|
Are you ready for Halloween yet? You will be after reading these spooky stories from Quiethouse clients.
Better the Devil You Know
|
|
|
Content Note: This one is not for the faint of heart. It is about the devil, after all.
Read Free with Kindle Unlimited
Byron is tall, handsome, well spoken, wealthy, and has outstanding taste in wine and food. You’ll be impressed by his impeccable attire and eloquence in conversation, ranging from Baroque art to the newest advances in pharmacology. With his charming smile and elegant manners, Byron truly is the perfect date… and who doesn’t love a man who appreciates opera?
What’s the catch, you ask? |
Just this: if Byron finds you suitable, he will subject you to utterly depraved forms of torture.
No, I’m not talking about S&M.
Byron will mutilate, rape, and then kill you. Don’t think that you will survive the encounter, because you won’t. He has a perfect record.
Intrigued? Would you like me to arrange a rendezvous? It has to be in the next few days because he’s leaving on a trip south to much warmer climes, and his calendar will be completely full.
Yes? Very good. I will make a reservation for two under the name of Smith.
Who am I? I’m Gloria, his personal assistant.
No, I’m not talking about S&M.
Byron will mutilate, rape, and then kill you. Don’t think that you will survive the encounter, because you won’t. He has a perfect record.
Intrigued? Would you like me to arrange a rendezvous? It has to be in the next few days because he’s leaving on a trip south to much warmer climes, and his calendar will be completely full.
Yes? Very good. I will make a reservation for two under the name of Smith.
Who am I? I’m Gloria, his personal assistant.
Debunker: Independence Day
by Dennis Anthony
|
|
Read Free with Kindle Unlimited
Anything you can imagine is real . . .
Francis Trecy refutes paranormal claims of other researchers on a popular reality television show. He's called The Dark Lord and The Unbeliever. Only a few people closest to him know his secret. Francis sees a lot more than he's telling. Before he becomes the accidental star of the program, he falls in love with a beautiful, enigmatic woman who disappears without explanation. In her wake, she leaves behind a procession of ex-lovers, along with suggestions of deceit and betrayal. Finding her becomes Francis's obsession. |
In the horror of battle, uncomfortable truths are revealed.
His team of mismatched investigators journeys to the most famous battlefield in American history. There he discovers that reality is not at all what it seems. In coming to terms with his complicated past, he battles against physical danger and emotional pain.
He discovers that longings of thousands of wayward spirits mirror his own.
And he learns that in a world stranger than we can imagine, the human heart remains the strangest thing of all.
His team of mismatched investigators journeys to the most famous battlefield in American history. There he discovers that reality is not at all what it seems. In coming to terms with his complicated past, he battles against physical danger and emotional pain.
He discovers that longings of thousands of wayward spirits mirror his own.
And he learns that in a world stranger than we can imagine, the human heart remains the strangest thing of all.
Harvest Deep by Trent Pettry
|
|
Read Free on Kindle Unlimited
Something deep in the earth has evolved...
Hidden in the West Desert of Utah, the gold rush town of Mammoth is a shell of its former glory. But for Liz Chilton, a photojournalist on assignment, it’s the place she was born and where her mother grew up. Forty years after fleeing the area, Liz seeks to reconnect with her now-deceased mother’s past. The unspeakable, concealed in darkness… What begins as an adventurous road trip for Liz, her husband, and another couple, takes a horrific turn when they discover a slaughtered man at an RV park. Something has partially consumed him—something inhuman. |
The group is dragged into a twisted conspiracy tied to the old family mine, marked by a massive hole on the side of the mountain. Confronted by her mother’s hidden past and the mine’s dark purpose, Liz and her friends must fight to survive or fall prey to the secret nesting deep within the caverns.
Inspired by true events, HARVEST DEEP is a debut novel of horror by Trent Pettry.
Inspired by true events, HARVEST DEEP is a debut novel of horror by Trent Pettry.
Memory Bound by A.R. Clayton
|
|
Read Free on Kindle Unlimited
There was something about a grand neglected house that didn’t bode well for visitors. It wanted retribution for its fall…
Anne Ditchfield is a woman of sound mind and morals, living a life warped by schizophrenia and fatigued by modern life drudgery and routines of survival. As an early retirement gift, Anne buys Myron－a historical mansion she plans to renovate as she continues her healing journey. Notices of a missing, local girl arrive soon after and Anne finds herself visited by police officers, roped into investigations and targeted by those claiming to still serve the Myron family. |
Will Anne be able to determine reality from fiction and figure out who is threatening her life? Or will Myron be taken away and Anne’s life with it? Memory Bound is a multi-dimensional, horror novel mixed with just the right amount of mystery to keep readers long entranced and wondering after the final, closing paragraph.
The Witch's Portal by J.B. Pettry
|
|
Read Free on Kindle Unlimited
If you had the chance at Utopia, would you take it?
Lily Rose might. Since the death of her mom, Lily feels lost. She’s trying to go through the motions of life as a wife and mother, but that’s all it is, just going through the motions; she’s lost her spark, her desires, and her ambition to succeed at anything. It’s only through the family legends of the witch Sandrine, and the tales of her magical portal into a perfect life, that Lily has finally found a glimmer of hope. |
When an anonymous letter leads to an encounter with a mysterious white-haired woman, Lily finds her life intertwined with four strangers who share the common bond of grief. Driven by the desire to see their loved ones again, they accept an offer to journey through Sandrine’s portal with the promise of their deepest desires awaiting them. The only catch: they must return home when summoned or chance giving up their real lives forever.
The Witch’s Portal will sweep you away on a journey of self-discovery filled with loss and love and desire—and fear, because shadows too lie beyond Sandrine’s portal, and many dark and dangerous things come from wanting something that is not meant to be.
The Witch’s Portal is an adult fantasy magical realism debut novel.
The Witch’s Portal will sweep you away on a journey of self-discovery filled with loss and love and desire—and fear, because shadows too lie beyond Sandrine’s portal, and many dark and dangerous things come from wanting something that is not meant to be.
The Witch’s Portal is an adult fantasy magical realism debut novel.
0 Comments
Twelve-year-old Kassidy is the daughter of beloved Quiethouse beta reader and indie author Marie Krepps (also writing as Ashley Uzzell). Their family had a rough October, but the last straw was finding out Kassidy has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Obviously, it was heartbreaking news. Check out her blog post about the situation here: https://authorauzzell.wordpress.com/
The family has had a hard time this year, so I'm asking for your help. There are big ways and little ways, and they all count.
The family has had a hard time this year, so I'm asking for your help. There are big ways and little ways, and they all count.
- Authors can donate books, swag, etc. here: https://goo.gl/J2PRnA
- Give money on GoFundMe (every dollar counts): https://www.gofundme.com/kassidy-uzzell-fights-cancer
- Buy some cool jewelry from Groovy Goodies. Buy one, get one free for November! https://www.facebook.com/GroovyGoodiesandMore/
- Buy a T-shirt, mug, or hoodie here: https://teespring.com/kassidy-fights-cancer?utm_campaign=post_launch_share&utm_source=facebook#pid=2&cid=2122&sid=front
- Purchase the book Where's My Kitty for $1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N01OQYR/ | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (AU) | Amazon (UK)
As beta readers, we come across a plethora of manuscripts, all at different stages. There are the manuscripts that make us want to jump for joy and tell the world about the great story we just read. Other times (most of the time), we are reading manuscripts that are not in their final stages, and it can sometimes be hard to focus on the story and not get mired down in the aspects that are not polished. When this happens, it is important to remember a few key things, in order to avoid giving an overly negative critique.
The most important thing to remember when you are beta reading for an author is that they are handing you their word baby. They have nurtured and grown this baby for longer than the average human gestation. At some point, they have gotten distracted by baby’s big blue eyes, and have, very naturally, gone nose blind to its diaper. If you are lucky, the baby is in clean clothing, and all you have to do is coo and suggest a quick diaper change. Most likely though, the baby has had a major blowout, and the author doesn’t realize that their baby is covered in poop. It is your job, therefore, to coo at the baby, acknowledging the miracle of the ten fingers and ten perfect toes, while handing the author a wet wipe. Coo and wipe, coo and wipe. The symbolism isn’t perfect, but you get the drift. Every author is going to have parts of their book that shine and parts that need a little help. It is really important to mention both of these things equally. Is the writer good with dialogue? Do they put emotions into words so that you can sympathize with the main character? Is there a pet in the manuscript that is written in such a loving way that you want to run to the shelter and buy a fur baby of your own? In your mind, these things may seem secondary to the glaring grammatical errors or characters who are not progressing or changing, but what the author does well is just as important to mention as what they haven’t done well. Usually, where a manuscript shines is where the author feels the most confident. Acknowledging the good allows the author to feel a kinship with the beta reader, causing the author to be a little more ok with criticism that is less than flattering. Acknowledge the cuteness of the baby, subtly point to the diaper.
The second most important thing to remember when beta reading is that there is a book for every reader and a reader for every book. I recently beta read a book that offended me so much I had to talk myself out of quitting no less than four times. I had to stand up, walk away from the computer screen, pour a glass of wine, gulp, and then embark on the next chapter. Rinse and repeat. I gave this book five stars. Why? Because the writing was impeccable, the characters were thoroughly developed, and the plot was exceptionally well thought out. I had to look past my personal bias and ask myself if the structure of this manuscript was good. It was. Not everyone is going to be as offended as I was at certain topics. My experience is not your experience. What I find horrendously offensive, you may find funny, and vice versa. Though I am not this book’s ideal reader/audience, I have no doubt that someone out there will fall in love with the story, and as I was beta reading, I had to keep that potential reader in mind.
The third most important thing to remember is that this work belongs to the author. It is theirs to do with what they wish. Giving the author a suggestion as opposed to an order gives the author the feeling of owning their work. The last thing we, as beta readers, want to do is rip a manuscript apart and then rewrite it ourselves. This goes against the very nature of beta reading. We are not copy editing the manuscript. Suggestions keep the feedback light and less official, more in line with a beta read. As an example, if an author has used the sentence: “I seen that car go down the road,” instead of telling the author to replace the word seen with saw, I would simply highlight the word seen and comment seen vs. saw. Or, I would write, “Consider rephrasing using the word saw instead of seen.” Utilizing suggestions instead of orders significantly reduces the negativity that the author will potentially sense coming from the beta reader.
Lastly, try to remember that we are choosing to beta read. This is not a chore or something we do to be able to put food on the table. It is something we do because we love reading. This is supposed to be fun. You are helping usher word babies into the literary world! This is a huge honor. I remember when I was in elementary school, the principal called my mom into his office to talk about my behavior in class. I was (unsuccessfully) hiding novels behind my textbooks and reading during lectures. I couldn’t stand to be away from whatever I was reading for a whole school day, or even between recess and lunch! I assume many beta readers have a similar passion for reading, and this is in turn how we should approach beta reading. With passion! Instead of reading a chapter and then taking laborious notes, I use the comment function in Word to remark on what I am reading, as I am reading it. The author is literally privy to my train of thought as I am reading their manuscript. Where did I lose concentration? Where did I laugh out loud? This kind of informal commentary is essentially what the authors are looking to us to provide. They are looking to improve the experience of the potential reader by having someone experience their story in advance. By helping make the experience of reading these manuscripts better than they were originally, we are helping get more books out there, and maybe, just maybe, helping to get a book into the hands of someone who will fall in love with it.
The most important thing to remember when you are beta reading for an author is that they are handing you their word baby. They have nurtured and grown this baby for longer than the average human gestation. At some point, they have gotten distracted by baby’s big blue eyes, and have, very naturally, gone nose blind to its diaper. If you are lucky, the baby is in clean clothing, and all you have to do is coo and suggest a quick diaper change. Most likely though, the baby has had a major blowout, and the author doesn’t realize that their baby is covered in poop. It is your job, therefore, to coo at the baby, acknowledging the miracle of the ten fingers and ten perfect toes, while handing the author a wet wipe. Coo and wipe, coo and wipe. The symbolism isn’t perfect, but you get the drift. Every author is going to have parts of their book that shine and parts that need a little help. It is really important to mention both of these things equally. Is the writer good with dialogue? Do they put emotions into words so that you can sympathize with the main character? Is there a pet in the manuscript that is written in such a loving way that you want to run to the shelter and buy a fur baby of your own? In your mind, these things may seem secondary to the glaring grammatical errors or characters who are not progressing or changing, but what the author does well is just as important to mention as what they haven’t done well. Usually, where a manuscript shines is where the author feels the most confident. Acknowledging the good allows the author to feel a kinship with the beta reader, causing the author to be a little more ok with criticism that is less than flattering. Acknowledge the cuteness of the baby, subtly point to the diaper.
The second most important thing to remember when beta reading is that there is a book for every reader and a reader for every book. I recently beta read a book that offended me so much I had to talk myself out of quitting no less than four times. I had to stand up, walk away from the computer screen, pour a glass of wine, gulp, and then embark on the next chapter. Rinse and repeat. I gave this book five stars. Why? Because the writing was impeccable, the characters were thoroughly developed, and the plot was exceptionally well thought out. I had to look past my personal bias and ask myself if the structure of this manuscript was good. It was. Not everyone is going to be as offended as I was at certain topics. My experience is not your experience. What I find horrendously offensive, you may find funny, and vice versa. Though I am not this book’s ideal reader/audience, I have no doubt that someone out there will fall in love with the story, and as I was beta reading, I had to keep that potential reader in mind.
The third most important thing to remember is that this work belongs to the author. It is theirs to do with what they wish. Giving the author a suggestion as opposed to an order gives the author the feeling of owning their work. The last thing we, as beta readers, want to do is rip a manuscript apart and then rewrite it ourselves. This goes against the very nature of beta reading. We are not copy editing the manuscript. Suggestions keep the feedback light and less official, more in line with a beta read. As an example, if an author has used the sentence: “I seen that car go down the road,” instead of telling the author to replace the word seen with saw, I would simply highlight the word seen and comment seen vs. saw. Or, I would write, “Consider rephrasing using the word saw instead of seen.” Utilizing suggestions instead of orders significantly reduces the negativity that the author will potentially sense coming from the beta reader.
Lastly, try to remember that we are choosing to beta read. This is not a chore or something we do to be able to put food on the table. It is something we do because we love reading. This is supposed to be fun. You are helping usher word babies into the literary world! This is a huge honor. I remember when I was in elementary school, the principal called my mom into his office to talk about my behavior in class. I was (unsuccessfully) hiding novels behind my textbooks and reading during lectures. I couldn’t stand to be away from whatever I was reading for a whole school day, or even between recess and lunch! I assume many beta readers have a similar passion for reading, and this is in turn how we should approach beta reading. With passion! Instead of reading a chapter and then taking laborious notes, I use the comment function in Word to remark on what I am reading, as I am reading it. The author is literally privy to my train of thought as I am reading their manuscript. Where did I lose concentration? Where did I laugh out loud? This kind of informal commentary is essentially what the authors are looking to us to provide. They are looking to improve the experience of the potential reader by having someone experience their story in advance. By helping make the experience of reading these manuscripts better than they were originally, we are helping get more books out there, and maybe, just maybe, helping to get a book into the hands of someone who will fall in love with it.
Bio: Kristina's passion for reading started at a young age. During the day, she works as an administrative assistant both at a hospital lab and at her husband’s financial planning firm. She enjoys up-cycling books into decorative items, including votives, plant holders, and paper flowers. When she is not reading, she is most likely playing video games with her husband. Her favorite authors are Kate Morton, Sarah Jio, and Kristin Hannah.
Check out Kristina's blog: Get on Your Ass and Read.
Check out Kristina's blog: Get on Your Ass and Read.
Beta readers are popping up everywhere. Goodreads groups, Facebook groups, writing groups, etc. You may wonder why authors even go through a company like Quiethouse to find beta readers when there are so many readers offering their services for free.
Here's why:
1. You get what you pay for.
A good beta reader is going to read (and maybe even reread) your book, then formulate really in-depth feedback, which takes many hours, to help you make your book better. If you want someone to do good work for you, pay them. There is this pervasive thought in our society that people should not be paid for creative services (or services that cater to that market) like writing, editing, design, etc. That's entitlement, ladies and gentlemen. Some think they are entitled to have someone work for them for free or very, very cheap. If someone's offering you free services... Again, you get what you pay for.
Here's why:
1. You get what you pay for.
A good beta reader is going to read (and maybe even reread) your book, then formulate really in-depth feedback, which takes many hours, to help you make your book better. If you want someone to do good work for you, pay them. There is this pervasive thought in our society that people should not be paid for creative services (or services that cater to that market) like writing, editing, design, etc. That's entitlement, ladies and gentlemen. Some think they are entitled to have someone work for them for free or very, very cheap. If someone's offering you free services... Again, you get what you pay for.
Sometimes authors tell me an individual beta reader they used only gave them feedback that resembles "I liked it" or "It needs work." Quiethouse beta readers fill out an in-depth questionnaire and include additional notes as they read, either in your manuscript or on the questionnaire. They also provide you with a 0-5 star rating (to help you see how readers might rate the book when it's published).
2. Great customer service
I hear so many stories about beta readers who just disappeared after being sent a book--the authors never heard from them again. An individual beta reader may not be able to finish the beta read for you because of an emergency or... perhaps they just don't like the book or they just don't have time to read it. There could be any number of reasons keeping them from finishing the beta read for you.
At Quiethouse, if your reader is unable to finish, I will find you a new reader or refund your money. You will never hear radio silence on my end because you're dealing with me and not the reader individually. All communication goes through me, and I make sure a reader returns their feedback by the deadline (barring any extenuating circumstances, which is rare). After I return a beta reader's feedback to the author, I ask the author to let me know how the reader did so I can make sure we're doing good work. If something about our service doesn't please you, I want to know about it so I can remedy the problem.
3. Confidentiality and Security
What if the unthinkable happens? What if you send your manuscript, which you've put your heart and soul into, to a "beta reader" who is actually someone pirating books? Yes, it happens. And it's scary. It is honestly my worst (business) fear.
At Quiethouse, I have vetted all our readers. I've made sure they are real people, not just someone using a fake name so they can steal books. Each reader has signed a Confidentiality Agreement that gives you (and me) legal standing should something like that take place. Each reader has also been tested by reading and providing feedback on a book before they join our group. I make sure each reader is able to provide thorough, insightful feedback and will be able to help authors, not just perform a cursory read of the book and provide subpar feedback.
And, no, not all individual beta readers provide subpar feedback. There are great readers out there; the trouble is finding them.
If you'd like more information about beta reading, please contact us using the form below.
2. Great customer service
I hear so many stories about beta readers who just disappeared after being sent a book--the authors never heard from them again. An individual beta reader may not be able to finish the beta read for you because of an emergency or... perhaps they just don't like the book or they just don't have time to read it. There could be any number of reasons keeping them from finishing the beta read for you.
At Quiethouse, if your reader is unable to finish, I will find you a new reader or refund your money. You will never hear radio silence on my end because you're dealing with me and not the reader individually. All communication goes through me, and I make sure a reader returns their feedback by the deadline (barring any extenuating circumstances, which is rare). After I return a beta reader's feedback to the author, I ask the author to let me know how the reader did so I can make sure we're doing good work. If something about our service doesn't please you, I want to know about it so I can remedy the problem.
3. Confidentiality and Security
What if the unthinkable happens? What if you send your manuscript, which you've put your heart and soul into, to a "beta reader" who is actually someone pirating books? Yes, it happens. And it's scary. It is honestly my worst (business) fear.
At Quiethouse, I have vetted all our readers. I've made sure they are real people, not just someone using a fake name so they can steal books. Each reader has signed a Confidentiality Agreement that gives you (and me) legal standing should something like that take place. Each reader has also been tested by reading and providing feedback on a book before they join our group. I make sure each reader is able to provide thorough, insightful feedback and will be able to help authors, not just perform a cursory read of the book and provide subpar feedback.
And, no, not all individual beta readers provide subpar feedback. There are great readers out there; the trouble is finding them.
If you'd like more information about beta reading, please contact us using the form below.
I want to shine the spotlight on one of Quiethouse's beta readers. Kristina G. has been beta reading for Quiethouse for about seven months now and has received nothing but glowing reviews from the authors she reads for. Kristina is definitely one of our shining stars.
After a beta reader finishes their review and I email it to the author, I always ask the author to rate and review the beta reader. I want to make sure authors are getting what they've paid for and that this service remains helpful to authors. Gregory Austin, author of Philosophical Nonsense & Gunplay, sent a fantastic review after I returned Kristina's beta feedback to him, and I'd like to share it. There is nothing more rewarding to my little editor's heart (as far as work goes) than waking up in the morning to see great feedback from authors, whether it be regarding editing or beta reading. Here's Gregory's feedback:
After a beta reader finishes their review and I email it to the author, I always ask the author to rate and review the beta reader. I want to make sure authors are getting what they've paid for and that this service remains helpful to authors. Gregory Austin, author of Philosophical Nonsense & Gunplay, sent a fantastic review after I returned Kristina's beta feedback to him, and I'd like to share it. There is nothing more rewarding to my little editor's heart (as far as work goes) than waking up in the morning to see great feedback from authors, whether it be regarding editing or beta reading. Here's Gregory's feedback:
Kristina was a fantastic beta reader. Not only was it clear that she took the task seriously, there were also many facets of her review that showed she had a vested interest in making the novel I submitted to your service, the best novel it is capable of being. Being a regular participant in local and online critique groups, I entered this process with an intermediate idea of how a proper beta should be, at least in my mind. Kristina far exceeded my expectations.
She did a superb job of noting the parts she felt worked well, while still making clear which of those parts she felt needed to be accentuated. On the other side of that coin, she wasn’t shy about highlighting the parts she felt were underwhelming or the parts that seemed confusing. And even when confused by a certain passage, she still did everything in her power to make as much sense of it as she could, while offering suggestions to make the section more clear. Clarity, I feel, is one of the most important elements in writing, and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the way Kristina reinforced that belief in her review.
In my opinion, what separates a great beta reader from a casual reviewer is an innate ability to see through the exhaustion an author puts into her/his work. When an author has written and rewritten a piece so many times, it is often a challenge to isolate certain mistakes that continue to recur, draft after draft. Betas, like Kristina, are able to isolate these shortcomings and offer the author a new perspective that will grant that author the greatest chance to right certain lingering errors. I mean, it’s great that she didn’t miss the awkwardness of those tricky passages I must’ve rewritten dozens of times, but the truest value of Kristina’s services are when she finds the flaws in those passages that I, the one most familiar with my work, thought worked flawlessly.
I was also grateful that she chose to forward her email address. Since the review, I did reach out to her for clarification on one or two of her minor notes and she responded with both professionalism and enthusiasm, and really made this beta process that much better for me. However, if she hadn’t shared her email, it wouldn’t have changed my initial satisfaction with her review, because it was solid in and of itself.
5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you, Kristina. You are a gem. So glad you're on our team.
Gregory Austin can be found by following these links:
gregoryaustinvoiceactor.com
buffalogreg.tumblr.com
Or you can follow him on these Twitter accounts:
@BuffaloGregNY and @ElmwoodWriters
Gregory Austin can be found by following these links:
gregoryaustinvoiceactor.com
buffalogreg.tumblr.com
Or you can follow him on these Twitter accounts:
@BuffaloGregNY and @ElmwoodWriters
Do you know when to use pour and pore? They are often confused. Pore is more widely used to describe those crevices in our faces that get all clogged and gross. However, that is not its only proper usage.
If you want to write about a police officer who is studying a crime scene intently, does he pore or pour over it?
Let’s go to the trusty Merriam-Webster to see what it says.
Pour is defined as
1 : to cause (something) to flow in a steady stream from or into a container or place
2: to fill a cup or glass with a drink for someone
3 : to flow or move continuously in a steady stream
However, pore is defined as
1 : to gaze intently
2 : to read or study attentively —usually used with over
3 : to reflect or meditate steadily
That makes it pretty clear! One would pour milk over cereal and then pore over a textbook.
If you want to write about a police officer who is studying a crime scene intently, does he pore or pour over it?
Let’s go to the trusty Merriam-Webster to see what it says.
Pour is defined as
1 : to cause (something) to flow in a steady stream from or into a container or place
2: to fill a cup or glass with a drink for someone
3 : to flow or move continuously in a steady stream
However, pore is defined as
1 : to gaze intently
2 : to read or study attentively —usually used with over
3 : to reflect or meditate steadily
That makes it pretty clear! One would pour milk over cereal and then pore over a textbook.
Copyright © 2016 Quiethouse Editing
Quiethouse Editing
Something witty should go here, but I haven't had enough coffee.
RSS Feed