Winner Takes All: 1st chapter and playlist!

First, sort-of-unrelated thing: I got Bloglovin'! If you have it, find me and this blog on there. (Shout-out to Heather and Taylor who were already following me. You're the best, guys!)

So, last month, I promised monthly #WatchMeWrite videos. I've already done two and put out a call for beta readers, and thought it was so fun I should keep doing it. Right?

I'm thinking of making monthly #WatchMeWrite vids on the blog. Twitter, what do you think? #amwriting
— Alyssa Carlier (@sisterofsilence) November 5, 2014

And I had the perfect opportunity, too, since I have a new novel up on Figment. I'm so floored by all the support you've given me on Twitter and co., and so happy to say the first chapter of Winner Takes All is finally up! Early Merry Christmas, everyone! (Or late, if you ask the shopping malls.)

Ta-da! Winner Takes All is on @figment! A fest of ghosts, threats and dead queens: http://t.co/izwTIzW1Vb #wintakesall
— Alyssa Caroller (@sisterofsilence) December 20, 2014

The last time Ylen was in the capital, it was eight years ago and for half a hundred executions.

The ghosts seem to follow her as the limousine glides sleekly down the main roads. Eyes soft as the tips of wings peep round snow-capped statues and frost-rimed lampposts. Ylen does not so much as blink, even as the hairs on the back of her neck rise. If she has survived a lifetime of humiliation from the living, she can bear the baleful gaze of the dead. She might be born a Delennian peasant, but she is no less a courtier than the nobility who shun her, the Qihrin with their velvets and gold and palaces.

The first chapter was publicly posted today, but my three lovely betas — Christina, AnQi and Nivedha — actually had access to it last night! The subsequent chapters will only be open to them to give comments on, but if you enjoyed the first chapter, let me know or comment on Figment and I'll send you the access code.

Back to #WatchMeWrite; but since last month was #NaNoEdiMo — a variant on #NaNoWriMo by the lovely Topaz Winters — I don't have any #WatchMeWrite clips. Then I realised I had a way out.

Got an account on @8tracks -- no guesses why I have a playlist. #amwriting http://t.co/HLOHoZQWs1
— Alyssa Carlier (@sisterofsilence) November 19, 2014

(My Twitter followers are awesome, so they get to hear a running commentary of what's coming up next on the blog!)

Anyways, I created an 8tracks playlist, and am using it in lieu of a #WatchMeWrite video, hehe.

See here for the full tracklist. Enjoy it paired with the first chapter of Winner Takes All! Hope this is an adequate Christmas present :D