The SFR Brigade Presents

With Six Sentence Sunday ending this month, it's been proposed that the Brigade start a members-only version to showcase snippets from our group (whether published
or not). On Monday 28th January, an inlinkz similar to the one for the Amazon tagging parties will go up for members wishing to take part. You'll need to post your URL, name and email. Only your name will show after entry and your email will only be used to contact you in the event of a problem. The sign up will remain open until Friday, but please note we're only allowing a maximum of twenty participants at this time. You'll need to have a snippet up by Saturday morning, approximately one paragraph (150-200 words long), and please have SFR Brigade Presents either in your title or the top of your post to keep them consistent. Links will not be checked, nor will snippet lengths! It's in your own interests to stick to the guidelines, make sure your link is correct and live on time, and to help promote the event in general. Use the hashtag #SFRBP.

The idea is not just for fellow members to read and comment (and promote please!) but hopefully to attract new readers to the genre, which needs as many of us as possible to spread the word to be effective. We're not limiting the event to one day so that everyone has time to read the snippet, so where possible use a direct link to your snippet rather than just your blog (if you're using Blogger and set up a post before you sign up, look to the right of your post as you compose it, and you'll see 'Permalink'. Clicking on that will give you the direct URL which you can copy and paste into the inlinkz. Not sure for WordPress, sorry!). Otherwise visitors may be put off hunting for your snippet if you blog a lot.

Those of you familiar with Six Sentence Sunday, Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday and/or Sample Sunday will have an idea of how this system works. Those of you who don't please feel free to ask, either via the comments, the SFR Brigade group on FB, or message me on Facebook - Pippa Jay. I'll be posting an example on my blog here on the 23rd January just to give you a rough idea.

Please note - you do not have to be published to take part! This is not just intended for members to sell current works but also to help build readership for current, new and aspiring authors. You will not be excluded because you don't have something published.

Release Day for KEIR

My first full length science fiction romance novel releases today from Lyrical Press Inc! It's also up on Amazon. I'm so excited I may spontaneously combust! The tour kicked off on the 1st of May (Beltane) and runs for another week. Today there's a grand prize up for grabs on my blog, and you can find the tour details here.

I've been posting snippets of it for Six Sentence Sunday and Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday over the last year. But now the final version is out. :)

Outcast. Cursed. Dying. Is Keir beyond redemption?

For Keirlan de Corizi--the legendary 'Blue Demon' of Adalucien--death seems the only escape from a world where his discolored skin marks him as an oddity and condemns him to life as a pariah. But salvation comes in an unexpected guise: Tarquin Secker, a young woman who can travel the stars with a wave of her hand. 

But Quin has secrets of her own. She's spent eternity searching through space and time with a strange band of companions at her back. Defying her friends' counsel, Quin risks her apparent immortality to save Keir. She offers him sanctuary and a new life on her home world, Lyagnius. 

When Keir mistakenly unleashes his dormant alien powers and earns instant exile from Quin's home world, will she risk everything to stand by him again? 

WARNING: Contains sweet romance, some violence and plenty of adventure.

A huge thank you to all the Brigade members who have offered their encouragement and support, and especially to those who have hosted me on the tour. You are AWESOME!

Better Late Than Never! A Belated Six Sentence Sunday Post!

Yep, forgetfulness has struck me again, but I have recovered if only slightly.  I thought it would be cool to let you guys know that I've taken my first foray into Six Sentence Sunday yesterday and I loved it.

I posted a brief excerpt from my upcoming Military Scifi Romance novel from Decadent Publishing entitled 'Cold Warriors'.    

Come check it out!  http://claresblog2thehaven.blogspot.com/2011/09/six-sentence-sunday-excerpt-from-cold.html

SFR Brigade & Six Sentence Sunday

Several SFR Brigade members are taking place in a huge giveaway during Six Sentence Sunday this week in celebration of the 1st anniversary of the site. Entering is as easy as commenting on any of the participants posts. You can find all the information you need at: http://sixsunday.blogspot.com/

What is Six Sentence Sunday?

The idea of Six Sentence Sunday (SSS) began with Sara Brookes. She posted six sentences from a work-in-progress (WIP) or published piece on her blog on the occasional Sunday to gain interest from readers. Another romance author friend thought it was a good idea and asked for details. When a couple more author friends showed interest, Sara decided to create a central location to post SSS links and make it easier for readers to find and also easy for those wanting to participate. The first SSS post was on February 28, 2010 with four participants and is continually increasing every week, with thirty-six links to check on the first Sunday of 2011.

Participating is easy. Pick any SIX sentences from your work from any genre, whether WIP or published (you don’t have to be published to participate) and post them on your blog on Sunday before 9 AM EST. To be linked to the Six Sunday blog, visit http://sixsunday.blogspot.com/ from Wednesday to Saturday and fill out the “linky tools list” with your information.

There are some rules and common courtesies to follow:

• · Remember, this is SIX Sentence Sunday. While the occasional extra sentence is fine, twelve sentences is not.
• · You are not required to link to other contributors, but a link back to the main Six Sunday blog would be nice.
• · Your SSS post is not to be used to display a new book cover, share reviews or other news, although you can share where to find the book your excerpt is from.
• · You don’t have to visit the other participating SSS blogs, BUT it is kind to do so and leave comments. (Subscribing to the blogs through Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, or the RSS feed is also a nice gesture.)

Spreading the word and sharing the love for SSS on twitter can be done using the #sixsunday hashtag. You can also find SSS on twitter @6_Sunday. For more information on how to participate, visit the blog and click on some of the previous links to see how it’s done.

To get your upcoming or new release a promo spot on the SSS blog, you must contact Sara Brookes and be a regular contributor. Spots are assigned on a first come, first serve basis.

I began participating after an author friend of mine posted on the SSS blog; this Sunday will be my thirteenth SSS post. While I don’t have anything published to prove sales, I have bought several books from SSS participants after reading excerpts and made some great new writer friends.

I also find SSS to be a great writing exercise. If I can take the most boring group of six sentences from any of my WIPs and entice readers to want more, my book will be amazing, right? Well, I think I have a ways to go, but I’m sure you get the idea.

Whether you’re a reader or writer, be sure to check out http://sixsunday.blogspot.com/ and if you benefit from reading and/or participating, be sure to show your love to Sara Brookes, the site founder and administrator.