JOAN REEVES aka SlingWords

Enforced Vacation

2012-01-29T05:49:00.000-06:00

Earl Wilson said: "A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking."

In a way, that quotation describes my last two weeks. I had to take a vacation because I could no longer taken what I'd been taking, i.e., working through injuries.

Hand injuries and the severely cut fingertip two weeks ago really put a crimp in my writing plans. Even though I can finally type with all fingers and thumbs, the cut finger is still unbelievably sensitive. Every time I come to a letter that requires that finger, I've learned to gingerly press the key which works to get me back in the game.

Plan B

So I've had an enforced vacation from writing. However, that doesn't mean I've been sitting around an eating bon bons and watching soaps--well, substitute Butterfinger miniatures for bon bons and DVR'd programs for soaps, and I'll confess to a bit of those two activities.

For the most part though, I've been putting my house in order--literally. We helped our daughter move into her new town home, taking all the furniture and household items we'd stored for her. All that means that we got out house back so we're trying to put it back into pre-adult-daughter-move-in status.

Something else I've been doing as I've cleaned, de-cluttered, and sorted is what I call book-dreaming. I've got a couple of stories bouncing around in my head so I've let them simmer as I've gone through this week of playing domestic goddess.

Takeaway Truth

A writer may be working at other things and may be taking a vacation, planned or unplanned, but a writer is hardly ever not working at her craft.

Chess Is Child's Play

2012-01-25T04:17:00.002-06:00

My Guest Star today is Laura Sherman who wrote Chess Is Child’s Play with Bill Kilpatrick.

This book teaches any parent, of any skill level, to teach any child, of any age, to play chess. That's rather amazing. You parents out there, make a note to get this book when it's released in April.

In Her Own Words

Why Chess Should Be a Part of Every Child’s Education
By Laura Sherman

Imagine a world where people all have excellent problem solving skills, where they are patient and respectful of each other on a daily basis. A society where citizens live for the future and plan long term, thinking of where their children’s children will be, following through, seeing each goal to its conclusion with ease. Now add to that an indefinable quality of artistic imagination, dreaming for more than can be reasonably expected, reaching beyond the status quo.

Chess can teach our next generation all these skills and more!

I learned the game when I was young and to this day I see the world as a giant chess game where any barrier can be conquered and any victory can be achieved. No goal is impossible and when I have a target in sight there is no stopping me. The same glint I had in my eye when I faced an opponent at a chess tournament still exists today when I face a challenge, along with the insouciant grin that comes from the pure joy of the experience.

Intuitively most would agree that chess improves a student’s grades and ability to study. Numerous studies have been done over the years throughout the world that show this to be the case. IQ increases, reading test results improve as do math and science scores. However there are so many other skills children pick up naturally from learning and becoming good at chess.

Imagination is a must in chess. You cannot form strategies and tactical plans without being able to envision your goals. It is impossible to win a game without first imagining the victory. You are the one to make the pieces dance to the rhythm you choose. Without the player the pieces just sit dormant on a dusty board.

A child’s self confidence soars as the victories pile up, especially when that child can routinely trounce adults. Allow that child to teach other children or perhaps even the adults and he or she will master the game quickly. Nothing helps someone learn faster than teaching others and nothing does more for one’s pride than to see someone improve under one’s tutelage.

In order to achieve a victory one must consistently play well throughout the game. You can make forty excellent moves and one thoughtless blunder and lose the game instantly. As a result you quickly learn to be thorough in your analysis and patient with your moves. Imagine if we all applied this little lesson to our daily lives. Thoughtless comments, heat of the moment bursts of anger, crimes of passion might just become things of the past to be studied as a part of a history lesson.

If every parent initiated regular family chess nights and if every school taught chess as part of their daily lesson plan imagine where our country could be. Children naturally are drawn to chess. If you don’t believe me try an easy experiment. Go to an area populated with children, put out a chess set and see what happens. I promise you they will flock to the board and become immersed in a game. We all have the power to fuel our children’s existing passion for learning and help our next generation soar. Let’s make a difference!

A Note From Joan

I did a little research about this and discovered that many research studies have been conducted about the effects of teaching Chess to a child. The results are all strikingly similar. In comparison to the control group, the test group showed: significant advancement in spatial, numerical and administrative-directional abilities, along with verbal aptitudes. The noted improvements held true regardless of the final chess skill level attained.

Takeaway Truth

Parents, get this book. You might even consider reading it yourself if you never had the opportunity to learn the game!

URL Tips For Authors

2012-01-23T04:58:00.000-06:00

(This article previously appeared on Writing Hacks, my subscription newsletter for writers. Subscribe today if you'd like articles like this as soon as they are published.)

Apple Bookstore

To search for your books in the Apple Bookstore: http://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/books/id38?mt=11

Once there, click the genre of your choice and any sub-genres that may apply. The books that appear on the main page are the Top 100 Sellers. To find your book, click the letter of the alphabet that begins the first word of the title.

Kindle Digital Publishing Links

To understand Amazon Kindle Pricing Options: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A29FL26OKE7R7B

To understand Amazon Kindle List Price Requirements: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A301WJ6XCJ8KW0

Understanding Book Page URLs

Here's help for those long Book Page URLs on Amazon and Nook.

When you do a search for an author or a Book Page, for example, my book NOBODY'S CINDERELLA, you get a URL that looks like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Nobodys-Cinderella-Antone-Two-Step-ebook/dp/B006LXJ7Q8/ref=sr_1_10?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324612597&sr=1-10

Don't copy that and give it out as the URL. Everything beyond the B006LXJ7Q8/ is part of the search parameters--delete all that. Give out the URL as:

http://www.amazon.com/Nobodys-Cinderella-Antone-Two-Step-ebook/dp/B006LXJ7Q8/

This is true for Amazon and Nook. The Nook link is

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nobodys-cinderella-joan-reeves/1107994098?ean=2940013860155&itm=2&usri=joan+reeves

Cut everything past the B&N Product Number and you're left with:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nobodys-cinderella-joan-reeves/1107994098

Shorten All Links If Possible

Shorten all long links to the tiniest bit possible. Open an account with http://bitly.com/ which is free. Or use http://tinyurl.com which is also free. Paste the Amazon and B&N URLs which you reduced into bit.ly or Tiny URL in order to make really tiny.

The Amazon shortened link above now becomes: http://amzn.to/tDcMnt

The Nook shortened link above now becomes: http://bit.ly/uCMCCa

Takeaway Truth

Learn the technical basics that will help you as an author.

3 Reviews: 3 Examples of Romance

2012-01-19T12:14:00.005-06:00

My 2 days offline turned into a week offline. Today, I'm playing a limited game of Catch-Up, that oh, so, popular game which I seem to play on a near-daily basis.

Here are 3 romance novels--each uniquely different from each other.

Texan Undercover by Anne Marie Novark

If you like romance with the authenticity of a credible relationship that builds layer by layer, you'll love this book which has a lot to offer, not the least of which is the smoldering attraction between Internet cafe owner Claire Maxwell and long, tall Texan Dillon Anderson.

With a retro angle of a pre-millenium setting, Texan Undercover takes advantage of the hot trend in Hollywood and TV--stories about events in our recent past. I'm seeing this trend in several books, and a good example of when it works is Texan Undercover.

Set in 1998 Austin, Texas, the plot revolves around a hacker using an Internet cafe for his nefarious deeds. To the uninitiated, and I'm one because my technology expertise is limited to running the software I've learned, this story could be ripped from today's headlines. Even though most of us now use markedly improved security, the hacker's modus operandi detailed in the book still occurs--usually with a different delivery system but with just as devastating results.

Ms. Novark deftly handles the suspense elements as well as the relationship that grows from sexual attraction to love.

Jinxed by Beth Ciotta

Afia St. John, the heroine in Jinxed, was simply delightful. She made you understand and sympathize with her fragile emotions, and she made you laugh aloud at her entrance into the working world. If you're a fashionista, you'll certainly find in Afia a kindred spirit--just as you'll grimace about one scene in particular.

The perfect counterpoint to the hapless socialite was rough, tough Jake Leeds, a P.I. who ends up as Afia's employer. Their relationship just reeked of sexual tension from the get-go. Jake is hard-nosed but with an incredibly soft spot for damsels in distress.

This slightly different romance was amusing, sexy, romantic, and hugely enjoyable. You'll love it.

The Merzetti Effect by Norah Wilson

If you've tired of vampire romance novels and think they're all the same, this book may make you change your mind. Norah Wilson creates a vampire mythology that is a bit different. Yes, it's based on the vampire as virus theory, but there are some twists and turns along the way that keep you glued to the story and turning those pages.

Good characterization--especially the spunky heroine--gives the reader someone to root for, and the solid grounding in medical technology and practice gives the book an authority that helps one suspend disbelief. Then there's that out-of-left-field twist that the reader should see coming--but doesn't.

Well done, Ms. Wilson. You hooked me into your vampire mythology and made me click to buy Aiden's story in Nightfall, the next book in the series.

Takeaway Truth

More and more, the label Romance seems to be an umbrella under which many different stories may be found.

Define Your Hero

2012-01-18T04:50:00.000-06:00

This morning we're chatting with award-winning romance author Nina Pierce.

Nina grew up in a house full of readers so becoming enamored with books was only natural. In her early teens, she discovered romance stories and fell hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them.

Eventually, reading about alpha males and their journeys to find happy-ever-after endings wasn’t enough. She needed to write her own stories of fated loves and soul mates.

Nina discovered the passionate side of romance with her sexy stories. For her, she said, "It’s all about the sweet scent of seduction mixed with the heart warming aroma of romance."

Nina resides in the northeast with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of twenty-seven years and several very spoiled cats who consider her “staff”.

How To Get Nina's Books

For Kindle Lovers

For Nook Lovers

For all other formats

Now, take it away, Nina Pierce

Can You Define Your Hero?
by Nina Pierce

So who doesn't love a hunky, take charge guy in a romance novel? Well, it turns out ... I don't. Well, I mean I thought I did, but then writers and readers started talking about the alpha heroes they love and it occurred to me, that's not really who I write.

I thought all my guys were alpha heroes. Not that they steamroll over the heroine or completely wall off their emotions, but they do step up to the plate when the time comes. The problem was they didn't seem to have that pushy, never-give-an-inch attitude many people associate with alphas. But they definitely didn't fit into the wimpy sidekick beta hero either.

Okay, I know technically (especially in stories with shifters) there is only one alpha leader. Therefore if you write a story about the other guys, like I do, they would be considered beta. But I just can't go there. In my opinion, the beta hero is a pushover. He wouldn't come to the heroine's rescue. He'd send in his best friend, the alpha, who would save her. He'd be the one to comfort her when the hero's been a jerk, but then turn her over to him when the guy showed up at the front door. But no one writes characters like that. I'm always looking to write the next story so even my "best friend" characters offer more than a supporting role.

So maybe I have the definition all wrong.

In my confusion I checked out a post by Suzanne Brockman who writes all things alpha. But I still didn't get a good feel for this alpha hero. But I found this other article at The Road to Romance. But this post describes not alpha, not beta, but a gamma hero? Wai...whaaaat?

The Gamma Hero

Yeah, the gamma hero pulls the best from both the alpha and the beta heroes. He's a man with all the chutzpah of an alpha but the emotions of a beta. In other words ... the strong male who doesn't run roughshod over the heroine in his quest to bring down the bad guy, but works with her to find the key and discover the lost treasure or slay the dragon or free her world or ... well, you get my drift. This is the guy of romance stories in my opinion. The hero who could don the pages of any GQ magazine, but knows how to BBQ a mean steak for his lady and draw her a bubble bath. *sigh* Yeah, that's the ticket.

So I guess I'm aiming to write gamma heroes. Who knew?

The reality is. It doesn't matter what we call them. It's their heart and soul that brings the reader back to our stories over and over again. Readers need to connect to the hero. Believe he's real. Believe he's the only one for the heroine. Believe in their love story.

What about you? Do you like your guys all alpha in stories and keep your betas for real life or are you a combo kind of gal like me ... enjoying a gamma between the pages?

Tilling Passions Series

My recent romantic suspense series, “Tilling Passions” has three very handsome gamma heroes who know how to take care of their women!

Book 1, Blind Her With Bliss: She's trying to find herself. He's attempting to hide. Together they'll discover a truth that threatens them both...

Investigating the death of her best friend, uptight accountant, Julie Tilling, discovers an erotic world of adult nightclubs and Internet intrigue. When shock jock Damon Corey rocks her world in a wild night of lust, she wonders if she's found love...or the key to solving a murder.

Excerpt from Blind Her With Bliss

“When you said you wanted to play piano, you failed to mention you’re a trained pianist,” Julie said.

“My mother taught me.”

“Another side of Damon Corey I didn’t know.”

“That’s the real me.”

“Who? Tell me about the young Damon.”

He laughed. “Hell on wheels. That’s what my father used to say. I spoke three languages and could sweet-talk the girls in both of them by the age of ten.”

Julie laughed, the joy of it reaching up to push away the sadness that had filled her eyes. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“My mother used to sit me on her lap when she played. I started making music on the piano before I could write my name.”

Julie traced a finger in the dimple framing his smile. “She’s a concert pianist?”

“Mama? No, she used to play the violin. The piano was my father’s instrument.”

“Used to? She gave it up?”

“My mother’s dead.”

“Damon, I’m so sorry.” Her fingers dug into his biceps. Of course she’d understand.

“Don’t be.” In an instant, his pride turned to bitterness. “She died when I was teenager. I’m over it.” Actually, talking about it still cut deeply, but he didn’t want those negative emotions to mar this day.

“No one gets over their mother’s death, Damon.”

“Yeah, well, seeing as she abandoned me to my drunken father and followed her lover to Europe, her death wasn’t really too much of a loss.” He swallowed, still finding the pill bitter all these years later. “She died on the autobahn in Germany exactly the way she wanted to live, fast and free.” He wanted it not to matter, but he could see by the furrow in her brow, that Julie understood it did.

“Damon, who knows why parents do the things they do.” Her palm cupped his jaw, and her thumb caressed his cheek. “But I might have an inkling why someone might run from familial responsibilities.” Dropping her hand to her lap, she turned to look out the window. “Sometimes they’re just overwhelming.” She shrugged as if to apologize for sympathizing. “Right or wrong, I can understand it.”

“Love can sometimes overwhelm a person.” Of course, he wasn’t talking about his parents. He was talking about his heart.

“So are you close with your father?” Julie asked.

He laughed derisively. “No. Without my mother to hold him up, he fell into the bottle and drowned himself. His death certificate reads liver failure. But in reality, he died of a broken heart.”

Leaving Damon utterly alone in the world.

Takeaway Truth

Thank you, Nina, for visiting SlingWords today.

Be A Better Blogger: Slant

2012-01-16T08:53:00.007-06:00

Saturday, January 14, I had the pleasure of speaking to the West Houston Romance Writers of America Chapter. These talented writers leave me in awe. My topic was Blogging with a Q&A at the end about Blogging and Indie Publishing.

Sometime this year, I'll compile all my posts about blogging into an ebook Be A Better Blogger.

I gave 3 handouts at the presentation. Since I'm still being careful because of my slashed finger (code for avoiding typing), I'm going to post one of the handouts here as today's blog.

Blog Better & Faster: Find Your Slant
by Joan Reeves©2012

Slant

What is slant and what does that mean when you're talking about writing? It means you must find the angle, the smaller part of the bigger picture about which you want to write. You simply can't write everything about a given subject. This is where a lot of beginning writers go wrong.

They tackle a subject and try to tell every single thing about it. That's called rambling, and that's the surest way to ensure that you'll lose an audience. Also, if you're trying to write for money, you won't write something for which you'll get paid -- whether it's an article or a book.

Endless Ideas

You see, every subject has an infinite number of slants or angles. For instance, if you wanted to write something about book publishing, the ideas are endless. You can come up with hundreds if not thousands of ideas about book publishing.

A short list includes: paperback book publishing, hardcover book publishing, ebook publishing, book rights, the library book market, nonfiction books, fiction books, history of publishing, first novel published, how authors write books, how agents sell books, how editors bring a book manuscript to publication, how publishers make money on books, how publishers are now parts of conglomerates, etc.

Narrow Your Focus

You must figure out which part of the subject you want to address. That makes the subject manageable for you and your audience. You focus on that aspect, exploring it so that your reader comes away with real information that's of use. When you have an idea, you must play with that idea until you've figured out what narrowed, focused part of the idea you want to explore. Then you have the slant.

Takeaway Truth

Find your slant, and you'll write better and faster, and your writing -- whether blog posts or book-length will be the better for it.

2 Days Offline

2012-01-12T09:51:00.005-06:00

I'm forced offline for at least 2 days. Yesterday, I cut my finger (on my previously injured right hand) so I again spent time in the ER because it would not stop bleeding. You see my right hand is still weak and a bit clumsy which explains the cut I guess.

Bottom line? I shouldn't try to act like a chef at Benihana just yet. Lesson learned.

I typed this with my left hand only. How challenging and exhausting. I'm not supposed to use my right at all for 2 days lest it start bleeding again.

Lousy way to start new year--especially for a writer.

If you have emailed me, Ill answer if I can. If you don't hear from me, be patient. I'll get back to you.

Takeaway Truth

Sometimes you must listen to the doctor especially when your darling husband threatens to take all the computers to the office with him if you don't promise.

When the Words Won’t Sling

2012-01-11T05:17:00.004-06:00

I'm delighted to welcome Lois Winston, author of the critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, to SlingWords.

The series, Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, is published by Midnight Ink. Today's your lucky day because you can pick up a copy of the first book in this series, Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun, free on Amazon.

Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist when it was published last year. The book and its sleuth, Anastasia Pollack, are delightful.

Now, Death by Killer Mop Doll, the second book in the series, is available.

You can read an excerpt at Lois's website. Anastasia even has her own blog: Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers. Follow Lois and Anastasia on Twitter @anasleuth.

Now, here's Lois Winston.

When the Words Won’t Sling
by Lois Winston

I love the title of Joan’s blog: SlingWords. That’s because it’s what we writers do; we sling words. And if we’re lucky, they land in an interesting assemblage of plot and character development that will intrigue readers and leave them clamoring for more of our word slinging.

But what do you do when you’re suffering from the literary equivalent of a bad day on the mound? You’re all set to sling a fast ball that should nip the corner of the strike zone and send the batter swinging at air when you wind up tossing a lob that he hits out of the park. In other words, you’ve got writer’s block.

Some people insist that there’s no such thing as writer’s block. Try telling that to someone who spent the last three hours staring at a blank computer screen. There are many reasons why the words don’t always come, but for me, often it’s because I’m just too tired to write. When I’m tired, my brain shuts down. But write I must because I’m on deadline, and if I don’t write, I don’t meet those deadlines.

Relief

When this happens, I’ve learned to listen to my body. I give myself permission to take a few hours off to rejuvenate. I’ll take a walk. Or watch a movie I’ve been meaning to see. Or curl up with a book by a favorite author. Whatever I decide to do, I give myself permission not to feel guilty about doing it.

And that’s key.

Most writers can’t afford to quit their day jobs. We juggle our schedules to accommodate work, writing, and family responsibilities. So when we have our writing time, we feel compelled to write and feel guilty when we don’t. We’re wasting precious writing time. What we forget, though, is that we’re not perpetual motion machines. Writers, like everyone else, need down time. Time to relax. To play. To do nothing but daydream.

I’ve found that when I give myself permission not to write, I can then get back to my writing with fresh energy and a brain no longer blocked.

What about you? Are there things you do to counteract writer’s block?

Free Books & More Giveaway

Post a comment, and you could win one of 5 signed copies of Death by Killer Mop Doll that I’m giving away as part of my blog tour this month.

The full tour schedule can be found at my website and at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog. I’m also giving away 3 copies on Goodreads.

For anyone attending The American Library Association’s Mid-Winter conference January 20-24 in Dallas, Midnight Ink will be raffling off the hand-crafted mop doll shown here during the opening reception Friday evening. Register for the drawing at the Midnight Ink booth #1459.

Takeaway Truth

Thank you, Lois Winston, for visiting SlingWords, and good luck with your latest Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery.

Moving

2012-01-08T15:34:00.000-06:00

I guess my theme today is moving since that's what we've been doing all weekend. Packing up our daughter's "stuff" that's stored at our Hill Country home so the large pieces can be picked up next weekend.

We loaded up 2 vehicles with smaller items and took them home. Once there we realized we needed to make another trip up there to shrink the stack of boxes.

That's what I did today. Tomorrow, I'll drive home with the car filled to brimming. Then next weekend the moving truck with a bunch of strong men will show up to empty all the stuff that is being housed in the garage.

Moving & Change

Gee, is there anything better than moving? Well, yes, about a billion other activities rank above moving in my book. Moving is change, and life is nothing, if not change.

Billy Crystal said, "Change is such hard work." I know he was talking about personal change which must be on a par with changing homes.

Takeaway Truth

Change is hard work? So is moving. I'm ready for this to be over.

Weddings Are Work

2012-01-07T15:18:00.005-06:00

How come it's so much work when one of your kids plans to marry?

We've been working on this wedding and merger of our darling daughter's life and her darling young man's life since last July when he proposed.

Pardon My French

The wedding is not until March, but that doesn't mean we have idle time between now and March. Au contraire, mes ami! (Pardon the French, but I'm practicing in case they ask me to come to Paris for the launch of my books. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?)

Actually, I had an email Friday from my Editor's Assistant who had just finished reading the French translation of JANE (I'm Still Single) JONES. He was nice enough to say he really enjoyed it.

Weddings Are Work

Back to my wedding-is-so-much-work theme. This weekend we are in our Texas Hill Country home, packing all her stuff that is stored here in order to truck it home, store it in the garage there until next weekend when movers come to pick it up.

In fact, I think every weekend from now until the wedding is scheduled for wedding "stuff" so I'm just going to roll with it. Why I scheduled writing and assorted tasks for this time period just shows my incredible naivete, right?

Admittedly, today she and her beloved are doing 99% of the packing work, but I'm exhausted just watching them.

Next week the movers arrive to load everything into a big truck and take it to their new town home, but I'm off the hook there too. I'm speaking at the West Houston Romance Writers of America Chapter meeting. I didn't plan it that way, but that's how it worked out.

Takeaway Truth

Moving is never easy. Combining two households is never easy. But the end result will be, as they say, priceless.

Myth of the Muse

2012-01-06T11:37:00.000-06:00

All the hoopla about my French deal has settled down a bit so back to business today. Let's talk about something that always tickles my funny bone: the Muse.

I had someone tell me, after I'd started selling well with my ebooks, that they craft memorable fiction rather than "crank it out" the way I do.

This person has one published book that isn't selling well at all. This writer went on to explain that he/she (no hints as to the identity) could only produce a book every few years because he/she wrote only when inspired--at the pleasure of the Muse. You know, that mystical, magical entity who whispers our books into our ears so that all we have to do is transcribe the soft utterances.

Pardon Me While I Laugh

I've known a lot of writers in my career, and I do mean a lot. Those who actually succeed in creating careers that produce a respectable income know that their writing is not dependent on some Muse. After all, the Muse only exists in Greek mythology.

Those writers I've known who talk about writing when the Muse or inspiration moves them never manage to create a genuine writing career. Sure, one needs a spark of inspiration that makes one think: "Hey, that's a great idea for a book."

However, one cannot depend on inspiration in the day in-day out grind of writing a book. Often, after one gets past the exciting beginning, the book does become a grind to get through the middle--or the muddle as many curse it--to the glorious two words: The End.

Writing Biz Reality

A lot of beginning writers want to write books. At least that's what they tell me and anyone else with a heartbeat who will listen. I know some who wants to get paid for freelance writing, but she hasn't actually tried to get any jobs. She hasn't written any spec articles to place in a portfolio of samples. Just like some self-labeled novelists I've known who haven't sat down and consistently produced pages of writing because they can only write when the Muse inspires them.

Fantasy vs. Reality

These writers who depend on the Muse have an unrealistic view of writing as a career if they think you only write when you're inspired. Ask any writer--freelance or novelist--who has signed a contract if that's how they work. They'll tell you--as soon as they finish laughing, or maybe groaning--that the business doesn't work that way. If you're under contract, you don't wait for the Muse to pay you a visit. You write whether you're inspired or not.

But, wait, you say. I haven't signed a contract. I'm an indie author so I can finish a book whenever I like. Ha! If you haven't made a contract with yourself--setting a deadline by which your next book will be finished--you're just kidding yourself.

Universal Truth

There's one law of the universe that you need to learn. A project expands to fill the time allotted. I'm sure I didn't create that aphorism, but I certainly have experienced it in my own life whether it's cleaning out the garage or writing a 75,000 word novel.

What happens if you don't set a deadline? The "why rush, I've got plenty of time" syndrome kicks into action. Hey! You've got all the time in the world so you can take today off. And maybe the whole week--or month. When six months have passed and you've got nada to show for it, writer's malaise sets in. The longer you don't work on the project; the harder it gets to tackle it again. Or the project expands and drags on and on and on until you're so bored with it that you'd rather wash windows and polish the silverware than write.

Be Your Own Boss & Be A Mean SOB

If you don't set a deadline, your book may never get finished, or it may take you so long to write one that your eager fans forget who you are. You must write consistently, and you must finish what you write in a timely fashion if you are to have a shot at success.

If you have a day job that's not writing, say you work in an office, if you're depressed, tired, and weepy, do you call in sick? Probably not.

If writing is your job and you feel all those negative emotions, do you call in sick to yourself? You shouldn't. You have to meet a daily quote and power through. Sure, what you write may be crap, but crap can be edited and made better. A blank page or monitor screen can't.

Got a deadline and got a cold? You write. Tired and sleep-deprived? You write. Don't know what this scene or even this chapter is about? You still write. Sure, there are times that are exceptions to my "write consistently/produce pages" rule, but, for the most part, I write consistently. Day after day.

Adopt A Work Ethic

Writers, if you want to be successful, adopt the work ethic of your peers out in the job force. Sure, writing looks easy--until you try it. Writing is hard mentally and physically. It's not a job for wusses. Those who write do so because they can't imagine doing anything else, but make no mistake.

Writing demands the same kind of dedication as careers in teaching or accounting or any other job. If you're a teacher, and you're tired and sleepy, you don't sleep in. You go to school and teach. If you're an accountant, and you're tired of the same old grind, day in and day out, you don't skip work and go to the ball game or a spa. You go to the office at your appointed time.

Do you get the idea? You need to establish a writing quota, and you need to put your butt in the computer chair at the appointed time and write. As a writer, you're lucky in that you decide exactly when you must place your butt in the chair and how long you must keep it there.

Develop a plan today, and set a deadline. Be disciplined and create on a consistent schedule.

Takeaway Truth

Quit waiting for the Muse. If you have a great idea, then the Muse has moved on. The rest is up to you. Discipline and consistency are the cornerstones of writing success. That's where the real magic lies--in you.

BIG News: French World Rights Sale

2012-01-04T08:12:00.001-06:00

Since my countersigned contract arrived, I can finally announce my big news about selling French World Rights for Print and Ebook on the 3 books you see pictured here to Bragelonne, a noted French publisher of paranormal fiction.

I know you're saying, "But, Joan, you don't write paranormal."

You're right. I don't. Bragelonne is branching out into contemporary romance.

Backstory

In late August 2011, I received an email from an Editor of Bragelonne who had obtained the ebook of JANE I'm-Still-Single JONES, one of my romantic comedies. She totally loved that book which has been one of my most popular romance novels.

She wanted to know two things: if I was the rights owner and who represented me because she wanted to make an offer for the book.

Homework Time

I replied that I was the rights owner and that I would probably represent myself unless I decided I was out of my depth and sought the counsel of a literary agent. At the time, I had no agent. In fact, I had dismissed my last agent about ten years ago.

Then, I posted on the lists of traditionally published authors to which I belong, requesting information about French rights sales. I'm not posting any names here because these lists are private and what is said on the lists, and by whom, is confidential.

Suffice it to say that a well-known NYT bestselling author who has had numerous foreign rights sales, emailed me and shared her experience. I have to say here that just about all the "big" authors I know are the most generous women around.

Decision Time

Based on what I learned, I decided that this could be very big for me. Therefore, I knew I needed a literary agent to negotiate the contract. I've been in the biz long enough to know that an offer made to an author without representation will be vastly different from an offer made to one who has an agent.

That wasn't an easy decision to make when most of NY publishing seem to consider you unmarketable. *LOL* Or so I had begun to believe which is why I gave up on traditional publishing and became an indie author. I just got tired of the rejection carousel based usually on query letters, not a manuscript.

I knew there was an audience who would appreciate my writing if I could just get my books to them. The creation of the Kindle and Mark Coker's work with Smashwords followed by the Nook from Barnes & Noble made that possible.

The Remarkable J. A. Konrath

I have also been in the biz long enough to know that a bad agent is worse than no agent. I didn't want to make a mistake here because I knew that most agents will take you on if you have a deal on the table. For advice, I turned to Joe Konrath, another generous friend who has helped many of us in our pursuit of finding an audience for our work. J. A. Konrath not only has juice, but also he knows people. (Thank you again, Joe!)

He put me in touch with an agent who immediately agreed to represent me for this deal. (Again, I'm not mentioning names because they don't take walk-ins, and I don't think it's nice to bandy their names about and have them absolutely deluged by writers wanting a similar deal.

At this point, I should probably point out that this deal was a matter of all the planets aligning. A Parisian editor just happened to read my southern fiction and love it at the same time her company was branching into contemporary romance. I mean, what are the odds?

Back To My Story

By the time my agent got in touch with Bragelonne, they had decided they wanted not just 1 book from me, but 3. Also, they didn't want to just republish as ebooks. They wanted Print and Ebook Rights with the print books coming out first.

My agent negotiated with the Editorial Director. In the end, the resulting contract for my first 3 ebook romances, JANE I'm-Still-Single JONES, Just One Look, and Still The One, was evidence that I had made the right decision in retaining an agent. I love it when it's a win for all parties--especially for the writer!

Moral of This Story

1. Sometimes good things happen to good people.

2. The law of miracles has not been repealed.

3. In an eye blink, everything in your world can change.

Most of us experience that in bad ways. I'm thinking of the last 3 years when my daughter developed a blood clot after surgery and could have died if I hadn't got her to the hospital in time--and that was just one complication. Sometimes, sweeping change can be change for the better. Thank you, Lord, that this was one of those times since I've had more than enough of the other kind in the last few years.

4. Something like this can't be planned, controlled, anticipated, or programmed in any way. When it happens, try to make smart decisions and roll with it.

5. I share what I learn.

I published my first ebook the last week of March 2011. Within a month I had sold 1000 copies. The next 1000 took a week; the next 1000, 3 days. Everything went crazy after that. I haven't had time to update my combined spreadsheet, but I ended 2011 with about 150,000 sales or more I think.

I've done an entire blog series about how I did it which may work only for me, but there might be lessons there for everyone. I'm finally compiling all that in Ebook Success: Joan Sells & Tells All which I'll publish in a couple of weeks.

6. Last, but not least, if I hadn't started publishing ebooks, this would never have happened.

Takeaway Truth

I owe everything to the readers who embraced my books. I felt there was an audience for the way I tell a story. I put my work out there, and my audience found me. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

How To Use Slang

2012-01-03T04:50:00.002-06:00

The New Year is here. If one of your goals is to write better dialogue, this post is for you.

(Reprinted from Writing Hacks, my subscription newsletter for writers. Subscribe today if you'd like articles like this as soon as they are published.)

Characters Speak Slang

Slang: informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is used by people of all ages and social groups.

If you're writing conversations between fictional people, some of them will use slang expressions. Make sure the slang usage reflects the character's age, demographics, education, and today's pop culture.

A few weeks ago on SlingWords, I gave some online resources for slang: 3 Online Slang Resources.

Use Slang Appropriately

I often include current slang words and/or phrases in my freelance writing because they give a certain immediacy and conversational tone. Bad slang usage is laughable, as you've probably seen on television and movies.

How many times have you seen an older person trying to sound cool and using slang--from his generation. Instead of sounding cool, he sounds like a generation gap buffoon and usually identifies himself as an old fart out of touch with today's world.

Take the word marijuana.

Depending on your age, you will use one of these slang words: pot, herb, grass, weed, Mary Jane, reefer, Aunt Mary, skunk, boom, gangster, kif, or ganja.

If you're a good writer, you won't have a 16-year-old boy calling it Mary Jane, and you won't have a 70-year-old grandmother calling it ganja. Unless your purpose is comedic.

You need to get it right, or you risk sounding like an over-the-hill anachronism.

In print books, it's harder to know which slang word or phrase to use because the lag time between conception and publication is rather large. What's hip today may not be hip next year, or, worse, it may mean the opposite in a year or more. That's usually how long it takes a published print book to hit the shelves.

What's A Writer To Do

1. Choose judiciously.

Some words that were cool a generation ago are still cool, i.e., the word cool. That word never seems to go out of style. Sick may be the word of choice now, but it may be passe next week so be careful and choose wisely. Also, be aware that many young people use slang words they learned from their parents or grandparents.

It all depends on characterization. Example: I frequently use "geez Louise" because I heard it from elders in my family growing up. I used "see you later alligator" to my kids. That comes from some early rock and roll song, and my mom used the phrase. Now my daughter uses it.

2. Don't inundate your writing with slang.

Use it carefully to depict a few characters rather than all of them. If you're writing juvenile fiction, you may try to write all characters rapping back and forth in their own slang dialect, but if you eavesdrop on kids, you'll find that, in general conversation, most of them talk like the rest of us with an occasional slang word thrown in for effect.

Slang is a good way to characterize. If you have Nancy Jane, a grandmother, saying, "My stars!" when surprised, later in the book, you don't even have to write, Nancy Jane said, because the reader knows that Nancy Jane always says that. Of course that means that you must be careful not to put Nancy Jane's surprised exclamation in the mouth of anyone else.

3. Know what you're doing by consulting a good slang dictionary.

There are a bunch of them in print (less reliable because of lag time) and online. There are the 3 that I gave today on SlingWords that I listed above, or find one you like. Enter "urban slang" or "slang dictionary" into a search engine. Many of these are updated often from once a day to multiple times a day.

If you haven't consulted a slang dictionary before, be aware that some of the words may be offensive.

Takeaway Truth

Writers must write for the audience that exists today, not twenty years ago, yet the writing should be as clear in meaning today as in twenty years from now.

Makeover Your Blog

2012-01-02T05:41:00.004-06:00

Every year, I like to begin the New Year with some advice about how to spruce up your blog.

I'm always tweaking mine, but most people don't. As this new year begins, take a good look at your websites to see if you can make them more appealing.

Here are some websites where you can obtain great free templates to enhance your blog's appearance.

Blogger aka Blogspot

Tutorials by Jennifer Apple offers some really good Tips For Blog Templates & Blog Design using PhotoShop.

Best Free Blog Widgets

Shop for a new theme or template. There are thousands of free templates available. Here are a few sources:

BTemplates

Free Blogger Templates

Mashable

Blogger Blog

Wordpress Blogs

Free Theme Layouts has some stunning themes.

Free Wordpress Themes has 301 templates.

Clone 24 offers a huge selection with a category search in the right sidebar.

Don't limit your imagination to these few websites. Do a search for free blogger templates or free wordpress templates or substitute the word themes for templates. You'll find a dizzying array of choices and most are free. Also, many Wordpress themes have been bloggerized so you can look for those as well.

Takeaway Truth

The New Year brings change so why not make some changes that will enhance your blog?

Happy 2012

2012-01-01T04:10:00.002-06:00

Before the first day of the New Year ends, allow me to wish you all the very best for 2012.

Takeaway Truth

A New Year offers the opportunity for a New Start. It's a Do-Better, not a Do-Over, but, truly, no one ever really gets a Do-Over so rejoice and resolve to Do-Better in whatever area you feel needs it.

Why Authors Give Away Books

2011-12-31T17:38:00.000-06:00

Have you noticed how many authors gave away books this month? If you're a reader, you may wonder why authors do this. After all, the point is to sell books, isn't it?

Well, yes it is, but sometimes you have to spend money to make money. That's the battle cry of advertising and marketing experts. Giving away books is an author's way of spending money in hopes of making money.

OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER was published the day before Thanksgiving--probably not the best time in the world to debut a new book since that starts the frantic holiday period where everything takes last place next to shopping, celebrating, and socializing.

When Amazon asked me to join in the Prime Select program, I was flattered and agreed. That limited sales of this new romantic comedy from the outset. One good thing about the program though was that I could make my book free up to 5 days in December.

I scheduled a single day before Christmas, then the 25th through the 28th. That second free offering was very successful. OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER was downloaded about 6,500 times. After it went back to its regular price of $2.99, it continued to sell as did my other books which are on Amazon but also on Nook, All Romance Ebooks, iTunes, Sony, Kobo, and Smashwords.

As a result, this older woman/younger man romantic comedy kept improving in ranking and broke into the Kindle Top 100 Contemporary Romance Bestseller List yesterday. This pleases me greatly because, well, I love that book! Yes, I wrote it, but that doesn't mean I can't love it too. It's a personal favorite.

Free Means Exposure

I'm sure you've already drawn the conclusion that free means exposure. Your name and your books get seen more. If all those 6,500 people in the U.S. (and the huge numbers of downloads in UK and several in Germany), read that book, and they like it, then they are apt to buy my other books too.

The competition for readers is fierce. More writers are offering free and/or offering at very low prices. The cold, hard truth is that it's hard to make a living with $.99 books because even the hottest book cools after a few months.

An indie author has to make smart decisions about when to offer free, when to offer at $.99, and when to raise prices to a living wage. Not an easy thing to do, and no one rule fits all writers.

Takeaway Truth

Not all books become bestsellers so, as a writer, when you crack the Top 100 on any list, rejoice! If you are a reader, and you find a book you love, tell others about it by posting a review. Authors will love you for it.

Stephanie Queen aka Glam Romance Writer

2011-12-29T13:05:00.004-06:00

Due to a snafu, my Guest Star on Wednesday was delayed until today. So please welcome Stephanie Queen who lives the glamorous life of a romance writer by day. By night, she, well, she sleeps.

You can find Stephanie on Facebook. On Twitter, she's @StephanieQueen.

When not wasting time on Google searches...er, I mean doing valuable research, I write romantic comedy mystery novels, like my latest release, The Throwbacks.

Here's Stephanie Queen

More Glamour from the Life of a Romance Writer By Stephanie Queen

No, this isn’t about Fabio or lounging on a pink velvet divan. It’s all about the attitude. Okay, and a little about the look.

In fact, to find out about the look, I did a scientific, almost unglamorous study on Google Pics. I looked at hundreds of pictures all about glamour and turned up some interesting tidbits on what it takes. I won’t say you don’t have to be a romance writer, but you do have to be a fan of romance to carry it off. (Yes, this is what I do all day when I’m supposed to be writing romance novels.)

Note: All glamorous people according to my Google Pics study are female. And they are all very, very romantically inclined.

The Five Main Ingredients of Glamour

According to my study, these are the 5 main ingredients for glamour.

Pink

This was the number one thing. The color pink. Make anything pink and it’s automatically glamorous. I’m going to buy my pink toilet paper later.

Glitter

It doesn’t have to be diamonds, it just needs to sparkle. The more the better. Glitter on anything. Once again, the toilet paper…oh. Maybe not. Ouch.

High Heels, Short Skirt, Long Legs

I’ve got the high heels and short skirt down. They’re pink and/or glittery. But I may need to rely on illusion for the long legs. Or maybe distraction will work?

Red Pouty Lips

Very tricky to do and avoid looking like a clown. But maybe that’s just me. Either way, a good distraction away from the not-so-long legs.

Hair

Lots of it! Either long and flowing, or curled and bouncing . It must be covering large portions of your face. Good, maybe I can have my hair covering up my clown lips.

Here is an illustration of the Glamour Look. Note that Kitty is Pink and Female. She could use more glitter, though.

Joan Says:

Although your Kitty Graphic doesn't have high heels, a short skirt, and pouty lips, she definitely has long flowing hair and long legs!

Takeaway Truth

Thanks, Stephanie, for this explanation of glamour--just in time for New Year's Eve. Now where did I put those packets of fake jewels from Hobby Lobby?

Guest Blogger Postponed

2011-12-28T04:08:00.004-06:00

Today, I was to have a guest blogger.

She showed up, but the blog post went AWOL. I think my Internet hiccuped when I was uploading. I was in a hurry so I didn't stop to check to make sure it uploaded properly.

I went in to check the post, and--surprise! It's not here. Since I'm not able to access my office PC, and I don't want to ask the house sitting couple to do it, I must ask you to visit Thursday afternoon for the guest post.

Takeaway Truth

Sometimes, unavoidable mishaps occur.

Free Book: Old Enough To Know Better

2011-12-27T04:30:00.000-06:00

Hello, new Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony, and iPad readers--just to name a few! I'm Joan Reeves, and I write funny, sexy romance novels. Call them romantic comedy or chick lit or just pure escapism. I write books that make you feel good and leave you with a smile.

Welcome To Ebook Reading!

I'm a relative newcomer to ebook publishing since I've only been doing this for 8 months. In that time, I've sold about 150,000 ebooks. I've also caught the attention of publishers--but I'll post more on that after the New Year.

You can sample one of my books free for the next couple of days. OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER is an exclusive listing on Kindle, part of their Kindle Prime program. Because of that, I can offer it free for 5 days this month. Dec. 28 is the last free day for it. After that, the price returns to $2.99, still a bargain. Oh, if you're a Prime Member, you can still get it for free!

Reader Review

Today, a reader posted a review on Amazon about OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER.

"This is truly a feel-good book. Not too long and not too short. Just the perfect size for an evening read. Sean is wonderful and sexy and Stormy is aptly named. She is complicated and emotional and needs to feel the love and lust of a good man. The two of them together is very sweet and yet very steamy. A must read!"

Pick up a copy today!

A Christmas Romance

Nobody's Cinderella is my Christmas romantic comedy that's funny, sexy, and heartwarming! Darcy Benton is the oldest cliche in the world--a woman in love with her boss. Other than that little quirk, Darcy is no-nonsense, practical, mature, and sober. She's just the kind of woman Chase Whitaker wants as head of accounting for his company. She's definitely not the kind of woman he wants in his bed.

Enter Darcy's meddling, matchmaking best friend who has a plan to transform Darcy into a hottie designed to attract Chase's interest. All it takes? A couple of little lies.

Oh, and a wish on a Christmas star. Darcy should have heeded that old advice. Be careful what you wish for.

Nobody's Cinderella is available on Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, iTunes and Smashwords.

For Your Consideration

Here are my other ebooks. You should find them on Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, iTunes, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, and Diesel. (These bookseller links are to my author page on each site.)

JANE (I'm Still Single) JONES named on RomanticLoveBooks.com as one of 5 great indie romances. One of the Lingerie Cover Books. What could be worse for a former high school beauty queen who never landed the only man she ever loved than attending, alone, her 10-year high school reunion? Morgan Sherwood, the town boy-wonder who made good in a big way, was once her secret love, a geeky teen who stole her heart and then broke it before leaving town forever. He's back, and he's not a geeky kid any more. He plans to focus his high-powered brain and use every masculine charm he now possesses to seduce the lovely Miss Jones.

Just One Look, one of the Lingerie Cover Books. What would you do if the gynecologist subbing for your regular doctor turned out to be your old high school crush? Successful psychologist Dr. Jennifer Monroe does what any normal, well-adjusted woman would do. She makes an excuse to send the doctor and nurse from the room, dives into her clothes, and flees! Two doctors plus unrequited desire equals fun and seduction games!

Still The One, one of the Lingerie Cover Books. A funny, sexy marriage of IN-convenience. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to! day to join love and laughter in this sexy romance with a chick lit attitude! This funny, sexy romp proves when there's love, passion never dies. It just smolders away until you toss some gasoline--in the form of unrequited desire--on it then it bursts into flame. What follows is a funny, sexy romp that proves when there's love, passion never dies, it just smolders away until you toss some gasoline on it. Burke and Ally discover a rekindled passion that threatens to scorch them when they find themselves locked in a marriage - - of inconvenience!

Texas One Night Stands Series

Book 1 is The Trouble With Love. There's one rule for a one night stand: never see your one-time lover again. Ever. So what's a girl supposed to do if FBI Special Agent Hogan, the tall, dark, and too-darn-yummy guy, shows up at her office?

Texas girl Susannah Quinn fires the first round in a battle of the sexes then hangs on for dear life as the fun and games begin in this sexy romp that's hotter than a bowl of Texas chili!

Book 2 is ROMEO and JUDY ANNE. High school principal Judy Anne Palmer was always a good girl who never did an impulsive, rebellious thing. Ever. And look where it got her!

One night in Dallas, she meets a man and decides to indulge in a liberating night of passion--liberating her from the stigma of being the oldest living virgin north of the Rio Grande. Unfortunately, the night doesn't turn out exactly the way she planned, and her one-night Romeo isn't exactly one-night stand material. When he turns up in her hometown as a new teacher on her faculty, Judy Anne knows that she's in big trouble. Can she resist the desire that burns between her and Romeo? Can a night of illicit love be enough?

Takeaway Truth

There is a world of good fiction available for ebook readers. Try new authors. You may find some that delight you.

Free Newsletter Templates

2011-12-26T04:55:00.001-06:00

Do you have a newsletter you mail to subscribers or to fans? I do. Actually, I have two: Writing Hacks for writers and Wordplay is for readers. Subscription forms for both can be found here on the blog and on my website.

Choices

You can use one of the many free newsletter services to start a subscription newsletter. I use Mail Chimp for Writing Hacks. Just register and they're free. You might also try Tiny Letter which is also free.

Wordplay is through my website which is under Authors Guild.

DIY Newsletters

If you want to start an email newsletter on your own, design is a crucial element. I created a design for each of my newsletters, even though I'm using a newsletter service because I wanted each newsletter to reflect its primary source. With Writing Hacks, the design is like this blog, and the design of Wordplay is similar to my website images.

You don't have to be a graphic artist to get a good design though. Free newsletter templates are offered at Microsoft Office Newsletter Templates. There are many from which to choose.

Takeaway Truth

A good newsletter is invaluable for staying in touch with readers, if you're a writer, but they're also great for staying in touch with family and friends.

Note: If Joan Reeves aka SlingWords helps you get ahead, please consider buying one of my books (Written Wisdom is perfect for writers--readers too!), subscribing (only $.99 per month) to the Kindle Edition of SlingWords,or making a donation of any amount by clicking the button below. Thank you for your moral support and any monetary support you see fit to contribute.

Peace on Earth

2011-12-25T04:35:00.000-06:00

On this planet, there are more than 7 billion people now.

We may all have different religious beliefs, ethnic backgrounds, opinions, attitudes, and personalities, but we mostly all want the same out of life: peace, freedom from hunger, sickness, poverty, pain, and persecution. We all want to be happy, healthy, and prosperous.

Takeaway Truth

I wish you, one and all, peace on earth.

Ebook Reader Comparison

2011-12-22T04:20:00.001-06:00

If you have some last minute gifts to buy, and you've thought about buying an ebook reader but don't know which one to get, here's Kim Komando's Comparison Chart of the major players.

Unfortunately, the chart doesn't contain the new Kindle Fire. I know three people who have bought the Kindle Fire, and they are enthusiastic about the device. In fact, my cousin has almost convinced me to get one just by her rave emails.

Here's the Kim Komando Analysis of the Kindle Fire so you can check it out. Also read the review and many posts my friend Michael Gallagher has written. Michael writes the popular Free Kindle Books & Tips blog.

He Answered Questions About Kindle Fire so read that too.

Takeaway Truth

An ebook reader would make a great gift--even if it arrives after Christmas.

To Critique Or Not To Critique

2011-12-21T04:06:00.001-06:00

I'm having a Christmas latte this morning with Dyanne Davis, a multi-published, award-winning author of 16 novels.

Dyanne writes a monthly interview blog for Romance Slam Jam and has written dozens of articles for on-line magazines. She was one of the authors for the Premier Edition of New Love Stories Magazines.

Dyanne lives in a Chicago suburb with her husband, and she hosts a local cable television show, The Art of Writing, in which she gives writing tips to aspiring writers. She's had the chance to interview some of her favorite authors: LA. Banks, Robin Schone, Donna Hill, Melody Thomas, Ann Marcela, Cathie Linz, Jade Lee, Jenna Petersen and many more. You can catch some of the clips of her show on YouTube.

Recently, like so many authors, Dyanne has turned to Indie Publishing. She now has short stories and three full novels on Kindle, Nook and Smashwords. As if she wasn't busy enough, she also writes a vampire series under the name of F. D. Davis.

Take it away, Dyanne!

To Critique or Not To Critique
by Dyanne Davis

There are no hard and fast rules about having your work critiqued. The process is not for everyone. There are things, in my opinion, that a writer should be aware of when considering the critique process. Remember, this is my opinion and not a rule.

There was a time I had three critique partners. We helped each other figure out plot points, things that weren’t working and how not to have constant talking heads, or changing POV in midstream. On my second published book, my critique partners pointed out that the secondary characters had stolen the book. I was aware of that, but sent the book in anyway.

When my editor received it, she told me exactly what my critique partners had said. She told me in no uncertain terms that the publisher had contracted for a romance, not a relationship book about the brother and sister, and that if I wanted the secondary characters to have a story I needed to write another book. I did. Luckily she loved it.

The point: I should have listened to my critique partners. Yet, on the other hand if I had I would not have been offered the third contract. At the point I turned the book in I was unaware that I had another viable book in there.

Good & Bad Points About Critique Partners

Let’s do the bad points first. If you remember nothing else that I will ever say, remember this.

1. Most writers, no matter how well meaning, speak from their own frame of reference. They may want you to write something the way they would write it.

2. If you have a half dozen critique partners, chances are you will have a half dozen opinions.

3. Once a writer learns something, they are bound and determined that it is the only way to do it.

4. Critique groups can and have prevented writers from finishing the book because they are never satisfied with the first chapter. Someone will always want you to do something that you have already done, and another person told you to change.

Since nothing is all bad or all good, here are some of the good points of having your work critiqued.

1. Writers tend to read the missing words into their own work because the correct words are in their heads. A person who has not read your work will not do this. They will be able to catch
those little slips.

2. Critique groups can also spot plot holes.

Here's some advice. Have a reader (non relative or friend) read your work and have another writer read it. They will be looking for different things and will provide a broader perspective.

Use Input Wisely

Treat information given to you like a buffet. If it makes your stomach clench, pass on it. If it gives you an “ah ha” moment, think about it. If you have several critique partners and they all say the exact same thing…WELL then, think about the suggestions seriously.

Think of each critique as One Person’s Opinion. To illustrate this, I’ll relate a story. An author in my RWA chapter brought in several pieces of work and asked the group to critique them. Almost everyone ripped into the works, pointing out a dozen problems. All of the pages she turned in were actually published work by well-known authors!

Remember

Going into a critique relationship creates a bond of trust. The person doing the critique should be able to give an honest appraisal of the work with a minimal amount of, “I’d like to see you do thus and so.” If they want you to change your entire book because they don’t like what you wrote, then they should write their own book.

Be Prepared

Let’s not forget the most important person in the critiquing process. YOU.

Before you ask anyone to critique your work, know where you’re heading.

Be strong enough that a critical critique will not throw you off course and stop you from writing. Develop a thick skin. There is no such animal as the perfect book. And if you think yours is perfect, you probably shouldn’t bother having anyone critique your work. But, if you’re having a problem, or need a fresh pair of eyes, you just might benefit from a critique partner.

Whatever you decide to do, it doesn’t mean that you can’t change your mind. That’s what writers do. Keep writing.

Takeaway Truth

As Dyanne says, if it's not working, you can change your mind. The important thing to remember is not to let it cause you to stop writing.

Five Star Authors For Christmas

2011-12-20T05:06:00.001-06:00

Five Star is a division of the textbook and library edition publisher Gale/Cengage.

Many of you have probably read Five Star authors in checking out library books. What you may not know is that these talented authors also have books for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online book sellers, in hardcover and ebooks.

Here are a few of these talented authors and their books for your consideration.

A Haunted Twist of Fate

Stacey Coverstone is the author of A Haunted Twist of Fate, available in hardback edition from Amazon.

Two hearts in the present are linked with two souls from the past. Is it coincidence? Or a haunted twist of fate?

The Truth Sleuth

Jacqueline Seewald is the author of The Truth Sleuth, a fast-paced, contemporary romantic mystery novel available in hardcover and large print from Amazon, Barnes and Noble Online, and various other booksellers. The novel may also be requested at your local library.

Librarian Kim Reynolds, (heroine of THE INFERNO COLLECTION and THE DROWNING POOL) is in for major shocks when her normally sedate life takes some surprisingly dangerous twists and turns. Kim finds the body of high school student Sammy Granger and becomes involved in a complex murder investigation that includes police detective Mike Gardner.

The Visionary

Pamela S Thibodeaux can also be found at http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com. Pam is the author of The Visionary, available in hardcover from Amazon.

Twins Taylor & Trevor Forrestier not only share a successful business but also the two share a childhood wrought with lies and deceit and the type of abuse that is disturbingly present in today's society. Can they be freed from the past and open to the good plan God has for their lives? Find out in The Visionary where the power of God heals the most wounded of souls.

When Danger Calls

Terry Odell can be found at her website, Romance with a Twist~~of Mystery and her blog, Terry's Place. Terry is the author of When Danger Calls, Book 1 in her Blackthorne, Inc. series, available in hard cover and e-book, from Amazon.

If someone asks single mother Frankie Castor to clear a room, she'll smile and find a vacuum cleaner. Ryan Harper uses a gun. Can they work together when their lives depend on it?

Paradise Falls

Jonnie Jacobs is the author of Paradise Falls, available in hardcover from Amazon and Barnes and Noble in March 2012.

When Grace Whittington suspects her teenage stepson of harming her missing daughter, the fault lines of a seemingly happy family begin to crack. The investigation takes a toll on all those involved, even Detective Rayna Godwin, for whom the case is frighteningly personal.

Pele's Tears

Sharon K. Garner is the author of Pele's Tears, available in regular print hardback and soon in large print hardback, both from Amazon.

A Hawaiian flower farm, a trio of bad-luck gems, a vicious note writer, a friendship that catches fire, again. A contemporary romantic suspense full of Hawaiian flowers, myth, and lore.

Takeaway Truth

The best gift for a reader is a book. Introduce one of these authors by way of a gift book.

Get Your QR Codes Here!

2011-12-19T04:27:00.000-06:00

I've been in an on-going discussion about QR Codes.

You know, those black graphics that look like a piece of the cardboard cover on one of those Mead Composition Wireless Notebooks? At least that's what the image reminded me of the first time I saw one.

This one is the QR code that contains the URL for SlingWords. You'll also see it at the bottom of the near right sidebar here on the blog.

What's The Big Deal

You might wonder what the big deal is about these and why anyone would want one. So let's talk about it.

A QR Code, meaning Quick Response Code, is a type of matrix barcode, that is, two-dimensional code. It was designed for the automotive industry. More recently, like early this year, the QR code system became popular outside of the auto industry because of its fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity for data within the matrix.

The graphic you see is actually coded information consisting of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The encoded information can be just about any kind of data, i.e., binary, alphanumeric, or even Japanese Kanji characters.

Backstory

You see, QR codes were created by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, in 1994, to track vehicles during the manufacturing process. Because of the two-dimensional design, the QR code allows its information content to be decoded at a high speed. Time is money.

Naturally, this bar code technology has seen its greatest use in Japan, but the UK is the seventh-largest consumer of QR codes in the world.

Fast Forward To Now

This year, the QR code use has blossomed thanks to Smartphones. They're used in a wide range of applications: commercial tracking, entertainment, transport ticketing, product marketing and in-store product labeling.

If you've got a Smartphone, there's a free app you can get to use as a QR Code Reader. I use TapMedia as the QR Reader on my iPhone. All you do is open the app, hold it to scan the image, and it gives you the encoded image. I just checked the image I placed in this post, and, sure enough, it read it as Joan Reeves aka SlingWords.

If you don't have an app on your Smartphone, get one. Tap Media is free, but there are others. Just do a search at your phone's app store, and you can find one.

The second part of the equation is a QR Code Generator. I like apps that cost nothing if they work well. To generate my QR Codes for the blog and website, I used QR Code Kaywa.com.

There are uses beyond encoding your URLs such as mobile-tagging where you can receive texts and special offers, etc.

How Authors Can Use

Now we get to the real issue. How can an author use a QR Code? I'm using mine in print materials. I donate books and bookmarks to various libraries. I put my QR Code, that little black graphic, on bookmarks, flyers, brochures, anything that I give away.

It's just another way for someone to find you--fast and easily--online. It's easy, no remembering a web address, no jotting down the URL, no inputting it into a browser. Just whip out the Smartphone, scan the QR Code, and they're there.

Chances are you're already seeing them in magazine blow-in cards, signs, buses, business cards, and just about anything where information can be stuck for someone with a Smartphone to read.

By the way, linking from a physical world object to an online site is called hardlinking or object hyperlinking. It's a fascinating subject, and there's an excellent Wiki on it.

Takeaway Truth

Embrace new options for communication--especially when it's something so easy.

Note: If Joan Reeves aka SlingWords helps you get ahead, please consider buying one of my books (Written Wisdom is perfect for writers--readers too!), subscribing (only $.99 per month) to the Kindle Edition of SlingWords,or making a donation of any amount by clicking the button below. Thank you for your moral support and any monetary support you see fit to contribute.

Junk Food

2011-12-18T05:39:00.000-06:00

T'is the season to be jolly and load up on all that calorie-laden stuff you normally avoid.

Today's Tally

Pralines (OMG so, so good!) Hot Rotel Dip and corn chips (Yep, made with intestinal glue otherwise known as Velveeta which I won't even buy at any other time of the year.) Tiny glazed cinnamon buns (Each one is just 2 bites. Delish with cup of hot coffee.) Grilled hot dog. Christmas sugar cookies with sprinkles. Texas Trash (my spicy version of Chex mix.)

I have avoided Turtles, chocolate-covered cherries, peppermint bark, Ferrer Rochere, and other temptations. Don't I get a gold star for that?

Is Joan Insane

Let me assure you that I'm not. I'm just the victim of holiday parties, visiting friends, and family traditions that dictate you cook and bake and eat and push food at others from Thanksgiving until January 2. I'm normal and nutritionally circumspect the rest of the year.

Today's Quote

An anonymous wise person is reported to have said: "My body is a temple where junk food goes to worship."

Ah, junk food, beloved by taste buds, despised by anyone with an ounce of sense. In 2008, a Scripps Research Institute study suggested that junk food consumption alters brain activity in the same way as cocaine or heroin.

Of course they tested that on poor little lab rats who, after weeks of unlimited access to junk food, had the pleasure centers in their brains desensitized so that they had to keep consuming more and more food to get the same amount of pleasure.

Then when the junk food was replaced by a healthy diet, those poor rats starved for 2 weeks rather than eat the nutritious food. (Wonder if it was tofu and alfalfa sprouts?)

Junk Food History

That made me wonder about the origin of the phrase junk food. I spent about 30 minutes trying to pin down the origin using online sources. All I could discover was that most sources agreed the term originated in the early 1970's in America. Funny, but I could swear I heard people use it before then when I was a kid.

Takeaway Truth

My body is a temple where junk food goes to worship. I'll eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow, or January 2--whichever comes later--I die-t. Again.

Do Holiday Titles Limit Sales?

2011-12-17T20:09:00.004-06:00

Does titling your book with a word indicating Christmas or holiday, etc., limit its sales to Christmas? My latest book Nobody's Cinderella is set at Christmas and even has a Santa element.

That's all I'll say about that because it's up to the reader as to how to interpret that element. When I titled it though, I started thinking about the whole "Christmas book only sells at Christmas theory."

I wanted to title the romantic comedy Christmas Cinderella, but I figured after December no one would buy it.

A friend suggested I just publish it again in January with a new title, but I don't want to anger readers who might buy each without reading the Product Description, only to discover that they had already read the book.

So I erred on the side of conservatism, and named it Nobody's Cinderella. I thought I'd throw the question out there for anyone who wants to weigh in.

Takeaway Truth

Please comment if you have an opinion, educated guess, or any kind of answer based on experience with similar type books.

Book Turn-Offs

2011-12-16T13:12:00.003-06:00

Call me quirky--and, trust me, many do--but there are certain things I see on book covers and in book descriptions that guarantee I will not buy the book.

I'm sure everyone has their pet peeves about books. After all, books are entertainment, and entertainment is completely subjective. As a reader, what floats your boat may be an anvil through the deck for another reader.

In no particular order, are some of these things in my completely subjective opinion. (Don't toss the online equivalent of rotten tomatoes at my cyber presence. Like those rejection letters from publishers and agents say: "This is just one person's opinion."

Personal Turn-Offs

1. A cover for a book that should appeal to women that has an arrogant-looking man and a submissive woman. Or some element like a big fat cigar stuck in his mouth. Seriously. What woman wants to kiss a man who smokes cigars? Yuck!

2. Any book dealing with any part of the apocalyptic content of the Book of Revelations. Why are there SO many of these?

3. Any book that graphically depicts the brutalization and torture of women and children. Men too, but especially women and children.

4. Any book that makes incest sound like a positive alternative lifestyle. Visit with a few victims who are haunted their entire lives by this, and you might change your tune.

5. A book cover that is supposed to be sexy but comes off as creepy.

6. Books about Middle Eastern nuclear plots against the U.S. Sorry, guys, I know some of these are very good. The writers of 24 should have contacted you guys to give Jack Bauer better story lines, and the series wouldn't have been canceled. But I've reached my saturation level so that's why I'm tossing this cranky plaint in.

7. Saturation level also reached on Tolkien knock-offs, Christian thrillers, and serial killers.

8. Product descriptions with typos or those that being: This book is about... or this story begins. If you're a reader and/or a writer, you know what that means. The writer isn't very good or he'd be able to write an articulate description of the book rather than doing the writing version of hemming and hawing.

Takeaway Truth

Now that I've got that off my chest, I'm going to go have a praline and a cup of coffee for lunch.

Nook Lovers Daily Book Deal

2011-12-15T16:26:00.005-06:00

There's a new website for authors and readers, and it's a genius idea! Why didn't someone think of this before? This website is for Nook lovers--you know, those readers who chose a Nook reader rather than a Kindle. There are a lot of you out there, and your numbers are growing.

Nook Lovers Daily Book Deal is the place for great books at great prices. The site is well-designed with pleasing graphics, and I hope to have one of my books featured there soon.

The Twitter hashtag is #nooklovers so Follow them today! On Facebook, you can find them at https://www.facebook.com/nooklovers.

Takeaway Truth

Support sites that support authors!

Living in a World Without Privacy

2011-12-14T05:06:00.003-06:00

This morning, my guest is mystery author Mark Young. Mark is an award-winning journalist, a Vietnam combat veteran, and, prior to undertaking a full-time writing career, he served as a police officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department in California for twenty-six years.

Mark served with several law enforcement task force operations, including the Presidential Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force targeting major drug traffickers, and the federal Organized Crime Task Force charged with identifying and prosecuting prison gang leaders.

Mark's first novel Revenge was the first Travis Mays novel. Off the Grid, his second novel, is an international thriller scheduled for release this month.

You can find Mark at his website Mark Young Books or his blogs Arresting Fiction and Hook’em & Book’em Blog or his Amazon Author Page.

Now, please welcome Mark Young.

Living In A World Without Privacy
By Mark Young

Who knows your intimate secrets? In this technological age, we’ve been mesmerized by the idea—television, movies and novels—that any secret can be snatched with the right tools. Our brain wants to blurt out, “Hey, pal, this is just entertainment. It’s not real.”

Really? This sparked an idea for my next novel, Off the Grid, an international thriller about covert operations, technological advancements, and survival. Can anyone live off the grid and survive? Is there a way to travel anonymously on this digital highway?

Everyone thought it impossible to track Osama Bin Laden because he lived off the grid in some small hamlet in the desert. Instead, they found him squirreled away in an Abbottabad, Pakistan, mansion across the street from a police station and living among a population of about 300,000 people.

No phones. No internet. A 1970s television. A human courier led them to the compound. Once the suspected hideout was identified, they used satellite surveillance to acquire critical intelligence about the compound, the building, and the living habits of those living inside this walled conclave.

Hey, that was Bin Laden. Everyone wanted a piece of that guy. But little ol’ me—no one’s looking. Right?

Wrong!

Stop and think! How many times in a day is your information captured, stored, and mined by others. At the food market, data from the medicines you buy, food you use, and all the other commodities you purchase are massively collected and stored to find ways of getting more money out of your wallet. Library cards, bank cards, and use of the internet. All these sources of information are available if one knows how to hack and track technology.

Add this to recent develops in nanotechnology and quantum computers, and you have a dynamite concoction for an international thriller. We are one step away from a major technological breakthrough in nanotechnology that will make the industrial revolution look like a historical bump in the road.

Two men in my Off the Grid novel—Gerrit O’Rourke, the main character about to flee for his life, and his arch rival, Richard Kane—argue about this future and who might control it. Go ahead, and eavesdrop on their conversation:

Gerrit watched the man, still pacing, seem to lose himself in his own one-sided conversation. He’d just let Kane ramble.

“Not to speak of the economic tsunami that will roll over us when molecular manufacturing becomes feasible on the open market. Inexpensive manufacturing costs coupled with replication of designs will cause economic upheaval and environmental devastation on a global scale never before seen.”

He stopped pacing and turned toward Gerrit. “We have to contain and control this before it gets out of hand.”

“Who is we,” Gerrit asked again, trying to prod the man into divulging those Kane represented. “The United States has been on top of this for more than a decade. Isn’t that what the National Nanotechnology Initiative and the White House Office of Science and Technology policy is all about? Coordinating efforts so our country can control and contain this information?”

“Ever known a politically motivated body to do what is in the country’s best interests?” Kane scoffed. “They are too busy protecting their own budgets and keeping their own power base to spend time on the greater good.”

“So people like you—and whoever you work for—have the country’s best interests at heart?”

Kane shook his head. “Not just our country’s—the world’s. The whole world must share in these breakthroughs with some controls and power resting with a few reasonable leaders.”

“And who decides this?”

“The group I represent will decide this. We will keep politics and self-interest out of the equation.”

Gerrit couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Shortly thereafter, Gerrit disappears off the grid for his own survival as he uncovers an international conspiracy to undermine the sovereignty of world nations—including the United States. Others emerge to aid in his fight.

As Gerrit learns, the world of surveillance has leaped forward since the old days. Tiny micro-chips weaved into the fabric of paper currency can monitor and track anywhere. Surveillance cameras the size of a pin head have become old school. Audio and visual tracking stalk us every day, from fixed cameras on light poles to eye-in-the-sky trackers from hundreds of miles away. The fantasy Sci-Fi we thought impossible has now become feasible—even affordable.

What about you? Like the quip from a credit card commercial: “What do you have in your wallet?” Big Brother already knows the answer to that question.

Takeaway Truth

Thanks, Mark, for visiting. Readers, Mark's new book will be out soon. If you like your thriller with a scary dose of reality, grab Off The Grid. While you're waiting for its release, pick up a copy of his first book--only $.99 on Kindle.

Nobody's Cinderella

2011-12-13T23:42:00.003-06:00

I'm woefully behind this week due to taking half of last week off for an out of state wedding.

I had planned to post a Christmas gift suggestion today, but I'll do that later in the week. I just hit the upload button for my new romantic comedy Nobody's Cinderella.

It should be live tomorrow on Kindle. After a good night's sleep, I'll work on uploading it to Nook, Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks, and the rest.

Nobody's Cinderella

Darcy Benton is plain, no-nonsense, practical, mature, sober. She's the kind of woman Chase Whitaker wants as head of accounting for his company. Not, the kind of woman he wants in his bed.

Poor Darcy! She's the oldest cliche in the world--a woman in love with her boss. She'd give anything to be the kind of woman who could captivate Chase, but she knows that she's the exact opposite of every woman Chase ever dated.

Enter Darcy's meddling, matchmaking best friend who has a makeover plan to transform Darcy into a hottie designed to attract Chase's interest. All it takes? A couple of little lies.

And a wish on a Christmas star.

Darcy should have heeded that old advice. Be careful what you wish for.

Takeaway Truth

Great Romance for Christmas. Don't delay--buy a book today!

Travel Provides Backdrop For Mona Risk

2011-12-12T12:26:00.005-06:00

Today, I'm a little late in getting to the office, but I'm excited to welcome romance author Mona Risk to SlingWords. (If you visit Mona's blog, you'll find her social network links.)

In a past life, as Mona says, she was a chemist who mixed solutions, dipped her gloved fingers in dirty waste, and ran complicated equipment in order to declare drinking water safe for consumption.

In 1995, Mona won an international contract to refurbish laboratories in Belarus, and that's really where this story begins.

Travel Provides Backdrop For Novels
by Mona Risk

When I won the contract to refurbish labs in Belarus, I pulled several maps and opened the Internet to learn as much as I could about this new country. The entire prospect was rather frightening.

However, my fear of the unknown subsided when several officials from Washington, DC accompanied my team to introduce us. I was holding a large purse and pulling two carry-on's, one with official papers and the other with my supply of drinking water for the week along with apples pre-washed with safe American water and a box of crackers I planned to survive on. No wonder I was slim at the time.

We landed in Minsk without problems, excitement bubbling up in me. Things deteriorated as the passengers pushed each other toward an wobbly old escalator. Two of my chemists preceded me with as much luggage as I was dragging. My first step on the damn escalator sent me flying and screaming straight into my companions’ back. One caught my carry-on and the other saved my neck.

Later we were well received by everyone: officers, directors, chemists, journalists. I worked with colonels and generals, was invited to theirs homes, and became friends with their wives. I traveled fifteen times to Minsk over the course of three years and appreciated the Belarusian hospitality. During the inauguration of the lab we were featured on their national TV several times. Needless to say, I fell in love with Belarus.

My contract also encompassed business trips and lab refurbishments in Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan. I enjoyed visiting Moscow and Sergei Possad, in Russia, and I didn’t mind a tour of Kiev in the Ukraine.

Ouman

Unfortunately, the lab where we worked was located in Ouman, a small city where running water was available for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. You had to save water in a pitcher to flush the toilet and store your supply of drinking water in another pitcher.

In both cases, it was the same water that sat in the rusty pipes for ten hours prior to use. I also filled an aluminum bucket—they call it a tub over there—and heated the water with an electric coil for my weekly bath in a freezing room! I couldn’t wait to get out of Ouman.

Kazakhstan

In winter, Kazakhstan looked like the North Pole. An icy white desert stretching to the horizon. The spring offered beautiful scenery. I have gorgeous pictures of hordes of wild horses running free in the country side. I could have enjoyed Kazakhstan, but Stepnogorsk, the god-forsaken place where we worked, was infested with mosquitoes that delighted on sucking my blood. So I spent more time smacking and squashing the pesky suckers than admiring nature.

Stepnogorsk

Stepnogorsk boasts one large avenue but very few paved streets. Is it any surprise that I broke my knee while strolling through the so-called streets? I listened to local advice and rubbed my knee and leg with vodka to disinfect and numb the pain, but I refused to be treated by “a good doctor from the old communist regime.”

When I almost got arrested at the international airport of Almaty, the capital, for carrying a lovely little icon I bought in Moscow and still had in my suitcase, I swore to God I would never return to that place.

Vodka, Vodka, Vodka

In Belarus, I learned the many uses of vodka. Shot glasses of vodka were shoved in my hands to celebrate contracts. Bottles of vodka were generously passed around when we walked in the freezing cold. When I ran out of apples and crackers, I had no choice but to share the official dinner, sitting next to a general who gallantly filled my plate with greasy morsels.

My stomach revolted. Before dessert, I excused myself and made a beeline for the nearest restroom and later locked myself in my hotel room, wondering if I was going to die alone in a Belarusian hotel. Not to fear. The general sent two colonels with a bottle of vodka and orders to cure me with as many drinks as they deemed necessary. After four doses of vodka, I forgot my stomach cramps, my headache and even my name.

People were genuinely nice but totally ignored the meaning of deadline. Patience and resilience were necessary virtues when working in Eastern countries. After so many trips and incredible adventures, we accomplished our mission, and I had fascinating stories that needed to be shared.

First Book

Five years later, I took an early retirement to write my first book. My husband and I moved from Ohio to sunny Florida and never regretted leaving the cold and the snow. During my career as a lab director, I traveled to over fifty countries for business or vacation. I like to write contemporary romances so I set my stories in the fascinating places I had visited.

To Love A Hero, the sizzling romance of an American scientist and a Belarusian general, blossoms amid a web of intrigue and a clash of two cultures. Through my novel, I relived my fantastic trips to Belarus. My novel highlights the hospitality and warmth of the gorgeous and gallant Belarusian officers who sing, toast with vodka, and make a woman feel like a goddess.

Also set in Belarus is RX in Russian.

My travels have provided exciting and exotic backdrops for my novels. Along with the two books set in Belarus, I have two set in France: French Peril and Right Name, Wrong Man. One book is set in Egypt and the Seychelles: Osiris' Missing Part.

Last but not least, two romance novels are set in my home country of the U. S.: Babies in the Bargain and No More Lies.

Joan's 2 Cents

Thanks, Mona, for the fascinating look at countries most people never have the opportunity to visit.

Takeaway Truth

Emily Dickinson wrote: "There is no Frigate like a book to take us lands away...." Do some armchair traveling today with a good book set in a foreign locale.

True Love & Marriage

2011-12-11T05:41:00.002-06:00

Josh and Mirranda, this collection of quotes post is for you, in honor or your wedding. By the way, we had a great time!

True Love and Marriage

True love stories never have endings. ~ Richard Bach

A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short. ~ Andre Maurois

Two souls, one heart. ~ French Proverb

We're all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness--and call it love--true love. ~ Robert Fulghum

The highest happiness on earth is marriage. ~ William Lyon Phelps

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. ~ Emily Brontë

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~ Mignon McLaughlin

We have the greatest pre-nuptial agreement in the world. It's called love. ~ Gene Perret

Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that. ~ Michael Leunig

Takeaway Truth

As a romance author, I write happy endings. As a woman, I believe in the possibility of happy endings. As a very happily-married woman, I live a happy ending.

Old Enough To Know Better: Kindle Exclusive

2011-12-08T11:33:00.003-06:00

Earlier this week, a very nice rep from Amazon called to ask me to be one of the launch authors in their Kindle Prime Lending Program. Since I had just published Old Enough To Know Better and hadn't distributed it yet to the other digital publishers, I had a book ready to be made exclusive to Kindle which is a requirement.

After reading the contract, I decided to give it a try. So, as of today, Old Enough To Know Better is available to be "checked out" by Prime Members for free, but it can still be bought by anyone shopping Amazon even if they're not a Prime Member.

I'm in the process of uploading my next book today. Nobody's Cinderella will also be an Amazon Kindle Exclusive. More on this later. I'm in a time crunch at the moment.

Takeaway Truth

Readers, you are the test of whether this is worthwhile. Rush over to Amazon and get my book today free if you are a Prime Member.

Show Me The Money

2011-12-07T04:41:00.002-06:00

This morning I'm especially pleased to welcome Brenda Hiatt, a longtime friend, to SlingWords.

If you're an author, chances are you've heard of Brenda and her Show Me The Money annual report on what authors really earn.

In addition to being extremely smart about the business of publishing, Brenda is also a Historical and Regency author who has had 15 novels published with Harlequin and HarperCollins.

Now, like most of us, she's in the the process of re-releasing many of them as ebooks. Most recently, she has been writing contemporary women's fiction and young adult romance.

Passionate about writers' rights, Brenda has long been active in several writers' organizations, including serving as president of Novelists, Inc. She's been collecting data on writers' earnings for many years. You can see her Show Me The Money reports on her website. She also hangs out on Facebook and Twitter so connect with her there.

Now, let's have a round of applause for my friend Brenda Hiatt.

Show Me the Money

by Brenda Hiatt

For almost the entire history of publishing, writers—those who create the content people buy, and who keep everyone else in the industry employed—have had the least access to information about that industry.

Since knowledge is power, this has worked very well for publishers, who took full advantage of writers' general cluelessness to offer the least money and worst contract terms they could get away with. In recent decades, writers began to organize into groups like RWA, SFWA, MWA, Ninc, etc. That, plus the rise of the internet—writers' water cooler—finally allowed writers to share significant information, to the benefit of all.

Still, the one thing people have always been reluctant to talk about (often for good reason!) is money. Back in the early 90s, RWA's PAN did a couple of anonymous surveys of author earnings, the first such project I'm aware of. Personally, I found it tremendously useful, as did most other writers I knew at the time. But after two years, they stopped doing it.

Frustrated, I finally decided to take on that task myself and began putting out calls for earnings data, to be compiled and shared anonymously with anyone interested. I first shared these surveys primarily at RWA's annual National Conference, as a handout and workshop. Later, I created a separate page on my website to share this data, and it has become far and away the most-viewed page on my site.

I'm pretty sure more people in the writing community know me for this survey than for my books (alas? I'd love to be known for both!) I continue to collect data and do regular updates to the survey on my website, breaking out average and median advances by publisher, as well as royalty rates and total earnout info.

With the recent rise in indie e-publishing of both reverted backlist books and original work by new and previously published authors, I've had more and more people tell me I really should add that data to my survey. I agreed, but have had a difficult time figuring out just how to categorize that data—and just what information to ask for.

Finally, I chose several parameters and put out a call for information, and the data has started coming in. Things are changing so quickly in this arena that all I'm sharing right now is a snapshot, but I hope it will still prove useful to those who check it out.

I also hope writers will continue sending me their data so that I can continue to update both surveys and keep them relevant in this new, exciting era of publishing. Details (and the surveys themselves) are at my website. While you're there, I hope you'll check out my books, too, since I'm a writer above all else.

So write the book of your heart, arm yourself with information, then go forth and prosper!

Takeaway Truth

Visit Brenda's site today and check out her information. While you're there, follow the instructions to submit your indie earnings data. Knowledge is power--and inspiration and motivation.

Holiday Gift Tip: Deal With It

2011-12-06T04:26:00.007-06:00

Holiday Gift Suggestion #1a: Deal With It

Let's hear it for the ladies! This gift suggestion is for women.

You guys just scroll on down unless you know of a woman who needs this. *g* Chances are you do so read on.

(FYI, both these gift suggestions today are from my Cafe Press shop The Write Way, but I won't be pushing my own products every time. I've got some neat gift ideas from other online sources so catch every post.)

I've got a sign hanging on the cupboard above my computer that says: Put your big girl panties on and deal with it. I took those words, created my own design, and placed it on a Woman's Mousepad. You'll want one of these.

No kidding! I don't know how many times I've looked at that funny sign and quit my bitching and just dealt with the situation.

When confronted with problems or situations, that's really what we need to do. Take whatever action is required and just move on.

I'm the world's worst about obsessing and stewing over a situation. So this design is exactly what I need to remind myself that life is too short to waste it on dithering. Just do it and get over it.

Holiday Gift Suggestion #1b: iWrite eBooks

For Guys (or Girls) Who Are Indie Authors

I haven't forgotten you guys. Here's a tee shirt that you'll want if you are an indie author--gee, and who isn't in today's world?

This Organic White Cotton T-shirt is a man's shirt and sizing, but I know most women wear men's tee shirts if they find a design they like.

If you're a writer, you want gifts that motivate or celebrate what you do. Everything helps to remind you that you're trying to achieve something special.

Takeaway Truth

Make sure the gift givers in your life know what you want, and do unto your writing friends by giving them something special just for writers.

4 Ways Not To Screw Yourself

2011-12-05T04:50:00.000-06:00

Let's talk about Book Description.

Whether you're creating a "blurb" to query an agent, to post for a self-published book, to post in some kind of promotion, or just to tell others, either in emails or discussion lists, here are some things you do NOT want to do lest you screw thyself.

(Previously published in Writing Hacks by Joan Reeves. Subscribe today if you want to be the first to read articles like this.)

1. Never start a book description with: "This book is about.... This novel is about.... This mystery is about...." Or any of the variations, i.e., "This book is close to my heart.... This book took me 5 years to write...." Etc.

Excise the generalizations. Stop warming up your engines. You're not a race car; you're a writer. You should know what your book is about, and you should be able to convey that succinctly and entertainingly in a paragraph or two.

Your product description should read as compellingly as one on the flap of a NY published hardcover. If yours doesn't, then start learning how to write good cover copy.

2. Never include statements in a book description that are unwarranted or incapable of being proven. Examples: "This story will sweep you off your feet.... This book will make you laugh.... This romance will touch your heart.... This mystery will keep you puzzled to the end."

Saying something doesn't make it true. You don't know what will touch someone, make them laugh, or puzzle them. Those are conclusions the reader draws while reading your work. By using broad generalizations that have no basis in fact, you run the risk of having your book ignored. All those examples are examples of sloppy, amateurish writing. Readers will not buy a book that seems amateurish. Maybe your book is polished prose, but you'll never get the chance to prove that if no one buys your book. Be a pro. If you don't know what that means, learn.

3. Don't be ignorant of Marketing Hooks. Good Product Descriptions have strong marketing hooks. It's not enough to write a good book, you must also know how to market that book to agents and editors, or to the reading public if you self-publish.

Marketing hooks closely resemble the book's concept, as in high concept, but they can be more prosaic. Some include, but, are definitely not limited, to phrases like these: contemporary romance novel, marriage of convenience, unrequited love, secret baby, cozy mystery, police procedural, vampire romance, time travel, or even phrases, if they make sense, like Die Hard on a bus, Jane Austen meets The Walking Dead, etc.

Study marketing hooks until you can write a description that presents the protagonist, his goal, and his conflicts all wrapped up in a strong marketing hook that makes the reader click buy.

4. Don't ignore the importance of branding. Yeah, I know you hear a lot about it, and that it may be confusing.

Start with a baby step. Create a Tagline, a phrase with which readers will associate your name. Short is best. Memorable is required. I'm working with my motto that I slap on everything: "It's never too late to live happily ever after!" However, I'm still trying to create a shorter tagline. When I have something I like, I'll let you know.

The perfect tagline incorporates your genre and the something special you bring to it.

Takeaway Truth

Make your book descriptions short, dynamic, and compelling with the goal of making the reader unable to resist buying your book.

Note: If Joan Reeves aka SlingWords helps you get ahead, please consider buying one of my books (Written Wisdom is perfect for writers--readers too!), subscribing (only $.99 per month) to the Kindle Edition of SlingWords,or making a donation of any amount by clicking the button below. Thank you for your moral support and any monetary support you see fit to contribute.

Decorating for Christmas

2011-12-04T04:45:00.002-06:00

Robert Kirby said: "No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year, they will be snarled again this Christmas."

Why is that true? I have no idea, but that's the way it is in my household.

We have an ancient stereo in the garage. We put in an old cassette tape of funny, whacked-out holiday songs. Then we climb into the attic and start removing what seems like 5 tons of Christmas decorations.

The funny songs keep frustration at bay as we fight with miles of tangled strings of lights. (I'm convinced they reproduce while stored in the dark attic between Christmases.)

Laugh a little. Here's one of our favorite whacked-out holiday songs: 12 Pains of Christmas by Bob Rivers. I particularly like Day 3 when he discusses "stringing up the lights."

Takeaway Truth

Don't forget to laugh!

Christmas Pralines

2011-12-03T04:12:00.000-06:00

Let's talk Holidays! I've got a secret family recipe to share with you, but first, have you picked up your free copy of Hot Toddy Sizzlers, the free book for readers that was put together by my friends, Cindy Wicklund, Elaine Chase, and Janelle Taylor, and me?

Hot Toddy Sizzlers contains novel excerpts, traditional family recipes, and Holiday thoughts. It's free at these locations:
Nook

iTunes

Smashwords

All Romance Ebooks

OmniLit

and should be free on Kindle whenever they price-match.

In my contribution to this free holiday book (other than the title), I mentioned pralines, but I didn't give the recipe. Instead, I promised to post it on my blog.

Pralines are one of my favorite candies. A praline by any other name is delicious, fattening, and irresistible which is why I make them only at Christmas. I guess you can't grow up in the South without knowing how to make pralines, those yummy melt-in-your-mouth confections.

When the holidays come, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I can't seem to make enough of my special Texas Trash crunch mix and pralines. I give them as gifts to my husband's office, the neighbors, friends, and family. Now that the kids are out of the nest, they expect tins of them in the mail.

By the way, if you're like me and live in a humid climate, try to make pralines on a dry day. The humidity can interfere with the texture of the end product. Too humid and they'll be a bit gooey rather than crystallized. If that happens, just place them in the refrigerator to "harden" off. Of course, even if they're gooey, they're still delicious.

Joan's Magic Pralines

Equipment:

Heavy saucepan or at least a pan with a heavy bottom. Thin pots just won't cut it.

Candy thermometer

Silicone mat or baking parchment paper

Ingredients:

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup of heavy cream or 1 cup Pet evaporated milk or 1/2 cup of each (The taste changes depending on whether you use cream, Pet milk, or both--3 slightly different tastes.)

2 tablespoons butter

2 1/2 cups Pecans

Procedure:

1. Assemble all ingredients so they are measured and ready to go.

2. On the counter, spread out the silicone mat or a large piece of parchment paper.

3. In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and the cream, mixing well.

4. Heat over medium to high heat and bring this to a boil. Watch it. The higher the heat; the more attentive you must be so as not to scorch the mixture. Stir constantly.

5. Cook the mixture over medium heat until the candy thermometer registers 238 degrees.

6. When it reaches 238, add the butter, stir well until melted.

7. Add the pecans. Keep cooking, and don't stop stirring.

8. When the candy thermometer reaches 245 degrees, remove from heat.

9. Quickly spoon dollops of the mixture onto a silicone mat or parchment paper. Spoon small amounts because the pralines will spread out and crystallize as they cool. Next time you make pralines, adjust the size of the dollop you spoon out if they turn out too small or large.

10. Let cool on the counter for several hours. When the pralines are completely cool, remove them and wrap each in a small paper doily or a square of wax paper. Place in an airtight container.

Takeaway Truth

They're called magic pralines because they have a way of disappearing.

Tools of the Trade: Organization

2011-12-02T04:07:00.004-06:00

I just finished editing Nobody’s Cinderella, another romantic comedy novel coming to an ebook store near you!

I'm waiting for the proofreader to finish.

While I wait, I’ve developed the habit—I probably should precede habit with the adjective necessary—of cleaning my office when I finish a book. If you’re guessing that I don’t do much cleaning while working on a book, you’re absolutely correct. *g*

However, my office isn’t nearly the mess it could be, and that's because of an invaluable tool I use.

Clutter Begone

You know that funny sign you see on a lot of messy desks? The one that says: A cluttered desk is a mark of genius? In my case, that's simply not true. For me, a cluttered desk is a mark of being confused and overwhelmed.

For me, an organized desk, and office, is a mark of genius—and accomplishment. Once I developed a system that did away with the clutter, I started working more effectively because I actually knew where things were when I needed them.

Best Writing Tool: Long Table

I thought I’d give you a tip about one of the best writing tools I ever bought—a long table. I’ve got one of those rectangular folding tables in my office. I can stack all the research books, printed research, character charts, pictures of my characters, notes, and a whole lot more on that table.

That way, everything is in easy reach. I don’t have to waste time hunting through file folders or piles of scattered paper for that one tiny bit of information I need now. Right now.

The added benefit is that having all the various pieces of information stacked neatly looks better. I can easily find anything because as soon as I initially get that info or make the note or print something, it goes onto the appropriate stack. Everything to do with that book is on the table.

I once used the dining table, but then if we wanted to dine on it, everything had to be moved. Plus, my dining room is seen the minute you walk through the front door. Not exactly the view I want for visitors.

Takeaway Truth

Don’t waste time by having your book research materials scattered everywhere. Get organized, and the work flows much easier.

3 Slang Resources

2011-12-01T07:52:00.005-06:00

Slang is defined on Wikipedia as: "...the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially."

The Wikipedia article goes on to say that slang is usually found in "...areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo (see euphemism)... and is often used to "identify with one's peers and, although it may be common among young people, it is used by people of all ages and social groups."

If you're a writer, you should be concerned with that last sentence used by people of all ages and social groups. If you're writing conversations between fictional people, sometimes, some of them will use slang expressions. Make sure your slang usage reflects the character's age and today's pop culture.

On Writing Hacks today I'm talking about using slang in dialogue so I thought I'd give you:

3 Online Slang Resources

Urban Dictionary

Online Slang Dictionary

Slang Site

Takeaway Truth

Do your research and make sure you put the right words in your characters' mouths.

Barbara Graham & Imaginary Friends

2011-11-30T04:14:00.001-06:00

This morning, my guest is mystery author Barbara Graham who is celebrating the hardcover release of her third Quilted Mystery, Murder by Music: The Wedding Quilt.

Barbara is a self-described quilting addict and an enthusiastic, but dreadful, gardener. She and I became acquainted by discussing imaginary friends—you know, those people who live inside your head if you're a writer.

Take it away, Barbara!

Imaginary Friends
by Barbara Graham

I do have imaginary friends. Part of the joy of writing series characters, at least for me, is learning what’s new with them in their world, an imaginary county in East Tennessee.

There are many how-to books available for writers, laden with charts, lists, fill in the blank interviews, lists of vital statistics like height, weight, scars, hair color and favorite movies. However, what works for one, may not work for everyone. I don’t follow any particular plan, preferring to pick and choose and run off on my own tangent.

What's New With Old Characters

Starting a new book begins with me (and a dog) on the couch, armed with pen and paper and coffee (none for the dog). We, the dog and imaginary people and I, have informal conversations like those of old friends chatting over coffee. Questions like—how’s your mom? How are the kids? Are you still working at the same place? What’s your new job like? Have you lost weight? Don’t you think you should?

My job is to take notes, sympathize, make gentle suggestions or observations—maybe offer to kill off the problem thus coming up with a suitable victim. Occasionally I find myself asking one of them “are you nuts?” even as they provide clues and insight into their community. It is a bit disconcerting when I realize I’m listening to their conversations, not writing. I think I’ve told them what to do—and say—but I’m not always sure. Where does Blossom get those ideas?

Meet Blossom Flowers

My imaginary friend who most often wins the “reader’s favorite” vote is Blossom Flowers. I like her a lot too and love finding out what’s new in her life. She first waddled onstage in Murder by Serpents and proceeded to insist on being part of every book in the series.

Blossom is fat, has very thin bright orange hair, bakes a divine apple pie from a secret family recipe—she won’t even share the secret ingredient with me—and is the youngest of myriad other Flowers. She’s also very sweet, single and a royal pain.

A pie delivered by her to the sheriff’s desk can only mean she needs his help, or thinks she might. Her own fascinating love life doesn’t stop her blatant adoration of the sheriff making him a rare breed, a sheriff with a groupie.

Characters Justify Existence

I can see them in my head, as clear as in a photograph, Blossom, and the bald, good looking sheriff separated by his desk, his wife and a warm pie. She cannot just come to talk. On some level, she has to add to the problems in the story otherwise she doesn’t need to be there.

Everyone needs a role, even nameless characters passing through, whether it’s to supply information, distraction, history or hint at the future. As in any mystery, there are required elements of plot, sleuthing, denouement but it’s really about the lives of imaginary friends (or enemies) and they must provide the clues and insight about their own community.

Takeaway Truth

I am humbled by the generosity of authors who share their expertise. I hope you will thank Barbara and the other authors who guest star on SlingWords by purchasing one of their books.

Holiday Gifts for Writers

2011-11-29T15:30:00.000-06:00

Tuesday Is Holiday Gift Suggestion Day

Beginning next Tuesday, and each Tuesday through December 27, I'll blog about some great gifts for Writers and Readers. Why even after Christmas? To take advantage of after-Christmas specials of course.

My husband likes to tell about the family he knew in Abilene that bought all their presents after Christmas every year so they could take advantage of all the sales.

Hmm. That probably wouldn't go over too well with most people, but I guess in their family, frugality reigned supreme, and they delighted in getting more gifts for less money.

Joan's Holiday Bazaar

Just scroll down and look at the right sidebars. You'll notice a cute Christmas Lights graphic that says Joan's Holiday Bazaar. I'll post clickable links there to some good deals and great shopping.

The porcelain Christmas tree ornament shown on the right sidebar is my own design, available in round or oval, from The WriteWay, my Cafe Press shop featuring promotional and gift items for writers. If you buy using the direct link I provided, each ornament is only $8.49. If you buy through CafePress Marketplace or using their search engine, the same ornament costs $12.00.

Cafe Press Tip of the Day

Always go straight to a vendor's shop to make a purchase on Cafe Press because you'll get the lowest offered price. The Marketplace has a rather hefty markup as the pricing on this ornament illustrates.

Open To Suggestions

Every year at this time, I take suggestions for the items I'll feature. If you have a product to sell that will interest writers or readers, contact me. (Joan at JoanReeves.com -- Subject Box: Real Live Person -- Gift Suggestion). I'll review your product. If it passes my non-scientific approach of useful and/or cool--writers will like that, I'll mention you and your item.

Author Group Sales

Many authors are banding together and setting up websites to offer holiday specials on their books. Readers, I'll be posting banners or links to these so be sure and check them out.

I've already got a clickable banner up for Ebooks 99 Cents where each day a new book will be featured. Look for more banners like these. Just scroll down and look at the sidebars each day to see what's new.

Takeaway Truth

I'm beginning to think a lot about Christmas! Can't fight it so I might as well enjoy it!

We Who Are About To Die-t

2011-11-27T04:54:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving is over. We who are about to diet, salute you.

Yes, we have about two weeks to lose the Thanksgiving weight so we can begin putting on the Christmas pounds. After all, there are chocolate-covered cherry cordials, chocolate bourbon bon bons, pecan pralines, cheese logs, corn chips, Rotel Cheese Dip, eggnog, champagne, punch, and much more to consume.

Did you ever stop to think about the word diet? I mean, any word that begins with die pretty much describes how you feel when you start cutting those calories, fats, and carbs. There are days when I would kill for a chocolate bar.

Thankfully, my husband recognizes when I'm ready to commit chocolate-deprivation homicide and throws a Hershey's Miniature in my direction when he comes home from the office rather than berate me for giving in to a food craving.

Why do they call it diet? To quote an anonymous sage, "Its called DIET because all the other 4-letter words were taken."

Takeaway Truth

Yep, I'm dieting. In fact, I live on a diet just to maintain rather than gain. That's the curse of being a good cook and spending too many hours each day sitting on my behind in front of a computer.

Texas Byways and Highways

2011-11-26T14:28:00.004-06:00

When you travel the farm and county roads of Texas, it's not unusual to see a variety of domestic and wildlife.

We've seen cows, sheep, and goats that have escaped their pastures, horses grazing on the shoulders of the road, dogs, cats, deer, raccoons, armadillos, skunks, coyotes, and even a donkey and a red-tailed fox or two.

However, today, as we drove to our house in the Hill Country, we saw something we've never seen before.

An emu crossing the road.

No kidding. At first glance I thought it was an ostrich, but some checking online showed me the difference between the two.

Takeaway Truth

I'm tempted to say: "Now I've seen it all." Surely as I do, something will appear to make me eat my words.

Old Enough To Know Better -- Available NOW!

2011-11-25T04:34:00.000-06:00

Don't ask me how, but I managed to not only finish OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER, but I also got it formatted and uploaded about 3 AM on Nov. 23.

Actually, it was pretty funny because as I was formatting for Kindle, I received an email from a reader asking when the book would be available. I was thrilled to be able to reply that it would be for sale as soon as Kindle made it live. Around noon on Nov. 23, that happened.

Even though I had originally planned OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER to be a novella, the characters just wouldn't cooperate. The story ended up being a full-length novel. No wonder it took so long to write, huh? However, I kept the $.99 price as I promised.

Story Line

Every woman makes mistakes. Meet Stormy Clarkson, haunted by the three whoppers she made that changed her life forever. Stormy is on the brink of turning fifty, and she's crushing on a younger man--totally gorgeous, sexy Sean Butler, owner of Sierra Verde Winery. Sean's been after her for six months, but she's resisted every advance. She can't risk another mistake, and Sean scares her because of the way he makes her feel.

Then, one night he kisses her. She can't forget his kiss.

Stormy learned some hard lessons from the men who wanted her for her face and her body, but not for herself. Armed with iron self-control and the desire never to risk her heart, she's determined to deny what she feels for Sean.

Sean Butler was once an interrogator for the U.S. Army. He knows a lie when he hears one, and that's all he hears in Stormy's icy refusals. Sean's smart enough to know that the only way to deal with a control freak is to make her lose control. He has a plan to do just that. The beautiful blonde had better be on her guard because he's coming for her like the U.S. Marines. To win her heart, he's prepared to: Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.

OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER is Book 1 of The Good, The Bad, and The Girly, and it contains a Linked Table of Contents and is chock full of Bonus Features.

Bonus Features

A Note from Joan Reeves
A Look at The good, The Bad, and The Girly
Behind the Scenes of Old Enough To Know Better
Stormy's Recipe for Homemade Mozzarella Cheese
Excerpt, Good Girl Conspiracy by Joan Reeves
A Look at San Antone Two-Step
Excerpt, Nobody's Cinderella by Joan Reeves
A Look at The Lingerie Cover Books
A Look at Texas One Night Stands
Excerpt, The Trouble With Love (Book 1: Texas One Night Stands) by Joan Reeves
Excerpt, Romeo and Judy Anne (Book 2: Texas One Night Stands) by Joan Reeves
Excerpt, Heaven in His Touch by Cynthia Wicklund
Excerpt, Rules of the Game by Elaine Raco Chase
Quotation Collection: Older Women

Help An Author Keep On Keeping On

If you go look at the book page, I'd appreciate it if you click Like under the title and scroll down to Tags Customers Associate With This Product and click Agree then check the little box next to the tag so it will increase the number.

If you buy the book and like it, I would certainly appreciate a nice review.

Takeaway Truth

If you're out shopping today, take it easy. If you're home needing to relax with a funny, sexy romance, buy my book! Thanks for your support.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T17:09:00.004-06:00

Giving thanks today for all these blessings.

My wonderful husband who supports me in every way and puts up with my crazy career and puts up with my frequent flights of fancy when my brain is completely full of fictional people.

My absolutely delightful children and their spouses and kids. I love you all.

My daughter who is able to walk again, and had no surgeries this year, and the wonderful young man she will marry in the spring next year. Love you two--too.

Brothers and spouses and kids, oh my! Cousins and families and brother-in-law and wife too. Hugs and kisses to all.

Friends--writers and civilians as well as those who have helped me this last year by featuring me and/or my books on their websites. Thank you so much!

The people who developed inexpensive, user-friendly ebook reading devices. These created the growing ebook publishing industry. You guys rock! Thank you!

My excellent rights agent who helped negotiate a fabulous contract about which I'll be saying a great deal more when I get the counter-signed contracts, and it's all official. Thanks, Lauren.

The wonderful readers who buy my books. The readers who email to tell me how much they love my stories. The readers who take the time to leave 5 star reviews. Thank you so much! I am humbled and grateful!

The people who read this blog. The people who subscribe to my newsletters. The people who "buy me a cup of coffee" by donating to my blog. The people who subscribe to the Kindle edition of this blog. Thank you so much! Again, I am humbled and grateful.

Good health for me and all my loved ones. Living in this country with all its opportunity and freedom of choice. Success at my chosen career. Last, but not least, the wonderful feast we all had today, and the fact that we have an abundance of food and clean water--unlike many countries in the world.

Take time before the day closes to tell those you love how much they mean to you. Also, make a donation to an organization that works for hunger relief and/or provides clean water.

Action Against Hunger is a world hunger relief organization that receives an A rating from the watchdog website operated by American Philanthropy -- Charity Watch. I always check out charities there before donating because I want my money to go for the stated purpose not for expense account lunches and employee bonuses.

(This is why I no longer donate to the most popular name-brand charities that constantly are soliciting donations. Get in the habit of checking with Charity Watch before you make any donation. Action Against Hunger helps those recovering from earthquakes and other natural disasters as well as to provide food and water in so many countries that need help.

It's easy to donate to Action Against Hunger. I just did so--and tweeted it. You don't have to register to donate. If you don't want to donate one of the pre-selected amounts showing, just fill in Other and what you can give. They're a secure website and BBB certified.

You filled your belly today. Now, help someone else in the world have a meal too.

Takeaway Truth

Even on your worst day, chances are you have many things for which to give thanks. Get in the habit of doing this. You'll be surprised how it takes away the cranky. You may also realize, especially if you live in the U. S., that your life is pretty darn good.

Creative Marketing for Authors on a Budget

2011-11-23T04:14:00.000-06:00

On this day before Thanksgiving, I'm pleased to welcome today's guest star Julie Joyce, Executive Producer and Host of Cancer Free Radio and Book Tour Radio.

Julie's company, Dynamic Publishing Company, maintains various websites to help authors with book marketing. Julie is also the author of books on cancer prevention and family safety.

I met Julie through one of the other hats she wears, as owner of KindlePost, a blog with which you may be familiar if you are an indie author who promotes. Julie was kind enough to feature each of my romance novels in the last couple of months.

Suffice it to say that this girl knows quite a lot about marketing. Here she is with some great insights just for SlingWords readers.

Creative Marketing for Authors on a Budget
by Julie Joyce

The Publishing Industry today is such an exciting arena. No longer must stories and ideas be stifled by the constraints of the past. You no longer need an agent, a printer, an established Publishing House or connections to have your author dreams realized. You truly can, even on a really small budget, become a published author with a book for sale on Amazon to prove it. That's the good news!

Of course, for so many New Age authors the same age-old problem exists. How do you promote your book, so readers will find you? This is often where the author's dream hits a brick wall. And this issue is universal to the publishing industry. Even books released by big name publishing firms face the monumental task of launching an effective marketing effort to sustain a book's success.

However, just as there are so many amazing opportunities for the new and independent author to become officially published, there are also many new, amazing and creative methods to market one's books. The most important thing for a new author to realize is that all authors must assume the responsibility for mapping out a marketing strategy. Authors who have marketing budget challenges can compensate by using extra doses of creativity to connect with interested readers.

Here are 7 creative low budget marketing ideas to help you "spread the word" about your books:

1 - You absolutely must have an author website that has links to order your book, an "about you" page, links to all of your social networking pages, and an email list sign up box. You must give any visitor the opportunity to stay connected to you by joining your list. You can give a sample chapter, audio of you reading a chapter, or some other ebook as a "reward" for signing up. You can easily find a free website/blog host and email list host.

2 - Use a free conferencing service to create a sample reading of your work. You can then use the mp3 file as a reward for your subscribers. You can also send out free press releases to promote your free sample reading.

3 - You can host a monthly reading as a virtual event. You can use a free conferencing service to allow guests to call in and hear your reading and interact with you. You can promote this event for free with free press releases and by promoting on special event calendars online and in print newspapers.

4 - Become a talk show guest. There are thousands of podcast programs that are always looking for guests. Fiction and Non-Fiction authors will both find a volume of programs that would be interested in your expertise or subject matter. Do an online search of podcast directories, search their subject listings and find the programs that match your material.

5- Launch your own podcast. This is especially effective for non-fiction authors who write about a specific subject. You can invite experts in your field to be guests on your program, while creating valuable content for your target audience. Your book will be an ever present option for your audience. This also enhances your credibility. Fiction authors can produce a program that features other authors in their genre. This will build an audience that likes you and likes your genre. You are sure to have a built in market for your work.

6 - Network. Network. Network. Even if you are a shy writer and the thought of a networking event makes you cringe, you can do this. Remember, this is a New Age where author blogs, author groups, author clubs, and other online author forums provide unlimited opportunities to share ideas, make new friends, cross-promote and find the help you need to share your work.

7 - Promote your book around the world without leaving home. The New Age author now has the opportunity to launch a global virtual book tour from the comforts of home. Do a search for bloggers who interview authors and do book reviews. Email them to inquire if they would like to receive a review copy and if they are interested in interviewing/featuring you. You can send a PDF sample of your book by email at no cost to you. Be sure to preview the blogs you approach to be sure that the genre, subject matter etc. makes you a good fit for the blogger.

This is just a small sampling of how you can launch a really creative marketing effort at virtually no cost other than your time and effort. New Age authors not only have a level playing field in the publishing arena but also in the book marketing arena. The more you are willing to explore creative marketing techniques the more likely you are to find a warm and embracing audience for your work.

Takeaway Truth

Thank you, Julie, for taking the time to visit. Readers, if you have any questions, the Comment Line is open.

Websites For Format Conversion

2011-11-22T04:07:00.001-06:00

Last week I gave you a step-by-step guide to publish with All Romance Ebooks.com. Here's the resource list to help you convert your file to the formats used by All Romance Ebooks.

(Note: This article was published in Writing Hacks, my free subscription newsletter for writers on Oct. 20, 2011. Subscribe to Writing Hacks so you can read articles like this as soon as they are available.)

Formats & Best Ways to Convert

1. Always start with a pristine, perfectly-formatted MS Word file. Many sites have problems with the latest Word file so remove that worry and use a version less than Word 10.

2. Be redundant. When you save a file with a different format, include the 3 letter file format designation as part of the file name. Sure, when you save, the 3 letter code at the end shows the specific file format, but you wouldn't believe how many people have uploaded the wrong file because they were tired and didn't pay attention to that format designation. So be redundant. Call your file -- BOOK_TITLE_PDF_MoDaYear.pdf.

3. Yes, I put the date at the end of my file title because I may want access to previous versions. Also, this is a good way to know at a glance on what date you uploaded a file to a digital publishing platform.

Formats

1. Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Rating: Easy. Worth it.

Save AS in Word to generate a PDF file is easiest. Be sure and fill out the meta data at the bottom.

2. Palm DOC/iSolo (PDB) Rating: Difficult. Worth it. I have NOT tried these yet, but I plan to do so. If you want to give it a shot, here are some links to learn more and then apps to download to try. Read thoroughly.

(a) http://calibre-ebook.com/

(b) For background information and other ways. Read first: http://www.isilo.com/ -- go here for the conversion app: http://www.isilox.com/

(c) More background info and another way. Read first: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4443 and read that discussion. Do NOT click the link in the article for Peter Gorod's PUblish Ebooks website because it's defunct. Use this link instead: http://publishebook.x10hosting.com/

3. Microsoft Reader (LIT) Rating: Very easy. Worth questionable because this reader is no longer supported by MS.

(a) http://calibre-ebook.com/

(b) http://2epub.com -- Do NOT download the software unless you want to buy it. Use the on-site converter. Near the bottom of the page, you'll see Step 1: Select up to 5 files. Click that and proceed. Each grayed out step activates when previous step is completed. When you get to save, select LIT and proceed.

4. Franklin eBookman (FUB) Rating: Difficult. Not worth it.

A dedicated eBook reader and personal organizer. Discontinued in 2002. The eBook products are sold in BOOKMAN Book Card, digital download (Franklin Reader, Mobipocket Reader, or other file formats) formats. They also made an eBook reader called eBookMan.

5. Hiebook (KML) (HTML) Rating: Difficult. Not worth it.

Hiebook as a reader was slated for online .kml book purchases and appears to be mostly for religious and scholarly works.
6. Mobipocket (PRC) and (MOBI) Rating: Easy. Worth it.

For the MOBI file format, use http://calibre-ebook.com/ or http://2epub.com

7. Rocket (RB) Rating: Easy. Worth it.

Use Calibre.

8. Open eBook (ePub) Rating: Easy. Worth it.

Use http://calibre-ebook.com/ or http://2epub.com

9. Print or POD (enter URL)

Just enter the URL where your print book resides.

About These Conversion Softwares

Easy and most popular conversion software websites are 2epub and Calibre.

2epub supports conversion with these parameters:

Input formats: doc, docx, epub, fb2, html, lit, lrf, mobi, odt, pdb, pdf, prc, rtf, txt.

Output formats: epub, fb2, lit, lrf, mobi

Calibre supports conversion with these parameters:

Input Formats: CBZ, CBR, CBC, CHM, DJVU, EPUB, FB2, HTML, HTMLZ, LIT, LRF, MOBI, ODT, PDF, PRC, PDB, PML, RB, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ

Output Formats: EPUB, FB2, OEB, LIT, LRF, MOBI, HTMLZ, PDB, PML, RB, PDF, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ

Good luck!

Takeaway Truth

Free resources abound. Try several and stick with the one that works best for you.

SimpleNote: EZ Note App

2011-11-21T08:15:00.003-06:00

I love free apps--especially when they work well and make my life easier. Note apps fit that description.

I use Flashnote on my home PC and my laptop. I've got them organized by folder. For instance, I have one "Book URLs" where I have all my book URLs at the various ebook sellers. If I need to quickly copy the link to The Trouble With Love on Amazon, it's right there on the desktop.

Flashnote is a quick notes manager that can be used any time during the work process without fear of damaging important data. It always saves what you input without having to click save or anything. Hit ESC and it hides. I recommend it to everyone, but it's only for Windows.

If you need one to work with Mac (and Windows) and one which will also sync with your mobile applications, try Simplenote.

10 Reasons To Use Simplenote

1. Access your notes everywhere because it syns with your mobile device, your computer, and any modern web browser.

2. Automatic and secure.

3. Access multiple backups of your notes by dragging version slider to go back in time.

4. Tag your notes so you can browse them as folders.

5. Search just by typing whatever you're looking for, and your list updates instantly.

6. Plenty of free storage for your notes.

7. Simplenote is an open platform. People are building lots of cool things you can use to extend your experience.

8. Minimal, relevant ads that don't suck on the free version. Premium subscribers can disable ads.

9. Security because notes are encrypted when they synchronize.

10. It's free!

Takeaway Truth

Signup and try the free version today. It will make your life easier.

Ebooks for Children? Yes!

2011-11-18T10:30:00.004-06:00

I've been getting a fair amount of email asking what I know about publishing an ebook for children. Even a few years ago, this was a non-existent market due to the graphic-heavy text of most children's books.

Today though, with so many ereaders capable of color, the children's ebook market is booming. Just take a look at the Kindle Best Sellers List for Children's Books, and you'll see the breakdown by age groups with a fair number of titles in each group.

Vtech - V.Reader Animated E-Book System is already available. Sure, you can only load Vtech cartridges, but the importance of this is that it teaches a child from babyhood to read books on an ereader device. The significance of this is enormous. If you look at the Vtech Reader, you'll see that it's designed basically like a Kindle, Nook, etc. A child will grow out of this and into a Kindle with no learning curve necessary.

Amazon isn't the only ebook retailer with a kids' section. Of course there's Nook for Kids along with Sony Ebooks and all the others. If you Google "children's ebook reader," you'll get more than 2 million SERPs.

Replies To Aspiring Chidren's Book Authors

Here are some of my comments to those who have emailed me about publishing for children. Although I am not published in children's fiction, I did try a few times long ago when my kids were little to get the stories I wrote for them published. I discovered it was very difficult to break into that market. However, with the rise of indie publishing, there's opportunity available for those who want to grab it with both hands and go for it.

Why Is It Hard To Publish For Children

It's probably harder to get published in children's books than any other kind of writing. Why? Because successful children's books last forever. That's why everything from Poky Little Puppy to Curious George, though many decades old, are always published anew every year. The market is selective, small, and extremely competitive.

Children's Book Classifications

Children's books are divided into specific groups based on the age of the reader. They begin with books for children aimed at the parent who will read the book to the child and end with books aimed at the teen/young adult market with many areas in between.

You need to know these classifications so you'll know how to categorize your book. Check out the bestseller lists at the various digital retailers to see how they class the books.

Solved Graphics Problems = Opportunity

Prior to the Nook Color, iPad, and Kindle Fire, being an indie publisher and using an eBook format wasn't especially lucrative because most children aren't given those devices to play with. However, with dedicated devices for kids, like the one I saw on TV, and the lower prices for the color devices, more parents are giving their kids these gadgets to at least use. I know one of our sons has children's books loaded on his iPad for his daughters.

The lower the price; the more you'll see parents buying the color ereaders for their children. This is a growth market for writers. Many writers now publish for ebook, but then use a service like CreateSpace to publish a print edition of their books. That way you've got both the smaller ebook market for children covered as well as the bigger print book market.

Interested But Unsure Of How To Get Started

As with any genre, if you've got the interest, then it's a matter of learning the skill set needed for the genre. Seriously study how to write children's books. Read, read, read in the category in which you want to publish. Writers Digest Books has published many books about writing for children. Every year they publish a market guide like 2011 Children's Writer's And Illustrator's Market. Visit their website and click Browse / Children's, and you'll find tons of info.

Plan B

I'm a big proponent of Plan B. That's the plan you'll follow if your first pursuit doesn't work out.

Develop a fall-back plan that means writing in a different children's genre because you may find that Chapter Books or Middle Grade Readers or Young Adult Books have a bigger market share so there's more opportunity for a new writer than in the niche in which you're currently writing. This is true of traditional print publishing or indie publishing. Markets get glutted, and it becomes difficult to rise to the top. Keep your options open by having a backup plan, i.e., Plan B or C or D or whatever it takes.

Takeaway Truth

Follow your bliss. If writing for children is where your bliss is hiding, seek it out. There's more opportunity now than ever before.

Note: If Joan Reeves aka SlingWords helps you get ahead, please consider buying one of my books (Written Wisdom is perfect for writers--readers too!), subscribing (only $.99 per month) to the Kindle Edition of SlingWords,or making a donation of any amount by clicking the button below. Thank you for your moral support and any monetary support you see fit to contribute.

3 Excellent Blogs

2011-11-17T09:53:00.003-06:00

Today, I want to highlight 3 excellent blogs to which I subscribe and read regularly. All three have archives of must-reads for writers.

Subscribe by email or feed or follow--however you like to frequent worthwhile blogs. The important thing is to take advantage of the information offered.

Free Kindle Books and Tips

This is one of Michael Gallagher's blogs. This week Michael had his usual daily lists of free Kindle books that are worthy of a reader's attention, but he also had reviews of the new Kindle Fire and Kindle Touch as well as answers to questions about Kindle.

Michael's backlist of blogposts is a treasure trove of information. Be sure and read the post about Amazon Gift Cards and Coinstar.

Peace Love Productions

If you are into using music, this blog is one to which you must subscribe if you seek royalty-free music to use in video trailers or whatever. (Do me a favor and do NOT put music on your website that starts as soon as the site opens. Big mistake. If you want music, put a button so the visitor can choose whether or not to listen.)

Plagiarism Today

Jonathan Bailey is the publisher of this vitally important blog. He was hanging onto the precipice above the slippery slope of copyright erosion years before most writers had an inkling of how bad the problem of internet piracy was going to be.

Takeaway Truth

The knowledge you need is often just a blog away.

Self-Publishers & Amazon's New Format & Devices

2011-11-16T04:01:00.004-06:00

This morning I'm having coffee with Steven Lewis, author of How to Format Perfect Kindle Books. If you've been looking for a comprehensive guide to help you format your ebook for Amazon, this is it.

I met Steven through Taleist, his blog for self-publishers. I'm a reader-fan of his blog where he advises authors about formatting and marketing their books.

Today's blog post is must-reading for all self-publishing authors. Steven has concisely and accurately explained what the new devises and format changes mean. Tell your friends and pass along this information.

(Note: I changed Steven's Aussie spellings to the American versions.)

What Amazon’s New Format & Devices Mean for Self-Publishers
by Steven Lewis

The Kindle world just got better and more complicated at the same time. It's more complicated because Amazon's just announced a new format for its ebooks and it's launched new Kindles as well as a Kindle tablet. It's got better because of those same things. Here's what self-publishing authors need to know.

The New Kindles

The Kindle Fire is Amazon's tablet, an iPad competitor, designed to give its owners a cheap device ($199) on which to buy lots of content from Amazon -- TV shows, movies, music and, yes, books. It's like your cable company selling you a TV at a fraction of the usual price in return for your accepting that it will not be easy to watch anyone else's channels on it. It ships this month.

Also shipping this month are the new Touchscreen Kindles; as well as an entry-level model that doesn't have a touchscreen (only $79).

New models and low prices guarantee Amazon goodies galore under Christmas trees this year and those new Kindle owners are going to need books!

Kindle Format 8

Amazon ebooks are really just webpages. You might have uploaded your ebook to Amazon as a Word document or a PDF but what happened behind the scenes was that it was converted into HTML, which is the simple computer language behind most webpages. This is also what Smashwords does with its "Meatgrinder" when turning your Word document into ebook formats.

Amazon has a special version of HTML called MOBI, which it's replacing "soon" with Kindle Format 8 (KF8).

Kindle Format 8 is based on the most recent updates to HTML, which will affect most profoundly authors whose layouts rely heavily on images, e.g. recipe books, children's books, comics, etc.

The changes do have something for every self-publisher, however. You will, for instance, be able to include a font with your book so you're no longer limited to the one and only font that's included with the Kindle now. You'll also have more control over the layout of your book, e.g. spacing, margins, sidebars, and more options in terms of color.

Intersection Between New Kindles & New Format

Older Kindles will never be able to display the new KF8 features. You might, for instance, include a font with your book but on older devices your book will display in the standard Kindle font.

Older Kindle includes every one of the tens of millions of devices shipped before the new ones are released this month so you don't want to ignore them when creating your book.

Gap Between Formatting & Converting Your Book

There has always been a big difference between using software to "convert" your manuscript to an HTML ebook and "formatting it" (going through the book by hand to make sure the HTML is correct). The range of capabilities in the extended Kindle family means that gap is wider.

If you don't want to use the new features included in KF8, you're in the same position as you always have been. Just as before you take a risk relying on automated conversion but it's the same risk self-publishers have been taking since the Kindle was launched.

If you do want to use the new features, there's no chance you'll be able to achieve that with automated conversion. You will have to format your book around those features rather than hoping to convert the book directly from Word or a PDF.

Where publishers do use new KF8 features, Amazon is going to do some magic behind the scenes to make sure your book is still readable on older Kindles, i.e. Amazon will have to find another way to display on older Kindles those parts of the book that use KF8 features.

Same problem, Same Solution

You can't format Kindle books two ways -- one (MOBI) for the older devices and one (KF8) for the new ones. Instead self-publishers have the same two choices they had before:

1. Format their books themselves into Amazon's format (used to be MOBI, now KF8) before uploading them to Amazon's KDP. This gives you total control over how your book looks because Amazon isn't doing anything to it after you've uploaded it.

2. Upload their books to the KDP in another format (Word, PDF or EPUB) and have Amazon's software convert the book to KF8 (used to be MOBI). The way your book looks in the end is somewhat out of your control because Amazon's software has the final say.

If you're using features that are specific to KF8, e.g. embedded fonts, you probably have only the first choice.

WYSIWYG

What you see is what you get. I've written a book about how to format your manuscript for the Kindle, and I also format books for authors, so of course I'm going to tell you not to rely on automated conversion whether you want advanced features or not.

You don't have to take my word for it about conversion vs. formatting, however. When it officially launches KF8 "soon," Amazon is going to be updating its Kindle Previewer software to give you a way to see how your book will look on each version of the Kindle. (Remember, someone who reviews your book on Amazon and says it had lousy formatting isn't going to care that it looks great on someone else's version of the Kindle.)

What Should You Do

My advice is:

1. Try conversion and see how it works for your book, if you don't mind not having total control over how it looks. Just be sure to preview it for all Kindles before you publish it.

2. If there are problems, you probably need to learn some HTML (it isn't hard, I promise) or pay someone to do it for you. Problems are hard to fix using your conversion software because it did the best job it could do in the first place.

3. Be excited! The new format gives you even more ways to create great-looking ebooks; and the excitement about the new Kindle models means there will be millions more potential readers for you by the end of the year. Those people need your book to buy!

Takeaway Truth

The generosity of authors in sharing their expertise always amazes me. I hope you will thank Steven, and the other authors who guest star on SlingWords, by purchasing a book.

Note: If Joan Reeves aka SlingWords helps you get ahead, please consider buying one of my books (Written Wisdom is perfect for writers--readers too!), subscribing (only $.99 per month) to the Kindle Edition of SlingWords,or making a donation of any amount by clicking the button below. Thank you for your moral support and any monetary support you see fit to contribute.

How To Publish With AllRomanceEbooks

2011-11-15T04:44:00.000-06:00

AllRomanceEbooks sells a lot of books. If you write anything in the romance genre, or a mixed genre book with a strong romance, you need to be selling your books here.

Through their sister site OmniLit, they publish other genres and nonfiction.

(Note: This article originally appeared in Writing Hacks, my subscription newsletter for writers on October 13, 2011. Subscription form is at the right if you'd like information like this as soon as it's available. )

What You Should Know First

1. As an indie author, you are also a publisher so don't be scared away when registration information talks about you the publisher and doesn't mention author. Just use your name as publisher.

2. You need an ISBN number to register. If you haven't purchased ISBN's for your ebooks, go ahead and register then use the website Contact Form to request ARe provides you with a unique numbering system that you will use from Book 1 to infinity for your books.

3. If you choose to register ISBNs, read the FAQ by Joan on SlingWords, and the post Understanding ISBN on the blog.

Get Started

1. Click Publisher/Authors on the main page to open the window with the required forms and the FAQ links.

2. Read the FAQ.

3. Follow instructions to register.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU CLICK "ADD BOOK"

This will save you time and effort.

1. Always use CTRL-C to copy and CTRL-V to paste. Right click doesn't give the same results.

2. At this time, if you don't have ISBN's, contact ARe and wait to hear back before you proceed because you cannot register a book without ISBN or ARe Identification Number.

3. Choose which formats you'll use and format your book file for those in advance. (Can do this while you're waiting for numbers.)

All Romance Ebooks and OmniLit sell ebooks in many formats. Choose all or select only the ones you want to offer. (Next time I'll offer some websites to help you with formats.)

These are the Formats currently used on All Romance Ebooks and OmniLit:

Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
Palm DOC/iSolo (PDB)
Microsoft Reader (LIT)
Franklin eBookman (FUB)
Hiebook (KML)
HTML
Mobipocket (PRC) and (MOBI)
Rocket (RB)
Open eBook (ePub) -- 2epub.com
Print or POD (enter URL)

4. Write your author bio and save it in a plain text file in a desktop note taker like Flashnotes where it's ready to cut and paste into each ADD BOOK form.

5. Format your Excerpt that you'll paste into the form. Again, use plain text file because the form won't take paragraph indentations, etc.

Now You're Ready To Rock & Roll

If you've got your ISBN or numbering system assigned, and you've done the above steps then you're ready to sign your books up.

1. Click BOOK MAINTENANCE / ADD BOOK -- once you start, you can't save the form in progress. If you close the window, you lose what you filled in.

2. Fill out every box. If this is the first time you've added a book, you'll need to set up your AUTHOR NAME. Follow the instructions. After you've set it up, in the future, if you need to find your author name in a search, you'll do it FIRST NAME LAST NAME, not last name first order in the Author Database on the publisher forms.

3. Upload the various manuscript formats. I've found it's faster to upload 1 format at a time. If you try to do too many formats, it locks up or slows to a crawl.

4. When you are finished, check the entire form to make sure the info "stuck" before hitting submit.

5. Click submit.

6. After the form processes, click on the entry to see how it looks. At this point, check TAGS and fill that in if the form didn't offer you the chance to do so before.

7. Repeat the process for the next book.

If you have any questions, make a comment, and I'll try to help. Good luck!

Takeaway Truth

All Romance Ebooks is very popular with romance readers, and they have huge subscription base. Be there or bemoan the loss of sales.

Anne Marie Novark: Self Publishing Adventure

2011-11-11T03:55:00.005-06:00

This morning, I'm having coffee with one of my writing friends Anne Marie Novark who is a Texas girl, born and raised.

Like many of my author friends, Anne Marie's passion is Romance. She loves to read and write about men and women falling in love, overcoming life's obstacles, and living happily ever after. Anne Marie writes spicy Contemporary Western novels and Regency Historicals.

Before I dived into epublishing, I followed Anne Marie's ebook adventure via her blog posts at Just Write With Anne Marie Novark where she gives advice and guidance to others. Since she just celebrated sale number 50,000, she's sharing her insights with us today.

My Self-Publishing Adventure
by Anne Marie Novark

I self-published my first book on August 6, 2010. I chose that date because it also happens to be my wedding anniversary. Easy to remember and it makes the day doubly special.

I've been published for a little over a year now, and it's been a roller coaster of a ride, let me tell you. The constant emotional ups and downs literally take my breath away. People say self-publishing is easy, but they're wrong. This is definitely not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of work and perseverance and courage. You must be brave to release your books and stories into the wild. Putting your babies out there makes you feel exhilarated, as well as vulnerable. No, it's not for the faint of heart.

First, I need to say I had a "backlist" of nine books that I wanted to publish. I've been writing a long time. I had been submitting to agents and editors, entering RWA contests, placing in a few and getting requests. I even received a phone call from a Harlequin editor in New York. It wasn't The Call, but A Call. Thrilling, I must say. Unfortunately, nothing came of it. I got close, but no cigar.

Then along came digital publishing and the small ePresses. I was lucky enough to sell to The Wild Rose Press in November 2007. I liked being an eBook author, but my sales were dismal. I thought there had to be a better way.

And then came Kindle and Amazon Direct Publishing. Bingo!!!

My Ebook Adventure Begins

I started with my Traditional Regency Romance Midnight My Love in August 2010. I priced it at $2.99 so I would get the 70% royalty from Amazon. It was extremely gratifying to get my first sale on Smashwords literally minutes after uploading it. I sold about 6 on Smashwords and 9 on Amazon during the month of August.

I uploaded my second book, The Doctor Wears A Stetson, the third week in September. The price was still at $2.99, and, for the whole month, I only sold 4 on Amazon (total for both books) and 3 on Smashwords. A little disheartening, but not totally disillusioning.

In October, I dropped the price of Midnight My Love to 99 cents as an experiment and left the other book at $2.99. Sales picked up, and I sold 17 copies of the Regency and 7 copies of the Western. Smashwords sales were few and far between. I probably sold about 5 copies that month.

Not really wanting to sell my books so cheaply, I raised the price back up for November. As a result, I only sold 9 books (total for both titles) on Amazon, maybe 3 or so on Smashwords.

Everyone in the Indie Author Community was excited about December 2010 with the explosion of holiday sales of Kindles and Nooks. I remember I was eagerly waiting to hit that 100 eBook sales mark.

On December 12, I released my third book, The Cowboy's Surrender. Biting the bullet, I dropped the prices on all three books to 99 cents to see what would happen. Boom!!! Sales rose dramatically. At this time, I also uploaded all three books directly onto B&N's Pubit! instead of going through Smashwords. Immediately, I began selling more books for the Nook than Kindle.

I sold over 200 books in December. Could it get any better? Oh yeah.

2011 Book Explosion

In January, I released a fourth book, Adam's Temptation. Price? Well, I started out at $2.99. After a week of no sales, I dropped it to $1.99 then to 99 cents. That book was slow finding its way up the ranks, but the other three books went through the roof!!! I sold 643 books in the month of January, twice as many at B&N than on Amazon. (Alas, this did not continue. Sales dropped off at B&N for some unaccountable reason.)

On February 6, I hit my first big milestone: One thousand eBooks sold!!! I was pretty much in shock. And so happy!!! Sales at Amazon started to catch up to my sales at B&N.

The last week in February, I released my fifth book, A Match Made in Texas. This is the third book in my Diamondback Ranch Series. I decided to charge $2.99 since the other two were selling so well. And it worked!!! Readers were buying all three books in the series and loving them!!! An author's dream come true.

On St. Patrick's Day, I released my first Regency novella, To His Lady's Rescue. This is when things really started taking off. I sold over 4000 books in March and gave 500 away for free on Smashwords. By the end of March, I had sold over 6000 eBooks total.

One month later on April 16th, I hit another milestone: Ten thousand eBooks Sold!!! Sales exploded on Amazon. I had two books on the Top Ten Regency Bestseller List. My Westerns were also making the lists. I sold 8200 eBooks in the month of April. My little novella was selling through the roof.

It was a funny thing though. Readers either loved or hated it. It was around this time that I received my first one-star review and it was for the little novella. I was devastated. I wanted to pull it. I posted on the Kindle Boards asking how other authors coped with bad reviews and received awesome support and hand-holding. I also received my first Random Act of Kindleness. Another Regency author, whom I didn't know, read my book and wrote a great five-star review. Life was good.

Earlier in the year, I had asked for and received my rights back to the two books I had published with The Wild Rose Press. On May 3, I published and re-released Her Reluctant Rancher. I decided to charge $2.99 since it had already been "vetted" and published. It sold more books in that one month than the two years at the small ePress.

May was my best month ever!!! I sold over 10,000 eBooks that month. Awesome!!! I finally felt like a successful author. On May 31, I published Texan Undercover. I started it out at $2.99, but quickly dropped the price to 99 cents. (More about my pricing strategy later.)

I published and re-released the last book in my backlist, Tall Dark and Texan, on June 2. I put it up for $2.99. In the month of June, I sold over 9000 eBooks.

Ups and Downs

What goes up, must come down. This is where the not for the faint of heart comes into play.

The third week of June, I gave a workshop at my local RWA Chapter on Self-Publishing: The New Paradigm/Living My Dream. You can read excerpts of it on my blog. I'm glad I gave it when I did, because it wasn't long after that the summer slump settled in, and my sales started decreasing.

Not fun. You know, it's great when your books are selling like hotcakes and all's right with the world. It's a whole nuther thing when sales start to tank. Interestingly, as my sales declined on Amazon, they started picking up on B&N. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to any of it. Not for the faint of heart.

I shouldn't complain too much. In July, I sold over 5000 eBooks. I gave 1000 away for free on Smashwords. August and September were pretty dismal, but in October sales started to pick up. I've now sold over 50,000 eBooks total. Not bad. But watching my sales decrease by 50% and more was not a good feeling, let me tell you.

So, I try to put it all in perspective. I started this self-publishing adventure with the goal of making around 300-400 dollars a month. I'm doing that and more. Readers are reading my books. Fans are sending me email. I'm writing what I enjoy writing and finding like-minded people who enjoy reading what I write. I'm truly living my dream.

I'm looking forward to the next year. My goal is to release ten more stories of various lengths. In the big scheme of things, I plan to charge $2.99 for my novels and 99 cents for my shorter works. I'm positioning myself for this next holiday season and beyond.

The eBook sensation is truly revolutionary. More and more people are going to switch over to digital reading devices, and that will hopefully mean more readers for all of us. Writers need to write and publish and be ready for them. That's exactly what I plan to do.

Happy Writing and Reading and Publishing!!!

Takeaway Truth

The generosity of authors in sharing their expertise always amazes me. I hope you will thank Kate and the other authors who guest star on SlingWords by purchasing one of their books.

You-Know-What Happens. . .

2011-11-10T20:44:00.005-06:00

. . . when you least expect it. Today, I spent almost 5 hours in the ER. Very nice people there too.

Wow! Am I screwed. I'll be using dictation software for a while until I heal. I'll make every effort to correct typos, but I have limited ability to use the keyboard so please overlook errors and typos you may see.

What A Day

This morning was beautiful. Crisp air, robin's egg blue sky. I had a massage therapy appointment at ten so I had a few minutes before I had to leave. I walked around the corner to the mailbox, grabbed yesterday's mail, and came bopping along, just as happy and content and feeling so good because I was on track to get my work in progress to the proofreader.

The trash can was sitting at the end of the driveway so I thought I'd wheel it back to the garage. Here comes the dumb accident part.

The drought this summer has compacted the dirt beneath the sidewalk, causing a segment of the sidewalk to drop 3 inches below the level of the driveway where it meets the side of the driveway.

Audition for Cirque du Soleil

Don't ask me how I did it, but I tripped over that 3 inch rise and fell, soaring about six feet before my body met the concrete. Human nature being what it is, I broke my fall with both hands and my left knee and my right forearm and my face. Fortunately, by the time my left cheekbone hit the driveway, most of the impact had been absorbed by my hands.

Good news? No road rash on my face. Just going to have one hell of a bruise.

Bad news? My hands. See this x-ray? It's not my hands, just an illustration, but I ended up with a lovely collection of hand/wrist x-rays today.

Damage

I would show a picture of my hands, but they look gross. Good news? No permanent damage or broken bones. Bad news? Huge chunk out of my right hand at the joint near the wrist (in a line with my pinky finger)--you know, the part of the hand that rests on the desk when you use a mouse.

Pinky finger on that hand black and swollen so much I can't bend it even if I was dumb enough to try.

Left hand, entire thumb joint swollen, black, and size of a quarter missing skin. Gash on right forearm. Gash on left knee.

They shot me up with painkillers, anti-inflammatory, and a tetanus shot too. Cleaned the wounds. After the bleeding finally stopped, they coated all the raw wounds with antibiotic salve and told me to leave them open to breathe but coat them with the salve until they heal over.

They said I'd probably feel even worse tomorrow and with side effects from the tetanus added to the impact injuries. Goody. Something to look forward to.

Is it tomorrow already? Because I already feel enormously worse. Plus already running a fever from the tetanus shot.

I missed a day of writing, and I'm concerned again about getting my 3 new ebooks published this month.

Universal Truth

Why is it that when you're working so hard to achieve something, all hell breaks loose? In the morning, I imagine I'll crawl to my computer with a chorus of Don Henley's song How Bad Do You Want It? echoing in my head.

Takeaway Truth

Shit happens.

Writing Short By Edgar Nominee Kate Flora

2011-11-09T04:04:00.007-06:00

This morning, we're having coffee with attorney and mystery author Kate Flora, who's going to give us some advice about writing short fiction.

Of Kate's eleven books, seven are Thea Kozak mysteries, two are gritty police procedurals, one (writing as Katharine Clark) is a suspense thriller, and one is a true crime. Her 2007 Edgar nominee, Finding Amy, (co-authored with Joseph K. Loughlin) was filmed for TV.

Currently, she's working on Death Dealer, a true crime involving a Canadian serial killer, a screenplay, and a novel told in linked stories. Her third police procedural, Redemption, will be published in February 2012. She teaches writing for Grub Street in Boston.

Kate's short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies, including the Sara Paretsky edited collection, Sisters on the Case. She spent seven years as editor and publisher at Level Best Books, and she is a former international president of Sisters in Crime, and a founding member of the New England Crime Bake conference.

Her story, “All that Glitters” appears in Dead Calm: Best New England Crime Stories, and her story, “Bone China” in the crime story anthology Dead of Winter.

In other words, Kate Flora is one busy author. Obviously, she knows a lot about writing and editing, and has a lot of experience with short stories. She's experienced enough to know that writing short sometimes takes much longer, and she's here this morning to explain why as well as to offer some advice on how to write short successfully.

Why Does Writing Short Take So Long?
By Kate Flora

Writing short is not the same as easy. There are many ways writing short crime fiction can go wrong.

I got into writing short stories accidentally. For years, mystery writer Susan Oleksiw and I had discussed doing an anthology of crime fiction as a snapshot of the New England crime writer’s mind. She decided to move from talk to action and invited me to join her on the editorial side of the desk. That was daunting.

As a further condition, Susan decided the editors must also write stories for the collection. That was ten years ago. We produced seven collections at Level Best Books, then passed the reins to new editors, who will bring out their second collection, Dead Calm, in a few weeks.

During those years, I read hundreds of stories, and wrote about a dozen. On the writing side, I learned that it usually takes a long time, and a lot of rewrites, to produce a satisfying story.

On the editing side, I have seen what goes wrong in short stories. I draw on that, and on the experience of fellow editors, for the following reasons why stories get rejected.

Rejection Analysis

1) Whose Story Is It?

Far too frequently, the writer isn’t in touch with whose story is being told. Sometimes this is manifested in a shifting point of view, so that the reader gets dizzy trying to follow whose story is being told. Sometimes, in mid-story, the writer becomes entranced by the voice of another character, and switches to seeing through their eyes. This happens when the writer doesn’t know her characters well enough, has a shaky understanding of point of view, or doesn’t really know what the story is about.

Often, in my comments, I will ask:

Whose story is this?

What does he want?

How do the events of the story disclose that or frustrate that goal?

How is the character changed by the end?

How does each particular scene build to the desired effect at the end? (Looking at scenes as the building blocks of story, one should be able to answer this question.)

A writer should be able to answer these questions. If she can’t, her story is not ready to submit.

2) Does the story have a strong voice?

This one seems obvious, but too often, writers haven’t disclosed what’s interesting about their characters; haven’t found the character’s world view, attitude, and idiosyncrasies and revealed it in their speech.

Readers want to be grabbed by the story. If the characters are generic instead of specific, if the character is a cartoon, or someone we’ve seen a hundred times, the reader puts it down.

Consider how much is revealed by the language choices and terse details of the opening of Mike Wiecek’s “The Gas Leak”:

When Sue Ann in dispatch got the 911, she called out the fire department, then immediately rang up the sheriff. Sue Ann knew that any action at the Granger place was unlikely to stop at firefighting.

3) Does the story show me something new?

Editors see a lot of stories. To rise above the pack, a story has to create a well-imagined world, one that will intrigue the reader, and make them feel something, take them on a journey, teach them something new, surprise them, or leave them feeling “wrung out.”

Among dozens of potential "spouseicides," what will stand out is the twist—a couple trying to poison each other, a couple where the poisoner is actually trying to save the spouse from a lingering and horrible death from disease. The same is true for almost any plot.

What can you bring to the page that will make it different? Use your imagination. Think what would happen if? Edgar nominee Judy Green, for example, writes about an older woman with dementia who has no idea she’s foiled a robbery.

4) Is there something at stake?

As one editor put it, a story can be beautifully rendered, but if she doesn’t care about what’s happening, she’ll put the story down. A corollary of this is obvious: there must be a character who matters to your reader for whom those stakes exist.

5) Is there a strong opening?

In the tight confines of a short story, things have to start happening right out of the box. As an example, an editor gave me this, from Ray Daniel’s story, “Communion.”

I sat in a café, in the north end, drinking a double espresso, eating a biscotti, and waiting for a funeral.

The story gives you place, an imminent event, and questions: whose funeral? How did the person die? How is the narrator tied to that death?

6) Is there a satisfactory ending?

Far too often, an otherwise good story gets rejected because of a weak ending. Editors see it all the time. An ending that comes out of nowhere. And ending that simply peters out. And ending that doesn’t tie up, or tie in with, the events of the story. An ending that leaves the reading saying, “Huh?” An ending that seems contrived rather than growing out of the plot and the characters.

No question about it: endings are HARD. But if endings are your weakness, go read some anthologies of good mysteries. The field is very rich. Then deconstruct the story, and see how that ending is inevitable. How it fits. How it stuns or surprises or shocks, or deeply satisfies and leaves a reader saying, “Aah. Yes!”

7) Is the story plausible?

This is a plot logical issue, and my own personal bugaboo. If you’re writing a crime story, know some crime basics. So many times, a promising story collapses in a “give me a break” moment.

Here are a few examples of dumb things that could be prevented by the most basic research. The wife wanting it to appear her husband accidentally fell overboard at sea shooting him before dumping him overboard. An interrogation that is central to the plot hinging on implausible investigative technique. There is no safety on a Glock. You can’t stick a new clip in a revolver.

8) The Magic Editor will make it all right.

Don’t submit a story before it is ready. Far too often, the reason a promising story is rejected is that it needs a couple more revisions before it is tight and clean and ready to go. Editors are lucky if they have time to brush their teeth in the morning. With a hundred stories to read, they may want to like you, but they’re looking for reasons to reject stories and make the pile shorter.

Go over your story and take out every extraneous word. Turn on your cliché detector. If you can’t spell and punctuate, ask a friend. Submitting a misspelled, poorly edited, badly punctuated story sets it up for rejection and you for unnecessary pain.

9) Follow submission guidelines.

This one shouldn’t need to be said. Too often, writers are so eager to be published they’ll submit anywhere. It’s sad to reject a good story because the writer didn’t pay attention to the word count, or other rules for submission.

It is easy, on the other hand, to reject a story where the cover letter begins: I know your story length is 5000 words, but I like my story just the way it is at 7000, so I didn’t edit. If you like the story, I’ll consider….

You know where that story went. A story that followed it right into the trash bin bore this note: You’ve asked for the author’s information to be in the upper right hand corner. This is wrong. You should have asked….

The Bottom Line

Great article, Kate! Thanks for those insights. Readers, you can also find Kate hanging out at her blog Pen Noir and also at Maine Crime Writers. Be sure and look for her third police procedural, Redemption, in February 2012.

Takeaway Truth

The generosity of authors in sharing their expertise always amazes me. I hope you will thank Kate and the other authors who guest star on SlingWords by purchasing one of their books.

Note: If Joan Reeves aka SlingWords helps you get ahead, please consider buying one of my books (Written Wisdom is perfect for writers--readers too!), subscribing (only $.99 per month) to the Kindle Edition of SlingWords,or making a donation of any amount by clicking the button below. Thank you for your moral support and any monetary support you see fit to contribute.

The Year Wanes: Stop, Think, Plan

2011-11-08T08:09:00.005-06:00

Wane is a great word, isn't it? The word has a slight musical quality when pronounced, and it even sounds a bit more "literary," shall we say, than another synonym one might use, for instance, dwindles.

The dictionary defines wane this way: (1) to decrease in size, extent, or degree, as to dwindle, to diminish in phase or intensity--used chiefly of the moon, other satellites, and inferior planets, (2) to become less brilliant or powerful, as to dim, to flow out, to ebb, (3) to fall gradually from power, prosperity, or influence.

Significance of Waning Year

So, wane is the proper way to describe 2011 as it dwindles away, minute by minute. In fact, if you're like most people, you probably feel little pressure to charge ahead, accomplishing great tasks and pursuing your goal achievement in the next few weeks that you felt at the beginning of the year.

Are you kind of tired? Worn out? Maybe you're thinking, I'll just coast until the New Year when I can start fresh.

This year, like most it seems, illustrates that time is not fixed. It ebbs and flows with some days seeming to take longer than 24 hours to pass while some weeks race along faster than a jackrabbit in west Texas. When bad things happen, we have a tendency to want time to just pass as fast as possible in order to put distance between us and the bad event. Perhaps that's because we've been told that time heals.

Stop Now, Think Now

As this year draws to a close, you’re probably looking back and wondering where the months went. Now is a good time to assess how you spent your time--and your money. Did you get value in return? Did you achieve at least one of the things you wanted this year?

If not, don't wait for the New Year to make a plan on how to do things differently. Start now. Figure out where you went wrong in 2011. Write it down. Create a campaign as carefully as the Allied Forces planned D-Day.

Points To Consider

1. Know what you want.

2. Know what it takes in terms of time commitment to achieve what you want.

3. Know what you need to learn in order to attain what you want.

4. Know what you may have to sacrifice to get what you want.

5. Know the steps you need to take to get from where you are now to where you want to be.

Takeaway Truth

Everyone focuses on making every dollar count, but it’s even more important to make every minute count. You see, you can increase your wealth, dollar by dollar, but you can’t ever add more minutes to your day. Plan how to spend your minutes wisely.

Monday Joke: Publishing & Light Bulbs

2011-11-07T08:09:00.005-06:00

Blame it on Monday. I couldn't resist publishing these dumb jokes when I found an old yellowed copy in a file drawer I was cleaning out.

If you have ever been published in print by a traditional publisher, you'll get these. If you haven't, then you may get a glimpse of what traditionally-published authors go through.

Publishing and Light Bulbs

Q: How many copy editors does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: I can't tell whether you mean "change a light bulb" or "have sex in a light bulb." Can we re-word it to remove the ambiguity?

Q: How many editors does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Only one. But first they have to rewire the entire building.

Q: How many managing editors does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: You were supposed to have changed that light bulb last week!

Q: How many art directors does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Does it HAVE to be a light bulb?

Q: How many copy editors does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: The last time this question was asked, it involved art directors. Is the difference intentional? Should one or the other instance be changed? It seems inconsistent.

Q: How many marketing directors does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: It isn't too late to make this neon instead, is it?

Q: How many proofreaders does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Proofreaders aren't supposed to change light bulbs. They should just query them.

Q: How many booksellers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Only one, and they'll be glad to do it too, except no one shipped them any.

Drumroll please! My favorite of all....

Q: How many publishers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Three. One to screw it in, and two to hold down the author.

Takeaway Truth

Ah! The good old days of publishing.

Paperwork

2011-11-06T04:04:00.003-06:00

I was gone for two weeks, and that was a big mistake because life did not stand still.

Although I got a lot of writing accomplished on my self-imposed writing retreat, I came home to a mess. No food in the house because the family does not realize that you can actually go into an establishment and trade currency for food.

Two weeks behind on every conceivable form of paperwork, bills to pay, receipts to file, problems to contend with, and all the other "stuff" (I'm thinking of another word that starts with S, but I'm being nice). I have to deal with on a daily basis.

Peter De Vries said: "I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork." Oh, my gosh, but that's true. Where is this paperless world I hear about? It doesn't exist in my household.

Forget creating a paperless world. Let's create a world without bills to pay. Are you with me?

So much of life is filled with mundane tasks that must be accomplished in a timely fashion lest one falls behind and gets run over by the tax collectors, bill collectors, medical billing establishment, itinerant workers who plaster flyers on your front door, et al.

Takeaway Truth

I kind of feel like that scene in the old movie The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston where the slave falls in front of a monolithic stone block and gets crushed to death. In case you're wondering, I'm the slave.

J. C. Harrow Books by Collins & Clemens

2011-11-05T04:00:00.000-05:00

You Can't Stop Me

This book kept me riveted from page 1 to the end. I could not put it down. Quite simply, it's one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time, and that's in large part to the character J. C. Harrow, hero and victim.

Every civilized person identifies with the fear--the nightmare--that a madman could take away everyone you love. Your entire family--gone in minutes because of a sick killer.

We identify with that fear, and we identify with the man left behind when all his loved ones are gone. Harrow is every man, just the sort of guy who might live next door to you. He's a cop with cop instincts, and, on the day of a professional best for a cop, he loses everything important to him.

His emotions and actions seem organic as we read about him. Never once do the authors descend to purple prose to convince us of his heartbreak. Indeed, everything about Harrow rings true, and that's the strength of this thriller. You root for him to find the killer. You become emotionally invested in him and his team of experts. Even as I was reading along and mentally fitting the clues together, I was surprised at the ending. I just didn't see it coming.

As I was approaching the end of the book, I didn't want it to end. I kept hoping that this was the beginning of a series. As soon as I read the last word, I turned on my wireless and connected to the Kindle Shop. To my relief, I found a second J. C. Harrow book, and it's now residing on my Kindle. I can hardly wait to dive into it.

Do you like thrillers that are taut, suspenseful, action-packed, and peopled with great characters? If you answer in the affirmative to these questions, then you must get this book!

No One Will Hear You

I debated long and hard before posting 5 stars on this. You see, I do not post a review unless I can give it 4 or 5 stars. This is my policy as stated on the FAQ page. Why? Because, as an author, I know the emotional and financial toll taken by a bad review so I won't add to that.

In the end, I gave it 5 because of the great writing, great characters, and great plot that create a seamless mystery thriller. There's only 1 thing that, for me, detracted and made me dither over the star rating, and I won't go into the reason here because it would be a story spoiler.

Even though I immediately recognized the identity of the villain from a mile away, I decided that didn't sufficiently detract from the overall great writing.

Suspenseful and gripping, NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU is a thriller with a great cast of characters that I hope to see again soon. So come on, Collins and Clemens, get another Crime Seen book out. Fast!

Takeaway Truth

A good book is the least expensive form of entertainment. For a few dollars, you can be whisked away to another world.

Ex-Pat Brit Writes In Spain

2011-11-04T04:00:00.001-05:00

My guest today probably lives what most of us think of as an exciting writing life. Terry Callister is British, but he and his wife Sandra live in sunny Spain. Both Terry and Sandra are indie authors. They also run Books and Novels To Read, a website that features indie authors.

I apologize in advance, Terry, for editing your British spellings for my mostly American audience. Now, please join Terry, in Spain, and me, in Texas, over a glass of sangria rather than coffee as Terry tells us what it's like...

Writing In The Sun

Hello, bloggerholics! The first thing I want to say is a big thank you to Joan for featuring me on her blog, and what a great blog it is--informative, fresh and sometimes funny. SlingWords is updated every day so you've got to look at it on a regular basis to keep abreast of the very latest news.

Let me introduce myself. I'm Terry Callister, an ex-pat Brit living in Spain. I have been here for the last ten years. Although I speak more Spanish than a lot of Brits living here, I'm still shamefully, far from bilingual.

Why do I live in Spain? I moved here from the Isle of Man, a 30 x 10 mile dot in the middle of the Irish Sea. The last winter there drove me mad, going and returning to work in the dark, cold wet--and windy all the time. The sun and warmth of Southern Spain was too much of an attraction. Mind you, living in the mountains 30 miles north of Málaga, we do have a winter although a couple of Yule Tides have been spent in tee shirt and shorts.

Before the Isle of Man, I always lived in and around London. Despite all Spain's economic and employment woes I love living here. I'm passionate about politics and hold the view that most so-called democracies are, in fact, 4 or 5 year dictatorships. I could go on about this all day but I'm here to talk about books and promoting and selling indie books.

My Books

I've penned two novels. First was a thriller set in the world of high finance. The Catalytic Programme is available in (print for UK, print for US) and ebook.

My second novel was a departure. A Lucky Break is a time-traveling romantic comedy that asks how a 21st century man can love a woman from 1647, the time of Oliver Cromwell, and a dark year in British history.

My Backstory

I did the usual round of literary agents and publishers all too familiar to all you other budding authors. Very few writers get the opportunity to be traditionally published simply because we are not a "sure thing," an established author or celebrity.

So I went the self-published route with Createspace, part of Amazon, and what a wonderful bunch of people they are! Thanks, Amazon, you've opened up the world to all us "pen smiths." I then created a website for my books, but I quickly realized that my little site would do nothing for my books' sales because nobody would find it. So I started Books and Novels to Read.com (BNR), a website dedicated to the marketing and sale of self-published books. That was back in April of this year, and what a monster I gave birth to!

The website now has over 2,500 book entries plus reviews, interviews and, of course, my books and those of my wife Sandra, who with encouragement from me, put her ideas down on paper and has now finished a trilogy of romantic ghost stories. I never realized what a talent Sandra had.

BNR Wants To Help You

In order to spread the word about BNR, I started a blog, at Joan's suggestion, I might add, to help with promotion of the website. Through blogs, author groups, social networking and book websites, BNR has become very popular with authors, and what a lovely and diverse bunch of people they are. However, authors don't seem to buy many books.

I can help you, and you can help me. I need to attract the book-buying public, and I am doing everything in my power to increase public awareness of the BNR website. Hint! Hint! Hint! Please pass the word on to all your contacts that BNR is another website where writers can list their books for free and gain more exposure and make more sales. The more places you can be seen; the better your chances to make sales.

Big Plans For The Future

As I mentioned earlier, I write a lot of book reviews. Although some of the books I read are not in my comfort zone, I've got to say the books I have read so far have been excellent. New ideas and plots with believable characters--everything you would expect from a good book.

The more I read traditionally published books, particularly by authors with long lists of published novels, I find their writing has become stale, clichéd, and, in some cases, even boring, not what you want when you've spent your money to be entertained.

Having recognized the talent that's out there, I decided to compile the BNR Compendium of Short Stories By Self-Published Authors. I'm accepting submissions. The closing date for submission is December 31, 2011. If you would like to submit an entry, a maximum of 7,500 words or thereabouts, any genre you fancy, just email me. My email address is on the website.

Thanks again Joan. Keep up the good work.

Takeaway Truth

Every writer has a story. Every story is different. Two elements link all writers: the love of reading and the love of writing.

What I've Learned About Reviews

2011-11-03T08:37:00.010-05:00

I belong to the "better to laugh than to cry" school of thought when it comes to reader reviews.

If you are a writer with a published book--whether trad print pub or indie pub--then you have some experience with reviews.

As soon as you pull those daggers out of your respective backs, leave a comment about your review experience.

Readers Saving Literature

Yes, there seem to be hundreds, if not thousands, of readers who feel the burden of saving literature from the evil known as indie published books. Just ask any of them, and they will tell you how awful indie books are, how shoddily formatted, how utterly pedestrian, how poorly edited, and how completely lacking in any redeeming value those books are.

In fact, many of these readers have banded together in discussion forums and talk about tagging indie pubbed books with negative keywords and leaving scathing reviews just to make sure these books don't succeed in hopes that Amazon will pull indie books and leave only the beautiful traditionally print published books in ebook format for them to revel in.

Ah yes. Traditional print publishing that never makes mistakes. Oh, you want to know about that book that had an amputee as hero--except when he had a love scene and was grabbing the heroine with both hands? I won't name the author because she's super-talented and sometimes stuff just gets by you when you're caught up in the writing. However, it does seem that some of the editors at Major Publisher would have caught it.

Oh, you want to know about those typos you see more and more frequently in print books from major publishers? Well, sometimes, stuff happens you know.

Oh, now you want to discuss that Harper-Collins book filled with typos?

Of course, these indie-haters gloss over the same mistakes when they come from big publishers. Can you spell double standard?

Writers Bleed

You know, I don't know of any writer who expects to never get a bad review. We all do. If the review is legitimate, we can live with that. However, most reader reviews sound like a snark convention with every reviewer trying to out-snark the next.

The great anonymous Internet allows people to say nasty things in reviews that may impact your ability to sell books and earn a living. In person, those people would never say the same thing to your face. Why? Because they're probably decent people who have been taught not to insult someone to their face.

But saying it in a review is like saying it behind your back. They don't have to look at you and see the look on your face when you read their words.

Writers don't like the reviews that say nothing about why the reader found the book lacking. Reviews that say, "This book wasn't worth $.99," aren't worth much. Why? Because reading is highly subjective. What's not worth the money to one, may be priceless to another.

Reviews should address the elements of the book, not how the reviewer perceives the author or her subject matter or the genre in which she chooses to write.

What I've Learned

As I write this, I worry that some of these indie-haters will decide to scourge me with bad reviews. If so, perhaps enough people will like my books to then go post a good review.

1. The one thing I've found in my indie book career is that readers either love my books or hate them with a vengeance bordering on insanity. Little in-between. If you have a very popular ebook, chances are you will experience the same.

I've had a scathing review publish, followed immediately by one that said my book was the best they ever read. Same book. Since I always got good reviews on these books when they came out in print, it's a little weird to get so much polarization with them as ebooks.

2. Most reader reviews are like brittle chat at a cocktail party. Don't take it personally.

3. Pricing is a big issue. All the indie-haters immediately think a $.99 book is indie published, and, of course, that means it sucks. Look for reviews that say how much they hated the book with qualifiers like "that's what you get with a 99 cent book" or "not worth $.99 as expected." For too many, price is a predictor of the value.

4. With pricing, you're damned if you do; you're damned if you don't. Readers bitch about high pricing because they don't want to pay it; they bitch about low prices because they equate that with low quality.

5. When you get your first negative review, visit dozens of other sites of popular ebook authors and read their reviews. You'll see that you're in very good company.

6. If you must read bad reviews, see if there's any objectivity with a mention of any element that you might need to address. If more than one reviewer mentions the same thing, check it out. Don't blindly assume that they're wrong, and you're right.

Takeaway Truth

Reviews are just one person's opinion. Don't internalize the negative comments, and don't become arrogant over the positive ones.

Note: If Joan Reeves aka SlingWords helps you get ahead, please consider buying one of my books (Written Wisdom is perfect for writers--readers too!), subscribing (only $.99 per month) to the Kindle Edition of SlingWords,or making a donation of any amount by clicking the button below. Thank you for your moral support and any monetary support you see fit to contribute.

Finding Your Voice

2011-11-02T03:24:00.002-05:00

This morning I'm pleased to welcome Susan Lute, author of the women's fiction title The London Affair.

Susan is one of the trio of women authors behind See Jane Publish. I met Susan when she interviewed me for See Jane Publish.

Now, let's sit down with a cup of coffee and see what kind of advice Susan has for writers.

Finding Your Voice

When Joan offered me the opportunity to share writerly advice on SlingWords (thank you for that, Joan), I jumped at the chance. In my other life, I'm a nurse. Sharing and teaching is what I do. I can't help myself.

I started writing seriously for publication in 1997. Published in 2003. And spent many years in between then and now, writing, and learning, and writing, and growing as a writer, and writing. This year, with new opportunities in indie publishing, I've published two novels and just this last week, a short story prequel, A Girl Named Jane

Where's My Voice

Being an author has never been so exciting, but there was a time, not long ago, when I was ready to give up. No matter what I did, I could not find my voice. Up to that time, I'd written contemporary romance and women's fiction, but nothing was selling. I was dangerously close to throwing in the towel, with one question ringing in my ears. How could it be so hard for a writer to find her voice?

Experiment

So I decided to try one last experiment. If I couldn't find the genre where my voice fit the best, I was going to turn in my keyboard for a life that didn't include fashioning words into a story.

On a flight to Norman, Oklahoma, to visit the hubby while he was at school, I picked my favorite heroine (a thief), hero (a mercenary), and my favorite place to set a scene (a bar) and set out to write the same scene in a variety of genres; historical, young adult, cozy mystery, paranormal, all but contemporary romance, since I already knew how my voice sounded in that genre.

You can imagine this flight. I got settled in, pulled out the laptop and started typing, beginning with paranormal. I was so sure that wouldn't be the one; that I could quickly scratch it off the list. After all, paranormal is a special breed, that only the best and brightest could be successful at writing. I couldn't have been more wrong. I wrote and wrote and wrote all weekend (around visiting with the hubby, of course), and couldn't stop.

When I got back, I sent a sample of my latest contemporary writing, and the paranormal scene to my writing buddies with instructions to pick the one that spoke most to them. Every single one picked the paranormal. I never did write in the other genres, and The Dragon's Thief is now complete, and slated for publication in December. Four more books will be indie published next year.

Bottom Line

All of this is my long winded way of saying...don't give up. If you're having trouble deciding which genre to write in, or the writing has dried up, try this experiment.

Pick your favorite heroine, your favorite hero, and your favorite place to set a scene. Even if you haven't written any of these, because you think, maybe the market isn't there for them, or you don't have the chops to do them justice. Do it anyway.

Write them in four or five different genres. See what flows easily from your keyboard. And then, don't forget, with the explosion of the indie market, new opportunities abound for authors. Hang in there.

Do. Not. Give. Up.

Takeaway Truth

To Susan's final words, I'll add: Ever. Do not give up ever if you truly want something whether it's writing a book, playing the cello, raising beautiful roses, or getting a college degree. Anything important takes struggle. Learn to value the struggle.

Read Me! Love Me! Thrill Me!

2011-11-01T03:55:00.007-05:00

As writers, we know what thrills us when it comes to writing and reading. Of course, much of what thrills us is connected to our writing lives.

Yet, we are also people with real lives--or at least we try to be. Sometimes what thrills us is a small moment in real life, completely unconnected to writing.

Here's a collection of what thrills some of us writers. Enjoy!

Lori Dillon, self-proclaimed Idiot Queen of Social Networking and author of Out of the Ashes, (available Feb. 14, 2012), was thrilled when she got her 100th Twitter Follower.

Trisha Wilson, Insanely Romantic...Incurably Romantic, author of An Unforgettable Christmas, was thrilled this week when she sold a copy of her book to a cashier after the cashier overheard a conversation about the book between Trisha and a friend.

Cynthia Wicklund, Romance...and Something More, author of Thief of Souls, cashed in all her survey and purchase points this week for $90 in Amazon Gift Certificates and is thrilled she can now buy the new Kindle Fire without (almost) feeling guilty!

Jennifer Lynne, Working Writer Mum with Too Many Hats, author of Pandora's Gift, was thrilled this week when she came home to a log fire and a glass of red after 12 hours at the theatre for daughter’s dance competition.

Vivienne Westlake, the Sweet and Sassy, a new author with Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender, was thrilled to celebrate the release of her first book this week.

Janelle Taylor, Still a Kid at Heart, multi-published, bestselling author was thrilled yesterday to receive the copy proof of her first children's book that was written many years ago for her grandchildren. How The Zebra Got Its Stripes will be her 51st published book.

Stephanie Queen, Political Intrigue Romance, author of Between a Rock and a Mad Woman, was thrilled to see, in person this week, that President Bill Clinton hasn't lost his speech-making touch.

Heather Hiestand, Twisted Historical Fantasy, author of Captain Andrew's Flying Christmas was thrilled this week by outselling three of her traditionally published novels in less than two weeks with her first indie title.

Liz Jasper, greedy chocolate eater, author of Underdead, was thrilled this week when she got her 15th five-star review.

Elaine Raco Chase, Bestselling Author of Contemporary Romantic Comedies and Mysteries, and author of Double Occupancy was thrilled this week to get her rights back to her bestselling mystery series featuring Roman Cantrell and Nikki Holden.

Finally, last, but, hopefully, not least, is I, Joan Reeves, It's Never Too Late To Live Happily Ever After, author of Romeo and Judy Anne. I was thrilled this week when my older brother came through emergency surgery without problems.

Takeaway Truth

The thrilling moments in our lives often make a big impact.

Different Books; Different Word Counts

2011-10-31T07:51:00.007-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote How Long Is A Novel.

I intended to follow that up the next week with more information about the subject, with definitions of these classifications, and a word count breakdown by genre.

However, I became distracted by the issue of copyright and pirates books. Instead, I wrote Help Authors Protect Copyright and asked concerned readers and writers to send an email letter to their elected representatives about supporting copyright.

Word Count Recap

Adult Trade Fiction

Micro-Fiction: about 100 words

Flash Fiction: 100--1,000 words

Short Story: 1,000--7,500 words

Novelette: 7,500--20,000 words

Novella: 20,000--50,000 words

Novel: 50,000--110,000

Epic Novel: 110,000+ words

Juvenile Fiction

Middle Grade: 25,000--40,000

Young Adult (YA): 45,000--80,000 (genre dependent)

Word Count and YA

Ever since Harry Potter in Juvenile Fiction and Twilight in Young Adult, these two, sometimes viewed almost as one--a hybrid combining elements of both, with the intention of attracting older juvenile readers and younger YA readers--have been smoking hot with readers and writers.

Because of this "hot" factor, YA, and I'm talking big book, mainstream YA, usually fantasy or paranormal, sometimes runs as long as 120,000 words. With print publishing, editors don't like to see books of that length because anything above 100,000 words, which is what most presses are set at, increase costs.

So word length in this segment of YA truly depends on the story. If you can spin a tale as delightful as J. K. Rowling, then don't sacrifice word length because you think it's got to come in at 100K.

Best practice if you're a newbie is to shoot for 80,000 to 100,000.

Word Count and Romance

In romance, with an established category house like Harlequin, word count is very specific because of how their presses are set. The different category romance lines have different word counts. These can be found in the guidelines at their website. Generally, category romance books are 55,000 to 75,000 words.

Books that are called Single Title Romance and Paranormal Romance are usually 85,000 to 100,000 words. The longer lengths are usually represented by established authors because of the higher production investment. If you're a first timer, they generally feel that shorter is safer. Again, it all depends on the book.

Word Count and Mystery

In the mystery genre, there are many publishers who offer a mystery line, much as Harlequin offers category romances. For example, Berkley has their Prime Crime; Harlequin has Worldwide Mystery.

Most mystery houses publish a set number of mystery books each month, i.e. Avalon, Five Star, Berkley Prime Crime, etc. These are often cozy mysteries, or PI, or police procedurals, or whatever the sub-genre might be. Generally, they run 65,000 to 90,000 words.

The popular blending of paranormal and mystery; mystery and hobby; and crime fiction and thrillers run about 75,000 to 90,000.

Word Count and Horror

With so many paranormal books, true horror has kind of taken a back seat. However, grab a book with horror on the spine, and you'll see the difference. These books are about the same length as single title romance and paranormal, weighing in at 80,000 to 100,000 words.

Word Count and Western

If you want to support a genre that truly needs it, buy a western. The western genre has been dying for the last 30 years. Now, it probably has the least rack space. Romance writers with their western historical romance books have filled the gap for a lot of western fans, but there are true western novels available. = 80k to 100k (Keep in mind that almost no editors are buying Westerns these days.)

Westerns come in many flavors from Classic to Contemporary to Revisionist and even to Horror Western. Western Writers of America has a great listing of some of the best of all the western sub-genres.

If you look at Kindle, you'll see the only listing for Western is under Kindle > Genre Fiction > Western > with only two final selections: Louis L'Amour and Pioneer. There's so much more! Maybe this should be the next hot genre? All it would take would be one stunning novel.

Word Count and Big Books

These are the James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and others written by "star" authors. Basically, they can be any length the author chooses, but generally speaking, they're in that single title word count range of 80,000 to 100,000.

So is Chick lit, whenever it's published by whatever is the nom du jour. The same is true for Mainstream, Thrillers, just about all Commercial fiction, and Literary novels although these have been decreasing a bit in word length over the last few years as has most commercial fiction.

Word Count and Science Fiction/Fantasy

If you write long, this should be your genre. Lots of sub-genres from which to choose. These editors like long books. Most of them will look at books as long as 120,000 words and up. Again, if you're established, then you have more leeway. Generally, 80,000 to 100,000.

Word Count and Ebooks

You might think that if you're writing and publishing ebooks that word count doesn't matter. Wrong! Don't lose sight of a very important fact: reader expectations. Readers know how long books should be. They know how long it takes them to read a typical mystery, romance, horror, science fiction, or whatever.

If they're reading a science fiction, and they finish it in one night, they're going to howl. They feel cheated because the book didn't last the usual 3 nights or whatever. Same with a romance novel. If a reader finishes it in an hour, they know it wasn't a full-length book. They feel cheated, and they may well take their ire out in the form of a nasty review.

Know what lengths "normal" print books are and aim for that range with your ebooks.

Takeaway Truth

A smart writer must know past publishing standards because those have a bearing on satisfying reader expectations.