Tag Archives: Morgan L. Busse

Book Reviews, Writing

How to Help Promote an Indie Writer

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I am an indie writer. What that means is I am published through an independent press that specializes in a particular genre. At Marcher Lord Press, we seek to fill a niche that many larger publishing companies are not targeting: Christian speculative fiction. This includes science fiction, fantasy, steam punk, dystopia, you name it.

However, as a small specialty press, it also means we don’t have the big marketing budgets that larger publishing houses have. We find ways market ourselves. Not easy, I assure you :). Some of the things we do are: seek out places to be interviewed or reviewed, do book giveaways, and guest blog on different sites. But many times these efforts are only tiny pebbles tossed into the vast ocean of books.

You see, my biggest hurdle an indie author is being found by readers. How do people find my story with so many books out there? And if they do find my book, how do they know it is worth reading?

This is where you, the reader, come in. You are my greatest supporter and ally.

I can hear what you are thinking: I love your book, but I don’t like doing book reviews! I totally understand. It takes a lot of guts for me to write a review. So let me introduce you to other ways you can help an indie author like me get the word out.

Amazon Like: Every book on Amazon has a “like” button attached to it. It’s just like “liking” a post on Facebook. Press the button and tada, there is another “like”. But when a book accumulates enough “likes”, then Amazon begins to promote that book more. Easy, takes 10 seconds, and helps out authors like me. So if you enjoyed Daughter of Light, would you consider “liking” it on Amazon?

Daughter of Light Kindle

Daughter of Light Paperback

Amazon Author Page: I have an author page on Amazon. Just like the “like” system for books, by “liking” my author page, people will be able to find me more on Amazon. Would you consider “liking” my page?

Morgan L. Busse

Kobo: Easy peezy. Once again, all you have to do is click and “like”, only this time it’s through Facebook.

Daughter of Light Kobo

And lastly, “liking” it on the Marcher Lord Press website:

Daughter of Light

No scary reviews, no tacking stars onto my book. Only a couple quick clicks that take less than a minute. And yet by doing this, you will be doing more for me as an author than anything I could do. You, my readers, make a huge difference.

So would you consider taking a moment and helping an indie author out? I would so appreciate that! Thank you.

 

Writing

Marcher Lord Press Collaborative Story

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I’m the guest blogger again for the Collaborative Story over at Marcher Lord Press. All of us authors have been contributing a chapter a week and this week it’s my turn. The story is starting to wrap, so head on over, you don’t want to miss out!

But Who Would Be Dumb Enough To Even Try It?

My Books

Daughter of Light Book Signing

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Something light and fluffy for my post today. I had my first book signing this week at Norm’s Coffeehouse and wanted to share some pictures. Enjoy 🙂

Table all set up and ready!
Chatting with people at the coffee bar (the handsome bald man is my husband Dan 🙂
More chatting!
Signing a book 🙂

 

My Books

The Sea People of Avonai

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Readers have told me they love the sea people of Avonai from my book, Daughter of Light. For those of you who have not read it yet, they are a race of people who live along the eastern coast of the continent and are so connected to the sea that they can feel the sea inside their veins and their eyes change to match the color of the waters.

One of my main characters, Captain Lore, is from this race (from his mother’s side). His connection to the sea creates a unique problem for him. Most of his people grow up near the sea and build up a tolerance to the sea’s moods. But Lore grew up in the White City, far from the sea, and so when he goes near the ocean, his seablood can make it hard for him to focus, or worse, during a storm, can physically hurt him.

So where did I come up with this idea for a race of people who are connected to the sea?

It started with my own experience with the ocean. As a child, my only memories of the Pacific were visits to the beach in California. I remembered how dirty the beach was, how hot, and, in my own opinion, how ugly. I did not like the ocean.

It wasn’t until shortly after I was married that my husband took me to visit one of his favorite places: Whidbey Island in Washington State. I stood on that rocky shore, with the wind blowing and gray clouds overhead, crabs crawling over seaweed, colorful starfish along the cliffs and white gulls crying above me that I fell in love with the sea. That moment took a hold of my soul.

Later, I remembered this quote from Legolas (from Lord of the Rings) when he first saw the ocean: “…then I stood still, forgetting war in Middle-Earth; for their wailing voices spoke to me of the sea! The sea! Alas! I have not yet beheld it, but deep in the hearts of all my kindred lies the sea-loving, which it is perilous to stir.”

I was blessed later to live on the Oregon coast. I watched how the ocean would change. Calm one day, furious the next. And all the beautiful colors it would turn: blue-green, a deep gray, soft blue. That’s when I came up with the idea to have a race of people connected to the sea. And have their eyes change to match those beautiful colors.

I was also told early on in my manuscript that Lore was too good. I realized that by having him part of this race of people, but not growing up near the sea, would create a part of Lore that he could not control (and Lore doesn’t like to be out of control). It is one of his flaws (another one to come in Son of Truth). Having flaws made Lore more human.

So that is how I came up with the idea to have people connected to the sea.

 

Writing

Marcher Lord Press Collaborative Story

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Hey! Today I am a guest blogger at Marcher Lord Press as one of their collaborative story writers. The overall story is a fantasy about 5 companions who are dumb…er…brave enough to embark on an adventure no one else in their right mind would do :). Enjoy!

But Who Would Be Dumb Enough To Even Try It?

 

Personal

Things You may not know about Me

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People are fascinating. Behind the face are stories that you would never guess: places they have been, things they have experienced, interesting tidbits about their family. I thought that it would be fun today to share seven things you might not know about me. And it might explain why I am the way I am.

1)   I was in a beauty pageant. Yep. Me 😉 Now before you get any ideas that I’m that kind of person, I entered because there was a scholarship attached. I had no desire to go prancing around in high heels and talk about world peace. But since I had to earn my way to college, I would do almost anything to get a scholarship.

So this is how it happened: two teachers cornered me. They said I should enter the Lilac princess competition. I said no way. But after consideration, I figured there was no way I would make it to the final round. I wasn’t one of the popular girls at school. So most likely I would be voted out during the all school voting. To my surprise, I was voted into the finals.

I had to learn how to wear high heels, cross my ankles, walk a certain way, and give speeches. In the end, I did not win. But it was quite an experience!

2)   And speaking of shoes, this leads into my next disclosure: I wore tennis shoes under my wedding dress. No, it wasn’t so I could make a quick getaway if I needed one. It was because I really don’t like fancy shoes.

So instead of enduring pain by wearing shoes no one would ever see under my wedding dress, I bought a pair of all white tennis shoes, glued silver glitter all over them and replaced the strings with lace. Much more comfortable than high heels ;). My daughters found my shoes a year ago and asked about them. I told them they were my wedding shoes. They were impressed.

3)   I worked as a janitor to pay my way through college. I guess that’s why I’m good at cleaning bathrooms :).

4)   I have been to Europe… twice. I love the European culture and people. I love visiting places that date back to the roman times (something you can’t find here on this side of the ocean). Oh yes, and I climbed the Eiffel Tower just so I could say I did.

5)   I have moved every 1-2 years my entire life. Except in high school. That was the only time I stayed in one place for longer period of time (sometimes I wonder if I’m in the military).

6)   I come from a big family. My grandfather was one of 15, my dad was one of 8, my grandma was one of 10. And I have almost 30 first cousins the last time I counted :).

7)   I used to be a raider. Not in the ark sense, but in the gaming sense. I was the main tank healer for a 10 man raid group. Good times, fun people. But now my free time is taken up by writing and marketing.

 

So now you know a little bit more about me. How about you? What is an interesting fact about you?

 

 

 

My Books

Favorite Character

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I am doing something new starting this week. Along with my usual weekend blog where I write about life, I will be posting about the characters, places, and concepts found in my new series, Daughter of Light. I will be doing this every other week. So if you wondered where I found the names I used, where I came up with an idea, or have a question, this will be the place you can find your answers.

To start off this week, I want to ask those of you who have read my book: Who is your favorite character? And if you want, tell me why. I’m curious to see which of my characters you resonated with :).

 

Personal, Writing

April Fool’s Day

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Happy April 1st! Today is a huge day for the Busse family. First, it’s Kaitlyn’s birthday. Eight years ago, God blessed us with a wonderful, highly creative, beautiful daughter.

Secondly, my book released today, Daughter of Light. Funny enough, I began writing this story shortly after Katy was born. So they both kind of share a birthday 😉

Thirdly, we get to move into our rental house. No more camping out in living rooms, no more rummaging through boxes. Yahoo!

Fourth, I get to join my new church family today. I already feel really blessed and embraced by the people of Riverpoint Church. Thank you :).

When I realized a couple weeks ago how much would be happening on April 1st, I felt absolutely overwhelmed. Moving and celebrating a birthday and releasing a book and meeting lots of new people. Yikes!

Then I laughed. God definitely had a sense of humor when He orchestrated all these events on a single day, that day being April 1st. Only He wasn’t fooling. It’s all real.

So instead of stressing, I’m going to sit back and enjoy this day God has given me. I’m going to eat lots of cake and ice cream, say hi to people, start putting my new home together, and thank God for my published book.

 

For anyone interested, click here for a link to my new book :).

My Books, Writing

The Story Behind Daughter of Light

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Come April 1st I will have been working on Daughter of Light a little shy of eight years. As I draw near to my release date, I thought I would share with you how I came up with this story…

Rowen (my main character) did not start out with the ability to see inside the soul. I actually created her to be a healer. I was annoyed by the “healing” I saw constantly in fantasy: just place your hands on someone and heal them. Tada!

I asked myself what would it be like if healing cost you something? What if, instead of healing someone, you absorbed the person’s pain, sickness, or wound? Would you do it? Really?

I wanted to explore the psychology behind this answer: What would it feel like? Who would you choose to heal? How much fear would you feel? Would you ever do it again? I wanted real answers, not “this is what the hero would do” answers.

But as I began to write Rowen’s story, I realized she needed something more than this. But what? Then I read a story about a woman who microwaved her baby. I read the headline, horrified. Why would anyone do that? What this woman thinking? What inside of her made her do this?

That made me think. We never see most of the evil in this world. Why? Because most of it is never acted out. But it’s still there, inside of us. What would it be like to see inside of people? What if you were burdened with that ability…and never knew it. Until the moment you touched someone?

What would you see inside the human heart?

This is Rowen’s gift and burden. To see what only God sees, and to reflect it back. To reveal the truth.

Her story begins April 1st.