Are You Wandering in the Wilderness?! by DL Larson

Have you ever stood around wondering, waiting for something good to happen in your writing career, thinking things are going too slow?

I feel I'm always waiting for something to change. About the time something does change, I realize I'm not ready! It's actually the forces that be waiting for me!
Take my next manuscript for example. I thought it was ready for editing. I'd been searching for an editor for a few months now. But I've also been busy with other matters, mostly writing my paranormal romance series, and hadn't really taken a final look at my latest manuscript in my historical series. When I did, I discovered many things. Mostly ... I wasn't ready for an editor.

1. I'm old school in keeping my files and realized I had yet to put all my chapters together into one giant file to complete my manuscript! Oops!
2. Trying to insert numerous chapters together into one file is grueling. Correcting the page numbering ... well, let's just same I'm glad I have no broken windows and I'm not bald, yet. I have four more chapters to insert and I just can't do that to myself right now. I gave myself a few days off. I call it a 'cooling down' time. I just hope I don't forget how I did the other sixteen chapters.
3. I haven't finished that final read through - the one where you pretend you are the editor/publisher! It's amazing how problems jump off the page when I step into someone else's shoes. I haven't found too many hotspots, but I'm glad I noticed them BEFORE I sent my work to an editor.

Sometimes I amaze myself! I think I'm ready for the next big step and become antsy waiting for something to happen only to realize I'm not nearly as organized as I thought I was. I suppose that is human nature, but good grief, I had completely forgotten a few steps. Really important steps, too!

There's a saying, 'we spend most of our lives in the wilderness, waiting and wondering why we're stranded, blaming God for not helping us out, only to realize it is God waiting on us!'

Well, I've seen the error of my ways and have a huge task to complete. I wish all the work was behind me, but I know too, the journey is a story in and of itself. I learned a great deal about page numbering this last week. If anyone is having trouble with re-numbering, let me know, I may have a solution for you.

No matter where you are in your writing career, remember to enjoy the journey!

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

Janis Susan May/Janis Patterson Has People in Her Head

Janis Susan May/Janis Patterson is a 7th-generation Texan and a 3rd-generation wordsmith who writes in mystery, romance, and horror. Once an actress and a singer Janis has also been editor-in-chief of two multi-magazine publishing groups as well as many other things, including an enthusiastic amateur Egyptologist. Janis’ husband even proposed in a moonlit garden near the Pyramids of Giza. Janis and her husband live in Texas with an assortment of rescued furbabies. 

Website: http://www.JanisSusanMay.com

The People in My Head  

by Janis Susan May/Janis Patterson

One Christmas my best friend (also a writer) gave me a sweatshirt with the saying “Writer’s Block – when your imaginary friends won’t talk to you.”

Truer words were never spoken.

Every so often someone presents a program at one of my writers’ groups on how to create characters. They bring charts and questionnaires and personality assessments of varying lengths and complexities and talk about how to create a complete character from scratch. They talk about how to give him a backstory and outlook, even down to his favorite flavor of Jello. I’ve dutifully taken down every scrap of information and – for a while – tried every system.

It didn’t work. Oh, I created some lovely characters on paper, fully rounded and complete with all the requisite quirks, strengths and histories, but that’s all they were – paper. I was Frankenstein without the lightning, and my carefully created characters were nothing but lifeless pixels.

My method? Stand out of the way. While I envy those who can create their characters to their specifications, I can’t do it. My characters simply walk in and take over. Yes, just like possession, though not as frightening or dire. My characters are like real people, with all the attendant flaws, quirks and differing histories. And no, I don’t think they’re Mary Sues (ie, perfect versions of me). Sometimes I don’t even particularly like them, but I can’t change them.

For example, take my heroines. Admittedly, some of them share a few traits with me – for example, we’re all female (a given). On the other hand, all are younger than I, which these days covers more and more age groups. Most are tall (which I wish I were), but a few are short. Most are fair and blonde or redhead (which most definitely I wish I were) but a few have dark hair and olive complexions. Some are spunky and courageous and a few are – in the beginning, at least – cringing, browbeaten cowards who must grow into fully rounded humans. Neither one of these extremes describes me at all. One or two have been downright snots who I would have kicked out of my house if they had been substantial enough to be kickable! Same goes with the heroes; one of my most popular heroes is a man whom in real life I wouldn’t have spoken to twice. Go figure.

So what do I do? How do I start a book? It’s not a formula graven in stone, but generally a situation creeps into my mind. It could be sparked by a bit of conversation heard in a restaurant, a news item, something I read, even something I experienced. It’s never the whole thing, though – whatever it is, it’s like a grass seed. It burrows into my mind and lies dormant there, often for years, then something brings it to life and it starts to grow. As it grows people appear.

Yes, they just appear, marching into my mind and pretty much refusing to be changed.  One character told me his name – which was not the one I wanted to give him – and refused to do anything until I called him by the name he chose. Determined not to be bullied by a figment of my imagination, I persevered, but the result was lifeless. What had promised to become a fascinating character became a jerky, wooden puppet. I decided to experiment and wrote a chapter using the name he wanted. It was so easy! Everything came to life and the writing flowed. The eventual result was one of my most popular books.

When I told The Husband (who had been listening to my woes for a week or more) about what had happened, he looked as me as if gauging the measurements necessary for a straightjacket, and I could hardly blame him. He is a totally grounded science guy, but you’d think after all the time we’ve been married he’d have gotten used to my ‘writer-weirdnesses’ by now!

If there is any useful advice in this post, it is to listen to your characters. Character is what makes a good story. A situation is the seed, but a situation is not a plot. A plot, to me at least, is the story of the interaction between the characters and their varying, sometimes changeable desires. Every character must have his own reason for being – past, desires for the future, foibles, hurts, prides, all the things that make anyone human. No character should ever exist just to forward the story. Of course, I’m talking about major and most secondary characters – you don’t have to give the convenience store clerk who sells the heroine a package of gum and is never referenced again a backstory. Unless he decides not to be ignored and works his way into a major character!

So – when your imaginary friends talk to you, you’d do good to listen.

Here are two wonderful books to check out, resulting from the voices in her head. Apparently, those voices also insisted she write under two different pen names: Janis Susan May and Janis Patterson.

FAMILY OF STRANGERS 

A Gothic novel of Victorian Scotland where a young widow discovers that an unexpected legacy has turned her husband’s unknown family away from her while a callous predator plotting her death wears a smiling face.

Cast upon the cold charity of her late husband’s unknown family, Linnet MacTaggert is shocked that her brother-in-law was her husband’s exact twin. Both complications and threats ensue when it is known that she is the sole heiress to the estate, a situation that only worsens when she finds herself drawn to the family’s arch-enemy. But is her husband truly dead? Before Linnet can solve the mysteries that surround Jura House she must not only put herself at risk, but also almost lose her life.

Amazon : http://amzn.com/B00FA61V5M

B&N : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/family-of-strangers-a-gothic-novel-of-victorian-scotland-janis-susan-may/1116944978?ean=2940148543398

Apple : https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id711481209

Kobo : http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/family-of-strangers-a-gothic-novel-of-victorian-scotland

BEADED TO DEATH

Amazon : http://amzn.com/B008O53S1Q

B&N : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beaded-to-death-janis-patterson/1112252129?ean=9781426894435

Kobo : http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/beaded-to-death

Please welcome Janis to Book Beat Babes by leaving a comment.

Dreams...

Do you remember dreaming about what you'd be when you grew up? The real question - did you follow that dream?

Well, my dream was to be an archaeologist, either study dinosaur bones or study hieroglyphics.

No, I didn't do either one.

But I did enjoy reading all the books I could on Egypt, learning to read the hieroglyphics, and still enjoy reading fiction on my favorite persons - Cleopatra and Nefertiti.

I did dream of wanting to write as a kid and began later with poetry. So, some dreams do come true.

And as a writer, I can still indulge my love of ancient Egypt and dinosaurs if I want, simply by putting them in a story!

I dreamed of writing fiction and books like my latest, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie.

Who says dreams don't come true?

** So.... what did you dream of doing - and did you accomplish it or take a different course?

Indie or Traditional by Margot Justes

Much has been written and debated about indie or traditional publishing. There is no perfect solution, it is up to the individual writer to decide which way to go. Neither are easy. A writer can submit to an agent, or go directly to the publishing house. Some houses require an agent, others do not. That research should be done by the writer.

Getting an agent is not easy, and there will be many rejections. The process is subjective, one agent will hate it, another will love it, and between that time of hate and love, the rejections mount up.

Once you get an agent, a contract needs to be signed. I firmly believe that a literary attorney should review it. An agent will attempt to sell your book to the publisher, and once sold, there is another  contract to sign, and same proviso should apply, a literary attorney should review the publishing contract.

There is a great deal of information available about agents and publishers and their submission requirements. Do your research before you proceed. There is no point in submitting to an agency that only handles non-fiction when you write romance.

Let’s say you have an agent, and the manuscript is sold. A writer still needs to do the marketing and promotion, while the editing, cover art, all those lovely things will be done by the publisher.

The indie route places a lot more responsibility on you, the writer. Again, a good product is a must, a good editor is also a must. A requirement. You, as the writer have complete say in your cover, your back page, getting your book out, and all the marketing and promotions. There are editing and formatting, and cover art costs.  Unless you feel well equipped to do all of it.

I have a formatter, a cover artist, and a fabulous editor.

In both cases indie and traditional, you must have a website, a blog, or two or three, and the required social media outlets.

I’ve been with a small traditional press, and once I regained the right to my first novel, I went indie. I like it that way. I like the freedom. It’s an uphill battle, but I found it is better to work for myself. Amazon pays royalties monthly, and sales are clear cut. I have a long way to go, before I can make a living writing, but progress is being made.

One author whose blogs I would recommend if you want to go the indie route is Joe Konrath. His blogs are helpful, and a tremendous asset to an indie writer. He’s articulate and upfront about the writing business. http://jakonrath.blogspot.com

Cheers,

Margot  Justes

Blood Art

A Hotel in Paris

A Hotel in Bath

Hot Crimes Cool Chicks

www.mjustes.com

Should You or Should You Not DIY?

The number of authors publishing through independent means such as Amazon, NOOKPress, Smashwords, etc is exploding, but with that independence comes a host of responsibilities that traditional publishers (both large and small) took care of.  There are a plethora of other companies springing up that take care of these responsibilities for you, but for a fee, of course.

What are some of those responsibilities?  Well, to start with there are the formatting issues that each publication process requires, book cover art, editing and proof reading and indexing for non-fiction; etc., and if you think these things don’t matter – think again.

All of these processes matter to the success of your book and don’t get me wrong, there are authors who’ve done just fine juggling all these different responsibilities and are quite successful, but some authors decide along the way that it’s just better to outsource some of these responsibilities so they can do the one thing they really want to do and that is write.

For those of us who independently publish our work, there are many tough choices to make.  Do we “do-it-ourselves” when it comes to editing, book cover art, publicity, etc., or do we outsource one or all of it to someone else.  More often than not it comes down to what we can afford to do or not do, but in the end if we spend all that time writing a novel or non-fiction book, we want people to notice it and buy it and come back for more if we’ve actually continued to publish.

Take the example of Russell Blake who is a self-published author and who has released 25 books in the last 30 months  He was recently profiled by the Wall Street Journal in an article dated Jan 7, 2014.  Here’s the link:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303640604579298604044404682

The article is a fascinating read!  I was struck by the fact that Mr. Blake started outsourcing certain aspects of the self-publishing process so he could focus more on the writing aspect.  After all, isn’t writing the main aspect of being a writer/author?  I was also fascinated by how he positioned himself to be able to outsource those pieces and I think all writers/authors should take note of the lessons they can learn from what Mr. Blake has done.

I haven’t read any of his books – yet – but, I’m very curious about his process as a writer and once you read this article, you will be as well.

The Rest of the Story! by DL Larson

A news broadcaster, Paul Harvey, used to have a segment on his radio show called, The rest of the story. He would share back-stories with his audience to reveal a truth few knew existed. It was usually entertaining, noteworthy and just plain interesting. I thought of Paul Harvey when I received this little story and decided to share it with you today.

I take no credit in the writing. I don't know who wrote it, and I'm pretty sure it's true, but again, it may be somebody's imagination. What it is ... is a good bit of writing that feels informative, and above all entertaining!

Here goes:

Subject: Who is Mr. Gorsky?
In case you didn't already know this little tidbit of trivia, on July 20, 1969, as commander of the Apollo 11 Lunar module, Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon.

His first words after stepping on the moon, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," were televised to earth and heard by millions. But just before Armstrong re-entered the lander, he made the enigmatic remark, "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky."

Many people at NASA thought it was a casual remark concerning some rival Soviet cosmonaut. However, upon checking there was no Gorsky in either the Russian or American space programs.

Over the years, many people questions Armstrong as to what the "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky" statement meant, but Armstrong always just smiled.

On July 5, 1995, in Tampa Bay, Florida, while answering questions following a speech, a reporter brought up the 26-year old question about Mr. Gorsky. This time Armstrong responded because Mr. Gorsky had died, he felt he could answer the question.

Here is the answer to "Who was Mr. Gorsky?"

In 1938, when Armstrong was a kid in a small mid-western town, he was playing baseball with a friend in the back yard. His friend hit the ball, which landed in his neighbors yard by their bedroom window. His neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. Gorsky.

As Neil leaned down to pick up the ball, he heard Mrs. Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky, "Sex! You want sex! You'll get sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!"



Now go have some fun today!!

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Here's Marilyn (F.M.) Meredith, With the LowDown on Conferences and Conventions

Today, I'm happy to host multi-published mystery author, speaker, and more, the amazing Marilyn (F.M.) Meredith, who offers valuable insights on conferences and conventions. - Morgan Mandel

Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty-five published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series. She borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the town of Bear Creek and the surrounding area, including the nearby Tule River Indian Reservation. She does like to remind everyone that she is writing fiction. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. 

Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and follow her blog at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

ABOUT MYSTERY CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS

by Marilyn Meredith

Probably everyone who reads this will know the difference, but just in case, here’s my explanation. Conferences are more of the “how to” variety, how to write a mystery, how to create convincing characters, how to make sure you get your forensics right, how to kill someone off in a new and innovative manner, and so on. A mystery convention is geared to fans, those wonderful readers who love to read (and buy) mysteries and actually enjoy listening to authors talk about how they came to write their mystery, or how they did the research for it, or how they created their characters, and so on.

Many mystery writers attend both. At a mystery conference there might be one of the presenters telling how they do all of the above mentioned how-tos and of course, they will figure out how to talk about their own book in a subtle manner so those listening will be curious and want to buy their books.

At the convention, the mystery writer hopes to sparkle and entertain in the hopes that those listening will be eager to buy his or her book.

I’ve gone to lots of both types of mystery confabs. The biggest of course is Bouchercon. This one is held all over the country and has the biggest attendance of both fans and mystery writers. This is the place to see some of the biggest and most popular mystery writers in the business. It can be pretty overwhelming at times. You might make a new friend and never be able to find them again among the throngs of people. Long Beach, CA is the location for 2014.

Left Coast Crime is the second largest mystery con and always held on the left coast (though once that left coast was in Britain and another time in El Paso TX, and yet another in Hawaii. It’s smaller than Bouchercon, though many big name authors are always in attendance and lots of wonderful fans. This year it will be in Monterey, CA.

A fairly new one is Thrillerfest, always in New York, with lots of big name authors and opportunities to learn about the craft of writing thrillers.

Then there are other smaller cons and conferences like Love is Murder which is always in Chicago. Some big names attend this one too—just not quite as many because there just aren’t as many people who go. It is also a writer’s conference as there are lots of opportunities to learn about writing mysteries and there are usually a few publishers and agents in attendance.

A writing conference that is rather unique is the Public Safety Writers Association. The organization was started by a law enforcement officer for law enforcement officers who write or want to write. Over the years it has embraced other public safety fields and people who write fiction and non-fiction about any of the public safety fields and have included mystery writers.

This is the smallest of all the cons that I’ve mentioned, but it has top-notch experts in forensics and all aspects of law enforcement as well as publishers and editors on hand. Because it’s small, there is ample opportunity to network. Anyone who wants to be on a panel is welcomed. To learn more about the PSWA conference go to: http://www.publicsafetywriter.com

Other areas of the country hold smaller conferences too, way too many to list here, but you can easily do an Internet search and find them.

Some conferences and the hotels they are held in are more expensive than others, if you’re on a strict budget, that might influence you too.

My advice to anyone wanting to go to any convention or conference, register early. If at all possible, stay in the hotel where the con is being held. Plan to get to the conference a day ahead of time so you don’t miss anything. While at the conference, be friendly, talk to everyone. This is the best way to meet people. If you don’t have anyone to go to dinner with, ask someone to go with you. If they already have plans, ask the next person. Hand out your business card to everyone. If you’re fortunate enough to be on a panel, smile a lot, be funny, tell about your book but don’t go on and on about it, and don’t hog the panel.

Go to the panels that interest you the most. Hang out in the bar in the evenings—you don’t have to drink—just get acquainted with folks. And again, talk to people. Find out why they’re at the con—are they a writer, find out what they write, are they a reader? Tell them about your book.

And on a practical note, wear comfortable shoes and always have a sweater with you, sometimes the conference rooms are way too cold.

What are your favorite cons and why?

Marilyn Meredith

Marilyn’s latest mystery is Spirit Shapes: Ghost hunters stumble upon a murdered teen in a haunted house. Deputy Tempe Crabtree's investigation pulls her into a whirlwind of restless spirits, good and evil, intertwined with the past and the present, and demons and angels at war.

http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Shapes-Crabtree-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00FEJDA04/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381522525&sr=8-1&keywords=Spirit+Shapes+by+Marilyn+Meredith

Please welcome Marilyn Meredith to Book Beat Babes by Leaving a comment.

Niche Market by Margot Justes Redux

How does an author find the perfect niche market and utilize it? Should be simple, target people with the same interests as your stories. Not so simple.

The internet and its web has huge potential marketability. How to harness all those intricate components?

I write about travel, art, mayhem and romance, mostly romance. Many people are interested in travel, art and many of the same people read romance novels. How do I reach them? This particular query would apply to many writers who have a niche market and are trying to find it.

I’m in the process of doing just that. I’m not good at promotion, that makes it doubly difficult, the plus side is that I’m willing to learn, and I’m willing to let readers know I’m here. The big question is how do I do that?

One way is to do a blog tour, or write blogs that others will post.  I’m half way there. Hopefully by the time I get back from vacation I’ll have a few blogs to write, and the tangled magic web will allow my name to reach a few more readers. I asked someone to do the research for me, it’s an affordable way to start, especially since I had no clue where to begin. I’ll post a blog about the success or lack thereof.

Since most of the sales are on line for the majority of midlist authors, it is safe to say that books should be priced accordingly; that means reasonably. Give the readers a chance to take a peek at your work.  I priced A Hotel in Paris at $1.99, and my new releases,  A Hotel in Bath as well as Blood Art at $2.99. I’ve offered A Hotel in Paris for free on Amazon once, and am still not sure that it is the way to go. I’ve read both positive and negative results, and haven’t made up my mind yet whether it was worthwhile. There were many downloads, but the end result was mixed. I’m keeping that as an option.

I may attend a couple of conferences this year to help with the name recognition, and I have advertised with Affaire de Coeur. I’ve read that the more work you have out, the better the name recognition, and that three books is a good start. I have four out, and another on the way for Valentine’s Day.

It is a slow and painstaking process, this name recognition game, but an incredible learning opportunity. I’m looking forward to it.

Blood Art Goodreads giveawy is still going on.  https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/77996-blood-art

Cheers,

Margot  Justes

A Hotel in Paris

A Hotel in Bath

Blood Art

Hot Crimes Cool Chicks

www.mjustes.com

Upcoming Events for Writers! by DL Larson

Have you considered entering any contests this season? Or plan to attend a writers conference?

Now's the time. Each month I swish through my writer magazines and end up at the back of the periodicals where the contests and conferences are posted. I look at each carefully, contemplating if this conference or that contest would benefit my writing career.

Here are a few I found interesting.

2014 Reader's Choice Bean Pot Contest for Published Authors.
This contest is for romance writers and they are accepting published work from 2013, self-pubbed or traditional. For more info, visit http://necrwa.org/blog1/contests/#beanpot

Touched by Love Award
This RWA chapter is looking for inspirational manuscripts. For more info, visit
http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org


Write Touch Readers' Award
This contest is for novel length romances with a 2013 copyright. For more info,
visit http://www.wisrwa.org/


Chicago-North has their yearly contest and offer several categories for entries.
For more info, visit http://www.chicagonorthrwa.org/fire-and-ice-contest/


The Laurie ~ Smoky Mountain Romance Writers! I was a finalist one year in this
contest! I remember it fondly, so had to post it. For more info, visit
http://www.smrw.org/contest


Most of these have a deadline sometime in February. And of course, many other contests are out there with deadlines in March or April. So take time to research and find a contest that may help you with your writing career.

Conferences are a double-edged sword for me. I enjoy attending, enjoy talking with other writers, but I also find myself wandering a bit, wondering what exactly am I supposed to learn at a conference. Usually there are editors, publishers and agents available for the two minute pitch, which to this day, I dread and never feel like myself when talking to them. Then the book signings are another level of stress. Most attendees will purchase the speakers latest release and we others are left to smile and chit-chat with the masses and be content with selling a few books. Conferences can become a huge expense and so I caution all writers to be sure the conference you attend has what you need or want.

With that being said, here are a few I think would be worthwhile for an upcoming author:

SpringFling Writers Conference in the Chicago area, April 25-26th. Some great editors, and agents will be in attendance as well bestselling authors Courtney Milan and Julie Ann Walker. For more info, visit: http://www.chicagospringfling.com


The San Francisco Writers Conference may still have a few openings left. It's Feb. 13-17th, and offering many well known authors, editors and publishers from as far away as New York, to Los Angeles and the San Francisco bay area. They are offering pre/post event classes. For more info, visit: http://www.SFWriters.org


Interested in screen-writing? Maybe the California Genre-LA Writers Conference would be a good fit for you. It's coming up fast, Feb. 8-9th. There may be a few openings left. For more info, visit: http://www.wcwriters.com/genrela


Looking for a warm get-away? Maybe Florida is the place for you. 2014 Hearts in the Sand Writers' Conference is set for Feb. 15th in Naples/Ft. Myers. This conference is focusing on 'marketing your book.' For more info, visit: http://swfrw.org


Whether you attend a conference or enter a contest is a tough decision. The cost must be considered, but if you are wondering what opportunities are available, then click some of these links and see if a contest is right for you. Then move on with your own research for a conference/contest.

Maybe this year is the year to attend a conference and mingle with other writers. Writing is a lonely business and a conference offers comradery and a level of acceptance that isn't easily found. I attended a writers conference in Salt Lake City one year. I didn't know a soul, but had a really good time. I even sold a few books and a few asked me for advice, which I did my best to answer in an upbeat way.

Good hunting in your searches for a conference or contest that is beneficial to you.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

Award Winning Cozy Mystery Author, Lois Winston, Offers Advice on Cliffhangers

I'm happy to welcome the talented mystery author, Lois Winston, wearer of many hats and names. Morgan Mandel

Award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, and non-fiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. 

Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” 

In addition, Lois is a literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. 

Visit Lois at www.loiswinston.com, visit Emma at www.emmacarlyle.com, 

and visit Anastasia at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog, www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. 

Follow everyone on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth and 

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/anasleuth

Cliffhangers

by Lois Winston

Early in my writing career I received a valuable piece of advice that I have always followed: Never end a chapter with your character going to sleep.

As an author, you never want to give your readers a reason to close your book. You want them to get to the end of the chapter and be so involved in your story that, no matter how tired they are, they absolutely, positively must turn the page to find out what happens next. This is known as the chapter-ending hook.

The chapter-ending hook is a great way to keep your readers turning pages, but what happens when they come to the last page of your book? If you’re writing a series, you want readers to pick up the next book in the series. One way to do this is to employ a cliffhanger ending.

The cliffhanger format was used with much success in the early days of cinema. Along with two weekly feature films, theaters would screen serials, longer movies that were broken up into weekly episodes. Each episode would end with the hero or heroine facing imminent death. Common scenarios included, among others, the hero or heroine dangling over the edge of a cliff (a literal cliffhanger and source of the term,) trapped in a burning building, tied to railroad tracks as a train steamed toward them, unconscious in a plummeting airplane, or bound to a chair and staring helplessly at a lit stick of dynamite. Moviegoers would have to return the following week to see if they escaped in the nick of time. They did, of course, but only to be plunged into a new peril at the end of that episode.

Cliffhangers have continued to be popular, especially in TV shows where it’s common to end a season leaving viewers guessing what happens next. Only with television shows, fans have to wait months, rather than a mere week.

Cliffhangers have been around long before television and movies, though. In Homer’s Odyssey, book four ends with an ambush being set for Odysseus’s son Telemachus, but readers don’t learn what happens to Telemachus until nearly the end of the next book.

As a writer of a mystery series, along with wanting readers to keep turning the pages of my books to find out what happens next, I want them to buy my next book, along with every other book in the series, as I continue to publish them. One way I do this is to employ a cliffhanger at the end of each book in the series.

Of course, I don’t keep the reader hanging as to the identity of the killer. I know that every book must have a resolution to the plot, and by the end of each of my books, my amateur sleuth has figured out whodunit. Mystery readers don’t want to get to the end of a book to find the murder hasn’t been solved or the killer hasn’t been caught. That’s a surefire way to lose readers.

However, I take a page from old movie serials by setting up the next book at the end of the preceding book. I do this with ongoing character arcs. My books end with a cliffhanger involving one of the continuing characters in the series. This becomes the lead-in to the murder that occurs in the next book. I’d give you examples, but I’m not one to supply spoilers of my own books. I’d rather have you read the books to find out for yourself. (How’s that for a cliffhanger ending to this article?)

About Decoupage Can Be Deadly 

by Lois Winston

In the fourth Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Anastasia and her fellow American Woman editors are steaming mad when minutes before the opening of a consumer show, they discover half their booth usurped by Bling!, their publisher’s newest magazine. CEO Alfred Gruenwald is sporting new arm candy—rapper-turned-entrepreneur and Bling! executive editor, the first-name-only Philomena. During the consumer show, Gruenwald’s wife serves Philomena with an alienation of affection lawsuit, but Philomena doesn’t live long enough to make an appearance in court. She’s found dead days later, stuffed in the shipping case that held Anastasia’s decoupage crafts. When Gruenwald makes cash-strapped Anastasia an offer she can’t refuse, she wonders, does he really want to find Philomena’s killer or is he harboring a hidden agenda?

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GHX3BDW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00GHX3BDW&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20

Visit Lois at www.loiswinston.com, visit Emma at www.emmacarlyle.com, 

and visit Anastasia at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog, www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. 

Follow everyone on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth and 

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/anasleuth

Please welcome Lois Winston to Book Beat Babes by leaving a comment.

Bullying and yes Zombies

Bullying is a problem that has gone on for decades, maybe centuries. You think maybe the cavemen were picking on each other, too?

And... even in the fictional #zombie world, it seems, you'll have bullies. I mean, what can be worse than being a teenager-- and then turning part-zombie??

I talk more about this and provide an excerpt of my book, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie at the other blog today. Hope you'll stop by.

Giveaways by Margot Justes

I have done a free Amazon promotion for A Hotel in Paris just once, and don’t believe I’ll do it again. It didn’t work for me. Many readers downloaded the novel, but I have no idea how many actually read it, and how many downloaded it simply because it was free.

In the constant review of the marketing strategy, for the first time I’m trying a giveaway for Blood Art on Goodreads. The event will run through February 9th. I also plan to run a giveaway on Goodreads in February for A Fire Within, which will be released in February for Valentine’s Day. Along with the release there will be a blog about Chicago, since the story is set there.

I’ve selected a few quotes from both Blood Art and A Fire Within, that I’ll post on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. Simple ways to advertise the work, and maybe reach new readers. I have no idea how effective it will be, but it’s a good start. It’s always fun to think of other ideas; all part of the writing process.

Please feel free to mention your marketing strategies. It’s interesting to see what works for others.

Here is the link to the Blood Art Goodreads give away https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/77996-blood-art

Cheers,

Margot  Justes

A Hotel in Paris

A Hotel in Bath

Hot Crimes Cool Chicks

www.mjustes.com

What Keeps You Writing? by DL Larson

Last night I attended the monthly WindyCity RWA meeting. My schedule rarely allows me to go to these wonderful meetings where other writers and authors are gathered to talk about the writing business. Our past president, Denise Swanson, NYT Best Seller,(and a guest blogger here a few months ago!!) was presenting her "Secrets To Success." So of course, I wanted to hear all her secrets and in the meantime catch up on news that is always buzzing at our meetings.

Denise gave us a three step process she uses: Inspiration, Motivation and Persperation! Her success is not built out of fairie dust, magic wands or the path of somebody who knows somebody can get you published. Hard work and dedication found her on the NYT best seller list.

She didn't give up! She chiseled time each day to work on her WIP (work in progress.)
The pages add up if one makes the effort. It always comes down to that - effort and commitment. Denise continues to write each day; she quit her day job and gives her full attention to writing. That alone is a dream for many, a means to support ourselves through our writing. The only way to reach such a mark of success is to keep trying, keep writing, perfecting our words on paper til someone notices.

Over-night success rarely happens in the real world. We all know that. Deep down we understand fame rising out of nowhere actually came from numerous years spent hammering at the keyboard and soliciting to editors and publishers. Denise mentioned her first eleven books did well, but it was her twelth book that hit the NYT best seller list. What an incredible story! She had already been successful with her previous books, but her continued determination and regiment kept her climbing that incredibly slippery slope to reach such acclaim.

I'm inspired by stories such as Denise shared with us last night. It reminded me to not give up, and to keep my spirits up, which translates to, 'don't beat yourself up 'cause you haven't hit your invisible success mark!'

My favorite quote for inspiration comes from an old Clint Eastwood movie, The Outlaw Jose Wales ... the old Indian is rambling about the white man and all the changes they brought. He finishes with the quote, "I endeavor to persevere!" And so as a writer I'm reminded to keep pushing, keep working, keep reaching for the star of success. It's the only way to succeed.

So, what keeps me writing?
Mostly my characters. I see them wandering around in my head, wondering if I'm going to finish their story. I can't leave them stranded. I am their voice and so I put my butt in the chair and continue on.

My pride keeps me writing. I want to finish what I've started. My stories keep spreading out before me and I write diligently to keep up. It's exhausting, but I'm too proud to quit. I'm not a quitter. I believe I mentioned this before.

I love the creations I've made. I relate it to having children. My books are my babies. I protect them, perhaps a bit too much, but I want each to find a good home and that means a good publishing place where they will be treated with respect.

I can't stop myself! I firmly believe a writer has to write or they are not happy within themselves. Or so it is with me.

So how about you? What keeps you writing?
I'd love to hear your reasons.

Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com