International Auto Show

"Americans are broad-minded people. They'll accept the fact that a person can be an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife beater, and even a newspaperman, but if a man doesn't drive, there is something wrong with him. " ~Art Buchwald

Hubby and I are off today to the International Auto Show down in NYC. We've gone before - it's usually pretty cool, an entire display of all the latest and greatest (& upcoming) innovations in the world of cars. Maybe I'll get some good inspiration for the next vehicle my hero or heroine will be driving!

Even more cool, for me: for the first time since we moved to our new house (2 years ago...) we're taking the train into the city instead of driving down. It's a little bit longer, but we won't have to deal with traffic, or tolls, or gas prices, or parking. The train station is less than 2 miles from our doorstep, so you would think we would have actually taken advantage of this before. But no. I'm excited: this means I get to read a book on the way!

I'll post some pictures here tomorrow...see you then!

Bummer...

"The way you overcome shyness is to become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid." ~Lady Bird Johnson

I just found out that my publisher (Samhain) has canceled its appearance at the Philadelphia Book Festival in May. Even though my book wasn't going to be out in print yet, I had still planned on going and promoting/meeting other authors and some of the staff/checking out the rest of the book festival.

Now I'm not.

And the reason they gave for canceling? "lack of participation."

Okay, this was a totally free promotional opportunity for authors, other than the cost of getting yourself to the festival if you were from out of town. Samhain has a lot of authors, and I just can't believe they couldn't find a solid 5-10 to go to this thing. (Earlier in the year, they were actually trying to limit the number of authors who could be at the tent at one time, to give everyone some time/space). But this is what I'm discovering, the more time I spend talking to other authors and reading conversations on loops: many don't like to actively promote themselves.

I understand that some writers may be reticent...that's the beauty of writing, right?! You don't have to talk to, or see, anyone else. But why wouldn't you take advantage of chances to interact with potential readers, to talk about your books and what you've accomplished? I see plenty of people taking out ads (which cost $$$ in some cases) or participating in chats or contests or giveaways, though lately even those seem more sparsely populated. I just don't understand why authors wouldn't want to do everything possible to promote and market their work, especially when some options are free or super-low cost.

Unless they really don't care if anyone buys it. I suppose that could be the case. Writing a book is one thing, and finding a publisher is another, but once those accomplishments are through, maybe that's enough for some people.

I don't know...but I'm still disappointed.

What do you think?

It's a Special Day, Today

"Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves." ~Carol Lynn Pearson

Hi everyone!

First off, thanks for stopping by and commenting yesterday - we had a great turnout for Denyse Bridger's interview. Denyse was kind enough to donate a free download of her newest short story, "Bella Signorina," to one lucky winner. I drew a name randomly from all the commenters, and the winner is...

Kathleen Grieve!

Congrats - I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

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In other important news, somehow today I ended up guest blogging in two separate places. I would love it if you would stop by, read, and comment. I get lonely when I'm in someone else's home blogland!

Diane Craver is Hosting Me for Small Press Authors' Week (want to hear about my first kiss? it's a funny story...)


I'm Also Over at the Samhain Blog Talking About the Person Who Inspires my Heroes (hint: it's also his b-day today...)

Hope to see you in one (or both!) places!!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Denyse Bridger

Welcome to another Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm featuring author Denyse Bridger. Sit back and enjoy...you're in for a treat!




Hi, Denyse! (Love the picture, by the way!!) Can you tell us a little about your background?

I have no real background in writing, in the sense of courses, degrees, etc. My “talent” such as it is, mostly stems from love of words and craft, and the diligent process of learning whatever I can from the people I work with. Personally, I’ve always been in love with the creation of stories, and everything that I experience through vision and hearing and makes my imagination create. If I see something that makes me stop and think, then it will inevitably end up in a story at some point, that’s just the way my mind works. Life is an adventure to be lived and experienced, not endured. The Italians use the phrase “Viva la dolce vita!” and they’re right!

What a wonderful attitude! So...tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

My latest published title is also my first major release! It’s in bookstores everywhere now. The book is called “As Fate Decrees” and is a fantasy novel, with a romance backbone/subplot that drives it. It’s based on Greek Mythology, and I call it a time-spanning adventure epic. There’s a page on my website, Non-erotic Books, and it contains links to a Media Kit download, a Video trailer that’s just amazing, podcast interviews on the Extras page, and a link to read the first chapter of the novel.


My current writing project is a title I am submitting to Harlequin for their Presents line. Always my favourite of their imprints, this book is called “The Light Within My Soul” and was inspired by my admiration and respect for Italian singer Patrizio Buanne. I’m lucky, my inspiration is a personal friend who has sanctioned the book, and in giving it his Blessing, has made the project even more rewarding. I suspect this novel will be among my best works, it’s certainly infused with love and passion!

My first title with The Wild Rose Press is now available, as well, and it’s my first “sweet and tender” romance. Up to now it’s been mostly erotica, and the change is one I’m looking forward to, honestly. “Bella Signorina” is a special story, and one I hope readers will find as magical as I did writing it! It’s one of a set of six stories set in Italy, all carrying the titles of romantic Italian love songs!

That's wonderful - so much writing success! How do you go about developing your characters?

Some times the characters have faces by virtue of who inspires them, as is the case with the current novel. My hero is a complex merging of a real person and all of the attributes that I, as a writer, have chosen to give his fictitious counterpart. I find once my characters have “faces” and names, then they begin to develop whatever traits are needed to tell their story. The plot is generally established to some degree when I begin the writing, so I get to know the people in my books and tell the story that is right for them. I find if you have a clear and solid “feel” for who you’re writing about, then the details seem to come with them, and all of it enhances the experience for both writer and ultimately the readers who will give you their time and attention. I seldom have to ever go back and “change” anything about a character to suit the story I’m telling, so it’s a beautiful flow of inspired story mostly.

Music is another great inspiration, and if you find the right “soundtrack” in your mind, and listen to it, then it can add fabulous elements to a story as well.

What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

I’ve given only one real piece of advice to anyone who’s ever asked me this question, and it’s one word: perseverance. If you believe in your talent, and your work, then you have to be willing to take the time needed to find the right people to not only publish your work, but to work with you on building it into the best work it can be. There’s no place for arrogance in this business, you have to be willing to listen to the editors and publishers, it’s their business to make your book the best it can be. If you start taking criticism of any kind as a personal slight or attack, you’ll never survive the process.


Do not listen to your mother, or your siblings, or your best friend… they don’t want to hurt your feelings with an objective, and wholly honest assessment — these people love you, they won’t tell you things that will shatter your confidence or your dreams. BUT, the real test is in how you handle yourself when faced with the honest assessments of professionals. No work is perfect, and NO writer ever writes a perfect book. Even the one that’s in your hands at the end of it all will never be perfect. Accept that, and the gift of experience that comes from good editors and honest, constructive critique. Compromise is a big part of a smooth working relationship in any field. That, and a willingness to learn and get better.

That is very real, very honest advice, indeed. OK, now what kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

Depending on what I’m writing, my genre choices vary. I love romance, obviously, and fantasy. I seldom read the genre I’m writing in, simply to avoid any inadvertent copying of someone else’s ideas. Fantasy authors: Terry Brooks, Guy Gavriel Kay, CJ Cherryh. Romance: Lucy Monroe, Kim Lawrence, Linda Lael Miller, there are SO many good ones. I like Linda Howard, too. Historical, another of my favourite genres, mostly Western, I love Louis L’Amour, Richard Compton. My tastes are as varied as my writing styles. I adore Sherlock Holmes stories and Anne Perry if I want a Victorian mystery to settle in with, and almost any western romance appeals to me. So, it’s mostly mood and work that dictates what I read and when. My all-time favourite book is actually “Gone With The Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. I also love Nancy Baker’s vampire novels.


When you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?

I used to write it all out by hand, and it took years to get to the stage where I sit at the computer and just write. Mind you, there is always a notebook in my handbag, and a pen, and I can write anywhere now. In the middle of a hospital waiting room I started one of the sexiest vampire romances I ever created!

Ooh, great creation story! What about film? What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

“Gone With The Wind” is also my favourite movie, along with “Casablanca” — I think both have influenced me in different ways as a writer. The sweeping drama of GWTW is something that no one can watch/read and not be captivated by, it shows on so many levels how lives are connected, and that what we do always has repercussions and often unforeseen prices that we will pay in unexpected ways. “Casablanca” is love found and lost, and the honour that is due to love that respects a sometimes greater good than itself. It shows love as an unselfish and noble emotion. All of these things come into play in some fashion in what I write, whether it’s the obvious theme, or a subtle subplot/sub-theme in a larger picture.


Denyse, thank you so much for being here today. Readers, leave a comment if you'd like, or visit Denyse's webpages to find out more about her and her works.

Thank YOU, Allie!! This was a lot of fun, and the questions are good, they make you think and that’s always fun!

Denysé's Website
Denyse's Blog
Denyse's MySpace
Denyse's Newsgroup
Denyse's Newsletter

Good Intentions, but...

"It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" ~Mark Twain

Today I was going to blog about how I sometimes tire of sex being what sells the most, in the romance/women's fiction world of writing. But I don't really have the energy.

Then I thought, well, maybe I'll talk about the rock wall I'm rebuilding by hand - it runs along the back of our lawn, at the edge of the woods, and, like every other rock wall in this area, was used by farmers to mark property lines way back when. Except yesterday I dropped this really heavy rock on my middle finger of my right hand, and it's kind of hard to type with a finger that's black and blue and swollen to twice its size.

So instead I'll just say that I started a fascinating book this weekend: She's Not There, by Jennifer Finney Boylan. It's the memoir of the Colby College English Chair...who spent his entire life feeling "wrong" and so went through a sex change. Now he's a woman. It's gotten some great reviews, and I really can't wait to read it.


Hey, has anyone out there used http://www.goodreads.com/? One friend told me it's considered the new MySpace of book promotion. One more thing to add to my list...

Amazon Sales Ranking and Rank Tracer: I'm Officially Obsessed!

"Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman, not the attitude of the prospect." ~William Clement Stone

A few weeks ago, my cyber-friend Diane Craver referred to her obsession with checking her Amazon sales ranking multiple times a day.

Now that One Night in Boston is there, I know what she's talking about! For those of you who aren't familiar, every product for sale on Amazon has a sales rank. Though they supposedly keep the algorithm for figuring this ranking a secret, it does give you an idea of where your sales fall. The lower the number, the better your sales are. Anything up around 1,000,000 means few to no sales. Between 100,000 and 999,999 is moderate sales (you'll probably sell 10 - 200 copies, total). Less than 100,000 and you're doing better than average.

So of course you know I check my ranking a few times a day, now! The thing is, 1 person buying your book can make your rank jump a few hundred thousand, so you can't get too excited. Still, it's an indication of *something.* One site that makes it easy to check, without going to your actual Amazon page, is Sales Rank Express. (Oh, in case you're wondering, One Night in Boston is hovering somewhere between 300,000 and 400,000 most days. Not bad considering it's not out in print yet! That's thanks to all you lovely readers who have pre-ordered it).

The nice thing, though, is that it gives you a chance to track your sales when matched up against your advertising efforts (for all my downplaying of the Border events last Friday, my ranking moved from 400,000+ Friday morning to 199,000 Saturday morning. So *someone* bought a copy!).

That's where RankTracer comes in. I stumbled across this nifty site yesterday. They will track your Amazon sales for you, and send you a detailed graph of how your sales are doing over a specified time period. They will also provide estimated sales. Plus - I have to add this - their customer support is awesome. The subscription $$ to track 1 product is $2/month. *However* they'll give you 3 months free if you promote their site: mention it on your blog, link to it from your webpage, etc. Free is too sweet to pass up!

Since I just signed up, I can't comment too much more specifically, but I'll definitely let you know what I think after the first month! Fellow authors, it's well worth checking into, I think. Anyone else already use it?

Happy Easter!

"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there." ~Clarence W. Hall


Here's wishing everyone a warm and happy Easter day...and happy spring to all who don't celebrate the holiday :)

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Just a quick reminder as well: the Samhain Spring Showers event is in full swing over at Coffee Time Romance, with new excerpts going up today. Another peek at One Night in Boston for you - just click on the picture below!

Reflections on a Book Signing

(Left to Right: Cat Johnson, C.H. Admirand, Allie, Tilly Greene, Stella Price)

I'm back!

Last night I spent a couple of hours at the Borders bookstore in Scranton, PA, with 4 other romance authors - they were selling and signing, and I was giving out promo for my 2 upcoming print titles.


It was fun, and a learning experience, though I think only 2 of the other authors sold a book apiece. I watched and listened and learned, and this is what I picked up:


*Conventional wisdom that says book signings are not the best use of time or money is true. Sure, they get you out in the public, but honestly, though we were at a table RIGHT by the entrance, 50+% of the customers walked by without looking or slowing down.


*It's probably better to do a signing/appearance with fewer people, because it seemed as though we were talking amongst each other more than trying to make eye contact with/catch the eye of potential customers. I also think 5 women sitting together at a table might be a little intimidating.


*Be very selective with the promotional items you spend money on. I saw everything at our table, from bookmarks to cards with free ebook downloads to a mini-DVD player running a book trailer, to the books themselves. All that $$, and yet I think maybe a handful of it actually got into the hands of customers.


*Consider the $$ spent with the potential tradeoff. Hubby and I made a day and night of it: we spent the afternoon shopping at the outlets nearby, ate dinner in town, and spent the night at a motel. The other authors drove 2 hours one way, then turned around and drove 2 hours back. I'm not sure I would spend all that time and gas money for 2 hours at a booksigning where you might sell 1 book.

* Promote ahead of time, if you can. If your fans/readers know you'll be somewhere, they're more likely to show up and seek you out. One woman who was there last time they did a book signing at this store drove 40 minutes to see these authors again.


So will I do it again? Yes (you can see the other appearances I have lined up, over there in the sidebar), though I will make sure to minimize my costs and maximize my potential sales. Since the Internet is so wide-spread, though, it really makes sense to do as much of your advertising there, as possible.

TGIF!!

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." ~Anne Bradstreet

Welcome to my Friday Feast!


Appetizer
Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?
Oh, I'm a city girl, though I grew up in the country (and live in the country now, with hubby). But 4 years of living in Cleveland, and my occasional trips to NYC, convince me that city is the kind of atmosphere I love.

Soup
Who is the cutest kid you know?
A tie between my niece (6) and nephew (almost 4)!!

Salad
Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard ___________.
...that not only did Eliot Spitzer hire a prostitute, but his replacement for NY governor, David Paterson, admitted to "multiple" extramarital affairs. What is the world coming to?

Main Course
If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise?
Gaiam organic flannel sheets. They are amazingly cozy and near-impossible to get out of in the morning!

Dessert
What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis?
None, 'cause I think I eat a pretty balanced diet.

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In other news, I'm so excited, because tonight I'll be appearing at the Borders in Scranton, PA, with a few other authors to promote One Night in Boston and Lost in Paradise! They aren't in print yet, (when will May be here??), but I'll be giving away these very cool excerpt booklets and perhaps hooking a few new readers (fingers crossed).




Tomorrow's post will probably be late, since hubby and I are spending the night in Scranton - but I hope to have some pictures from the event, so make sure to stop back and check them out!

Dialogue is a Tricky Thing

"The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought and attended my answer." ~Henry David Thoreau

Dialogue is a tricky thing.

I realized this after I sent in a contest entry about, oh, 5 years ago, and one of the judge's comments read, "Dialogue does not ring true. I have 2 teenagers, and they don't talk this way."

Hmmph.

Later, of course, I realized she (he?) was probably right. And I think I've gotten better, over the years, at writing it. One thing I often do is read my dialogue out loud. I think it gives me a much better idea whether someone would actually say that, and in those exact words.

I'm sure you've all read stories with poorly written dialogue, right? You're cruising along, and then all of a sudden you're pulled out by some awkward comment that one character says to another. And all you can think is "Wow, I don't know anyone who talks like that."

Anyway, on a light note today, I thought I'd share an email a writing friend sent me, which sort of addresses the whole dialogue thing, especially for women. If you're writing a contemporary novel, and you have any female characters at all, consider these guidelines when you're having them talk:

9 WORDS WOMEN USE
(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This isn't actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man.. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says "Thanks a lot" - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say "you're welcome" . that will bring on a "whatever").

(8) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying RAM IT!!!!!!

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "What's wrong?" For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Finally, it's worth nothing, especially if you're a writer, how differently men and women speak. At my last local RWA chapter meeting, one of our members told this story. She had spent some time interviewing the local police chief about murder investigations, crime scene procedures, etc. She wanted to thank him, so she bought him a plant and took it down to the office. He walked over, took it out of her hand, and said, "This an indoor?"

And that was it. They're creatures of few words, men. We'd do well to remember that...

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Patrice Moore

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm featuring an interview with contemporary romance author Patrice Moore. You're in for a real treat today - so enjoy! And when you're finished here, make sure you visit Patrice's website and read the "My Life" section. It's fascinating - and refreshing.

Hi, Patrice! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I have a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and a master’s degree in Environmental Education. I worked for many years as a field biologist. Though I’ve always had an interest in writing, I had no formal training unless you count my high school English classes (which actually were pretty good). So how the heck did I end up writing romance?

In the midst of all the academia, I was a secret romance reader. It had to be secret, of course, since everyone knows romances are trash, right?

After many years I actually tried writing one, and I quickly realized that there is no finer method of teaching oneself the craft of fiction than to write a romance. You learn all about points of view and tension and backstory dumps and dialogue and conflict and story arc and happy endings.

It took me seventeen years – seventeen long years – to get my first book published because…well, I’m a slow learner. Too much academia stuffed into my head, I guess.

Now that you have those 17 years of experience under your belt, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Write, of course. You should write and write and write, every day if possible. Like any craft, you’ll need practice. Do you think concert pianists just – play? No. They practice endless hours before they get up on stage.

But almost as important, submit what you write. Send it out. Learn to write queries and synopses. Don’t worry about getting rejections – listen, after seventeen freaking years I have every possible rejection under the sun. So what? What’s a rejection? A piece of paper. File yours away with pride because it means you’ve just accomplished something.

Then learn from your rejections. If an editor says that the external conflict is not strong enough to sustain the story through the entire book (as one of my last rejects said), then pay attention. Learn what it would take to increase the external conflict in either that book or a future book.
Then write some more.

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

The most difficult thing about writing is actually writing, of course. That goes without saying. Trust me, having written is a lot more fun than actually writing.

Surprisingly, at least for me, I’ve never been discouraged by rejections. It’s just part of the game, so I can’t really say that’s the most difficult thing about writing. The most exciting or rewarding thing about writing is to take a flash of an idea and outline it so that you can see the shape of a book emerging. Recently, for example, a random line on a radio show caught my ear, something about Pygmalion. I thought, “What kind of story can I make from re-creating the Pygmalion concept?” My husband and I hashed out a rough plot, and I’ve filed it away for a future book. What fun!

How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

That’s funny – balance – ha ha!

Seriously, as with so many other writers, it’s a juggling act. My husband and I have a home business. While this might sound cozy, the trouble with a home business is that it’s at home – you’re never off work. We work long hours in our business – I think our record during one busy season was 110 hours in one week. Fortunately it’s not usually that bad.

In addition, we homeschool our two daughters, who are nine and eleven years old.

In addition again, we have a small farm (we call it a homestead), which means I milk two cows every morning as well as care for the livestock, garden, and orchard. I like to joke that we’re doing the three H’s: homesteading, homeschooling, and home business-ing.

Since I’m so busy, I get up at ungodly hours to write, often 3:30 a.m. It’s my only quiet time, the only time I don’t have kids asking for clarity on a quote from Thomas Paine or to explain osmosis or help divide decimals, the only time I’m not likely to hear the cry “The cows are out!” (although sometimes I hear the clack-clack-clack of hooves in the driveway during the wee hours), the only time I don’t feel guilty for not sanding or bandsawing or gluing or other woodworking duties.

The early mornings are mine. I guard them jealously. I start by stoking the fire in the woodstove if it’s winter, making my first cup of tea, and then reading the news on the internet while I wake up (we don’t have television reception in our area so we get no TV news). I answer my emails, and then I get to work writing.

Now evenings are a different matter. It’s almost impossible for me to stay up past ten o’clock. Usually I go to bed right after the kids do. My husband is a night owl, so late evenings are his quiet time.

Since we live and work together 24/7, my husband and I learned that we need our private decompression time to stay sane. With me being an early bird and him being a night owl, it works beautifully.

It sounds as though you have found a way to carve out time to write despite your very busy days. Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

Almost every time a manuscript isn’t flowing – if I’m blocked and can’t seem to progress – it’s because something is wrong with my story arc. Perhaps my external conflict isn’t strong enough. Or the internal conflict is weak. Or the goal of either the hero or heroine is wrong. Or their motivation is lacking. But somewhere in the outline, something is missing.

So I fuss and fume and stall and stare at my computer screen and pick at my fingernails and look for something to vacuum or dust or…or…or anything but write, because something isn’t working.
As an example, I had nearly finished writing a book (my first to be published, a contemporary suspense called Saving Grace, but got stuck because the ending wasn’t working. After building up all the drama throughout the story, the ending was…well, flat. Boring. Anticlimactic.

I figured out it was because I was trying not to write the show-down. I’d never written anything like that before, and frankly I wanted to avoid the bloodshed. I realized I had to write the fear and terror my heroine would experience while facing her murderous stalking ex-husband…and so I gritted my teeth and wrote it.

And Oh. My. God. It was powerful. I’d never written anything like that, and the aftermath scene, with the heroine in the hospital recovering, still brings me to tears (and I wrote it!).
So face what’s wrong with your manuscript – get another opinion if need be – and fix it. Then your writer’s block will end.

This kind of writer’s block is different than your standard procrastination and miscellaneous avoidance tactics to get out of writing…like dusting the ice cube trays or alphabetizing your spice rack. You’re on your own there. Gotta plant the butt in the chair.

Describe your writing space for us (or include a picture!)

My office. My office! How I love my office.

For years my husband and I shared the same desk crammed in a corner, and we shared the same computer as well. But eventually I got the laptop I’d always wanted. And then my wonderful fabulous husband remodeled a portion of the house and literally carved a slope-roofed nook half-way up a flight of stairs….just for me. That’s how much he loves me.

And it’s mine, all mine. It’s tiny, only six by eight feet, with room for a writing surface, a couple of small bookshelves, and two small file cabinets. But it’s mine! (Or did I mention that already?)
Now I don’t have to pack away any research books or tidy my desk if I don’t feel like it. I don’t have to worry about things getting misplaced or lost. I have my reference books, I have my favorite romances, I have my office supplies, my manuscripts, my rejection letters, my contracts…it’s all in my office. And it’s mine!

Okay, I’ll stop hyperventilating. (See photo. Of the office, not me hyperventilating.)

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Read, of course. Reading is a passion in our house, and we own somewhere around three thousand books. I do a lot of stuff in the kitchen – making cheese and yogurt from our surplus milk, baking, cooking, washing dishes, canning, that kind of thing. The kitchen table is where I fold laundry and supervise the kids’ schoolwork, frequently at the same time.

Outdoors, depending on the time of year, you might find me watering the berry patch or garden, splitting wood (usually with a wood-splitter), feeding the livestock, walking to the mailboxes (three miles round trip), walking to our pond, chasing the cows out of the chicken coop, hanging laundry out to dry, watering the horses, mowing the lawn.

In the shop you might find me at the sander or the bandsaw or the tablesaw.
Come visit our homestead under the “My Life” section on my website...

Patrice, thank you for a truly wonderful interview today - happy writing to you! readers, want to leave a comment? Remember every time you do, you're entered into my drawing for Jenna Kernan's novel Outlaw Bride...giveaway happening in less than 2 weeks!

A Little Shameless Promotion

"I do promotion when it is necessary, but I always want to get back to the music." ~Enya

A couple of days ago, Marianne emailed me to ask how successful I thought my promotional efforts had been, regarding One Night in Boston and Lost in Paradise.

I was honest: mixed. If you've been reading my blog all along, you'll know that my sales for Boston have been pretty decent for the ebook, but they flopped for Paradise. I'm still trying to figure out why. Because my print releases are coming up for both, I've tried to take an honest look at what's seemed to work, over the last few months, and what turned out to be a waste of time and/or money. I'm switching my efforts from the ebook sales to the print ones (what? you haven't pre-ordered One Night in Boston yet? It's on super-sale over at Amazon. Go ahead, here's the link. I'll wait while you take care of that.)

What has seemed to work:

1. Sending press releases to local papers. I had 2 articles featuring me as "local author" that bumped sales in those months.
2. Keeping a visible online presence - blogging, posting on various forums, running contests, sending an electronic newsletter.


3. Writing articles for various online sites and getting my name in front of other readers as much as possible.


What hasn't really worked:

1. Posting trailers. They're fun to make, but I don't know that they draw sales.

2. Sending bookmarks and other traditional kinds of swag to conferences. I have a feeling most of that stuff gets thrown away.


What I hope will work:

1. Teaming up with other authors in my area and doing some signing and appearances. These are all coming up in the next few months, so I'll have a better idea of how profitable they are then.

2. Having books available in print! As much as some people purchase and read ebooks, most of my friends, family, and coworkers are still waiting for the "real" paper copy to release. So I'm hoping my print sales are good.

3. Taking out an ad in Romance Sells. This is an expensive one, but the booklet gets mailed to nearly 7000 booksellers and librarians around the country; i.e., the people who make the book buying decisions for the public. [Has anyone out there done this? Reactions?]

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And if you're still here, still reading, I'll toss out a few promo plugs for what I'm doing right now:

Samhain Spring Showers over at Coffee Time Romance. A bunch of authors have excerpts posted, and we've had some great comments, and fun discussion, so far. Stop by and comment on my post, please? I like to see it up near the top of the page with recent comments :)

This Friday, March 21, is my first book-signing appearance, though I won't yet have books in print. I'll be joining 4 other authors at the Borders in Scranton, PA, from 7 pm - 9 pm. And I'll be handing out these really cool excerpt booklets that I had made at Vista Print. If you're around Scranton, stop by!

Next week, Samhain author Diane Craver is featuring "Small Press Week" and interviewing authors. I"ll be there Thursday, March 27, so swing by for a funny "First Kiss" story :)

Have you signed up for my electronic newsletter yet? The link is over there, in the sidebar. I only send out 1 every other month, so if you'd like to keep up with Allie news, that's your chance!

Finally, if you haven't yet purchased Lost in Paradise, and you aren't totally against ebooks, give it a try! You can always treat yourself to read a few pages online during lunch or when you're taking a break at work. You can read the reviews here.

There's a lot happening in the next few months, so stay tuned! I know there are a lot of (new) lurkers out there, so I'm waving a big hello to you all. And if you're an author who's discovered promo methods that really show results, leave a comment and let me know. I'm always looking for new ideas!

Guys Read Romance, Too...Who Knew?

"A true man does not need to romance a different girl every night, a true man romances the same girl for the rest of her life." ~Ana Alas

So I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law over the weekend, and I saw his latest book lying on the kitchen counter (he's a pretty avid reader, so he gets props from me anyway). It was this thick, blue-covered book: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

He said, "Oh, that's an awesome book. A friend sent it to me, and I can't put it down." I read the back cover, looked up at him and said, "You know this is a romance novel, right?"

He blinked and said, "Well, yeah, but I like the way she uses all these really accurate historic details. I like when it's history plus the love story too."

I just smiled.

Then, later that evening, my sister had some friends over, and I was talking to one woman who went to school with us. She said, "Oh, my older brother asked me when your book was coming out. I said to him, 'Um, I'm not sure that's really your thing. You know it's a romance novel, right?' He said, 'So? I just want an autographed copy.'"

Mind you, this is a guy I barely knew in school. I don't think I would know him if I tripped over him. And yeah, probably he wants the autograph of a local author more than to read the book. But who knows? It's still kind of cool to hear a comment like that :)

Samhain Spring Showers!

Hey everyone, just a quick blog this AM, since I'm out of town and visiting my sister for the weekend (always a nice thing, though limited computer access). So...today's the first day of a big promo event over at Coffee Time Romance:





This runs for almost a month, into April, and features new excerpts by Samhain authors every week! You'll see some from One Night in Boston, as well as my upcoming novel, One Night in Memphis (first time it's appearing "in public" - aren't you excited?? I am). So take a visit over there today...not only can you read some good stuff, every comment you leave qualifies you for a bunch of different prizes.

Have fun!

And the Winner Is...

Isn't that a great cartoon??!

Well, cheers to everyone who's visited and commented here over the past couple of weeks. The first winner of my March Madness blog giveaway, a copy of Jenna Kernan's RITA-nominated historical romance Winter Woman, is...

Marianne! Congrats!!

Keep those comments coming, though, 'cause the next giveaway is just 2 weeks away...

TGIF!

"I have been successful probably because I have always realized that I knew nothing about writing and have merely tried to tell an interesting story entertainingly." ~Edgar Rice Burroughs

I know, I know, I haven't played in a while, so here's the Friday Feast:

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting?

Actually, I'm going with 10 on this one. I like it, it's legible, and hey - it seems like *not* liking something so trivial about yourself would be silly. We beat ourselves up about everything else, right?

Soup
Do you prefer baths or showers?

Don't know that I have a preference - baths are super-relaxing, but showers are quicker.

Salad
What was the last bad movie you watched?

I"ll go with "Superbad" here - it was AWFUL. I know some people probably found it funny, but it for me, it was just 2 hours of bad humor and bad language and little plot, told from a a group of horny male adolescents' points of view.

Main Course
Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life.

Chocolate! Positive effect: all those endorphins. Negative effect: is there one?

Dessert
Which instrument is your favorite to listen to?

I do like string instruments, but since I play the piano myself, I love listening to a really talented pianist too.

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Just in case you missed yesterday's announcement, my very first novel, One Night in Boston, is officially available for pre-order on Amazon! It's currently $5.00 off the full price, plus you get an additional 5% off for pre-ordering. Can't go wrong!

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Finally, just a reminder that since it's halfway through March, I'll be giving away my first of two books by historical romance author Jenna Kernan tomorrow, to one lucky blog commenter. Check back to see who the winner is!

I've Officially Arrived!!

"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster." ~Isaac Asimov

Well, the moment is here: I officially have a book for sale on Amazon. I know, I know, I was a published author the moment I sent off my signed contract for my first book...but somehow, seeing One Night in Boston available on the giant of all book sites makes me feel as though I've finally arrived in the published-author world!

So I have two requests for you today: first, if you're interested in purchasing One Night in Boston, go on over to Amazon and pre-order it. It's on super-sale right now, nearly $5.00 off the full price they'll charge in May, so you can't really lose. It's scheduled to be in print, and ship, on May 27. And second, if you've already read One Night in Boston, and you enjoyed it, could you leave me a (positive) rating/review on my Amazon page? I'm going to be working on updating it with some author info/a blog soon, but I figure the more activity it gets in the next 2 months, the better.

Finally, a big thanks to you, all my reading/writing/blogging chums (the lurkers too - I love that you're out there!) - I couldn't have gotten this far in my writing journey without every single one of you. ((((Cyber-hugs)))) !!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Patti Shenberger

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm featuring fellow Wild Rose Press author Patti Shenberger. You're in for a treat...enjoy!

Hi, Patti, and welcome! Can you tell us a little about your background?

My background is quite varied. I was raised by my great grandparents who were in their 62 amd 64 yrs old whem they took me in at the ripe old age of 3 months. I learned early how to become a grown-up (my grandfater worked for General Motors and toured the country with the Auto Shows). We traveled around the world visiting and dining with kings, queens, and movie stars. It gave me a lot of fodder for writing romance. After high school, I dabbled at college, dropped out, got married, had two kids and went to work doing whatever would pay the bills. I've done everything from office work, to insurance sales, financial planning, retail, car porter, fabric store manager, real estate admin work and now semi-retired and writing full time. This is my favorite job (G)

Wow, what a cool upbringing! Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?

Right now, I am working on a category romance length novel entitled The Billionaire's Royal Houseguest. I am hoping it is something Silhouette Desire will pick up (fingers are crossed) It's the story of a pampered Princess who desparately seeks the assistance of a rich salvage diver to recover artifacts off a sunken vessel to save her small island nation. He has no intention of ever going back in the water after a near fatal shark attack on his last job. Can Princess Annabelle change his mind? And more importantly, can Victor Dragon overcome his past to include the woman of his dreams in his futre??? Stay tuned!!

My latest released title is Take No Prisoners. It's the story of Frankie Canfield who announces to the world that she is returning to her home town of Harmony to marry the man of her dreams, the Sheriff. Little does she know her PR stunt is about to go horribly wrong when a new Sheriff is in charge: the only man Frankie has ever loved and lost.

My last three titles have all been with The Wild Rose Press. You can check them out at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/ or on my web page at http://www.pattishenberger.com/

You've definitely become a successful writer. What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

I would tell them to read everything they can get their hands on and never give up. Just because one person doesn't like your writing doesn't mean everyone hates it. I've had agents and editors at larger houses reject my work and then a smaller press picks it up and loves it. It's all subjective and you have to remember it's NOT PERSONAL!

Ooh, that's really good advice and important to remember! So what kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

My favorite author is Jude Deveraux, Luncy Monroe, and Lucy Gordon. I love a good romance, but I will read pretty much anything that piques my interest. Right now I'm reading The Secret.

OK, important question: How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

Writing is very solitary work and very rewarding also. Balancing my writing has been easy for me this past year in the sense that I haven't had a day job to go to. I learned last fall that I had colon cancer and the subsequent months were a flurry of surgery, recovery, chemo, recovery, hysterectomy and now tail end of recovery. I'm fine but it took its toll. I didn't write a word most days but then I would have a spurt where I would write a chapter in a sitting. I also sold three books (granted they were already finished) during this time frame and did revisions and saw they come to fruition. My children are grown and out of the house, my hubby works retail so he's gone 6 days a week, 12 hours a day. The house is mine (G)

Describe your writing space for us...

My writing space is my home office - which used to be my son's bedroom before he moved out and into the Army. It's a total disaster right now! All the furniture from my daughter's room (she moved out) is in here while we paint her old room and turn it into a reading room of sorts with an electric fireplace and two comfy armchairs!

Well, we know you love to write. But what do you like to do when you're not writing?

When I am not weriting, I can be found with my face buried in a book. I love to read. It is my absolute favorite thing to do. Other than that, I love to meet friends for lunch, spend time with them and also travel. Hawaii, the Panaman Canal and Australia are next on my list of places to see.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention for readers today?

This is so cool! Thanks for letting me be a part of it. My web site is http://www.pattishenberger.com/, my titles can be found at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/, and thank you again!!!

Thanks, Patti - it's been a pleasure! And readers, take a look at her website and all those yummy looking short stories. For less than the cost of a Starbucks latte, you can have a quick and satisfying read today!

Sad Stories of Politicians and Royalty Statements

"Physical infidelity is the signal, the notice given, that all fidelities are undermined." ~Katherine Anne Porter

Ah, yes...yet another politician who can't keep it in his pants, this one in my very own home state of New York...

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer Under Pressure to Quit Over Sex Scandal

No wonder women read romance novels - at least the men/the heroes in the pages of those stories stay faithful!

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On another note, I received my royalty statement from The Wild Rose Press yesterday, for Nov/Dec 2007. Let's just say it wasn't what I had hoped or thought it would be, regarding sales. In fact, I was really surprised. One Night in Boston sold nearly 10 times the number Lost in Paradise did, in the two months after it released! I'm not sure how to take that...Samhain has more purchasers/followers/marketing than TWRP? People wanted to read my first novel but not my second one? It's a little discouraging.

I know it's dificult to promote e-books, and in the last few months I've been doing marketing more with an eye toward the print releases. I've also used up my "Debut Author" angle with the various newspapers I sent press releases to, so I'll have to think of something else.

Guess it's back to the drawing board with a renewed focus on promoting Lost in Paradise, this week. And hey! If you're reading this blog, and you haven't gotten your copy yet, why not think about treating yourself this week? It's gotten some great reviews, and for less than the cost of lunch you can purchase and download it here. By the way, the story is set in the middle of summer...nice and steamy and warm, for all of you who are tired of the winter weather already!!

How Did it Get to be Monday Again??

"Love is what you've been through with somebody." ~James Thurber

I'm convinced that weekends actually go much faster than weekdays...and now that I think about it, with Daylight Savings happening yesterday, I think my theory is right, at least once a year :)

Anyway, here's the trailer I made for Diane Craver's novel Never the Same:



And I'm excited because I'm at 19,500 words on One Night in Napa! Almost a third of where I want to be (I'm aiming for 60,000 and then will hope to add about another 5,000 when I go back through and revise). I did read the first chapter at my RWA meeting over the weekend and got some really good ideas and feedback, though I don't know if I'll read any more 'til I'm finished. It sort of defeats the purpose of "just write from beginning to end without letting your inner editor go back and change things..."

But hey, I'm happy with the progress. I'm hoping to get through another 10,000 this week!

On a totally unrelated note, as I posted today and looked at the date, I realized it's the anniversary of the day hubby and I got engaged, back in 2000. Wow! Does anyone else remember the actual date they got engaged, or is that weird?