Friday Fun Facts: Some Reflections on Indie Publishing

OK, The Promise of Paradise has been indie published (that's the new term for "self-publishing," since self-pubbing was getting a negative rap) for all of a week now, and I've discovered a couple of things:

~I'm very glad I had experience with the whole publishing process, through a couple different publishers, before I did it on my own. I know people who go straight to indie publishing, for a variety of reasons, but I think the learning curve must be so huge, everything from editing to designing a cover, to marketing, that I'm glad I saw the process happen through publishers and editors before I tackled it myself.

~Going along with the first observation, if you choose the route of indie publishing, make sure you do your research and know how to produce a good product. I've seen way too many covers that look unprofessional, as well as typographical errors from authors who edited their own work (tip: you'll never catch all your own mistakes), to know that the smallest error can make your book stand out as NOT something consumers will choose to buy.

~AND on that same topic, make sure you have a great cover. Really. They make such a difference when people are shopping. I love, love, love mine, but it was done by a professional cover artist who's familiar not only with the romance genre and e-publishing, but also with my own writing, since she had designed my cover for Beacon of Love. So we were a good match.

~It's really, really nice to be able to track my sales (through Amazon, anyway) and connect them to my marketing efforts. When you have a book out through a traditional publisher, you don't see your sales numbers until months after sales occur, so it's hard to know what advertising or promo really works. Over the last week, I've watched my sales bump after certain things I've done (sending out my newsletter, posting an announcement on The Romance Studio, [a website well known and frequented by romance readers] and participating in an online release party), so I have an idea about what to spend time on and what to avoid in the future. Very, very helpful!

~It can be a lot of work - but then again, so is all writing and publishing. Still, it can become very easy to be consumed with what marketing to do next, checking those sales numbers every hour, and getting off track from writing in general.

Will I do it again? Maybe. In the meantime, if you'd like to read my posts from yesterday's release party, click here, and then look for my name on the left sidebar. Click my name, and it will take you straight to my posts. Also, here's a great mini-course on the pros and cons of indie publishing, if you'd like to read more from an author who's done it multiple times.

Happy Friday!

Writers' Wednesday: Join the (Release) Party!!

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Just a very quick note today: tomorrow, all day (midnight to midnight!), I'll be one of the participating authors at The Romance Studio's Release Party! What does that mean for you? Lots of chatting with authors, sneak peeks at excerpts from a whole slew of new books, and best of all, tons of prizes! Click here (tomorrow) to join the party!

Monday Mentionables: Battling the Flu and Chatting about Paradise

Happy Monday, everyone! We've been battling the flu here at our house all weekend long (poor husband, not feeling very well), so here's a head's-up: it's a really good idea to get the flu shot each year. I got the flu once, the first year I started teaching (oh yes, those germy germs are everywhere in schools!), and ever since, I've gotten the shot. I never want to feel that miserable again :( It's a tough illness, too, since there's not much you can do except wait it out and try to rest and ease your symptoms.

Suffice to say that I am armed with Lysol wipes, rubber gloves, bleach, and matches (yes, some things will be burned) so I can rid the house of this virus once hubby is back in the land of the living.

While I wasn't washing my hands 100x a day and bringing chicken broth, gingerale, and tissues to Mr. Sick this weekend, I was sharing the news that my new release, The Promise of Paradise, is on sale over at Amazon's Kindle store for the super-low price of $.99 - today as well! And I'll grovel a little here and ask any of you who have read it (or bought it), to leave a review on Amazon too...since those stars definitely affect people's buying decisions AND since I don't have any yet :(

Finally, I do want to mention that I'll be blogging and guest-posting and doing giveaways around the Web for the next few months, and I'll keep track of them over there, on the right sidebar of this blog, so you can find me and enter for some of those giveaways as well! Hope to see you in cyberspace :)

Friday Fun Facts: The Promise of Paradise is Now Available!!!

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you enjoyed a lovely Valentine's Day. And speaking of love and romance (we were, weren't we??), I'm thrilled to share the news that my re-released contemporary romance, The Promise of Paradise, is now available in the Kindle store!!!!

Even better, I'm offering it for the super-low launch price of $.99 - what else can you get for under a dollar these days? Maybe a small cup of coffee....to go with that full-length novel you just bought ! I'm running this price through the long weekend, so please hop over and download yourself a copy....and spread the words to your friends as well.

Finally, if you're a blogger and are interested in participating in a blog review tour of this book, Goddess Fish Promotions is handling all the details for that, which will happen in April. Click on the banner below for more information. And happy reading!

Writers' Wednesday: An Awesome Advertising Sale!

Attention writers! The Romance Studio is having a fantastic Valentine's Day advertising sale, now through 2/16/13!! Check out what you can get:

Ad Offer #1

Single cover, banner, video and release party ads are buy 1 get 4 free for 5 ads @ TRS! No discount code is needed. Order your ad below and the bonus ads will be applied.

Ad Offer #2

6 cover/banner ads -- 1 month duration each ($90 value)
6 video OR single day release party ads -- 1 week duration each video ad/1 day duration release party ad ($60 value)
3 newsletter ads -- 1 issue each ($105 value)
6 social media blitzes -- 1 week duration each -- TRS promotes your release for 1 week on our Yahoo groups, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest
6 months featured membership at TRS ($60 value)

$50 - Featured members of TRS 

$65 - General Public 

Click here to find out more or to purchase an ad package. I highly recommend TRS; they're professional and super-easy to work with!

Also, for anyone who writes Christian Fiction, Lovely Christian Romance is holding a writing contest AND looking for submissions for their Christmas 2013 anthology. Here's more info:

www.lovelychristianromance.com is hosting a writing contest. First prize is $300. The theme is Christmas on the Frontier. We want Christian themed novellas between 15,000 and 30,000 words. Many stories submitted that are not winners will be asked to be put in our great line of novellas which sell in print and e-book at Amazon and at Barnes and Nobles. See our requirements at www.lovelychristianromance.com at the top of the page. Send us a pre-email and let us know you are planning on entering the contest at lovelycromance (at) yahoo.com

Monday Mentionables: It's Almost Release Time!

Super-excited to say that my re-released book, The Promise of Paradise, will be available this week, just in time for Valentine's Day! Stay tuned for all the details, and in the meantime, here's a sneak peek at a brand new scene from the story, along with a brand new character:

“Lucas, it’s perfect.” Ash wrapped her arms around Jen’s younger brother. “Thank you so, so much for coming up and helping out.”

            “Aw, didn’t do much,” he said gruffly. The six-foot-seven giant turned three shades of red as Ash released him.

            “Yeah, you did.” The porch still smelled of fresh paint, and all the loose boards had been fixed, along with the leaking toilet and the stuck window in Ash’s bedroom, which he definitely hadn’t

had to do.

            Lucas ran one hand over a head full of curly dark hair. “It’s a nice apartment.” He leaned against the railing and stared at the street. Always solemn, he seemed quieter than ever today. Broken hearts tended to do that, Ash supposed.

            “Yeah,” she agreed. “Hey, you’re gonna stay for the party, right?” She was almost positive Eddie had some single friends she could steer in Lucas’s direction.

            “Naw, I gotta get back.” He pulled a baseball cap from his back pocket and stuck it on lopsidedly. “Mom an’ Dad are havin’ a barbeque later. Told ‘em I’d try to make it.” He grinned. “It’s always hit and miss with Dad and the grill. I’d rather see him keep his eyebrows tonight.”

            She laughed. Such a good guy. She still couldn’t believe his girlfriend had cheated on him. In another life, Ash might have considered letting Jen set her up with Lucas, the way she’d been trying to

since about the second week the two of them had lived together. Ridiculously tall, seriously built, and sweet down to the core – what woman in her right mind would cheat on someone like that?

            Ash straightened the tables in both corners of the porch roof as Lucas planted a kiss goodbye on the top of her head. Guess you never really knew the thoughts in people’s heads. Secrets hid, lies

grew, and sometimes the very people you thought you knew best were the ones burying their knives in your back. Or their hearts in someone else’s.

            She shook away the thought. Not tonight. No sadness, and no regret. She glanced into the street below. A few cars already lined the curb in front of the house, and the sun hadn’t even begun to

set. Apparently, thanks to Eddie, half of Paradise had been invited to their housewarming party.

            A few minutes later, he poked his head through the window, looking out from the kitchen. “Ash? Everything good out here?”

            “I think so.” She and Jen had spent most of the afternoon decorating. Now red, white, and blue lights twisted themselves around the porch railing. Flags perched in buckets of ice, while picnic

benches and tables bowed under piles of food and soft drinks.

            “Jen’s brother’s not staying?”

            She shook her head.

            Eddie rested both arms on the sill. “Seems like a nice guy.”

            “He is.”

            “You and he ever…” He didn’t finish the question, but she read

            the look on his face.

            “Me and Lucas? God, no. He’s like – I mean, he’s Jen’s little brother.”

            “So?”

            “So nothing.” She propped one hand on a hip. “Are you jealous?”

            “Nope. Just curious.”

            She grabbed a handful of ice from the nearest cooler and tossed it in his direction. “Whatever.”

             “I’m gonna run out and get the beer,” he said. He picked up a few slivers of ice, already melting, and palmed them. “Like it wet, huh?”

Available soon!!

Friday Fun Facts: Nemo's Coming!!

As I write this on early Friday morning, Winter Storm Nemo is bearing down on the Northeast US, threatening us here in lower NY with anywhere from 1-2 feet of snow. (Sadly, this does mean that the Hudson Valley RWA Reading scheduled for tomorrow at the Newburgh Library has been cancelled). 

In anticipation of what we might get between now and tomorrow, I thought I'd post some pictures from the last time we had a big storm here, 3 years ago:

View looking down our driveway

Yes, we have a few trees on and around our property! 

The front view of our house

The backyard

So I'm off to batten down the hatches, after which I'll snuggle up by the fire with my laptop and do a little writing. Hey, sometimes there's nothing at all wrong with being trapped indoors :)

Be safe, everyone!

Writers' Wednesday: Contest Links and More!

Helllloooo writers! (OK, and readers too). Today, a few links for you: 

Lyrical Press is featuring several books this month at their newly revamped website store - 50% off! Click here to shop.

Speaking of Lyrical Press, they're holding their 2nd annual "How Lyrical is Your Romance?" Contest Here's more info:

The entry with highest average score will receive a $100 Advance and publishing contract with Lyrical Press, Inc. Highest-average scoring entry from each category will receive a 25-page edit and a revision letter from an acquiring editor.

Categories are as follows:

· Contemporary Romance· Romantic Suspense· Historical Romance· Paranormal Romance
Entries accepted from Feb. 1-10, 2013

Deadline to enter:

Click here for all the info!

And finally, Winning Writers is a website that has even more information on writing contests and publishing opportunities. Check out their complete site for all the details.

Happy Writing!

Monday Mentionables: A Look at the Super Bowl

Happy Monday! Here it is, the Monday after the Super Bowl, and I have to say.....what a bizarre game. Actually, I'm writing this blog post early in the third quarter, during the power outage, and I'll echo one of my Facebook friends who wrote, "Really? Football players play games in blizzards, mud, rain, but they can't play in a half-lit stadium?"

Among other things (the poor first-half performance of the 49ers, for example), what did you think of the commercials? The halftime show? Thought Beyonce did a good job of redeeming herself after lip-syncing at the Presidential Inauguration, and my favorite commercials were the Audi one (the teenager going to prom solo and kissing the prom queen) and the Best Buy one (with Amy Poehler asking the salesman if he'd read Fifty Shades of Gray to her in a sexy voice).


Speaking of football games and writing (well, I didn't yet, but this blog is by a writer about writing, so...) I wanted to remind you that my writing friend Liz Matis is part of the "Romancing the Jock" group blog, and they always have lively conversations over there, so check them out!

Also, just a reminder that Liz and I (and many more) local Hudson Valley authors will be speaking and reading at the Newburgh Library (Town/Mall Branch) this-coming Saturday, Feb. 9th, from 2-4 pm. Hope to see you there!

Friday Fun Facts: Celebrating the Women in Our Lives

"A woman is like a tea bag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Happy Friday! Today I'm sharing two of my favorite recent pictures, one of me with my sister (on the left) and the other of me with a close girlfriend. OK, first off I love these pictures because we all look so happy in them. But second, it's a reminder to me how important it is to cherish the women in our lives (yes, the men too, but that's a blog post for another day). Sisters, mothers, daughters, friends, role models ~ they are so important in our lives, from listening to our troubles to lending a helping hand to inspiring us to do the things we think we cannot do. So on this first day of February, with Valentine's Day coming up and thoughts of love in the air, take a minute to tell the loved ones - the female loved ones - in your lives how important they are to you. From romance heroines to teachers to mothers and beyond, they have the amazing ability to shape our lives and show us what we're really meant to be :)

And read yourself a quote or two (or ten) by the amazing Eleanor Roosevelt. Now she was a woman to admire!

Writers' Wednesday: Featured Lyrical Press Author Sondrae Bennett

Good morning! Today I'm featuring fellow Lyrical Press author Sondrae Bennett, whose pararomance Covert Desires is brand new this month. Looking for something sexxxyyy and shape-shifting to read? Take a look at the teasers below (and don't you love that cover?)!

Will desire be enough once all their secrets are revealed?

Still recovering from a traumatic assignment, Amber is wary of the man who shows up at her door with a plate of cookies and a welcoming smile. Instinct warns her he’s not all he seems. Then again, neither is she. Since she was sent to root out the secrets of the town and its people, she might as well accept his invitation to dinner. But when things start to heat up between them, will her loyalty lie with her job, or the man trying to win her heart?

Danny knows Amber is an FBI agent. Tasked by his brothers and the shifter council to keep her from discovering too much, he sets out to seduce her, a perfect cover to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t learn about his pack or their society. He hadn’t counted on a blazing attraction at first sight, though. His wolf knows Amber is his mate, and he’ll do anything to keep her safe and happy. But how can he reveal everything he is, and everything he’s been keeping from her, without losing her forever?

CONTENT WARNING: This book contains explicit sex.

*************

 

Amber put her hands on Danny’s chest as he leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. Pleasure rushed through her, pooling in her belly, but she turned her head to the side, determined to maintain control.
Instead of being deterred, he grazed his lips against her cheek, sliding them toward her ear. A shot of lust spiraled toward her core. She closed her eyes against the rush of sensations.

Everything inside begged her to lean into the embrace. To catch his lips with her own and lose herself in passion.

But in the end it came down to duty. When she’d taken this assignment, she’d sworn to herself and to her boss, that she’d prove the doubters wrong. And if that meant she had to resist temptation, then she’d resist. No matter how much she wished otherwise, or how much she wished to be someone else. To be a woman without the baggage of her job. One who could lean into Danny and take everything he promised.

 She gave herself a moment. One small moment to bask in the comfort and pleasure before pushing against his chest. For a second, she thought he wasn’t going to back up, and a flash of fear took her back to another time, when a man had pretended to care for her only to turn against her when he learned she was an agent and responsible for taking down major members of his cartel.

 Danny backed away so quickly Amber stumbled against him and almost lost her footing. Hard hands gripped her shoulders as he leaned down and stared directly into her eyes.

 “What’s the matter?” he demanded. Concern reflected in the brown depths. Concern for her, she realized with a start. He’d been so in tune to her body and emotions, he’d sensed her mental recoil when she’d flashed back.

 She stared at him, amazed at the realization.

 “Amber?” Impatience and worry clear in his voice.

 “Nothing,” she choked out, coughing against the tightness in her throat. “Nothing’s the matter,” she said with more certainty. “It’s… We’re moving a bit fast for me. I just met you. I need some time to think, is all. It’s been a rough morning.” All true, but she hadn’t included her real reason for pulling away. She could never give in to the pull she felt toward him.

 “Are you sure that’s all?” he asked, his hand cupping her cheek while the other moved up and down her arm.

 The security he offered felt like a warm blanket surrounding her. She hadn’t expected to find comfort here. Looking up into Danny’s eyes, she knew the concern was genuine. He was beginning to care for her. A pang built in her chest, because when all of this was over, she was going to hurt him.

 Amber swallowed against the lump in her throat. After everything that had happened that morning--the nightmare and the attack--the realization that she would hurt this man, who’d not only come to her rescue against a pack of crazed wolves, but had offered her comfort when she’d needed it most, caused tears to well up in her eyes. What she wouldn’t give to be the woman he thought she was.

 

 

Monday Mentionables: Want to Read an Excerpt?

Happy Monday, everyone! Special treat for you today: my upcoming release, Beacon of Love, is officially up on Lyrical Press's "Coming Soon" page, which means you can read an excerpt to whet your appetites!

Enjoy!

Friday Fun Facts: I Hope You Dance

Well, it's apparent from today's fun photo that I was born to be a dancer. I mean, look at that form! That smile! Those awesomely huge glasses, orange leotard, and white fringe skirt that scream the 1970s!! Ah yes, the days of youth. While I wasn't a serious dancer for very long, I took my share of ballet and jazz classes before ending up in gymnastics for most of my youth and adolescence. Still, I always loved to dance even as an adult, and any chance I got (clubs in Cleveland during my grad school days, friends' weddings in my 30s), I took it.

What is it about dancing that's so intoxicating? Somehow that music gets under your skin and draws you (okay, or me) onto the dance floor, where if there are enough people it doesn't matter what you look like, only that you're having fun. My grandmother, who lived to be 93, swore that dancing every weekend during most of her (younger) adulthood is what kept her young and fit, and I don't doubt it. Do a Google search and you'll find that dancing for an hour burns anywhere from 200-800 calories!

My new love is Zumba, which I discovered 4 years ago at my local gym and have fast become addicted to. Not only is the music great and the moves ideal for trimming a middle-aged body LOL, but everyone there is having a good time. Some of my closest friends now hail from my Zumba classes, and what was once a weekly hour at the gym has turned into many, many nights out dancing and enjoying each other's company.

Most of all, I think dancing keeps us young. When I look around my Zumba class, I see people of all ages, races, shapes, sizes, and professions - and every person in there is smiling (and sweating!). Most of them look years, sometimes decades, younger than their biological age. If you haven't gone in a while, you'll be amazed at how demanding it is of your lungs and your legs.

I hope you all find time to dance, if not in the club or the gym or your living room each week, then in your thoughts and your dreams. Music and the freedom to float away with it is magical. Just look at the face on that kid up above!

Writers' Wednesday: A New Cover!

Ooohhh!! I'm so excited to share my new cover for my soon-to-be-(re)released novel, The Promise of Paradise!

This book was originally released in 2007 as Lost in Paradise, but this spring it's coming out with new characters, new scenes, and of course this beautiful new cover!

I love the overall design, but I especially love that it matches my cover for Beacon of Love, since the stories are going to be connected by one of those new characters (you'll have to read it to find out which one....!). Blurb soon to follow, and even better, it will be available FREE for 5 days after its initial release on Amazon. Keep checking in here, on my Facebook page, or by subscribing to my newsletter (link over there in the right sidebar) to find out exactly when The Promise of Paradise will be available for purchase!

Monday Mentionables: A Romance Reading!

Hey everyone (but locals especially), I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but it's a good time for a reminder:

Authors from the Hudson Valley RWA (that's my local writers' group!) will be speaking, reading, and signing/selling their books Saturday, February 9th, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the Newburgh Free Library's Mall Branch on Route 300 in Newburgh, NY. Here's the lineup of authors:

Janet Lane Walters
Elizabeth Shore
Liz Matis
Charmaine Gordon
Tanya Goodwin
Allie Boniface
Jennifer Probst

And just to whet your appetite, the library is having a romance and mystery book sale of its own that day. AND this branch of the library is in a mall. Meaning you can do some shopping before or after visiting with us :)

We would LOVE to see you there on February 9th - please come support your local authors!!

Writers' Wednesday: Awards for Authors

Hey writers! OK, first of all I have to say how happy I am that (a) "Homeland" won Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best TV Drama and that (b) "Argo" won Best Drama/Film and Best Director for Ben Affleck at Sunday's Golden Globe awards  I discovered "Homeland" late and just got the first season on DVD for Christmas. My husband and I are already addicted! Great writing, great acting, great suspense...you just never know quite what's going to happen next. But "Argo" I saw in the theater months ago and knew right then it was a winner. It's a great story (of a little-known story behind the Iranian Hostage Crisis), combining humor and suspense and brutal historic truth with tremendous balance. The only downside is that Affleck didn't get an Oscar nomination for Best Director :(

I was reading the latest issue of Writers' Digest, which features an article this month on some of the most prestigious writing awards. The one I found most interesting is called the "Gift of Freedom Award, it "assists female writers who are ready to restructure their lives in order to complete their creative project" over 2 years. Grand prize? $50,000 with which to restructure. I gotta say, I'm curious about the winners of this one and how exactly this restructuring takes place. Hmm....do I sense a story idea here?

Anyway, if you're the contest type, and want to look beyond your typical genre or category contests, here are some websites they mentioned:
Duotrope.com
FundsforWriters.com
PW.org
WinningWriters.com

Happy writing!

Monday Mentionables: What's In A Title?

Happy Monday, everyone! So the latest news with me is that I've gotten my rights back for Lost in Paradise, which is one of my favorite (and first) books, but which needs some new life...so I've decided to release it independently with a new cover, new title, and some new content as well.

Exciting, right? While it will be a bit of a challenge, I'm looking forward to it, and to the learning process as well. The "hybrid" model of publishing is becoming more popular with authors these days, the concept of still publishing some works with a traditional publisher but combining that with self-publishing other, often shorter works as well. It will be interesting to see how that total control over the process affects me - or not. I do think I'm lucky that I'm familiar with the whole publishing process, so I know a lot of the "behind the scenes" steps. Still, a lot of this will be new. Thank goodness I have some writing friends who have done it and can help me!

Anyway, I'm in the process of choosing my title. I still want it to have a reference to Paradise (the name of the town but also, of course, the idea of a perfect place to find love), so I'm leaning toward The Promise of Paradise. What do you think? Let's see...what are some other possibilities? Thoughts?

Paradise Found
Promises in Paradise
Pleasure in Paradise
Hearts in Paradise

Friday Fun Facts: Thinking About my Father

Happy Friday, everyone! Today's fun fact/photo is in honor of my dad, who passed away from a long battle with cancer 4 years ago yesterday, January 10.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the two of us, because it really epitomizes our relationship. I'm always reminded how lucky I was to know him and have him as an influence in my life. Lots I could say, but the biggest one, that I always tell others, is that he was my biggest fan. Yeah, I suppose I was a Daddy's girl: I could do no wrong. And yeah, I suppose maybe that's not always the best message to send a child (humility, anyone?). But for the most part, that *value* that he gave me, about myself and everything I did, was the most powerful gift he could have imparted. That I was loved no matter what, that everything I did mattered, whether little or big, that accomplishments could be measured in all sort of ways but that at the end of the day he was awfully lucky and proud to be my father, and I was awfully lucky and proud to be his daughter.

We inherit all kinds of things from our parents - hair color and voice and quirks and fears - and I look back and know that I've gotten all that and then some, from my dad. At the end of it all, I am so, so fortunate to have experienced the kind of love and support I did from him, as a child and as an adult. I miss him terribly.

Writers' Wednesday: Promote, Promote, Promote!

Happy Wednesday to my writers! Today I'm sharing a great link that Affaire de Coeur Book Review magazine posted a while ago. I have it saved in my favorites and I go back to it every few months as a reminder of what I could or should be doing in terms of promotion. Most important? When you have a new release coming out, Create a Marketing Frenzy! Get your name out there as much as possible, as often as possible, in the 3-6 months leading up to the release and at least 3 months after. A writing friend and I were talking the other day about finding the balance between writing and promoting, and I do find it challenging. But maybe this list will help focus and streamline your own promotion efforts. And if you have any tips you've found particularly effective, please share!

Creating a Marketing Frenzy

Monday Mentionables: A Blurb and a Release Date!

"In a town that won't give up its secrets, she wants to find the answers..." ~ Allie Boniface

Happy Monday, everyone! I'm excited to announce that I have a (tentative) release date for Beacon of Love: May 5, 2013! Mark your calendars...I can't wait for you to read this one! And in addition to a release date, I just received the official promotional blurb from my publishers, and here it is to whet your appetite:



Welcome to Lindsey Point, Connecticut: suspicious of outsiders, loyal to tradition, and
absolutely devoted to its local legends.

Enter Sophie Smithwaite, travel show host, in town to film an episode about Lindsey
Point’s haunted lighthouse. But digging into the story of a tragic murder-suicide and love gone
wrong reveals startling connections to Sophie’s own past. When a gorgeous local handyman fills
in behind the camera, Sophie’s life gets complicated by more than just her family history.

Part-time paramedic, handyman, seasonal Santa... Lucas Oakes does it all--except get
attached. He’s still reeling from the death of his best friend ten years ago and the more recent
infidelity of his ex-fiancee. Yet despite Sophie’s big-city nosiness and her insistence on chasing
long-dead ghosts, he’s drawn to her.

But mixing with an outsider means questioning people and traditions Lucas has always
defended. When a series of attacks seem to be connected to Sophie’s investigation, both Sophie
and Lucas must decide if they are willing to risk everything to uncover the town’s secrets...and
their own.

CONTENT WARNING: Contains one barb-slinging travel show host, one hunky
handyman who knows exactly how to use his tools, and a small town brimming with secrets...

A Lyrical Press Hometown Heroes Romance

Hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am!

Friday Fun Facts: A Winter Wonderland

"Maturity is a high price to pay for growing up." ~Tom Stoppard 

Welcome to a brand new edition of Friday Fun Facts! I'm tweaking my Friday posts just a little this year, to let YOU, my readers and friends and followers, know a little more about the Allie behind the books :)

So here's my plan: each Friday I'll post a picture. Could be a current one, could be an old one, but whatever it is will share something about what's on my mind that week. Here's my first one!

This is where I spent New Year's Eve ~ Saratoga Springs, NY. This is a lovely little resort town north of Albany that boasts, among other things, a horse racing track, a private college, hot springs, and a great little downtown which throws a First Night celebration featuring over 40 bands and performers. Hubby and I spent 2 nights there and, despite the COLD, had a really nice time ringing in 2013. The park in this picture was one of the many places decorated with white lights (so pretty!), but the real sight to see was the many 20-25 year old women walking around in their cocktail dresses and stiletto heels (most of the sidewalks were slightly better shoveled than in this picture, but not wholly). I know I'm old when I'm thinking to myself, Where are their jackets? Aren't they freezing? instead of remembering the days I used to do exactly the same thing.

Funny, right? The stages we go through from adolescence into adulthood, from single life to dating to engaged to married to married long enough that it doesn't matter if you're wearing a cocktail dress and heels or jeans, long underwear and boots - you're going home to snuggle with the significant other you've celebrated yet another holiday with :)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Writers' Wednesday: Happy 2013!

“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.” ~Virginia Woolf


Hello, everyone, and welcome to 2013!! I hope you had a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve celebration, and I hope that the new year has exciting things in store for you :)

Now, if you follow my blog on a regular basis you know that Wednesdays here are usually devoted to tips for writers, and while that will still be true in 2013, today I'd also like to put out a general call for any writer who would either (a) like to be interviewed on my blog this year or (b) like to share any writing tips of their own on my blog as well. If you'd like to be featured in any form on a Writers' Wednesday on Allie's Musings, either leave me a message in the comments section today OR drop me an email at allieb@allieboniface.com.

This is a great chance to promote a new or current release, or just meet some new readers and writers in cyber-world :)

I'll be back here on Friday with a new (and I hope fun!) twist on my usual Friday Fun Facts. See you then!!

Friday Fun Facts: The Last One!

It's the last Friday of 2012! Can't believe it....what a whirlwind year in many respects. FYI, I'll be changing up my blog and my Friday Fun Facts a little bit in 2013....tune in next week to see exactly what those changes will include.

For now, thought I'd share a few famous "Fridays" in honor of ushering this last one out of the year. Happy almost-2013!!

• TGI Fridays: restaurant chain
• Good Friday religious holiday
• Friday’s: comedy variety show on ABC back in the early 1980s.
• Friday: fictional character from the book/movie Robinson Crusoe
• Friday Harbor, Washington, in the lovely San Juan Islands
• His Girl Friday: motion picture starring Cary Grant from 1940
• Friday the 13th: movie series
• Black Friday for the busy shopping day after Thanksgiving
• Casual Friday at the workplace
• Freaky Friday: motion picture from 1976 and remake in 2003
• Friday: 1995 motion picture
• Friday Night Lights: television show and term for high school football
• “Friday, I’m in Love”: song by The Cure. 

Writers' Wednesday: Links for Authors

Happy day after Christmas! Hope you had a wonderful day, if you celebrate it, and a wonderful day anyway, even if you don't :)

Here for writers are a couple links worth checking out, especially if you're looking for ways to promote your work in the New Year (and who isn't??)

The Romance Studio is having a blow-out advertising sale, with deals on individual ads as well as a Crazy Christmas Package Deal of ad combinations worth over $500..for only $125!! (or $100 if you're already a TRS member...even better!)

Goddess Fish Promotions has some great package deals on Virtual Book Tours for anyone who's looking for a lot of online exposure for a new release (or hey, even a not-so-new one). They're updating their prices as of January 1, so take a look now if you're interested.

And for anyone who's been playing around with a Young Adult manuscript that really isn't so Young (because your main characters aren't teenagers, but instead college-age young men and women negotiating that tricky time between adolescence and adulthood), Entangled Publishing is currently accepting submissions for their "New Adult" line, getting ready to launch in Summer 2013. Click here to find out more.

Happy writing!

Monday Mentionables: My First Time on the Radio!

Happy Christmas Eve to everyone who celebrates it! Is your shopping done? Your wrapping? Will you be celebrating with friends and family tonight or tomorrow? Attending a Christmas Eve service at your local church? (I love those most of all...the carols, the candles, the camaraderie of the congregation sharing the moment)

In the meantime, if you have a few free minutes, give a listen to my radio interview right here. This past Saturday, Bernadette Walsh interviewed me for her Blog Talk Radio show Nice Girls Reading Naughty Books, and I really had a ball! Very low-key (just a phone call from your own landline), great questions,a  fun way to talk about my writing as well as my upcoming release. And I was happy to hear, listening to the playback, that I sounded okay and not like a stuttering idiot LOL.

Have a great holiday, all :)

It's The End of the World as We Know It... (Or Not)

 

 

See you back here on Monday, folks! Have a great weekend!!

Writers' Wednesday: Check Out All These Deals!

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Holiday time usually means great deals on all kinds of items, as retailers look to grab those last-minute, and this December is no exception when it comes to books. Check out these deals:

All Romance Ebooks is giving away a free ebook EVERY SINGLE DAY, for the 12 days of Christmas. Click here to see today's giveaway title.

Lyrical Press is holding a "Doomsday, You Say?" sale from December 21 - 31, with 75% off every title in their catalog. Every title!!

And finally, my writing friend Liz Matis has a short story featured in the anthology Martini Madness, now on sale at Amazon. (Hers is titled "Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis.") Support a fellow writer and download it for some fun holiday reading :)

Have fun shopping!

Monday in Mourning

I usually have a lot to say on Mondays - about my own writing, about my fellow writers and what they're up to, about the latest books and good reads and pages you should check out. But today, folks, I have no words, just a broken heart after last Friday's school shooting in Newtown, CT. And as I head in to work in a few minutes, I'm trying to decide what I will tell my students who are aspiring to be teachers themselves someday. I think I will start by saying that I have always thought that anyone who chooses education as a profession has a heroic nature.

Now I know that to be true.

Prayers to everyone struggling to deal with the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.

Writers' Wednesday: What You Missed in the RWR

Last week I blogged about the highlights of the latest Writer's Digest. This week, it's the December issue of the Romance Writers Report:

~"Sports Romance: Can They Go All the Way?" discusses the potential rise of sports romance as a niche genre. Football players, hockey goalies, race car drivers...you gotta admit, there's something about an athlete (in almost any sport) that cries out alpha hero. My writing friend Liz Matis writes sports romance, and she'll be joining other well-known authors like Jaci Burton and Cassandra Carr in 2013 to write a blog on just this sub-genre. Can't wait!

~"Which Path to Published Should You Take?" explores the pros and cons of traditional, e-, and self-publishing, and makes a good case for an author's hybrid approach to incorporating all three (thus my Monday blog post on the possibilities of re-releasing one of my back novels as a self-pubbed ebook through Amazon). I think it's great how the industry has changed to the point where this is a viable, respected alternative to typical New York houses that dominated publishing for so long.

~:Connecting with Readers" talked about how best to use social media (or in-person connections) to build a reader base. Bottom line: find what you're most comfortable with and exploit it, whether that's blogging once a week, chatting on Twitter, or making connections on your Facebook page (and yes, if you're an author, you need at least one of these)/

and finally...

~"Can Free Ebooks Be Profitable?" talked about the ways in which authors have used free ebooks to boost their sales of other books. While it takes some work to format and promote your work (if you're going it alone), it can definitely pay off. It seems as though Amazon's Kindle Direct Program is at least worth a look when it comes to this option.

And that's the high and low of it! Enjoy your Wednesday, and happy writing!

Monday Mentionables: Weighing the Pros & Cons of Self-Publishing

Had a great writers' group meeting and luncheon with my fellow romance authors over the weekend! It's so refreshing and heartening to share stories, celebrate successes, and lament struggles with people who understand. When you say, "I have no idea where to go with this character," they'll make a suggestion. When you want to throw something at the computer screen because everything sounds terrible, they'll tell you to take a walk or clean a closet (believe me, for some reason cleaning really helps free up the creative juices). And when you have no idea how to motivate a character or how to dress her, they'll tell you to take an hour and watch Real Housewives of New Jersey.

In all seriousness, amid the discussion of business, and reading the latest Romance Writers' Report, I found myself toying with the idea of republishing my book Lost in Paradise on Amazon as a self-published work and use their Kindle Direct Program to feature it free for 5 days, then sell it directly myself...mostly as a lead-in to my upcoming new release Beacon of Love in the spring.

My thoughts are such: contractually I can get my rights back from the publisher who currently has it, polish and possibly revise (with the outside thought of weaving in some plot/characters that will tie into Beacon of Love). If I have it up for sale in the month or so before Beacon of Love releases, I'm hoping to build some positive press that will lead to greater initial sales for Beacon. Also, Paradise has never had great sales with its current publisher, and if I can boost it through self-pubbing it, then why not give it a try?

I'd love thoughts from anyone who's gone this route, esp. using free ebooks to boost other sales. It seems like it has potential, but I have to weigh the costs with the possible outcomes. So....what do you think?

Writers' Wednesday: What You Missed in This Month's Writer's Digest

I let my subscription to Writer's Digest expire a few months back before signing up again, and I have to say, I missed it. It's the best $16/year you'll ever spend, if you're a writer. Every issue is full of articles covering the craft, promotion, interviews with people in all areas of the trade, and best of all, it's not genre-specific. RWA is great for romance writers, but it's nice to hear about writing success and struggles and advice in very different areas.

Anyway, my favorite articles from the November/December issue:

"How to Develop Any Idea Into a Great Story" - gives some great, off-the-charts ideas for "bending" the traditional into the absoutely fresh and innovative. Among other suggestions: add insane characters; play up the pain of blood ties between characters; don't overplay the emotion; and my favorite (talking about starting in the right place): "Everybody's bloody and panting, everybody's heart is broken, everybody's hanging on by theor fingernails. Now what? Let the story begin!"

"Overcoming Writers's Block Without Willpower" - my favorite subsection in this article talked about eliminating one's constant dependence on technology. Don't check anything (email, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, voicemail) while you're supposed to be writing. Just write.

"The Amazing Mr. Appel" - I'm not sure I love him or hate him, but the winner of Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition has not only won before, did not only place 4 times this year in the Screenplay category, but is also a doctor at Mt. Sinai Hospital, a teacher at Gotham Writer's Workshop, and holds 4 Master's degrees and a J.D. (in addition to his medical degree). Um, yeah. Anytime I feel overwhelmed by my life and job, guess I better look to this guy (who apparently doesn't sleep) for motivation.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Monday Mentionables: I'll Be on the Radio!

Well, not really on the radio. Or, well, sort of. A fellow romance author, Bernadette Walsh, is dabbling with starting a blog radio show featuring romance writers. I'm always one to give a new kind of promo opportunity a try, so I jumped in and said Sure!

What will it entail? On Saturday December 22, at 11 am (EST), she'll be interviewing me live (via phone) for "Nice Girls Reading Naughty Books" and you'll be able to hear it online right here.

Even better, though, it will record so that if you miss the live interview, you can play the link as a sound file anytime in the future. And I'll certainly have it on my website (and here on this blog) so readers can listen in.

Fellow romance authors, if you're interested, she's actively looking for people to interview. Click on the link above, and there are details there about contacting her for a spot. All interviews are held on Saturdays at 11:00 am, for 30 minutes. (She's interviewing a senior editor from Lyrical Press this-coming Saturday, Dec. 8th)

Can't wait to give it a try and report back here! Remember: "Nice Girls Reading Naughty Books" on Saturday, December 22 at 11am. Give it a listen - and if you're really brave, call in with a question of your own for me to answer!

Friday Fun Facts!

I know, I know: I've been remiss in blogging lately. Chalk it up to my busy day job, or the busy time of year, or my lack of sometimes remembering that I NEED to blog, and, well.......

Anyway, I wanted to share with you 2 fun facts today: first off, one of my dear high school friends, who's a military wife and stay-at-home mother of 3, has started her own blog. And she's funny. Really. Well, sarcastic too. And hard-hitting, depending on the topic. Her Facebook status updates alone would make a pretty funny this-is-my-life type of book, a la Chelsea Handler. Drop by, would you? She's at MyLifeMyFamilyMyWay.

And I want to give a shout-out to a fellow Hudson Valley RWA member, Elf Ahearn, who just sold her first manuscript to Crimson Romance! Big cheers and congratulations!! Crimson is a fairly new imprint of Adams Media, and it looks like they're settling into the romance niche pretty well. Want to know more? Click here.

Enjoy your weekend!

Cyber-Monday Deals!

Whew!  Did everyone else survive the holidays? Between cooking for Thanksgiving, heading out in the wee hours for Black Friday sales, and leading my mother and sister on a walking tour of lower Manhattan on Saturday, I'm ready to go back to work!

In all seriousness, it was nice to see and spend time with friends and family...hope you felt the same.

And now, just in case you DIDN'T finish your shopping last week, Cyber-Monday has rolled around with some more great deals. For romance ebook readers especially, here are the ones you need to know about:

Samhain Publishing is offering 50% off ALL titles from midnight to 9 am on Monday, and then 40% off all titles from 9 am to midnight! Use EARLYBIRD coupon code for the first one and CYBERMONDAY coupon code for the second one ;)

Lyrical Press is holding their "Doomsday" sale from now through December 21st. Check our their home page for more information AND great discounts on all books purchased through their store.

Of course, there are more sales all around the web, including BN.com and Amazon.com. Go forth and buy books!

Monday Mentionables: New Audio Books Available!

Imagine my surprise when I discovered over the weekend that One Night in Napa and One Night in Boston are both now for sale on Audible.com! The release dates were scheduled for early 2013, so I'm thrilled that they're up early :) And check out these fun covers:

 

Hey folks, audio books are AWESOME for anyone who's too busy to sit down with a book (and unfortunately, that's a lot of us these days). Commuting? Prepping your kitchen and your turkey for the big day? Sneaking in a little time on the treadmill? Download a book or two for your iPod and enjoy a little romance a la Allie Boniface!

Friday Fun Facts: Thanksgiving Trivia

Just in time for the holiday, here are 10 little-known facts about Thanksgiving (well, they were little-known to me, anyway). Hmm....think maybe there's a story idea in here somewhere?

#1. Lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese are thought to have made up the first Thanksgiving feast.

#2. Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States.

#3. The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog.

#4. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade used to use live animals instead of floats (they borrowed the animals from the Central Park Zoo).

#5. The night before Thanksgiving is the single biggest day for bar sales in the United States. 

#6. According to Guinness World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked was 12 feet in diameter and 2,020 pounds. The recipe required 900 pounds of pumpkin, 1,860 eggs, 300 pounds of sugar and 250 pounds of crust!
#7. While commercially raised turkeys usually can't fly, the wild variety can hit speeds of up to 55 mph when outrunning a predator.

#8. Part of the reason that Swanson started creating T.V. Dinners in 1953 was because they needed to find something to do with 260 tons of frozen turkeys that were left over from Thanksgiving.

#9. The original cornucopia was made from a curved goat's horn.

#10. Scientists have found fossils suggesting that Turkeys roamed North America 10 million years ago!

Monday Mentionables: There's a Party Coming Up!

Hey readers, next week The Romance Studio will be holding a Thanksgiving Week Bash, with tons of authors posting teasers and questions and trivia and PRIZES....and I'll be there as one of them!

Want to know more? Click on the banner below. Three days of partying....hope you can join us!

Friday Fun Facts: Does Swag Lead to Sales?

The latest issue of the Romance Writers' Report was all about the statistics of romance sales: who's buying, what they're buying, and in which format. The feature article also discussed why readers buy books, and the top reasons included familiarity with the author's other works, recommendations from friends, & excerpts from the book they could read online or at the end of other authors' books. To a lesser extent, reviews and covers encouraged readers to buy a book. What landed at the bottom of the list? Swag, or free "stuff" that authors give away, such as bookmarks, magnets, goodie bags, etc.

I mention this for a couple of reasons: my local RWA meeting is this weekend, and a few members want to discuss swag and what works/what doesn't (for the record, I've found it's very hard to tell what promotional items or efforts are directly tied to sales. Marketing experts will tell you pretty much the same). I'm also interested in knowing YOUR opinion: what makes you buy a book? Have you ever bought a book because of swag you got from an author? Should we authors be putting money into promotional items - bookmarks, pens, posters, flyers, etc...? Or not?

Please share!

Writers' Wednesday: Hook, Line & Sinker Contest Still Open!

Calling all writers! Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Hudson Valley RWA has extended its deadline for the Hook, Line, and Sinker Contest to this Friday, November 8th. Entry fee is just $10 - get feedback from published authors on the first 3 pages of your manuscript....those tricky opening lines where you either hook your reader or lose 'em!

More info here.

In other news, I finished my edits for Beacon of Love and now just have to work on the dedication and the "catchy but brief" author bio to put at the end. And now off to the keyboard, my friends.....

The Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

Today my heart and my thoughts go out to all those people in NYC and New Jersey who suffered loss at the hands of Hurricane Sandy this week. If you don't live in the area, I'm sure you've seen the pictures: so much of the Jersey coast, lower Manhattan, and Long Island has been destroyed. At this point there is widespread power loss; people are struggling to find gas stations; some are returning to their homes to assess the damage while others are trapped in their homes unable to leave. 

I send prayers to ALL of you, and I urge anyone who is able to reach out in whatever way you can, even if it's just a similar prayer or a wish on social media or donations to a charity that's actively helping the survivors. 

My husband and I live in the lower Hudson Valley, about an hour north of where the hurricane hit hardest. We were very fortunate: we only lost power for about 30 hours, and our house didn't suffer any damage. Many, many trees are down around us, though, most torn up by the roots:

The gas shortage is starting to affect our area now. I know many, many people are desperate for gas to run the generators at their homes, not to mention for their cars so they can get to the grocery store or leave and stay with relatives. Yesterday every gas station in our area had lines backed up along the road, and by late afternoon/early evening many were out of gas altogether. I am hopeful that this is only temporary and that shipments will be on their way soon. In the meantime, we'll be cautious here over the next few days and stay close to home. 

Amazing how affected we all can be by an natural disaster like this one. Join together however you can, folks, and know that those people in NYC/New Jersey really need your strong thoughts and support right now :)

Monday Mentionables: Riding Out Hurricane Sandy

Happy Monday, everyone! So...if you're anywhere on the East Coast, you're probably either in the middle of or anticipating the impact of Hurricane Sandy. If you are in its path, please stay safe! Here in the lower Hudson Valley, NY, we're preparing as best we can and hoping the damage is minimal.

Anyway, the good news today is that (if you didn't see it on my Facebook or Twitter pages) I have a cover for my spring release, Beacon of Love! Here it is:

Hope you love it as much as I do!

Also, for readers, Lyrical Press is offering a great Halloween Sale: 50% off all titles this week! Great time to shop for new books and authors, don't you think?

And for writers, The Romance Studio is offering a tremendous 7 for the price of 1 advertising sale - through October 31! More details here.

Okay - batten down the hatches and let Hurricane Sandy do her worst! See you on Wednesday :)

Writers' Wednesday: The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Hi all! Thanks so much to Diane Craver, who tagged me last week in the "The Next Big Thing" Blog Hop. Today I'm talking about my upcoming release (May 2013), Beacon of Love. I know next May is still a while off, but keep me in my mind ;) I love this story!

What is the working title of your book?

Beacon of Love

Where did the idea come from for the book?

My husband and I vacation each summer in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. We visited a lighthouse a few years back while there and I started asking the inevitable author question, "What if...?" I thought what if a news reporter came to a town to uncover the story of a haunted lighthouse and what if she fell in love with a local guy who was trying to protect its secret??

What genre does your book fall under?

This is a contemporary romance, set in a small coastal town :)

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

"In a town that won't give up its secrets, she's determined to find the answers..."

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I am multi-published without an agent; this will be my sixth published novel, and my first with Lyrical Press. I am also published with Samhain and The Wild Rose Press.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Once I got on a roll with this one, it took me about 6 months to write. Since I'm a full-time high school English teacher during the day, I did most of the writing during the summer of 2011, then polished in the fall and submitted in early 2012. I signed the contract in spring of 2012.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

This is a "small town" romance, so it's pretty similar to works by Kristan Higgans and Jill Shalvis :)

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I was lucky enough to meet a great friend who inspired me to write what I referred to for years as "the lighthouse story." The luckiest authors are those who have people in their lives who truly inspire them :)

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

It's a love story mixed with suspense mixed with a 50-year old unsolved mystery. Interested??

Monday Mentionables: Contests and Covers

Hey writers, just a reminder that November 1st is the deadline for the Hudvon Valley RWA's "Hook, Line, and Sinker" contest. All you need to enter are the first 3 pages of your manuscript and $10.00, Best value for your writing dollar around! Judges are published and trained/unpublished authors, and the final judge is a Harlequin Senior Editor! More details here.

Just another little mention: I got a sneak peek at a draft of my cover for Beacon of Love, scheduled to come out in Spring 2013. Needs some tweaks, but I'm loving it so far, and I can't wait to share it with you!

I'll be posting this-coming Wednesday as part of "The Next Big Thing" Blog Hop, thanks to Diane Craver's tagging me last week, so join me to find out more about Beacon of Love AND the sequel I'm working on now, Inferno of Love.

See you Wednesday!

Writers' Wednesday: What's on Your Wish List?

Hi writers (and readers!) What's on your wish list for books this year? Do you buy books for yourself for the holidays? For others? Heck, does anyone still buy books period? Or are they all electronic downloads straight to your Nook or Kindle or iPad these days?

On my list of books I'd like to read in the next few months:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

What about you??

Friday Fun Facts: Shout-Outs for Writers

Hey writers - if you'd like to join me for a blog hop, let me know! I'll "tag" you on Wednesday October 24th and then you'll post on October 31st (ooh...Halloween...could be fun!) All you have to do is talk about your latest book. Easy and enjoyable, right?

And another heads-up for writers: my local RWA chapter, the Hudson Valley RWA, is now taking entries for our "Hook, Line, and Sinker" contest. More info here, but here are the best parts: only a $10 entry fee to have your first 3 pages read, and the finalists will be judged by Harlequin senior editor Brenda Chin. Published and unpublished/trained judges, with great feedback for all entrants. Deadline: November 1st!!

Happy weekend, everyone. Enjoy and write on :)

Writers' Wednesday: A Free Read and Lots of Goodies!

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I'm super-excited to share some good news for my fellow romance author, Diane Craver:

First off, her book Marrying Mallory is currently a Free Read at Amazon, so if you're looking for a good story, hope on over and download yourself a copy. It's only free 'til Thursday, though!

Second, to celebrate the release of A Joyful Break, her Amish romance, Diane's having a contest over at her blog with several giveaways – a $15 GC to Amazon, $10 for Bath and Body Works and book giveaways.Here's the link so you can find out more :)

I'm always happy to share the news when it comes to writing friends, so if you have some links or announcements, email me!

Monday Mentionables: Who's Your Skeptic?

I was talking to a writer friend of mine over the weekend, and our conversation inevitably turned to those sticky moments in a story when you know that what you're writing might not be entirely believable to the reader, but you really need the plot to go in a certain direction, so you hope your reader will suspend disbelief long enough for you to get there.

Sound familiar?

Sometimes it works; sometimes readers aren't that patient. I took an online workshop over the summer that addressed that problem in a great way, though: make sure you have a minor character who works as the "skeptic" in your story.

Simply put, have a minor character voice the doubts you know your reader will be having at any given point. Know your main character shouldn't fly to Iceland after his estranged girlfriend without a plan? Have his best friend tell him all the reasons he's being an idiot for getting on that plane. Know your reader will wonder why the heroine is letting a stranger into her apartment when three other women in the apartment complex have been killed? Have her mother tell her so over the phone (right before calling the police because her daughter's clearly lost all rational thought).

Those skeptical comments from other characters in the story will signal to your reader that you as the author are still in control of this story. You've put your characters in questionable situations, yes, BUT never fear: all will turn out well, and you know exactly where you're going with your plot.

I really connected with this piece of advice when I heard it; it made a lot of sense. And it's already saved me with a couple of plot problems in my current WIP. Try it; add it to your arsenal for those times you write yourself into a situation that seems questionable even to you ;)

Happy writing!