C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 181

Promotion: Stage 3

Over the past couple weeks, I have covered promotion in stages, stage 1 being before your publish and stage 2 being when you publish your work. Stage 3, the last stage, is meant to be an ongoing stage to keep interest up about your book as long as it is out.

Wow! Now you may think that stage 3 is a lot but truth is, it has the least amount of active promotional work.  At this point, you are still able to do some of the promotional activities mentioned in stage 2: character interviews, author interviews, blogs, banners, book tours, giveaways etc. In addition to this, if you have several books out and depending on where the rights of your books are, you can always try re-packaging the books.

Most importantly in stage 3 is your current writing. Huh? What I'm saying is that the best promotional tool in this stage is a new work. Occasionally, an author writes something that hits it out of the park and really stands alone on its own, but I imagine that even their fans would like to see more works from them just due to the fact that their first book was so good.

And that brings me to my next point. Not only is it important to keep writing, but it's important to keep writing quality work.  Nothing kills an author more than readers who believe that said author is out there to rip them off. Now, I didn't say bad reviews because that is a general term and many good authors will sometimes get bad reviews (can't please everyone). If anything, those will sometimes generate more traffic and sales. But I'm referring to those reviews that rip on the basics of the book: editing, grammar, structure, etc. The books we write are bought (not given away), therefore, readers have an expectation of receiving a quality product.

Stage 3 really brings promoting your work full circle and in essence, it is the most important part of the promotional process. We are writers and as such, it is our responsibility to keep telling the quality stories inside us (as long as they keep coming to us). I hope these 3 stages of promotion have benefited you and wish you a happy week of writing. Oh, and good luck on that release ;0)

Filed under: Business, Marketing, Toni Kelly

Slapstick and Sarcasm by Leia Shaw

I wouldn't call myself a comedy writer, but humor plays a big role in my books. In my life, actually. As a parent of a child with special needs, I often tell people if I wasn't able to laugh at myself, and sometimes our situation, I'd have slit my wrists a long time ago. Ha ha, just kidding. A little dark humor for ya'. But for me, laughter is that important. It's even got a healing quality to it. Having a good laugh releases endorphins that give us a bit of a high. Like a natural upper. Many times when I'm feeling down, I'll say to my husband, "I need a good laugh, do something funny." To which he blankly stares. Then I roll my eyes and call my best friend.

So what does this have to do with writing? Well, I think for the upcoming generation of readers, humor is essential – even if you write deep, dark, and serious material. We live in an ADD society. The audience for long, flowery narration like Jane Eyre is, for the most part, dwindling. And new readers are picky. If they hit a dull spot, they put down the book. And if they put it down, it's very hard to get them to pick it back up. This generation moves fast and they want their books to also.

Again, where does writing humor fit into this? Well, one of the things I try to do is, when I have to inundate a reader with a long description or a backstory, I make it funny. That way it entertains the reader as well as giving necessary information without hitting a lull.

Now I'm no expert, and admittedly I didn't do much (or any) research before writing this post, but in my mind there are several types of humor. Some you'll be great at, some not. In my opinion, it's better to use what you got than try to be good at everything. Maybe you already know what suits you best or what comes most naturally to you – if so, awesome and run with it. If not, I've listed the types (which I just made up) below along with an example of each. Take a look at what you find most funny then experiment with how to add more of it in your writing.

And I apologize that all the examples of humor are from my books. Number one, it's my own material so I don't have to worry about copyright infringement. And number two, I'm lazy.

Dry humor:

Marcelo knew from experience, human women did not like being ordered around by men. His queen had taught him that when she'd tried to kill him only a few months ago. And all because he'd forced her to drink blood and steal the throne from her twisted father. Women were so temperamental.

Sarcasm:

"Your ego is legendary. It's like its own entity. No, really. We should name it."

Dark humor:

"We're not so different, you and I. You believe your loose morals dictate the right people to kill. I don't." With the knife, he cut straight through her shirt. "That's the only difference between the hunter and the hunted."

She rolled her eyes. "Is this how you're going to torture me? Spewing philosophical bullshit? I prefer the knife."

Silly humor:

"So? You made a good choice for once in your life," James said. "Good on ya'. What do you want? A cookie?"

Maddox grunted. "She wants an apology, dumbass."

She narrowed her eyes. "Now I want two apologies." Folding her arms across her chest she added, "And a cookie."

Visual humor:

When he crouched down into a fighter's stance, he looked like a sexy tiger ready to pounce. When Sage did it, she looked like she was sitting sideways on an invisible toilet.

Banter:

"You're a bossy little thing."

"Me bossy? Ha! That's funny coming from you."

"Down here there's a name for a creature that taunts a bigger one."

"What's that?"

"Dead."

Pop Culture humor:

"Thanks for that, boy genius. Where'd you graduate from? Hogwarts School for the Mentally Unbalanced?"

Irony:

It had only been six days since she'd frozen in fear when the werewolves had attacked her and Marcelo. What a long way she'd come since then. Now…now she would have faced them with courage instead of cowering behind a man. Her head would be held high, bow in hand, strength down to her feet rooted on the ground. Yes, she was fae. She would never run and hide again.

Just then a giant snarling ball of muscle, fur, and teeth lunged at her from the trees. Oh, the irony.

Physical humor:

The next stall over is decent but cramped. It'll have to do. I lift my dress and begin the process of liberating my curves from the torture device called Spanx. I grab the waistband and yank. And yank and yank. Down, down my body. At my hips, I reach some resistance. I wriggle them back and forth but the stall is so narrow I knock into the walls. I widen my stance, hovering above the toilet. Balancing on my too small heels proves challenging. I grunt and curse under my breath. Sweat drips down my nose. But I am going to get these damn things off if it's the last thing I do.

Taking a more aggressive approach, I shove my hands under the waistband around my hips and pull down as hard as I can. Then I hear a loud rip and freeze. I look down. The lacy red underwear Nick got me is torn through at the side.

"Shit!" I hiss. "Shit, shit, shit."

The sound of a throat clearing comes from the stall next to me. Double shit! Someone walked in between my grunts and thumping about? It probably sounds like I'm giving birth in here.

Witty humor:

Uhh…I don't really specialize in this. I mainly use low brow and crass.

 

So. What's your favorite type of humor to read and to write? Do you have examples you'd like to share? Leave a comment below and we can all laugh at you…er, with you.

Filed under: romance

Weekly Paranormal-Scope

]Spring is here and with dreams of the soothing warm days of Summer.  As the heat rises, the supernatual community is definitely as affected as you.

While I'm not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.   In many ways, so are you.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Pixies are preparing their jet skis.  You might enjoy some time way gazing serenely at the water.

Taurus

Killer rabbits are a concern with warmer weather.  Avoid rabbits and your life will be easier.

Gemini

Butterfly kisses are coming into your life.  Prepare to sigh.  Happiness can come in small packages.

Cancer

A vampire has bought a lot of sun screen.   Turning night into day is planned.  Be prepared for an unusual series of events.

Leo

Aslan wants to walk on the beach.  Try it. You might like it.

Virgo

A hobbit you know is preparing for a journey.   Consider a trip for yourself.

Libra

Elves are calling your name to walk the forest trails.  Relax in the cool shadows and green beauty.

Scorpio

Don't you feel better since you've gotten rid of the old stuff.  A leprechaun leaves you an unexpected gift.

Sagittarius

Spa day with the fae is sheer fun.  Choose a humorous friend to spa with.

Capricorn

Vulcans believe in logic.  Good for them.  Play games on your computer and laugh more.

Aquarius

Find a sport that you enjoy.  It's never too late.  Paintball is a possibility. Werewolves love paintball.

Pieces

Mermaids are into baking.  Stretch your culinary talent.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

The Shape of a Book

There's a wonderful exhibit in the Galway City Museum right now. I've enjoyed taking my visitors there; fortunately most of them have as much love for books as I do. Here's the description:

Modified Expression (Crafts Council of Ireland)

An exciting mix of emerging and established artists whose work is inspired by the written word. The exhibition was created in response to the work of the authors participating in literature strand of the the Kilkenny Arts Festival. Featuring calligraphic text, deconstructed books, intricately hand-cut paper, and recycled and re-sculptured works, Modified Expression is a fascinating collection of artworks that demonstrates each artist's personal interpretation of the texts, transforming literary works into visual ones and creating powerful new forms of expression.

It's quite beautiful. I know some people might not be able to get over the idea of such violence done to books, but I find the transformations breathtaking. Like the butterflies above the pieces show how our ideas take wing as we read.

Changing the way we think of books and stories is what these sculptures do without effort. How familiar the shape of a book, yet how easily it can be altered to make us see it with new eyes.

The swans of Galway inspire another refashioning of a book of poems, but also show us the way ideas grow to fruition in the pages of a book, both for reader and for author.

It's nice that they have a little library of Irish writers and a nice comfy chair where you can sit and read them, too. There's a great view out over the city, too.

And because I know Gerri will want to see them, here's a couple shots of how lovely spring is in Galway.

Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, contemporary romance, erotic romance, inspiration, Kit Marlowe, Romantic Places, What inspires you?, Writer's Life

Being Mean by Gerri Brousseau

As some of you may know, I recently signed a contract with Soul Mate Publishing who will be publishing two of my novels, and the high has not worn off yet.  And if that wasn't excitement enough, I found out this week that my first grandchild will be a little girl.  Needless to say, there is much excitement for the Brousseau family this month.  I can hardly contain myself.

Every time I sit down to begin a new work, my mind races about the planning of a baby shower for my daughter-in-law.  But then, while I'm working on the planning of the baby shower, my mind fills with plot twists for my new work.  If I could just harness these things and bend them to my will, life would be perfect.  But life is not perfect, and in the meantime, there is the general day-to-day BS of life to deal with.  Needless to say, my life has gotten out of balance.  I have taken walks, which the pugs really enjoy; I have cleaned the house; changed curtains; put the deck furniture out; swept out the garage; but none of these activities calms my mind.  I keep telling myself to just breathe.  All the while, my mind is racing with plot twists, character flaws, evil villains and wondering what color my kids will choose to paint the baby's room.

What does all this have to do with writing?  Well, I'll tell you.  Do you think that you are the only one whose life is full of a whirlwind of activity?  Do you think you are the only person to have problems weighing heavily on your mind?  Of course not.  Your hero has these same things happening in his or her life as they progress from the beginning to the end of your book.  Just because they may have to best some evil villain doesn't mean they don't have to deal with the day-to-day BS of life … just like we do.  Your character's life is just as far from perfect as your life is.  I know that is something I generally forget when I'm writing.  I have read novels where the woman is from a wealthy family … she's always Lady So-And-So, or he's Lord Thus-And-Such … never some poor sap who must steal bread to survive.  Yet, as we write our stories, we must remember to give our characters the problems of normal life.  This is what the normal reader will relate to.  Ms. Normal Reader is most likely working and juggling home and career.  She probably forgot to pick up the dry cleaning and needs that blouse for a very important meeting at work the following morning.  She has to drop Junior off at day care and he spits up on her suit jacket.  And if that's not bad enough, she gets a flat tire on the way to work!  Keep these things in mind as you plot (or plod) along with your story.  Even Lady So-And-So doesn't have a perfect life.

There has been some blogging this week on other sites I visit about writers being afraid to be mean to their characters.  It's not really being mean, it's simply allowing life to happen to them.  I'm sure even the Duchess of Cambridge has day-to-day BS to deal with.

Now, in addition to all this day-to-day stuff, I generally toss in a few extra zingers just to make life miserable for my characters.  Is that being mean?  Perhaps, but, that's what makes life (and our books) interesting.  Stephen King said to think of the worst thing that could happen to your character … and then make it happen.  I can't argue with his success.

Are you afraid to be mean to your characters?  What's the meanest thing you have done to one of your characters?

Filed under: romance

What A Writer Needs, Part 7 – Strength and Energy

This may surprise you, but writers need to be energized through good healthy food and some sort of exercise.  I was amazed to learn that many romance authors participate in the martial arts.   I'm in Thai Kickboxing and when I'm at it on a regular schedule, I feel stronger and I have more energy.

Last night I got past the pain and exhaustion to a point of high energy.  I felt like I could do my class all over again.  It makes me want to run and explore and write, write like a star blazing across the sky.

Some writers I know take daily walks to energize and clear their thoughts.  One writer whom I admired was my adopted grandmother Sybil Palmer Bellos.  Sybil wrote histories and would spend days and months in research.  For an exercise, she swam laps.  At the time, there were no senior centers, so Sybil purchased a swim pass from a local hotel.  In this way, she could swim no matter the weather.  I admired her energy and her writing right down to the end of her life.   Sybil had a profound influence on me especially during my teenaged years when I was trying to find myself as a writer.

So get out of your chair and find something that requires you to move whether it's belly dancing, martial arts, swimming, walking, or something else that will clear your mind for the really important stuff called inspiration.  Improve your writing by becoming stronger and increase your energy.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Susan Hanniford Crowley, What A Writer Needs

Equinox Paranormal-Scope

The Spring Equinox has just occurred.  For those that aren't sure what that is but would rather not ask, the equinox means that the length of daylight and night are approximately equal.  For more on the equinox, check out this link at Wikipedia.  A lot of people I know have said they've felt off this week.  All I know is something is up.

While I'm not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.   In many ways, so are you.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Werewolves have moved into your neighborhood.  Prepare to have a howling good time.  They like to barbecue.

Taurus

Sprites are into money.  They love spending.  Don't get carried away with the sprites.

Gemini

A hobbit you know is cooking up a storm.  Indulge in some fun meals.

Cancer

A small elf will come into your life and bring such wonder.  Enjoy the magic.

Leo

It's party time with the centaurs.  It's doesn't matter how many legs you have.

Virgo

Enchantment is in the air.  Pixies are blazing a trail of fairy dust.  Follow it.

Libra

Mermaids are praising your name.  It's time to get into the swim of things and enjoy life more.

Scorpio

I'm sorry, Scorpio, but the Gnomes are still cleaning.  You have some old stuff to get rid of.  Let it go!

Sagittarius

Some dance naked under the moon during the Equinox.  Some only dance naked for the Solstice.  Some dance naked any old time.  It's time to get rid of preconceived notions.

Capricorn

Somebody loves you and you're not appreciating them.  A star shines on you.  Wake up.

Aquarius

Hell hounds enjoy playing fetch.  Throw the bone.  Whew!  You're so lucky.

Pieces

Goblins have beautiful smiles.  You've gotten on the good side of a Goblin, and they are willing to help you.  Accept their help.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Promotion: Stage 2

This week we are going to cover stage 2 of promotion. If you remember, last week I divided promotion into three stages.  Stage 1 consisted of the time before your work is published.  Stage two is right when your work is published. Of all the stages, this one is the most fast paced, sort of a whirlwind stage.

By now, you've set up a bunch of author's pages, perhaps created a trailer and/or expanded your network of authors, readers and reviewers. You've joined a few social networks and if you've published previous books, you may even have some sort of fan base that you keep in touch with.

Now that your book has been released, it is time to pull out all the stops. My experience in particular has been with ebooks so much of this is directed towards them. Book tours, blog hops, character interviews, author interviews, internet banner ads, magazine ads and of course book signings are just a few ways to promote your book.

So where do you start? Well, the easiest way to start would be your known network. Do you have critique partners or fellow authors you work closely with? What about any writing chapters. Once you move past your network, the internet is a very handy tool for researching current blog hops or blogs to host your book tour. Finally, you can always work to host a blog hop yourself, bringing fellow authors in and giving them the opportunity to promote their books as well.

For newbie authors, you may want to talk with your editor or publisher for tips on how to best market your book (this is assuming they don't assist you with this which is more and more common these days).  Many times, publishers may have guidelines on how much of your book you can share in excerpts, blurbs etc.

The lesson to take away from this is that you need to be open to options. Be proud of your work and talk it up. It sounds strange but if you don't believe in your work, why should others? Next week, we'll move onto stage 3 of the art of promotion.  Happy writing this week!

Filed under: Business, Marketing, Toni Kelly

Why Leia Shaw Was Threatened With Death For Poor Reading Habits

My crit partner and friend, Cari Silverwood, says I'm a very bad reader. In fact, she's even sent me death threats all the way from Australia. Why, you ask? Why go to such extremes to communicate her displeasure (other than her being from a continent where babies learn to wrestle crocodiles into submission before they can walk)?

Because I'm a skipper. I skip ahead to the end of the book I'm reading.

I can't help it. It's an obsession. Like, if you're on a diet and you know there's your favorite kind of cookies in the pantry, just a few steps away. You know you should resist. You tell yourself over and over why it would be bad to eat those cookies. From your lips to your hips – all that crap. But the more you think you shouldn't, the harder it is to resist. And I'm an instant gratification kind of person. I'm the person who says, "screw it. The cookies are mine!"

Same deal. I just HAVE to know what happens at the end of the book I'm reading. Just a quick peek. I don't read the whole ending, just a couple pages so I can go to sleep satisfied.

Even my husband gets annoyed by it. At night, I usually read my kindle in bed and he works on his laptop. If he hears the click of the turn page button moving too quickly, he will literally wrestle the kindle from my hands.

Anyway, I'm thinking an intervention is in order. And not the wrestling kind. Or the assassin kind so call off your mercenary-for-hire Cari!

How about you? Are you a closet book skipper? Or do you patiently wait for the ending like a good reader?

Filed under: romance

Doing the Happy Dance by Gerri Brousseau

As you may recall from one of my recent blog posts, I had submitted full manuscripts to different publishers and I was playing the waiting game.  As you know, I was having difficulty in keeping my mind centered on my latest work in progress.  There was much nervous energy, foot tapping, leg giggling and nail biting.

What you may not know is, although I have been writing this blog for nearly a year now, I am not a published author.  I wrote my first complete novel in 2009, wrote my second complete novel in 2010, and wrote a third in 2011, yet none were published.  I put all my attention to writing and really didn't think about trying to get these books published.  Oh, I sent out a few queries and went to a few seminars where I pitched to some agents and editors, but met with no success.  The few queries I had sent out generated requests for partial submissions, but always met with very nicely worded rejections, which is probably why I focused more on the writing than the query process.

Needless to say, the doubt monster took up residence in my mind.  His mere presence made me so angry that I had emailed out queries to a few publishers … which created the nail biting.  One of the publishers got back to me with a rejection.  Frankly, I think I was growing quite accustomed to receiving those even though I have not really gone gung ho on querying.

Then one day last week, I got an email from the publisher who one month earlier had requested full manuscripts on all three of my novels.  I sat there, looking at the unopened email, nervous energy racing through me.  I stared at it for a moment, paralyzed.  My fate was one click away.  I had made up my mind to stop writing if this was yet another rejection.  Yes my friends, I was ready to throw in the towel, giving up, walking away.  The doubt monster was winning.  I had lost belief in myself.  All the negative thoughts that exist in a writer's mind ran through mine as I stared at that unopened email.  I had stopped believing.

My fingers were trembling as I clicked on the email to open it.  I was encouraged by the first two words … "Great news!"  Hmm, maybe this won't be too bad, I thought.  Perhaps this rejection would offer some kind words, or better yet, advice … so I read on.  The email went on to say the publishers enjoyed two of the novels so much, they wanted to publish them!  I screamed!  I started jumping up and down, screaming and dancing around the room with the pugs.  I have heard that getting the call was exciting.  I'm sure we have all heard the stories of many authors who have gotten the call.  Let me assure you, getting the call (or in my case, the email) IS all it's cracked up to be!

How many of you are in the same place I was in?  How many are ready to throw in the towel?  If you are in that place, I urge you to get with your writer friends who will encourage you.  Keep writing, and keep getting your work out there.  Scoff at the doubt monster and most of all, never stop believing.

I have been dancing on Cloud 9 for a week.  Now if I could only come back down to earth and get started on my next book, it would be great.  Anyone have words of advice on that one?

Filed under: romance