That about sums up what's going on with me. My freelancing all but died with the Panda changes that pretty much killed Demand Studios (along with some internal changes that make them a less attractive market). I'd begun writing for some other, non-content factory outlets, but those have pretty much dried up too. A freelancer has to constantly be selling her services, something I just haven't had the time to do this year, what with my sister's illness at the beginning of the year, my brother's death, a heavy workload at the day job that stretches into the wee hours of the night, every night, and still trying to keep up with the family and church, which includes relearning pre-calc so I could help my son, teaching math fundamentals to another son, preparing for a fall of three different sports, etc.
I was committed to getting the first draft of my wip done by the end of the summer, but that effort took a huge nosedive when the job ramped up in intensity. Right now, I'm just happy to be awake and coherent. This is a short-term project, though, over mid-October, so I'm revising my goal to have the wip done by the end of December. To that end, I have almost NO books to review between now and the end of the year. Just a very few that I'd committed to and have yet to complete. Nothing new.
That's insane, for me, but bringing my review activity to a grinding halt may be the only way.
Some recent giveaway results long past due:
The winner of The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund is... Moogie!
The winner of Heiress by Susan May Warren is... Bettye!
The winner of Ransome's Quest by Kaye Dacus is... Wanda!
Please forward your snail mail address to me and I'll get those out to you. (Click on my profile to get my email addy.)
Hope everyone is having fun reading or writing or...something!
There are loads advice about how to write, and even advice about what not to do when writing. These things, although they may apply to any phase of writing, apply especially to the penning of a first draft.
When writing your first draft, do NOT:
Plan your book marketing and promotional campaign.
Create a website specifically to sell the book.
Rewrite and polish chapter one over and over and over and over and...
Worry about how your friends, family, fellow writers or pretty much anyone will think about your work.
Let too many days pass without writing. Something. Anything. Add to the manuscript, if only to type "Once upon a time" or "And then..."
Actively think about applying all the writing craft lessons and advice you've received.
Worry about manuscript format.
Measure yourself up against another writer who...writes faster and has finished her upteemth manuscript...just received a publishing contract...signed with an agent...has a gazillion blog/Facebook followers... (Really, don't do this during any phrase of your writing. Please.)
Share your progress with well-meaning people who will bombard you with a daily inquiry as to whether you've finished and/or are you published yet (unless that person is your accountability partner).
Fail to share what you're doing with well-meaning people who will push or encourage as needed because they support you and your dreams.
Forget to back up your work daily.
Waste time trying to use the latest cutesy, seems-to-work-for-everyone-else writing chart/worksheet/questionnaire/online tool/software.
Become distracted by all the gloom-and-doom news bogging down the publishing industry.
Spend all your writing time cultivating your social network.
Put your current wip aside to jump on your next great idea.
When writing that all-important first draft, focus on doing only two things: writing and finishing.
This post is for me first and foremost because I've succumbed to a few of these from time to time. I'm not writing right now because I'm working day and night for the day job, a short-term project that will end mid-October. Trust that I'll brush off this post and remind myself of all these things when I get back to it.
Are there other things that writers should NOT do during the writing of their first draft?
Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.
She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.
Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she's added sixteen more titles to her credit, including four bestsellers: All Things Hidden, The Real Enemy, The Last Word, and The Right Call.
Kathy's husband Paul is her manager and most ardent supporter, and the former manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five almost-perfect grandchildren, a cat named Samantha. They enjoy cruising, deep sea fishing, and birdwatching—sometimes incorporating these hobbies into one big adventure.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. —Matthew 5:7
When eighty-five-year-old Adele Woodmore moves to Les Barbes to be near the Broussards—and her namesake, their daughter—she wants nothing more than a comfortable, quiet life. Employing men from Father Vince’s halfway house for the homeless to do odd jobs and landscaping, she delights in the casual conversation she has with them, the fledgling friendships, and the idea that she is helping them get back on their feet.
A series of murders in Les Barbes has cast a pall over the town and, in fact, one of Adele’s handymen becomes a person of interest to the police. But Adele cares for these young men, she knows them, and continues to show them kindness in spite of her friends’ concern. And then one day a murderer walks through Adele’s defenses, sits down at her kitchen table...and they begin to talk...
NOTE: I didn't receive this book in time to read and review it, although I'm still looking forward to it. I enjoyed the prior two books set in and around Les Barbes, especially the last, False Pretenses. I'll try to come back with a review after I read it.
Head research and development chemist Jamal Ford has narrowed his love-life down to a science through the creation of his 30-Day Dating Plan, a guide intended to weed out the drama queens, gold-diggers, and baby mamas from his ideal: a part goddess, part sex kitten, and part Stepford Wife mate. The shallow, fun-loving 33-year-old knows he’s one of Charlotte, North Carolina’s most eligible bachelors, and he won’t settle for anything less than the trophy wife of his dreams.
Catherine “Catt” Cason has never let scheming co-workers, her loving (but overbearing) father, or her full figure slow her down. The brilliant formulating chemist takes being labeled “the cute fat girl” in stride as she fast-tracks her way to a top position with her cosmetic company, Telegenic. While she would enjoy the love of a good man, Catt refuses to risk her career or her heart being broken again just to have a warm body at her side. Besides, why settle for the love of an earthly man when she is the fiancée of Christ?
When Jamal is paired with Catt to launch a new product for work, it’s loathe at first sight. She thinks he’s arrogant and incompetent. He thinks she’s a sanctimonious kill-joy. What each believes they want may not be what God knows they need. In this game of love, rules don’t exist, and no heart is safe. The Lord is speaking, but will they all be too caught up in their own agendas to listen?
REVIEW
Catt Chasin' had to be one of the more fun Christian fiction novels I've read in a long time. Although there were serious subjects addressed in the book, there was a light and bubbly feeling to it that remained until the end.
Shana Burton is a storyteller. She came up with scenarios that were interesting, some realistic but rarely seen in Christian fiction, and some a little over the top, but she made all of them intriguing and believable which added to the reading pleasure. Looking for Christian fiction reads with imperfect characters? Burton more than provides that, but in such a way that readers will cheer for her protagonists in spite of their flaws.
Catt Chasin' could have used a tighter edit, as there were some parts where the POV jumped from one character to another and a few spots where it wasn't clear who the POV character was, but otherwise, it was an enjoyable read. The door is left open for a sequel. Should Burton write one, I'll definitely read it. Burton's is a welcome and needed voice on the inspirational fiction landscape.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the DeeGospel PR for review purposes.
The ACFW Genesis Contest recognizes the best of unpublished writers in a number of categories. Awards are handed out at the annual ACFW writer's conference, which was held in St. Louis this year. On Saturday, the following were crowned winners of the 2011 Genesis Contest:
A blog I've recently begun following, The Kaizen Plan, is all about taking control of your life. But much of the advice given an apply to taking control of a specific thing too, such as your writing. This post, "The Magic Question That Keeps You Moving Forward" works just as well for writers who are stuck in their writing as for people who are stuck in their lives.
Also by way of Hyatt is the 2011 Nielson Social Media survey. Did you know the typical social media participant is an Asian woman aged 18-34 who is college-educated and lives in New England but makes less than $50k per year? (I find statistics fascinating.) You might also find these facts interesting:
40% of social media users access their networks via mobile phone
Internet users over age 55 are driving social networking growth
Men stream more and longer videos than women
These and other factoids can be found in the survey.
12 Proactive Ways Freelance Writers Can Earn More. Who doesn't want to earn more in this economy? Authors can extrapolate some tips too related to writing productivity, contractual issues and marketing.
Walt Mossberg of WSJ reviews the Sony Tablet S which he feels is a plausible competitor to Apple's iPad2. One interesting feature? It can double as your remote control for all your household devices.
Considering that these days everyone seems to have a tablet, e-reader or minimally, a smartphone, you might be surprised to discover that airport bookstores are expanding, not closing.
Up to my ears in grade school kids shrieking and having a blast as we celebrate my middle child's birthday. Writing is pretty much on hiatus until I finish work project in mid-October that is requiring hours, both day and night. It's all good. Not stressing. Thinking about an end-of-the-year writing challenge. Any takers?
from the author Publishers
Weekly calls a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.”
It’s freezing in a
small, Northern Wisconsin town when Patrick
Bowers is called in to investigate a double homicide not far from his brother’s
home. The local law enforcement thinks this is an open-and-shut case: a family
is murdered and the missing father is their main suspect.
Once on scene, Bowers suspects
there’s more to the story. For one thing, it’s only been a few hours and the
Chief of Naval Operations is pressuring the FBI Director to have agents look
into the case.
The high-tech conspiracy Bowers
uncovers ties together long-buried Cold War secrets with present-day tensions
in the Middle East and rocks one small town. The Queen (ISBN:
978-0-8007-1920-3, $14.99, 528 pages, September) by Steven James will have readers turning pages as they try to keep up
with Bowers.
Praise for Steven James’s novels:
“Steven James
continues to raise the bar in suspense writing. The Queen takes readers to a new level of suspense and is the
best book in the Patrick Bowers series hands down!”—Suspense Magazine
“Thriller writing at its highest level.”—TitleTrakk.com
“James clearly knows how to spin a yarn.”—Booklist
“Exquisite.”—Fiction Fanatics Only
“Pulse-pounding suspense.”—FictionAddict.com
“John Sanford might have to start looking over his
shoulder.”—Crimespree magazine
“Exhilarating.”—Mysterious Reviews
“Seriously intense.”—Pop Culture Tuesday
“Steven James has mastered the thriller.”—The Suspense
Zone
Critically acclaimed
author Steven James has written four other award-winning Patrick Bowers
novels as well as many works of nonfiction. He has a master’s degree in
storytelling and has taught writing and creative storytelling on three
continents. He lives near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee with his wife
and three daughters.
To learn more about Steve visit
him at: stevenjames.net
****
I was supposed to review this book last week.
I missed the blog tour.
It's Steven James' fault.
See, James, in this fifth installment of The Bowers Files, The Queen, writes such a gripping and intricate tale that reading it takes time.
If you've never read a Steven James novel, there's one thing you need to know. Every. Word. Counts. Steven James' novels do not have filler. James squeezes everything possible out of every word of dialogue, action and thought. Words and actions now not only influence the outcome of the current story, but if you're a fan of the series, you know they also come back to haunt in later books.
And thankfully, there will be later books, because I'm not sure there can ever be enough of escapades of geospatial expert and FBI agent Patrick Bowers.
So I had to read slowly.
Had to. Even though it was killing me. The story was so intense I desperately wanted to turn the pages in swift fashion to find out what the next completely unpredictable plot twist would be.
The Queen is replete with such twists. In this installment, Agent Bowers investigates one crime when he's called away to look into a nearby murder-suicide. Pretty tame stuff for an agent of his caliber, or so he thinks. Until, as he digs into the evidence and begins tying things together, Bowers realizes that there's much more going on with both crimes than meets the eye.
Concurrently, Bowers, as always, is also on the hunt for serial killer, Richard Devin Basque, his nemesis. In ways one never sees coming, James never fails to skillfully tie the current circumstances into the Basque hunt.
Satisfyingly, James wraps all this breathtaking suspense in a bundle of relationship issues -- Bowers and his stepdaughter, Tessa; Bowers and his brother, Sean; Bowers and his female friend and fellow agent, Lien-Hua. The mix of suspense and the relationship drams is what keeps readers hungering for more.
I began The Bowers File series in the middle, with the last book, The Bishop. Completely enthralled, I then began reading backward to see what I'd missed. I still need to read the very first book, The Pawn, so I'm aware, given what I said earlier about the importance of every single word, that I'm reading at a disadvantage. James' novels are so captivating, a thriller-loving reader who stumbles in the series midway won't mind. Yet, I'm not sure I'd recommend starting with The Queen. Although every installment stands alone, the current storyline is so intricate, I think a reader needs to have read at least one of the prior books in order to have some foundation for connecting with the many players who fill the stage and the many plotlines that weave in and out of each other. But if you don't want to go back and read the first four books before getting to this awesome installment, just start with The Bishop. You won't be sorry.
The Queen is a masterful piece of contemporary fiction. James is absolutely one of the best suspense writers of the day. If you haven't yet, find a seat on the the Patrick Bowers train. You don't want to miss it.
November is just around the corner. Author Alexandra Sokoloff gives a "pep talk" and offers tips on preparing for NaNoWriMo, the November writing marathon. Author Susan Meier is teaching an online course in October aimed at helping you to prepare: Prepping for NaNoWriMo.
What do writers do in order to make ends meet? Poets and Writers offered this video of authors and their families talking about the labor they expended in order to provide:
Another e-publishing success story: Bella Andre/Lucy Kevin. Bella/Lucy talks about multiple author names and genres as a strategy. Unlike Jon, I don't believe in luck. Not much, anyway. And as Bella/Lucy clearly shows through her well-thought out strategy, her success has been about clear thinking and hard work.
Have any of you had e-publishing success you'd like to share? You all know my good friend, Chicki Brown, is doing well. Anyone else?
Even when I can appreciate the reference, I dislike pop culture references that date a story, or worse, the author of the story. I thought about this after reading Sara Rosett's "Pardon Me, Your Frame of Reference is Showing." Unless your book is targeted to an older readership, watch out for things that date not only your characters, but you.
A mostly usual weekend, except I've got another big project at my day job that will occupy pretty much all of my free time, day and night, until mid-October. But lower humidity has made the days and nights quite lovely here in central FL so I don't mind.
In the past few years, I've had a chance to get to know some writers online who have gone from hoping to publication. Some are making a name for themselves, as is today's guest blogger, Jody Hedlund. Jody writes inspirational historical fiction, and does it well. She also journals her publication experience and shares the wisdom she's acquiring about this industry via her popular blog. Her first book, The Preacher's Bride, was published to acclaim. Her sophomore effort, The Doctor's Lady, shows why Jody is a writer to watch (and read).
Jody is here today for an interview and a book giveaway. So let's get on with it...
***************
Jody, thanks for taking a few moments out to answer some questions. I love what you've accomplished in your writing career to date.
Your
writing most reminds me of Julie Lessman’s (author of A Passion Most Pure). Do
you get that comparison from others? What kinds of reader feedback have you
gotten about the sensuality in your writing?
I’m honored that you’re
comparing me to Julie! I adore her books! You’re actually the first to liken me
to her—so thank you!
Occasionally, I get
reader feedback commenting about the sensuality. One reader didn’t feel that I
had enough of the relational tension. But most people have seemed to enjoy my
style. Recently, a reader said, “For a story with no sex scenes, you have some very sexy
moments in there. Love that.”
I’ve resigned myself to the fact
that I won’t be able to please everyone all the time. I’m mostly writing with a
level of sensuality that I enjoy, but also one that I would eventually feel
comfortable allowing my daughters to read.
You’ve
written two novels based on historical figures. Have you studied a lot of the
Christian pioneers? How do you choose your subjects?
Yes, I have studied
quite a number of the heroes of the faith. I love writing about them and would
like to do more! But at this point in my writing career, my publisher doesn’t
want me to become branded too narrowly as a writer who focuses on stories
inspired-by real people. So, even though I have plenty more story ideas based
on past strong women from history, my publisher is steering me clear of that
for the next couple of books, which will be set in my home state of Michigan
during the 1880’s.
How many
hours/weeks/months of research on average does it take for you to write so
convincingly about a period in history?
My inspired-by stories
take quite a bit of research—anywhere from 6-8 weeks (in some cases longer!)
and usually requires several hours per day. I pour over biographies, diaries,
time period books, and anything I can get my hands on. I try to get a feel for
the characters, setting, language, etc.
I’ve found that research
for my Michigan 1880’s books has taken slightly less time—approximately 4-6
weeks. Of course, I’m familiar with Michigan history, and because I’m not using
real people, I don’t need to be quite as meticulous in transferring data into
my story.
Who’s
your favorite character in The Doctor’s Lady and why?
I liked writing in Black
Squire. I always have a fun time trying to shape my minor characters into
people who are memorable (but don’t take over the story). And Black Squire was
especially challenging. I wanted to make him tender toward his wife, Running
Feet. But at the same time, I wanted to make him an antagonist that added to
the conflict of the story—particularly with---***SPOILER ALERT***---Priscilla having to lose the baby David
to him.
Which
character was the most difficult to capture?
I had the most difficulty with Priscilla. In the first draft of the book, I ended up making her too focused on her own problems (particularly her infertility). She was moody, somewhat helpless, and rather selfish. While realistic (and resembling me if I’d been in her shoes!), she wasn’t entirely likeable! In subsequent rewrites, I worked on making her less fixated on herself.
Knowing
you’re a homeschooling mother of five, I won’t ask “how do you do it all?” I
know you do it by taking your writing very seriously, treating it like the
business it is and being very organized. I will, however, ask, “What one thing
do you wish you could do or have to enhance your writing process?”
Love this question! If I
could have one thing, I would have a nanny to take care of the kids once we’re
done with school in the afternoons! (One can dream, can’t she?!) I’d even
settle for a college-age student. I’d love that person to watch the kids, take
them to all of their activities, and cook them dinner—so that I could have
several hours of uninterrupted writing time.
It’s been
fun to watch and learn from your journey to becoming a published author. Is
there anything you would do differently if you could go back?
At this point, I don’t
think I would change anything—other than to worry less! Even though the road
has been hard at times, I really think each step and stumble has helped shape
me. I’ve learned (and am learning) from my mistakes, I’m constantly growing,
and I’m still moving onward (and hopefully upward!).
What’s
the most important piece of advice you have for writers trying to break into
publication?
In this day and age,
when the road to publication is getting longer and tougher, I suggest every
writer keep on writing. Don’t write one book, query it, and then sit back and
wait. Even if the book is fabulous and well-written, there are no guarantees
with any one particular story. We may have to write several (or many!) before
landing upon our break-in book. So, my advice is to never give up, fan the
flame of passion with words, and fall in love over and over with telling
stories.
Can you
give us a sneak peek into your next book? Is it based on another historical
figure?
As I mentioned my next book is set in my home state
of Michigan. It takes place during the 1880’s at a time in history when the
lumber era was at its height. Although the story isn’t inspired by a true
person the way my first two books have been, I do include several real people,
particularly a real villain by the name of James Carr who was notorious in
central Michigan for his violence and for introducing white slavery into the
state.
During the month of September, I’m running an epic contest with a prize package worth $300. Here's the link to the contest page:http://jodyhedlund.com/contest/.
Thanks,
Jody, for letting us in on your blog contest in addition to your giveaway here.
And thanks much for taking time out to chat with us.
***************
Check out the trailer for The Doctor's Lady:
REVIEW
Jody Hedlund's The Doctor's Lady, similar in vein to her debut novel, The Preacher's Bride, reminds me moreso of the work of another historical inspirational romance author, Julie Lessman, author of A Passion Most Pure. Both Hedlund and Lessman write romance steeped in history and infused with a sensuality not often seen in the inspirational literary realm.
In The Doctor's Lady, Hedlund again writes based on true-life figures. This time, the story of Dr. Eli Ernest and Priscilla White is based on the true story of Doctor Whitman and his wife Narcissa who became the first white woman to travel overland west and cross the Continental Divide. Dr. Ernest and Priscilla travel from upstate New York to Oregon, a harrowing adventure that takes seven months by wagon, boat and horseback. But both are willing because they each feel called to serve as missionaries. Priscilla's plan to serve in India is thwarted when the American Mission Board requires all missionaries to be married. Likewise, Eli's plan to go West and build a mission in Indian country is hampered by his lack of a wife. A business partnership gets them each what they need, with Priscilla setting her sights on domestic mission work, but they find that God has much more planned for them than the mission work they have their hearts set upon.
Again, Hedlund educates her readers through a beautifully written suspenseful, romantic tale. There's no doubt that neither Priscilla nor Eli want this marriage of convenience. What is in doubt is whether the marriage--and their dreams--will survive the journey. Hedlund keeps her readers in the dark until the very end by throwing obstacle after real-life obstacle at this couple. If I never considered what it might be like to travel from one end of America to the other, after reading The Doctor's Lady, I have a pretty clear picture of the dangers and duration involved. Hedlund's storytelling is vivid and intense and captivating. Not once did I want Eli and Priscilla to hurry up and get to the other side of America. The story of their journey, as deftly conveyed by Hedlund, more than captured my attention.
Jody Hedlund has written novels for the last 18 years (with a hiatus when her
children were young). After many years of writing and honing her skills, she
finally garnered national attention with her double final in the Genesis
Contest, a fiction-writing contest for unpublished writers through ACFW (American
Christian Fiction Writers).
Her
first published book, The Preacher’s Bride (2010 Bethany House
Publishers), hit the CBA Best Seller list on two different occasions and
has won multiple awards. Her second
book,The Doctor’s Lady,
releases in September of 2011. She has completed a third book which will be
released in 2012. She’s currently busy researching and writing another book!
Jody is giving away one copy of The Doctor's Lady to one lucky commenter. Leave a comment and make sure we have way to get in touch with you, should you win. (You must have a U.S. mailing address.)
UPDATE 9/27/2011: The winner of The Doctor's Lady is Moogie. Congratulations!
"He didn't voice the thought that hung in the air, thick as fog. Maybe once Jan Keller admitted she'd done away with evidene, the last thing that needed to be destroyed for the killer to feel safe was Jan herself." -- from the Kindle version of Legacy of Liesby Jill Elizabeth Nelson
Legacy of Lies, a Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense title, is a Carol Award nominee. My review of this book will appear in a special edition of ACFW's Afictionado magazine, the monthly ezine, this special edition dedicated to the award finalists.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (in the comments or via link to your own blog)
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Reading anything interesting? (Even if you don't post the meme, psot a comment to tell us what you're reading!)
The New52 will feature a diverse array of comic book superheroes, reflecting the ethnic diversity of America. First up is Mister Terrific, an African-American billionaire who is the third smartest dude on the planet.
Agent Jill Corcoran tells "Why I Don't Send Rejection Letters". If you query an agent, would you rather have the negativity of a rejection letter or be left to assume a "no" after a reasonable amount of time has passed?
Not a lot of tidbits this week so you can spend more time reading, writing or whatever your weekend brings. I'm still adjusting to the back-to-school hours so I'll be catching up on my sleep, running the usual errands, visiting a dear friend who has been hospitalized and trying to put in a few hours for the big day-job project underway.
Maybe I read too much. If I read fewer books (a change you FOLKS know I'm working on), then I might not be disappointed by some of my favorite authors.
See, I depend on certain authors to satisfy my story cravings. There are authors I've read for years who deliver good stories, if not great, time after time. Interesting characters, intriguing plotlines, insightful themes. I get excited when I hear about a new book from one of these authors. As soon as I could get my hands on it, I would eagerly plow into their latest tale.
Until now.
I recently read the newest release from one favorite author. I was soundly disappointed. The writing lacked...something. The plot wasn't great, the characters were just okay and overall, the book read stylistically as though it had been written 20 years ago.
It was more than the book being just okay. Overall, the story wasn't particularly good.
I was hurt.
If I weren't writing too, would I notice anything different or anything at all? Would I simply have read the book and enjoyed it?
I don't know. Alas, I no longer have that option.
It does get harder to read when writing. What a writer knows about craft influences their opinion about the works of others. Just does.
But this isn't about me as a writer. As a reader, I didn't like it. The writing just wasn't up to snuff compared to other books I've read recently and previous books by the same author.
Knocking one of your favorite authors off their pedestal is disappointing.
Perhaps this is a one-time thing. She or he may get back up there with the next book.
I wonder whether authors who, after years of writing success, realize when they disappoint their most loyal readers. I believe loyal readers are less likely to bash their favorite authors with scathing book reviews, FB posts and tweets. I would never. Writing is hard, and I believe every writer offers up their best at any given time. I just wish this book had been, well, better.
Another favorite author also slipped a bit. Author B is a prolific writer and great storyteller, but lately the plots have been a bit, well, flat. Nothing special. And the writing seems more pedestrian than it used to. Besides, Author B puts out so many books that I'm starting to get a "been here, read that" feeling whenever I pick up a new book with his or her name on the cover.
I compared notes with a fellow reader/fan, and found that I'm not alone in my observation of Author B.
I wonder whether this author has any idea that at least a portion of his or her fans (does two constitute "a portion"?) is less than thrilled.
Is this the publisher's fault? Is the push for content across the many channels causing a sacrifice in good content? Can an author reasonably produce more than one or two books per year without the quality of the books suffering?
An author making her living at writing has to write. But if the writing begins to suffer from an emphasis on quantity over quality, the readership will decline. Should the author push back and risk lesser income? Can an author find ways to be prolific and maintain quality?
What if quantity isn't the issue, but the author simply hasn't improved his or her writing over time?
Maybe it's neither. It's neither the fight of quality vs. quantity nor issues with craft improvement. Maybe it's me. Is it realistic for readers to think that every published book by an author is going to be a smashing hit? Maybe it's me. Perhaps my expectations are too high even though they are based on the joy I found in reading previous releases.
I have no answers. I simply know that some of my favorite, "auto-buy" authors aren't as high on the buy list as they used to be and a few have fallen off completely. A part of me is rooting for a former favorite author to give me goosebumps once again, to cause me to rush out and get their next book, maybe even on its release day. After being disappointed, however, I'm more likely to wait, if I read the next one at all.
Have any of your favorite authors (no names, please) disappointed you lately?
Today, September 6, 2011 is National Read a Book Day. The holiday is designed to encourage us to take time from our busy lives and relax with a great book. This year we have selected Shana Burton’sCatt Chasin' (Urban Books) as our 2011 Read a Book Day Pick.
Why did we choose this book?
Catt Chasin’s the story of Jamal Ford. He has narrowed his love life down to a science through the creation of his 30-Day Dating Plan, a guide intended to weed out the drama queens, gold-diggers, and baby mamas from his ideal mate: part goddess, part sex kitten, and part Stepford wife. The shallow, fun-loving 33-year-old knows he’s one of Charlotte, North Carolina’s most eligible bachelors so he won’t settle for anything less than the trophy wife of his dreams.
Catherine “Catt” Cason has never let anything slow her down. The brilliant chemist takes being labeled “the cute fat girl” in stride as she fast-tracks her way to a top position with her cosmetic company, Telegenic. While she would enjoy the love of a good man, Catt refuses to risk heartbreak again just to have a warm body at her side. Besides, why settle for the love of an earthly man when she is the fiancée of Christ?
When Jamal is paired with Catt to launch a new product for work, it’s "loathe at first sight." She thinks he’s arrogant and incompetent; he thinks she’s a sanctimonious kill-joy. However, what each believes they want may not be what God knows they need. In this game of love, rules don’t exist, and no heart is safe. The Lord is speaking, but will they be too caught up in their own agendas to listen?
Doesn’t this sound like fun?
We will be talking about the book all September and chatting with the author, Shana Burton, too.
Once you’re done, please check in here. Our Goal is to get 50 readers reading Shana Burton's Catt Chasin' on September 6 and throughout the month. That’s not a hard goal, right?!
What would you do to have it all? Warren's Heiress weaves a Gilded Age tale of the high cost of power, beauty and love.
They can buy anything they want-fame, power, beauty, even loyalty.
But they can't buy love.
The beautiful and wealthy heiress daughters of August Price can buy everything their hearts desire. But what if their desire is to be loved, without an enormous price tag attached? When one sister betrays another for the sake of love, will she find happiness? And what happens when the other sets out across the still untamed frontier to find it-will she discover she's left it behind in the glamorous world of the New York gilded society? What price will each woman pay for being an heiress?
Set in the opulent world of the Gilded Age, two women discover that being an heiress just might cost them everything they love.
More about the book:
Heiress (Summerside Press, July 2011, ISBN: 1609362187, $14.99)
The Prices live among the elite set-the Carnegies, the Vanderbilts, and the Astors. These families shined in the reflection of their gold, but under all the glitter simmered stories of adultery, murder, embezzlement, and unrest. The people who had everything were still unsatisfied. The Price sisters, Esme and Jinx, learn there may be something of deeper value they can't purchase with their money and influence. But at what price does this lesson come?
Master storyteller, Susan May Warren patterned Heiress after the story of Jacob and Esau. "I wanted to create two daughters of wealth and power and portray the way each handled the deep longings of their heart," says Warren. "I also wanted to explore what it means to be blessed. It is possible to be blessed in poverty as well as wealth?"
Learn how the Prices came to answer these questions inHeiress, the first novel in the new Daughters of Fortune series.
At first glance, HEIRESS seems similar to other series set in the Golden Age of New York. In reality, the book is like nothing ever written. The word “fantastic” is, perhaps, the only word that can describe it. Jinx, Esme and the full cast of characters are exquisitely well-developed, to the point, in fact, that it’s almost unbelievable that they are not real, historical figures. The plot twists and turns so beautifully, subtly and surprisingly that it turns HEIRESS into the definition of a “page-turner.” The creativity of the character’s evolution, the problems they face and the worlds they choose to live in are amazing. A first in a series, HEIRESS bodes well for the future. This reviewer, in fact, cannot wait to snap up a copy. --Romance Junkies
I'm a huge fan of Susan May Warren's. I've enjoyed her shorter, contemporary romances over the years, but I'm absolutely in love with her longer titles. Last year, she brought us Sons of Thunder, a historical romance set in the 1920's, and one of the best books I read in 2010. This year, she gives us Heiress, another historical set slightly before that, at the end of the 19th century.
In these longer stories, Warren has a chance to wrap her rich storytelling skills in exquisite language, words carefully selected not simply to draw the reader into the tale but to enable her to feel and experience the story as it unfolds. Adding an almost literary feel to the romance genre, Warren sets the stage with vivid prose, then offers her characters delicious dialogue with which to tell the tale. What might at first seem like a daunting read becomes fast-paced--at times humorous, at times poignant--and completely worth the time.
Basing Heiress on the Biblical story of Jacob and Esau but making the protagonists two sisters was brilliant. It is assumed that Jacob lived a privileged life as a result of stealing Esau's birthright, but in this tale, both sisters deal with blessings and seeming curses. I'm glad Heiress is the first in a series. The series title seems chosen almost specifically for this book, so I'm eager to see what comes next.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of thirty novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she's also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award. A seasoned women's events speaker, she's a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer's workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.
A special thank you to LitFuse Publicity Group for the complimentary review copy and the giveaway copy.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post. What might your life have been like had you lived during the Gilded Age (1878 - late 1890's)? Do you relate more to Esau (Esme), the favored child whose birthright was stolen, or Jacob (Jinx), the misunderstood thief?
Author and writing instructor James Scott Bells teaches us about "Dialogue As A Weapon." As he says, "I could never buy into 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.' Nice try, but it doesn’t cut it. Words wound. They have power."
With the advent of Labor Day, summer is officially over. Never mind those calendar designations. Every one knows, this holiday signals the end. Kids are back in school and temps will begin to fall. As the seasons change, time to prepare for winter.
Did you enjoy your summer? Do anything memorable? If not, there's always this weekend...
