Five Scribes

Silent Sentry -- April 3, 2016

2016-02-19T15:19:00.001-07:00

I’m excited to introduce you to my first romantic suspense book, Silent Sentry, out April 3, 2016.

Have you ever wished for a face-paced romantic suspense where the hero ISN’T a navy seal, or a burnt-out detective, or a cop?

Perhaps he’s just a sexy, smart, ordinary guy who is minding his own business, when he’s swept into a protector role he’s completely unsuited for.

A role that will force him to face all his demons... and meet the love of his life.

Meet Dr. Joe Scarfili. And this is SILENT SENTRY.

Dr. Joe Scarfili runs. He’s a runner. It’s how he copes with emotional pain.

When his wife was murdered, he ran from violent Detroit to insular Grosse Pointe. He ran from his smothering, caring family to long hours in the operating room. But when he falls for Gianna, another run could cost him everything.

Nurse and entrepreneur Gianna Donnatelli is on the verge of making her dreams come true. Her company is poised to go public with a product guaranteed to revolutionize medical care and at the same time help revitalize Detroit, only she’s attacked, stalked, and flattened by an explosion. Then the danger escalates.

With Gianna’s life at stake, Joe can’t run. Despite the fact that he has no police or tech experience… Despite the fact that Gianna’s penchant for aiding Detroit’s underprivileged is the same kind of altruism that got his wife killed… Despite the fact that Gianna pushes all his insecurity buttons… This time, Joe will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

And Gianna protects those she loves just as fiercely. Together they’ll fight to save each other and their love... Or die trying.

Pre-order: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Amazon AU, Barnes & Noble, B&N UK, iBook store & Kobo.

VIKING GOLD RELEASE DAY

2015-07-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

Yep, it's official, today is release day for Viking Gold,

Book 2 in the Carswell Adventure Series.

AND

It was featured on USA Today here.

Blurb:

Norway is the land of Vikings and myths, and deep in a fjord, a sunken Nazi plane filled with gold.

Which is exactly the kind of adventure Abby Carswell and Hermann Weiss relish undertaking. Enough so to make them push aside their misgivings over their enigmatic new business partner.

Abby, an adrenaline junkie, barely avoids death’s scythe on every quest she undertakes. Hermann knows he can’t continue to watch the woman he loves put herself deliberately in harm’s way. He wants her to choose the power of their love over her need to beat the odds.

But first they have to survive this hunt for Viking gold which has turned deadly after they discover the treasure has mythic qualities and is coveted for its power. Their quest becomes a battle against an evil whose tentacles may run deeper than this single expedition.

Live The Adventure ~ Love The Romance

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The Lives Between Us--July 1 release --Pre-order now!

2015-05-29T08:38:00.000-06:00

Hi everybody,
So excited to introduce you to my next women's fiction July 1, 2015 release, The Lives Between Us.

Digital books are now now available for pre-order on Amazon US, Barnes & Noble, iBookstore, Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Kobo, Smashwords

From Publisher’s Weekly

“This charming novel gracefully addresses embryonic stem cell research and garnishes it with a powerful, tender romance… The author handles the complexities of science and morality with tremendous care and nuance; there are no hypocrites or villains here, only loving people doing their best in terribly difficult situations. Contemporary romance readers of all political leanings will be enthralled.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

How far would you go to save the one you love?

Reporter Skylar Kendall has run from commitment all her life, pushing people away before they leave her, until her niece worms her way into Skye’s heart and settles in tight. Skye relaxes into a career she enjoys and relishes being a doting aunt.

Then her niece becomes gravely ill. Unable to bear yet another loss, Skye is determined to find a cure, but the girl’s only hope lies in the embryonic stem cell therapy Michigan Senator Edward Hastings repeatedly opposes. When Skye fails to find alternative treatment in time, she vows to end the senator’s political career.

Curious about the woman behind the scathing articles on his best friend, Mark Dutton pursues Skye. Dating Mark gives her access to Hastings’s life and secrets that would launch Skye's career and satisfy her need for retribution… Only she hadn’t counted on falling in love.

Can she avenge the lives lost to politics at the expense of her new love and friends?

How Do You Value Reading as Entertainment?

2014-10-18T09:47:00.000-06:00

I saw an interesting question over at a blog I follow, Swooning Over Books and want to get your thoughts.

If you pick up a book for free, or deeply discounted, and find out it's the first in a series of say 4-5 books and the rest are $2.99 each and they're only 150 pages each, would you buy the rest of the series or cut your losses and not read anymore?

Me? I'd buy each book one at a time and if the quality of the story keeps me hooked such that I HAD to buy the next, I'd do it. I don't sit down and read a book in a day anymore, so 150 pages will give me hours of pleasure.

To go to a movie costs $9, sporting event, concert, play . . . etc more for several hours of entertainment--let alone the obscene amount of money I'll pay for a day of skiing, though that one I can rationalize--I get exercise as well as entertainment, so if I rationalize it that way, why wouldn't I?

Also, I want to support a good author. What about you? How do you value books and reading?

Do You Need Help With Research Using The Internet? We've Got A Class For You!!

2014-08-13T18:04:00.000-06:00

Scriptscene Offers a New Class ~ Internet Research Fundamentals by Lacy Williams

Aug. 18-31

From Google to the archives of your local library, from character details to place details to ensuring historical accuracy, this class teaches techniques on how to find the information you need to write your novels.

For more Information please visit: Scriptscene Class, Lacy Williams

Prices: Scriptscene members $10, RWA members $15, Public $20.

About the Presenter:

Lacy Williams is an author with split writer-personalities. She writes Inspirational Western Romances under her name Lacy Williams. And young adult vampire romances under her pen name Lacy Yager. One the one hand… cowboys! On the other… tortured heroes and kick-butt heroines. No wonder she doesn’t want to choose. Lacy’s books have finaled in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Awards (2012, 2013, & 2014), the Golden Quill and the Booksellers Best Award. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc.

How To Create A Rockin’ Web Series From Your Romance Novel by Devin Mills and Scriptscene

2014-05-07T13:28:00.001-06:00

Once again Scriptscene brings you a class you don't want to miss.

How To Create A Rockin’ Web Series From Your

Romance Novel by Devin Mills
May 19- June 8

In this fun, informative workshop you’ll learn how people are writing and turning their stories into rockin’ web series, and even making money off them. You’ll also learn how to get a piece of this exciting, growing industry for yourself should you decide to be a part of it.

The course will be held over three weeks – every week you’ll be given lots of information about the web industry and on how to create your series including not but limited to:

The history of the web series industry and who some of the players are
Which series to watch right now
What makes a winning (and not so winning) web series
How to write the perfect web series scene
Secrets on preparing your scene to shoot
Proven web series themes that work
Exciting ways to shoot your web series on a smart phone
Which programs to use to edit your web series
And much more!

Each week you’ll also be given fun exercises/assignments that’ll give you more knowledge about the industry and help you get ready to shoot your own series.

Optional — The final week you’ll actually shoot your scene (this is an optional exercise and not mandatory) – then upload them to a selected site. All (shot) scenes will be judged by a panel of top web series people and the final three scenes will be awarded swag from “Dating In The Middle Ages,” merchandise as well as the writers will be promoted on all Devin’s Social Media outlets. (and there are many!)

When the workshop is finished you’ll have an understanding of the industry and how to write, film, and start marketing your very own web series.

About the Presenter:
Devin Mills is the creator of the award winning comedy web series “Dating In The Middle Ages,” starring Deidre Hall, Matthew Ashford and John Schneider. She has been in the web series industry since 2009 and speaks on panels and at conferences on “How to create and market web series.”

Devin is a member of Screen Actors Guild, IAWTV(International Academy of Web TV) and NAWBO (Nationa Association of Women Business Owners) A veteran actress, she has worked in numerous films,television shows and commercials, and now produces witty entertainment for women.

Scriptscene Offers A New Class; The Know Business of Show Business with Tina Sacco

2014-03-24T19:26:00.002-06:00

Scriptscene Offers A New Class; The Know Business of Show Business with Tina Sacco (via An Indie Adventure ~ My Story, My Way)

April 7-20 TINA SACCO presents Know Business of Show Business: How Elements Affect the Script Marketability of Your Story Many authors dream of seeing their novel on the big screen, hobnobbing with “the beautiful people” or walking the premiere…

A Little Crowing!

2014-03-17T21:15:00.000-06:00

I have two pieces of news to pass along! I've been really negligent about one of them.

First, my novel Close Quarter won the EPIC Award for Paranormal Romance!

I was really surprised and pleased even to make it into the finals. Close Quarter is a gay romance and this was not an LGBT category, just a genre one. So to win, for me, validates that all kinds of love make up romance.

And because of the win, my publisher has put the book on sale for 50% off!

The second bit of news...the one that I was negligent about, since it's from a month ago... was this deal announcement:

Author of the Rainbow Award-nominated and EPIC award finalist CLOSE QUARTER Anna Zabo’s MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS, a contemporary erotic office romance which follows Mike, who has a one-night stand on his last night of vacation only to get back to work and realize that it was with his new CEO, a man so deep in the closet he may as well be in Narnia, to Cindy Hwang at Berkley Intermix, by Jennifer Udden of Donald Maass Literary Agency.

It was a two-book deal, too. And I was kind of blown away, again. I never expected to attract the attention of one of the Big 5, especially with a gay romance. But times, they are changing.

It is a familiar trope to anyone who reads romance, though. The office romance between a boss and an employee. There is a little twist in this one, though in that it's actually the employee who has the upper hand...

In between the deal announcement and now, MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS was renamed TAKEOVER, as if you search for the original title, you get a lot of business and finance textbooks.

And I don't want to scar any poor, unsuspecting MBA students. Heh. Though, they might learn a thing or two, as well.

Takeover is up for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. No cover art yet, but the blurb is there!

And I didn't have to write it!

So that's my news. It's been a bit of a wild ride.

Cover Reveal: Introducing Just Destiny

2014-03-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

Happy March everybody,
I'm excited to share the beautiful new cover of my March 31st release, Just Destiny! It's the first of three books set in my home town of Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Just Destiny is a love story wrapped in suspenseful courtroom drama. It’s about a grieving young woman, willing to risk embarrassment and possibly revealing long-held family secrets in court, for the right to conceive her dead husband’s baby, and her lawyer, best friend’s struggle to help her, despite his reservations.

A-N-D if you have a Nook or i-Pad, it's available for pre-orders NOW! Amazon hasn't quite gotten with the program yet, but I'm sure they will soon. What do you think of my cover?

2014-02-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Scriptscene Offers Class on WordPress and Blogging 101 (via An Indie Adventure ~ My Story, My Way)

Only at Scriptscene. All are welcome, you don't have to be a member of Scriptscene or RWA to take this class. Class Link Wordpress & Blogging 101 WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. It’s used on many hosting…

2014-02-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: L.A. Sartor @LesannSartor #MFRWauthor (via MFRW Authors)

We are talking with MFRW Author L.A. Sartor today. Leslie Ann Sartor (aka L.A. Sartor) began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at Leslie’s insistence, wrote them down and Leslie illustrated them. As an adult she writes suspense…

Applying the 80/20 rule

2014-02-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just gotta listen to a math guy. James M. Jackson shares his valid thoughts about applying the 80/20 rule to writing.
~ Donnell

In 1906 an Italian economist named Vilfredo Pareto analyzed the distribution of wealth in Italy and discovered 20% of the people owned 80% of the wealth[i]. [In the US, Wikipedia suggests the top 20% own over 85% of the assets[ii], but that’s a different blog.]

Dr. Joseph Juran, an early quality management guru, discovered the broad principal of “the vital few and trivial many.”

Pareto’s work was a single statistic. Juran’s a broad principal. In the magic of naming conventions, combined they became “Praeto’s Principle,” the ubiquitous 80/20 rule, which in one general form states that 80% of the results are due to 20% of the actions.

Here’s an example of the 80/20 rule in action:

Many corporations discover that 80% of their profits are derived from 20% of their customers.

They also may discover that 80% of the time spent producing work also applies to 20% of the customers.

The problem for most corporations is there is not a 1-1 correspondence between the two sets of customers. Some of the customers sucking up great gobs of time produce very little (or even negative) profits.

One result of this kind of analysis is frequent buyer programs. Airlines, for example, want to capture business flyers who regularly travel and often pay more for a ticket because they don’t qualify for advanced purchase pricing or multiple day stays. These fliers provide a disproportionate share of airline profits for the same or less cost than the typical family traveler.

How can you apply this principle in your life?

If you want to be more productive, you can begin by learning how the 80/20 rule applies to your work. Since many of the Five Scribes Blog’s readers are authors, I will use them for my examples. Self-published authors have an easier job here because they have access to all of their statistics. They can tell exactly how many books sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booksamillion, Kobo, and individual bookstores.

I’d bet that for most authors, 20% of their outlets account for 80% of sales and likely of profits. Looking at how they generate profits has led some authors to choose to publish exclusively on Amazon. Doing so, they get a higher royalty rate from Amazon. The potential profits lost from foregone sales at other outlets are more than made up by the extra royalties. As an extra bonus, these authors can apply the time they would have used to create the extra formats needed by other outlets, to publicize for these venues, etc. and apply that time to writing—the thing that generates future sales.

This kind of understanding is why Joe Konrath no longer goes on book tours. He can make much more money writing new works than by meeting a few fans at signings. Of course, he spent years developing a platform, which illustrates that we need to continue to evaluate our current decisions. What was right for last year may not be right for this one.

Authors who decide they must do all of their own marketing, or design their own websites, or create their own book covers may be ignoring the effects of their personal 80/20 rule. If they paid someone for those services they would have more time to write. Increased writing develops more products to sell. Your fans will buy more from you, but only if you write more.

I read a comment last year that struck me. The author noted that historically, large publishers did not expect new authors to make them money until their fifth book. As the large publishers have become corporate behemoths, they’ve lost that patience. However, when we are our own publisher, perhaps we should be taking that long view for ourselves.

I know that if you absolutely do not have the money to invest in a career, you will have to do it all yourself. However, if you can invest, you must decide the best places to do that, and the 80/20 rule should help you to find which 20% of stuff you can farm out that will save 80% of that kind of effort.

One last word. I’m a math guy and know it is possible to run everything “by the numbers.” Fun and enjoyment have intangible benefits. If you really love doing a task and would miss it if you didn’t, then by all means keep doing it—but don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s a good business decision; it’s a life decision, and that’s okay.

~ Jim

Applying the 80/20 rule originally appeared on Writers Who Kill BlogSpot. http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/

JAMES M JACKSON authors the Seamus McCree mysteries, BAD POLICY (March 2013) and CABIN FEVER (coming April 2014), published by Barking Rain Press. BAD POLICY won the Evan Marshall Fiction Makeover Contest whose criteria were the freshness and commerciality of the story and quality of the writing.

Website: http://jamesmjackson.com

[i] http://management.about.com/cs/generalmanagement/a/Pareto081202.html

[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_in_the_United_States

Interview with Stephanie Evans, President of Fine Print Literary Agency

2014-02-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Evans, President of Fine Print Literary & final judge for the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category of The Sandy.

Stephany Evans is President of FinePrint Literary Management in New York City. She represents a wide range of primarily women's fiction, from literary to commercial, to many sub-genres of romance, mysteries - from cozy to mainstream - and suspense.

Some of her best-known fiction projects include Emily Giffin’s SOMETHING BORROWED, Molly Harper’s NICE GIRLS DON’T HAVE FANGS series, Sherri Browning Erwin’s JANE SLAYRE, and Rebecca Coleman’s THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD, Leslie Tentler’s Chasing Evil series (MIDNIGHT CALLER), Jenny Bentley’s NYT-bestselling FATAL FIXER UPPER DIY series, Waverly Curtis’s Barking Detective series (DIAL “C” FOR CHIHUAHUA), Susan M. Boyer’s Liz Talbot mysteries (including USA Today-bestselling Agatha and Daphne Du Maurier winner LOWCOUNTRY BOIL).

She’s always on the hunt for a fresh voice and strong, accomplished writing – make it smart, steamy, edgy, tough, funny, dark – or any combination of these.

1. Which categories do you currently acquire/ represent? Which category has a special/constant place in your heart?  

Answer: Currently I represent virtually every type of fiction that targets a female readership – literary, commercial, “book club”, and romance of nearly every sub-genre. I also represent mysteries – both cozy and mainstream. I always love a good, solid contemporary romance and am also a sucker for scary/hot romantic suspense. What I love is an emotional story that moves me – whether funny, scary, sexy – make me laugh, make my heart race, turn me on.

2. What length synopsis do you prefer to see with a partial? Single spaced or double?

Answer: I’m not a fan of the long synopsis. Usually when I ask for one it’s because I know editors will want that. Personally I prefer just a paragraph or so – about the length you’d find in a query letter – giving me the main idea about who the protagonist or hero/heroine is and the broad strokes of the plot. Enough to let me gauge whether this is potentially a story I’ll be interested in. I DO want to know how the story ends, however. Single spaced is fine.

3. In terms of submissions, what are you sick to death of and what would you like to see more of?

Answer: I can’t really respond to the “sick to death” question. The good thing about queries is that you can just say ‘no thank you’ and not invite the truly terrible into your reading queue so hopefully you never get sick to death of anything. For the other part of the question I’d just have to fall back on what I’ve already said above about the kinds of books I represent. More of that. With a fresh spin. More awesome.

4. What are the most compelling elements you feel are necessary for a good   read? What particularly grabs your attention?  

Answer: I love a sureness in the writing that makes me feel I’m in such capable hands I can lay down my red pen and just give myself over to the story. I love a character who surprises me, not by being overtly “different” but by having a layered and believable personality and way of taking in their world. I want meaningful conflict, that can really make me care about the outcome.

5. For you, in general, which elements in a fiction submission are terminal problems garnering automatic rejections and which are tempting and fixable meriting a look at a revision if a talented author is willing to accept your advice?

a. Voice (very important; lack of distinctive voice can be fatal)

b. Weak Grammar (to a degree this is fixable, but too many problems can lead to “no.”)

c. Common plot (there may be suggestions I can make to help this problem if I like other elements enough to invest in the author/her project)

d. Poor character development (a problem, but sometimes fixable, depending on author’s receptivity and skill)

e. Story is too controversial (ie rape, politics, religion—what else?) (case by case – I usually can’t make a general comment about subject matter. That said, I do not want to read child molestation.)

f. Mediocre / uninspired writing (pretty fatal – what’s the point?)

g. Excessive use of violence or cursing (Not a favorite, but this would have to be case by case judgment)

h. Lacking genre –specific requirements like, suspense/sexual tension/ world-building (possibly fixable, but could be fatal)

i. Pacing is off—plot is too slow (possibly fixable, but could be fatal)

j. Story starts in wrong spot (possibly fixable, depending on author’s receptivity to advice)

k. Ending is unsatisfactory (possibly fixable)

l. Other – I’d just say that most of the above don’t occur in the absence of others of the above, i.e., often when a manuscript has one problem it has more than one. In instances where I’ve indicated that a problem could be fixable, the will must be there on both sides, and for me to be willing to make suggestions I need to feel very strongly about other story/writing elements, as well as strongly about the author. There is just no time to spare these days so what we have is parceled out extremely discreetly. I don’t always know exactly why something or someone has moved me to roll up my sleeves, but there’s always a reason or two.

6. Does meeting an author face-to-face at a conference make a difference in your response time, the submission process, or the rejection process (ie. Form letter vs a few sentences of advice)?

Answer: I try to personalize a reply to someone I’ve met, but this can be just a matter of saying that it was a pleasure to have met. Sometimes those meetings were a matter of just a few minutes while the author pitched her story at a conference. Unfortunately, it can’t always affect the response time (just as having met an agent does not always affect the author’s response time – I may see submissions from pitches months or even longer after I’m pitched!). But if I’ve requested something, whether I’ve met the author or not, I do try to say something more than “this just wasn’t for me after all.”

7. Besides the writing, the story and the talent, what are the most important elements you look for in an author, ie. contest wins, cooperativeness, affiliations to writers organizations, knowledge of publishing industry, promotability, etc?

Answer: All of the above. And patience – which we all wish we didn’t need and hope we won’t need too much of. But publishing has a lot of moving pieces and involves a lot of people so queues and triaging are endemic. I’m also looking for a level of energy – an author who really “wants it,” and is self-motivated, will take direction and go beyond that on her own behalf. And a wonderful writer with an abundant supply of ideas is pretty great to work with.

8. Do you have any pet peeves?

Answer: Not at this time. Ask me tomorrow.

The Worst Query Letter Ever Contest

2014-02-05T00:20:00.002-07:00

Five Scribes readers, now I've heard everything. I know we have contests for great query letters. But did you know at the 32nd annual Cocoa Beach Writers' Conference in Florida, they actually asked for entries for bad ones? Author Bill Allen took it as a personal challenge, and, sadly...sadly as poorly as the following letter is written, Bill didn't win.

So with fun in mind, we'd like to present an example of what not to do when submitting a query letter. Although, keep in mind, there really are worse letters than this.

Dear Mr. Publisher Man or Woman,

Drop whatever yur readin cuz I got sumpen thats gonna blow all them other writers outta tha water and you aint gonna wanna miss it cuz its guaranteed to sell millions a copies. I call it Hot Times in the Coal Mines and its bout my pappy Darryl and my other pappy Darryl and their insexual relatins. They had it hardern most folk on accounta it was so tough for em to work the mines and carry on their insexual relatins what with them being joined at the backside the way they was. I dont wanna spoil nothing but it turns out real good up until the fire. Well yule see when it hits the shelves and you and the rest a America get to read the endin. I dont wanna brag but my girlfriend Ellie—shes the one helped me fix up this letter cuz sometimes I dont get all my spellin and grammer just right—anyway she also fixed up Hot Times and she says its the best book shes ever read, which is sayin a lot cuz she went to school and everything all the way up through the fifth grade. And shes not the only one likes it. Momma says its grate and even ifn she cant read, shes a right smart lady. Oh your probly wonderin bout that black stuff that blew upin yer face when you opent my letter. That theres real coal dust from Harpers Mine up in Harpers Holler where my pappys carryd on there insexual relatins. Bet that suprised yer dint it. Them lighter specks is real special. Theys some of Pappy Darryls actual ashes. Oh and some of Pappy Darryls ashes two.

Well Ellies gonna be here shortly so I best run. Im sendin all my book pages up yer way in my possum catchin box. Sorry bout the smudges but you know how it is with coal dust has a way a getting into everythin. They aint typed but I figure thats what yer for. Dont take too long cuz I need my money right off. Momma needs a new truck on accounta the one we got now makes these whoop whoop whoop sounds when she steps on the go pedal. Momma says its a problem with the plugs but I dont think sheed be havin these kinda troubles if sheed jus stop fillin the tank with Granpappy Darryls corn squeezins. Well it don't matter no way cuz wheel be able to buy loads a trucks once all that money starts rollin in. Oh Ellies here so I gotta go. Im so excited. If only Pappy and Pappy were here to see this. Cant wait fer yer call. Oh did I mention we dont have no phone. Dont worry. If you just ring the Whistle Stop up in Harpers Holler they all know me and momma up their. Everybody knows me and momma. Specially momma but I cant tell her story cuz she aint dead yet. Dont say nothin to her but it shouldnt be long now. Shes nerely forty. K gotta go.

Spectfully,

Cletus Blackspot

PS Ellie says hi.

Now keep in mind that Bill Allen did not paragraph when he submitted, but your humble blogger decided to have mercy on your eyes. (So for those of you who may be impressed by Mr. Allen's submission, don't be. It's an example of what NOT to do ;)

P.S. Although Mr. Allen was heartbroken at not being considered, he’ll have to content himself by writing fabulous children’s books, that believe it or not, are perfectly spelled, humorous and a delight to readers.

Bill Allen may be described as an unusual man who has accomplished an unusual many deeds. In fact, it has been said that if you total up all the things he claims to have done, he cannot possibly be less than seven hundred years old.

No one knows if this is true. All that is certain is that for a good many years he has been living in Melbourne, Florida with his wife, Nancy, writing software by day and, well, mostly sleeping by night. Every now and again he writes stories, too. http://billallenbooks.com/author.htm

Interview with Tor Sr. Editor, Claire Eddy

2014-01-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Claire Eddy is a senior editor at Tor/Forge Books and has been with the company for 28 years. She began editing science fiction and fantasy early in her career and has worked with such authors as Orson Scott Card, Gordon R. Dickson, Fred Saberhagen, and Jack Vance.

She has brought out such newcomers to the fantasy scene as Jacqueline Carey, Sara Douglass and Juliet Marillier. While she still edits these genres, she has broadened her projects to include historicals, thrillers and mysteries. On the mystery side, she has worked with Stuart Kaminksy, Carole Nelson Douglas, and Sharan Newman.

She’s spent the better part of her adult life working with authors to make their stories and dreams be the best they can be, becoming that “third eye” and nudge to accomplish this feat. And she is the final judge of the F/SF category of The Sandyand will be attending the June 5-8 2014 Crested Butte Writers Conference.

Which categories do you currently acquire/ represent? Which category has a special/constant place in your heart?
Answer: I acquire SF/F, mystery, thrillers, and historical fiction.

What length synopsis do you prefer to see with a partial? Single spaced or double?

Answer: Synopses are torturous for you to write and us to read, but they are helpful in the end! I don’t really care about the format—ultimately it’s the writing that is going to convince me to buy a project.

In terms of submissions, what are you sick to death of and what would you like to see more of?

Answer: My motto is, never say never! So I am loathe to say that I am “sick” of anything. What I am looking for is someone who is passionate and has a story to tell.

What are the most compelling elements you feel are necessary for a good
read? What particularly grabs your attention?

Answer: While I can teach many tricks to help a writer develop their craft, the essential hook for a story is hard. If the writer pulls me into a story and makes me care about the characters, then I am willing to overlook a lot of flaws.

For you, in general, which elements in a fiction submission are terminal problems garnering automatic rejections and which are tempting and fixable meriting a look at a revision if a talented author is willing to accept your advice?

Voice
Weak Grammar
Common plot
Poor character development
Story is too controversial (ie rape, politics, religion—what else?)
Mediocre / uninspired writing
Excessive use of violence or cursing
Lacking genre –specific requirements like, suspense/sexual tension/ world-building
Pacing is off—plot is too slow
Story starts in wrong spot
Ending is unsatisfactory
Other

Most of the choices given here, I feel can be fixed if the author is willing to put in the work. Even the simplest of stories can have heart. And that is the key.

Does meeting an author face-to-face at a conference make a difference in your response time, the submission process, or the rejection process (ie. Form letter vs a few sentences of advice)?

Answer: Sometimes. Although I will admit, like most of my colleagues, I am massively overworked. But meeting me at a conference puts a face to the name and pulls the project out of the slush pile. In addition, I am perfectly happy to get a nudge if you haven’t heard from me in two months. Guilt works wonders…

Besides the writing, the story and the talent, what are the most important elements you look for in an author, ie. contest wins, cooperativeness, affiliations to writers organizations, knowledge of publishing industry, promotability, etc?

Answer: The publishing field is a fascinating one at this point. We are all trying to learn how to reinvent ourselves in this new digital age. Anything that the writer can bring to the table to help raise their profile is a good thing, but not strictly necessary.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Answer: This may sound silly, and you might believe it never happens, but please suggest to your writers never to follow an editor and pitch them stories when they walk into a ladies’ room. Or wait for them right outside.

Meet Harper Collins Editor, Tessa Woodward

2014-01-25T13:31:00.002-07:00

Bio: Editor Tessa Woodward has been at HarperCollins for 8 years. She edits a wide array of romance, women's fiction, and mystery as well as selected creative non-fiction titles. On the romance side, she edits authors across all genres, including the New York Times bestsellers Tessa Dare, Karen Ranney, Jennifer McQuiston, and C. L. Wilson. She's the final judge for The Sandy's romance category and is looking to acquire all genres of romance! Tessa was kind enough to answer these questions, but won't be able to answer any questions.

Which categories do you currently acquire/ represent? Which category has a special/constant place in your heart?
Answer: I acquire all genres of romance as well as erotica and New Adult. Historicals are my first love but I’m also a huge contemporary fan.

What length synopsis do you prefer to see with a partial? Single spaced or double?

Answer: Whatever is needed to explain the book. A couple of pages usually does it. And it makes no difference if it’s single or double-spaced.

In terms of submissions, what are you sick to death of and what would you like to see more of?

Answer: Honestly, right now I’m not seeing a bunch of the same things over and over again. There’s a ton of variety out there! I’m probably not looking for Vampires right now. And I’m definitely trying to find the next big thing in erotica. I also love anything with governesses.

What are the most compelling elements you feel are necessary for a good
read? What particularly grabs your attention?

Answer: Voice, voice, voice, voice, voice. I want your writing can grab me right from the start.

For you, in general, which elements in a fiction submission are terminal problems garnering automatic rejections and which are tempting and fixable meriting a look at a revision if a talented author is willing to accept your advice?

Voice – Voice is the most important thing. If it’s not there, it’s not worth it.
Weak Grammar – always fixable!
Common plot – sometimes fixable depending on the writing.
Poor character development – this is usually a deal breaker for me.
Story is too controversial (ie rape, politics, religion—what else?)- If the writing holds up, and it makes sense in the context of the story, I’m fine with controversy.
Mediocre / uninspired writing – huge problem.
Excessive use of violence or cursing – doesn’t bother me unless it interferes with the story development.
Lacking genre –specific requirements like, suspense/sexual tension/ world-building – if there’s not enough tension, suspense, or world building, it’s probably not for me.
Pacing is off—plot is too slow – if the writing is amazing, this is fixable
Story starts in wrong spot – this happens all the time! Totally fixable.
Ending is unsatisfactory – as long as the author agrees to make changes, this is fixable.

Does meeting an author face-to-face at a conference make a difference in your response time, the submission process, or the rejection process (ie. Form letter vs a few sentences of advice)?

Answer: Not really. I try to be as specific as possible for any submission I personally receive.

Besides the writing, the story and the talent, what are the most important elements you look for in an author, ie. contest wins, cooperativeness, affiliations to writers organizations, knowledge of publishing industry, promotability, etc?

Answer: As long as the writing is there and the author and I have spoken and can agree on a vision for the book and her/his career, I don’t need anything else.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Answer: Not actually telling me what happens in the story in your query letter.

Unleash the Past Do you have a memoir in you?

2014-01-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

Five Scribe Readers, I met some fascinating people on my trip to Georgia, South and North Carolina last September. One stop included a visit to Sisters in Crime/South Carolina Chapter. One of my fellow SINC members is Danielle Dahl, author of Sirroco, a girl comes of age in war-torn Algeria. She mentioned at our meeting that she was writing a memoir. Impressed, I wanted to know more. Please welcome Danielle Dahl as she talks about memoirs.

How to write a great memoir. Dig deep. Resign yourself to guilt of things done and regrets of things left undone. Know that anguish and sleepless nights will go away. In time. And, above all, don't spare the laughter. ~ from the website of Danielle Dahl http://www.dadahl.com/

My eyebrows shot up and I glared at my critique partners. “Write a memoir? Why would strangers be interested in childhood memories I’m writing as a legacy to my nephews and nieces?”

Howard said, “If you added a little-known piece of world history to your stories about family dynamics and your descriptions of war-torn Algeria, your memoir would not only interest, but resonate with your readers. Especially since this fifty-year-old historical issue mirrors modern global problems."

“Nah! I don’t want to go there. Couldn’t bear the hurt.”

“Perhaps the telling will exorcise the hurt. Besides, isn’t it part of what made you the person you are now?”

I brushed the question aside and interjected one of my own, “And how do you think my family will feel having our personal history made public?”

“You don’t need to tell all. Be tactful. More important, do not seek their blessings as their memories might be different, if not opposite, to yours. Just tell your story, your truth, as you remember it.”

My two other critique partners nodded, causing me to wonder. Do I have a memoir in me?

“Really? A memoir?”

“Yes, a memoir. Your memoir.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to write a fiction, which would give me the latitude to manipulate, create or recreate facts to fit the story?” I took a breath then went on. “I understand that memoirs do not allow such artistic license. They require faithful representation of facts. In brief, a memoir writer must subject the story to the facts—”

“Ah, but consider this,” Howard cut in. “The best feature of memoir versus fiction writing is that in the former, your plot, your era, are already set. Your characters are drawn. The sensations, emotions, tastes, sounds colors have already been experienced. They are there waiting for you to bring them back to life.”

So, I gave in to the idea of writing my memoir, but would I have enough stories to make up a book? I worried, twisting the ring on my finger. My grandmother’s ring. My mother had presented it to me the day I left home… That moment unfolded before me. Maman’s tearful smile. The auburn frame of her curls. The afternoon sunlight slanting through the open French doors. The light breeze cooling my face. The squeals of kids playing ball in the street. The rich aroma of roasting chicken…

I started as if waking up from a catnap. Heart pounding. Thrilled. I had just come up with the topic for a new story.

SO, THAT’S THE WAY IT IS! An object, perhaps a photo, a sound, the feel of a touch, a taste—very much like Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time where he describes tasting a madeleine cake dipped in tea that jump-starts a chain reaction recall of nostalgic memories.

Five senses, five windows to reach into the past, unleash the flow.

In my excitement, I hurried to my computer, sat down, hand hovering above the keyboard and…blank. The white page as uninspiring as a virgin canvas. I panicked. Where did the flash of memory inspired by the ring go? RING. Ah, Yes!

I typed, ‘Ring’ then ‘Mother’ then ‘The day Maman gave me her mother’s ring…’

My fingers started flying over the keyboard, propelling words onto the screen.

That day, I learned that, as is true for almost everything in life, story writing starts with one step at a time—one word.

Writing snapshots of the fun childhood episodes I shared with my brothers and sisters had always been a joy—not that I didn’t remember the other times. It’s just that I only chose to keep alive the feel-good moments. Keep the less tasteful ones locked inside the deeper folds of my brain.

I reluctantly committed to retrieve the bad, relive it for the sake of the story, the truth. During the fact-checking research process, I tore at scabs I hadn’t realized were still festering. I sobbed uncontrollably. Couldn’t sleep. Had nightmares when I did. The anguish lasted days at a time during which I was unable to write—like hitting a stone wall. Then, with great effort, I’d sit at my computer, scale the wall or walk around it, pick up the thread until the story slid back into the fun times. Back into sunlight.

I read books and blogs on writing, attended conferences, lectures. Learned that rather than following the linear thread of a story, as happens in diaries, memoir writing, as in fiction, needs to pick up the thread of a story any place other than at its beginning, thus arousing the readers’ interest. Cajoling them into finding out what comes next.

I learned that in memoir writing, just as in fiction, the first concern should be to put down the raw story, keep the inspiration juices flow. Speak from the heart. Let my voice sing. Leave the task of the various edits and polishing to further drafts.

When I had exhausted my critique partners and beta readers’ feedbacks and believed my fourth draft was IT, I submitted it to a professional editor who suggested my memoir would be better served saving parts of my story for my next memoir. Several anguished soul-searching days later I cut out twenty-five thousand words. Painful, but wise as the sacrifice ended in a tighter story, teaching me in the process a valuable lesson in humility: not to fall in love with my writing.

Humility, a great quality for fiction writers to develop, must become a virtue for memoir writers to cultivate as they expose their most inner selves. Their strengths and weaknesses. Their virtues and dark sides. They must learn not to take constructive criticisms from critique partners, beta readers, and editors as personal offenses, but as a team effort toward the good of their story.

A story—we all have one to tell, but will it resonate with our readers? I discovered that mine did. What about yours?

Do you have a memoir in you?

Danielle Dahl is a member of the South Carolina Writers Workshop, Sisters in Crime, the National Association of Memoir Writers, and the Seneca Writers Critique Group. Dahl won second place in the 2011 Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Awards for nonfiction. She was semi-finalist in the 2011 William Faulkner Wisdom Competition for a novel-in-progress as well as for a short story. Lastly, two of her creative nonfiction stories appeared in the 2011 and 2012 Petigru Review Literary Journal.

Interview with Disney Editor Tracey Keevan

2014-01-14T10:28:00.000-07:00

I like to interview all my Sandy final judges so writers can get a feel for the editor and what she's hoping to acquire. I'm so excited to say that this year's final judge for the Children's/YA category of The Sandy will also be attending the June 5-8, 2014 Crested Butte Writers Conference. Traccey was kind enough to answer my questions, but she won't be able to answer questions--this is purely information for C/YA writers. Take a look . . .

Tracey Keevan is a senior editor at Disney * Hyperion Books where she edits a range of children’s books, including picture books, early readers, graphic novels, middle grade and young adult fiction. She is thrilled to be working with a number of talented writers and illustrators including Mo Willems, Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti, Robin Mellom, Stacey Kade, and Laurie Faria Stolarz.

Currently, Tracey is looking to acquire young adult/middle grade action-adventure series; literary fiction, particularly middle grade; YA and middle grade short story collections; contemporary chapter book series; and multi-voice / POV novels. She has a strong interest in humor, science/nature, contemporary fiction, and magical realism. Tracey also has a background in digital media and is interested in transmedia story-based projects for middle grade and YA readers.

Tracey has worked in children’s media for nearly 20 years as an editor, writer, and producer. She was previously a senior digital editor at Disney Publishing Worldwide and the former executive editor of Nick Jr. Magazine. Tracey has also worked at Workman Publishing and The New York Daily News. She is a Daytime Emmy-nominated writer whose children’s fiction has been featured on Nickelodeon television as well as in books and magazines.

Which categories do you currently acquire/ represent? Which category has a special/constant place in your heart?

Answer

My YA list spans a number of categories, including: action/adventure, contemporary/realistic fiction, horror, humor, paranormal romance, literary fiction, and magical realism. There will always be a place in my heart (and on my list) for a great story and strong writing—regardless of the category. That said, I’m often drawn to literary coming-of-age stories, humor, survivalist narratives, and experimental fiction.

What length synopsis do you prefer to see with a partial? Single spaced or double?

Answer

I prefer to have a solid sense of the direction of the novel. For me, more is more in this case. Typically, a two-page synopsis (single spaced) does the trick along with a partial manuscript. If the author has a chapter outline, I’d love to see it as well.

In terms of submissions, what are you sick to death of and what would you like to see more of?

Answer

I’d like to see more issue based submissions, literary humor, realistic fiction, and original voices that jump off the page. I’d also like to consider YA short story collections. In general, the submissions that are the most challenging to consider are those that come after a trend has peaked. Trend-focused themes (superheroes, vampires, aliens, etc.) work well when the timing is right, but can under perform if the timing is off.

What are the most compelling elements you feel are necessary for a good
read? What particularly grabs your attention?

Answer
Voice, heart, humor, originality—and perfect pacing—make for great read. Sharp, clever writing grabs my attention. I appreciate attention to craft and language as much as character development and world building. I want to be thrown into the action right along with the characters through great dialogue and memorable events. Lengthy exposition slows the pacing down and detracts from the overall experience.

For you, in general, which elements in a fiction submission are terminal problems garnering automatic rejections and which are tempting and fixable meriting a look at a revision if a talented author is willing to accept your advice?

Voice
Weak Grammar
Common plot
Poor character development
Story is too controversial (ie rape, politics, religion—what else?)
Mediocre / uninspired writing
Excessive use of violence or cursing
Lacking genre –specific requirements like, suspense/sexual tension/ world-building
Pacing is off—plot is too slow
Story starts in wrong spot
Ending is unsatisfactory
Other

Answer

Red flags for rejection include: generic voice; weak grammar; uninspired writing; overused plot; excessive clichés; lack of action; expected plotting.

Fixable issues include: character development; pacing; story intro/ending; subplot development; chronology problems; plot holes; tense changes; language and situational content.

Does meeting an author face-to-face at a conference make a difference in your response time, the submission process, or the rejection process (ie. Form letter vs a few sentences of advice)?

Answer

It’s great to meet authors at conferences, signings, events, etc. However, submissions are treated equally for potential new authors to our list. If I’ve read a submission, I typically share my thoughts with the agent.

Besides the writing, the story and the talent, what are the most important elements you look for in an author, ie. contest wins, cooperativeness, affiliations to writers organizations, knowledge of publishing industry, promotability, etc?

Answer

I enjoy working with authors who are enthusiastic, full of creative ideas, and who are open to collaboration. I also appreciate an author who hits her deadlines and is flexible with the editorial process. Of course, being active in the industry is a plus as well.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Answer

An overuse of dream sequences to foreshadow events, reveal plot points, and/or uncover dark secrets is a pet peeve. The buffoon parent/teacher/adult is another one!

The Sandy--The Writers version of The Voice

2014-01-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that I've coordinated The Sandy for the past 8 years. I've come to see The Sandy as a writers' version of "The Voice", only instead of Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Shakira and Usher, we have over 60 authors judges who help run those first "Blind Auditions."

It's our goal to discover talented writers across a wide variety of fiction genres, just as The Voice finds talented singing artists across all music genres. We whittle away the entrants to finalists, then through judges' comments, we help them refine their skills. The finalists get a chance to consider 1st round judges' comments and revise their entries, before sending them off to the final judges.

Then after we've done our best to help our finalists, instead of opening the judging up to the public to vote on winners, we send their work to industry professionals who have the power to jumpstart or reinvigorate our finalists' careers.

Take a look at these fantastic editors and agents, just waiting to be impressed by your stories. Are you ready to put your best effort forward to try and get our judges to turn their chairs and champion your story?

Deadline is Midnight Feb 10, 2014
Details at http://thesandy.org/sandy.php

2014 Sandy Final Judges:
Romance - Tessa Woodward, Editor at HarperCollins
Mainstream Fiction - Sarah Branham, Senior Editor at Atria
Suspense/Thriller/Mystery - Stephany Evans, President, FinePrint Literary
Fantasy/ Science Fiction - Whitney Ross, Associate Editor at Tom Doherty
Children's & YA - Tracey Keevan, Senior Editor at Disney Hyperion

Looking at Story Types

2014-01-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

Five Scribe Readers, Author Elise M. Stone joins us today to talk about Story Types. I read this article on her blog www.elisemstone.com It was directly related to craft and applicable to many genres that I asked her to share with us here. I hope you find it as informative and as interesting as I did. ~ Donnell

It seems as if every time I start a new novel, I also need to take a writing class or read a writing craft book. It's like reviewing for a final exam; I know what goes into a novel, but I need a refresher before plunging in. This past spring I took a class when I was trying to finish the draft of the second in my Community of Faith mystery series. I was frustrated with that class because the instructor didn’t seem to understand the type of story I was trying to tell.

As I got serious about planning for this year's NaNoWriMo novel, for which I had a premise and an ending, but not much else, I decided to pull a book off my writing bookshelf to reread. Because I was woefully short on characters, especially suspects, in this murder mystery, I chose Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card. This is an old book, published in 1988 as one of Writers Digest Elements of Fiction Writing Series. But I remembered being impressed with it the first time I read it and that it covered a lot more than character.

Three days before the start of NaNo, I got to Chapter 5, which is titled "What Kind of Story Are You Telling?" (I told you this book covers a lot more than character.) It was here that I found the vindication--and much better explanation than I was able to come up with--for what I tried to tell the instructor of last spring's story class:

There are different types of stories.

Non-writers reading this are probably scratching their heads and thinking, Well, duh, of course there are! so let me explain. Over the past thirty years or so, there has arisen a conventional wisdom kind of thing about the structure of a story. In fact, there have been multiple books written as to what that structure is, including The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler, which says that the only story structure is based on Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker, 20 Master Plots by Ronald B. Tobias, the three act structure, the four act structure, Robert McKee's Story, and on and on and on.

What all of these books and classes assume is that a story is about character change. The character has to go through a number of trials to learn a lesson and become a better person as a result. They have to go through what romance writers call The Black Moment where all is lost before learning that lesson and becoming victorious. This has become so ingrained that anyone who dares to posit a different kind of story is seen as someone who hasn't quite understood what it is to be a writer and is doomed to failure.

Fortunately, Characters & Viewpoint was written twenty-five years ago and Orson Scott Card has written enough novels not to have this ridiculous bias as to what a story is. He describes four different kinds of stories, one of which is the Character story that everyone seems to think is the only kind now.

The first is what he calls the Milieu story. This is because it focuses primarily on exploring a world and revealing all its wonders. According to Card, Lord of the Rings is a Milieu story. Yes, there is a plot and it does have characters, but the characters are not developed deeply. As Card points out, we only have one member of most races in the story because what distinguishes them is not their personality or inner flaws, but their type. If there were three elves as part of the Fellowship of the Ring, we probably wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Readers of Milieu stories don't care whether Frodo learns that Love Conquers All or anything like that. They love all the descriptions of the lands and cultures the characters encounter on their journey.

The second is the Idea story. A problem is posed at the beginning and the story ends when the problem is solved. Simple. Series murder mysteries fall into this category. The characters are relatively static and readers like them that way. As I tried to point out to that instructor, Jack Reacher and Spenser don't change. Stephanie Plum doesn't change. What changes is the mystery they have to solve. Science fiction also has its share of Idea stories.

The third type is the Character story. Since this is what every book and class teaches writers how to write, I won't devote space to this one.

The fourth type Card calls the Event story. In this kind of story, something happens to put the world out of joint and the story ends either when things are put right again or it's clear that there will be no putting right in the end. I have a hard time differentiating this from an Idea story, since I think of mysteries as having this kind of structure.

The point is that, of the four types of stories, only one requires in-depth character development. Now, even in 1988, Card had to admit that because of the expectations of readers due to the shift to more Character stories, it had become necessary to do more character work in the other types than it had been in the past. Not always. Dan Brown has been taken to task for his cardboard characters, but they don't seem to bother most readers. That's because Dan Brown writes Event stories.

Reading this chapter lifted a weight off my shoulders. I have struggled mightily in crafting mysteries because I've always been stuck on the question What does my character have to learn? That gets harder the more books in a series you write. If in every book your main character becomes more and more perfect, you run out of stuff they need to learn. If they conquer their major flaw, that changes who they are. Do you have to come up with a new flaw in each book? And will that flaw be something fans of the books can't identify with or hate so much they'll stop reading? Realizing that there are other types of stories to tell than Character stories lets writers write the story they have in them--not the one the books and classes tell you you should be writing.

Elise M. Stone is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers.

One Word and What It Can Do For You

2014-01-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year.

Yes, we are day or so into the year, but hey, it's still pretty brand spanking new.

As I was guest hosting with Audra Harders on the wildly popular Seekerville blog yesterday--once at 10am and again at Midnight--I realized that the One Word challenge they use is pretty cool. It was really interesting to see what people had chosen.

The idea is to pick the One Word that encapsulates what you want or need to happen this year. Be it with in your faith, writing or life.

So as the clock was ticking down, I thought and ruminated and stressed, then picked mine.

Last year it was SIMPLIFY, this year it's PACE.

I've been pushing hard and it's been taking a toll, slowly accumulating stress, which I. DO. NOT. WANT!

I knew simplify would take more than a year of practicing. Throwing away, putting away, organizing. And the task continues.

But pacing myself better not take a year to become a habit. I liken it to a training regime for an athlete; constant and with gains each work out.

I want to publish at least two books a year and work on my screenwriting, and create a new cozy mystery series.

But I also want to relearn the piano, learn the intricacies of my camera and studio software. And travel is in the picture as well. I have to be healthy to travel...and of course that includes exercise and eating balanced meals. (Does that exclude wine?)

So yep, PACE is my One Word. It's the only way I'm going to do all the things I want to do and not stress out and be sick. Stress is a killer.

Tell me your One Word. Maybe I'll make a list and we can start a tradition here at Five Scribes.

Here's to a healthy, happy, and successful new year.

Now go practice your One Word.
~LA

The Coffee Break Guide to Social Media

2013-12-27T10:23:00.002-07:00

Marketing. It used to be such a benign, friendly term, a necessary program used by people to spread the word about products. Then over time, as technology exploded and the world turned global, and metadata became a word we actually understood, marketing became a four-letter word. Well, it’s still nine. But when marketing morphed into social media, I used a lot more four letter words.

Suddenly, social media was everywhere, and for writers it was both good and bad. Thanks to social media authors could connect with readers in various arenas. For some it was addicting, for others an absolute chore. But for most, if not all, establishing a social presence while maintaining a writing career became the ultimate challenge. I mean, when an author markets more than she writes, why does she need social media?

I’ve read the industry blogs, consulted with marketing gurus, and still social media was not my friend. But in October, Colorado Romance Writers offered a social media program that they touted as different. And me skeptical, but desperate enough to try one more thing, I traveled the 160-mile round trip to northern Colorado to meet workshop presenter, Amy Denim. In Ms. Denim’s hour-and-a-half class, she gave me and a room full of socially back-assword writers, hope. That’s why I’m so pleased to introduce The Coffee Break Guide to Social Media. ~ Donnell

If you’re spending more time on Facebook, tweeting, pinning and blogging than on writing your book, let The Coffee Break Guide to Social Media help break that cycle. In this book you'll learn:

·        How to choose the right social media platforms to use for you and how to use them successfully

·        What social media networks work well together

·        Tools to make using social media easier and faster

·        What to post that will interest your readers and fans

·        And most importantly, how to be present engaging social media topics in only a few 5-15 minute breaks a day.

"- a must read for writers." ~Jennifer Maitlen, author of Rachel's Redemption. "

“-an effective tool for writers who want to spend more time writing and less on social media." ~ Larie Brannick, author of Her Desert Treasure, coming in April 2014

http://amzn.to/1cA1tBF

The Coffee Break Guide to Social Media is common sense actually, but compiled in one convenient handout, Amy Denim helps writers research and choose the best media avenues that work for them. Check out this book, and stay tuned as Amy returns in January to discuss The Author Business Plan.

Five Scribe Readers: Leave your e-mail address and your comment to win a free consultation on YOUR Business Plan from Marketing guru Amy Denim. Also, Amy wants to know: What's your favorite or least favorite social media site to use?

As time allows, Amy will get back to you. We’ll draw the winner on January 2^nd.   How’s that for a great start for 2014?

Happy New Year!

~ Donnell

My Annual Reminder: This Could Be One of The Most Important Posts of The Year

2013-12-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Nope it's not a writing tip, it's a career saving tip.

A friend just wrote that her computer crashed and she hadn’t backed up in a while and she
was so sick to her stomach, unsure if her work could be retrieved.

And more than once, I couldn’t find two of my folders, which concerned me enough to run a scan on my computer, then reboot. I know I had backups, but still I was nervous.

So I decided this post was going to be an annual reminder to all of us...

Syndee

...Several years ago, I read a post by Syndee Rogers-Nuckles about the importance of multiple or redundant back-up systems. (The original post in full was here on Dec 5. 2011 )

This is what she says:

Have you ever had your heart sink? Feel the sting of tears streaming down your face as you realized all your files had disappeared?

I have. In a total panic I searched my computer looking for any sign of hope, I shook my head trying to awaken out of what had to be a nightmare.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone reading this, other than LA, her buddy and me?

Or were you one of the few lucky ones that had backups of all your files on another EHD (external hard drive) or DVD's?

Or perhaps it's just been another thing on your ‘to do’ list?

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to backup your files, but it can be so time consuming and overwhelming. Like so many of you I am stretched to the limits of available time so after trying at least a dozen different strategies for backing up I finally hit upon something that really works for me.

Now, I use the ‘triple threat’, not just having a single backup copy but two so that you have three copies of all your important files.

For instance I have the following:

1- Original files: all my business files like documents are kept on my computers built-in hard drive. My original design files are kept on my main External Hard Drive.

2- Backup 1: I try to make copies of all my important files as I create them to a second EHD that I keep hooked up to my computer. I try to back this up at least once a week.

3- Backup 2: This is where the online backup service comes in. I LOVE this! I use Backblaze which just runs in the background whenever my computer is on saving all my files for me! My files are backed up to a secure offsite server so if something were to happen to my computer I can still get to my files from another computer!

Online Backup Services:

Backblaze
http://www.backblaze.com/

This service was easy to install and was backing up my files in minutes! One of the best things about this company is that it features unlimited storage. I was using Mozy before and they changed their pricing structure so much that it priced them right out of my budget. have been so happy with this service, I totally forget it’s running on my computer!

(LA) This is what I use. It took over 45 days to get all my data uploaded, but it was done everyday behind the scenes, I really didn't notice it at all.

Carbonite
http://www.carbonite.com/

I have heard good things about Carbonite. The biggest drawback is that they do not offer backups of your EHD’s, which is something I can’t live without. But if you are not using any EHD’s they are worth looking in to.

Mozy
www.mozy.com

I had trouble installing Mozy on my Mac when I switched over from a PC, and when I contacted customer support and followed the instructions they gave me it still did not work. It was around the same time they changed the pricing structure so I cancelled my account and signed up with Backblaze.

(LA) I have friends who swear by Mozy, so check them out.

Keep in mind that these online backup services are not meant to be an addition storage system, if you delete the files off your computer these companies will delete those same files after 30 days.

Thank you Syndee for your research!!

Back up your career, and have a wonderful and hopefully now, a worry free Holiday Season.

Ciao
~LA

Breaking News! Sweet Glory to:

2013-11-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Post #2: Groomed by an Industry Professional to Pitch Sweet Glory to “Hollywood”

Sweet Glory’s Grand-Prize Win in the TVMe! Contest included for me to be groomed by an industry professional to pitch Sweet Glory to “Hollywood.”

I got the very best in the business: Stephanie Palmer! I’ll round out her introduction in my next post & interview of her. Her credentials are impressive—it’s no wonder the Hollywood Reporter named her one of the “Top 35 Executives Under 35.” Here, I’ll briefly say about her:

As the former MGM Director of Creative Affairs, Stephanie heard more than 3000 pitches from the best pitchers in the business. As such, she discovered a formula for success in teaching creative people how to pitch, persuade, and sell their products, services or ideas.

Before I talk about my consultation with Stephanie, the storyteller in me is compelled to first show you—WHAT A SMALL WORLD IT IS…

Fortuitously, I stumbled upon Stephanie right after I entered Sweet Glory in the TVMe! Contest. Given the nature of her background, of course I was going to check out her blog (http://goodinaroom.com/blog) to glean any morsel about the TV/film industry that might be helpful to me…just in case I were to win the contest. Boy, was I glad I did! I learned some amazing secrets for pitching Sweet Glory to “Hollywood” that would later supplement her grooming of me.

Sorry…I veered off track a little in my excitement to tell you about Stephanie’s blog.

Fast-forward to the night of the press release and awards reception. In my excitement, I failed to notice that Stephanie’s Good In A Room logo was portrayed amongst the sponsors of the contest. It only struck me that I had subconsciously seen her logo after I returned home and I read the press release that the Film Commissioner of Sarasota County sent me. Imagine my shock and delight when in it I learned that Stephanie Palmer would be grooming me to pitch Sweet Glory to “Hollywood.” And…the rest is history!

On to my work with Stephanie: If I were forced to describe it in one way, I would say that at the heart of her strategy is CONFIDENCE BUILDING—by knowing your project and its market and competition well.

First, the FOUNDATION of my confidence was set in the very first exercise Stephanie had me do: To declare a specific career goal. Of course, mine was:

To Write Young Adult Historical Novels

NOTE: Excluded in my goal is “pitching my novels for TV/film” and writing for other genres or age groups. As Stephanie espouses: The writers who get the cherry assignments, lucrative studio rewrite opportunities, and big paydays have this in common: they are experts in a specific area. This is nothing new to us writers—agents and editors prefer their authors to be well established in a genre and readership before they will usually consider their diversifications.

Second, the WALLS of my confidence were built up when Stephanie guided me to the places where I could learn all about the TV/film industry so that I could competently converse with a scout, producer, or other industry professional. Besides other points that make Sweet Glory a contemporary hot topic (which I’ll divulge in my post on “Writing a Successful Pitch”), the most significant morsel that I stumbled upon and that I used in my pitch meetings was:

There has been a tremendous resurgence in popularity of TV movies and miniseries, thanks especially to historical hits, such as the History Channel’s Hatfields & McCoys (most watched in 2012) and The Bible (2013, most watched ever) and PBS’s Downton Abbey (2011, which by the third series had become one of the most widely watched TV shows in the world).

In this same stage, I further built my expertise by studying all-time and more recent historical hits in books, TV/film, and books adapted to TV/film. This further bolstered my confidence when I realized that Sweet Glory was not only similar to other very successful projects but that it was original enough to stand on its own. Stephanie had warned me to hear that my project was going to be a hard sell because: 1. Most viewers prefer historical works that revolve around a central figure, such as Abraham Lincoln or Mary Surratt (Lincoln conspirator). But...I was prepared to name several contemporary works, such as HBO’s Iron Jawed Angels, that broke the mold. 2. The budget would be costly. But...Iwas prepared to ask if Sweet Glory’s budget would pale in comparison to the likes of Cinemax’s Game of Thrones, which in one episode portrayed sweeping battle scenes on both land and sea.

Third, the ROOF of my confidence was laid when Stephanie prepared me to answer some common and trick questions that would be tossed my way.

Lastly, my PREPARATION finished with my organizing my research and writing out answers to each exercise and common and trick questions. And then I memorized it all until I could recite it in my sleep—also part of Stephanie’s strategy.

Directly after my meetings, I found myself admiring my calmness and quickness of wit in pitching Sweet Glory. But when I got the chance to reflect upon this during my train trip home from NYC, I realized these actions on my behalf weren’t all that impressive—because I was prepared! All thanks to Stephanie’s guidance. Without her, I'd be lost somewhere in the maze of Hollywood.

Please drop by next month for my interview with Stephanie Palmer. She’s a lovely, lovely person, not to mention brilliant, and she would love to chat with you!

I Interrupt My Regularly Scheduled Program to Pay Homage to One of the Writing Greats!

2013-10-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

A reverberation felt around the world: Sadly...so sadly...TOM CLANCY has passed away at the young age of 66. I hate to use a cliché for a man who was all about breaking new ground with his military espionage thrillers, but I will: He's gone but NEVER will he be forgotten. How can he be?

His best-seller books, such as his debut hit

and his blockbuster movies, such as

and his popular video games, such as

have pierced the souls of every household.

I think it's safe to say that even if you aren't a fan of Tom Clancy--never read one of his books, sampled one of his movies, or played one of his video games--the proliferation of his intelligence throughout the world makes him familiar to all. Because his works are the sort to be savored time and again, I doubt major distributors will ever let us forget him. Neither will Tom Clancy let us forget him: His uncanny clairvoyance with political and military world events (that even Tom Clancy himself found eerie) will continue to haunt us, long after perhaps his last book, Command Authority, and next movie, Shadow One (with his most famous character Jack Ryan back at the helm) are released this December.

I (Lisa Potocar, a huge fan) will never forget him. Please join me in a moment of silence in honor of one of the greatest masters of storytelling...

May Tom Clancy rest in peace!