Julie Lence's Blog
May 4, 2012
The warm weather has arrived. Pleasant days have been been plentiful in my neck of the woods since March, though the cold does insist on blowing through town with a vengence for a couple of days and then it's gone. With the days longer and the nights mild, the end of the school year is two short weeks away. I'm trying to squeeze in as much writing time as I can, maintaining a pace of two chapters per week before my son is home and my time is no longer my own. With that said, I've decided to end blogging for the summer at ths time. That's not to say I won't be around to answer questions on self-publishing or post a review--I will. I just won't be dwelling on blog topics.
I hope you all have a great summer. Vacations, barbeques, spending time with your children; may you all be safe, healthy and happy. I'll return with new blog topics in late August. God Bless,
Julie
I hope you all have a great summer. Vacations, barbeques, spending time with your children; may you all be safe, healthy and happy. I'll return with new blog topics in late August. God Bless,
Julie
April 19, 2012
A few months ago, I did an interview where one of the questions was what modern day convenience would I miss most if I lived in the 1800's. My initial thought was the washing machine. Then I thought about the vacuum, the dishwasher, the refrigerator, heat and running water and my answer to the question became clear. I would miss electricity.
Most of you know that I'm a stay-at-home mom. My days are spent at the computer working on my current novel, but I have other chores to keep me busy. Laundry, cooking and cleaning are just a few. While I can fantasize about living on a ranch with a hunky cowboy for a husband, I cannot fathom completing my housekeeping chores without electricity.
To wash clothes, women had to haul water from the creek, heat it over the fire and then use a scrub board to get denim and calico clean. It's much easier to dump the clothes into a steel drum, add the soap, turn the dial and let the machine take care of the rest. As for cooking on a cast iron stove or over a fireplace, I wouldn't want to do that, either. Modern stoves that again work with a turn of the dial are much more to my liking, plus I don't have to kill the chicken and pluck it before I can cook it. The chicken farms and supermarkets have already prepared and packaged the chicken for roasting.
The refrigerator is another electrical machine I would miss. Milking the cow daily vs opening the door and extracting a carton of milk; hmm, I'll take opening the door. The same goes for the vacuum. Instead of hauling carpets up from the floor and outside to beat with a stick, I'd rather flip a switch and push my Dyson. The chore is completed in a fraction of the time it takes to beat dirt and hair from coarse fibers. And I just love turning on the faucet and stepping into a hot shower vs again having to haul the water from the creek and heat it.
As fascinating as that era is to me, I wouldn't have made a good rancher's wife. How those women did it daily, and without complaint, is beyond me. I think they were made of stronger stuff than me. I do admire and respect them for their hard work, and can task my female characters with performing the same chores without electricity, but I thank God for putting me in this generation.
Most of you know that I'm a stay-at-home mom. My days are spent at the computer working on my current novel, but I have other chores to keep me busy. Laundry, cooking and cleaning are just a few. While I can fantasize about living on a ranch with a hunky cowboy for a husband, I cannot fathom completing my housekeeping chores without electricity.
To wash clothes, women had to haul water from the creek, heat it over the fire and then use a scrub board to get denim and calico clean. It's much easier to dump the clothes into a steel drum, add the soap, turn the dial and let the machine take care of the rest. As for cooking on a cast iron stove or over a fireplace, I wouldn't want to do that, either. Modern stoves that again work with a turn of the dial are much more to my liking, plus I don't have to kill the chicken and pluck it before I can cook it. The chicken farms and supermarkets have already prepared and packaged the chicken for roasting.
The refrigerator is another electrical machine I would miss. Milking the cow daily vs opening the door and extracting a carton of milk; hmm, I'll take opening the door. The same goes for the vacuum. Instead of hauling carpets up from the floor and outside to beat with a stick, I'd rather flip a switch and push my Dyson. The chore is completed in a fraction of the time it takes to beat dirt and hair from coarse fibers. And I just love turning on the faucet and stepping into a hot shower vs again having to haul the water from the creek and heat it.
As fascinating as that era is to me, I wouldn't have made a good rancher's wife. How those women did it daily, and without complaint, is beyond me. I think they were made of stronger stuff than me. I do admire and respect them for their hard work, and can task my female characters with performing the same chores without electricity, but I thank God for putting me in this generation.
April 12, 2012
Writing a novel, polishing it and finding a publisher are not where an author's job ends. Marketing, networking, obtaining the copyright from the Library of Congress are a few of the things authors must tackle once the book is published. Some things can be time consuming. Others take a few minutes. We can't forget about them, or push them aside until later. If we do, the chances of the book succeeding and an author building a healthy career decrease.
Marketing and networking are time consuming in the beginning. Building a website or joining groups such as Facebook and designing your member page require attention to detail. You're featuring yourself and your work and these sites should appear professional, eye-catching. After all, your goal is to bring people back in the future, so the more time you invest in the beginning, the less you'll spend 'taking care of business' later on.
Obtaining a copyright takes less time, maybe an hour to fill out the questions and electronically submit. Again, you have to pay attention to detail, but the copyright office has buttons and tabs throughout the form that either explain in detail how to fill out the current section or prompt you to the next section.
I use Facebook and the copyright office as examples. There are other sites that require more time in the beginning and some that require less. But they all amount to one thing; you've got to make time in your day or week to 'take care of business'. Whether it's updating a current release to your website or writing a blog, keeping your name in the public eye is part of your job, and as important as writing the next story. What works best for me is spending a few minutes each morning on Facebook and setting aside one day per week to tackle the other things that take more time to complete. That's not to say my routine doesn't get interrupted. It does, and yours will, too. The best thing to do in those instances is go with the flow and make up what you missed the following week.
The business side of writing doesn't have to be hard. Or frustrating. In fact, it can be fun and rewarding. I have met some very nice people when tackling business matters, authors and fans of the romance genre, musicians and artists from other fields, and the wonderful ladies who host my website and manage the promotional sites I use. You will, too, just as you'll reach the point where you'll wonder why you thought the business matters of writing were going to be too hard to keep up with.
Marketing and networking are time consuming in the beginning. Building a website or joining groups such as Facebook and designing your member page require attention to detail. You're featuring yourself and your work and these sites should appear professional, eye-catching. After all, your goal is to bring people back in the future, so the more time you invest in the beginning, the less you'll spend 'taking care of business' later on.
Obtaining a copyright takes less time, maybe an hour to fill out the questions and electronically submit. Again, you have to pay attention to detail, but the copyright office has buttons and tabs throughout the form that either explain in detail how to fill out the current section or prompt you to the next section.
I use Facebook and the copyright office as examples. There are other sites that require more time in the beginning and some that require less. But they all amount to one thing; you've got to make time in your day or week to 'take care of business'. Whether it's updating a current release to your website or writing a blog, keeping your name in the public eye is part of your job, and as important as writing the next story. What works best for me is spending a few minutes each morning on Facebook and setting aside one day per week to tackle the other things that take more time to complete. That's not to say my routine doesn't get interrupted. It does, and yours will, too. The best thing to do in those instances is go with the flow and make up what you missed the following week.
The business side of writing doesn't have to be hard. Or frustrating. In fact, it can be fun and rewarding. I have met some very nice people when tackling business matters, authors and fans of the romance genre, musicians and artists from other fields, and the wonderful ladies who host my website and manage the promotional sites I use. You will, too, just as you'll reach the point where you'll wonder why you thought the business matters of writing were going to be too hard to keep up with.
March 22, 2012
I can't believe that spring is here. It seems like yesterday I was packing up the Christmas tree and stowing it in the basement. So much activity has taken place these past few months that I am ready for a break. I'm happy to say I've published two more books to Kindle and Create Space. Zanna's Outlaw and Lydia's Gunslinger are now available for purchase. Excerpts can be found on my website: www.julielence.com and on my Amazon page: www.amazon.com/author/julielence
Currently, I'm working on the last installment to the Revolving Point, TX series, Debra's Bandit. For the upcoming week, I'm taking a writing break and turning my attention to spring cleaning and enjoying time with my son. He's promised to help, for a small fee. We'll see. His idea of helping and mine are two different things. Either way, I love opening the windows, listening to the robins chirp and cleaning out the old to make room for the new, and that doesn't necessarily apply to things cluttering up the house.
Physical activity has a way of clearing the clutter from my mind. As I work, new and exciting ideas take shape for future stories or a work in progress. I imagine scenes. I hear dialogue, and I've no doubt the same will happen for Debra's Bandit. A third of the way thru the story, I'm looking forward to what comes next. Debra and Gage are headed for difficult times, and while washing windows and cleaning closets, I'll center on small plot details and jot down notes, and when I return to the keyboard, I'll feel refreshed and excited to dive right back into the action.
Enjoy your spring break. May you I hope you take time to hear the robins sing and admire the flowers blossoming. And I you feel as re-energized as I do when I return to writing.
Currently, I'm working on the last installment to the Revolving Point, TX series, Debra's Bandit. For the upcoming week, I'm taking a writing break and turning my attention to spring cleaning and enjoying time with my son. He's promised to help, for a small fee. We'll see. His idea of helping and mine are two different things. Either way, I love opening the windows, listening to the robins chirp and cleaning out the old to make room for the new, and that doesn't necessarily apply to things cluttering up the house.
Physical activity has a way of clearing the clutter from my mind. As I work, new and exciting ideas take shape for future stories or a work in progress. I imagine scenes. I hear dialogue, and I've no doubt the same will happen for Debra's Bandit. A third of the way thru the story, I'm looking forward to what comes next. Debra and Gage are headed for difficult times, and while washing windows and cleaning closets, I'll center on small plot details and jot down notes, and when I return to the keyboard, I'll feel refreshed and excited to dive right back into the action.
Enjoy your spring break. May you I hope you take time to hear the robins sing and admire the flowers blossoming. And I you feel as re-energized as I do when I return to writing.
March 8, 2012
Bolt Action by Victoria Roder is the story of Harley Riding, Pistol Packing, Kick-ass Detective Leslie Bolt. Leslie has a home arsenal any criminal would admire, and a past so scared it's little wonder she prefers to work alone. But when a killer starts leaving bodies for the public to see, she must try to curb some of her "I prefer to handle the case alone" attitude and work with fellow officers, even those she doesn't like. And if she finds love while solving this crime, so much the better.
Bolt Action is 'Action' galore. Whether Leslie is following the trail of clues or trading quips with another officer, there is never a dull moment in this story. Murder, mystery, romance, Bolt Action has something for everyone and is sure to keep you turning the pages.
Bolt Action is 'Action' galore. Whether Leslie is following the trail of clues or trading quips with another officer, there is never a dull moment in this story. Murder, mystery, romance, Bolt Action has something for everyone and is sure to keep you turning the pages.
March 2, 2012
Outlaws. The words conjures up images of Billy the Kid, Jesse James and numerous others. Dangerous, fast on the trigger; some had reason for embarking on this way of life. Others didn't. Some we read about in history class. Others we watched on the big screen, always hoping good would triumph over evil. Tall, short, dark-haired, unshaven or skilled at cheating at poker, one thing is for certain. They are fun to write.
Buck and Roth are two of the heroes in my Revolving Point, Texas Series. Both are temperamental, prickly outlaws, and fast with guns. They prefer life out on the trail to settling down, and they live by their own code of justice. Neither one of them is afraid to speak his mind, even if it isn't nice or mild-mannered. That's why they are fun to write. They don't live within the restraints of polite society.
In the series, you won't find Buck or Roth rubbing elbows with society's upper class in some high-fashion gentlemen's club. Nor will you see them wearing fancy clothes and boots polished to a shine. You will find them at Miller's saloon, dodging bullets and ferreting out the enemy any way they see fit. That's not to say they don't have manners. They do, and they treat women with respect. But even their woman aren't spared from their cursing, their rudeness and their need to prowl the streets. However, their women love them, and will overlook some of their faults, because life with a daring outlaw and his antics is too hard to resist.
Buck and Roth are two of the heroes in my Revolving Point, Texas Series. Both are temperamental, prickly outlaws, and fast with guns. They prefer life out on the trail to settling down, and they live by their own code of justice. Neither one of them is afraid to speak his mind, even if it isn't nice or mild-mannered. That's why they are fun to write. They don't live within the restraints of polite society.
In the series, you won't find Buck or Roth rubbing elbows with society's upper class in some high-fashion gentlemen's club. Nor will you see them wearing fancy clothes and boots polished to a shine. You will find them at Miller's saloon, dodging bullets and ferreting out the enemy any way they see fit. That's not to say they don't have manners. They do, and they treat women with respect. But even their woman aren't spared from their cursing, their rudeness and their need to prowl the streets. However, their women love them, and will overlook some of their faults, because life with a daring outlaw and his antics is too hard to resist.
February 22, 2012
My Eighteenth Birthday by Patricia Lieb follows Annie Jo as she boards a Greyhound bus on her eighteenth birthday. With suitcase in hand and a guitar slung over her shoulder, Annie Jo leaves her hometown for Memphis, where she hopes to get a waitress job and pursue a career in music.
At first, Annie Jo appears like any other starry-eyed teenager, with dreams of making it big on music row. But then, the reader learns there's more to Annie Jo's leaving home than wanting to be a famous singer. At a young age, she has experienced love and a profound loss, both of which she hopes to reconcile in her heart as the bus carries her further from home. Then there's Annie Jo on the verge of adulthood, someone who wants to make a difference in the world, and not necessarily because of her singing.
My Eighteenth Birthday will draw you in to Annie Jo's teenage antics and mature heartaches and keep you turning the pages as she strives to forget and begin anew. With a cast of interesting secondary characters and a backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, My Eighteenth Birthday is an enjoyable read and one book you won't forget.
At first, Annie Jo appears like any other starry-eyed teenager, with dreams of making it big on music row. But then, the reader learns there's more to Annie Jo's leaving home than wanting to be a famous singer. At a young age, she has experienced love and a profound loss, both of which she hopes to reconcile in her heart as the bus carries her further from home. Then there's Annie Jo on the verge of adulthood, someone who wants to make a difference in the world, and not necessarily because of her singing.
My Eighteenth Birthday will draw you in to Annie Jo's teenage antics and mature heartaches and keep you turning the pages as she strives to forget and begin anew. With a cast of interesting secondary characters and a backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, My Eighteenth Birthday is an enjoyable read and one book you won't forget.
February 8, 2012
R. Michael Phillips Rook, Rhyme & Sinker is the 2nd book in his East London Adventures Club Series, and it is every bit as good as the first. Ernie, Nigel, Lily and Patterson involve us in another mystery, this time centering around a rare chess piece rumored to belong to a set carved centuries ago and very valuable.
Along with the gang and a few others from Along Came A Fifer, Mr. Phillips introduces us to some unique characters, one of which is Ernies's best friend from his boyhood years. The story opens with what is believed to be Simon's death and takes off from there. The more the gang tries to unravel how Simon came into possession of the chess piece, if the piece is indeed part of a missing set, and who will profit most from the sale of the piece, the more twists and turns this story takes. From London's back streets, to train rides, to breaking into a chapel, this book will keep you turning the pages, all leading to a clever and detailed ending. One that is sure to make you think.
I look forward to Mr. Phillips third book in the series. He really knows how to write 'em and keep the reader involved and guessing.
Along with the gang and a few others from Along Came A Fifer, Mr. Phillips introduces us to some unique characters, one of which is Ernies's best friend from his boyhood years. The story opens with what is believed to be Simon's death and takes off from there. The more the gang tries to unravel how Simon came into possession of the chess piece, if the piece is indeed part of a missing set, and who will profit most from the sale of the piece, the more twists and turns this story takes. From London's back streets, to train rides, to breaking into a chapel, this book will keep you turning the pages, all leading to a clever and detailed ending. One that is sure to make you think.
I look forward to Mr. Phillips third book in the series. He really knows how to write 'em and keep the reader involved and guessing.
January 26, 2012
In today's world, many authors have chosen to go into self-publishing. With Amazon's Kindle and Smashwords, it is now easier to publish your own work and make it available for purchase to the public. Most stores sell E-readers, and having hundreds of books on one device is appealing to a wide range of people. But there are many who prefer an actual book to an electronic gadget, and that's where Create Space comes in.
Affiliated with Amazon, Create Space affords an author a means to publish his own book in print. Once you've completed the process, your book is available for purchase thru Amazon and Create Space, and a few other outlets should you opt for that route.
Is Create Space an easy tool to use? Unless you're computer savy, you're first time might prove challenging, as it did for me. It took me a while to learn how to navigate the step-by-step process and use the tools Create Space provides, but I kept at it, because I was determined to see No Luck At All in print format. Thankfully, Create Space has a community forum and a 24/7 call center to help authors solve problems. (I have used the call center and am always fascinated by how fast my phone rings when I click the button that says "call me now".) The entire step-by-step process is designed to make your book the best it can be, and each phase must be complete before you go on to the next one.
First up is creating your account and listing your title and name. Create Space will then offer to assign you an ISBN number or you can get your own--I let them do it. The next step is polishing your interior file. You can either use the templates Create Space provides or you can format and upload your own files. I use their template, but either way, I strongly urge you to edit your file completely (spelling, punctuation, etc.) before you upload it to Create Space. Once your interior file is complete the next step is your cover. Again, you're given the option of using their tools or your own. If you design your own cover, it must meet their requirements. Once you complete these processes you can buy a proof copy before the book is released for sale--buy one and read it from cover to cover. This is another good way to catch and fix any grammar errors you might have missed during the Interior Files process before you release the book for sale.
I like Create Space and continue to work with them. (Currently, I'm working on getting Zanna's Outlaw into print through Create Space.) I am able to upload interior and cover files as many times as I want, until they meet Create Space's requirements and my own, to include after I have receieved a proof copy and decide to make changes. The people at the call center are friendly, knowledgeable and strive to do their best to resolve whatever problem(s) you are experiencing. The end product is a high quality paperback book you'll be proud of. And Create Space is always striving to update their tools and make the process that much easier.
If you're looking to self-publish in print, give Create Space a try. It might take you some time in the beginning, as it did me, but the time I invested was time well spent. My sincere thanks to the Create Space team for helping me realize a dream that was born years ago and continues to this day as I keep writing western historical romances.
Affiliated with Amazon, Create Space affords an author a means to publish his own book in print. Once you've completed the process, your book is available for purchase thru Amazon and Create Space, and a few other outlets should you opt for that route.
Is Create Space an easy tool to use? Unless you're computer savy, you're first time might prove challenging, as it did for me. It took me a while to learn how to navigate the step-by-step process and use the tools Create Space provides, but I kept at it, because I was determined to see No Luck At All in print format. Thankfully, Create Space has a community forum and a 24/7 call center to help authors solve problems. (I have used the call center and am always fascinated by how fast my phone rings when I click the button that says "call me now".) The entire step-by-step process is designed to make your book the best it can be, and each phase must be complete before you go on to the next one.
First up is creating your account and listing your title and name. Create Space will then offer to assign you an ISBN number or you can get your own--I let them do it. The next step is polishing your interior file. You can either use the templates Create Space provides or you can format and upload your own files. I use their template, but either way, I strongly urge you to edit your file completely (spelling, punctuation, etc.) before you upload it to Create Space. Once your interior file is complete the next step is your cover. Again, you're given the option of using their tools or your own. If you design your own cover, it must meet their requirements. Once you complete these processes you can buy a proof copy before the book is released for sale--buy one and read it from cover to cover. This is another good way to catch and fix any grammar errors you might have missed during the Interior Files process before you release the book for sale.
I like Create Space and continue to work with them. (Currently, I'm working on getting Zanna's Outlaw into print through Create Space.) I am able to upload interior and cover files as many times as I want, until they meet Create Space's requirements and my own, to include after I have receieved a proof copy and decide to make changes. The people at the call center are friendly, knowledgeable and strive to do their best to resolve whatever problem(s) you are experiencing. The end product is a high quality paperback book you'll be proud of. And Create Space is always striving to update their tools and make the process that much easier.
If you're looking to self-publish in print, give Create Space a try. It might take you some time in the beginning, as it did me, but the time I invested was time well spent. My sincere thanks to the Create Space team for helping me realize a dream that was born years ago and continues to this day as I keep writing western historical romances.
January 15, 2012
Hello Everyone:
I'm excited to report that I just released my latest western historical romance, Zanna's Outlaw, today on Amazon's Kindle.
Zanna's Outlaw is the first book in my new series titled, Revolving Point, TX Series.
Each book is set in fictional Revolving Point, TX and features an outlaw for a hero. First up is notorious outlaw Buck Grayson who appeared in Luck of the Draw and Lady Luck.
Download a copy onto your Kindle and find out what Buck has been up to since he was last seen in Lady Luck, and why, against his better judgement, he pins on a sheriff's badge.
I'm excited to report that I just released my latest western historical romance, Zanna's Outlaw, today on Amazon's Kindle.
Zanna's Outlaw is the first book in my new series titled, Revolving Point, TX Series.
Each book is set in fictional Revolving Point, TX and features an outlaw for a hero. First up is notorious outlaw Buck Grayson who appeared in Luck of the Draw and Lady Luck.
Download a copy onto your Kindle and find out what Buck has been up to since he was last seen in Lady Luck, and why, against his better judgement, he pins on a sheriff's badge.
