Flying into Fall with the Dawnflier of author @KimHeadlee #MFRWOrg #ASMSG

I don't know about you, but my summer flew by for several reasons, book-related and otherwise.

Liberty by Kim Iverson Headlee
Audiobook cover (c) 2017 by Natasha Brown

On the book front, I wrapped up production of the audiobook edition of Liberty -- now available on Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, iTunes, and Kobo.

Development of the comic book version of The Challenge is in the final phase, and it features art and storyboard by DC and Marvel Comics artist Tim Shinn. He has begun delivering finished, fully colored pages, and the comic should be available later this fall.

Upcoming:

• 15 September: Art at the Crossroads street fair, 1 – 6 p.m., Main Street, Wytheville, VA. My booth's location TBA.
• 21–23 September: RavenCon 13.5 literary convention, Four Points Sheraton Midlothian, 9901 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA. Guest author and possibly a vendor. Program participation: Business of Writing lecture, a reading, and several panels.
• 29 September: BW Country Store "Meet the Author" book signing, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Big Walker Lookout, Wytheville, VA.
• 3 October: Olde Magick Ways cultural gift shop "Meet the Author" book signing, 6 p.m., 4763 US Highway 17 Bypass South, Murrells Inlet, SC.
• 13 October: Connecticut Renaissance Faire, "Meet Author Kim Headlee" special book signing, 1 – 3 p.m., 122 Mack Rd, Lebanon, CT. Come celebrate Halloween with me on this, the last Saturday of the faire; huzzah!
• 20 October: Dragon Festival, Virginia Museum of Natural History, 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, VA: vendor table; my program participation TBA.
• 27 October: NRCC Comic-Con, New River Community College, Edwards Hall, 5251 State Rd 373, Dublin, VA: vendor table.

Autumnal blessings to you!

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of
Snow in July!

To enter, click HERE.

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Making a comic splash with The Dawnflier of author @KimHeadlee #MFRWOrg #ASMSG

The "comic" part of the subject header is to celebrate the fact that production of the comic book version of The Challenge, featuring art and storyboard by DC and Marvel Comics artist Tim Shinn, is underway! The 20-page, full-color comic should be available later this summer.

The Challenge comic pencil sketch
Art (c)2018 by Tim Shinn

Why the "splash?" Because after 40 years, I have decided that it's high time to get back to working on my health by reentering the lap pool. My strength and stamina are nowhere near that of my intercollegiate competition days, of course, but it's a start. :)


Upcoming:

• 30 June: BW Country Store "Meet the Author" book signing, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Big Walker Lookout, Wytheville, VA.
• 6–8 July: Program participant (including my Business of Writing lecture and several panels) and vendor table in the Maryland Hallway at Shore Leave 40, Delta Hunt Valley by Marriott, Hunt Valley, MD. Special media guest on Saturday 7 July: William Shatner!
• 13–14 July: 2018 Patchwork Quilters Jubilee, Graham Middle School, Bluefield, VA.
• 20–22 July: Hungry Mother Festival, Hungry Mother State Park, Marion, VA. Rain or shine! But please pray for shine; paper and water don't mix. :D
• 27–29 July: US 21 Road Market, a 110-mile, multistate yard sale from Wytheville, VA to Harmony, NC. My booth is in the same spot as last year: outside the Lakes to Florida Grill, Rt. 21, Wytheville, VA. I will be there on Friday 27 July; my husband will be covering the booth on Saturday and Sunday.
• 28–29 July: WyVACon; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, VA. I am slated to give my Business of Writing presentation on Saturday 28 July and will be selling & signing my books both days.
• 4 August: Big Lick Comic-Con 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., The Berglund Center, 710 Williamson Road, Roanoke, VA.

Keep cool and
Carry on.

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of
Raging Sea: Enemies and Allies!

To enter, click HERE.

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Happy Memorial Day from The Dawnflier of author @Kimheadlee! #ASMSG #MFRWOrg

As we enjoy the upcoming day off from our work's usual grind, let us take a moment to remember those who chose a life of service for our protection and freedom. My late father-in-law was one such person, and I have included his West Point freshman ("plebe") photo to honor his memory.

Cadet Harold Headlee, circa 1947

Book news:

• The audiobook edition of Liberty is coming down to the wire, with the final six chapters, epilogue, and back matter sections remaining to record, review, and approve. I can scarcely wait to share it with you!
• I estimate that I am within five chapters of finishing Raging Sea. I delivered part 1 (Raging Sea: Reckonings) and part 2 (Raging Sea: Enemies and Allies) to my editor earlier this month. Even though those e-books are on sale, I have asked her for specific feedback on reader expectations for part 3 in addition to her usual comments regarding character and plot development, pacing, theme, and so forth.
• There have been so many changes to the publishing industry that I have overhauled my Business of Writing nonfiction book. My editor has those new sections for proofreading too.
• I have entered into an agreement with an artist I met at Marscon (January 2018, Williamsburg, VA) to complete the graphic novel edition of The Challenge. More details soon!

Upcoming:

• I will be signing and selling my books all weekend at Balticon (Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, MD), May 25-27. This is a new event for me, and I hope you have a chance to stop by my table and say hi!
• Father's Day weekend, 16-17 June, I will be signing and selling my books at the Craft Bazaar at the Chatauqua Festival; 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday 16 June, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday 17 June; Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park, 250 S 4th St, Wytheville, VA.
• On Tuesday, 26 June, I will be giving my Business of Writing presentation and signing my books, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Craft Memorial Library, 600 Commerce St, Bluefield, WV.
• Saturday, 30 June, I will be at the BW Country Store "Meet the Author" book signing, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Big Walker Lookout, Wytheville, VA.
• I will be on author-track panels and will have a vendor table in the Maryland Hallway at Shore Leave 40, July 6-8, Delta Hunt Valley by Marriott, Hunt Valley, MD. Special media guest on 7 July only: William Shatner! My program participation TBA.

Keep calm and stop to smell the flowers.

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of my doom-of-Camelot novella, Twins!

To enter, click HERE.

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Happy Holidays from The Dawnflier of author @KimHeadlee! #MFRWOrg #ASMSG

Christmas (c)2010 by Subbotina, Depositphotos ID 10605705.

I hope this holiday season continues to fill you with joy, wonder, and blessings today and throughout the coming year.

If you like thrilling, poignant, well-written fiction, I know you'll love these titles:

• Snow in July ~ a medieval paranormal romance novel about a distressed damsel who wields a fierce fireplace poker and the smoking hot knight she must rescue from himself.
  ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~
  
• The Color of Vengeance ~ a historical fiction short story about a man who loses everyone he loves and must reconcile the demands of his head with those of his heart.
  ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~
• Raging Sea: Reckonings ~ part one of my full-length novel featuring the coming-of-age and identity reclamation journey of Angusel, the Lancelot character in my Dragon's Dove Chronicles series.
  ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~
• Twins ~ a doom of Camelot story as you have never seen it before (Kindle only ~ free worldwide 12/27/-12/28/2017 and free with your Kindle Select or Amazon Prime membership until 01/13/2018, when I plan to make it available on other retail platforms).

These great books are discounted or free today as my gift to you. Enjoy!

***

Feeling lucky?
Enter today for a chance to win an e-copy of
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court!
Click this link to enter:
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/2fe429e4a81c29ba

***
Kim Iverson Headlee
Sgeulachd ni sinn na’s mò.
Stories make us greater.

Your Christmas gifts from author @KimHeadlee!

Christmas (c)2010 by Subbotina, Depositphotos ID 10605705.

I hope this holiday season fills you with joy, wonder, and blessings today and throughout the coming year.

If you like thrilling, poignant, well-written fiction, I know you'll love these titles:

• The Color of Vengeance
  ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~
  
• Raging Sea: Reckonings
  ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~
  
• The Challenge, episode 1: Dilemmas and Deliberation (graphic novel; Kindle only ~ free worldwide 12/25/2016 and always free with your Kindle Select or Amazon Prime membership)

These great books are free today as my gift to you. Enjoy!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!

August Dog Days with The Dawnflier (Aug 2016)

Welcome to the Dog Days on The Maze!

© Petar Maksimovic | Dreamstime.com - Happy Samoyed dog in the grass.

Our Great Pyrenees dogs were too busy to pose for me, but I hope you enjoy this Samoyed pup just the same. :)

Hot news: I experienced a record month for print edition sales at the Patchwork Quilters Jamboree and the US Route 21 100-Mile Yard Sale! I offer a special welcome and thanks to all of you who purchased my books and signed up for the email edition of The Dawnflier at these events.

Really hot news: Two new editions will be available soon:

• El Reto, the Spanish edition of The Challenge, which is already available for Kindle, will also become available for Nook, Kobo, iTunes, and other digital platforms. Next up: figuring out how to create the dual English-Spanish print edition for El Reto and its related story, El Color de la Venganza (Spanish edition of The Color of Vengeance).
• The print edition of the novella Kings, a sword-and-sorcery story cowritten with Patricia Duffy Novak, will soon be available to order online and purchase at my in-person events.

Really, really hot news: Progress is hopping on my Business of Writing nonfiction book, and I’m scheduled to send it to my editor on August 18.

Almost-too-hot-to-handle news: On July 28th, my medieval paranormal romance Snow in July surpassed 3,500 paid downloads on Kindle, Nook, iTunes, and Kobo! The same week, my permafree title The Color of Vengeance surpassed 5,000 free downloads, bringing the combined total of paid and free downloads of all my digital books to well over 15K. My deepest thanks go out to everyone who made these milestones possible!

Upcoming Appearances:

• Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wythe County Public Library, Monroe Street, Wytheville, VA.
• Sunday, August 21, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Big Walker Lookout & Country Store, US Route 52 at the summit of Big Walker Mountain, Wytheville, VA.
• Saturday, August 27, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Annual Art at the Crossroads, Main Street, Wytheville, VA.
• Saturday, September 10, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Olde Salem Days, Salem, VA.

Happy Dog Days, and stay cool, my friends!

***

Enter this great giveaway for Snow in July!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!

The Business of Writing: Creating and using QR codes for your book #ASMSG #MFRWOrg

QR code for Amazon product page
of Audiobook edition of
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court
by Mark Twain as channeled by
Kim Iverson Headlee.

The best marketing content offers potential customers a way to buy the product straight off the advertisement, and the Quick Response (QR) code is a great way to capture those impulse buys.

What is a QR code?
A QR code (sample pictured, left) is a specialized bar code readable by smart phones. The bar code can contain text, URLs, email addresses, telephone numbers, or any other alphanumeric data.

The smart phone must have a QR reader app installed, and there are several good, free apps available for iPhones, Android devices, and other types of smart phones. My reader of choice is the "QR Droid" app.

A QR code will never expire as long as the associated link remains active.

How do I create a QR code?
Even more plentiful are the web sites that pop up when you perform an Internet search on "free QR code generator". My favorite free QR code generator site is QR Stuff. Here you can enter any URL—for example, your book's worldwide Amazon link created via Booklinker.net or other such service, or the Audible link to its audiobook edition—and the site will display the bar code for you to download and use.

There are some book-specific QR code generator sites, such as Relinks.me, but they are limited to products in the Amazon retail catalog, and they will append their Amazon affiliate ID to your book's URL. If you don't have an Amazon affiliate ID, then using Relinks.me will save you the step of creating a worldwide link prior to requesting its QR code, but you won't be able to set up QR codes for your book's Nook and other e-tailer product pages.

The QR Stuff site offers a subscription service if you want specialty items such as scalable graphics, or if you believe your dynamic (i.e., link-shortened) QR codes will receive more than 1,000 user scans per month. If all you're doing is setting up a static link to, say, your book's Kindle product page, then no limits apply to either the creation or use (scanning) of the free QR codes.

If you want to get fancy, you can embed your own branding graphic, but if you don't want your customers to be subjected to the company's ads, the ad-free version (via visuallead.com) costs a minimum of $6.25/month. I thought I might try embedding my imprint graphic for Pendragon Cove Press but decided that the cool factor wasn't worth the monthly subscription cost, and I had no intention of submitting anyone to the extra advertising.

How do I use a QR code?
The output of sites such as QR Stuff and Relinks.me is either a JPG or PNG file that may be embedded in any other image, email, web site, or publication. I have placed QR codes on promotional postcards and inside teaser booklets, in the backmatter of my free print editions of The Challenge and The Color of Vengeance, and even on designs uploaded to DiscountMugs.com for screening onto tote bags.

In every case, the key is to make sure there is a high contrast between the QR code graphic and its surrounding background; otherwise, the scan will need to be done in the brightest possible lighting conditions or else it might not work.

If you can design it, you can QR code it!

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings!
To enter, click HERE.

MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities.
Subscribe today so you don't miss out!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!

Yankee Doodling with The Dawnflier (July 2016) #MFRWOrg #ASMSG #IARTG

Statue of Liberty silhouette and fireworks c2016 by razihusin.
Licensed via Depositphotos, ID 3703282.

First order of business: Congratulations to the baseball team of my daughter's college, Coastal Carolina University, for winning the College World Series 6/30/2016 in a fantastic game! <3

Second order of business: Heartfelt thanks to all my fans, new and old, who helped make Chautauqua Festival 2016 of Wytheville, Virginia my best sales event ever! I love you guys!!

Third: A great new book trailer is now available on YouTube for King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court. Check it out via this link! Furthermore, its audiobook edition is on sale at iTunes, as well as Audible and Amazon.

Fourth: The Challenge graphic novel episode 1 is on sale via paperback as well as Kindle. And I'm expanding digital distribution of the novella itself; it's now available for preorder via iTunes, Kobo, and Smashwords. On or about July 7th, it will be on sale for Nook too.

Fifth: Kings has been published to Nook, iTunes, Kobo, and Smashwords. Get your copy today!

Upcoming Appearance: 2016 Patchwork Quilters Jamboree, Friday July 22 and Saturday July 23, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Graham Middle School, Bluefield, VA.

Final order of business: MailChimp subscribers to my newsletter The Dawnflier get first crack at my monthly Amazon giveaway. Don't miss out; subscribe now!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!

Author @KimHeadlee's appearance schedule at Chautauqua Festival #giveaway #ASMSG #MFRWOrg

After a two-year hiatus, I will once again be appearing with my books at the annual Chautauqua Festival being held in my hometown of Wytheville, VA. Nestled in the mountains of what I fondly call the "knuckle of the toe" of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Wytheville guards the crossroads of interstates 77 and 81 and draws travelers from all across the mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

The eight-day Chautauqua Festival is chock full of activities for all ages, including hot air balloons, antique cars, a pet show, an art and photography show, a creative writing competition, craft workshops and demonstrations, kids' crafts, music, food, and fun. All concerts and many exhibits are free; some of the workshops and exhibits may ask a small fee to cover the cost of materials or for staging the exhibit.

Do bring your credit cards in addition to cash; I and most of the other festival vendors are equipped to process them! And please do plan on checking out the shops and eateries bordering the festival grounds too. :)

Before I launch into my appearance schedule, I would like to mention a festival event I plan to attend as an audience member: the farewell performance of local Celtic band Night Crossing. The lead singer, Denise Hoots, is a friend and was my daughter's high school art teacher. I have used, with permission of course, some of their music to grace the audiobook editions of The Challenge and The Color of Vengeance.

Night Crossing will play their final notes together at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21.

My 2016 Chautauqua Festival and related appearances:

• Wednesday, June 22, 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Chautauqua Artist in Residence, on the lawn of Elizabeth Brown Park outside the Wytheville Community Center.
• Thursday, June 23, 10 a.m. – 12 noon: Signing and selling my books at the Black Horse Artisan Guild, 115 East Main St, Wytheville.
• Friday, June 24, 12 noon – 8:00 p.m.: Chautauqua Bazaar, inside the Wytheville Community Center, main level, 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville.
• Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Chautauqua Bazaar, inside the Wytheville Community Center, main level, 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville.

I hope to see you there! :)

***

Enter this great giveaway for print and e-books!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of The Challenge!
To enter, click HERE.

MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities.
Subscribe today so you don't miss out!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!

Meet @KimHeadlee at Wolf Creek Indian Village! #MFRWOrg #ASMSG

Kim Headlee's booth at
Wolf Creek Indian Village, 6/6/2015.

Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum is located in mountainous and scenic Bastian, VA. It is a "pole for pole and feature for feature" reconstruction of a Native American community dating to the 15th century that was found nearby while transportation workers were building Interstate 77 through that section of Appalachia. The original inhabitants' tribal affiliation is unknown, but local reenactors and living-history interpreters give public demonstrations throughout the year.

Each year, Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum sponsors Family Day for the celebration of Native American culture. This year's Family Day is set for Saturday, June 4th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Come join me and other craftsfolk, singers, dancers, and storytellers in this unique, entertaining, and informative venue!

In addition to the books shown in the photo, this year my display rack will be stuffed full of the latest editions of award-winning King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court (hardcover as well as paperback), Faith, Family, Film by Fred Eichelman, free copies of The Challenge and The Color of Vengeance… and I might even have wolf-themed note cards to share. :)

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of The Challenge!
To enter, click HERE.

MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities.
Subscribe today so you don't miss out!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!

Howling under a June moon with The Dawnflier (June 2016) #MFRWOrg #ASMSG

Visit with author Kim Headlee at Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum 6/4/16.

The Business of Writing takes a week off in deference to The Dawnflier, and there's a lot to howl about this month!

BREAKING NEWS (and a request for crossed fingers :) — King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court, which in April won the 2016 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Science Fiction & Fantasy, has cleared two hurdles toward getting a Publishers Weekly review! For those who don't know, Publishers Weekly is THE trade magazine of the publication industry, and they review just a fraction of every book they receive, especially in regard to independently published titles. Even though KASIWC is now in the hands of their review staff, there's still a chance it won't get reviewed; hence the request for crossed fingers, thanks!

MORE BREAKING NEWS and finger-crossing requests — On the heels of KASIWC's stellar showing in the Benjamin Franklin awards, I have submitted the book to several more contests, including the contest for independently published books sponsored by Writers Digest. Those finalists won't be announced till October, so if you need to use your fingers for something else until then, I totally understand. :D

EVEN MORE BREAKING NEWS — No worries; your fingers are safe for this one. I am pleased to announce the release of Episode 1 (Dilemmas & Deliberation) of my graphic novel edition of The Challenge. Get your Kindle copy today!

Subscribers to the MailChimp edition of The Dawnflier have received first crack at my latest Amazon giveaway. I run one every month, so please SIGN UP today (and claim your subscriber gift!) if you don't want to miss out; thanks!

Upcoming appearances:

• Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Family Day at Wolf Creek Indian Village, Bastian, VA.
• Wednesday, June 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Artist in Residence at Chautauqua Festival, Community Center grounds, Wytheville, VA.
• Thursday, June 23, 10 a.m. – noon. Featured Member at Black Horse Artisan Guild, 115 East Main St, Wytheville, VA.
• Friday, June 24, noon – 8:00 p.m. Chautauqua Bazaar, inside the Community Center, Wytheville, VA.
• Saturday, June 25, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Chautauqua Bazaar, inside the Community Center, Wytheville, VA.

Have a safe and pleasant transition from spring to summer!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

The gauntlet is thrown. One must die. THE CHALLENGE by @KimHeadlee graphic novel #newrelease

The Challenge, episode 1: Dilemmas & Deliberation.
Story by Kim Headlee, Art & Storyboard by Wendy Carey.

Refusal is not an option. 


The Challenge 
Graphic Novel Episode 1: Dilemmas and Deliberation
A Dragon's Dove Chronicles Novella

Arthur the High King is captive of Gyan's longtime enemy, the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla, who through the black arts may have enlisted a demon to aid in attaining her revenge. Though the passion that had colored the early years of Gyan's marriage to Arthur was still celebrated in song across the land, myriad problems had driven a wedge between them. These days, Gyan wasn't singing.

When Camilla issues her challenge for a to-the-death fight for crown and king, Gyan's duty, loyalty, and honor are put to the test.

She can forfeit the duel, her crown… and the joyless life that crown has come to represent. Or she can risk her life and perhaps her very soul for the sake of a man who may no longer love her.

Gyan's first challenge lies in determining the right path to take.

On sale now via Amazon!

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of Dawnflight!
To enter, click HERE.

Last month's copies of Kings got snapped up fast, so don't delay; enter today!

MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities.
Subscribe today so you don't miss out!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

Get ready for THE CHALLENGE by @KimHeadlee Graphic Novel Episode 1

The Challenge graphic novel, episode 1: Dilemmas & Deliberation
Story by Kim Headlee, Art c2016 by Wendy Carey.

Today on The Maze I am excited to report the completion of the first three pages of the graphic-novel version of The Challenge! The e-book edition of Episode 1, titled Dilemmas & Deliberation, will be available soon on a Kindle near you. :D

I am using Kindle Comic Creator software for this task—and I will be blogging about the software in a future Business of Writing post because I am about ready to stuff it down Jeff Bezos's throat. While I add the finishing touches to The Challenge: Dilemmas & Deliberation, I do invite you to download either the e-book or the audiobook edition of the full story for your reading or listening pleasure.

The teaser graphic, by the way, features principle character Gyanhumara (Gyan to kin and friends; a.k.a. Queen Guinevere of Arthurian legend) and Angusel (Angus to kin and friends; a.k.a. Sir Lancelot). While the Lancelot of legend is identified as Guinevere's champion and defender, in The Dragon's Dove Chronicles (Dawnflight, Morning's Journey, etc.), Gyan usually must fight her own battles and is, in fact, no stranger to the sword.

***

I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of Dawnflight!
To enter, click HERE.

Last month's copies of Kings got snapped up fast, so don't delay; enter today!

MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities.
Subscribe today so you don't miss out!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

#Giveaway and more MAYhem from The Dawnflier (May 2016) by @KimHeadlee!

The Turkish Stars: Turkish Air Force national aerobatics team,
c2015 by radoslaw_maciejewski Depositphotos ID 103611144.
Photo for editorial use only.

Mayhem is indeed the operative word for my life these past few weeks, to whit:

• The hardcover edition of my Twain sequel, King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court, won a major national award, the IBPA Benjamin Franklin gold medal  for Science Fiction & Fantasy. This will score the book featured placement at BookExpo America in Chicago and a public booksigning and party, both scheduled for later this month.
• In spite of computer issues, the audiobook edition of King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court is now on sale via Audible and Amazon, with its iTunes listing in the pipeline. The e-book edition is sporting a new cover that matches the audiobook's cover.
• My narrator's computer issues rubbed off on me apparently, and my laptop decided to give up the electronic ghost last week. Switching over to the new laptop hasn't been as smooth as I'd hoped, but I am now up and running on Windows 10 and getting accustomed to working in LibreOffice, Microsoft's free competitor.
• I put the finishing touches on the paperback edition of Faith, Family, Film: A Teacher's Trek by longtime friend and fan of my work Fred Eichelman. Its Kindle edition is on sale now.

Present mayhem:

• I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of Dawnflight! To enter, click HERE. Last month's copies of Kings got snapped up fast, so don't delay; enter today!
• MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities.
  Subscribe today so you don't miss out!

Upcoming mayhem:

• The Challenge graphic novel, episode 1 (Dilemmas and Deliberation) will be available on Kindle soon.
•  Public book signing and celebration party for King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court and all my books on Tuesday, May 24, 6-8 p.m. at the Black Horse Artisan Guild, Wytheville, VA.
• All-day signing and selling my books on Family Day, Saturday, June 4 at Wolf Creek Indian Village, 6394 North Scenic Highway Bastian, VA.

Public Service Announcement

Don't let my computer woes rub off on you. Back up your data now!

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

Gull makes a startling discovery in Ch 12/Sc 1b of RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee #amwriting

Graphic overlay c2016 by Kim Headlee.

Slowly I'm getting my new laptop whipped into shape. 

Windows 10 has not been the disaster I was expecting. In fact, as an operating system it's actually halfway decent. This, from someone who still remembers the improvements rolled out with Windows 3.1 in the last millennium.

I have had to bite the proverbial bullet and get accustomed to Microsoft's "ribbon" method of command organization for applications such as Windows Explorer, but I flat-out refuse to drink the Cloud Subscription Kool-aid for Microsoft Office.

Rather than install Microsoft Office 2010, however, I have decided to try an "open" (i.e., free) software suite, LibreOffice. So far, I have used its spreadsheet and word processing programs, and I've found the interfaces to be a reasonable hybrid of the pre- and post-2010 versions of their Microsoft Office counterparts. 

As of this writing, I've also begun dabbling with LibreDraw, which opens Microsoft Publisher files, and thank heaven for that mercy. I had been using Publisher to create promotional materials and to develop the Kindle edition of my forthcoming graphic novel, The Challenge. Now that I have my nonstandard fonts installed, and with the final page of episode 1 soon to be finalized, I have dived into that work in earnest.

Best of all, LibreOffice's command icons are brightly colored, making it much easier for my beleaguered eyes.

Gull can scarcely believe his eyes in today's excerpt from Raging Sea when he sees what Morghe's ship has been transporting.

Previous excerpts of Raging Sea 
Chapters 1–6 in Raging Sea: Reckonings

 Chapter 7: Sc 1 | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4 | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Chapter 8: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 9: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 1d | Sc 1e |
Chapter 10: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2a | Sc 2b | Sc 3a | Sc 3b | Sc 3c |
Chapter 11: Sc 1a |  Sc 1b | Sc 1c | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 12: Sc 1a | 

Raging Sea Chapter 12, Scene 1b

©2016 by Kim Headlee

All rights reserved.

The first passenger off the ship was a wee lad, tugging on his father’s hand and leaning forward for all he was worth, like a hound straining against the leash, whilst his mother struggled to keep pace. Both parents were toting knapsacks stuffed to bursting with the gods alone knew what. The man had a second, larger pack strapped to his back.

As his feet touched the dock, the lad surged and broke his father’s grip. Whooping with triumph, he careened toward Gull, ignoring his parents’ startled, “Eoghann, no! Come back at once!” They exchanged grimaces and rushed after him.

The lad shook his head, his wee little legs and arms pumping in furious rhythm to gain distance. But he missed spotting a loose board, tripped, and smacked headfirst onto the planking.

Gull dashed to his side and righted him in moments. The tyke looked more confused and stunned than hurt, though he already had grown a fair purpling knot on his forehead. But as his parents neared, he broke into a loud wail. Gull scooped him up. The boy, still howling, started flailing his fists and kicking anything in reach. Gull had to hold him at arm’s length to avoid getting bruised.

“So sorry, sir,” said the father in gruff Breatanaiche, reaching for the lad. Gull was all too happy to deposit the squirming dervish into the man’s arms.

“No harm done,” Gull assured him as the mother joined them to coo over the still struggling child, fingering his knot. Gull laid a hand on Eoghann’s shock of carrot hair. “Ye be a brave one, mo laochan.”

That got the lad’s attention. All movement of limbs and torso stilled. Between sniffles he gave Gull a puzzled stare.

“It means ‘my little hero’ in the tongue of my people,” explained Gull to the trio, selecting a word he thought the lad might know.

This time when Eoghann kicked, it was accompanied by a squeal and grin of pure joy.

And this time, Gull noticed the outline of a pair of tiny blue doves flying across the boy’s bare heel.

Only Caledonaich tattooed their children, and only children of the clan’s àrd-banoigin received such a tattoo. And only one clan in all Caledon laid claim to the pair of doves in flight.

Loholt . . . alive? With Móranach guardians? Answering to the name Eoghann?
 
Before Gull could decide which question to voice first, the lady Elian had hailed and her companion jounced down the gangplank. Gull and Elian watched as the warrior tried to steady her while maintaining his balance, though the pair managed to traverse the distance without mishap.

For a few moments the woman appeared to be looking past Elian and Gull, a slight but triumphant smile flashing across her face.

Gull turned to follow the line of her gaze in time to glimpse Loholt and his guardians disappearing into the crowd.

He could have kicked himself all the way to fire-ravaged Ifrinn and back.

Elian would be hearing about his suspicions later; Gull knew not whom else he could trust with such a sensitive matter.

***

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.

Please enter often, and good luck!

Annual April #amwriting at the beach! Or am I April Fooling? (The Dawnflier, Apr. 2016)

I love this meme, which I saw today via the feed of a recent Twitter follower. 
Whoever dreamed it up is no April Fool!

Move away: Check. I relocated from the metro Washington, DC area in 2005 to our farm in southwestern Virginia, some 300 miles distant but close enough that it isn't too much of a hassle to return for conventions and other such doses of civilization.

Find a new job: Check. I'm writing and publishing full time now, with the occasional substitute-teaching job on the side.

On a beach: Check—but only two weeks plus the odd long weekend here and there throughout the year, this week being one of them.

With rum: Double check—rum is not my preferred recreational beverage; does sangria or sake count? :D


This week I'm helping my daughter look for an apartment, in addition to the following #amwriting activities:

• Updated the print edition of The Challenge to match more closely with its e-book and audiobook structure. Fifty copies will be given away to lucky attendants of the annual Washington Romance Writers Retreat at the end of this month, and I hope you're one of them!
• Published the Spanish edition of The Challenge, titled El Reto. It will be available via Kindle Unlimited for the first three months, and then I will release it to other sales channels.
• Evaluated more chapters of the forthcoming audiobook production of King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court. Producer Danielle Cohen is doing a fantastic job of voicing Queen Morgan and the other characters. She's about halfway done, and I cannot wait to share this production with you!
• Continued working on Raging Sea. Part one, Raging Sea: Reckonings, is free on Kindle Unlimited or with an Amazon Prime membership.

In other news:

• King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court has been shortlisted for the 2016 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award in Fantasy and Science Fiction. This entitles the book to silver-medal status already; winners will be announced on April 8. KASIWC also has been entered in the 2016 IPPY Awards, and those finalists will be announced April 7; the winners will be revealed at the 2016 Book ExpoAmerica in mid-May.
• Kings, the sword & sorcery crossover novella I cowrote with longtime author-friend Patricia Duffy Novak, is now a free download via Kindle Unlimited or with an Amazon Prime subscription. Enter this giveaway for your chance to win an e-copy, while supplies last!
• And the first book published under the Pendragon Cove Press imprint which I did not write, Faith, Family, Film: A Teacher's Trek by Fred Eichelman, is a free download via Kindle Unlimited or with an Amazon Prime subscription. Discover a heartwarming side of Hollywood and politics that you never knew existed!
• My next confirmed appearance will be Saturday, April 9, Bluefield College, VA, for the annual Celebration of Appalachia event, where I will be selling and signing my books. Paperback editions of The Challenge and The Color of Vengeance will be free!

The rowboat in the "I need a vacation" meme seems rather small, but if you can squeeze in, I invite you to come along for the ride!

***
Enter this Amazon giveaway for your chance to win
an e-copy of Kings, while supplies last!

All this month, you are invited to…

— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow

… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books. 

Please enter often, and good luck!

THE CHALLENGE by @KimHeadlee is #FREE on Kindle Feb 9-10! #EggcerptExchange

The gauntlet is thrown. One must die.
Refusal is not an option.

The Challenge is a Dragon's Dove Chronicles novella featuring a little-known episode in the Arthurian legends: the capture of Arthur by the Saxon princess Camilla. 

Just because I love turning legends on end, I have given this tale a traditional fantasy twist. To rescue the high king, Arthur's wife Gyan (a.k.a. Guinevere) must face all her demons—public as well as private.

Enjoy The Challenge free on Kindle, but unless you have a Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime subscription, you'd better hurry! It's only free worldwide February 9-10.

Learn more about Gyan from her Eggcerpt Exchange interview:

What is the meaning of your name?
I am Gyanhumara nic Hymar, daughter of Hymar and her consort, Ogryvan. My mother, whose name means “song,” named me her “rarest song,” for I was fated before birth to be the only daughter she would ever bear. Those who do not ken the Caledonach tongue call me by many other names: Vennevria… Guanhumara… Ganora… Gwenhwyfar… Guenevara… Guinevere. I am none of those women.

I am Gyanhumara.

My kin and closest friends call me Gyan. You may call me “Your Majesty.”

As you wish, of course. Please describe your job, Your Majesty.
I am Chieftainess of Clan Argyll of Caledon, a position I inherited from my mother. When my husband Arthur was acclaimed High King of Breatein by virtue of his—our—victories over the Saxons, Scots, and other enemies of his people the Breatanaich, I became High Queen to rule at Arthur’s side.

Though I remain honored that Arthur’s people hold much love and respect for me, the added responsibilities have proven to be far more of a burden than I could have ever foreseen.

Do you have a favorite place to visit?
The Sanctuary of the Chalice on St. Padraic’s Isle. In the churchyard lie the bodies of the first men to die under my command. Their gravestones serve to remind me that war should only be pursued after all other avenues toward peace have failed. Inside the church sits enshrined one of the holiest relics of all Christendom… and the only means by which I have ever attained forgiveness for the mistakes I’ve made. And those mistakes are, indeed, legion.

This may be a sensitive question, but please tell us, Your Majesty, about your significant other.
Ah, Arthur, my life, my heart, my soul… my dearest love. How did we ever come to a point where we scarcely share an intimate word anymore? I blame the pressures of governing the people, of protecting them from invasions and famines and plagues and sundry other threats.

But most of all, I blame myself for the poor choices I have made that have widened our rift.

What is your most important goal?
I would give anything for the chance to set things aright with Arthur. Anything, even my very life itself.

What is your worst nightmare?
Ha! You have doubtless heard that in mere moments I must face in combat a woman reputed to be in league with a demon. Is that not nightmare enough for you?

Please forgive me, Your Majesty; I intended no offense. Thank you so much for your precious time, and I wish you success in this battle… and beyond.

[Gyan inclines her head, a slight smile bending her lips. The smile inverts as she tugs on her gloves, dons her helmet, claps hand to hilt, and strides off to meet her foe.]

Hear Gyan voiced by Ruth Urquhart in the
audiobook edition of The Challenge!

***

All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
... and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books. Please enter often, and good luck!