erin Rhew - Tips for Aspiring Authors, Book Tour, and Giveaway!

Thanks too much to O & D for hosting me today, and a big HELLO to their readers! <waves>

I'm here as part of the Rhew 2 Rhew tour! My husband, Deek Rhew, wrote an amazing thriller called 122 Rules, published by Pandamoon on April 5! In addition, my publisher chose the month of April to feature my trilogy, so Deek and I decided to make a thing of it. And the Rhew 2 Rhew Tour was born! ;) Stay tuned because there's an opportunity for you to enter a Rafflecopter drawing for a chance at a $50 Amazon gift card!

O said a lot of the readers at her blog are aspiring writers who'd like to read about bookish things. So, I'm here to rely that information. LOL!

Since I'm the Operations Manager at a small press as well as a published author, I get to see both sides of the industry. Let me tell you, I've learned a lot, and would like to share some of that knowledge with you.

1) Here's my biggest, top piece of advice. Edit, edit, edit. And when you think you're done, edit some more (because I said that, I know this post will contain errors--LOL!). You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it's a good one. I'm a grammar nerd of the highest order, and when I read submissions with grammatical errors, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Even if you're not a grammar whiz, find someone who is--be it a friend or someone you hire. Show agents and publishers you care by taking the time to make your piece the best it can be.

2) Develop tough skin. This business is brutal. Agents and publisher are pressed for time. They read thousands of submissions, and they are looking for something great. You'll get rejections. You'll get form rejections, mean rejections, and some nice ones. Even if you get picked up, you'll have editors come at your manuscript with the red pen of doom. And you can't let any of that get you down. But you also can't go all Xena Warrior Princess either. Remember, these people are professionals, and they're experts in their field. 99.999% of the time, they're completely right about the changes that need to take place in your manuscript. Allow them to make you and your writing better. No one and no piece is perfect from the start. We can always be better.

3) Utilize beta readers and critique partners. While writing itself is a solitary process, the road to publication is not. And your beta readers and critique partners should be your first stop along the path. Put on your thick skin and listen to what these people have to say. They'll point out flaws in your logic, holes in your plot, and words you repeat without realizing it. Listen to them. They'll make you better. And trust me, you'd rather hear the truth from people who know and care about you than the harsh reality from the mouth of a stranger. At the same time, and almost in a contradictory fashion, stick to your story. If your beta readers and critique partners are off base, it's ok to not go with something. But if you get the same critiques over and over, it warrants a serious look.

And who knows, you may end up marrying one of your critique partners. I did! ;)

4) Learn your craft. Storytellers are born, not created, but the actual craft of writing can be taught. Learn it. Read a lot, go to writing conferences, talk to other writers. Immerse yourself in the writing world. Know what terms like ".mobi," "Oxford comma," and "ARC" mean. It's like getting a new job. You must become familiar with your surroundings and get acclimated before you can excel.

5) Know what's desirable but also write what you love. These two pieces of advice seem like opposites, but I don't really think they are. I encourage you to follow Twitter pitch contests like #PitMad to see just how similar most of the story lines and pitches are. When I'm on those contests looking for potential authors, I grow wary of certain themes. Your book is unlikely to stand out to people in the industry if it sounds the same as everyone else's. At the same time, write what you love. Vampires and dystopians are technically "out," but if that's your story, write it. Just know you'll have a tougher sell. But if you've been following pitch contests, you'll know what not to say in your tweets and how to make your particular story stand out amongst the crowd. Be unique!

Thanks for hosting me O & D! Now, I'd like to tell you a little bit about me, my husband, and our books!!

For those that don't know, Erin is a young adult fantasy author who is married to adult thriller author, Deek Rhew. Together, they are "the Rhews," and their street team is the Rhewination!

Deek and Erin-- Join the Rhewination! ;)

The Prophecy (Fulfillment Series Book 1)

Title: The Prophecy

Author: Erin Rhew

Publisher: BookFish Books

Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point

Available Now! Amazon Buy Link

Synopsis:

Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she's abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?

Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he's no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction--for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.

When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.

The Outlanders (Fulfillment Series Book 2)

Title: The Outlanders

Author: Erin Rhew

Publisher: BookFish Books

Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point

Available Now! Amazon Buy Link

The Fulfillment (Fulfillment Series Book 3)

Title: The Fulfillment

Author: Erin Rhew

Publisher: BookFish Books

Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point

Available Now! Amazon Buy Link

About Erin Rhew

Erin Rhew

Erin Rhew is an editor, a running coach, and the author of The Fulfillment Series. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written
word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."

A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by- side.

Connect with Erin Online!

For the latest and greatest, visit her web page:

www.ErinRhewBooks.com

About Deek Rhew

Deek Rhew

Deek lives in a rainy pocket in the Pacific Northwest with the stunning YA author bride, Erin Rhew, and their writing assistant, a fat tabby named Trinity. They enjoy lingering in the mornings, and often late into the night, caught up Erin’s fantastic fantasy worlds of noble princes and knights and entwined in Deek’s dark underworld of the FBI and drug lords.

He and Erin love to share books by reading aloud to one another. In addition, they enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, and exploring the little town--with antique shops and bakeries--they call home.