Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 7
March 9, 2024
WeWriWa: A Family of Legends, beginning with TEMPTATION’S TRAIL
I’ve been down for the past few days with one of those annoying almost spring colds. Not wanting to share with the family, I’ve been self-isolating, reading through the stack of my Bass family Texas historical series (I know – what a chore!) before getting them back out in print . . . and loving every page! Even though I wrote Book 1, TEMPTATION’S TRAIL, in the early early 1990s (before some of you were even alive!), it’s as fresh and exciting now as it was when I was writing it by hand in a well-used notebook that would soon include four more volumes. As soon as the pages are scanned for reediting (This series was submitted pre-computer!) I’ll be getting ready to self-publish them at last! For now, here’s a tease from Book 1, TEMPTATION’S TRAIL… The Excerpt
Now THAT’s a hero! And my favorite of all of them. I had to write four more books just so Harm Bass could weave in and out of them.
“When you come back through again, I want to leave with you.”
Harmon hooked his thumb beneath the boy’s chin to angle it up. “You want to spell that out a little plainer?”
Jack looked him straight on, his features determined as he claimed, “I don’t want to be a rancher. I don’t belong here. You’re my family, Uncle Harm . . . I want to be like you.”
Harmon drew a breath, then he laughed softly, making Jack stiffen, afraid his ambitions weren’t being taken seriously by this man he idolized.
“Son,” Harm corrected quietly, “you don’t want to be like me. You got everything here a man could want: Family, belonging, ties to the soul and the land. You can’t just tear up those roots and blow off on a wind.”
“But Uncle Harm—”
“Listen! I know you look around and see nothing but hard work and long hours, and you feel like a dog staked out on a short rope just wanting to break loose and run free . . . but once you start running, son, you got no place to go.
. . . and a bit more . . .
“I’d give anything to have what you have—a future so clean and bright it’s like tomorrow’s sunrise, with a chance to grow to be a man like Will, a good man. Don’t you ever sell that off cheap or I won’t even want to know you.”
“But you said I did good, that I could ride with you anytime. Didn’t you mean that?”
Harm cupped the somber face with his palm. “Oh, yeah, I meant it. But you’re not mine to take. This is where you belong. If you want to look up to someone, don’t look to me. I’m nothing. You look to Will, and you’ll learn everything there is to know about being a man. And someday when you’re looking out over your own place, and you got your own house full of a wife and kids, I’ll come by now and again to sit at your table, and you’ll look at me and then at them and you’ll thank God you decided to stay put.”
How about you? Any old favorites you need to get back into reader hands?
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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March 5, 2024
IWSG: Let’s NOT Play that Game, Dave!
What in the word “artificial” suggests “creative?” Creative writing, to me, is the last bastion hold-out against the soulless advance of AI. I guess that says everything about my feelings on this month’s subject . . .
March 6th question: Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?
Okay, I’ll admit AI is a handy tool to do drudge work – kind of like the egg sorter in the hen house. But that doesn’t mean I want to invite it into the kitchen to make my omelets and souffles! In my opinion we have too many artificial things encroaching upon us already. Yes, I’ve used editing tools to go over my manuscripts – but only on a basic level for spelling – not for any higher context. When I’ve used AI programs to go over my manuscripts, yes, they caught errors buuuuut they also flagged all the textures in my writing that make it unique to my voice. AI can do surface editing, but it can’t effectively handle the emotional nuances that make our project uniquely ours. It can’t pick out the important aspects that distinguish our “voice.” You might argue that it can be “trained” to find those discerning bits of individuality buuuuut that means you’d have to spend as much time “training” the program as doing the work yourself.
“Creative” implies original, unique to the creator. AI, being soulless, at least in our current universe, doesn’t have that ability of discernment. Sure, you can feed it all the facts it needs to do that synopsis but in that same time allotment, you can apply your own “voice” to making those cut and dry facts uniquely yours. Spell check, yes. Original work, heck no! Check out my October 4, 2023 IWSG post on the subject.
I want to be known as the writer-creator-imaginer of my work, not as a data programmer who fed information into a soulless machine. (My apologies to HAL in Arthur C. Clarke’s universe! But . . . remember how that worked out for them! Shall we play a game? Not with my fiction!)
Fiction is based upon the author’s voice, not the technical aspects of grammar and sentence structure. That applies to synopses, too, with our unique ability to insert the qualities that make our work stand out as opposed to blending in. Take THAT, AI!
And for those lovers of “original” work, MIDNIGHT REDEEMER, part of my “Touch of Midnight” vampire romance series, explores immortality and the answer to an age-old curse for only $0.99 from 03-16 to 03-31-24! Sink your teeth in and enjoy!
Click to Preview BookAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: May 3, 2011Length: 196 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries-old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.
Will his dream . . . Centuries-old vampire Louis Redman is desperate to believe an inquisitive researcher's claim that she's close to finding a cure for his age-old curse. Determined to become human again, he must trust the lovely geneticist who has pushed her way into his guarded life . . . and heart . . . not to betray him to the government agency that wants to uncover his secrets for their own purposes.
. . . be the death of her? Scientist Stacy Kimball discovers potential fame and the answer to immortality in a murder victim's blood sample. But as she gets closer to the truth, danger stalks her from the shadows. Who wants to silence her from making the breakthrough of a lifetime? Is it the agency that funds her work? The killer who's terrorizing Seattle's night scene?
Or the mysterious Louis Redman, whose kisses seduce her beyond caring . . . ?
"A rare treat . . . this exciting thriller will keep you up all night as Ms. Gideon weaves her spell." — Romantic Times
"Nancy Gideon is one of the best supernatural writers on the market today!" — Midwest Book Review/BookWire
Happy Writing!!!
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the March 6th posting of the IWSG will be are Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Click Here →
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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February 6, 2024
IWSG: Websites/Blogs That Try TOO Hard
It’s not easy walking that fine line between Not Enough and Too Much when it comes to engaging with potential readers/your reading audience. Which leads to our February topic . . .
February 7th IWSG Question: What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books?
In author websites, in my opinion, less IS more, at least at first glance. Maybe it’s just my ADD/OCD but cluttery, in your face flashy things that all scream for your attention at once quickly lose mine. It’s like that neighbor’s house that has WAAAAAY too many lighted decorations or the obnoxious hawker of car deals in commercials who thinks shouting means "important." It was a lesson I learned in my first part-time job at a department store when decorating a display. Pick what’s important to the buyer to catch their attention then provide information about that item and how to find out MORE about.
Here are my personal Dos and Don’ts.
THINGS THAT TURN ME OFF . . .
Noise. Loud music or sounds that jump out at you the minute you open the screen. Be mindful of those who are browsing at work or late at night. Or have weak hearts! Better to have no sound or an option to opt-in to have a listen. Confusion. Make sure your first-time visitor knows who you are and what you’re “selling” right up front. Your Name, Author. Genre. Nuff said. Put your catchy slogan beneath that primary selling point. Nothing’s worse than having someone show up at your door saying they’re a neighbor then try to hawk cleaning products. Busyness! More is not necessarily better if it’s hard to navigate or overwhelming. Stick to clean, clear graphics and basic readable fonts that don’t distract from the information you want to convey. Let the reader get a taste of who you are through your choices of type, illustrations, and colors. Utilize sidebars that offer links to other pages and buying options. Keep it simple. Make it easy. Lack of Professionalism! Remember, many of your site visitors will be scrolling on the job so they may not appreciate candids filling their computer screen of your main characters locked in a naked embrace or vividly dismembering bad guys. Provide that steamy graphic in a more discrete size with the option of blowing it up (no pun intended).
THINGS I WANT TO SEE . . .
Easy access to information with clear top of screen or side bar links to searchable material. Home Page that’s inviting and not too busy, featuring latest title. Welcome Page including casual picture of author, friendly greeting, and invitation to learn more by listing what’s included on site with links. Author Bio, both long and short with usable professional photo. Book List of titles organized by genre/pen names/publisher giving ISBN and buy links. Newest Title Feature, including excerpts, reviews, publicity quotes, and buy links. PR Kit with all the info a publication or potential venue needs to know/have, i.e. professional publicity photo as well as a casual pose, long and short bio, booklist with links to product, professional awards/recognitions, and perhaps an excerpt from most recent work. AND the best way to contact you for more information!Mainly, make your site uniquely YOURS! And update frequently, especially if you have a new title/sale. Geez, I’ve got to get my site Nancy Gideon...By Any Other Name updated ... right after I visit yours!
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the February 7th posting of the IWSG will be are Janet Alcorn, SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Click Here →
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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February 3, 2024
WeWriWa: Bring It Spring – I have a Book to Finish!
I’ve never been so sad to see our chubby little groundhog friend – because I’d promised myself I’d have my new historical finished by the first day of spring and it’s coming early. I thought I’d have six more weeks! Truth be told, I’ve been hibernating instead of writing, telling myself that I needed to read through all five books of my Bass Family historical series before finishing the final (maybe!) book. It HAS been a wonderful journey but now I’m ready to get back to the keyboard. Here’s a sample from HER TEXAS HERO. (These aren’t the main characters of the story in this scene but they play an important role in complicating it!). The Excerpt
Shakespeare said it best (but apparently not first!): “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” HTH is all about stepping into different roles for different, and often desperate, reasons. So, now that I have to write faster, I’d better get back at it . . . right after I read your posts.
“Ah, there she is, the picture of piety, your privileged pet, that Malloy girl, making her evening sabbatical to the fountain.”
Father Bartholomew looked up from his ledgers to the nun standing at his window, knowing from the soft, unmistakable censure edging Sister Mary Helene’s observation, to whom she referred. Shadowed there against the dark glass, her skeletal frame hung with black, Mary Helene reminded him once again of the gaunt birds of prey circling against a searing sky in hopes of fresh carrion, and nothing would make the sour-faced nun more rapturous than having the next-to-bleached bones of Martine Malloy beneath her cruel talons.
Disliking the woman’s tone as much as her insinuation, he arched an admonishing brow and corrected, “She is God’s child, not mine, Sister, and all are equal in my eyes as they are in His.”
She might have made a harrumphing sound discreetly covered by the clearing of her throat before muttering, “She may be equal in God’s eyes, but her own opinion of herself has her a bit more equal than others.”
Like a parent listening to an older sibling’s list of a younger’s transgressions, he tried to be tolerant, but with the massive amount of work awaiting him before he could seek slumber, on this night, his patience wore woefully thin, making him chastise, “That is a harsh accusation, Sister, so you must have strong evidence to risk such possible slander.”
The sister faced him then, a shadow of uncertainty scurrying across her severe features as she realized that she’d gone too far in voicing her bitterness, but because she’d been at the convent school longer than most could remember, she felt a certain security in speaking her mind, even before her own superior. “I have given you evidence, and you have chosen not to act upon it.”
“Minor indiscretions that would be easily corrected and forgiven in another. Taking in spirited foundlings who balk beneath our rules is nothing new here, so what is it about this particular girl that upsets you so?”
( . . . and a bit more . . .)
Father Bartholomew didn’t need her explanation. Martine Malloy was young, fresh, and beautiful, from a wealthy family and exclusive upbringing. She’d leave the grit of West Texas behind for a gilded society future. When her father sent for her, it would be to form an advantageous marriage into which she would bring her money and her virginity. Mary Helene would have none of those things. She would never leave this hot, dismal place, and at this bitter moment, she was all that she would ever be. Resentment for that fact, and the young woman who was an ever-present reminder, ate at her like a consumptive fever.
“She does not belong here, Father. Surely you must see that. She has no intention of surrendering herself to a life of sacrifice and duty, and her attitude mocks those of us who have.”
He rose from behind his desk and crossed to the window. A tall, powerfully built man, he knew his stature intimidated as much as his standing within the clergy. Just as his good looks conflicted with the oft-held image of a man of the cloth. When he drew near her, the shrewish sister ducked her head as an agitated flush of color rose then faded in her sallow cheeks. He was used to the effect and was not above manipulating it to his advantage. But taunting Sister Mary Helene with her own repressed desires held no entertainment once he beheld Martine Malloy kneeling in the moonlight.
A face that could make angels weep. Or launch a thousand ships. No wonder Mary Helene and the other dried-up nuns at the convent hated her so.
Happy Spring!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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January 20, 2024
WeWriWa: “Feeding the Soul” HER TEXAS HERO
I’m beginning to feel a bit like Jack Torrence in THE SHINING, typing away on his novel while the blizzardy winds blow, isolating him from the world outside his imagination – only a lot saner. What a place to get lost – my favorite place. No lines, no waiting, no getting out of your sweatpants. A bit like Michigan, at the moment. But as long as I have electricity and an idea, let those cold winds blow – below zero. I’m on a hot streak (not to be confused with hot flash, which would keep me a lot warmer!). At the moment, that heat is coming from Texas and the scorch of my fingers hurrying over the keys as I, AT LAST, get back to my favorite project – the newest book in my Bass family Texas historical series. Let me introduce you to my heroine, the feisty Martine Malloy who feels trapped, not only by her absent father’s dictates, but by circumstances she can’t escape . . . or can she?
The Excerpt It feels wonderful to be doing original work again – work that will end cap my Texas series (at least for now . . .). Let those wintery winds blow. I’m wrapped up in my writing and it keeps me warm.
Finally! With news from the outside world pressed close to her rapidly beating heart, Martine tried to concentrate on the recitation of the rosary, on the words, on the meaning behind them to show proper reverence as she’d been taught—often at the end of a switch—but there wasn’t much patience left in her restless soul. God would understand. He’d made only so many perfect souls and hers was not one of them. He was much more understanding than Sister Mary Helena, who even now watched for her slightest deviation from the twilight catechisms. Sister Mary Helena whose love of God was sometimes surpassed by her fondness for meting out punishment in His name.
But risking punishment was worth the reward.
Her uncle’s communications kept her from madness. Unlike the meek and humble Agnes who knelt at her side, Martine was as suited to the non-secular life as an exotic bromeliad in sunbaked Texas soil. The endless hours, days, weeks, now years of silence, reflection, and self-discipline had her crawling inside her skin while resentment festered within her heart. Not toward God, or the genuine kindnesses shown her inside this temporary home, but against the circumstances holding her captive, away from her true family.
. . . and a bit more . . .
She hugged that link to them close beneath her breast, now able to ignore the rough stone cutting into her knees and the incensed air that had her head aching. Escape was near. At least, escape for the heart and mind if not yet the body.
When the pealing tone of the steeple bell brought dismissal to go about evening routines, Martine followed the orderly line from the chapel into the dry warmth of late day. While the others headed in flock-like obedience toward their sparse supper, Martine and Agnes slipped away, hurrying with heads bowed toward the barrack-like dormitory where they shared a Spartan room with four more young women. All was silent within the warmed adobe walls, the others intent upon feeding the body while Martine could think only of satisfying her starving soul.
How’s your January going?
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
January 13, 2024
WeWrWa: Saddle Up for a New Adventure . . . HER TEXAS HERO
It’s a great thing to have history with your characters. The Bass family from my Texas historical series and I go way back to the early 1990’s when my new editor – a MAN! – asked for a new series and wanted to see what I was working on. What we ended up with was a five-book series that had me spending three years “in” the scorch of West Texas in the late 1800s. From tracking outlaws in the wild Big Bend of Texas to taming the waltz in a New York ballroom, it’s been quite the journey for Harmon and Amanda Bass and their family, one I’ll be sharing with you in this new year as I continue working on a new addition to the series! I don’t have a cover yet, but I can give you a taste of what you can find between it . . . Meet Randall Bass.
The Excerpt
Another great benefit from getting back into the series . . . rereading books I just love.
What had he been thinking?
Cuba. What the hell did he know about Cuba?
He knew Texas and horses and how to woo women. He’d known where he came from and what was expected of him almost since the day he was born practically in the middle of this yard while his mama and his gravely wounded daddy braced a band of blood-thirsty Apache out for Jack’s hair. Only his daddy’s big knife and mother’s unfaltering bravado stopped them. This was their land, to be his land, and he shared their pride and possessive desire to hold it.
Like his daddy, he didn’t care two hoots about the fortune that awaited him. He would have traded it without a thought for what his father had. Contentment. Satisfaction. Love. And because he didn’t think any of those three things were going to ride down out of the distant Chisos to introduce themselves to him while he was cleaning out the barn, he’d started wondering how far he’d have to go to find them.
Even if he hurt those he had to leave behind.
We’re under a huge Winter Storm Alert here in Michigan with an expected 5-7 more inches of snow settling in atop the 4-6 inches we already have with frigid 20-ish degree temps. My cats are SO glad they’re not the dog, who has to go out in it. Time to find a good book . . . and a flashlight, just in case!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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January 6, 2024
WeWriWa: The R's have It - Recycle, Reissue, Rebuild, Relax
Finally! All the fuss and furious industry of the holiday season is over. Decorations are repacked and heading down to storage, holiday CDs are out of my car, the tree is bare and ready to be broken down. Sigh . . . it’s hard to say goodbye to my favorite time of year. Unless there’s something to look forward to. And this year, I’m going Green. I’m recycling! Look out, Book Backlist – Here I come! I’m putting you back to work!While I wait to hear from my new editor on a new two-book contemporary submission (Welcome to HQ, Emma! I’ll miss you, Patience!!), I’m housecleaning. Time to start reissuing that backlist. And a great place to start is with my “By Moonlight” shapeshifter series. While book four, BOUND BY MOONLIGHT, is getting its final packaging tweaks, I’m diving into one of my favorites from all 80 of my titles. HUNTER OF SHADOWS brings a new hero into the “By Moonlight” world, and shapeshifter/NOPD cop Silas MacCreedy is a delightfully smart and hunky surprise . . . to both me and the hard-as-nails assassin he stumbles upon by eye-opening accident. Here’s a taste . . .
AmazonPublished: November 29, 2011Length: 418 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→ The Excerpt He’s got her number. Let’s hope she doesn’t decided to make him unlisted! I’ll keep you posted on the timeframe for reissues and updates on the romantic suspense hopefuls.
There was no change in his tone, but Nica felt his focus move from flirtatiously personal to professional high ground. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She didn’t want to consider him a threat that she’d have to deal with in a manner not quite as enjoyable as this meeting had been so far.
“I’m working as a waitress at Cheveux de Chien.”
He wasn’t buying it. “And you can afford a posh place like this on tips?”
“I’m very frugal with my money.”
“And with your facts.”
“Is this going to be an interrogation, or would you like to come inside so it can develop into something more pleasant?” Her body language altering ever so slightly, she leaned toward him with a hint of invitation, her lips parting, her gaze warming suggestively.
In response, his posture changed as well, straightening to put a cautious distance between them. It took Nica a moment to realize he was refusing her offer.
( . . . and a teasy bit more . . . )
She laughed to cover her surprise . . . and disappointment. Honorable males were so difficult. Especially when they were smart.
“Why did you coax those men into the alley to kill them?”
She blinked in pretended surprise. “Why would you think that? Those men attacked me. You saw that for yourself. Who knows what might have happened if you hadn’t come along when you did.”
“I suspect that’s what LaRoche’s men are asking themselves now that they have had four bodies to contend with. I not sure what you are, but innocent isn’t one of them.”
Happy 2024!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
January 2, 2024
IWSG: Hollar Back . . . What Goes Around Comes Around. Your BookBub Best Buddy.
Whew! We made it to 2024! Am I the only one who got a tad bit nervous over the past couple of years? With so many bastions of entertainment and retail going under, the future for us as authors seemed somewhat tenuous at best. But two things stayed certain and strong – writers cannot NOT write, and readers LOVE to read! Even though we lost face-to-face touch with our fans, they were always close virtually, especially when the world around us shut down. Many, like myself, found escape in the pages of a novel. And many of those novels found a path to readers’ hands via virtual means, BookBub being one of them.
January 3 question: Do you follow back your readers on BookBub or do you only follow back other authors?
When self-publishing went wild, giving anyone with a keyboard an opportunity to become an “author,” it became imperative for writers to establish a connection with their readers so as not to become just a faint flickering light in the glut of fast-track fiction. BookBub, in its infancy, was one of the first places I gained notice as an author by following my readers. And it’s one of the first places I went to learn how to promote myself as an author by following other authors. And, more importantly, how to gain readers. BookBub has grown HUGE! And with volume came cost – to get noticed, to announce sales/deals, etc. A natural progression when a resource attains credibility.
With NY struggling under the pressure to keep pace with glut of $0.99/Free titles, the affordability and accessibility to avenues of promo became a rat race, but through it all, BookBub remained a friend to authors . . . a friend I’d lost touch with until now. BB is back in my arsenal to gain notice.
Now, to get those two books sitting with my new editor sold so I can renew that friendship!!
How about you? Which venues have you found to be the most accessible and helpful?
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the January 3rd posting of the IWSG will be are Joylene Nowell Butler, Olga Godim, Diedre Knight, and Natalie Aguirre!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Click Here →
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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December 16, 2023
WeWriWa: Cuddle up with a December Sale – TOTALLY YOURS now $0.99!!
When is the best time to think about tropical weather? When the frigid wind blows in another Michigan winter! Brrrr! I’m ready to snuggle under the covers with a SALE!! Travel with me on a dream cruise to the Caribbean with two unlikely lonely hearts - one a mega-successful entrepreneur and the other, the shy, resigned to being single winner of his lavish makeover vacation who has just discovered that her dream vacay comes with promotional strings attached – involving the dynamic businessman. Here’s a taste . . .
Preview BookAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo BooksPublished: July 23, 2014Length: 196 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→ The Excerpt
The fun thing about TOTALLY YOURS is that I conceived of the idea in the Chicago airport waiting for a flight to be called to Miami where my sister, a friend, and I would be vacaying on an island cruise around the Caribbean. Over the next week, I’d sneak out of bed in our cabin, and while my two roommates slept, sat out on the windy terrace with either my laptop or a pad of paper and scribbled down dialog and scenes while the sun came up over the water! A dirty job, I know! Nothing like onsite research.
Lisa took the 5 x 7s he extracted from his jacket pocket. They were some of the shots from the atrium and they looked as hot as the setting. The first was of her alone in the Jaccuzi, her hair up in a dark sexy disarray and skin gleamed with perspiration, not a trace of her bathing suit showing through the choppy water of the tub. She stared at it disbelieving for a long moment, as if that sultry model was someone she didn’t know. In the next picture she was with Harlan. She smiled because he looked so ridiculous plopped down in the center of the whirlpool in all his clothes, grinning like he didn’t care. Then she went to the next one and her smile faded.
It was of them making the suggested eye contact. Her arms were around his neck and for all intents and purposes, she looked naked. But that wasn’t what shocked her. It wasn’t the way they looked, it was how they were doing the looking.
(…and a bit more…)
Was that what everyone else had seen? The two of them so lost in each other they gave off more steam than the heated water? Dizzily, Lisa realized the photo stripped bare all the complexities of her heart, right down to the urgent hunger that gleamed in her eyes and was reflected back in Harlan’s.
A strange hollow sensation stirred in her stomach as if the bottom had fallen out of it. She’d once heard that a camera didn’t lie. Was this the truth, then? Was this what lay beneath the confusion Harlan incited, this graphic display of sweltering desire? Her whole body felt weak. Her emotions churned like the tempestuous water and she couldn’t drag her eyes from that revealing exposé.
“Has Harlan seen this yet?” Her voice was faint with anxiety.
“Not yet.”
She rolled the photo between agitated hands. “I’d rather he didn’t see this one. I mean, it’s not as though you’d ever use it in the campaign. I wouldn’t want any wrong ideas—”
Teddy held up his hand to curtail her awkward explanation. He didn’t need to hear it. What was in that picture was crystal clear. “Sure, Lisa. No problem.” As she smiled in limp gratitude, he didn’t have the heart to tell her that this was the mildest one of the three Moe had developed. The other two were in a stack in Harlan’s stateroom waiting for his attention.
And they’d get it, too.
By the time we got back to Michigan, I had only to connect the scenes and do a final edit before submitting to my editor. I can safely say the research was the reward, and every time I read TOTALLY YOURS, I’m right back there on that Lido Deck basking in the romance! Talk about a great mini-vacay!
Now, back to reality and read throughs of the Dana Ransom Western romances I’m going to be reissuing . . . Happy Holidays!!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
December 9, 2023
BAD BOYS BAD BOYS- Whatcha Gonna Do?
It’s no secret – I love the bad boys – the slick villains, the scheming second bananas, the rebellious troublemakers. I’ve long been of the opinion that a hero/heroine is only as strong as the adversary he or she goes up against. They push and trick and threaten and behave - well, badly. And I adore them! So much so that I’m devoting the last four weekends of 2023 to my Bad Boys!
And the first (and undeniably my favorite!) is Gerardo Pasquale who was introduced as a schemingly villainous vampire sidekick in MIDNIGHT KISS. He was so slick and oddly engaging that he stole the book out from under its main characters. Readers insisted he get a story of his own to explain what had turned him from the hero’s best friend to the charming side piece of my evil villainess. In MIDNIGHT ENCHANTMENT, book four of the “Midnight” series, his tragic tale comes to light (moonlight not daylight!) . . . and it’s a heartbreaker. Here’s a taste . . .
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: May 3, 2011Length: 230 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→ The Excerpt Such tormenting questions from one so momentarily vulnerable. But Gerard is hardly helpless . . . except when love come into the picture. His rise to hero status is one of my most satisfying success stories.
She’d stood at his open coffin staring down at him as he slept. He’d been maddeningly aware of her, of her scent, of her fear, of her hesitation. He’d felt her touch against his skin, hers so warm against his so cool. He could think of no position more vulnerable, other than perhaps having one’s head on a block with an executioner’s axe raised high. Nowhere to run, no way to resist whatever would follow, he was completely helpless, at the mercy of her intentions. Not knowing what they were was the most frightening of all.
Was he safe now that she knew where he spent his days? Even now as minutes ticked toward twilight with his secret exposed?
Would she touch him with such tenderness if she feared him, then close the lid if she meant him harm? Or was he being naively hopeful and she, just biding her time?
Now how am I going to top that?
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
