Indie Authors Unite!

Okay, so I published Oriana's Eyes. I was able to get multiple reviews from various bloggers with a wonderful response. I am so thankful to those bloggers who were willing to give an Indie Author a chance. But unfortunately, having multiple positive reviews still doesn't let you in the door to all the YA Fantasy book bloggers out there.
I completely understand, they have a lot on their plate, and let's face it, there's a lot of self-published novels out there that are not of the same caliber and quality that publishers can offer.
So I've decided that, despite the fact that I myself am still growing followers for this blog, I will offer what publicity I do have, to fellow YA Fantasy Indie Authors. I think that everyone deserves a chance, and that's what social media is about, right? Sharing amongst each other, getting the word out without the middle man publishing company to decide what deserves recognition and what doesn't. I hope you will join me in uniting self-published authors of this genre.

So here is my Review Policy, and bear with me as I begin to reorganize my blog.

I am only accepting Indie Authors and Self-Published YA novels, including the following genres (in no particular order):

Dystopian
Romance
Fantasy
Paranormal
Sci-Fi

I am willing to publish these reviews on my blog, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Amazon. If you check out my presence on these other websites, they show that I have a respectable following that I hope to grow with more self-published content. I have a college degree in English and writing, I also have experience as an editor, associate editor, and writer for national magazines.

At this point in time, I cannot guarantee a review for every query I accept, but I will do my best to give my honest opinion of your novel in a timely manner. If I feel the novel is less than three stars, I will not post a review. I do not want to hurt your sales, and as it is just my opinion, my intention is not to negatively affect an author's efforts.


If you are interested, please query me at: celestesimone@gmail.com

Why Are We Drawn to Dystopian Novels?

We all go through times when life seems like struggle. Some of those times are more difficult than others, but I think we've all had those moments when life is tough (to say the least). So why are we drawn to fictional stories that depict a dark and abysmal world? Wouldn't we want to escape into a world that was more carefree than our own?

Many of the dystopian novels I've read depict a society where its peoples' freedoms are taken from them, where they are struggling against the oppression of a dictator.

Some people might say that the intrigue is similar to watching a horror movie. We read about dystopias because it's a thrill that we can experience within the safety of our imagination, but I beg to differ.

I think the dystopian novel is not a contrast of our reality, but the reflection in a fun house mirror. We might say that looking into the mirror we see a distortion of who we are, but the main image is being reflected. What I'm trying to explain is that I've always seen dystopian novels as a reminder of how easily we can allow ourselves to believe that our society does not have its flaws. The dystopian novel is a way of looking at ourselves under the guise of another person.

Consider The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, a very popular and superbly written novel. Katniss, the lead protagonist, lives in a society where children are being forced to fight to the death for fame and glory. It's easy to say, "What a horrific act, how could any society allow such a thing?" Yet the concept is not too farfetched. Consider the young men and women who are being sent to war to fight for the wealthy politicians and government figures? Isn't there any way to stop war and the loss of so many? Is Collins attempting to question the motives of war, is it possibly a publicity stunt? I don't want to take sides in this political debate, but I do think the dystopian novel raises pertinent questions. We've accepted many things as the norm in society, yet the dystopian novel begs us to question what we've grown accustom to.

I've always been drawn to the dystopian novel because of its ability to turn the tables on how we view ourselves. It's easy to look through the eyes of a character, trapped in a dark situation and trying to free themselves from the bindings of society. Yes, I enjoy the adventure and the challenge the protagonist faces in rising against authority and thinking for themselves. But I also like the bigger picture that a dystopian novel provides.

The novel 1984, by George Orwell, reminds us that fear is a terrific way to control people. It asks us to question in what ways we allow ourselves to be controlled. In what ways have we accepted things the way they are and forgotten how to think for ourselves? 

At the surface of a great dystopian novel is a world the author has created that is unique and rich in detail. Yet this world that seems so foreign to us, is often not so far from our own faults or potential oppression. Does it remind us to be grateful for what we have and the security of our own lives? Yes, I think so. But it also reminds us to take a look at our reflection and be aware. If an outside reader were to pick up a novel on our society, what would they think about this world and its characters?


Why do you think we are drawn to the dystopian genre? What do you like about this theme in fantasy novels?

Halloween Thrills and Chills

Yes! It's my favorite time of year! I'm pretty sure Halloween is officially my favorite holiday of all time. I've got my condo decorated to the nines with creepy ghosts, demons, and skeletons adorning the walls. Plenty of spooky lights, pumpkin lamps, and flickering candles. It's great! I can't really explain why I love being creeped out or surrounded by demonic looking decor. I've had a fascination with fantasy, paranormal, and otherworldly everything since I could remember. I guess Halloween is that time of year when the other side seems palpable. You can feel the chill in the air, the spooky wind in the trees, and every one is right there with you cheering for more supernatural scares! Reality seems to go haywire!
When I was little I wasn't as gung ho about the scary part of Halloween. I liked dressing up, trick or treating, but the bloody costumes were not for me. I liked being a golden pegasus or a lawn gnome, well an evil lawn gnome, but not a gory one.
I think maybe as I got older and trick or treating was no longer in the cards,  I fully embraced the scary side. I love walking through haunted houses. And actually I don't mind that they always go for the "girls" in order to make you scream. (Am I the only one?)
For the month of October, I have to watch only scary movies about hauntings, or vampires, or zombies, and I plan something spooky or festive to do every weekend. I've already seen Paranormal Activity 3, which was sufficiently creepy, and I'm keeping up with new shows like American Horror Story and The Secret Circle. (You can watch full episodes here) Check them out if you like that sort of thing. Luckily with all these new TV shows I'll be able to keep the scares going for the rest of the year.
Also, I've been trying to snag a copy of my all time favorite Halloween movie The Nightmare Before Christmas on DVD, I can't watch my worn VHS copy anymore.  
Hope everyone has a frightening, (but safe), Halloween!

Celeste Simone
www.celestesimone.com

Congratulations!

Hi Everyone!
I wanted to Congratulate the winners of my book giveaway held on Goodreads.com that ended October 1st! The winners will receive an autographed copy of Oriana's Eyes and an Oriana's Eyes bookmark.




Congratulations to:

Elsa Carrion, OK
Maghon Thomas, LA
Denise Zaky, OR

If you are interested in purchasing an autographed copy, you can find it for $10 (plus shipping) at www.celestesimone.com!! For a limited time only.


Many Thanks to Everyone who Entered!

Best,

Celeste S.
celeste@celestesimone.com
http://www.facebook.com/OrianasEyes

Top 10 Signs Your High School Boyfriend is a Vampire

Photo By Katie Tegtmeyer

 












 Every girl should know the top 10 signs that her boyfriend is a bloodsucker. Then you just have to ask yourself: Do the pros of dating an older man from another century outweigh the cons...?

1. His idea of humor isn't the same farting jokes of your other guy friends. (He's too mature for that...)

2. He holds doors open for you.

3. He feels like he just stepped out of a freezer.

4. He likes to help you with your homework - and can - in all subjects.

5. He has no living relatives - just a pale adoptive family.

6. He's well groomed (got the coiffed hair going), well dressed, wears awesome coats and has a perfect complexion.

7. He helps you pick up dropped books, but need a band-aid and he's nowhere in sight.

8. Dinner dates aren't his thing.

9. Fluffy hisses at him and runs in terror whenever he shows up.  (Come to think of it...animals just don't like him.)

10.  He tends to show up after hours to stare at you while you sleep. (Aw, he misses you a LOT.)


You've been warned! Don't ignore the signs! Unless that's your thing, in which case, lucky you!