Lyn Cote's Blog, page 127

New Feature--First Pages

Hi Friends!
Starting tomorrow, I'm adding a new feature which will come EVERY WEDNESDAY!

I'm going to post just--JUST--the first page of a current inspirational novel.

If you're like me, I often don't have time to read an excerpt on a website, but I always have time for the first page.

And if you think about it, that's about as much as you read of a book--in a bookstore aisle, looking over possible purchases.

I hope you enjoy this and find it beneficial when you're looking for something good to re...

Book Monday-Author Irene Hannon & In Harm's Way

My guest today is Author Irene Hannon and her latest book is In Harm's Way. I'll be interested--What do you think of Irene's choice?

Here's Irene:

Just Say No

Early in my writing career, before the inspirational market took off, trying to sell romances without sex scenes was tough. Publishers were demanding more and more explicit romantic encounters, many of which happened outside marriage, and that's not what I wrote.

On the other hand, I wanted to sell a book.

As...

Author Margaret Daley & Ruth

My guest today is Author Margaret Daley who has written over 60 books! Here's the scoop about her latest and how her heroine reminds her of Ruth. Here's Margaret:

"Alexa Michaels, the heroine in Love Lessons, my April Love Inspired book, is young and less than a year away from getting her teaching degree. But for her to even be a teacher meant she'd had to go against her father's wishes. Her dad was a doctor and wanted her to follow in his footsteps. She couldn't stand the sight of blood...

How It Works-Being an Author--What is An Author Brand?

In my banner, "Strong Women, Brave Stories" is my brand. What does that mean to a reader?

Branding is a complex concept. First, it has to do with what it is about my writing which sets me apart from other writers. But second, it also causes me to think about what my reader-needs or wants or who my writing appeals to. The first is relatively easy, but the second is more difficult.

The first part (see above) should be clear to any author after 5-10 books (though some get it much earlier). I thin...

A Reader Gives Her Opinion--Not April Fool!

Hi --Watch yourselves today! It's the day of--Look on your head--a spider! Don't fall for that--or any other prank.

Yesterday I read a very good comment on a blog titled Callapidder Days, a "mom" website and blog by Katrina. Here's the link

http://callapidderdays.com/2010/03/the-book-i-didnt-like.html#comments

The Katrina, leader of Callapidderdays, launched a discussion about reading a book which had no likeable characters and wishing she hadn't. As an author, I am always sensitive to this. If ...

How It Works-Being an Author-How a Book Gets a Cover

Hi, here's another facet of being an author that many readers have asked about. How does a book get its cover?

The process varies between publishing houses. At most houses, the author is asked for input and information about the covers and the text that appears on the outside of the book. But 98% (my estimate) of all authors do NOT CONTROL what goes on the cover of a book. Who does?

Though editors have some clout, it seems to me, the marketing department holds sway over covers. (I often think...

Book Monday-Author Susan May Warren & Sons of Thunder

My Book Monday is a WWII adventure romance from Author Susan May Warren. It sounds like a great story and she has a great contest going--something very similar to my brand Strong Women, Brave Stories. Here's the scoop!

About the book:
Sophie Frangos is torn between the love of two men and the promise that binds them all together. Markos Stavros loves Sophie from afar while battling his thirst for vengeance and his hunger for honor. Dino, his quiet and intelligent brother, simply wants to...

Author Ruth Logan Herne & Winter's End

My guest today is Ruth Logan Herne, a debut Love Inspired author, who is pretty happy. And her title is definitely TIMELY! Here's Ruth:

"As a child interventionist for a local school district, I spent nine years dealing with children's anger issues, anger whose roots began in a small child and mushroomed into acting out behaviors by the time they reached me in middle school. But what happens to those children who don't act out? I wondered. The ones who suck it up, put their...

Book Monday-Book Review-titled "How to Be Brilliant"

A friend Author Angela Hunt let me know about this NY Times article. Here's an excerpt and the link for the full article is below. What do you think of this reasoning?

Quote from Review by Author Annie Murphy Paul-

"Motivational gurus from Dale Carnegie to Tony Robbins have long promised access to these hidden stores of genius. Now here comes David Shenk with "The Genius in All of Us," which argues that we have before us not a "talent scarcity" but a "latent talent abundance." Our problem "i...

Author Kathleen Fuller & An Honest Love- Amish-style

My guest today is Author Kathleen Fuller who shares her experience researching Amish women for her novels. Here's Kathleen: "

Amish Women, Quiet Strength

Through my research for my Amish novels, I've had the privilege of meeting several Amish women. I've noticed they possess a great deal of inner, quiet strength that comes through in their relationships with their children and their spouse. This strength, which the Amish would say comes from the Lord, is necessary when...