Peg Herring's Blog

Freebie Weekend for FAKE!

 

With the support of Written Word Media, I'm giving away free e-books of my newest book, FAKE, this weekend (11-9 and 10). The book has received great reviews in the two months since publishing, so I decided to expand my readership on Amazon with a giveaway weekend. 

Here's the link for a free e-book: https://www.amazon.com/FAKE-Peg-Herring-ebook/dp/B0D8LBZ9M2

If you prefer paper books, you can buy it here:

 https://www.amazon.com/FAKE-Peg-Herring/dp/1944502548

(FYI: I prefer paper books myself, but it's just not cost effective to give them away in large numbers.) 

It's also in Kindle Unlimited, so if you're a member, you can find it there.

I haven't made arrangements for audio, since I find there isn't much Return on Investment, at least for small-time authors like me. I'm willing to listen to readers who are listeners, so let me know your opinions on audio.

What Are You Reading? Inquiring Minds...

 

  

Several of my online connections ask"What Are You Reading?" periodically, and they always get lots of answers. It'sinteresting to me to see which books others are enjoying, and I like boostingauthors' possibilities for more sales by naming my favorite of the moment. FYI: I just finished James Comey's Central Park West and enjoyed it. I LOVED Benjamin Stevenson's book, pictured above, so I went out and bought the second one, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect.

One thing I notice in lists of current reading is the variety of bookspeople choose and enjoy. People I know and like read books I wouldn't evenconsider. People I don't know recommend books that sound good, so I download asample to find out if I agree. If I do, I buy the book. If I don't, I go on toother things. But if any author wonders why everyone in the world doesn't lovetheir books, the answer is there. Tastes vary--widely--and a lot of a book's "good"-ness hasnothing to do with the quality of the writing.

People often convince themselves that their choices are inherently goodand that everyone should agree. When I said at a book club once that I didn'tcare for a particularly beloved author's work, there was a long silence, as ifI'd sworn in church. I've learned to keep my mouth shut when someone goes onabout an author who's been writing the same book for twenty years, changingonly the names and the setting.

Another thing I notice is that advertising sways many readers tobelieve that a book is good, even great, when it isn't. The one I'm readingright now is a current must-read for historical fiction, but I'm finding itinsipid at best. I'm not connected to any of the characters, and whileinteresting facts about WWII are included, it's not nearly as compelling asother books I've read on the subject. Now, a person's reading choices are herown, so I'm not saying it's a bad book. It's just not my kind of book, and Ihave a hunch that advertising had a lot to do with its popularity.

I believe some people pretend to like (or convince themselves they liked)certain books because they're touted as cutting-edge and intellectual. Myopinion: If I have to wade through 300 pages of absolute chaos to (maybe) cometo a conclusion about an author's view of the future, I'd rather not. Butthanks for your input.

Finally, I notice that the name plays a large factor in a book'ssuccess. I'm reading (yes, multiple books at once) a legal thriller that, if itwere presented for publication by anyone other than this author, would berejected as boring, repetitive, and uninspiring. In book blurbs these days,Famous Author A touts Famous Author B's work with lines like"I wish I'd written this book." (It’s funny how they both write forthe same publishing house.) I'd like a few minutes to quiz Author A onwhat he/she recalls about Author B's "gripping" story.

Opinions are like noses: everybody has one. I love the generosity with whichreaders share their feelings about books, and I'm always willing to take alook. But it's rare to find someone with whom I always agree on the readingfront. We each bring past experiences, past books, and present mood to thetable when choosing. It's not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind.

Good Pre-Pub Reviews for FAKE

Pre-order HERE
 As you probably know, I've been working on FAKE for some time, but it's almost here. I sent out a call for early reviewers, and here's what I have so far.

Professional Reviewers at Literary Titan gave the book 5 stars and chose it as a notable release.

Fake, by Peg Herring, offers an intriguing dive into the lifeof Kip Morgan, a seasoned con man forced to flee when his fraudulent schemescatch up with him. Landing in the quaint town of Bayville, Michigan, Kip findshimself in an unexpected predicament. Struggling to reconstruct his life, hestumbles upon a quirky detective agency run by two older women, a source oflocal amusement, who are on the lookout for an investigator. Sensing anopportunity to exploit these seemingly affluent and bored ladies, Kip uses hisrefined skills to secure a position with them.

The narrative cleverly unfolds as Kipintegrates into the agency, which is a fascinating assembly of individuals withtheir own concealed pasts that rival his own. He inadvertently discovers asemblance of legitimacy in his craft as he joins forces with the agency toprove the innocence of a man convicted of killing his boss. The story followsthis motley crew of societal outcasts as they attempt to outwit criminals andseek justice, all the while revealing their own complex backgrounds. DespiteKip’s initial portrayal as a calculating swindler, the author infuses him witha playful tone that renders him surprisingly endearing. His relentless pursuitof a scam is tempered by glimpses of depth and vulnerability, transforming himinto a multi-dimensional protagonist. The inclusion of two older women, one ofwhom is paraplegic, in heroic roles adds a refreshing layer of diversity anddepth to the narrative, challenging conventional stereotypes.

The gradual revelation of thecharacters’ backstories which are as compelling as the mysteries they unravel.The author skillfully peels back layers, exposing the hidden facets of eachcharacter, and enhancing the reader's engagement and curiosity. This nuancedapproach ensures that the personal histories of the protagonists are asenthralling as the cases they undertake, keeping readers invested in theirjourney. While the book embraces a thoughtful, measured pacing, which allowsfor in-depth exploration of characters through flashbacks, some readers mightfind these moments slow the momentum.

Fake succeeds in delivering a narrative rich in mystery andsurprising twists. It underscores the notion that everyone harbors a story andthe lengths to which individuals will go to achieve their desires. For readerswho enjoy tales of underdog sleuths navigating the complexities of their pastwhile solving contemporary mysteries, this book offers a captivating andentertaining read.

Rating:5 Stars 

Normal people reviews:

Reader Jan:  MORE, MORE, MORE!  Please make this a series andgive us more.  This book is over the top. It had me flipping the pages,never knowing what twist would be in the next chapter, well even the nextparagraph. Each chapter is from a different character's perspective and theyall flow so well. The characters and the story line are a work of art thatdevelops so naturally.  This is not a novella or short book, but a fulllength book. There are books that you read and don't remember that much about,this is not one of those. This one should be made into a movie orseries.  Kudos to the author for this story that hits on all theemotions. 

 Reader Anne: What a great book. I tore through it in about 2 days -I loved the format and the story line and the characters.

 

I Think I've Got It

BEFORE I FORGET YET AGAIN: Now is your best chance to find my entire ebook collection for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Find my books and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/pr... all month! #SWSale2024 #Smashwords

FAKE, my new mystery, is with the copy editor after MAJOR revisions done on the advice of my content editor. While beta readers and critics alike loved the story, editors aren't paid to love anything. My editor, SS, admits she loved the book too, but she felt the story was told out of sequence. That meant a LOT of shifting paragraphs and chapters around, which means I have to be careful to make sure everything that needs to be in there is, and it's where it needs to be.

Though there were times during the revisions when I wanted to pull out all my hair, I saw in each instance that SS was right. Yes, this chapter would be clearer if Jo narrated it. Yes, this phone call is more telling if it occurs in a different spot. I'm grateful to SS for her help, but not always while I'm making the changes. She suggests this should become a series, so I'll be interested to know what my readers think.

SIDE NOTE: It is my opinion that many, many of today's major authors would do better if their editors had the power to say, "This is kinda wordy (or silly or unbelievable.) Go back and give it another look." Why doesn't that happen? A, because they're BIG names and their work is seen as untouchable, and B, because the publishers want to get that next moneymaker out there as fast as possible, whether it's great or just "meh."

FAKE is the story of Kip Morgan, a conman who hires on as an investigator in a firm run by two "mature" women, Jocelyn and Maureen Waite. He has plans for helping himself to their money. They have life experiences that will surprise Kip--and readers. I love a good story twist, and FAKE has a bunch of them.

Anyway, above is the final cover, which I love, and copy-editor RH has the MS in her hands, marking the mistakes her sharp eyes catch that I didn't. I also have author copies on the way, so my team of home-town heroes can give me feedback. If you think all this is easy, try it. If you don't think I love it, you don't know me very well.

FAKE releases on September 1st, and you can pre-order it HERE
 

Trip Through My Tale

 

What's the next book?

    FAKE

When will it be ready?

    September 1st

What's it about?

     Well...

    I propose that we take a while to figure that out. I will try to entertain and enlighten you over the next four months--about once a week. 

What will that entail?

    Cover art

    Character sketches

    Plot teasers

    Other fun stuff. 

So let's begin!

    The story is told by several characters. In the first section, "Fake" applies to the main character, Kip Morgan.

That's not his real name, and he's not exactly an upstanding citizen. In fact, he makes his living as a con artist. Kip is on the run from the Chicago cops when he sees an ad for an investigator. He figures he's perfect for the job, since he has valuable criminal experience...from the criminals' side.

What has he got going for him?

     Good looks, charm, family tradition, and chutzpah.

What's against him?

    We'll talk about that next week.

 

Questions for Readers (and My Personal Answers)Question ...

 

Questions for Readers (and My Personal Answers)

Question 1: Do you prefer stand-alone books or series?

My answer: Both. I like a good standalone for new,interesting characters and a great plot. Some stories have to be one-offs,because it wouldn’t make sense to continue them. (A reader claimed I shouldwrite a sequel to one of my books in which all the major characters were deadat the end!)

Series are great for going back to familiar places andpeople. While for authors it often becomes difficult to find new directions ina series, readers seem okay with repetition. Just ask James Patterson and JanetEvanovich.

Although series are fun (and generally easier to write), Ieventually get tired of them. My publisher was eager for me to continue theLoser Mysteries (Peg Herring), and fans asked for more of the Kidnap Capers(Peg) and the Sleuth Sisters (Maggie Pill), but I felt like I was done withthose people. I didn’t want to force myself to write about them to the pointthat I didn’t like them anymore.

 Question 2:  If youread series, are you a read-’em-in-order type, or are you fine with jumpingaround?

I prefer to read in order, but sometimes I don’t realize I’mpicking up Book #4 of a series until I’m into it and think, “These people haveworked together before.” Most authors are good about catching readers up, and it helps to know whichcharacters are part of the ensemble and a little about how that cameto be.

In Michael Connelly’s Lincoln Lawyer series, for example,the lead character’s ex-wife is part of the district attorney’s office, sothey’re often at odds professionally as well as personally. His second ex-wifeis his secretary, who’s dating his investigator, an ex-client, ex-biker gangmember. Other former clients serve as drivers in the Lincoln, so Mickey can do lawyerwork in the back seat. It sounds complicated, but Connelly makes it worknicely, and he gently refreshes my memory in each new installment.

 Question 3: Do you feel like you “follow the crowd” inyour reading, or do you have your own standards for choosing a book?

I do both. (I know! I ask questions of you and then cop outon my own answers, but I’m trying to tell the complete truth.)

Writers need to know what’s happening in their genres, so itpays to read what’s hot. I don’t follow the “must reads” from NYT, USA Today,Oprah’s Book Club, etc. The story-lines in these books run in trends: vampirebooks were all the rage a while back. There was a run of suspense books with“Girl” in the title. Right now we have thegroup-of-friends-who-have-horrible-secrets-in-their-past stories. I’ve read a couple and had trouble finding even one character I really liked. Idon’t need friends that dysfunctional, even inside the pages of a book.

So how do I choose? I love to wander the shelves of abookstore and pick titles, covers, authors, and blurbs that appeal to me. Inindependent stores, I’ll ask the booksellers, “What should I be reading?” Theylove it, because they get to present their favorites and give a little salestalk for each. I choose from their descriptions, setting aside those I know I don’twant. (For me, a turnoff is any book that has the word dark or grislyor sensuous in the description. Not my taste.)

I also follow the recommendations of friends whose readingtastes align with mine. Recommending a book is a delicate thing, because you’reessentially saying, “Here’s part of my psyche. See if you like it.” When it works, it's great, because you have someone to talk to about the book. When it doesn't, admit that reading is highly personal and subject to mood, time of life, and the last book before this one.

Answers to All Life's Questions

 

Just kidding, but here are the answers to the newsletter quiz from last week. 

__7__What holiday song says to“put on your yarmulke”?

__1__Which song describeswater “like a stone”?

_10___Which song do weassociate with Charlie Brown?

_5___Song to avoid to playWhamageddon.

_8___In which song will we getpumpkin pie later?

_2___Which song mentions rosycheeks?

_9___Song that mentions thehautbois (oboe)

_4___Christmas wishes onsteroids.

_3___It should be tragic, butwe laugh anyway.

_6___Most popular Christmascarol in the U.S.

 

1.  “In the Bleak Midwinter”

2.  “Sleigh Ride”

3.  “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”

4.  “Santa Baby”

5.  “Last Christmas”

6.  “Silent Night”

7.  “The Hannukah Song”

8.  “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

9.  “Il est né, le divin Enfant”

10. “Christmas Time Is Here”

 

Aunt Marge is getting good reviews from the pre-sales set, which makes my Christmas season a little brighter. One of my beta readers told me that her husband asked if she was going to make dinner, and she answered, "Not until I finish this book!"

People ask where ideas and characters come from, and I find (too often) that they come from me. I've become a little Aunt-Marge-ish in my old age. I don't have much patience for people who won't help themselves. I don't like to wait for things, not even long introductions to songs: Just sing, for pete's sake. Of course I'm not like her in some very important ways, so you don't have to run screaming if you should happen to meet me at Wal-Mart.

 

 

Here's Aunt Marge! Well, Almost

 Aunt Marge has been one of my longest thought-to-production books ever. Life kept interrupting, for one thing, a broken leg and a local situation that makes me leave my writer hat off for days while I work to protect the community I love. Add to that a complicated plot. As my editor said, there's a lot going on in this book, and I had to be sure it all made sense and led to a believable ending.

As the story begins, Gwen finds herself in crisis. She's overdosed on prescription painkillers, partly because she fears her husband Jeff is cheating. When her aunt offers to take her to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to recuperate, it seems perfect. She'll get back her strength and kick the drug habit. And with her gone, Jeff will realize what he's missing. 

The problem is that Marge's place, called Giiwe, is full of secrets. Marge shares nothing of herself, and her ward/farmhand Charlie seems nice until Gwen learns about his violent past. When she finds out the woods of Giiwe aren't as deserted as she thought, Gwen isn't sure what she should do--or even what she can do.

This one is women's fiction (meaning there are relationship issues) and suspense (meaning somebody is in danger). Aunt Marge was a fun character to write, though I suspect I'm more like Gwen. I hate controversy, though I greatly admire people who stand up to it without flinching.

Today I ordered reader copies, meaning that everything is together in one place. The manuscript is prettied up and uniform. The page numbers are in place and correct. The margins fit Amazon's standards. The cover looks good on-screen. The advance copies might show me places where things should be tweaked, but that's what they're for. My wonderful, last-call readers will check for errors, tell me what doesn't look right, and generally help me put the final touches on the book.

Target publication date for Aunt Marge is January 1. Pre-orders should be available on Amazon soon.

Authors Recommending Books

 

I got interested in Shepherd.com, Ben Shepherd's attempt to help readers connect with authors through recommendations, over a year ago. Authors get their books on the site by telling readers about stories with similar themes. I compared my book, Sister Saint, Sister Sinner, to others with sisters as the main characters and sisterhood as a theme. You can see the complete post HERE.

The cool thing about this site is you search by the kinds of books you like to read, so you don't need titles or author names to locate books you might enjoy.

Today is my day to be featured on a new endeavor as Ben lets authors list their 3 favorite books read in the last year.  It was difficult to choose 3 books, since I read a lot, but I tried for a variety. I copied the image above, but you can also see it at Shepherd.com. https://shepherd.com/bboy/2023/f/peg-herring

 You can see the overall results at Shepherd's Best Books of 2023 page 

Writing "to Market" Makes Me Shudder

 

 

At the urging of a fellow author, I joined a site forwriters a month or so back. Though it’s interesting, I don’t feel that it fits my style—notfor writing, not for publishing, and not for promoting.

The idea is writing books “to market” or “for market,” whichmeans an author writes what will sell, not what she wants to write. Early on inmy career I had an agent who tried to get me to do that. Her push was thatI should write Amish romances, because they were big at that moment in time.Later, I had a publisher who wanted me to continue the Loser Mysteries, though I felt they'd reached a logical conclusion. At a conference once, I heard an editor for a big publishing company say that anyone who had anything…anything with vampires in it should send it toher. The market. The market. The market. Book industry people look for books that will "sell through," meaning they earn more than it cost to make them.

If you’ve read my work, you know I do pretty much the opposite.I write what interests me, what I feel passionate about. Sadly—or not—this means that my books are all over the place. I have women’sfiction titles that are serious stories about women in interesting situations, like DeceivingElvera and Sister Saint, Sister Sinner. I have comedy suspense, lessrealistic but more fun, e.g. The Kidnap Capers and Cutest Little Killer.I've written traditional mysteries, cozy mysteries, historical mysteries, andsupernatural mysteries, not because I planned to, but because I fell in love with a story idea and had fun writing it. I can't imagine writing any other way.

When I realized that the line between my humor and non-humormaterial was widening, I invented Maggie Pill to write the funny stuff, which worked out well. Her cozies,like the Sleuth Sisters Mysteries, really appeal to readers. (I guess everyone lovestheir sisters but would sometimes like to bop them one.)

Writing “for market” is  the idea is thatwhatever is hot right now, you write that. You write fast, you slap it upthere, and then go back and write more, giving your audience what they’llautomatically snap up. You write more of the same for as long as readers will buy it. Think Sue Grafton's ABC books or the Alex Cross stories. As a reader, I almost automatically bought Grafton's Kinsey stories because I liked her and I liked Sue's writing. But how boring did it get to come up with yet another situation for her to cope with?

Observant readers notice the trends in book offerings: For historicals atthe moment, it's WWII. For suspense, it's stories of women who lived through some great traumaat a young age and later unravel the lies they didn’t see through back then. Theyoften have “girl” in the title, another “to market” idea that makes readersautomatically pick up a book. Indie writers apparently sell books by making odd combinations, likezombies in space or fairy tale characters that live in modern Brooklyn. If you like thefirst one, those writers probably have three more they wrote during NaNoWriMo lastyear.

Authors can do as they like (well, if you havean agent and/or a publisher, maybe not), but I will continue to write what I’mfeeling excited about at a given time. For me, it’s about enjoying what Imarket, not writing to appeal to the market.