My name is Angela Ardis. With 37 years of writing experience, 5 published books, over 100 published articles and countless collaborative television, movie, live production and animation projects completed and in the works, I find myself still enamored with the craft of writing. The art of writing has always allowed me a sense of unrestricted freedom that I’ve adored since the age of seven. My format is mine without apologies.  This art relinquishes the extreme structure that other art forms require. My new novel, THE BLOCK: Truth Revealed, the sequel to THE BLOCK, will be released August 1, 2014.  I’m so excited for this book to get into readers’ hands.  The really amazing aspect of this series is that you don’t have to have read the first book to enjoy any of the others. However, it will initiate curiosities that will lead you back to the book which proceeded the one being read. Nevertheless, for those who have been following the series, THE BLOCK: Truth Revealed will satisfy questions from book one, set up curiosities pulling you into book three and will ignite a yearning for the final installment THE BLOCK: The Labyrinth which will hopefully be released in 2015. I knew a reader who was so enthralled with trying to figure out stories that (in his mind) would sell, he wasn’t tapping into his own creative process.  He was attempting to copy someone else’s idea for the sake of the possibility, not certainty, of a big paycheck. My advice: “Write what motivates you.  Don’t try to duplicate ‘Harry Potter’ or Stephen King.  Create stories that are yours.  The fans/readers will come and eventually, so will the paydays.  Write stories you’re proud of, instead of imitating what’s already been done.” It might take a...

I can’t believe we are celebrating the first birthday of The Amused Now Blog and YouTube channel. I have met many talented artists and shared many interesting stories and helpful advice. Indie artists are the bravest and truest artists in the world. This past year has been more rewarding than anything I could have imagined.  Yes, Amused Now is becoming known as one of the premiere sites to promote indie artists; but what really excites me is the community and partnerships that we are building as we grow. I love how we support each other and share each other’s successes and introduce each other to those who can help advance our careers. How many sites can say that? I want to celebrate the successes of our five most popular posts this year. I am often asked how artists can increase their reach and attract new fans. Well, I’ll let these real life examples answer that question: #1 Smiz the Moneykid ~ Office Boys NY These guys are promotion machines! Smiz the Moneykid and Villa Dom have multiple Twitter accounts, one for each of their projects. I just looked up their post and, since their post was published in February, they have over 1700 tweets. They heavily promote on Facebook and Google+ too. Lesson learned: The lifetime value of your post depends on you. As a promoter, when I publish your post, I give it my undivided attention for 1-3 days. As long as the information in your post is relevant, you can link to it from your website and social media accounts for long after the publish date. Take advantage of all your internet real estate and pump up the volume! #2 Chris Browne ~ Busker Rhyme I love Chris Browne’s positivity. I asked...

I have been writing since the age of seven, when I was given my first journal. My affinity for words grew and continues to grow as I do. I’ve written children’s books, poetry books, erotica, fiction and memoirs. My first published work is my memoir entitled Inside a Thug’s Heart, compiled from an exchange of letters, poetry and conversations with the late rapper Tupac Shakur. The book was published via Kensington Publishing in hard cover in 2004, re-released in paperback in 2009 and released again as an ebook in 2013. This award-nominated book was also translated into Polish. By the persuasion of my mother, I published my second book, a poetry book entitled My Mind’s Poetry: Relationships. After receiving an onslaught of emails from fans who wanted to understand how to begin pulling their stories together, I wrote and published the first volume of a petite book series entitled I Have a Story: Getting Started. My latest release, The Block, has become my obsession, a trilogy I never saw coming. The first installment has touched people in ways I would have never imagined. The sequel, The Block: Truth Revealed, will be out late May 2014; and the final installment, The Block: Twisted Labyrinth, will be released spring 2015. I have also written numerous independent projects for clients. Aside from authoring several titles, I have also been hired to write scripts for animation, live production, television, film and ghostwriting. I LOVE telling stories! Having the ability to indulge in a profession that allows that makes life fabulous! My advice to aspiring writers is simple yet challenging: JUST WRITE! Don’t get caught up on what to do with your manuscript once you’re finished. You’ll find finishing will be the most challenging part of the entire journey....