Sometimes Finishing Is A Win

I want to share a favorite quote with you that might take some of the pressure off you perfectionists. Sadly, I am a perfectionist though I keep trying to change that bad habit.

Backstory

Several months ago, I committed to writing a novella for a romance collection. What with one thing and another--and another and another and another {sigh}--I didn't start the project until mid-March.

Then of course the storms of life hit. So I contented myself with plotting the story and all that pre-writing activity that must occur before one actually begins writing.

I was down to the wire on getting the novella finished, but I was determined to get it written.

Here Comes The Quote

Manuel Diotte said: Winning isn't always finishing first. Sometimes winning is just finishing.

That's how I feel when I turned in my novella to the wonderful Mona Risk who was doing the format for Weddings on Main Street.

By that point, I didn't know if it was a good story or a pile of you-know-what, BUT I had finished it, and therein lay the triumph.

Giveaway Today

To celebrate, I'm giving away a free book. Leave a comment and your Smashwords registered email address, and I'll give you a coupon code for a free copy of Little Book of Sunshine for Readers and Writers.

Takeaway Truth

I'll leave you with another quote today. Joseph Joubert said: Genius begins great works; labor alone finishes them. 

Now begins the process of winning again by finishing the book I was writing last year in the midst of all that moving.

How To Dispute a YouTube Copyright Strike

Today I want to tell you about something that will probably happen when you upload a video with music to YouTube.

If the music you use came from an online library or even if it was music you licensed, then it will probably trigger an automated notice of copyright infringement from YouTube. This is a good thing because it shows that YouTube is trying to protect the rights of musicians, composers, and performers.

This is normal, but I didn't know that. The first time I uploaded a video, this happened and it shocked and devastated me. Why devastated? Because as an author, I respect copyright and would never do anything to infringe another's copyright.

Unfortunately, there's no way on YouTube to ask for help or explanations. I didn't even know what to do about the situation because I knew I was in the right. I stumbled around until I found out what to do.

How To Dispute A Copyright Strike

1. About a minute or so after you upload a video, the music on the video will trigger an automated notice. Next to the video you'll see a notice of a Copyright Strike or infringement. In your Video Manager, you'll see Copyright Notices. Click on it.

2. A window will open with information about your song and that explains why you got the notice. You'll see a button to remove the music or to Dispute the copyright strike. Click to DISPUTE the notice. Fill out the form giving the reason why you say you have the legal right to use the music.

Example, if you obtained the music as a Registered User on Animoto: "The music on this video was obtained from the Animoto Music Library and is licensed for use by Animoto Registered Users. I am an Animoto Registered User."

3. You'll have to "sign" your legal name to the claim form.

4. Submit the claim. You'll have to affirm a couple of times that you wish to dispute the claim. Hang in there and keep doing it. You'll feel as if they're trying to coerce you not to dispute the claim so just follow the procedure.

5. You'll receive acknowledgement of your claim filed along with a date that the dispute will be resolved.

6. Check your Video Manager to make sure the claim has been resolved.

Takeaway Truth

Video is another tool in your promotion/publicity tool box so learn how to use it.

Reminder: Enter To Win Free Video

1. Like any of my videos that I've created on my YouTube channel and Subscribe.

2. Post the video you like to your Facebook or Twitter then leave a comment on this post (or any Friday post--they're always about video--through June 20) with the link to your Facebook or Twitter account so I can click to visit it.

3. This giveaway is open from May 19, 2014, through June 20, 2014. The winner will be chosen at random from all comments and notified on or before June 23. On June 27, the winner's video will be featured on SlingWords.

That's it! I'll draw from all those who have left a comment with the link they posted to Facebook or Twitter (either a comment on this post or on any Friday video post) and award a free video of 30-90 seconds in length. If you know anything about videos for book trailers, etc. you know they're expensive to purchase so this is a great chance to get your own video.

Thursday3Some: Dark Angel by TJ Bennett

On this fine summer day, I have T.J. Bennett visiting SlingWords to talk about her novel Dark Angel: A Gothic Fairy Tale.

Meet T.J. Bennett

TJ Bennett, a 2014 Romance Writers of America Rita contest nominee for her historical romance Dark Angel: A Gothic Fairy Tale, is known for her outside-the-box historical romances, smart heroines, and sexy heroes. She has won or been nominated for numerous writing awards in her fourteen-year writing career, including the Book Buyers Best, the Holt Medallion, the Golden Heart, the Rebecca, and the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.

Find T.J. Bennett Online

Twitter: @TJBennettauthor
Facebook: TJBennettAuthor
Blog: http://www.tjbsopinion.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.tjbennett.com/

About Dark Angel

In this Gothic Historical Romance, a woman with a troubled past shipwrecks on a mysterious island whose master has deadly secrets of his own. Think Beauty and the Beast meets Lost.

When did you write Dark Angel?

I completed Dark Angel: A Gothic Fairy Tale, in 2011, but it wasn't published until 2013 after Entangled Publishing picked it up.

What was the spark that gave you the story idea?

I love the story Beauty and the Beast. Not the Disney version, but the original dark version of the fairytale. I wanted to explore that darkness and was halfway through writing the book before I realized I was writing a Gothic. I used to be a big fan of movies like Rebecca, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights, so I tried to build that same sense of mystery and eeriness into my story. The enigmatic hero, the spirited heroine, the mysterious townspeople, the dark, explosive secrets--I eat that stuff up!

Why do readers buy Dark Angel?

I think they are looking for the same things I was...something old school, deeply romantic, and a little bit scary. I've upped the ante by making my heroine an experienced widow instead of an ingénue, and she proves to be more than a match for my tortured, magical hero. So, a bit of the old, a bit of the new.

Buy Links for Dark Angel: A Gothic Fairy Tale

Amazon Kindle

Nook


Takeaway Truth

Have you filled your vacation book bag? Better shop now!

Meet Jennifer DeCuir

Today's guest on SlingWords is Jennifer DeCuir, a writer living in the Pacific Northwest. Jennifer stays busy wrangling two kids, two cats, a dog and her man-child aka her husband. She relies heavily on coffee and chocolate.

Find Jennifer DeCuir Online

Goodreads - http://bit.ly/1k35SPl
Pinterest - http://bit.ly/17yjxON
Twitter - http://bit.ly/160UYHt
Facebook - http://on.fb.me/HdgQXi
Website - http://bit.ly/1bbkFom

Jennifer DeCuir Tackles the Dirty Dozen

In which genre do you write and why that particular genre?

I write small town contemporaries. I started out wanting to write for Harlequin American and just wrote according to their guidelines – mostly because they had a shorter word count than most single titles and I was too scared to attempt anything longer. Now that I’ve written a few, the word count doesn’t scare me and the settings keep drawing me back.

What's your most recent book and what's it about?

My latest book is Wynter’s Journey (released April 14th). A childhood promise brings Wynter and Sam together again after tragedy ripped them apart over ten years earlier. Fate has given him a second chance to tell her how he feels. This time he's not going to run.

As an author, what can readers expect when they read one of your books?

Readers can expect a sweet, heartwarming story from me, with at least one love scene. I love including family, children and babies whenever I can. Family, to me, is not always defined by blood, so often secondary friend characters become invaluable to the story.

How did you "become" an author? For instance, was there a moment when you said: "I think I'll write a book."

I’m one of those people who has been writing in spiral notebooks since grade school. I still have a couple of them, but I think I’d be horribly embarrassed to read anything I’d written earlier than high school.

What's the best thing about being an author?

I am lucky enough to write from home and not miss anything about being a mom.

What's the worst thing about being an author?

I have to set my own hours and I find that I am terribly lazy and easily distracted.

Do you have editions of your books available other than ebook editions?

My first two books, Drawn to Jonah and Five of Hearts, are also available as print on demand editions. My publisher has sent off the batch with Wynter’s Journey, so that will be available in print form very soon.

Do you listen to audio books? If so, what device do you use?

The only audio book I own, currently, is The Hobbit. I turn it up on my phone, in the car on long rides (if I’m not having to use the GPS on my phone).

What device do you use to read ebooks?

My ereader is a Kindle Paperwhite. Amazon’s one-click is evilly dangerous. I’m a book-aholic!

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

Step outside your comfort zone. Sitting at your computer and writing your book is the easy part. Sharing it with an editor, a reviewer or reader? It’s terrifying but necessary. Put yourself out there and ask for what you want. It’s not just going to be handed to you. You have to work for it.

If you could tell readers one thing, what would it be?

Writers rely on reviews and word of mouth. It’s our bread and butter. If you read a book you really enjoyed, talk it up. Writing a review on Amazon or B&N is very easy and isn’t a huge time suck. Tell your best friend, your family and your dentist. Share the love.

What is your big dream (or goal) as a writer?

Can I go huge? My original big dream as a writer was to see my books on a shelf at Barnes & Noble. Reality set in and I got published by a small epress and my books will likely never see an actual chain bookstore. But that’s okay – I have a bigger idea now. Hallmark channel. I would LOVE to see one of my books made into a TV movie. That would be the ultimate dream come true. (Extra points if I get to help cast the roles.)

Buy Wynter's Journey

Crimson Romance

Amazon Kindle

Google Play

iTunes

Nook

Takeaway Truth

I love it when writers dream big. Readers, show some love to Jennifer and her book. Grab a copy today.

Weddings on Main Street

Weddings on Main Street, a Collection of 11 Novellas by the Bestselling Authors of Main Street--of which I am one!--was released today!

My contribution is April Fool Bride and, for now, can only be found in this box set.

I created a video that shows each book cover and gives a 1-2 sentence blurb about each book. Take a look. Leave a comment on this video here on the blog to be entered in the giveaway I've been conducting. Details below the video player.



Details on Win a Video Book Trailer

1. Like any of my videos that I've created on my YouTube channel and Subscribe.

2. Post the video you like to your Facebook or Twitter then leave a comment on this post (or any Friday post--they're always about video--through June 20) with the link to your Facebook or Twitter account so I can click to visit it.

3. This giveaway is open from May 19, 2014, through June 20, 2014. The winner will be chosen at random from all comments and notified on or before June 23. On June 27, the winner's video will be featured on SlingWords.

That's it! I'll draw from all those who have left a comment with the link they posted to Facebook or Twitter (either a comment on this post or on any Friday video post) and award a free video of 30-90 seconds in length. If you know anything about videos for book trailers, etc. you know they're expensive to purchase so this is a great chance to get your own video.

You Are Cordially Invited to Weddings on Main Street


Here are the 11 books offered in the box set collection:

What a Cowgirl Wants by Tori Scott: Wedding bells ring for Blake and Mandy. When Blake's dad interferes, will Mandy get her fairy tale wedding?

April Fool Bride by Joan Reeves: Is it a marriage of convenience or something more? Something that sizzles like steam heat between Maddie and Jake that neither can deny.

Wedding Surprise by Mona Risk: Claire and David receive startling news. Will it destroy their relationship, or will love turn the worst news into the best?

Small Town Glamour Girl by Stephanie Queen: Julie and Jack are over-the-moon in love. When their moms reveal a stunning secret, will Julie and Jack still say I do?

The Vow by Pepper Phillips: Ann thinks no man wants her, but Clay wants her. Can she forget the past and open her heart? Or will she run again?

The Reluctant Bride by Jill James: Jimmy and Claire were high school sweethearts, but ten years later they're still not married. Jimmy has a plan to finally get Claire down the aisle.

Kiss the Bridesmaid by Susan R. Hughes: Wedding Photographer Jake attracts bridesmaid Mari. Life is sweet, but will the past threaten their future?

Second Chance Wedding by Leigh Morgan: Broken-hearted, Sunshine MacAlister leaves home. Twelve years later she returns for a wedding and faces the man she loved and left.

Once Upon a Wedding by Kelly Rae: Cassie is always a bridesmaid, and that's the problem! But the only man who appeals to her always has a date for those weddings!

Stuck With You by Kristy Tate: Whit pays Andie to be his wedding date--that's his plan to stop his matchmaking mom. But will Andie lose her heart to Whit?

I Thee Wed by E. Ayers: Julia puts her heart into Main Street Bridal Salon until she meets Aaron who proceeds to sweep her off her feet.

Please visit the Facebook page for Authors of Main Street and LIKE the page. Look for the invitation to the Facebook party planned for next week.

By the way, if you haven't already LIKEd my Facebook page, Joan Reeves Writes, please LIKE it now. *g* (I reciprocate if I haven't liked yours yet so just leave me a message or send a request.)

Takeaway Truth

Accept your invitation today to Weddings on Main Street.

Thursday3Some: The Soldier and the Rose by Linda Barrett

I'm happy to shine the Thursday3Some Spotlight on my friend Linda Barrett and her novel, The Soldier and the Rose.

Who Is Linda Barrett

Linda grew up in Queens, New York, and earned her B.A and M.S. at Hunter College. She lived in Massachusetts and Texas before she and her husband relocated to the Tampa, Florida area. Linda’s written over a dozen contemporary romance novels, a women's fiction novel, and a memoir about surviving breast cancer twice. Currently, Linda is working on a new romance series called Sea View House, the first of which will be released this summer.

Find Linda Barrett Online


Website: http://www.linda-barrett.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/linda.barrett

Blurbing The Soldier and the Rose

From the Greatest Generation, a love story to remember…

Two soldiers go off to war in Europe. Only one returns home.

Rose Kaufman’s grief is soul deep. Her husband, Joe, had been her one true love. When Charlie Shapiro shows up with stories of Joe, eager to rebuild his war-shattered life with Rose and her baby daughter, she warns that a marriage of convenience would be unfair to him.

Through the years, Charlie wonders if he’ll always be second best. Who is her true love? The man she married with all her heart, or the man who married her with all of his? It’s a question only Rose can answer.

When did you write The Soldier and the Rose?

I originally wrote The Soldier and the Rose for Harlequin’s Everlasting Love series in 2007. The series folded rather quickly. When the publishing rights returned to me this year, I immediately made the story available electronically and in print. I released it in May 2014. Just last month!

What was the spark that gave you the story idea?

When she was about 85 years old, my mother-in-law handed me a folder of wartime correspondence she’d had with her husband during WWII. She’d retyped all the faded V-mail and letters, truly a labor of love. As I browsed his letters home, my father-in-law’s description of a three-story barn caught my attention. His unit had enjoyed a 24 hour rest. A popular song played on the radio, and his yearning for home transcended all else. He was G.I. Joe, and a story was born.

Why do readers buy The Soldier and the Rose?

The cover is beautiful. In an instant readers can see it’s a tribute to the Greatest Generation… and a wartime love story. A tug at the heart. Hopefully, those readers who’ve read my other books will trust me to do justice to this story as well.

Buy Links for The Soldier and the Rose

Amazon Kindle


Barnes & Noble


Kobo

Takeaway Truth

Readers, if you want a deeply emotional novel, then grab this one quick. Linda is a master of pushing those emotional hot buttons we all have.

Last Days to Enter Lone Star Writing Contest

You still have a few days left to enter the 22nd Annual Lone Star Writing Competition, sponsored by Northwest Houston RWA©. 

The contest closes June 8!

This year, a Romance Novella category, to include all sub-genres of romance, has been added.

What Makes This Contest Different

The Lone Star Writing Competition is one of the few contests where each first round entry is judged by 2 published authors plus 1 unpublished author. The Finalists’ entries will be judged by 3 industry professionals, agents, editors, and Epublishers.

Details

• Entry fee: $25
• Deadline: June 8, 2014, midnight CDT
• Finalists announced: August 18, 2014
• Winners announced: October 4, 2014, at Lone Star Conference in Houston, TX.

For The Rules, click here.

For the Entry Form, click here.

Final Judges

Contemporary Series: rica Thompson, coordinator

• Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
• Editor: Piya Campana, Harlequin
• Epublisher Tara Gelsomino, Crimson Romance

Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal: Emmly Jane, coordinator

• Editor Junessa Viloria, Random House
• Editor Brenda Chin, ImaJinn Books
• Epublisher Chris Keeslar, Boroughs Publishing Group

Historical / Regency: Christiana Tegethoff, coordinator

• Agent Holly Lorincz, MacGregor Literary Agency
• Epublisher Allison Byers, The Wild Rose Press
• Epublisher Debby Gilbert, Soul Mate Publishing

Inspirational: Anna Katherine Lanier, coordinator

• Agent Kimberly Shumate, Living Word Literary Agency
• Editor Raela Schoenherr, Bethany House Publishers
• Epublisher Nicola Martinez, Pelican Book Group

Romance Novella: Ruth Kenjura, coordinator

• Editor Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing
• Epublisher Alycia Tornetta, Entangled
• Epublisher Cindy Davis, The Wild Rose Press

Romantic Suspense: Robin Sweet, coordinator

• Agent Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds, LLC
• Editor Alicia Condon, Brava (Kensington)
• Epublisher Char Chaffin, Soul Mate Publishing

Single Title: Sarah Andre, coordinator

• Agent Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, Foreword Literary Agency
• Editor - Katherine Pelz, Berkley Publishing Group (Penguin Group)
• Epublisher Pat van Wie, BelleBooks

Young Adult: J.D. Faver, coordinator

• Agent Jenny Bent, The Bent Agency
• Editor Niki Flowers, BelleBooks Inc.
• Editor Annie Stone, Harlequin Teen

Questions

Need a specific answer or further information? Contact Contest Coordinator Patti Macdonald by email: PattiAnnMacdonald at gmail dot com.

Takeaway Truth

Take advantage of this chance to get your work in front of credible judges. Don't delay. Enter today.