Follow Fest 2013!

Hey, gang! As promised, here is my post for Follow Fest. It's basically a networking campaign for authors in attempt to connect those of us who are writing in similar genres, etc.

It's organized by blogger-writer Melissa Maygrove and there's still time to sign up (through Thursday!) if you'd like to join in.


Name: E.J. Wesley

Fiction or nonfiction? Fiction

What genres do you write? Mostly speculative, in the New Adult category. I have a YA fantasy-dystopian-thing I'm gnawing on, too. I'm also trying my hand at some contemporary stuff. :)

Are you published? Yes. The first three installments of my Moonsongs series are available now, and 4, 5, and 6 will be out before the end of the year. Or at least I'm willing to die trying to put them out by the end of the year. :)

Do you do anything in addition to writing? I do covers and a few other publishing-related things, but nothing I'm hiring out for. In my spare time I play the guitar, read comics, watch the Walking Dead, play a few video games, throw a tennis ball to my dog (lots), run, hang with my family, and generally try to stay relaxed and inspired.

Where can people connect with you?
Is there anything else you’d like us to know? I host a New Adult litterature chat on Twitter (#NAlitChat) every Thursday night (9 PM Eastern). I'm a contributor to the NA Alley Blog.

61 comments:

  1. Can't wait to hear more about your YA fantasy-dystopian-thing. (: I'm pretty sure I'm following you on all the other sites. And I didn't realize 4, 5, and 6 of your Moonsongs series was coming out soon. WOOT!! :D

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    1. WOOT! Indeed, Elise! I'll be heading over to your FF post shortly. :D

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  2. Everyone should know that you are the NA master!

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    1. I don't know about master, Alex, but I'm definitely excited about the category! :)

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  3. Nice to 'meet' you again E.J. Sounds like you mean business in terms of your production schedule. I don't follow the NA genre enough to be up to date on what's new. I should check check out the NA site more often.

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    1. Nice to meet you again, too, JL! :) I definitely TRY to mean business. LOL

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  4. I think I'm officially stalking you in every way possible. LOL

    Thanks for participating in Follow Fest! :)

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    1. All laws aside, stalking is totally encouraged around here, M! Thanks for putting this together! :D

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  5. I think I know you ... (I wrote something similar to Carrie yesterday lol)

    :)

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    1. I know! I have such a hard time coming up with something original to say on these kinds of things... so I usually just default to poking fun of people! ;)

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  6. Good luck with the FOLLOWFEST! I host a WRITERLY WISDOM WEDNESDAY on my blog (www.donnalmartin.com) where authors, agents, and illustrators chat about writing and the publishing industry. I'd love to have you join us!

    Take care,

    Donna L Martin

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    1. Very cool, Donna! I'll take a look at for sure. Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  7. Nice to meet you, EJ! Another writer/runner - there are a bunch of us on Follow Fest.

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    1. Nice to make your acquaintance as well, Liz! I've seen your comments on some of the blogs I follow and had been meaning to snoop around and say hi--problem solved thanks to FF! :)

      And that is totally an indication of when you've been doing this blogging thing for too long btw: You notice when someone you don't know comments on OTHER people's blogs. LOL

      Runners FTW! Although I'm not very good at it. :)

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  8. I don't think I follow you on all these other sites. I'm off to do that now!

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    1. Thanks Sherry! I liked you on FB earlier today. :)

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  9. EJ, I'm thinking of getting into running with the long-term goal of mountain running. Any tips for starting out?
    Good luck in getting the rest of the series out by year's end. A great goal!!!

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    1. Hey Susan! I'm definitely no running expert, but I can definitely give you some advice from the perspective of someone who had never run before starting up a few years ago.

      There are various cool running guides for beginning runners around on the web, but the thing that helped me most was to start with interval running. I couldn't run 1/2 mile straight when I started, so I'd run for 1 min, walk for 3. From there, I slowly increased my running time, and decreased my walking time. I think this is a popular way folks train for marathons as well.

      Another piece of advice is to keep a 'big picture' mentality'. Training your body and mind to go through the grind of running (especially if you're like me and don't really LOVE to run--there's a reason why I biked more than run--I love how I feel after a run, but during is often a slog for me). So be patient with yourself and your progress. It took me a long time and a lot of failed attempts to build up to running multiple miles.

      Also, set goals, etc. for things you want to be able to do. For me, I simply wanted to be able to run 3 miles in 30 minutes, several times a week. I've got knee and foot problems, so I never had the ambition to run marathons. But I can knock out a 5k now with little problem. For me it was about fitness. Decide what you want out of it, and don't give up until you get it. :)

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  10. Hey EJ,

    We've crossed paths before...I remember your header (love it). Good to know a little more about you. Would love to know more about Moonsong series, so I'll have to look into that. Good luck with 4, 5, and 6 by the end of the year.

    M.L. Swift, Writer

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    1. Hi M.L.! I remember you very well, and still see you around commenting in our 'little' blog circle. :) It's so tough to stay connected with everyone all of the time, but I certainly keep the people I've come into contact with in mind.

      Hope you've been well, and I'll make a point of trying to stay better in touch with what you've got going on. :)

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  11. I wish I could play the guitar, but I think my neighbors might have a problem with it if I took up lessons. :) (On the other hand, that would just motivate me to sign up for lessons.)

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    1. I started playing an electric guitar for just this reason, NW! I could use headphones. :)

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  12. Love Moonsong! And I am a huge Walking Dead fan- which is a little out of character for me... I have been learning to play the guitar- a bucket list item for me and I am working hard at it.

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    1. Thanks so much Rebecca! The guitar just takes time and diligence to get good at. I'll work on trying to get a chord progression or lick down for weeks until I get frustrated enough to move on. And then I'll try it again randomly down the line and be able to pull it off. I guess I'm saying improvement is subtle, but definitely comes. Did I mention there are a lot of parallels between writing and playing an instrument? :)

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  13. Yes genre jumping is fun! You never know which story might just be the big break or tug at your heart most. Glad you joined the fest too E.J.

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  14. Hi E.J. stopping by from Follow Fest. Looking forward to following and learning more about the NA genre.

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  15. awww please don't die just when I am looking forward to getting to know you. I love dogs and have 3, a rottie, a blue merle border collie and a little cross breed. What breed/breeds do you have ? :)

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  16. I was glad to see you're on Pinterest too, EJ! Didn't know that and am following you now. Think I'm stalking you everywhere now.
    Exciting that you have so many installments coming out before the end of this year! I always love spending time with Jenny. :)

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    1. Just connected with you on Pinterest, J! I'm a total newbie over there. I think I'll get more into it with time, but I'm still in that 'watching' stage to kind of see how everyone uses it. :)

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  17. Speculative? Nice -- though I might be biased. Following you now on Twitter, FB, Goodreads, and I "liked" your Amazon page.

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  18. I still wish NA had existed when my series came out, because YA just doesn't fit.

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  19. More places to smell--I mean, follow--EJ! :D

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    1. *sniffs shirt* What? I just got this one out of the dryer! :)

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  20. I forgot this was happening, and I intended to sign up. ha. I'm going to do my post on Friday!

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  21. I like all the genres you stick to. I'd be intrigued to know what contemporary stuff you're thinking about, though :)

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    1. I'm a little antsy about the contemp project, Trisha. I think it's a cool story, and involves some of the things I'm into (like sports and mental health). So we'll see! :)

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    2. Give it a shot! It's worth challenging ourselves, I think. For me, a real challenge would be trying to do historical or something :) But I'm not so sure I'll ever do that.

      Some of my contemps focus on things I'm interested in as well, like my rock star stories :)

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  22. Wish I had mroe time - would love to find some more paranormal authors :)

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    1. I'm with you, Jo. That's why I usually stay away from doing blogfests, etc. I just don't have time, even though I know they're great ways to connect with people. At some point you have to choose if you want to spend your time writing, blogging, etc. because you can't do them all, all the time. :(

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  23. Love Walking Dead. Cannot wait for it to start up again. Off to follow your links. Nice connecting with you. Best of luck with that dystopian. :-)

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    1. The next season is going to be SO good--I just know it! :) Very nice to meet you, Natasha. I'll be heading over to check you out/follow soon. :)

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  24. Oh fun! I'll have to sign up for this to!
    And thanks so much for signing up for my time trip blogfest! Can't wait to see where you book yours to!
    Wow 4,5,6 are on the way?? You're a rockstar, brother! Makin' it happen! :)

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    1. I wouldn't miss your blogfest for anything, PK. :) I'm doing a big blog tour in December (one of the few things I hire out) that will consist of mostly blogs outside of my circle. But I'll be doing some cover reveals and smaller things on my own between now and then. We'll see if I can ever figure out the magic formula! :)

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  25. 4,5 and 6?! You are a writing maniac! I wish I had that persistence!

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  26. Love speculative!Maybe i'm biased because i also write in the speculative fiction genre :P Glad to have connected through this great hop!Met a lot of great writers to look forward to!

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    1. Yay for spec fiction! Guess I just love writing and reading about the fantastic, strange, and scary--glad you do, too! :)

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  27. Hello, EJ. You're a very busy writer!! Congrats!

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    1. Hey Cathrina! Thanks, I definitely try to stay busy. :)

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  28. Pretty much following you everywhere. :-)

    You sound like me. I have a ton of stories I want to write in other genres.

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    1. I keep telling myself I WILL get to those other stories, Misha. I just think our brains like variety. :)

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  29. Hi E.J.! It's nice to meet you! 6 books in a series! Man, that takes a lot of planning!

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    1. Or JUST the right amount of crazy, Ahsley. :) Nice to meet you, too!

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  30. Hi EJ! New follower here via Follow Fest. Nice to meet you and learn a little about you :)

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  31. It's great to meet you on this follow fest. I've followed you and liked your author page. Congrats on all your publications, and planned ones, and for staying relaxed and inspired. :) Writer’s Mark

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  32. Hi E.J. I'm catching up from follow fest--nice to meet you!
    ~Skye

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“Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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