Bev Pettersen's Blog, page 113
June 5, 2014
Self Publishing- Promotion-Let’s Get Down and Dirty
PROMO–HELLO WORLD, I HAVE A BOOK I WANT YOU TO BUY!!!!
So you’ve written the book, edited it to within an inch of its life (BTW—I have a fantastic new editor who edits for content and grammar, her name is Jessica—check her out http://www.theeditingchick.com), your manuscript is formatted, you posted it on Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes. Now, it’s time to sit back and rake in the cash…right?
Well…um yes…and no.
While there are many eager readers who are waiting with bated breath to get their hands on y...
June 4, 2014
First Timer at BEA
A week ago today I was in NYC at the 2014 BookExpo America. Wow — what an experience! It was…in a word…exhausting. I’m no shrinking violet, but I have to say that I’m glad I was only there for one pre-day and one day. Anything more would have just been too much. But it was awesome. An amazing experience and a book lover’s dream.
Did you hear what NPH said? His autobiography is a choose-your-own-ending. How awesome is that?! Needless to say, I must read this. I got a free sampler copy signed by...
June 3, 2014
YOU MAY BE A WRITER IF:
You go to work in your PJs.
GMC means something different than a vehicle.
You buy chocolate in bulk.
You’re at a restaurant brainstorming/plotting and a guy comes to your table, shows you his badge and wants to know who you’re plotting to kill.
You visit the White House only to ask the Secret Service Agents questions.
When you think of Pirates it isn’t the kind that sail the seven seas.
You have conversations with, clothes shop, and cook meals for characters who only exist in...
June 2, 2014
Pipe Dreams, TV, and Random Research
A writer looking out the window is a writer at work. A writer sitting on a bench eavesdropping on a conversation is a writer at work. Even a writercrammed into a tiny, clutteredspace searching the internet while a catwiggleshis way into more and more of her chairis a writer at work—as you can see. The list of things writers do that others see as wasting time or daydreaming is endless.
However, sometimes, even for writers, daydreaming is just daydreaming.
This is a healthy thing. It’s abroomthat...
June 1, 2014
Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Suzanne Kaufman Kalb, writing as Erika Kelly!
Suzanne / Erika is already a Golden Heart WINNER: she took the big prize in 2011 in Young Adult Romance for IRRESISTIBLE. She’s a UCLA graduate in English Lit (which breaks our recent streak of finalists with science backgrounds), and has been writing for years—plays, screenplays, short stories, novellas, and was one of the contributors to the book A Cup of Comfo...
May 29, 2014
SELLING 101- Blurbs
Your book is written, polished and edited. Now comes the moment when you need to hook an agent, editor or buyers on your book in a few short lines. After spending months writing your story, you might be knocking your head against the wall trying to decide how to condense everything wonderful about your work into what, approximately one-hundred words.
You’re not alone.
Writing blurbs commands a different mindset. Instead of adding layers we need to get out the filet knife and cut away all the...
May 28, 2014
Crowd-Sourcing Research: Name Your Favorite Source(s)!
I write medieval romance. That means doing research–and lots of it. I can’t make any assumptions about the places where my books are set. I’ve been to England–the setting for my current manuscript–several times, but tracts of English countryside that may have been forested for the past 500 years may have been pastureland in the 12th century, the time period of my current manuscript. And if my characters in 12th century Norfolk pick up a fork to eat, readers in the know will question every oth...
May 27, 2014
Meet 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Asa Maria Bradley!
Originally a native of Sweden, Åsa came to the U.S. as a high school exchange student and stayed for the next couple of decades and a few more degrees. She’s our second Golden Heart guest in a row who’s a scientist as well as a romance writer: Åsa has a Masters in Medical Physics, worked in the IT industry, and now teaches physics at a community college.
A few years ago, she took a partial leave from h...
May 26, 2014
Ruby Tuesday: Diana Layne
It’s Ruby Tuesday, folks! Time to sit down with another of our delightful Rubies and get to know her a little better. Today we are joined by the lovely and talented Diana Layne, one of our tenacious Texan ladies. Take it away, Di!
Name: Diana Layne
2009 GH Category & Title: Romantic Suspense: Trust No One
What Happened to That Book: published at Amazon
Website: www.dianalayne.com
What subgenre(s) do you write? I write historical romances and contemporary romantic suspense, although they are heavy...
