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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Keeping Sane with Createspace (editing your manuscript made easy)

Hello everyone. Today I am posting an article on getting your manuscript ready for Createspace (you can stop pulling your hair out now, lol). I hope this information will help make it a little easier for you in transitioning from e-book to paperback.
Formatting a book for print with Createspace using Microsoft Word
First, I format my work using Microsoft Word 2007/Word 2010, but there are similar programs out there. There are several sizes but we are talking today about formatting a 6x9 paperback, one of the most popular sizes. I hope I can shed some light on this process because it doesn’t have to be as frustrating and confusing as it seems.
The first thing we will discuss is setting margins:
If you do not set your margins correctly your book will print too far into the gutter or too near an edge, (the gutter is where the books is bound together by glue).  So let’s set your margins; go to the Page Layout tab in word, and select the Margins drop-down.  Next chose ‘Custom Margins’. A margin dialog will appear. Set your margins like the image shown:


Keep the margins at .75″ except the outside margin, which is set at .5 to give you a little more room towards the outside edge. Set Multiple pages to “mirror margins”.  This means that the left gutter ‘mirrors’ the right gutter when the book is printed. Now that the margins are set, click the Paper tab. We are working on a 6×9 size paperback so we will set the paper size to “custom” and the Width to 6″ and Height to 9″. Easy peasy, lol.

Now click on the Layout tab. This is where we set up the header and footer (book titles and page numbers go here).


Next comes font choices. Go with a simple, easy to read font. Times New Roman is the number one choice in the publishing industry, but things are changing. I use Garamond because it is an easy to read font but don’t stop there. Try something nice for things like titles and chapter headings. There are a lot of pretty fonts out there but try not to use anything that will distract your readers from your story. Also a note; use a ‘serif’ font instead of sans-serif font, they are more appealing to the eye.
Now comes paragraph set up. Under the home heading look for the paragraph tab and find the arrow to the right bottom and click there and set up the paragraph indents and spacing. A note here; never, ever, never, use the tab key to indent. It confuses the program Createspace uses and it gets real ugly (pulling out your hair ugly). Paragraphs are justified so that all of the words line up on both the left and right margins.
Next under the Indentation heading, set to “First line” and “0.3 inches” to set your paragraph indents. If you use 0.5″ as suggested, in most style books, it tends to look funny but you can experiment here and judge for yourself.
Next set ‘Before’ spacing to 6 points between paragraphs. This will help your paragraphs seem cleaner. Also, you want about 1.15 on the line spacing section so you don’t wear out your reader
Next, right click on the box that says ‘Normal’ in the styles box and choose “Update Normal to Match Selection”. This will ‘set’ your font, size, justification, indentation, and your entire body of text should reformat itself instantly.


Next stop, chapters.  Your chapters should always start on an odd-numbered page, and please, never use page breaks to do this. If you do and later in the story you change something, the page count changes, causing your chapter headings to move and you back tracking to find your chapter headings and moving them to the odd page setting again. Can you say ‘headache’?  To keep this from happening use ‘Section breaks’. In the Page Layout tab click on ‘Odd Page’. When you use this kind of break, Word will automatically format it so that there is a blank page between chapters, making your life a little easier. 

Now, how do we get those perfect chapter headings and white space we see in every nicely formatted book?  Your chapter header should start a few lines down from the top, and you should also use a bold font. You could hit enter a few times but what a pain in the you-know-what.  Go to your first chapter heading and right-click on the text and choose the “Paragraph” option. You should see this box:

See the ‘Spacing Before’ section? This is where the program defines how much white space is needed for your chapter headings, and the ‘Spacing After’ is the amount of space between the heading and the start of your chapter.  Format your chapter and set the font size. Use a bold font for chapter headings in 14-size font.  Go back to the home tab, locate the ‘Heading 1’ style, and right click to select ‘Update Heading 1 to Match Selection’.

Now, all you have to do is click the ‘Heading 1’ style, and presto, a perfectly formatted chapter heading, every time. 
Here is what Fracture The Secret Enemy Looks like:

A note here~Pick up a paperback and open it to the title page. Notice the “Title Page” is on the right, flip it and you see the “Copyright Page” on the left, “Dedication” on the right, then often a “Blank” page on the left and “Table of Contents” on the right,” (sometimes, not all books use contents pages these days) and a “Blank” page on the left with Chapter 1 beginning on the right.
Now comes the real fun; headers and footers.
Page Numbers go in the Footer, or bottom of your work and the Author Name and Title go in the Header, or top of your work. Begin numbering as 1 on first page of Chapter 1 and begin Author Name in Header on Page 2 (Left side) with the Title in the Header on Page 3 (Right side), or you can style your Header in this way, Title/author where it will appear the same on both left and right pages.

To set up a header and footer for your document, click on the Insert tab at the top of Word. Now locate the Header & Footer panel. Click on the Header item and you'll see a drop down list appear:

There are several choices but I use the first item on the list, Blank. The top of your page will then look like this:

A new tab appears called the Design tab. The panels on the tab are: Header & Footer, Insert, Navigation, Options, Position, and Close.
The thin, dashed blue line is the bottom of your header, and everything above is the area where you can type your header text. There is already a selected area with the words "Type text" in it but this is the first page in the story. You don't want a header on the first page. We want the headers to start on page two. Look at the Design tab, and locate the Options panel. Check box next to Different First Page:

Now locate the Navigation panel, and click the Next Section button:

The header text on page 2 will now be selected. Now type your title of the story again. Choose a font and font size (I suggest keeping it simple). For the font you choose, click back on the Home ribbon. The Design ribbon will stay open but if you accidentally click outside of the header, and lose the Design tab, just double click anywhere inside of the Header area to get back to it. Now click back on the Design tab when you're done. Your header will then look like the above copy of my book Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga.
Numbering your pages using Footers: You can do the same things with the Footer as you can with the Header. Select the Design tab at the top of Word and click on "Go to Footer":

Word will take you to the bottom of the page and to the Footer area and because you checked "Different First Page", your cursor should be on page 2 of your story. To insert page numbers, locate the Header & Footer panel on your Design tab. Click the Page Number item and a drop down list will appear. Select "Bottom of page".

These are built-in page number formatting. Scroll down and find one that you like. Then click it with your left mouse button. In most books, page numbers are centered at the bottom of the page but there are variances and the choice is yours.

Now if you are satisfied with your headers and footers, you can close the Design tab. To do that, click the Close button:

.

I hope this information was helpful to you on your journey in getting your book ready for publishing. There is lots of free information out there to help you keep your sanity on your way and I wish you the best of  luck!

Friday, May 10, 2013

USA Today's Robin Covington~ evokes the adventure and pace of the big movie thrillers

http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2013/05/09/book-trailers-riley-murphy-kim-cresswell-virginia-mckevitt/2145131/
The trailer for Virginia McKevitt's Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga evokes the adventure and pace of the big movie thrillers. I love the way this trailer uses ancient images and font to set the mood for this book. The more traditional aspects of the design showcase the paranormal elements. I liked it!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Liebster Award is for Bloggers


Thank you Dayna at  http://vonthaer.blogspot.com/2013/04/liebster-award-and-books-galore.html for nominating me for the Liebster Award. What a pleasant surprise to find this in my inbox J
 

So what is the Liebster Award?

"The Liebster Award is for bloggers with under 300 followers and the rules of the award is that the nominee must link back to whoever awarded them, write 11 random facts about themselves, answer the 11 questions from the award giver, and then nominate another 11 bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer. It's a great way for new and undiscovered bloggers to meet new people, get more followers and find some blogs that they want to follow."

 

11 random facts about me:

 

1. I was a landscape architect for over twenty years before Hurricane Katrina.

2. I raised registered Quarter Horses for ten years of that time.

3. I love the outdoors, especially water.

4. I was a native of New Orleans, LA. For most of my life, but was born in Long Beach, CA.

5. I draw and paint also and would love to master photo shop.

6. I hate folding clothes and putting them away.

7. I am part Creek Indian and you would never know it by looking at me.

8. I put an oil pump in a car once because my husband laughed and said I couldn’t do it.

9.  I have many friends but most of them don’t come out and play ;)

10. If I could go anywhere in the world it would be Italy.

11. I am married to the love of my life for 39 years this past March (damn, we’re old).

 

My answers to the 11 questions:

1. Tea or coffee?

Definitely coffee.

2. What is your favorite quote? 

Beware gentle knight. There is no greater monster than reason.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormack McCarthy

3. Who is your all-time favorite author? 

Stephen King followed by Dean Koontz, but there are many more, a lot who are Indy.

4. What is your favorite game? 

Football-Geaux Saints!

5. Who was your favorite president of the United States and why? 

John F. Kennedy. He never backed down from a fight.

6. Which Simpson would you compare yourself to? 

I don’t watch the Simpsons.

7. iPhone or Windows phone? 

Nada.

8. Who would be your dream literary agent?  

Do you want the long list, or the short list, lol?

9. What was the last thing you gambled on? 

Slot machine. Ten bucks and I’m out of here.

10. If you had to spend the night in a haunted house, what would you take with you? 

The Ghost Busters.

11. And finally, what gives you the most satisfaction about writing?  Listening to someone who just finished my book talking about the characters like they are real people. What am I thinking? Sorry guys. You are real people. Don’t get mad.

 

My 11 questions to pass on:

1. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

 
2. Who has inspires you the most?

 
3. Where do you like to sit and write or read the most?

 
4. Who is your favorite author?

 
5. The beach or the mountains?

 
6. Favorite comfort food?

 
7. The best movie you ave saw? Why?

 
8. The best book you ever read? Why?

 
9. What do you enjoy most about your work?

 
10. What is you favorite music?

 
11. If you review an authors book, what is the most important reason you rate it?

 
11 Blogs that I would like to pass the Liebster Award onto:




 









 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Can I Change Your Mind About Fantasy?



  • FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga on March 02, 2013
    star star star
    *I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review* I’ll admit when I started reading the very first chapter I wasn’t sure how much I would like this book. It was my first fantasy novel, but I wanted to expand my reading base so I continued to read on and I am very pleased that I did. It started off a little slow but I believe it was building up to the action half way through the book. There was so much detail packed into the pages. The author cleverly combines the fantasy world of Patwain with earth. There is a fracture between the two, leaving both worlds vulnerable and accessible. I really liked the idea of The Couton- beautiful alluring women with the ability to steal memories. This was original and unlike anything I had ever read before. Tegrin, the lion-esque man is sent from Patwain to stop these women. It is then that he meets Kristina and they soon realise that their worlds are entwined beyond what they could have ever imagined. I enjoyed learning about the true identity of Kristina’s heritage and her quest for revenge after the death of her parents. It took me a little longer to connect with Tegrin but once I opened myself up to accept the fantasy element, I enjoyed his story and his own quest. This was a really good book, like no other I have read. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the rich descriptions she created. After knowing how it ends I can’t wait to read the second book!
  • The Hunted Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga Book Two on March 02, 2013
    star star star star
    *I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review* This is the second instalment in the Secret Enemy Saga. The Couton- a dangerous race of women who drain people of their memories are back and invading the city of New Orleans. It is up to Tegrin and Kristina to put a stop to them and their killing spree. Tegrin and Kristina are joined on their mission by their friends, Sissy and Jimmy. I liked these two supporting characters in this book and how they added another dimension to the story. I felt the action was kicked up a notch in this instalment and the content was a little grittier than the first book. This was to be expected as the number of murders increased as did their descriptions. This was not a bad thing as I enjoyed the authors writing. Being the romance fangirl that I am, I did enjoy the progression of the relationship between Tegrin and Kristina. No matter the circumstance or danger they faced, I was a sucker for the romance weaved through this book of action and suspense. I enjoyed this story perhaps more than I expected to. I fully immersed myself in the journey and was rooting for Tegrin and Kristina to triumph. I am hooked on these characters and must read any future quests they will have.

  • Thursday, January 31, 2013

    Very Inspirational Blogger Award

     
    Thank you Karli Rush for nominating me for "The Very Inspirational Blogger Award".
    There is no voting. It's a pay it forward type of award. You nominate blogs you feel deserve it and they do the same and so on. Basically it is a way to introduce our readers to other blogs that you feel are noteworthy.
    To participate -
    1. Post the award image on your blog with header "The Very Inspirational Blogger Award".
    2. Tag the person/blogger who nominated you, thanking them for the nomination
    3. Write the rules and complete them.
    The Rules:
    Display the award logo on your blog.
    Link back to the person who nominated you.
    State 7 things about yourself.
    Nominate 15 bloggers for this award and link to them.
    Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award's requirements.
    That's all!
     
    I nominate the following bloggers-
     
     
     

    Sunday, January 20, 2013

    Disappearing Reviews?

    Someone had a great idea. If your reviews are going bye-bye, on Amazon, move them to your blog. That way, your readers and future readers can see what others are saying about your work. Here is what readers are saying about Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga, and The Hunted.

    Reviews for Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga:


    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book, May 21, 2012

    By Rachledbtr - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga (Paperback)
    This book was amazing. Virginia McKevit did a wonderful job with the detail. It was very easy to picture what was going on in the story. I absolutely loved the characters. The book was hard to put down. I can't wait for the second book to come out!

    5.0 out of 5 stars Fracture: A page-turning novel that keeps the audience enthralled, May 15, 2012

    By Joncie - See all my reviews- This review is from: Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga (Paperback)
    The plot kept the pages turning nonstop. I couldn't put the book down. The first night I got the book, I stayed up late reading it. Her characters are well developed as well as her plot and the motivation that drives her characters. Virginia's active imagination draws us in as if we were one of the characters ourself. I can not wait for the second book in the saga!

    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book, May 13, 2012

    By Fracture Fan - See all my reviews- This review is from: Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga (Paperback)
    This is the best book I've read in a long time. Its a hard book to put down and stop reading...I got it yesterday and ill have it done by tonite....I can't wait till the next book comes out.

    5.0 out of 5 stars Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga by Virginia McKevitt, April 28, 2012

    By Char Marie Adles - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
    This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga by Virginia McKevitt
    Review of Fracture: 4/12/12
    With this book set in a parallel universe I found myself being drawen into this new mystical world created by Virginia and also by the characters as well. To be honest I found myself stunned by the amount of description within this book that brings forth the story as if it were a movie before my eyes.
    With the story taken place in the Kingdom of Potwain and the motive that drives her characters, Virgina has created a world all her own filled with action, adventure, and a little bit of romance.
    More then once I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what would happen next. The attraction of this book draws you in word by word and will make you not to want to put it down before you finish turning to the last page. I fell in love not only with her story, but her characters and you can't put a price on that.
    Another great, one of a kind book that will leave you breathless with rapture. At least for now...!I look forward to her next outstanding book!

    5.0 out of 5 stars Oh Wow!!!, December 26, 2012

    By Laura (Centre Al) - See all my reviews- This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    I read this book about a year ago and I have reread it many times!! She makes you fall in love with the characters and the places she takes you is unbelievable!!! Loved it and it is more than you can put into words!! If I was you I would def. get this book and the next. Be warned even after those you will be wanting more!!!

    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, November 3, 2012

    By Gini - See all my reviews- This review is from: Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga (Paperback)
    Fracture has an effortless blend of suspense, fantasy, romance and humor. Tegrin has quickly become my favorite leading man! The fulfilling yet cliffhanger ending has me counting the days until The Hunted is released and I can find out exactly what Alexasia is up to!

    5.0 out of 5 stars FRACTURE-Great book, October 11, 2012

    By Cheri's thoughts "Cheri" (Ft Oglethorpe, GA) - See all my reviews- Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
    This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    Fracture is a great book to read. I loved the characters and
    the action. The differences but similarities in the worlds
    are really interesting. I can't wait for the second book to come out so
    I can continue the adventure.

    5.0 out of 5 stars loved it, September 26, 2012

    By David Ramsey "djjramsey" (michigan) - See all my reviews

    (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga (Paperback)
    This story begins in another world where Tegrin is awaiting his concubine, Natiana, she is his only one while other members of his Lion Clan had several. At first he thinks that she is playing a game with him but he soon is informed by his king, King Yorandt that she has found the portal or fracture to our world and she has gone thru. This portal has been a secrete to all except King Yorandt and the Lion Clan who are fierce warriors and are the Guardians of this world. They keep the peace and enforce the laws of Patwain. Tegrin is told by his king that the Couton woman Natiana has escaped from her world into ours because here she and the other Couton women would be free to steal our memoirs and kill us in the process. The Couton women are a troublesome breeds who only use the males in their world to procreate. They take herbs to ensure that the offspring will be born female. They steal memories like a drug and if they take too much they kill the person whose mind they have tapped into. They are kept in check by the Guardians in Patwain here on earth they can take their fill. Tegrin makes the journey thru the Fracture which on earth's side is a cave. He makes it at night in hopes of not running into any humans. You see Tegrin has yellow eyes wild shaggy hair and when he opens his mouth you see canines not unlike those of the big cats of Africa. Using his hunting skills and other worldly senses he tracks the Couton women to there first kill. It is the mother and stepfather of Kristina. Tegrin is surprised by her presence and is forced to make her unconscious and take her with him into the caves. In the town of Blessing is where the fracture opens on to. It is a town of about 3000. The towns' people have been having collective dreams of angels along with other strange occurrences. And these are the precise dreams that the father of Kristina had been having before he was killed.
    Fracture was an extremely entertaining book. I loved the slow way the author lets us into
    the true identity of Kristina's heritage. The world of Patwain is very well developed. There
    are back stories to the characters and the women of Couton could have their own
    book to reflect there culture and customs. As the intrigue and conflict that envelope Patwain
    become more evident you get pulled more and more into this world of Kings and concubines, fierce worriers and the pull and tug for power. Along he way our heroes are helped and hindered by
    both external forced the work against them as well as their refusal to accept their own destinies.
    If you like exploring other worlds that are well developed this book will definitely entertain.
    Martha: juliesbookreview.blogspot.com

    4.0 out of 5 stars Fracture: A Shadow World of Fantasy and Magic, September 9, 2012

    By Todd A. Fonseca (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
    (VINE VOICE)    This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    Fracture: A Shadow World of Fantasy and Magic
    Rating: 4 of 5
    Author: Virginia McKevitt
    Format: Kindle, Paperback
    Only after her mother and step-father's brutal murders and her subsequent encounter with a lion-esque man named Tegrin, does Kristina realize that her visions of a shadow world are more than just visions; they are a window across the fracture joining Earth and Patwain. She learns from Tegrin of the evil that has crossed to Earth - The Couton - a beautifully angelic race gifted withe ability to steal memories. Unfortunately, human memories are more potent than anything they had previously encountered. Potent to the point of addiction as the incredible high peaks when every last memory extracted leaving behind a lifeless husk. And now that the fracture and human memories are known to The Couton, it may be too late to stop them.
    Virgina McKevitt's, Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga, is an interesting twist on the fantasy genre. It is very difficult to take the majority of a story whose setting is in the "real world" and blend in fantasy characters and make it truly believable. Take the movie "Enchanted" for example, I was never committed to the premise because of this. But there are exceptions like "Starman" that have such great characterization, that it is easy to believe and become completely absorbed in the story. Fortunately, MCKevitt does this effortlessly. Her characters are deep, complex, and compelling and their relationships evolve at just the right pace. My only complaint would be the time spent in Patwain, it felt a bit abbreviated and I would have liked to have seen Kristina's education and evolution of her ability explored a bit more. However, I have hopes that this will come in future volumes of the story as this is the first in a series.
    Overall, my favorite is character is Tegrin. His soul is tortured in so many ways - his people's history, the betrayal of his lover, the very nature of his job and responsibilities, and his deep belief that he onlyl to serve and does not deserve happiness.
    For those who enjoy something a little different in the fantasy genre, check out "Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga" and you too will be anxiously awaiting the release of the second volume.
    Note: A complimentary copy of this work was provided in return for a review.

    4.0 out of 5 stars Good but lacking in reality, June 18, 2012

    By L - See all my reviews- Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
    This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    Good story but....While I understand this is a fantasy it should still have a reality. I found it beyond belief that the humans that met the "Lion Man" immediately accepted him & they instantly trusted him & became friends. The heroine loses her parents and appears to be hardly affected by the loss except to want revenge. There's no funeral - just an immediate journey with Lion Man. While the town of Blessing is supposed to be a small town there's almost no information on the town or other residents. The story is interesting & compelling and I will most likely purchase the next in the series as the writer does leave you wanting to learn more about the parallel kingdom & the characters.

    5.0 out of 5 stars Lion man and Green Emerald eyes, June 10, 2012

    By silvana - See all my reviews- This review is from: Fracture: The Secret Enemy Saga (Paperback)
    Strange things begin to happen in one small town. Almost everybody in the town has headaches and dreams the same dreams. Some people have been killed. The parents of Kristine were killed, she is missing or her friends think that.
    The fracture between two worlds is open!

    Every page from this book is full of action and adventure, mystery and fantasy
    This book makes me believe that my thoughts about aliens and parallel universes are real happened, that aliens and parallel universes exist. Like a teenage girl in summers I hardly waited night to fall and stars show up and then I was placed comfortably and watched the starry sky. Then in those starry nights my thoughts growing up and my imagination started to bloom around me. Reading Fracture I was back in my teenage years staring in the stars, waiting something to happen.
    The cover is perfectly done, because if you read this book you will understand that man from the cover is exactly how was Tegrin describe in the book, a lion-man, a woman beside him would be Kristine-a perfect, emerald, green eyes and red, long hair, I would love to see it more from her hair. Whole picture from the cover is red so for that reason Kristine's hair not seen, its seams to me like whole picture is covering with her hair or so should look like that. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

    5.0 out of 5 stars I haven't been able to sit still long enough to read a book in a long time, June 7, 2012

    By Zenith - See all my reviews- This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    I just finished reading this book a few minutes ago, and I must say I feel like I have just met some amazing and brave new friends, and that Virginia McKevitt has brought me into her inner circle to introduce me to them. These people are so unique and introduced so flawlessly, each one is a treasure to get to know as you turn the pages. I feel so drawn into the story and fell in love with every character, well except those evil ones. I look forward to getting to know and hear about these brave people in their quest, and look forward to reading the next book!!! Thank you for sharing your imagination and story with all of us. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

    4.0 out of 5 stars Fracture (The Secret Enemy Saga) by Virginia McKevitt, April 18, 2012
    By Karen Doering "Parent's Little Black Book" (Clarkston, WA USA) - See all my reviews

    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
    This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fracture (The Secret Enemy Saga) by Virginia McKevitt, April 17, 2012
    By Karen Doering "Parent's Little Black Book" (Clarkston, WA USA) - See all my reviews
    (REAL NAME)

    This review is from: Fracture (Kindle Edition)
    The Kingdom of Potwain is a parallel universe to our own. They believe in separation for the good of both universes. A very interesting new world well thought out and described. How they maintain that separation is the main premise at the start of this story. In order to keep the two worlds from interacting they must send someone to our world, a man with many skills to keep the two worlds apart. How he interacts with the inhabitants of our world is interesting and compelling.
    I enjoyed the separate world created within the Kingdom of Potwain and the inhabitants. It was an interesting new world and the only thing I was disappointed in was that we didn't learn more about this world. Hopefully in the next of the series we will.
    Ms. McKevitt has created a YA novel with interesting and complex characters who relate to each other well. The storyline is good and flows well. The dialogue was realistic and moved the story forward well. The action scenes played out with good descriptions so the reader is able to imagine what is happening. The book is well written and is appropriate to the targeted age group and audience.
    Overall this is a very good book that addresses many issues young people have without a "preachy" attitude within the context of a great action packed and fun story.
    I am looking forward to the next instalment.
    Karen Bryant Doering
    Parent's Little Black Book Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

    5.0 out of 5 stars fracture the secret enemy saga, April 7, 2012
    By katz - See all my reviews- Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
    This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    I truly enjoyed this book.Loved Tegrin and Kristina. Can,t wait to see how their journey ends.Can,t wait for the next book.HURRY ! HURRY! HURRY! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

    5.0 out of 5 stars "Recommended Reading", March 31, 2012

    By O. G. Tomes - See all my reviews- Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
    This review is from: FRACTURE (FRACTURE The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    A smartly accomplished and compelling plot! Talent and imagination meet technique in the unlikeliest of places.... the "Fracture" between two worlds.
    The characters are driven by McKevitt's own hand. Built by her obvious vivid imagination you will come to know them personally. They will pull you in to the story not chapter by chapter but paragraph by paragraph.
    McKevitt's writing style is freshly surprising and flourishes with touches of realism that make the "Secret Enemy Saga" a double edged tale that lingers long after the last word is read.
    McKevitt's thought processes are well formed and believable. Maybe too believable.
    The ending left me wanting more ...... Thankfully, Book 2 is in the works!
    Keep writing McKevitt!

    Reviews for The Hunted:

    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!!, December 26, 2012

    By Laura (Centre Al) - See all my reviews- This review is from: The Hunted (Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    This is a must read!!!! Draws you in from the start and leaves you wanting more!! Great finisher from the first book and get you ready for the third which I am already looking forward to!!

    5.0 out of 5 stars DID IT AGAIN, January 14, 2013

    By Cheri's thoughts "Cheri" (Ft Oglethorpe, GA) - See all my reviews- This review is from: The Hunted: Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga Book Two (Volume 2) (Paperback)
    This is a great continuation to the first book, Fractured. It continues the
    story of Tegrin and Kristina and gives us more about them together. It contains
    plenty of action and suspense. I can't wait for the third book to be released.

    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!, January 14, 2013

    By Gini - See all my reviews- Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
    This review is from: The Hunted (Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga) (Kindle Edition)
    I read through this book even faster than the first! The Hunted includes all the mystery, romance and suspence of Fracture and continues to leave you wanting more. When I read, I like to be entertained and I have not been disappointed. McKevitt is a wonderful story-teller and I can't wait for book three!

    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book, January 5, 2013
    By Rachledbtr - See all my reviews- This review is from: The Hunted: Fracture The Secret Enemy Saga Book Two (Volume 2) (Paperback)
    The second book of the Secret Enemy Saga, The Hunted, is a very intriguing story about a quest to stop the Couton from taking over the city. I really love the characters, their personalities, and how they overcome obstacles on their journey to protect our world. This book is a very quick read and is very hard to put down. I love to read stories of murder, mystery, and suspense as well as romance, and this book combines all of that into one amazing book.