Friday, September 18, 2009

Writer's Moment - Claire Delacroix


Ten Things You Can Do To Improve Your Chances Of Making Your First Sale
Published by Claire Delacroix at FreshFiction.com
September 15, 2009

Who's ready for some straightforward, heartfelt and simple advice to help get your book into the hands of a publisher and, from there, on shelves? That's just what Claire provides.

Check out an excerpt below, then read the full post here: http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=1989

"I know a lot of aspiring writers (and I’ll likely meet a lot more, during the writer-in-residence program at the Toronto Public Library this fall. And every July, after aspiring romance writers attend RWA’s National convention, many of them come home determined to sell their first book by the next annual conference.

Selling a book by a specific date sounds like a good goal, but think about it. We say that authors make sales, but who is really is charge of that part of the process? Publishers buy books - specifically editors working for publishers - while authors write books. So, it’s not really up to you when your book is sold. This makes selling a poor goal, as the biggest part of it isn’t in the realm of your influence.

That said, there are a lot of awfully good goals that can put on the right path to making that sale, and - good news! - they are all within your powers.

1/ Finish the (insert adjective of choice here) book manuscript. Most authors make their first sale on a complete manuscript, plain and simple. It’s the only way that any editor can know for certain that you know how to write a book. If you want to be published, you’re going to have to not just sit down and write, but finish what you started.

2/ Follow your heart. Don’t write a book that you don’t particularly want to write, just because you think "that kind" of book will sell and get your foot in the publisher’s door. Most of the time, this doesn’t work. When an editor buys your first book, she or he will want a second book that shows similar characteristics - for example, another historical romance, or another funny paranormal romance, or another romantic suspense. By marketing several books in succession that have strong similarities, the publisher can "brand" you and build your readership. This is a good thing. It means, however, that the first book that you write and submit should be characteristic of the work you intend to do for the next five or six books. Following your historical romance with a cookbook is going to confuse everybody. Figure out what you want to write for the next little while, and make sure your first book is of that type."

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

[Claire Delacroix] Guardian / Book 2: Fallen Angels


Claire takes us back to her dark, futuristic world of angels, evil and the oppressive Republic in Guardian, the second book in the Fallen Angels series.

Claire draws readers into the story by combining 'excerpts' of futuristic laws and news reports, intrigue within the government of the Republic and sizzling romance. Look for Guardian in bookstores on September 29th.

Check out the excerpt here: http://www.delacroix.net/guardianX.html



There's still time to start from the beginning of dark intrigue in an apocalyptic future. Just pick up Fallen, book 1 of the series.

Read the excerpt here:
http://www.delacroix.net/fallenX.html

Friday, September 11, 2009

Writer's Moment - Sir Ken Robinson


Creativity is the heart of the Writer, Painter, Auteur or any other professional where the product is a fabrication of the human mind.

Today's Writer's Moment is a thought-provoking commentary from creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson who believes modern society at large, and education in particular, is killing creativity.

Thanks, Ken, for pointing out that the odd and unusual thought process of a writer is something we should strive to develop.

Watch the video here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
.

Friday, September 4, 2009

WRITER'S MOMENT - Christina Dodd

Check out Christina's 'Top 10 Points Of Wisdom' at the Squawk Radio Blog as she shares insights gathered during her last 18+ years as a successful author who's published an amazing 40 books.

Love the humourous and heartfelt advice such as:

"9. From my vantage point, everyone in publishing is doing better than I am. From everyone else’s vantage point, I’m doing better than they are. The truth is somewhere in between — and an author who’s published is not going to get any sympathy at all from an unpublished author who’s written for ten years, finished three manuscripts and has twenty-five rejection letters. Believe me. I know. I was that author.

8. Editors are sometimes right.

7. How well an autographing goes is not an indicator of how well your career is going. Thank God."


Check out the whole list here:
http://www.squawkradio.com/index.php/sblog/christina_dodd_celebrates_her_first_forty_books/
.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009





Huge hugs to BFF Jory Strong (author of Ghostland, Spider-Touched and hottest erotica ever!) for turning me on to the Suvudu Free Book Library.

With the Suvudu Free Book Library, you can read the first book in some of the most acclaimed series absolutely free! Yes, you heard me right FREE!

Some great series-opening novels available:
  • Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
  • Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
  • Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur
Books can be downloaded in a variety of formats including: .PDF, Kindle, Sony Reader, BN.com & Scribd.

Best of all, you can sign up to receive monthly updates about new books added to the Library.

Sweet!

CONTEST - [Maya Banks] SWEEET SURRENDER

Berkley Heat is giving away 20 copies today of Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks. This was the first in her 'Sweet' series which follows a group of friends and coworkers in Houston, Texas.

Berkely will give away 20 Copies of to randomly drawn commenters at Borders 'TrueRomance' blog with Kate Grimshaw. For your free introduction to the series, go to:

http://bordersblog.com/trueromance/2009/09/02/guest-author-maya-banks-2/

Maya's celebrating the October 6th release of Sweet Seduction, the third book in her 'Sweet' series. Can't wait!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

[Anthology] BELONG TO THE NIGHT


Looking for a hot, sexy little paranormal read? This collection of 3 stories certainly fit the bill. Belong to the Night just hit shelves today.

Check out the excerpt here. just be sure to turn up your air conditioner first...

Here's what's inside:

The Wolf, The Witch, And Her Lack Of Wardrobe
by Shelly Laurenston

Jamie Meacham has enough trouble controlling her supernatural abilities. There’s no time for lust, or for Tully Smith, even with his smoldering amber eyes. But Tully’s grappling with his own animal instincts as a powerful shifter-wolf, trying to protect all his territory—including a certain sassy witch—from vicious rivals.

In The Dark
by Cynthia Eden

FBI agent and leopard shifter Sadie James’ undead ex, Liam, still arouses her deepest desires, distracting her from tracking the brutal rogue shifter who is terrorizing Miami. By teaming up with Liam, Sadie has a better chance of solving the case, but as passion consumes them, she stands to lose more than just her heart.

City Of The Dead
by Sherrill QuinnDori

Falcon is a witch with a plan: get to New Orleans, locate her missing brother, and recover the Eye of Bastet, a mysterious and powerful amulet. Her plan never included falling for sexy Cajun cop Jake Boudreau; but without his help, she may never find the demon who has her brother, and the key to her family’s survival.