“Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time.” – T.S. Eliot
In my last post I worried I’d lost the ability to pass time in a perfectly useless manner. Only minutes into vacation I discovered, like riding a bike, the knack comes back quickly. Though I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Saint Augustine and I do feel well rested, I can’t help but wonder if vacations are worth it.
Here are a few of the reasons I’m thinking they’re not:
Time, except in hospitals, airports and airplanes, moves at a rather fast clip. Vacation time, however, passes with the speed of light. No sooner had we set up camp in the North Beach RV Park, we found ourselves dismantling for the trip home. The long leisurely hours I’d imagined sitting around reading and doing nothing dissipated before ever materializing. Where did they go? It’s like they were sucked into a black hole before I had a chance to enjoy them.
On the trip home, we spent six hours pulled over on the shoulder of a busy highway waiting for help to arrive to repair two blown trailer tires, another couple of hours in the lovely confines of a tire repair shop, and an extra night away from home.
There’s a mound of dirty, sandy laundry sitting in front of the washer.
There is nothing to eat or drink in the house so a serious shopping trip is sorely needed.
Though most of the contents of a plastic bag full of mail will go directly into the trash, we still have to wade through it.
My ‘to do’ list, neglected for a week, now looks more like a novella than a list.
It’ll take days to catch up on the missed posts of my favorite bloggers, read and respond to email, and return phone calls.
To me, vacation is an invitation to eat and drink whatever I want. Now that it’s over, I wish I’d shown a little restraint. At my age, extra pounds adhere to my body like they were attached with super glue. Like a tacky souvenir, I’ll be reminded of my folly on a daily basis.
My muse obviously took a separate and extended vacation. She has me wondering if I’ll ever see her again.
So as I struggle to catch up and get back into my writing routine, I’m trying hard to convince myself that T.S. Eliot knew what he was talking about and that the time I wasted last week was really worth it.
Here’s a travel advisory for anyone heading to the Saint Augustine, Florida, area: I drank from the Fountain of Youth—it doesn’t work.
What do you think—are vacations worth it?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: T. S. Eliot, vacation, muse, guilt, travel advisory, Saint Augustine, Fountain of Youth,
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Relearning How to Live
“If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live.” – Lyn Yutang
At one time, prior to the release of The Ride, I was quite the expert in my ability to spend time in a perfectly useless manner. Since the release about a year ago, whenever I try to hone back in on this skill, I am besieged by guilt. My mind races through my lists of marketing ideas to act on, updates needed on my website, blogs to write, blogs to read, and writing projects to start or finish. My “to do” list is endless. I scratch off one item and add twenty more to it.
A recent attempt to loaf went something like this:
“How can you waste time with so much to do?” an annoying voice in my head uttered.
“Leave me alone,” I whined.
Lists…voices in my head…conversations with myself…
“Oh no,” I yelled, “I’m becoming Barbie!”
Barbie, for those who don’t know, is the main character in The Ride. She’s a compulsive list maker who regularly carries on conversations with herself. While I’ve grown quite fond of her, I don’t want to be her—especially her “early in the book” self.
I decided I needed a break.
I wrote this blog a few days ago and set it to automatically post. Then my husband and I loaded up our travel trailer and headed north to Saint Augustine, Florida. My intention is to spend a few wonderful days learning how to live again.
If my muse tags along on this trip, she’ll be most welcome. Writing is a joy so I’d never try to stifle any creative ideas. I do, however, intend to short circuit any thoughts remotely related to any other aspect of being a writer. I’m not sure we’ll have access to wi-fi. It will be better if we don’t because I’ll find it easier to disconnect myself completely from the world around me if I have no choice in the matter.
So if you haven’t seen me hanging around your blogs or forums this week, know it’s nothing personal. I’ll be back—hopefully without any annoying voices in my head.
Are you able to spend an afternoon or longer in a perfectly useless manner?
Thanks for stopping by,
Tags: The Ride, Yutang, Barbie, guilt, wi-fi, Saint Augustine,
At one time, prior to the release of The Ride, I was quite the expert in my ability to spend time in a perfectly useless manner. Since the release about a year ago, whenever I try to hone back in on this skill, I am besieged by guilt. My mind races through my lists of marketing ideas to act on, updates needed on my website, blogs to write, blogs to read, and writing projects to start or finish. My “to do” list is endless. I scratch off one item and add twenty more to it.
A recent attempt to loaf went something like this:
“How can you waste time with so much to do?” an annoying voice in my head uttered.
“Leave me alone,” I whined.
Lists…voices in my head…conversations with myself…
“Oh no,” I yelled, “I’m becoming Barbie!”
Barbie, for those who don’t know, is the main character in The Ride. She’s a compulsive list maker who regularly carries on conversations with herself. While I’ve grown quite fond of her, I don’t want to be her—especially her “early in the book” self.
I decided I needed a break.
I wrote this blog a few days ago and set it to automatically post. Then my husband and I loaded up our travel trailer and headed north to Saint Augustine, Florida. My intention is to spend a few wonderful days learning how to live again.
If my muse tags along on this trip, she’ll be most welcome. Writing is a joy so I’d never try to stifle any creative ideas. I do, however, intend to short circuit any thoughts remotely related to any other aspect of being a writer. I’m not sure we’ll have access to wi-fi. It will be better if we don’t because I’ll find it easier to disconnect myself completely from the world around me if I have no choice in the matter.
So if you haven’t seen me hanging around your blogs or forums this week, know it’s nothing personal. I’ll be back—hopefully without any annoying voices in my head.
Are you able to spend an afternoon or longer in a perfectly useless manner?
Thanks for stopping by,
Tags: The Ride, Yutang, Barbie, guilt, wi-fi, Saint Augustine,
Monday, August 24, 2009
Acquisition Editor for a Day
“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe…” – Children’s Rhyme
About a week ago, I attended a workshop at the Gulf Coast Writer’s Association monthly meeting led by Robert Gelinas, the founder of ArcheBooks Publishing. The topic was “Better Submissions by Sitting In the Editor’s Chair.” I knew it would be a fun learning experience because I’ve attended some of his other workshops. I wasn’t disappointed.
The submission guidelines for ArcheBooks are quite easy to find on their website. Once you click on them, you see the following (it’s hard to miss the uppercase red letters): “NO PAPER/HARDCOPY QUERIES OR SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE ELECTRONIC VIA EMAIL PER THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.” Yet ArcheBooks receives piles of submissions daily in the mail.
Some of these submissions were used for the workshop. The idea was not to belittle these authors and agents who obviously cannot follow directions, but to do a little role playing instead. For a couple of hours, a group of authors became a group of acquisition editors. It was an eye-opening experience.
We divided into four groups of ten or so people. Each group had about twelve pieces of mail to open, read and evaluate. The goal was for each group to pick one project to support. We needed to be able to defend why the choice was the best option for the one publishing slot available. Eventually we would need to convince the other groups to support the selection.
It was, as you can imagine, easier said than done. Ten people have ten different ideas of what constitutes a good book. Also, publishers are in the business to make money, so we couldn’t simply pick the manuscript that looked like it had the best writing style or sounded the most interesting. We needed a sellable project. Therefore, the major consideration was finding the one submission with the most marketing appeal either due to subject matter or the author’s credentials.
Other than not following the guideline rules, we also ran across obvious misspellings, poor sentence structure, sloppy work, and missing information. Editors notice these things right off the bat. It’s their job. Regardless of how big or small the publishing house, they want to deal with writers who are professional and know how to write.
After spending a couple of hours as an acquisitions editor, I now feel qualified to offer the following suggestions to anyone going through the process of submitting manuscripts:
1) Take the time to check out the website of the publisher. If they don’t publish your genre, don’t send your manuscript hoping they’ll change their mind because of how well it’s written. They won’t.
2) Follow the guidelines carefully. Check and recheck that you are submitting exactly what they ask for and that it’s presented in the required format. If they ask for electronic submissions, by all means, submit electronically.
3) Proofread and edit every page of your submission. Then do it again, and again and…
4) Make sure the package looks professional. Don’t send in a wrinkled scrap of paper with a note scribbled on it and expect someone to take the time to read it.
5) If you are ever tempted to deviate, get creative, or ignore the guidelines, just visualize a huge dumpster where your labor of love ends up without being opened (unless it’s used as a teaching tool prior to that point).
Of course, there are always exceptions to the above list. For example, our table selected a project where the query letter was written in a cartoon format. (It’s a long story. I’ll save it for another day.)
I left the workshop with a better understanding of the “behind the scenes” at a publishing house and more empathy for overworked editors. I also walked away in amazement (for perhaps about the zillionth time) that I actually managed to get The Ride published in the first place.
I look forward to your comments about the world of publishing.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Gulf Coast Writers Association, ArcheBooks, Robert Gelinas, The Ride, Acquisition editors, submission guidelines, query letter,
About a week ago, I attended a workshop at the Gulf Coast Writer’s Association monthly meeting led by Robert Gelinas, the founder of ArcheBooks Publishing. The topic was “Better Submissions by Sitting In the Editor’s Chair.” I knew it would be a fun learning experience because I’ve attended some of his other workshops. I wasn’t disappointed.
The submission guidelines for ArcheBooks are quite easy to find on their website. Once you click on them, you see the following (it’s hard to miss the uppercase red letters): “NO PAPER/HARDCOPY QUERIES OR SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE ELECTRONIC VIA EMAIL PER THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.” Yet ArcheBooks receives piles of submissions daily in the mail.
Some of these submissions were used for the workshop. The idea was not to belittle these authors and agents who obviously cannot follow directions, but to do a little role playing instead. For a couple of hours, a group of authors became a group of acquisition editors. It was an eye-opening experience.
We divided into four groups of ten or so people. Each group had about twelve pieces of mail to open, read and evaluate. The goal was for each group to pick one project to support. We needed to be able to defend why the choice was the best option for the one publishing slot available. Eventually we would need to convince the other groups to support the selection.
It was, as you can imagine, easier said than done. Ten people have ten different ideas of what constitutes a good book. Also, publishers are in the business to make money, so we couldn’t simply pick the manuscript that looked like it had the best writing style or sounded the most interesting. We needed a sellable project. Therefore, the major consideration was finding the one submission with the most marketing appeal either due to subject matter or the author’s credentials.
Other than not following the guideline rules, we also ran across obvious misspellings, poor sentence structure, sloppy work, and missing information. Editors notice these things right off the bat. It’s their job. Regardless of how big or small the publishing house, they want to deal with writers who are professional and know how to write.
After spending a couple of hours as an acquisitions editor, I now feel qualified to offer the following suggestions to anyone going through the process of submitting manuscripts:
1) Take the time to check out the website of the publisher. If they don’t publish your genre, don’t send your manuscript hoping they’ll change their mind because of how well it’s written. They won’t.
2) Follow the guidelines carefully. Check and recheck that you are submitting exactly what they ask for and that it’s presented in the required format. If they ask for electronic submissions, by all means, submit electronically.
3) Proofread and edit every page of your submission. Then do it again, and again and…
4) Make sure the package looks professional. Don’t send in a wrinkled scrap of paper with a note scribbled on it and expect someone to take the time to read it.
5) If you are ever tempted to deviate, get creative, or ignore the guidelines, just visualize a huge dumpster where your labor of love ends up without being opened (unless it’s used as a teaching tool prior to that point).
Of course, there are always exceptions to the above list. For example, our table selected a project where the query letter was written in a cartoon format. (It’s a long story. I’ll save it for another day.)
I left the workshop with a better understanding of the “behind the scenes” at a publishing house and more empathy for overworked editors. I also walked away in amazement (for perhaps about the zillionth time) that I actually managed to get The Ride published in the first place.
I look forward to your comments about the world of publishing.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Gulf Coast Writers Association, ArcheBooks, Robert Gelinas, The Ride, Acquisition editors, submission guidelines, query letter,
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A Proud Scribbler Recipient
"Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale.” -Adlai Stevenson
It’s been quite the week for me. I’ve received the Superior Scribbler Award. Okay, those who have been visiting for a while, I can hear your thoughts. Yes, I’ve written a couple of blogs, about how though I am honored to receive these type of awards, I’ve never been comfortable passing them along. And, yes, I’ve even compared them to snail mail chain letters. But I never said I’d never participate (at least I don’t think I did). Anyway, I’ve discovered never has a way of changing its mind more often than not.
I’m participating now because I’m older and wiser and because I received the Award not once but twice.
On Monday, I stumbled on awards day at Elizabeth Spann Craig’s blog, Mystery Writing is Murder. While in my shorts and t-shirt with disheveled hair and no makeup, I was mingling among the hoity-toity. Suddenly, I saw my name in lights – well, okay, not really, but as Elizabeth had said early on in her blog, “…please use your imagination…we’re all writers here!” My first impulse was to run out of the room so I could shower, change clothes and try to do something with my hair. But, instead, I took a deep breath, reminded myself no one could see me, smiled, and said, “Wow.”
On Wednesday, before the excitement had a chance to wear off, I received a comment from Karen Walker, that she had a surprise for me on her blog Following the Whispers. Who doesn’t love surprises? Though I seldom miss any of Karen’s posts, I rushed right over and once again saw that adorable little kid (who reminds me of my grandson) on the Scribbler Award with my name listed as a recipient. Being at a loss for words, I believe I said something deep, like, “Wow,” again.
I’ll pause for a moment here, so you can take the opportunity to pat me on the back. That felt good. Thank you.
If you haven’t visited Elizabeth Spann Craig’s or Karen Walker’s blog, you’re missing a lot. Elizabeth has a very special knack of taking an event that happened in her day and turning it into an entertaining lesson on writing. She is the author of recently released Pretty is as Pretty Dies. It’s worth a visit to her blog just to see her book cover – it always makes me smile. The book sounds terrific and I can’t wait to read it.
Karen’s blog is very personal. She openly discusses her feelings - good and bad. Each topic is approached with such honesty that I have come to think of her as a friend though we have not met in “real” life. Her book, Following the Whispers, is a memoir I’m also looking forward to reading.
I’m naming my recipients, but I will leave it up to them on whether or not they choose to pass it on. If I’ve named someone that has already received the award, well…give yourself a pat on the back, you deserve it.
Sandy Lender—Today the Dragon Wins
Katherine Owens—Katherine Owens
Nancy Parra—This Writer’s Life
Gayle Carline—On the edge of the chair of literature
Galen Kindley—Imagineering Fiction
Here are the rules for Passing on the Superior Scribbler Award: (which, according to rule #5, I’m required to post):
1)Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
2)Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3)Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains The Award.
4)Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
5)Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
By the way, I am #851 on the Mr. Linky List.
Please feel free to comment on anything that strikes your fancy. Remember for the month of August, every comment and/or new follower receives an entry to win a signed copy of The Ride.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Superior Scribbler Award, Elizabeth Spann Craig, Karen Walker, Sandy Lender, Katherine Owens, Tags: Nancy Parra, Gayle Carline, Galen Kindley, The Ride, Adlai Stevenson,
It’s been quite the week for me. I’ve received the Superior Scribbler Award. Okay, those who have been visiting for a while, I can hear your thoughts. Yes, I’ve written a couple of blogs, about how though I am honored to receive these type of awards, I’ve never been comfortable passing them along. And, yes, I’ve even compared them to snail mail chain letters. But I never said I’d never participate (at least I don’t think I did). Anyway, I’ve discovered never has a way of changing its mind more often than not.I’m participating now because I’m older and wiser and because I received the Award not once but twice.
On Monday, I stumbled on awards day at Elizabeth Spann Craig’s blog, Mystery Writing is Murder. While in my shorts and t-shirt with disheveled hair and no makeup, I was mingling among the hoity-toity. Suddenly, I saw my name in lights – well, okay, not really, but as Elizabeth had said early on in her blog, “…please use your imagination…we’re all writers here!” My first impulse was to run out of the room so I could shower, change clothes and try to do something with my hair. But, instead, I took a deep breath, reminded myself no one could see me, smiled, and said, “Wow.”
On Wednesday, before the excitement had a chance to wear off, I received a comment from Karen Walker, that she had a surprise for me on her blog Following the Whispers. Who doesn’t love surprises? Though I seldom miss any of Karen’s posts, I rushed right over and once again saw that adorable little kid (who reminds me of my grandson) on the Scribbler Award with my name listed as a recipient. Being at a loss for words, I believe I said something deep, like, “Wow,” again.
I’ll pause for a moment here, so you can take the opportunity to pat me on the back. That felt good. Thank you.
If you haven’t visited Elizabeth Spann Craig’s or Karen Walker’s blog, you’re missing a lot. Elizabeth has a very special knack of taking an event that happened in her day and turning it into an entertaining lesson on writing. She is the author of recently released Pretty is as Pretty Dies. It’s worth a visit to her blog just to see her book cover – it always makes me smile. The book sounds terrific and I can’t wait to read it.
Karen’s blog is very personal. She openly discusses her feelings - good and bad. Each topic is approached with such honesty that I have come to think of her as a friend though we have not met in “real” life. Her book, Following the Whispers, is a memoir I’m also looking forward to reading.
I’m naming my recipients, but I will leave it up to them on whether or not they choose to pass it on. If I’ve named someone that has already received the award, well…give yourself a pat on the back, you deserve it.
Sandy Lender—Today the Dragon Wins
Katherine Owens—Katherine Owens
Nancy Parra—This Writer’s Life
Gayle Carline—On the edge of the chair of literature
Galen Kindley—Imagineering Fiction
Here are the rules for Passing on the Superior Scribbler Award: (which, according to rule #5, I’m required to post):
1)Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
2)Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3)Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains The Award.
4)Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
5)Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
By the way, I am #851 on the Mr. Linky List.
Please feel free to comment on anything that strikes your fancy. Remember for the month of August, every comment and/or new follower receives an entry to win a signed copy of The Ride.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Superior Scribbler Award, Elizabeth Spann Craig, Karen Walker, Sandy Lender, Katherine Owens, Tags: Nancy Parra, Gayle Carline, Galen Kindley, The Ride, Adlai Stevenson,
Monday, August 17, 2009
Interviews: Nightmare or Positive Result
"Be prepared and be honest.” – John Wooden
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Joseph Dobzynski for the “Authors
Connection Show.” Joseph is the host of the “Innovation Bistro” radio show heard on the Radio Ear Network. He has been the chosen interviewer for major best selling authors during the annual Florida Mystery Writers Conference as well as for various other creative events. As an Iconoclast he brings the best from the people he interviews by creating an aura of the person’s talents. He can be reached at jdobzynski@amanatee.com
The positive experience gave me the idea to blog about how to prepare for an interview. While staring at the blank computer screen, I realized I was not remotely qualified to pass along this sort of information. In fact, instead of giving advice, I needed guidance. After all, before interviews, I become nervous. Ridiculous thoughts circulate through my mind - like what if I forget my own name (the fact this has never happened is no deterrent).
Thinking, who better to give tips than someone with years of experience in interviewing introverted authors, I contacted Joseph. The good news is that he kindly agreed to help me out. I am proud to present Joseph Dobzynski and his interview tips:
Please feel free to leave comments or questions for Joseph or me.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: John Wooden, interviewing authors, RadioEarNetwork, Joseph Dobzynski, Innovation Bistro,
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Joseph Dobzynski for the “Authors
Connection Show.” Joseph is the host of the “Innovation Bistro” radio show heard on the Radio Ear Network. He has been the chosen interviewer for major best selling authors during the annual Florida Mystery Writers Conference as well as for various other creative events. As an Iconoclast he brings the best from the people he interviews by creating an aura of the person’s talents. He can be reached at jdobzynski@amanatee.comThe positive experience gave me the idea to blog about how to prepare for an interview. While staring at the blank computer screen, I realized I was not remotely qualified to pass along this sort of information. In fact, instead of giving advice, I needed guidance. After all, before interviews, I become nervous. Ridiculous thoughts circulate through my mind - like what if I forget my own name (the fact this has never happened is no deterrent).
Thinking, who better to give tips than someone with years of experience in interviewing introverted authors, I contacted Joseph. The good news is that he kindly agreed to help me out. I am proud to present Joseph Dobzynski and his interview tips:
Thank you, Joseph, for being a guest here today and offering such practical advice. Joseph was an excellent interviewer so my nervousness eased as soon as the interview began. My interview, by the way, will be aired September 29 from 11:00 to 12:00 pm and again on October 1, from 7 to 8 am.Interviews can be one of three things, a positive promotional event, a circus, or a disaster. Most end up being one of the last two, but here are some tips you can use when you have the chance for an interview.
Always check out the show before you agree to be interviewed:
If other authors recommend an interviewer to you then it is a sure thing it has benefits. But many interviewers are only interested in boosting their rating so the interview may be stressful based on who they are. A good idea is to listen to a show or read something they have written to get a feel of what might be in store for you. Another issue to look out for is an interviewer who talks more than the interviewee does. For the best results, an interview should last longer than 15 minutes and close to 30.
Talk about yourself:
The book is your main issue but the readers need to know who the author is and why they wrote the book. Most successful authors have some background in what they write about and this gives them credentials for writing the book. Too many “Want to Be” authors write books that sound good, but have no idea what they write about. The books PR makes it sound good but many readers have been burned by more hype than good reading.
Don’t stage questions:
No matter how hard you try to use staged questions it always sounds like a canned presentation. Give the interviewer a copy of your book and some overviews and let the interview roll out instead of stirring it with questions. Two things to remember
1) If the interviewer is good at what they do, it will create a great interview focusing on who, what and where both you and the book are from.
2) Nobody wants to be sold to any more. Ask yourself how often you turn off the radio or TV or bypass ads that are in your face. The object is to get the listener/reader to want the book because it has information or is on a topic that intrigues them. DO NOT SELL, if the book and the author are good it will sell itself.Instead of staging questions, listen for opportunities to engage the interviewer into the interview by asking them questions:
Questions like.
1) Do you remember reading about or when something happened sort of like your book?
2) Have you ever been in a dark alley and think someone is watching you? Reading my book is something like that.If the interviewer bites the question then expand out on it. In other words make the interview good for both of you.
And finally, always offer to leave a book behind and autograph it for the interviewer or maybe if it is a kids book for their kids or grandkids.
Please feel free to leave comments or questions for Joseph or me.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: John Wooden, interviewing authors, RadioEarNetwork, Joseph Dobzynski, Innovation Bistro,
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Book Signing Reflections
“To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already.” - François de La Rochefoucauld
Last Saturday, Waldenbooks in Edison Mall in Fort Myers hosted a book signing for me. My sincere thanks to staff members Allison, the two Shannons, and Chris for helping the event run so smoothly and successfully.
This signing was held on my stomping grounds so I had a good show of support from family and friends (my sincere thanks to all of you, too) living in the area. While talking to familiar faces, the question came up as to whether having people around my table engaging me in conversation acted as a draw or a hindrance.
For example when people walk by see an author busily talking or signing books do they think:
(a) Hmm, maybe that’s ‘somebody famous.’ I think I’ll stop and check it out.
(b) I wonder who that is, but I don’t want to go over and interrupt.
(c) Whew, whoever she is, she’s busy so I don’t have to try to look like I’m unintentionally ignoring her.
I don’t know the answer, but I think Rochefoucauld made a good point with his quote. Maybe the only way to become a “newly established” author is to act as though you are already established. Is “newly established” actually an attainable goal or simply an impossible oxymoron?
At what point can one honestly say, “I’m established?” Is it when you top a best seller list, someone recognizes you on the street, or Oprah invites you on her show? Maybe it’s simply the point when you actually feel like a “for real” author for the first time. Again, I don't know the answer.
Another reason for the success may have been because I held a drawing for a $25.00 Waldenbooks/Borders gift card. No purchase was necessary, but if the person bought my book, they were given 5 extra entries. The drawing may not have added to the number of people making purchases, but it did increase the amount of traffic visiting my table. The winner, by the way, was Shari Fischl of Cape Coral. Congratulations, Shari!
The only disappointment I had that day was when a family with a young boy, I’m guessing his age around 10 or 11, passed by the bookstore. The child asked his parents if he could go inside. They responded in unison with a loud “No.” I had to suppress my urge to scream, “Are you people nuts? Your son asked to go into a bookstore and you refused. How could you?” I also wanted to detain them and call child services, but all I could do was sadly shake my head.
For those in the area who missed the event, signed copies of The Ride are still available for purchase from Waldenbooks. I hope you’ll stop by and pick up one.
I’m curious about your views. Does a busy author’s table and/or the opportunity to win a prize help, hurt or make no difference at book signings? At what point is one established?
COMING ATTRACTION NOTICE:
Be sure to plan a stop back here on Monday. Radio personality, Joseph Dobzynski, host of the “Innovation Bistro” radio show heard on the Radio Ear Network will be my guest. Joseph will be offering advice on interviews and how to prevent them from becoming a disaster. You won’t want to miss - Interviews: Nightmare or Positive Result.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Rochefoucauld , book signing, Waldenbooks, RadioEarNetwork, Joseph Dobzynsi, Innovation Bistron, Oprah, The Ride, Edison Mall, Fort Myers,
Last Saturday, Waldenbooks in Edison Mall in Fort Myers hosted a book signing for me. My sincere thanks to staff members Allison, the two Shannons, and Chris for helping the event run so smoothly and successfully.This signing was held on my stomping grounds so I had a good show of support from family and friends (my sincere thanks to all of you, too) living in the area. While talking to familiar faces, the question came up as to whether having people around my table engaging me in conversation acted as a draw or a hindrance.
For example when people walk by see an author busily talking or signing books do they think:
(a) Hmm, maybe that’s ‘somebody famous.’ I think I’ll stop and check it out.
(b) I wonder who that is, but I don’t want to go over and interrupt.
(c) Whew, whoever she is, she’s busy so I don’t have to try to look like I’m unintentionally ignoring her.
I don’t know the answer, but I think Rochefoucauld made a good point with his quote. Maybe the only way to become a “newly established” author is to act as though you are already established. Is “newly established” actually an attainable goal or simply an impossible oxymoron?
At what point can one honestly say, “I’m established?” Is it when you top a best seller list, someone recognizes you on the street, or Oprah invites you on her show? Maybe it’s simply the point when you actually feel like a “for real” author for the first time. Again, I don't know the answer.
Another reason for the success may have been because I held a drawing for a $25.00 Waldenbooks/Borders gift card. No purchase was necessary, but if the person bought my book, they were given 5 extra entries. The drawing may not have added to the number of people making purchases, but it did increase the amount of traffic visiting my table. The winner, by the way, was Shari Fischl of Cape Coral. Congratulations, Shari!
The only disappointment I had that day was when a family with a young boy, I’m guessing his age around 10 or 11, passed by the bookstore. The child asked his parents if he could go inside. They responded in unison with a loud “No.” I had to suppress my urge to scream, “Are you people nuts? Your son asked to go into a bookstore and you refused. How could you?” I also wanted to detain them and call child services, but all I could do was sadly shake my head.
For those in the area who missed the event, signed copies of The Ride are still available for purchase from Waldenbooks. I hope you’ll stop by and pick up one.
I’m curious about your views. Does a busy author’s table and/or the opportunity to win a prize help, hurt or make no difference at book signings? At what point is one established?
COMING ATTRACTION NOTICE:
Be sure to plan a stop back here on Monday. Radio personality, Joseph Dobzynski, host of the “Innovation Bistro” radio show heard on the Radio Ear Network will be my guest. Joseph will be offering advice on interviews and how to prevent them from becoming a disaster. You won’t want to miss - Interviews: Nightmare or Positive Result.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Rochefoucauld , book signing, Waldenbooks, RadioEarNetwork, Joseph Dobzynsi, Innovation Bistron, Oprah, The Ride, Edison Mall, Fort Myers,
Monday, August 10, 2009
Network with a Twitter Party
“Turn the lights down, the party just got wilder.” – Dan Rather
At the risk of sounding socially inept, I‘m confessing that I didn’t know how to party 21st-century style. Tired of being left out of the fun, I turned to my friend, Sandy Lender, for help. Kindly she agreed to be my guest blogger to explain the process.
Fantasy enthusiasts will recognize Sandy Lender as the author of the breakout novel Choices Meant for Gods and a leader of workshops on world-building and characterization. Her four-year degree in English and seventeen-year career in magazine publishing augment her book publishing experience for a variety of presentations. So without further ado I turn you over to Sandy, the party girl.
Online social media demand we flex our networking muscles, and Twitter constantly provides innovation in this gymnasium. If you’re new to the Twitter community, please check out the definitions at the end of this article for some of the terminology we’ll use. For those of you well-versed in tweeting, let’s take a look at a phenomenon that even veteran twitterers wrinkle their brows over—Twitter parties.
Some social networkers refer to a Twitter party loosely, defining it as an event IRL where twitterers from a local area get together to network. In public. That takes organizational skills.
A Twitter party in its true form takes place online, on a Twitter platform. Twitter users participate in a common discussion about a specific topic. They find each other’s tweets and replies by use of a common hashtag. To make this easier, users can employ applications such as Tweetdeck (my personal favorite Twitter tool and which you really must download (for free) through Adobe AIR), Tweetchat, the regular Twitter page, Tweetgrid, Twhirl, etc.
It’s as simple as that.
A Twitter party that visitors to this blog would have an interest in is #editorchat, which meets on Wednesday evenings. I’m usually in on an all-day party called #musicmonday and another called #winewednesday. Of course I don’t participate all day long, nor is that kind of participation required.
To participate in a Twitter party using the above-mentioned Tweetdeck, click on the third icon across the row of gray icons available at the top of the Tweetdeck screen. This is the “mentions” icon. It will provide you a “mentions” column, which brings up tweets that include your username by default. At the bottom of the column, click on the third gray icon, which is the “filter” icon, and a small text box will open. Type in your party’s hashtag, press the “enter” button on your keyboard, and let Tweetdeck find all the tweets in your group for you.
To participate in a Twitter party using the above-mentioned Tweetchat, click on the blue link in the top right of the Tweetchat home screen where it tells you to log in. Log in using your Twitter account information. When it presents you with a text box, type in your party’s hashtag. When it gives you the option, click the “enter room” button. By using Tweetchat, you won’t have to type the hashtag each time you type a 140-character post. It automatically tacks on the hashtag for you.
To participate in a Twitter party using the regular Twitter page, use the search function to enter your party’s hashtag. Use the “refresh” button to update frequently. This is the least efficient of all the options out there, in my opinion, but can get the newcomer started in a new, yet important, networking arena.
I welcome folks to join my Twitter followers crowd.
“Some days, you just want the dragon to win.”
Some definitions:
Tweet: the 140-character or less post made on Twitter
RT: retweet (a very polite thing to do if you read a tweet that you like)
Hashtag: a word, tag, phrase, shortcut following the “#” symbol that is used to let readers/followers know that your tweet belongs to a specific discussion
Twitterer: a person with a Twitter account who posts tweets
Follower: a person who follows your account and reads your tweets
IRL: in real life
Thank you, Sandy. Your post has me in the party spirit and anxious to try out what I’ve learned. Be sure to check out Sandy’s website. Choices Meant for Gods is available now and the intense sequel Choices Meant for Kings will be released soon. What Choices We Make is also available now.
When leaving a comment or question for Sandy or me, feel free to include your Twitter link. Maybe we can all party together one day soon.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Sandy Lender, Twitter Party, network, on line social media, hashtag, tweeting, followers,
At the risk of sounding socially inept, I‘m confessing that I didn’t know how to party 21st-century style. Tired of being left out of the fun, I turned to my friend, Sandy Lender, for help. Kindly she agreed to be my guest blogger to explain the process.
Fantasy enthusiasts will recognize Sandy Lender as the author of the breakout novel Choices Meant for Gods and a leader of workshops on world-building and characterization. Her four-year degree in English and seventeen-year career in magazine publishing augment her book publishing experience for a variety of presentations. So without further ado I turn you over to Sandy, the party girl.Online social media demand we flex our networking muscles, and Twitter constantly provides innovation in this gymnasium. If you’re new to the Twitter community, please check out the definitions at the end of this article for some of the terminology we’ll use. For those of you well-versed in tweeting, let’s take a look at a phenomenon that even veteran twitterers wrinkle their brows over—Twitter parties.
Some social networkers refer to a Twitter party loosely, defining it as an event IRL where twitterers from a local area get together to network. In public. That takes organizational skills.
A Twitter party in its true form takes place online, on a Twitter platform. Twitter users participate in a common discussion about a specific topic. They find each other’s tweets and replies by use of a common hashtag. To make this easier, users can employ applications such as Tweetdeck (my personal favorite Twitter tool and which you really must download (for free) through Adobe AIR), Tweetchat, the regular Twitter page, Tweetgrid, Twhirl, etc.
It’s as simple as that.
A Twitter party that visitors to this blog would have an interest in is #editorchat, which meets on Wednesday evenings. I’m usually in on an all-day party called #musicmonday and another called #winewednesday. Of course I don’t participate all day long, nor is that kind of participation required.
To participate in a Twitter party using the above-mentioned Tweetdeck, click on the third icon across the row of gray icons available at the top of the Tweetdeck screen. This is the “mentions” icon. It will provide you a “mentions” column, which brings up tweets that include your username by default. At the bottom of the column, click on the third gray icon, which is the “filter” icon, and a small text box will open. Type in your party’s hashtag, press the “enter” button on your keyboard, and let Tweetdeck find all the tweets in your group for you.
To participate in a Twitter party using the above-mentioned Tweetchat, click on the blue link in the top right of the Tweetchat home screen where it tells you to log in. Log in using your Twitter account information. When it presents you with a text box, type in your party’s hashtag. When it gives you the option, click the “enter room” button. By using Tweetchat, you won’t have to type the hashtag each time you type a 140-character post. It automatically tacks on the hashtag for you.
To participate in a Twitter party using the regular Twitter page, use the search function to enter your party’s hashtag. Use the “refresh” button to update frequently. This is the least efficient of all the options out there, in my opinion, but can get the newcomer started in a new, yet important, networking arena.
I welcome folks to join my Twitter followers crowd.
“Some days, you just want the dragon to win.”
Some definitions:
Tweet: the 140-character or less post made on Twitter
RT: retweet (a very polite thing to do if you read a tweet that you like)
Hashtag: a word, tag, phrase, shortcut following the “#” symbol that is used to let readers/followers know that your tweet belongs to a specific discussion
Twitterer: a person with a Twitter account who posts tweets
Follower: a person who follows your account and reads your tweets
IRL: in real life
Thank you, Sandy. Your post has me in the party spirit and anxious to try out what I’ve learned. Be sure to check out Sandy’s website. Choices Meant for Gods is available now and the intense sequel Choices Meant for Kings will be released soon. What Choices We Make is also available now.
When leaving a comment or question for Sandy or me, feel free to include your Twitter link. Maybe we can all party together one day soon.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Sandy Lender, Twitter Party, network, on line social media, hashtag, tweeting, followers,
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Memorable Characters
"[I] keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would like to be, and what I could be, if…there weren’t any other people living in the world.” – Anne Frank
I’m quite certain that anyone who has ever read The Diary of Anne Frank, will never forget Anne. Her diary is a testament of the ravages of war and the determination to survive under the worst of conditions. I bring this up because August 1 was the 65th anniversary of the date of the last entry in her diary—the above quote.
Also, I recently finished reading another book that brought to mind Anne Frank. It was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Unlike The Diary of Anne Frank, The Book Thief is fiction. However, it is based on stories the author heard when he was a child. According to Zusak’s web site:
“When I was growing up, I heard stories at home about Munich and Vienna in war-time, when my parents were children. Two stories my mother told me affected me a lot. The first was about Munich being bombed, and how the sky was on fire, how everything was red. The second was about something else she saw...
One day, there was a terrible noise coming from the main street of town, and when she ran to see it, she saw that Jewish people were being marched to Dachau, the concentration camp. At the back of the line, there was an old man, totally emaciated, who couldn't keep up. When a teenage boy saw this, he ran inside and brought the man a piece of bread. The man fell to his knees and kissed the boy's ankles and thanked him . . . Soon, a soldier noticed and walked over. He tore the bread from the man's hands and whipped him for taking it. Then he chased the boy and whipped him for giving him the bread in the first place. In one moment, there was great kindness and great cruelty, and I saw it as the perfect story of how humans are.”
What is unique about The Book Thief is the narrator is Death. Zusak actually succeeds in making Death a likeable character who is only trying to do his job the best he can under such horrendous conditions. I admit, I’ll always think about Death differently from now on. Death, like everyone who reads the book, is drawn to Liesel, the nine-year-old book thief. Her foster parents, Rudy, Max and the Mayor’s wife are also remarkable characters.
With the nightly news report enough to depress Pollyanna herself, why would I want to read a depressing book about war and death? It came highly recommended by my sister and daughter, whose opinions I trust. They didn’t let me down.
Though sad, it was also heartwarming. Like The Diary of Anne Frank, it shows how resilient people can be; how small things can bring such joy; how a tiny kindness can have a huge effect; how words can be used for good and evil; and, how people find a way of becoming what they would like to be… against all odds.
I am in awe of authors who can bring characters to life so vividly that they remain with us long after the story has faded. What characters have stayed crystal-clear in your mind long after reading the book they appeared in?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank, Markus Zusak, The Book Thief,
Monday, August 3, 2009
Another Chance to be a Winner
"Good luck needs no explanation.” – Shirley Temple Black
My grandson, Sebastian, kindly assisted me by drawing the winning entry for a signed copy of Tina Murray’s book, A Chance to Say Yes. It’s a job he took very seriously, as you can tell by the photo.
My grandson, Sebastian, kindly assisted me by drawing the winning entry for a signed copy of Tina Murray’s book, A Chance to Say Yes. It’s a job he took very seriously, as you can tell by the photo.
And the winner is…Terri Tiffany for a July 1, comment – the first day of the contest. Congratulations, Terri! I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I did.
Thanks to all of you who stopped by last month. For those who left comments and/or became followers during July, I appreciate your support and encouragement. Sorry I couldn’t hand out a book to you all, but I do have some budget restraints.
Fried Green Zombies and A Chance to Say Yes were awarded as prizes because they are books I thoroughly enjoyed and I thought it would be a fun way to support other new writers. For those of you who didn’t have Galen Kindley’s or Terri Tiffany’s luck, both books are available for purchase. Visit the sites of John Allen and Tina Murray for more information.
My own novel, The Ride, hasn’t been offered as a prize because I liked living in my fantasy world where everyone already owned a copy. With the arrival of my latest royalty statement, that fantasy dissolved as quickly as a snowball on a Florida beach in August. With reality rearing its ugly head, I had to face the fact that not everyone owns a copy of The Ride—yet.
Therefore, since we have another month of summer, I thought I would run this contest one more time. For the month of August, leave a comment and/or become a follower and be eligible to win a signed copy of none other than my novel, The Ride. You can read some of the rave reviews here.
This month you can also earn bonus entries. Earn one extra entry for every person you refer to my blog who leaves a comment – make sure they mention your name in their comment. Earn ten extra entries for sending an email to jane@janesutton.com attaching a photo of you holding your very own copy of The Ride.
If your entry is drawn on September 1, 2009, and you already own my book (I’ll have your picture as proof), I will send you a gift card of equal value. (Thank you, Galen, for this idea. I told you I was going to steal it! I’m referring to his July 20, 2009, blog.)
Since today’s subject doesn’t really invite comments, it’s open mic time. Introduce yourself, talk about your book, your blog, your favorite book, your favorite blogger, a movie you liked or hated, whatever grabs your fancy (as long as it’s rated PG).
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to ‘see’ you many times this month.
Tags: Shirley Temple Black, A Chance to Say Yes, Tina Murray, Fried Green Zombies, John Allen, contest, The Ride,
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