KICKSTARTER PROJECT

We launched!
Yesterday Matt & I were finally able to launch our project on the awesome KICKSTARTER site:) We we're so excited to be accepted within one day of submitting our proposal to them! I won't say much about it here...just go to the site and you will learn everything about what we're doing...or trying to do.

I do want to thank Ryan Phelps and Gaven Cox from Channel 3 T.V. for putting together our awesome video:) I would REALLY appreciate it if everyone will check it out!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/622390070/author-carol-hansen-musician-matt-lande-merge-in-w

Thanx guys!

Talk soon:)

Just a Heads up...

Yay! Just letting you all know that Matt & I will be launching our KICKSTARTER site first thing in the morning! Soooo....keep an eye out!

Talk soon!:)xo

Positive & negitive

Ya know, as an author, one of the hardest things is to receive a review from someone who, for one reason or another, just really doesn't like your book. I ask those who read my story to give me input...whether positive or negative. So far, I have only received two negative reviews and even though they are hard to read, they are still appreciated. I realize that everyone has different tastes and levels of learning, so each will critique differently. I just hope that readers realize that as an author, we too have different styles of writing and levels of learning, so our story is going to reflect us individually. There are some who are knowledgeable about every aspect of grammar, punctuation and such, and others like me, who know the basics and learn as we go. We all use resources that are readily available to us and do the best we know how.

That's the beauty of learning. Anyone who has any kind of creative talent, learns by pouring themselves into their project and that's what makes it..and us...unique. Just because it is done differently, doesn't mean it is wrong. That's how new things are born...by thinking outside the box and doing something different.

It's funny how peoples expectations reflect their opinion. One person may read a book and totally miss the whole story because they are busy picking apart the writing style, grammar or the punctuation. Others judge a book by a whole other slew of reasons, but they need to realize that the story is written because of creativity of a mind.. a human mind...and human's aren't perfect. I don't think I have ever read a book where I haven't seen some type of error or typo. But, every one is human...even writers and their editors.

After writing, DarkStar, I have a whole new appreciation for anyone who has ever written a book. I had NO idea how hard it is and how taxing it is on your mind. An author puts heart and soul into their project, just like a musician or an artist...or any other creative person. We all start with a thought and let it expand and grow, hopefully, until it becomes something wonderful, something we are excited to share with the world, something that we're proud to put our name on. We hope that others will enjoy our efforts and embrace our project, but I'm learning that some will...some won't. I just hope that everyone stops to realize the very few things in life are perfect, but then, once again, neither are we...we're just human.

I don't profess to be the best writer and I probably never will be, but I'm sure having fun creating my, DarkStar world! I really appreciate everyone who loves my book...and those who don't...because I am growing and learning from both:) 

Talk Soon:)xo

Writer's Digest DarkStar Review

Yesterday I received a fun surprise in the mail. I had forgotten that I submitted DarkStar to "Writer's Digest" and I received an award and evaluation! So cool:) Thought I'd share...

Judge's commentary:

 "The writing is smooth and rich with this author's passion for telling an exciting tale. The book is well structured in the way the plot unfolds and Alec's adventure entertains with the help of many surprises along the way. The author writes an engaging narrative of her protagonists' journey into the realm of wizardry and magic, and the inherent suspense is fully realized. Alec and Amrie and the other character's, both the hero's and villains, are, individually and collectively, certainly strong enough to carry this narrative, which prompts the reader's interest in always wanting to know what will happen next."

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning "poor" and 5 meaning "excellent," this is how they rated DARKSTAR:

Plot: 3  (I still feel good about this)

Grammar: 5  !! (not bad for a country hick...huh..huh:))

Character Development: 4 :)

Production quality and cover design: 4 :)

That's 16 out of 20......SWEET! For being my very first attempt at writing and doing it by myself by self publishing, I think I did pretty good. Can you tell I'm excited:)

HAPPY FEBRUARY! The SWEET month!:)

Talk Soon:)xo

Win a free DarkStar novel:)

Hi everyone!
The interview I told you about has been posted on http://t.co/ElwWY5sT. If you go there, not only can you check out Sarah's "I'm Loving Books" site, but you can enter to win a copy of DarkStar! I would LOVE for it to be you! :)

Talk Soon! :)xo

New things happening.....

Hey, just want to update what's going on in the DarkStar world....

I had, Sarah, from "I'm Loving Books" contact me to see if I would do a guest post on her site. I pushed the deadline -- but finally finished it. I think it will post on January 30th. I'll let ya know when it does...for those interested:) In the meantime, you could check out her fun site, www.imlovingbooks.com. She wanted me to talk about magic & wizardry and how my book differs from others. I included some excerpts from the book so, for those of you who haven't read DarkStar, you can get a taste of my writing.

Also, if you didn't get a chance to read my interview with, Anthony Cardno, you can check it out on his site, Rambling On @ www.anthonycardno.com. He's an awesome guy! He's quite the traveler and he interviews a lot of interesting people -- so you should check them out too:)

I just received the sixth song off of Matt's new album. It's called, "Dancing," and like the other five, it's amazing. I'm so excited that he's on the downhill stretch of recording. It will definitely be released before his concert! He's putting the finished touched on our, DarkStar songs, too....LOVE 'EM!

I also have some exciting news! Last week Matt & I submitted a proposal to, Kickstarter, a site designed to introduce creative projects and allows people to be part of some pretty awesome ventures. They tell you to be patient, that they'll get back to you ASAP and I was so excited when they accepted our project within a day!! We are sooooo pumped about this. We're working on our page and a video & hope to launch it soon. Keep an eye out & I'll let you know when it happens. We also have a few other cool things in the works, so we'll let you know when they happen!

And...FYI...I've been hangin' out with a dark wizard named, Damarco a lot lately...really don't like the guy...

TTFN....

Talk soon:)xo

A Creative Mind

I recently asked my parents what I was like as a child ... kinda wondering if they saw any inkling of creativity in me when I was growing up. They said that I was just a normal, happy little girl. I try to think back to my teenage years and I do remember being somewhat creative, but because I was involved in my "extra-curricular" activities, and those of you who knew me then will so know what I mean, (I had way to much fun). I never allowed myself to grow or explore that side of my personality until I became an adult. (I guess you can consider me an adult.)  I have done everything from tole painting to wedding cakes, but I have to say that I never knew my full potential until I wrote DarkStar. It was such an exceptional experience and I feel that my creative mind was really put to the test. Writing a book is amazing. To be able to create your very own world and fill it with interesting characters that you develop is intriguing. To be able to determine their words, feelings, actions, expressions, etc., is a difficult task but also a rewarding one. Once one reaches into their inner soul and projects this creativity, little else compares - at least from my perspective.

With the venture that I have taken on with Matt Lande, it has been an amazing experience to sit back, watch and listen as he took my words into a whole new perspective. Before Matt read DarkStar, I gave him an idea sheet containing some of my thoughts as to what I might want included in the writing of my DarkStar song. I told him they were just ideas but to use his own creative mind and expertise to write the song. Well, as you all know, in reading my novel, Matt was inspired to write three songs instead of one. It amazes me how he took my words and engaged them into his realm of creative thinking and wrote amazing lyrics with the same emotion with which I wrote the story--but from his perspective and giving them deeper meaning by adding music...a musical synopsis. So cool.

The past few days I have been pondering the words to my DarkStar songs as well as three of the songs Matt recently recorded for his Welcome Home the Child album and I am in awe of the depth of his designs. Music has always been a big part of my life and being able to observe this amazing artist hone his craft and tap into his inner self to write such awesome music has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. It has taken my appreciation of the mind to a whole new level. With my writing, I am only beginning to learn the capacity of what my mind is capable of and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to observe and learn from Matt Lande. The depth of his thinking and the emotion with which he writes his lyrics and music will forever change the way I view things.

Matt knows how much I appreciate his unique and brilliant talent--but I just want everyone else to know. He is truly a master of his craft....the master of a truly creative mind....someone you should definitely pay attention too. Thanks Matt for being part of my DarkStar world and teaching me so much! :)xo

Talk soon:)xo