Jessica Nelson's Blog, page 6
September 27, 2013
The Query That Worked
Thank you to Dylan Newton who shared the query that landed me my first contract for Love On The Range on her blog today! Dylan is a great person who writes wonderful paranormal romances! In fact, I'm looking forward to reading her next book when it releases!
If you want to check out my interview and query, here is the link: http://dylannewtonwrites.blogspot.com/2013/09/inspirational-romance-query-letter-that.html
You can check out Dylan's books on Amazon or at her website.
Have you written a query yet? How did it fare?
If you want to check out my interview and query, here is the link: http://dylannewtonwrites.blogspot.com/2013/09/inspirational-romance-query-letter-that.html
You can check out Dylan's books on Amazon or at her website.
Have you written a query yet? How did it fare?
August 24, 2013
Life is a Carousel
And I'm feeling pretty dizzy!!
Things I'm doing to maintain my sanity (when possible):
1. Eating ice cream
2. Reading, reading, reading (reading the Bible too)
3. Writing a few hundred words at a time
How's life treating you? If your life was a ride, what would it be?
Things I'm doing to maintain my sanity (when possible):
1. Eating ice cream
2. Reading, reading, reading (reading the Bible too)
3. Writing a few hundred words at a time
How's life treating you? If your life was a ride, what would it be?
July 15, 2013
Fictional Heroes who made me say, "Mmmmmm!"
Good old Uncle Jesse...this is the first fictional character who I remember making my elementary heart pitter patter. Full House was my favorite show, and now you know why. Who could resist a guy like Uncle Jesse? He loved his nieces, played a guitar, rode a motorcycle, had a great sense of humor and of course, there was the leather coat. :-)
The character of Rick O'Connell captured my imagination as a teen and made me want to be a librarian, just so I could daydream about some daring, funny adventurer falling in love with me.
Damon is one of those characters in need of redemption, but the first thing I loved about him was his loyalty to the woman he loved. It was unshakable. That warms this woman's heart!
Which heroes (in tv or in books) grabbed your attention? What was it about them that made you never forget them?
July 1, 2013
Swimming in New and Uncharted Waters (I did it!)
I did it.
I self-published (or, to use a more palatable term, independent published) one of my Christian contemporary romances. There is a ton of advice out there and lots of ways to do it, from formatting the manuscript yourself to hiring out that job.
So far, without much marketing, some copies have already sold on Amazon (squee!)
It's definitely been exciting and scary. Some authors who have already traveled this road are Virginia Carmichael and Julie Lessman and Heather Sunseri.
I am looking for reviewers and interview/guest post spots. If you're interested, e-mail me at Jessica_nelson7590 at yahoo dot com
Here is the blurb for the story:
Ten years ago, timid Katrina Ross left her hometown’s temperamental bad boy at the altar. After years away, Alec Munroe has returned, a successful businessman who is snooping around her bookstore with an avaricious gleam in his eye. She’d like to tell him to leave, despite still being in love with him, but the secret she's kept all these years demands to be told.
Alec Munroe has been successful in all ways but one: he has never been able to escape his memories of Katrina Ross. When he discovers the secret she's kept from him, he's faced with hard decisions. Justice or the forgiveness God calls him to offer...
Can Alec and Katrina leave the past behind to embrace the promise of a love they have never forgotten?
You can buy it at AMAZON or B&N.
When you download e-books, how do you know if they're self-published? Do you look at the publisher or does it even matter to you?
I self-published (or, to use a more palatable term, independent published) one of my Christian contemporary romances. There is a ton of advice out there and lots of ways to do it, from formatting the manuscript yourself to hiring out that job.
So far, without much marketing, some copies have already sold on Amazon (squee!)
It's definitely been exciting and scary. Some authors who have already traveled this road are Virginia Carmichael and Julie Lessman and Heather Sunseri.
I am looking for reviewers and interview/guest post spots. If you're interested, e-mail me at Jessica_nelson7590 at yahoo dot com
Here is the blurb for the story:
Ten years ago, timid Katrina Ross left her hometown’s temperamental bad boy at the altar. After years away, Alec Munroe has returned, a successful businessman who is snooping around her bookstore with an avaricious gleam in his eye. She’d like to tell him to leave, despite still being in love with him, but the secret she's kept all these years demands to be told.
Alec Munroe has been successful in all ways but one: he has never been able to escape his memories of Katrina Ross. When he discovers the secret she's kept from him, he's faced with hard decisions. Justice or the forgiveness God calls him to offer...
Can Alec and Katrina leave the past behind to embrace the promise of a love they have never forgotten?
You can buy it at AMAZON or B&N.
When you download e-books, how do you know if they're self-published? Do you look at the publisher or does it even matter to you?
June 24, 2013
The Hybrid Author (I Is Scared)
Yes, that is a baby voice hiding in the parentheses. Curled up in a fetal position, sucking her thumb.
That's because this independent publishing business is exciting but scary! It's also (gasp) hard. Today I am going to be uploading my manuscript to some different bookseller sites. I am so nervous because I have heard horror stories about badly formatted books, editing mistakes, etc. I've done research, tried to follow other's advice, but technology isn't my strong suit.
And so I'm a quivering mass of nerves.
There's also the fact that there's no publisher at my back saying, "Read this! We liked it and bought it." Instead, I am the publisher, pushing my manuscript out into the world as a book. There's a certain self-confidence (and I hope not arrogance)in publishing your own work.
Needless to say, I am extremely intrigued to see how this will work out. I will be a hybrid author, with one foot in traditional publishing, and the other in indie publishing.
Have you ever heard the term hybrid author? Do you have a pacifier I can borrow?
That's because this independent publishing business is exciting but scary! It's also (gasp) hard. Today I am going to be uploading my manuscript to some different bookseller sites. I am so nervous because I have heard horror stories about badly formatted books, editing mistakes, etc. I've done research, tried to follow other's advice, but technology isn't my strong suit.
And so I'm a quivering mass of nerves.
There's also the fact that there's no publisher at my back saying, "Read this! We liked it and bought it." Instead, I am the publisher, pushing my manuscript out into the world as a book. There's a certain self-confidence (and I hope not arrogance)in publishing your own work.
Needless to say, I am extremely intrigued to see how this will work out. I will be a hybrid author, with one foot in traditional publishing, and the other in indie publishing.
Have you ever heard the term hybrid author? Do you have a pacifier I can borrow?
May 24, 2013
Agent Shop!!
As if the question ‘Wanna pitch to an agent or editor’ isn’t enough.
Hello! A huge thanks to all my wonderful hosts as I run all over cyberspace talking about Agent/Editor Shop at the Musetracks blog.
In this crazy world of easy access to information, it’s also easy to miss huge opportunities, or forget! Because I get so many comments that writers either forgot, or didn’t know Musetracks did pitch sessions, I asked a bunch of fellow writers, bloggers and readers to help me spread the word.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Candi Wall, one of the authors who co-contribute to the Musetracks blog. Jennifer Bray-Weber, Marie-Claude Bourque, and Stacey Purcell are my super smart co-contributors and goodness knows where I’d be without them!
I’ve been hosting acquiring Agents at Musetracks for almost two years, and only recently, we decided to add editors as our guest. We’ve been lucky to have agents like Melissa Jeglinski, Jessica Alvarez, Mollie Glick, Becky Vinter, Kevan Lyon, Scott Eagan, Lois Winston, Jill Marsal, Michelle Grajkowski, Kimberley Cameron, Emmanuella Alspaugh (now Morgan), Laura Bradford, Jenny Bent, Sara Crowe, Weronika Janczuk and Stan Soper.
Our guest editors thus far have been Rhonda Penders w/ The Wild Rose Press, Jennifer Miller w/ Samhain Publishing, Debby Gilbert w/ Soul Mate Publishing, Beth Walker w/ Secret Cravings Publishing, and the editors at Books To Go Now have booked three dates in the future!
What we offer is a ‘Pitch Day’. I only take 30 pitches, and only the first thirty VIABLE pitches that come in on pitch day will be seen by the agent or editor. And I will warn you, I’m a stickler for following guidelines. If you don’t include exactly what is in the rules… I delete without prejudice. And I delete quite a few. (And yes, I receive plenty of hate mail.)
You can find us here:
Musetracks and there is a sidebar with Agent/Editor Shop dates and attending professionals
You can find the rules for pitching here:
Musetracks Agent/Editor Shop rules Please read them carefully!
I’ve also created a Yahoo group so writers can sign up to receive Agent/Editor Shop updates. I only send messages with agent/editor attendance updates, reminders of pitch dates, and any information about the contests we run on pitch day. Usually a giveaway or a chance to comment for the Top Pitch Slot. You can request to join here:
Editor/Agent Shop Newsletter Group
Easy as pie! We welcome every stage of writer and at Musetracks, we strive to help other writers, the way we were all helped when we first started out, and the way we are supported today.
Hope to see you all at a pitch day, and if not, feel free to pass the word along to others.
Happy reading and writing!
~Candi
A little about Candi:
Candi Wall is an author of contemporary romance, and YA.
Her début novel PRIMITIVE NIGHTS released from Samhain in Jan 2013, and STAY, the first in the Changing Tides series releases from Samhain on Aug 6th 2013.
She’s a mother of four (21,17,12,9), a rescuer of six (4 dogs & 2 cats), proud auntie of too many to count, a soon-to-be grandmother and great-auntie, a retired Cub Scout leader of 16 years, an avid animal lover/protector and ex-animal control officer. Oh yeah, and wife.
You can find her here:
www.candiwallbooks.com
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Musetracks
Hello! A huge thanks to all my wonderful hosts as I run all over cyberspace talking about Agent/Editor Shop at the Musetracks blog.
In this crazy world of easy access to information, it’s also easy to miss huge opportunities, or forget! Because I get so many comments that writers either forgot, or didn’t know Musetracks did pitch sessions, I asked a bunch of fellow writers, bloggers and readers to help me spread the word.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Candi Wall, one of the authors who co-contribute to the Musetracks blog. Jennifer Bray-Weber, Marie-Claude Bourque, and Stacey Purcell are my super smart co-contributors and goodness knows where I’d be without them!
I’ve been hosting acquiring Agents at Musetracks for almost two years, and only recently, we decided to add editors as our guest. We’ve been lucky to have agents like Melissa Jeglinski, Jessica Alvarez, Mollie Glick, Becky Vinter, Kevan Lyon, Scott Eagan, Lois Winston, Jill Marsal, Michelle Grajkowski, Kimberley Cameron, Emmanuella Alspaugh (now Morgan), Laura Bradford, Jenny Bent, Sara Crowe, Weronika Janczuk and Stan Soper.
Our guest editors thus far have been Rhonda Penders w/ The Wild Rose Press, Jennifer Miller w/ Samhain Publishing, Debby Gilbert w/ Soul Mate Publishing, Beth Walker w/ Secret Cravings Publishing, and the editors at Books To Go Now have booked three dates in the future!
What we offer is a ‘Pitch Day’. I only take 30 pitches, and only the first thirty VIABLE pitches that come in on pitch day will be seen by the agent or editor. And I will warn you, I’m a stickler for following guidelines. If you don’t include exactly what is in the rules… I delete without prejudice. And I delete quite a few. (And yes, I receive plenty of hate mail.)
You can find us here:
Musetracks and there is a sidebar with Agent/Editor Shop dates and attending professionals
You can find the rules for pitching here:
Musetracks Agent/Editor Shop rules Please read them carefully!
I’ve also created a Yahoo group so writers can sign up to receive Agent/Editor Shop updates. I only send messages with agent/editor attendance updates, reminders of pitch dates, and any information about the contests we run on pitch day. Usually a giveaway or a chance to comment for the Top Pitch Slot. You can request to join here:
Editor/Agent Shop Newsletter Group
Easy as pie! We welcome every stage of writer and at Musetracks, we strive to help other writers, the way we were all helped when we first started out, and the way we are supported today.
Hope to see you all at a pitch day, and if not, feel free to pass the word along to others.
Happy reading and writing!
~Candi
A little about Candi:
Candi Wall is an author of contemporary romance, and YA.
Her début novel PRIMITIVE NIGHTS released from Samhain in Jan 2013, and STAY, the first in the Changing Tides series releases from Samhain on Aug 6th 2013.
She’s a mother of four (21,17,12,9), a rescuer of six (4 dogs & 2 cats), proud auntie of too many to count, a soon-to-be grandmother and great-auntie, a retired Cub Scout leader of 16 years, an avid animal lover/protector and ex-animal control officer. Oh yeah, and wife.
You can find her here:
www.candiwallbooks.com
Goodreads
Musetracks
May 6, 2013
Good-Bye Blogging?
I've lost the will to blog.
I am not saying good-bye forever. I'm only saying good-bye to regularly scheduled posts. With FB, twitter and all the other social networking sites so active, I feel like if I put up a post it doesn't necessarily need to be on a schedule. In the meantime, there are lots of other things crowding the plate and so it's time for this wonderful blog to slow down in its old age.
Later this month I'll be putting up a post about a good writing opportunity.
I'm curious. What is your favorite online social venue?
I am not saying good-bye forever. I'm only saying good-bye to regularly scheduled posts. With FB, twitter and all the other social networking sites so active, I feel like if I put up a post it doesn't necessarily need to be on a schedule. In the meantime, there are lots of other things crowding the plate and so it's time for this wonderful blog to slow down in its old age.
Later this month I'll be putting up a post about a good writing opportunity.
I'm curious. What is your favorite online social venue?
April 22, 2013
Menehunes and Whatnot
Cheryl Linn Martin's newest book just released!
Menehunes Missing is another action-packed mystery for the younger reader featuring the kids of the Hawaiian Island Detective club, Leilani, Maile and Sam. And sometimes Leilani's pesky little brother, Kimo.
If you have middle schoolers who love to read, I highly recommend this series! Cheryl also has a very cool website, kid-friendly with great Hawaiian factoids and games.
Do you buy your children books? As a kid, what was your favorite genre for reading? Any guess as to what a Menehune is?
April 17, 2013
When Should and Want Collide
After some internal conflicts of my own, I came to a great realization.
"Should" and "Want" can be two different things...and boy, can they fight!!
Is your story lacking conflict? Does it feel lukewarm? Do your characters seem a little too happy to be interesting? Take a look at what your protagonist wants (goal). Now, take a look at what the protagonist SHOULD want.
Are they different?
If you can make what the protagonist SHOULD DO come into conflict with what the protagonist WANTS TO DO, then you'll have immediate tension in your story.
Have you ever experienced this in your life? Did you choose to go with principle or emotion? What about your main character?
"Should" and "Want" can be two different things...and boy, can they fight!!
Is your story lacking conflict? Does it feel lukewarm? Do your characters seem a little too happy to be interesting? Take a look at what your protagonist wants (goal). Now, take a look at what the protagonist SHOULD want.
Are they different?
If you can make what the protagonist SHOULD DO come into conflict with what the protagonist WANTS TO DO, then you'll have immediate tension in your story.
Have you ever experienced this in your life? Did you choose to go with principle or emotion? What about your main character?
April 8, 2013
This Girl is on Fire (and she might Burn Up!)
Beware of fire...it can burn.
I feel like that song by Alicia Keys except I'm not sure I'm as competent as the heroine in the song. If I'm not careful, I might go up in flames! LOL Here's what's going on:
1. Love Inspired Historical bought a second book from me!!! I'm SO excited but I also have some revisions to do for the story.
2. I have two articles to write. Articles make me feel like I might suffocate. I don't know why but I just work through it, even if I turn blue.
3. I'm working hard on my WIP. Loving it but am sweating trying to get in 1k a day.
4. Before the end of 2013 I'll be indie/self-publishing a contemporary romance. Trying to get the cover, editing, etc. done has added some poundage to my plate.
So, all in all, this 2013 is going beautifully. I feel like I'm on a roll but I don't want to get too much friction going because that could lead to a spark which might lead to me running away from the computer, hair on fire. :-)
What's on your plate? How is 2013 turning out for you so far?
Below is a local radio interview I did with another author. Fun stuff!
I feel like that song by Alicia Keys except I'm not sure I'm as competent as the heroine in the song. If I'm not careful, I might go up in flames! LOL Here's what's going on:
1. Love Inspired Historical bought a second book from me!!! I'm SO excited but I also have some revisions to do for the story.
2. I have two articles to write. Articles make me feel like I might suffocate. I don't know why but I just work through it, even if I turn blue.
3. I'm working hard on my WIP. Loving it but am sweating trying to get in 1k a day.
4. Before the end of 2013 I'll be indie/self-publishing a contemporary romance. Trying to get the cover, editing, etc. done has added some poundage to my plate.
So, all in all, this 2013 is going beautifully. I feel like I'm on a roll but I don't want to get too much friction going because that could lead to a spark which might lead to me running away from the computer, hair on fire. :-)
What's on your plate? How is 2013 turning out for you so far?
Below is a local radio interview I did with another author. Fun stuff!
