Recently I was asked by another writer if I thought she should use a vanity book publisher. With self-publishing so popular nowadays, I didn’t even realize vanity publishers were still out there, but sure enough she had one in mind. I gave her my thoughts, but you may feel different, and if so, I welcome […] [ ... ]
Something is Missing My critique group met this week via Zoom. One member is working on a memoir. The section we’ve been critiquing is fascinating. She was in Christchurch, New Zealand when the 2011 earthquake hit. In fact, she and her husband were in the Cathedral at the exact moment the earthquake hit and everything […] [ ... ]
There are aspects I really like about self-publishing a book: control over content, cover, and blurb. I also like receiving a higher royalty and the ability to tract sales, or at least receive more up-to-date accounting of sales. There are also aspects of being my own publisher that I don’t like or find extremely difficult. […] [ ... ]
Today is the day (February 10, 2021) SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT is now available as an e-book and a paperback And best of all The e-book is on sale Here’s what some readers are already saying about it: “If you’re a hands-on action with plenty of puzzles to solve fan–or if you are also a […] [ ... ]
Nowadays, most writers can’t simply write a story, send it off to an agent or publisher and sit back and wait for the praise and money. Of course, it’s always been true for most writers that once the story has been written, they must take off their writer’s hat and put on their editor’s hat. […] [ ... ]
No, I’m not talking about political change, though that’s definitely occurring. For me, one change is this year I’m self-publishing a book (from start to finish). My other big change is my website is going to look different. Sometime this week (or month), if you visit my website (https://marissoule.com ) it will have a new […] [ ... ]
I truly have something to crow about. The 4th book in the P.J. Benson Mystery series now has an actual release date: February 10, 2021. It has a beautiful cover, designed by Chris of http://highpinescreative.com. They did the covers for the first three “Crow” books (The Crows, As the Crow Flies, and Eat Crow and […] [ ... ]
One of the things I enjoy most about writing is I am constantly learning: new information, new ways to do things, new programs to master, and new words to add to my vocabulary. I guess I’m a perpetual student. Today I started learning how to register a book with the Library of Congress. I have […] [ ... ]
Weather permitting, my husband and I, along with Captain Nemo, will be heading south to warmer weather. Here’s hoping the snow will be off the roads and it won’t be raining. [ ... ]
Wherever you are tomorrow, and with whomever, I hope you have a delightful day. 2020 has been a year filled with so much confusion, division, and trepidation, sometimes it’s difficult to be thankful, but do take a few minutes to focus on the positive, whatever that might be. I have much to be thankful for: […] [ ... ]
I’ve never really had to deal with back material other than supplying an acknowledgment page, if it was appropriate, and a bio. Anything else that was added after the end of the story was supplied by my publisher. With Harlequin and Silhouette, that material often included snippets of other books available that month, how to […] [ ... ]
How good is your eyesight? Can you catch all of the errors in your manuscript? I’m in the process of doing a final read-through before I send my manuscript for Something to Crow About to my editor. The ms has been read, criticized, and edited by four Beta Readers. And, of course, before I sent […] [ ... ]
How much backstory does a reader need in order to understand a character, and how soon does the writer need to include that information? The answer to the first part of that question is the usual—it depends. When to include the information is a little easier to pinpoint, but not always. Okay, you’re probably thinking, […] [ ... ]
Tomorrow, October 22nd, A KILLER PAST will be available as an e-book. No, this isn’t a new book, but for over two years Mary Harrington’s story in e-book fashion has been missing, and its disappearance is a good example of how little control most authors have over their books. Originally, A KILLER PASTwas published in […] [ ... ]
I’m in the process of writing a blurb for the book I just finished. Blurbs and synopses, in my opinion, are as difficult (or maybe more difficult) as writing a book. In a limited number of words, I need to convey enough of the story to entice readers to want to purchase the book. Or, […] [ ... ]
Last week I blogged about finishing the rough draft of the book I’ve been working on. To my surprise, a couple people asked where they could now buy the book. This question reminded me that many readers and new writers don’t understand the steps necessary between finishing the rough draft and actually having a book […] [ ... ]
Last week I typed “The End” on a story I’ve been working on for four years. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to write this story. I haven’t suffered any earthshaking catastrophe, loss, or illness (other than a few months of pain when I broke my back), and I didn’t need months […] [ ... ]
Do you suffer from exclamation point glut? Not sure? Do a “Find” and type the exclamation point (!) in. How many do you have in your manuscript? More than one? If so, is its use justified? The exclamation point is often used in text messages. Sometimes in abundance!!! But please don’t use them in abundance […] [ ... ]
Anyone who has read one of my P.J. Benson Mysteries (THE CROWS, AS THE CROW FLIES, EYE OF THE CROW, and EAT CROW AND DIE) knows Baraka, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, plays an important part in each of the stories. No, P.J.’s dog doesn’t solve mysteries, doesn’t talk to her, and doesn’t always make her life […] [ ... ]
Last week another writer asked me why I wrote a while instead of awhile in the following sentence: After a while, I didn’t notice the cigarette smell. Years ago, I would have written awhile, but after having editors change that to a while so many times, I now automatically split the word without thinking of […] [ ... ]