Monday Mentionables: Considering Digital-Only Publishers

Did you have a jolly St. Patrick's Day Weekend? I'll admit, I'm not Irish and I'm not one of those people who takes advantage of the holiday to go out and get rip-roaring drunk - though I did take advantage of the weekend without schoolwork to get some writing done. I'm about 18K words through my current novella, Sex on the Beach, with a goal of 30K and to be finished by the end of the month.

I've also been mulling over the pros and cons of submitting to publishers that are "digital only" - meaning no matter how long your book is, they will only format it to be sold in ebook (some publishers still put full-length novels, those over 60K or so, into print). I have mixed feelings about this, to be honest. Certainly, the ebook market is growing hugely, and almost everywhere you go, you see people with e-readers and iPads. Authors make more royalties on ebooks than they do on print books, and the number of brick-and-mortar bookstores seems to be dwindling on a daily basis. My digital sales have been higher than my print sales for every title I have.

At the same time, I know I have some readers who still want to read and buy print books. hey probably won't ever read a title if it's only available as a digital file. So will I lose those readers if I publish with a company who will never put my books into print? And , is that a big enough piece of my audience to affect my decision? It's tough to say....

Any thoughts?

Friday Fun Facts: Auction Goods and Mommy Porn

Hey, everyone! The Brenda Novak Online Auction will start up next month, and both Yours Truly and the Hudson Valley RWA have donated prizes just waiting for your bids! Writers can bid on a 25-page critique by 3 published Hudson Valley RWA members, and readers can bid on an awesome Vera Bradley tote filled with donated books from our members.

Or...you might be interested in snagging yourself my "Summer Fun" tote instead :)

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In other news, has anyone read the new/next hugely popular erotic romance trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey? Nicknamed by some as "mommy porn" for its appeal to housewives/mothers who are re-discovering their sex lives thanks to its inspiration (hey, I don't judge, I just report), it's a small-press published book by a first-time author that's gone viral in the world of romance (and non-romance) readers. I read the first few pages over at Amazon and will reserve judgement at this point. Will I read the whole thing? Maybe. In truth, I'd rather work on my own writing, though...

Happy Friday!

Writers' Wednesday: The Subjectivity of Publishing

OK, for all you aspiring and already published authors out there, here's a stark reminder of how subjective the publishing world can be. We already know that one person can love a book while another can hate it. That happens with editors and agents too, all the time. And I've had my share of rejections that eventually led to publications elsewhere. But this just happened in the last 24 hours, so I had to share:

I had sent a work, a novella, out to 2 different editors at 2 different small presses. They each responded within a day of one another.

Editor A: "I am actively looking to build my contemporary list, I really like your voice, and...so I approached this submission with high hopes. Unfortunately, the first chapters feel very generic. It’s become almost a cliché for a contemporary romance to open with a friend encouraging the heartbroken friend to get laid. We’re looking for something fresher.

I’m sure you must be disappointed, but it’s important to have an editor who really loves your story and can be its champion. As you know, the publishing business is very subjective, and I have no doubt that [your story] is exactly what another editor is looking for..."


Editor B: "I shared the pitch with other actively acquiring [editors in our house]. Specially, [Editor C] requested your partial, read it and she emailed me to let you know she'd love to receive the full. In fact, she stated she's keen to read it. I've copied her on my email to you so that you two may start to dialogue. I'm thrilled to give you this news and I wish you much success..."

So there you have it. What one doesn't care for, another craves. Bottom line? Try your best not to be discouraged when one person tells you "no" or "I don't like it" (and actually, this pretty much goes for life in general, not just writing and publishing).

Happy Wednesday!

Monday Mentionables: A New Novella and A Catchy Tune

Well, I've managed to get almost 9K words into a new project: a novella titled Sex on the Beach (it's a companion piece to Tequila Sunrise and features two of that story's characters). I'm liking it so far, although now that I'm a third of the way through, I'm fearing the sagging middle a bit. Still, two members of my writers' group have joined me in a goal to finish a writing project by the end of this month, and Sex on the Beach it is! 30K here we come...

Excerpt from the opening chapter:

At that, Bryce kissed her. He took the heart-shaped mouth that had been teasing him for the last half-hour and cut her words off in mid-sentence. His hands moved down that exquisite body, curves from head to toe, and finally wound their way to the small of her back. He didn’t let go. He didn’t stop. Her head fell back, and she laughed under his lips as they tasted her throat, the soft spot at the ...base of her neck, the line of her jaw.

After a moment Cass stopped laughing, and when her breath caught in her throat and he felt goose flesh on her bare arms, he pulled her in closer. Whispered, word by delicious word, exactly what he wanted to do to and with and for her, and when she lost her balance in his embrace he was certain, absolutely certain, she’d come back to his cabin.

Then the fire alarm sounded.

And I heard this song for the first time over the weekend and really liked it. Isn't it a catchy way to start your week? Happy Monday!

Friday Fun Facts: Giveaways!

Exciting news today! Beyond Her Blog at Publisher's Weekly is sponsoring a week-long celebration, and both today and tomorrow Yours Truly is participating as one of the giveaway authors. Check it out - lots of fun and so many prizes you can win, just by commenting!

I'm heading to my local RWA meeting tomorrow - always an inspirational way to spend a morning, talking to other authors and sharing ideas and potential publishing and promotional leads. Next week I'll also be sharing the item(s) both I and my RWA chapter will be donating to the Brenda Novak Online Auction. Hint: This year mine will be a "Summer Fun" basket...I know you can't wait to see what's inside ;)

Writers' Wednesday: A Local Appearance on March 29th

Just a quick announcement: I'll be one of 6 "local authors" featured at a showcase at the Pine Bush Library (Pine Bush, NY) on Thursday, March 29, from 6-8 pm.

The cool thing about this appearance is that the Special Events Coordinator contacted me (usually it's the other way around when I'm trying to set up an author appearance)...via my Facebook Fan Page! So I guess maybe FB is a good promotional tool after all (OK, I knew it was, but this was a nice confirmation of that fact).

I will be the only romance author, kind of neat, as the other 5 represent a variety of genres from poetry to mystery. Though I'm not positive on the format, I think we will each discuss/read and then have time for chatting and signing/selling after the panel.

I'm looking forward to it...and if you're anywhere in the area, I hope you'll stop by! Click here for library location and details.

Monday Mentionables: Seeing "The Artist"

I finally saw the movie "The Artist" over the weekend (you know, the silent film that won 5 Oscars this year, including Best Picture and Best Actor). So what did I think?

Well, it's very cute and charming. Very sweet and entertaining. And hey, it has Uggie (super-cute dog) in almost every scene, hamming it up for the camera. Overall, the storyline is pretty straight-forward: it's about a silent movie star who becomes washed up while the pretty young girl he helped "discover" goes on to become a star of talking movies while his life falls apart. No spoilers here, but don't fear - it does have a happy ending.

While I enjoyed it, I didn't think it merited Best Picture honors. I felt very much as if I was in the 1920s, watching a nice silent film. I think it probably won because it was a novelty for 2012. However, I will say that Jean Dujardin deserved the Best Actor award for his really moving performance - all achieved without words. And the musical score, which also won an Oscar, really added to the nuances of the plot. Loved the score.

Here's the trailer:

Writers' Wednesday: Something for Writers and Readers Alike Today

So I've been listening to some narrator demos that Audio Lark has sent me, in preparation for 3 upcoming audio book releases in summer 2012. I have to admit, even though I've been through this process before, it's really cool to hear your own words read out loud by someone else :)

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Attention all authors: Savvy Authors is currently seeking bloggers. Details:

Once again I am scheduling blogs for the Savvy Authors Learning Center page. If you're a published author willing to write an original blog on a subject related to writing - craft, promotion, publishing, etc. - I'm scheduling for March 1st and forward (dates are first come first serve).

We ask for a blog of between 750 and 1500 words - negotiable. Our blogs include, as requested, book blurb and cover. The Learning Center Page gets hundreds of unique hits per day, the blogs are promoted in our newsletter, which is sent to over 4000 people weekly and will soon also be included in our weekly events mailing.

Contact: savvyauthors@gmail.com


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Attention all readers: Coffeetime Romance is sponsoring a HUGE ebook sale! Check this out:


Check out the new books! Check out this great sale! Stock up your eReader and save a TON of money!

Untreed Reads Publishing - 30% off
Wild Horse Press - 50% off
New Line Press - 25% off
Chances Press - 25% off
Melange Books - All books are $3.99
MuseItUp Publishing - 30% off
Decadent Publishing - 50% off
Eirelander Publishing - 30% off
Write Words Inc - 30% off these selected books:
Nazca Star: Book Two of the Bride of the Condor Series
Last Priestess: Book One of the Bride of the Condor Series
Spirit of Fire: Book Two of the Spirt Series
Spirit of Wind: Book 3 of the Spirit Series
Spirit of Earth: Book One of the Spirt Series
Inspired Romance - 50% off
Chances Press - 25% off until February 10th & a Free Book: Two Spirit Ranch
Champagne Books - Save 25%
Carnal Passions - Save 25%
Eternal Press - Save 25%
Damnation Books - Save 25%
Torquere Press - 25% off

We're expecting snow over the next 48 hours, so it looks like I better find some good reading material for myself as well. Happy reading, and stay warm!

Happy Leap Day!

Monday Mentionables: The Oscars

Ah, the Oscars...always a night to make you rejoice in wonderful stories, in the underdog triumphing, and in really great fashion :0

I admit, I didn't see most of the movies nominated for Best Picture this year. Most years I'm better and see at least half, but this year...I don't know, I think time got away from me. The only one I saw (and loved) was The Help. But going to my favorite local indie theater and seeing The Artist is on my To-Do list this week!

Anyone else see and recommend any of the nominees or winners?

Writers' Wednesday: Contest Winners and a Pitch Opportunity!

Congratulations to CHRISTY & MARILYN, the 2 winners in my Facebook "Hero Worship" Contest last week! They'll each receive their choice of any of my ebooks, along with a $10 Amazon gift certificate. Don't worry...I'll be having more contests coming up this spring :)

And attention authors! Abby Rose, an editor from Lyrical Press, is taking 3-sentence pitches over at Savvy Authors this Friday. Here's the info:

Abby is looking for stories packed with action/adventure and romance across the various genres:

* urban fantasy
* paranormal romance (all kinds)
* science fiction romance
* fantasy romance
* contemporary romance
* historical romance
* upper YA (but only paranormal romance in this genre)

WHEN: Feb 24, 2012 9:00 AM EST - Feb 24, 2012 11:00 PM EST


COST: FREE for ALL PREMIUM Members!
$0 for Basic Members


REGISTRATION: This event does not require registration.


This pitch session is open to anyone, so check it out if you have a manuscript that might fit Lyrical Press. And if anyone's had experience with this small press and wants to share, please so. I know they're relatively new, but the comments I've heard have been positive. As always, authors should do their own research when submitting anywhere. Good luck if you decide to pitch on Friday!

Monday Mentionables: Last Day for Hero Workshipping!

Last day to enter my Hero Worship Contest! All last week, I posted excerpt over at my Facebook Fan Page, highlighting my romance heroes. Now all you have to do is email me which one was your favorite - and I'll randomly choose 2 winners to receive their choice of any ebook from my backlist AS WELL AS a $10 Amazon gift certificate~

Can't go wrong, can you? So hurry on over, take a peek at those hero excerpts, and then email me at tboniface@frontiernet.net with your fave. The winners will be announced right here on Wednesday!

Writers; Wednesday: Scenes from a Book Signing

Our official sign at the Barnes & Noble last weekend:

And my friend Liz Matis and I enjoying a moment together at the signing!


While I can't say whether or not it translated into actual sales (we only had promo items to sign and give away, not print books - the store was trying something new to promote ebooks), it was nice to spend some time with fellow authors and also chat a bit with shoppers. The best strategy seemed to be to give chocolate along with signed promo items as a means of "introducing" ourselves as local writers. It's interesting: some people are totally open and excited about the idea, and others want to shuffle the other way as soon as you approach them.

Anyway, it was a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Looks like we'll be back there again in time for Mother's Day!

Monday Mentionables: Time For A Little Hero Worship!

Hey everyone, my Hero Worship Valentine's Day contest is in full swing over at my Facebook Fan Page. Excerpts featuring my heroes will be posted every day from February 11 - 18 for your reading pleasure, and at the end of the week all you have to do is email and tell me your favorite one!

2 randomly drawn winners will receive their choice of my ebooks PLUS an Amazon gift card - you can't go wrong!

Friday Fun Facts: Win a Prize! (or more than one...)

Hey everyone, The Romance Studio is holding a Valentine Gala from today through Tuesday, Feburary 14th. For the next 4 days, romance authors will be chatting and posting excerpts...and you can win a lot of great prizes! I'm giving away an Amazon Gift Card AND the winner's choice of any of my ebooks. Click here for the main Gala page (then click on "Party Giveaways" to see the list of all the prizes).

And tomorrow I'm joining my fellow Hudson Valley RWA authors at the Barnes and Noble in the Palisades Mall for an afternoon of meeting and chatting with readers and shoppers! Should be fun (as long as the weather holds...believe it or not, after an almost snowless winter, we might be getting some of the white stuff tomorrow).

Happy Weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: Listening to a Book

Yes, I skipped my Monday blog post....suffering from an awfully bad head cold that is making the rounds at work. Why, oh why, do people INSIST on coming to work when they're sick? I suppose I shouldn't fault the devotion of the students, maybe not even the other teachers either, but really, martyring yourself by dragging your sick self coughing to work is only going to spread around your lovely cold germs for the rest of us.

Aargh....

Well, I'm on the mend now, and anxiously awaiting the narrator demo tapes for the first of my 3 novels that will be produced as audio books this summer. When AudioLark started up a couple of years ago, and did my first 2, that wasn't an option, but now they let the authors have a listen to the narrators they're considering, and we get a say in who will read our words. How cool is that??

Friday Fun Facts: Hero Worship Contest Starting Soon!

Well, it's February, and that means time for Valentine's Day and my First Annual Facebook Hero Worship Contest!

From February 11 - 18th I'll be holding a "Hero Worship" contest. Every day that week, I'll post an excerpt from either my published books OR my works-in-progress...spotlighting all my wonderful heroes, of course! All the posts will be up on my Facebook Fan Page, so you'll have to "Like" me over there if you haven't yet. Then, all you have to do at the end of the week is email me which hero was your favorite. That's it! I'll choose 2 winners from everyone who emails (yup, count 'em - two!) to receive their choice of any of my ebooks AND a $10 Amazon gift certificate. Plus you get to drool over some romance heroes just in time for Valentine's Day...

Hope you'll join me :)

Writers' Wednesday: Battling Online Pirates

Hey writer friends, here's a link you might want to check out, especially if you're e-published and you've found some online scoundrels posting your ebooks for "free". Yeah, those e-pirates are awfully tough to track down, but www.muso.com is a site that will do it for you. For $15/month, the site scans the Internet daily to look for illegally posted "shared" files that violate copyrights. They'll send you an email every day, and then you can have them send an official DMCA letter to have the file removed (the monthly fee covers 60 "takedowns" although you can pay for more).

So far I'm pleased with the site. It only found 15 illegally shared files of mine the first day, and those were taken down within 24 hours. I'll probably continue with them until/unless there's not a need...which, unfortunately, may not be anytime soon, knowing piracy sites. But at least there's something authors and other artists can do to protect our copyrighted works. We've certainly worked hard enough to produce them!

**Note: email me at allieb@allieboniface.com for the email link that will take you to the $15/month fee, otherwise I think it's $25/month if you go straight through the main Muso site.

Monday Mentionables: New Banners!

I have two new banner ads today, courtesy of the design staff over at The Romance Studio. Click here to see the banner ad and click here to see the headliner ad, featuring my 3 "One Night" books.

I LOVE the second one, especially! Don't you? And if you check out The Romance Studio, you'll see it live, starting later today!

Friday Fun Facts

Happy Friday!!

Fun Fact #1: I have a "first kiss" excerpt up at Coffee Time Romance - check it out!

Fun Fact #2: I'll be holding a Hero Worship Contest over at my Facebook Fan Page from February 11-18, and the winner will receive their choice of any ebook or audio book. All you have to do is "like" me there to find out more...

And Fun Fact#3: If you're looking for a reasonably priced, professional web designer, try Glass Slipper Web Design. She has an expansive portfolio to look through and works with all budgets. She's been my web designer from the start, and I've been nothing but happy!

Writers' Wednesday: The Influence of Charles Dickens

I read an article in Time magazine yesterday about Charles Dickens, and why he was and is such a popular author. Interesting: he was one of the earliest authors who really wrote for his audience, who understood what it took to make a connection with readers and who tailored his stories and his characters to what he thought people wanted (and later in his career, messages he wanted to send about the world he was living in). Really interesting stuff. Of course, he was the master of serialized fiction, and he made a career out of writing stories with chapters that end in cliff-hangers, with plotlines that continually move forward and characters we always want to know more about.

I can't say I have a favorite by him (I did take a Dickens seminar in college, where we had to read a book a week by him...yikes...), though I do like the very traditional A Christmas Carol and the less-traditional Bleak House (great characters, and great commentary on society getting caught up in business at the expense of the individual).

But Dickens knew what to do as a writer - connecting with readers is so valuable, and yet some authors definitely do it better than others. Social media does help in this respect, I think. Even those writers who aren't particularly comfortable talking with people in person, face to face, can do so on the safety of the computer in arenas like Facebook and blogs and chat groups and such. I think readers like the sense that an author listens to their opinions and cares about what they have to say about the world.

Charles Dickens. Huh. Never pegged him as a visionary, but guess what? Maybe we can all take a cue from him. Can you picture his Facebook page? Status update: Wrote 500 words today. Time for a new quill pen...

Monday Mentionables: A Word About Promo

I've probably mentioned this before, but VistaPrint is a GREAT site for any of your promotional goodies. I've used them for bookmarks, signs, postcards, and more. Great quality and really good prices - even better since they usually email you discounts after you've ordered from them. Check it out if you haven't yet!

Always take advantage of the chance to guest blog or do interviews at the various writer-reader websites out there. Many of those are free, and all you have to do is contact the site or blog owner. If you belong to (or join) a discussion group/loop, you'll often know about opportunities before the general reading & writing public, too. There are sites that will set up these kinds of blogging/online appearances for you, too, but they often charge, so keep your eyes open for FREE chances as well.

Finally, don't underestimate the power of making personal connections with potential readers. There are so many ways to do this, from responding to comments on a social media site, to taking advantage of in-person meetings, book signings or conferences etc., to joining a writers' or reviewers' group to donating your books to giveaways or auctions. People love connecting with writers - people love connecting with others in general, since we're social creatures - so take advantage of it!

Bottom line: there are many, many inexpensive, or free ways of promoting your name. And oftne, all it takes is a little time. Good luck!

Friday Fun Facts: An (e)Book Signing?

Happy Friday!

So it looks as though I may be doing an author appearance at a local Barnes & Noble - always a fun event - but for the first time ever, it will be an ebook "signing" rather than a traditional print book signing.

I'm not exactly sure how it will work. The president of our local RWA chapter is arranging it, and with the growing popularity of ebooks and ebook readers, combined with the fact that many bookstores are doing fewer traditional signings AND the fact that many of our members have only ebooks available, she thought it might be a different and unique idea to market B&N Nook downloads at this event.

So I guess I'm planning on having lots of swag available - bookmarks, excerpt booklets, maybe some other flyers/book cards for people to pick up and peruse. The thing is, I really don't know how many people will buy a download based on meeting the author in a bookstore. I mean, it's ALWAYS a good idea to promote yourself in person, spread the word, chat with potential readers, etc. But without any print books to sell or sign, well...I don't know.

We'll see. I'll let you know! In the meantime, if you have any thoughts on how to draw potential ebook readers to our table, or what kinds of free goodies work best at author appearances, leave a comment :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: A Little Coffee, a Little Facebook

Hi everyone! It's finally feeling like winter here in the Northeast, and we even got a dusting of snow the other night to confirm it. Brrr! To warm things up, I've posted an excerpt from my contemporary romance novel Lost in Paradise over at my brand-spankin' new CoffeeTime Romance Author Group (I'll be posting excerpts there weekly, from both published and upcoming/unpublished works - just click on the graphic below). Drop by for a visit...and my Facebook Author Page is also up and running, so you can "Like" me there if you're a FB fan.

Meanwhile, I'm busy writing, revising, and staying warm...hope to see you around cyberworld!

Monday Mentionables: Martin Luther King, Jr.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I'm posting this. I wish we had more strong public figures today who could stand up and captivate - and motivate - this country the way he could:

Friday Fun Facts: Progress

So I have started revising my novella Tequila Sunrise and am through the first 2 chapters, about 10 pages in. I'm happy with the way it's going; I'm trying to do a little more character development (but I really don't want to turn this into a novel!!) and figure out what sub-plots to emphasize and which to drop.

I'm considering submitting this to either Carina Press or Entangled Publishing when it's ready. Entangled is pretty new, which would normally scare me off a little, but it's run by the follks at Savvy Author, and I like and respect their site, and I like the look of their book covers. Anyone heard anything about them or had any first-hand experience with them?

I've also been looking at Blush, Ellora's Cave sensual imprint that's PG-13/R-rated as opposed to their normally erotic focus. I didn't even know they had this imprint until just recently, but again, I might do a little more asking around before I submit to them.

So many e-publishers these days...as always writers, do your homework before signing a contract with anyone!

Ok, I'm off to tackle some more of Tequila Sunrise. My word count goals await!

Writers' Wednesday: Where I Am

Update: what's new with me? Well, I've sent out Beacon of Love to a couple of places (mum's the word right now, but I'll keep you posted with any news). I've just started a revision on Tequila Sunrise, which is currently at 25K words but will probably end up closer to 30K when I finish. Have my eye on a couple of places to submit it - my goal is by the first of March.

Let's see...networking-wise I joined Sweet Romantic Notions, a place for those of us who DON'T write erotic romance to hang out and chat about who's buying PG-rated romance these days. Am also making my way into the shallow waters of Goodreads, as I mentioned the other day, and I ended up having a lovely conversation with a woman who'd read and reviewed my books in part because she lives in my hometown. Her comment "We're very proud of our Allie" was so sweet :)

I'm also in the process of creating a Facebook fan page (I'm wayyyyy behind on this one, I know - in my personal life, I'm on FB daily. Have to catch up my author self). But when I do, I'll let you know in case you want to "Like" me there.

And, as in past years, I will most likely be donating an item (maybe 2) to Brenda Novak's Online Auction to raise money for juvenile diabetes research, which launches later in the spring. Always some GREAT and unique items to bid on, so I'll keep you posted about that too!

Whew! Now I'm off to school and that darn day job...

Monday Mentionables: Demystifying Goodreads

"Demystifying Goodreads" - this was a feature article in the most recent Romance Writers Report, and it was perfectly timed since one of my 2012 goals is to be more active promoting my work and using social media.

Sigh.

I do believe in both of those goals, whole-heartedly....it's just that sometimes keeping up with everything you can possibly do online gets overwhelming. Anyone else feel this way?

Anyway, Goodreads is actually a pretty user-friendly site. If you're not familiar with it, it's another online community - this one is for readers (mostly) and writers. When you join, you post the books you've read/are reading/want to read and then give them reviews and ratings. You can also talk to other members about their opinions and recommendations. I get the feeling it could be a pretty chatty place, if you wanted it to be.

The plus for authors is that you can interact with readers. They do seem to have some effective marketing tools as well, including Free Book Giveaways for new releases, your own profile page where you can share your books/trailers/blog/other links. Like any social media site, I'm guessing, the time you put in is what you'll get out of it.

So I'm interested....how many of you belong? Log in regularly? If you're an author, have you found it useful for promo and marketing? And finally, if you're a member, please add me as a Goodreads friend!

Writers' Wednesday: Some Links for You

Happy Wednesday everyone! Brrr....it's getting chilly here in the Northeast! Of course, we've had unseasonably warm temperatures this winter (with the exception of the Halloween blizzard), so it's really about time the thermometer flirted with single digits at night.

Anyway, a quick few links I'd like to share with you all today:

My writing friend Marianne has started a blog about TOS. What is TOS? Take a read and find out. She has a lot to say about it!

For authors, Noble Romance Publishing has an open call for submissions right now, and they're one of the only small presses that currently offers an advance against royalties. They also have something called a "Hot New Talent" program, which offers authors guidance in establishing and maintaining their online presence and assistance with marketing. As with any new publisher, approach with caution and ask lots of questions to find out if they're right for you.

The folks over at The Long and the Short of It have launched a redesign of their website, so check it out! They offer a variety of advertising options (heavy on my mind these days) along with free opportunites to get your name out there, like guest blogging and author interviews. Actually, many romance novel/review/chat sites offer similar free services for writers (Romance Junkies, Coffeetime Romance, and Fallen Angel Reviews are just a few), so if you're looking to enhance your online presence this year, give them a read.

And now I'm off! Remember to sign up for my e-newsletter (over there on the right sidebar) if you'd like to find out where I'm chatting, blogging, and (best of all) giving stuff away each month!

Mondat Mentionables: Making Resolutions

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve celebration...now for 2012 and those resolutions, right?

My resolustions for this year mostly focus on my writing. I took 2011 "off" in some respects, not in the writing so much, but in the publishing (only so much control over that) and the promoting (lots of control over that).

This year, I'm going to try and improve that. And to that end, I plan on trying to up my online presence - look for more newsletters this year, more guest blogging, more social media interaction, more contests and giveaways for readers and writers alike! If you haven't yet signed up for my newsletter, there's a link over on the sidebar where you can do so. I'll be sending one out later this month with updates on where you can find me, and how you can win books, both from me and from other talented writers.

Finally, though, the best promotion is a new release, which is why I aim to spend more time writing and submitting this year. And now I'm off...to write!

What are your resolutions for 2012?

Friday Fun Facts: A Good Note to the End of the Year

Happy (almost) New Year, everyone! I hope 2011 was a good one for you - it certainly had its ups and downs for me. I'm happy to share some good news on the eve of 2012, though:

I just contracted One Night in Boston, One Night in Napa, and Summer's Song with AudioLark, so they'll be released as audio books in the summer of 2012. Very excited! My other 2 novels, One Night in Memphis and Lost in Paradise, have already been with them for over a year, and I have to tell you, it's been a really positive experience all the way around. Though royalties were slow to start, they've increased steadily. More than that, though, the owner of the site, Jennifer, is a FANTASTIC person to work with. She's personable and professional and dedicated to running a smart business.

Authors, if you own the audio rights to your books (check your contracts on this one), I recommend checking out AudioLark for audio book production. I think you'll be pleased at the reception you get there.

AND...(drum roll...) I'm happy announce the winner of my "Keeping Warm in Winter" blog contest: GladysMP! Thanks to everyone who stopped by all month long to share your thoughts.

Happy 2012!!

Writers' Wednesday: Those Opening Pages...

The last few days, I've been thinking a lot about story openings. This is not really unusual, since I just finished judging entries for my local RWA chapter. We run a "Hook, Line and Sinker" contest which is a little different than most romance contests in that we ask for only the first 3 pages of your manuscript.

Yes, that's it. Just 3. So imagine all you have to do in those few pages to hook a judge/editor/agent/reader! Establish setting, character, conflict, and have a voice that's either enjoyable or engaging enough to make me want to read on. Oh, and better not have any mechanical problems either!

This was followed up by a Savvy Authors' newsletter I received that featured an article called "Packing in the WOW." What did they have to say? It was so good, I'm sharing the highlights with you:

Establish a viewpoint character, and indicate what sort of person he/she is
Establish a mood/tone
Reveal the setting
Reveal what type of book this is. What are the stakes?
Divulge an immediate conflict (Not necessarily THE conflict.)
Grab the reader with a hook

(If you want to read the whole thing, just click the link above. It's well worth it, I promise).

I have to say, I've written a lot of books, and gone over the openings for those books more times that I can count, but reminders like these are always valuable to have. If you don't catch a reader in the opening pages, no matter how good the rest of your story is, they may not give you the chance to share it.

So there it is, fellow writers. Hope these tips have given you food for thought - may your writing (and especially your opening pages) be powerful and engaging and hook every reader you want - and then some!

Monday Mentionables: After the Rush

Ah, the day after Christmas. The house is quiet, the tree is still up, the gifts are unwrapped, and the dishes are put away. Though some might see December 26th as a bit of a let-down, I'm enjoying the quiet of the morning after a VERY BUSY weekend. See, because we don't have kids, my husband and I are the ones that travel. We spend Christmas Eve with our niece and nephews, Christmas morning with good friends (and now their growing family) and then we do host my in-laws on Christmas night for dinner. And I love being surrounded by family, I really do. I love all the food and drink (though I'll pay for it when I step on the scale this week!), the festive decorations, and picking out the perfect gift for others. But I will also admit that I love the quiet hours when it's all wrapping up, too.

So now I have a relaxing week ahead of me. I need to score some contest entries for my local RWA chapter (I always enjoy seeing what other people are writing), but most of all, I need to work on my own projects. Some revising, some brainstorming, some promoting - all in the plans. And yes, some cleaning up around the house and putting away those decorations, though I'm not in any hurry.

This is the last week to enter my "Keeping Warm in Winter" contest, so remember that every blog comment earns you another entry. And just for fun, a question: if you have a tree up for the holidays, when do you take it down?

Friday Fun Facts: Merry (Almost) Christmas!

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Merry Christmas, everyone! Blessings to you and your family!!

Writers' Wednesday: Murder New York Style

Today, in the true manner of Writers' Wednesday, I'd like to give a shout-out to the 22 authors of the recently-released anthology Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices. If you can't tell by the title (or the cover!), it's a collection of mystery/crime short stories, all written by members of the New York chapter of Sisters in Crime. And all the stories are set in or around New York City.

I had the pleasure of attending a reading this past Monday, and the 4 authors who were there offered great insight regarding their inspirations, their writing process, and the stories themselves. It was great to hear them read and great to be around fellow writers. (Although one of the audience questions was "Since you write about murders, and people always say to write about what you know, have any of you ever experienced a murder?")

Crickets...

But beyond that, it was a lovely evening, and though I don't normally read this genre, from the taste I got Monday night, I'm really looking forward to checking out these stories. Are you a fan of crime fiction? You might want to give this anthology a try! (Best part about short stories: less time to read all the way through one, which is great for this time of year when free time seems to be at a premium)

Monday Mentionables: Two Chances to Win Today!

Less than a week until Christmas...are you ready??

Well, in case you're still looking for gifts - for yourself, that is - today you have not one but TWO chances to win one!

Over at The Romance Studio, my contemporary romance novel Summer's Song is being featured as part of the Book-a-Day Giveaway, and all you have to do is enter your email address for a chance to win!

Then, I'm also guest blogging at The Long and the Short of It (10 am EST) as part of their "Stuff Your Stockings With Books" holiday contest - there are tons of books and gift certificates to be won, and every comment earns you another chance!

So...join me at one (or both) sites today, and wish yourself an early Merry Christmas!

Friday Fun Facts: Visit Me!!

Hi everyone! Come over to Janet Walters' blog and visit me! Yesterday I blogged about my writing style and strategies, plus I celebrated my birthday :) I'd love to hear from you!

Oh, and happy weekend too!

Writers' Wednesday: What's in a Name??

Okay writers, let me ask you: how do you choose your characters' names? Do they just come to you? Do you have a resource book you use? Do you page through the phone book? (Do you still own a phone book?) Do you wander around graveyards and look at tombstones for inspiration (no joke, I have a friend who's a playwright and he does just that). There was a great article in Writer's Digest about the importance of names, and a few points are worth mentioning:

~Some names resonate as "miniature poems" : Holly Golightly, Atticus Finch, Scarlett O'Hara
~Some names are ironic: give a clumsy, awkward guy a name like Powers or Strong
~Some names are symblic: John Singer, a deaf-mute who's a prophet in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (but don't go too far! Avoid giving your hero the initials J.C.)
~Some names tap into connotative suggestions: Draco Malfoy (taken from root words suggesting dragon and malice)

Having said all that, I need a strong last name for my current hero. His first name is Lucas - he's about 6'7", beefy, ex-football player, and he's pretty introverted. The story takes place in a small New England town, and his family has lived there for three generations. Any ideas?

Monday Mentionables: Dealing with Rejection

Happy Monday everyone! Remember, every comment on a blog post this month earns you a chance to win my "Keeping Warm in Winter" prize package!

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about dealing with rejection. I think some people are under the impression that once you publish, you never have to worry about rejection again. All your book ideas and proposals will find a contract, and your editor will love everything you submit.

Wrong.

First off, authors change editors and publishers A LOT. This means that you'll have different people buying your books, and if they like your style/ideas/genres, great. If they don't, well...not so great. Take it from me: this has happened a couple of times. And going from working with an editor who knows and likes your writing to submitting to an unknown commodity (especially as industry trends change) can be challenging and disheartening.

Best-selling authors talk about this in the current issue of Romance Writers Report. Their advice: have a routine to deal with rejection. Whether that includes a hot bath, a glass of wine, or calling a friend to vent, make sure you have a way to soothe your ego.

Then, try not to take it personally. The market changes. Sales change. Editors change. This is a business, and you are part of that business. Look at the market, your writing, and current hot genres and decide whether you want to change, shift, or keep on doing what you're doing (all valid choices, by the way).

Finally, realize that there's a certain freedom in rejection. Yes, freedom. You don't have a deadline hanging over your head. You don't have hours of promotion and social interaction to keep up with. What you do have is the time to play around with your writing, your ideas, maybe even the crazy notion for a brand new story that you never had the time or courage to try out before. Now you do.

Rejection happens, even to published authors. And rejection hurts. But it can also be empowering. Keep that in mind, and forge onward.

Friday Fun Facts: Three Random Websites

Hello everyone! Happy Friday!! Today I wanted to share with you 3 completely random and unrelated but also otherwise cool (in my opinion) websites. Check 'em out:

For Writers: Writer's Digest Successful Queries - For anyone who's struggled with writing ther perfect query letter to nab that perfect agent, this blog post is full of query letters that worked, along with detailed commentary from agents about why they did. This is an author's must-have resource link!

For Shoppers: I loved this link, posted today on MSN, about how to shop for the holidays with less stress. Sadly, Christmas time has become such a rush of materialism for so many people - even in this economy, which is tough to believe. So this list of ways to bring happiness to those on your list for less $$ and less hassle was perfect. Best tip: On December 16, 2011, over 100 online retailers will be offering free shipping! Now that's reason enough to check this article - and mark your calendars!

For Everyone: www.age-me.com is a fascinating website that allows you to take a picture of yourself and age it - 5, 10, 20 years into the future - and add the effects of weight gain, sun exposure, and more. I actually read about it in a magazine at the eye doctor's office earlier this week, in an article about planning for retirement. The claim was that if you're young, it's hard to picture yourself at retirement age, so it's harder to save for it. Anyway, I thought it was a cool (though a little scary, to be honest) way to see how you might look after years of sunning yourself poolside with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other...or not. I haven't tried it yet (it costs $4), but I might this weekend. Just to see. You know, for research or something like that...

Happy Weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: Holiday Stories

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Remember, every blog comment between now and the end of the month earns you another chance to win the "Keeping Warm in Winter" prize package! Today I wanted to share with you a couple of books links:

First, one of my fellow romance authors, Diane Craver, has a wonderful holiday story called A Christmas Gift (and don't you just love the cover??). Why not try out a new author and new story this holiday season?




Second, one of my publishers, The Wild Rose Press, is giving away free books right now - all you have to do is head on over to their website and see what's new today.

And speaking of which, do you have any favorite holiday stories? I do love Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," both the written and the multiple movie versions. Do you have a particular story that puts you in the holiday mood?

Monday Mentionables: Holiday Traditions

Happy Monday everyone! (Remember, every comment during the whole month of December earns you another chance to win my "Keeping Warm in Winter" gift package!)

Over the weekend, we celebrated an early Christmas with my side of the family in the town of Skaneatles, New York - which was extra-charming because every weekend in December, the village rewinds to Charles Dickens' times, and wandering Victorians carol and re-enact scenes from "A Christmas Carol" and generally remind you of a much simpler time. My favorite photo:



The woman's sign says "Where there's drink, there's always danger!" (Of course, I think to keep warm in Victorian England a lot of people drank a lot of liquor, but at least there were a few teetotalers like these women around to post warnings!)

Anyway, we had a great time, and now that our house is mostly decorated for the holidays, I'm feeling in the mood! We'll probably get our tree this-coming weekend, though it seems like a lot of people already have theirs up. What about you? If you have a Christmas tree, do you put it up at the same time every year? And when is that? Do you have a tradition for putting it up and taking it down?

Friday Fun Facts: Favorite Holiday Songs?

OK folks, now that it's officially December, my month-long Keeping Warm in Winter blog giveaway contest is open! All month long, every time you comment, you'll earn a chance to win:

~Signed copy of my novel Summer's Song
~Signed copy of debut author Liz Matis's steamy novel Love by Design
~Warm woolly socks
~Gourmet hot cocoa
~And a few other surprises tucked inside!

Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, the winner must be a US resident.

So, to set the holiday mood, let's talk about holiday music. What are some of your favorites? I love many of the traditional Christmas carols, especially "Silent Night" and "Whose Child Is This," but when it comes to contemporary, these are 2 of my favorites:








So, what about you?

Monday Mentionables: A Guest Blog and a Contest!

Happy Monday everyone! Today I'm guest blogging over at Savvy Authors, all about trimming the deadwood from our writing. I presented some of this info at a Savvy Authors mini-workshop over the summer and got a lot of positive feedback from the participants, so I'm bringing it back with some changes and additions.

And...a sneak peek at my December blog giveaway: everyone who comments, either here or on any of my guest posts this month, will have their name put in the running (for EVERY comment)for a chance to win a "Keeping Warm in Winter" gift package:

~Signed copy of my novel Summer's Song
~Signed copy of debut author Liz Matis's steamy novel Love by Design
~Warm woolly socks
~Gourmet hot cocoa
~And a few other surprises tucked inside!

Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, the winner must be a US resident.

Even though this contest officially begins on Friday December 1, I'm counting all comments from today forward. Join me over at Savvy Authors today!

Finally, I want to wish my mom a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!! (I won't give away her age, because you probably wouldn't believe it if you saw her anyway. Hope I get her longevity genes!)

Friday Fun Facts: Black Friday Here We Come!

Happy Black Friday! Anyone brave the sales this morning? Anyone brave the new-this-year midnight sales at many of the big stores? My husband and I go out each year, usually leaving the house between 4 and 5 am, but we tend to avoid the huge/crazy places like Best Buy and Walmart (we aren't big electronics consumers, anyway). We made it a point NOT to shop the midnight sales this year because, as you probably read, many employees and consumers thought it was somewhat insensitive & disrespectful to start the shopping on Thanksgiving night, a time that's really meant for spending time with family.

Anyway, I think a lot of people must have disagreed, because the stores were virtually empty by the time we got there this morning. Our luck, though - we still managed to find everything on our lists, this year with a lot less stress!

December is right around the corner, which means, among other holiday happenings, I'm going to be running a month-long blog giveaway contest right here...and I'm also going to be guest blogging in a few different places as well, so stay tuned for your chance to win! Monday will have all the details of what's in store...

Ten Things I Am Thankful For

Happy almost-Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope (if you celebrate the day) that your Thursday is filled with yummy food, time spent with loved ones, and happy memories being made. Today, 10 things I am thankful for this year:

1. My and my husband's well-being after our scary car accident earlier this month
2. The Good Samaritans that stopped right after said scary accident and helped us on a busy highway in the middle of rush hour.
3. My two jobs - I love teaching, and I love that I can write (and make money doing it) on the side!
4. My love of, and ability to, travel and see so many different places, both in this country and in others.
5. My family, both immediate and extended, even though I don't see some of them as often as I'd like to.
6. My friends. I am blessed to have wonderfully smart, funny, and supportive friends in many different areas of my life.
7. My health and fitness. I'm so happy that, at almost-41, I'm in better shape than I was 20 years ago. Love the gym!
8. Music. Just because there's always a song for every mood, and I can't imagine life without it.
9. My inner strength that allows me to deal with hard times and hurt.
10. The roof over my head, the food in my refrigerator, the fact that I can speak my mind, vote, wear what I want to, practice any religion I choose, and stand up for myself and for those less fortunate than I am without fear of punishment. It's a great country we live in, flaws and all.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday Mentionables: For Readers and Writers

For readers: Who's looking forward to seeing the movie version of recent blockbuster YA novel The Hunger Games? I'm not usually a fan of books-turned-into-films, but I did enjoy the tension and interesting storyline of this book, and I think I'll probably check out the movie. Here's the trailer, if you're interested:



For writers: The Long and the Short of It is running a "Stuff Your Stockings With Books" blog giveaway in December. Here's the forwarded info:

We need authors who want to guest blog around the holidays! It doesn't cost you anything but a prize – what could be better than free promo on a really busy site?

It's easy to participate. Simply send us a COMPLETED blog post that is holiday themed (can be winter, Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, New Year's, etc) and NOT pure promo (no posts that are only excerpts, etc) along with an author bio, website links and ONE book cover to use as promo. Also tell us what you'll be giving away in your spot. It can be a book, a GC, or other prizes (please be as specific as possible).

The posts will go up on our guest blog pages sometime between 12/19 and 12/30 (we'll tell you your date when we schedule you) and each author will be responsible for doing a drawing for their prize from the comments on their post and then posting the winner in the comments.

Email us your blog post and other information along with which site it's appropriate for (WC or LASR) with `STUFF YOUR STOCKINGS BLOGFEST' in the subject header to lasreviews AT gmail DOT com – and we'll do the rest!

We'll accept posts up through December 14, 2011.

Short week of work for me, just 3 days this week, and then it's off to celebrate good food and good times with family. Happy Monday!

Friday Fun Facts

Random thoughts on this Friday morning:

~It was 20 degrees here last night. Brr! I'm thinking about running a "Keep Warm in Winter" giveaway for the month of December, to include a copy of Summer's Song (of course!) as well as other goodies to remind us of those long-gone days of sunshine and heat. Stay tuned as next month nears!

~Since my car was totaled in my accident of 2 weeks ago, we found a replacement this week. The same car, same year, fewer miles, for just about the same price as insurance gave us to replace the other. Different color (not race car red...sigh...), but that's ok! It's safe, as we now know from experience, which is THE most important thing!

~I recently joined The Romance Studio again, after a membership lapse of a couple of years. It really is a great bang for your buck if you're a romance author - they offer tons of promo opportunities and ways to connect with readers. In terms of price, I think they're one of the best sites around.

~One of my students said yesterday, "Do you think that when e-readers become really popular, everyone will bring them to class instead of books?" I said, "Aren't they already popular? And wouldn't you like to have all your heavy textbooks loaded onto a single e-reader so you don't have to haul them to and from class all the time?" Answer: "Oh, yeah. Huh."

Happy Friday everyone! Anyone planning on tackling the Black Friday sales one week from today? Or are you just thinking as far as turkey and stuffing right now??

Monday Mentionables: Trying to Predict the Market

The latest issue of Romance Writers Report featured an article "Industry Insiders Give Their Predictions" - which, of course, is nearly impossible to do, but it was interesting to read all the same. Among the points mentioned:

~Upswing in acquisitions of dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories (this is a tough one...writing a happy ending in a notably unhappy world situation...hmm)
~Erotica and paranormal romance markets are fairly saturated (which is not to say you can't sell in them, but you need something a little different & fresh)
~Upper YA is becoming more popular: think heroines between 18 and 25 (hey, that's a terrific but terribly fragile time for many women...great potential for both conflict and happy endings!)
~Contemporary romance, esp. those with small town settings, may see an upswing, along with the idea of "gentle fiction", set in places with a slow pace and charming, small-town characters

Of course, this last one interests me the most, since I just (finally! it's about time!!) finished the second draft of my contemporary/small-town romance, Beacon of Love. It's off to a beta reader now while I figure out where to send it (agent, publisher, etc) and what project I want to tackle next. Let's hope these predictions ring true in 2012...

Friday Fun Facts: News for Writers and a Thank You to Veterans

Well, because I missed Writers' Wednesday this week (I've been knocked out by a bad sinus infection...think my immune system after last week's stressful accident was a little, um, depleted), I wanted to share a couple of pieces of news:

Fellow romance author Leanna Hieber announces a brand new release, DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, "the first in a new Victorian Paranormal series set in 1880 New York City, full of adventure, love, faith, mystery, mayhem and plenty of spooky stuff." Leanna is a doll and I've signed with her on a couple of occasions. If you're looking for something new and different to read, check out her works.

And All Romance Ebooks has a slew of promo opportunities for writers, from ads to free to reviews and more. Check out everying they're offering by clicking here. It's a great time to take a look at your promotional plan for 2012 and start booking spots NOW (this message is for myself as much as for any other authors out there!).

Finally, I'd like to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all our veterans on this day, who have served and continue to serve to protect our country, most especially my own father-in-law, who fought in the Vietnam War.

Happy 11-11-11, and Happy Veteran's Day. We honor you :)

Monday Mentionables: Everything Changes in the Blink of an Eye

"There but for the grace of God go I..."

It's a familiar saying, right? How many times do we read stories in the newspaper or hear something tragic on the radio or drive by an accident on the side of the road and think that? But it's also all relative, too, because that's what I'm saying today after my husband and I were involved in a car accident last Friday night. I hesitate to call it a "serious" accident, though if you look at the picture of the car, you might say I'm crazy. I guess I don't consider it serious because we both walked away from it unhurt. But for a couple of seconds, though, it could have ended much differently, and that's why I think that even though we WERE that couple standing on the side of the road next to wreckage during rush hour, it could have been so much worse. The grace of God did help us out of this one.

I pray no one has to experience a car accident at all; it's a terrifying feeling in that split second when you realize someone else is going to hit you and the only thing you can do is hold on and press the brake pedal to the floor and pray the car will stop without hitting anything else. And it is absolutely true, how time slows down in a moment like that. I'm sure it was only a second or two between impact and when we stopped, but it seemed like many more, 5 or 10 or 15 seconds at least. And it's odd, the things you focus on, the sounds or the sights, and then the things you do or don't remember.

Anyway, we're fine. But it certainly does make you stop and take stock of things in your life in a moment like that one. I don't need the holiday of Thanksgiving to say prayers about all the things I'm thankful for right now~

Friday Fun Facts: Talking About Book Trailers

I didn't have a chance to post on Writers' Wednesday (busy week!) but I wanted to let you know that fellow author Liz Matis has a brand new book trailer for Love by Design! Click here to see it

I always really enjoyed making trailers, both for my own books and fellow authors'. Whether or not trailers translate directly into sales is tough to know for sure, but another marketing strategy is never a bad idea. Remember, your "brand" (your name, your title, your website, your concept, etc) has to be in front of someone 7 times before they remember it - this is a marketing FACT. So a trailer combined with other marketing strategies (especially if you can make it yourself, or have someone do it for you, inexpensively) can be a good idea.

I looked back through my own book trailers and decided my two favorites are for Lost in Paradise and Summer's Song. Take a look:







Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

Monday Mentionables: A Freak Snowstorm

Yes, the HUGE Nor'easter that moved its way up the East Coast over the weekend hit us, but good! We were super-fortunate not to lose power (many people in our area did), but we did get about 10 inches of snow when it was through:




Funny thing, to see leaves and snow on the trees. You never can tell what Mother Nature has in store for us (case in point: it's supposed to be in the 50s this week!)

And just because it's Halloween, and in honor of the snow and one of the most talented modern-day storytellers, here's a clip from The Shining. I don't know which is scarier, the book or the movie, but I definitely can't watch it (or read it) when I'm home by myself! Happy Haunting :)

Friday Fun Facts

Fun (?) Fact #1: It snowed here last night. Yes, really. Sigh...and it's only October. Wonder how long THIS winter is going to be?

Fun Fact #2: Hubby and I are going to be spending spring break at a race track in Salt Lake City, where he will get to drive a very fast car at very fast speeds and I will get to...watch. Hey, I'm thinking it will be good book material, right?

Fun Fact #3: I'm now more than halfway through my revision of Beacon of Love and seeing, maybe, a glimmer of the light at the end. Incidentally, I'll be looking for a couple of beta readers for the story when I'm through. If you're at all interested, shoot me an email at allieb@allieboniface.com and let me know.

Have a great weekend, and happy writing!

Writers' Wednesday: It's a Guy Thing

I'm in the middle of revising my latest WIP, Beacon of Love, and I'm finding it interesting that my hero, Lucas, has really become the central character at this point in the novel. Don't get me wrong, the heroine, Sophie, is holding her own, but Lucas has somehow developed this complex backstory that (for me anyway) is enriching him as a character. I hope this doesn't turn off some readers; I know that usually in a romance the heroine is the one with the central conflict and journey. But this time, it seems as though it's going to be the guy.

Here's an excerpt from the chapter I revised last night, and even though it's told from Sophie's POV, it's still more about Lucas than about her:
*********************

“Hi there.”

She stopped in her tracks, halfway between the kitchen and the parlor. “Damn, Walker. Looking good.” The combination of dark blue button-down shirt and faded jeans suited him well.

He colored. “You ready?”

She nodded. He reached for her hand, and her fingers tingled as he tucked it into the crook of his elbow. Scratch that. Her whole damn arm – okay, the entire right side of her body, spreading fast to the left and all parts south and lonely – tingled. Could we maybe skip dinner and go right to dessert? she wanted to ask. Instead she just breathed in his cologne and led him lead her down the front steps.

“Hey, no hat!” she realized as they walked to his truck. To be fair, she’d only looked up a few seconds earlier. The parts of him on her level – broad back, wide shoulders, ass that filled out his jeans in just the right way – were more than tempting. But the rest of him up top was pretty nice too.

“No hat,” he admitted.

“I like it. I can see your face.”

He grinned but didn’t say anything, just helped her into the cab of his truck and closed the door behind her.

“So what’s the name of this place again?” she asked as they headed for the highway. He adjusted the radio to a jazz station.

“The Cove.” At the cross out by the city limits – for Barbie Collins, Sophie remembered after a minute – Lucas slowed. For a minute she thought he was going to stop, maybe say something or get out and pay respects. But he didn’t even glance at the cross, and then she wondered if the slowing was almost subconscious, a reflex that happened every time he went near one of the memorials without even realizing it.

How do you measure grief? Watching Lucas, Finn, the Walkers, even Shannon O’Brien, the answers were beginning to come to her: in little pieces, minute actions, the slightest change in the everyday ways people adjusted their lives after a loss.
****************

What do you think? Do you have a certain expectation when you read a romance novel that the heroine is going to be the focus? Do you want her story to be the focus? And, would you care if the hero had at least as central a role as the heroine?

Monday Mentionables: Don't Forget About Audio Books

Opened my email to a pleasant surprise this week: my royalty statement from AudioLark, where 2 of my books are available as audio books. I released them in that format over a year ago, more interested in the process than thinking that the additional format would bump my royalties. And for the most part, the payback has been very, very small.

However, most of AudioLark's titles are now available on Audible, the biggest audio book website out there, and what a surprise to find that my sales of One Night in Memphis saw a terrific boost over the last quarter! In fact, it was a nice reminder to me not to forget that I should be marketing those books as well (hint hint...the holidays are coming). I clicked on over to my page at Audible and found a listener rating of 3/5 - not great, but I was more pleased by the fact that the average was based on 22 ratings. Not too shabby!

So...if you're a reader/listener, consider purchasing an audio book or two, either for yourself or for a friend. Remember they're great for riding in the car, listening to while you're doing housework, etc. And if you're a writer, consider putting your work into audio book format (provided you have the audio rights, if you're previously published). You never know how many additional fans you might get!

Friday Fun Facts: Words and More Words...

Funny story for the week:

One of my students wrote a recent essay about the causes of the rise in teenage pregnancy. A primary cause she cited was sex education programs in schools, especially those that only teach absence. Uh huh. Absence. At first I wanted to correct her spelling - then I realized I really couldn't. Then I wanted to correct her word usage. Then I thought that maybe, just maybe, she was onto something. Maybe "absence" is actually a better form of birth control to teach than "abstinence." I mean, if you aren't even there, you can't commit the act, right?

Gotta love when people mix up words :) Maybe not in the books we read, but in student writing? Yes, it makes me smile.

(A close post-script to this essay was the one that also cited school sex ed programs for the rise in teen pregnancies, though this one said that students were more at fault, specifically those students who don't care, don't pay attention, and thus don't really know how to use a condom and just "slap it on." Uh huh. Really, I don't make these things up.)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: Blogging at Samhain Publishing

Hi everyone! Today I'm blogging over at Samhain Publishing, about why I'll never quit my day job (yes, even once I get that million-dollar advance...). Please join me there!

Monday Mentionables: Finding Time

Just finished reading a great article in the October 2011 Romance Writers Report that talked about finding time to write (because we can all find time to put it off, right?!). One of the things I realized after a hectic start to the school year, and then taking a few days off to visit Iceland, was that even a week or two away from my WIP makes it that much harder to get back into the swing of things. I forget where the plotline is, I forget the subtleties of my character development, I have to spend time reading backwards instead of time moving forward.

So....write! Every day! Yes, every day, even if it's only for a few minutes. Some tips from the RWR article, which I whole-heartedly agree with:

~Find "hidden pockets" of time. You don't need a stretch of a few hours to accomplish something on your WIP. Believe me, you don't. Even if it's only 10 minutes, 30 minutes, whatever, there are still pockets of time in your day you can take advantage of. Figure out your best "natural" time to write (are you a morning person? or do you function better late at night?) and then carve out time when you don't have to be devoted to 5 other things then, and use that time to write.

~Focus/minimize other distractions. This means (as I tell my students in English class) don't have your Internet browser open, turn off your email notifications, turn your phone to silent. You'll be amazed at how those simple things can give you more time and attention to your WRITING.

~Just write. This is the age-old "Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard" mantra. Don't worry whether it's any good. Don't edit and re-edit as you go along. Just write. When you go back the next day, you'll find that it isn't nearly as "awful" as you might have originally imagined. Better yet, you'll have something to work with - and something is always better than a blank page of nothing.

~Turn waiting time into writing time. If you know you'll be sitting in a waiting room, or standing in line somewhere for a while, see if you can use that precious time to your advantage. Even if you can't type, can you use pen and paper to jot down thoughts for a next scene? Or a new project? Creative juices can flow anywhere, if you let them :)

~Schedule time drains. Are you a Facebook or Twitter junkie? Find it impossible to stay away from the latest season of "Dancing with the Stars"? Figure out which of those activities you must have in your life, and then schedule around them. Again, as I tell my students in English class, you don't need to spend 30 minutes at a time updating your Facebook status or commenting on your friends' 67 pictures from their trip to Disney. Give yourself 10 minutes and move on. Do you really, really, need to get sucked into watching a brand new sitcom (I know, there are a few tempting ones on TV this fall)? Or would that half-hour at the end of the day be better served to writing a page or two?

~Keep track of, and celebrate, your successes. It's hard work to write a novel! (or a novella or even a short story) Lots of people talk about doing it - far fewer succeed. So definitely give yourself credit for the milestones you reach. Your first draft of a 20K-word story?Awesome! The mid-way point of your first full-length novel? Awesome again. Finally getting through that first kiss scene and liking the way it turns out? Hooray!

Yes, writing is tough work. But you can do it - and I hope some of these tips inspired you the way they inspired me. Now I'm off to write~

Writers' Wednesday: The Debut of Liz Matis & Love by Design

Exciting news!!! My very good friend and fellow writer Liz Matis has announced the indie publication of her debut novel, Love by Design! And check out the yummy cover...isn't it to die for?

The hot prime time TV show, Design Intervention, starts the second season with its own surprise makeover. Interior designer Victoria Bryce must break in her temporary co-host, Aussie Russ Rowland.

Victoria, former socialite wild child hopes the reality show will give her the clout to launch her own design line without her family connections. Russ, former bad boy Australian TV star is using the show to launch his acting career in the States.

Sparks fly on camera as they argue over paint colors and measurement mishaps leading to passions igniting behind the scenes. But when their pasts collide with the present will the foundation they built withstand the final reveal?

You can find it on Amazon right here, for the very low price of just $2.99. So support a newly published author, and raise your glass to cheer her accomplishments!

Congrats Liz!!

Monday Mentionables: A Contest Worth Entering

Calling all writers! The Hudson Valley RWA's Hook Line adn Sinker Contest is going on right now and is a terrific way to get feedback on the opening pages of your story for a minimal entry fee. Official info:

Hone your skills in hooking an editor or agent by entering Hudson Valley RWA's Hook, Line & Sinker Contest. Three HVRWA members, at least one published, will critique the first three pages of your manuscript. The five entries with the highest scores will be ranked by Harlequin editor BRENDA CHIN! Entries must be received by November 1. Only $10 to enter. Click here to find out more.

And if you're not sure whether it's worth it to send just your first 3 pages, chapter member and multi-published author Shoshanna Evers blogs about the value of hooking a reader here.

Happy Writing!

Friday Fun Facts: A Fun Vacation in an Unexpected Place

OK, so last weekend I was in Iceland with my mom, celebrating an early birthday for her! I know what you're thinking: Iceland? Really?

Yes, really. It's only about a 5-hour flight from New York, and we got a great deal on TravelZoo (I recommend subscribing to their "Top 20" email list which comes out every Wednesday with the best travel deals around the world, of all kinds). Anyway, we decided to give it a try. What a great trip! Iceland is beautiful, it's charming, it's small and laidback and easy to get around. They have geysers and glaciers and waterfalls, all within about an hour's drive of each. We even tried out a steam bath (outdoors, of course!) in the middle of a gray, rainy day! And if you want a little European culture, the capital, Reykjavik, can be walked in ab out 15 minutes. We just loved it.
So yes, I recommend going there if you ever have the chance. One caution: save up your $$! This place is super-expensive, especially its food and drink. But well worth it!

Writers' Wednesday: The 50/50 Project

Hi everyone! Just a quick one today, since it's a busy, busy week for me:

Reminder that the WRITERS WHO CARE 50/50 project is now up and running! For a $50.00 donation, you can receive a critique of 50 manuscript pages from a published author...AND contribute to a wonderful cause, raising funds to aid Somali refugees. Here's the official link.

Happy Wednesday!

Friday Fun Facts: A Message from Abroad

Happy Friday!

I'm actually writing this blog post a couple of days early, because when Friday Sept. 30th rolls around, I will be out of the country with my Mom, celebrating an early 70th birthday for her. Where to, you ask? Shh...it's a secret - but I'll be back here on Monday with pictures and (I hope) a great report!

In the meantime, something cool that that happened this week:

One of my students did her monthly "reading review" (every student has to read a book of her/his own choice every month) on my novel Summer's Song. This is the first time that has EVER happened, and while it was neat, it was also a little weird to hear her talk about it in class. Anyway, she did like it, and she even said "I liked the inspirational message about moving forward and not living in the past" which was a totally cool thing to hear about your own work!

***

And one of my favorite lines from Beacon of Love, my current WIP:

"He’d never realized how loss could take your heart, fracture it, then rely on time to paste it back together again. Not the same way, of course. Different pieces ended up next to each other, curving and overlapping the way they never had before. All there, yes, but not quite whole. Not quite the same."

Happy weekend ~ have a great one!

Writers' Wednesday: Something for Readers and Writers Alike

Hi everyone! A few tidbits for both writers and readers today:

Long and Short Reviews and Goddess Fish Promotion are planning a Haunting Halloween Weekend for the end of October, and they've put out a call for paranormal romance authors who'd like to blog as part of the festivities. Always a good way to promote your name, so email the folks at lasreviews@gmail.com if you want more information.

Dreamspinner Press is offering 25% off on all their titles over at All Romance Ebooks - but only through this Friday, so check it out if you're interested!

And finally, Drunk Writer Talk is blogging about Banned Books Week, including a link to the most challenged books of 2010. Amazing, right??

Happy reading and writing!