Amey Zeigler's Blog, page 3
December 4, 2019
Vote for The Swiss Mishap in the Swoony Awards
The Swiss Mishap has been nominated for the clean romance award, The Swoony! This is so coveted among clean/sweet romance writers. Several of the others on the list are so talented and popular. It's a great honor to be among the best of the best.
I need your help! If you please, vote for The Swiss Mishap for #1 in New Adult romance!
Here's the link. Vote here
THANK YOU!!!
I need your help! If you please, vote for The Swiss Mishap for #1 in New Adult romance!
Here's the link. Vote here
THANK YOU!!!
November 18, 2019
Reviews
Reviews can be brutal and harsh or they can be rewarding and fun. It's humbling either way. I prefer the latter of course, but any review is good for an author. We need to learn what our readers enjoy and what bothers them. I really appreciate anyone who takes the time to read and post about my book. And honesty. I appreciate honesty.
I received a review that just made my day! Just thought I'd share!
Click here to read review
I received a review that just made my day! Just thought I'd share!
Click here to read review
November 13, 2019
N.N. Light's Snuggle Up Readathon
The polar vortex hit Texas yesterday, and we're all bundled up and hunkering down. Thankfully, it will be in the 60's by the end of the week. We just have to live through today and tomorrow. Have you been affected by the cold? Do you like cold? I think it's the perfect time to crawl under a blanket, sip warm tea and snuggle up to read a good book.
The Swiss Mishap is featured on N.N. Light's Snuggle Up Readathon today. For a chance to win Barnes and Noble or Amazon Gift cards, click here Giveaways are always fun!
What do you like to do when the weather turns cold?
The Swiss Mishap is featured on N.N. Light's Snuggle Up Readathon today. For a chance to win Barnes and Noble or Amazon Gift cards, click here Giveaways are always fun!
What do you like to do when the weather turns cold?
July 3, 2019
New Release--The Swiss Mishap, a clean/sweet New Adult romamtic comedy
So excited for my new release. The Swiss Mishap is a sweet/clean New Adult romantic comedy is set in Vevey, Switzerland and ARCs are available at Booksprouts.co right now. In August, I'll post on netgalley if anyone would like to review.
Back cover: For the last twelve years, more than half her life, Lainey Peterson has prepared to design, create, and produce quality chocolate bars. But when she discovers her chocolate internship at Switzerland's prestigious Alpine Foods has been canceled, she vows to do whatever it takes to get to Chocolate.
Yves Claremont, a young, ambitious department chair, would sacrifice everything to rise to vice president at Alpine Foods and redeem his father's name. Impressed with Lainey's resume and charming determination, Yves offers her an internship in his Pet Care department, promising a recommendation for Chocolate if she does well.
Lainey is drawn to the enigmatic and passionate Yves Claremont. He cannot deny his growing attraction to her. But inter-office relationships are strictly forbidden by Alpine Foods, and a perceptive co-worker, jealous of Yves' success, will undermine Yves and Lainey any way he can.
Let me know if you'd like to review!
Back cover: For the last twelve years, more than half her life, Lainey Peterson has prepared to design, create, and produce quality chocolate bars. But when she discovers her chocolate internship at Switzerland's prestigious Alpine Foods has been canceled, she vows to do whatever it takes to get to Chocolate.
Yves Claremont, a young, ambitious department chair, would sacrifice everything to rise to vice president at Alpine Foods and redeem his father's name. Impressed with Lainey's resume and charming determination, Yves offers her an internship in his Pet Care department, promising a recommendation for Chocolate if she does well.
Lainey is drawn to the enigmatic and passionate Yves Claremont. He cannot deny his growing attraction to her. But inter-office relationships are strictly forbidden by Alpine Foods, and a perceptive co-worker, jealous of Yves' success, will undermine Yves and Lainey any way he can.
Let me know if you'd like to review!
March 26, 2019
Top ten things writers do that ins't writing
Writing isn't just sitting down and letting magic slip from your head to your fingers to your keyboard. Writers do so much more than just write. Here are a few things I have done as I've written my clean romantic suspense and clean romantic comedy.
1. Attend conferences. Conferences are good for networking in your genre, honing skills, taking classes, meeting people for critique partners, writing groups, pitching, and making friends. And they are fun! I've met like-minded people who are serious in their career and writers who are more successful than I am and who can inspire me.
2. Read. This goes without saying but a lot of writers read. What are they reading? Fiction. In their genre, out of their genre, similar to their genre. I also read a lot of non-fiction, biographies, writing books, and children's books.
3. Enter contests. One of the biggest deadlines in my life right now is entering contests. I do this to get exposure, professional feedback and a chance to distinguish myself. Although I know I'm not going to win, it's good to get feedback.
4. Judge contests. Many contests these days are huge and to help narrow the categories, they often open up judging to other writers. Some contests are a little more exclusive, like you have to have a successful publishing career or have made a certain amount of money before you can judge or it may be a requirement to judge as an entrant to the contest. Last year I judged about 11 books. Just this year alone, 4, with more on the way.
5. Blog. Blogging is writing you say. I know, but it's also not writing on a current WIP. But it's important to let people know what you are up to, get to know you. Often people buy a book not because it sounds interesting, but because you are a likable person.
6. Social media. This can be such a time sink. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook not to mention other social media outlets (Bookbub, Book+Main, Bookspout, Goodreads) can suck time away from a writer's WIP. With careful planning and loads of self-discipline, Social Media can be a useful tool to create community, build a brand and help establish your platform.
7. Website. Building and maintaining a website is something every author must do. A web presence is essential. What does everyone do once they discover a new author? Search the internet and hopefully buy more books, or at least check them out at the library :)
8. Newsletter. I love connecting with fans, with my friends who have supported me. Once a month I send out a connection letter to let people know what I'm up to. This is fun. I ask for beta readers, reward them with tidbits and snippets of my latest WIP and get opinions. Sign up for my newsletter with the link to the right. Or at my website.
9. Marketing. As a small press author, I'm doing most of my own marketing. I write blog posts for other bloggers who generously share their audience with me. I search out reviewers, literary magazines, influencers, friends who can help me spread the word.
10. Help other authors. This is reviewing, sometimes critiquing, work for other writers in my writing group or critique partner, reviewing books for other authors, praise quotes, joining local chapters of national organizations. This is one of my favorite things to do. I love to help people see it is possible to write, to get published to do what they love to do.
Bonus. Writer's also have families, and occasionally eat, sleep and clean house.
1. Attend conferences. Conferences are good for networking in your genre, honing skills, taking classes, meeting people for critique partners, writing groups, pitching, and making friends. And they are fun! I've met like-minded people who are serious in their career and writers who are more successful than I am and who can inspire me.
2. Read. This goes without saying but a lot of writers read. What are they reading? Fiction. In their genre, out of their genre, similar to their genre. I also read a lot of non-fiction, biographies, writing books, and children's books.
3. Enter contests. One of the biggest deadlines in my life right now is entering contests. I do this to get exposure, professional feedback and a chance to distinguish myself. Although I know I'm not going to win, it's good to get feedback.
4. Judge contests. Many contests these days are huge and to help narrow the categories, they often open up judging to other writers. Some contests are a little more exclusive, like you have to have a successful publishing career or have made a certain amount of money before you can judge or it may be a requirement to judge as an entrant to the contest. Last year I judged about 11 books. Just this year alone, 4, with more on the way.
5. Blog. Blogging is writing you say. I know, but it's also not writing on a current WIP. But it's important to let people know what you are up to, get to know you. Often people buy a book not because it sounds interesting, but because you are a likable person.
6. Social media. This can be such a time sink. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook not to mention other social media outlets (Bookbub, Book+Main, Bookspout, Goodreads) can suck time away from a writer's WIP. With careful planning and loads of self-discipline, Social Media can be a useful tool to create community, build a brand and help establish your platform.
7. Website. Building and maintaining a website is something every author must do. A web presence is essential. What does everyone do once they discover a new author? Search the internet and hopefully buy more books, or at least check them out at the library :)
8. Newsletter. I love connecting with fans, with my friends who have supported me. Once a month I send out a connection letter to let people know what I'm up to. This is fun. I ask for beta readers, reward them with tidbits and snippets of my latest WIP and get opinions. Sign up for my newsletter with the link to the right. Or at my website.
9. Marketing. As a small press author, I'm doing most of my own marketing. I write blog posts for other bloggers who generously share their audience with me. I search out reviewers, literary magazines, influencers, friends who can help me spread the word.
10. Help other authors. This is reviewing, sometimes critiquing, work for other writers in my writing group or critique partner, reviewing books for other authors, praise quotes, joining local chapters of national organizations. This is one of my favorite things to do. I love to help people see it is possible to write, to get published to do what they love to do.
Bonus. Writer's also have families, and occasionally eat, sleep and clean house.
March 5, 2019
Clean, Funny Romantic Comedy plus recipe for easy chocolate mousse
I was talking to someone on the phone the other day, and they told me their book club likes to make a recipe from their book-of-the-month. And I thought, I need to include my recipe for Easy Chocolate Mousse to my clean and funny romantic comedy book. (If you haven't checked out the Villain's cookbook from Baker's Dozen, you need to.)
The Swiss Mishap is a New Adult, clean and funny romantic comedy. Lainey goes to Switzerland expecting to work as an intern in the chocolate department, but instead winds up in Pet Care. She loves chocolate and hopes to get a recommendation there. Her hot boss makes her talk to people all day about pets until she speaks with a pastry chef who gives her a recipe for chocolate mousse. Of course, she's supposed to be talking about pets, so her boss isn't happy with her, and she leaves without getting the rest of the recipe...
So here I am sharing with you the recipe I brought home from Europe:
Easy Chocolate Mousse for 6 people
Easy chocolate mousse
30 g. Butter (2 Tbls.)
80 g. Sugar (3/4 c.)
175 g. (6 oz) of chocolate (milk or dark), chopped
4 eggs separated
Beat eggs and sugar together mixer until soft peaks form. Melt butter and chocolate in a double boiler until just melted. Add egg yolks one by one, stirring with a wooden spoon. Remove from heat, and allow to cool. Fold in egg whites. Refrigerate before serving for best results.
If you didn't know, I lived in Switzerland in my twenties as a missionary. I love Switzerland. Ever since I was nine, I wanted to live there. I love the people, the culture, and the country.
I am really looking forward to sharing this book with you. It really has my heart. If you love clean funny romantic comedies, this is for you! Stay tuned for a cover reveal and release date!
The Swiss Mishap is a New Adult, clean and funny romantic comedy. Lainey goes to Switzerland expecting to work as an intern in the chocolate department, but instead winds up in Pet Care. She loves chocolate and hopes to get a recommendation there. Her hot boss makes her talk to people all day about pets until she speaks with a pastry chef who gives her a recipe for chocolate mousse. Of course, she's supposed to be talking about pets, so her boss isn't happy with her, and she leaves without getting the rest of the recipe...
So here I am sharing with you the recipe I brought home from Europe:
Easy Chocolate Mousse for 6 people
Easy chocolate mousse
30 g. Butter (2 Tbls.)
80 g. Sugar (3/4 c.)
175 g. (6 oz) of chocolate (milk or dark), chopped
4 eggs separated
Beat eggs and sugar together mixer until soft peaks form. Melt butter and chocolate in a double boiler until just melted. Add egg yolks one by one, stirring with a wooden spoon. Remove from heat, and allow to cool. Fold in egg whites. Refrigerate before serving for best results.
If you didn't know, I lived in Switzerland in my twenties as a missionary. I love Switzerland. Ever since I was nine, I wanted to live there. I love the people, the culture, and the country.
I am really looking forward to sharing this book with you. It really has my heart. If you love clean funny romantic comedies, this is for you! Stay tuned for a cover reveal and release date!
February 13, 2019
Top 5 things to help you achieve your dreams
My dreams have always been greater than my ability. We all start out that way, with more gumption than talent.
When I was in fourth grade, my friend, Heather, urged me to try out for the community theater production of Annie as an orphan extra. My mom let my try out only because she thought I wouldn't make it--thanks mom! She knew the commitment and time required for a production of this scale. But she let me try out and guess what! I made it! I did! *Brag time* Out of the 225 girls who auditioned, only 12 made it into the cast *Close brag time* My siblings said it was because I already looked like an orphan. Har, har! But honestly, I think I made it because my friend knew the director and she needed a ride to the rehearsals from our small town.
One of the best compliments anyone has given to me was when my brother said he thought it was awesome that I tried out for plays. Then he confessed, he never would have had the guts to do something like that. I was stunned. I never even considered not trying out. It's like the possibility of making a fool of myself didn't even occur to me.
I've thought a lot about that as the years pass. Why wasn't I afraid to try out for a play? I think one of the things that keeps me going is that I'm not afraid of failing. (I am afraid of success, however. Success changes the status quo. We all fear something, I guess, hahah!)
So I put together my top five tips to give you the encouragement you need to take the leap.
1. Be not afraid. Fear is your worst enemy. Sometimes what I do is imagine the worst thing that can happen. When I was afraid to go SCUBA diving, I mentally walked myself through the worst case scenario, which, in this case, was death. And I asked myself if I died right now, what could happen? My kids would miss me, and I would miss them growing up. But my husband could remarry, and they'd grow up okay. Then I asked myself the likelihood of that happening. Pretty minuscule. After I mentally faced my worst fear, I was ready to go down. Abandon your fear.
2. Start small. Baby steps. No one says in order to be great, you have to do great things. By small means are many great things accomplished. How do you write a novel? One word at a time. How do you start a business? One client at a time. Start small.
3. Set goals. I have a blank book my sister gave me 12 years ago. For over a decade, I have written weekly "To-Do" lists. This keeps me focused and on track. And yes, sometimes I go back in and write tasks down which weren't originally on the list and check them off. But set goals that you can define, reach, and stretch you.
4. Vision boards. I am not much of a visual person, probably due to the fact that I didn't wear my glasses for the first half of my life and missed so many visual details. However, having something like a vision board, or a vision statement can help keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. If you have a dream, write it down, see it every day, work toward it.
5. Surround yourself with supportive people. Everyone needs a support team, people who are positive, who believe in you and encourage you. Cheerleaders. If you don't have those people living with you, find some community on-line. I love my writer community on Twitter and my writing group friends. I also have the most supportive husband (both physically and spiritually) and friends.
What are your dreams? How did you achieve them? Or what are you doing to achieve your dreams?
When I was in fourth grade, my friend, Heather, urged me to try out for the community theater production of Annie as an orphan extra. My mom let my try out only because she thought I wouldn't make it--thanks mom! She knew the commitment and time required for a production of this scale. But she let me try out and guess what! I made it! I did! *Brag time* Out of the 225 girls who auditioned, only 12 made it into the cast *Close brag time* My siblings said it was because I already looked like an orphan. Har, har! But honestly, I think I made it because my friend knew the director and she needed a ride to the rehearsals from our small town.
One of the best compliments anyone has given to me was when my brother said he thought it was awesome that I tried out for plays. Then he confessed, he never would have had the guts to do something like that. I was stunned. I never even considered not trying out. It's like the possibility of making a fool of myself didn't even occur to me.
I've thought a lot about that as the years pass. Why wasn't I afraid to try out for a play? I think one of the things that keeps me going is that I'm not afraid of failing. (I am afraid of success, however. Success changes the status quo. We all fear something, I guess, hahah!)
So I put together my top five tips to give you the encouragement you need to take the leap.
1. Be not afraid. Fear is your worst enemy. Sometimes what I do is imagine the worst thing that can happen. When I was afraid to go SCUBA diving, I mentally walked myself through the worst case scenario, which, in this case, was death. And I asked myself if I died right now, what could happen? My kids would miss me, and I would miss them growing up. But my husband could remarry, and they'd grow up okay. Then I asked myself the likelihood of that happening. Pretty minuscule. After I mentally faced my worst fear, I was ready to go down. Abandon your fear.
2. Start small. Baby steps. No one says in order to be great, you have to do great things. By small means are many great things accomplished. How do you write a novel? One word at a time. How do you start a business? One client at a time. Start small.
3. Set goals. I have a blank book my sister gave me 12 years ago. For over a decade, I have written weekly "To-Do" lists. This keeps me focused and on track. And yes, sometimes I go back in and write tasks down which weren't originally on the list and check them off. But set goals that you can define, reach, and stretch you.
4. Vision boards. I am not much of a visual person, probably due to the fact that I didn't wear my glasses for the first half of my life and missed so many visual details. However, having something like a vision board, or a vision statement can help keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. If you have a dream, write it down, see it every day, work toward it.
5. Surround yourself with supportive people. Everyone needs a support team, people who are positive, who believe in you and encourage you. Cheerleaders. If you don't have those people living with you, find some community on-line. I love my writer community on Twitter and my writing group friends. I also have the most supportive husband (both physically and spiritually) and friends.
What are your dreams? How did you achieve them? Or what are you doing to achieve your dreams?
February 2, 2019
More on Story
Knock, knock...
I'm the world's worst joke teller. I have a few jokes memorized to tell at parties but I get so excited for then to laugh, I skim the details and go straight for the punchline. In short, I'm impatient. I want the audience to know everything now.
I've been reading more about story and story telling, how to reveal and what to reveal and how to make my writing more meaningful.
I feel novels have punchlines just like jokes do, although they often aren't as funny, but more insightful. I'm still learning how to take my time, build up anticipation in the reader so they can have a huge payoff.
Do you have any storytelling tips to share?
I'm the world's worst joke teller. I have a few jokes memorized to tell at parties but I get so excited for then to laugh, I skim the details and go straight for the punchline. In short, I'm impatient. I want the audience to know everything now.
I've been reading more about story and story telling, how to reveal and what to reveal and how to make my writing more meaningful.
I feel novels have punchlines just like jokes do, although they often aren't as funny, but more insightful. I'm still learning how to take my time, build up anticipation in the reader so they can have a huge payoff.
Do you have any storytelling tips to share?
October 15, 2018
What is story?
I just got back from a writer's conference in Atlanta. I loved every minute of it! But one question came up that intrigued me. What is story?
I studied Fiction in Communication in college and often thought about this question. Is story the things that happen? Or is it the character's reaction/action to the things that happen to us? Is story plot-driven or character-driven?
I'd like to say it's a mixture of both. Things happen to us out of our control. Then in order to take control, we make decisions for our lives. It happens in fiction too. The type of actions we take are largely based on our personality type, previous experience and desired outcome.
Most people will say plot-driven stories are popular fiction and character-driven stories are literary fiction, but I think there is always a mixture of both. Do you agree?
I studied Fiction in Communication in college and often thought about this question. Is story the things that happen? Or is it the character's reaction/action to the things that happen to us? Is story plot-driven or character-driven?
I'd like to say it's a mixture of both. Things happen to us out of our control. Then in order to take control, we make decisions for our lives. It happens in fiction too. The type of actions we take are largely based on our personality type, previous experience and desired outcome.
Most people will say plot-driven stories are popular fiction and character-driven stories are literary fiction, but I think there is always a mixture of both. Do you agree?
September 20, 2018
Conference
So I'm gearing up to attend my first conference as a published author. I'm a little nervous because I've only been to one other conference.
I signed up for a pitch session. I'm not horribly stressed about it. Talking to people face to face has never been a fear of mine, nor do I think my whole career depends on this one interaction or opportunity. It takes some of the stress off of it. However, I am curious about whether finding an agent is a good move for me or not.
I had to figure out which book to pitch. That was the hardest question. I have a YA fantasy, and a sweet older YA I'm working on, but decided to pitch an inspirational romance about a woman, post-divorce who moves to a neighborhood to rehab a house and ends up rehabbing the whole neighborhood with the help of casserole dish. Like I said, inspirational. I'll write another blog post about that next week.
However, I do have some happy news I'm going to be announcing soon! Stay tuned!
I signed up for a pitch session. I'm not horribly stressed about it. Talking to people face to face has never been a fear of mine, nor do I think my whole career depends on this one interaction or opportunity. It takes some of the stress off of it. However, I am curious about whether finding an agent is a good move for me or not.
I had to figure out which book to pitch. That was the hardest question. I have a YA fantasy, and a sweet older YA I'm working on, but decided to pitch an inspirational romance about a woman, post-divorce who moves to a neighborhood to rehab a house and ends up rehabbing the whole neighborhood with the help of casserole dish. Like I said, inspirational. I'll write another blog post about that next week.
However, I do have some happy news I'm going to be announcing soon! Stay tuned!
