Lines of Power - The Works of Angela D'Onofrio
  • Home
  • Novels & Short Stories
  • Blog
  • The Author
  • Visit Hazel

A New Year?  How Refreshing!

1/10/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Last week, I shared an exciting piece of news to kick off 2019: that my novels will be getting new covers this year!  (If you missed it, you still have until the end of the month to help me with their design, and enter to win an e-book bundle! Click here!)

The good news doesn't stop there.  2019 has a lot in store for the little town of Aviario:   including a new series name, a fresh new genre to call home, and most importantly, a new novel!  
​
This is all a very, very big endeavor for me.  When I started this blog back in 2014, I had no idea the amount of work I would have to put in beyond writing.  At first, self-publishing was overwhelming: so much marketing, design, graphic work, and networking needed to be done on top of doing the actual novel writing that I was worried I had bitten off more than I could chew.   For a little while, when life outside the pages and screens got particularly rough, it seemed like I had.  But looking at my characters, and hearing the stories they still want me to tell, I know that I still have a lot more work ahead of me.   More importantly, I know that it is work that I want to do, work which excites me and makes me come alive more than any I could do for a "living wage" paycheck at a cookie-cutter desk job.  

So as soon as I finish cutting cookies, at the end of the day, I'm going to come home and keep up the real work.  More than ever, the last few months have taught me the importance of creativity and imagination in surviving when the going gets tough: whether it is through enjoying the creative works of others as a reader, or through adding to that creative ocean so that others can find the room to dive in and immerse themselves in something that brings them joy of their own.  

But in order to make sure that my creations get the best mileage possible, I need to really get a grip on the steering wheel that is marketing.  Most of what I have done up to this point has been shaky and self-taught, but over the last year and a half, I've done a lot of reading, a lot of research, and had some long, wonderful conversations with women who run their own businesses or pursued their dream careers, and love what they do for a living.  They've taught me so much, and this is the year I'm putting it all into action.  My work is going to get what the folks in "the biz" call a brand refresh.  Some might call it a fresh coat of paint.  I think of it a bit like that one scene in The Mask, when Jim Carrey's titular character bursts into the garage of some swindling mechanics, holding an oversized muffler in each hand:  "Hold on to yer lug nuts, it's tiiiiime for an overhaul!"   Why?   Well, mostly because I'm a child of the 90s, a self-proclaimed dork, and my brain goes to the closest available pop culture reference as often as possible.  But there's another reason, too, and that reason is road metaphors.

Compass, pointing to a
The road that takes me - and my creations - through this year is going to be winding, tricky, and under a great deal of construction.  It's also going to be a lot of fun, as all the best long road trips are.  I hope you'll join me along the way.  

As always, I welcome your thoughts!  Tell me about a journey you hope to take this year ... it can be a convention you're looking forward to, or a more abstract journey to be more compassionate, or even a journey of the imagination.  Where's your personal passport taking you? 
Angela D'Onofrio
Comments

Out with the old, in with 2019! (Poll & Contest)

1/5/2019

Comments

 
I will be the first to admit it: not a lot happened on this website, or in Aviario, during 2018.  But I will  also be the first to say that I have plans for 2019 to be the polar opposite!  I have a lot of work to do ahead of me, and a lot of exciting developments to share with you all ... so please make sure that you are following me on your social media of choice!  I'll be making regular posts here, as well as on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest as things develop!   

I've even brought this blog into the modern age and enabled Disqus commenting on all entries going forward.  Don't worry, the RSS feed is still over on the right sidebar for those of you who prefer to go "internet old school"!  To test out this brand new commenting system, I have a blog post hat trick: a piece of news, a survey, and an associated giveaway!  

In the coming year, I will be creating new covers and layouts for all 3 novels, and giving the series a new, cohesive name!   I already have a design and scheme in mind, but I need your help choosing the secondary font!   I've done a mock-up of my longest title, as a test of how it will look.   Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to let me know which of my prospective font choices looks best to you!  

Comment with your choice using the brand-new comment system below, and I will choose a random commenter in February to win a set of all three books as e-books, in their preferred format (ePub, mobi, or PDF)! *

Thanks in advance for your help, and I'll see you all here next week!
Picture
* Comments must be received by midnight on January 31st and contain a choice from the designs presented to be considered for entry into the drawing.  One entry per reader, please!
A.


B.


C.

​​
D.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Comments

An Official Hiatus

5/12/2018

Comments

 
Picture
Dear Friends of Aviario,
I have been resisting this decision tooth and nail for longer than I'd probably like to admit.  I know it's been a long time since my last blog post, and a while since I've been on my social media platforms, as well.  Life outside of Aviario has been difficult, and as much as I had hoped to be able to balance being an author with my current struggles, it has fallen by the wayside.  I owe it to myself and to all of you to step back, to address the things which are currently causing me stress and strain, and to focus completely on them.  I have managed to write about half of the first draft of Adjustments, but my previous first drafts were all completed by this point in the year.   Trust me when I say: this one is too good and too important to turn into a rush job.   "A book a year" was a promise I made to myself, first and foremost, and while there's a little rush that comes with being that prolific, it's not worth sacrificing the quality of something I hold so dear ... or the possibility of burning myself out.  

I haven't decided how long this hiatus will last ... perhaps, at least, through the summer.  Quite a few things that are causing me strain and exhaustion are beyond my control, and I need to dig deep and find the sort of patience and resilience required to weather them.  I appreciate the messages of concern and support I've received from some of you over the last month or so, and want to apologize for my "radio silence".  There have been days when just thinking about how long I've been away has made me anxious: that spiral of avoidance stops now.  I miss all my Twitter and Instagram friends, and I promise you, I'll check in when I can.   

To those I've received book review requests or proof copies from: I do still completely intend to review your books!  Part of my time away will be spent preparing for my return, and this includes reading and writing those reviews.  I will be emailing you all separately for personal, private conversations.   The same goes for anyone I may have scheduled guest blog posts with. 

I know that in the culture of the internet, we expect things to come quickly, at a constant, breakneck pace.  We click, we scan, we move on.  But books are different animals: meant to be savored.  I need to treat their creative process in much the same vein, especially this time around.   I have complete faith and trust that this break will, in the long run, bring us all closer together, not create a rift of absence.  In the meantime, be well, read good indie books, support one another, and - hmm - maybe reread the first three Aviario novels?  This one ties them all together.  You might want to refresh your memory ... wink, wink.

​Until next time, I remain your fond concierge,
Picture
Comments

Crowdfunding & A Review on the Horizon

3/3/2018

Comments

 
Just a brief update, this week, with my apologies: life still refuses to calm down around my little Burrow ... I'm heading south to Connecticut tomorrow.  Normally, I'd be ecstatic to see the area which inspired Aviario again, but this trip is for the memorial service of a dear, loving, and wonderful cousin who lost a long, hard, fight with cancer.  Being able to be with family, even for a day or two, should help ... and of course, a few pictures of the area for the Aviario Travel Guide might come back with me, too.  I'm discovering more and more that I have to make my own happy moments.

I have my first Indie Book Review of the year lined up: the first book of The Letter Mage, by Alexandra Penn!  It looks like an amazing read, and I have a review copy in hand which I'm looking forward to digging into.  Fantasy, magic, space, and some wonderful LGBTQ representation?  It sounds like everything I enjoy reading, and more.  I can't wait to let you all know how it is!

My final note for this week is a bit of a somber one, as well ... normally, I only promote my books here on my website, and am more apt to nudge you toward my Patreon for crowdfunding, but two days ago, one of our lovely cats got suddenly ill.   I've set up a YouCaring fundraiser for her ER vet bills and any procedures she may require ... Even if you can't afford to chip in, I would appreciate it very much if you could help spread the word.   The kindness of strangers over the last 24 hours since I opened the fundraiser is astounding: a person I don't know from Adam donated $200.  Knowing that there are other kind hearts out there in the world gives me so much hope: not just for Bella, but for our world and our future.  

You can see the fundraiser, share, or donate @ YouCaring: Help Us Fix Bella's Belly.
Picture
Picture
Next week, I will have better news: good news, and progress, and wonderful things to share with you all... even though I'm admittedly saying so under sheer force of will.  I can't give up on any of this: it's not even close to a choice.  I love you all, and I'll see you next week.
Picture
Comments

Little Victories & Gifts of Awen

7/28/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Despite how busy and strange this month has been, I still managed to cross the Camp NaNoWriMo finish line for the fourth straight year in a row!  It's hard to believe I've been at this, in a constant and dedicated fashion, long enough for it to theoretically be a college degree.  This is, by no means, to say that I feel like I know everything about How To Be A Self-Published Author: that'd be impossible.  I will say that there are probably a few secrets lurking in the practice of surrounding yourself with people and experiences which make you happy and/or inspired.    (For the curious: those current experiences, for me, include watching the entirety of Twin Peaks, attending a community theatre performance of The Hound of the Baskervilles, helping a friend move, picking blueberries while there's still dew on them, and stepping up my artistic noodling away from the written word.)

Those of you with a sharp eye may notice that I've changed the Arts & Crafts section of my website and removed my link to my DeviantArt gallery, replacing it with an onsite one.  Not only does it make it easier for you all to see my art, but it helps pave the way for my secondary creative venture: an arts and crafts storefront called Gifts of Awen. Some of it is related to Aviario, but a good deal of it will be more inspirational and metaphysical in nature, focusing on the intent of creating magical and/or peaceful art for small spaces.  My first project for Gifts of Awen is a series of artist cards dedicated to the seven chakras.  Here's a peek at the first two, which I completed last night:
Picture
Picture
My goal is to also create postcards and other prints of these, along with other small art designed to help people find insight, inspiration, and a moment of peace in a busy, cluttered world.  Commisssions will also be available through the site: I have several slots currently open.   If you would like to see what else I have up at the moment, I'd be honored if you'd join me over at the storefront.   Those of you who follow me on Instagram will also see pictures of new pieces as they're completed and posted!   This may also mean the return of The Author's Oracle ... only time will tell.   For now, I'm headed back to my creative corner to chip away at The Proper Bearing and work on some more illustrations.   I hope you all have a lovely week!
Picture
Comments
<<Previous
    Picture
     I'd be grateful if you'd help support me by clicking below:
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Adjustments
    Adventures In Marketing
    Artwork
    A Sense Of Place
    Awards
    Books For Writers
    Camp NaNoWriMo
    Caveat Self Publishor
    Cover Reveal
    Creative DNA
    Crowdfunding
    Editing
    Events
    Excerpts
    Facebook
    From The Desk Of Buster Heywood
    Giveaways
    Guest Post
    Hopepunk
    Indie Authors
    Interviews
    In The Cards
    NaNoWriMo
    Patreon
    Personal
    Playlists
    Poll
    Questionnaires
    Rafflecopter
    Rainbow Method
    Reflection
    Reviews
    Sale
    Schedules
    Self Publishing
    Sites For Writers
    Site Update
    Smashwords
    The Author's Oracle
    The Proper Bearing
    What A Character
    Writing
    Writing Tips

    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.