Alison Kent's Blog, page 39

With Extreme Pleasure – FREE!

Moving up in the world, and stomping on Maya Banks! (I can say that cuz we're buds!)

Thanks to Fatin for letting me know!

@mad4rombks Did you see this? With Extreme Pleasure is a Kindle Freebie at Amazon right now. http://bit.ly/3XjUQz

And you don't even have to own a Kindle as long as you own a PC and download their Kindle for PC software! Go forth and download!

Oh, yeah. Take that, Dan Brown!

HqHo, or that's all I have to say about that

From Malle Vallik via SBTB:

First, why is Harlequin launching a self-publishing business? Bowker reported in 2008 that more titles were published through self-publishing than traditional publishers. Self-publishing is a fast growing and vibrant part of the publishing industry today. Harlequin has decided to provide a romance focused self-publishing business for those that choose to go down the self-publishing road.

From literary agent Ashley Grayson:

While the number of self-published titles...

Some things about writing

This article made the rounds awhile ago, but I just read it yesterday: How to Write a Great Novel. It doesn't give tips but dishes on a few authors and their writing habits.

Richard Powers lounges in bed all day and speaks his novels aloud to a laptop computer with voice-recognition software. Junot Diaz, author of the Pulitzer-prize winning novel "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," shuts himself in the bathroom and perches on the edge of the tub with his notebook when he's tackling a...

Publishing ain't what it used to be

There is a WHOLE lot of weird and wackiness going on out there in publishing. Agent Kristin Nelson doesn't think she can sell a really good manuscript by a talented author. Harlequin has another new venture. Authors are doing all sorts of things to reach readers and stay viable. J.A. Konrath is self-publishing to the Kindle and the Nook. Holly Lisle is going to send her book to subscribers as she writes it, scene by scene. Authors and readers both, what are you guys thinking? Are you worried ...

Dogs, ya gotta love 'em . . . or not

As I wrote on Twitter this morning:

Was rudely wakened @ 3am by new dog thinking old dog was intruder and attacking. Believe she surprised him. He wasn't expecting her in room.

It was a very scary few seconds and very out of character for both dogs.

Or so we thought . . .

The old dog, Snickers, was sleeping in No. 1 Daughter's bedroom behind a closed door. The new dog, Takumi, was sleeping on @cuppacafe's side of the bed, just as our original old dog, Smith, used to do. Takumi will often sleep ...

Two polls! Come take them!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Also, PLEASE add comments explaining your answers to either or both polls!

A small bit of promo

I forgot to mention that you can comment for a chance to win an ARC of WITH EXTREME PLEASURE at confessions of a hopeless book addict. Pop over and sign up!

Also, Laurie's Laudanum has posted a review, saying:

Once again Alison Kent has crafted a story that is uniquely original and possesses qualities that readers have come to expect from her. The action gathers momentum from the very beginning and the suspense escalates as the story continues. King and Cady are not your typical hero or...

Yeah, I'm part of eHarlequin's V. Cool Special

If you haven't purchased ONE GOOD MAN, here's a very cool reason to do so. The book can be had for $3.99 as part of an eHarlequin special; buy $25 site wide and get a free Harlequin 60th anniversary tote. These things are HUGE and awesome. You know you want one, and you can't have mine!

From the mouth of Criminal Minds

"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self." Cyril Connolly (1903 – 1974)

Emotions laid bare, or working your point of view

In her comments to yesterday's post on point of view, Malissa said:

I try not to head hop but sometimes I can't help it. I want everyone's emotions laid bare.

Readers do want to experience the emotions of all the characters in a story, and this is where the amazing tool called point of view comes in. It's also where having a handle on showing vs telling will make a huge difference. Let me explain by using examples from TV and movies since more people will have seen the same movies than read...