Erin Jamison's Blog, page 3

Awww Shucks… (Guffaws)!!!

Do you know how amazing it is to be liked for the work you produce and to be appreciated? I've talked about what it's like to take a chance, go for what'cha know, gamble on yourself, put it out there and see what happens. I still believe in all that. What is truly amazing, or rather feels amazing, is when someone else … a total stranger … that doesn't know you from Adam generally likes the work that you produced.

I am so fortunate to be a writer in today's day and age. I have received three 5 star reviews in the last couple of days and I am so stoked. I'd like to thank:

http://bettysbloggingplace.blogspot.com/

http://sooozsaysstuff.blogspot.com

http://anotherlookbookreviews.blogspot.com

As I posted in a blog post once that seems to have been ages ago by now, it seems for now, I can cry out, "You Like Me! You Really Like Me!!"

Filed under: Blog Tour, New Authors, Writing Tagged: 5 star, authors, better than 8, better than 8 fantasy, black women, books, characters, community, dating, debut, erin_jamison, fantasy, first_time_authors, funny, FWB, love, marketing, men, new_authors, relationships, reviews, romance, self_publish, social, women, Writing

Erotica Isn't Just About Sex

Despite popular thought, erotica isn't just about sex. I mean its erotic after all which means that it involves some level of sensuality. Erotica involves all kinds of aspects from the psychological, emotional, exploration and yes…the act of sex.

When I read romance stories I'm looking for a connection between the characters. I'm vested in their hidden desires and passions. When I communicate that in a story, I have to describe the act but what is more important is to describe the connection. My goal, my job as the author is to be able to convey thoughts and emotions so that a reader can empathize and relate. I literally have to …. seduce my readers. That's the truth.

Follow this link to see the remainder of this post http://eroticaforall.co.uk

Filed under: Blog Tour, New Authors, Writing Tagged: authors, better than 8, better than 8 fantasy, books, community, erin_jamison, erotica, exloration, how-to, love, men, passion, provocative, psychology, publishing, relationships, romance, self_publish, sex, social, women, Writing

Join Me Won't You?

My month long blog tour (June 17-July 22nd) started Friday and I have been a busy little bee. Many thanks to all the bloggers that have hosted interviews, reviews, giveaways and guest posts. You guys seriously rock! I so couldn't do it without your support.  Mark your calendars and stop by and say hello.

June

June 17th www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com

June 18 http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/

June 19 http://sooozsaysstuff.blogspot.com

June 20 http://eroticaforall.co.uk

June 21 http://bettysbloggingplace.blogspot.com

 

June 22 www.thewriteathomemom.blogspot.com

June 23 http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com

Stay tuned and check out my calendar for upcoming guest posts, interviews, and giveaways. You never know who may stop by.  

How Do You Create Characters That Leave A Lasting Impression?

When you call yourself a writer, whether you are published or unpublished, creating memorable characters and a good story is really the point, isn't it? So how do you do that? Let's take a step back for a moment.

If you've read any of my posts before, I've consistently said, as many other writers have said, that if you are a writer, you must read. It is not to plagiarize but rather to emulate. Take for instance one of the authors that I'm a fan of: Shiloh Walker. I love Shiloh. I love the characters, both female and male. Her characters leave an impression so much so that I want to be updated about what is going on in their land of Oz. The talent that she possesses in fleshing out a character so that a reader can picture her or him and describe their emotional journey through action, inaction, body language and internal dialogue deserves my accolades.

I think of the characters in my own story, Better Than 8 Fantasy . Leave a trail of bread crumbs. (Yes, I'm making reference to Hansel and Gretel). If you have a series that you're writing, this (leaving a trail of bread crumbs)  is a perfect opportunity to do that.  Readers (I'm speaking from my own experience) both love it and hate it when authors suggest something in a story and leave it unanswered until the next book. Bread crumbs leave the reader pondering reasons why a character does something or leaves them trying to figure out the characters' modus operandi. The fascination is compounded when writers are vague or give you that "keep reading" commentary. JR Ward graduated with honors from that school of interview technique and writing style.

Have you realized yet that this is apart of hooking an audience? Don't worry. We'll talk about it a bit more a little later. So, did you see how to do it?

Create strong characters with descriptive words, body language, and internal dialogue
Key your audience into what the character is thinking and feeling
Remember to show and not tell (sometimes a hard balance but keep at it)
Inaction just like silence speaks volumes sometimes
Don't reveal everything at one time, save some for later
If your characters go through emotional upheavals make sure you take the reader with you. Make them feel empathetic to your characters' plight.
Make sure you give readers a little HEA (happily ever after). Readers don't like to be taken on emotional journey's where they feel like they bleed for the character and then he never gets a slice of happiness for it. They may stay with you for a bit but if you draw this out indefinitely, your readers will get tired of being gutted…and remember your stories for the wrong reasons.

What were some of the most memorable characters to you? What story and what author? What made them memorable to you?

Price Point Matters

If you've never been published before, people don't know what kind of stories you write and they don't know if you're any good. What price (for an ebook), should you sell your book for? Book length has some bearing on the subject certainly. If you just released a modern day version of war and peace, I think that it is expected that the price point would be over $2.99. But what if your story hasn't cracked two hundred pages? What word count would justify higher pricing?

I don't know the answer to that question however I have read many articles saying that most ebooks should be priced initially at $2.99 and then do special events and offer coupons, offer free stories as a buy one get one free combination to entice readers. The thing is, you have to have a starting point. I recently had a question posed after a reviewer posted a review of my book. He asked why would he risk a buy of $2.99 to an unknown author when he could buy two or three stories and get three really great books for the price of my one book. It was a good question. I also read another article where a gentlemen detailed his sales pattern from offering a book at $2.99 and then lowering the book. He noted that it is harder to get one person to buy a book for $2.99 than it is to convince six people to spend $0.99. To make the same amount of profit from one sale at $2.99, if he offered the book at $0.99, it would take him six times that amount of people to earn the same profit.

What it comes down to is choice really and trial and error. I've gotten really positive reviews on my debut novella, Better Than 8 Fantasy out now (check out my books for buy links). I do plan to offer coupons and put my book on sale for a limited time after a bit. I think about how I buy books. If the story line intrigued me, if the cover was enticing, if the excerpt was interesting, I would spend up to a good $5 on an ebook.  What's the most you would pay for an ebook? What prevents you from buying a book under $3? How do you view books priced at $0.99? Good, bad, indifferent?

There Is A First Time For Everything

I remember my first day of kindergarten. I recall the mixed feelings of excitement and anticipation that I had waiting for the big day. When the day came, those feelings of excite quickly evaporated. My mother led the way and held my hand as I shook like a leaf. I was so scared. I watched everyone with saucer wide eyes while walking on short stubby legs, stumbling and jogging to keep up. I remember feeling like I had walked into a land of giants as everyone towered over me. By days end, I didn't want to leave. It was so much fun!

I recall the same feelings when it came time to release my debut novella, Better Than 8 Fantasy. Well I tell ya, I've got none of those anxiety…. okay, maybe a smidge. Or more than a smidge, maybe a kernel. Okay so whatever, I'm just saying, I'm excite ya'll!! Today is launch day!It's out! It's available! You can see it. You can talk about. Recommend it to a friend. Shout it from the rooftops. Have the town crier break out his megaphone and announce it to the the whole world. Better Than 8 Fantasy is available today!!

The female heroine in the story, Amara Simmons, she experienced many firsts in this book. Despite being plagued with self doubt, she pursued what she wanted and she inspired me to do the same. Wait…(scratching my head), did she inspire me or did I inspire her? Did anybody ever find out if the chicken came before the egg or vice versa? Anyhoo….you can find it at Amazon, BarnesandNoble, All Romance Books and Goodreads.

I got one word for you…GIVEAWAY… ok, two words, "BOOK GIVEAWAY". All weekend long. Make sure you check back and find out details to win your free ebook of BETTER THAN 8 FANTASY!

It Was Supposed To Be Bread…

Envy is a dangerous emotion. Everyone has their talents right? Baking is not among my talents but it certainly doesn't seem to stop me or hold me back from trying. That emotion was the driver of my proverbial bus when I chose to bake bread.

Thankfully enough, some years have gone by since I've done this but I have to say, it was funny. Stupid, but funny. Do you have friends that can bake something so perfect, it looks like it came to life right out of a magazine? I've got a friend like that. She makes THE best bread. Other people buy Christmas presents to give out at Christmas time. My friend, bakes bread. That's already telling you something right?

God love her but this chick can make a roll that is as big as my hand, in circumference! I don't have small hands. I've got average hands for a woman but these rolls are huge. You could skip an entire meal and have a couple of her rolls with butter. I kid you not, no exaggeration, they melt in your mouth. "Mmph, mmph, mmph, 'What'chu talkin 'bout?'" I digress. That was a bit of a Southerner coming out in me.

I tried to convince, plead, beg, cajole, hoodwink, and bribe her into making bread. Nothing worked. She wouldn't do it. Mimicking a whine, "She said she was too tired. It's a lot of work. She wasn't in the mood." This is when I told myself….how hard can it be? I see you giggling.

So I got myself a recipe. I looked at the list of ingredients and said, "Yeah, I got all that. I'm good. Nothing to it." I went down the list and ingredient by ingredient, I added each one. Sshh! I heard that. After I added the flour, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs and stirred it up, then I read the directions. That would be about the time I whispered, "Oh, s**t!" Head nod up and down… yep, I did…I added the same ingredients into the same bowl on top of what I had already put in there. See, what-had-happened-was, I was going to save it. Or at least, so I thought. I put the blender in the bowl and I tried to mix it see, but it didn't quite work. I caught a clue of just how bad it was when the mixer burnt out and started smoking. The dough that was supposed to be in the bottom of the bowl had worked up to be on top of the beaters.

I ain't even going to lie ya'll. It wasn't even dough anymore, it was glue. I threw the bowl, the dough, and the mixer away. There is a reason why envy is among the seven deadly sins.

It Was Suppossed To Be Bread…

Envy is a dangerous emotion. Everyone has their talents right? Baking is not among my talents but it certainly doesn't seem to stop me or hold me back from trying. That emotion was the driver of my proverbial bus when I chose to bake bread.

Thankfully enough, some years have gone by since I've done this but I have to say, it was funny. Stupid, but funny. Do you have friends that can bake something so perfect, it looks like it came to life right out of a magazine? I've got a friend like that. She makes THE best bread. Other people buy Christmas presents to give out at Christmas time. My friend, bakes bread. That's already telling you something right?

God love her but this chick can make a roll that is as big as my hand, in circumference! I don't have small hands. I've got average hands for a woman but these rolls are huge. You could skip an entire meal and have a couple of her rolls with butter. I kid you not, no exaggeration, they melt in your mouth. "Mmph, mmph, mmph, 'What'chu talkin 'bout?'" I digress. That was a bit of a Southerner coming out in me.

I tried to convince, plead, beg, cajole, hoodwink, and bribe her into making bread. Nothing worked. She wouldn't do it. Mimicking a whine, "She said she was too tired. It's a lot of work. She wasn't in the mood." This is when I told myself….how hard can it be? I see you giggling.

So I got myself a recipe. I looked at the list of ingredients and said, "Yeah, I got all that. I'm good. Nothing to it." I went down the list and ingredient by ingredient, I added each one. Sshh! I heard that. After I added the flour, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs and stirred it up, then I read the directions. That would be about the time I whispered, "Oh, s**t!" Head nod up and down… yep, I did…I added the same ingredients into the same bowl on top of what I had already put in there. See, what-had-happened-was, I was going to save it. Or at least, so I thought. I put the blender in the bowl and I tried to mix it see, but it didn't quite work. I caught a clue of just how bad it was when the mixer burnt out and started smoking. The dough that was supposed to be in the bottom of the bowl had worked up to be on top of the beaters.

I ain't even going to lie ya'll. It wasn't even dough anymore, it was glue. I threw the bowl, the dough, and the mixer away. There is a reason why envy is among the seven deadly sins.

What Ever Happened to Social Etiquette Classes?

Back in the 1950′s they used to call it 'Charm School'. Do you remember watching films of classes women used to take back in the day. Those classes women used to take ensured women knew how to act in public. You were taught to say please and thank you, tuck your skirt under you, sit straight with your knees together or with your skirt over the knee and legs crossed.

I recall that women weren't the only one who had to take these classes. Men had to take too. I remember thinking at the time that I was certainly glad I didn't have to sit through that in high school. I thought it was bad enough that I had to sit through the health class. I avoided the Home Economics course in my school like the plaque. "Who wants to be taught how to sew?"

More than twenty years have gone by at this point and I sometimes get a case of the shoulda, woulda, couldas'. I can hem a pair of pants…you just might not want to be seen in them after I'm done with them. I wasn't one of the hopeless few that could burn water but I burned more than my fair share. So in today's time of technology, social media, how-to video instruction, and whatever you flavor to savor cooking shoes, I find that these are the tools that have replaced those classes. Thank goodness for the Martha Stewarts out there that teach you different ways to fold a dinner napkin and creating settings and themes for your dinner table.

While I experience momentary nostalgia for days gone by, I revel in the choices I have today to learn what feel I must and leave the rest for another day.

Recognize Your Blocks

When I became serious about writing and publishing, I read all kinds of articles, blogs, forum posts, etc. There was one post that spoke to me. The article said to be aware of your blocks.

I don't know about you but I have a lot of well intentioned, well meaning friends. They honestly want the best for you and they hasten you to be cautious. Depending on the type of writing you're going to write, they may deem it to be too risky or require too much research and expertise. If you have decided to take on the challenge of writing, hopefully you have already acknowledged that those are valid points and you've come to a decision about it. Either it's worth the risk, time, effort, pressure, etc….or its not. It's pretty simple.

Ok. So now, you've decided you're all in. You're committed. You are staying the course. You know the story. You've got a full outline, you know how it goes in your head…hell, you might even have it partially or fully written out. Then you come to this point that you can't get past. You can't finish the story. You can't start the story. You my friend, have a block.

I love her to bits and pieces…much more than I ever tell her but my block…is my mom. I don't know if she knows it but she's my sounding board. If she's not feeling it or doesn't give me encouragement, it feeds into that kernel of self doubt and that joint becomes a boulder. That boulder becomes and impasse for me. If I had advice to give I would say this. If you're a writer you either live in your head or you paper your thoughts. You may carry around a journal, notebook, notepad but you may write everything down. Me…I live in my head. This is something I had to reason out for myself and I had to play devils advocate. I had to play worst case scenario with myself which again brought me right back to whether I wanted to pursue it or not.

Dear old mom is in full support of my first project out the gate, Better Than 8 Fantasy, offered on sale at the end of the month. However, she isn't on board with some of the paranormal stories that I have in progress. I respect that but I believe in myself or at least I'm willing to gamble on myself. If you don't believe in yourself, how do you expect anybody else to. Become your own fan and leave the blocks where they're supposed to be…in the playbox.