Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Charlotte's Tangled web: Book Review

Leave a Comment

Charlotte's Tangled web is that the 1st novel in the Hollingsworth series. This debut novel from L.B. Ivan Petrovich Pavlov may be a page-turner sure enough. This story is moving and has all the right elements. The author very does a decent job with character development. This novel options the long-time relationship of across-the-street neighbors Charlotte (Charlie) and Daniel. we meet them simply before their senior year in highschool and learn how they have been constant companions, friends since the age of 5, though not romantically involved. once Charlotte Ford moves across the street from Daniel Hollingsworth at the age of 5 years, her life can forever be modified. coping with the loss of her mother, a keep Charlotte can grow into a young adult and find her approach underneath the wing of her protecting friend Daniel. Charlotte is dreamy and type. Daniel is hard and sincere.. As Daniel and Charlotte have each grownup up with their lives already sort out for them, they along form Associate in Nursing unbreakable bond, as they overcome unbelievable obstacles. 2 elite athletes, that were born to fulfill the expectations of many, can learn through their journey what's most vital in life. As Charlotte is anticipated to fulfill the dreams of her deceased mother, with hopes to travel on to the olympics, she will question whose dream she resides. Daniel is anticipated to play college soccer even as his brothers, his father and his grandfather have all done. throughout their senior year of highschool, Daniel and Charlotte have realised their relationship has grownup into a yearning love for each other, and they need to fight terribly laborious to be along. Separated by Charlotte's over protecting father World Health Organization is driven by the guilt from the death of his adult female, as well as people that will fight to come back between them, Daniel and Charlotte can see if true love very does conquer all.

Laura Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was born and raised in Chicago Illinois. She attended the University of Nevada urban center, where she ran cross country and track, and received her degree in pedagogy. Laura met her husband Greg in college, and they are raising their 2 kids, Chase and Hannah, in metropolis, Nevada. Laura is presently teaching, coaching job cross country, and excited concerning cathartic her 1st series, The Hollingsworth Series! With a mode echoing St. Nicholas Sparks, "Charlotte's Tangled Web" Pavlov's skillful use of rotating first-person narrators to weave the tale of "Charlotte's Tangled Web" makes these characters turn. Her vivid descriptions and thoughtful character development can help you visualize this combine sitting right in your form in highschool.

Because the author herself was a highschool and college cross-country contestant, running and coaching for races forms a framework for the plot, but this side is not so careful that a reader not interested or knowledgeable are defer. As for the author, Ivan Petrovich Pavlov may be a fantastic author. it is laborious to believe that this is often her 1st novel. I could image the scenes and also the people from the approach she delineate them.

Incidentally, i really like that Ivan Petrovich Pavlov named the highschool coach Miroballi.

There's much more to this story than teenaged relationship and sports. One will especially relish the detail and outline of life during a small intimate city. This story incorporates a good plot and may be the book is addressed  to hit the upper teenage cluster, but I found it to be exceptionally written. as the story open one reveals more and more journey. you may be absorbed in the struggles and conquests of Charlotte, Daniel and their families while reading this true and pure love tale. The webs of deceit from charlotte's daddy are painful for each of them in the story. This story will cause you to trembled with anger, sob, but most importantly cause you to smile. The sports sections of the story do not overpower the tale but add depth to the characters and tie the story along. i really enjoyed following Charlotte and Daniel with their sports achievements and their college choices. It very takes some twists and turns that I did not anticipate.  Moreover, as I scan the story, I modified my perspective as to what I wanted for the characters. Basically, as their lives progressed and as the characters were developed, my hopes for them conjointly modified. but the story can let you say one word “Wow”. However, there is positively enough substance in the story to be picked up as a life moving picture. I hope it is.

The book can keep you reading and you'd not be able to put it down till you end. i couldn't wait to envision what happened in the next chapter. because i used to be sorry to show the last page of this novel, i would like Ivan Petrovich Pavlov to have more to tell readers concerning Charlie and Daniel, their families and friends and their college experiences. This book may be a good scan for all ages.

And I look forward to her stories of other characters and places, too.

Click Here To Buy it on Amazon!


Read More...

Thursday, June 20, 2013

In Love With My Best Friend by Sheena Binkley

Leave a Comment
Camille Anderson always lived life on the straight and narrow- she never took a chance in life, especially with her best friend, Trevor Williams. The two were next door neighbors and experienced almost everything together. Although the two told each other everything, there was one thing Camille never admitted to Trevor and that was her feelings for him. After being out of town for a job position, Trevor returns to Houston with a new fiancé. He always looked at Camille as just his best friend, but at his engagement party, he starts to look at her in a different light, making him wonder if he is marrying the right woman. With a string of events involving the pair, as well as loyal friends dishing out romance advice, the two realize that being more than friends may not be such a bad idea. In fact, it could be what they needed all along.

Author Bio

Sheena Binkley first discovered her love for storytelling when writing her first story for a class project at the tender age of nine. Since then, she has composed several short stories and numerous tales that are not only engaging, but simply entertaining. She is also a freelance writer, penning articles on various topics including education and entertainment. Besides writing, she loves reading, shopping, and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Houston (where the weather is always unpredictable) with her husband and son. 






Read More...

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Goose Creek by D. H. Allen

Leave a Comment

Author Bio


D. H. Allen calls himself a young dude trapped in an old nerd's body. A veteran, he enjoys reading historic novels, swashbuckling adventure or fantasy tales, whodunit, gardening, stained glass, writing, and traveling. He carries his camera everywhere and dabbles in amateur photography. Allen loves music, almost all genres, and dances like crazy when no one is looking. What's a movie without popcorn? He cooks without recipes and makes a mean Chesapeake chowder. Allen and his lovely wife of many, many years live in central Virginia in a cottage in the woods. And their little dog too.

After graduating high school from Fauquier County, Virginia it was either work or starve. Completing four years in the U.S. Navy, Allen returned home and was hired as an apprentice graphic designer for the Department of Defense. While working for the government Allen continued with classes and seminars at institutions in and around Washington, D.C. After leaving the government Allen went to work for a bank and worked his way to branch manager. Today Allen lives outside of Charlottesville, Virginia and is employed by one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s largest travel and tour companies.
Allen blogs about his life and interests in writing, reading, amateur photography, and travel at dhallenwriter.blogspot.com.

Book Details:


Goose Creek examines the bane of bullying and the intricacies of male friendship, prejudice, and shame. It is a story of small town lives with big town secrets and lies. The setting is rural northern Virginia, one of those massive estates you might pass on a gorgeous country road. You’re right there, among the fine things, lovely horses, and private jets. The creek meanders through the countryside.
Everything Dare was to become happened near a small creek in rural Virginia.
When Dare first meets James their worlds are falling apart. Dare is struggling to survive bullying in school and abuse at home. James's wealthy father lies dying in the big house leaving him an orphan in the care of his uber-wealthy grandmother. Together, with a foundling dog, a down-on-her-luck small town prostitute, and an English butler—a gentleman with surprising talents—the young men traverse the daunting world of teenage boys coming-of-age.
Neither youth is aware their friendship dredges up long suppressed secrets. Secrets on such a scale it becomes a deadly game.  


Read More...

Monday, June 17, 2013

Demons die harder by J.B. Brooklin

Leave a Comment

“Demons die harder” will be available for 99 Cent during July 1st to July 3rd, 2013
Book Description:
She is a half demon, oblivious to her true nature.
He is a demon set out to avenge murder.
Together they are hunted by the one person she thought she could trust.
Separate they may be able to save each others lives.
“Demons die harder” is a tale about power, ambition, responsibility and trust.
New York – Paris – Dschinnanya (the world of the demons)

Excerpt:

Bloody hell, he cursed silently. He had been hoping to achieve better results; to find out more about Baldwin’s aims and motivations. As it were, all he could do was feed off the energy he had tapped into. In a matter of minutes he felt more alive than before. He might not have been able to complete his mission but at least he was stronger now. Only a little bit more and he would be able to escape from his prison.

Five minutes later he was ready to leave. It was about time; Baldwin wasn’t paying attention at the moment, but there was no telling how long this would last. Fortunately, though, he was still angry. Alexander was just about to draw back when a thought entered his head.

Why was Baldwin in a rage?

The man barely had control over himself. He was close to killing the person who had caused all the emotional turmoil. But who was it?

Sariel. The name was just a whisper in his head. And then Alexander knew.

About the Author:

J.B. Brooklin is a German author. Having lived abroad for several years in the US (Oregon, California, Florida, New Jersey), Spain and the Seychelles the writer recently returned to her home country and started writing mystery and fantasy novels.
When she is not writing, her husband, twins and her cat are keeping her busy.
Twitter: @JB_Brooklin
Read More...

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Books by Devin K. Smyth

1 comment

Title: The Contaminants

Genre: YA science fiction
Length: 155 pages
Summary: When America attempts to \"purify\" earth to maintain its own dominance, it sparks a worldwide nuclear holocaust. Teen friends Jessil and Soraj are among the few survivors. They escaped on a cruiser that now orbits the planet and is designed to regenerate the earth\'s ecosystem. But when Jessil discovers a message indicating her father may have survived the holocaust back on earth, she’s determined to rescue him immediately with Soraj\'s help. Can they succeed even though the planet they return to is very different from the one they left—and that their success could mean failure for the regeneration process?
Amazon Link

Title: The Emergence

Genre: YA speculative fiction/apocalyptic
Length: 209 pages
Summary: THE EMERGENCE chronicles the story of 11-year-old Derek Choate, who discovers a strange haze that eventually covers the entire earth and causes all surface water to evaporate. As civil society breaks down around them, Derek and his family struggle to survive the hazards--both natural and man-made--that await in the haze.
Amazon Link












Read More...

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Interview with Donna McGarry

Leave a Comment

Welcome all. 
Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Donna McGarry author  of Zodiacts: Leo Limelight Lunacy:Dance of the Dueling Divas.

Where were you born and where do you call home? 
I was born in the Bronx, New York. I currently live in Nyack. NY.

Tell us about something that has just happened or is about to happen in your life that you would like to share.
I’m very excited that I got current and transformed Zodiacts: Taurus Treehouse into a multi-touch ebook for ITunes!

What date were you born? - you can leave off the year if you like.
June 24. Like I said I’m a Cancer(homebody) with an Aquarius Moon(I’m an eccentric weirdo) and Sagittarius rising (When I do leave the house it’s for hiking and seminars).

What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 30 or less words, what would you say?
Zodiacts: Leo Limelight Lunacy: Dance of the Dueling Divas
This book introduces young readers to the energies of the zodiac sign Leo. Starrkitty finds her arch rival Lola Leo performing in a solo show, and promptly embarks on upstaging her.

If you gave one of your characters an opportunity to speak for themselves, what would they say? Starrkitty would say, “It certainly was kind of me to extend myself to that poor, unfortunate, one-trick pony Lola Leo!”

Do you have plans for a new book?   Is this book part of a series?
Yes, I’ll be starting on the Virgo book next. It’s tentatively titled ‘Vinny d’ Virgo and his Venison Stew.’
What books have influenced your writing?
I’m a big Dr. Seuss fan.

Is there an Author that you would really like to meet?
Charles M. Schulz or Tennessee Williams

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover?
My Sun sign is Cancer, so I’m one of the old sticks in the mud who prefer a hardcover.

Where do you prefer to buy your books?
I love to wander around the bookstore or library and browse that way.

Are you a self published (Indie) Author?
I self-published the series. It never occurred to me to seek a traditional publisher.

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
My books are all in print. I just finished an interactive, narrated version of Zodiacts:Taurus Treehouse for ITunes and an ebook for Kindle Fire. I’m going to convert the other 4 this year.

What book would you like to read again?
Because I happened upon it today and couldn’t remember it very well, ‘I Know This Much Is True’. I remember loving it.

Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version?
Get back to me on this one.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (ebook/paperback/hardcover)?
The Book of Pluto by Steven Forrest in paperback.

Are there any Authors that have grasped your interest recently and why?
I just this year fell for T.C. Boyle. I love his flawed characters, his pacing, the vocabulary, and the topics.
Who designed the cover of your book?
I do all the artwork in photoshop.

Do you buy a book by the cover?
I get attracted by the cover, but then like to go to the middle of the book to check out the writing style.

Do you have a book trailer?
I did a trailer for my book Zodiacts: Taurus Treehouse

What are your thoughts on book trailers?
Some are fun, but books aren’t movies and I don’t think they necessarily have to be.

Do you write under a pen name?
No.

Do you have a nickname? 
My niece started calling me Puppy when she was 2 and it stuck.

Did you have a favorite toy as a child?
I had a big Raggedy Ann collection when I was little. My family and I imbued them with specific personalities and used to talk in their voices as a way of communicating with each other.
An early childhood memory - 
Being shushed.


Do you ever write in your PJ’s?
As we speak.

What are your pet peeves? 
Unkindness and people who just run water for no apparent reason.

Any pets that you would like to tell us about, share a pic?
I have a 15 year old shih tzu who is the boss of me. He sleeps 23 hours a day with one eye open. As soon as I try to slip out he goes ballistic. His barks sounds like, “Where’s the help! Heads will roll!”

White wine or red?
Beer!

Coffee or tea?
Both

So you like to cook?  Do you have a favorite food?
My sesame noodles are yummy, and my vegetable lasagna is delicious. Pizza is my favorite.

Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream?
Berry sorbet
What do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?
Yoga, banana, get to it.

What are 4 things you never leave home without (apart from keys, money and phone)?
Shoes. I roam unencumbered.

Sleep in or get up early?
Early riser

Laptop or desktop for writing?
laptop

Your favorite gadget - 
I’m not into gadgets at all. Finally got a cell last year, but I do love the photoshop!

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?
At home and whenever I can.

Your thoughts on receiving book reviews - the good and the bad - 
Not being media savvy, I find it hard to get my work out into the world. I’m going to go with ‘any press is good press.’

If you were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you?
Bill Murray- I’d have to risk him putting dead animals in my sleeping bag but he seems like entertaining company-
Steven Forrest -he’s a great storyteller and I could talk astrology with him-
Michelle Obama-She can garden and stand up to Bill Murray

Where is one place in the world that you would really love to visit someday?
Australia
One of your favorite quotes -
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” Walt Disney

List 3 books you just recently read and would recommend?
Water Music by T.C. Boyle. I was at the end of my seat with this one. It’s set in the late 18th century, is entertaining and chock full of action-adventure.
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell-I love the multiple story lines, the various writing styles and the time travel.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen- I wasn’t crazy about the writing, especially the dialogue, but I’m fascinated by carnie life and loved the story.

List 3 of your favorite movies?
Groundhog Day-my favorite romantic comedy
Hannah and Her Sisters-I’m a big Woody Allen fan
Fargo-Love that Steve Buscemi. I had a dream once where he fixed my car and I ran after him yelling . “We’ll work together one day Steve.”

An actor or a book character you have a crush on -
I had a crush on that Pullo from the TV show Rome

What is a movie or TV show that you watched just recently and really enjoyed?
I’m behind on Game of Thrones because I don’t have HBO but I really got sucked in to the first two seasons. Love that Arya

If your book was made into a TV series or Movie, what actors would you like to see playing your characters?  Feel free to add pics.
It would be voices since it’s illustrated so:





 Sofia Vergara or Mae West! for Starrkitty









 Maise Williams as Sally Sagittarius










  Arnold Schwarzenegger for Grannitaurus










 Since you reminded about my Steve Buscemi fixation, he’s in for Andy Aries!





David Hyde Pierce for Leo


Do you have any advice for other writers?
Sit down and do it!

Where can your readers stalk you?
Other:zodiacts.com

Read More...

Guest post by NoteBookBlogairy

Leave a Comment

How to Find a Literary Agent


This is a topic that is widely discussed amongst writers and novelists-in-the-making.  It’s a topic that very relevant now because of the precarious relationship between traditional publishing and e-publishing.  Many still feel that traditional publishing is still the way to go because you still will have the veneer of success stamped on you because a traditional publisher accepted and published your work.  This is the epitome of the author having arrived.
However, with so many success stories of independent writers who are making a name for themselves and selling their books through their own marketing efforts (John Locke, Amanda Hocking, Richard Phillips to name a few…), you wonder if it is possible for the average writer.
John Locke has a book (http://www.amazon.com/How-Sold-Million-eBooks-Months/dp/1935670913) that describes how he sold one million books in 5 months.  It gives step-by-step details – but do you have the time, patience and tech/software savvy to handle all of the simple steps and the ongoing promotions and marketing required?
Well, that’s something only you can answer.  However, even if you don’t self-publish, creating a brand and a platform in social media is becoming increasingly more important even when in contract with a traditional publisher.  Publishers want to know that you can engage a decent amount of readers and are not clueless in today’s new publishing arena.
So, if you think your manuscript is polished with tight grammar, spelling and punctuation let’s move on with acquiring a literary agent!
Step #1: Make sure the literary agent you are submitting to is not the first person to read your completed novel.  Have a dry run editor and/or beta readers who provide feedback on your work.  And then, make sure you listen to this feedback and get some other opinions to ensure that you know from a few readers what are the high points and low points of your story.
Step #2: Once your manuscript has gone through the beta readers and/or editor and gets a green light go ahead and begin making the edits/changes suggested from the feedback.  Re-read, or have others re-read again to ensure that you’ve fixed the items that needed clarifying, expansion, contracting – or whatever was needed.
Step #3: Begin creating your query letter which will be your book’s introduction to the literary agent(s) of your choice.  The query begins with an introduction detailing why you chose the agent to pitch your book to and to show that you know something of that agent.  Research and read as much as you can about the agent and incorporate what you’ve learned in that first paragraph.


The second paragraph is your book’s synopsis.  Tell what your novel’s about in 250 – 400 words – less if possible!  Give them sizzle and pizzazz.  Make the agent want to read what you’ve written.  You can compare your book with a similar set of books so they get the idea quickly.  Give them a titillating blurb that will make them want to ask for more pages of your book.  You must also tell them where your book will go on the shelf of a brick-and-mortar store, or where it will be cataloged in an online bookstore.  Is it a psychological thriller?  Is it a historical romance?  Is it a Christian Western romance?  Let them know!  How many readers are in this market?  If you know, you can share that!
The third paragraph is your bio – why are you the right person to write this particular book?  Who the heck are you???  Let them know of your quirky personality through eclectic language that is uniquely you.  This is the time to showcase your ability as a writer!  If you’re having trouble writing about you, pretend you’re writing about someone else!  Be as objective as possible but funny as all get out if that’s who you are!
Step #4: Get another pair of eyes on your query to ensure you didn’t omit something important!  When trying to condense we sometimes overlook extremely important pieces.  While you’re at it, have them check for typos and any other glaring mistakes.
Step #5: SPELL THE AGENT’S NAME RIGHT!  Yeah, I know this is silly but it is extremely important.  If you read the blogs and follow agents’ social media accounts, you will see that simple things like not spelling their name right labels that author as ‘sloppy’ or worse – lazy.
Step #6: Send out that query according to the specifications of the agent’s blog or post.  If they ask for a query with 5 pages of your book – give them what they ask for!  Do not give them more or less.  If they ask that you paste it in the body of the email – DO THAT!  If you send an attachment, in most cases, they will not open it and your query will be discarded without being read.  Following instructions at the outset (and throughout the process) is important.
Step #7: Repeat steps 3-7 until you acquire an agent!
There’s no magic bullet or pill that will find you an agent in 10 days.  You can attend literary events in your area to get up close and personal to a living breathing literary agent but that agent will be inundated with hopeful authors such as yourself throughout that event.  But, having met an agent face-to-face, you can make an impression that can make the request of seeing your manuscript come much more quickly than if you had simply sent your query via snail mail or via email.

To help you find agents, please check out these links:

About this Guest Poster:

Rochelle Campbell is a Brooklyn-based writer who has written two full-length novels and over 15 short stories.  Chambray Curtains Blowing in the Wind was published in 2009 by Bartleby-Snopes Literary Magazine.  You can buy her short story collection, Leaping Out on Faith, on Amazon for 99-cents (http://www.amazon.com/Leaping-Out-On-Faith-ebook/dp/B007RGBQNA).  Or, you can connect with her on her blog, The NoteBook Blogairy (http://notebookblogairy.blogspot.com/).

Read More...

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Interview with Barbara Oliverio

Leave a Comment
Welcome all. 
Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Barbara Oliverio author of Love on the Back Burner: A Tasty Romantic Comedy 

Hi Barbara, thank you for agreeing to this interview. 

What were you like at school?

I was always academically at the top of the class, from grade 1 through college and graduate school and was a curious learner. In addition to maintaining a high GPA, I was a pretty normal kid and participated in a wide variety of activities including marching band, newspaper, yearbook, drama, student government, and 4-H club. 


Were you good at English?
I maintained excellent marks in English. I particularly enjoyed diagramming sentences. 

What are your ambitions for your writing career? 
I want to continue creating and sharing my characters in my fiction, but I have a few ideas for some non-fiction work as well. 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I have been a writer in one shape or form all of my life. Before I started concentrating fully on writing fiction, I wrote marketing materials, technical documentation, magazine articles and content for the Web. 

Which writers inspire you?
I am inspired by all the greats throughout the ages: Shakespeare, the Bronte sisters, Flannery O’Conner and others in the Western Canon. Modern writers that I admire for various reasons include Khaled Hosseini, Susan Howatch, Susan Isaacs and Marian Keyes. 


So, what have you written?
The most notable magazine piece I wrote was “A comparison of RGB and CMYK color models”. In addition, I wrote manuals for image processing software, graphic arts software and an oscilloscope. My marketing writing has been varied. Currently, I regularly write feature articles for the bi-monthly newsmagazine at my parish. Love on the Back Burner is my debut novel. 

Where can we buy or see them?
You can find Love on the Back Burner here: 

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?
Alexandria is a typical young woman in her mid-20s who feels that she has her marketing career under control, but wonders why love has eluded her. An accomplished cook, she determines that if she learns how to cook the childhood favorites of her suitors, she truly will find the way to their hearts through their stomachs. She is fortunate that she has a solid moral background gained from her multi-generational ethnic (Italian-Catholic) family and she lives her values as part of her day-to-day madcap life. 

How long does it take you to write a book? 
The answer to that depends on your definition of “writing the book”. I spent about six months in a pre-writing stage, doing research, outlining, creating personas for my characters, etc. The actual writing of the book took four months. Another book may not come together that quickly. 

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I wake up and attend 6:30 Mass, then sit down to write a minimum of 1000 words. Despite what the movies lead us to believe, there is no “muse” that strikes…a writer needs to sit down faithfully every day and write. Some days what comes forth is good, other days it may need rewritten. 



What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I can’t write holed up in a silent corner. I need to have some noise around me: music, TV, chatter at Starbucks, etc. 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? 
This book was inspired by my friend telling me that I should release a collection of my own recipes (my mother’s, those from my own former suitors’ families) as a cookbook. I thought that weaving them into a story would be more fun than a traditional cookbook. I have two other comedic novels in mind that were inspired by stories I heard on the news. 

When did you write your first book and how old were you? 
This is my first novel. Let’s just say I’m no longer in the 35-49 demographic. 

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I cook, do New York Times Crossword puzzles, and visit with friends. In addition, my husband and I enjoy rooting for our favorite sports teams – football, baseball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse – and enjoy traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad. 

What does your family think of your writing?
My husband is my biggest fan. My parents are both deceased, but my brother feels that this is just naturally where I have been leading all my life. 

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
Since I previously concentrated on non-fiction, this switch to fiction gave me the refreshing ability to create my own world and change it whenever I wanted to. My family has a motto: “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story”. This is the best way I can live up to that motto. 

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say? 
The initial feedback on this novel has overwhelmingly been positive. Readers like the characters and the humor and in addition they like the fact that a romance can be told without sex or crude language. 

Do you like to create books for children?
I haven’t written any children’s books. 

What do you think makes a good story?
I think the formula is a) relatable characters b) realistic dialog and c) a good plot, all written well. 

Do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit?
I did that and it was very successful for me. 

Who edited your book and how did you select him/her?
I hired a professional editor from three who were recommended to me. The three each took a chapter from the book and edited it on spec. I chose Susan because I could tell she had a good grasp on what I was trying to convey in the story. 

Tell us about the cover/s and how it/they came about.
I gave my designer a creative brief that outlined the story, the characters, etc., and included images of covers that I liked from my genre. 

Who designed your book cover/s? 
I selected a professional designer after looking at the portfolios of three who were recommended to me. 

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
Definitely. My cover is very obviously one for a romantic comedy – chick lit. If I would have had a dark, morbid cover on it, my target audience would not give it a second look. 

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
The best advice I can give is to READ, READ, READ – everything you can get your hands on. You can learn from the best and learn what not to do from the rest. 

Where do you see publishing going in the future?
Although there is a spike in e-publishing, I think there will always be a place for the printed word on paper. There is just something about picking up an actual book that can’t be replaced. 



Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
I want my readers to know that my own faith and values inform my life and my work, but I am fully assimilated into the "real" world. I feel that my writing ability is a gift that I can share whether it is in writing for business, periodicals, or creating fictional characters. 

How can readers discover more about you and you work? 



Read More...

Monday, June 10, 2013

Pinterest for Business: a Complete, Updated Guide for Ultimate Success

Leave a Comment
Take your business to new levels by using Pinterest the RIGHT way. "Pinterest for Business: a Complete, Updated Guide for Ultimate Success" will teach you basic and advanced, original techniques to curate your best content to make your Page and pins stand out on the world's fastest growing social media site; use Pinterest's technical updates to your benefit; attract and KEEP a massive following; optimize your website for Pinterest; drive enormous traffic to your website and dramatically increase sales; maximize the benefit of linking your Pinterest Page to other social media platforms, and much more. You'll also learn how to implement "secret" techniques top pinners have used to earn a large following; and avoid mistakes associated with creating a Business Page and using affiliate links on pins. In short, this text, which has an enormous amount of insight and analysis not found elsewhere, is all you'll need to succeed on Pinterest.




Read More...