Laurie Larsen's Blog, page 9

3790

Hmmmmm, 3790.  Three thousand, seven hundred and ninety.  What is the significance of that number?  And why would I write a blog post about it?It's significant to me.  To my author career.  To my creativity and productive output.Is it the number of subscribers I have to my author newsletter?  Good guess, but NO.  I'm happy to report I have more than 5500 newsletter subscribers now!Is it the number of dollars I made from my books last year?  Also, NO.  I'm happy to report that my writing has consistently earned me in the "five digit dollar club" for the last three or four years.  :)I'm sure we could come up with additional guesses but I'll end the mystery.  3790 = the number of published printed pages I've written.  So, the number of pages I've written that have ended up published in a printed book.  That's a milestone!!  I've been writing and publishing for 17 years now so that's my total output!I'll throw another number at you:  947,500.  It's related to the first.  Printed books contain an average of 250 words on a page.  So using that average, 947,500 is the number of words I've had published!  Which means, I have a major milestone coming up with my next published book:  Restoration (Murrells Inlet Miracles, Book 2).  When Restoration is published, I will surpass ONE MILLION WORDS PUBLISHED!  One million words in print.  Or, put another way:1,000,000!

The Faces Behind My Characters

Sometimes when I write, I pick out a picture of someone that I want to fashion my character's appearance after.  On a few occasions it's been a well-known celebrity.  But sometimes it's a random face that I find on the internet, and when I'm writing about that character, especially when I'm having another character describe that person's looks, I pull up the picture and study it as I write.  I thought it might be interesting to you to see the faces behind the characters, and if they're anywhere near what YOU thought the character looked like as you read.Here are some of my favorite characters who I picked out a visual prompt for, along with the description of them in the book!HANKShe stood, looking down at him as he kneeled.  His eyes were the azure color of the ocean, she saw, now that she was close to him.  A vivid, amazing blue she could lose herself in, if she stared much longer.  Maybe he reminded her of someone.  A celebrity?  Which one?"Hank … I don’t believe I know your last name.”“It's Harrison."She trotted down the wooden stairs.  Then an idea hit her.  She turned back.  "It just dawned on me who you remind me of.  Harrison Ford!"He scratched his head.  "The Star Wars fella?""Yes!  You really resemble him, and what a coincidence your last name is Harrison."He chuckled and shrugged. Roadtrip to RedemptionLESLIEMarianne admired the older woman's grace as she reclined.  The woman reeked of class.  Petite, fit, blonde and possessing a classic beauty, she'd always reminded Marianne of a young Doris Day, except she was quintessentially modern. Journey to FulfillmentJEREMYIntrigued by him?  Yes, maybe.  Did it have only a little to do with his rugged good looks?  His dark hair, flung back from his face, just a bit too long, with a subtle trace of curl at the ends.  His jaw line, noticeably pronounced, covered with the faint stubble of whiskers.  His bright blue eyes -- definitely the most captivating thing about his face, the color of a Carolina summer sky.  And his lips.  No.  She wouldn't think about the man's lips.  Definitely not.  Because then she'd have no choice but to rate the kissability of those lips -- and since they were full and sensual, housing the bright white, straight teeth underneath that he'd graced herwith on the rare appearance of his smile -- she'd have to give his lips high marks.Tide to AtonementDAXShe looked up and her heart jumped into her throat. Tall, lean, thin-hipped. Wavy brown hair, shoulder length. Smoldering brown eyes and just a hint of whisker on his chin and lip. He was dressed in white scrubs and his tanned skin glistened in contrast.The man was gorgeous. Her voice had disappeared. As had her mind. What had he said?Bridge to FruitionMansion in SanctuaryAlthough the mansion on the book cover of Sanctuary was different, this is the one I pictured while I was writing:Patty parked the car in front of the house and they both exited, their heads tilted up to gaze at the majestic old mansion.  A huge gray house, it had a stairway of about a dozen steps up to the front door.  A wraparound porch was covered by a roof on three sides of the house, providing access to breezes on a hot day.  The house seemed to be built in sections, and they didn’t all blend smoothly together.  The divergence of shapes were peculiar.  The roof of the porch above the front door was a stark triangle, however on the left side of the house was a wing in the shape of a circle, as if there were a round ballroom on the second floor and the outside walls were built circular to accommodate it.  The round side of the house jutted up against a section of the second and third floor that had straight lines, square walls, and to the right, another outdoor porch started on the second floor with another roof covering it.  It was odd. It was beautiful.  It was an eyesore.  Nora couldn’t quite make up her mind.

Sanctuary is an Amazon #1 Bestseller today!

Exciting news today!!  My new book, Sanctuary went #1 in the Inspirational Romance category on Amazon!  Thank you so much to all the readers who bought the book today and catapulted it to the top of the charts!  You made my day!To have a book hit #1 in its category is exciting.  Fulfilling.  Validating.  People are buying your book.  Hopefully, people are enjoying your book.  But for me, it's also evidence of a promise kept between God and I, forged when I first starting writing Christian fiction four years ago.  I wanted to reach readers who loved my books.  I wanted my books to be memorable and meaningful and touch people's hearts.  I wanted to make a difference in people's lives through my words on the page.  God convinced me that I had spent enough time writing secular love stories.  It was time to take the writing skills I'd honed, and point them in the "right" direction.  HIS direction.  He convinced me that if I wrote inspired stories, He would lead the right readers to them.  Readers who wanted to hear His message.  Readers who needed to hear His message.  The flow of readers is not steady or consistent.  The cash flow is not exactly lucrative.  But He's never let me down, as long as I am faithful to our agreement.  THANK YOU God for continuing to keep your promise.Have a great day everyone!

A New Adventure in DIY -- narrating!

This week I embarked on a new adventure in Doing It Yourself that I'd never tried before. Being an indie author is all about trying out new stuff, and seeing if you have a talent/aptitude for it.  So ...I set up my own in-home recording studio and began narrating my first audiobook!  :)It wasn't exactly simple, but using advice from ACX (who produces audiobooks for Audible), I mustered up my courage and went for it!  First ... where, in a typical home would you install a recording studio?  Somewhere that's small, contained, low "noise floor" -- ACX recommends a walk in closet.  The clothes hanging around serves to absorb the sound and it's the closest thing the typical residence has to mimic an isolation booth.  So ... I have a walk-in closet.  But it was filled with junk.  My first step was cleaning it out to make it usable!  Six garbage bags full!With all that stuff removed, we had the basics of a space:Next thing to tackle:  the hardware required.  ACX had advised me on what to purchase.  But I had no idea how to set it all up so I could get it to work together.  So I called in reinforcements!  My friend Julie who teaches Digital Media Arts at school!  She invested about three hours of her summer break to helping me and we got all the pieces together and working!A laptop dedicated to the audio recording software, an interface box, a microphone and boom shield on a stand, and all the appropriate cords!  I spent a half day or so practicing with it sitting on my dining room table, listening to audiobooks to get a feel for it, and then ... I was ready to move everything up to my studio!After shifting around a few pieces of furniture, and enhancing the closet with extra light ... I was ready.  Slightly, claustrophic... but ready!I've now completed 5 chapters of my first book, Roadtrip to Redemption, and my plan is to now hire an audiobook editor/producer to listen to my work and make sure the files are usable.  Then, I'll continue on!  It would be awesome if I could narrate all six of my Pawleys Island Paradise books into audio!Stay tuned.

Announcing ... Laurie's new book: Sanctuary

I'm thrilled to announce the release of my new book, Sanctuary!  And it's not "just" a new book ... it's also the start of a brand new series!  So many people have asked me ... why did Pawleys Island Paradise have to end after six books?  Couldn't you have just continued writing stories about the Harrison clan?  I'm going to miss these people!  ​My first response to that question was jumping for joy that I reached readers who felt that strongly about my first series!  I thank God that my stories found an audience and that they were meaningful to a core group of readers.​My second response was ... no.  It's got to end.  I feel like I tied up all the loose ends and those stories were done.  And although it scared me to death to leave the set of characters who I became so comfortable with ... I knew it was time to move on.  I wanted to find a new series, a new set of characters, a new setting that gave readers what they loved about Pawleys Island Paradise and the Harrisons, but ... different.  ​I let my muse ponder on that for serveral months and now ... I've got it!  It's my new series called Murrells Inlet Miracles.  Murrells Inlet is just a few miles down the road from Pawleys Island, so I'm not venturing too far geographically.  Yes, the beach will continue to play a big role in my new series. ​For all of you who loved Pawleys Island, I hope you'll love Murrells Inlet as well.  For those who haven't discovered Pawleys Island yet, I hope Murrells Inlet will be the set of books that leads you to my work.So, without further adieu, here's .... SANCTUARY!Hardworking, successful lawyer Nora Ramsey, was at the height of her career.  Now, she's questioning everything in Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina.Inheriting her aunt's ten-acre dilapidated estate, she prays for guidance for things out of her control.  And a mysterious black stallion appears on the property, Nora encounters the dedicated and rugged veterinarian Shaw Flynn.  As Shaw helps Nora with the horses, their relationship blossoms into something real and beautiful, like the coastal sunsets.  Not only is Shaw handsome, caring, and gentle, his undying devotion to God inspires Nora to want more in her faith.  But stumbling upon Shaw's deepest secret destroys her trust in the man she was falling for. Suddenly, the lies threaten the future she saw with him. Can she find forgiveness within the sanctuary of her heart or will his betrayal destroy her faith in him once and for all? 

Being a writer means so much more than writing

In 2012 I made the move from a "traditionally published author" to "independent author."  It's a move that many, many authors have made, some with a lot more success than me.  But as I look back over my 17-year-long writing/publishing career, I point to that decision as the most exciting and innovative thing I've ever done.  Instead of relying on a publisher to get my books out to readers, I basically take over the publisher role.  I either do myself, or hire out from freelance professionals, all the work and steps that it takes to get a book from the point where it's just an idea in my mind, to the point that it's in your hands, and you're reading it.Being an indie author gives me the opportunity to get involved, and drive, so many activities for my business that goes way beyond writing.  In this blog I'll share some of those things I've already accomplished this year, as well as goals for the remainder of 2017.Rebrand and update website.  DONE!  In this new website I put some thought into my brand as an author.  When someone picks up a Laurie Larsen novel, what can they expect, time after time?  I know it sounds simple, but it really required me to put some dedicated time and effort into determining:  a heartwarming read.  A story that will make you cry and make you laugh, but above all else, it will leave you feeling good.  A story that shows people dealing with life's everyday issues, but relying on GOD to help them through.  Stories about real-life people learning how to incorporate FAITH into their days.  AND my brand involves the beach.  So this new website incorporates all that, and eliminates all extraneous clutter from 17 years of publishing that doesn't fit into that brand.Modernize my newsletter and grow subscribers. I've had a newsletter for over a decade with a small group of long-term subscribers.  But I want to use my newsletter as a vehicle to stay in touch with my readers, to offer them free books, to engage them in conversation and contests, giveaways and exclusive news.  My newsletter schedule had grown lackluster and irregular.  I want it to be exciting and informative.  SO I built an automated sequence of emails that will attract and welcome new subscribers.  I'll offer them their own "starter pack library" of Laurie Larsen ebooks as a thank you for subscribing.  It starts with my 2009 EPIC Award Winner, Preacher Man, and concludes with Pawleys Island Paradise: A Companion.  My goal is to double my number of newsletter subscribers by summer, and triple my number by the end of year.  If this appeals to you, please join me!  You'll get your free books, and get involved in all the fun!  All you have to do is fill out this form. Narrate my own audiobook.  This one is a huge departure for me, and something I'm very excited about!  I personally am not an audiobook reader, but I know millions of readers are!   It's an exploding market and I want my Pawleys Island series to be part of it.  I've had a desire and enthusiasm about narrating my own audiobook.  I don't know if I'll do a great job, or bomb, but I'm willing to try.  I am working with an audiobook production company called ACX to produce my audiobook.  They have provided me with a list of equipment I'll need to set up my own in-home recording studio!  I know this sounds like a huge endeavor, but it is surprisingly low-cost to accomplish. In fact, do you know where ACX recommends as the best place for an in-home studio?  Your walk-in closet.  Yes!  Think about it.  It's small, like a recording booth, and all the clothes hanging around you will soak up any outside noise or echo.  So I have set aside a week in June for me to narrate Roadtrip to Redemption.  I have until then to set everything up.  Wish me luck!There's more, so much more, but these are some of the goals I have for 2017 to get me outside my comfort zone and maximizing my writing career.  I thank you for being along for the ride!Have a great day,Laurie

New video series done

Today I finished a series of videos where I discuss each of the books in my Pawleys Island Paradise series.  Just a quick discussion about the writing of the book, the inspiration, my thoughts while writing it, etc.  If that sounds interesting to you, I hope you'll take a look!You can either go to my YouTube channel right here, or I've pasted each of the videos on their corresponding book page on this website.Enjoy!

A pretty demanding weekend for a "50-something" woman

I would say, in general, that for a woman "of a certain age," I have a pretty good amount of energy.  After all, I've raised two amazing boys, I hold down a really busy and demanding day job, while also maintaining a 17-year writing career during which I've published 16 books.However, the thought of the weekend after next, just makes me exhausted.This past year, my husband and I did something really exciting.  We bought a second home in Murrells Inlet, SC, just moments from the beach, fulfilling a life-long dream of mine to live at the beach and write novels.  My dream is so close I can taste it.  I'm not quite there yet ... but eventually, when hubs and I are both done with our day jobs in the landlocked midwest, we'll move there permanently and yes, I'll be writing.Meanwhile, we have this beautiful brand new house 1000 miles away from our primary residence.  Which is awesome ... but it also introduces some challenges.  For example, some work needs to be done at the house.  Something that wasn't done quite correctly when it was built, so since it's during the warranty period, the builder is arranging for a crew to come out and redo it.  It'll be a 3-day job.  It's somewhat involved, so I decided I wanted to be there to observe and offer my input.However, I'm at a really busy time at work, so yes, I'll be there, but I also need to get 8 hours a day of work in while I'm supervising the renovations.  AND, I need to get myself out there AND back.  By myself.  Already a demanding task -- me, all by myself, driving 1000 miles out, supervise a major repair job, put in full days of work, and drive all the way back alone.  NOW there's even more.  An unexpected delay to a systems implementation means that I need to get on a conference call on Day 2 of my drive at 4 AM!!  The call is expected to last 3 hours if it goes well.  Of course, more if it doesn't.  AND THEN I continue to drive 9 hours all by myself to get to the house.I'm exhausted just thinking about it.Will you do me the favor of praying for me that day?  I'm sure I can get it all done, but it sure won't be easy!

Time for a new website and blog!

I've been a published author for 17 years and this is my third website.  So, I guess about every 8 years or so it's time for a new site!  I'm right on schedule.Back in "the old days" (2000 when my first book was released), I hired a web developer to create my very first site.  It was written in FrontPage (a Microsoft product) and I had a very generous author friend who taught me how to maintain and update it myself.  Which I did, every week.  Me and FrontPage were getting along fine!  Until Microsoft decided to discontinue FrontPage.So I hired another web developer to redesign me a brand new site in WordPress.  We kept a lot of the same content from the old site, but it was fresher, newer, more modern.  WordPress and I developed a love/hate relationship.  It was much more complex and difficult to manipulate than FrontPage.  I eventually got the hang of it, but it was cumbersome for me, so I didn't update the site NEARLY as often anymore.  When I released a new book I'd update the site -- that was about it.  About three months ago I got the dreaded email from my hosting company: "your website is infected with malware."  After calling the hosting company and talking options for over an hour I realized it was time to trash the infected site and start all over.So, take three!  The GREAT thing about starting over is that I can dump a bunch of old baggage.  This site only focuses on my current genre and brand -- Christian fiction grounded in today's modern world.  You won't find any of my earlier non-inspirational books here.  In fact, I took them off the market.  They're not even for sale anymore!  As an inspirational romance author, I'm ALL IN!  :)In addition, technology now offers WIX, which to me, is the best of all possible worlds.  It's relatively EASY, it offers tons of options and it's modern.  So, WIX it is!  I hope you enjoy my new site and I hope you come back often!  I promise I'll try to give you something worth coming back for!

Laurie announces … Book 6: Return to Devotion!

Amidst the excitement of Cubs fans for FINALLY making it to the World Series (71 years in the waiting), Laurie announces the Amazon Pre-Order of her sixth and final installment in the Pawleys Island Paradise series, Return to Devotion!  Read here for the description and a chance to read an excerpt, but meanwhile just savor this beautiful cover, won’t you???

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