ACME AUTHORS LINK

Being a Reader and a Writer

2012-01-29T08:47:00.003-06:00

I used to love to read romance. I could spend hours lost in the story of someone else's happily ever after. Once I'd start one, I'd pretty much be lost to anything else as I hungrily devoured each and every sentence and page, not putting the book down until I'd read the very last word.

I still love romance. But it's harder to read these days. Especially when I'm in the middle of my own story. If I'm working on a mss, reading another romance is too distracting. I can't get caught up in another story when I need to be caught up in mine. And then there are those rules. As a writer, we're taught to follow certain 'rules' in romance: POV, show, don't tell, stay away from -ly words, etc. etc. So it drives me crazy when I'm reading a romance when the author doesn't follow these rules.

Sometimes I get dejected, too. As I read I think I won't ever be able to write a story as good as this one. Of course I swing the other way, too, and get haughty with the How in the world did this ever get published? I am a million times better than this.

And then I've been judging contest entries. I don't mind helping my RWA chapter out, but I tend to be a very critical judge. Maybe moreso than is warranted. It's those rules again. Since I'm in the middle of a mss trying very hard to follow those rules myself, all I can spot in the entries I'm reading are the times the author hasn't followed them. (And isn't it funny how it's so much easier to find these 'errors' in another's writing than in your own?) It makes it difficult to get into the story.

It kind of bums me out that reading romance isn't quite as much fun as it used to be. I got a Kindle for Christmas and it's already loaded with lots of books: mostlys romance, but not all. I also bought a whole bunch of paperback series romance when Borders went out of business. But I'm having a hard time getting motivated to read any of this. Maybe when I'm done with the mss I'm working on I'll be more in the mood.

For now, since I can't be without something to read, I've picked up the Harry Potter series again. I've read it a couple of times already, but, not only is it a good story, it's a safe story for now. Completely different in style and genre than what I'm working on. So there's no confusion. No noticing when rules are broken. I tend to read a lot of YA these days. Mostly first person, which again is different from anything I'm working on, so it doesn't mess with my head or creative flow.

*sigh* It's tough to be a romance writer who's also a reader.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Amy Alessio and Hearts & Daggers by Margot Justes

2012-01-28T08:47:00.004-06:00

I'd like to introduce my partner in crime or in Hearts & Daggers, Amy Alessio.

Amy is an outstanding YA librarian, an author, a collector of vintage cookbooks, and Amy offers very successful cooking & cookbook programs to Libraries-successful as in room filled to capacity-successful. Did I forget to mention that Amy is a wife and mother? I have no idea how she does it, maybe some of her energy will rub off on me. Amy was the driving force behind Hearts & Daggers, and I'm absolutely delighted to introduce Amy to Acme Authors.

Thanks so much to Margot and Acme Authors for letting me discuss my vintage cookbook and crafts fixation and how that resulted in the novella I wrote as part of the Hearts and Daggers Valentine’s mystery trilogy. Like Margot Justes and Mary Welk, the authors who round out the trilogy, my story is part of a series. I’ve now published four stories about Alana O’Neill, a bookkeeper at an antiques mall. In this adventure, Alana and her eighteen year old son Elliott try to figure out what happened when a booth owner is murdered. They are in the midst of a Valentine’s weekend festival at the mall. One speaker at the festival is Rebecca Standish from Margot’s story, talking about the art of valentines. Mary’s Caroline Rhodes character also makes an appearance in the story and Alana has a cameo in each of the other novellas.

Alana, much like her author, collects vintage cookbooks. Also like her author, she’s not a great cook. A new café is opened in the antiques mall and one of the bakers makes fun of the foods in old cookbooks, something not easily forgiven by Alana. Alana tries to make a fancy chili chocolate candy herself to show she can be modern –with terrible results. Did I mention Blast From the Past, my novella, contains over twenty recipes and variations? One is for eight variations of classic Butter Cake. All the Alana stories have recipes, and no chili chocolates appear, don’t worry. I’ve enclosed one of the recipes below for you to enjoy. If you like seeing recipes from old cookbooks stop by the Vintage Cookbooks and Crafts blog at my site. I love it when people write in with their own food memories.

Alana has a lot on her mind besides recipes after a booth owner is murdered. She researches how the crime is tied to a diary and a necklace that owner had recently found in boxes of stuff brought in to the mall. Elliott is a big help to her as always but is also busy denying a crush on a lovely teen vintage clothing collector.

It was a Blast for me to do this project with Margot and Mary and we are looking forward to a Halloween trilogy from our series this year as well. I suspect there will be haunted objects in the antiques mall among other odd occurrences.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Punch Bowl Cookies
½ lb. butter
5 Tblsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
Form small balls – press with fork or glass. Bake for 10 minutes at 375F. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar while still warm. Makes 3 dozen.

-Amy Alessio

More Elements of Style

2012-01-26T22:49:00.000-06:00

Ahhh...class is in session. OK....about that wind whipping about ghostlike in your story and why it works... Look up metaphor and simile....in any grammar text. This is the nifty writers' tool for saying such as My father was like a tree, tall and straight and beautiful....LIKE is the KEY...you get to this kind of metaphor via LIKE and the word AS used in the "double AS" sense... Example: When I was a kid, my dad was as tall as a tree, and just as straight and beautiful.

Like and AS - your keys to how disparate things are alike....creating a connection between truly unconnected things. A man is not a tree...but we can imagine he is LIKE a tall Oak. Or Mother was as hard and callous as stone (logically impossible but metaphorically possible).

Take it a step farther and often it is cool if you can turn the metaphor or simile - how things are kinda sorta alike to say they are equals, THE SAME. This is an absolute statement. Absolutes take you to a higher level of IMAGERY (which this is all about...pictures in your readers' minds). Look up Absolutes - words that are absolute...EXAMPLE... The fog is a veil. It is not LIKE a veil or as thick as a veil....it g'damn sure IS a veil...IS acts as an EQUAL (=) SIGN.

'Nother example. The man is a walking cipher, or timepiece, or enigma. The man is a walking encyclopedia. More flowery might be: The thick jungle became a carpet of blackness by nightfall. A camel is a horse created by committee. Lots of jokes rely on metaphor, simile, and absolutes.
It is also an absolute to say simply this: The fog lifted from the carpeted cemetery.

THINK about that sentence. The fog did not SEEM to be lifting...did not perhaps or maybe begin to make a move toward lifting (Qualifiers - BAD for sentences, weakens them). No, the fog "ABSOLUTELY" lifted, NO doubt about it. AND the cemetery is absolutely carpeted....ever been to Arlington National Cemetery?

This is the magic secret surrounding that kind of thinking. My wife wrote a novel, The Well Meaning Killer. She had me edit it, of course, and there was a scene where her heroine goes out for a jog in the city of Baltimore and all along her route are trash bags for delivery pick up in her neighborhood, and being a cop, her first thought is how it looks...It looked as if the street was littered with body bags.

She put the bags out there; I merely suggested the body bag image come from her character's sense of things. The author liked it, and she added it.

Of course, if you like the ghost image I added in this article in first paragraph, and it is likely that you do, by all means it is YOURS for the taking. No one owns imagery, symbolism, representational language. Hey even Shakespeare learned from authors that came before him...like Plutarch from who he stole much.

Well just be certain to look up Qualifiers in a grammar book to know what to avoid; sometimes, as in the use of sometimes in this sentence, a qualifier like some, very, maybe, perhaps, etc. is 'absolutely' needed but most are way overused, for instance a word like VERY, maybe, perhaps, and the phrases 'I think' and 'in my opinion' and 'to me'....when it is totally NOT needed and only undercuts your strong sentence, weakening it.

By all means, look up Absolutes, words that are opposite in nature to Qualifiers. No wishy-washy with these words and using them MOST of the time, working toward all the time (all is absolute, most is qualifier) makes your fiction STRONG in voice so the reader BELIEVES you and is so willing to follow you because you are not 'hedging' like a politician (in my opinion).

This coupled with metaphor and simile gives readers a strong visual image deposited in their minds. One reviewer once said of my book of the time, "Mr. Walker quite literally snatches the reader's mind for the duration of the book!" -- Midwest Book Review, it was. Love that as that is my goal...my watchword stamped in my mind's eye is MAKE it COMPELLING - and do not forget to bring in your POV character in each scene via his five senses, his eyes, brain, hands, nose, smeller, taster, ears.

These are the elements of style. For more find my Dead on Writing on Kindle books or read my Titanic 2012 or Bismarck 2013 to determine if I practice what I preach.

I hope you will find time to comment here!
Rob Walker

www.robertwalkerbooks.com

Children's Workshop, by DL Larson

2012-01-26T08:20:00.003-06:00

A local school has planned "Career Week" for their fourth graders. The premise is to help students learn more about opportunities and career choices beside the favorite ones like firemen, nurses and doctors. I've been asked to talk about being a writer and librarian, and give the kids a chance to explore what a career in books might hold for them. I'll also be doing a writers workshop with them.

The workshop should be fun. We'll break down a fairytale and talk about characters, plot and the action that moves a story from beginning to finish. We'll also talk about illustrators since so many children enjoy drawing. What I'd be interested in hearing from you, is what made you realize storytelling was the career choice for you. Kids love to hear how "real" people decided on a career.

The other question, other than becoming writers, editors, publishers, and librarians, etc. what are some careers that utilize wordsmiths? If you know of a career that involves writing, please share with us today. I'm sure the kids would be interested in hearing about those too.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts! Thanks ~

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Deteor to Tour

2012-01-25T11:32:00.002-06:00

I've been on a Blog Book Tour promoting my new paranormal romantic thriller, Forever Young: Blessing or Curse. Today, I'm at Maryann Miller's blog, where we're discussing the Fountain of Youth myth, if you care to join in. The permalink is below.

http://its-not-all-gravy.blogspot.com/2012/01/wednesdays-guest-morgan-mandel.html

If you'd like to catch the rest of the tour, or see some of the stops already concluded, where some of the topics discussed were: Do Looks Matter, Them Bones, Them Bones, Am I Old Yet, Why Would Anyone Do Such a Thing, here's the link:

http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/

Thanks,
Morgan Mandel

Time Flies When You're Busy

2012-01-24T19:47:00.004-06:00

I haven't posted in awhile, something that was unintentional. There are many reasons I've been too busy to post but one of them is that I just finished the final rewrite of my first novel. YEAH! I don't have all the information yet to post about publication dates, etc., BUT I just wanted to share this milestone.

Of course, I'm also getting ready for the Love Is Murder Mystery Conference happening the weekend of Februray 3-5. For those who haven't attended please check out www.loveismurder.net for more information. Take special note of our pre-conference book signing with our headliners:

Donald Bain
Julie James
David Morrell
Hank Phillippi Ryan

and local guest of honor - Julie Hyzy.

Then April 27-28 I'm attending the 2012 Spring Fling Writer's Conference (http://www.chicagospringfling.com)

Hope to see some familiar and new faces at both events.

I Heart Zombies, kind of ...Fave Topics...

2012-01-23T12:37:00.007-06:00

Sometimes you write something, never realizing that you might have started a new writing trend for yourself.

I've always read horror. Love it. And the recent craze with zombies, got me thinking, so I wrote a short story, THE KILLER VALENTINE BALL, never realizing I'd embarked on a topic that would hold my interest for a while.

That story, where a girl goes on a "killer" date and experiences a night she'll never forget was a fun foray into light horror with a touch of humor.

Then, last year lightning struck again when I came up with a new story about a teen girl turning zombie with some different situations and again, some humor. I mean, zombies are kind of funny. (Watch Zombieland and see if you don't laugh.) That story wouldn't let go and turned into a full novel, which I've been sending around.

The main thing I learned in all this:
* you never know where stories are going to come from.
* Write your reading interests. I like mysteries but horror was easier and more fun to write.
* Have fun writing. If you don't enjoy it, why bother?
* What's your tip?

Approaching Deadlines

2012-01-22T11:12:00.003-06:00

I was taking stock this weekend and realized I have a lot of irons in the fire these days. Some with fast approaching deadlines.

My WIP "An Unexpected Blessing" is a Thanksgiving story. If I want to have a chance of having it published this year, the mss needs to be submitted to my editor at Wild Rose by February 23. So I have about a month to go on that. In order to give myself some time to do some decent editing and polishing, I set a goal at my local RWA chapter to have the first draft done by January 30. I have a week to go on that.

At first I envisioned a story of 20,000 words, but there is still much of the romance unfolding, so I upped it to 25,000. At the 20K I was about 90% done. With the 25K I'm about 75% done. Doable in a week, sure. But I'm not sure if 25K is going to be enough to tell the story.

Then I'm pitching to an editor from Harlequin in April. I need to do a thorough looksie through that mss to make sure it's in tip top shape. I'm about three months out on that one.

On the burner as well I have rewrites and revisions on another project for a different editor at Wild Rose. There's no deadline, per se, on this, but it would be nice to get it back to her sooner rather than later.

To top it all off, we're in the heart of basketball season at school and my time isn't always my own.

So, on that note, I'm going to sign off of this blog, and use the keyboard for other matters!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Hearts & Daggers by Margot Justes

2012-01-21T12:11:00.001-06:00

Shameless self promotion, Hearts and Daggers is out earlier than expected and is available on amazon.com. In a way, it's sort of like giving birth-plenty of anxiety and wonder. Is anyone going to like it? What should or could have been done differently? Was it ready to go out? Will it ever be ready to go out?

A Fire Within was edited professionally, and edited by my critique partner, and I won't tell you how many time I went over it. Let's simply say, many, many times, it's all part of the writing process. The other part is the one that doesn't want to let go.

However, the voices in my head are persistent, maybe just one more time-but when you're coming up against a deadline-at some point-as a writer you have to say enough, it's time to give birth.

Once you give birth, the trepidation begins, and it really is sort of like giving birth. The wonder of the little person you brought into the world sinks in and then overwhelming terror grips you. The tremendous responsibility for that precious life you have assumed as a parent will last for the rest of your life. Now that is commitment.

At the onset, releasing a new book is giving birth to a new project, but it is only a story and once the butterflies settle down in my stomach, I will think rationally and hope readers will enjoy the story, and feel happy after they read it. It is after all a story and not a lifetime commitment to parenthood.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
Hearts & Daggers
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

What's Your Preference? by DL Larson

2012-01-19T08:44:00.003-06:00

Since the weather has decided to act like winter in the midwest, I've had a quick wake-up on how cold it can become in such a short time. Writing about the weather can be challenging. When the storms come to Illinois the wind has usually changed and/or collided with another wind and it stirs up all kinds of craziness. Consider The Wizard of OZ; it all started with an unexpected twister. In order for the reader to understand the effects the weather has placed on the characters, the writer must explain in vivid detail the situation. When a basic element changes, our characters are forced to act or react, bringing out the true nature of their beliefs.

When I was researching my Civil War story (still unpubbed at this time) my character is with his unit in Tennessee in mid-February. Tennessee weather is fickle and the warmth of the sun had many soldiers tossing off their winter coats, dropping them along the road. That night, a documented truth, a bitter snow storm swept across the country, leaving the Yankee boys unprotected. Writing that scene was exciting and humbling, realizing many suffered because of their earlier actions. They had moved too far down the road to retrieve their coats. Their naivete caused them misery.

Similarly in my second book, Promises To Keep, one of my characters is sweltering in the Kentucky summer sun, sitting by the river in nothing but a petticoat. She and her children are trying to cool off in the miserable heat by spending time at the water's edge. Her decision to disrobe quickly become a mistake when another disrupts their picnic.

I'm not sure which scene I enjoyed writing the most. Neither were easy; both had their quirks to be ironed out to get the words just right. I'm not sure which I enjoy reading the most either. I still cringe when I read about the soldiers struggling to stay alive. And my character, Annie, caught unexpectedly in such disarray because of the heat, catches my breath at her vulnerability.

My dilemma may never be answered, I realize I enjoy using the weather to create suspense, drama and challenge for my characters. How about you? Do you enjoy cold or heat the most for your scenes? Share with us!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Share Your Latest Review

2012-01-18T10:01:00.000-06:00

New Review for Forever Young: Blessing or Curse, my Fountain of Youth paranormal romantic novel -

Terry says, "I truly enjoyed this story, reading a few chapters each night just before falling asleep, and looking forward to my "story time" each night! Mandel's main characters are more than three dimensional,sharing their inner thoughts as the story develops. Her settings are very easily seen through the characters' eyes, and the story line itself is just far enough fetched to hold the reader's interest through the various twists and turns of the plot."

Link to entire review -

http://www.amazon.com/review/RIM90J160YAF9/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B006MO28CQ&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=

That's my latest review. What's yours?
Show some of your review and the link in the comment section here. Don't post the whole thing, because reviewers don't like that.

Morgan Mandel
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com/

Winter Has Arrived

2012-01-15T11:01:00.004-06:00

Well, we finally have snow here in the MidWest. With Christmas being just under a month ago, it's actually pretty anti-climactic for me. The snow looks pretty, and I haven't had to drive too far in it, so I'm not really annoyed with the snow, but I'm not over-joyed about the snow either. To be honest, since it wasn't here for Christmas, I could have gone all season without it. But, considering I live in a Chicago suburb, that wasn't going to be too likely.

Snow days are nice...an unexpected day off is always nice...but there wasn't enough for that. Maybe another storm will grant us one of those. But again, if this were it for the year...I'd be okay with that, too.

Being set at a ski lodge, snow did figure prominantly in my Christmas release A Christmas to Remember, but I tend to set my stories in the summer or the fall: My favorite seasons. Fall is so sensory, and summer, is well, summer. The hot, sultry temperatures can reflect the steamy tension between the hero and heroine.

What's your favorite season to write about?

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Projects by Margot Justes

2012-01-14T14:21:00.002-06:00

I'm happy to say my novella will see the light of day February 1st, in time for Valentine's Day. A Fire Within along with Amy Alessio's Blast from the Past and Mary Welk's Framed complete the Hearts and Daggers anthology. We're celebrating Valentine's Day in style, by releasing three stories that celebrate the holiday. Hallmark move over.

We talked about the novellas while I was still with Echelon Press, the project fell through, we got busy with life. It seems we never let go of the idea, because we finished the stories, but life continued to move on.

One day I received an e-mail from Amy to see if we were still interested in the project. My immediate response was yes. Yes, I am. Mary said yes, and the anthology was re-born. The next thing we need to do is let everyone know it's out there, or soon will be.

This year I made a resolution I want to stick to-no, not the diet-that is a one day at a time project, and today we won't talk about that. I want to learn how to market on line, follow in the footsteps of Joe Konrath and Rob Walker, fellow Acme blogger.

Yes, I know they are both well known authors and masters in the craft of promoting, and I'm not, but if I'm going to learn, I'm going to learn from the best.

I have an ambitious plan this year to re-release a short story in May, a newly edited version of A Hotel in Paris in June. Paris is lovely in June, well, Paris is lovely any time of year, but I picked June.

I digress here, back to my planned releases, Blood Art, my vampire tale should be all set for Halloween and there is talk we'll do another anthology for Halloween.

The time not spent at my day job, hopefully will be spent in my office, doing what I love to do. Write.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

Contests and Conferences by DL Larson

2012-01-12T08:10:00.006-06:00

Now that most have gotten settled into the new year and have a 2012 calendar, it's time to make some writing commitments. Below are a few contests and conferences that might be worth your while. If you're like me, if it's not on the calendar it doesn't happen. Take a moment to plan the next few months.

CONFERENCES
Top on my list is ...
1. April 27-28: Chicago North RWA, SpringFling Conference, Hoffman Estates, IL
2. March 2-3: North LA Storytellers & Authors of Romance, Written in the Stars Conference, Shreveport, LA
3. March 16-18: Gulf Coast RWA, Silken Sands Conference, Pensacola Beach, FL
4. April 27-28: New England RWA, Let Your Imangination Take Flight Conference, Salem, MA
5. April 27-29: Mid-Michigan RWA, Retreat from Harsh Reality Conference, Augusta, MI

If you're looking for a get-away this winter ~ there may still be room to attend:
San Francisco Writers Conference: Feb. 16-20, contact www.SFWriters.org
Or in Colorado:
Writing for the Soul, Feb. 16-19, sponsored by Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, Denver. www.ChristianWritersGuild.com
also in Florida:
Space Coast Writers Guild Annual Writer's Conference, January 27-28, Cocoa Beach. www.scwg.org.

February Contests:
2012 Laurie Contest, sponsored by Smoky Mt. RWA, deadline Feb. 1st. This contest is open to published and unpubbed authors. First 25 pages or 40,000 words of unpubbed work.

2012 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest, deadline Feb. 14th. Also opened to published and unpubbed authors. First chapter or 7,000 words.

Merritt Contest, sponsored by San Antonio Romance Authors, deadline Feb. 14th. Also open to pubbed/unpubbed authors. 25 pages total, including the synopsis.

Fire and Ice Contest, sponsored by ChicagoNorth RWA, deadline Feb. 1st. Open to all types of writers/authors. First chapter or 25 pages.

I hope these contests and conferences prompt you to polish your manuscript and send it out. Finding more about a contest or conference is simple as googling the title or sponsor. Most contests have a modest fee from $18-25 per manuscript entered. Attending a conference or two is costly, but networking and simply being with others who enjoy writing is an experience most writers find not only worthwhile, but inspiring!

I've only listed a small number of opportunities; perhaps a summer conference fits your schedule better. The point is to plan now, make a commitment and then work like the dickens to meet a contest deadline. Feedback regarding your work is invaluable and worth the cost of an entry fee. Winning, now winning a contest, is darn right enjoyable ~ whatever the prize may be!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

What's the Most You Would Pay For an eBook?

2012-01-11T10:23:00.002-06:00

My new paranormal romantic thriller, Forever Young: Blessing or Curse is going for $2.99 on Kindle and Smashwords. My older books, Killer Career, Two Wrongs and Girl of My Dreams are priced at 99 cents each. Are my prices too low? Are they too high?

I'd appreciate your opinion. How much are you willing to pay for an ebook? Does it matter who the author or publisher is?

Please take the survey to the right and I'll announce the results.

You're welcome to come along on my Blog Book Tour.
Thursday I'll be at L. Diane Wolfe's blog, Spunk on a Stick,
where the topic of discussion will be: Do Looks Matter.
The full schedule is at http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/

Thanks,
Morgan Mandel

Savvy Promoting and Impressions - what do you do?

2012-01-09T08:28:00.004-06:00

Funny how important impressions can be.

The latest news is a high school girl recently wanted to put a provocative photo in her yearbook and was turned down. So she gets to go on the Today show.

Oh, and the girl wants to be a model.

Maybe the photo is not so high school yearbook appropriate but - given our media-grabbing world, is this more about getting free publicity than the real issue?

One newsletter I've read talks about tying your book into recent news events. As an author what kinds of situations can we use to get our books out there? Or are there any you have used? (Given the recent types of topics I've been writing on - zombies - that may be hard. ha!)

Your thoughts?

Natural Sounding Dialogue

2012-01-08T08:42:00.002-06:00

As authors we're always told the dialogue between our characters needs to flow naturally and sound like a real conversation. The way things are headed these days, this may no longer be an issue in the near future.

Why?

People don't talk anymore. Technology has replaced much of our face to face communication. E-mails and texts have become the main way people get in touch with each other. Smart phones have brought this trend even closer to the forefront.

Last night we were invited over to some friends' house for dinner and to watch some football. Before the meal was served, we did chat: about our weeks, how a Lasik procedure had gone, what was coming up in our lives. It was a nice way to spend a Saturday evening.

But then after dinner and clean up was over, the guys made themselves comfortable in the living room to watch some football, and the gals gathered around the dining room table. (The way this particular house is set up we were all basically in the same room.) At that point, most conversation ceased. Not because people became engrossed in the game. Nope. Five out of the eight people present took out smart phones or ipads and proceded to play games or check the internet. Suddenly what had been a very social party became a whole bunch of individuals caught up in the technology in the palms of their hands.

Snippets of conversation ensued, but usually only to ask a question about what particular word should be played next, or to ask someone to join in a game with another. As one of the three without my eyeballs literally glued to a tiny screen in front of me, let me tell you, I got bored pretty quickly.

Whatever happened to good old fashioned board games where everyone plays together and talks and laughs and chats while they do? What ever happened to having a verbal conversation with the people sitting in the same room?

(sigh) Call me old fashioned, but I miss the good old days.

So what will our characters do in the future? Text each other? Instant message each other? Play a game of "Words with Friends" instead of having a dinner date? Will their conflicts all be based around technological issues?

I guess we'll be figuring that out pretty soon the way things are going. At least we won't have to worry about that pesky dialogue anymore.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Censorship by Margot Justes

2012-01-07T11:31:00.001-06:00

With age comes wisdom and tolerance, at least that is what they say, whoever they are. Well, I find my intolerance for censorship is growing, not diminishing with age.

We accept the most brutal, disgusting and gory displays of our bodies in books, games and television, the more horrific the better, yet a look at a nude picture or painting puts us in a tizzy. Why?

We all come in different shapes and sizes, and we are all beautiful in our own way. The human body is magnificent it its complexity and function.

When I first saw Goya's the Naked Maja, in the Prado Museum in Madrid, I thought about the beautiful shape of the woman, the skin tone colors the artist used, the comfort of the model lavishly displayed on ruffled pillows, the sensual depiction of the female body. All masterfully portrayed by a magnificent talent. That is what I saw. I did not see depravity or pornography. I saw a beautiful painting.

I understand making a choice, if it offends me I don't buy the book, watch the show, or go to that movie. I make the decision to vote with my pocketbook. I make the choice for me alone. I let others choose. I do not tell them what to read, see or look at.

Censorship is wrong. I'm amazed that as an adult someone will have the right to tell me what to read, or what to look at. It should be my choice.

Recently a fb friend showed a nude picture and some were offended, a naked body...my goodness. My response to the offended individuals don't look, but allow me to make my own decision on whether I find it offensive or not.

So much for my 2012 resolution to be more tolerant, in this case, it's not going to happen.
However, hopefully I'll stick to a semblance of a diet. So far that's not looking too good either...ah well, God willing there is always another year.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

There's Psychopathy then there's Marketing Apathy!

2012-01-05T20:59:00.017-06:00

Norm Cowie w/Rob Walker @www.loveismurder.com conference

Thanks, Rob, Morgan, and everyone at ACME Authors Link for having me back here at youZ guyZes great blog where almost everything goes. I had once been one of youZ, a regular contributor with Acme until I was sucked into the black hole of author marketing apathy - as serious a disorder as writers block!

On that note, it’s time for me to come clean on something that I’ve been hiding from my friends, neighbors and publishers. Something so horrible and ... well... (sigh)... let me just come out and say it.

I was an advertising/marketing major back in college.

Joe Konrath w/Norm Cowie in Galena, IL 2009

There, I said it. And I was pretty good at it, too. I was even selected as one of the University’s five representatives for a national advertising competition. So wouldn’t you think I’d be pretty good at marketing my books?

Nope, I suck at it. And not just a normal suck, but more like the big magic, steroid-inflated Hoover vacuum cleaner of suckage. Even worse, my instincts for knowing which way the wind is blowing pales even compared to that of a naked mole rat.

In August 2009, I went to Galena, Illinois with several other authors including Joe Konrath, Henry Perez, Luisa Buehler and Margot Justes to market our new anthology Missing. We were hosted by fellow author Barbara Anino and her husband in their Bed and Breakfast.

One late evening after we wore everyone else out, it came down to just Konrath, Perez and me lounging in the living room, wearing courtesy b&b robes and bending elbows with liquid we’d liberated from one of Galena’s many wine outlets, and Joe started talking about something he called ebooks.

Ekkk-books?

Joe (we know him now as the Pied Piper of this ebook revolution) said ebooks were going to be the wave of the future, and he was converting all of his previously unpublished work and releasing every title onto Amazon’s Kindle himself. I laughed (easy when you’ve been drinking) and told him he was crazy. Who’d want to read on a tablet?

The truth was I was a bit intimidated by the thought of wrestling with formatting a book to meet this new technology.

Joe wouldn't let it go; he insisted ebooks were about to explode in popularity, so I said, “Tell you what, Joe. How about I give you one of my unpublished books and you convert it to ebook, publish it, and we’ll split the profit?” He firmly and politely said, no, that he wouldn’t feel right, and insisted I consider doing so myself.

Well, we all know what happened with Joe and other of his friends who follwed the Pied Piper into ebooks, and I sure wish he’d have taken me up on my offer -- and/or that I'd gotten off my duff and looked into the possibilities.

Two years later, I belatedly began taking Joe's advice--as had many another 'smart' writer. My first try was with a non-fiction collection of humor essays called, The Guy’d Book, why we leave the seat up ... and other stuff. The Guy’d Book is a collection of humor essays I’d written over the years dealing with being a guy, father and ESPN addict, some parts of which had been published in the Chicago Tribune and Cynic Magazine.

I wrestled with the formatting for both ebook and printed book (using Create Space where I stumbled onto something they called their Cover Creator). With this nifty little tool, I was able to cobble together a usable cover, seeing as without a publisher, I was on my own for covers. Soon after, The Guy’d Book was available as an ebook.

Right around the same time, my contract was expiring with my publisher for my first book, The Adventures of Guy. They offered to renew, but flushed with enthusiasm I took back the rights. In hindsight, I think they were ticked off because citing a clause in our contract, they demanded I remove all images of the book cover from my sites. The clause wasn’t well written, and while I disagreed about the intent of the clause, I decided not to fight (mostly because I never liked the cover all that much in the first place). But it did teach me one important lesson: whenever possible, control your own covers.

Then I turned down my second publisher’s offer to publish WereWoof, the sequel to my first YA vampire book Fang Face, and released it myself on Kindle, followed shortly by my newest adult humor title, Bonk & Hedz, a caveman ... and woman... story. I took my own advice to design and do the artwork for both books.

I now had six books, four of which were self-published, and I sat back and waited for everyone to discover me.

I wasn’t active in forums, did no advertising, no blog tour and otherwise totally neglected my blog, and basically my marketing efforts consisted entirely of watching reruns of Big Bang Theory, doing angry political tweets and checking the ESPN website for news of Peyton Manning’s recovery from neck surgery.

You can probably guess what happened with my book sales. Though the Guy’d Book once nipped into the Top 100, my others were flotsam in the Amazon jet stream. Readers aren’t Christopher Columbus. You have to bring the New World to them, not vice versa.

So I’m finally stepping into the marketing pool encouraged by the seemingly idefatiguable Rob Walker and his results with Kindle Select and other authors who are carving a path to show how to get books out to readers. I'm following his methods along with Joe's these days. Another suggestion Konrath had made was to do short stories, so I’ve released a few onto Smashwords as companion pieces to my other books. Rob's been great at advising me on many otherlooked steps I should be taking as well.

In other words, I’m finally getting off my butt, climbing out of the black hole of marketing apathy and putting fur on my naked mole rat.

So, hi, it’s good to meet you all ...again, and I hope you will please leave a comment. Finally, thanks to all the Acme family here for having me back!

The Guy’d Book is available for free with Kindle Select lending. Here’s my Amazon page: http://amzn.to/l9d9Ya , http://www.normcowie.com

NORM COWIE

New Year, New Laws! by DL Larson

2012-01-05T11:33:00.002-06:00

It takes quite a bit to surprise me, news-wise, at least. I thought I knew most of the new laws passed, buckle up front or backseat, truck drivers must have hands free phones, etc. I never expected to get pulled aside at the grocery store. I wasn't speeding, I wasn't stealing from another's cart, I bought toliet bowl cleaner!

Yep. Stores must now catalog those who purchase toliet bowl cleansers. The manager was called over, and he had his trusty booklet in hand and marked down the brand, expiration number, and other identification regarding the cleaning product I purchased. But it didn't stop there. He needed my full name, my address and county. They, the clerks at Hy-Vee agreed it was a ridiculous rule to enforce and we discussed how the bigger chain stores would handle this new burden. It took only a few moments to comply, but I was thankful I only bought one bottle; sometimes I purchase these type of items in bundles of three or four. Would I have been put on an alert list? Watch this women, nobody needs that much toliet bowl cleaner! Do they know or care I live in the country where rust abounds and I have three bathrooms? How would I explain I like to keep a tidy bowl?

If you haven't purchased toliet cleaner yet this year, beware. One of the chemicals used in the cleaner is toxic and could be dangerous. Duh! It's main compound is some type of bleach! Bleach is dangerous, this is not new news! Toliet cleaners have been known to have ingredients harmful to humans if used inappropriately. Again, this is not new on any level.

Once again it comes down to responsibility. Anything used incorrectly can be harmful. Hot coffee is HOT. Didn't McDonald's try to explain that in the courts? I'm sure some demented soul used toliet bowl cleaner for some creepy purpose and now the rest of us, in part, pay the penalty. Their business is now forced upon us and our freedom to buy in peace wihtout hinderance is once again in jeapardy.

Tracking who purchases what will not stop folks from doing something stupid. How many times must we learn this? We can not police our communities this way. It is a false security. Toliet cleanser terrorists will still surface to harm someone. We can not stop those bent on doing wrong. If not toliet bowl cleaner, it will be something else and the chase to catch up will continue.

Call me irresponsible, but I only want to buy my groceries in peace and not be monitored to such a degree. BIG BROTHER is lurking a little too close as far as I'm concerned.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Chicago-North 14th Annual Fire and Ice Contest

2012-01-04T07:49:00.000-06:00

***Permission to forward both granted and encouraged***

Get those pages ready! Winners will be announced at Spring Fling 2012.

14th Annual Fire and Ice Contest
Sponsor: Chicago-North RWA
Fee: $25 - $30 (RWA members, non-RWA members)
E-Entry Deadline: Midnight of February 1, 2012
Entries Accepted: December 15, 2011
Eligibility: not published in book-length fiction in last 5 years

Enter: prologue/first chapter (25 pages max)

Final round judges:
Single Title- Celina Summers, Musa Publishing
Series Romance - Megan Long, Harlequin
Historical Romance - Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
Women's Fiction w/Romantic Elements - Cori Deyoe, 3 Seas Literary Agency
Paranormal Romance - Cindy Davis, The Wild Rose Press
Young Adult - Emily Easton, Walker Books

For More Information: http://www.chicagonorthrwa.org/
or email the contest coordinator at
contest@chicagonorthrwa.org

Chicago-North is my RWA chapter. It's well known as a great critique chapter. Even if you don't win this contest, you stand a good chance of gaining valuable feedback!

Morgan Mandel

Morgan Mandel's books are all
available on Kindle & Smashwords.

New Goals for 2012 - yours?

2012-01-02T00:00:00.002-06:00

Starting a new year can be cathartic. You clean out the old files, set up a new calendar, and outline new projects.

It's a time to try something new and look ahead.

Most of us have projects that we've started and set aside. Maybe this is the year to try them again?

Of course, sometimes the best projects come unbidden. I'd thought of working on a follow-up to my YA zombie girl story that is now circulating. I had a few, vague ideas.

Funny thing, I glanced at a site for a publisher of short romances and an idea came to mind. There is a love story in the first story, but I had no intention of concentrating on it. But stories sometimes have a way of forming themselves.

So, I've started a new story which involves the old love, and a possible new love. This won't be a normal love story in the typical sense, of course, given that the main character and her boyfriend are both part-zombies. And a first I never thought I'd try - the new interest will be a werewolf. Not sure how it'll work out yet, but it's fun to try something new.

Isn't that what writing should be about?

So, what are your new projects? What are you trying this year that is new to you?

Happy New Year and Happy Writing!

The Best Laid Plans

2012-01-01T11:24:00.002-06:00

I had the greatest plans these past two weeks. In addition to spending time with family and friends over the holidays, I planned on being a 'good' girl.

I was going to work out every day over vacation.

I was going to get a lot of writing done.

And then sickness intruded.

First me. Over the course of the past two weeks I've been sick twice. Nothing major. Just colds and sinus issues. But enough that the idea of the pounding of running or the upside down actions of Yoga and Pilaties was unappealing.

Then my computers (yes, that's plural with an 's') got sick. Virusus. Both of them. The PC and the lap top. At the same time. The lap top is still in the shop.

So, not much working out occured and not much writing occured.

All in all, it told me to not bother to make any New Year's Resolutions. Too much can happen in every day life to make the best of plans go awry. Don't get me wrong, I still would like to accomplish certain things in 2012. I'm just not going to put anything definite in stone. Because things change. Often. And a lot. Which I guess is what makes life exciting and unpredictable. So I'm going to go with the flow and see where it takes me...

Happy New Year!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

New Amazon/Kindle FREE Bks. PROGRAM

2011-12-30T12:16:00.000-06:00

"Does it make sense to give away the store?"
"Are you nuts?"

"What's your new address? Bellvue Hospital?"

These are typical responses to the ebook Indie author who 'buys' into this newly put together brainstorm-result program that is a sly deal between authors and Amazon.com/kindle store where I have an end-cap, a table in the coffee shop, and where I do a lot of time promoting, so when I saw this program come along, I was all-in from the get-go, placing up a number of my titles for the FREE 5-Day promotions push on Amazon (the largest display case for your book in the world!). HOWEVER, as I have said all over the internet, BEWARE and know what you are getting yourself into, for this program is NOT ripe or right for every Indie author. READ the following to follow me on this:

This program is not for everyone but it suits my purposes perfectly as it does Joe Konrath's and many another author who has created a long list of titles on their dashboards. When one or two titles can be put up, others rotated in, it works wonders in garnering huge numbers of new and old readers. Amazon sold 4 million kindle/fire readers in December alone, so consider the numbers if you could get even a small slice of kindle-folks buzzing about your titles. I say it is not for everyone as meaning those who have titles on Smashwords and other ebook stores as part of the agreement is that you have to be exclusive to Kindle for 90 days (3 months), so you have to take down your titles elswhere to participate in this and the loan program attached to it. NO you make no cash on the freebies, but again if you have a lot of books to work with and they are on the kindle shelf (I have close on to 50 odd titles up there) then it can be a great way to garner new
eyes on your titles, covers, descripts and while most will place the book in a to be read stack, you just never know in as big a crowd as these freebies are generating who your book is going to find - reviewers, buzz-byters, screen writers, producers, agents, maybe even an open minded publisher, and certainly a few editors. Maybe. It is all a gamble but then so is any promotion.

For me it is the perfect solution to getting things moving to a new level of sales, I hope....but it was little skin off my nose to jump in with both feet -- all in. Why? Because for 3 years now I have promoted myself as a Kindle Original -- an author who is Exclusive to Kindle. I have not branched out from that in all this time. So I did not have to take down titles from B&N or Smashwords or elsewhere (which is another gamble and not very nice!). My last six finished novels have not even sought out the months of rejection slips or the waiting for a year and a half to see the contracted for title in print!

I saw that Joe Konrath leapt in with both feet as well; I had made my decision independent of Joe, a good friend, but I have followed Joe's advice about ebook publishing from the outset. In fact, Joe dragged me into ebook publishing kicking and screaming and I thank him all the time for doing so. Joe has put up 27 titles on five day promos, maybe more by now. I have put up 30 titles since Dec. 15th which has translated into an amazing 53,794 books given away -- no money changing hands, not a cent.

One title alone went to 20,000 bks. gone after it was placed up on Dec. 18th. UK numbers are added in here. So between US and UK, I have gained a lot more eyes on my pages...or will as time goes by. Never in 30 years of working on and off with traditional publishers have I ever known any author to have that many books go out for 'reviews' and reads -- in fact, I believe most author advance copies go out to approximately 50-150 reviewers. Not that all those takers of my books will review it but every reader is in a sense a 'buzz' reviewer. Gotta give me that, and I have to believe that months from now, I will still be reaping benefits from having placed my titles into this program. Two books I have as yet to enroll in the program but that was only due to some technical problems. I am all in. But as I said at top of this post, it all depends on YOUR circumstances. You may want to do as others have and place one of your titles, a leader for a series for
instance up. If you get five free promotion days for said title, that is money you could not have afforded for the book, so in a real sense, some cash is flowing to you in this to some sweetheart deal.

We've been discussing this up and down on my "What Moves Kindle Bks. off the Shelf" at KDP Community Threads a lot. There are many who see this as authors committing mass suicide, and maybe we are all lemmings going over the edge, but my gut tells me otherwise. Besides, there has got to be a way for a guy like me to make HAY with these numbers just on the face of it. Doing some of that already here and there. Still the numbers of ACTUAL book sales, as predicted by naysayers of the program, have indeed SHRUNK, so I expect any paycheck I get for the month of December will reflect that. As a result, I am taking in laundry and book editing again, pressing the pants and pleats for anyone you might know who needs a book or story autopsy or resuscitation. Send 'em my way. Still working the DAY JOB.

Rob Walker
www.robertwalkerbooks.com
WWW.RobertWalkerbooks.com

This or Next? Which is it? by DL Larson

2011-12-29T07:49:00.002-06:00

Have you ever been in a conversation that left you more confused than usual? Consider the following ...
"I'll see you next Saturday, then," said John.
"I thought we were meeting this Saturday the 31st," Rachel replied.
"That is the next Saturday on the calendar."
"Next Saturday would be January 7th."
"Don't be silly, we'd miss the new year party. I'll see you next Saturday."
"We're talking about this week? Right?"
"Of course."
"Good. I'll see you Saturday."
"That's right, next Saturday!"

You may think this is silly or irrelevant, but I can tell you my husband and I have had this on-going confusion for nearly forty years. I've tried to set him straight many times, but some things one just can't fix.

Webster doesn't help us much either. The definition of NEXT: coming just before or just after; nearest or closest/ the next person in line, the next room; next Monday.
adv. 1. in the nearest place, time, etc. She sits next to me in school. 2. at the first chance after this/ Please wait on me next. What should I do next?
And then Webster describes THIS:the person or thing mentioned or understood/This is Juan. This tastes good./ 2. being the person or thing that is present or nearer. This house is newer than that one.

Not much help from the dictionary. The Elements of Style doesn't discuss the problem, nor does my trusty handbook on Errors in English. But my old English professor talked about it in her list of things to remember. She called them her nuggets of gold.

When talking about time ~ the current week a person is in is called "This week," therefore next is not needed. One could say "I'll see you this Friday," or "I'll see you Friday." The understanding of the immediate upcoming Friday is understood. Next is not needed. Next is best left to standing in line, waiting ones turn, or when discussing the future past the present week one is in. Next week would mean the week beyond the one one is in presently. "I'll see you next week," means the week following the one a person is in. Not this week, but next week.

I feel so much better now that we cleared the confusion over this and next. This weekend we will celebrate the end of this year and welcome in the next one! Right?

Anyway, Happy New Year!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Going on a Tour

2011-12-28T14:13:00.000-06:00

I'm going on a tour soon. The great thing about this tour is I'll be out of the country, yet in it at the same time. That's right, thanks to the Internet, such miracles are possible!

In case you haven't figured it out, I'll be taking a blog book tour, also known as a virtual tour. I'll be visiting various blogs, and doing posts about these hot topics and more:

Are You Comfortable With Your Age?
What's So Great About Being Young?
When Did I Get Old?
What Are the Advantages of Growing Old?

Okay, maybe such topics don't seem too important to you right now. If that's the case, they will someday. (g)

Be that as it may, Forever Young: Blessing or Curse is not only for those who wish they were young again, but also for those who still are. More to follow, but if you can't wait, follow this link at Amazon and you'll find out more about my thriller.

http://tinyurl.com/6tsntn6

Thanks,

Morgan Mandel - http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
Forever Young: Blessing or Curse on Kindle & Smashwords
Killer Career 99 cents on Kindle & Smashwords
Two Wrongs 99 cents on Kindle & Smashwords
Girl of My Dreams 99 cents- Kindle & Smashwords

Naughty or Nice? by DL Larson

2011-12-22T08:52:00.003-06:00

If you grew up in America, then you know Santa is checking his list this week, twice, no less! No crying, no spying, in other words, you better watch out ~ Santa is coming to town!

That all sounds great and inspirational, except for us writers, nice is boring! We need a little naughty, we crave exciting spices to mix and spread around, and we need inspiration in the way of mischief to keep the pages turning.

So in addition to wishing everyone a BLESSED CHRISTMAS, I also wish for you enough spice and trouble to keep your characters moving in the direction they need to go!

Enjoy this time with family and friends ~ enjoy this special time given to us ~ it is the best gift of all. Take a moment to remember ... whether you are naugty or nice, Christmas is for everyone. Christmas is Love!

Merry Christmas!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T19:03:00.001-06:00

The last few weeks have been hectic as I got my backlist books and then my new thriller, Forever Young: Blessing or Curse, ready for Kindle and Smashwords, and also tried to get ready for Christmas. I did get them all up and am still working on the getting ready for Christmas. I have made some progress on clearing my house clutter, and soon will be wrapping presents, so it appears the Christmas goal may also be reached.

Next, I'll be lining up reviews and going on a Blog Book Tour for Forever Young: Blessing or Curse. Full details will be available when they are available. In other words, I don't have everything lined up yet.

Going to relax and watch TV now, unless I fall asleep first!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Shameless Holiday Promotion

2011-12-18T04:31:00.000-06:00

If you have someone in your life who loves a good romance or someone who loves to eat, have I got the last minute gift ideas for you!

My latest release A Christmas to Remember is available in e-format from The Wild Rose Press.

Newly single, Heather Morgan gathers her courage and decides to take a Christmas ski vacation on her own. However, the festive holiday atmosphere reminds her how dispirited and alone she feels. When she meets a mysterious stranger, her lonely vacation takes an unexpected turn.

Sam is at the resort at the urging of his brother, who thinks he needs to get out and have a little fun. Having no desire to get involved with anyone, Sam needs a way to get his brother off his back. The intriguing Heather seems like the perfect solution to his dilemma, so he makes her an offer she can't refuse.

Sam restores the joy of the season to Heather. Their time together is magical, something she'll never forget. Soon her feelings for him deepen beyond their romantic holiday fling. But Sam has a secret, one that could prevent the fantasy from ever becoming real.

Still available is my FREE read from TWRP Mistletoe and Folly.

A chance meeting. A friend of a friend. Mia Preston hasn’t been able to get Ethan Chase out of her mind. A cozy coffee house leads to a night of romance. But will their kiss under the mistletoe lead to heartbreak or the love of a lifetime?

And for those in your life who like to eat, the 2011 Garden Gourmet FREE cookbook is just the ticket!

Until next time,

Happy Reading (and Shopping!)

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Two Wrongs Now on Kindle and Smashwords -- 99 Cents

2011-12-14T10:55:00.002-06:00

I'm happy to report my first published mystery, Two Wrongs, has now been re-released on Kindle and Smashwords at the very reasonable 99 cent price.

For those looking for Christmas references, the climactic scene takes place in the Christmas Season at Marshall Field's in Chicago, in the days when it was still called Marshall Field's and not Macy's. Mentioned are the Walnut Room, ice cream snowmen, and the ever popular Frango mints.

Many Chicago area landmarks are included, such as Chase Park, Senn High School, DePaul University, St. Vincent DePaul Church and Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

HERE'S A SHORT DESCRIPTION:
An innocent girl is slain. Her brother knows who did it—or does he?

LONGER DESCRIPTION:
Kevin loses his cool when Mary Alice turns him down for the senior prom. Her brother, Danny, hears them arguing. Later that night Mary Alice lies dead in the alley. Danny is furious and determined to make Kevin pay for his crime, but did he do it?

Prison can transform the most innocent human being into a killer, and Kevin is no exception.

EXCERPT FROM BEGINNING OF BOOK:

February 12, 1996 – Back when Marshall Field’s wasn’t Macy’s and texting wasn’t popular.

“WHAT’S GOING ON down there?”

Danny Callaway heard the question, but couldn’t answer. His brain froze in the cold February air as he stared at the broken rag doll that had once been his sister, Mary Alice.

In his sixteen years he’d never witnessed death first-hand. Until now.

Mary Alice’s still form lay sprawled against the alley’s cement. Her head stuck out at a crazy angle like the girl in the Exorcist movie.

Hoping against hope, he checked for a pulse at her neck. Nothing. He tried her wrist, but got the same result.

His mind was all jumbled. All he could think of were stupid things, like how he’d heard guys call Mary Alice a prude because she closed the top buttons on her blouse and never wore mini-skirts.

She’d sure be embarrassed not to have anything on at all. Someone had to cover her up and make her look presentable. Maybe Mom could help.

But how could he tell her? A sob tore through his throat. He clamped his mouth shut to keep the bile from rushing out.

Through the shock and pain, one thing remained clear. Kevin would pay for this.

For more, see Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/7whvzkj
or Smashwords http://smashwords.com/books/view/113202

Morgan Mandel

Killer Career - 99 cents on
Kindle & Smashwords, $13.95 print

Girl of My Dreams - 99 cents on
Kindle & Smashwords

Two Wrongs - 99 cents on
Kindle & Smashwords

Forever Young:Blessing or Curse
Soon on Kindle & Smashwords

Christmas Reading and Writing - or not?

2011-12-12T00:00:00.002-06:00

We know most everyone is hustling and bustling, getting ready for the holidays, but work, alas, continues. Or does it? Who is still writing during the holidays, or not?

I admit my creativity slows down towards the end of the year with the projects I was working on now completed. But the nonfiction, bread-and-butter work continues.

What about you? What do you like to read or write as the year's end approaches?

Holidays by Margot Justes

2011-12-10T12:51:00.000-06:00

It seems strange that with the struggling economy our Costco was packed by nine thirty this morning, but maybe not so strange, maybe we've realized what is important-family and friends- and that you don't have to spend a bloody fortune to make someone's day.

A bit of thoughtfulness goes a long way. Let's say you have a friend who loves Ghirardelli chocolate and glass, two stops will give you the perfect gift and you haven't spent a fortune.

Costco sells a big bag of assorted Ghirardelli chocolates, of course it's oversized, it is Costco after all.

Home Goods sells beautiful Italian glass, there is plenty of stuff made in China, but if you take a bit of time to look around the store you will find lovely Italian pieces.

A perfect delicious gift that will be appreciated immediately and remembered long after the holidays are over. Just a bit of thought goes a long way.

I have friends who love my poppy seed cake, this year they will get the cake and a rectangular glass tray that will fit the cake. I'm very partial to glass too.

Simplification is good, making life easier and less stressful is good, but it shouldn't mean sacrificing a bit of the holiday spirit, a bit of the kindness, a bit of that extra effort that we seem to extend to others.

Wouldn't it be nice if that holiday spirit continued throughout the year.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

Another Idea for the Season! by DL Larson

2011-12-08T08:48:00.003-06:00

Last week I was looking for a short skit for my Sunday School class about the Mary and Joseph story (prequel to the Baby Jesus' arrival.) I found several, but didn't see anything that talked to me. Nothing was quite right for my age of children. Then I did the big DUH! and wrote the skit myself!

Sometimes I feel like the Little Red Hen and simply end up doing the work, use it once and file it away. I've done this for years in various areas of my life. I realize now, I should share these tidbits I've put together. As I remake my website, I plan to add a place for skits and other writings for folks to use. It may take me awhile, as does everything, but sharing these skits may help others and offering them could become a valuable connection to readers.

There are times when I forget my gift of writing is a talent to share. I see the knitting group at our library, occasionally visit the knitting or sewing group at our church and know I will never be that good with my hands. I look at their progress, value their talent of making prayer shawls, and sigh at the gift of 125 blankets hand-made by our sewing ladies that will go to far off places around the world. I have no expertise in such undertakings. It's easy to feel inadequate when others gifts are so visable. A friend of mine makes jewelry, her husband tumbles and polishes the stones. They've made a business out of their hobby.

Yes, it's easy to get discouraged, but remember writers make something from nothing. Wordsmiths have no yarn, no bits of material or thread. Writers have a dictionary and thesaurus. And most importantly, ideas! My suggestion for this season is to collect ideas like bits of thread. Build a tapestry of ideas to make a holiday story. Then when the ornaments and decorations are back in their boxes and things have quieted down a bit, write, write, write. Create a story from nothing but ideas, memories and experience.

Writers are the opposite of magicians. Magicians make things disappear. Writers turn ideas into reality. The work is hard, but stories appear from thin air, and characters come to life!

That's a pretty special talent!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Please Welcome Romance Author, Mona Risk, Who Offers Her Views on a Trendy Topic

2011-12-07T06:48:00.000-06:00

About Our Guest, Romance Author, Mona Risk -

Mona Risk never thought that hazardous waste analysis would lead her to writing novels! When her Ph.D. and work in chemistry landed her international contracts to refurbish laboratories, she traveled to more than sixty countries on business or vacation. To relax from her hectic schedule, she avidly read romance novels and mentally plotted her own books. Eventually she left a successful scientific career to share with her readers the many stories brewing in her head. M. Risk likes to set her stories in the fascinating places she visited from exotic Belarus, and historical France, to the beaches of Greece, the monuments of Egypt and the mysterious Islands of Seychelles.

Mona speaks to us now on a trendy topic -
A new trend: Self-Publishing ebooks
by Mona Risk

Five years ago, the Romance Writers of America, RWA, refused to consider ebook- published authors on an equal foot with NY published authors. Two years ago, when Harlequin created its electronic-published book line, Carina Press, and then other NY publishers followed suit, RWA faced a monumental dilemma. They changed the wording of their regulations, declaring that they recognized ebooks providing they produced enough royalties to be taken seriously.

In the December 2011 issue of the Romance Writers Report, RWR, there is a whole survey dedicated to self-publishing ebooks. Now, RWA calls the new ebook revolution an exciting change in the industry.

Not only are ebooks invading the publishing market, but self-publishing is now very fashionable, with big names having a taste of it and publishing their backlist for prices as low as 99 cents.

I’ve uploaded two books on Smashwords and Amazon. Yes, it took time to thoroughly edit and format the manuscripts, and prepare book-covers that look attractive and professional, and finally upload text and pictures according to direction. But it’s all doable and I’m thrilled with the experience of self-publishing two romantic comedy novels, both offered at 99 cents.

The first one, NO MORE LIES, http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd sold many more copies in two months than in two years at my publisher.

Tag line: A lie that brings a smile... or a truth drawing a tear?

The second one, RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN, http://tinyurl.com/85o4wg7 was not published before and is doing well.

Tag line: What’s a girl to do when she whispers another man’s name in her fiancé’s arms?

To find a fantastic list of ebooks at 99cents, please visit the
99cent eBOOKS blog

Mona Risk
http://www.monarisk.com/
http://www.monarisk.blogspot.com/

Please welcome Mona and offer your own thoughts on this trendy topic.

How do you share your hobby?

2011-12-05T08:05:00.005-06:00

Have any special things you do for the holidays?

For fun and something different, thought I'd share a couple online miniatures Advent Calendars. As you know I write about my hobby, via my nonfiction book IN MINIATURE STYLE II. (eBook or print).

* Mini Treasures Advent Calendar

* Artisans in Miniature Advent Calendar

** If you're a writer, how do you share your interest or hobbies in your books or stories - or don't you?

The Reviews Are In!

2011-12-04T09:08:00.001-06:00

I've always bemoaned the fact that reviews are difficult to come by. I totally understand the reason, with time in such short demand for many, many people (including reviewers), even the couple of hours it would take to sit down and read a novel might not be feasible.

Perhaps the secret then lies in writing a shorter book, which thus can be read in a shorter amount of time. A Christmas to Remember, my latest release and first novella, has already garnered four reviews since its release last month. This is more than I've gotten for any of my previous books. And I'm thrilled. Not only in the quantity of the reviews, but in the quality as well.

This morning I woke up to a Five Lip/Recommended Read review from "Two Lips Reviews". Talk about a great way to start the day! "A Christmas to Remember is a delightful story which expertly draws the reader into the joy and excitement of the Christmas season."

Manic Readers gave it four stars and said, "A very nice fireside read, at Christmas or any time."

Mystic Reviews said, "A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER is the perfect story to get you in the holiday spirit!"

And it grabbed three-and-a-half stars from Night Owl Reviews. "A Christmas to Remember by Debra St. John is a very nice romantic read. It is a short novel that is perfect to read in one evening while sitting on the couch covered up in a comforter, sipping hot tea."

Needless to say...my Christmas season is off to a great start! Merry, merry to one and all!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
A Christmas to Remember from The Wild Rose Press

Holiday Season by Margot Justes

2011-12-03T13:04:00.000-06:00

During the holiday season there doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything, and every year the pressure mounts to do more, shop more, plan more activities until there isn't enough time to take a breath. By the time the holidays arrive, we're too exhausted to enjoy.

This year I decided to simplify my life and really enjoy the season. I'll still have my holiday party but only for family and really close friends. Most of it will be catered by Giacomo's, a wonderful Italian restaurant in Des Plaines. The food is delicious and tastes as if home made, and prices are very reasonable.

The decorations will still go up, but fewer little ornaments all over the place, lights will make up the difference. I'll still bake most of the standard family favorites, but will shop at Costco for a few of their seasonal delights. Love Costco!

Made reservations for tea at the Drake Hotel and a short hop to visit old friends at the Art Institute. My favorite holiday tradition and one I plan to keep.

I'm all set with presents for the munchkins, my daughter bless her heart, did all the shopping on-line and I just wrote a check. This way I know they will love what they get and it made it very easy for me. I'm all in favor of that ...

So far, it's been less hectic and I actually have written a few words here and there.
I even appreciate a bit of rain-like today, it's lovely, a perfect fall day

I wonder how others are handling the holiday season.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

Garnering ebook eReviews fr0m Joe/Jane Q. Public

2011-12-02T09:03:00.000-06:00

Originally posted on April 15, 2011, but this may be of help to some of you!

Using Twitter and Facebook effectively can gain reviews for your ebook. While such prestigious outlets as Publisher's Weekly and even the New York Times have announced (finally) that ebooks will be reviewed by them, the number of slots for such reviews are miniscule at best, and I suspect most such reviews will go to the authors who least need the extra toot to their horns. I mean does Dean R. Koontz need another place to be reviewed? Evanovich? Now, you and I and many another upstart Indie author or midlist author with an ebook -- we are the ones who need a review outlet. There is Mysterical-e and a handful of others reviewing online but for ebooks and kindle books, the place where you will most likely be seen if you do garner a review is on Amazon.com.

But then how do you get people to review your book on Amazon? I recently put up new books for sale from the Kindle shelf, and to entice eReaders to review my books, I announced on Facebook and Twitter that I would gift a copy of a book to anyone interested in then reviewing -- FREE copy of Children of Salem or Titanic 2012 and the eReader need only review it in some venue, preferably Amazon.com.

I recently received on April 14, 2011 -- the 99th year of Titanic's launch and demise -- another review of my T2012. The reviewer, a Chris Gibson, eReader, Joe Q. Public, remarked on how chills went through him when he realized he had placed up the review on April 14th--the exact night 99 years ago when Titanic sank. Next year at this time it will be the 100th year of Titanic. One of the reasons I tackled the manuscript which posed huge challenges.

The reviews I have recieved from this process have been terrific and detailed for the most part. in which I said I would prefer an ugly, nasty, bad or tepid review to NO review but that I would take my chances as I believed strongly in the novel. They also inform me that I was on the right track with these two titles and offer some strong vindication as both books were repeatedly shunned by brick and mortar publishers, but in the case of querying myself as Independent Publisher for Instinct InK, I sorta knew I was not going to get a rejection slip or a pleasant 'no thank you'--HA!

It is rather nice to know your book is accepted by the publisher even before you have completed the thing. Independent authorship/publising with Amazon.com/Kindle. Nice to know you will be all-in on the cover art, the script/lettering, and no one to fight you on your title. All copy writing in my hands, so the description is precisely as I want it to be. Marketing director, PR person, responsible for it all, and oddly enough it frees me up from a myriad of problems faced when dealing with brick and mortar publishers, includinng no confusion on earnings and no delays on earnings. No more waiting six months or a year to learn of the progress or lack thereof of the book. Instead of royalty statements, I have unit sales reports. Instead of an agent and a publisher, I have a partner in crime who allows me to take 70% off the top to his 30%.

It is all so remarkable that even after placing up 46 booklength works on the Kindle shelf, I am still flabergasted that I am realizing a childhood dream--to be able to afford to publish myself so I don't have to cow-tow to anyone or wait on others I consider far, far too slow as I write too fast for brick and mortar stores but never too fast for the Kindle Store.

People looking for advice on practical methods for selling ebooks/kindle titles, find me on Kindle Community Forums. Hope to see you there.

Robert W. Walker
Killer Instinct, Cutting Edge, and Thrice Told Tales

It's That Time of Year ... by DL Larson

2011-12-01T07:53:00.003-06:00

It's that time of year when so many are thinking about buying or making gifts for another, attending holiday parties, school and church pageants, and spending time with family and friends. Writing schedules become harder to keep and that's okay! Everyone needs a break now and then. So instead of feeling guilty or upset, take a deep breath, and enjoy this Christmas season.

We've been talking about Christmas books this week at Acme Authors, so why not use this time to explore and dream about what your Holiday book could be. Take a few notes, visit a place you haven't in awhile. Take in a new play or an old favorite. Think about characters, ordinary people with a life to live, problems to solve and how it all might make for an intriguing plot.

The other day some friends and I walked to Daley Plaza on Washington Street in Chicago. We visited the German American Holiday Market. It's been there every year for fifteen years, yet I had never been. What a delight, what wonderful smells, and I enjoyed talking with many of the friendly merchants, many with heavy accents and ready smiles. I imagined several holiday plots as I sauntered along. We met up with a friend who mentioned she was returning to one of the stores to purchase the ornament that looked like a diamond ring set in a heart-shaped box. Her son had just gotten engaged and it would make a wonderful gift for him and his fiancee. Romantic ideas surged through my head. What if ...

Each year our local library pulls holiday books out for display. Favorites are read and reread, new ones are always sought after as well. There will always be a market for a good Christmas story. Folks may be busy, but they also find time to read. I've had moms tell me they may be exhausted, but they will stay up late to read, even during the Christmas season; especially during the Christmas season. I think the stories recharge them somehow and it helps keep the holiday in perspective. Not many want to rush through the hoilidays without feeling and caring and wanting to give of ourselves. Good stories fill that need.

Perhaps next year at this time some of us will have written our own Christmas story or have one started. Now is the perfect time to jot down ideas as we pass through the days, taking in the scenes of Christmas, the anxiety, the excitement, the overwhelming feelings we have. Now is always the perfect time for research.

Enjoy this Advent Season!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Christmas Books

2011-11-30T11:07:00.000-06:00

Since Thanksgiving is over and we can now officially get into the Christmas Spirit, I thought we could get some choices here on books featuring the Christmas Holiday Season in a big way, or mentioning Christmas somewhere inside.

I'll soon be re-releasing for 99 cents in Kindle and Smashwords my debut mystery, Two Wrongs, which has some vital action taking place around the holiday tradition of visiting the Big Tree in the Walnut Room of what used to be Marshall Field's and is now called Macy's. I'll let you know when the book is out again, but here's the cover, which doesn't look too Christmasy.

Now, what does everyone else have?

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/

Cyber Monday! Deals or....? A Christmas story perhaps?

2011-11-28T07:26:00.006-06:00

So who hasn't had enough of the holiday madness already?

Anyone hunting for deals online today? What are you looking for?

** How about a short holiday read?

In Christmas at the North Pole Compound, it's not all Fa-la-la and Ho-Ho-Ho at the North Pole Compound when Santa's elves find someone's stolen the gifts! Can Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty crack the case by Dec. 24th and save Christmas??

A Holiday Crime Story for all ages! - Only .99 cents! (Kindle and other formats at Smashwords, click title.)

Tis the Season

2011-11-27T08:41:00.002-06:00

Well things sure have changed since my last post. A week ago I was all about hanging on to Thanksgiving for as long as possible. Absolutely no Christmas music or decs until the Friday after.

Guess what? The Friday after (and now the Saturday and Sunday as well) has arrived! My house has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland: on Friday and Saturday we put up and decorated two trees, strung outdoor lights on three bushes and one tree, put garland around the front door, and hauled out and placed six room's worth of decs. Christmas music plays constantly in the background, and last night after attending our local tree lighting ceremony down the block, we kicked off the Christmas movie viewing season with "Christmas with the Kranks". My before bed reading was my latest release, A Christmas to Remember. I've been holding off on reading it until now.

This really is a joyous time of year...I can't wait to bake cookies, wrap presents, and attend the various rounds of parties and celebrations. Not to mention looking forward to some time off at the end of the year to relax and enjoy and company of family and friends.

Yep. Tis the season alright, and I couldn't be happier!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Remember to Include the Holidays

2011-11-23T06:55:00.002-06:00

Originally posted by Morgan Mandel at The Blood-Red Pencil blog, but still applies.

Holidays are a great opportunity to enrich your manuscript. The trick is not to just mention a holiday in passing, but to add vivid descriptions of how one is celebrated in your character's life.

You can draw on this by your own experience. Think of a holiday, such as Thanksgiving. What's the weather like outside? That will depend on where you live and/or the climate vagaries of the fictional year you create.

Which people get invited? Who prepares the meal? The mother, the wife, the son, the daughter, one, some, or all? Who helps? How is the table set? That may depend on the station in life of your characters, whether they're well-off or perhaps just-married college students.

What's on the menu? Does it reflect the main character's ethnicity, or perhaps some quirk? Many people eat turkey for Thanksgiving, but maybe your character is alone and eating spam.

What about guilt? There are lots of possibilities for that, such as a dinner guest who forgot to bring a hostess gift. Then there's the working wife who feels bad because she uses canned gravy and ready-made dressing instead of making them from scratch.

Or, what about the eternal ying and yang of invitations to the husband's and wife's houses on the same day, at the same time? Where to go? Whom to please?

Can you think of any holiday descriptions from your own novel or someone else's that stand out in your mind? Please share.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Morgan Mandel

Website: http://www.morganmandel.com/
Blogspot: http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
99 cents on Kindle and Smashwords -
Killer Career - Romantic Suspense and
Girl of My Dreams - Romantic Comedy.

As a writer -should you or should you not prepare your own income tax return?

2011-11-22T13:30:00.001-06:00

Whether or not you should prepare your own income tax return is a question everyone, not only writers, should ask themselves each year - and now is a good time to start.

Why now? After all, the deadline for filing your tax return isn’t until April next year! Well, now is a good time because everyone needs to assess if their tax situation has changed, which it usually does, and by how much. We are in the final quarter of the calendar year so more than two thirds of the year has passed and the remaining months are an opportunity to adjust withholdings, retirement contributions and similar deductions if necessary. We’re also coming up on the time to renew or change our medical coverage, contributions to flexible spending accounts and more. All of this plays into our individual financial and tax profiles.

If you do prepare your income tax return yourself I strongly suggest using a software program to do so. The leaders are typically Turbo Tax and HR Block at Home. In the interest of disclosure, I use the latter and have for many years, so I’m comfortable with it and have confidence in the results but then I was also a Senior Tax Specialist for many years so my choice is based on many factors that may or may not be applicable to you. Regardless, you want to choose a reputable software program and one that has provisions to provide audit support or money-back guarantees should those options be necessary. There are plenty of sites that review and compare software programs each year and a Google search will yield a plethora of choices.

So, back to our assessment. Most people do not realize that their tax profile changes from year to year. The changes may be so minor that they go unnoticed - except to a trained professional - or they are so significant that your tax return mushrooms to 15 pages long from 3 or 4 pages the previous tax year.

For writers this can be especially true when we go from not declaring income and/or expenses on our tax return to doing just that, especially if writing is our first and only hobby or business. The impact extends from pushing us into another tax break or providing us with enough loses to do the reverse. From having to calculate depreciation on capital assets to paying additional Social Security and Medicare taxes.

Accurate recording keeping is a must, especially as your income tax return becomes more complicated, which is typically the result of becoming a published writer with income and/or expenses. If you’ve been keeping proper records all year long then this will lend itself to a straight forward and timely assessment of your personal and writing tax profile, which in turn will allow you to make adjustments as needed. Most people who earn money as an employee don’t realize that the income tax system is actually a quarterly system but once you start a business or hobby, such as writing, this will become quite evident.

If this sounds complicated, that’s because it can become quite complicated. So, in addition to your annual health checkup you need annual, if not quarterly, tax and financial checkups.

And you thought all you had to do was write!

What's your favorite e-reader? Kindle, Nook, Playbook or ?

2011-11-21T00:00:00.002-06:00

With Christmas coming and a convenient Dec. 7 birthday, the holiday sales are giving me a severe case of e-reader envy. I have an Adobe-based reader, which is not bad, but the battery doesn't seem to last long enough and takes for-ev-er to charge....

Having looked at a Blackberry Playbook (16gb) on sale for half it's original price (now $199) I admit I was hooked. How cool... then I started looking around, and the one drawback - that it only will download Kobo ebooks - and then you can't read others from other sources - has kind of soured me on that for e-reading. Cool that it has a camera, but I have a good camera for my writing purposes...

Nook Color looks pretty cool, especially since, as I've read, the SD card will expand it into a tablet-like device.

And then there's Kindle, too...

Decisions, decisions.... so figured I'd see what everyone else is using....

What's your favorite e-reader model, and why? How do you use it? Any drawbacks?

The Holiday Season

2011-11-20T08:36:00.003-06:00

I can't believe it's this time of year already. As slow as time seems to drag by while I'm at work during the week, looking at the big picture it's hard to believe that not only has November arrived, but is more than halfway over. Where has the year gone?

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, the holiday season really is upon us. The stores are filled with frozen turkeys, sweet potatoes, corn, the makings for green been casserole, and pumpkin pies. Cornucopias, mums, and corn stalks grace houses, stores, and even lampposts...

Oh, no, wait. Most of the stores and lampposts are already graced with all the trimmings of Christmas (And have been since Halloween). Not to mention the white lights adorning the trees downtown in my town. Which kind of cheeses me off. I adore Christmas and all that goes along with it (the birth of the Christ-child, decs, music, cookies, presents), but it really needs to wait its turn.

I want to fully appreciate the calm and peacefulness of Thanksgiving first. I want to enjoy time with my family and friends: sharing laughs, memories, blessings. I want to smell the turkey in the oven and taste the spices of pumpkin and apple pies. I want to crunch through the leaves on the way back to the car, so stuffed I'll swear I'll never eat again: until those yummy leftovers come out the next day, and I can savor the bliss of a turkey club sandwich.

So, to you and yours, I wish you a blessed, thankful, and relaxing Thanksgiving this week.

Until next time,

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

A Visit to the Vatican by Margot Justes

2011-11-19T10:07:00.001-06:00

I booked a tour to the Vatican, for my next visit I will buy tickets ahead of time and go on my own. Spend time at my leisure and not worry about tour.

We had 10 minutes in the Sistine Chapel, that was just about enough time to walk across the rectangular Chapel, try not to bump anyone in the process and barely see the ceiling, much less the walls.

That being said, the Chapel is stunning. As I looked up at the magnificent ceiling I wondered how Michelangelo could survive such an ordeal, to create those stunning images laying on his back for hours on end. The nine frames on the ceiling tell the story of creation , Adam and Eve and Noah. The altar wall depicts the Last Judgment, filled with fire and brimstone. The Chapel simply takes your breath away.

St. Peter's Basilica is enormous, everything is made from marble, it is magnificent and filled with unbelievable treasures, chief among them is Michelangelo's deeply moving Pieta. Now hidden behind glass and high enough to keep people from getting too close.

My first view of the Pieta was many, many years ago and back then you could get close, within touching range, but an idiot took a hammer to the Pieta and caused quite a bit of damage. Now it is protected from harm and humanity.

Vatican is a living, breathing museum and very little can be seen in five hours, when you take into account the enormous size of the place and the multitude of visitors, and let's not forget the tour group you're with.

What I should have done was stay on my own after the tour ended, but I didn't think of it until after I got back. By the time I got back to the hotel it was almost three in the afternoon, I was tired and hungry- heaven forbid I should miss a meal-so I went up to the terrace restaurant and had a delicious late lunch.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

A Watercolor Experience by DL Larson

2011-11-17T08:56:00.005-06:00

A week ago I ventured into a new world, the world of watercolor painting. My art skills include drawing a heart, a happy face and maybe an occasional star, but that's about it. I have no talent in this area, but I still wanted to learn something new.

The instructor said we would be drawing butterflies and shapes. Already I was panic stricken - a butterfly meant two sides pretty much the same. Identical! I'd never get it right. Then Marcee, our instructor, said we could trace if we wanted to and the entire class gave up a big sigh. I wasn't the only one ready to bolt for the door. Marcee laughed and told us to relax, this would be fun.

As I stewed over which butterfly to trace, I realized she wanted us not to get hung up on the perfection of the piece, but to become excited in the process of learning a new technique. I drew a circle on my paper using the lip of a saucer; I traced my butterfly into the cirle I had made; I used only the outside shape of the butterfly and went rogue with the shapes of the wings. It was a challenge in balance, but one I enjoyed. The rest of the paper was for me to do as I pleased.

For a writer, I was pretty dissapointed I couldn't think of any interesting shapes to draw. I settled for wavy lines that ended up looking like ribbons floating in the background of my butterfly. I have no idea how I came up with that idea and that small part of the creative process reminded me of writing and how sometimes, if I am really lucky the best idea just floats into my brain and it's on the paper before it can escape. My background appeared and it was good. Simple, but it had character.

Then Marcee had us paint our picture with water. I felt about three years old painting with no paint, but Marcee wasn't finished, far from it and she distributed dabs of colorful pigment on saucers and instructed us to wash the background with whatever colors we wanted. Except I didn't know what I wanted; I felt unsure and hesitant and only after mulling things over with the rest of the class and each of us deciding what color our butterflies would be could we decide on the background. And just like in writing, the layering process began, one light stoke at a time.

I used washed out colors, then more solid pigment and salt. I never knew one used salt in watercolor painting. The salt reacted to the wet paint and little explosions of color expanded and grew, the colors blending and bleeding into one another in exciting ways. The process gave the picture depth and a richness it lacked before. I really felt like an artist creating something original.

Once the watery paint and salt dried, I moved onto another layer of detailing, much like writers do in filling in the story or plot to make the images more prominent. I grew bolder with the paint, making my lines of ribbon stand out then fade only to stand out again. The butterfly ended up with more than three layers of detail with straight pigment, the bold blending with the washed out colors in ways I never imagined it could.

I used too much pigment and ended up with a blob of navy blue where it didn't belong. Marcee showed me how to wash it away and fix it the way I wanted it to look. I learned there was no wrong way to paint with watercolors. I could always fix what I didn't like. Even after it had dried comepletely. Another similarity with writing.

In the end, I let Marcee detail in the tiny features of my butterfly, her hand is much steadier than mine. I watched her deftly dab paint and a face appeared. She recommended I add bits of green and yellow flowers and vines to the background within the circle where my butterfly was. Again I applied muted colors, barely recognizable, but the contrast added depth to the plain background. The butterfly grew more distinguished and life-like with something for it to rest upon.

I realize one night of painting does not make me a painter, anymore than one day of writing makes me an author. But by being adventurous in trying something different, I have expanded my knowledge and that will enhance my writing skills.

And that is good!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

She's Back!

2011-11-16T06:59:00.001-06:00

You probably know I received my rights back for my romantic comedy, Girl of My Dreams, during the summer. It took me a while to get to it, but I finally did a new edit and set up a reverted rights edition this past weekend. It's now available on Kindle and at Smashwords, each for 99 cents.

What Girl of My Dreams by Morgan Mandel is about:

A temp's good deed goes horribly awry when she subs for a cast member in a reality show to win the prize of a billionaire.

All Jillian wants to do is save the producer from an embarrassing situation. All he wants to do is strangle her for her deceit.

The show must go on, despite the tension between the two. Though Jillian wants to get in and get out, instead she advances in the rounds.

Will she win the billionaire? Does she want him, or is it the producer she's really after?

If you have a kindle or have ordered one & it's on the way, here's the buy link: http://tinyurl.com/84rhje7

Smashwords offers several formats. Here's their link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104525

Thanks to everyone who will order the current edition and anyone who ordered Girl of My Dreams when it was first released in 2008.

Coming later is a print version, but I have other books to release electronically first.

My Name is Chris and I'm A....

2011-11-14T00:00:00.003-06:00

Yup, I confess.

I'm a bookaholic.

I realize this as I'm trying to clear out bookcases and make room for my other obsession - miniatures, also known as "too much stuff."

Every garage sale, every yard sale, every church sale, every thrift store, every mention I read online of a book, I check it out.

Sometimes, no, make that a lot of times, I buy. Hence, I now have eight plastic bags (and counting) to take to the thrift store to recycle. I do want to check first if the local homeless shelter would like some. I would so much rather take them where someone would appreciate them.

As I sort, I realize there are a lot of books that maybe looked good before, but I know won't get read. Books are like clothes, tastes change. What once looked good, no longer does. :>)

So the sporadic sort, which often feels more like moving stuff from one room to another. But at least this time some of it is moving out. Progress. On another thought as I sort - yes, maybe eBooks do have advantages after all. (My books and eBooks are on my website.)

And hey, while you roll your eyes, I dare you: make your own confession. What do you have too much of? I'm not the only semi-hoarder, er, collector, around. (Weight, wrinkles or gray hairs don't count.) Fess up.

A Writer's Muse

2011-11-13T08:46:00.003-06:00

A writer's muse is a strange thing. Sometimes it's so elusive no amount of hunting and searching is ever going to find it. Sometimes it's like a waterfall, coming so quickly it's difficult to keep up with the deluge.

Since summer, my muse has been in hiding. I haven't been able to find it with a fine tooth comb. Then, last week, for whatever reason, the damn broke. I think I mentioned last week that I had outlined (roughly) ideas for two stories. (I never, ever outline...I am completely a pantster, so that in and of itself was a minor miracle.)

A week later, I have 5,000 words written for one of the stories. Now, I know what you're thinking, especially those of you doing NaNoWriMo this month...5,000 words in a week is nothing. Y'all probably write that in a day. But for me, this is really something. It feels so great to be putting words down on paper again.

If that weren't enough, midweek I got an e-mail from an editor at Wild Rose who was considering a submission. She said that while she enjoyed the story and my writing in general, she didn't think it was ready to be published, but would love to look at it again if I did some rewrites. At first I was devastated. I mean after all, I had put my heart and soul into it the first time. Now I had to change it? Fix it? How in the world was I going to do that?

But the more I let the idea sit, the more I realized what a wonderful opportunity this was. I was being given the chance to take a good story and make it better. Maybe even make it great. Now that's nothing to sneeze at. But where to start? She mentioned a lot of things she thought needed tightening and changing...one of them one of the driving forces (or so I thought) of the plot. Then last night, lightning struck. Out of the blue, it came to me. I knew how I was going to approach the story from a slightly different angle...keeping all of the parts I loved (my characters, the setting, the conflict...), but making it stronger. I sat down and scribbled five handwritten pages of notes.

So now I have a short story to finish, a full-length novel to revise and rewrite, and I still have another idea poking at me.

I'm telling you, when it rains it pours.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
Available now: A Christmas to Remember

More Travel by Margot Justes

2011-11-12T15:39:00.002-06:00

The second day in Rome started with a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel. Just the selection of coffee was impressive, from an espresso, to cappuccino, a French Press or settle for the American brew. I started with the French Press, got my own pot and steaming hot milk...day was off to great start.

Next came the bread selection, from flaky croissants, to baguettes and everything in between, to puff pastry sweet rolls. I was in heaven. Let's not forget the cheeses, from a triple cream Brie to goat and pecorino selections. Let's just say I was going to have to walk a lot. They even had dates and figs, along with eggs, omelets, sausages, fruit, and the usual gamut of buffet selections. I ended my meal with a cappuccino and a sweet roll with ricotta cheese. I did finish the pot of coffee first...it did not go to waste.

Next on the agenda, was a tour to the Vatican. To save time, I booked the tour with American Express while still at home. The bus arrived promptly and off we were to the Vatican, or so I thought.

Instead we were deposited at the offices of the tour company and waited while they figured out how many buses they would need. Buses and tourists were everywhere, sort of like the United Nations-many languages were heard and it was fun trying to identify them. I even followed a couple who spoke French. I tend to do that whenever I hear the language, besides not much was going on.

About twenty minutes later we were assigned a bus number that was supposed to be for English speaking tourists. We headed toward the bus, the number matched but the language did not-Spanish-read the big sign. We stopped in front of the bus and waited.

A little debate ensued between the tour guides, signs were switched and we boarded the bus, a bit apprehensive we hoped it was the right one. When the guide spoke in English we heaved a sigh of relief; we were on the right bus and finally on the way to the Vatican.

Even with a tour group, there was a delay in getting in. We first had to stop and get our headsets, make sure they all worked; when you have a bus full of people it takes a bit of time. Not to mention there were many tour groups.

Once we were all set, we followed the guide and headed toward the entrance, always making sure her red umbrella held high could be seen. You do not want to be separated from your guide, and believe me, it is easy to do.

The winding double line moved slowly, but no one seemed to mind. The tour guide stated that 25,000 tourists visit the Vatican daily. I can understand why, it is an amazing place and impossible to see in one day, much less 5 hours.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjuste

Authors, Pay Attention To Your Animals

2011-11-09T07:12:00.000-06:00

Morgan Mandel with Rascal

Since I own a dog named Rascal, or should I say she owns me, I bond with animal lovers in fiction and in real life. I don't purposely seek books with animals included, but consider it an added perk if I find one. Somehow the characters with animals, even if they're villains, seem more human, as long as they treat their animals right. In Killer Career, a dog is mistreated by a villain, but the hero and heroine save it in the nick of time.

One thing I don't like is a storyline where an animal is introduced, yet the author doesn't pay attention to it. Sometimes it seems a dog is completely forgotten in the plot, and never seems to go out or get a walk. Or, a cat is never mentioned when the person comes home and the poor cat has no litterbox.

Later, conveniently the pet may be trotted out when the author remembers, oh yes, maybe I better say something about that animal I stuck in here to lure animal lovers to my book.

All I have to say about that is Authors, Pay Attention To Your Animals!

Are there any books with animals in them which you like, or have you noticed instances where authors don't pay attention to their animals?

Killer Career is 99 cents on
Kindle and Smashwords.
Forever Young-Blessing or Curse
is Coming Soon to Kindle and
Smashwords, as are the re-releases
of Girl of My Dreams and Two Wrongs.

When Inspiration Strikes

2011-11-06T04:27:00.000-06:00

A couple of months ago my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, put out a call for submissions for a millionaire series it's doing for the Champagne (contemporary) line. Being a Champagne author, I thought this really should be something I should try to participate in. I thought of an idea, made some notes, wrote about a dozen pages...and that's as far as I've gotten. The story is sort of there in my head, but I just have no motivation to get it down on paper (or on screen as the case is nowadays). Writing time has been short these days as well, so that's not helping either. Another part of the problem is I don't write books like that. I like rustic, good ol' boy stories. My millionaire actor just wasn't fitting the bill.

Then today, out of the blue inspiration struck for a Thanksgiving story. I know it's too late to get anything done with it this year, but I've started sowing the seeds for next year's harvest, so to speak. I've never given much thought to writing a Thanksgiving story, but all of a sudden, I had the perfect idea for one.

And then while I was on the treadmill listening to a Toby Keith CD, another idea started to form. I've always been inspired by music, and had often thought how one song in particular would make a great story. Today I went so far as to do a page and a half of type-written notes as a rough outline. Usually I'm a pantster, so this was a big surprise.

So now I have two ideas spinning in my head, neither of which have anything to do with a millionaire.

But lately I've come across several blog posts about writing the story of your heart. And it makes a lot of sense.

Will anything come of these story ideas? Maybe. Maybe not. But since inspiration has finally struck, I'm not going to ignore it.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
Now available in e-format: A Christmas to Remember

Travel by Margot Justes

2011-11-05T11:14:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted a blog for a while, thought I'd be able to do it while on vacation...I was wrong.

The flight to Rome left on time, the plane was half full, or empty depending on how you see it, and we landed on time, eight in the morning. Italian customs process not a breeze, long lines that moved at a snail's pace, but it was expected and the process seemed exciting, because Roma was waiting for me.

I arranged for a driver before leaving home and was happy to see him. I recognized him immediately, he was holding a plaque with my name plastered on it...even for me it was hard to miss. Things were good.

The hotel room was not ready, but they promised a lovely room and stored the baggage. I was free to spend my first day in Rome, and since the hotel was within walking distance of practically everything, especially the Spanish Steps, I headed there first, but not before stopping for an espresso.

Did you know that Italians stand at a counter and gulp their espresso. I found out that if you stand the price is cheaper than if you sit down at a table. It was the quick inhale of the brew that had me amazed, like a shot. I savored mine.

I made it down the Spanish steps, many, many steps, walked around all the lovely little cobble stone streets. Amazingly enough the locals wore heels and the cobblestones had big gaps between them. I watched how well they maneuvered to miss what looked like pot holes. Most tourists knew better and wore comfortable shoes.

Stopped at a lovely outdoor cafe and had lunch, was serenaded by a couple of tenors, after they passed a hat and demanded a tip, they moved on to the next cafe.

The Sofitel delivered as promised-we has a suite, absolutely gorgeous with a balcony and a fantastic view of Rome, and there was a Nespresso machine in the room, so I could enjoy delicious coffee at will. The stay at the Sofitel was simply amazing, I would recommend the hotel without any reservations on my part-you need to make reservations to actually stay there.

What a terrific start to the vacation...more next week

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

What Would You Teach Another Writer? by DL Larson

2011-11-03T08:41:00.004-05:00

Some writers are teachers, others help aspiring authors when asked, some feel they don't want to muddle the process of learning by injecting their own opinions on how to accomplish the task of writing.

Then comes the times when we wish we could be the teachers so our own pet peeves could be relieved. Once and for all, we could explain to all writers "this is a better way to do that, not the way you are doing it!"

So, if you could teach other writers a better way to do something, what would it be? What would you like other writers to know? What would YOU teach?

To answer my own question, I would teach a course on Character Building. I would relate character making to learning a dance. Each step leads into the next and the next, seemingly flawless as it progresses. The best characters are not flawless, they are not stunningly beautiful or brawny, they have troubles, and the closer a writer becomes to his/her character, the deeper the emotions, the more meaningful each flaw becomes. The more depth a character has, the more involved the reader will be. Complexity takes on new meaning when dealing with a character's personality. A leading character has many layers, and I would have my students fill out a profile for each character they are planning to create:

Character Questionaire:
* Name, age, race
* Physical Description: sex, eye color, hair color, physique, scars or other distinguishable markings; other physical traits - bad knee, poor eye sight, etc. How does he talk - drawl, street slick, up-tight? How does your character dress:
* Pets: past or present
* Family: build a history of family - good and bad, names, location of home, etc.
* Favorite music: be specific - this may help develop your character quirks, endearments, etc.
* Eating habits: likes/dislikes; does he eat by himself, go home to family? eat on the run? Everybody eats - make this as specific as possible
* Sleeping habits: is he restless, sound sleeper, nap?
* Mode of preferred transportation: horses? bikes? trains? How does your character move from point A to point B?
* Any hobbies: sailing, boxing, knitting?
* Any habits: smoking, chewing gum, nail biting?
* Favorite sayings: swearing or cursing? slang or other current sayings?
* Favorite hero: who would your character look up to? why?

Emotional Questionaire:
* Name your character's insecurities: what is your character worried about? List at least three.
* What does your character yearn for: understanding? money? love? justice? Explain in detail.
* What does your character fear: a spouse? police? demons? children? failure? success?
* What does your character dream about: this may already be answered in the above questions, if so, find a deeper level of understanding to relate to your readers.
*What will it take to make your character grow or feel he succeeded in his conflicts: catch the bad guys, find justice served, overcome a fear he's harbored too long, find his truelove, etc.

Once this generic profile is complete, then I would explain this is the starting point in describing a character for a book. This is the tip of the pencil, not the completed character. Now, as a writer, you have something to work with and develop. Give this character conflict worthy of his existence. Give him something to do, accomplish or learn. In other words, make him real. Give him life and allow him to move about and think for himself.

What would you teach other writers? Share with us!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Do You Make Your Characters Sick?

2011-11-02T11:23:00.000-05:00

I may have mentioned this somewhere before, but if so, I don't remember where.
I can be mean. I like to make my characters sick.

In Two Wrongs, my debut mystery, which will soon be re-published on Kindle, I gave the villain dyslexia.

In Killer Career, I let my main character get hypoglycemia, which I suffered from for a while myself. I've since learned how to control it.

(Still 99 cents on Kindle and Smashwords, more in print)

In my soon to be published, Forever Young - Blessing or Curse, I let one of the villains get bitten by a dog, resulting in hopeless disfigurement to his face. I was also bitten by a dog, but fortunately, I receipt prompt attention from a plastic surgeon and am none the worse for wear from the experience.

Morgan Mandel

What about you? Do you make your characters sick? Or, do you know someone who does?

Book Time vs. Real Time

2011-10-30T08:59:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I wish I could live in a book. Wouldn't it be fun to explore new worlds, be another person for a while, or simple escape to another place for a period of time?

What I'd really like to do is be able to live on book time. Especially during the work week. In the real world, there's real time. I spend eight hours a day at my job. (Which is really stressful lately.) These days, those hours seem to drag. Not only that, but it leaves me with no time to do other things: like spend time with family and friends, write, promote, relax. And soon basketball season will be starting, which will take up even more time.

Book time is different, though. We don't want to bore our readers with the mundane details of everyday life. But rather since we want to keep the story moving along, and most importantly keep our hero and heroine together as much as possible, authors use phrases like, "The work day seemed to drag." or "Five hours of shelving books at the library passed quickly." or "Her mind wandered, and before she knew it, it was time to go home." or even "The days flew by so quickly, before he knew it, it was Christmas."

Ah, yes, making use of book time in the real world would be lovely. We can make hours, days, and even months fly by with just a few well placed words.

But alas, we live in the real world, and on that note, I need to get going, because I have a million things to do that I can't accomplish with one sentence.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Trying Something New by DL Larson

2011-10-27T08:56:00.003-05:00

The old adage, "if you want to stay healthy, expand your mind and try something new," is not only good advice, but can be fun as well. I ventured out of my comfort zone and took a two hour class on video game making. What a hoot! No wonder the young people of today are so addicted to their electronic toys.

The instructor is a high school teacher who teaches marketing and business classes. She pretty much ditched her books and turned her classes into real life situations in order for kids to apply what she teaches. Our video class was a watered down version of her class, but I came away with a better understanding of what makes a video game.

Guess what I discovered? Video making is not much different than book writing. Layer after layer is applied to the concept - whatever concept one has in mind. Miss Jenny kept saying, "in the event ..." and she would further explain we first had to build a room for the action to take place. Easy concept indeed. "In the event ..." something might happen, action and reaction concepts were explained. Individually we built a room, we clothed our sprites, which are little objects running around the screen or room created. My sprites were pieces of fruit and I decided how fast they would move, what would happen if they bumped into the wall or another bit of fruit. I had control, I made what was happening on the screen happen!

We added sounds, color, background, all tools we use in writing. Unfortunately, there was no scents to add, probably a good thing. But someday, somewhere, a gamer will realize one of our strongest senses, the sense of smell, is not being utilized in video games and a new revolution in gaming will begin.

I compared my video game building right up there with my basket weaving experience. It takes time to create something someone else might be interested in. Writing books is not easy and deserves our time and effort to get it just right as well.

I feel rather proud I succeeded in finishing my video game. I'm sure professionals would laugh at my attempt, but I also learned to appreciate a new venue. Right now, I'm wondering how to build another room. If I was writing a story, I would simply create the condept of another room, but in video making, "In the event..." my objects want to leave and enter another realm has me stumped.

But I'm learning ...

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Can the Circle be Broken?

2011-10-26T12:56:00.001-05:00

My husband and I decided to expand on the broadband experience by installing a router so we could be hooked up via wireless to his much faster cable, rather than the DSL I'd been using.

Everything started out fine. The installer came at the right time, hooked up the cable to the router, plus the phone service so we could get their discount, and the laptop computers easily connected to the new router, with a much faster speed than through the DSL.

Then I asked him to connect my other desktop through the router. It had a wireless card, so I figured it was worth a try. He tried, but since the new network didn't come up, he suggested perhaps my card was not strong enough, and he left.

Not wanting to give up I called Dell yesterday. I did the remote access thing with a very nice technician, but bottom line, he couldn't tell why it didn't work, and he ordered a new card, since my computer was under extended warranty. Someone came out this morning, installed the card, but the network still wouldn't come up, and he was afraid to go further, since he was only supposed to put in the card.

Still not wanting to give up, I called the cable provider. After spending too much time with them with no solution, I was informed I'd have to pay extra for router issues, since they'd supplied the router free and it wasn't really part of their services.

So, am I stuck with the slow DSL service on the desktop, unless I want to pay extra to them to hike up the speed, or can I somehow get the router to work for it? Can the Circle be Broken?

If you know how, let me know. If I figure it out, I'll let you know.

Morgan Mandel

Amazon vs. Tradition by DL Larson

2011-10-20T08:03:00.002-05:00

I have been trying to get the attention of an agent for more than two years now, or even a publisher. I'm old school in most things, so I've stuck with the tradtional way of publishing my work. Frankly, I'm tired of the run-around by tradtional houses. I'm tired of being polite and waiting my turn - for months - only to receive a letter at how interesting my work is, but it's just not what they are looking for at this time. Six weeks ago I received an email from an agent, that yes, they had received my material and everything looked good and they would get back to me as soon as possible; the waiting time might be five months from this message.

Five months! I checked my records and realized it had taken them one month to respond to my query. So basically I have another three months to wonder if they have forgotten about my work, lost it or changed their policy and chose not to respond at all and simply deleted it. In three months, I'll have to decide what to do. I have the choice of looking, searching for another possible match for my book and begin the tedious process again, or I can go another route altogether.

So my question is, why oh why is the publishing world in such an uproar over Amazon taking over their business? They are not doing a very good job. Frankly they have been stuck in the same, slow, nonproductive methods for a long time and panicked when another business developed a better way of doing things. The publishing houses still refuse to turn from their slow-poke ways.

Amazon reminds me of Wal-mart in so many ways. I live in a small town, surrounded by other small towns. There are two huge Wal-marts within thirty minutes of my home. Between me and the Big W, most of the mom and pop stores have dried up. The grocery stores in most small towns have gone under, as well as the pharmacies, hardware stores and clothing stores. They simply can't compete with the big store. Amazon has done the same thing in the publishing world.

I always tell my kids there are two kinds of people in this world: learners and nonlearners. I'm betting the publishing world is on one side of that equation and Amazon is on the other. It is also the first time there is no "middle man" between authors and readers. Direct connect is a new concept for writers; perhaps that is why it has taken me this long to step out of line that feels like a slush pile and realize I too can do this on my own.

I'm terrified in a giddy kind of way to take this step, but it's time. I've waited around for a train that is not coming. I need to move on.

Any advice?

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Romance Writers, Want a Reasonably Priced Conference? Spring Fling Early Registration Closes Oct 31

2011-10-19T09:40:00.000-05:00

If you can't afford going to RWA National's Conference or just like going to writing conferences, you may wish to consider going to this one, very reasonably priced, with Editors, Agents, Bestselling Authors, and tons of workshops. I'm not just saying that because I'm doing a workshop there on Blog Book Tours.(G)

** Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged **

2012 SPRING FLING WRITERS' CONFERENCE - EARLY REGISTRATION CLOSES OCT. 31ST
April 27-28, 2012
Hoffman Estates, IL

Chicago-North Romance Writers of America is pleased to announce the
line-up of headlining speakers, editors and agents for the 2012 Spring
Fling Writers' Conference:

FEATURED SPEAKERS
New York Times best-selling authors:
Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mary Balogh and Simone Elkeles

EDITORS
Tessa Woodward (Avon Publishing)
Shauna Summers (Ballantine Bantam Dell)
Megan Long (Harlequin)
Martin Biro (Kensington Publishing)
Tera Kleinfelter (Samhain Publishing)

AGENTS
Ginger Clark (Curtis Brown LTD)
Cori Deyoe (3 Seas Literary Agency)
Scott Eagan (Greyhaus Literary Agency)
Sara Megibow (Nelson Literary Agency)
Paige Wheeler (Folio Literary Management, LLC.)

WORKSHOPS ON CRAFT AND BUSINESS PRESENTED BY PUBLISHED AUTHORS, AGENTS AND MORE
Amy Alessio, Sarah M. Anderson, Mary Balogh, Barbara Binns, Sherrill
Bodine, Laurie Brown, Wendy Byrne, Ginger Clark, Gretchen Craig,
Dyanne Davis, Scott Eagan, Simone Elkeles, Barbara Caridad Ferrer,
Susan Gibberman, Blythe Gifford, Ruth Kaufman, Megan Kelly, Keena
Kincaid, Maureen Lang, Carrie Lofty, Lindsay Longford, Morgan Mandel,
Sara Megibow, Susan Meier, Courtney Milan, Allie Pleiter, Terese daly
Ramin, Tiffany Reisz, Patricia Rosemoor, Denise Swanson, Julie
Wachowski, Margaret Watson, Sheri Lewis Wohl

PITCH PERFECT WORKSHOP
Perfect your pitch the day before your agent/editor appointment.

HOT NIGHT CRITIQUES
Bring a love scene--no matter how sweet or steamy--for small group critique.

PUBLISHING SPOTLIGHTS
Avon (Tessa Woodward)
Ballantine Bantam Dell (Shauna Summers)
Kensington (Martin Biro)
Samhain (Tera Kleinfelter)
Sourcebooks (Danielle Jackson)

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION RATES END OCTOBER 31ST
Chicago-North RWA Member: $144
RWA Member: $164
Non-RWA Member: $174
RATE INCREASES TO $184 NOVEMBER 1ST

For more information about Spring Fling 2012 and to register, please
visit: http://www.chicagospringfling.com/

For more information about Chicago-North Romance Writers of America,
please visit: http://www.chicagonorthrwa.org/

Questions? Contact us at: conference@chicagonorthrwa.org

If you do show up and you see me around, please say hello!

Morgan Mandel

Killer Career is 99 cents on
Kindle and Smashwords, also
in print for $13.95.

Forever Young-Blessing or
Curse is almost ready.

Two Wrongs will soon be
re-released on Kindle and
Smashwords.

Just Perfect by June Sproat

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

My YA short story, Just Perfect, is out on Kindle. Here is the back cover blurb…

Caroline Jane Edmonds, CJ to her friends and family, has the perfect summer planned. She calls it the TSL summer: tanning, swimming and love, and not necessarily in that order. As a matter of fact, she’ll take it in any order, just as long as it comes.

When the first day of summer rolls around, CJ’s on top of the world. But that world gets pulled out from beneath her feet when her father decides, without consulting CJ at all, that she needs a summer job. He even picks out the job: working at the miniature golf course and driving range for the park district where he is the director. Now all she has to do is combine her ideal summer plans into her new job and she’ll have a hole in one, otherwise her whole summer will be way below par.

Perfect, just perfect!

Have a great week!

Best,

June

http://www.junesproat.com/

Cloning

2011-10-16T08:49:00.003-05:00

Other than an addiction to "Star Wars" in which entire story lines revolve around cloning, I've never given it a whole lot of thought. It was interesting when Dolly (Wasn't that the name of the cloned sheep?) came about. But the idea of trying to clone humans seems creepy and macabre.

However, lately, I've given it some more thought. Not seriously. Not that I think ethically it's okay. Not in any real sense. But rather, I have so much to do and not nearly enough time to do it that I thought if there were more of me, things might get done.

I could use a clone (or two or three) at work. To help keep up with paperwork, planning, and supervision.

I could use a clone at home to make sure the house gets cleaned: really cleaned, not just the 'wipe down the bathrooms on the weekend so they're not gross' kind of cleaning. The windows need to be washed, the yard needs to be cut down, the ceiling fans and the baseboards and the crown molding need to be dusted...

I could use a clone for my writing career. I have a novella coming out in a couple of weeks (Yikes.) and have a ton of blogs to write for my tour. I haven't actually done any new writing in ages. And I can't keep up with fellow authors who have blog posts. It would be nice to be able to connect with them.

Yes, a clone or two or three of me would be awfully nice right now. Just to help me keep up and get back on track.

Until next week,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Update of WRITERLY MUSINGS by Rob Walker

2011-10-14T16:57:00.000-05:00

For some occupations, most in fact, not knowin’ where you’re goin’ from the outset of a project is the kiss of death. Organize, outline, plan, storyboard it…all necessary for many forms of writing as well but a novel? Not entirely true, no, and in fact even now, writing this blog, I dunno where I’m going until I get there. An old saying has it that “I don’t know what I think until I see what I say.” With writers in general, I suspect that is true.

Another thing about writers, as with any artistic types, there’s constant self-analysis and self-criticisms of our work; if reviewers only knew. They don’t have to tear us down; we do a fine job of doing that number on ourselves.

Another issue about writers is the notion that for money, even fast money without any hope of returns on that money, as in pay for hire, we will never say no. In general, I subscribe to the never say no to a writing job or an editing job or any job that pays you for putting words on paper, or helping someone else to do so as in ghost writing. But there are limits after all. The term pay for hire is a circumstance wherein an editor or publisher wishes to pay you a flat fee to write it and go away.

Let us say one or two thousand for a writing job and you are never to darken their door again. You have no rights to the work. You were hired to write it for another. Yet it is to be a book on shelves in bookstores. It may or may not have your name on it. Most of the Idiot Books, those reference works like The Fool’s Guide to whatever are done as pay per hire. I say if you really need the money, go for it, but as a general rule, try to avoid such deals.

When you are hired to do a ghost writing job, it’s about take the money and don’t expect or pursue any additional funds. When you edit someone else’s work it remains their work, not yours, and you should expect no more funds accruing to you unless you have worked out a contract that stipulates this down to the percentages. Else all you can expect—if that—is a mention in the acknowledgments.

Now getting down to when an editor gives you a green light on a spec manuscript. If you are given a go-ahead based on a spec script (speculation), the nature of the beast is no money changes hands until which time spec becomes contracted script. If you are lucky enough to have a correspondence or any sort of relationship with an editor, and you are talking about ideas with said editor, you don’t own ideas, and anyone can take up that idea and run with it, so you want to do your best to convince an editor that this idea is not only great but that you are the perfect person to write it. When an editor in a publishing house asks you if you can write such and such a book, THEN I go by you never say no to an editor RULE. Besides, I LOVE a challenge.

Once way back in early 80s, I was turned down by an editor I had worked with on a previous couple of books. I was amazed at the rejection of this work. I got on the phone and got Jane, and I pushed her on giving me some real reasons as to why it was rejected, something other than the vague generalities in the letter. She said, “It’s too short; we’ve moved from doing 60 thousand words to 80 thousand, and we’re up to our eyeballs in mysteries. We are in need of horror.”

I shot back without hesitation, “Give me a contract and I’ll add a monster and 20.000 words!”

Jane said, over the phone, “Yes, okay, I’ll put the contract in the mail. Go to work!”

That is the exception, but I have also had editors contact me to ask if I could run with an idea the house was kicking over for a series. After two or three sentences on the idea, I stop listening and say, “I can do it, sure!” My four-book Decoy Series came of that. My Instinct Series came about the opposite way—I proposed it as a series idea to an editor who fell in love with the concept. Same with my Ransom series.

I’ll leave it at that this week as I am quite busy working on bringing about my WIP, and recently was challenged by the editor of an upcoming anthology that will have a Titanic Anniversary Theme to write a ‘titanic’ story for it. I was recommended to the editor by someone who had read my last Kindle title which no editor would touch at 150,000 words, two-books entwined and defying categorization or pigeon-holing. Thus far, I have 44 titles on Kindle. A little something for every taste. My next will be entitled BISMACK 2013 but it will be more in keeping with 80,000 words.

Rob Walker

www.robertwalkerbooks.com
also at Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Plaxo, LinkedIn, DL, MMA, and more

Family Reading Night by DL Larson

2011-10-13T08:41:00.003-05:00

Many schools and libraries host a Family Reading Night each year. Our local PTA is having a family reading night the last Friday in October. This year business owners have been asked to be the readers. I too, as the children's librarian, have been asked to join in on the fun. I already have my books selected, contemplating my Halloween costume and I'm toying with the idea of a small craft to go with one of my stories.

Authors, if you are looking for recognition, this is a great opportunity to do a community service and spread public relations. Don't confine yourself to your own community, call around to see if neighboring towns are hosting a reading night and then offer to help. Even if the books are already selected, what a compliment to be acknowledged as a local or state author giving your time to be a part of the event. If the selections haven't been chosen, what an opportunity to read a portion of your own, published or not. As an added draw, have a comment box, idea box, "how does it end" box. The last ten minutes of the evening you could read these aloud. Folks love hearing what other people wrote.

As I read this week's blogs, I realized something wonderful and worrisome. As writers we visit many blog sites and that's great, but writers as a rule tend to be a tad introverted in "real" company and I hope we are not substituting internet connections over up-close and personal opportunities ... like volunteering to be a reader at the local family reading night, book club, or school visit. If you haven't gotten out there to mingle with readers in awhile, maybe it's time to make an adjustment in your promotional techniques.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Link Us To Your Blog(s)

2011-10-12T07:55:00.001-05:00

I keep hearing that even though popular networks such as Facebook and Twitter exist, blogs are still an excellent way to gain followers for whatever you wish to market, including books. That being the case, I thought we could share blog links and, if you'd like, also mention something about your blog(s).

If some of you are like me, you probably contribute to more than one of them, so let's keep it to four for each person. After that, I'm afraid our readers may get glassy eyed.

Here are mine:

Double M's Take on Books, Blogs, Dogs, Networking & Life - http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
My personal blog about what the title says. I also hosts guests from time to time. This used to be a daily blog, but now I try to get a blog in once a week, since I've been busy working on my Forever Young-Blessing or Curse manuscript.

Acme Authors Link - http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/
My group blog, where I post every Wednesday. The members here write romances and mysteries. We post writing tips and share our writing lives, and at times host guests.

Make Mine Mystery - http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/ - My posting days are the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month, but lately I've also been doing all the Mondays, since we're short a few members.
As you can guess from the title, our members all write mysteries and our focus is on that genre. At times we host guests.

The Blood-Red Pencil - http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/ - My posting days are the 1st and 2nd Tuesday of the month. This blog is comprised mainly of freelance editors and some authors like myself. We offer editing and writing tips and also host guests occasionally.

Your turn. Tell us about your blogs and don't forget to include the links.

Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com/
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/

Make Mine Mystery

Acme Authors Link

Ripped From the Headlines

2011-10-11T15:29:00.003-05:00

Study after study continues to document the decline in the English proficiency of the American high school graduate, which greatly undermines their chances for success in college and in the workforce.

Shocking? Yes. Sad? Absolutely. Meant to be? Absolutely not.

As our educational status in the world slips further and further, we need to ask ourselves what is the cost of not doing anything about this. A number of educational leaders, to include writers and entertainment icons, have taken up the pen, and perhaps even the sword, to turn the tide on this shameful situation. For any child in this great country to not be able to read and write at a fundamental level is inexcusable.

So, what’s being done?

Before I talk about what’s being done, let’s examine - albeit superficially - one of the causes of poor performance in English proficiency in the United States.

Reading - or more precisely - not reading enough is a primary cause.

School days are packed with all sorts of mandatory curricula these days that I’m sure the overwhelming nature of it gives teachers, parents - and students - headaches. I know some teachers still manage to make learning fun in the classroom but I suspect that reading is more of a chore these days for all concerned than when I was growing up.

I loved to read. I escaped to all kinds of worlds and places through reading. Of course, I didn’t have hundreds of cable channels, video games or a personal computer when I was growing up. Reading was my entertainment. Oh I loved to watch TV. It’s just that when there’s only one set in the house, only 3-5 channels, and no remote control, why bother? It was much easier to pick up a book and escape. Now there are televisions in every room! I’m actually downsizing on these in my home and setting up comfortable reading and writing areas.

Which brings me to solutions.

Remove televisions, or at least reduce time spent in front of them. The brain develops differently when exposed only to stimulation from televisions and other electronics. This needs to be balanced with reading and writing.

I truly believe that those of us who write, especially fiction and poetry, have a passion to do so. We’re excited every time we craft a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter and even if we’re rejected along the way - as many of us are - we can’t stop.

So just where did that passion come from and why aren’t we as a society firing up that same passion in the generations behind us?

Oh, it would be ever so easy to blame the teachers, but it’s not them. True, successful writers and other professionals often site a teacher or a coach as having inspired them along the way, but that’s only part of it. I believe that one of the most important locations for children to embrace reading and writing is in the home. Parents have much more influence over how their children develop than they accept responsibility for. Simply put - Monkey see, Monkey do. At the risk of insulting Monkeys who are very smart indeed, our children really do learn in their formative years from us, their parents, by mimicking what we do.

James Patterson is a strong supporter of encouraging children to read and has a website www.ReadKiddoRead.com which he heavily promotes. Additional sites to motivate children to read are mentioned in an article in USAToday about James Patterson's efforts to engage children in reading. Here’s the link:

http://books.usatoday.com/bookbuzz/post/2011-10-10/james-patterson-promotes-reading-for-kids-with-live-webcast/552111/1

So, what can we do as writers? After all, we need a continual supply of readers to sell more books!

We can follow James Patterson’s lead by reaching out to all levels of students and engage them in the reading process. We may not be able to reach as far as he does but if each of us touches just one student, then English proficiency will improve exponentially as they in turn touch others.

If you need further motivation, just remember that the youth of today will be our medical and old-age home caretakers of tomorrow. Education, not just English proficiency is all of our responsibility. As another saying goes, "You get what you pay for!" The education of all of our children in this great country is an investment worthy of our time and money.

Left handed creativeness

2011-10-10T08:25:00.001-05:00

I never minded being left handed. Sure, it means I’m different, but in a good way. I’m creative; at least I think I am.

When it comes to writing, being lefty isn’t so bad, unless of course I need to write in a spiral notebook. Can I just ask how hard would it be for Mead or Staples to make left handed notebooks? Really isn’t just about putting the spiral metal thingy on the other side of the paper?

To be honest, they do make left handed products – for about triple the price! Why? Why do we have to be penalized because we seek comfort? If the writing is just for me, I turn the notebook upside down. No skin off my nose. But when I was in school I had to turn the paper in and the nuns, (yes I went to Catholic grade school which was a challenge in itself,) would not accept this.

Maybe that is where my creative juices really came from. Trying to find ways to make the world’s regular everyday common objects work for me sometimes took a bit of ingenuity. I was always thinking how to make things work for me. Now I just carry that over to my stories. How can I make things work for them? How can I move the plot forward? Always thinking, that is what makes me creative, even if it’s in a right handed world.

Have a great week!

Best,
June

www.junesproat.com

Beautiful Weather and Motivation

2011-10-09T11:26:00.002-05:00

It's another gorgeous fall day outside. Today in my part of the Midwest temperatures are expected to be almost 80. If the trees weren't already displaying their beautiful autumn attire, I might think it's still summer.

My hubby and I are going to head to our favorite nature sanctuary for a walk. Yesterday we took the convertible for a drive.

And that's the 'trouble' with these beautiful fall days. I have no desire to be inside for any length of time. Problem is, I have lots of indoor things I need to do: cleaning, writing, finishing a slide show I'm making...but I have zero motivation.

Some of these things can wait. Others I have a deadline for and will need to get to them sooner rather than later.

But for today...

...I'm heading outdoors.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Voices by Margot Justes

2011-10-08T15:01:00.000-05:00

People often ask where do writers get their ideas? It seems intriguing to come up with a scene, develop characters, plot out the story, bleed repeatedly over every page and finally have a final product.

As the saying goes-truth is stranger than fiction-how many times do we hear a news story and say "I never would have thought of that, or seriously, someone did what?" Talk about suspending your disbelief-just pick up the paper or listen to the news, fiction has nothing on real life.

I don't think I'm the only writer out there in fiction-land that hears voices in my head, and listens as characters hold their own conversations, and clamor for their own stories.

I find it entertaining, and at the same time somewhat of a challenge, because at the most inopportune times they pop in and hold a conversation. That is how a premise for my new novella came about. The secondary characters from A Fire Within demanded their own story, and they will get it.

I don't even have a working title yet, but there have been so many stories about art recently that I won't have a problem selecting what kind of fraud, theft, or forgery I want to write about. The best part, it may be another joint venture with Amy Alessio and Mary Welk, set around Halloween 2012.

I wonder how many of us hear those voices that refuse to remain silent, and wind up in a story.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

That Witch Bears Repeating by Rob Walker

2011-10-07T13:39:00.000-05:00

GREATEST SECRETS of Commercial Fiction Writers Revealed for Your Use

by Robert W. Walker

Using a brief excerpt from chapter 3 of Children of Salem, I intend to point out key decisions a writer makes as he works. This article is intended to instruct new writers and remind veterans how we do what we do when we do it.

First use time and setting like teletype to get right to the setting as in below…

At the parsonage door in Salem Village, 1:20AM, March 7, 1692

Second use establishing shots to nail the character down fast…

A stocky, short man, nonetheless Reverend Samuel Parris felt the walls of the small parish home—his property by way of contractual agreement with his flock—closing in on him.

Notice the helpful use of dashes to set off and emphasize material in a complex sentence.

The stairwell proved so tight that Parris could hardly make it up the narrow passage to his daughter’s room, where he looked in on little Betty, who’d been battling a fever—symptoms of an ague so often seen in little ones. Betty slept fitfully, as if assailed by nightmares, but at least she slept. Her cousin, the Reverend’s niece, slept too but in a separate bed in the corner.

Notice that every sentence is an active one…even the ‘stairwell proved’ something…

He returned to the hearth and pulled a book from the bookcase. He owned several books, an Old Testament, a New Testament, and a treatise written by Increase Mather on how the godly life must be led. Parris was, in effect, a man of one book, the Holy Bible. All else paled in his eyes. He strove to live by a strict interpretation of Jehovah’s Ten Commandments and the Pentateuch now as never before.

Note the use of props – books in this case and how they help establish Parris.

Parris now took a deep breath and opened his bible to Leviticus, about to read himself into weariness, when he heard a sudden rapping at the parsonage door.

What damned oaf comes at such an hour? Parris mentally shouted. He approached the door, shouted aloud, “Who needs what of me now?” They come to me for all their ills and every petty problem, but do they make my salary?

Note the use of thought and speech above and the interplay. Never create huge blocks of either speech or thought as to do so creates a ‘blowhard’ of your character – a no, no.

Each villager’s tithe to Parris had come slower and slower, until some had stopped altogether, while others paid in pumpkins, squash, oysters, and the occasional lobster. Worse than ordinary thieves, he thought, one hand on the doorknob, his ear against the wood.

Note in that last sentence how even as he is thinking, he is still in action.

Who could it be at such an ungodly hour? Another death in the parish? A sick child who’d wandered from the faith? These Salem people want courtesy and hard work from me, yet they fail me in miserable fashion.

Again three quick, strong raps on the door. From the sound of it, a strong man stood on the other side of the stout door.

Note how monologue works to establish Parris above, and directly below in next lines how dialogue does the job. Dialogue is for establishing character and moving the story along or both at once.

“Who is it?” Parris shouted.

“Wakely, sir! My name is Jeremiah…”

“What?” The door still separating them.

“My name is Jermiah Wakely—”

“I know no Wakely!” came the muffled response.

Jeremiah wondered if the minister meant to come through the door with a blazing firearm or hot poker.

“I’ve come from Maine, sir.”

“Maine?”

“By way of Boston, sir!”

“Boston?”

“Have a letter of introduction, Mr. Parris, sir!”

“Letter? A post this time of night? Bah!”

“Can you hear me, sir? Through the door?”

“What letter?”

“From Mather, sir, Reverend Increase Mather.”

This brought on a chill silence. Finally, Parris replied, “Mather? Did you say Increase Mather?”

Never above a little symbolism, note the door as symbol of impossible communication between these two, and note below the lantern light that divides Jeremiah’s face, half light, half dark and not lost on Parris. Note also how all such information is conveyed through the character’s senses and thoughts:

“I did, sir!” Jeremiah cursed the impenetrable door. He wondered if Parris meant for him to sleep on the porch tonight. “I’d like to settle my horse, sir, in your barn.”

But Parris’ breath had caught in his lungs. Can it be true, he wondered, that the greatest theological mind in the colonies has sent me a letter by midnight courier? Has Mather finally answered my repeated requests for intervention on my behalf? Ha, the delinquent parish members will be well fined now.

“Will you open the door, Reverend?” shouted Jeremiah. “Or shall Mr. Mather’s protégé sleep in your barn?”

What if it’s the Devil at my doorstep? Parris asked himself. This man calling himself Wakely could as well be some evil scratching to get in. The Devil would know that a letter from Mather would tempt him to make an invitation to cross his threshold. “Or has God sent this—what’d he call himself? Protégé?” he muttered aloud.

The pounding continued. So loud in the silent night that it sounded demonic.

Parris braced himself, lit a lantern, and pulled the door open just a crack, staring out at Jeremiah Wakely, who managed a smile. Jeremy then extended a letter with a heavy red wax seal reading IM—for Increase Mather.

The lantern glow divided Wakely’s face down the middle; one side lit bright, the other side in total darkness. The image had a strange, hypnotic hold on his reluctant host. “You look like a highwayman, Mr. Wakely.”

Below now see the use of elipses and dashes to give the impression confusion on the one hand and the impression of men talking over one another on the other. I learned this from a CAREFUL reading of how it is done in the comic strips!

“If you are truly from Mather . . . why do you come in at such an hour? Under darkness? It’ve been best to come in daylight.”

“A bridge was out,” lied Jeremy.

“I would’ve liked my parishioners to see your coming, to know you are here from Mather, and that Mather backs me against my enaaa . . . those who stand against me here.”

“I don’t know anything about that, sir. I’m just an apprentice . . . to be apprenticed to you, Mr. Parris, until which time—”

“Apprentice? I thought you simply a courier?” He waved the sealed note in his hand.

“You haven’t read it, sir?”

“I assumed…I mean, seeing the seal and Mather’s signature…well…” Parris gritted his teeth and read by the lantern now held by Jeremy, his riding boots squeaking and wet on the porch boards.

There came another daunting silence between them. Finally, Jeremiah cleared his parched throat and said, “Mr. Parris, I am aware of your worldliness, sir.”

“You are?”

“That you were a merchant in the West Indies—”

“Yes, Barbados, but what has that to do with—”

“—and a seaman before that. All before becoming an ordained minister at Harvard College.”

“What is your point, man?

“Why that I am…will be honored to work under your tutelage, sir.” Jeremy worked hard to affect the attitude of a novice scholar.

“Indeed…lucky for both of us,” Parris countered.

“Reverend Mather provided me with a modest outline, sir, of your history.”

“He did?”

“Filled me in, yes. It’s one reason that Mr. Mather has linked us, you and I as minister and mentor.”

“Mentor?”

“Protégé, apprentice, sir.”

Parris’ features took on a menacing look. He had assumed the letter from Mather a confirmation of his land holdings in Salem Village. He now placed a pair of rickety old magnifying glasses on his nose so as to truly look at the note—as if searching for what he’d lost in translation.

Jeremy watched his lips move as he read:

After the letter is read look at how a new third character is introduced into the mix.

Parris heaved the heaviest sigh Jeremy had ever seen before muttering, “Where the deuce’ll you sleep? We have extremely tight quarters here.”

“I can take the stable tonight . . . for now, that is until settled elsewhere.”

Parris hesitated then said, “Don’t be silly.”

“I mean ’till arrangements can be made, I—”

Parris considered this for only a moment before exploding into action, rushing inside, leaving his door swinging open. “Tituba!” he shouted, rushing into the house, leaving the door wide, waking his servant. “Wake up! I want you to prepare a bed in the stable for—”

“For whooo, Massa Reverend?” The dark woman stared hard at the man in black who stood now warming himself at the fire. She looked wide-eyed, frightened of Jeremiah.

“For whom?” replied Parris, correcting her English. “Why for you, for yourself, Tituba.”

It was the first time Jeremiah had heard the woman’s name pronounced, and it was, he thought, rather Shakespearean and melodic: Ti’shuba. The strange, dark woman in shadow repeatedly asked, “What? What I do now? What?”

“You’re to remove yourself tonight to the barn, to sleep out there.” Parris pointed to the door. “Now, out!”

“Out the house? Now?”

“Hold on, sir,” started Jeremy. “I don’t wish to displace anyone.”

“She’s a Barbados black, Mr. Ahhh . . . Wakely, or are you blind and deaf?”

“Even so—”

“My servant. I’ve had her for years.”

“Still, I’m the newcomer here and—”

“Are you questioning my judgment already, young man?”

Aside from dialogue moving the story along and making it immediate, we rely on the five senses, constantly trying to embed at least three appeals to the senses on every page as apparent below:

Samuel Parris had eyes as black as grapes, but no seeds showed in them, not even so much as a twinkle in the lantern light; light which otherwise filled the small rooms here, creating giants of their shadows along with the pinching odor of whale oil.

Tituba did not question her master. After a furtive glance at Jeremiah, and a look of anger flaring up behind the minister’s back, she trundled out, clutching a single woolen blanket and a straw-tick pillow. Parris watched her go down the steps into the drifting snow and icy rain.

Take note that what a character says and does is who she is; but characters are also illuminated by what others say and do about them. Note below how Parris sums her up but can we and Jeremiah believe the minister? All a plan of the author who wishes you to like and dislike and to make judgments of your own about these people made of words.

“There, Mr. Wakefield, now you have a place below the stairwell.”

Jeremy thought to correct him but decided not now. Instead, he stared at the space below the stairs vacated for him. It looked large enough for a big dog. “Still, I need to stable my horse before retiring, sir.”

“Yes, yes, of course, but steer clear of the servant. She has a dislike for strangers, us ahhh . . . white men who wear the cloth in particular.”

“Is she not civilized? Christian?”

“Trust me, I’ve done my level best to make her so, however, you can never be sure of the pagan mind. Most inscrutable.”

“I know nothing is harder than to convert a heathen, sir.”

“Clings to her Barbados superstitions.”

“I see. I’ll do then as you suggest.”

“I’ll have the door unlatched for your return. Again, avoid the woman.”

“As you wish.”

“She is a . . . mischief-maker, Mr. Wakely. You are forewarned. Make no small talk with Tituba.”

Note how clearly each character his his/her own voice, and how the exotic name of Tituba is brought out as mysterious just in how Jeremiah wonders at how it is pronounced.

Hearing Parris behind him at the door, Jeremiah repeated the name as it sounded to him, “Ti’shu-ba, yes, to be sure, I’ll not speak with the black woman.”

Note how the end of a scene or chapter should be a drum roll or at least a beat, ending on a note that keeps the reader curious and in anticipation of what is to come next.

So these are the simple and easy to master Secrets of Commercial Fiction Writing, and hopefully, you see there is nothing to it. But it presupposes rewrites atop rewrites, and getting to know one’s characters inside and out from having lived with them for a long, long time.

So these are my working SECRETS. All the examples are from Children of Salem and the entire book at an easy price to you can be found at www.Amazon.com Or you can read FREE the first 8 chapters at www.authonomy.com or just chapter one free at my Myspace blog. Children of Salem is my best selling work at the moment except for Dead On Writing from www.wordclay.com and Amazon.com

Is It an Infestation or Just Your Imagination? by DL Larson

2011-10-06T07:47:00.003-05:00

Our Rookie Reader Adventure Club at the libary is reading "The Spiderwick Chronicles" by Toni DiTerlizzi. We are a group of kindergarteners, first and second graders and having a good time using our imagination. Each has a made a field guide and we add tidbits of research to it each week. We learned a new word this week, infestation! When asked if anyone knew what infestation meant, one little boy commented, "no, but it sure doesn't sound too good." We soon discovered it indeed didn't sound too good when creatures over run an area, cause trouble and disrupt things.

After learning our new word, we went on a field trip throughout the library, looking for fairy, brownie or boggart infestation. We found signs of trouble everywhere! We interviewed our library director who admitted to wondering if we had an infestation. Kids asked questions that were not on our check list. They discovered the tiniest marks on the walls, holes I'd never noticed before and vents bent, ceilings panels mysteriously loosened, and a dozen other conspicuous oddities that have me convinced we have a serious fairy infestation at the Earlville Public Library. We all agreed we don't want to upset them and we will continue on as if they aren't there. No sense borrowing trouble if we don't need to!

So why am I telling you about our Rookie Readers Adventure Club? Because I was inspired by their imagination! As adults, we sometimes struggle kick-starting our brains into thinking of new ideas. Our imagination hides from us and we wonder why we can't find a solution to a plot, or can't start a new project. My best advice after touring our library with our rookie readers, is let the little kid in you come out and play, get into trouble and cause a little havoc! It's great fun!

Beware ~ you may fall victim to an infestation of crazy ideas! Or rather, your imagaination may take you places you never dreamed of going.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Get a Hobby

2011-10-05T08:41:00.000-05:00

Forever Young
Blessing or Curse

I'm almost through editing Forever Young-Blessing or Curse, but there's still time to add extra touches. One item I'm kicking around is whether or not to give a hobby to my main character, a 55 year old widow who turns 24.

Should she have one? Will it make her more well rounded?

My main hobbies, which have exploded into consuming occupations are writing and social networking, followed closely by reading. I love acquiring new gadgets, like my iPhone and kindle, but that's not exactly a hobby. I'm not sure if watching DVDs would qualify either. Television watching is out. Though I'd love to do so, I hardly ever find anything worthwhile on TV to watch anymore.

I took piano lessons for a few years and tried cross stitching. That was almost 30 years ago. Even further in my past, as a child I played the accordion, took tap and ballet lessons, and even went around collecting coins from change, sidewalks and park grounds.

I'm not sure if any of these hobbies would work for my character. Do you have any suggestions? Or maybe you'd just like to share your hobby.

Morgan Mandel

Killer Career is on Kindle and

Smashwords for 99 cents, and

is also in print for $13.95.

Two Wrongs to be re-released
soon.

Forever Young-Blessing or Curse
is almost ready for release.

Signs of Fall

2011-10-02T08:30:00.003-05:00

I just love living in a place where the seasons change. Which is maybe ironic, because in other aspects of my life...I don't like change much at all. But there's something special about each coming season.

I especially like fall. Last week we went apple picking, so yesterday I cooked up a batch of my mom's home made apple sauce. The house was filled with the heavenly aroma all day. Football season is here. Family vacation up in Door County is fast approaching. Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner.

Fall is such a great season to use in writing. It's so sensory.

The most obvious is sight. The leaves changing colors. Pumpkins with their brilliant orange. Even the steely grey of a cloudy day. Corn stalks and mums abound.

The smells of fall are amazing. Burning leaves. The cinnamon and spice of cooking apples and pumpkins. The damp scent of the air. Turkey cooking in the oven all morning.

Taste follows. Hot apple cider with a touch of caramel and cinnamon. Pumpkin bread and cookies. S'mores around the fire.

Fall has lots of good sounds, as well. The crunch of leaves on the ground. The crackle of an outdoor fire pit. The laughter of children in costumes.

We feel things in fall, too. The bite of the chill in the air. The bumpy texture of Indian corn. The cozy blanket to snuggle under during the football game.

Fall holds an abundance of things to make it come alive: in real life and on the page. What are some of your favorite sensory things about fall?

Until next time,

Happy Writing!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Tidbits by Margot Justes

2011-10-01T17:19:00.002-05:00

We often complain how time 'flies' it doesn't really...it just seems as if it does.

Take today for instance, I drank a pot of coffee-nothing unusual there-happens most weekends if I'm home, made some mushroom barley soup, did laundry, all the mundane everyday things that aren't done during the week, and are saved for the weekend.

I sat down at the computer and realized half the day is gone. I don't know where it went, and have very little to show for it, (except of course for the clean laundry and huge pot of soup)but it seems to have flown.

In the meantime, new writing projects are not 'flying', in fact they seem not to be moving forward at all, except the three pages I added to Hotel in Venice and a page to Memories of a Country Long Ago, and the continuous editing of existing projects.

Time has been spent polishing Blood Art and A Hotel in Bath. I regained my rights to A Hotel in Paris and I'm editing that too, as well as writing a new end to A Fire Within.

All in all I can pretty much figure out where the time went, it did fly, but at least I know the destination...my manuscript pages.

I have some good news-Amy Alessio, Mary Welk and I will release our 3 novellas in time for Valentine's Day, tentative date is January 1, 2012. This is an old project that has been resurrected, and I'm absolutely delighted at the prospect of working together with Amy and Mary.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

Oop! Internet Explorer Could Not Find dllarson.com by DL Larson

2011-09-29T08:46:00.005-05:00

Well, it's happened again ~ my website is down. I don't want it to be down, but it is down and I can't fix it without help. I feel helpless and a little "blonde" because I don't know what to do to resolve the problem. What's even more embarrassing is my sister, yes the one who had the heart attack, brought it to my attention. I didn't know it was down. Bless her healing heart for informing me, but shucks, I feel really dumb just now.

My lovely daughter takes care of my website. Yes, the daughter who last week had a baby. Guess we have been so "baby" oriented we forgot all about paying on-line bills, not just this month, but last month as well. Geesh! I'm a platinum blonde at this point!

So how do I get out of this fix and move on? The bill is paid. Still, no website. I don't want to bug my daughter about my non-existing website, so perhaps I should hire someone else. Where does one go to find a reputable web master? I'm really unprepared for this. I don't want to hire the first person I stumble across. I don't want to pay a lot of money either. What I really want is my old web page back. I feel like a little kid, "put it back! Put it BACK!" But I don't know how to do that either.

So, I'm looking for advice. Good, sensible, EASY answers! Is that being realistic or not? I don't know. I don't know, I don't know! Maybe web pages are hard to maintain. My daughter always said, "send me what you want and I'll do it." That's the extent of my involvement of web paging.

I know it's time to take control of my website. It's time to get a handle on this. Does anyone have any suggestions? Are there any simple steps I could master without losing my mind? Please ~ share your knowledge with me!

Oh, one last thing - I don't want to be a "blonde" anymore!

Til next time ~
DL Larson

Can We Talk

2011-09-28T08:08:00.001-05:00

In real life I don't say much. I have to be very interested in a topic to open up.

When I read or write a book, I'm the opposite. I must have lots of dialog or the book will bore me.

What about you? Are your own habits different than what you expect from a book?

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

When Life REALLY Gets in the Way!

2011-09-27T14:40:00.003-05:00

I had set many goals for myself over the past decade or so, both personal and professional, but when my life took an abrupt turn a few years back, I thought at first it had me down for the count. As I pulled myself up from the mud where I was thrown, bruised and confused, I was scared. Really, really scared. Then as the next years went by, and mostly as this last one unfolded, I saw so many more opportunities in my life than I have ever seen before. This presented a different kind of confusion, but almost of a fun nature, in trying to sort out which direction to go first. I was like a kid on Christmas morning, looking for the shiniest wrapping paper and hoping the present was mine.

Well, sometimes you find that shiny wrapping paper and read the tag and see that it is meant for someone else. That’s okay. Part of my healing these past few years has been to wish the best for everyone in my life, past and present, even my “enemies” or those who’ve - at the risk of turning this into a country western lyric - done me wrong. I reserve the right to exclude those people from my life, but I can wish them well at a safe and very great distance. It’s such an emotional burden to carry around hate and anger, and now that some people are no longer in my life I realize just how much hate and anger was part of them, and how much time I have wasted walking beside them and helping them carry their load. Part of my journey these past few years has been to stop carrying anything for anyone else but myself. I breath much better now - both physically and emotionally.

So, I started filling up my life with events and causes that meant something to me and became extremely busy but happy in the frenzied energy of my life. Then, BOOM - and there always seems to be a BOOM - a number of things happened almost at once. From my elderly dog passing away to my elderly friend going towards the end of her life with much difficulty, I haven’t quite had the peaceful year of growth that I had hoped for. Still, I’ve learned quite a bit about life in general, and pet and elderly health care in particular. My writing this year has suffered greatly as I’m simply exhausted at the end of the day. However, I have a wealth of knowledge now to write about many of the things I’ve experienced.

Now to find that peace and quite to do so. I’m getting close, and as I get closer and closer I realize that life really is a journey full of great things, bad things and everything in between. Partly out of frustration and partly out of a need to be free I just want to take my shoes and socks off and run through the rain water. BTW - it’s raining in the Chicago area today - has been for the past two days, on and off, but mostly on.

Oh, and that shiny wrapping paper? Sometimes you also find out that the shiny paper is the best part of the gift. We always say, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” Well, we can add, “Don’t judge a gift by it’s wrapping paper,” or even the person who gave it to you.

Crossing Over

2011-09-25T11:48:00.010-05:00

Last month I submitted my latest mss to my editor at Wild Rose for consideration. This is Jake's story: the last in my series.

This week I got an e-mail from an editor at the Yellow Rose line at TWRP (Normally I write for the Champagne Rose line, which is contemporary romance.) Since Jake is a bull rider, and his riding is an integral part of the story, the mss was transferred over to the Yellow Rose line which is designated for contemporary western stories: in other words, the cowboy line. She said she was looking forward to reading the mss and would get back to me no later than December 1.

In some ways, December still seems so far away, but it was nice to know things are moving along. I'm excited that my series (If this story gets contracted!) will be somewhat of a cross-over at Wild Rose, spanning two different lines! Maybe it will even increase my reader base.

To celebrate, I thought I'd share some of the pictures I've taken at the rodeo over the past couple of years, featuring my favorite kind of cowboys: those bull riders!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Good Endings & New Beginings! by DL Larson

2011-09-22T08:09:00.003-05:00

I'm happy to share good news that my sister is recovering from her heart attack! She is one tough and very special lady and will be back to "normal" very soon. As for my daughter, she managed to worry my family profoundly and bless us endlessly with a baby boy ~ born just yesterday afternoon. Baby was a hefty 8 lbs. 10 oz. and 22 inches long and rather unwilling to be born. He is finally here, healthy and beautiful, cone-head and all! His name .... well, we're waiting to hear. I call him precious baby!

In the midst of these last stressful weeks, I was asked to critique a children's book. called, "14 Cows for America." It too explains tragedy and the goodness that comes despite the devastation of disaster. The author, Carmen Agra Deedy, wrote a moving story about a Kenyan village and their extraordinary gift to America after the 911 attack.

Kimeli wins a scholarship to study in the U.S. He witnesses the attack in New York and sees how police officers and firemen risk their own lives to help others. He wants to help America too. He learned as a child "to heal a sorrowing heart, give something that is dear to your own." Kimeli returns to his Kenyan village and tells his people what he intends to do. He wants to give America one of his most prized possesions, a cow. The village cows are the most important commodity they own. The villagers hear the story of the two towers toppling and the sadness of America.

An American diplomat visits the village, expecting to meet a few people and accept the cow as a token of friendship. He is greeted by hundreds of people who want to share in the sorrow the United States suffered. Not one cow, but fourteen are given in friendship.

The story ends with a simple, yet poignant statement, "Because there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort."

I highly recommend this children's story to those interested in talking about friendship, hardships and how the rest of the world was affected by 911.

We may not always get the "happy ending" we wish for, but I pray goodness will always prevail, whether with families or nations.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Sunrise, Sunset, Let it Rain

2011-09-21T07:12:00.000-05:00

This morning, around five-twenty, I could hardly tell where I was going when I walked our dog. Rascal doesn't like walking in the dark, but today she was in the mood for forging ahead. Wouldn't you know it, we got a few blocks away from the house when I heard a rustling in the trees, followed by rain falling right on mine and Rascal's heads. If there's one thing Rascal hates more than the dark, it's getting wet. Needless to say, we headed back.

Why was it dark today, when it hadn't been a few months ago? Well, I live in Illinois. Friday is the first day of Autumn. The sun now comes up later and sets earlier. Also, with rain in the offing, clouds obscured whatever light we might have had.

What does this have to do with writing? Well, you need to check the visibility ratio for the area and Season you're writing about before you make a flub and say it's dark when it's usually light, or vice versa. People who live in that location would definitely know the difference. You might also want to research whether or not that area is prone to draughts or heavy amounts of rainfall, since clouds can also diminish light.

If you don't have firsthand knowledge, you can ask a friend who lives there, or check the Internet.

Speaking of asking friends, How early does it get light around you these days?

Morgan Mandel

Update! Update!

2011-09-19T10:05:00.001-05:00

Over a year ago my publisher decided to close their YA line. I was upset, but understood. I’d written one book and one short story in an anthology that they published. It was my dream to get published and I’d done it. When I received the email that the line was closing I was devastated. Sure, I knew that I had accomplished what I wanted to do, but now what was going to happen to my book? Was it going to disappear into the great abyss? Would it be as if my book never existed?

I had my choice, leave the book in their catalog until they decided to pull it completely (they were keeping the YA book in their lists, just not publishing new titles) or get my rights back and move on. After the grief, (really, I felt like my dream was dying – rapidly!) I realized I needed to move forward. I asked for my rights back and a year ago I put Ordinary Me on kindle.

It was the best thing I could have done for my book. My baby was alive and kicking. Over the past year I've sold just over 1350 copies of Ordinary Me on Kindle alone.

Last month I took another step and made the book available in paperback. The cost is a little higher for the paperback version, but not everyone has a kindle or an app for it, so I wanted to make it available for those readers as well.

It’s amazing to me as an author…there are over 1300 people that have my book. I am just amazed and grateful that this avenue was available. My dream is still alive and building. I received my rights back for the short story I wrote, and I am planning for that story to make its debut on kindle soon.

It’s been a fun ride and I am not ready to get off yet. I hope it goes on and on.

Thanks for checking in and have a great week!

Best,
June

www.junesproat.com

Operation Paperback by Margot Justes

2011-09-17T12:10:00.001-05:00

I’ve mentioned Operation Paperback before.

To use their words, “Operation Paperback is a non-profit organization that collects gently used books nationwide and sends them to American troops deployed overseas.” Since 1999, the organization shipped over 1.3 million books to our soldiers.

We collect books at work and to date have shipped 1,026 books. We accept donations from our employees and a few libraries have given us their ‘withdrawals’.

I love books and for me there is no greater pleasure, than to see someone else enjoy the escape from reality that a book provides. I assume that is especially true for our soldiers. If anyone needs an escape from a brutal reality, it most certainly would be a soldier in the middle of a war, or a soldier confined to a hospital bed.

There are many VA Medical Centers that need books, and it’s not difficult or expensive to send a box. The US Postal Service provides free shipping supplies, and if you ship via Media Mail and use a plain box it is much cheaper.

If you send the books outside the US, there is a special flat rate for the boxes earmarked for the military. Joining the organization is easy, just go to: www.operationpaperback.org

I was asked not to provide the name of the facilities however if you e-mail me at mjustes@earthlink.net, I will be able to give you the name of one medical center, or if you prefer to send the books to me, I will give you my shipping address. I’ll make sure the center receives them.

For just a little bit of an effort, you can make a difference in a soldier’s life, make it a bit more palatable for them and let them know we care.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris

When Anticipation Turns To Shock by DL Larson

2011-09-15T08:16:00.004-05:00

The last few days have been harrowing at my house. My daughter is nine months pregnant and we're all very excited to see and hold this new addition to our family. It's also stressful because her husband is working in Indiana which leaves her alone at night. As a mom, I worry. I worry for reasons only another mom will understand.

We have been focused on the future, looking forward to this special time when new life will be a part of our family. That's perhaps one of the reasons I was so shocked to receive the phone call from my niece. She wasn't asking about the upcoming baby, she had her own news to deliver. My sister had a massive heart attack!

The gears in my mind refused to turn. I couldn't grasp the severity of my niece's words. My sister is healthy! She's active and social, she eats right, exercises daily and has never smoked!

My sister will roll her eyes when she realizes I have compared her health problems with book writing. But great suspense has a way of leading us down one trail only to jerk us into another reality. The reality is my daughter is fine, my worry is frivolous compared to my concern over my sister. The shock of what happened has me thinking and pondering a different scenario. Good writing not only captures our attention, it also lures us in, only to shock us to our core. We love the unexpected. We thrive on surprise. Shock is a readers adrenalin fix. The suspense of what will happen next, drives us on, propels us to find out more.

In a perfect world, my sister will be fine with no complications and my daughter will deliver a beautiful healthy baby! Unlike my books, I can't write the ending to this suspense. But I can ask for guidance and ask that my prayers be heard. Have I mentioned, I like happy endings?

Or would that be new beginnings? I ask for that too.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Sold!

2011-09-14T10:48:00.001-05:00

As usual, I took Rascal for a walk around the neighborhood. Also as usual, I saw many For Sale signs, most of which had been up for at least a year.

Then I noticed something different. One of the signs said SOLD! That was a happy surprise. It feels good to witness someone's success, even if I don't know that person. I have no idea about the circumstances behind the sale. Perhaps the seller had to lower the price drastically. Maybe the seller decided to make further improvements to make the property more eye catching or up to standards.Maybe a new realtor entered the picture. Maybe the right advertising was done. Whatever the case, the end result was a sale.

It didn't take me long to make the connection betweem that and the author situation. Many of us are either doing what we can to get noticed by an agent or editor, or going through the steps for self-publishing. Whatever the case, our manuscripts need to be in tiptop shape, and appealing. It doesn't stop there. Once our books are published, be it electronically, in print, or both, we need to get noticed. We need to spread the word our books are quality and are really great reads.

One way is to find our target audience and go after it, so our books can be SOLD, like that house.

What other ways are there?

Morgan Mandel

Killer Career is 99 cents on
Kindle & Smashwords,
Also in print at $13.95
Forever Young-Blessing
or Curse coming soon.
Two Wrongs also to be
re-released at
99 cents on Kindle
& Smashwords.

An Adventure Back in Time

2011-09-13T12:45:00.003-05:00

I joined a friend of mine at the Bristol, Wisconsin Renaissance Faire over labor day weekend. His daughter was one of the performers. As we “traveled” back in time through the plays at the Globe, wandered through the vendor displays and interacted with the street performers, we were pulled into the character and atmosphere of what it was like to live in a different era and a time when the average person was worried more about how to make it to the next day alive than the war of words among detached politicians.

For those who’ve attended a Renaissance Faire somewhere in the world you know what I’m talking about. Just like the Civil War Re-enactments, the Ren-Faire performers strive for authenticity even if that long-ago reality is sometimes interrupted by the plethora of attendees saying those now infamous words, “Can you hear me now?” as they try to locate family and friends.

There was also a touch of modern day humor among the performers and vendors. One of the jewelry shops we visited had a most humorous sign posted. It read, “Unattended children will be given espresso and a free puppy.” Now that strikes fear in every parents heart! Signs proclaiming “Lady Visa and Sir MasterCard are honored here” also reminded participants that despite it’s authenticity the Ren-Faire is indeed a business.

I was reminded as I wandered around the grounds of Ren-Faire that as writers we are trying to achieve this same sense of presence in our stories with our readers. Our challenge of course is that we are limited to words in a traditional book format and the words we choose need to be powerful enough to ground our readers in our story through all their senses. If we embrace more multi-media formats for our stories there will still be challenges but we might have better success at provoking more senses with not only our words but visual and aural cues as well.

As a writer, who hasn’t heard the phrase - “Show Don’t Tell!” The performers at Ren-Faire have the benefit of giving visual cues from their costumes to their mannerisms and, of course, the way in which they speak. The first “Me Lady,” from a costumed gentleman made me feel pulled into the experience of being in this different time and place. A kiss on my hand as he bowed in respect sent a tingle up my spine. Ah, it was nice!

And, that’s the feeling we strive for our readers, at least I want to believe so. I want the reader of my stories to come away feeling pulled in, and yes for them to even think and feel - “Ah, that was nice!”

Remembering...

2011-09-11T11:31:00.003-05:00

Today as we remember...

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

And to all of those who protect, serve, and fight, we remember you, too.

Honoring One of the Great Authors! by DL Larson

2011-09-08T07:43:00.008-05:00

This week many of us are reliving the tragedy of 9/11, watching documentaries on TV, reading articles in newspapers and sharing with others what we remember of that day. Our way of life was threatened, is still in jeapardy as our soldiers continue to defend us and our beliefs in freedom.

Freedom! Our forefathers cherished that word. They were not perfect by any means, but they held a belief that life could be better if governments got out of the way and let folks run their own lives. Love of country and respect for fellow man was a priority. Freedom of religion too. They needed to put into words what they held true. They needed a writer.

The writer chosen was an energetic man; by age nine he had studied Latin, Greek and French. By fourteen he added other languages and classical literature. At sixteen he entered the College of William and Mary. By nineteen, he studied law for five years and opened his own practice at twenty-three. When he was twenty-five he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. He wrote extensively and by thirty-one was well known for his views of the "Summary View of the Rights of British America." By the time he was thirty-two he became a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress. When he was thirty-three he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson wrote down the ideals of the young nation. Those words he committed to paper have been tested many times during wars and disputes with other nations. If the British had won over the Continental Army, Thomas Jefferson most likely would have hanged for treason.

Jefferson used his writing skills throughout his entire life. He served in Congress, became an American minister to France and negotiated treaties with other European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams. When he was forty-six, he served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington. He became an active head of the Republican Party and at fifty-seven became our third president.

One would think after two terms of presidency, he would slow up a bit. But Jefferson had other goals as well. When he was sixty-six he sold his extensive library of books to the government which spiraled into what is known today as the Library of Congress. He then founded the University of Virginia. He campaigned for its charter, secured its location, designed its buildings, planned the curriculum and served as first head master.

Jefferson is also known for his many quotes. One of my favorites is: "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."

Thomas Jefferson died on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

What's Your Favorite Social Network?

2011-09-07T10:45:00.002-05:00

I used to tweet a lot on Twitter, but then I discovered everyone at work used Facebook, plus many others outside of work also liked Facebook. That being the case, I concentrated my efforts on Facebook and am still doing so. I like the idea of 5,000 friends instead of 2,000 followers. Some say if you get enough followers on Twitter who initiate the following, you can request more, but I've always been stopped at the 2,000 mark. I could go and unfollow some who don't follow me, but that takes up extra time.

I've heard Twitter is great for making book sales, and am thinking of going on there more, but there's only so much I can do each day promotionwise.

I also belong to:
Google Plus, which is still in its infancy, but shows promise
LinkedIn, though I barely use it, except to accept friend requests
MySpace, which seems to be more for the musically inclined
Some Ning Networks, including CrimeSpace
Live Journal
Bebo
AuthorsDen
Many Blogs, which loosely could be classified as social networks.
Tons of Egroups, and some other social networks I can't remember offhand.

What about you? Which social network do you spend the most time at, or don't you go to any of them?
By the way, my main Facebook address is http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel, if you wish to send a friend request. I can accept requests there, but can't generate any lately.

Morgan Mandel

Killer Career is 99 cents
on Kindle & Smashwords
Forever Young-Blessing
or Curse coming soon to
Kindle & Smashwords.
Two Wrongs soon to be
re-released on Kindle
& Smashwords.

Long Weekend Equals Busy Weekend

2011-09-04T09:33:00.002-05:00

It sounded nice at the outset. A three day weekend. Ahhhhhhhhh. Time.

Trouble is, the more time I 'have', the more I seem to pile on my plate. Take today for example. I have church this morning, a community service event in the early afternoon, and then we're heading out to Ravinia to see Carrie Underwood. Don't get me wrong, it will be a fun day, but all told I'll probably spend an hour at my house today.

So, having tomorrow off is a good thing. Maybe I can get caught up with my usual weekend things then!

Happy Labor Day weekend! Whether you are relaxing or busy, busy, busy, I hope you enjoy this last unofficial weekend of summer...can you believe it?!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com

Chicago North RWA Spring Fling by Margot Justes

2011-09-03T11:48:00.001-05:00

The Chicago North RWA Spring Fling is a huge event for our chapter. It is also a tremendous amount of work to put on a conference of this caliber.

I mention this now, because our registration opened up September 1st; but it takes about two years to plan the event-a lot of work is involved.

This year we have a committee of very dedicated members who are doing an amazing job. They lined up bestselling authors and fantastic editors and agents.

The SF Ladies-as I like to call them-signed a great contract with the Marriott, keeping in mind the current difficult economic times.

The publicity, the registration, arranging the panels, picking up our guests at the airport, and all the tiny details that are so important to make the conference a success are being done.

There are a multitude of e-mails, meetings, ideas being tossed back and forth, all of that takes a tremendous amount of time.

I am not a member of the committee, but as chapter president I am privileged to read all the e-mails going back and forth, and I am truly amazed and in awe at the dedication of the SF Ladies.

This promises to be an amazing conference, and if you're a writer, a reader, a fan, you will enjoy the time spent with the CN RWA Spring Fling...Cool City, Hot Romance is our motto.

Here is the link to register : http://www.chicagospringfling.com/registration_form.php

Hope to see you April 27-28 at the Chicago Marriott NW in Hoffman Estates.

SF Ladies, thank you for an inspiring job.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris
www.mjustes.com

Going Out Of Business! by DL Larson

2011-09-01T07:27:00.003-05:00

I'm sure most have heard Borders Bookstores are closing. I've mixed feelings on seeing the stores empty their shelves of books, games and magazines. I get a fluttering in my stomach each time I return to the store and see less than I did before. My first trip I was disappointed because most items were discounted only ten percent. Now the cut it up to seventy perecent. Great bargains for sure, but the emptiness is vast and certain the days of purchasing are limited.

No one knows how this closing will impact writers. It may be only a ripple of discontent that another store is closed and book signings will be fewer than before. It certainly means one less chance for selling or promoting our work in a local mall or town. Other avenues will have to be found to sell a book.

I know many will say books can be purchased on Amazon.com and other internet avenues, and as a librarian, I purchase on-line a great deal. BUT I'm old school, and love browsing through the stacks of new books. It doesn't much matter what isle I stroll through, I enjoy looking. I enjoy the feel of the books. I enjoy the weight of them, flipping through the pages, seeing firsthand if I like the print or weight of the paper, the binding and spine. Guess I like touching, deciding for myself if I want hardcover or paperback.

My wallet will hold one less discount card, guess I should be happy about that. I will no longer need to spend my money to be a member of their book club. I won't receive any more flyers or notices via my email of upcoming events. I'll not be privy to upcoming local sales. Another empty building will set along the road to remind all of us that life is not always easy, let alone fair.

Yet in the midst of this downsizing and going out of business, the writing world struggles on, trying to recoup its former glory. Agents and publishers keep looking for the intriguing story, the thriller that will make national news. Money will be made and life will continue on, much as before, despite the loss.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Blog Book Tour Guide by Morgan Mandel

2011-08-31T22:28:00.000-05:00

Have you ever done a Blog Book Tour? Do you know how to do one? I've done one, will be doing another soon, and have followed many. They're a valuable tool in the promotion arsenal of your book.

If you like conferences, consider Spring Fling 2012, where my workshop, Blog Book Tour Guide, is but one of the many informative workshops to be presented.

Check out Monday's post by June for full details on how to register and what the headliners are.
We'll be telling you more later.

Morgan Mandel

Get Ready for Spring!

2011-08-29T11:15:00.001-05:00

For Spring Fling 2012, that is. Early registration is right around the corner! Don't miss out on this fantastic conference.

Here is the information:

2012 SPRING FLING WRITERS' CONFERENCE
Chicago-North Romance Writers of America
April 27-28, 2012
Hoffman Estates, IL

Early Registration opens September 1, 2011

FEATURED SPEAKERS
New York Times best-selling authors:
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Mary Balogh
Simone Elkeles

*Over 30 workshops, many presented by NY Times bestsellers, RITA award winners and multi-published authors. http://www.chicagospringfling.com/workshops.php
*5 Publisher spotlights

EDITORS
Martin Biro-Kensington Publishing
Tera Kleinfelter-Samhain Publishing
Megan Long-Harlequin
Shauna Summers-Ballantine Bantam Dell
Tessa Woodward-Avon Publishing

AGENTS
Ginger Clark-Curtis Brown LTD
Cori Deyoe-3 Seas Literary Agency
Scott Eagan-Greyhaus Literary Agency
Sara Megibow-Nelson Literary Agency
Paige Wheeler-Folio Literary Management, LLC.

*Agent/editor appointments provided on a first registered first served basis.
*Agents and editors subject to change.

Early registration from September 1-October 31, 2011.
RWA members: $164
Non-RWA members: $174

Regular Registration opens November 1, 2011
RWA members: $184
Non-RWA members: $184

For more information about Spring Fling 2012 and to register for the conference please visit:
http://www.chicagospringfling.com/

Questions? Contact us at: conference@chicagonorthrwa.org

***

Hope so see you there!

Best,
June

www.junesproat.com

Life Experiences by DL Larson

2011-08-25T07:21:00.003-05:00

I love trying new things. I rode an elephant once just to see what it was like and realized I wouldn't want to ride one for transportation purposes. I've held snakes and 'gators, and ridden the fastest roller coaster Harry Potter had to offer. I've been in a race car that zoomed around the track at neck straining speed. This summer I tried something new as well. I rode a segway. I rode a segway on a hilly, curvy path and wondered if I should have my head examined for being so reckless with my life.

On a segway, I am the only one in control. There is no other driver, no one else running the controls, no professional standing by to save me. It was just me and this vertical monster that seemed intent on throwing me off backwards. The instuctor did say, "don't jump off, you'll hurt yourself." Staying on felt just as threatening.

Riding a segway is much like learning to ride a bike. I tried too hard. I clutched the handles too tight, but it doesn't steer or make the machine go. I stood too straight, I bent my knees too much. I learned to lean and was surprised the machine went where I aimed. If I leaned backwards, yep, it moved in that direction as well. I tried not to do that too often! I learned pressure from my feet made it go fast or slow. No pedals like in a car, only my feet guiding me around and up and down the path.

By the time my thirty minute ride was over, I was exhausted, in a good way. I had used muscles that don't normally get a work-out. I visualized one of my characters being forced to ride a segway and smiled at how humorous the scene could be. More imporantly I learned about maneuverability and a serious study of muscle control I hadn't thought about in a long time. Both good things to have for future stories.

Riding a segway was a thrilling experience and one I might try again. How about you? Have you tried anything new and different lately? Perhaps for research or just for fun. Tell us about it!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

What's Your Tagline?

2011-08-24T04:00:00.000-05:00

One of the egroups I belong to was discussing taglines and their importance. They're those little phrases or sentences, sometimes two, that give a reader a sense of your author style.

My first was Fast-paced, poignant suspense.
My website now says Offering Diversity and Versatility.

I'm not sure which I'll keep, or if I'll change it again. It would be easier if I stuck to one style, but I kind of skip around from mystery, to romantic comedy, to romantic suspense, and now to thriller in the genres of my books.

What about you? What's your tagline? Or, don't you have one? Or, maybe you really like someone else's. Let us know.

Morgan Mandel

If you like romantic suspense,
Killer Career is 99 cents
on Kindle and Smashwords.
Also available in print at
Amazon and other vendors.