What's next?

I just got the cover for my novella Picking Candy and it looks fantastic. I struggle with this one because the image of a woman digging through garbage was the first thing that popped in my mind. I'm not conventional in my life or my thought process. Most of the time for my "real" job I have to "fake" normal. When I'm driving home randomness erupts in my brain, chaos take over. Like now, just realized I've started to ramble. The point I was trying to make was from that image, the story of Candy was born. She is such a free spirit even dressed up she has no problem digging into garbage. I liked that juxtaposition, beautiful clothes and dirty garbage. The suggestion for the cover was to make it more romantic but I resisted. If no one buys the book based on the cover (it matches the blurb perfectly) then so be it. In this day and age of the naked torso, I decided for the comedic route. The book is action-comedy and I didn't see the relevance of having a buffed torso slapped into my cover. I don't want to sound like I'm against buffed out guys....drool!! On the contrary, they are handsome, delicious and many book have found their way into my Nook thanks to them. But if I may play the Devil's advocate here, sometimes what's in the cover can't be found anywhere in the book. The guy in the cover doesn't match the description given by the author. Maybe it's just me and my blasted OCD, but I like everything to match. I know, I'll end the mad rant and go back to writing the next story. Thanks for reading!!

New review for Amada on Amazon

Dear friends: the past few days had been hard on me. I came down with the flu and my asthma flared up really hard. I know I'm not a bestseller writer right now (and even if I was) so every review I read means a lot to me. I want to thank Jenny for the kind words and I hope she reads Gigi because I know she'll love her as much as she loved Amada. My books might not be up there yet, but I'm finding an audience of women who "get" me and my characters. To my surprise today I found this lovely review that gave me a renew sense of purpose. Thank you ever so much!!!

Customer Review

I feel in love with this book, July 18, 2014 By  Jenny Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Amada (The Protectorate Wars Book 1) (Kindle Edition) I feel in love with this book!...it had everything I look for in a book.. Alpha Hot alien muscular men, a different galaxy that's filled with amazing creatures, colors and technology. This book was incredible. The H was a strong woman who didn't take crap from anybody and even though she was kidnapped and then saved, still had a good attitude about it..( I hate it when the H is a whiny weakling who just keeps going on and on)) not the case here,, she had a great outlook!.. The sex was explosive every time they got together too!... Perfect book!!.

Gigi singing at outpost 0255

Gigi and briq at outpost 0255

Kataru Book 1 Picking Candy

 Candy Morales is a cosplayer by trade and a picker at heart. She has no problem digging through trash if it means finding a treasure. When a friend leaves her a box full of antique glass eyes in a dumpster she decided to dive right in. Emmett Bradshaw is an alpha wolf shifter ex-marine with a weakness for curvy females. After ten years of self–imposed exile he’s come home to take over his pack. One thing he never expected was finding the woman of his dreams rummaging through garbage. Emmett did what any warm-blooded wolf would, slap her tempting round backside.

 

Picking Candy

For those of you who enjoy cosplay, nerds running amock and shifters this one's for you. I'm trying to put the final touches on it, but find myself unable to finish. I know what I want to say but there seem to be a block. The entire story is practically done, but the final details refuse to fall into place. Has anyone had that problem happend to them? How did you overcome it?

Interview

Hi Nenites,  here's a link to my interview at authorisland.  Everything you wanted to know, plus more!

http://authorislandinterviews.blogspot.ca/2014/03/nena-duran-interview.html

Gigi is up for Pre-order!!

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-gigi-1461457-340.html , https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/422302 Yeay, Gigi is up for preorder at allromance and Smashwords!!
If you haven't check out #protectoratewars  book 1 Amada available on #amazon  , #smashwords  , #allromance  thanks!!

Nena Duran Interview-Entrevista con Nena Duran

Hello Nenaites! First off thanks to all of you who read #protectoratewars book 1 Amada. Book 2 Gigi is coming soon on April! Second, I'm going to be featured on an interview on #authorisland at the end of the month. What's next for Nena and the Nenaites? Well, I'm working on a shifter romance I've tittled "Picking Candy" which I hope will turn into a series. This story will loosely tie with a trilogy I've been developing for quite some time. After I'm finish with it, I hope to go back to the Protectorate Wars. Not sure if I should create a short story in between Gigi and Mah'yanna's (book 3). I have an unresolve thread in the story that would be perfect as a 2.1 kind of short story. What do you think? I'll post a little totally raw and unedited excerpt of "Picking Candy" soon. Thanks!

!Hola Nenaites! Primero que nada gracias a todos los que leyeron #protectoratewars (Guerra del Protectorado) libro 1 Amada. Libro 2 Gigi saldrá pronto en Abril! Segundo, voy a ser introducida en una entrevista en #authorisland a finales de este mes. ¿Qué será lo próximo para Nena y sus Nenaites? Bueno, estoy trabajándo en una historia de shapeshifters o cambiaformas titulada "Picking Candy" que espero convertir en una serie. Este relato estará ligéramente vinculado con una triología que he estado desarrollando por un tiempo. Luego que finalize la misma, regresaré a Las Guerra del Protectorado. No estoy segura si debería crear una historia en medio de Gigi y Mah'yanna (libro 3). Tengo un arco en la historia que no he resuelto y pienso que sería perfecto como una historia corta 2.1. ¿Qué opinan? Espero publicar un extracto completamente crudo e inedito de "Picking Candy" pronto.!Gracias!

Reading

I usually don't post rants or personal opinions because they are, well...personal. What happened to  make me break my own rule? Well, the other day I was poking around the net and stumbled upon a comment.


I don't know if the person was a writer or an avid reader or perhaps both. This indiviual's main complain was to the effect he/she was reading a book and had to put it down a couple of times to look up a word. He/she went on to say why doesn't the writer used the most common word??


Sorry for the inconvenience dear reader. Sometimes the use of the less common word is necessary and dare I say essential to the plot. Writers should encourage discovery and wonder. Readers should have the thirst for knowledge. To read something just because it's what everyone's reading, or what the media is telling you is "in" is just absurd.


A writer shouldn't compromise the integrity of his/her writting just because it inconvenience someone. What happened to reading and learning something new? What happened to prose for the sake of it? Granted, I love reading fast paced action books. There are times, however I want to get lost in rich narrative, the poetic language that elevates my soul.


When I was in the fifth grade a teacher gave me a book to read. It was hard for me because the book was meant for high school level (The Time Machine). Another challenge, the book was in English. I should clarify I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. My first language is Spanish, although English is taught in schools not everyone cares to learn beyond the basics.


So, book in hand I went home and started reading. It took me around two weeks to finsih because of all things I had to put the book down several times per page to look up a word. By the end of the school year I was reading English at a high school level. I had also discovered Poe, Shelly, Asimov, J.R. Tolkien, etc...that was years ago in the mid 70's. I didn't had google search or an electronic pad which allows you to look up a word instantly.


To complain about "having to put the book down" is so preprosterous I had no choice but to speak up. Do me a favor whoever you are complainer, keep it to yourself. Don't take the joy of reading and discovering form those of us who relish it.


As a writer, I hope my readers keep an open mind and embrace the challenge of a new word. Oral expression is been stiffled and compressed by the media. The ROFLMA, ROFLMB, IDK, OMG, WTH, WTF, IMHO have a place in modern times, but keep in mind the art of conversation is a dying art. Don't let the art of reading and writing go the same way.


TTFN, LOL.

Protectorate Wars Book 2: Gigi

I'm happy to announce that I got a release date for book 2 in the Protectorate Wars series. Gigi will be release on April 18th. If you haven't read book 1: Amada now is the time to head over Amazon, Barns and Noble, Smashwords, Allromance and Forever More Publishing. For all of you who started this journey with me, I hope you stay a bit longer.


All my love

Another book comes to an end. Protectorate Wars Book 2: Gigi is done and submitted to my publisher. I got the contract today, Yeay! This whole week's been so weird like I'm missing something in my life. I think I felt the loss of Briq hardest because he is my favorite character. Briq is strong, a killer without a conscience, a brave warrior with an extraordinary sense of honor. For those of you who read #Protectoratewars Book 1 thanks. I hope you enjoy book 2 as much as I love writting it. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. I hope you're willing to take this journey with me because there's more to come. If you like science fiction with smart diaglog, a dash of smut, and tons of aliens give it a try. I promise adventure, dashing warriors, damsels that can get themselves out of distress, but still appreciate a big guy. If you appreciate good imagination, then turn on your e-reader and search of the Protectorate Wars Book 1. I you read it and enjoyed it, read it again and refresh your memory. Thank you again for leaving a comment and rating the book on the differnt sites, even the bad ones. Just be a bit more considerate, writers are people too. Thank  you and TTFN!!!

Final read-out

I'm currently doing my final read-out on Protectorate Wars Book 2: Gigi. So far so good. I'm honing my craft and growing as a writer. I hope you take the journey with me! In the mean time check out my fan art!! You can follow me on twitter, facebook, wix and pinterest. If you read book 1 I would really appreciate any comment on the site you purchased it. Ratings are a must for a writer...like blood to vampires...keeps us alive!!

Fan art

My new profile pic is fan art by Josue Rodriguez based on Amada. I love the way this pic captures Amada's fierce spirit, Zaaq-niq is fab in his uniform. Of course you can't forget the critter that brought them together...Zu'thro!!!!


Josue and I are considering teaming up in the future for a graphic novel based on the Protectorate Wars. What do you think?

WELCOME 2014

Happy 2014, my wish for all of you is happiness and health because without these two nothing else matters. Wealth is just the value you subjectively place on things. Things are just material stuff that as time passes by lose their meaning. I always remember one of the lines in the movie Ghost when he is walking towards the light, something in the lines of the love that you feel you take it with you. So go ahead, love unconditionally...laugh often at yourself...be kind just for the heck of it...start something new...and for heaven's sakes....LIVE!!!!