Beth Groundwater's Blog, page 13

An Early Review, A Signing, and A Galley Proof to Work On

Advanced Review Copies (ARCs) of my November release, A Basket of Trouble , the third book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series, are apparently going out to reviewers, because one reviewer has already published her 5-star review of the book! You can read Lynn Farris's review in her Mystery Books Examiner on-line column HERE. I'm thrilled with what she had to say about A Basket of Trouble, especially, "This aspect of the book makes it a great option for book clubs to consider"!

As for my RM Outdoor Adventures series, I finished up my Colorado book signings for the newly-released third book in it, Fatal Descent , with a signing at the Broadway Book Mall in Denver this past Sunday. I teamed up with fellow Colorado mystery author Bonnie Biafore, and you can see us both in the photo below.


And lastly, I just received the galley proofs for A Basket of Trouble, so I will be hard at work over the next couple of weeks, picking through it for any errors. Wish me luck!

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Liesa Malik

As promised yesterday, fellow Colorado mystery author Liesa Malik is visiting my blog today. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Liesa is running a contest for a free autographed copy of her book, Faith on the Rocks , the cover art for which appears above. Liesa will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, when widow and retired special education teacher Daisy Arthur takes up romance writing with a quirky group of aspiring authors, she finds herself tangled in merry mayhem that suddenly turns deadly. She must go in search of a killer or risk becoming the next victim. Thank goodness that the handsome police lieutenant on the case is the father of one of Daisy's past students, or she could be in deep trouble. Daisy sees Lt. Gabe Caerphilly as a potential Mr. Right in her romantic-fiction world. The question is, does he see her as anything more than a suspect?

Sounds like a fun read to me! Below are Liesa's answers to my interview questions.


1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

It seems that I've been "writing" since I could hold a pencil.  My second grade teacher introduced our class to the idea "the pen is mightier than the sword" and I thought that was really cool.  While I admit I haven't written much for publication, as a marketing professional, a lot of my work has been in writing.  Overall, without my terrific critique group though, I think I'd still be working on that great American novel that never was.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books? 

Beth, what a great question!  Each of my characters tends to be a conglomeration of people I know or used to know.  When I sit down to write drafts and notes for a novel, I'll often "interview" my characters to get their backgrounds.  Those notes are around when I need them during the crafting of a new story.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

As a control freak, plotting is a big part of my writing.  I feel it's like working on a Sudoku puzzle, looking for patterns and exploring plot ideas.  But I do a quick, seat-of-your-pants writing session for each of my subplots, then transfer the resulting 5-to-10 paragraphs onto 3x5 cards.  When all the subplots are done, I play with the cards on my dining room table until I've put together a storyline that appeals to me.

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

To me, there is no such thing as a completely new idea, so I have to come down on the side of characters as the most important element in a murder mystery, especially for the cozy sub-genre I work in.  Yes, people want to figure out who-done-it, but I find it more satisfying to answer "why" Mr. Jones killed Ms. Scarlet in the drawing room. Heh, Heh.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Do you have a few hours on this question?  Seriously, every aspect of the writing process continually challenges writers.  I think this is because there are no "right" or "wrong" ways of doing things.  For me, the biggest challenge is the feeling of being alone in a vacuum.  Is this phrase good or only good enough?  Does my writing have any merit?  Why was something I wrote rejected?  Luckily, again, a critique group has helped me tremendously, as I receive honest feedback and great observations that help me hone my craft.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I work from home, and spend a great deal of time working with marketing clients, so you could say I'm writing around the clock.  But where my creative writing (for blogs, and novels) is concerned, I think I really only write for an hour and one half each morning.  I plan to extend that as much as possible, but even in that amount of time, 1,000 words plus is doable.  I usually get up around 5:30 each morning, and write from 6:00 to 7:30, when I take a break for breakfast and to walk my dog.  I'm back at my desk by 9:15 to start my other work.  Then, sometimes at lunch or if I have free time in the afternoon, I'll put in more hours.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Jump in! The water's fine.  No one has the one key to writing success, so believe in yourself, write who you know, and most of all, have fun!

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

Goodness!  What can I say?  I'm not much of a foodie (except for the PBC and B mini sundae at Freddy's Steakburgers) and I love watching Jane Austin movies.  My sister recently introduced me to "Downton Abbey" so I am lost in English fun this summer.

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I have recently finished the first draft of my second novel, another Daisy Arthur mystery.  The next several weeks will find me focused on polishing that text and prepping it for submission to Five Star (fingers crossed here).  After that, I'd like to think about writing an historical novel or thriller, not quite sure which.  I'm also hoping to build more of a clipping file by trying my hand at some articles for magazines.

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

What an opportunity!  Thanks, Beth.  Here are some items:

1) Read a Beth Groundwater book!  I'm in the midst of A Real Basket Case but I also enjoyed Deadly Currents.
2) I'd love for you to check out my website –  a weekly blog where I talk about things like Littleton, CO, writing, pets (I have a few in my mysteries) and special friends. Hope you'll join me there.
3) If you'd like me to visit your book club or other group, please contact me at liesa@allabuzz.net.
4) Lastly, keep reading.  It's a great way to treat yourself well, and you deserve it.


Blush! Thanks for the plug, Liesa. Now, who has a comment or question for Liesa Malik? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Liesa Malik

Tomorrow, fellow Colorado mystery author Liesa Malik will guest on my blog. She answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what she has to say. Also, Liesa will run a contest for a free autographed copy of her recently released book, Faith on the Rocks, the first novel in her Daisy Arthur mystery series. She will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

 Debut mystery novelist Liesa Malik has been writing for most of her adult life. She has close to twenty years experience in marketing, but a lifelong interest in fiction reading and writing. Both parents and teachers read many classics out loud to her as a child and that interest continues today. She writes from her home in Littleton, Colorado, where her Daisy Arthur Mysteries are set. Liesa has degrees in Commercial Art and Mass Communications, Journalism.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Terry Shames

As promised yesterday, fellow mystery author Terry Shames is visiting my blog today. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Terry is running a contest for a free autographed copy of her book, A Killing at Cotton Hill , the cover art for which appears above. Terry will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, the chief of police of Jarrett Creek, Texas, doubles as the town drunk. So when Dora Lee Parjeter is murdered, her old friend and former police chief Samuel Craddock steps in to investigate. He discovers that a lot of people may have wanted Dora Lee dead—the conniving rascals on a neighboring farm, her estranged daughter and her surly live-in grandson. And then there’s the stranger Dora Lee claimed was spying on her. During the course of the investigation the human foibles of the small-town residents—their pettiness and generosity, their secret vices and true virtues—are revealed. As RT Book Reviews said, “Shames’ novel is an amazing read. The poetic, literary quality of the writing draws you in.”

Sounds like a great cozy mystery read to me! Below is Terry's guest post about the promotion treadmill. It should resonate with a lot of writers and I hope it will generate some interesting comments.

The Promotion Treadmill
 Today I’m leaving for Italy. No, France. No, I’m off to spend a few days in the wine country. The Bahamas…

No, I’m not going anywhere. Because my debut novel, A Killing at Cotton Hill, comes out next week and I’m caught on this treadmill called promotion and sales. I’m fulfilling the last leg in a promise made to myself years ago, to be a published author. The fact that it’s more work than I ever imagined it would be is partly because the publishing business has changed so much. Publishers used to not only publish the book (editing, designing, and printing) but also made sure that potential readers heard about the book and that it was available in bookstores. It’s now up to authors to do that last part.

Another thing that makes promotion more work now is the explosion of social media. I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads and I exchange dozens of plain old emails every day. I reply to FB posts, comment on blogs, peek at Goodreads reviews, etc. I blog and read blogs and belong to websites that host mystery authors. I read and write articles and….

I realized recently that I’ve lost sight of something important. I was cleaning off my desk and under a pile of accumulated notes to myself about promoting my novel, I found a list of things no author should forget. At the top of the list was, “Writing comes first.” And I smiled. Because I had forgotten that.

Recently a writing friend who is trying to find an agent emailed me and said she wanted to know why when someone got a publishing contract, he or she suddenly disappeared from the real world. “Everyone always says they are so busy,” she said. “What is it, exactly, that you are doing?”

So I wrote a “day in the life” for her. In one sense, it was funny. I saw that I’m chasing my tail. I’m working really hard to make sure my book isn’t a one-time wonder; working to make sure people know it’s out there; and that it’s gotten good reviews. I’m proud of it and I want people to read it. So I’m scattering myself all over the map.

I’m incredibly lucky to have a publisher who assigned me a hard-working, energetic publicist. She has done so much more for me than I ever hoped for. She has set up interviews and reviews and book-signings. No, the publisher doesn’t pay for me to travel to the signings, but at least my publicist sets them up for me. And I’m still buried under the work of selling the book. I don’t mean this as complaining. But I’m bewildered. I don’t even have a day job, and yet I’m snowed under. How does someone do all this if they have to go to work all day?

So when I uncovered the message about writing coming first, I said, “Enough.” I’ve worked hard to get my name out there, to master the ins and outs of social media. I’ve gathered my lists, learned how to write and send announcements, planned my launch events, and gotten a good start on readings. But now it’s time to do the most important promotion activity of all: Write another book.

This doesn’t mean that I will abandon promoting and selling my first, dear debut novel. I actually love speaking in public, enjoy writing blogs and articles, and am thrilled to read at bookstores and libraries. But what I mean by “enough” is that I will stop chasing every possible outlet for promotion. There’s always one more reviewer that I haven’t heard of, one more mystery site, one more influential person to discover. But for now, I’ll stick to the ones I know about. I’ll set up more book signings, and say yes to promo offers that come my way. But I won’t beat the bushes looking for that elusive “one more opportunity” that might push me to a few more sales.

It’s time to step off the treadmill and get back to what I love the most—the activity that got me here in the first place. Writing another book.


Excellent point, Terry! Now I'd like to hear from my blog readers. How much author promotion is enough or too much? Who has a comment or question for Terry Shames? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Terry Shames

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author Terry Shames will guest on my blog with an intriguing article about the book promotion treadmill. Also, Terry will run a contest for a free autographed copy of her very soon to be released book, A Killing at Cotton Hill, the first novel in her Samual Craddock mystery series. She will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Terry Shames grew up in Texas. She has abiding affection for the small town where her grandparents lived, the model for her fictional town of Jarrett Creek. A resident of Berkeley, California, Terry lives with her husband, two rowdy terriers and a semi-tolerant cat. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Her second Samuel Craddock novel, The Last Death of Jack Harbin,  will be out in January 2014.

Another Denver Book Signing and Denver and Breckenridge Signing Photos

I have another signing event scheduled this coming weekend for Fatal Descent , the third book in my RM Outdoor Adventures series that was released to good reviews on June 8th. If you are in the Denver area, I hope you'll join me at this event. Bonnie Biafore is a hoot and not to be missed. Also, the store owners, Ron and Nina Else, are two of my favorite booksellers, and they're very supportive of Colorado authors. So, I'd like to see Colorado readers come out and support them!

Sunday, July 14, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Signing with Bonnie Biafore during "Mystery Weekend"
Who Else Books, Broadway Book Mall
200 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
Below are some photos from recent booksigning events. The first one is of Lauri Ver Schure, owner of Murder By the Book, and me (I'm in the shades) at our booth at the South Pearl Street Farmer's Market Sunday, June 30th. It was a beautiful day to be outside and sales were brisk. Lauri has some signed copies of all of my titles still, if any of her customers see this and want to grab one.


The next two photos are from my July 4th signing at The French Kiss, a cute boutique on Main Street in Breckenridge. The signing went very well there, too, and I even had a line at times! Anita, the store owner, also has signed copies of all of my titles, if you missed the event and want to pick one up from her.

Happy Fourth of July and Happy Book Signing!!

I hope all of my readers who live in the United States or are US citizens living abroad are having a great time observing our nation's birthday on the Fourth of July. I will be both playing and working today. First, I'll watch the July 4th parade on Main Street in my hometown of Breckenridge, Colorado. It's a typical small town parade with fire trucks, kids on decorated bikes, floats by local businesses, and more. But, it also includes a crowd of bicyclists who will be taking off on the Firecracker 50 Mountain Bike Race, which is always run here in town on the Fourth.


Right after the parade, though, I go to work. I'm conducting a book signing from 11 AM – 1 PM at
The French Kiss, 226 South Main Street, Breckenridge, CO 80424. The store will provide refreshments, so we can continue the party atmosphere of the parade.

After that, it's back to play. My husband and I will drive to Denver and meet up with friends to watch the Colorado Rockies play the Dodgers in a 6 PM baseball game at Coors Field that will be followed by fireworks. What a day! May your Fourth of July be just as much fun as I plan on having!

Wildflower Hike

Last Friday, I hiked the
Blue columbine (Colorado state flower) and pink wild roses.


Chiming bells in front of aspens and resting hikers.


The mountain view across the valley on our way back to the trailhead.


A red profusions of scarlet gilia, also called fairy trumpet.

June Reader Reviews

I've been very happy with the reviews from readers that my books have received on the Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads website in June.

I'm thrilled that my new release, Fatal Descent , the third book in my RM Outdoor Adventures series, received four 5-star reviews on Amazon in June! Also, it has received two 5-star reviews from Barnes and Noble readers in June. Last but not least, Goodreads readers gave it three 5-star reviews and one 4-star review. And that's it, there are no lower-rated reviews. I'd like to see more reviews on all three sites for the book, but I sure can't complain about the average ranking of the reviews it has gotten so far!

And that's not all.

My other mysteries have received some great reviews in June, too. Deadly Currents, the first book in my RM Outdoor Adventures series, received a 4-star review on Amazon in June.  It also received a 4-star review from a Goodreads reader in June.

A Real Basket Case , the first book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series, was given two 4-star reviews by Amazon readers in June. It's average ranking is now 4.2 stars out of 5, with 24 reviews total. It also received a 4-star review from a Goodreads reader in June.

I can add all of these lovely reader reviews to the good reviews that my books have received from professional reviewers. Many readers, myself included, look not just at the professional reviews for books, but also at the informal impressions of books shared by readers on various reading social networks. I'd love to have more, of course. So, if you've read and liked my books and "hang out" at a reading social network on-line, please state your impressions in a review. Not only does it stroke my ego (!), but it helps other readers find and enjoy my mystery novels.

Are Your Books in Libraries?

I'm blogging over at Inkspot today, the blog for Midnight Ink authors, about finding books in libraries, even when they aren't on the shelves. And, I'm asking Inkspot readers, "What's the rarest book you were able to find and read from a library?" I hope you'll visit the blog and participate in the discussion!