What Are You Looking For?

The new year is in full swing and that mean this Wednesday will be the first post of the ever popular, informant and fun IWSG blog hop. Skipping New Year's Day was a common sense decision by the idea's creator, Alex J. Cavanaugh. Over on the IWSG blog, I posted some more about numbers and how using them in an article title attracts interest. Stop by and give your opinion.

This past Saturday, I attended the local meeting of our local chapter of RWA and spend two hours or more listening and laughing. They really are a fun group and the energy and enthusiasm are contagious. I get the same feeling when I visit the members of the IWSG. There's so much going on there and like my local group, the members ran the gamut from multi-published to not yet published. Saturday's meeting reminded me what I'm looking for in the groups, online and physical.

First and foremost is the making contacts and friends. But I also need people who can give me advice on craft and advice from people more experienced than I am. I want to hear about conferences, marketing news, and what's happening in the professional writing world. I want to hear about the success of other writers.

Jay Noel's novel, Dragonfly Warrior is now available. Jay has created a very unique world in this first book in a series. Isn't that a great cover?

What are you looking for in writing groups? Can you name one thing you learned from an online group that has really helped you in your career? Are you ready for IWSG on Wednesday?

Dragonfly Warrior by Jay Noel

You all know I love dragons but today I'm using my blog to introduce Jay Noel's upcoming release. I still haven't figured out if dragonflies are actually creatures who dared to drink the blood of dragons like horseflies bite horses. Dragonflies are beautiful, exotic looking insects though and a warrior named after them really catches my interest. And steampunk  in the wild west is one of my favorites. Check out Jay's blurb and add this one to your wish list.

Dragonfly Warrior Blurb:

The Mechanica Wars: Savage Machines Are Afoot...

At the age of twenty, Kanze Zenjiro's bloody footprints mark the bodies of those who stood in his way to protect the throne of Nihon. Now, the tyrannical Iberian Empire is bent on destroying his kingdom, and they send their steam-powered giants and iron spiders against him.
Zen embarks on a quest that takes him on the most dangerous journey of his life. To succeed, Zen must live up to his nickname, the Dragonfly Warrior, and kill all his enemies with only a sword and a pair of six-guns. He is called upon to somehow survive a test of faith and loyalty in a world so cruel and merciless, it borders on madness.

Book Information: Dragonfly Warrior is a steampunk adventure like no other. It's a dynamic mix of Asian and European mythology, the Wild West, martial arts, traditional fantasy, and high powered steam action that will keep you turning the pages.

Dragonfly Warrior is the first book of The Mechanica Wars, and will debut on January 6, 2014.

Author Bio:

After doing some freelance writing and editing for more than a dozen years, Jay decided to stop procrastinating and pursue his dream of being a novelist. He's been blogging for over eight years, and even had a comedy podcast syndicated all over the internet. All of that was fun, but all the steampunk-inspired stories in his head just wouldn't leave him alone. Jay spends his days working in medical sales, but he can be found toiling over his laptop late at night when all is quiet.
He draws inspiration from all over: H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Shakespeare, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, and Isaac Asimov.

And Jay loves cookies.

 

Jay's Website

Jay on Facebook

Jay on Twitter

 

Jay's book is out in January, a perfect time to add it to your new tablet or ereader you're getting for Christmas. His cover caught the eye of my youngest son. I'm always looking for reads for him.

 

Have you seen Jay's cover elsewhere in the last week? Can you believe he has time to write with everything else he does? Have you liked his facebook page and followed him on twitter yet?

 

Don't forget IWSG tomorrow.