Chanda Hahn's Blog

So last week I was nominated for a Leibster award by Jo Michaels. So I will pass on the nomination and answer the 10 questions I was given.

A little about the award:
The Leibster award is given to wonderful blogs with under 200 followers. The word "Liebster" Means sweetheart in German. In accepting this award I am contractually obligated to answer 10 questions of Jo Michaels choosing and then command 5-10 other people to answer my similarly worded questions. 


1. Do your children read and how do you feel your writing has influenced them?

Not yet! They are diligently working on reading and sounding out words. They are in Pre-K. I can't wait until they are old enough to read my books. Which is why I write for the younger YA group.


2. Do you have a routine to get your creative juices flowing?

Spend a few days reading and then jump into writing.

3. Is there one genre you prefer to write over another?

Probably Fantasy. I write epic fantasy, contemporary fantasy,

4. What kind of snacks do you keep on hand while you write?

Chocolate, and I drink lots of iced hazelnut mochas.


5. Is there a particular moment in your life where you knew you'd be a writer?

When I started writing UnEnchanted. It was the second book I've ever written and I just knew that this series would launch my career as a writer.

6. Who is your biggest cheerleader and what have they helped you accomplish?

Stacey Wallace Benefiel and my husband Philip Hahn. Stacey keeps me sane, and brings me back down to earth with I start to spiral out of control with worry. She also encourages me and tells me to go for it. My husband sees how overwhelmed I can sometimes get and makes sure that I have time to write.


7. What's your favorite book cover (on one of your books)?

UnEnchanted. It's my absolute favorite, probably because it was my first book that I ever published. I had found a picture on Flickr and fell in love with it. I wrote UnENchanted based on the picture. Later I obtained the rights from the photographer Jorge Wiegend to use it for the cover.


8. Have you ever done a public engagement event?
I've been lots of public engagement events as a costume character, librarian and disc jockey, but I've mostly done book signings at conferences. 

9. Do you write about your surroundings or think up new places?

I prefer to make up new places.


10. What do you think is the most important thing for a writer to keep in mind?

Write what you want to read. At least you will always have one fan.

Now for my nominees and ten questions (nominees must have fewer than 200 followers):

Stacey Wallace Benefiel
Lisa Nowak
C.A. GrayAmy EvansHollie Westring
1. What is the #1 Reason you started writing?2. What is the reason you chose to write in the Genre or age range you do?3. What would be the craziest idea for a book ever that someone should write?4. Pepsi or Coke?5. Who would you choose to play the main character in your current WIP if it was made into a movie?6. When you are not writing or blogging, what do you do for fun?7. Secret/ fun fact about you that not many people know8. If you were on an island an  you only had one book, which one would you choose.9. 5 one word hints about your next book.10. Advice you would give to a future author.

I'm really not a huge fan of  Halloween or Ghosts and such. Or even decorating for Halloween. But I'm a huge fan of Fall!!! I was supposed to do a giveaway a few weeks ago and I got behind. So now it's an October Festivus Giveaway Thing.I'm giving away a signed UnEnchanted paperback a xsmall UnEnchanted Book Charm and small purse charm. They are cute and small. Plus 2 signed postcards.
Enter below!!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Okay, I've done interview posts, advice posts, cover swap posts. I think today should be a random fun day post! Yay!



For the Home Office

Hate those whiteboard calendars? I do too. Buy a fun picture frame or recycle one from Goodwill to create your own dry erase board.


This works much better for daily word count goals and you can even change out the back design because its a cute picture frame~ 
Or put your favorite Quote of the day!





Here's mine from a Writers Retreat I did in Sunriver Oregon!

I asked each author to write down their goals for the weekend.

***My goals were lots of hot tub time, food, friends and finishing Fable.






What about all of those books we have?How about making a book shelf out of.....Books!
I happen to have tons of old books that I bought just because I thought the hard cover was beautiful. Not that I'd ever read it. I'm sure a few of you have trunks full of decorative books like I do. 

Home Made E-Reader stand!

Want to make your own ereader stand. Directions can be found here at Richochet and Away


What about Jewelry?Every aspiring author needs cute jewelry.  I find that I'm obsessed with Typewriter face jewelry.
This Pendant is from The Pendant Island Etsy Shop$13.50

Ring from The Rusted Key Etsy Shop$39.99



FANDOM FUN
Found this on Tumblr and was surprised that
 3 of my books were featured on  FASHION BY THE BOOK A very cute way to connect readers with the characters in your book!






Book Swag


I absolutely love book charms. I think they are cute and adorable and fun for prizes and giveaways and swag for conventions.

I got my books made from the 


I had some mini purse charms like this made for my books. I just didn't have any pictures of them on my computer.


Food Food...Glorious Food.
Someone make me these now.Made with fondant and edible paper.

Butterbeer Latte Recipe


Cold Butterbeer Recipe

Recipe found Here at Design Lovely
I could spend all day sharing my favorite book things. But I will stop here for now. Feel free to PIN AWAY!

Yes, there will be a sequel to Fable. The Unfortunate Fairy Tale series isn't done. I am plotting out book four and currently working on the sequel to the Steele Wolf, which will be the last in the Iron Butterfly series.

I'm hoping to have Silver Siren (IB#3) out around christmas or shortly afterward and the 4th UnEnchanted sometime this Spring. (if all goes well)

Cheers and happy reading.

The thoughts from an award winning author  on balancing writing, motherhood and family.

Decided to let everyone have small peek into my life, so they can understand why I don't have set release dates. I have twins (a boy and a girl) and they are 5. I can't have any more kids, major complications in the hospital and I almost died. So to save my life they gave me a hysterectomy. (Means no uterus. Hence no more babies, but God gave me a boy and girl, so he knew what he was doing) Lets just say almost dying, leaving my husband a widow and not seeing my kids grow up was very life changing. God gave me another chance.

So because they are twins, I get ONE chance to watch my kids grow up. One chance at their first day of pre school, one chance at their first day of ballet or karate, one chance at everything because they experience it together. And because of that my life with my kids flys by fast...to fast for my liking.

It's hard because I want to be in my office writing a great story, but then I look out my window and notice they've grown taller, look older. When did that happen? Did they grow up a little bit more and I missed it because I was staring at a computer screen?

My heart starts to beat fast my mouth goes dry, and an intense feeling of guilt and shame wash over me until I stand up and run to my kids leaving my computer on and the page blank.

My words of wisdom is balance, I am a mother and wife first and a writer last. My income is not important, we live on my husbands salary. So I will always choose my family over writing every day. And if writing ever throws my life out of balance. I will drop it like a hot coal. But it hasn't, my husband has been careful to plan out time for me to write while he plays with the kids.

I not only write for me but I write for my twins so they will have books that we can enjoy together. They are going into pre K this year 2x a week. But during that time I work with my husband and I'm a kids choir director. Not exactly free writing time.

I probably won't have a set writing schedule until the twins reach 1st grade and they are at school 6-7 hours a day.

I look forward to elementary school with excitement because it means more time to write but also complete and utter dread. They can't grow up not yet! So each day I pray for it to go a little slower, I dig my hands into the earth and wish time would stand still, and I look in antique shops for a time turner.

Right now I'm averaging 2 books a year, but I squeeze those in and I've sacrificed much of my twins childhood for them. Is the extra money worth it? It's nice, but is it worth my children's childhood. Since I only get one chance.

I say this so you will understand why I don't release specific dates on my books. I probably won't until my kids are older. I write when the winds allow me.

So is your life out of balance? If you only had ONE chance at something, are you doing it? Or are you letting time slip through your fingers?-Chanda Hahn

All that glitters is not gold.When something precious is stolen from sixteen-year-old Mina Grime, she will do anything in her power to get it back, even if it means traveling to the dangerous Fae plane and battling one of the strongest fairy-tale villains yet.


Buy Now

E-bookBuy at AmazonBuy at Barnes & NobleBuy at Kobo Buy at iBooks

able Release Day Giveaway. LOADS OF STUFF Enter and Share the contest Now.

PRIZES INCLUDE:

UnEnchanted Paperback
Fairest Paperback
Fable Paperback
Love is Grimm charm necklace
Love is Grimm T-shirt
Love is Grimm tote bag
Love is Grimm button
Be Enchanted Shimmer Mist
Be Enchanted Body lotion-mini
Be Enchanted Fragrance Mist- mini
Be Enchanted Shower Gel- Mini
Team Jared Wristband
Team Brody Wristband
Go to
www.chandahahn.blogspot.com

 Giving away lots of stuff for Fable's Release Day Party.Contest Ends August 27th.
*not pictured Fable in paperback


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Release Day August 27th 2013

All that glitters is not gold.

When something precious is stolen from sixteen-year-old Mina Grime, she will do anything in her power to get it back, even if it means traveling to the dangerous Fae plane and battling one of the strongest fairy-tale villains yet.

However, nothing can prepare Mina for the dangerous obstacles she will face in the Fae world, or the choices she must make when love and life are on the line.


Available for Pre Order NOW

  Nook     Kobo    iTunes



Amazon- No Pre Order Available. Will go live Aug 27th

Okay, I admit my post should have been up earlier in the day but I forgot. Blame it on PST zone i'm in and my kids. Yes, lets just do that. Anyway on to the blog post of the day and I'm in a weird mood...which is my normal mood.

A few months ago Maureen Johnson posted on Twitter "I do wish I had a dime for every email I get that says, "Please put a non-girly cover on your book so I can read it. - signed, A Guy"
Thus followed the CoverFlip Challenge. Where Readers where encouraged to take the cover of a popular book and imagine if the author was of the opposite gender and what the cover would look like. 

Some of my favorite's of the CoverFlip are below.



Originals on the Left          Cover Swap on the Right.


         

        
              

             

Does this make me want to read some of them when I probably wouldn't have? Yes...Yes it does. Until I got to the end of Carrie and probably would throw the book across the room and scream FALSE ADVERTISING!  I don't like scary movies, or books to much.

What has been happening more and more is the Single Title Books. Hey Look there Chanda! You did it on three of your books. UNENCHANTED, FAIREST & FABLE!!! Yes. Hangs head in shame. I've fallen in with the peer pressure and did it for my series. Now stop pressuring me and hand be some chocolate like a good little minion...I mean er reader.

Now imagine you are at a movie theatre, you paid for your ticket, bought your $8 popcorn and $4 drink and pretend that you didn't take a second mortgage out on your house just to take your family of six to the movies. Okay, it's not that bad, but it feels like it. You walk past the stancions and proceed down the hallway toward theatre 10 and it's filled with movie posters. And all of the tag lines and titles suck.  Believe me, I've been there and quite a few times I thought I could do better than what they put on those posters.

Now it's your turn my epic readers, authors and bloggers. To come up with Tag lines and Titles for all of your favorite books out there that have fallen into the one word-ism spectrum. 


The best example my family always talks about is the movie Speed. Or as my father in law calls it "The Bus that couldn't slow down"
Or the opposite happens and books with really really long titles should have just been a single word and it could describe the whole thing. 
Here's a whole list of  BOOKS WITH LONG TITLES  on GOODREADS
And here is another list of  LIST WITH ONE WORD BOOKS  
So take your pick. Pick a book from the long list and make it short. Or pick a book from the short list and make it long.  POST YOUR TITLES BELOW!!
And don't feel bad if you want to swap any of my book titles around. Coming up with a title is one of the most fun and terrifying ordeals ever.