Destiny Booze's Blog: The Smiling Pains of Novelist Destiny Booze, page 5

Be a real writer!

Are you a real writer? Let me give you a minute to think about it. Do you call yourself a writer? And I don’t mean “striving” writer.

Unsure of that answer? What does it take to be a real writer? Are we only actual writers if we get paid a good income?

Here’s what I think. Yes, you are a REAL writer. How do I know? Because you write. That makes it very real.

I am so tired of being afraid to tell people I’m a writer, and yes, that writing is my job. It’s a real one. I actually set an alarm every morning. I get up and get to work. I sit in front of the computer and I write all day. I work very hard at what I do. That is my job, and I take it very seriously.

Did you get all that? Let me say it again. I’m a writer, and I’m proud of it! :)

It continues to surprise me how people react when you tell them you are a writer. The responses are insulting. “Really? Like a real writer? As in you get paid? That’s neat, I guess.”

News flash, friends! Writers are needed everywhere. They write correspondence, advertisements, books, newspaper articles, movie scripts, website content, and the list goes on and on and on. Writing is a real job, and if you are one of us out there doing it on a daily basis, then you have that job. You are a writer!

Be proud of what you do. Don’t be afraid to say it with confidence. Be a real writer!

Are you forcing the words?

Writers, we should be writing what we want to read. It takes a lot of work to create a good read. If you’re forcing it, the readers will know. You will know, too.

I know when I’m making this mistake. The words just won’t come for me. I’ll force something out just to make a day of work, but sure enough, it reads like crap. If I don’t like what I’m writing, there’s no way the reader will.

I’ve tried over and over again to change my writing style to match certain publishers. Every single time, I end up in the scenario above. It just doesn’t work. I wish it did. I’m a professional writer. I have a background in journalism. I should be able to write whatever I need to. And yes, technically, I can write a grammatically correct piece of work in any format, but it won’t be good. In the world of fiction, I have to love what I’m writing. Have you found this to be true in your experience as well?

I’ve found that I have to write the story that needs to come out. You’ll know the one I mean. It will be the idea that comes out of nowhere and will not go away. You’ll start thinking about it as soon as you wake up. You’ll create the characters in the shower. It will cause distractions all during your day. Then, you won’t even be able to get a good night’s sleep because you’ll still be thinking about that story.

Yes, that’s the one you need to write! Worry about the rest later. That story isn’t the genre you usually write? So, maybe it’s time to make a change. Find a publisher to fit the story you need to write. That’s the way it should work.

If you’re just starting out writing and you need to know where to begin, the answer is simple. You start by writing. Write the story that won’t go away unless you get it on paper. The words will flow when you’re ready. The reader will love the story you loved writing.

Are you a fool for romance? There are huge book giveaways going on. Come see…

I will be at A Fool for Romance’s Facebook Party today, beginning around noon (Eastern time). There will be free books, folks! Be sure to drop by. I will be there chatting, answering questions, giving away free books, and other fun stuff! The grand prize is a $100 Amazon gift card to be drawn 4/1/15!

https://www.facebook.com/events/347758815419017/

Let’s celebrate spring with some free books! :)

Come join me for Whimsical Publication’s expansion party on Facebook. It has started now and will be happening all day long. There will be fun giveaways, free books, a scavenger hunt, author appearances, and more. It is a great, fun way to celebrate the first day of spring, friends! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whims…C/101117552854

I’ll be dropping by off and on throughout the day, and I’ve entered a signed copy of The Curse of a Mind to give away for the scavenger hunt!

[image error]

They can’t win. The perpetrator is using a marvel in the medical field known as techlepathy, a combination of technology and telepathy to produce a telepathic result. He’s reading their minds. How can they possibly get away when he knows their every move?

Chris Chambers is a private investigator with great instincts and a shady past. She works with a skilled team on cases that most P.I.’s won’t touch. She’s hardened to life, hardened to people and as tough as the military trained her to be.

Her team’s newest case is a construction worker by the name of Aidan Wolfe. Aidan is hardheaded and successful, a man with no friends and a long list of enemies. Someone is trying to kill him, someone with extraordinary gifts.

The investigative team and Aidan will be confronted with their worst enemies—themselves. They are cursed to face their own thoughts, inner fears, prejudices, and every private feeling or emotion they have as this man toys with their minds and hearts.

Can they survive? By the end, will they want to?

E-books are everywhere. Authors, do you miss holding your book in your hands?

What was the proudest moment of Cynthia Witherspoon’s writing career? The answer is seeing her book in print, of course! The same could hold true for many authors. It is indeed a wonderful feeling! Read her full interview at Coffee Time Romance here: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Interviews/2015/CynthiaWitherspoon.html#.VQGa8-Ek7KA

Because of the popularity of e-books, a lot of books don’t make it to print. And, from a business perspective, that’s the way it should be. That’s the way the industry is going. Authors have a great opportunity to make a great income that way. But, sadly, that also means they won’t get to hold that print book in their hands and experience that feeling of magic that happens in that moment.

Authors, do you miss holding your book in your hands? Or, are you happy enough seeing your book  on the screen?

Are authors giving away too many free books?

Promoting is one of the biggest challenges an author has in my opinion. I think most writers would readily agree with that. One promotional tool is offering free books. It’s a tried and proven method of marketing. What company doesn’t offer a free trial? The idea is that if the customer likes it, they will return for more.

Does that work the same way with readers?

The market is getting saturated with free reads. If you like reading e-books, you can download free books all day long. So, is this still an effective marketing strategy for authors? Yes? No? Maybe? Sometimes?

I honestly don’t know. As a writer, I want people to read my work. But, I also want to make money to pay my bills. If I give away too many free reads, am I making it impossible to make money in this business?

I have two reasons for pondering so much about this subject. First off, readers expect free reads now, and they want more than just a sample. They want the whole book for free. I know this because they tell me so. Secondly, as a reader, I download more free books than I buy.That’s shocking to me, because I really want to support my fellow authors, but hey, I’m human. I’m not made of money and I love free stuff!

Ideally, giving away a free sample should be a great marketing tool. I’m worried it has gotten overused. So, are authors giving away too many free books? I would love your opinion.

The lines between genres are blurring, and this author loves crossing those lines.

Author Eva Gordon writes steampunk, historical novels, full of romance and paranormal creatures. She loves mixing all the genres in her writing. Want to find out more about this author? Read her interview with me at Coffee Time Romance and More! I think you’ll enjoy it! http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Interviews/2015/EvaGordon.html#.VOybCS4k7KA

Or, read her book, Hand of Miriam. Do you like the multiple elements to this story? What is your opinion of cross genres?

A romantic dinner and a walk along the harbor…Happy Valentine’s Day!

What do romance writers want for Valentine’s Day? I asked Author Diana Green if she had plans. Find out what she had to say in an interview at Coffee Time Romance and More. We talked about love, her paranormal release, Dragon Warrior, and how she copes with chronic fatigue syndrome. This is an interesting lady, folks!

Read the interview here: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Interviews/2015/DianaGreen.html#.VN4Uey4k7KA

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read this post. So, what are you wanting from that certain someone this Valentine’s Day?

CTR Interview: Find out why Vicki Batman will make you laugh.

New job. New romance. And murder: Temporarily Employed

I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Vicki Batman, author of Temporarily Employed, a romantic comedy and mystery. This book is her first full-length novel and it was a very fun read. Vicki and I also talked about what kinds of jobs she had before beginning her writing career. Read the interview to learn more about this sweet lady!

 

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Interviews/2014/VickiBatman.html#.VNIzmS4k7KA

 

 

Book Recommendations! These are worth your time, friends.

It’s getting too cold to do anything but snuggle up with a book. Here are a few I’ve read recently to get you started if you’re looking for something to cuddle up with this weekend. :)

 

#1 Tall, Tatted, and Tempting by Tammy Falkner

Why? Because the hero in this book is super sexy. I loved it! Did I mention the Kindle version is free on Amazon right now? Oh yeah! http://www.amazon.com/Tall-Tatted-Tempting-Reed-Brothers-ebook/dp/B00DGK7WAM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422629127&sr=1-1&keywords=tall+tatted+and+tempting

She’s locked up tight. But he might be the key.

Logan Reed is tall, tatted and tempting.

Kit’s a woman with a mean right hook and a secret.

Kit wants a tattoo, but Logan sees more than she intends to share in the drawing of the tat she wants. He sees her in ways no one ever has.

Logan’s not disabled; but he hasn’t spoken in eight years. He hasn’t needed to.

Until he meets Kit.

Logan doesn’t know everything about Kit. Kit doesn’t know anything about herself,

until she has to sacrifice all she ever wanted to save what’s most important to him.

#2 Devoured by Jason Brant

Why? Because I love zombies and this book was awesome! Guess what? This Kindle version is also free! http://www.amazon.com/Devoured-Hunger-Book-Jason-Brant-ebook/dp/B00DPK3D0G/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422628165&sr=1-5&keywords=devoured

Day One: A series of terrorist attacks spread a cloud of noxious gas over highly populated areas.

Day Two: Higher brain function erodes in those exposed to the gas. Their bodies begin to distort, faces distending, skin sallowing, teeth elongating.

Day Three: The infected disappear into the shadows, fleeing the harsh daylight which has begun to sear their flesh.

Day Four: The world is DEVOURED.

Life isn’t kind to Lance York. A full-time job has eluded him for years, his wife loathes the sight of him, his bank accounts are empty, and his wealthy father-in-law revels in his failures.

After he lunges in front of a car to save a sick and disoriented woman, Lance awakens in a quarantined hospital. A devastating plague is spreading worldwide, driving those infected with it insane. Their bodies begin to mutate into horrors that have haunted mankind’s nightmares for centuries.

The world descends into chaos as the infected flee to the shadows, emerging at night to devour the remnants of civilization.

With the help of an unlikely ally, Lance must navigate through the collapsing city of Pittsburgh, striving to escape the madness of the apocalypse that unfolds around them.

#3 Deathscape by Dana Marton

Why? Because I am a huge fan of hers and this book is a great example of why. Love, love, love it! http://www.amazon.com/Deathscape-Broslin-Creek-Book-2-ebook/dp/B009YMJ2AO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422629814&sr=1-1&keywords=deathscape+by+dana+marton

After a near-death experience, artist Ashley Price is compelled to paint visions of the dead, and fears she’s gone crazy. Then she paints a man buried alive and, recognizing the surroundings, she rushes to save him. Instead of being grateful to her for rescuing him, Detective Jack Sullivan accuses her of being in league with a serial killer. He swears he will put her behind bars. Except, the more time he spends with her, the more he falls under her spell. Can he trust her, or is he walking into another deadly trap?

 

#4 Accelerating Circumstances by Destiny Booze

Why? Because I cannot possibly recommend books without mentioning one of mine, right? lol Hey, it’s good! :) http://www.amazon.com/Accelerating-Circumstances-Outer-Banks-Suspense-ebook/dp/B0079Q4L9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422630801&sr=8-1&keywords=accelerating+circumstances

Jenny is different. She can read people’s minds.

At age seventeen, Jenny Reid was arrested for killing her own mother. There was no evidence that an intruder entered the house. No one believed her as a teenager when she tried to tell them how she felt the killer’s rage saturated within the walls, that she knew the presence of evil had been there. The police thought she was crazy, not psychic.

A conviction was never made in the case due to lack of evidence. Jenny is still the sole suspect, but now, she is doing something about it. She’s on the right side of the law, an FBI agent determined to finally find justice for her mom.

The time has come to set things right and nothing will stand in her way. She’ll come up close with evil again and face the ultimate choice-kill or be killed in these ACCELERATING CIRCUMSTANCES.