Katheryn Lane's Blog, page 13

Free Love for Valentine's Day!

With Valentine's Day coming up on the 14th, what could be better than some free romance novels? To celebrate, I'm offering everyone the chance to win two FREE ebooks!

The first is Lucky Ducks by Jan Romes. It's a fun, fast contemporary romance "that will make you smile over and over again. Highly recommend!" (Amazon reviewer)









The second is another page-turner, my very own contemporary romance, The Royal Sheikh, a "romance roller coaster!" (Amazon reviewer)











So how can you win not just one, but two free romances this Valentine's Day?

It's simple. Just leave a comment below with your contact details before February 14th and follow this blog. Out of the people that comment, one lucky person will be selected to receive both books. How simple is that?

If you would like to win even more great books and other free gifts, visit some of the other blogs taking part in the Follower Love Giveaway Hop! Click HERE for the complete list.



Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Lots of Free Love to Celebrate Valentine's Day this February!

With Valentine's Day, February is the month of love, so I'm giving everyone heaps of chances to win some FREE romance novels this month with not just one, but four giveaways! Here's how you can win loads of great romance this month:

 



1.  I am part of this month's Follower Love Giveaway Hop!  Early next week details will be posted on this blog explaining how you can win a free copy of The Royal Sheikh, plus a free copy of Lucky Ducks by Jan Romes. Also, if you visit the other participating blogs you could win HUNDREDS of other free books and gifts!

2. Beauty Brite are giving away a free copy of The Royal Sheikh as part of the Book Bonanza 2012.   Click HERE to enter and you could win not only The Royal Sheikh, but dozens of other great books as well.  

3. On Tuesday 7th February I'll be over at Coffee Time Romance's blog, Coffee Thoughts, for their February Fairy Tale Romances party talking about The Royal Sheikh and giving away two free copies of my book.

4. On Thursday 9th February I'm at I Am A Reader Not A Writer talking about what I'm up to at the moment and what my guilty pleasures are! I'm also giving away three copies of my book.

In addition, The Royal Sheikh is this week's Romance of the Week at Kindle Nation Daily. What a great month!

Hope and Success: An Interview with Bestselling Romance Author, T. M. Souders

I'm so pleased to have T. M. Souders, another fantastic romance author on this blog.  First of all, congratulations on the success of your bestselling novel, Waiting On Hope. For people who haven't read it yet, could you tell us a bit about it?



Waiting On Hope is about a woman who was raped by her best friend's husband and discovers she's pregnant. Unable to stay in an apartment filled with the memories of what happened, she flees to her parent's house in rural Ohio; however, when she arrives home, she discovers that healing is not easy because she has to deal with the past she left behind. Ten years earlier, she abruptly abandoned a heartbroken fiancé and devastated younger brother. Now she is forced to face not only the ghosts of her past, but also the reality of her pregnancy. Waiting On Hope is all about finding hope and the resiliency of the human spirit.



What do you think have been the biggest factors in the success of Waiting On Hope? Have you done blog promotions, facebook, twitter, giveaways, advertising, reviews etc. Would you be able to say how many copies you've sold?



Including the downloads on a 2 day "freebie" period, I have sold over 51,000 books.



Honestly, I think success is based on all of the above. First, you need a good book, which will be appealing to the public, a great cover and a good blurb. The rest is all about social networking and all of the things listed above. Marketing and promoting yourself and your book is difficult, but it's an endless journey.



Who is your favourite character in the book?

Lexie, the main character. She is the epitome of strength.





Can I ask what 'T. M.' stands for?

I usually go by Tia. "M" is for my middle name.



I believe you are currently working on a young adult (YA) novel. Could you tell us something about it?

Yes! The title is Freedom Road and it is a YA/Crossover novel. I'm pleased to say that it is currently with my editor and, if all goes well, it will be available mid-March. Here's a bit about the premise: Following a tragic accident, Samantha Becker's life is turned upside down. Ten years later, her mother's an alcoholic and her father has all but turned his back on her. Music is her constant solace, and she dreams of attending school at Juilliard. Her tyrannical father, however, has other plans and will do anything to stop her.





When you are not writing, what do you like doing in your free time?

In my free time, two things occupy my time, playing with my kids and spending time with my husband.



What advice do you have for other authors out there?



Be patient, and don't compare yourself to other authors.





Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

My website is http://tmsouders.com/



My blog is http://tmsouders.com/blog/



My twitter handle is @TMSouders



My Amazon Author Page is http://www.amazon.com/T.M.-Souders/e/B005CVOAXA/

Thank you so much Tia for coming here and telling us about your great book, Waiting On Hope. Please let us know when your next book, Freedom Road, comes out. 

Want a Hot Summer? Meet Bestselling Romance Author, Judy Powell

Today, I'm so pleased to be able to welcome the fantastic romance author, Judy Powell.  First of all Judy, congratulations on the wonderful success of your bestselling romance, Hot Summer!  For people who haven't read it yet, could you tell us a bit about it?



Thank you so much for having me, Katheryn! Hot Summer is the story of Summer Jones, a feisty graduate student who meets Lance Munroe, a big shot record producer who just rubs her the wrong way.  To Summer's chagrin, circumstances drive her to accept a job working for him.  As hard as she tries, she can't deny her growing attraction for him.  Lance, for his part, is intrigued by the petite hot-tempered woman who seems to feel she is a match for him.  But it is when they go on a business trip to Jamaica that he realizes that he's lost the battle.  He's lost his heart to the little tigress.  It's a roller coaster romance full of conflict and passion.



 What do you think have been the biggest factors in the success of Hot Summer?

Hot Summer has received positive reviews from book clubs and individuals, for which I am truly grateful.  However, even though reviews are important, I believe the biggest factor in the success of Hot Summer has been the support I received from websites like ereadernewstoday.com, pixelofink.com, and ebooksforabuck.com.  I also attribute the book's success to bloggers like you, who have been so kind as to interview me and allow me to speak about my book.  Price is important as well.  For a writer who does not already have a name in the marketplace, an attractive (low) price can help.  For such a writer it would probably not be advisable to go over $ 2.99 at the outset.  I have kept Hot Summer at $0.99 to make it super attractive.  And let's not forget the importance of an attractive book cover!





I believe you originally published Hot Summer in 2005. What made you decide to republish it?



Yes, I do have a print version which was published a few years ago.  However, with the growth of e-books I decided to produce an updated version for those who would like to download the book to electronic devices.  This has resulted in an upsurge in interest for my novel.  I am able to reach far more readers with the e-book.  I am also able to offer a far more attractive price – only $0.99.  I am happy that my novel is now reaching so many new readers.



The 2005 edition of Hot Summer had a different cover. Why did you decide to change it for the 2011 edition and do you think it made a difference to sales?

I decided to change the original cover (girl in bikini) because a couple of my readers indicated that they expected erotica.  Hot Summer is a contemporary romance, not erotica, so rather than mislead my readers I decided to give the cover a more contemporary feel.  That is the beauty of e-books.  They are dynamic and can be changed at a moment's notice, as often as the author or publisher desires.  I do believe the new cover has helped sales.  The current cover provides a more accurate tone for the book and the clean beach image is appealing.  





Who designed the great cover for the 2011 edition?

My cover artist, Dara England, delivered on her promise of an attractive cover. She's provided me with three beautiful covers so far.  Dara may be found at mycoverart.wordpress.com.



What are you working on at the moment? 

I am currently working on a ghost-writing project for a client from New York.





When you are not writing, what do you like doing in your free time?

In my free time (and even when I'm not free) I love to read.  When I can't find time to read a hard copy or e-book I listen to audio books on CD's.  I go through several books a month while driving in the car or doing house work.  When I'm not reading I love to study (i.e. enrol in a course of study).  I absolutely love to learn.  I wish someone would pay me to do that.





What advice do you have for other authors out there? 

My number one piece of advice is to set deadlines for yourself.  I am the queen of procrastination so I know the importance of deadlines.  A deadline is great for focusing the mind so you can stay on track with projects.   Second, read other works in your targeted genre (particularly best-selling works) to get a feel for what appeals to the market.  Third, work with writing buddies, if possible – as long as they are supportive of your efforts.  There is a synergy that can be gained from working with others with a similar interest.  





Finally, do you have any parting comments that you would like to share with us?

Yes.  I would like to encourage authors to write the book of their heart.  If there is a particular genre or subject that holds great appeal for you please translate your passion for that idea into a book.  Your readers will feel your passion and come to love your book as you do.  Some authors may have experienced rejection from publishers, as I have.  Do not let that shake your faith but continue to work at your project, polish it to the best of your ability and get it out there so that readers can find you.  Then promote, promote, promote!  The growth of e-books has opened a world of possibilities.  Take advantage of that.





Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

I invite readers to visit my website at www.judypowell.com and if that's not enough, my personal contact information is there.  Readers should feel free to e-mail me or give me a call.  I would be happy to share further details on my journey as an author in the Amazon.com kindle store.





Thank you so much Judy for telling us about your great book, and also for your generous encouragement, advice and help!

Sweet!

Thank you so much to two great romance authors, Paula Martin and K.E. Saxon, for giving me the Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award!  In return, I need to give 7 facts about myself, nominate 10 other blogs and let them know that I've done so.



The 7 facts:



1. I love peanut butter, mayonnaise, banana and lettuce sandwiches.

2. My husband hates them, so I eat them when he's not around.

3. My favourite story of all time is not actually a romance, but a satire called The Nose, a short story by the nineteenth century Russian writer, Gogol.

4. My favourite story when I was a child was A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

4. I love ballet! My favourite one is Manon.

5. I am one part Cherokee (a very small part).

6. I like to go ice-skating in my free time.

7. I once ███ at a ████ (This comment has been censored) 



The 10 great blogs



Tears of Crimson

Christy English

Lili Tufel

A Writer's Life With Liz Fielding

Tea Leaves

I Am A Reader Not A Writer

L.O.V.E.

Allison Merritt

Zen and the Art of Tightrope Walking

Lone Star Parson



Have a great weekend everyone and watch this space as I have several interviews coming up with some wonderful, bestselling romance authors!

Don't Read This If You Have The Flu!

I dreamt the other night that most of the world had died overnight in a terrible flu epidemic and I hadn't even see Contagion!  However, I had seen M. R. Cornelius' novel H10N1, a post-apocalyptic thriller about a flu pandemic gone awry, so I invited Cornelius to come and discuss the novel and hopefully put some of my fears to rest. . .







First, what inspired you to write H10N1?I've read a few books on pandemics, like Outbreak and Hot Zone, which tell how a pandemic gets started, spreads, and finally gets stopped. I decided to leap over the preliminaries and get right to the heart of the matter: what happens when an epidemic doesn't get stopped?





So H10N1 is about a pandemic after it is out of control.Exactly. H10N1 begins when a lot of the population is dead. With no workforce, power plants are unmanned so there's no means of communication; police and fire departments have collapsed so no one is safe; looters are scavenging everything from big-screen TVs to canned peas.



My two main characters, a female doctor and a male delivery driver are thrown together during a midnight escape from the madness. They go through a lot of harrowing adventures while they search for a safe haven, not just from the virus, but from the marauders out there. It's a bit like the early pioneers who made their way west. Each day could be their last.



What does the title mean?H10N1 is a play on words. Back in 2008, a minor epidemic of flu spread. Instead of calling it Swine Flu or the Hong Kong Flu, the media labelled the virus H1N1. I decided to ramp up the fright factor by calling my virus H10 N1, like it was ten times worse.





How did you get started writing?My interest in writing began at my college newspaper. This was during the Vietnam War protests, so spending every waking hour at the newspaper was much more exciting than attending classes. My grades showed it.



Once I finally got my journalism degree, I couldn't find a job in that field. I worked all around it, first in the advertising department of a newspaper, and later as a production manager for a small alternative publication. When my children were born, and I was at home, I tried my hand at freelance writing for newspapers and magazines, but I found that I was spending a lot of time sending out proposals when all I wanted to do was write.



It's ironic. Now that I have a book published, I'm spending a lot of time marketing my novel, when I'd still rather be writing.

What are you working on at the moment?My next book is due in May 2012. It's called 'The Ups and Downs of Being Dead'.



It's about 57 year-old Robert Malone, who is the CEO of a successful clothing store chain and married to a former model. When he finds out he's dying of cancer, he refuses to go quietly. Instead of death, Robert chooses cryonics. He knows it's a long shot: being frozen, his body stored in some deep freeze, and then waking up in the future. But he's willing to take that gamble.



What he doesn't realize is that he won't lie in some dreamless state. His soul is awake. He can hang around the Louvre after it closes, but if someone turns out the lights, he can't flip the switch to turn them back on. He can stand right next to someone, but he can't keep them from stepping in front of a bus. He doesn't work, or eat, or sleep.For the next 75 years, Robert will be in limbo, waiting to be reanimated, and learning 'The Ups and Downs of Being Dead'.





Thank you very much for coming here and telling us about your novels. Let's hope we don't all catch the flu!

BiographyCornelius lives in the countryside north of Atlanta, where the coyotes howl at night, and the nearest shopping center is 30 minutes away.



You can visit Cornelius at www.MRCornelius.com

and follow on Twitter @MarshaCornelius



 

Meet Catherine Bybee: Amazon, USA Today and WSJ Bestselling Romance Author

[image error] I can't tell you how excited I am to be interviewing Catherine Bybee on this blog!  First of all Catherine, congratulations on the huge success of your number 1, bestselling romance, Wife by Wednesday .  Without giving too much away, could you tell us a little bit about it?

Wife by Wednesday combines a historical romance theme; dashing Duke needs a wife to inherit his father's wealth, and meshes it with a modern setting of a contemporary romance. A sexy hero and snarky heroine with a ton of honesty and this romance takes off.


What do you think have been the biggest factors in the massive success of Wife by Wednesday ?   

I have a couple of theories of why Wife by Wednesday has done so well. First, I hit the promo at a run. I tweeted, and not just for the purpose of getting people to buy my book, but to chat and connect with readers and other writers. I did lower the price which made it easy for new readers of Catherine Bybee to give it a try. I feel this made a big difference in the long run. Once I made it onto the top 100 books on Kindle the book sold itself.

The cover is amazing, and it has helped my sales. Bad cover = Bad sales.

The blurb is catchy and I do think the book itself delivers what I say it will. A quick, sexy read with a HEA that will keep you smiling.
I did do a book tour for a couple of months and found new places to travel online. I had review after review that praised the book. All of these things help and I'm incredible lucky this story resonated with my readers.

As for sales… let's just say that I've reached nearly 200,000 readers with this book so far.


Wow! That's a lot of books! Your seven other novels were mainly published by Wild Rose Press .  Why did you decide to self-publish Wife by Wednesday ?
I decided to go solo on Wife by Wednesday because I have yet to see a contemporary romance soar to the top of the charts with a small press. Having freedom to lower the price of the book and force the book to be in print isn't something you can do when a publisher owns the rights. Now that I've seen the success being an Indie published author can achieve, I'm going to stick with this method for a while. I've hired an editor and a person who can format my books for me to free up my time to write. I already have an amazing cover artist.


Are there any plans to make Wife by Wednesday into a movie and who would you choose to star as the hero, Blake Harrison, and the heroine, Samantha Elliot?  
No plans yet, but I am on the lookout for a producer. This is the perfect book for a chick-flick. LOL – As for Hollywood Talent… Lord, I'm not sure I can answer that. I think I'll ask my readers who they see as Blake and Samantha.


I love the design of your book cover for Wife by Wednesday .  Can I ask who did it?  
Crystal Posey. She designed my website as well. Amazing isn't she?


She certainly is! What are you working on at the moment?  
I am in final edits of Highland Shifter, the 4th book in my time travel series. I'm super excited to be self publishing the next three books in this series. I won't be letting them go for a buck a book, however… but they are so worth a few extra dollars. I can't wait to share Simon's story with the world.

Married by Monday, a follow up to Wife, will be out in the very near future. And then there is Fiancée by Friday which will come later this year.

When you are not writing, what do you like doing in your free time?  
My family and I travel a lot. You'll hear me talking about 'The Big Rolling Turd' this is our RV and if you've ever seen the movie with Robin Williams, you'll understand the term. Follow me on twitter and the hashtag #BRT and you'll hear all about our RV adventures.


What advice do you have for other authors out there?  

Keep writing. Do you know how many authors call themselves writers but they seldom sit down to actually write? A ton.

And don't think for a moment that you can be a successful author and not be heavy on the promotion and marketing end of this job. It's all part of the same pie.


Finally, do you have any parting comments that you would like to share with us?
Of course… buy my books. LOL – No, how about "Pay it forward"… If you read a book you like, write a review and tell a friend.

I hope to see my readers at either the Romantic Times Convention in Chicago this spring or at RWA Nationals in California this summer.


Where can readers find out more about you and your books?
If you Google 'Catherine Bybee' you'll find me everywhere.

Website: www.CatherineBybee.com
Twitter: @catherinebybee
Facebook: Both a fan page and a public profile under Catherine Bybee

Thanks for the interview!

Thank you so much Catherine for taking the time to come here and tell us about yourself and your great books.  I hope 2012 will be even more successful for you!

How to Create a Great Book Cover

A great book needs a great book cover.  However, for many authors, like me, designing a cover that is even half-decent can be a frustrating challenge. Therefore, when I saw H. S. St.Ours stunning book cover mentioned on my page, Great Book Covers, and found out that he had done it all himself, I asked him if he was willing to share his expertise and luckily he said 'Yes'!  Below is one of the most useful and inspiring guides I have read on how to design a winning book cover.  I hope you find it helpful too.


Thanks, Katheryn, for the opportunity to talk with your readers about great book cover design.
Hi everyone! I'm H.S. St.Ours, and I wrote Little Women - Young Moon, a young adult, sci-fi adventure for girls. I absolutely love book cover design as an art form, and was thrilled to find Katheryn's site showcasing great covers.
Even though we know we shouldn't, we all judge a book by its cover. At least initially. That's why choosing (or designing) the right cover is so important. For generations, most authors have relied on publishers to provide the professional insight and expertise necessary for their cover designs, and there are, of course, hundreds of extremely talented professionals who make magic every day. One of my favorite book cover designers is Chipp Kidd (Google him), who designed some of my favorite covers of all time and who also wrote the great novel, The CheeseMonkeys. I like it when designers can write too (and vice versa!)

Most folks are too shy or think they have no talent to create a good cover. But I believe that, with a little effort, everyone can. Especially in today's self-publishing world, I find multi-talented people everywhere, and I think part of the fun and excitement for indie authors is to evoke just the right sense of mood by building their own cover. It's not hard, really, but it takes a little skill and practice.
The first step, of course is that you must do your homework. Look at hundreds of covers and focus on their used of color, photos and type, until you get a sense of what works for you and what falls flat. You'll see a great variety of styles and techniques, so take note of the ones that work, and try to ask "Why?" Does a complicated design get your attention, or do you prefer something bold and simple? Does the cover have to have a face fill the space to get you to look inside, or is a montage of designs, assembled together, more your style. There are as many different approaches as there are designers.
Remember, the cover is the visual equivalent of your blurb - that 30-second "elevator pitch" you've been practicing for months to get folks interested in reading your book when you answer their question: "What's your book about?" A cover has an even more immediate impact than a blurb. It's visceral, and cuts right through all the senses to create an instant impression.
No one knows your work better than you, so why try to explain it to a designer if you can do it yourself? If you have even just a little experience with drawing or sketching, you should be able to distill your cover idea in a few iterations. Even if you do decide to have a designer create your cover later (and most publishers will insist upon it) at least you can present some ideas to help them get going. As a professional designer myself, I find it enormously helpful when clients can express their thoughts visually.
The most important tip I can pass on to you that might help make your cover great is: go for big, bold graphics. Whether your book is offered only online, or is piled high in a stack at your local book monger's, you'll want it to stand out. Overly complicated covers can work, if you can get your audience to slow down and look, but usually a moment's glance is all you'll get. So make the best of that time.
I began designing the cover of my current book, Little Women - Young Moon, early on in the process. I am a traditional artist by training, having studied sculpture and painting long before I began writing, so I think I have a good sense of the value of drawing as a communication medium. I used sketching to help me visualize my main characters and important plot points.
The novel is a saga of the terraforming of the worlds of the Inner Solar System as seen through the eyes of generations of young women. Young Moon is a talented and extraordinary girl, born in North Korea in the near future, who'd like nothing more than to be left alone to talk to the visions she sees in her drawings -- visions that come to warn her of an impending catastrophe. So it made sense to me, initially, to use a drawing for the cover.

I loved my original drawing. It encapsulated everything I thought was compelling and mysterious about my character, including the launch of a fateful rocket, and the image of dragons -- a recurring theme in her drawings. I used Photoshop, which, like many designers, is a tool I have been comfortable with for decades. (Too many people think Photoshop will do the art for them, but it won't. It's only a tool -- a powerful one, for sure,  but nevertheless, a tool.) I scanned my drawing, opening the file into Photoshop, then added some text, experimenting with different type faces until I found the one that "felt" right. I was very happy with the results. But it simply didn't look right on Amazon's Website. The reduction scheme they use to place a thumbnail of the cover on the book's page made it look too pixellated. After a few weeks of looking at it there, I decided to try again.

I enlarged the character's head, eliminating the other complex elements, and re-designed the text to make the scene more readable. The composition was tighter, now, and more focused, and it had a mysterious, brooding quality that I loved. I was again very happy with the results, I but it still didn't "read" right on the book's Amazon's page, and of course, that's where it's most important. Much of the detail was lost, and the fine gradients and subtle colors were completely lost. After a few weeks, I decided it was time to return to the proverbial drawing board.


This time, I decided to use a photo for the main character rather than a drawing. I went to the professional stock photo site photos.com, and researched models who had the look I wanted. I found just the one and bought the photo. I layered the text using a slightly different font, and posted it. My satisfaction with the design only lasted a few days, though. Somehow, it conveyed more of a romance novel quality than I wanted. Although there is a good bit of romance in all of my adventure stories, an actual photo turned out to not be the right choice for Little Women - YoungMoon.
Here, it's important for me to say a word about copyrights. Please, do not steal images from the Web, or download poor quality images from the so-called "free" stock photo Web sites. When you want professional results, you must pay-to-play. Remember, if your book hits big, your cover will be seen by thousands, and trust me, someone will notice and check on your rights. Don't get in trouble by using images for which you do not have the rights.

Meanwhile, my search for the perfect cover design went on. My maxim has always been: Keep it Simple. So I wondered, what was it that could best express the excitement, romance and mystery of my novel? What theme ran through the book that might be symbolic of the story, and still entice potential readers? I fell upon the dragon. My original, hand-drawn dragon was too cartoon like, too much of a caricature, to use as the symbol I wanted, so it was back to my favorite stock photo sites to research dragons, where I found (and purchased) one that was just right. I re-drew it with pencil, then scanned the image and opened it into Photoshop. After cleaning up the design a bit, I knew I was on to something. I stylized the lines, filled it with solid color, and now had the "logo" element I wanted.


It was time to add the background and text, and complete my cover composition. For the background, I wanted something with texture and appeal. I try to avoid white or very light pastels, as they don't always show up very well as a background. First, I tried leather. I scanned an old piece I had, then sized and cropped it into a standard book size. There are many formats to choose from, but I recommend you simply measure one of your favorite books and use that size.
I composed the text and the dragon element so it dominated the composition, and reduced the opacity of these layers to about 80% of original, so some of the background texture from the leather would show through. I used a pillow emboss to give the floating layers a feeling like they were "pressed" into the surface of the leather. Photoshop users: you can find this effect in the Layer menu. Use the path Layers>Effects>Bevel & Emboss, then choose "Pillow Emboss" from the pop-up style option.
I made sure the text was large and filled almost the entire width. After all, I want it to be visible even if reduced to postage stamp-size. The results were very pleasing, but again, the true test was: how did it look posted? Alas, Amazon's reduction process again made this cover hard to read, and I had to change the design once again, but I knew I was on the right track.

I decided the best approach to avoid the constant cover distortion on Amazon's Web site was to use bright, bold colors and a simple design. I scanned a beautiful piece of board in my art papers collection, and used that for the background instead of the leather (which I still like and may use for a hardbound edition someday). It had much less texture, but was still wonderfully rich and had a great, natural color. You can almost "feel" the surface with your eyes, and that's great for cover design: it makes you want to pick the book up and hold it. The color combination was easy for me: I wanted blood red to symbolize adventure, so I chose a deep, sanguine hue. Finally, the result was not only pleasing, but readable on all counts.
Now, the sequels will have a theme that I can easily match. I need only change the background texture, title and symbol for each subsequent adventure ("Little Women - Sami" is due this spring!) I also placed a copy of my cover on the first page of my ebook. Since I self-publish, there is no other mechanism for readers to see a large version of the cover -- until it's picked up by a traditional print publisher, of course!
Over the past few months, while LittleWomen - Young Moon has been gathering excitement and picking up sales, I have changed the cover a half dozen times, always tweaking the look,. Now I have what I consider to be the best, final result. As for the previous covers, I think of them as "collectible variants," and am equally happy to have them out there.
So don't be afraid to design your own cover. You might find you have a whole, new talent. Just don't let it distract you from finishing that manuscript!
All the best to this great community! H.S. St.Ours
Little Women - Young Moon is available from Amazon
H.S. St.Ours lives and writes in Maryland.Friend on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hsstoursFollow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hsstoursSubscribe to his blog: http://littlewomen.me/

Murder, Mystery and God, Part II

Welcome back Philip. It's great to have you here again!  Since we last spoke, what have you been up to?

Hello again, Katheryn.

It is hard to believe that only two months have gone by since your last interview, yet so many exciting have happened. Shortly after the interview, I was approached by the American writer, Dennis Sheehan, (Author of the political thriller Purchased Power), who invited me to participate in The Writers Collection. Dennis has brought ten writers together and every week each posts a short story on a given subject. Yes, I did say every week, which makes this a demanding commitment, but it is fascinating to see how each writer tackles the different and diverse subjects. I hope your followers will click the link below and enjoy these short stories. The Writers Collection has been published for five weeks now, and the subjects have been Brazil, Christmas, Henry VIII, The Horse, and most recently, Beaches. As I say, the contributors are given the title but what followers is a fascinating and diverse collection of entertaining short stories. This week's title is "Brotherswater" which I think has been the most challenging to date. Still, my submission is in and by the time this interview is posted, it will be available. It would help if your followers would click the links at the end of the stories.


You have recently published, 'C. V. A. A hard way back'.  Could you tell ussomething about it?

This is where my writing ambitions started. In your last interview, I mentioned that I had my first stroke at the age of 30 while serving as a policeman. I wasn't expected to live 30 minutes yet 30 years have elapsed since! Originally, I intended to write a straightforward biographical account with the title, "A Step out of Stroke."'C.V.A. A hard way back' is the same story, but instead of a day by day diary, the project underwent a complete revision. I now describe it as a bio-novel.It has all the ingredients that a novel should have. There are parts that I hope will make you laugh out loud; there are parts where you will need a tissue box. C.V.A. or Cerebral Vascular Accident was the way the stroke was described by doctors, and, as the story explains, these initials meant something entirely differentto the patient. The consequences proved to be humorously confusing! You are not meant to take this account of the illness too seriously, after all, at the time it happened, I didn't!


Your books, Who Else Is There? and Suffer Little Children are part of the Mike Newman series.  Are you planning to write more books in this series?

Yes, I have to. Writing has become a bug, an obsession, an infection if you like. I wish I had started years ago. I have Mike Newman for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As far as Mike Newman is concerned, there are still bad guys out there. He seems to be having a hard time convincing those closest to him. Even if there is never another crime in Hartingham, Mike still has plenty to sort out. The poor guy can't seem to get his relationships right, he still has to account for a missing wife, so if I felt inclined towards writing a romance, the material is there. One reader mentioned that she liked crime, paranormal, suspense and romance novels, but had never expected these diverse genres to be presented so convincingly in one book. That is until she read Who Else is There?


If your books are turned into a film or televised, who would you choose to play the lead role of Mike Newman?
Oh dear, now you have found out my weakness. I rarely watch contemporary television and haven't been to the cinema since the third Harry Potter! I have no interest in the plethora of television soaps that are currently broadcast. Most of our viewing tends towards our collection of 1980s comedies on DVD. Yesterday evening, for instance, our television was dominated by recordings of the archaeological programme "Time Team" presented by Tony Robinson, (Baldrick in the Blackadder series) followed by an episode of "Only Fools and Horses" on DVD. Now there's a thought. David Jason as "Frost" was the most convincing screen detective I've ever seen, whereas Rowan Atkinson in the Thin Blue Line reminded me of a real police inspector that I once worked with.By coincidence, as I write this, my wife is loading Agatha Christie's "Body in the Library" into the DVD player, (Joan Hickson as Miss Marple). D

Your Mike Newman books have received fantastic reviews.  What do you think is the key to writing a great story?
Again, Katheryn, this is a question that is difficult to answer. I was stunned by the first of the5 star reviews for Who Else is There? I was surprised to see the second, delighted by the third, intrigued by the fourth and they have kept on coming.  What seems to be a recurring theme in the reviews are remarks made about the realism of my characters. This is something I was careful to work on, even to the extent of using a spread sheet to chart their ages, mannerisms and peculiarities. Each person has unique speech mannerisms and realistic habits which are occasionally repeated in different settings.(Bearing in mind that the novels are set in the early 1980s, for example, you will get to know what happens every time Sandra gets near a trim-phone with its coiled cord!) This way, perhaps as the series progresses, my readers will get to know the characters personally. Several reviewers also suggest that the novel, "Grips and doesn't let go!" That has to be the second key. Our readers need a reason to turn the pages or press the button on the Kindle. But 5 star successes aren't everything. Sometimes, realism can be difficult to handle.

I have received some criticism for the level of violence in my books, despite the warning that I have placed on the Amazon sell page, but there is remarkably little descriptive contemporary violence in the novel. Instead, the violence is inferred by the normal process of medical examination and police investigation. I'm not sure why this should be more disturbing or effective than the traditional "blow by blow" narrative, but it is. Too many investigative crime novels make light of crime. Mine do not, nor do they glorify it.Having been a police officer myself, I suppose I have a greater awareness of the aftermath of crime with the devastating affects it has on victims and even the investigating officers. My novels do not offer escapism but, as are my paintings, the style is realism.


What are you reading at the moment?

I am just about to finish Purchased Power, which is an intriguing thriller by Dennis Sheehan, which I mentioned before. I will be starting a new novel by Jack Durish, Rebels on the Mountain. Jack is also writing for The Writers Collection. I would think, anyone who has served in the US forces, will be moved by his stories. My Kindle is rapidly filling with unread books, so I doubt that I will ever be stuck for reading material. If I were, then I would read my well-thumbed Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. Even after a dozen or more times of reading, I am still intrigued by this story.


When you are not writing or reading, I recall that like me, you enjoy going to the ballet. Have you been recently?
Passionate about the ballet would be an apt description. I am fortunate to have married someone who shares my passion, so we attend every performance, class and rehearsal that we can. We live just 30 miles from the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet.This is amongst the best, if not the best ballet company in the world.  The Nutcracker is their traditional Christmas performance, and the scenery change as Clara shrinks to mouse sizeis breath-taking and utterly believable. This is achieved live on stage. Obviously, the dancer cannot shrink, but the scenery "grows", usually to rapturous applause.

My passion for the ballet is reflected in some of my paintings. Marion Tait, who I first saw dance in 1982, and have seen on countless occasions since, was recently appointed to assistant director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Marion has assured me on more than one occasion that my painting of her in the role of The Sugar Plum Fairy still hangs on her wall. (I don't know which wall. I dare not ask in case it's the outside shed.)


What else have you been doing in your free time?
This question brings to mind my youngest daughter, (Sammy in C.V.A.). Sammy (this is not her real name of course) spent her Saturday mornings at Orchestra practice playing the viola and the rest of the weekend at our caravan in Wales, riding and grooming a horse with her friend, Monday evenings at the Girl Guides, Wednesdays, orchestra practice and a signing for the deaf class, followed by a youth club, Thursdays was Judo and Fridays, St Johns Ambulance. This left Tuesday evenings when we would get together as a family, play a board game or two before settling down to an evening of television. We called this "our free time." We were horrified when her teacher called us into the school. We sat through a stern lecture about the need to "push" our bright and intelligent daughter. We learned that Sammy had been given an activity questionnaire.  In response to the question, "How do you occupy your spare time?" Sammy had written, "I curl up on the settee and watch television."
I don't know whether your readers will have seen the photographs I placed on FaceBook. Two show our garden with its Christmas display, the other, our table with its fourteen place settings ready for our family dinner. Christmas is a special time for us. It was twenty years ago this Christmas that I proposed and I thank God every day that my dear wife said "Yes".  Family happens to be the most important word in my vocabulary.

At her choice, I stress that because it has never been mine, as did everyone else in my previous family, Sammy and I became estranged over twenty one years ago with the breakup of my first marriage. I have not seen her since. She was in touch a few years ago because she had heard that I was seriously ill, which at the time, I was. A few months later my first grandchild, a girl, came into this world through what I am told, was a difficult pregnancy. That is all I do know. In a few days, my first grandchild will be four. Despite the contact we had at the time, my daughter has refused to let us meet. Now, you will have to use your imagination, because quite simply, I don't know what words I can use to describe the way I feel. The story is worthy of a novel in its own right. At various times in my life, I have said, "Believe whatever suits you to believe," but nowadays I add, "but sometimes, what you believe can get in the way of the truth."

I shall stress that I have never turned away from, or abandoned my previous family, but the gulf that separates us cannot be bridged from one side alone. That said, I live happily in the midst of a loving, close and supportive family, in which God has played a major part. Six others call me Granddad and in a few months, I shall see the oldest of them marry. If my previously family prefer not to share in my joy, that is their free choice. It will never be mine.


Do you have any parting comments?
Katheryn, what has amazed me most of all since my first novel was published just six months ago, is the  tremendous encouragement and overwhelming support that I have received from countless people that I have never met. You are first amongst them, but the list is growing daily. I hope and pray that I will never shirk from returning that support whenever and wherever possible. Thank you once again for choosing me to interview for your blog.

I am still hoping to find a publisher or literary agent to help me get the novels into print. Who knows what success this year might bring?


Thank you so much for agreeing to come and speak to me again, and for sharing what you've been up to recently.  Let us know when you find a good publisher or agent.  Let's hope that 2012 is a great year for you and all of us!

For more about Philip Catshill see:

The Writers' Collection A group of the world's talented writers bringing you their new short stories every week, FREE!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PhilipCatshillAuthorandArtist

Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PhilipCatshil

Find him on GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/philipcatshil

Visit his website: http://www.philipcatshill.co.uk

Comment on his blog: http://philipcatshill.blogspot.com

Philip's books are available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Smashwords

Promote Great Books! Make a List!

My Listmania ListI've just recently 'discovered' lists on Amazon.  They've been there all the time staring me in the face and I've even read quite a few of them, so I've no idea why I hadn't thought of making one before myself!  They seem like such a great way to promote other authors, great books (and of course, one's own work!)  Amazon lists come in two forms, 'Listmania' and 'So you'd like to . . .'


'Listmania' seems to be the easier of the two to create.  If you haven't done this before, you should log onto your Amazon account and then go to this link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/createpipeline/ref=cm_lmt_srch_c
Here, you need to type in a title for your list and your qualifications, e.g. I wrote 'romance author'. I don't think it needs to be a detailed resume! After that, in the third box, you can start creating your list.  Just write a brief introduction (there is no minimum number of words, but it has to be less than 2000 characters) and then click on 'Add Product' to add books to your list, or any other Amazon products that you'd like to mention.  If you want to, you can write a little bit about each product in the box that comes up after you have selected an item.


'So you'd like to . . .' is more of a guide than a list, though the process and results are similar. To create a 'So you'd like to . . .' guide you should log onto your Amazon account and then go to this link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/create
This is a very similar page to the 'Listmania' page and again you have to create a title and input your qualifications, only this time you need to write a longer description, 100 words minimum and 5,000 maximum. Within this description you can feature the books you want to promote by clicking on 'Insert product link' (in the same way that you can feature a book when you write a book review on Amazon).
For both types of lists, when you have finished, you have a chance to preview your work before you publish it.  You can also edit or delete the lists anytime after you have published them.  However, I found that locating the lists that I'd made was a bit tricky.  I finally managed it by clicking on 'Your Account' in the top right-hand corner of any Amazon page (once logged in), going to 'Personalisation' and within that, 'Community' at the bottom of the page and then clicking on 'Product  Reviews Written By You'.  This took me to a page where I could locate all my reviews and lists in a panel on the left-hand side of the screen. Alternatively, click on 'Your Lists' on the top right-hand corner, which takes you not to your lists, but to your wish lists.  However, if you then click on 'Your Profile', which now appears under the 'Cart' and 'Your Lists' buttons, you end up at 'Your Profile Page' which displays your reviews, lists and guides.
So far I've written a couple of lists and guides, for example:

Great E-Books Published in 2011

So you'd like to Read a Great Sheikh Romance

So you'd like to Read a Great Indie Romance
If you like them, please share them on Facebook or Twitter by clicking on 'Share with friends' in the top right-hand corner of the list page and then clicking on the Facebook or Twitter icons in the pop-up box.  Thank you! 

Have fun creating your own lists and guides and if you have any that you would like to share, mention them in the comments section below.