Caribbean Dreams of Love Sets Sail on the High Tide!
Hi, fellow Sweeter Romantic Notioners!
I just had to drop in and mention I’ve finished the galley for my Caribbean Dreams of Love manuscript, a dear project that was contracted a year ago next month but which has fallen behind due to a busy publisher editorial schedule. Anyway, the galleys were sent in last night…no, this morning at 1:11 a.m., and I’m anxiously awaiting a release date. I really bucked at having to read the story yet one more time…my fellow Sweet authors…you know what I’m talking about, but surprisingly, I enjoyed it immensely, and it actually served to breathe new life into the manuscript that I working on now. I’ll even go so far as to say, “I liked it.” Now, that means a lot coming from me. I’m one of those authors with low self-esteem who often thinks their writing stinks and “why do I torture myself this way?” Sound familiar??
Anyway, the story is set on a Caribbean cruise (one of my favorite places in the world…no wait, my favorite place in the world) and features a lonely widow, her precocious daughter, a ghost, a pirate, a curse, a musician and love, love, love. Here is the cover done by Tamra Westberry, quite one of my favorite covers. It’s a beauty!
Thanks for letting me share all. If everything goes well, I should have a release date for the digital version in September and print six months following that. I can’t wait.
Bess McBride, www.bessmcbride.com, www.rvromance.com
BUSY!
Don’t know how things are going in your author’s life, but it’s sure BUSY around here.
Seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day with lots of projects in various stages of development. Writing, finding new markets, tracking submissions, and struggling to figure out what the modern etiquette is in terms of never hearing back one way or the other on queries/articles/stories … there’s just no end to the “fun & excitement.”
And … show me the $$$. I’ve submitted two weekly invoices for the “paying” blog gig. No check yet. Had to follow up with “The check’s in the mail; give it another week to get there” lady in the Accounts Payable Department of a magazine publishing firm in New York to strongly suggest that if the check really had been mailed a month ago, it was time to stop payment and issue a new one.
May the Muse be kind!!
Susanne Rose
http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press
Champagne Rosette
http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette
Keep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.
http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press
Champagne Rosette
Learning curve - about mailing lists
by Maggie Toussaint
With four publishing contracts under my belt, one might think I knew what I was doing by now. Not exactly. I’m gearing up for a postcard mailer to announce the first signing of my romantic mystery from Five Star, and I found myself scrambling for addresses. Again.
Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way about mailing lists. Keep every address that ever comes along. Even if folks don’t want to be pestered by your newsletter, they may enjoy getting a postcard that heralds a local booksigning.
This sounds so basic, right? You’d think I would have glommed onto this during my two years of writing newsletters and doing postcard mailers.
Here’s where I made my mistake. I sacrificed snail mail addys for electronic addresses. I really love sending out my newsletter via email, plus it saves resources and time, my time which is always in short supply. But, and this is a big but, an email notice of a local event doesn’t have the same drawing power as a physical postcard, at least not in my experience.
The learning curve part of this, the real take home message, is to keep two lists. (Stop groaning.) Keep the electronic database and the short list of folks who aren’t on email (they still buy books!). That will be for your newsletter. Name that file “newsletter mailing list.”
Also generate postcard mailing list files. I’ve found it expedient to label them by locations. For instance I have one file for all physical addresses within 90 miles of my home. I have another for all of my Maryland pals (I lived there for many years). Be sure and keep these lists current as you add new addresses. I format all of these files for Avery mailing labels, which I keep on-hand.
Another tip is to have a newsletter signup list at each signing. Go ahead and set it up in a table format with one column for name, another column for physical address, and another column for email. You’d be surprised how many people will provide both. Then you add the email addy to your newsletter distribution list and the snail mail to your postcard database.
Why the redundency? The more times people hear about an event, the more likely they are to go. I make a point to announce my appearances in my quarterly newsletter, which is also posted on my website. I follow up with a postcard mailing about the event about a week ahead of time. Plus I send a press release to the local paper.
Is it overkill? I don’t think so. No one has asked to be removed from my mailing list, and it continues to grow. Don’t forget about simple postcard mailers. Give your potential customers something to hold in their hands, something that will jog their memory and hopefully spur them to put you on their busy schedule.
Maybe then they’ll come join you for free ice cream on a hot summer afternoon. The date for my upcoming signing is July 11, 1-3 pm, Painted Moon Art Cafe, Darien, GA. See you there!
Maggie Toussaint
In For A Penny, romantic mystery, out in hardcover
Seeing Red, now at Fictionwise
No Second Chance, a recommended read
House of Lies, double finalist in National Readers Choice Awards
Get the scoop at www.maggietoussaint.com
Blogging Out In The Real World, Mary Pipher’s “Writing to Change the World,” One Painful Comment at a Time!
Hi all!
I admit…I haven’t ever blogged here at Sweeter Romantic Notions, though I’ve been with the group for almost a year, I think. I do have my own blog, but I haven’t contributed to the SRN blog. I think maybe I just seize when it’s time to write something interesting about writing. Many of you know I’m in the group because I do write “fade to black” romances, though since my characters tend to be in their 40s, they don’t get to be called sweet…at least not by my publisher. 
So, I’ll write about something that’s been going on with me…something that’s just not so “sweet” and which reminds me that I appreciate and value being around people who write romances.
It actually has to do with my other blog which I started in April for promotional purposes. It was intended to help promote my books and celebrate my full-time recreational vehicle lifestyle. I envisioned blogging about my travels, my writing, places I’d seen and jobs I held. And since I’m a fan of Mary Pipher’s, “Writing to Change the World,” I opted to end each blog with a comment on a subject near and dear to me…most often animal advocacy issues.
At some point, an RV website agreed to host my site, suggesting that I would get many more visits to the blog than I could get on my own. That I could promote my writing to a wider audience. So, I signed up. I didn’t realize that I would have to focus quite a bit on RVing, but I quickly discovered that when they feature one of my blog entries, it really needs to have something to do with RVs. After all, folks have joined their newsletters and websites because of their interests in RVs, not romance authors, not animal advocacy issues.
With Mary Pipher in mind, I make my comments and pleas for support for animal welfare at the end of every blog. I always provide a link to a worthy organization such as The Humane Society or Defenders of Wildlife.
But the strangest thing has begun to happen. I’ve started to get nasty comments…from men. One man writes that I owe ranchers compensation because I don’t know what I’m talking about regarding “ranger riders” (a program fostered by Defenders of Wildlife where “cowboys” really ride the ranges protecting the herds from wolves. (He happens to be a veterinarian who hunts…odd that!) Another man suggests my steak comes from “livestock” a rancher provided money to feed and that I must be on the other side of the aisle. I did let him know I’m a vegetarian and so don’t have to worry about how that rancher makes his money. Another man suggests I don’t know what I’m talking about since I’ve never lived in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho (the three states allowing hunting of gray wolves since their delisting from the Endangered Species act). That no one should listen to a woman who writes “love books.” I let him know that…actually…I have lived in all three states.
It’s clear the subject raises a lot of ire among men. I will say that I’ve had very pleasant comments from women.
The comment that bothers me the most is one where a man wishes “if I could get away with it, I would gladly punch you in the nose. Repeatedly.” This regarding my desire to drive at 60 mph to conserve fuel.
I am reminded of two other comments from people who tell me that my blog entries lack “complete information” and should be “helpful,” all three from men. I am seeing a pattern here. I do remind them that it’s my blog, and not an informational blog, and I get to talk about what I want.
So, that’s my life in blogging land. I don’t know if any of you are blogging outside of the “romance writing” arena, but I’m here to tell you, it’s rough out there. I cannot tell you how flabbergasted I am to hear such ridicule, disrespect, violence and downright hatred in blogging land. I don’t see it often in the romance writing world, unless someone gets caught plagarizing, of course. :-)
Thanks for letting me share, folks. I just needed a “sweeter” place to tell folks what I’ve been going through. There’s a love story in this experience somewhere, but I’m not yet sure what it is. (Actually, I do know, but I’m not saying just yet.)
Bess McBride, www.bessmcbride.com, www.rvromance.com
What I’m reading ~ Summer Begins
Well, the summer reading season is upon us and I’ve been asked as an author and an avid reader what I’m reading or what I would recommend. Throughout the whole of 2008, I have been reading Kara Lynn Russell’s Orchard Hill Series from The Wild Rose Press. Have you heard of this series? Do you want to know more? The best way to find out is to visit The Orchard Hill Blog but in the meantime, I’ll do my best to explain.
The plot behind the series focuses on a wager between two matchmakers who want to see who can make the most matches in a year:
Pansy Parker and Misty Green are rivals in romance. Each believes she is the town’s best matchmaker. Now they’re going to settle the question for once and for all. They’re keeping track to see who can make the most matches in a year’s time. Both Misty and Pansy are determined to be the winner. No heart is safe in Orchard Hill – not even their own.
Each volume of the series takes place at a certain time of year (New Years, Easter, Forth of July…) and centers on a couple with Misty and Pansy trying to make a match.
I must say I have been totally caught up in these stories. Each one is about 65-100 pages so they don’t take up too much time to read. They are wonderful reads with great characters and a guaranteed sweet romance each and every time. If you haven’t made a visit to Orchard Hill just yet, I encourage you to take a break and come on by. You won’t be disappointed.
Released titles in the series: Saving Gracie, Entertaining Angel, Considering Lily, Keeping Faith, and Enduring Hope.
Coming Soon: Accepting Charity, Disrupting Harmony, Losing Patience, and Finding Joy.
Besides the Orchard Hill books I am reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Those who know me well, know I am always in the middle of one JA book or another. MP is probably my least favorite, but I haven’t read it since I was a teen so I am giving this one more of a chance in my old age. Maybe my perception will have changed this time around. That’s the thing with reading books over and over. How we feel about them at 15 may be completely different at 33.
What’s on everyone else’s summer reading list??
The Mystery of the Missing Posts - Chapter 2
Cue the Twilight Zone music. Page Detective Colombo. It’s happening again. My post from last week disappeared into thin air just like those other posts of mine and Maggie’s.
I’m going to repeat last week’s post below and see if it manages to stick this time. An author’s life is challenging enough without having to solve the mystery of the missing posts!!!
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES
Last week, I was whining and moaning about technology making my author’s life miserable.
Thanks to divine intervention or plain old luck, seven days have made a world of difference.
The computer geeks at the newspaper website never managed to figure out why I got an on-screen confirmation accepting the registration I needed to complete before starting to blog, BUT I never got the e-mail with activation instructions to complete the process.
Out of desperation, I tried an e-mail account from a different Internet Service Provider and immediately got the activation e-mail.
If you can’t be smart, try being clever. Hope technology is working with you instead of against you this week.
May the Muse be kind!!
Susanne Rose
http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press
Champagne Rosette
http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette
Keep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.
http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press
Champagne Rosette
Advice to Young Writers
I haven’t been a professional writer of fiction for too many years. Non-fiction, sure, as I’m a trained historian. But on the fiction writing front, I still feel like I’m learning something new every day even though by the end of the year I’ll have nine titles to my name. I continue to read on the craft of writing and discuss it with my author friends and critique partner because just when you think you’ve learned all there is to know something changes.
In my capacity as an author, I’ve had the chance to work with young and unpublished authors. It has been a joy, and I want to encourage all of you authors out there to give it a try when or if the situation should arise. Recently, I had a young woman send me her short story. I knew she’d been working on this manuscript for a long time. When I read it through the first time, I saw the time and care that went into her piece. It was well written, but she’d fallen into a couple of traps that young and inexperienced writers often fall into.
As you begin your first manuscript or even after several, keep these things in mind:
- Begin your story where something new or exciting happens – when something changes. What makes this moment different than the hundreds of others beforehand? It is very important to start your story in the right place.
- Telling vs Showing. This is a biggie and one that is harped on over and over, but it is very important. It is so much more interesting and dynamic for you to show us that Ben is a kind hearted person who would give his shirt off his back for a friend than to just have the narrator state that. Let the reader determine what kind of person your character his by what he says and what he does. It also helps to lengthen that word count.
- Back story. Be careful with the back story. You can bog down your reader and your story by laying the back story in too thick. Remember to drop back story in lightly at different points in the story. It is much more intriguing when you can work it in through showing and dialogue.
- Dialogue. This can be a toughy. We want to write believable dialogue and yet be as grammatically correct as possible too. Remember also that not every character should speak the same. An old maiden librarian will speak differently than a diabolical con-man. Think about every word coming out of your character’s mouth and analyze if your character would actually say that. It’s not you speaking; it’s your character.
- POV or Point of View. Decide who is telling this story. In romance, it has been the rule to stick with hero and heroine and to switch only at scene breaks or chapters. This of course is not set in stone but a good rule to work by as you begin writing. In other genres though, it is acceptable to write in any of your character’s POV’s and to switch in and out of different character’s thoughts within a single scene. Personally, I believe you can get so much more out of a scene if you stay with one character and ‘experience’ that moment as that character-descriptions, emotions, and thoughts all coming from that one character.
- Variety. Make sure to have a good combination of description, dialogue, narration and introspection. It is easy when you first start writing to use a lot of narration and ‘tell’ the story. A good way to test your manuscript is to highlight each part in different color highlighters. Then you will see if you are heavy on narration and light on description or dialogue.
Good luck to all you new writers out there. There is so much to learn. Keep reading on the craft and keep writing. That is the best advice you can get as you continue your journey to publication and onward.
Cindy K. Green
Bringing Sweet Romance to the Heart
Website Myspace NovelTea Blog Newsletter
Meeting Mr. Right Online ~ Just released!
I LOVE TECHNOLOGY … NOT THIS WEEK!
I love technology … when it works!
So nice not to have to figure out the Postal Service’s convoluted rate system just to submit a manuscript. Downright wonderful not to have to retype (or reprint) a manuscript before submitting it to the next publication on the list because an editor spilled coffee on it.
Then, there are days in every author’s life when technology suddenly morphs from Best Friend Forever into Public Enemy #1!
Taking on a paying gig as a blogger for the local paper seemed like a good idea at the time. That was before the Cyberspace Gods laughed and decided it would be fun to block my registration no matter what masterful strategies I attempted to outwit their mischief.
Maybe by next week, technology will be my friend again. Until then, please send lots of Cyberchocolate to brighten this author’s frustrating life.
May the Muse be kind!!
Susanne Rose
http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press
Champagne Rosette
http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette
Keep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.
http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press
Champagne Rosette
It’s June! Is Your Glass Half Empty or Half Full?
June. Halfway through the journey to the end of the year. It’s the perfect time in every author’s life to glance over your shoulder to see where you’ve been and look forward to those goals you intended to accomplish in 2008.
Are you where you planned to be by now? If not, what strategies could you employ to cover that gap and move on? Are there some tricks of the trade that might ensure you reach your goals before time runs out?
June. Is your author’s life glass half empty or half full?
May the Muse be kind!!
Susanne Rose
http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press
Champagne Rosette
http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette
Keep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.
http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press
Champagne Rosette
Mark Your Calendar & Register for the Perfect Writers Conference
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride and authors would have the spare time/$$$ to attend all sorts of conferences in exotic locales.
You don’t have to be rich (or leave home) to attend The Muse Online Writers Conference. Just follow this link to get to the main page:
Look on the left side of your screen and click on “2008 Workshops” to see more information on the live chats and workshops. Then, click on Registration to sign up for the October 13-19 conference. There’s no charge, but you’re encouraged to make a voluntary contribution.
And … be sure to sign up for my chat:
MONDAY - OCTOBER 13 9AM EASTERN STANDARD TIME
BURN THOSE BUNNY SLIPPERS & BECOME THE SUCCESSFUL WRITER YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE!
Sign up for the week-long workshop too.
May the Muse be kind!!
Susanne Rose
http://tinyurl.com/2wlc43 “Lucki In Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette
http://tinyurl.com/33ndbl ”The Christmas Promise,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette
Keep the spirit of the holidays going strong and take advantage of this bonus offer: Just send an e-mail to the author: Susannerose@wildrosepublishing.com) with “The Christmas Promise” in the Subject Line. You’ll have to read the story first so you can identify the secret recipe when you send your e-mail. Santa will send you a copy of the secret recipe.
http://tinyurl.com/3d2gsc “Forever Love,” a Wild Rose Press Champagne Rosette