Ginger Simpson's Blog, page 51

Blog-jacked from Inside Books We Love - Post by Sheila Claydon

I absolutely love this post, so I borrowed it to share here.  There are so many reasons that readers get disenchanted with stories, and Sheila shares her own..  We can learn from this.  I totally agree about too much telling.  I once edited a book in which the author insisted on writing about every nook and cranny in the kitchen and every tree that grew on the property.  He just wasn't willing "to get" that it's fine to show the characters using objects in the kitchen...perhaps opening a cabinet that you can describe so the reader can picture it, or even pulling out a squeaky drawer to fetch a knife for carving that big old turkey on the table that filled the room with delicious aromas.... he wanted to describe every drawer and cabinet in the room and talk about every tree outside.  I suggested it might be a better story if he picked a tree outside the heroine's window and shared about a black bird perched on the almost bare branches and singing a throaty song. 


By the way, repetition of words in the same paragraph are my annoying feature when I read.  To me, using the same word over again shows a lack of imagination or just plain laziness.  I'm a frequent user of my thesaurus and I wonder why others aren't.  So...here's what Sheila has to say:




 Although I love to read I'm becoming more and more picky with age. I no longer read books where too many words get in the way of the story. Ditto books where the author shares every detail of every bit of research ever done. Recently I read a book that listed all the tools a thatcher uses together with a 'how to' guide, while another one described an autopsy in such detail over several pages that it read like a medical text book. Although I'm never going to thatch a roof or become a pathologist it doesn't mean I'm not interested. What I don't want to do, however, is waste time reading pages of badly disseminated research that add nothing to the story.

I didn't need to know about shearing hooks, legatts, crooks and pins and nor did the police sergeant in the story, who was told apropos of absolutely nothing. The detail, which took up 3 pages, was not only entirely irrelevant, it came out of nowhere. At first I thought the conversation held a hidden clue  but no, the victim was shot, not sliced open with a shearing hook.

I have another bugbear. If, after a paragraph or two, I find myself editing some of the author's convoluted and wordy sentences in my head, I know the book is not for me.

Facts are fine, so is descriptive prose if it adds to the story, but I'm of the Stephen King persuasion. Write the book. Put everything in it and then take out half when you first edit it, and more again the second time around.

Then there's the plot. A good plot keeps me guessing almost to the final page while a bad plot bores me to death. This happened last week and halfway through the book I did something I've never done before, I turned to the end. It was a crime novel by a well known author who has had work translated into a very successful TV series, so my expectation was high. The only downside as far as I could see was that it comprised 650 close typed pages, a bit long for a 'Whodunnit'. Sadly the author let me down. I worked out the entire plot as well the outcomes of quite a few of the side stories within the first half dozen chapters. When I also found myself continually re-writing some of the sentences in my head I gave up, turned to the end, confirmed what I already knew, and then chose another, very much more enjoyable and well written book about the young Australian war brides who were transported to Britain at the end of WW2.

That TV series thing gets to me too. Although I've read some good ones I've also read a number of poorly written books by different authors that have been turned into very successful TV series.  Is the success of the TV version down to a very talented script writer and director or have I missed something? I'd love to know how producers choose their stories. Do they actually prefer a book they can tinker with,  look for characters who need to become more rounded, a plot that needs tightening up? I wish I knew.

My attitude is a personal one of course. Some readers enjoy lengthy prose and I have one friend who can't abide modern literature and just re-reads all the old classics. There's certainly a place for those in our literary lexicon but fashions change, and some of the old stories I once enjoyed now seem wordy and contrived, although others have stood the test of time to an admiral degree, so yes, I'm picky about the classics too.

Am I like this because I'm becoming more selective as I grow older, or is it because I'm a writer? It's probably a bit of both, but what I do know is that life is far to short to waste time reading a book I'm not enjoying. What about you?

For a great many very readable books go to http://bookswelove.net

For my own (I hope) readable books, go to amazon.com/author/sheilaclaydon or http://bookswelove.net/authors/claydon-sheila/

Cover Reveal and Blurb for Arizona Sky - Coming Soon from BWL #newrelease

To be released any day now...Arizona Sky. Make sure and check Books We Love for availability, and order your preferred format and pay with your credit card or Paypal.  Woo Hoo!!

No matter how hard he tried to prevent them, images of her naked body played in his mind.  Clearly, she had more of an effect on him than he’d planned.  When had he started thinking of her less as a girl and more as a woman?  He hadn’t really seen it coming. 

  Now, outlined in the moonlight, her full lips, slender neck, and soft curves begged for attention.  He wasn’t as experienced as most men but had learned in the bed of a local saloon whore who knew her trade well.  Memories stirred his desire.

Clinging to his gentlemanly manners, he escorted Odessa to the lobby door and doffed his hat.  “I promised you some privacy, so I’m gonna go see to the horses.  I’ll be back to the room later.”
“But wait….” Her voice summoned him back. “Don’t you want to take a bath, too?”
He widened his eyes, afraid to ask the question that leapt into his mind. Was she proposing he join her?
__________________________________________________
All you have to do is go to my BWL page, click on the cover of the book you like, and you'll be taken to the page at Payloadz where you can download for a really good price.  It's that easy!

Autumn Trivia by Jamie Hill

The temperature was 58 degrees F when I woke up Saturday morning and man did that feel nice. We were able to turn off the central air and open the windows for the first time all summer. I see 90 in the forecast later this week but for now, we're soaking up the fall.

Football, hoodies, campfires, S'mores...fall brings lots of enjoyable activities and no, I don't count leaf-raking as one of them. Fortunately, the nice young men who mow our lawn take care of that now. Age does have a few privileges.
How about some (easy) Autumn Trivia from Party Ideas Parade?
Autumn Trivia Questions and Answers

Q.) What famous dress up holiday falls in the Autumn months?
A.) Halloween falls on October 31st every year and it is the dress up holiday when we all don our costumes and go trick or treating. 
Q.) Another holiday in Autumn involves the turkey. What is it?
A.) The other popular holiday in Autumn is Thanksgiving Day. Lots of people refer to this one as Turkey Day! 

Q.) Autumm is also known as something else. What is it?
A.) Autumn is also know as the Fall. 
Q.) When does Autumn officially begin?
A.) If you are in the northern hemisphere of Earth, Autumn or Fall begins with the Autumnal equinox September 22-23. Autumn ends with the onset of winter on the Winter solstice Decenber 21-22.
If you are in the southern hemisphere of Earth, Autumn or Fall begins with the Autumnal equinox March 20-21. The season ends with the onset of winter on the Winter solstice June 20-21. 
Q.) Name a song about Autumn.
A.) There are many songs written about Autumn. Some songs about autumn are "November Rain" by Guns and Roses. "See You in September" song by The Tempos and the Association and and "Chill of an Early Fall" by George Strait. 

Q.) What is the most famous food of the autumn months? You can make a soup or a pie from this. Some people like to carve them up for Halloween.
A.) That's an easy Autumn trivia question...it's a Pumpkin. 
Q.) Is a pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable?
A.) The pumpkin is a squash like fruit although it is used as a vegetable in meals. 

Q.) What do you call a full moon in Autumn?
A.) A full moon in Autumn is called a Harvest Moon. 

Happy Autumn! Happy Fall!
 

Sunday Snippets from Ginger #sundaysnips

Today, I'm sharing snippets from an unedited submission that should be released very soon.  Arizona Sky was published under a different name by another publisher, but I feel it never got a chance to be a hit.  I re-read and re-worked (removed amatuer issues I've learned since writing the story) and believe me, I'd forgotten what a good book it is.  I hope you'll agree.

SNIPPET:

Zach carried her to the other side of the standing wall. A weathered bench sat among broken pottery and rusted utensils. An old coffee pot, dented and missing its lid, rested on its side next to a pile of ashes left by previous travelers. He sat her down on the rickety wooden seat. “Will you be all right while I get our gear?”
She nodded, lowering her head and making a futile attempt to brush the dirty stains from her skirt. “I suppose.”
When he returned, laden with his bedroll and her pack, and both rifles slung across his shoulder, the bench was empty. His breath caught in his throat. He whipped his gaze around and didn’t see her. She couldn’t have gone far.
  Storm nickered loudly. Zach dropped everything and dashed back to where he’d left his horse. Odessa struggled with the reins, trying to lift her foot into the stirrup. Storm snorted and reared. The girl jerked and stepped back when flying hooves clawed the air close to her head. Zach snared the reins that now dragged the ground. “Shhh, it’s all right, boy. Calm down.”  Storm snorted again and pulled against him.
“What the hell were you…?”   His harsh tone faded when he noticed her eyes were wide as silver dollars, her chest heaving.
“I’m sorry.”  Tears clouded her eyes. “Please don’t have me hung for being a horse thief. I just…” Her chin sagged to her chest and she sobbed.
“Oh, don’t cry. I hate when you women do that.”  Zach clucked his tongue against his teeth. “No one’s getting hung, so stop your caterwauling.”  This wasn’t exactly the reward he expected for his good deed.
Odessa sniffed and swiped her sleeve across her nose. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe I’ve been in the sun so long it’s baked my brain. I should be thanking you instead of trying to leave you stranded. Can you forgive me?”
Those eyes again. How could he say no?  He lowered his gaze and kicked at a pebble then looked up. “I guess I can, but how do I know you won’t try it again?  Am I gonna have to tie you up?”Her mouth gaped. “You wouldn’t?”
“It’s your call. This horse means more to me than you do.”
“I promise I won’t do anything so addlebrained again.” She clasped her hands beneath her chin and flashed a weak grin.
“And why should I trust you?” He cocked his head, still holding the reins.
“Because I give you my word, and my pa, may he rest in peace, taught me about honor.”  She dropped her arms and squared her shoulders.
“I guess you must have forgotten a few minutes ago, huh?” He patted Storm’s forehead. “But then, you don’t know anything about me, so I reckon I understand.”

Her shoulders sagged. “I’ll be good. I swear on my mama’s grave. Pa’s too, if I knew for sure he had one.”
Good news....all of my books are now available via Books We Love.  You click on the cover, download the format you need and pay using a credit card or Paypal....your choice.  So...if you like what you've seen, check out the page and keep an eye out for the cover.  It should be available anyday.  In the meantime, you might enjoy something else I've written: http://www.bookswelove.com/authors/simpson-ginger/
In the meantime...hop on over to the other authors who post Sunday Snippets and see what they have in store:

http://authorjamiehill.blogspot.com/  (Jamie Hill)
http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGill)
http://romancingscifi.blogspot.com (Vijaya Schartz)
http://connievines.blogspot.com (Connie Vines)
http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Juliet Waldron)

Cover Reveal and Release Announcement

Cover Art by Michelle LeeI'm free at last.  Me and Martin Luther King share the same passion for freedom.  I've given new life to an older publication that was far too expensive to enjoy sales, and Books We Love has granted me the privilege of publishing both a new and improved version along with a new cover.  I'm thrilled to present Dancing Fawn , available now on Amazon and other venues.  My heroine may have started out as Grace Cummings, but Little Elk renames her with a true Lakota name.
 Jamie Hill reminded me that this book is available via the BWL site using Payloadz.  Readers can select the format they need and take advantage of the sales.  You can even pay via Paypal.  What a deal.  Eventually...all books will be there.  Jamie is working her fingers to the bone to get them there. Check it out:

http://store.payloadz.com/details/2376926-ebooks-romance-dancing-fawn.html

Sample:

·      ·         Grace scanned the village and the seemingly hostile people surrounding her. Her heart pounded with fear. What would become of the her? Her mind played flashbacks of her family sprawled on the ground. Not even a proper burial... just left to the hungry animals roaming the plains. If only she could block the scene from her mind, but her heart ached for the loss of her loved ones. She’d never see her mother’s lovely face or hear her father’s booming voice...and her brother, Kevin, her protector and best friend...dead without even experiencing life.
        Oh, how she detested the brutal and heartless man who held her tether. She struggled to keep her footing, her hatred growing with each step. She’d never before wished anyone dead, but if he dropped at her feet, she’d find the energy to dance with joy. Her mind spun in a million directions. What was her captor saying? Did he think she understood the strange words he barked at her? Was he going to brutalize her?  What had her family done to deserve such a brutal end…and why not kill her, too?
         The sound of arguing intruded into her dismal thoughts. She glanced up and spied red braids. For a moment Grace’s thoughts turned to something other than her own pending fate. Didn’t all Indians have dark hair?  The woman’s locks shone like fire, but her sun-kissed skin made it difficult to tell if she was white. Could she be a captive?
        Before Grace could speak to the red-haired woman, Grace’s captor tugged hard on the leather strap that bound her and yanked her so hard she fell. Fiery pain blazed through her already bleeding wrists. She tried to get to her feet, but he dragged her body through the powdery dirt. Wracked by pain, she closed her eyes and silently prayed for help. If I’m to die, dear God, please let it be swift.

I hope you enjoy what you read and will want to know Dancing Fawn's whole story.     

Time For A Rant, by Jamie Hill

I've heard stories about people who don't spend their free time on a computer. Some people find other ways to fill their free hours. Sure, I have a day job, and a house, and a family, and I try to walk most days. Granted, I've got plenty of ways to fill my spare time. But after all that (okay, sometimes before all that) I'm on my computer.
In my capacity as an author and a part-time employee of a publishing company, I can't avoid the computer or the internet. As much as I'd like to ignore Facebook sometimes, it's all a part of what I do online. But there are times when it simply gets to be too much. Heading into election season (one year out, for Pete's sake), I sense that time is upon me.
The pool of candidates at this point makes me shudder. And when the media isn't talking about them, they're dissecting some celebrity or quasi-celebrity-wanna-be, and talking about what that person ate for dinner. It's all too much! I barely care about what I ate for dinner, and I definitely don't need to take a picture of it and post it to Facebook. (I don't do Instagram, Twitter or Pintrest, where I understand you can find even MORE photos of people's dinners.)
I haven't decided yet who I'm going to vote for, and I wouldn't mind hearing some of the candidates opinions on issues that matter to me. But I don't want to hear what they had for dinner. Or for that matter what the current president had for dinner, or how the fact that he even ate dinner is probably the reason our country is in the shape that its in. I respect the job of president and you won't hear me bashing anyone who accepts that great responsibility. Would I want to do it? No way on God's green earth. Talk about life under a microscope. The word might get out what I had for dinner.
Before there was the internet and access to twenty-four hour news, we may have been less informed but I suspect we were happier. These days every time something happens--usually someone doing something bad to someone else--we read about it on the internet. Sure, there are happy posts featuring good news, but I suspect the bad stuff gets more hits. Pun intended. It's enough to make a person go crazy.
Now if you'll excuse me, all this talk about dinner has made me hungry. 
Rant over, for today. Thanks for listening.

A Few More Greetings, Homemade Style ~ By Jamie Hill

Today I thought I'd share a few more of my homemade greeting cards with you. I recently bought some thinlet die sets for my Cuddlebug (words only crafters might understand!) But I'm having fun cutting out designs along with the embossing I've always used the Cuddlebug for. Those cards are still under construction. Next time I'll have some pictures of them.
For now, some I've created using the tri-fold design, various papers and stickers.

 



I've also started getting  more into stamping and have just ordered a bunch of Christmas stamps, and purchased some new birthday stamps. I couldn't buy all I wanted, and had to pass up the one that said "Happy 29th Birthday from your 110 pound friend" - LOL!
Until next time, happy creating!

How Readers Choose Books, by Jamie Hill

I've been published for ten years now, and while that may not be long in the grand scheme of things, it's been enough time to give me some insight into what works and what doesn't work as well. The advent of self-publishing has seen a glut of books online, many for free or very cheap. My own eReader is loaded with books I might not ever have time to read, but hey, a hundred eBooks don't take up any more space in my house than one does, so why not have them?

Like most people, I'm a discriminating reader, and I don't want to fill my Kindle with junk. So what do readers look for when choosing a book? I think there are three factors. 
1) Cover
An eye-catching cover is the first thing that grabs my attention. If the cover is cheesy there better be something else drawing me to that book because it's hard to get past a bad cover.
2) Price
I've never been one to pay big bucks for books. While I realize that an author's time is worth more than a 99 cent or even a 2.99 book might suggest, it's hard to spend lots on a book that might take me a few hours to read. I grew up in the library and have always read my big name authors books by borrowing them from there. Even now, I'll borrow ebooks if it's an author who's made that option available. The kind of authors I'm talking about are the ones who are doing all right. I'd hate to take money from a struggling author by borrowing his or her book, but I'm pretty sure the big names are getting by just fine. My publisher, Books We Love, has done lots of research on pricing. The current market sees free to 99 cent prices as good for sales, but not great for a regular price. (Indicates cheap quality- you get what you pay for.) $2.99-3.99 is the current sweet spot for ebook pricing. Affordable is key.

3) Blurb
A book's blurb is the paragraph or two description on the sales page. On print books it is called the 'back cover blurb'. A short description of the story, just enough to whet the reader's appetite and make them want to read more.
In my association with Books We Love, I've learned that the blurb is perhaps the most important piece of writing an author does. It must be grammatically correct--if the author can't spell in the blurb, what makes the reader think they can spell in the book?
The blurb should be catchy, not dry, and not give away too much of the story. I read a blurb recently which might as well have said, "Hero and Heroine meet, overcome obstacles, fall in love and live happily ever after." It told that much. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, but telling me that much in the blurb makes me wonder why I even need to read the book. Again, in most books, that's the formula I expect. But the blurb needs to hint at it, not give it all away.
One thing I think the blurb should tell is if the story is not a stand alone title. Many of the free and 99 cent books I've seen recently are merely the first part of a bigger story. If that's the case, I believe it's only fair to warn readers. I love series books and write them, too. But each book stands alone with a satisfactory conclusion, and in my world you don't have to read them all or in order to enjoy the books. 
That's my 2 cents on what a reader looks at when choosing a book. What do you think? Agree or disagree, I'd love to hear!

Sunday Snippets from Ginger Simpson #sundaysnips

Note:  Cynthia has gotten up the nerve to invite her handsome neighbor for dinner.  Now, the old tenament in which they live is interferring with their getting to know one another.  Of course, there is still danger lurking around...

I'm camping in the smokey mountains, so this was a Friday Freebits at one time.  I think it bears repeating.  :)


"Whoa, what happened?" Alex asked.

Cynthia wanted to swear but restrained herself. "It's that darn breaker. The old fuse boxes were replaced, but nothing has been done about the ancient wiring. The breaker switch trips every time I plug in one extra thing. I have no idea how this building passed the code restrictions. Sometimes I actually see sparks fly when I vacuum."

His melodious laughter filled the darkened room. "Maybe you should slow down."

She poked him in the arm. "Very funny. I'm talking danger here, and you're making jokes." Despite the man-eating couch and the faulty wiring, the evening was still going far better than she'd hoped. She felt like she'd known Alex for ages.

"Do you know where the breaker box is?" he asked.

"Probably in the same place as the one in your apartment."

"Duh! Guess I should have figured that out. Do you have a flashlight?"

"In the kitchen drawer. I always keep fresh batteries there. It only took three or four times for me to learn they're a necessity at The Cairns."

She felt around for the coffee table and set her cup down. Rising, she groped her way into the kitchen to find the flashlight. She fumbled in the drawer where she remembered last putting it, and finally, her fingers closed around its familiar long handle.

The on switch wouldn't budge, but maybe Alex’s strong fingers could make the darn thing work. She turned and started back to the couch and ran smack into him. The flashlight fell to the floor with a thud. "Yikes," she yelled. "I thought you were still over there."

"I guess I should have stayed." He chuckled.

She dropped to her knees and began feeling around in the darkness.

"Ouch!" Her head collided with his. "What are you doing down here?"

"Just trying to be helpful."

His warm breath fanned across her face as she rubbed the point of impact on her forehead. "Thanks, I guess."

"Eureka, I found it," Alex yelled.

"Great! Now, if we can make it to the fuse box without any further incidents, that would be nice." She hoped her voice carried her smile through the darkness. 

While Cynthia held the light, Alex fumbled with the breakers inside the musty closet. Finally, after flipping each of them to find the thrown one, the electricity surged to life. Alex raised his arms toward heaven. "And the Lord said, 'Let there be light'."

"Thanks. You're pretty handy to have around. I’ve done it myself before, but I'm glad you were here." 

"Maybe you should apply for the apartment superintendent's position. God knows we need a good replacement." She picked a safe topic but her mind fantasized about another scenario. Maybe staying in the dark would have been more satisfying. Would it be so wrong if they shared a kiss so soon? She snapped back to reality, hearing her mother’s voice caution Cynthia about being a brazen woman. A first date is way too early for romance.

Alex held up a hand in protest to her suggestion. "Nooo! Not me. This building could become a lifetime commitment, and I'm not planning on staying here until I die." He returned to the couch, sat and downed the last of his coffee.

Hiding her disappointment, Cynthia put away the flashlight. "Would you like another cup? I'm sure what you just drank was disgustingly cold."

"No thanks. I'm fine."

She joined him on the couch. Tucking one leg beneath her, she leaned closer. "Talking about the super and his job…do you find him as non-responsive as I do?"

Alex nodded. "I think he's a lazy, no-good shirker. It's easier to fix things myself then have to keep calling him. He's no better than the one who used to work here."
"Oh, I didn't know the other one, but this guy has only been in my apartment once since I moved here, and that's enough for me. He gives me the creeps. He has those beady little eyes and looks like he hasn't bathed in weeks. I just keep my fingers crossed that nothing else breaks." She eyed her door.  “Of course, I’m still waiting for him to come fix my deadbolt.”

Available on Amazon

Now...hop on over to my blog pals and see what they have to offer:  Tell 'em Ginger sent you.  *lol*

http://authorjamiehill.blogspot.com/  (Jamie Hill)
http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGill)
http://medievalnovels.blogspot.com (Vijaya Schartz)
http://connievines.blogspot.com (Connie Vines)
http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Juliet Waldron)

The Blame Game ~ Kobo Best Seller! by Jamie Hill

The Blame Game Boxed Set hit the top 50 for Kobo's Contemporary Romance Best Sellers last week! Pretty amazing considering how many books they have to choose from. If you haven't checked it out, please have a look!




Now in one specially priced box set, The Blame Game series brings you four complete novels for one low price. Get ready for family drama and sweet romance, no serials or cliff hangers.



Blame it on the Stars: Teacher Catlin McCall has second thoughts about dating the father of a student, but listening to his sweet talk one night under the stars, she finds him hard to resist. They stumble into an impetuous, passionate relationship which leaves them breathless and his family less than thrilled. A not-quite-ex-wife who decides she wants her man back, combined with a pair of manipulative teenagers, make for more problems than either of them are prepared to deal with.

Blame it on the Moon: Dana Naughton returns home after college to teach at the local elementary school. She’s not aware of the struggles her family is going through, but is glad to help however she can. She’s also surprised to learn that Clint Stewart, her old high school sweetheart, is now working for her father.

Blame it on the Sun: Dave Naughton’s laid-back attitude has cost him two sports writing jobs. Fear of commitment and uncertainty may cost him a whole lot more where his personal life is concerned. He’s summoned home to face his father, the owner of the family business and the one man he really doesn’t want to disappoint.

Blame it on the Rain: Charlie Naughton and Jenny Craft grew up together. Their parents were best friends and the kids were inseparable throughout their school years. But when Charlie goes off to college, he’s focusing more on his baseball scholarship than the friend he’s leaving behind. 

The Blame Game is published by Books We Love: http://bookswelove.net/

http://amzn.com/B011FFAIKU 
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theblamegameboxedset-1850727-177.html 

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/the-blame-game-boxed-set-2