Whew! After a few long months, Of Frost is finally available to download on Audible.
At the start of this project, way back in February, I searched for just the right voice to fit my book. I had a sound in my head that I was looking to replicate, and not a lot of money in my pocket to do it with. So I set a price range and started searching. After some non-contenders, I stumbled upon Emily Rose Swain, a fabulous British actress with exactly the right voice. It only took a few minutes of chatting for me to realize this was the perfect fit for my project. Of course, she shared my name, though a different spelling. But she was also a Christian. Working with a believer, whose mind was focused on similar goals, would make everything run smoother.
Thus began the first months of recording. All the samples that poured in sounded amazing. Emily truly has a gift for bringing characters to life. I heard Evelyn speak for the first time and cried.
So here we are. After weeks of back-and-forth with editors who didn't quite do what Audible required, re-recording, and double-checking, my book was finally submitted. The agonizing wait continued as ACX scrutinized my audio, and this morning, that blessed email appeared. It had all been approved and sent to retail.
I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to work with Emily and our editors, Derech and Nigel. None of this could be possible without them. So whether the book does well or not, I'm proud that it's out there, and that we could do this together.
If you're interested in buying the audio, check this link: https://www.audible.com/pd/B07TXRH4K4/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-156906&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_156906_rh_us .
If you'd like to check out the ebook or paperback versions (the paperback features some exclusive content), look here: https://www.amazon.ca/Frost-Amily-Cabelaris/dp/1792841450
Also, keep a close eye on this blog and my social media pages for promo codes and free download links!
-AC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/am.cabelaris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmCabelaris
Monday, July 8, 2019
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Why I Wrote Better as a Kid
I've been feeling nostalgic lately. Looking at old stories and concepts I created as a kid has really made me think. I'm sure every writer who started out young looks back on the stuff they wrote as a kid and cringes until their neck is sore. I know I do. But there is something about that old work that really does hold something special.
Growing up is hard. It's a natural thing, but hey, so is childbirth, and that's not easy either. Lifestyle and circumstance do hugely impact a child's growing years, but even for a kid with a perfect family, the very process is difficult. We all begin life with a natural curiosity, an ache to learn, grow, discover, and play. Our world is very, very small, and the most important thing is what we are going to do that day. The previous day or the next just don't matter as much.
The older we get, the more our world expands with our mind. We learn about war, about people killing each other and families being ripped apart. We learn about careless people who live with no thought of the consequences of their actions. We learn that a human being can despise and kill another with no remorse.
Let's bring this back to writing. As a kid, I wrote fantastical stories about other kids who would run away from home and stumble upon a mission to save the President of the United States. I wrote about female warriors (hi there, beta Of Frost). I dabbled in poetry, adventure, romance, and even horror. I wrote what I felt with no thought of how it looked afterward. I felt the inspiration and I poured it out.
Throughout my own personal "growing up," I've studied English both academically and recreationally. As I studied and grew, my taste in books changed. The drawn-out prose of Victorian writers no longer bored me. It fascinated me, because I finally understood how beautiful that writing is. I started reading autobiographies, and I was riveted by the true tales of these people's lives. But as I gained an understanding of the world, I became self-conscious. Suddenly, the books I read were no longer as entertaining. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of superior writers. I could no longer touch fantasy books; their incredible world-building, character development, and twisting plots only daunted me.
The wide eyes of childhood became clouded in self-doubt. My writing became as closed-off as I was becoming. Through the betrayal of friends, the mockery I faced as a kid, and the pressure of the other writers, my writing choked. My sentences all sounded the same. Nothing I came up with was interesting. Nothing would sell.
I suppose that's also part of growing up--accepting yourself. And although this message is preached from every rooftop, it's harder to apply to your own personal skills. Being a perfectionist, I have to be the best at everything. That's why I've gravitated to reading autobiographies, mostly. I don't have to top someone else's real life.
If you're a beginning writer, try to accept yourself and your writing. Perhaps you haven't had as much education as that other writer you so admire. Perhaps your plots seem cliche and your twists are expected, but that's just because you wrote it. I've said this before, and I'll say it again--no one can write your story like you can.
Open yourself up. Stop writing to top other people and just write. Write straight from your heart. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks of it? If you have a story to tell, tell it, and tell it in your voice.
-AC
BUY OF FROST: https://www.amazon.ca/Frost-Amily-Cabelaris/dp/1792841450
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/am.cabelaris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmCabelaris
Growing up is hard. It's a natural thing, but hey, so is childbirth, and that's not easy either. Lifestyle and circumstance do hugely impact a child's growing years, but even for a kid with a perfect family, the very process is difficult. We all begin life with a natural curiosity, an ache to learn, grow, discover, and play. Our world is very, very small, and the most important thing is what we are going to do that day. The previous day or the next just don't matter as much.
The older we get, the more our world expands with our mind. We learn about war, about people killing each other and families being ripped apart. We learn about careless people who live with no thought of the consequences of their actions. We learn that a human being can despise and kill another with no remorse.
Let's bring this back to writing. As a kid, I wrote fantastical stories about other kids who would run away from home and stumble upon a mission to save the President of the United States. I wrote about female warriors (hi there, beta Of Frost). I dabbled in poetry, adventure, romance, and even horror. I wrote what I felt with no thought of how it looked afterward. I felt the inspiration and I poured it out.
Throughout my own personal "growing up," I've studied English both academically and recreationally. As I studied and grew, my taste in books changed. The drawn-out prose of Victorian writers no longer bored me. It fascinated me, because I finally understood how beautiful that writing is. I started reading autobiographies, and I was riveted by the true tales of these people's lives. But as I gained an understanding of the world, I became self-conscious. Suddenly, the books I read were no longer as entertaining. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of superior writers. I could no longer touch fantasy books; their incredible world-building, character development, and twisting plots only daunted me.
The wide eyes of childhood became clouded in self-doubt. My writing became as closed-off as I was becoming. Through the betrayal of friends, the mockery I faced as a kid, and the pressure of the other writers, my writing choked. My sentences all sounded the same. Nothing I came up with was interesting. Nothing would sell.
I suppose that's also part of growing up--accepting yourself. And although this message is preached from every rooftop, it's harder to apply to your own personal skills. Being a perfectionist, I have to be the best at everything. That's why I've gravitated to reading autobiographies, mostly. I don't have to top someone else's real life.
If you're a beginning writer, try to accept yourself and your writing. Perhaps you haven't had as much education as that other writer you so admire. Perhaps your plots seem cliche and your twists are expected, but that's just because you wrote it. I've said this before, and I'll say it again--no one can write your story like you can.
Open yourself up. Stop writing to top other people and just write. Write straight from your heart. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks of it? If you have a story to tell, tell it, and tell it in your voice.
-AC
BUY OF FROST: https://www.amazon.ca/Frost-Amily-Cabelaris/dp/1792841450
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/am.cabelaris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmCabelaris
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Of Frost Audiobook Coming Soon!!
I am so excited to announce that Of Frost is coming to Audible in the very near future! I've been working with an amazing voice actor, along with her editing team, to bring my characters right to your ears.
Before I even wanted my book in my hands, I wanted to bring it to audio. I've listened to my stories for years on automated voices online, trying to better grasp how my story sounded vs. how I wanted it to sound. But automated text-to-speech can only go so far. Robot-like dialogue, awkward pacing, and flat deliveries left something to be desired. That's why, for my audiobook audition, when I heard words I wrote spoken in a soft, human voice with all the energy and emotion I felt writing it, I nearly cried.
The main reason I've wanted my books in audio has been for my family's sake. Those who know me know I have relatives who can't read English well, but these people (bless them) are still deeply interested in my book. For people like my dad, my grandma, and my German aunts, uncles, and cousins, audiobooks give them the chance to experience literature without having to read English.
Because of audiobooks, I've powered through hours of painting and sketching without noticing that time has even passed. As I struggled to bring my first portrait to life, I listened to The Eye of the World from The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Now, that audio is nearly 30 hours long, so I didn't finish it all in one sitting, but it was long past midnight before I sat back in my painting chair and paused my mental movie (hugely recommended by the way).
Unfortunately, the commitment of sitting down to fully absorb a good book is much more difficult than it once was. Life is often too busy to take a break, and--let's admit it--when you're tired, it's easier to turn your brain off and watch something than meticulously try to understand the protagonist's next move. How much more relaxing would it be if you could sit back, close your eyes, and let the story play through your ears? Best of both worlds!
All that to say--I can't wait until the rest of the world can hear my book really come to life. Keep checking my social media pages to see updates on this progress.
-AC
BUY OF FROST: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1792841450
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/am.cabelaris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmCabelaris
Before I even wanted my book in my hands, I wanted to bring it to audio. I've listened to my stories for years on automated voices online, trying to better grasp how my story sounded vs. how I wanted it to sound. But automated text-to-speech can only go so far. Robot-like dialogue, awkward pacing, and flat deliveries left something to be desired. That's why, for my audiobook audition, when I heard words I wrote spoken in a soft, human voice with all the energy and emotion I felt writing it, I nearly cried.
The main reason I've wanted my books in audio has been for my family's sake. Those who know me know I have relatives who can't read English well, but these people (bless them) are still deeply interested in my book. For people like my dad, my grandma, and my German aunts, uncles, and cousins, audiobooks give them the chance to experience literature without having to read English.
Because of audiobooks, I've powered through hours of painting and sketching without noticing that time has even passed. As I struggled to bring my first portrait to life, I listened to The Eye of the World from The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Now, that audio is nearly 30 hours long, so I didn't finish it all in one sitting, but it was long past midnight before I sat back in my painting chair and paused my mental movie (hugely recommended by the way).
Unfortunately, the commitment of sitting down to fully absorb a good book is much more difficult than it once was. Life is often too busy to take a break, and--let's admit it--when you're tired, it's easier to turn your brain off and watch something than meticulously try to understand the protagonist's next move. How much more relaxing would it be if you could sit back, close your eyes, and let the story play through your ears? Best of both worlds!
All that to say--I can't wait until the rest of the world can hear my book really come to life. Keep checking my social media pages to see updates on this progress.
-AC
BUY OF FROST: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1792841450
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/am.cabelaris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmCabelaris
Monday, March 4, 2019
Historical Fiction vs. Fantasy Fiction -- My Views
As a fantasy writer, I've often been approached with the argument that my writing is easier than historical fiction. Somehow, there exists a notion that fantasy writers can just spit whatever ideas they think of onto a page and call it a functioning novel, while historical writers push up their glasses, roll back their sleeves, and spend grueling hours poring over ancient manuscripts to be sure that October 9th, 1825 was indeed a Sunday, or to discover whether or not ancient Greeks commonly slept on pillows (they did).
I experimented as a kid with historical writing. I was around 11 or 12 when I was inspired by Mount&Blade, a popular medieval fighting/strategy computer game. I researched all kinds of things I needed and wrote a story about a female soldier who fell in love with her general in 540 AD. I made the story collide with the Plague of Justinian, which made things pretty interesting. (Sidenote: I chose the Plague of Justinian because I thought the Black Plague was too mainstream. So hipster.)
Looking back on those old books, I laugh at my emotion-driven plot, whiny, unrealistic characters, and laughable dialogue. But I think I did alright with my facts. I remembering researching if they had soap, what they ate, how regiments campaigned, how they kept up their food stocks, if they had towels and what they were made of, among a thousand other little things. To this day, I'm proud of the work that went into that book, even if no one will ever see it.
I don't like playing the comparison game with writing, in any sense. I hold to the belief that all writing is both work and play. From the nonsensical children stories of Lewis Carroll to The Art of War and everything in-between, all writing has structure, and it takes a special being to put the time and effort into researching, formulating, and breathing life into a novel based in historical fact. However, since I myself have more experience with fantasy than historical writing, I want to touch on the challenges of my own field.
The first thing I usually say when talking to someone about fantasy writing are the fences. The job of a historical writer is to find out where the fences are, i.e. What day was October 9th, 1825? When was toothpaste invented? What did an English servant wear to work?) Once they know these fences, they can create a story within them.
With fantasy writing, I build my own fences. That sounds like the fun part, and it is, but the trouble is remembering where I put all of them. I create every aspect of my world, good and bad. I build my own history. So I have to keep track of days, months, and years with made-up names, going back centuries. I have to build an origin and add events that have shaped the world to be what it is. I make characters out of races I know and races I make up, but I also try to explain how and why they exist. This isn't all done in one fell swoop, of course. The point of my writing isn't to make up a new history book for a world no one cares about yet. The point is to introduce my world through characters my readers can meet and grow to love.
Every universe has rules, no matter how random, even if having no rules is the only rule. Even that can be broken. Consistency is key in fantasy writing. Once consistency is broken, the reader will be jerked right out of the story. And that's true of both historical and fantasy writing.
The problems I found in Of Frost have been mainly the past. I want to connect the history of Aranea in some ways to Earth's history, so the reader feels like they're in a familiar world while at the same time seeing things they may not normally see (magic, strange creatures, etc.). So I build off what I know, what I believe, and what I expect. Ardellon, the region Of Frost is based in, is a very human region. But I have plans to expand into some other places with not-so-familiar creatures. It's important when I do this that I remember to ground the reader with some things they recognize while I play with bolder colours. Keeping a balance between real and fantastic will, hopefully, suck the reader in and keep them.
In conclusion, there's no way of writing that doesn't include some grit, some perseverance, and plain hard work. Both historical and fantasy writing have their mountains, and what I do is a bit of a blend between the two. At any rate, it is up to you, the writer, to decide how you want your book to play out. Give your characters time to inspire you, and they can point the way.
-AC
What is your opinion on this?
BUY OF FROST: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1792841450
I experimented as a kid with historical writing. I was around 11 or 12 when I was inspired by Mount&Blade, a popular medieval fighting/strategy computer game. I researched all kinds of things I needed and wrote a story about a female soldier who fell in love with her general in 540 AD. I made the story collide with the Plague of Justinian, which made things pretty interesting. (Sidenote: I chose the Plague of Justinian because I thought the Black Plague was too mainstream. So hipster.)
Looking back on those old books, I laugh at my emotion-driven plot, whiny, unrealistic characters, and laughable dialogue. But I think I did alright with my facts. I remembering researching if they had soap, what they ate, how regiments campaigned, how they kept up their food stocks, if they had towels and what they were made of, among a thousand other little things. To this day, I'm proud of the work that went into that book, even if no one will ever see it.
I don't like playing the comparison game with writing, in any sense. I hold to the belief that all writing is both work and play. From the nonsensical children stories of Lewis Carroll to The Art of War and everything in-between, all writing has structure, and it takes a special being to put the time and effort into researching, formulating, and breathing life into a novel based in historical fact. However, since I myself have more experience with fantasy than historical writing, I want to touch on the challenges of my own field.
The first thing I usually say when talking to someone about fantasy writing are the fences. The job of a historical writer is to find out where the fences are, i.e. What day was October 9th, 1825? When was toothpaste invented? What did an English servant wear to work?) Once they know these fences, they can create a story within them.
With fantasy writing, I build my own fences. That sounds like the fun part, and it is, but the trouble is remembering where I put all of them. I create every aspect of my world, good and bad. I build my own history. So I have to keep track of days, months, and years with made-up names, going back centuries. I have to build an origin and add events that have shaped the world to be what it is. I make characters out of races I know and races I make up, but I also try to explain how and why they exist. This isn't all done in one fell swoop, of course. The point of my writing isn't to make up a new history book for a world no one cares about yet. The point is to introduce my world through characters my readers can meet and grow to love.
Every universe has rules, no matter how random, even if having no rules is the only rule. Even that can be broken. Consistency is key in fantasy writing. Once consistency is broken, the reader will be jerked right out of the story. And that's true of both historical and fantasy writing.
The problems I found in Of Frost have been mainly the past. I want to connect the history of Aranea in some ways to Earth's history, so the reader feels like they're in a familiar world while at the same time seeing things they may not normally see (magic, strange creatures, etc.). So I build off what I know, what I believe, and what I expect. Ardellon, the region Of Frost is based in, is a very human region. But I have plans to expand into some other places with not-so-familiar creatures. It's important when I do this that I remember to ground the reader with some things they recognize while I play with bolder colours. Keeping a balance between real and fantastic will, hopefully, suck the reader in and keep them.
In conclusion, there's no way of writing that doesn't include some grit, some perseverance, and plain hard work. Both historical and fantasy writing have their mountains, and what I do is a bit of a blend between the two. At any rate, it is up to you, the writer, to decide how you want your book to play out. Give your characters time to inspire you, and they can point the way.
-AC
What is your opinion on this?
BUY OF FROST: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1792841450
Friday, February 15, 2019
Music While You Read
I don't know about you, but I love music when I'm working or reading. If you're like me, I've made up a playlist of songs you can listen to on YouTube while you read my book. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf_18Z1yj9lWHk--mM-K6lJFF8xIkbYVr . These are songs I listened to myself as I wrote the book. I hope it gives you an idea of the emotion behind the scenes. Happy reading!
-AC
My book -- Of Frost!
I don't even know where to begin with this book. I've spent so much time in this world and with these characters that the pages feel like a second home to me. I've learned so much writing this, both emotional lessons from observing my characters and technical skills from the actual writing (and editing) process. Following Evelyn through her journey has been such a rewarding experience.
On April 29th, 2016, I submitted one of my favourite stories to a site called Inkitt.com, where writers could post stories free-to-read. After I posted, I revised it countless times, among writing other works to post there. It took over a year for the original version of this story to reach 1,000 reads, but only 6 more months for it to reach 2,000. A few months later I reached 3,000, and so on. Seeing such progress and reading both encouraging and critical reviews gave me my first taste of what it would be like if my works were actually published.When I was in college studying Bible doctrines, I roomed with two girls who decided they would read my book on Inkitt. One finished it in maybe two days, and the other took a little longer because her schedule didn't allow as much reading time. I remember them talking to each other about a male character I'd written, commenting on his personality, wishing they could find a man like him. Playful, girly banter. I don't think they realized how that inspired me. It was the last shove I needed to take a real step toward publishing. If an unedited character could spark such feelings in my roommates, could it do the same later, in its finished, polished form?
I decided I wanted to find out. It was mind-blowing to hear them gab about a character who once existed only in my imagination. At that moment, I fell a little harder in love with the entire literary world, with the power of words to make someone laugh, cry, or fall in love themselves.
I recently had a conversation with a close friend about the power of writing. I can't remember who, but one of us raised the point of how writing can transform a nerdy English lover into a god, able to create worlds and characters, able to spark emotion, able to move, to hurt, to challenge. I think of great writers like J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling, who fashioned universes out of nothing, who penned characters who will be adored and hated long after they themselves are gone.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I am honoured to leave my own little mark on the world. I will never reach the literary level of those I've mentioned or others I admire. However, something I think every beginning writer needs to realize is that, despite the quality of other works, despite the fact that the characters and events of your book might have been written before, no one can tell it the same way you will. My book isn't unique. It contains cliches and has been inspired by other things I've seen. But no one can tell the story like I can. No one can arrange it together like I can.
Your story is unique because YOU are unique. Don't try to replicate someone else's voice. No one has a voice like yours.
As much as I believe in unique voice, I also urge any beginning writer to take in as much as they can. Gather every piece of advice, every tip, every hack you can. Then interpret it all in your way. Put out the best that you have. You may never reach perfection, but that's not what life is all about anyway. Keep learning. Keep writing.
-AC
BUY OF FROST: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1792841450
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