Upcoming Events with Lauren A.R. Masterson & Love of the Sea

You can check out the full list of events on Lauren A.R. Masterson‘s Goodreads page, and RSVP to the events via Facebook! Plenty of opportunities to grab your copy of Love of the Sea in person, and meet the creator of this underwater world!

Bad Grammar Theatre Reading
Author appearance, June 01, 2018 07:00PM 
Book Cafe, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, US 
https://www.volumesbooks.com/

I will be reading at the open mic at Bad Grammar to spread more mermaid magick with Love of the Sea!

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Printers Row Lit Fest
Author appearance, June 09, 2018 10:00AM 
Outdoor Market, Printers Row, Chicago, IL, US 
https://printersrowlitfest.org/

I will be a vendor at the Chicago Printers Row Lit Fest – selling copies of Love of the Sea published by Ink Smith Publishing, and art books published by Cloud Orchid Publishing!

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Do312 Rock n Roll Market
Author appearance, June 09, 2018 11:00AM 
Outdoor Market, pin 2354 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, US 
https://www.facebook.com/events/211604396100690/

I will a vendor at the Do312 Rock n Roll Market selling my novel Love of the Sea by Ink Smith Publishing Company and art book copies from Cloud Orchid Publishing!

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Printers Row Lit Fest
Author appearance, June 10, 2018 10:00AM 
Outdoor Market, Printers Row, Chiago, IL, US 
https://printersrowlitfest.org/

I will be a vendor at the Chicago Printers Row Lit Fest – selling copies of Love of the Sea published by Ink Smith Publishing, and art books published by Cloud Orchid Publishing!

Respond to This Event

Gumbo Fiction Salon Reading
Author appearance, June 14, 2018 07:00PM 
Irish Pub, The Galway Arms 2442 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, US 
https://www.facebook.com/GumboFictionSalon/

I will be reading at the open mic portion of Gumbo Fiction Salon and have copies of Love of the Sea available for sale and signing!

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Goddess Galaxy Special Performance
June 15, 2018 10:00PM 
Nightclub, 954 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL, US 
https://www.facebook.com/BerlinNightclub/

I will be doing a special performance inspired by the joy of reading at the Goddess Galaxy show at Berlin Nightclub. My books will also be available for sale and signings!

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Tamale Hut Cafe Featured Reader
Author appearance, June 23, 2018 07:00PM 
Restaurant, Tamale Hut Café 8300 W Cermak Rd, Riverside, IL, US 
https://www.facebook.com/events/207270159823370/

I will be the featured reader at the Tamale Hut Cafe Reading, and celebrating the release of my novel Love of the Sea by Ink Smith Publishing Company with a little mermaid magick! Open mic at Tamale Hut Cafe for 10 minute reading slots to all other readers. Copies of Love of the Sea will be available for sale and I will be available for signings.

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Bad Grammar Theatre Reading
Author appearance, July 06, 2018 07:00PM 
Book Cafe, Volumes Book Cafe, 1474 N, Chicago, IL, US 
https://www.volumesbooks.com/

I will be reading at the open mic at Bad Grammar to spread more mermaid magick with Love of the Sea!

Respond to This Event

No Shush Salon Featured Reader
Author appearance, September 27, 2018 06:30PM 
Library, 845 Gunderson Ave, Oak Park, IL, US 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1031528163652976/

I will be the featured reader at No Shush Salon, and celebrating the release of my novel Love of the Sea by Ink Smith Publishing Company with a little mermaid magick! Open mic at No Shush Salon for 10 minute reading slots to all other readers. Copies of Love of the Sea will be available for sale and I will be available for signings. Official Sign Up Page: http://oppl.evanced.info/msignup/deta…

The Last Odinian Finalist in International Book Awards!

Ink Smith Publishing is honored to announce our congratulations to our author Alec Arbogast! His novel, The Last Odinian, has been selected as a finalist in the International Book Awards, sponsored by American Book Fest.

“I’m truly honored, humbled, excited, and frankly, somewhat baffled to announce that my book was just announced as a finalist in the 2018 International Book Awards! I was chosen alongside 4 other finalists and a winner in the Horror Fiction category. Life’s been a whirlwind for the last few months and I don’t think this has really hit me yet, but it’s more than I could ever ask for from my debut novel! Congratulations to the other finalists, this is a very exciting time!” Arbogast posted on his Facebook page.

The Last Odinian placed as a finalist in the Fiction: Horror genre. He was selected alongside winner, Knuckle Balled by Drew Stepek (Blood Bound Books), Antitheus by G.A. Minton (World Castle Publishing), Eve of Redemption by Tom Mohan (BHC Press), Stage 3 by Ken Stark (Severed Press), and The Eyes Have No Soul by Matthew W. Harrill (Creativia).

The Last Odinian now has the pleasure of the Reader’s Favorite seal, noting 5 Stars! We are so proud of Alec and all of his hard work to bring The Last Odinian to life. This suspenseful, fantasy-driven novel with a touch of a dangerous cult is the perfect late night read. Arbogast’s creates an eerie, edge-of-your-seat adventure with twists of Scandinavian lore that tests the devotion of a man to his family. The story focuses in on Edward Koenig, not your average “hero” but instead, a man who has come to a crossroads in his familial life. Beginning his journey to find answers to his past, Pinemist Bay holds the scary truth of his future. The pacing is solid, the world building is near-perfect, and the creativity is astounding! Add it to your “To Read” list on Goodreads, and order it from Ink Smith Publishing today!

Meet Lauren A.R. Masterson

Ink Smith: Where do you do most of your writing? What is your process like?

Lauren: I do most of my writing at home, either on the computer or hand-written in my journal. I have many documents with different stories that I like to rotate working on. My journal is usually used for new ideas or new stories that I have, giving me utter freedom with creative thought.

My process is that I write whenever I can; whenever I have the time. Even when I’m not feeling particularly inspired, I do my best to at least read a chapter or two of something that I have previously written to get me in the mood so to speak to work on something. Other times, I have to set a timer for myself to ensure that I don’t forgo eating or sleeping while working under the sway of inspiration.

During the editing process, I sit with a piece and read it out loud to find obvious mistakes and ensure flow. When working on larger plot arcs, I like to use sticky notes so that I can rearrange plot points and ensure that I have closed all the loose ends in the story.

Ink Smith: How did you come up with the idea of this book? How long did it take you to write?

Lauren: Love of the Sea started in my fantasy fiction writing class in college (2010). My professor, and now friend and mentor, Tina Jens, gave us an excellent writing exercise to inspire new ideas. The “What if?” “And then” and “Oh Shit!” method is what originally sparked this story. I have always loved mermaids, but the original Little Mermaid story bothered me that she would sacrifice so much for unrequited love. I wanted to rewrite the story so to speak with the ending she truly deserved.

I worked on the story diligently until I graduated (2011). After that, my time was completely devoted to my modeling career. It wasn’t until I retired from modeling and became more active with my art and writing again that I picked this novel back up (2016). Since then, I made it my mission to complete this story and see it published. I spent a grueling four months working exclusively to complete the novel.

Ink Smith: Who are your favorite authors/books? Why?

Lauren: Of course, one of my all-time favorite authors is J.K. Rowling. That’s a given. However, the author that particularly inspired the style in which I write, and the way that I perceive magick in fantasy fiction would be Juliet Marillier. I have read the Sevenwaters Trilogy many times over and dissected everything I love about the plot, characters, and style of storytelling. I emulate Juliet as much as possible in my own writing to try and achieve that mystical “old world” style that she has mastered.

The other most influential author to my writing is Lewis Carroll. From The Hunting of the Snark to Alice’s Adventures Underground I adore the British style and the poetic storytelling. I often find myself rhyming when writing my rough drafts for any story. The simple way these stories convey so much meaning in so few words is something I strive for in my own writing.

 

5 Fun Facts About the Author:

• I am the co-editor of Cloud Orchid Publishing and create experimental art books with my best friend co-editor Bryan Thompson.
  
• I love illustrating my stories, as well as creating art in general through a variety of mediums; although digital drawing is used most often.
• I’m a huge history nerd and have particular interests in French, British, and Japanese history.
• I volunteered at the West Suburban Humane Society for over five years before going away to college. My current pets are all rescues.
• I learned French at a young age, and still speak it quite well today (though I am a bit rusty). I also learned basic Japanese and strive to improve my language skills.