A new life is bringing many new changes.  I am curious your thoughts and since I can't do polls here, I am hoping to get some responses to this entry from any willing to aide in the change.  Below are 3 names.  One will be my new pen name.  I am asking which one is more favored by those who follow me.
 
Kiara DiMari- *******
Amara Nova- *******
Astraia DiMari - ***
 
If you could leave a comment here telling me which you prefer, I would greatly appreciate your input, thank you.

The results so far as calculated from all 6 places this poll is up - I seem to have a tie lol.  A few more votes please to break it? 
Thank you so much!

A new note of changes to come. As it may have been noticed if you have been over to the forums for this series and other works by me, more projects are currently in the works. There is also a book of poetry being planned at this time that I have not yet noted on the forum but will when more information is obtained for it.
But yes, there is a pen name that will be made mention of it when the details are also finalized for it. Spellbound- the whole series- in undergoing new changes and Dawn of Destiny is about to be pulled until the newest edition is completed. Escape from Darkness will - if I am calculating about this correctly- be published near along side of Dawn of Destiny when I finally have it set.

Now... Dark Guardian is set to be my erotic novel series - HOWEVER- those I have spoken to already about this know that Spellbound is first being released in an edited version. An UNEDITED version will be put out after the complete series is done and that will include scenes privously cut in the original publication.

This is going to take a bit of time, but I am working with a renewed mind and renewed thought. No one really prods into my mind to change what it is I am going with at this time anymore. I write what I should be writing in the first place so I ask forgiveness now for things that may be cut or placed not so much emphasis on when the newer editions come out.

This will take near a year of steady work to get what I want done, so there is yet another year to wait, however, this is the heads up so that you know what is going on. ..

I am writing this to further explain some things.

First:  I am uncertain at this time what has happened with the deal at the book store in my home town.  Some unfortunate events took place and the one helping me to take care of matters on the Eastern side of the States is... unable to help at this time.  Medical issues have forced a halt on that end of things.  I did speak with the owner of the book store once but after she contacted my agent with my publishing company, I have since lost touch.

Second:  There have been personal issues of my own that have forced me to take a longer hiatus than desired in the writing of Spellbound: Escape from Darkness.  It was set to be ready and out by the end of Fall of this year, but at this point, I don't see how that will be possible.  I will continue to work on it so it can be out as soon as possible.

I will continue to give updates as I can.  For now the only real update is the art contest being run on the Spellbound forum and on Deviant Art.  Remember the top 3 pieces chosen will get to have an appearance in Escape from Darkness and a chance to be enjoyed and noticed by all who read it.  For those that enter, good luck!  For those who are interested, go on ahead and check it out; the link is on the main profile.  We'd love to see what you come up with ^_^  

I have just finished everything I can do on my end with a local book store from my home state n Michigan.  As long as things run smoothly, The Book Shelf in Lapeer, Michigan will begin stocking Spellbound: Dawn of Destiny as soon as the next month.  I will let you know when I have an official date from the owner.

This is just another step for me as an author as I try to make my mark in the literary world.  Thanks to all of you and your support!

Here's your chance!

 

It may be available on Amazon.com, but I have begun to offer up a select number of autographed copies of the first novel to my Spellbound Series, Dawn of Destiny.    If you are interested the details are as follows:

Cost of book: $18.00
Shipping: $6.00 (this covers shipping to Canada and to the Central and Eastern side of the US)
                  $3.00 (for western/Pacific side of the US)
                  $9.00 (all other international sales)

Payment methods:

If paying by check contact me for mailing information.  I must first receive your payment before I mail out your copy.
*Note: Checks are not accepted for non US banks.  

Preferred method of payment is to make a credit card payment through PayPal.

An additional charge is added to PayPal paments however and must be accounted for.
Payments made US to US require an additional $0.82
Payments from Canada to the US require an additional $1.11 to cover conversation charge and fee.
Payments made from Australia to the US require an additional $1.08 to cover conversion charge and fee.

( example: $18 + $6+ $0.82  = $24.82
example: $18 + $6 + $1.11= $25.11
example: $18 + $6 + $1.08= $25.08 )

As for other currency conversion contact me and I will let you know.   If you are making a payment through PayPal, the email address to send payment to is ladyphoenix@hotpop.com .

Making a payment through PayPal will ensure a quicker send out for your autographed copy of the novel.  All orders will go out First Class and take roughly 5 to 7 days to reach you.  International sales could take up to 2 weeks.

Make sure you include in your note to me the name with which I am to write your book out to, and the address to which it goes to so that I can get it out ASAP.

Thank you to those who already ordered a copy of Spellbound: Dawn of Destiny.  If you haven't already received it, your copy will be arriving soon.

Are you an artist trying to get noticed?  Just an artist wanting to have a bit of sport just for something to do?  Where here is something to open things up.

The author of the Spellbound series is holding an art contest.  The basics of it as simple.  Draw a Spellbound character and enter the contest by May 1st 2008, and it can be considered for the contest.  The top 4 pieces will be included in the back of the 2nd book in the Spellbound series, "Escape from Darkness" which will be released to the public in the Fall of 2008.

To learn more about this contest, go to the MySpace profile and click on the link to the Spellbound chat forum hosted on Proboards.  There is a board titled Fan Art and a thread in that board titled Contest.  Rules and more details are listed in there.

Good luck to all who choose to participate!

Yes this has been cross posted in many places lol

I'm jumping up and down right now lol.

I contacted a bookstore in town here about doing a booksigning/meet the author event with them.  I just got word back from the event coordinator.  She said she needs to see a copy of the book first if I am serious about hosting an event there.  So the next time I get the chance to go into town, I am taking a copy with me with my contact information inside so that she can take a look at it and get back with me. 

I know, it's not a committed thing but still.  They are interested so I could very well be doing a book signing here in the next few months!  When I know more I will be sure to pass along the information.  In the meantime, I have some more agents to collect the information for and get query letters out to lol

Well... the search has begin for a literary agent interested in a fantasy novel that can carry with it darker themes.  As interesting as current readers have found it, it is actually quite difficult to locate agents who would be interested in such a themed novel. 

But I am determined so the query letter has been written and guidelines are being researched so that what is requested is given and what isn't requested is left behind.

On top of all this, I have begun to contact several local bookstores in an attempt to set up book signings as well in hopes to bring more attention to the debut to my series.  There are a few that are promising and a few that I have yet to call when, and still a few that have to get back to me.  It is tasking, daunting, but in the end Iam hoping it will also be worth it all.  Either way, I am doing what I wanted to do and I will continue to do so. 

I will update again as I learn more.

Just got back from the post office.  I had 5 more books to mail out and now every single book that had been preordered through me has been signed and sent out so if you didn't get your copy this week, you will be seeing it by the middle of next week.  lol  I smirked while I was there actually.  The clerk asked for my autograph and more information about the book so that he could pass it along to his daughter.  It is a new experience to actually have that happen and though I know it will not always happen, it is nice when it does lol. 

Got a note from a friend in Louisiana.  She tells me that Spellbound: Dawn of Destiny was actually being sold  IN THE STORE at a Target down there.  So who knows.  Maybe Target is selling both in the store AND online.  It was a new bit of information as I wasn't expecting store sales.  But I won't complain lol.  It might help a bit too. 

My husband's NCOIC gave me the number to a local bookstore here in Spokane- it's a little mom & pop kind of bookstore, but they hold book signings for local authors.  I am planning on giving them a call to see what I can do about setting up a book signing here in Spokane.  I figure it's worth a shot, right? lol  Maybe the 5 star review I found on Amazon helped boost my confidence more about it lol.  I also have found more people friending the Spellbound MySpace, too.  And no.... not all of them are those blasted spammers.  If I get messages from them or after I approve them they leave spamming comments about surveys and such, not only are the comments deleted, but the account that posted the comments are blocked, so...  I am taking this seriously.  I kind of have to, I feel anyway.

Checking the Spellbound profile on Amazon.com allowed me to see that a review for Dawn of Destiny was left by a customer who was kind enough to purchase a copy of the novel.  I was floored by the review but greatly appreciative of it.  The customer had rated it 5 stars and said that it was a must read- everything she looked for in a book.

Yes, it made my day ^_^

I have also noticed that the Amazon.com blog posts about the Spellbound series have now begun to be posted on the book's profile so now readers can see special news and updates about the Spellbound series there as well. 

At the moment, the process has begun with Amazon.com in order to open the "Search Inside the book" option so people interested can get a brief glimpse into some of the plot before actually making the purchase.

However- if one would want to see the sneak peeks of the Prologue and first 3 chapters of all books in the Spellbound series, they can do so by going to the official Spellbound message forum here where they can also catch a peek at the characters to see what they are like, meet the author and the cover artist, see fan art, fanfiction, and so much more.

Hope to see you there!