Terry's Place

Win a Nook

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:37:00 +0000

In case you haven't found my new blog, you're missing a chance to win a NOOK. Head over and see how to enter.

I've Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:39:00 +0000

It's official. Terry's Place has a new address. Please bookmark the new site. http://terryodell.com/terrysplace. To celebrate, I'm going to have a new contest with a Really Big Prize. Details will be announced over there in the very near future. Posts on this blog will stay here, but I hope you'll visit my new site and subscribe to posts over there.

Terry's Place is moving

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:59:00 +0000

First, thanks to Bailey for yesterday's post. I remember Maypole dancing when I was in grade school.

After over four years here, Terry's Place is moving. Although I'd been thinking about it for some time, the recent lack of support and customer service from Blogger has lit a fire under the move. I hope you'll bookmark my new site, and continue to follow. Because I'm moving sooner than I'd planned, the new site is still in transition, and as I learn more about the features, I'll add them. Feel free to make suggestions.

Some things I'm looking forward for: threaded comments, so we can carry out some discussions in the comments. Also, leaving a comment will require that you give an email address. I PROMISE that these will NEVER be shared. But what it will mean is that I'll have an easier way to let you know when you've won a contest. (For those of you who have left comments on yesterdays posts, I'll be posting Bailey's winner on Saturday at the new site. Her post is echoed over there as well.) Remember, you have until Friday to comment to enter.

Also, if anyone here is conversant in WordPress and wants to suggest widgets or plugins (I've learned some new terminology), feel free to give a shout out! I know Google Friend Connect isn't available for non-Blogger sites, but I hope you'll add the new site to however you follow blogs.

And, my new site will continue to do everything I've done here. That means that because it's Wednesday, there's a recipe, thanks to frequent contributor here, Karen C. To celebrate the first official blog, it's strawberry shortcake cookies!

Head over there now, and say hello. Here's the link: http://terryodell.com/terrysplace. And this site will remain available, so you won't lose any links or posts you've bookmarked.

Happy Beltane!

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:59:00 +0000

Bailey Cates writes the Magical Bakery Mysteries. The first in the series, Brownies and Broomsticks, releases today in mass market paperback and ebook formats from NAL/Penguin. She also writes the Home Crafting Mystery Series as Cricket McRae. The sixth in that series, Deadly Row to Hoe, will release in November from Midnight Ink/Llewellyn. There's a giveaway, so be sure to leave a comment. And check back this weekend to see if you won.

Thanks for inviting me to guest here at Terry’s Place! I’m delighted to stop by, especially as today is Beltane, or May Day, which I’ve decided is a rather auspicious release date for my first paranormal cozy mystery.

When I was a little girl we made up little paper “vases” and filled them with spring flowers early in the morning on the first of May. Then I went around the neighborhood and hung them on all the doorknobs. I loved this annual event, but had no idea what May Day was supposed to be about beyond surreptitious flower deliveries. Since writing about a hedge witch – or green witch – I’ve learned a lot more about this holiday.

May 1st, or May Day, falls halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Like Samhain (Halloween), it’s supposed to be a time when the veils of the two worlds are at their thinnest. Fairies come back into the warming world, led by their queen on a white horse and bring with them plenty of magic and mischief. Rowan branches on the windowsill are a traditional protection against their antics.

On a more practical level, Beltane celebrates passing into a season of growth – and renewed foodstuffs. In a world before you could just pop into the local megamart to pick up some out-of-season produce, the early greens and fresh foods were more than welcome after a long winter of tubers and roots – or worse. Flowers bloom, the trees turn green, and the promise of spring is finally realized on your dinner plate.

The celebration of Beltane often involves a bonfire. Bel is the Celtic Sun God, and “Beltane” translates from the Anglo Saxon as “Bel Fire”. On this day fires in village homes were extinguished and then relit from the central bonfire/belfire.

In agrarian cultures farmers would build two bonfires and lead animals between them to increase fertility. Circling the Beltane bonfire three times deosil (clockwise) is said to bring good luck.

Along with fire, flowers are an important symbol of May Day. In fact the first May Days were Roman rather than Celtic. They celebrated Flora, the goddess of flowers. Wreaths and garlands are typical decorations for Beltane.

You may be also be familiar with the modern traditions of girls dancing around the maypole on May Day and communities crowning a May Queen. Sometime a mummer – someone who acts entirely in pantomime – in the character of Jack the Green (also known as The Green Man) may dance around the maypole, too, along with another mummer known only as the Fool. And you can still find Morris dancers – recorded in England as early as 1555 – frolicking with them. However, Morris dancers apparently weren’t associated with English May Day celebrations until the reign of the Tudors.

As for those paper vases of flowers I used to hang on my neighbors’ door knobs? Turns out that probably originated as offering to the fairies for good luck. Making the offering for your neighbors was an act of kindness. Who knew?

Thanks again, Terry!

This year, Bailey is celebrating Beltane by giving away a copy of Brownies and Broomsticks. Just leave a comment to enter. For more information about her or either of her mystery series, please check out her website at www.cricketmcrae.com , or either of her blogs at www.hearthcricket.com or www.baileycates.com.

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Pikes Peak Writers Conference 3 - Series

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What I'm Reading: Breaking the Rules, by Suzanne Brockmann; From the Ashes, by Jeremy Burns (Nook)

Okay, so the picture doesn't exactly evoke "series", although Robert Crais writes series, and so do I. Which hardly puts us in the same league. But he was on the series panel, and I was in the audience, so the picture sort of fits. Kind of. If you stretch the imagination. But he's easy on the eyes, so what the heck. It IS my blog, after all.

I'm trying to mix up the workshop topics so there's something for everyone. I'll still have more on publishing, and that 1875 forensics post, so keep coming back. And I'll mention again that Blogger is still not publishing my posts on schedule, so until they fix it (or I take the blog elsewhere), please bear with me if things show up later than usual. Much as I love you guys, getting up at 5 AM to hit "publish" isn't appealing.

I was especially interested in the panel on writing series. The authors on the panel were Carrie Vaughn, Jeffery Deaver, Joe Lansdale and Robert Crais.

These authors didn't set out to write series when they started. Like so many of us, they just wanted to get a book published. Crais confessed that in his outline (cringe!), he had planned to kill off Joe Pike, but when it came time to write the scene, he couldn't do it. And he's very glad he couldn't.

In writing series, it's important to keep details straight, although the authors had different ways of dealing with it. One said that one of his readers created and kept a Bible of his characters and plots. However, he confessed that he rarely looks at it anymore. Crais said his readers are quick to point out his continuity errors. All are grateful for the 'Search' function in word processing programs.

The authors agreed that they tended to minimize physical descriptions, which not only avoids the brown eyes turning blue, but also allows readers to create their own images of the characters.

Not only is it important to keep the characters' physical details straight, it's also important that the tone—the verbal quality—remain consistent. The characters need to think in the same way throughout the series (unless the plot dictates otherwise), to speak the same way, using the same expressions and catch phrases.

The panel also said they don't plot out character or plot arcs for several books in advance. They will get ideas while writing one book that they know will have to wait for the next book(s) to be addressed.

The discussion moved into talking about writing what readers want. Crais commented that he could create a poll and ask readers if Lucy and Elvis should get married, or if he should let Lucy be hit by a truck. He hypothesized that perhaps 60% might say, 'let them get married.' If he wrote that book, then those who wanted her hit by a truck wouldn't read it, and those who wanted her to get married would already know the ending, so they wouldn't read it either.

Lansdale said you can't think about readers when you're writing. You have to trust yourself. He also said that it's important to be a storyteller. He doesn't plot. (He said he wasn't smart enough to plot, at which point Crais interrupted and said he always thought he wasn't smart enough to write by the seat of his pants the way Lansdale does).

The entire panel agreed that what gives a series "legs" is the characters. It's their lives readers are following, and it's important to make sure they're three-dimensional.

The question of dealing with back story came up, and again, all agreed that less is better. As a matter of fact, even though I'm a stickler for dribbling in back story, after getting home and looking at my second Mapleton mystery, I realized I was introducing too many 'returning' characters and drastically tightened my first chapter.

Tomorrow, my guest is Bailey Cates, who's going to teach us all about Beltane.

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Friday Field Trip - Where's Waldo?

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

While I was busy with workshops at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, Hubster went hiking in nearby Waldo Canyon. And I though when he'd said he wanted to come to the conference with me to do "Springs Things", I though he was talking about Costco or other places to stock up on things we can't find in Divide. But he did get pictures. Probably more than one Friday's worth.

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Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2 - Fingerprinting

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What I'm reading: Free Fire, by C.J. Box; The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot (book club)

Continuing with workshop recaps from the Pikes Peak Writers Conference.

There were two workshops on forensics, both given by retired forensics expert, Tom Adair. (And, he's going to be my guest on May 8th). Both were "hands on" which made a great change from sitting and taking notes.

The first was about fingerprinting. (And although the workshop was hands on, he did begin with some facts.)

Fingerprints are unique and permanent (with very few exceptions, such as burns. They're established in the second trimester, pre-birth. In addition to fingerprints, all dermal ridge prints are unique to the individual (feet, toes, palms, etc.)

Contrary to what we might believe from television, prints are NOT everywhere. And, not finding someone's prints on an object doesn't mean the person didn't touch it. Finger marks are more common, but they're not usable for identification. Probably fewer than 10% of fingerprints found at a crime scene are identifiable to someone. It's not likely you'll get prints from bullet casings.

And speaking of identification—when prints are sent through the computer system, the results are NOT the names of their owners, complete with pretty pictures. They get back a list of "likely matches" and they're numbered. Eliminates any bias on the part of the examiner who might have a suspect in mind.

The quality of fingerprints is affected by environment. Here in Colorado, it's a very dry climate, and since fingerprints are mostly water, we don't leave as many as we would in a more humid environment. Also, as people age, their skin tends to dry out and become more brittle, so again, the quality of prints deteriorates. On the flip side, prints of prepubescent children don't last long on surfaces.

Most law enforcement officers are trained to lift prints using black powder, but the more sophisticated tests are done back in the lab.

Once Tom filled us in on background information, he turned us loose on his collection of things to print, and tools for printing. We had access to black fingerprint powder, magnetic powder, powders that fluoresced, and a collection of things he'd fumed with super glue. We discovered relatively quickly that he wasn't kidding. It wasn't easy for us to find prints, even when we were the ones making them and knew exactly where they were. To get my prints on a plastic fast-food cup, I first made sure I touched my fingers to my face (to pick up extra oils), and then planted them firmly on the cup. After that, Tom lifted them using tape and put them on a card.

The other important piece of takeaway information was that law enforcement is always looking to create a triangle, connecting the victim, the suspect, and the crime scene.

The second workshop was about forensics in 1875. Quite a difference. I'll have my recap of that one another time.

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What's Cooking Wednesday - Cucumber Radish Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Before this week's recipe, I thought I'd mention that ROOTED IN DANGER is available for pre-order. I'm also giving away a copy through Goodreads (link is the same as above). Note: If you pre-order the book through Amazon or Barnes & Noble, the actual 'release' date is an approximation. They'll be filling orders, but might not have the book in stock on that exact date. They'll send you an email telling you it's delayed and they'll also give you the option of cancelling your order. Please don't. It'll get to you. And if you have a library card, you can ask your library to order the book. That gives you a free read and keeps the publisher happy. If you need to provide it, the ISBN is 978-1-4328-2585-0

And, onto the recipe!

I was looking for something to do with the extra bunch of radishes I bought for Passover, and found this recipe. Yummy. And quick.

Cucumber Radish Salad

Ingredients:
1/4 c fresh lime juice
1 T sugar
2 Cucumbers, thinly sliced (I used 1 big one, peeled)
1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced
1/3 c golden raisins (I used regular, since I didn't have golden)

Instructions:
In a small bowl, mix lime juice and sugar.
In a medium bowl, combine cucumbers and radishes. (I sliced everything in the food processor) Pour dressing over. Mix gently. Sprinkle raisins on top. (I just mixed them all in together). Let the mixture stand for a while for flavors to combine. Recipe said to serve at room temperature, but leftovers are fine chilled.

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Magic and Science, Wizards and Physics

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:37:00 +0000

Today my guest at Terry's Place is Karen McCullough. Karen is the author of ten mystery, paranormal, fantasy, and romance novels. Her hardcover mystery, A Gift for Murder, will be released in mass market paperback in June from Harlequin's Worldwide Mystery imprint; several of her novels are now available in Kindle, Nook and other formats from Smashwords.

According to science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” I’ve always been fascinated by that suggestion. It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out why that’s true, and we’ve seen it in action often enough when more technologically developed cultures first come into contact with more primitive ones.

The truth is that for most of us a lot of the technology we use today seems almost impossible. As a former computer programmer and IT person, I’ve taken apart and put back together my share of computers, but in fact my iPhone still seems a big magical to me.

A riff on that idea formed the basis of my book, Magic, Murder and Microcircuits.

If an advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, why couldn’t what we call magic now actually be a technology that we don’t really understand?

Which led me to wonder, what kind of technology might that be?

There are plenty of options, including summoning intervention from outside sources (outside this universe, this dimension, some other plane of being), an invisible force of some kind that magic users can see or generate, or something so far out and different we can’t even contain the idea of what it might be.

The idea that interested me most was a version of the second, the invisible force, but I wanted to relate it to something that most of us are at least vaguely familiar with. In this book, I posit that magic is a kind of subatomic psychokinesis (the ability to move objects using just the mind). My wizards, of whom only a small number are actually strong enough to do anything useful with it, are psychokinetics who can view and move things on a microscopic level, but can do a lot of it on a scale that lets them do things that look like magic to everyone else.

One of the things I like about this system is that it imposes its own rules and limits on the characters. Because a wizard expends energy in doing mental/physical work, they can only do so much of it at a time before exhausting themselves, and they have to eat a lot to refuel.

As with most skills, they also have to be trained in how to use the power, and it’s a truly impersonal force that can be used for good or evil.

Using this system, wizards have to take into consideration the basic laws of physics. The more mass you try to move, the more energy it takes. They can do a lot by shaping gas molecules in air or pushing them in certain directions, diverting electrons, etc., but there are things they can’t do. They can’t fly; they can’t summon fire or throw fireballs unless there is already a fire in the vicinity; they can’t vanish into thin air; and while a strong mage can divert bullets, if one hits him he’s going to be just as injured as anyone else. They can only use the matter and forces that are available to them, and their abilities are constrained by distance and other environmental factors.

There are lots of possibilities and choices to make when creating a system of magic. They don’t have to be based in any kind of reality as this one is. In fact there are few rules about magic systems other than that you do have to have rules and they have to be applied consistently.

To read more about how this system works out in the novel, you can get Magic, Murder and Microcircuits for Kindle, for Nook, and in other formats from Smashwords for just $1.99. Read more about this book, including an extended excerpt, or any of Karen's other books at her website, http://www.kmccullough.com.

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Pikes Peak Writers Conference 1. Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:10:00 +0000

What I'm reading: contest entry #4 of 4

I'm writing this shortly after walking in the door from the Pikes Peak Writers Conference. It, like all conferences, was exhausting, but in a good way. I'll be recapping the highlights. And, apologies in advance, but Blogger has had an issue with posts going up when they're scheduled in advance. Much as I love you all, I'm not getting up in the wee hours to keep to my normal posting schedule. If this hasn't posted when I get up, I'll do it manually, but bear with me for any deviations from my normal posting time. Not only that, but they've changed their interface, so there's yet another learning curve for me. I'm thinking I'll be over at WordPress before too long.)

First, for anyone interested, dinner with Robert Crais was FANTASTIC. I have no clue what I ate, but the conversation was a delight (as was the wine). I know I'm a writer, and consider myself a 'regular' person, but even so, there's something "larger than life" that kicks in when meeting a REAL writer. But he's a 'regular' person, too. At his keynote address, he shared emails from readers who took him to task on everything from grammar to accusing him of padding his books by having blank pages between chapters.

Over the course of the conference, I attended 3 workshops on the publishing industry, and it was also a frequent topic of discussion over meals, and from keynote speakers. I'm going to hit the highlights rather than recap each individual workshop.

Mark Coker, CEO of Smashwords, spoke not only about his publishing company, but also about publishing in general.

Until recently, you weren't considered a "real" author unless a big-name publisher bought your book. With e-publishing, it's possible to succeed on your own, and perhaps make more money. But don't count on it. If that's why you're writing, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

The most important part of success in publishing is: WRITE A GOOD BOOK. (And this includes making sure it's well-edited.)

Second: have a good cover. Your cover needs to convey what kind of book it is. A romance cover should look very different from a thriller cover. Readers who are misled will be disappointed, are likely to leave bad reviews, and not buy more of your books.

Coker shared some statistics gleaned primarily from Smashwords books sold at the Apple iStore. As far as making money, the lowest yield are from books priced at 99 cents to $1.99. The sweet spot for profit seems to be in the $2.99 - $5.99 range. (Maybe I should raise some of my prices???)

Although people once thought e-books were a way to publish short stories or novellas, statistically, the best-selling e-books are about 110-120 thousand words.

If you're an indie publisher, odds are you're not going to do well in print.

**(Personal experience substantiates this for me, which is why I haven't rushed to put my backlist back into print after I've published them digitally. I've sold about 1500 digital copies of my two original books, and 8 print copies.)

From other speakers, including Donald Maass, Jeffery Deaver, and Robert Crais: Writers are storytellers, and have been since the days of the cave man. It's all about telling the story, not the medium in which it's delivered. Stone tablet, parchment scroll, typed on a manual typewriter, printed, electronic, audio—it doesn't matter. The platform changes, but publishing will survive.

Writers can change people's lives. We can make them think, laugh, cry, and bring them a way to escape their everyday lives. In addition to the critical e-mails Crais received, he shared another from a soldier who said Crais's books saw him through his deployment.

As writers, we should be looking forward, writing books that the next generation will read and remember.

More posts to come, including some great sessions on forensics, but tomorrow, my guest is Karen McCullough, who's talking about magic and science in fiction.

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Friday Field Trip - Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Up here in the mountains, we don't have much in the way of pretty 'flower shop' flowers. But my mom sent some of her favorite flower shots to share. Enjoy! Spring is here.

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Trends in Publishing?

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What I'm reading: Alibi in High Heels, by Gemma Halliday (Nook); Killing Kate, by Julie Kramer

First - for those with Kindles, SAVING SCOTT is now available at the Kindle Store, and at Smashwords. Other e-tailers coming soon.

I'm headed out to the Pikes Peak Writers Conference this afternoon. I'll admit that I'm looking forward to a fan-girl moment at dinner tonight, where I'll be seated at a table with author Robert Crais. I shall try not to blather. Or drool. I love his Elvis Cole/Joe Pike books, and years ago, when he spoke at SleuthFest, he was very nice about answering this not-yet-published author's questions, and offered encouragement.

I'll try to take notes during the workshops and have recaps next week.

I've been judging a contest for published romantic suspense books. I was given four books to judge, and I noticed something different about this years' entries. All four of mine were from small presses, most of which I'd never heard of. Yet they're all legitimate, royalty-paying publishing houses.

I know I've talked about going indie with e-books, but here's another print alternative to the Big Six. These aren't 'vanity presses' where the author pays to have his book published. These are publishers that require authors to submit manuscripts for approval, the same way the New York biggies do. They provide editorial services and cover art. I think they rely more on the authors for marketing, but nowadays, the Big Six also expect authors to be their own promoters.

Differences?

Most of these small presses rely on POD, or "Print on Demand" to create their product. Not that long ago, POD publishing was scoffed at, and lumped in with vanity presses. However, POD is a technology, and is not connected with publishers. All it means is that if someone orders a book, instead of finding it on a warehouse shelf, it's printed virtually on the spot. This saves trees, and eliminates the stripped book returns from bookstores.

Indie authors can take advantage of POD technology as well. For example, my two indie published books, DANGER IN DEER RIDGE, and DEADLY SECRETS, are available in print as well as in digital formats. If you go to either Amazon.com or Create Space, you can order the book, and it'll be shipped to you, the same as any other traditionally published book.

So, maybe as the Big Six are trying to figure out what's happening in the publishing world, the little guys are stepping in to fill the gaps. And not only do authors benefit, but readers can experience books that might not fit the confines of the Big Six.

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What's Cooking Wednesday - Crockpot Quiche

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

As I'm sitting here watching the snow fall, I figured this recipe, contributed by frequent visitor to Terry's Place, Karen C, might make a tasty dinner. (Although, as I'm typing this, it's Sunday afternoon, and we usually go out to our local pub for dinner. But if Karen says it's good, I'm sure it is.) Thanks, Karen!

Karen says: Feel free to improvise with whatever vegetables you have on hand. Try asparagus, mushrooms, peppers, onions or a mixture. You will need about 3 cups of cooked vegetables.

Ingredients:
Unsalted Butter
6 large eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Freshly ground pepper
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup whole milk
3 cups chopped well-drained cooked broccoli or other vegetables
2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon or basil
1 cup grated Gruyere, Emmentaler, Gouda or cheddar cheese (or a mixture)
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Instructions:
1. Generously butter a large slow cooker. (I used a cooking spray.)

2. Beat eggs together with flour, salt, nutmeg, and pepper to taste. Whisk in half-and-half and milk. Stir in broccoli, herbs, Gruyere and ½ cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano.

3. Pour mixture into slow cooker. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano over top. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 ½ hours or until quiche is just set in the center. Run a knife around edge of quiche, cut into wedges and serve hot.

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The Power of Point of View

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I’d like to welcome Vonnie Davis to my blog today. Vonnie is a romance author of contemporary, historical and romantic suspense. She’s also held workshops on Savvy Authors. Today, she's offering her insights on one of my favorite topics, Point of View. And while she's here, I'm doing my monthly post at The Blood-Red Pencil.

Thank you for having me, Terry.

I’d like to share some thoughts about the bane of my existence when I first began writing full time—point of view.

You see, I’d majored in English and retired as a technical writer. So I knew how to craft a sentence. What I didn’t know was the craft of writing. Character arc? Conflict resolution? Dialog tags and beats? GMC? Isn’t that a truck? Point of view? After all the classical literature I’d studied, I certainly knew about that. I was good to go.

Yes, folks, I was blissfully ignorant.

My soon-to-be agent phoned to tell me I had some real point of view issues. When I told her I was using third person omniscient, I’m sure I heard her fall out of her chair laughing.

My learning curve just shot upward at a forty-five degree angle.

Gee, and I thought I knew so much.

Yet editors cite point of view (POV) errors as the main reason manuscripts are rejected. POV is more than whose head are we in. Properly used, POV is a writer’s tool to draw the reader into the story to the degree that when the reader reaches the end, the reader says, “Man, I just couldn’t put it down.”

If Darla is your POV character, you can only show us what Darla sees, hears, smells, tastes, feels and thinks.

Think about it. Isn’t that how you perceive the world?

Can you read minds or feel another person’s worry or scheming motives? No. Neither can your POV character. When you’re talking on the phone can you see the other person’s movements? No. Neither can your POV character.

This restrictiveness and uncertainty feels more realistic because it's how we perceive the world.

You can’t write about things the viewpoint character can't know. You can’t write that your POV character didn’t notice the car following him. If your POV character doesn’t know it, then you can’t write about it. Can your POV character hear criminals whisper in another room or see a younger brother stick out his tongue behind the POV character? Not hardly. So don’t tell your readers about it.

Writers often inadequately utilize point of view. I’m not talking about head-hopping. I’m talking about a very distant use of point of view that doesn’t get the reader into the character’s head or emotions.

Avoid using “she heard” or “he saw” or “she thought.” These phrases distance the reader from the character and are not needed. If we are in Jason’s POV, for example, the reader already knows you, the writer, are writing about what Jason experiences. Let me show you—

Jason pulled out of the driveway for his first solo drive to the mall. He watched his mother wave and heard his dad issue one final safety warning. Man, he thought this day would never come. For the first time in his life he felt free.

Without those “distancers,” you can get us deeper into Jason’s head by writing Jason pulled out of the driveway for his first solo drive to the mall. His mother waved and his overprotective dad yelled one final safety warning. At long last, he was on his own. What a feeling of freedom. Awesome didn’t begin to describe it.

Now we can feel his excitement. We can almost visualize his smile. And by being in his head, sharing his experience, we feel the power of the scene.

If we want our characters to be realistic, then we must infuse them with realistic emotions. I don’t know what it’s like to be chased by a werewolf, but I have been chased by a swarm of bees. So I take the memory of that experience—the fear, the flush of heat on my chest, my heart pounding in my ears and the clenching of my stomach—and ramp it up a degree for my POV character.

Don’t tell the reader Darla was angry. That’s so lame. Show the roar in her ears as her heart beats faster, the ache in her jaw from gritting her teeth and the pain in her palms from her fingernails pressing into them as she clenches her fists. Make us feel her anger by taking us deeper into Darla’s POV. Show the reader these things and the reader will think man, is she angry. Your reader becomes part of the story because he or she feels it.

There’s great power in point of view. It’s more than whose head are we in. By utilizing its power, we become authors of page-turners.

For more about Vonnie, you can find her at her blog, her website, and on Twitter as @VonnieWrites

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Etiquette Tips for Author Events - And a Nook First Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What I'm reading: Contest entry 3 of 4; In Plain Sight, by C.J. Box

First – a quick Nook First recap. My 30 day commitment is almost over (and thanks to those who—I hope—have been patiently waiting for SAVING SCOTT to be available for all the other e-reading devices out there). Sales are, as expected, dropping off, but are still far more than what I'd seen at Barnes & Noble prior to the Nook First campaign

Before Nook First, I was very pleased with my Amazon sales. I still am, but I thought a quick comparison might be in order. Remember, this is "regular" Amazon, not their Select program. I've never done free giveaways there.

Amazon sales, all my titles, between March 19th and April 14th: 2,329.

Barnes & Noble sales, all my titles, same date range: 13,824.

Adjusted Barnes & Noble Sales, excluding SAVING SCOTT, which isn't available at Amazon: 9,270.

On Saturday, I participated in a library program, Mountain of Authors, at one of the Pikes Peak library branches. There were panels on thrillers and on e-publishing, as well as a keynote speech by author Connie Willis. In addition, between the panel discussions, local authors (myself included) were "showcased" and allowed to introduce themselves, their work, and sell books to help raise money for their Friends of the Library.

(And there were a few perks. Hubster came along to "see what you really do" but I think he came because, as my guest, he got a free lunch.

There were 32 authors present. We tend to get wrapped up in our own genres, and forget that there are publishing genres for just about everyone. There were children's books, non-fiction books, niche market books, as well as the usual genre fiction.

I was interested in the panel on e-publishing. The takeaway there is that if you've got books published, the more formats you can offer them in, the better. But there IS a difference between books published in e-format by recognized publishers and indie, or self-publishing a book. As I'm sure I've said before, e-publishing should never be a shortcut. Make sure you've got a quality product, which requires investing time and usually money in good editing. Having your mother tell you your book is great is not a good reason to self-publish. But if you've got a good book, perhaps in a narrow niche market, where no publisher will take it because your target audience is too small, e-publishing offers you the opportunity to get it out there.

As for the 'showcase' side of the program.

If you're an author:

Follow the rules

Authors were told they had ONE MINUTE to promo themselves. This isn't much time, so it behooves you to have an idea of what points you want to make. The program director didn't use a stopwatch, so people weren't warned to keep it short, or cut off when their time was up.

If you've written 4 books, don't spend even 30 seconds telling what each is about and why you wrote it. That's two minutes right there.

It's really not fair to exploit the "rules." The result of those long-winded authors meant that the 'meet and greet' time was drastically shortened in order to keep the rest of the program on schedule.

(And maybe, if you're the one in charge, you should try to make sure these time constraints are met)

Don't preach.

Even if you're publishing books about a topic you strongly believe in, don't try to convert the audience in your allotted time. There's time for that when people come to your table.

Don't expect to sell a ton of books. Book signings and other events (unless you're a big name) don't really mean sales. They mean meeting people. And, at a library, most of the attendees are people who get their books from the library!

If you're an attendee:

Don't pretend the author isn't there if you aren't interested in their particular books. Smile. Stop to chat. Authors love meeting people. Don't think that you have to buy, especially in a room with 32 authors. They know their books won't be 'right' for everyone, and don't expect a purchase from everyone who stops by.

Tomorrow, my guest is Vonnie Davis, who's going to be sharing her take on POV, one of my favorite topics.

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Friday Field Trip - Sedona

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

First, I hope nobody suffers from triskaidekaphobia. If so, hope your day is a safe one.

Today's field trip comes courtesy of Karen C, a regular here at Terry's Place. We're going to Sedona. Thanks so much!

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Tips for a Radio Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What I'm reading: In Plain Sight, by C.J. Box; Alibi in High Heels, by Gemma Halliday (Nook)

Tonight I'm headed into new territory. I had a request for a web radio interview, and I accepted. My first reaction when I got the confirmation was panic. Had I really agreed to do this? The show is scheduled for three hours. THREE? Now, talking doesn't usually bother me, but I do tend to ~~ramble~~ blather, and I don't think my verbal meanderings would interest listeners for that long.

Fortunately, follow up emails revealed that there are a whole bunch of authors who will share that time block, with each given a featured half hour. That seems more reasonable.

Since I've never done a phone-in interview before, I thought it might be wise to plan ahead. Stammering and hemming and hawing probably won't make a good impression.

Elaine, the interviewer and host, sent some very useful instructions, including reminders that the station will pick up background sounds. Not smart to be chatting while washing dishes (but Hubster does that), doing laundry, or dealing with pets and vocal children demanding attention. Luckily, we don't have any of the latter, and simply closing the door to my office should keep things quiet. The other critical point is to turn off the sound on the computer, because it'll create nothing but confusion.

I remember calling in to a radio talk show long ago. There's a several second delay between when you speak and when it hits the air. If you've ever tried talking while hearing your words played back a few seconds later…well, it can't be done.

Once the technical aspects are covered, the next most important thing to do is look over the questions the interviewer provided, and make sure I have at least the starting point for answers written down. My brain will go blank otherwise.

And, speaking of blanked-out brains. I'm going to have the titles of all my books written down, too. Nothing like not remembering what you've written (and one of her questions was, "how many books have you written?" and I had to stop and think—and check my own website to make sure I wasn't missing any.)

I'll also jot down the tag line for each book, and the names of the characters, just to help me keep things straight. Upcoming releases. The URL for my website. A plug for my newsletter.

It's a call-in show, so there's another thing to worry about. What if nobody calls in? I know it's the host's job to keep things going, but I'm sure they'd rather have me fielding questions from listeners rather than having to fill the time slot with … filler.

The last interview question is, "anything else about yourself you would like to get out there?"

So, tell me. What do you want to know about me? What do you think listeners might be interested in?

The radio show runs from 8-11 PM Eastern Time. My slot is 9:30 – 10:00 (which is 7:30 – 8:00 Mountain time, where I live, so I might not be asleep.)

You can find the show at trianglevarietyradio.com Scroll down and click on Blog Talk Radio.

The call-in number is on the site.

It would be great to hear from you!

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What's Cooking Wednesday - Kale Salad with Asian Dressing

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What I'm reading: Contest Entry 2 of 4

First, I was hit with a bunch of interview questions for Candice Coghill's blog. Hop over and see if you learn anything new. (And leave a comment if you have a moment.)

On to the recipe of the week: My mom made a yummy kale salad while we visited her in Los Angeles prior to the LA Marathon. I replicated it, more or less, when I got home, and added shrimp to make it a main dish. It's one of those "anything goes" recipes.

Kale Salad with Shrimp and Asian Dressing

Salad –
No rules here; use as much as you like, add other favorites or delete things you don't like. For most of the ingredients, I'd ballpark about 8 ounces. Depends on how many people you're feeding, and what you like.

1 bunch kale, stems removed, chopped. (Would work with any greens.)
Frozen shelled edamame (soy beans), cooked per package directions & cooled.
Dried cherries (or craisins, blueberries, cranberries)
Slivered almonds
Cherry tomatoes, halved
1-2 T toasted sesame seeds
Frozen salad-sized shrimp, thawed and drained well. (for a side-dish salad, you can leave this out)

Asian Dressing (this will make more than you need; save the rest for other salads.)

1/4 c soy sauce
2 T. rice vinegar
1 T. lemon juice
1/2 t. sesame oil
1 T honey
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t dried ginger (or 1 t fresh, grated)
1/4 c salad oil.
Salt, pepper to taste.

Mix everything together.

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Writing as Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Today I welcome Karla Brandenburg to Terry's Place. Karla is the author of contemporary romance, with a hint of the paranormal.

It has been my experience that many writers begin the process as catharsis. Something traumatic happens in their lives and writing is a way to deal with what they’ve been through. For myself, I started writing as an angst-ridden teen. Back up. Amend that. I actually wrote my first story when I was VERY young (when I was first old enough to put a sentence together – yes, that young). I actually sent it to Random House! Writing was a way to express myself, but I didn’t make another serious attempt until my teen years. Even I realized, by the time I’d outgrown all the angst, that the stories I’d written weren’t very good, but as a quiet, introverted kind of person, it helped me to deal with things that I had trouble expressing.

As I got older and more vocal/outspoken, I didn’t need the outlet quite so much, but expressing myself “on paper” was still easier. I also had a vivid imagination – always. The stories continued to come and I still put them down, just to empty my head. They were less personal, more observational by that time. My imagination conjured up all sorts of stories about the people around me, people I’d never met and didn’t know. You might think of this as people watching at the mall, in greater detail.

How many people have you met who said something to the effect of, “Wow, you should write a story about all your experiences!” to you or to someone you know? The fact of the matter is that for most people, it doesn’t translate well, partly because the story isn’t over yet (so there’s no ending), and partly because while you have lived it and experienced it, someone else might not be even remotely interested (or might have a more dramatic story themselves). Don’t get me wrong. Certainly, there are some people who have very interesting lives, but consider what I’ve already told you about myself. Do you really care that I wrote a children’s story when I was five (that didn’t go anywhere)?

For me, writing has value. Not just for the stories I can weave, but to empty my overactive imagination. Like most authors, I also have a day job. The job is seasonal, so when it’s busy, it’s VERY BUSY, which limits my creative time. This year in particular, I’ve been spending more of my writing time cleaning off my shelves than I have starting something new. I have some old stories that I never marketed. Because my creative time is at a premium, I’ve been “cheating” by revisiting these old stories and developing a marketing plan. Cleaning them up. Writing synopsises (synopsi?). Sending out query letters. And I’m noticing something interesting – which brings me to the topic of this post.

Writing is therapy. Even though my angst-ridden teen years are over. Even though I’m as happy in my life as a person has a right to be. I still have a head filled with imagination, and even though I’ve put down several story ideas for future reference, without having a new project that I’m throwing myself full into, my imagination is poking and prodding and reminding me that it needs an outlet. I go to bed at night and my dreams are vivid and active. There are song writers that keep notebooks beside their beds so they can capture those unreined imagination moments, moments that evaporate with morning’s first light, but I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of most of those songs. I do keep a notebook beside my bed, but not to capture those wild dreams. I use it to capture those moments when my stories creep into my sleep and resolve an issue that I’ve been struggling with.

I love writing. Always have. As much for escape as catharsis. To my mind, the cathartic stories I’ve written are usually so much drivel, but I love the freedom to escape into my imagination and take someone on that ride with me. And what I’ve (re)learned this busy season at work is that for me, those escapes are essential to a good night’s sleep - imagination therapy.

I do believe it’s time to start a new project!

You can find Karla’s book at Amazon.com (or other on-line booksellers), or ebooks in all formats here. For more information, visit her website at www.karlabrandenburg.com Watch for her newest book, Living Canvas, which is expected to be released next month.

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Nook First - Week 2, and Writing Series

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What I'm reading: Stay Close, by Harlan Coben; Dutch Me Deadly, by Maddy Hunter (bike); Contest entry 1 of 4.

First, a brief summary of my second week at Barnes & Noble. The program puts your book on the home pages for two weeks of the 30 days you've committed to the exclusive, so the first two weeks are where I expected to see the greatest sales. I wasn't disappointed. (If you haven't read my summary of Week 1, click here.)

(clicking should enlarge the image)

For Week 2, I had two books on the Top 100 in the Nook Store. All my books moved well up in the rankings, four of them under 500. (Note: my best-selling Amazon titles are in the 3000 – 5000 range, and I've always been happy with that.) I sold over 5000 books that week.

Week 3 is almost over as I write this, and, as expected, my sales have dropped. However, let's put things in perspective. Prior to Nook First, I was thrilled to sell 10 or 20 books a day at Barnes & Noble. In Week 3, my sales are still in the hundreds. So, just because it's not as spectacular as it was, I'm still seeing more sales per day at B&N than I am at Amazon. Who'd have thought I'd ever say, "Oh, darn. I only sold 300 books today." Or, "Oh, darn. I need a tax accountant."

As for writing, I'm gearing up for my next Mapleton Mystery. This is the first time I've committed to an actual "series". Yes, I have my Pine Hills Police "series" and my Blackthorne, Inc. "series." But in reality most of those are spin-offs and connected books. HIDDEN FIRE is a true sequel to FINDING SARAH, but although the rest do feature a recurring cast of characters, they're merely set in the same general universe.

With a mystery series, you follow the same characters as protagonists, and, for the most part, books should be read in order. But what about revealing too much to the readers?

I recently won a book by C.J. Box, who writes, among other stand-alone novels, a series featuring Joe Pickett, a game warden. The book I won was somewhere around number 10 in the series. I enjoyed it, and am going back and starting with Book 1 (I'm up to #5 now). However, knowing what's happened in the "future" does take away some of the tension Box sets up. If a character disappears in Book 2, but I already know he's alive and well from reading Book 10, then I'm not as fully engaged as I would be if I were reading in order.

In a more extreme example, I read a second book by a best-selling author who recapped so much of Book 1 that I had absolutely no desire to go back and read the first. And in another book, also a series, the protagonist has recapped the killer as well as who the red herrings were in the first chapters. All the 'mystery' is gone, so why would I read the first book?

On the flip side, I recently re-read Michael Connelly's first Harry Bosch book. In that book, he talks about a case that's happened in the past. Enough so, that I had to verify that I hadn't missed a book. He's setting things up so he can write about that case, and he's careful not to reveal much more than Bosch solved the case, and it was high profile.

So, for my next Mapleton Mystery, I'm going to have to decide how much to reveal. I know not everyone reads in order. For example, I would definitely avoid telling readers who the killer was in Book 1, although that crime is going to have to be mentioned in some roundabout way, since it was the first homicide in the town's collective memory. Solving it becomes part of what shapes Gordon's character. But let's say I introduce a character who has taken over the job the killer held. Do I mention why the new character is here? Or do I not even bring the "new" character into the book? (You'll probably notice that I'm pointedly avoiding mentioning who the killer was, or what job he/she held, for those of you who might still want to read the book.)

I think it's important in a mystery series, perhaps more than in other series, since knowing who is or who isn't the villain can spoil the read if you're backtracking.

How do you feel about reading series? How much do you like to know about what happened before? Or do you even care?

Tomorrow, my guest is Karla Brandenburg. Her topic: Writing as Therapy. For those of us who write because we have to, this is an enlightening post.

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Friday Field Trip - Guffey, Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

While I was in Los Angeles last month, Hubster went out exploring. He's sharing some pictures from the town of Guffey, which is "just up the road a piece" from where we live.

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Left Coast Crime - Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

What I'm reading: Out of Range, by C.J. Box; Undercover in High Heels, by Gemma Halliday (Nook); Come and Find Me, by Hallie Ephron (bike)

Last weekend, I attended my second Left Coast Crime conference, held in Sacramento, California. Although some might have grumbled about the rainy weather, when I go to a conference, I expect to be attending sessions during the scheduled event, not sightseeing, so it didn't bother me at all. (Not enough time to extend the trip, so it was conference-only for me)

The first workshop I attended was on e-publishing. It was a two-session presentation, but I could only stay for the first part. Sadly, the presenter had a lot to learn about creating Power Point slides that people behind the first row could see. Also, she publishes exclusively at Amazon, so her data were skewed and didn't really give a decent overview of so many more options available to those who want to go indie. However, I don't know what she covered in the second hour, so perhaps she did expand the horizons.

The second hour, I was lured to a panel on "Breaking the Rules" because Dr. Doug Lyle is always good for a laugh. The topics touched upon characters who do things their own way, and what the author can do to make them credible. Those in licensed professions have rules and standards they must follow. Dr. Lyle mentioned that he wanted his character outside of the medical profession, so he never finished medical school. This freed him from having to follow the rules.

Friday highlights included a panel on the pros and cons of using real places in stories. If you use a real setting, get it right, because readers will tell you that Main Street doesn't intersect with Maple Avenue. And, common sense also dictates that if you're going to set a scene in a restaurant, it's probably not smart to give your characters food poisoning.

Another interesting panel covered Publicity, Reviewing & Social Media. Panelists shared what's worked for them (or their clients), and pointed out that 30 minutes a day, in 10 minute intervals was enough time to spend with social networking. The new terms of service for Pinterest came up, and it was recommended as the new big thing. (I'm not going there yet). Social media should be used for name recognition, not promotion.

The panel given by law enforcement experts was most useful to me. They debunked a lot of the TV/Book/Movie myths. Pathologists don't go to crime scenes. The best tool a crime scene investigator can have is a flashlight, to provide oblique lighting. When asked about their favorite television shows or movies, almost everyone on the panel said they don't watch cop shows. They prefer comedy, although when pressed, they said Law and Order and Forensic Files were "acceptable." The rest relied on what they called, "Tricknology"

The best new investigative tool? Facebook. (So be careful what you put on your wall!)

In a related panel, a retired FBI agent pointed out that the FBI didn't get "computerized" until 1995. Prior to that, all records were kept in a huge room filled with filing cabinets, and the staff that worked there could locate anything you needed.

Dr. Lyle's pet peeves: the one-hit knockout punch (and even if you're lucky enough to knock out the bad guy, he'll only be out for a few seconds, and when he wakes up, he'll be MAD), and the one-shot kill. He's seen too many people with a dozen gunshot wounds still walking and talking. Especially if they're drunk. In fact, his comment was, "You can't kill a drunk."

After a discussion of fingerprints, Dr. Lyle said he was watching the arrival of a new identification system—the antibody profile. Everyone's will be different, although they will also change over time.

And of course, the Real Highlight of the conference was the panel on Sex in Mysteries. I shared the table with Allison Brennan and Deborah Coonts (and they brought a bottle of champagne, so tongues were loose!). Judging from those who approached me afterward, a good time was had by all.

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What's Cooking Wednesday - White Chili

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Since it snowed all day yesterday, a hearty crock pot recipe seemed appropriate. I originally shared this back in 2010, before I'd started my What's Cooking Wednesday series. Hope nobody minds. (And if you do, send me one of your favorite recipes!)

White Chili

Ingredients
1 medium sized onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 t ground cumin
2 whole large chicken breasts, skinless, boneless, and cut into 1 inch chunks (If you prefer vegetarian, just leave this out)
1 can (15-19 oz) white kidney beans (cannellini), drained
1 can (15 1/2 -19 oz) garbanzo beans, drained
1 can (12 oz) white corn, drained
2 cans (4 oz) chopped green chiles
1 1/2 - 2 cups chicken broth (Vegetable broth if you're going the veggie route)

Instructions
Stick everything in the pot.
When chicken is tender, it's done. Adjust liquid to taste.
To serve, stir in some hot pepper sauce, to taste, if desired.
Add 1 c. shredded Monterrey Jack cheese; garnish with parsley.

And, for those celebrating Passover, Janet Rudolph has a flourless chocolate cake receipe on her blog. Check it out.

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What's Behind the Big Ears?

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Today, as proof that my blog guests aren't restricted to writing about writing, I welcome Georgiana Hall to Terry's Place, with a post that fits right in with Easter. Georgiana (G.G. Hall) is the author of “Hershey-A Tale of a Curious House Rabbit,” which is based on the antics of her own rabbits, especially one named Hershey. Georgiana is a volunteer and educator for the House Rabbit Society, an international organization dedicated to education about rabbit ownership and to rescue efforts. She and her husband Oren Maxwell are both physicists at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. They share their home with four birds and six rescued rabbits.

The other day, a good friend of mine passed away. She was brown and furry, had lopped ears, and weighed about 2 pounds. She was a rabbit named Muffin and was adopted from a shelter 6 years ago. Muffin lived quite the good life, dining on organic greens and herbs, high quality rabbit pellets, and Nebraska hay. She shared a large exercise pen in our family room with her rabbit companion, Peanut, and even had daily supervised runs in the living room. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Yes, she truly lived “the life of Riley,” as the saying goes. But, unfortunately, her life was the exception to that which many a pet rabbit is subjected to.

Every year, people buy rabbits as presents for young children, very often at Easter. These soft, furry creatures, with their large ears and round, curious eyes, melt many hearts. What could be more pleasurable than petting the warm, silky fur of a little rabbit? After all, they are cuddly, eat carrots, and don’t make a lot of noise, right? Well, sort of. But the problem with the adorable little rabbit as a pet is that it is often quickly forgotten about. It lives out a brief life in a little cage or in an outdoor hutch, chewing on strange smelling pellets and probably too many carrots.

Many of these pet rabbits die within six months as a result of a poor diet and unhealthy conditions. Others suffer injuries from being handled incorrectly, often by a small child, who unknowingly squeezes them too tightly. Or, they may be injured by someone picking them up by their long, sensitive ears. If its back is not supported while picking it up, “Fluffy” may kick out his hind legs and injure his spine. He may also grow to a large size and no longer have the cute appeal that he once had. When he finally matures to an adult and his hormones rage, that sweet little rabbit may turn into a “furry Godzilla” by biting his owners or spraying and pooping wherever he pleases to establish territory.

Unfortunately, at this point, the cuddly rabbit that everyone loved and adored at first may face a tragic end. These rabbits are often dumped outdoors or in local parks or abandoned to an animal shelter.

But, there is a bright side to all of this. With proper education, rabbit owners can have a wonderful pet for many years. Rabbits are intelligent, fun-loving, and come in all shapes and sizes. They can be litter-trained, spayed or neutered, and taught to respond to vocal commands.

Although carrots are a favored treat, they should by no means be a major part of “Fluffy’s” diet. Many responsible rabbit owners remark that the produce drawer in their refrigerator is filled with healthy greens and herbs, both wonderful for us and for the rabbit in the house. But certainly, the most important food of all for these herbivores is hay. There are websites devoted to selling different types. And by no means is the pile of hay in “Fluffy’s” home just for chewing and savoring, but can even be a good resting spot when the mood strikes!

Thousands of rabbits across the nation sit in shelters waiting for homes. In fact, the third most abandoned animal at shelters is the rabbit, after cats and dogs. These shelter rabbits are healthy, spayed or neutered, and most likely litter-trained as well. Given the responsibility and complexity of these lovely animals, perhaps the chocolate Easter bunny or even a toy stuffed one is truly the better choice for a child in the family. However, if a rabbit is the desired pet, then hopefully the potential owner will first consider their needs and then consider giving a rescue a second chance.

For more, visit G.G.'s website, www.gghall.com to learn more about rabbits and the book. It is available as a paperback and an e-book on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you are interested in finding out more about adopting a rescued rabbit, please feel free to contact her at hersheytherabbit@gmail.com

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Nook First - Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Odell) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I thought I'd report on my first week's experiences with the Nook First program. Overall, I'm absolutely thrilled that I was able to participate.

A brief recap:

The Nook First program includes a variety of marketing promotions on the part of Barnes & Noble. (Note: this is the current program; things might change down the line.) Your book is on the home page, on a special "Nook First" page, and there are email blasts to Nook owners and to everyone who's bought one of your books through Barnes & Noble. Needless to say, you can't get this kind of attention on your own. Not without major effort and expense.

Your book is not free. The minimum price is $2.99. Your book appears with 3 others on the Nook First home page for two weeks, and shows up in "new releases" in whatever genre(s) you've selected when you uploaded the book. So, there's good visibility all over the Barnes & Noble website. And, if your book climbs in the rankings, it'll be in even more places.

The conditions: the book must be a first time digital release, and you have to keep it exclusive to the Nook store for 30 days. After that, you're free to publish it elsewhere. My reasoning in applying for this program was that my Pine Hills Police series wasn't selling particularly well anywhere, so publishing SAVING SCOTT, the new book in the series as a Nook First, might draw attention to the rest of the series. Also, my other promo and marketing efforts seem to target the same general audience.

Did it work?

Based on the first week, YES.

Below is a chart showing my overall results for the first week of Nook First. For reference, until March 19th, the first day of SAVING SCOTT'S promotion, I'd sold a total of 135 books total for March at B&N. Six of them were SAVING SCOTT, which I uploaded a few days before my March 19th start date. On day 1 of Nook First, I sold 53. (Clicking should enlarge the image)

There are those who have argued that since only a small percentage of their sales come from B&N, Apple, Sony, or other e-tailers, they're sticking all their eggs into Amazon's basket. However, during the first week of my Nook First gig, I saw higher sales of all my other titles at Amazon as well. So, I haven't hurt my sales at Amazon, and instead, have added a whole bunch (I hope) of new readers, thanks to the promo by B&N.

On its second day, SAVING SCOTT broke into the top 100 best sellers in the Nook Store. Later that week, it climbed to the #15 slot. Note: right now, the best-seller lists are full of the Hunger Games and 50 Shades of Grey series books, so even coming close to the top 10 is nothing short of miraculous for an unheard of author.

But, even better, is that I saw sales rise across the board. FINDING SARAH, the first book in the Pine Hills Police series had never sold more than 10 copies in a day. Here's what happened during week 1 of Nook First for SAVING SCOTT:

Another surprise: WHEN DANGER CALLS also showed a sales jump. (This is one of my best-sellers at Amazon, but never did much at B&N)

As a matter of fact, WHEN DANGER CALLS, which isn't even part of the Pine Hills Police series, made the top 100. Having two titles in the top 100 is something I never dreamed of.

And, let's be realistic. I made more money in this one week than I've made in YEARS of my writing "career." Seeing daily sales totals add up to more than I usually make in a month at Amazon definitely makes me give this project a big thumbs up.

If you've ever thought about buying a cute little bunny for your family for Easter (or know someone who might), you'll want to check in tomorrow for my guest, G.G. Hall's post.

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