Today, I’m visiting with two “Katherines”…
At Kathy Bryson’s blog, I’m sharing a character interview with protagonist Gilda Greco.
And Kate Sparkes is spotlighting A Season for Killing Blondes on her blog.
Drop by and visit for a while. Remember to scroll down and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. You could win a $25 Amazon gift card.
The Wild Rose Press will release A Season for Killing Blondes on Friday, June 12.
Starting tomorrow, fifteen of my author friends will host me in a Countdown Blog Tour. I will be sharing posts, excerpts, and recipes with wonderful companions who have provided support and encouragement on my writing journey.
I’m hoping you’ll visit their blogs and enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway. You could win a $25 Amazon gift card.
Check daily for link updates.
June 2 – Kathy Bryson
June 2 – Kate Sparkes
June 3 – Anne B. Cole
June 4 – Jennifer Lowery
June 5 – Maggie Mundy
June 5 – Jo Richardson
June 5 – Ryan Jo Summers
June 6 – Sneak Peek Saturday
June 7 – MJ Compton
June 8 – Peggy Jaeger
June 9 – Susan B. James
June 10 – Kim Hotzon
June 10 – Rachel Sharpe
June 11 – Sophia Kimble
June 11 – Tina Susedik
June 12 – Stacy Hoff
Welcome to my Second Acts Series!
Today, we have Soul Mate author Angela Scavone chatting about her rewarding “day job” and creative “after-hours” passion.
Here’s Angela!
Briefly describe your first act.
While I was in high school, during and after college I worked in a retail fabric store for ten years. I loved the creativity of the customers and their plans for the unmade fabric that they purchased. Some of the people I worked with became lifelong friends and there is always something interesting that happens when working in retail 🙂
What triggered the need for change?
An opportunity came up at a local school board to work in one of their head offices. I couldn’t pass it up! It was a great job that I knew I would learn a lot in so I had to move on.
Where are you now?
Now I still work for the same school board and I have learned so much working there. I am an Application Analyst which means I analyze new computer applications that will enhance student, staff and teacher needs. Once the new application is acquired I test it, implement it into over 160 schools and then train the administration, staff and teachers how to use it. It is a very rewarding job however in my off hours I write. I love my day job but writing is my passion. I have the best of both worlds, during the day I get to be an integral part of a school board community and at night I get to create worlds completely out of imagination 🙂
Do you have advice for anyone planning to pursue a second act?
Do it. Life is too short for regrets and what-ifs.
Any affirmations or quotations you wish to share?
There are a couple of quotes that get me through any part of my day 🙂
1. There are two rules in life: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Everything is small stuff.
2. Just keep swimming.
Blurb
Air Force Captain Stephanie Tyler’s sole duty is to fly overseas to war torn areas of the world to retrieve and escort the bodies of fallen soldiers back home to the United States. It is a tough and emotional job but she is honored for the privilege. Her duty also helps her to escape her past and her failed marriage.
But those flights have become increasingly more dangerous and she is forced to have a partner accompany her. Much to Stephanie’s surprise and dismay, she is partnered up with her ex-husband, Captain Douglas ‘DA’ Aston.
From the moment DA enters the scene, he irritates her. It could have something to do with the fact he slept with her best friend while she and DA were married. As they go on several missions together, Stephanie is forced to be courteous and professional with DA even though the very sight of him irritates her beyond comprehension.
Then, Stephanie’s cheating, husband stealing, ex-best friend is killed in Afghanistan and Stephanie and DA must escort her body home. While executing this difficult duty, a myriad of conflicting emotions makes Stephanie ponder how short life really is . . . and to question her own ability to forgive.
Buy Links
Amazon (Canada) | Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (Australia)
Where to find Angela…
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads
Joanne here!
Angela, thanks for sharing your journey. I enjoyed reading and highly recommend A Journey Home. Good luck with all your creative endeavors.
Celia T. Rose is sharing her writing journey and introducing her debut novel Dream Man. Welcome Celia!
Here’s Celia!
As a young child from the age of seven, I deemed myself the next short story horror, author and wrote themes inspired by Eagar Allen Poe. I have all of these stories in marble-composition books but they are unpublished. I went on to college, became a CPA and though not happily employed as such, I found my happy place as a loan officer. After the mortgage market bust, I decided to early retire and pursue the childhood writing dream once more. I’ll continue to write, probably for the rest of my life but have also decided to go back in business. My true writing passion is contemporary relationship fiction a genre name I dubbed to replace “chick lit” reason being the read isn’t just for women. I do enjoy writing romance but find it more challenging. I currently have a romance series under publishing contract written as Celia T. Rose and a contemporary relationship fiction contract written under Celia T. Franklin.
Blurb
Felicity Burgess is no stranger to tough breaks in business and in love. And she deals with them very well on her own. She has no choice. After the sudden death of her parents, Felicity must support herself and her sister. She fights her way up the ranks at a local television network and directs her own-inspired teen reality show. Despite raving reviews, the network won’t give her the title or the pay of director. Or a shot at running with her new show.
Her sister is a trouble-bound teen and lands in a hospital due to a weather related car accident. While in the emergency waiting room, Felicity’s idol, Hollywood’s notoriously confirmed bachelor, film star, and entrepreneur walks in: Maxwell Marx. Felicity pitches her new reality show to him. Little did she know her life-long heartthrob would become her supervisor. Working close with Max, she sees a side to him no one knows. She wants to break down the barriers and reveal the man Max truly is but denies exists. She’s determined to break through, only she doubts he’d ever let her.
Max is happy with his carefree existence, much as the tabloids portray. He plays up to the role of the unattainable lady’s man better than any script he agrees to take. The façade works just fine until he meets Felicity who wows him with her new reality TV show proposal. So much so, he convinces his network executive buddy to take on the project. But Felicity also taps into something deeper in him. A place he’s purposely protected from any woman to penetrate. He enjoys Felicity’s company, and hopes to keep her at bay, yet she threatens to unravel his protective cocoon he spun out of the pain from his past. A pain he doesn’t intend to face again.
Should he stay in his safe world of single living or risk losing the one girl who could complete his life?
From the moment I delved into Dream Man, I was propelled into a fast-paced and intriguing story, one providing Hollywood insights and romance.
Well done!
Vicki Batman (Sassy Writer of Sexy and Funny Fiction)
Bio
Celia T. Lucente is a retired CPA and banker. Her work experience includes nine years as a public accountant and an internal auditor and seventeen years as a senior loan officer for a national bank. She’s currently a full-time writer of contemporary romance and women’s fiction aka “relationship fiction” and is now publishing her finished works under the pseudonyms of Celia T. Franklin and Celia T. Rose. Her first book, Having Fun with Mr. Wrong, in the contemporary women’s fiction series, Fun with Mr. Now, is under contract with The Wild Rose Press and her contemporary romance, Dream Man is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. She is a member of the RWA Contemporary Romance, RWA-WF, RWA Romance Critique Group and her local chapter of Space Coast Authors. She is a participant with several critique groups and CP’s and enjoys working on her craft by helping fellow writers.
Where to find Celia…
I’m thrilled to welcome publicist PJ Nunn to the Power of 10 series. Today, PJ shares down-to-earth advice on book promotion. A must-read post for all authors!
Here’s PJ!
Book promotion today isn’t what it was 20 years ago. Or even 10 years ago. The industry keeps changing and evolving, making it increasingly difficult to get your book to stand out amongst the tens of thousands that are published each month. Once upon a time, that was the publisher’s concern. Today, that’s no longer the case. Authors now must excel in an additional arena, since writing a great book isn’t enough to assure record sales.
The good news is it doesn’t take a lot of effort to rise above the ordinary.
1. Go back to the good old days. In today’s fast-paced, digital age of communication, there’s something to be said for a hand-written thank you note or a friendly phone call. Authors who take the time to say thank you after a signing event, book review or a broadcast interview are still in the HUGE minority. In a time when just about everyone I know has, at one time or another, been annoyed at too many emails or text messages, I’ve never once heard anyone complain upon receipt of a sincere “thank you.” Sure, you might say, that’s a nice thing to do, but does it really help promote my book? If you’re one of a handful of authors among hundreds who make a good impression by going that extra mile, who do you think that bookseller will remember favorably?
2. Recognize your activities as a business, not a necessary evil or something that just has to be done. You may feel that way, and have every right to feel whatever you feel, but as my daddy taught me when I was small, you don’t have to tell everything you know. Sometimes, in book promotion, what you DON’T say can be as important as what you do.
3. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.
4. Be active in popular social networking venues, but don’t spend all your time there. I’m for promoting books long after the pub date, but if you want a career as an author, there should always be something new in the works. That means your time has to be well managed.
5. Shop around. You want independent booksellers to shelve your books and recommend them to their customers? Make a point of ordering from those booksellers periodically.
6. If you want something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done. OR if you want to keep getting what you’re getting, just keep doing what you’re doing. Either way, the point is that if you want to move up to a new level, you’re going to have to climb out of your comfort zone somewhere along the way.
7. Make connections with others in the industry who get the kind of results you’d like to get. Ours is a very giving industry so don’t hesitate to ask questions, but it’s important to know the source. In other words, if you’re wondering how to make your book signing events more successful, don’t just ask at random. Ask authors who consistently have successful signing events.
8. Study the craft of promotion and make it personal. What works for one doesn’t work for all. It’s important for you to learn your strengths, staff your weaknesses and improve any areas that are unfamiliar. If you’ve not had broadcast experience (and most of us haven’t), take time to study the art of giving a good interview. If you’ve only attended one or two signing events in all your life, attend more.
9. Understand that in some ways, persistence is worth more than talent. I realize that’s not a popular opinion, but I have seen too many talented authors give up because of unrealistic expectations. Some of them aren’t writing at all anymore and that’s too bad. Of course talent is important, but who’s going to read your work and recognize your talent if they’ve never seen or heard about your book? Experts say it takes up to 14 times for someone to hear and retain a name. Repeat exposure is what pays off in the long run. Few, if any, people rush out to buy a book the very first time they hear the title or the author’s name. Schedule some activity that gets your name in front of a reading audience every month and keep doing that.
10. Read a new book every month. I’m amazed at how many writers tell me they don’t have time to read anything but their own work. Bad mistake. First, I hope you’ll always make time to read for sharpening your own writing skill. Then I hope you’ll read to keep abreast of what type of books are selling in the current market. Lastly, I hope you will always squeeze time out for reading for pleasure. It’ll keep you fresh and satisfied.
One thing I’ve learned in this business – what works for one, doesn’t always work for all. There is no one size fits all promotional garment. Unless you’re looking for something that fits like a muu muu. It may take some tailoring to find the fit that works best for you, but it will be well worth the effort and the result, in the long run, will be increased sales. It may come slow and sure, but it will come with persistence and consistency. If I can answer any questions or help you in any way, you know where to find me.
Bio
PJ fell in love with books in a Bookmobile in Tulsa Oklahoma when she was in the first grade. It’s been a lifelong affair ever since. High school introduced her to the joys of writing research papers and graduate school helped her hone those skills. When it came time to make a living, it’s no surprise that her love of all things bookish – mystery in particular – led her to embark on a career as a teacher of creative writing and freelance writer. PJ has a Masters Degree in Psychology and a specialization in Criminal Justice. As PJ became acquainted with several authors in the writing community near Dallas, where she lived, and online, she did a favor for one who felt awkward about arranging book signing events and media interviews. The rest – as they say – is history. She now works full time in the publishing industry, but still serves as a consultant in the field of law enforcement and trauma counseling.
Where to find PJ…
Madeleine Callway, Catherine Astolfo, Janet Costello, Helen Nelson, Jill Downie, Susan Daly
This past Saturday, I hopped on Highway 24 in Guelph and drove to Brantford for a lively panel discussion with six dynamic mystery authors. All are members of the Toronto Branch of Sisters in Crime, and two of them—Madeleine Callway and Catherine Astolfo—also belong to Mesdames of Mayhem.
The topic, “Women as Crime Writers,” was a timely one. The hour-long discussion flew by as the authors shared opinions and advice on everything from powerful openings to strong female protagonists to chick noir.
Thanks to Programs and Outreach Coordinator Robin Harding for organizing this event, one of seven in the Mystery Month series at the Brantford Public Library.
It’s not as easy as I thought it would be.
For years, I heard my author friends complain about having to select, and in some cases, create appropriate excerpts for guest blogs and readings. I would politely listen, sympathizing but wondering what could possibly be the problem after countless rewrites and edits.
As I prepare to write a series of guest blogs and organize readings in the area, I realize that picking the right excerpt can be a daunting task. What looks good on paper does not necessarily work in a live situation.
I can still recall an Open Mic I attended several years ago. I took mental notes as brave participants ranging from pre-teens to seniors shared their poetry, personal essays and short stories. The most effective readings were the shortest, and many of us were disappointed when those presenters sat down. We did not feel the same way about the gentleman who rambled on for twenty minutes, determined to read his entire short story (at least ten pages). As I surveyed the room, I caught glimpses of polite smiles, yawns, and collective watch gazing.
Continue reading on the SMP Authors Blog.
Chrys Fey here. I am taking over Joanne’s blog to discuss heroes. Who doesn’t love a good hero? I sure do! And when I write or read, I prefer strong heroes. You know, those heroes that could literally sweep you off your feet. If that’s not enough to sell you on the merits of a strong hero, I’ve got more.
10 Reasons Why I Love Heroes with Titles
1. They are sexy!
2. Their jobs are fascinating. (Police officers, firefighters, soldiers, etc.)
3. They dedicate their lives to saving others.
4. They will do anything to protect those they love.
5. They are tough but can still be romantic.
6. Many of their scenes are exciting.
7. They can be hardheaded which makes for fun confrontations.
8. They make female readers swoon when they are intimate.
9. Their dialogue is entertaining because they can curse up a storm.
10. And they pair well with my strong heroines.
Chrys Fey’s Books
Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical murder involves working with a witch.
Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil witch, so, it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch that she becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.
Jolie Montgomery, a twenty-one-year-old woman, wakes up in an alley next to her corpse. She has no memories of her murder or the night she died. She didn’t even see the killer’s face before he or she took her life. Wanting justice, Jolie seeks answers in the only way a ghost can…by stalking the lead detective on the case.
Avrianna Heavenborn is determined to find the person responsible for a young woman’s death. She gets closer to the killer’s identity with every clue she uncovers, and Jolie is with her every step of the way.
But if they don’t solve her murder soon, Jolie will be an earth-bound spirit forever.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | The Wild Rose Press | NOOK | KOBO
Bio
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds. She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series.
When Fey was six years old, she realized her dream of being a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way.
Where to find Chrys…
Facebook | Blog | Website | Goodreads
Welcome to my Second Acts Series!
Today, we have author Vonnie Hughes sharing insights from her multi-act life.
Here’s Vonnie!
I haven’t had only two acts in my life, but three. I enjoy change. It challenges the brain. But switching from one career to another was not just because I needed a change, but also of necessity.
For about twenty years I worked in legal offices in Auckland, New Zealand, first as a legal secretary and then as a legal executive. Very long hours at a set salary but with nice surroundings in the main. After a while it began to grate on me that I was doing the work of a qualified solicitor but without the money. Sure, someone signed off on my more ambitious cases but rarely bothered to check them over. “Where do I sign? Thanks Vonnie.” And off they’d go for a game of golf.
About this time I began to help job seekers within the offices where I worked. Some wanted to leave that particular office, and some wanted to work there. I had a few notable successes and thought, “I’d like to do this for a living. Not so much recruiting as head-hunting.” Saw an ad for an executive search administrator/researcher, answered it, got interviewed and bingo, my Second Act was born. And this was exciting. Yep. Late forties and finally found what I wanted to do. Any time to finish my degree? You must be joking. Rotary, overseas students, two adult sons, running marathons for ‘relaxation’ and work. Just did a few business diplomas instead.
Then we moved from New Zealand to Australia and retirement smacked me in the face. Didn’t want to carry on with executive search/recruiting because I didn’t know about the background of many Australian companies or the general working ethos of the district. Unlike some, I don’t see recruitment as ‘sales.’ Where to? Too young to retire, surely?
So I picked up an old hobby. Writing. Had never really stopped writing since I was seven. Poetry, short stories etc. But this time I jumped in boots and all and began to write a Regency novel. Got accepted. Joined a couple of writers’ groups. Settled in to researching and writing more Regencies. All got published. Then social media got in the way. Spent more time doing PR than in writing. Then…I got weary of an overcrowded, under-researched market. Every man and his dog were writing Regencies because the cycle of popularity had turned their way once more. And I began to read more and more romantic suspense and general suspense. Then I began to write it. And voilà! I enjoyed writing once again.
So now my incarnation No. 3 part (b) keeps me busy although I still LOATHE the pirating and the endless PR. But I write more for myself now, and less for publishers. And I’ve made a lot of on-line friends. So I’ll just keep chipping away.
I don’t have any advice for anyone attempting a second act. Why? Because everyone’s needs are different. Their general outlooks are different so their plans of attack will vary considerably.
We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.
Harrison Ford
Vonnie’s Books
Where to find Vonnie…
Joanne here!
Vonnie, thanks for sharing your business and creative successes. Best of luck with all your literary endeavors.
I’m introducing a new series on my blog – The Power of 10. In numerology, the number 10 resonates with the vibrations of so many positive energies, among them creativity, originality, adaptability, and individuality.
Today, I’m thrilled to welcome author and social media consultant Joanne McAlpine.
Here’s Joanne!
This week, I met someone who lectured me for a half hour. The topic had nothing to do with me, rather her fears and that I should be fearful too. I don’t want to go into details but it left me with a depressed feeling that typically sticks with me for a few days, sometime weeks. As some of you know, I was participating in the free e-course given by a procrastination coach. There was great energy in that group so I brought my issue to them and asked for advice on how to shake this bad juju. I was amazed by the great advice and by the end of the day I was in good spirits again. I thought I’d share the advice here. Disclaimer: Keep in mind, this is just advice from your average joe schmo, I’m not a professional. I’m just passing on what has worked for me and others.
1. Run – It was the first advice given to me and that’s exactly what I did. It was a sunny day too which I think helps the mood.
2. When you are in work, find a private place to meditate a bit then go to the gym at night to work it off.
3. Change your body posture – and was given this great youtube video, I highly suggest because I find it works.
4. A walk in nature – when I went for my run, I was thinking this and went for a run in the park. I interval run so I run a bit and walk a bit. I find nature to be non-judgemental and un-demanding.
5. Get your brain to work on it – ask yourself, “What can I do right now to make myself feel better?” And the great and glorious brain that we have will go to work on it.
6. Call a friend.
7. Brain Gym – this was a new one for me. I’ve used it to help DD with her left and rights when she was little but never used it as a way to put myself in a better mood. I’ll say this, you get so focused on the exercises you forget what was bothering you.
8. Yoga – I agree. It has helped me in the past and I need to get back to it. I found a free monthly class through meetup.com. Check it out, you never know what you might find.
9. Gratitude List – list what makes you grateful.
10. Ask for Help.
Other ideas for fighting the blues: gardening, getting that sunshine, standing on your head (if you can’t do this try hanging off the side of your bed, being inverted for a couple of minutes has helped me hold back the blues), spending some time with pets, watching fish, healthy eating.
In the end, it was a beautiful day, with the sun shining brightly. I ran and walked in the park. I listened to music for a bit then turned it off and asked myself why I was upset. I didn’t want to suppress the feelings but rather understand why I had them without dwelling on them. When I realized this was about her fears and not mine, I was able to let it go. By the time, I got home, that nagging feeling was gone and my good jujus were back.
Joanne’s Video
Joanne’s Debut Novel
At the dawn of colonizing planets, humanity supports a bold new experiment on Earth to create three self-sustaining habitats, one underground, one above, and one under the sea. With dreams of colonization, they test human capacity by isolating the inhabitants from the outside world for a year.
Telsa and Simon join the first inhabitants on Oceanus, the undersea habitat. Simon leaves his youngest, Rosie, with her grandmother. It would only be a year, what could go wrong?
Everything runs smoothly until Simon discovers a network of surveillance throughout Oceanus, then Telsa uncovers a rumor of a devastating virus on the Earth’s surface. Central Command insists on their isolation but a new security force infiltrates the habitats under the guise that they are there for everyone’s protection.
All the while, unbeknownst to any of them, a religious zealot sees the habitats as his destiny, a place where he and his fellow believers can embark on growing a new country.
Where to find Joanne…
Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube
Joanne Guidoccio 