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Posts published in “Fun”

“Hey, Roomie!” My Unintentional Adventure in Online Crime Research

Greetings, fellow wordsmiths and fellow explorers of the digital realm! Today, I’ve got a tale that’s bound to make you laugh and possibly make you rethink your online research practices. You see, I’ve been knee-deep in the shadowy world of crime investigation while working on my upcoming psychological thriller, “Hey, Roomie!” And believe me, it’s been quite the adventure – complete with some heart-pounding moments. Before we dive in, let’s clarify that this post is…

Writers, Authors, Creatives

While reading through Twitter recently, I caught wind of a rivalry within the writing community that I didn’t know existed: the Writer vs. Author conflict. Though well-aware of the positions of those involved in the discussion, I thought it best to do some independent reading to see what, if any, the big deal is. For those unaware, there’s a line that seemingly separates writers–who can be anyone writing about anything–from authors, who are considered to…

Fancy Meeting You Here!

It’s been a while since last I graced your screen. Things have been incredibly busy and Time just slipped away from me. However, I am on vacation for the next several days and the first thing I wanted to be sure to do is check in here and make sure that you know I’m still around. I’m currently juggling multiple non-writing projects in addition to working on my third novel.I’ve also made some decisions with…

More Tools of the Trade

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. None of the companies responsible for the products mentioned here have given me a damn thing in exchange for a mention or review. These services are used by me, loved by me, and will continue to be my go-to for the foreseeable future. There has been a fair bit of discussion online within Twitter’s Writing Community asking for suggestions to help in the creation of ads. As I mentioned…

That Just About “Covers” It

The publication date for Vitae is fast approaching. No, I’m not quite ready to disclose when that’ll be. Trust me, though, you’ll know as soon as I’ve finalized the date. What I am willing to share with you right now, though, is the final cover. I’ve gone back and forth quite a bit with the design. Admittedly, most of the changes would likely only be noticed by me or by those who pay attention to…

Just Getting Started

As we head into this century’s version of the Roaring 20s, my mind and calendar are filled with goals for the coming year. Vitae will be out within a few months, Duality has exceeded my expectations with five-star reviews as well as putting me on the map as an award-winning author, and future prospects look unbelievably amazing. Even once Vitae has been published, work doesn’t stop there. Behind-the-scenes work is continuing on a line of…

What’s In “Store” for 2020?

It’s been a busy time for me as of late. In addition to hours increasing for peak season at my day job, I’ve also been hard at work with promos for Vitae and with solidifying some of the groundwork for the novel I plan to publish by the end of 2020. Speaking of Vitae…I am twenty days past when I initially hoped to have it published, and we are now looking into early 2020 before…

There’s More Where That Came From

Friday, November 8, 2019. That is the date the current edition of DUALITY will be removed from Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats to make way for the updated second edition to be released on Sunday, November 10, 2019. The second edition will have a number of cosmetic/formatting changes on the outside and inside of the book; and, though I am hoping that VITAE will also be released on the same day, I am…

Duality – The Prologue

Copyright © 2018 Ametra S. Rayford. All rights reserved. She crouched, shivering as she forced her body deep inside the crowded closet. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she couldn’t help shuddering as her fingertips grazed the clots of blood and flesh that she’d been sprayed with. Gritting her teeth, she fought to maintain control though she felt the bile rising as her stomach churned. An ear-splitting scream mingled with the guttural gurgles that resembled…

#WritingCommunity on Twitter

In my opinion, there’s a lot of work involved with being a self-published author in addition to what it takes to write a novel. We don’t usually have a “machine” behind us; a group of individuals working for and with us to help us to become a success. A self-published author might need to outsource an editor, cover designer, and publicist – or he/she has to become all of those things. This is where networking…