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Angela M Caldwell

~ Author

Angela M Caldwell

Category Archives: #TheLastOrder

Brave Women

22 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder, brave women, mondayblogs

≈ Leave a comment

After thousands of years and all the progress of the world, women are still the most discriminated group. This sadness my heart, because most of the bravest people I know are women, and much of their bravery goes unseen. brave-choices-make-brave-women-670-640x640

Photo by: www.bravegirlsclub.com

In current events, this past week, I watched the twitter feeds about a woman asking not to work with a man who allegedly raped her. (see #FreeKesha) A judge ruled she must continue to work with this man.
This is a fresh example of discrimination of our world and the bravery of women. I don’t doubt there will be women who see this happening to Kesha and lose hope, regarding their own situations.
How do we change a world that abuses women, kills them, pays them less because of their sex, judges their work quality of work base solely on their sex, calls them name because of their physical appearance, are sold as slaves, are cat called because they are a women, are idolized for their physical bodies and disrespected at the same time, and so much more.

Why is the world still like this when it should have changed by now?
Maybe it’s because women have more power than they realize, but women are part of the problem because they’ve let all the horrors committed against us convince us we don’t have any value or we are worthless. Thus many women feel they have no power. A lie that comes in so many forms, taking roots in the heart of many women as children or young adults.
Annefrank
For myself, I was abused as a kid and I believed I was broken because of it. It took years for me to over come that lie. What happened to me shouldn’t happen to any child, but sadly there are over six million reports of child abuses a year. I myself can think of four people I know personally who were abused as children and it was never reported. No wonder we live in a broken world.

 
Step 1: Convince a girl she’s worthless (any lie will do)
Step 2: She believes she’s powerless
Step 3: She lives her life as a wounded woman never to fulfill her true potential
Step 4: Repeat
Somewhere between Step 2 and Step 3 is where women usually have numerous choices to cast away that lie and believe the truth.

she-believed

Photo by Inspiringhearts 365

My favorite line in the film LABYRINTH is at the end when SARAH shouts to the GOBBLIN KING the truth.

labyrinth_quote_you_have_no_power_over_me_postcard-r2914b9b02eea4197b64514a93123a35b_vgbaq_8byvr_324.jpg

Yet so many women are living their lives giving things power over them like comparing themselves to other or chase the next beauty treatment, or you name it. It’s time to set yourself free.

Courageous
In my novel, THE LAST ORDER, the main character LANA CREW carries a sword, but that’s not what makes her brave. Her bravery comes from rising up against the injustice in her world and fighting for the people who can’t fight for themselves. She’s certainly a brave fictional personality.
Another brave fictional character that comes to mind is ANNA from FROZEN. Anna doesn’t carry a literal sword, but she has her own weapon, love for her sister ELSA.frozen-princess-anna-saving-queen-elsa-main.gif
Fictional characters are great because many of us can identify with them, and watch them overcome their world and win their battles, but even better are real brave women.
The first ones that come to mind are Mother Teresa, Margret Thatcher, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks. These are just a few.

61876-Rosa-Parks-Quote

ARE YOU TIRED OF GIVING UP?

Then all these unknown women come to mind. The bravery of a mother who cares for her handicap child into their adulthood, sacrificing her personal needs for theirs. The abused woman that leaves the abuser to start a new life. The slave who escapes, risking their very life for freedom. The mother who decides to balance a career and her family despite judgments of those around her. The mother who doesn’t choose a career. Countless women who’ve share their stories of overcoming abuse. It’s not what you do it’s the bravery that it takes to overcome and sometimes the smallest choice takes the most bravery.

By no means does this blog even really start to address what is happening with women, but I hope it’s a start to a bigger conversation. Women need to join together. One of our worst problems is division.

Now, it’s time to start being brave! Here’s the challenge. I like you to tell the world about the brave women in your life. It can be a fictional person or a real person. They can be anonymous or well know. There are no rules. If you believe that they are brave shout it to the world.

Use #realbravewomen or #fictionalbravewomen

 

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The Last Order Kindle Countdown Deal

18 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder

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Tags

#99cents, #historical fiction for teens, #kindlecountdowndeal, #knights templar, #medieval fantasy, #strong female, #youngadult

So, you’ve been putting off snatching up THE LAST ORDER, don’t wait any longer now’s your chance to get it for your Kindle reader or Kindle phone app for 99 cents. Special price ends on April 22nd, 2015! Sales starts at 11 AM EST

24 reviews on amazon with a 4.6 star average

BUY ON AMAZON NOW CLICK THIS!

SMALLER _TLO POSTER

 

Here’s the latest review!  See more on Amazon
5 Stars Angela Caldwell’s “The Last Order” is a must read!
By Martin Brown on April 17, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
The Last Order is a medieval story which stars Lana Crewe, a young woman who sets upon a mission to unite her order and restore the queen to the throne. The story features a group of brave women and follows them on their mission as they seek to unite their kingdom and overthrow an evil lord. Along the way Lana must solve a puzzle left behind by her father to discover the identity of the true queen.There are some nice plot twists as well good character interaction. I would recommend this book for all levels of YA readers as well as adults. I gave it 5 stars and I’m sure you will too.

 

 

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Trying new things: Book Marketing?

30 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder, book marketing, writing

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Tags

#indiepub, #indiepublishing, #thelastorder, book marketing, book promotion ideas, bublish

I’ve spent way more time than I should searching out ways to market The Last Order.

Today a found a site called Bublish. Turns out you can make cool bubbles about your book. You pick an excerpt and add some insight and they make a cool page an link for you to share.  You can test drive the site for 30 days for free. No giving them any money or credit card information. I figured it was worth a try.

Here is my first bubble check it out and let me know what you think. Follow me on Bublish. Let’s see what I can come up with this month.

https://bublish.com/bubble/stream/5219?share=tw

If you want to give Bublish a try click here.

one does not simmply publish on amazon2

 

 

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Win a signed copy of The Last Order!

19 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder, Giveaway

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Tags

#angelamcaldwell, #debutauthor, #fantasy, #goodreads, #indebooksbeseen, #thelastorder, #youngadult

There are 5 signed copies of THE LAST ORDER up for grabs. The contest ends this Sunday March 22nd which happens to be my birthday.

Just click the link to enter: GOODREADS GIVEAWAY

THE LAST ORDER – A Medieval Tale of Hope and Mystery for Teens

by Jen Halligan

Angela Caldwell’s debut novel, THE LAST ORDER, is an action-packed story with a passionate, strong female lead.

In THE LAST ORDER, fiercely driven seventeen-year-old Lana Crewe forms a secret order of women knights to fulfill her father’s final request: find the queen who was thought to be dead and return her to the throne.

Lana is living in a village ruled by fear. With their king and queen both thought to be dead, strife and division have taken hold amongst the people. In a ruthless attack by an Order called Talons, Lana’s father is fatally stabbed. But before he dies, he tells Lana that the queen still lives and imparts a directive to save the statue of Saint Peter. Now it is up to Lana to unravel the mystery of Saint Peter and bring an end to all of the war by finding the queen.

Action-packed and enthralling, THE LAST ORDER takes upper teenage angst and turns it on its head.

“The story lives up to its thrilling premise.”  

– Reader’s Favorite, 5 star review

Available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine book stores.

TheLastOrderFinalFrontReadersFav

 

 

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The Top Ten Things I learned my first month as an indie author

03 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder, writing

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

#amazonpreorder, #debutauthor, #indebooksbeseen, #indiepublishing, #toptenlist, #youngadult

top10

  1. The pre-orders option is great, but Amazon counts the sale right then in their rankings and not the day of the release. This is a bummer. My pre-order sales showing all on the same day would have boosted my book higher on their best sellers lists.

  1. People don’t write reviews. If every person who pre-ordered only reviewed The Last Order I would be well over my first month’s goal of twenty reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. So if you haven’t left a review. Please leave a brief sentence or two.
Credit: spring.org.uk

Credit: spring.org.uk

 

  1. Blog tours don’t sell books. Blog tours get your name out and help with exposure, but don’t expect to sell many books if any from a blog tour.

  1. Social Media is exhausting. Keeping up with groups I’m in, chatting with others, keeping people informed about The Last Order, retweeting others *passes out* Even I can’t be this energetic all the time.

  1. Don’t just sell e-books. To make your money back so you can publish more books you need to order paperback copies and sell them. Start with family and friends then move to other venues. (blog post coming soon)

 

  1. I still don’t know what works for marketing. I’m trying out a press release this week. I’m a little late, but I will tell you how it goes. A press release is one of many ways I am still attempting to get the word out about The Last Order.

 

  1. Giveaways don’t sell books. I still loved making the bracelets and bracers and I plan on doing more contests for fun and exposure.
Handcrafted Leather Bracers

Handcrafted Leather Bracers

  1. Pirates are real. Yesterday, The Last Order was discovered by a friend on a website for free. After talking to a few other authors it saddened my heart to learn these sites were so numerous is was daunting to some.

  1. It takes more than one month for people to even know you have a book out. Yesterday a follower asked me if I wrote books.

  1. Family and Friends will always be there. Books and other projects will come and go, but supportive family and friends are priceless.

 

 

So, if you like medieval things, female knights, fast-passed reads or know someone who does check out The Last Order!

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Book Launch Giveaway winners announced!

20 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder, Giveaway, Uncategorized, writing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#angelacaldwell, #debutauthor, #fantasy, #giveaway, #indebooksbeseen, #youngadult

Winners! Finally!

 

Thank you guys for all your support.

Credit: spring.org.uk

Credit: spring.org.uk

TheLastOrderFinalFrontReadersFavAmazon ebook – Amazon Print – Barnes and Noble – Kobo – ibooks

smashwords

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Find out how you could win leather swag.

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder, writing

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

#angelamcaldwell, #contest, #fantasy, #giveaway, #goodreads, #indebooksbeseen, #indieauthor, #indiebooks, #knights, #medieval, #thelastorder, #writers, #writing, #youngadult, PreOrder

Handcrafted Leather Bracers

Handcrafted Leather Bracers

giveaway-6005

Leather Bracelet

A handcrafted leather bracelets or a pair of bracers could be yours.

To qualify for the random raffle pre-order or buy The Last Order  by February 17th and email a copy of your receipt to thelastordergiveaways@gmail.com.

The Book Launch Giveaway runs until February 17th. Your receipt must be dated on or before February 17th, 2015 to be eligible.

You will be entered to win the top prize a pair of bracers (arm-guards) with The Last Order’s symbol. And I’m also giving away custom leather bracelets with the crown on them. A random drawing will be held on Feb 20th to select the winners.

Here’s the tease. The more book orders received. The more leather bracelets I will be giving away!

Buy Links

Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Kobo – smashwords – ibooks

Amazon paperback

Add to Goodreads

Be on the look out for the next giveaway in March that will require readers to create something! Thank you all! runs off stage

 

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YA Bound Book Tours: Blog Tour Sign Up: The Last Order by Angela Marie …

18 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder, Blog tour, writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#angelacaldwell, #author, #bloggers, #blogtour, #bookbloggers, #indebooksbeseen, #thelastorder

YA Bound Book Tours: Blog Tour Sign Up: The Last Order by Angela Marie …

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How I designed the book cover for The Last Order

04 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in #TheLastOrder

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

#amazonpreorder, #angelacaldwell, #angelamcaldwell, #author, #book, #bookcover, #books, #debutauthor, #dyslexia, #dyslexicwriter, #fantasy, #goodreads, #indebooksbeseen, #indieauthor, #indiebooks, #indiepub, #indiepublishing, #nevergiveup, #photography, #thelastorder

By Angela M. Caldwell

When I first started thinking about a book cover I knew I wanted it simple, elegant, and it had to have the symbol of The Last Order Silas designs for Lana in the book.

As a photographer, I knew I could shoot my own cover if I needed to, but in my heart I really wanted to leave Lana to the imagination of readers.

So I went to my dad and asked him to draw the symbol. After a week or so he finally came up with two options.

We went to lunch and you would have thought he was meeting a stranger not his daughter. He was so nervous, it was cute. I love my dad.

crownontopLastOrdersmall

 

LastorderSymbolSmall

 

 

 

 

Both photos are original drawings and they are protected by copyright laws. ©rocketcircuspress

I decided on the crown above the triquetra. The triquetra knot is a Celtic symbol that can represent a few different things, but I chose it because of its connection to women and unity.

I loved the drawings and from there I moved forward and scoured the internet for stock photos. I searched for hours to find the right pictures.

I wanted the cover to have a leather look and feel, so I chose this background from www.dollarphotoclub.com.

Old brown leather background

Next, I found a wall with Ivy and removed the wall and kept the ivy, which was very tedious work. I used the ivy in several places by rotating it and flipping it. This also came from www.dollarphotoclub.com.

                                         Before                                               The Green Creeper Plant on the Wall.

After

The Green Creeper Plant on the Wall.

 

After that, I needed a way to emphasize the Last Order symbol, so I found this grey  splotch and placed it on the front and back, and used a blending layer.

greyblot

 

Lastly, I placed the symbol where I wanted it and also used a blending layer. Then I added an inner glow, and bevel & emboss effects. You can still see the guides I used for the layout in this photo.

coverprocesswithguides

 

Next the title, and author name were added. I used 2 different fonts that gave it a Celtic feel. Then, to make the words pop off the page effects were added. Below is exactly what I had.

The Last Order by Angela Caldwell I knew it was missing something so I found the flowers and added them for the finishing touch. I was honestly surprised I pulled it off, but I was able to use my photography background to create a beautiful cover that I hope you love.

 FINAL FRONT COVER

The Last Order CoverAdd this beautiful book to #goodreads

Amazon e-book pre-order

 The Last Order

by Angela M Caldwell

Release date:  February 3rd, 2015

THE LAST ORDER - cover reveal

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