Colleen Collins's Blog, page 15
March 14, 2013
Free Professional Photos, Videos and Audio
Do you write a blog? Craft a newsletter? Manage your own website? Then you probably like to occasionally plug in photos or images to accompany your articles or maybe to add some pizzazz to the page. Did you know iStockphoto, a site that sells professionally created photos and more, also offers free downloads?
I've purchased iStock photos for my blogs and websites. For example, I purchased the background of Colleen Collins Books (the vintage green typewriter illustration) from iStock. I also pu...
February 25, 2013
THE NEXT RIGHT THING by Colleen Collins: Free Books & Amazon Gift Card Giveways
Colleen Collins Books: Feb. 26 - March 31
Colleen is celebrating the release of The Next Right Thing (March 2013, Harlequin Superromance) by throwing a March contest here at Colleen Collins Books! Three winners each receive a print copy of The Next Right Thing, with the two top winners each also receiving a $20 Amazon gift card.
To enter the contest, click March Giveaways!
Goodreads: Deadline Feb. 28Colleen is giving away 3 copies of her March 2013 release The Next Right Thing at Goodreads. Cont...
February 12, 2013
Valentine's Day Giveaways: Books, Chocolates, Amazon Gift Card
Here's a couple of fun Valentine's Day giveaways you can enter to win free books, chocolates and/or an Amazon gift card!
February 12 - 14: Colleen is being interviewed at the One Writer's Journey blog. Submit a comment and be eligible to win a free print copy of The Next Right Thing.
To enter contest, click here. Two winners' names will be picked February 14.
Through February 14: Enter Colleen's Valentine's Day contest for chances to win books, a $25 Amazon gift card or a box of Godiva chocolate...
February 6, 2013
Lessons in Storytelling: The 1944 Noir Film DOUBLE INDEMNITY
The Iconic Hollywood Noir Film
In my current story, there's a secondary character who's hung up on the 1944 Hollywood noir filmDouble Indemnity,directed byBilly Wilderand starring Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson.
I've seen Double Indemnity several times in the past, and now that I'm delving into it again, I've fallen in love with it all over again. I marvel at the genius of Billy Wilder, who directed this film (co-written by Raymond Chandler as James M. Cain, the author...
January 31, 2013
Four Cool, Free Apps for People Who Love Books
If you love reading books, here's a few free apps, from easily accessing Amazon to keeping track of your favorite books!
Free Apps for Book LoversAmazon(this link is for iPhone and iPod Touch). Click here for the Android app. I can't believe how long I wrestled with bringing up a browser on my iPhone, typing in "Amazon," and waiting for what seemed forever for the page to open. Should've downloaded the free Amazon app months ago.
iScroll. Available on iPhone and iPad. This is a "reading by lis...
Five Cool, Free Apps for People Who Love Books
If you love reading books, here's a few free apps that offer such services as helping you find the best online price to categorizing your books.
Valentine's Day Contest!
Colleen Collins is giving away free books and other goodies. Register for giveaway by February 14, 2013.
Free Apps for Book Lovers
SnapTell:Compatible with iPhone, iPod and iPad. Snap a cover of a book and within seconds get a listing of online prices from different sellers, plus links for the book on Google, Wikipedia and Yah...
January 23, 2013
THE NEXT RIGHT THING Contest: Win Free Books and More!
Colleen Collins's next novel, The Next Right Thing, will be available March 2013. If you like winning free books (plus the top two winners also receive an Amazon gift card or a box of Godiva chocolates), then enter the The Next Right Thing contest!
Book Blurb: The Next Right ThingTough-minded private investigator Cammie Copello always gets results, even if it means stepping into a gray area where rules are broken. That gray area is what caused the breach between her and high-profile attorney M...
January 12, 2013
How to Attach a GPS Device Underneath a Car
In my new release (The Next Right Thing), the opening scene shows my protagonist, a female private investigator, attaching a GPS device underneath a subject's vehicle. Being a private investigator, I've done this myself multiple times, so I know the drill. I figured others writers depicting similar scenes might appreciate some tips on how this is done, as well as the legal issues.
The Next Right Thing (Harlequin Superromance) By Colleen Collins
Therefore in today's post, I'll provide some...
January 8, 2013
Interview with Mystery Author Nancy Wood
Due Date By Nancy W. Wood
I'm happy to introduce you to talented mystery writer, Nancy Wood, author of Due Date.The storyfeatures amateur sleuth ShelbyMcDougall, who is also a surrogate mother. In the below interview with Nancy, she explains what inspired the story, how it evolved into a mystery, her writing mentor and more. Due Date is available in paperback and as an ebook. To order your copy,click on the book cover to your right.
Meet Nancy WoodNancy lives in Santa Cruz, California, whe...
January 5, 2013
What to Do When You Get a Bad Book Review
I read an interesting article on the Internet this morning where the writer was upset about a 3-star review on Amazon because it had hurt his book sales. Prior to that 3-star review, he had received less than 10 reviews for that book, and all of them were 4- or 5-star reviews.
I'd say that book is doing quite well!
He thought otherwise. Eventually, he contacted the reviewer, someone he had paid to write the review, and asked that they take the r...
