Maria Hammarblad's Blog, page 29
October 8, 2013
Join my newsletter!
I've been thinking about starting a newsletter for a long time, and finally got around to it. I won't send out many e-mails, but I will send out messages with news, book releases, giveaways, and contests.
Joining me is easy. Just fill in this tiny little form, and get in on the fun! =D
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Joining me is easy. Just fill in this tiny little form, and get in on the fun! =D
.link, .link a, #SignUp .signupframe { color: #dd9540; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; } .link, .link a { text-decoration: none; } #SignUp .signupframe { border: 1px solid #000000; background: #000000; } #SignUp .signupframe .required { font-size: 10px; } Email Marketing You Can Trust
October 5, 2013
Sarasota Book Fair - Success!
I've spent the day at the Sarasota Book Fair, and I had a great time! Hubby went with me. I didn't think he would, because he usually dislikes events, and doing something together was awesome! I met some good friends, made new friends, sold some books, and bought a book. I had so much fun I even signed up for another fair.Once I get settled down and unpacked enough to go through my business cards I will highlight some of the fantastic writers I met.
When someone stopped at the booth but didn't really make contact, I patted my pile of Kidnapped and said, "I'm in the business of abducting people and sending them to space."
A corny line, maybe, but it turned out to be an ice-breaker. One woman rewarded me with true laughter. That in itself made the day worthwhile!
I met one of the area's local graphical artists and got praise for my book covers. She's very talented - her portfolio blew me away - and that compliment warmed the ego since I've done the ones for my self-published books myself. I also love the Desert Breeze Publishing cover artists. Kidnapped, Operation Earth, Undercover, Flashback... They're all awesome!The cover for Undercover turned out to be an attention-grabber. Several people stopped to talk about it. "Hey, that looks like James Bond."
I said, "Yes, but my spy is Russian, and boy is he in trouble."
Great conversation starter! I brought a poster of Kidnapped, but maybe I should make some of the other books as well.
I was surprised over the varying interest in my books. I sold the most of Touch of the Goddess. I didn't expect to sell any of that one. On the other hand I expected to give away lots of pens, candy, and post cards. The visitors seemed to think all that was okay, but they'd rather talk about books or publishing.
A part of the Goddess mystery unraveled as one of the other writers told me the book and I were mentioned in an article in one of the local newspapers. The journalist wrote that I paint out a hopeful future for the human race.
I guess it's true for "Touch." I tend to think of all the books in series as one entity, and in books two and three the human race has something of a hard time, but all's well that ends well. Right? ;-)
Anyway, during the years I've been to plenty of shows for many different employers in various areas of business, but this one was the first for me, and it felt great.
Thus far I've only done virtual book tours, but now I have one event per month with real-life interaction planned for the foreseeable future. =D
October 3, 2013
Working on the re-write of Wrath of the Goddess
Most books flow out of me. I get an idea, start writing, and work on them from time to time until they have enough of a skeleton to develop into a novel. I guess my approach to writing is as random as they way I do everything else; I potter about here and there, and don't consciously work on them until it's time to finish up.
Wrath of the Goddess was always different.
When I first got the idea for The Goddess's Saga, book one and three almost wrote themselves. The second book in the series, not so much. It fought me tooth and nail and did not want to be written. I had book three finished long before book two.
Ever since Desert Breeze Publishing signed me up, my life has been a learning experience. I learn new things every time I'm in contact with one of their fantastic editors. I learn new things every time I just talk to the editor in chief. They're not at all involved in The Goddess's Saga - they're not into the pagan deity thing - but after working with professionals for a couple of years I saw my earlier, self-published books with new eyes.
The Goddess books clearly weren't up to par.
To be honest... The writing sucked. Ouch!
I took them off sale and begun my rewrite with great enthusiasm. I had written them once. Touch of the Goddess had been edited by a professional company who charged a hair-raising sum to do it. How hard could it be to polish them up?
Oh, good gravy...
The first book, Touch of the Goddess, didn't put up much of a fight. I poked around with the third book, Return of the Goddess, because it was always my favorite. I'm not worried about that one. It will be happy to be polished and re-published.
Wrath on the other hand did not want to be re-written. If a story could defend itself with weapons, it would. It's happening anyway, of course, and I'm delighted to say the book is almost done. It just took three times longer than I expected. Maybe my Goddess doesn't like to be wrathful.
Wrath of the Goddess
Coming soon!
Wrath of the Goddess was always different.
When I first got the idea for The Goddess's Saga, book one and three almost wrote themselves. The second book in the series, not so much. It fought me tooth and nail and did not want to be written. I had book three finished long before book two.
Ever since Desert Breeze Publishing signed me up, my life has been a learning experience. I learn new things every time I'm in contact with one of their fantastic editors. I learn new things every time I just talk to the editor in chief. They're not at all involved in The Goddess's Saga - they're not into the pagan deity thing - but after working with professionals for a couple of years I saw my earlier, self-published books with new eyes.
The Goddess books clearly weren't up to par.
To be honest... The writing sucked. Ouch!
I took them off sale and begun my rewrite with great enthusiasm. I had written them once. Touch of the Goddess had been edited by a professional company who charged a hair-raising sum to do it. How hard could it be to polish them up?
Oh, good gravy...
The first book, Touch of the Goddess, didn't put up much of a fight. I poked around with the third book, Return of the Goddess, because it was always my favorite. I'm not worried about that one. It will be happy to be polished and re-published.
Wrath on the other hand did not want to be re-written. If a story could defend itself with weapons, it would. It's happening anyway, of course, and I'm delighted to say the book is almost done. It just took three times longer than I expected. Maybe my Goddess doesn't like to be wrathful.
Wrath of the GoddessComing soon!
October 1, 2013
This doesn't bode well for equality
A while ago my husband got a tooth ache. He has been putting off going to the dentist, partly because it's expensive, and partly because it's not his favorite place. Can't say I blame him; I don't go unless I have to.
Once he made it there, the dentist told him he needs a root canal and a crown. A couple other teeth also need attention, and the bill would end up around $5,000. Whoa!
I decided to sign us up for dental insurance. I found a plan that would work for us, signed us up with me as the primary insurance holder and him as the co-insured, and paid for a year from my bank account.
The other day, I was surprised to see an envelope with his name on it from the insurance company. When we opened, it contained a letter addressed to him along with two insurance cards bearing his name "and spouse."
Really? I sign up for insurance, I pay, he is co-insured, and it still ends up in his name? What are women in your world? Appendixes that follow men? Good for nothing besides being spouses?
It doesn't really matter. I mean, we have the insurance, he can get his dental work done for a reasonable price, and I can go when I need to. It still annoys me.
Once he made it there, the dentist told him he needs a root canal and a crown. A couple other teeth also need attention, and the bill would end up around $5,000. Whoa!I decided to sign us up for dental insurance. I found a plan that would work for us, signed us up with me as the primary insurance holder and him as the co-insured, and paid for a year from my bank account.
The other day, I was surprised to see an envelope with his name on it from the insurance company. When we opened, it contained a letter addressed to him along with two insurance cards bearing his name "and spouse."
Really? I sign up for insurance, I pay, he is co-insured, and it still ends up in his name? What are women in your world? Appendixes that follow men? Good for nothing besides being spouses?
It doesn't really matter. I mean, we have the insurance, he can get his dental work done for a reasonable price, and I can go when I need to. It still annoys me.
September 27, 2013
Am I blogging for the wrong reason?
The other day, an Internet-acquaintance asked, "What do I get out of reading your blog?"
This was in relation to a lecture about good and bad blogging, and the words, I don't care, rested on the tip of my tongue. I bit them down; they seemed a bit too politically incorrect even in my own ears.
"I don't know. Depends on who you are and what you're interested in."
I wouldn't get out of it that easily.
"Why should I visit your blog? Will it make me a better writer? Will it get me published? Will it teach me to cook? What's your theme?"
"Uuh..."
I've heard so many times that I should stick with a schedule for blog postings, so people will know when to expect something to appear. So many people have told me I need to pick a theme and stick to it. That way I will allegedly attract a certain group of people who will love my blog and keep coming back to it.
I'm sure this is good advice, but you know what? That's not why I write.
At my daytime job I write the PlexiDor blog. It's focused on pets, mainly dogs. I post on it every weekday. Every Monday I write about a rare dog breed, early every month I introduce a dog of the month, and the rest of the time it fills up with random pet news and pet related stuff that catches my interest.
The PlexiDor blog has a plan, a meaning, and a focus. It's meant to build relations with pet lovers, to inform, and build brand awareness.
That's great for a company blog.
In comparison, my own blog should reasonably be about building relations with book lovers, to inform, and build awareness about me. The purpose of the blog should be to convince people to buy my books.
Boring!
Seriously; I know some things about writing, but I don't know everything. I don't want every person who visits my blog to start writing and thinking like me.
I know some things about publishing, but far from everything. Every person's experience will be different, and my way of seeing things isn't always right.
I know a little about a million things, and a lot about a few. While I'm more than happy to share, writing about the same subject every day for year after year would bore both me and my visitors to tears.
My blog is called, "Maria's Random Thoughts" and that's exactly what it is. I keep it as an outlet for whatever I want to write about, whenever I want to do it. If I don't feel like writing I won't post anything. Other days I write more than one post.
Some things will be of common interest; from time to time I share my experiences from publishing, self-publishing, writing, editing, photo-editing, using computers, whatever it might be. Some days I like to share a book I read and loved, or a book from someone I know. Other days I just want to babble about what happened to me, or something I saw. If people find it entertaining, that's great. If not, well, there are many blogs on the Internet.
Maybe this is an awfully egotistical approach. I still like my blog.
I guess the answer to the question, "What do I get out of reading it" is "For better and for worse, you get to know me." =)
Do you have a blog, and if so, why do you write it?
If you're an avid blog reader, what do you expect from a blog?
This was in relation to a lecture about good and bad blogging, and the words, I don't care, rested on the tip of my tongue. I bit them down; they seemed a bit too politically incorrect even in my own ears.
"I don't know. Depends on who you are and what you're interested in."
I wouldn't get out of it that easily.
"Why should I visit your blog? Will it make me a better writer? Will it get me published? Will it teach me to cook? What's your theme?"
"Uuh..."
I've heard so many times that I should stick with a schedule for blog postings, so people will know when to expect something to appear. So many people have told me I need to pick a theme and stick to it. That way I will allegedly attract a certain group of people who will love my blog and keep coming back to it.I'm sure this is good advice, but you know what? That's not why I write.
At my daytime job I write the PlexiDor blog. It's focused on pets, mainly dogs. I post on it every weekday. Every Monday I write about a rare dog breed, early every month I introduce a dog of the month, and the rest of the time it fills up with random pet news and pet related stuff that catches my interest.
The PlexiDor blog has a plan, a meaning, and a focus. It's meant to build relations with pet lovers, to inform, and build brand awareness.
That's great for a company blog.
In comparison, my own blog should reasonably be about building relations with book lovers, to inform, and build awareness about me. The purpose of the blog should be to convince people to buy my books.
Boring!
Seriously; I know some things about writing, but I don't know everything. I don't want every person who visits my blog to start writing and thinking like me.I know some things about publishing, but far from everything. Every person's experience will be different, and my way of seeing things isn't always right.
I know a little about a million things, and a lot about a few. While I'm more than happy to share, writing about the same subject every day for year after year would bore both me and my visitors to tears.
My blog is called, "Maria's Random Thoughts" and that's exactly what it is. I keep it as an outlet for whatever I want to write about, whenever I want to do it. If I don't feel like writing I won't post anything. Other days I write more than one post.
Some things will be of common interest; from time to time I share my experiences from publishing, self-publishing, writing, editing, photo-editing, using computers, whatever it might be. Some days I like to share a book I read and loved, or a book from someone I know. Other days I just want to babble about what happened to me, or something I saw. If people find it entertaining, that's great. If not, well, there are many blogs on the Internet.
Maybe this is an awfully egotistical approach. I still like my blog.
I guess the answer to the question, "What do I get out of reading it" is "For better and for worse, you get to know me." =)
Do you have a blog, and if so, why do you write it?
If you're an avid blog reader, what do you expect from a blog?
September 26, 2013
I'm going to the RT Booklovers Convention 2014
In May next year the RT Booklovers Convention comes to New Orleans. I'm going! I've never been to New Orleans and it's super-exciting!
Besides the convention itself, I'm thrilled to get to meet so many online friends and my publisher in person. I know a lot of people through the Internet and now I'll finally see them.
To me, May is far into the future. I know it will be here before I know it, but next summer is still a blur in the distance.
I told my husband today, "I want to give ample warning. I'm going to a book convention in May."
He said, "May? As quickly as time goes that's in two weeks."
"Naah. First there's Halloween, Thanksgiving, your birthday, Christmas, my birthday, and maybe even Easter."
"Hmh. Okay then..."
Poor guy. He doesn't like going places, so he doesn't want to follow. Thus he's stuck at home, holding down the fort, with four dogs to care for. He's a good sport, though. He never says no.
I always feel bad for leaving him, and I feel horrible for leaving the doggies. Whenever I don't come home the usual time, they sit glued by the window, waiting. This is exciting enough to outweigh my bad conscience, though.
ARe you going?
Besides the convention itself, I'm thrilled to get to meet so many online friends and my publisher in person. I know a lot of people through the Internet and now I'll finally see them.To me, May is far into the future. I know it will be here before I know it, but next summer is still a blur in the distance.
I told my husband today, "I want to give ample warning. I'm going to a book convention in May."
He said, "May? As quickly as time goes that's in two weeks."
"Naah. First there's Halloween, Thanksgiving, your birthday, Christmas, my birthday, and maybe even Easter."
"Hmh. Okay then..."
Poor guy. He doesn't like going places, so he doesn't want to follow. Thus he's stuck at home, holding down the fort, with four dogs to care for. He's a good sport, though. He never says no.
I always feel bad for leaving him, and I feel horrible for leaving the doggies. Whenever I don't come home the usual time, they sit glued by the window, waiting. This is exciting enough to outweigh my bad conscience, though.
ARe you going?
September 25, 2013
Cover reveal: Shadow of a Man
I woke up this morning to a wonderful surprise: my e-mail held the cover of my new novella Shadow of a Man. It belongs to a series called Borealis, written by different authors. The novellas have different characters, but they all take place on the space station Borealis.
I love these books, because each writer brings something unique into a familiar setting. Some are funny, some make you sit on the edge of the chair wanting to bite your nails, others are romantic...
Mine will be released October 11, and I am proud to be a part of this unique project!
Blurb:
There might be a place Theresa fears more than Borealis, but she can’t think of one. The old and decrepit station houses all sorts of cruelty, and to make it better, this is where her husband Dominic was imprisoned, drugged, and tortured. He returned a mere shadow of his old self, scarred by abuse and Uudon withdrawal.
Borealis is the last place Theresa wants to go, and the only one she can’t escape. Dominic’s apparent madness does nothing to alleviate her fears. Her once sweet husband has turned into a womanizing monster, and will destroy anyone who gets in his way.
Geo, her faithful and all too handsome bodyguard, appears to be the only one on her side. He once helped rescue Dominic, and pays for the insurrection with a lifetime on the run. This might be a situation not even he can handle, and Theresa fears none of them will make it out alive.
I love these books, because each writer brings something unique into a familiar setting. Some are funny, some make you sit on the edge of the chair wanting to bite your nails, others are romantic...
Mine will be released October 11, and I am proud to be a part of this unique project!
Blurb:There might be a place Theresa fears more than Borealis, but she can’t think of one. The old and decrepit station houses all sorts of cruelty, and to make it better, this is where her husband Dominic was imprisoned, drugged, and tortured. He returned a mere shadow of his old self, scarred by abuse and Uudon withdrawal.
Borealis is the last place Theresa wants to go, and the only one she can’t escape. Dominic’s apparent madness does nothing to alleviate her fears. Her once sweet husband has turned into a womanizing monster, and will destroy anyone who gets in his way.
Geo, her faithful and all too handsome bodyguard, appears to be the only one on her side. He once helped rescue Dominic, and pays for the insurrection with a lifetime on the run. This might be a situation not even he can handle, and Theresa fears none of them will make it out alive.
September 24, 2013
Rain-day
Today would be a perfect day for writing. The rain is pouring down and it's kinda dark. I could sit here in my little cave and type away all day without being distracted by outside.
When I grew up, my mom taught me that if the sun shines you're supposed to go outside and do something. This is sound advice in Sweden and deeply rooted in my soul. Unfortunately, I still haven't learned it's not applicable to Florida.
Here, the sun usually shines, and it's usually somewhere around 90 F in the shade. Being outside is not good for you. Most of the time it's not even pleasant.
I still give it my best shot. I grab my laptop and attempt to follow the shade. To be a good Swede I should chase the sun, but it's too hot for that.
While there will probably be a perfect writing day some time in the future, today is not it. I need to go to the day job and make some money to pay the house loan, my car, and dinner. LOL! Don't get me wrong, I have a pretty good job, but it's hard for a real life company to compete with the adventures taking place in my brain. =)
September 20, 2013
Undercover as paperback!
My novel Undercover is now available as paperback! Come join me in a happy dance! =D
I haven't actually held it and flipped through it yet, and the wait for the UPS truck is nothing short of gruesome. I should have a copy here on Monday. Excitement!
I always liked this story. Naturally, since I wrote it. LOL. Readers seem to either love it or hate it. Either way it stirs some form of emotion, and that has to be a good thing. =)
Blurb:
Jenny Moore is good at her job. Her colleagues have become family and her life is enriched by both good friends and a cat with personality. There's still something missing. She longs for adventure - in a nice and moderate dose that will fit in with the rest of her life.
When Alexei Roshenko steps over her threshold the tall, dark, and handsome stranger sweeps her off her feet. He appears to be the answer to every romantic fantasy any woman ever had, and to make things better, he's mysterious and exotic.
There's more to Alex than meets the eye - a dark and violent past is catching up with him. When Jenny acts on a whim and follows him to Russia, she soon finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and secrets beyond her wildest imagination.
Survival will depend on an inner strength she didn't know she possessed, and only one thing is certain: life will never be the same again.
I haven't actually held it and flipped through it yet, and the wait for the UPS truck is nothing short of gruesome. I should have a copy here on Monday. Excitement!
I always liked this story. Naturally, since I wrote it. LOL. Readers seem to either love it or hate it. Either way it stirs some form of emotion, and that has to be a good thing. =)
Blurb:Jenny Moore is good at her job. Her colleagues have become family and her life is enriched by both good friends and a cat with personality. There's still something missing. She longs for adventure - in a nice and moderate dose that will fit in with the rest of her life.
When Alexei Roshenko steps over her threshold the tall, dark, and handsome stranger sweeps her off her feet. He appears to be the answer to every romantic fantasy any woman ever had, and to make things better, he's mysterious and exotic.
There's more to Alex than meets the eye - a dark and violent past is catching up with him. When Jenny acts on a whim and follows him to Russia, she soon finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and secrets beyond her wildest imagination.
Survival will depend on an inner strength she didn't know she possessed, and only one thing is certain: life will never be the same again.
September 19, 2013
Dogs writing books?!?
I like to feature books written by my friends, and today I have a brand new treat: Tales of a French Scent Hound by Debucher Baguette, AKA, Emma the GBGV.I can almost hear What? and Who? echo across the Internet.
Emma the GBGV (Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen, I think) is an extraordinarily talented dog. I mean, just look at this photo. I've told my dogs to go to the kitchen and bake some cookies with the reasoning that Emma does it. They look at me like I'm an idiot. Clearly I am the one supposed to provide cookies for them! Anyway, I met her online through her blog, and then I met her human at a blogger conference.
I'm pretty sure Emma's human does most of the typing, but I wouldn't put any money on it. Emma does a lot of things other dogs don't, and if any doggie were to be good at typing, it would be her.
Check out the blurb:What in the world is a GBGV? Who is Debucher Baguette, aka Emma the GBGV? Find out as Emma tells all about her breed and adventures in her own words, barks, and howls. She is a talented writer, currently residing in Minnesota with her furry siblings - Kuvasz sister Kate, kitty brother Bert, and kitty sister Sophie.
Emma shares her amusing tales about running a successful B&B for dogs, helping out with housework, being a master chef in the kitchen, her life as a photo model, and many other humorous undertakings. Emma is definitely not your average dog, and her tales are also out of the ordinary!
Tales of a French Scent Hound is Emma's first book, and if it's anything like her blog, it's worth every cent.
