Have a Happy, Prosperous, And Productive New Year!

The DH and I would always go to New Year's Eve parties before, then after, we were first married. Gradually, that habit changed to going out to dinner early with friends and making it home before the drunks got on the road. 

It's so much cozier to relax at home and watch the countdown on TV, so again that's what we'll do. The only catch is staying awake until midnight!

Whatever your plans are for New Year's Eve, here's hoping all of you have a happy, prosperous, and productive New Year!

 

Morgan Mandel
http://www.facebook.com/morgan.mandel
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Merry Christmas To All! by DL Larson

Just stopping by to say "Merry Christmas Everyone!!" I hope you spent the day as you wanted or hoped to do. I spent the day with my family, last night and today ~ wonderful, crazy and chaotic as always!

This is Sarah, she just turned one this fall!! She still has a 'cheese' for the camera even when she's moments away from night-night.

Colton and Van are too busy to stop for pictures. But as you can imagine we were quite safe during the holidays with two fire fighters on duty!

This picture is a true Christmas Miracle!!! No one is crying, no one is distracted. One of my favorite presents!  A picture of all my grandkids. Hope your holiday time was as picture perfect!

I wish you all a very blessed Christmas season! I'll get back to writer stuff next week ~ until then ~ enjoy this special time of year!

DL Larson

Holiday and Christmas Reading

Many people like to read "books for the season" - books related to the holidays.

I've intended to do that... and finally did.

This week I just finished an oldie but goodie, Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber. Fun, light read. Cute story. Fast read that I finished it in two days.

Now I hope to see if there are any other short Christmas stories to read. I will likely give fellow blogger Morgan Mandel's short novella, Christmas Carol a spin. (And you can get it free through Dec. 24! See Amazon.com.)

Next is to actually begin working on next year's goals. I do have several projects that are near completion and need to be finished. Finally. I'll discuss that in another post. 

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

So what do you read for Christmas or the holidays?

Happy Holidays by Margot Justes

I don't often post here, because I don't have that many delicious pearls of wisdom on publishing and advertising. In fact if you have any to spare, I'd love to hear from you.

I was given sound advice to continue writing, and the rest will come. The more I have out there, the more readers will find me. I didn't think I was that hard to find, but understand the sentiment. I hope that is true, because for the most part that is all I've been doing-well that-and trying to find a permanent place to live.

In the new year I hope to have A Hotel in Venice out in the Spring, and a novella set for Halloween. I also want to advertise in places that are reasonably priced and effective. Yes, I probably am dreaming, but what is life without dreams. I have to do some research on that point, but with Christmas almost around the corner, it's time to spend with family.

I wish you much joy and peace in the coming year.

Cheers,

Margot  Justes

Blood Art

A Fire Within

A Hotel in Paris

A Hotel in Bath

Hot Crimes Cool Chicks

www.mjustes.com

What Are Readers Reading? by DL Larson

In the December issue of Romance Writers Report, a list of the top ten romance tropes for readers was listed. This survey was culminated by the 2014 Nielsen Romance Buyer for RWA.
Here's the list:
1. Friends to lovers
2. Soul mate/fate
3. Second chance at love
4. Secret romance
5. First love
6. Strong hero/heroine
7. Reunited lovers
8. Love triangle
9. Sexy billionaire/millionaire
10. Sassy heroine

I was a bit surprised at the rankings. I would not have suspected #1 to be friends to lovers. Nor would I have thought sassy heroines would come in last.

After studying this list, I dug a little deeper, searching for best sellers in 2014. Here's December's top 5 on the New York Best Sellers List for combined e-book and print: (their synopsis of each book, not mine!)

1. Gray Mountain, John Grisham
       (A lawyer joins a legal clinic in a small Virginia town, and becomes involved in litigation against the coal mining industry.)
2. The Escape, David Balacci
       (John Puller, a special agent with the Army, hunts for his brother, who was convicted of treason and has escaped from prison.)
3. Tom Clancy: Full Force and Effect, Mark Greaney
     (A discovery of mineral deposits has changed North Korea's fortunes and made the country even more of a threat for President Jack Ryan.)
4. Hope to Die, James Patterson
     (Detective Alex Cross's family is kidnapped by a madman who wants to turn Cross into a perfect killer.)
5. The Burning Room, Michael Connelly
     (The Los Angeles detective Harry Bosch and his new partner investigate two long-unsolved cases.)

The lists continued with several other categories, none of which was ROMANCE. If I searched for Romance on Amazon.com, I was given several options: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Literature and Fiction, Contemporary Women Fiction, Historical, Religious Romance, Family Saga, and Christian Romance. Not so with the New York Times.

The NYT Best Sellers Lists did include mass-market paperbacks. The top 5 for December are listed below:
1. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
   (A woman disappears from her Missouri home on her 5th anniversary; is her bitter, oddly evasive husband a killer?)
2. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline
   (A historical novel about orphans swept off the streets of NYC and sent to the Midwest in the 1920s.)
3. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
     (In this fable, a Spanish shepherd boy ventures to Egypt in search of treasure and his destiny.)
4. The Martian, Andy Weir
     (After a dust storm forces his crew to abandon him, an astronaut embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive on Mars.)
5. Captivated by You, Sylvia Day
    (Eva and Gideon's vows have opened old wounds exposed insecurities and lured bitter enemies out of the shadows; a Crossfire novel.)

I wonder how accurate the NYT Best Seller list is. As a librarian, I know the top five listed in the NYT list are circulated frequently, but so are many romance writers books.

Seems if a book is not a spy/crime/intrigue/murder mystery it doesn't find a prestigious place on the NYT Best Seller Lists. Or is it just my imagination?

Right now I'm reading two books: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (YA) by Laini Taylor; and The Scottish Prisoner, by Diana Gabaldon (one of my favorite authors!)

Are you reading one of the top 5?  If not, share with us ~ what are you reading?

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.comwww.DLLARSON.com

Visit my Amazon site:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=dl+larson

Mark Your Calendars - My New Book, CHRISTMAS CAROL, Is FREE Dec 20 thru Dec 24

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R20N0B2

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Just in time for the Holidays, my new short and sweet Christmas book, called CHRISTMAS CAROL, will be FREE from SAT, DEC 20 thru WED, DEC 24!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R20N0B2

What's it about? 

A stranded big time author learns the meaning of life and love from a small town waitress named Christmas Carol.

Blake Dugan's car gets smashed in a snowstorm and he's stranded in a small town. At first, he's annoyed by the tone-deaf singing of a local waitress. That's before he learns the terrible secret compelling her to try and forget the unforgettable.

Can he help her forget? When his car’s ready, should he go, or should he stay?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R20N0B2

Find all of Morgan Mandel's romances, 
thrillers and mysteries at her Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Excerpts from all books at 
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com
Connect on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Twitter: @MorganMandel

A Refreshing Rejection Letter! by DL Larson

I keep track of my queries. I'm old school and use paper and pen, writing down the date I sent my query, to who at what agency, plus what I sent specifically. I have a column for their answer and the date I received it. All my submissions in the last several years have been by email. Many agencies either 1) don't bother to respond;  2) send a quick thank you in their rejection notice, or 3) have an underling send a form letter with my name and book title inserted in blank fields.

Last July I sent a query and waited the several weeks to hear a response. After three months, I crossed off the agency's name as a - no response. It wasn't the first time I've done this. I moved on with my queries, not thinking much about the lack of response.

Yesterday I received a nice note from that agency: (I've withheld the real names and agency name)

Dear DL Larson,

This is Sarah' assistant, Eliza. First let me apologize on Sarah's behalf for the delay in following up on this submission. Somehow it was ensnared in our Outlook spam filter and languished there until now.

Alas, this type of sci fi romance doesn't quite fit Sarah's list, but I hope you have (or had already had!) good luck with this submission. Thanks again for thinking of our agency.

With warmest wishes,

Eliza ----

I smiled when I read her note. Yes, it was a rejection, nothing new there. And yes, it was from an assistant, not surprising or unsettling, but her explanation of a little mishap and her personal touch of sincerity was greatly appreciated. I felt she saw me as a real person, not just another rejection she had to send. Plus the fact she sent anything after all this time, reveals professionalism and kindness.

Of course, I'm disappointed my work did not fit their expectations. But I believe whoever does provide a manuscript they can use, will have found a good home for their work.

The small things do matter. Eliza's small note renewed my enthusiasm to keep searching for a home for my book.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

www.DLLARSON.com

Visit Amazon.com to purchase a book by DL Larson
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=dl+larson

Getting Your Facts Straight! by DL Larson

I admit it, I'm a stickler for details. I want my work to be as authentic as possible. Guess that's why the movie my husband and I recently went to see irritated me with their lack of authenticity. I'm talking about the movie 'Interstellar', with Matthew McConaughey. The movie took place on a farm, with the harvest in the background. The problem, nothing was correct. A simple Google search would have told the director corn is harvested when the stalk is mature (dried out and yellowed with age) not green and just tasseled. There is nothing to harvest at this stage of the crop. Even if they were trying to harvest sweet corn, which it wasn't in the movie, that is not the time to pick. Another mistake was the equipment. A combine can only hold a few rounds of harvested crop. It needs to unload its treasure into something - a wagon, a truck. A combine is not made to hold a whole field. But nary a truck, wagon or bin were on sight. Again, a little Google search would have explained that. As the movie progressed, I wondered what other tidbits about the science of space were out of wack as well.

These are small infractions, yet they threw me out of the movie.

I remember when my father read my first book, Memories Trail. It was still in draft form. The book takes place in the early 1800's. I had a segment where my character hunts pheasant for food. I thought nothing of it until my dad informed me pheasants did not exist in the United States at that time. Heh? I was dumbfounded. But sure enough, a little research told me the pheasant did not arrive until the 1880's. And for those trivia buffs, the ring-necked pheasant came from Asia. The fix proved simple enough, but I had not done my homework. Thank goodness my dad is a pretty smart fella!

Recently I attended the play, Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale. It's at Water Tower Place and I believe will be there through Christmas. This play is family oriented and full of good laughs and sing-along holiday songs. The plot is ... the leader of the heavy metal band thinks he makes a deal with Satan to become famous. And the band does find success, but not as they wanted. Every time they begin to play, Christmas carols come out, not the heavy metal noise they like to create. What they finally realize is that their contract with the devil was actually a letter to Santa! Santa gives them an early Christmas present - success through their holiday songs! The band leader, we find out, is a terrible speller. He thought he wrote SATAN on the contract, when he actually wrote SANTA. It's a delightful spoof on lack of details.

So be prepared to go the distance when it comes to researching your material. I usually have more than I could ever use, but I also know I have dug deep into the era I'm writing in. I've learned about the topic I need to become an expert in. And my work is better because of it.

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

PS: Memories Trail is available in e-book format. Go to:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=dl+larson

Battling Paper

Today, I first, spent over 1 1/2 hours shredding old papers which contained personal information.

Then, while I was on a roll, I decided to clean out my small file cabinet, with the object of removing it into the basement. I thought that project might take about an hour, but the project took much longer.

Battling paper is no fun. However, I did make a lot of progress. From two drawers, I now have two file envelopes left, one for me and one for the DH, along with a small container of business cards.

I don't know why I save so much paper. It sure takes up a lot of room!

That reminds me of all the books I donated to the library last year because they also took up a lot of room. I still have many left, which I couldn't bear parting with, especially the autographed ones from authors I know.

There is something to be said for the digital age, with all its faults. Computers and programs don't always work the way I want them to, but at least they don't take up much room!

By the way, for more punishment, I decided to get the Christmas cards ready today. I use postcards, because the DH and I send out so many, and the postage is less that way. Also, I use labels, which cuts down some of the time, but we both like to write little messages on some of them, and, yes, they are made of paper. I draw the line on sending e-cards, at least for now, unless they become terribly popular.

You never know. Once upon a time, not too long ago, e-books weren't popular.

Morgan Mandel at a March 28, 2010 book signing
for the print version of Killer Career.


Find all of Morgan's mysteries & romances for kindle at
http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel
Excerpts at http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com
Twitter: @MorganMandel

Welcome to Chrys Fey!

Today Debra welcomes fellow TWRP author Chrys Fey to Book Beat Babes. Congratulations on your new release, Chrys. 30 Seconds sounds like an exciting read!

Hello, Book Beat Babes! This is my first visit to this lovely blog, so I wanted to do a special post inspired by Book Beat Babes.

Dani Hart, the heroine in my newest romantic-suspense, 30 Seconds, is a babe in many ways. Allow me to demonstrate:

Rock Babe: Dani’s parents were true rockers in the 70’s. Her mom continued to rock out even when she was pregnant, which is how Dani was born at a Kiss concert. She has a vast collection of rock albums including John Lennon and Bob Marley. She also has a rock-inspired tattoo on her back; string notes to Led Zeppelin’s song "Stairway to Heaven."

Horror Babe: Dani is a huge fan of horror movies, especially the classics like The Birds, The Shining, and Halloween. Even after working at the ER where she sees gore daily, and being threatened by the Mob, she still can enjoy a good horror film.

Intellectual Babe: Dani speaks fluent Spanish. She’s also a doctor. She pulls all-nighters at the ER, fights to keep gunshot victims alive, and performs emergency surgery. Although most of 30 Seconds takes place outside the hospital, there is an exciting hospital scene where we get to see her in full doctor mode.

Book Babe: Lastly, Dani is a book babe. When she goes into protective custody to hide from the Mob, what does she grab? A pile of books, of course! And she reads all of them, too.
What kind of babe do you like your heroines to be?

Blurb:
When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he's made mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He's determined to protect her at all costs.

The Mob's death threat turns Dr. Dani Hart's life upside down, but there is one danger she doesn’t anticipate. As she's dodging bullets, she's falling in love with Blake. With danger all around them, will she and Blake survive and have a happy ending, or will the Mob make good on their threat?

Book Links:
The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5801
NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/30-seconds-chrys-fey/1120324958?ean=2940150711938
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/30-seconds-1
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00N26EU9G
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N26EU9G
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22591698-30-seconds

Bio:
Chrys Fey is a lover of rock music just like Dani Hart in 30 Seconds. Whenever she's writing at her desk, headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses -especially that of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title.
30 Seconds is her second eBook with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, Hurricane Crimes, is also available on Amazon.

Discover her writing tips on her blog, and connect with her on Facebook. She loves to get to know her readers!

Author Links:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysfey
Blog: www.writewithfey.blogspot.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ChrysFey


Chrys, thanks again for joining us today and sharing Dani's babeness with us...I can relate to being a rock babe and a book babe, but not so much the horror babe!

The Holiday Season is Upon Us

Hard to believe, but with Thanksgiving this coming Thursday, the holiday season is upon us.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love that it's a time set aside to gather with family and friends and count our blessings. Holidays for me are all about tradition. Growing up, we always hosted Thanksgiving at our house. My favorite memories are waking up in the morning to the smell of turkey in the oven and getting out Mom's good china and silverware and setting the table. Soon the family would arrive, and we'd have fifteen, even twenty people gathered around the table. Grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins...we all came together to eat good food, to share, to laugh, and to love.

But as life goes on, traditions sometimes change. Grandmas pass on. Kids grow up, get married, and have families of their own. New routines are established...new traditions born.

This year we'll gather at my sister's house to watch the Bears and eat. It's a small group this year, but that's okay. We'll still have plenty of food, laughs, and love to go around.

A few years ago I penned a Thanksgiving novella which celebrates all the things I love about the holiday. Family gathering, delicious food, hand turkeys drawn by little children, crisp fall weather, and especially a heroine who shares my view of not doing anything that has to do with Christmas until Thanksgiving has had its due.

Here's a snippet:

One morning she opened the door to Joe’s smiling face. Her answering smile faded as she noticed the snow shovel in his hand.
“Why do you have that?” she demanded.
She peeked over his shoulder and moaned. A light dusting of snow covered the lawn. It sparkled in the sunshine. But she couldn’t appreciate its beauty. “No,” she whined. “It’s only November. It cannot snow.”
Joe raised an eyebrow.
She paused in her tirade to appreciate the effect it had on his face. But only for a brief second. “Snow is for Christmas. Not Thanksgiving. Ugh.”
He chuckled. “Wow. You are really hung up on that, aren’t you?”
She put her hands on her hips. “Shut up.” The words held no rancor.
He leaned in and kissed her. Only a mere brush of his lips against hers. But it was enough.
Her heart pumped into overdrive. At the same time the breath left her lungs. Her dismay over the weather vanished. She leaned in, eager for a more intimate touch.

Another tradition I have is being a rereader. I'm a firm believer that books are not meant to only be read once and put away. So, this coming week, I'll be opening up An Unexpected Blessing and revisiting Katy and Joe's story.

Until next time,

Happy Reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

Debra

An Unexpected Blessing from The Wild Rose Press.

Single Mom Katy Roth thinks life can't get any worse. In the past six months she's been let go at work, had to move back home with her parents, and found out her ex is cutting his child support payment. As Thanksgiving approaches, she finds little to be thankful for in a life that is quickly spinning out of control.
Joe Mason is the town's bad boy. Literally. He's just returned from a four year stint in prison. He wants nothing more than to put the past behind him and get on with his life. He's had a secret crush on Katy since grade school, but when Katy's parents hire him to be their handyman, she's less than thrilled to have him around.

But soon, through her young son's eyes, Katy discovers the good in Joe. As their feelings for one another deepen, small town gossip and prejudice threaten to ruin everything. Will Joe's past come between them, or will they be able to get beyond it and hold onto a love neither expected?

When A Grant Writing Class Turns Into A Character Traits Workshop! by DL Larson

Last week I mentioned I had to attend a grant writing class. The title of the class was, "Grant writing that gets results!" Since I hope to apply for a grant in the future, I was interested in learning all I could about the serious side of writing grants.

The class failed miserably in that aspect. The instructor was an accountant and numbers, numbers and more numbers was her entire presentation. As a word person, I found the class and information dull. Yes, I brought home a few good website addresses on places to go for fundraising, but that had not been my purpose for attending this writing class. I wanted to study up on the lingo on what grant givers might be looking for. I had been in need of a word interpretation class and received a math class instead. Dare I say, shoot me!?!

The instructor never presented a sample grant. She did not expound on the government grants which I was quite interested in. She used her power point overhead as we, the class, read the very same thing in our notebooks she handed out. I do not enjoy being read to as if I'm ten years old. I was looking for fresh insight to grant writing.

What I brought home was a plethora of ideas for character traits! The elderly man behind me decided clipping his fingernails after lunch was a good time to do his personal grooming. Each clip, clip, clip, echoed throughout the room. A few ladies across the isle were still eating their lunch and stared in disbelief. I don't believe he noticed.

The plump woman in front of me had the chatty-Cathy syndrome. Since no one else sat in her row, she put her feet up on the chair in front of me and proceeded to chat with me even when I pointed at the instructor who was talking. It didn't phase her. She had a story to tell and by gosh she continued on despite the other conversation going on in the room.

Another woman complained about her board not helping out as they were supposed to. She said they did nothing and complained when she asked for help. She should have canvassed the room before she shared her woes. One of her board members sat in the back of the room.

Then two men sauntered in half-way through the class. They lumbered up to the front and plopped down, then began unpacking their belongings and taking off their coats as the rest of the class watched. Their tardiness didn't seem to bother them and the instructor finally got back on task of talking about finding money in small communities.

The instructor spent a great deal of time complimenting the one man who raised BIG bucks for a hospital. She was from the suburbs and obviously felt a connection to him and his impressive portfolio. She referred to him throughout the presentation as if he was there as proof to her expertise, and not in attendance to learn.

I may not have garnered much in the way of grant writing, but the character traits I discovered served as a great refresher course for my fiction writing. I've stored them in my writer's tool box. I wonder how long it will be before I use one?

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

Please Welcome Mystery Author, Marilyn Meredith

Marilyn Meredith on the right, with granddaughter, Jessica

Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty-five published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest River Spirits from Mundania Press. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/

Contest: The winner will be the person who comments on the most blog posts during the tour.

He or she can either have a character in my next book named after them, or choose an earlier book in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series—either a paper book or e-book.

Where do the Minor Characters Come From?

In my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series, there are a few continuing minor characters who at times have major parts.

The most important one is, of course, Nick Two John. He’s been in nearly every one of the mysteries. Another Indian, Nick is the one Tempe often goes to for answers though he tends to be enigmatic. His life partner, Claudia, pokes her head in now and then.

Other minor characters who make regular appearances are the two sheriff’s detectives, the crime scene investigator, the coroner, and the Tribal Police Chief.

In River Spirits, Miqui Sherwood makes a second appearance. She played a big part in Raging Water, picturing herself as an amateur sleuth. The character was based on a friend who begged to be in one of my books. After her first go-round, she asked to do it again.

Usually, the new minor characters consist of the murder victim and the suspects. River Spirits revolves around the murder of the male star of a low-budget film being made on the Bear Creek Indian Reservation. The cast and crew of the movie company make-up the majority of the new minor characters with a few Indians thrown into the batch.

And of course, there is the legendary Hairy Man. He’s made a couple of appearances in other books, and pops into this one too. The Hairy Man is a big presence on the Bear Creek Indian Reservation whether he’s seen or not.

Where these characters actually come from is a bit hard to pin-point. First, my imagination, though I can see each one clearly in my mind’s eye. Some of the characters are people I’ve met along the way—not necessarily as they look, but the essence of their personalities. My goal, of course, is that the reader will see them just as clearly as I do.

Marilyn Meredith

What River Spirits is About:

While filming a movie on the Bear Creek Indian Reservation, the film crew trespasses on sacred ground, threats are made against the female stars, a missing woman is found by the Hairy Man, an actor is murdered and Deputy Tempe Crabtree has no idea who is guilty. Once again, the elusive and legendary Hairy Man plays an important role in this newest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery.

I’m leaving here to meet with Cheryl Malandrinos at http://bookscanbedeadly.blogspot.com/ and writing about what might be next for Tempe.

WHERE TO FIND RIVER SPIRITS:

From the publisher, all formats:

http://mundania.com/book.php?title=River+Spirits

For Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/River-Spirits-Tempe-Crabtree-Book-ebook/dp/B00O3R83TQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412345856&sr=1-1&keywords=River+Spirits+by+Marilyn+Meredith

Amazon paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/River-Spirits-Marilyn-Meredith/dp/1606594117/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412900595&sr=1-1&keywords=river+spirits+by+marilyn+meredith

For Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/river-spirits-marilyn-meredith/1120425385?ean=2940150347090

Please leave a comment to welcome Marilyn Meredith to Book Beat Babes.

Talking To Publishers! by DL Larson

I've decided to continue in the self-publishing arena, but I'm searching for a publishing house that will help me. I simply don't have the desire or the time to do this completely on my own. So I inquired and searched many possibilities on-line. I verified my interest to a few and to my delight and surprise I've received a few phone calls from these businesses.

Both callers were friendly and professional. I think I surprised both of them by asking questions regarding marketing and book cover design. I realize making cold calls is difficult, but I was intrigued that both representatives had good answers and seemed quite knowledgeable about their particular publishing process.

It always comes down to money. How much do I want to spend and on what. I learned from my last self-pubbed book that good design and real marketing avenues are essential in creating a profit for me, the author. Last spring I entered my book, 'Promises My Love,' into a writing contest. The judge emailed back her thoughts. She spent most of her time telling me what was wrong with the cover, the book layout, etc. rather than on the contents of the book - which she liked. She told me the story should start on the right side of the page, which I knew and assumed the publishing house I contracted with did as well. When I read the proofs, I couldn't tell it would be starting on the left side of the page. Only after I received my first book, did I notice. I wasn't happy, but there was nothing I could do about it then. The money had been exchanged and the books printed. And now I must live with this or pay more to re-edit. I don't see much profit in doing that.

The other comment this judge made was about my cover. She said it was too modern a picture for a historical. Okay. But again, in picking out a cover, I was limited in choices. So, this time around, I want to either hire a graphic designer on my own or pay more for a better design vs. one from over-stock records.

I learned so much self-pubbing my last book. This time around, I am better prepared to discuss what I consider important. I will not simply assume things are done in a standard format. Each publishing house has their own unique way of doing business. They may sound very similar at first glance, but upon further investigating, I'm seeing trace differences that will affect me in the future.

My advice if you are pursuing self-publishing: leave a message on a publishers website and see what happens. Talk and ask pertinent questions that will assist you in making a decision as to whether that publishing company is for you.

Good luck!

Now I'm off to a grant writing class! I'll tell you about that next week!

Til then  ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

Don't Let Your Reader Down

I happened to watch the long-awaited wedding episode in the Castle TV series. I'd heard the wedding would take place in that episode, but for a long while into the show I couldn't tell how that would be possible. The plot seemed far from revolving around a wedding. Instead, it focused on alternative universe stuff. What did that have to do with Beckett and Castle getting married?

Well, finally, toward the very end of the show, Castle got back into the real universe, instead of the make believe. Then, glory of glories, he and Beckett decided to almost instantly get married.

Seemed like a rush job, hardly any buildup. Yes, there had been plenty of buildup before that episode, but I had hoped to savor the wondrous event at least for a while.

Yes, the wedding was lovely, including the scenery and her dress. Still, a huge disappointment to me, and I suspect, others who had waited so long for the big event.

Don't be like the writers of that show. When you write, Don't Let Your Reader Down.

Deliver what you promise, and in the best way possible.

• Let your cover reflect the genre and type of book it will be. Let the back cover copy hint at that also. 
• For a Romance - Don't pretend a book will be spicy when it isn't, and vice versa. Don't make the hero and heroine instantly fall in love for no reason. Instead, offer hints that readers can catch and understand. Don't make up silly reasons to keep them apart, when ones that make sense will work better.
• For Mystery - Don't throw in a bad guy out of nowhere. Throw in just enough clues to get the reader thinking, but not too many to make the bad guy too obvious. Don't make the good guy a complete saint, and don't make the villain a complete no-gooder. Make them real people, not cardboard characters.

Can you think of other examples of how not to let your readers down? Or, maybe another example of how you've been let down in a book, TV show, or movie?

Find all of Morgan Mandel's mysteries and romances 

on her Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Excerpts from all books at:

http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

Twitter: @MorganMandel

 

Blue State Turning RED! by DL Larson

I'm glad the ugly, nasty, no good political commercials have ceased. I didn't believe any of them. Taking half-truths, words out of context, and twisting words of an opponent to a slanderous degree is shameful. I'm sick of it! Our politicians need to be better than this. The next election comes in two years. I'd like to see ALL politicians stand on/run on something they believe in, rather than demoralizing an opponent with ugly words. From folks I've talked to, I'm not the only person who feels this way. The American people are disillusioned with our government as a whole.

The polls revealed many things. We Americans are tired of the shenanigans going on in Washington. Constant campaigning doesn't benefit the American people. Constant stone-walling, blocking progress and demanding things must be one way only is not what our forefathers had in mind. There are three branches of government for a reason. When one does not function correctly, it hinders the others. This hindrance affects the American working class the hardest.

Let's hope with this major change in Washington, we can re-set our goals. If the three branches will try to work together, they may realize everyone benefits. It becomes a win-win scenario. By-partisan committees need to find common ground where they can establish a system that provides stability for our nation. So many feel insecure in our government's decisions. Job security, immigration security, and health security hang heavy on many of us. I pray the new governmental elected officials have learned from other failed programs. No one side of the three branches has all the answers. Only by working together with a common sense approach will true progress happen.

Whether you voted blue or red, doesn't matter. What matters is we Americans must stay alert to what happens in Washington. Our voting rights are one of the few ways we show our beliefs. It's called democracy. We must stay informed and keep our politicians from running a muck again. Write to your Congressman, Senator, or Governor. They need to know the way of things in your area.

I'm asking all who read this to stay alert. Our silence does not help our cause. Ignorance surely not either. Learn to become a well informed, educated American. Read the local paper, listen to the national news. Watch more than one TV news reporter. Don't take someone else's version and make it your own - research a topic that interests you. Read the pros and cons from more than one perspective.

Illinois moved from being a democratic state to a republican state this last election. The citizens of Illinois are tired of being at the bottom of every progress chart reported. Many are ready for new blood in this state. We have such a beautiful, resourceful state and no leadership. Perhaps this change will swing things in a positive direction.

I will be watching our new state officials. I'm expecting great things to happen for the betterment of our state. I hope we can once again be proud to be from Illinois. Only time will tell.

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

   

My "Throw Back Thursday" Day! by DL Larson

My son decided to buy a truck in Quincy, a four hour drive south from where we live. He decided to ride the train down there and then drive his new truck home. I got wind of  his plans and decided to join him. I have several good reasons for doing so ... 1. I'd get to spend a whole day with my son. 2. I used to live in Quincy. and 3. I used to ride the train back and forth to school. I thought it would be fun to go down memory lane.

I'm so glad I went! First off, we rode in the business class car - big leather seats and more leg room! A much smoother ride than I remember from a few generations ago.

The train ride was three hours long, an hour shorter than it used to be!  At the train station we were picked up by the car dealer and he drove us to Hannibal, MO for the truck. We returned to Quincy, cruised the town in a shiny black truck to see if my old stomping grounds were still standing!

This is 649 Ohio Street - the infamous residence where too many parties were hosted by two very young and innocent roomies. We lived across the street from the business school we attended! Need I say more? Our apartment was 'under the stairs,' much like Harry Potter's cupboard under the stairs! When I lived there the brick was still red and the trim was white and blackish. I think I prefer the red brick, but I guess this is considered progress. I'm delighted it is still standing.

Our old bar and hangout is still there too - called the Scoreboard. Many of the world's problems were solved at that old place.

I believe it's gotten a new paint job and definitely a new roof. I only wish we'd had time to stop in for a beer. Our good friend used to live in the apartment above the tap and we'd buy pitchers of beer and carry them upstairs to the apartment. It was fun and convenient and they let us use their glasses as well. Such good memories of kind people and fun times!

Now, my old Alma mater is still open too. It's called Gem City Business College. A unique school where I learned to be the best darn secretary anyone could be.  Too bad I never really ever became a secretary, but I sure learned how to do research, type and file and find mistakes in ANYTHING!  Oh, how the Good Lord has his ways of preparing us even when we have no idea what we are doing. In those days, I never really thought about being a writer. I dropped out of Senior English for heaven's sake! Thus the main reason I attended a business college rather than a traditional college. I couldn't get in to college with only three years of English. 

I couldn't graduate from this school until I could type 90 words a minute with no mistakes and transcribe short-hand at 60 words a minute, then type up and deliver to the instructors within - I believe it was thirty minutes. This school looks simple and un-adorned from the outside, but it was brutally tough on the inside. 

And as in any school, I met the best people. My college friends are my life-long friends. I love them dearly and no matter if we don't see each other every week or every month, we keep in contact and consider them family.

So, I just dug this out of my old school album. It's November 1972. Kurt and I are newly weds, the girl next to me is my roomie and dearest friend, Jan Wheeler Beard, and next to her stands one of our good buddies of the day, Mike Liggett. We were at our graduation ceremony from Gem City Business College. Mike graduated from the Jewelry School, Jan graduated from the fashion school, and me from the business school. Kurt was there for the celebration!

Oh what a day!  Such fun spending the day with my son and going down memory lane!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

www.DLLARSON.com

Holding Out For Better

Do you always take the first product on the shelf, or are you like me, and reach for the next, in back of it, which might be less bent or fresher? It's a fact that good grocery stores rotate their products, so the oldest are in front, so many of us are wise to that system.

I wrap my dog, Rascal's vitamins in liver sausage, or she won't eat them. If I happen to let one part of a pill go uncovered, she'll ignore it and hold out for better. Unfortunately, she's getting into the habit of doing that with her dog food as well. After all, liver sausage tastes better than that other stuff in her bowl.

Countless other everyday examples abound, but since I'm a reader, as well as an author, I'd like to focus now on books. Do you ignore ones by unknown authors, and only look for ones written by those you know you like, or do you try other authors out?

Do you stop reading a book at the first sign of an author error, or do you keep reading anyway?

Do you ignore books that have covers that don't grab you?

If those are your habits, you may be missing out. There are plenty of great authors who aren't well known, yet can offer a great reading experience, if you'd only give them a chance.

About those author errors, one or two are no big thing. Unfortunately, the more you know about writing, the more picky you can get. I'm presently reading a book where the author switches point of view in spots where I'd least expect it, yet the story is so good I forgive her. If I stop reading, I won't know what'll happen next, and I really want to know. So, she may be making errors, but on the whole, her book is worth reading.

About covers, I confess to hardly ever investigating a book further, if I don't like the cover. Maybe I should. I could be missing out on something really good inside, instead of holding out for better on the outside.

What about you? Do you always hold out for better?

Find Morgan Mandel's mysteries and romances on
her Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Excerpts from all her books are at:
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

Twitter: @MorganMandel

Get Organized or Go Crazy? by DL Larson

It's that time of year when gals everywhere either go into panic mode because the holidays are coming or they get revved up because ... well, the holidays are coming!

I've been on both sides of this situation and have learned over the many, many years it is better to be ahead of the game vs. running to catch up. My daughter brought this website to my attention: http://www.flylady.net/i/pdf/hol_coj.pdf  called: Flylady's Holiday Control Journal! This gal is a list maker and she's ready to help organize the procrastinator in all of us.

As a writer, it becomes very difficult to juggle time for writing in my everyday life, let alone during the holidays. Some years I close my office and promise, "I'll be back after Christmas!" Other years I've pushed myself to the breaking point trying to maintain a writing schedule. Whichever choice I make, I feel it is not the right one. It's that little voice in the back of my mind saying, "I want to do it all!"  Well, that too, I've learned to stand up to. I do want to do it all. But again, experience has taught me, I can't do it all at once. I've learned to prioritize! Oh, how I love that word. What is really important today? Tomorrow and next week? Everything runs smoother with a plan.

My plan is to not over-schedule this year. My kids are snickering. I know they are; I see them rolling their eyes and saying, "Yeah, right, Mom!" I always over-schedule. There's so many things I enjoy doing and seeing. I enjoy hosting parties, I enjoy going to parties, plays and special outings. I love buying presents for my family. I enjoy baking - most of the time. And decorating? Well, don't get me started. I over-decorate. I have an addiction to fill every corner and crevice with holiday flare. Although I must admit I've down-sized considerably. I used to have four to five Christmas trees in my house and last year I only had three. So there is hope for me. I may yet survive another Christmas season without collapsing.

So, back to Flylady's advice. She suggests spending 15 minutes to de-clutter each room. Fifteen for the kitchen, 15 for the living room, etc. And she then suggests we rest for 15 minutes! She's not talking about deep cleaning, she advises picking up after oneself! Something we women have been asking our family members to do for generations! Pick up the papers around the house daily. Put away shoes daily. Hang coats daily. Empty the dishwasher daily. Fill said dishwasher daily. Do a load of wash daily. And isn't it the little things piling up daily that push us into a snarly mood and we feel overwhelmed at all the debris filling our living space?!?

When my kids were young, I was adamant about staying organized. If we didn't, we drowned in our own junk. Many of those regiments I began thirty-plus years ago, I still do today. I make my bed before leaving my bedroom, I throw a load of laundry in, I unload the dishwasher while my oatmeal cooks, the newspapers get tossed into the recycle bin, etc. Even with just my husband and I at home we compile a lot of litter. When I maintain this bit of organization, I feel better about spending time in my office working on my WIP. My house doesn't mock me for being neglected. I can focus. Isn't that what priorities are all about? Focusing so time is not wasted.

If time management is not your friend, visit the Flylady and see if she can help you become organized. It's only a click away. And really, it can't hurt to take a peek. I especially liked her buying/ordering page for presents. What a clever way to keep what has been purchased/ordered/received. With six grandkids, I need all the help I can find. I plan to order more this year. Flylady's tally sheet will help me tons.

Staying organized has never been easy for me, but once I am organized, it feels more like a blessing. I enjoy being organized. It's powerful and exhilarating. I like that!

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com 

Stand Out From the Crowd

As often happens, my writing analogies seem to somehow revolve around my dog, Rascal. Today's analogy may be a little bit gross, but suits the purpose.

Lots of leaves have fallen in our backyard lately. Because of that it's very difficult for me to perform pooper-scooping duties. That's because the leaves all seem to blend in and hide the treasures I'm seeking. With all those leaves creating camouflage, still, if I persevere, I can find a modicum of success, though I have a feeling I could do better.

Immediately after the lawn is mowed for the week, and the leaves are gone, I do much better finding my targets.

How does this apply to writing or promotion?

Yes, with all those other authors around, clamoring for attention, it's hard to stand out from the crowd. A few ways to clear the area, at least for a short while can be:

1. Do a promotion, such as offering a freebie or reduced price for a few days. Other authors may be doing promos as well, but not as many as those who aren't.

2. Do a newsletter, and send it to those you've noticed have been loyal followers in the past. That way, it will be easier for them to remember you.

3. Do favors for other authors, and they'll do them for you. That pulls you out of your immediate circle/background and into other ones, where perhaps not as many people know you.

4. Retweet other authors on Twitter. Some will retweet you back, and their followers will learn about you.

5. Last, but not least, this has been said often enough, but still bears repeating: Write a Good Book! Good books create buzz and word of mouth is very effective.

Your turn - Can you think of other ways to stand out from the crowd?

Morgan Mandel

Find all of Morgan Mysteries and Romances on her Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Excerpts from all of Morgan's books are at Morgan's Book Blog:

http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

Twitter: @MorganMandel

Windy City Goes To Springfield! By DL Larson

      Windy City Gals at the 2014 Illinois Library Annual Conference, Author Showcase:
         Sarah Anderson, Sonali Dev, Regina Bryant, DL Larson (me,) and Karen Doornebos!

What a great afternoon I had mingling with RWA Windy City authors. I rarely attend meetings, but I enjoy hearing the latest on our RWA Loop and going to an occasional author showcase like the one I attended today. So glad to meet up with these wonderful ladies!!!

As usual with librarians, only a few had $$ to spend on books directly from the authors in attendance. My advice to libraries everywhere ... if you plan to send more than one librarian to this yearly function, fork over some funds for them to explore and purchase for their library on their own. This is my blatant way of saying, SUPPORT ILLINOIS AUTHORS!  Buy a book!

Many authors have day jobs and re-arrange their schedule in order to attend the author showcase, perhaps pay for a sitter in the process, and have gas in the car to travel. Many of the authors I talked to were from the Chicago area and it took time and effort to be in Springfield for a day!  So please, buy a book!

Many folks collected hand-outs and that's great. I hope acquisitions departments will seriously consider purchasing books from Illinois authors. As a librarian, I know many favor B&T (that's Baker & Taylor for those wondering) when it comes to purchasing books. Some authors may have that connection, others may not. Again, please step out of the routine and buy a book from an Illinois Author!

The day flew by, but I got in line to have a photo with Jesse White, our Secretary of State and State Librarian. He's such a gentleman! We shook hands and he asked me my name and where I was from. I told him I was an author and a librarian and lived in Earlville. "Up by Ottawa?" he asked. I smiled and said, "yes!"  We took the selfie below - sorry it's crooked - that's entirely my fault - I've never taken a picture with my left hand before.  Then a professional took our picture and they will mail a copy to me!!  I shook his hand once more and stepped away, but he said something else that made me smile.  "Rips?" he asked. I turned back, laughing. "Yes, we're close to Rips. That's in Ladd!"  Rips is a famous and wonderful bar and restaurant, home of the best fried chicken in Illinois! We shared another chuckle and the next person stepped up to have their picture taken with Mr. White.

I sold a few books, talked with many great people in the book business and had a delightful ride north as my good friend drove me home! A great Thursday! Thank you, Judy for chauffeuring me today!

Now I must leave for community choir practice, when I'd rather be heading to Ladd. I'm craving some fried chicken!  I wonder if Jesse White is too!

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com