A blog By Any Other Name by Margot Justes

I had a signing in a delightful independent book store in Ottawa, Illinois called the Book Mouse-bookmouse.org

They did not have a mouse, but they did have a real live kitten; seven months old with a mischievous glint in his eye and an appetite for pretzels. He had the run of the place and took full advantage, his favorite perch on top of the tall book case allowed him to view his domain...

To keep the kitten company, another critter, a chinchilla with an affinity for pumpkin seeds. Stairs from the cage allowed him to go down and provide some exercise for the kitten. As the saying goes–and the chase was on…

The Book Mouse is one of those great full of personality and ambiance independent book stores that serves the local community and warmly welcomes authors. I felt right at home.

Till next Saturday,
Margot Justes
A Hotel in Paris ISBN 978-1-59080-534-3
Art brought her to Paris, then a stranger’s death changes her life.
Missing ISBN 978-1-59080-611 1
http://www.mjustes.com/
available on amazon.com

Where Dead Authors Go by Robert W. Walker

Here it is Friday again, and I am stuck for something to blog about, but the entire week a chat group I am involved with has been talking about the passing of Tony Hillerman and another author, Elaine Flinn. I know both through their books but unfortunately did not know either personally. I will say, however, that at any time I hear of the passing of an artist, an actor, a muscian, a doer of good deeds, and a writer, I feel a deep personal loss, and I don't exaggerate the sense of loss I feel for the Earth...for the world...that disturbance in the universe that Obi Wan Kenobi of Star Wars fame speaks of.

Not that all life isn't important, but writers are purveyors of entertainment and enlightenment, and so often they are also purveyers of truth and like the best of our comedians in a sense, the voice of our consciience -- as most good stories are about doing the wrong thing and doing the right thing, good vs. evil, smart vs. dumb.

Most certainly Tony Hillerman was a storyteller first but I am willing to bet that his many millions of raders would agree that his stories depicted the consequences of our actions, the consequences of greed and theft and deviousness and the consequences of good-heartedness, a positive belief in right, and he sent these "messages" adroitly through his fiction. The irony of it is that people think fiction--at least many folks do--think it frivolous, when in fact it is about life and death and every huge and enormous passion in between--vengeance, love, hatred, wonder, you name it.

Elaine Flinn was about the same kind of work --entertaining and informing. Writers either have a special place in Heaven, in my book, or they "write" themselves a space. I recall as a child in junior high school deciding that being a writer was the most noble profession of all. I believed that then, perhaps naively, and you know what? I have not lost that naivete. Books inform us, stories tell us who we are at bottom. Novels and mysteries absolutely touch on our best and our worst qualities; they condemn and they uplift us, often in the same paragraph. Such men as Tony Hillerman and ladies as Elaine Flinn act as a gauge and a focus for all who pick up their books and read. Authors, so far as I am concerned, are the voice we give to reason, and the light we shine on insanity and obsession and the human condition.

Those who devote their lives and their waning years to such an effort we can only applaud, admire, and aspire to.

Robert W. Walker
eBookARC giveaway at http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/ - new site, new deals!
NetDrag indepth interview on ipodcast at http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! by DL Larson

The year was 1966, on October 27 when America witnessed Peanuts first Halloween special. Since then, I and anyone else as old as me, could have watched it every year for the last forty years! That's a lot of peanuts!

What makes a classic anyway? Is it when innocence is destroyed as when Linus realizes Lucy has killed the giant pumpkin by stabbing it and then scooping out the guts?

Or is it the humor of it all, and seeing ourselves portrayed in others? Like when Linus jumps into a pile of leaves with his sticky sucker, or Charlie Brown inevitably ends up on his back when trying to kick a ball? Those familiar mishaps happen to us all and we laugh at the absurdity of it being acted out.

But there has to be more for a cartoon/animated special to last forty years. The message, perhaps rooting for the underdog is universal too. Linus wants the Great Pumpkin to be as famous as Santa Claus. He even proclaims those in second place try harder! And so year after year, we watch Linus hunker down to wait for the Great Pumpkin's coming. And year after year we see Charlie Brown trying to console him when once again, the Great Pumpkin fails to show. Forty years and Linus refuses to give up!

I love that story! I too have been waiting a long time for my dream to become a reality. But I've learned something Linus hasn't. I can't wait beneath my blanky for a miracle to happen. I have to nurture my dream, I must cultivate it into something worthwhile. I prune, and tweak, and rewrite my dream until it is more than a wish, but a plan. I've taken my dream and worked it into something three dimensional.

And then, then I must show my plan to others besides my family and friends. That too reminds me of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, because I've received my share of rocks in the form of rejection letters. Over the years I've gathered a grocery bag or two, just like Charlie Brown receiving rocks when he went trick or treating. There's been friends too, who have helped me to come in out of the cold and misery when my efforts, my hopes didn't materialize as I thought they should. Lucy was there for Linus and I'm thankful for the friends and family who have helped me not to give up either.

Someday the Great Pumpkin will arrive! And I will be cheering right along with Linus, saying "I told you he was coming!" Until then, I plan to work hard, get the words on the paper the way I want them to read, and do everything in my power to keep my plan growing, letting folks see my work, and most of all, enjoy the journey.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Gearing up for NaNoWriMo with an Outline by Morgan Mandel

I don't know how I'm going to juggle this into my schedule, but I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo anyway. In the next few days, I'll get some posts ready ahead of time for my blogs and schedule them, so I'll be able to concentrate more on getting a new novel of 50,000 words done in one month's time!

Sounds daunting, but it's a challenge. I'll see how far I can get. If you care to join in the challenge, here's the link: http://nanowrimo.org/ You can sign up to be my buddy also. Just look for MorganMandel.

Anyway, for this NaNoWriMo thing, I'm going to get an outline and synopsis ready, with major characters, plot points, conflicts, anything else I can think of included, so when it's time to write, hopefully I can do just that.

I usually don't have to worry about deadlines and the boring necessity of an outline or synopsis, but I've got to do as much as I can ahead of time. I can't wait for inspiration to strike me, since it may happen in December and not November, which won't count for this undertaking.

I've got to ask. How many of you use an outline or synopsis, or do you just rely on inspiration?

Back to my outline now. I'll let you know how things are going.

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

Everything We Do Makes A Difference

It's not uncommon to think that as one individual, what we do everyday, the choices we make, the words we say do not make a difference in anyone else's life. Well that's not true. Want to test this theory? Smile at someone next time for no reason at all. Just smile at a stranger. Don't feel comfortable doing that? Then say thank you. Say thank you to the clerk who helps you at the store, say thank you to the person who answers the phone when you have a question. Say thank you to the waitperson the next time you eat out, just say thank you to anyone who provides a service to you in your everyday life. They're all people too - just like you and me. Say thank you and see what a difference it makes in someone else's life and see just how powerful that is. See what kind of energy flow you ignite by saying two little words - Thank You.

Okay now here's the real test.

The planet is overly stressed and one of the most stressed resources is potable - or drinkable water. Think about what you can do everyday to make a difference for the planet. Think about what you can do to say thank you to the planet, to mother earth. Having a tough time? Then go to this link and find out when this program is playing in your area or order the DVD.

http://www.runningdry.org/americansouthwest/america.html

I was born and raised in Southern California but now live in the Chicago area. I arrived here almost two decades ago after leaving the military. I noticed the differences between the regional philosophies almost immediately, especially with regards to water consumption. During my school years the idea of water conservation was heavily promoted. I turn the water off while I brush my teeth and I don't let the water run in the kitchen at work like a number of folks do. I know there are limits to this resource having grown up with droughts.

Often when I'd point out these habits to folks they'd laugh at me and point to the Great Lakes as if they were an endless source of water. I countered with the argument that if overnight hundreds, even thousands of bottlers setup shop around the lakes and produced around the clock then the Great Lakes wouldn't be so great anymore. I was told that would never happen. Well, that particular scenario didn't but something else did and something else threatens to happen. More and more municipalities are switching over to lake water and guess what? States from other regions are asking to tap into the Great Lakes to solve their own water shortage problems. The lakes have lowered due to this and the fact that rainfall has fallen short over the years. That day that so many said would never come is bitting us in the back side.

As serious as I know this problem is I started to succumb to some of the same complacency that many others do. I like the conveinence of bottled water and like to keep several cases around for going to the gym and long road trips. I rationalized that since I recycle the empty bottles, the impact is at least mitigated to some extent and perhaps it is. BUT, cost aside, I'm using less bottled water and drinking more from the filter I put on my kitchen sink's faucet. Ironically, I've had a filter on the faucet for years and I've even put one on the faucet at work but I still kept lots of bottled water around just in case. I still have some bottled water but have reduced it significantly. This is my way of saying thank you to the planet and mother earth.

Think what you do doesn't matter? Well it does and just think how important you are when you do the right thing - when you say thank you to someone or the planet for helping you get through your day. Want to be even more impressive? Followup with an email or a hand-written note. Now, talk about a resource that is in peril! The hand-written note is something to be cherished these days as it is much more of a rarity. I'm hoping that this note I've written today will inspire everyone who reads it to say thank you and actually pick up a pen and write. Have a glass of tap filtered water while you're at it.

Austin Camacho About Branding, Trailers & Publicists

Acme Authors Link Again Welcomes Austin Camacho, who has more questions to answer for our readers.

Austin is the author of four detective novels in the Hannibal Jones series plus a great marketing book, Successfully Marketing Your Novel in the 21st Century.

http://www.ascamacho.com/sfmyn.htm

Hello, everyone,

I’m back to respond to a few more of your comments left from my marketing-oriented
blog last week.

Marvin asked about branding, which I think a 2-sided issue. For us fiction guys it’s about giving our characters or our series an identity. I do it with this logo that should make everyone think of the Hannibal Jones Mysteries. The logo goes on mugs and tee shirts I use as giveaway incentives. Hannibal, as a character, is branded by a pair of Oakley sunglasses, black gloves and the Sig Sauer P-220 he carries.

But if you want to be known as “THE GUY or gal when it comes to such and such, which you just happen to be an author on the topic” then I suggest you give your expertise away. Write articles and offer them to all the free posting places on line and all the appropriate blogs. Start your own blog answering questions sent in. Maybe start a podcast on which you give some valuable info every week. And consider linking your name as much as possible to more recognizable people in your field, if there are such.

Brian mentioned his success with book trailers, and introduced the idea of updating them regularly. This may have the same effect of doing a video blog – new content regularly does hold an audience. That could be as simple as setting up a camera and talking to it about your book or your writing every week. I hope we hear more about this new idea.

Helen’s comment about the look and feel of self-published books made me want to expand a little on my camouflage principle. She’s probably right that many consumers are just as likely to give a new author a try whether they’re published by Random House or self-published. But first they have to see it. If you want your books to be in bookstores, the bookstore manager needs to be comfortable stocking them. If they look amateurish to him or her, they won’t get ordered.

There is also the matter of genre. If you look in the different sections of your local bookstore you’ll see that SF books just don’t look the same as mysteries and romances have a whole different look. Each genre has a predictable range of page count, typeface, margins, the way chapter headings are set up, cover style, price – a number of little indicators that are almost subliminal to readers. If you want strangers who are looking for a new thriller to pick up your book, it needs to carry those little clues that say “thriller” to that reader.

L.J asked the big questions: Have I ever spent money on a publicist. Well, yes I have and mostly regretted it. I soon learned that anything they can do, I can do just as well or sometimes better. But I made the mistake of expecting someone else to drive my success. Today I would not hire anyone to do anything without some sort of guarantee. Then I can see if what I’m paying for is worth the money. So, for example, if you’re too busy to book your own blog tour, don’t pay someone to do it unless they commit to getting you on a minimum number of blogs within a predetermined timeframe.

I do believe in hiring independent contractors to do publicity support work. For example, you might pay someone to do the research on which magazines reach your chosen audience best if you plan to invest in print advertising. I pay someone to schedule bookstore signings for me. I pay her a set amount for each manager she contacts and an additional amount for each event that she schedules. I suppose that makes her my publicist, and I find that managers respond differently to a call from your “publicist” than they do to call from an author.

But as they say on TV, your results may vary. I’d love to hear from anyone who has had real success that they attribute to a publicist’s work.

Again, thank you all for being such good hosts. And keep writing – that’s the best way to promote yourself as an author!
Austin


Austin S. Camacho
http://www.ascamacho.com/
Purchase Link:
http://www.ascamacho.com/sfmyn.htm

He's back - Austin S. Camacho is Here to Answer Your Questions

Acme Authors Link Again Welcomes Austin Camacho, the author of four detective novels in the Hannibal Jones series plus a great marketing book, Successfully Marketing Your Novel in the 21st Century


http://www.ascamacho.com/sfmyn.htm
Signings, conferences and good word-of-mouth.

First, thanks to everyone for their questions and comments. You’ve really made me feel welcome here!

Morgan asked what single marketing action has sold the most books for me and I admitted it had to be book signings. I’m pretty extroverted and do best face to face, but I hope that doesn’t discourage the wallflowers among you. My book, “Successfully Marketing your Novel in the 21st Century” divides tactics into “active” and “passive” marketing. I’m more an active guy, but both are important.

However, you can’t just show up at a bookstore and expect to sell books. You need to make sure the manager knows you’re there to help him or her, not just yourself. Send bookmarks and posters in advance. Posters announce that something special is coming. Bookmarks dropped in every bag are good reminders. When you arrive have a table sign or wear a button that says, “Author” so people don’t think you’re just the Wal-Mart greeter. And speak to every person who comes thru the door. I like to link myself to the store name, since they already know the store. Something like,

“Hi, Borders is featuring my mystery novels today. Are you a mystery reader?”

Newt asked about a different face-to-face interaction: conferences. I love them, and I go with an agenda, and it’s NOT selling books. On the one hand, I want readers to remember me and my books, so I get on panels if I can and between panels I walk around, making myself available for people to talk to.

The other side of conferences is networking. You want other writers to remember you too. At Bouchercon I got commitments for blurbs for my next book from 2 guys who said nobody ever asks them for blurbs. Bob Randisi founded the Private Eye Writers of America. Jon Jordan publishes Crimespree Magazine. You might not know the names but their titles sure will look good on my book. And I didn’t meet either of them at Bouchercon. We had met at previous events. They know me as part of the community.

New writers should be networking too… with editors and agents who also hang out at cons. At writer events they’re like scouts at spring training. I’m not sure buying a 10-minute chat helps, but sharing a coffee with an agent between panels can separate you from everyone else. When your manuscript lands on their desk it helps if they recognize your name.

Newt also asked about making the writer’s name stick in people’s mind. I think repetition is the key here. (Remember the Saturday Night Live skits written by “Me… Al Franken.”) So blog. Do guest blogs. Send a newsletter. Sit on panels at cons. Review other peoples’ books. Just toss your name around like confetti and it will stick.

And if you want word-of-mouth for your books, ask people to do you the favor of mentioning your books to others. And consider giving something in return. The official members of “Austin’s Army” might get a Hannibal Jones T-shirt or mug. How about a contest? Maybe free books for the winner, but to enter people have to send in two links to social media web sites where they mentioned your book. I plan to try that with the next book.

Be creative, and don’t be shy about asking readers for their help.

I’ll address more of your questions on tomorrow’s blog. Meanwhile, keep writing!

http://www.ascamacho.com/sfmyn.htm