writing

Mythology Monday: Helen of Troy

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“So,” I said when they fell silent for a minute, “you two knew each other when you were alive, right? In Troy? What was it like?”

The quality of the silence changed. I peeked through half open eyes to see Cassandra and Helen share a long look.

“I’m so sorry,” I stammered. I couldn’t believe I’d just asked that. “I didn’t think about… You two must want to forget all about—”

“It’s okay,” Helen assured me, collecting some pink powder onto an angled brush. “There are days I would give anything to drink from the Lethe.” She paused for a second before putting the blush on my face. I closed my eyes instinctively. “I think about it every morning when I wake up. Just forgetting all those horrible things. But all those people died for me. It wouldn’t be right to forget them.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Cassandra said as though reciting a familiar line from a familiar argument. “Menelaus was bound to attack Troy eventually. He was greedy. You were just—”

“A convenient excuse.” Helen’s voice was bitter.

“What happened?” I asked. “If you don’t mind my asking.”

“You’ve heard the stories, I’m sure. You’re a daughter of Zeus, so you understand better than most the way people can change around us.”

“It’s not change,” Cassandra said. “You just bring out the—”

“I understand that,” Helen replied. “It’s still not something ordinary girls would have to worry about. But then we’re not ordinary, are we, Persephone? We’re lucky.”

I looked at her, and she saw that I understood.

“I was taken from my husband and daughter and given to Paris as a prize.”

“You had a daughter?” I shook off my surprise, remembering how different things were back then.

“Hermione.” Helen smiled fondly. “The last time I saw her was her ninth birthday. I imagine she’s down here somewhere, but she probably drank from the Lethe to forget me. They all hated me in the end.”

“You were just a scapegoat,” Cassandra reminded her.

“I wish they would have just listened to you,” Helen replied.

“Even without the curse, my brother was too much of a moron to listen to anyone.”

Helen of Troy had a pretty crazy life. She was conceived when Zeus raped Leda….as a swan. Her half brothers were Castor and Pollux, the gemini twins. The twins were also demigods, but the way it broke down with them is that one of them was a full god, the other was a full human. 

~@~

 As a child she was already lovely and turning heads. When Theseus and Pirithous made their pact to marry daughters of Zeus, Theseus chose the then ten year old Helen. The two kidnapped her and stashed her with Theseus’ mom for safe keeping then went down to the Underworld to try to abduct Persephone. We all know how that went.

Meanwhile,Helen was rescued by her brothers and returned home where she was later married off to Menelaus. She had a daughter named Hermione, and by some accounts an infant son when she was taken to Troy by Paris. Sources are conflicted here as to whether she went with Paris of her own volition or was abducted. Either way, her disappearance was just the excuse Menelaus needed to go to war with the very wealthy kingdom of Troy. The Trojan war was fought for ten years before Troy fell, and Helen, according to different accounts, either captured, killed, or escaped with Paris.

I always felt sorry for Helen so I tried to portray her as a sympathetic character in my story and give her a happier life in the Underworld.

Some Changes Coming Soon

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Photo on 1-20-15 at 12.00 PM

Hi everyone! Sorry for the long absence, I got caught up finishing my latest book. But now that I’m back, I’ve taken a look at my blog and decided it needs some major work.

I love doing the Mythology Mondays. It’s very helpful to me in continuing my research, but just typing out my research verbatim isn’t all that entertaining. So I’m going to go back through and re-do the Mythology Monday’s I’ve done, but better.

Starting next Monday, I’m going to include a scene featuring each character and then go into the more interesting aspects of the myth (if you really want to know their genealogy, check out theoi.com, it’s amazing). Wednesdays, instead of doing a book review, I’m going to pull an example of that myth used in a modern way, and chat about that, and Friday we’ll be talking about issues that resonate with that myth today.

In the meantime, I’ve got a favor to ask you guys. If you see or can make any cool artwork, memes, or images that make you think of the god or goddess of the upcoming week (and you have permission to use it) send it my way. For next week, I’m focusing on Persephone.

Hope you guys enjoy 🙂

Sunday Short: Aphrodite’s first chapters from Hades’ POV

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Aphrodite was not one of the original narrators for Iron Queen. It took me writing these two chapters to realize the story NEEDED her voice to make sense. Her perspective was important to the story, and it told me things I couldn’t get from Hades. This is a cut, unedited, very, very rough set of scenes in Hades’ perspective that ended up being reworked to be in Aphrodite’s pov. Enjoy 🙂

Chapter I
Hades

“Hades?”
Cool hands shook me and I opened my eyes with a groan. Aquamarine eyes looked at me in concern. I blinked, recognizing Aphrodite.
“Hades!” She shook me again.
Why am I on the ground? I was sprawled across dry leaves, half dead grass, and dirt. My head felt like it was full of molten lava. I could feel an entrance to the Underworld nearby. Something was wrong. Really wrong.
“Hades!” Aphrodite shook me again. “Where is she?”
Persephone! I bolted upright as the memories crashed back. We’d been wrong about Aphrodite. It was Joel. Joel was Zeus! And I’d left her alone with him.
Persephone’s voice, desperate and frightened, had surged through my mind. I can get him to the entrance, Hades. This can still work!
Then blinding pain surged through our connection and I’d been on the ground.
I shoved past Aphrodite and ran up the dirt path.
“Hades, where is she? What happened?” Aphrodite asked. She lagged behind me, picking through the forest in her heels. “She called me for help. She said that Thanatos was working with Zeus and he’d attacked her. I told her to stay behind a shield while she waited for me.” She cleared her throat. “She said Thanatos was dead.”
“More than dead.” I’d killed him then destroyed his soul. Enjoyed every minute of it too. Thanatos had spent months torturing my wife. An excruciatingly painful death was the least he deserved.
“She already told you?” There was a crash and a thud. Leaves crunched, twigs snapped. Aphrodite cursed. A red heel flew past my head. “Hey!” She shouted, picking herself up from a pile of leaves. “I’m talking to you! What happened? Where is Persephone? And why the hell were you unconscious!”
I kept pushing through the woods. Bent and crushed daisies were randomly strewn across the path.
Another heel flew past me. “What did you do? You were a jerk about it, weren’t you!” Aphrodite glanced back in the direction we’d come from. “Did she knock you out?”
I didn’t dignify that with a response. Here. I stopped when I reached a small gazebo. A bouquet of daises littered the ground. The earth was scorched. There was no sign of either of them. I knelt, fingers brushing the dirt. Sunlight filtered through the trees, and a cool breeze carried the smell of barbecue. Hadn’t it just been raining? How long had I been out? The wet dirt stuck to my fingers, and I stared at it, lost in thought.
She’d been in so much pain. There was nothing in the space she inhabited in my mind now. Complete silence.
It couldn’t have been long. Aphrodite had just pulled up when– I closed my eyes against the echo of the searing pain that had flashed through my head. I’d been shielded. How long did it take for a shield to drop if I lost consciousness? How far could they go? How could they travel?
Aphrodite’s breath hitched, interrupting my mental math. “No.” She turned to face me. “You let him take her?”
Loathing, pure and unadulterated flashed through me, boiling my blood. She saw it in my face and blanched.
“You knew.” It wasn’t a question.
She stepped backward, holding her hands up in surrender.
“Please, please don’t hurt me. I didn’t–”
“Didn’t what?”
She flinched. “P… Please. He said he wouldn’t need to hurt her.”
A vision of my wife being struck by lightning flashed through my brain.
“He didn’t need to.”
“I didn’t know–”
“Didn’t know what?” I closed the gap between us. She backed up, stopping when her back met a tree. “Didn’t know he would take her? Didn’t know he would hurt her? Didn’t know he was pretending to be Joel? What didn’t you know? We told you he was dangerous. We told you what he wanted. And after everything she did for you, you pushed her toward him! Why?”
“He’s our father!” Aphrodite’s voice broke.
“You honestly think he gives a damn about you!” I grabbed her by the shoulders. She felt small and fragile. It would be easy, so easy to break her. “You’re nothing but a tool to him, and you just threw the only person who gave a damn about you to the wolves. He left you here, with me and Demeter. What exactly do you think happens next?”
She seemed to consider that. The fear melted away from her face and confidence filled her eyes. “You’re not going to hurt me.”
I tightened my grip, fingers biting into her flesh. “And what makes you so sure of that?”
“She wouldn’t want you to.”
She was right. Persephone and I dealt with things… Differently. My way tended to be a lot more violent. But Persephone knew that. “Didn’t stop me with Thanatos, and that sure as hell isn’t going to protect you from Demeter.”
She swallowed hard. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“Bullshit.”
“I didn’t!” Her voice rose. “He’s my father.”
I let her go and put some distance between us so I didn’t completely lose it and hit her. “That doesn’t mean anything!”
“Yes, it does. Hades, I couldn’t tell her. I tried, but he told me not to.” She threw up her hands in frustration. “He’s my father.”
No. My mouth dropped open. No. No one would do that. It was unthinkable. Horrific. Even the Titans had given us free will. Lot of good that did them.
“You have to listen to him.” I’d missed that. How had I missed that? She’d called Persephone sister. Gods didn’t think of each other like that. We weren’t family, we were just created. There were no genetic ties. No grouping instincts. Those were human weaknesses. Exceptions were rare. Demeter chose to act like a human mother toward Persephone, and Persephone treated her accordingly, but Aphrodite hadn’t been raised with those beliefs or expectations. When she latched on to those titles right a way it should have been a huge red flag.
But then I’d also missed the fact that one of my most trusted advisors was working with Zeus, that my wife was being tortured by Reapers, and that her new boyfriend was actually the very man I’d been hunting for months.
What was wrong with me? I was usually more on top of things. I’m one of the only gods left. I didn’t get where I am today by being oblivious to the world around me.
Aphrodite watched me with wary eyes. “I didn’t realize I had to listen to him. Not until I saw him here in the park.” Her lips were pressed together so hard they’d turned white. “She fought against him so hard. But he was using the Reapers to wear her down so he could charm her. She didn’t have a chance. You should have kept her in the Underworld.”
“You think?” I pushed my hair out of my face. “Come on, let’s get to the bridge.” I set off for the lake in the center of the park.
Aphrodite hastened after me. “The bridge, why?”
“I’ve got to call Demeter. Do you want to be standing in her realm when she finds out Zeus has her daughter?”
Aphrodite blanched, and quickened her pace.
****
I hadn’t even hung up Persephone’s phone when Demeter appeared beside me on the wooden bridge.
“What do you mean Zeus has her? You told me you’d keep her in the Underworld where she’d be safe.” Demeter’s color was high, her eyes blazing with fury. She was a good bit shorter than me, but for a second it still felt like she was towering over me. Persephone could have the same effect. I shook my head, it was weird how alike they looked, and right now I couldn’t get Demeter’s daughter out of my head.
Then her gaze fell on Aphrodite. “What are you doing here?”
I stepped in front of Aphrodite before Demeter could do any damage. “We were wrong. Joel was Zeus, and when he created Aphrodite he programmed–” I shot Aphrodite an apologetic glance for not finding a better word for it, “her to follow orders.”
“It’s just loyalty to family,” Aphrodite interjected, voice small. “It worked for her, too, just to a lesser degree.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Persephone wouldn’t control you.”
“Have you met your wife? She’s bossy and–” Aphrodite glanced between me and Demeter and cleared her throat. “Gosh, she’s just a wonderful person. I’m sure she would have toned it down had she known I had to listen to her.”
“Joel is Zeus?” Demeter sounded shocked. She shook her head as if to clear it and focused on Aphrodite. “What else were you ordered to do?”
“Nothing further for the moment. But if I were you, I’d keep me supervised by someone that can’t be charmed.”
Demeter gritted her teeth and turned to me. “This is your fault. You brought her–” she jabbed a finger at Aphrodite. “To my realm, you put her under my roof with my daughter. You let Zeus–”
“I didn’t let him take her. If you weren’t so stingy with your teleportation authorization, I’d have been able to get to her–”
Demeter paled with fury. “Are you suggesting this is somehow my fault? You made her a target when you forced her to marry you–”
“She was already a target! And thanks to you, she was helpless. Had she known what she was–”
“Really,” Aphrodite interrupted. “The blame game? That’s the most important thing on the agenda right now? Okay, I’ll take a turn then. This is your fault–” she gestured at me. “Because you’re an idiot. Had you treated her more like your wife and less like an addlepated teenager she wouldn’t have given Joel a second look. She should have been too powerful for Zeus to charm and had you two been linked the way you should have, then you would have known about Thanatos and the Reapers.
“But don’t look so smug,” she added, turning to Demeter. “You’d have her believe she was nothing, just some silly mortal teenager. She shouldn’t have been going on dates and hanging out with friends. There are demi gods and minor deities going missing from your realm.”
Demeter looked at her in surprise.
“Oh yes, I know all about that.” Aphrodite smiled. “Did it ever occur to you that she could help? That she should help? You know, the only person who treated her with the respect due to her station and level of powers is Zeus. He at least treats her like a threat. You two–” Aphrodite waved her hand. “You two seem to have forgotten that she can actually be useful.”
Demeter looked like she was about to say something, but I cut her off. “Aphrodite is right. We don’t have time to argue about this right now. We need to rescue–”
“Rescue her!’ Aphrodite exclaimed. “You two still don’t get it, do you? She’s powerful! She ranks, and incidentally, she’s part of a very small group left that can kill Zeus. Use her.”
Demeter shook her head. “She’s not strong enough.”
Aphrodite scoffed, and propped herself up on the rail of the bridge. A fountain set in the center of the lake sparkled behind her, bathing her in glittering light. “Well then let’s fix that. I swear fealty–”
My hand shot out, nearly knocking her from the bridge. “Stop.” Persephone still hadn’t come into her powers yet. Too much unfiltered power could kill her.
My throat constricted. I’d been channeling the excess power away every night. If we didn’t find her soon…
Aphrodite’s eyes flicked over my face. “Exactly. If she’s going to die anyway, why not take Zeus down with her?’

Iron Queen Cover

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The Blurb:

Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with a right to both, Persephone’s in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus. But will she be strong enough?

Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there’s a reason gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation shouldn’t place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But Hades…Hades would break the world for her.

To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.

Back in the living realm! Vote on your favorite posts!

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Okay guys, poll time. I’ve got time to blog now and am committed to blogging at least two days a week. What type of posts would you like to see more of? In the past I’ve done Mythology Monday, Top Ten Tuesday, W…w…wednesday (lists of most recently read books) and the Thursday book review. Other options, spoiler Sunday, and freebie Friday (short stories set in the Persephone universe, one section of a story per week). Vote in the comments or sugges something different 🙂 I’m all ears

Half Dead Pomegranate Tree

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This blog was originally posted on Becky’s blog here:
There’s a half dead pomegranate tree in my yard. I love it. I think it’s wonderfully symbolic. It’s the craziest looking thing. There are leaves and fruit on one side and the rest of the tree just looks like a skeleton. My friends tell me I should cut away the dead so that the tree might pull through, and I will once I have a minute to dedicate to yard work. But I can’t help but feel cutting away the dead is betraying Hades.
Silly I know. I really wish I could claim this half dead pomegranate tree was my inspiration for writing Persephone, but we didn’t move to this house until last summer, and Persephone was being sent out in query letters at that point. No, my actual inspiration was much less poetical and symbolic.
It was a preview to clash of the titans. I really liked the quote “damn the gods” which got the ball rolling in my mind. The actual movie was almost as inspiring.
In that I was so bored I drafted the entire book in my head while I watched it. I left that movie, chattering endlessly about my idea to my husband and a friend, and then went home and wrote the book.
I don’t know why a movie trailer seems like an unworthy source of inspiration, but the whole story is a little embarrassing. If I ever get really famous, I might go with the more “writerly” story of inspiration.
I have a half dead pomegranate tree in my yard..

Brittany interviews me about Persephone

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This interview was originally posted on Brittany’s blog here:

Do you have a favorite character? Why is she your favorite?

Melissa. I’ve read books about characters with fantastic abilities my entire life. I’ve wished magic was real with every fiber of my being, and you know what I eventually figured out? If all the stuff I read about was real, I’d probably still just be a regular human. That’s why I love Melissa. She has to deal with the knowledge that everything is real, just not for her, and she manages to deal with that crushing disappointment while still being a good friend. I admire her for that, it can’t be easy having a goddess for a best friend.

What do you hope readers will get from your book?

I just hope that people enjoy reading it. I don’t have an agenda and I’m not trying to pass on any pearls of wisdom, I just like good stories. I did a ton of research so if you’re familiar with the myths there’s all kinds of fun references in there, but I’m not trying to teach anyone anything. I just want people to have fun reading my book.

About the Author:
What/Who inspires you?

It’s completely random. Sometimes it’s movies or shows or trailers that get me thinking along a completely different path and start a story. Sometimes it’s bad dreams. Sometimes it’s other books or things that happen in real life. Most of the time is a combination of so many different things I can’t really pinpoint it. Other times it’s a name. Right now I’ve got a half formed idea floating around because I really want to name a character Chance. I think Chance probably has an attitude problem and might be a thief. Who knows what will come of that.

Hardest aspect of writing? Best/Easiest?

The hardest part to me is writing the query letter, synopsis, blurb, or anything to shorten this idea that I’ve spent every single bit of my energy into pouring MORE detail in, and expanding into a novel. The easiest part is writing the dialogue. I probably let my characters talk too much, but their dialogue is so fun to write.

Who is your writing hero?

Peter Beagle. I love his novels. He manages to write really good novels. His novels are good literature yet still manage to tell a great story without getting dragged down in craft. And to top it off, most of his stories are for children, so it does it in a very concise space. He’s amazing. My favorite novel by him is Tamsin, but The Last Unicorn is a close second.

About the Future:
What’s next for you?

Finishing the trilogy. My sequel is done, and waiting on edits. So now I’m working on the third book. The third books a lot of fun because it’s a dual narrative between Persephone and Hades, and it’s fun to be in Hades’ head.

One outrageous goal for the future?

I want to go on the Supernatural Summer tour with all my favorite authors. It’s through their publisher so it’s not going to happen for a very long time, but it’s my goal. Mostly just so I can meet all my favorite authors!

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with other aspiring writers?

Join a writers group and listen to what they say. I see so many writers complain that they tried writers groups but the people just “didn’t get” their story, or their advice was just too off the wall. Here’s the thing about people in the writers group. They are your best gauge of what your reviews are going to look like should you ever get published. If they, avid readers and writers, don’t understand your work, I guarantee they are not the problem. My books would not be a fraction as good if I didn’t have them to bounce ideas off of or to say “wow, your character is being really bitchy right now, do you want us to hate her?” If you can’t handle constructive criticism you’re never going to be able to handle your edits, much less your readers!

Randomness:
Sweet or salty?

Sweet. My favorite candy is the Reeses cups shaped like eggs. Yum.

Beach, plains or mountains?

The Beach. I got married on the beach. I love it, it’s so beautiful. I’m not a huge fan of the ocean though. I have a short story called Siren Song published (if there’s a way to link to it I’d appreciate it) that goes into all the creepiness of the ocean. I mean think about it. It’s huge. An entire ecosystem lives in it. It’s this entire other realm and we go swimming in it? It’s a little crazy.

Online, letters or in person?

In person. I know this is weird for a writer to say but I tend to get in trouble if people can’t see/hear me. I use happy sarcasm. When people hear me in real life, they say I’m nice and sometimes a little tiny bit funny (not often) but somehow that doesn’t translate well to email or text or letters. I just come off condescending and mean. I read other people all wrong too. Talking in person prevents any misunderstandings.

Ebook or print?

EBook. When you’ve moved as often as I have the novelty of print becomes a bit of an encumbrance. Plus I like having my entire library on me at all times. Stuck waiting in the doctors office? No problem, I have a book. Can’t remember something I’ve read, I can pull it up. I’m never going back to print!

Happy Release Day!

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Happy release day!

Today, the sequel to Persephone, and second book in the Daughters of Zeus story has been released!

Below is a never before seen, extended excerpt! Want to win a copy of Daughter of the Earth and Sky? Answer the trivia question below in the comments. For additional chances to win, follow me here, or twitter, or Facebook, linked in, google plus, tumbler, Pinterest or anywhere else you can think of! Be sure to comment for each follow!

One lucky winner will be chosen at midnight to tonight! Good luck!

“Your mom’s shop is right around here, isn’t it?” Joel motioned out the window, though all we could see from our vantage point was the gravel parking lot and a steady stream of cars flowing down South Lumpkin Street.

“Yeah, just up the road. Don’t tell me you’ve never been.”

Joel laughed. “I’ve seen her work. You guys do all the centerpieces for school stuff, right?”

I nodded and fiddled with my necklace.
“But I haven’t been to the shop. As much reason as I’ve had to buy flowers…”

I kicked him lightly under the table. I knew he didn’t have a girlfriend, but flowers weren’t just for couples. “What about your mom or aunts or something?” I didn’t know if Joel had any sisters. None had attended Athens Academy, but he could be the youngest child.

Joel hesitated. “I don’t…My mom’s not…” He scowled at the table, rubbing at a spot with his thumb. “She was murdered. Forever ago.”

I gasped. “I’m so sor — ”

Joel cut off my apology with a wave of his hand. “Don’t. I never mentioned it to you before. I just don’t like to talk about my family. I’d send flowers to the extended members, but I don’t think they’d appreciate the reminder I still exist.” He shrugged and changed the topic. “If I were to get someone flowers, what would you recommend?”

“My favorites are daisies. But most people prefer something more elaborate.”

He gave me an easy grin. “Daisies, huh? I’ll keep that in mind.”

A movement in the corner of my eye caught my gaze. A man stepped through the door of the Smoothie King. No one else seemed to notice his entrance, but that wasn’t surprising. The light fractured around him, bending oddly and seeming to absorb into his black robes.

The Reaper met my gaze and stood behind Joel, hand hovering over his shoulder.

“Stop it.”

Joel followed my gaze past the Reaper. “Stop what? What are you looking at?”

I smiled brightly at Joel. “Being such a shameless flirt. I’m not impressed.”

“Still got a boyfriend?” Joel asked.

I eyed the Reaper, and he gave me a malicious grin. I turned my attention to Joel. “I have…you know, it’s kind of complicated.”

Joel looked at me over his cup. “Is it exclusive?”

I did my best to ignore the Reaper’s hand hovering over Joel’s head. I had no idea what Hades and I were right now. Everything had gotten so weird. “I’m not interested in anyone that isn’t him.” I shrugged. “I’m flattered, really, but I don’t want to lead you on.”

Joel folded his straw paper into a tiny accordion. “It was worth a shot. Still running buddies?”

When I hesitated, he looked me in the eye. “I can date other girls. Friends are harder to come by. Plus, running alone is dangerous. I could fall and break my ankle, or some random stalker could push me off the path. You never know what kind of crazies are out there. Please?”

I laughed. “Yeah, okay. So what classes are you registered for?”

When he launched into his answer, I dropped a shield so Joel couldn’t hear me and raised my smoothie in front of my mouth. “If his name was on the list, he’d be dead by now.” I kept my voice calm as I addressed the Reaper. “Thanatos doesn’t want to attract attention by taking the wrong souls, so you can cut the theatrics.”

“Thanatos sends his regards,” the Reaper said softly. His threat was completely undermined by his puppy-dog brown eyes. I frowned, trying to focus on his soul instead of the light bending around him. He was not much older than me. How long had he been dead? Why did he decide to become a Reaper instead of just spending his afterlife in the Underworld?

“Bring me to Thanatos,” I demanded.
It was a long shot, but I was Queen of the Underworld, and that included Reapers. He might listen to me. I just needed one second of eye contact to charm Thanatos, and I could uncharm this mess. But so far I hadn’t been able to get near him. Each time I’d gone to the Underworld, he’d managed to be elsewhere.

The Reaper gave me a cutting glare and meandered behind the counter. The brunette girl who’d made our smoothies shivered as though she sensed his presence. He touched her shoulder and she collapsed.

Joel swore and sprang from his seat, rushing behind the counter to check on the girl. I forced myself to stay in my seat and ignore the scream of rage and horror that threatened to erupt from my chest. I buried it and kept my face impassive as I stared down the Reaper. I couldn’t show any weakness. Not to him.

“Your move, Queen.” His lips curved in sarcasm as he gave a shallow bow and vanished.

Trivia question: why doesn’t Persephone think the Reaper will kill Joel?

Piracy

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Well, it finally happened. My book was put on a ton of pirate sites. I’ve sent take down notices and they seem to have been removed for now, but I’m really upset by this turn of events.

I really hate thieves. Stealing is wrong and pirating a copy of a book, is stealing make no mistake. I’ve heard people justify piracy in a variety of ways, which is stupid, because stealing is stealing, but even if these reasons did make it okay, they don’t apply to my book.

Reason number one: “I already own the print book, I shouldn’t have to pay twice for the content”

No you don’t. I write ebooks.

Reason number two: “It’s no different from borrowing from a library.”

Yes it is, libraries buy copies of the book. I’m actually available in libraries courtesy of overdrive. If you want a copy of my book but can’t afford it, check it out there, or find a friend with amazon lending. That’s legal, unlike stealing.

Reason 3, my personal favorite: these writers make so much money anyway and/or writers barely make anything off commission so really I’m just taking from the publisher.

Okay, I’m a new writer. Downloading a free copy of my book is the equivalent of robbing a mom and pop store that’s struggling to stay in business next to Walmart.

Incidentally, I’m not being published by the big six. My publisher is very new and very small. So I’m pissed, not only on my behalf, but on behalf of the entire staff that was stolen from because those people are my friends. I know every employee within my publishing house. They aren’t rich. They feel the loss just as keenly as I do. Hear that user “Rayz” from the pirate sites. That huge batch of books you just uploaded with your comment “Merry Christmas” hurt a ton of people. You should be ashamed of yourself you miserable excuse for a human being.

Stepping off my soap box now.