With so many books being published nowadays, how do you promote your books (or yourself)? That is the question Hometown Authors asked me. For my answer, check out today’s blog on their site: https://hometownauthors.com/book-marketing-tips/get-noticed/ No laughing at what my husband did, OK? [ ... ]
My summer is ending with a couple unexpected but neat events. #1. In 2017 the publicist I’d hired sent out press releases for Echoes of Terror, and I received a response from Jackie Minniti, who writes “Fabulous Florida Writers,” a monthly column for The Island Reporter, a paper that covers the South Gulf Beaches in […] [ ... ]
On February 25, 2019, while visiting friends on their boat in Florida, I took a step back without realizing it was a step down to their sleeping quarters. I lost my balance and ended up falling backwards 3 or 4 steps (seemed like forever). At first I thought I’d simply bruised my back, and initial […] [ ... ]
Do you need to copyright your work? The Copyright ACT of 1976 was enacted October 19, 1976. It basically stated that all work was copyrighted (protected) the moment it was “fixed in any tangible medium.” (That is, on paper, computer, audible, video, etc.). It seems that’s fine as long as you don’t intend to sue […] [ ... ]
Does the writer always have to explain terms or references that might be specific to a profession or area of the country? Is it necessary to translate every foreign word you use in a story? And, what about uncommon words? Should a writer use unfamiliar words or stick to the familiar? Ask yourself, who’s the […] [ ... ]
For weeks, months, maybe years you’ve been working on your novel. It’s anywhere from 50 thousand words to a 150 thousand. And now? In just a few words you need to convince an agent, editor, or reader to buy (or at least read) your book, and you’re not going to have a lot of time […] [ ... ]
A few months ago I received an email from a relative who wanted information about a non-fiction book she wanted to write. She was asking me for help, but as I quizzed her about what she was writing and why, I discovered she already had the basic idea of what she needed in order to […] [ ... ]
When I wrote The Crows, I thought it was a single title mystery. It wasn’t until after the The Crows was released and I was doing book talks that I was asked when the next P.J. Benson Mystery would be out. A second book? Hmm. As I wrote the second P.J. Benson Mystery (As the […] [ ... ]
I just spent 2 days working out (in my mind and on paper) why my secondary characters are doing (or have done) certain things. My P.J. Benson Mysteries are all told in first person, so I can’t have scenes where the reader sees or hears what secondary characters are doing or thinking, but that doesn’t […] [ ... ]
The Authors Guild recently came out with the results of their 2018 author’s earnings survey The results were not encouraging In only five years, authors’ incomes from just their books fell 21%, down from a median of $3,900 in 2013 to $3,100 in 2017 The low incomes suggest a growing crisis for American authors, particularly […] [ ... ]
I consider myself primarily a plotter. I usually have a good idea how a story is going to begin and end and a good concept of what will happen in the middle to get from that beginning to the end. That said, I also know I could also be called a pantser since I like […] [ ... ]
Last month I received an email from a young girl asking for information about how to get a book she’d written published. The following is, in part, what I sent back to her. Dear Writer: Since my weekly blog is primarily about writing and getting published, some of my earlier posts might help you. On […] [ ... ]
The first week of a new year is like pressing a “Restart” button. Maybe we didn’t reach all—or any—of the goals we made last January, but this year will be different. Right? This year I will lose weight. I will write 4 books, and, of course, those stories will (1) be picked up by an […] [ ... ]
I don’t know about you, but the day after Christmas and the week before New Year’s Eve is always a little depressing for me. The cheerful “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” greetings end, most of the romantic or hopeful holiday shows cease to be shown, and the major networks are consumed with highlighting the past […] [ ... ]
I’m finally working on the fourth (and final) P.J. Benson Mystery (My Crows series). I actually had close to 5,000 words written the end of summer, but life got in the way, and the opening just didn’t feel right to me. I wasn’t connecting with P.J. Here’s the original opening: Why was it whenever I […] [ ... ]
I recently received information about a contest being conducted by Stockholm Writers Festival. The prizes are great. If you’re unagented and have something unpublished (whether you’ve been published or not), check this contest out. ********* Good evening from Stockholm!, Once again we are running the First Pages Prize, a literary contest for writers worldwide, […] [ ... ]
Just finished a 1200 mile drive and I’m trying to get everything organized in my “Southern” office–took a day to get Internet up and working and now the printer is on the fritz–so rather than slap something together, I think it’s best to take a week off. I hope all of you have a productive […] [ ... ]
Back on February 17, 2016 I wrote a blog on The Craft of Writing Narrative/. At that time I mentioned some sources a writer might visit to review the rules of grammar. My favorite sources, then and now, are Shrunk & White’s Elements of Style and Lynne Truss’s Eats, Shoots & Leaves, but I also often […] [ ... ]
I don’t remember when I picked up this laminated card, but I have it taped to my monitor because it’s a good reminder. Often when critiquing the work of others, either I or others in the group begin asking the writer (being critiqued) questions such as these: What does your character hear when she approaches […] [ ... ]
October, for me, was a busy month of promoting the paperback version of A KILLER PAST. I didn’t really plan it that way, but starting last spring and through the summer I kept receiving invitations to speak or appear. All wanted October dates. These invitations included two book clubs, one book store, and one conference. […] [ ... ]