To Free or Not To Free

There comes a time when decisions need to be made. Is it better to enroll in KDP Select and offer freebies, or not?

So far, I've got Forever Young: Blessing or Curse still enrolled, as well as Girl of My Dreams.


I took my most recent romantic comedy, Her Handyman, off the program, but may put it back on later. I have mixed feelings about offering freebies. After a free event, I do get more sales, but then I wonder if some readers notice it's available free for Prime members, which means it will probably be free for everyone else for five days, somewhere along the line. That seems a double-edged sword.

Anyway, I'll see how the system goes, and learn if any other alternatives present themselves.

In the meantime, I'm not completely neglecting other sources, since two of my books, Killer Career, and Two Wrongs, are still available on all the Smashwords sites, as well as on Amazon.

For excerpts and buy links to all my books, you're welcome to check them out at:
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

Dogs in Books

Rascal, when she's
being good!

Dogs in books are quite popular, especially to me, since I've owned one dog or another for many years. Some of you may already know about my current dog, Rascal, a pit bull, who may yet show up in one of  my books.

I included a Chinese Crested dog in my romantic comedy, Her Handyman, since that strange type of breed seemed a perfect match for my quirky artist character, Zoe.

I also included a neighbor's dog in my romantic suspense, Killer Career, but not in such happy circumstances.

I almost forgot to mention, my upcoming release, Blessing or Curse, also has a police dog in it!

To give proper due to man's and woman's best friend, I started a new Facebook Group, called Dogs in Books.

If you also like to read or write about dogs in books, come on over and join us at:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/dogsinbooks.

Morgan Mandel

Find all of Morgan Mandel's books at

http://www.morganmandel.com 

and at her Amazon Author Page:

http://amazon.com/author/morganmandel 

Follow on Twitter @MorganMandel

Do You Make Your Characters Sick?

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?

Sold!

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.

What's Your Tagline?

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.

Name Your Group Blog(s), Or Others

Today, I'm inviting everyone to leave links for your group blog, your own or others. There are many great ones out there, and we need to get the word out.

I'll start with mine -
Acme Authors Link - http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/ - where I blog every Wednesday -
A great group of romance and mystery authors sharing experiences as authors in our genres and writing tips in general.

Make Mine Mystery - http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/ -
As the name implies, we're mystery authors. Our posts reflect that, as well as observations on the writing craft.

The Blood-Red Pencil - http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/
A group of editors and authors, who share tips on writing and editing.

All of my group blogs also host guests on occasion.

Those are mine. What are yours?



Morgan Mandel

 Morgan Mandel's current romantic
suspense, Killer Career, is 99 cents on
Kindle and Smashwords.

Her debut mystery, Two Wrongs,
will soon be re-released on Kindle
and Smashwords starting at
99 cents.

Soon to come - A thriller -
Forever Young-Blessing or
Curse.

Tell Us About Your Book

We haven't done this for a while, so here goes. If you have a book already out or to be released, please tell us what it's about, but make it short, as if you were giving an elevator pitch. Also, please leave one buy link.

If you're not an author, maybe you'd like to mention a book you particularly liked or plan to read. Or, just check over what you see here and you might find something you'll like to read.



I'll start with Killer Career, my romantic suspense, about a lawyer whose career change could be a killer. She has no idea her mentor not only writes about murders, but also participates in them. When she learns the law partner she's leaving may mean more to her than she'd thought, it could be too late for both of them.

Available in print at Amazon, ebooks for 99 cents on Kindle and Smashwords.

Now, let's hear about more books!

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

I Didn't Expect That to Happen by Morgan Mandel

As I've been doing every morning, I slipped on Rascal's leash today and we set out for a neighborhood walk. I enjoy our morning walks, especially when it's summer and the heat hasn't built up yet. Not too many people are out and about around six o'clock, except joggers, walkers, and occasional cars or bicycles, but the birds are already chirping, and the day is waking up.

I crossed the street and went down half a block. That's when it happened. All of a sudden I felt an itch on the back of my leg, another on my arm, one more on the front of my other leg. I also noticed two black spots on Rascal, which were not part of her normal spotty appearance, so I quickly swiped them off.

We'd been attacked by mosquitos. I hadn't anticipated such a possibility, yet I should have seen it coming. Why hadn't I? For one thing, we'd walked unscathed countless times. For another, my mind was elsewhere, enjoying the faint breeze floating by after a particularly scorching day before.

If I'd stopped to think about it, clues of a mosquito invasion were present. We'd had a heavy rainful the evening before, and the atmosphere was cloudy and muggy. Conditions were ripe for bites. I hadn't gotten them before after it had rained so hard my basement got flooded over a week ago, yet I still should have been vigilant to the possibility.

How does this pertain to writing?

It's a challenge to create a character smart enough to not seem like a dunce, yet at the same time unaware of  lurking dangers. After all, we do want our characters to suffer, but not appear they're too dumb to live. How can we do that?

One way is to get your character so focused on an emotion or thought he or she can't think of anything else until it's too late. I was focused on the breeze.

Another, is to give your character a false sense of security, like I had. The danger for bites had been present, but I'd been lulled into thinking it couldn't happen because it hadn't before.

Can you think of other ways? Or maybe, you'd like to mention something that happened to you after you'd been lullafter into a false sense of security.


Morgan Mandel

Morgan Mandel writes mysteries,
romances, and thrillers. She's a
past president of Chicago-North
RWA, was the Library Liaison
for Midwest MWA, and is an
active blogger and networker.
Her personal blog is at:
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
and website is http://www/morganmandel.com.
See her new senior blog at http://spunkyseniors.blogspot.com/
where a new guest is featured every Thursday.

Her romantic suspense, Killer Career, is 99 cents on Kindle and Smashwords. Her new thriller, Forever Young - Blessing or Curse is targeted for release soon on Kindle and at Smashwords.

Do You Know Your Target? by Morgan Mandel

Some authors write the book of their heart. They enjoy the experience so much they can't and won't write any other way. When they're through, they have a quandary. What's their audience? Who will read their book?

Others right away target a specific audience before even starting their manuscript. They don't have as much trouble finding an audience.

Then there's another category. They write the book of their heart, plus have a good idea who might like it. They have the ideal situation, unless they're wrong about who'd really like their book.

For my upcoming paranormal suspense, Forever Young - Blessing or Curse, I'm hoping to belong to the last category, and also hoping the senior audience will enjoy it. If younger ones like it, that will be an added boon I'd love to happen.

What about you? Which category do you fit in? If you know your target, what is it?

Morgan Mandel
http://spunkyseniors.blogspot.com/
Every Thursday a new post about a
Spunky Senior. July 7 Maggie
Toussaint goes kayaking!
My romantic suspense,
Killer Career, is 99 cents on
Kindle & Smashwords.

Why I Won't Read A Book by Morgan Mandel

Why I Won't Read a Book - These are some, but not all of my reasons for not reading a book.

1. Too much description - I like the basics, such as a general idea of a character's appearance, or habits, or surroundings. If I'm inundated with details about every little aspect of locale and its history, I'll put up with it for a while, but if it continues, I'll stop reading and go onto a book that flows for me.

2. Details I don't want to read - This is a delicate and highly subjective subject. Since I'm being honest, I have to include my own take on the matter. I don't like reading books dwelling on every little detail of a person's sex life or acts. As I mentioned, this is subjective, and I know many will disagree. I respect their right to do so. Many books sell because sex sells. Many readers look forward to such scenes, but I find them boring if they keep going on and on for infinite pages. I get the picture. I know how it works. I don't need the minutiae. That's not saying I expect characters to abstain. I just don't want certain aspects to take over the book.

3. Political or religious views I don't agree with - Again, I respect every person's right to not have the same standards or beliefs as I do. However, if an author tries to cram their standards down on me, I won't put up with it. Exceptions are if what a character says or does in a book makes sense within the framework of his own conscience or life experience and the author has done a good job explaining the reasons. Then I might continue reading.

4. Sloppy editing - Almost every book will have one or two errors, but when they multiply and become so obvious they get in the way of the story, it's too irritating to put up with.

5. Character names - Certain character names will turn me off, no matter how well written a book may seem. I can usually tell this on the first page, and won't even buy the book. I like names that are easy to read, not ones I can't pronounce out loud.

6. Too much backstory right away - I get irritated if at the beginning of a book the author throws in all kinds of explanations or events which happened before. Hints are better. However, if backstory is included later in a book I can handle it better.
7. An author's past writing history - If I've been disappointed by an author before, either because of the quality of a book, or an ending I particularly hated, I'll think real hard before deciding whether or not to read another book by that person. Usually, I won't, unless the first few pages really entice me.

8. A boring topic - This is obviously subjective, but that's okay, because I'm giving my reasons, which may be different than yours. I'm tired of books or movies about people doing daring heists. I just don't care about them. That's only one example of what bores me.


These are only a smidgeon of my reasons. Do you share any of them? Or, maybe you disagree. Share with us your reasons for not reading certain books.

Morgan Mandel

Morgan's Romantic Suspense,
Print link - Killer Career
Other links -
Kindle and Smashwords.

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

Coming Soon - Forever Young-
Blessing or Curse

What Kind of eReader do you have? Or don't you?

I was surprised to notice I've sold many Killer Career ebooks in the Kobo format. I don't even own a Kobo, but I guess I better do a Google and find out what one looks like.  Apparently, they're pretty popular.

For some reason, I thought most people had kindles, like I do. Mine's a kindle 3.

Many years ago, I also owned a Palm. It's in my cabinet somewhere. The screen was too small for me to be comfortable reading from it. I also own an Iphone, but again, the screen is too small for me to enjoy reading on it.

What about you? Do you have an eReader? If so, what kind? If not, why not?

Morgan Mandel
Killer Career 99 cents
on Kindle and Smashwords

What's around you? by Morgan Mandel

I've mentioned local flavor before. During my visit to Scottsdale I noticed things that are the same and things different than in Illinois.

Arizona and Illinois both have pigeons, morning doves, sparrows and humming birds.
I was surprised to learn Arizona has pine trees, like Illinois, but they're ones imported from Australia.
I've heard Arizona has almost every kind of tree, but it seems the most common where I visited in Scottsdale were  palm trees, orange, grapefruit and olive trees. In Illinois, elm, willow, apple and birch seem more popular, plus a wider variety of evergreens.
Arizona has lots of mountains and hills, while Illinois is mainly flat.

Of course, the major difference is the temperature, which is lots warmer in Arizona than Illinois.

What have you noticed around you? Or, maybe you'd like to  share some differences between your home state and where you've gone on vacation.

Remember to include some of it in your manuscripts to make the locale come alive for the reader.

Morgan Mandel

Killer Career is
99 cents on
Kindle and
Smashwords

What's Out Now? by Morgan Mandel

On Monday at Make Mine Mystery I asked everyone to share something about their works in progress. (You can still do so, if you wish, by clicking the link I just provided.)

Today, I'm asking you to let us know what you have out now. Just mention one, please, because it's hard enough for people to remember even that. Also, provide one or two buy links to make it easier for people who are tempted to cave in.


I'll start with mine:
Killer Career by Morgan Mandel
A career change from lawyer to writer seems tame enough.Not when your mentor, a bestselling author, not only writes about murders, but also has a vested interest in them. Not when your law partner won't let you go without a fight. 
99 cents on Kindle and Smashwords.


Now It's Your Turn --- What do you have out now?

What Day is It? By Morgan Mandel

Now that I'm unemployed, I lose track of the days. Often I have to ask myself, What day is it? Then, something I did the day before or plan on doing today clues me in and I know where time is.

When writing a book, it's good to keep in mind that your readers also need to know what day of the week it is, also what season, what year. The place in time is just as important as setting, goal and conflict.

So, throw in some clues every now and then to ground your readers in what day it is.

Can you think of any books where you know right away what day it is? Or day of the week?

I'm wondering if Ground Hog Day was a book before a movie.



Morgan Mandel





http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Killer Career 99 cents at
Kindle and Smashwords

Where Else Can You Sell Books Besides Bookstores? by Morgan Mandel

Morgan Mandel at senior group.

With the demise of so many bookstores, authors who choose to have print books need to think outside the box about where to hold their book signings.

On February 22, I did a presentation for a senior group at Jameson's Charhouse. This was arranged by a travel agency individual who set up a Valentine's month outing with visits to a confectionary, a floral shop and then the luncheon where I spoke about romance, romance books and writing.

I had a great time and the audience was quite receptive. I'll be looking for similar venues in the future.

I'm almost through with my work in progress, Forever Young, and am more and more leaning toward self-publishing again. One reason is many of the publishers seem to be publishing in 2013.

I don't care to wait that long if I don't have to, so I'll probably go the Kindle route, plus Create Space for print at Amazon. That way I'll stay on budget, but still have books available for signings

What about you? What places do you recommend for booksignings, other than bookstores?  Please share.

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
Killer Career now 99 cents on
Kindle and Smashwords.

Take a Break by Morgan Mandel

Since becoming unemployed at the beginning of the year, I've had more time to write. My goal is 1,000 words each day on my paranormal thriller, Forever Young. Sometimes I achieve it, sometimes go over. Also, sometimes, my neck or back gets sore.

Writers do face a danger of injuring themselves if they don't use proper posture. I know I tense up when I type fast and unconsciously sit the wrong way, lean over, or press certain keys harder than the others.

To try and offset this tendency, I've decided to take a break when I type. It's not always easy to do that when I'm in the flow, but I do it as soon as I can in those instances. How I do this is by keeping a kitchen timer next to the computer. I set it for 35-40 minutes. When the timer goes off, I get up and move around for maybe 5 minutes, then go back to work. It seems to help the cause.

What do you do to prevent writing injuries and soreness?

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
Killer Career now 99 cents at
Kindle and Smashwords.

Books With Snow by Morgan Mandel

The DH shoveling the front walk

Snow has been very much on my mind the last few days, because of our record setting blizzard that officially began Tuesday afternoon, and seems to now be winding down, at least in my area.

My romantic suspense, Killer Career, has an episode in one of the chapters where the main characters are shoveling out a driveway and also searching for a missing dog in the snow.

Do you know of any books featuring snow, either your own, or someone else's?

Morgan Mandel
Killer Career now 99 cents on Kindle and Smashwords

Holiday Writing by Morgan Mandel

Monday night's program by Jerilyn Willin at our Chicago-North RWA meeting was about "Writing during the Holidays." Jerilyn mentioned there are habits and traditions we tend to do that put pressure on ourselves. Some of these can still be done away with, or maybe delegated to someone else, and we may be able to enjoy the Holidays more.

She made a lot of sense. I'm determined to keep my writing going and not fall into the trap of making everything perfect for the Holidays. I'll not haul all the decorations up from the basement, just enough to make the house look festive.

My husband and I already made the decision a few years ago to use a small fiber optic tree that fits on our end table instead of a huge one I have to decorate and ponder over where each ornament goes. Well, actually that was done out of necessity, since we still don't trust Rascal not to live up to her name and do something crazy with ornaments. Also, there's just no room for one any more. The fiber optic tree looks beautiful when the lights are off and we enjoy watching it.

The jury is still out about whether or not I'll cook for my side of the family or opt to go out to the Chinese restaurant, the only place open in my area on Christmas. I kind of like giving everyone a home-cooked meal, but there's a lot of time and energy spent doing that when I could be enjoying myself and relaxing instead, and not only that, fitting some writing and reading in.

What about you? Will you go all out, or are you cutting back so you can enjoy the Holidays more?

Morgan Mandel
And now for a commercial break - Killer Career on Kindle is now 99 cents at Amazon and also at Smashwords in multi-formats.

All Wet by Morgan Mandel

I was going to post about something more writerly today, but storms got in the way. I had to rush out of the house to avoid getting soaked by a huge wall of water fast approaching.

Didn't make the avoid part. I got all wet! My big umbrella wasn't too much help. As I type this over three hours later, my pants legs are still uncomfortably clammy. I was able to buy a pair of socks on the way to work and change into my spare shoes, so that helped some. Fortunately, my top dried out pretty fast as well, Still, at lunch I'll probably use this as an excuse to buy another pair of slacks.

Anyway, getting back to the all wet theme. In Killer Career, I did get my heroine caught in a rainstorm on the way to work, much like what happened to me today and has happened before.

What about you? Have you let any of your characters get all wet, or have you read books where your characters get all wet?

Morgan Mandel
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Book Signing Pics - Barnes and Noble DePaul Center - Jan 13

Busy day at a Killer Career book signing at Barnes & Noble DePaul Center, in Downtown Chicago.

So, today, I'll just leave you with a few pictures from the event.

I had a great spot, right in front of the Bestsellers.

Hope that's a sign of things to come.

Until Next Time -
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
http://www.morganmandel.com/
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel