Jill Williamson’s Blog
Punctuation 101 is here!
Punctuation 101 is here at last! This is a book for fiction writers. This is a handy reference that you can keep close by so you don’t have to page through the massive Chicago Manual of Style, which I love, but that index alone is twenty-nine pages long! Trust me. I used it as a reference to check my facts as I wrote Punctuation 101, and I spent a lot of time trying to find things in that index…
Why write a book on punctuation? Well, it all started back in 2011 with an idea, then a series of blog posts on goteenwriters.com in 2012 and 2013. I saw so many of the same mistakes in the manuscripts of beginning writers, I wanted to lay out the rules in an straightforward and easy-to-understand way. The posts were a hit. And many of those teen bloggers said, “You should write this as a book, Jill!” And I thought, ooh. That would be a lot of work.
:-/
It was a lot of work! I would spend some time writing it, then I would get SO BORED of commas or semicolons or em dashes that I’d quit and work on something else. But every time this happened, I eventually went back. I’d poured too much time and effort into this project to just walk away. And while it was boring for me to write it and rewrite it again and again, I knew it would be a help to you all. Still, I needed to take some serious punctuation breaks throughout the year, because one can only take so much punctuation at a time, you know?
But I finished, and I am SO HAPPY! *dances* Punctuation 101 is here to stay. Grab your copy. Dog-ear the pages with rules you need to reference. (My trouble area is capitalization in titles. Who can remember all that? Seriously?) And then write your novel without worrying about the rules. Because we all just want to write stories, right? I know I do.
Punctuation 101: A Fiction Writer’s Guide to Getting it Right
Pre-order The Profile Match and Get a Vinyl Mission League Logo Sticker!
To celebrate the release of The Profile Match (the final book in the Mission League series), I had some stickers made!
I will mail one to anybody who pre-orders a copy of The Profile Match. If you’ve already pre-ordered, click here and fill out the form: I pre-ordered. Send me a sticker!
You can pre-order in the following places:
Paperback Copies
I only have paperback copies available for pre-order from my author store. They’re listed at a special pre-order price of $10, which is about $5 off the regular $14.99 price. I will autograph these, so if you would like the autograph personalized, be sure to write me instructions in the note section when you check out.
Order The Profile Match in paperback from Jill’s Author Bookstore!
Ebook Copies
You can pre-order the ebook from these etailiers:
Once you’ve pre-ordered, click here and fill out the form: I pre-ordered. Send me a sticker!
The Profile Match Cover Reveal
It’s Release Day for King’s War and Warrior’s of the Veil–plus a BIG sale!
Today is the day! *dances* After four years of hard work, the final installments of the Kinsman Chronicles, King’s War and Warriors of the Veil, have released into the wild.
King’s War is my 20th book. It feels surreal to hold this one and to look at the stack of author copies and remember what it took to finish.
The Kinsman Chronicles were by far the most challenging books I’ve ever written. At the time, it seemed like a good idea to try my hand at epic fantasy, the way general market authors do, with multiple points of views and storylines that weave into one grand epic. “It seemed like a good idea at the time” is a mantra I have parroted more than a few times in my life. Funny how one can get an idea 
💡in a breath that takes four years to complete. 
😉
I have a new respect for authors like J. R. R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Brent Weeks, and Ken Follett. And I can sympathize with George R. R. Martin, who has yet to finish his epic series. I get it, George. There’s a lot to tie up. A lot.
Thankfully, my epic was only a trilogy, so I managed the feat in four years and now get to move on to a new idea. Such is the life of a novelist. I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to write this series and for all it taught me. I’m also thankful to my publisher for investing in it and all my explorers who took the plunge and read all three. 
❤
And if you haven’t read these books yet, I’m having a sale. So this is a good time to grab them, if they’re been on your list. You can get all three autographed paperbacks for $30 through June 30, 2018, while supplies last. Click here to visit my bookstore.
This week I celebrate a major feat. 
📚 I will post pictures, have parties, and crow just a little. I’m the best kind of proud of my book babies, going out into the world to make their way. To remind a broken world that there is reason to hope. To shine light in the darkness. 
✨
Happy reading, Explorers. Don’t get lost in there. 😉
King’s War Book Release Party and RSVP
I’m having my first ever in-person book release party to celebrate both the release of King’s War, the final book in the Kinsman Chronicles, and my 20th published book! (I can’t believe I wrote 20 books. 😯 )
This is a different party from the online Facebook Launch Party I’m doing with Gillian Bronte Adams (click here for details on that one).
If you live in the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington area, please try to come. We’re going to have a lot of fun and prizes and cake.
Here are the details:
Saturday, June 23, 2-4 PM
Three Creeks Library
800 NE Tenney Rd
Vancouver, WA 98685
I will have a limited amount of swag packs to give away at this event. If you would like one, you must RSVP at this link: https://goo.gl/forms/hV7Hl65UFyCjOY5L2
Also, I will only have the three Kinsman Chronicles books for sale at the event.
Hope to see you all there!
King’s Folly Fan Art
You guys, I received this gorgeous King’s Folly fan art from Rebeka Borshevsky. Is she talented, or what? I love, love, love the hairstyles.
How accurate do these appear to the characters you pictured in your heads as you read the book?
My weekend as a PAC-MAN Ghost
A few weekends back, I went to my son’s FIRST Robotics competition, at which I volunteered for field reset. The job isn’t difficult, but two days on my feet for 8-10 hours each day wore me out. And I must have caught something new, because today I am sick again. Boo.
If you’re curious what goes on at a FIRST Robotics competition, below is a link to one of our semi-final matches. Our team (2811) was the second seed captain, which is a pretty good place to be. We earned second place in the tournament. If you look carefully, you can see me, sitting on a chair in the lower right-hand corner of the video. I’m wearing an orange PAC-MAN ghost smock. At the end of the match, I get up and open the lower right-side gate, then come onto the field to help clean up. Also, my son was working the camera a few steps away from me. He’ was wearing a navy blue jacket.
We were at this competition all day on Friday and Saturday. And on Saturday, we even helped tear down the field. Me and another mom folded ALL those blue curtains you see hanging in the back.
That was a lot of curtains.
Have you ever been to a FIRST Robotics competition?
Our robot, Zeus
My son, Luke, the camera man.
My view of the field.
The field from the stands.
A Deliverer Comes — Release Day!
I am very happy to announce that Part 8 of the Kinsman Chronicles is now available for your reading pleasure!
Hooray! *dances and throws confetti*
A Deliverer Comes is all of Act 2 of book three, King’s War, so if you’ve been reading the ebook parts, A Deliverer Comes will bring you almost to the end of the story. We are so close to finding out whether or not the remnant of the Five Realms will find a permanent home in Er’Rets.
(Those of you who’ve read the Blood of Kings trilogy are probably pretty certain that at least some of them will . . .)
You can learn more about A Deliverer Comes in the blurb below or by visiting this link, which has links to all the places the ebook is available.
For those of you reading the ebook parts, I hope you enjoy this next installment.
Grayson has become the king’s spy, traveling the new land to determine the strengths and weaknesses of Armania’s enemies. On one such mission, he uncovers a seedbed of destruction that is responsible for the infighting between the giant tribes and the oppression of the Puru people. He does what he can to help, but his actions are considered an act of war.
Meanwhile, Chieftess Charlon has found a way to make magic in this new land, and as evenroot sources diminish, Barthel Rogedoth and Empress Jazlyn will do anything to learn her secret.
In her captivity, Onika the prophetess stumbles onto a new ability of the voicing magic. She returns to Armanguard to train warriors to enter the Veil and fight an unseen evil that has been subjugating the souls of humanity for generations.
A Deliverer Comes is collected together with parts 7 and 9 in King’s War.
Blood of Kings Book Sale and Mini Book Giveaway
I am having a book sale! 😆
The Blood of Kings paperback books are still having trouble being available at online stores like Barnes and Noble and Book Depository, much to my dismay. BUT they are available at Amazon.com and through my author store. *Does cartwheels* (I’ll post links below.)
This sale is on the Blood of Kings trilogy in paperback. You can get all three updated Enclave books for $42 from my author store, which is a bit cheaper than the retail price Amazon is charging. Any who order the trilogy between today and next Monday night (Feb 5th), will also be entered to receive one of three Blood of Kings mini book sets. I put on my crafty hat and made these myself. They have real covers, front and back. The insides are plain white paper, but I will autograph each book in the same way I autograph each real book.
Aren’t they cute?
Sadly, the paperback books are STILL not showing up at the Book Depository. Nor are they available at Barnesandnoble.com. And only book one is available at Christianbook.com. So we will make due! The books exist again. There are books to be had. And that is what matters and makes me dance for joy. *dances*
You can find the paperback trilogy in the following places:
My author store:
Click here to visit my online store.
Amazon.com:
While some of the books on Amazon might say “Temporarily out of stock,” I have been assured that you can place an order and that will trigger the massive machine that is Amazon.com to process your order and get the books shipped. Here are the links to each book:
How to enter the giveaway:
If you order the Blood of Kings trilogy from my author store between now until next Monday night (Feb 5, 2018), you will be automatically entered. If you buy your trilogy from Amazon.com, you must forward me your email receipt that is dated between now and next Monday night (Feb 5, 2018). Then I will enter you in the giveaway. Winners will be contacted by me. Mini books will be shipped separately from your book order, and they will come a week or two later, since I will need to make them! I will also announce the winners in my February author email newsletter. If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up here and get a free short story.
That’s all for now! Time for me to get crafting.
A Reader’s map of Achan’s and Averella’s journeys through Er’Rets
I am tickled when I receive artwork inspired by my books. It’s so touching. Well, I’ve decided to start sharing them with you all more often. I figure, why should I get to be the only one to see it?
Here is a map of Er’Rets drawn by Noah for his 8th grade English assignment. I love the arrows and paths he added as to Achan’s and Vrell’s journey throughout the stories, and I especially like how he took the time to burn the edges of the map to make it look more authentic. Nice job, Noah. I give you an A+!
What do you think, readers? Have you ever made a map for a school assignment? Just for fun? Share in the comments.
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About Me
My name is Jill. I’m a daydreaming, chocolate loving, creator of kingdoms. I write weird books for teens. Fantasy is my fave. I'm a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant, who was raised in Alaska. I love to teach writing.
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