Laura McNeill's Blog, page 20
March 20, 2013
Fairhope Library Writers Showcase
Happy Wednesday!
I’m always excited to take part in local author events and book-related programs, so when the fine folks at Fairhope Public Library decided to host their first-ever Writers Showcase, I jumped at the chance to be a part of it!
The Writers Showcase is the brainchild of my friend and fellow writer, Charles McInnis, and I am indebted to Alan Samry, library staff member and published author, for inviting me to be the featured speaker for the evening’s program.
Fairhope Library Showcase Authors
Kat Kennedy, Lauren Clark, Charles McInnis, Elizabeth Phelps,
Alan Samry, and Bob Trammell
After five very talented authors read from their work (ranging from poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and short stories), my job was to talk about my crazy-fun-fabulous path to publishing novels.
I focused my discussion on indie publishing versus traditional publishing with an agent, and how you can find success using either route.
I cited recent information from the Huffington Post—and asked the group how many novels a NEW author with an agent, backed by a traditional publishing house, might expect to sell over the life of that book. The answer, which seemed surprising, ranges from only 2,000 to 5,000 books! In comparison, bestselling authors have to break the 30,000 book barrier. Self-published or “Indie” authors rounded out the Huff Post report, and sell, on average, 100 books with each release.
We also talked about the rise of ebooks versus printed books. For 2012, Amazon recently reported that for every 100 paperback and hardcover books sold, 114 ebooks are downloaded by readers. Certainly, ebooks are here to stay …. and for indie authors like me, those Kindle, Nook, and iBooks account for 80-90% of total sales of Stay Tuned, Dancing Naked in Dixie, and Stardust Summer.
With more than thirty aspiring and published writers, library patrons, and friends in the audience, we had a lively question and answer session about ebook and print book formatting, cover design, branding and image, as well as the importance of blogging, social media, blog tours, and promotion. It was great fun and I SO appreciated the opportunity to share information with the group!
The next Fairhope Library Writers Showcase is scheduled for June 18th, 2013. If you’re interested in participating, I highly encourage you to contact Alan Samry at the Fairhope Library at referencedesk2@fairhopelibrary.org.
Have a great week!
xx, Lauren
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March 18, 2013
Seeds of Wisdom
Happy Monday!
I’m thrilled to be a part of the annual Festival of Flowers fundraiser for Providence Hospital here in Mobile, Alabama.
As the premier flower and garden event of the greater Gulf Coast, the Festival of Flowers attracts more than 15.000-18,000 visitors each year and is extravaganza for the senses—offering splendid floral exhibits, life-size landscaped garden vignettes, and informative seminars.
I spent yesterday afternoon on the Festival grounds, adjusting our first props for the Dancing Naked in Dixie display (see the house shutter, garden trellis, and white column).
Dancing Naked in Dixie will be featured in the Festival’s “Seeds of Wisdom” Display along with seven other authors including Fannie Flagg’s A Redbird Christmas, Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, and Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. The exhibit allows area book clubs, libraries and literary enthusiasts to interpret best-loved southern literary favorites into floral displays.
I’ve had a great time gathering up smaller items for the displays, including the antique maps of Alabama (below), which I found on eBay, and shining up my friend’s silver tea sets to a spectacular polish. We’ll be adding azaleas, hydrangeas, yellow roses, and other floral decor, along with a leg from Royal Barbers!
The most fun this week has been securing that leg to match up with the Dancing Naked in Dixie book cover. The mannequin limb has been kindly loaned out by Bridgette Jerkins, owner of Royal Street Barbers, in Mobile, Alabama. Here’s a photo of Bridgette and one of her customers, as well as a picture of the beloved window display where a friend first saw the leg and called me, saying….. “I’ve found the perfect leg for Dancing Naked in Dixie display!”
Here’s a photo of Bridgette with a loyal customer and her lamp leg in the storefront window.
If you’d like to stop out at the Festival of Flowers and check out the many marvelous displays (300,000 square feet of exhibits!!!), the event runs from Thursday, March 21st through Sunday, March 24th, 2013. The times are Thursday, Friday & Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday – 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Festival of Flowers is held on the Providence Hospital Campus, 6801 Airport Boulevard, Mobile, AL 36608. For tickets and Information, call 251.639.2050 or 1.877.777.0529 or visit the website at www.festivalofflowers.com.
The Dancing Naked in Dixie display was designed by my close friend Jana Simpson. A big thank you to the Alliance to the Medical Society of Mobile for sponsoring the Dixie “Seeds of Wisdom” exhibit.
I’ll put up photos later in the week when the Festival is up and running!
xx, Lauren
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March 11, 2013
Stardust Summer Book Tour
New Reviews & Rafflecopter Giveaway!
Happy Monday! I’ve had so much fun on my Stardust Summer blog tour!
We’re about halfway through and I can’t wait to visit my friends at my favorite blogs, especially Kathleen at Jersey Girl Book Reviews and the girls over at Chick Lit Reviews & News. Please check out my post on “Why Books are like Fine Dining” (Christine Raines), my character interview with Grace Mason on March 22nd with fellow author Tracie Banister, and my sweet friend Mandy Reupsch’s review of Stardust Summer on her Romance Bookie blog.
Here’s a peek at today’s review from Kaisy Daisys Corner:
I just loved Stardust Summer. I had a few tears happy ones and sad ones.
Grace lives in Mississippi with her son Evan. Her Dad in New York. Grace hasn’t seen her Dad in years and then all of the sudden he dies. She and her son travel to the funeral and plan on spending 9 days with her stepmother Kathleen. Once she is there she meets Dr. Ryan Gordon, her Dad’s doctor who happens to live next door. The first meeting was at the house after the funeral when Ryan spilled punch on Grace – not a very good first meeting. Then Ryan saves Kathleen when she gets stuck in the sailboat so she invites Ryan for dinner as a thank you. Grace isn’t too sure about the dinner is Kathleen matchmaking? Then a tree falls on Kathleen’s house and they need to stay at Ryan’s for a few days. Are there sparks? Does Grace go home early or stay longer? You will need to read Stardust Summer to find out. I am sure you will love this book as much as I did. It is worth picking up and reading.
STARDUST SUMMER BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE :
March 8 Christine Raines Guest post
March 9 Kaisy Daisys Corner Review Guest Post
March 10 Reflections of A Book Addict Guest Post
March 11 So Little Time, So Much To Read Review
March 13 A Bookish Affair Review
March 14 Reading Reality Review/Guest Post
March 15 Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books Guest Post
March 16 Jersey Girl Book Reviews Guest Post/Review/Excerpt
March 18 Romance Bookie Review
March 19 Chick Lit Reviews & News Author Interview
March 20 Literary Musings & Life’s Little Lessons Learned Review
March 22 Tracie Banister Character Interview
PLUS: Win one of five $10 Amazon or BN.com Giftcards! Click here to enter or visit any of the blogs above!
Have a wonderful week!
xx, Lauren
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February 28, 2013
Book Club Fun with DNID
I love an invitation! I adore the anticipation of opening the envelope or clicking on an evite—and then adding that celebration or party to my calendar. There’s a marvelous energy that comes from being included in a special event. The afterglow, for me, is similar to finishing a long run, wrapping up a tough project, or just basking in a job well done.
I recently received such an opportunity when my friend, Libby Thompson, asked her Spanish Fort, Alabama book club to read Dancing Naked in Dixie.
We got together last night, and needless to say, I was thrilled and flattered to be included. The women I met are a diverse group of friends, wives, and mothers. Some moved to Alabama from as close as across the border in Tennessee or as far away as Idaho. One of the ladies actually grew up on the street where I live now, so we had a fun discussion about the North Monterey Street neighborhood and coming up with the title of my first publishing company, Monterey Press.
Libby Thompson (top left), Me, and
the Fabulous Spanish Fort Book Club
After all of the introductions were made, we had a lively discussion about Eufaula (Yes, it’s a real place!), the characters (No one but Julia is based on a real person), and a Dixie sequel (Yes, I would love to….I just need to find time!). The group also wanted to hear about the writing process, how long it takes to pen a novel, where my ideas begin, and how I process those ideas into a full-length story.
In all, thirteen members came to the meeting—which, according to Libby, was a record in the book club’s attendance. (I personally think that it was the amazing lasagna and fresh green salad offered for dinner!)
A huge thank you to Libby Thompson and all of her sweet friends for inviting me into their inner circle! I would love to do it again.
NOTE: I’d love to visit YOUR book club anytime and don’t mind driving a few hours to do so. I’m also available by telephone or can Skype in and join your meeting. If you have a well-loved author in your neighborhood, consider inviting him or her to join your group for an evening of lively discussion! Most of my author-friends would be thrilled with such an invitation!!
xx, Lauren
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February 27, 2013
Author Spotlight: Mississippi’s Philip Levin
Altered Perspectives
Today, I’m thrilled to welcome my friend and fellow author, Philip Levin, to Lauren Clark Books. I first met Dr. Levin online through a mutual friend, Charles McInnis, before joining the fabulous Gulf Coast Writers Association (of which Philip is our fearless leader!)
Dr. Levin combines his passions for medicine, writing, and travel to create marvelous tales that explore the breadth of mankind’s motivations. His descriptive travelogues of his yearly mission trips to Africa gather scores of followers. His photo books, Ndovu the Elephant of Africa, and the Chinese Consuto and the Rain God delight both children and adults.
Serving as president of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, Dr. Levin has promoted writers with the group’s magazine, the Magnolia Quarterly, their annual “Afternoon Tales” anthologies, monthly guest lecturers, and two regionally successful Southern Expression conferences.
Please enjoy Dr. Levin’s guest post, which discusses his latest release, now available on Amazon and his website, www.doctorsdreams.net.
I grew up Jewish, Friday night candles on the table, Saturday morning religious school, and Bar Mitzvah at age thirteen. During those classes we studied the Torah, what Christians call the Old Testament. The stories continue to fascinate me, man’s desperate struggles in a world where survival in a harsh environment depended on wits and guile, where morality was shared by the few, and God’s wrath was absolute.
My new book, Altered Perspectives, takes two of those Old Testament stories and brings them to life by drawing them out into tales told from an alternative viewpoint. The only major changes in the original scriptures are the characters’ ages, reducing them from the Bible’s references to more realistic levels. Both stories are based as much as possible on geopolitical features, social morality, and cultural traditions of that time period.
In Genesis we are led to believe that of the twins, Esau was the evil one and Jacob was the good. Yet in bible study it becomes clear the opposite is true. Jacob blackmailed his brother for the “birthright,” refusing to feed him until he relinquished. Later Jacob dressed up as Esau to fool their blind father into granting him those rights. Jacob’s history was full of evil, especially his murder of Hamor’s clan. By telling the story from Esau’s perspective, Jacob’s wickedness comes to light.
In Exodus Moses fled Egypt after murdering an Egyptian. He settled in Midian where he married Zipporah and fathered two sons. He was living in contentment until God ordered him to return to Egypt to liberate his countrymen. Told from Zipporah’s perspective, the sacrifices Moses made bring the story to life.
Dr. Levin’s publications include four anthologies, a series of five audio books, and dozens of stories. Andrew Comes Home won the 2008 NOLA RWA contest, the 2010 grand prize in the New Orleans Dixie Kane Classic contest and second place in the 2012 Florida Writing Association’s Royal Palm.
Dr. Levin has been an emergency medicine physician for thirty-five years, currently working full-time at Memorial Hospital of Gulfport. His other civic duties include the boards of the Ocean Sprints Art Association where he serves as Recording Secretary and the board of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, where he is chairman of this spring’s WAMA GALA.
BUY Dr. Levin’s Books:
Altered Perspectives for Kindle
Altered Perspectives for Paperback
Gulf Coast Writers Association
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February 21, 2013
Stardust Summer Blog Tour Stops
Blog Tour
Kicks Off Today!
Happy Thursday! I wanted to share my super-fabulous blog tour schedule for the next month, with many thanks to Colette at ABG Reads Book Tours for getting the whole thing organized! I’m getting the blog tour started TODAY with my sweet friend Isabella Louise Anderson over at Chick Lit Goddess!
I’ll be talking about why it’s both SCARY and SATISFYING to release a backlist title like Stardust Summer. Please click here Chick Lit Goddess to visit Isabella’s wonderful blog!
Tomorrow, I’ll stop by Tobi Helton’s blog, Forget The Housework, I’m Reading! (I mean, is that the PERFECT blog title or what?) Tomorrow’s topic involves MEN … What makes a leading male character HOT?
Here’s the rest of the Stardust Summer blog tour schedule:
February 20 Chick Lit Goddess
February 21 Forget The Housework, I’m Reading
February 22 I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
February 23 Hanging With Bells
February 24 Reflections Of A Bookworm
February 25 Book Reviews by Dee
February 26 The Book Bag
February 27 A Buckeye Girl Reads
February 28 Chick Lit Cafe
March 1 Happiness, Passion, Love & Faith
March 2 Books, Etc.
March 4 My Devotional Thoughts
March 5 Amys Booket List
March 9 Kaisy Daisys Corner
March 11 So Little Time, So Much To Read
March 13 A Bookish Affair
March 14 Reading Reality
March 15 Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books
March 16 Jersey Girl Book Reviews
March 18 Romance Book Junkie
March 19 Chick Lit Reviews & News
March 20 Literary Musings & Life’s Little Lessons Learned
I’ll be giving away several Amazon and Barnes & Noble gift cards throughout the tour, as well as signed paperback copies of Dancing Naked in Dixie (the paperback edition of Stardust Summer won’t be available for another month!), so be sure to stop by and comment!
As always, I’d love your feedback on the novel. You can ALWAYS email me at laurenclarkbooks@gmail.com. I’ll get back to you just as soon as I can. Have a great day!
xx, Lauren
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February 19, 2013
Stardust Summer Winners
Thank you to everyone who entered my Stardust Summer Mardi Gras contest!
I am so excited to share the names of the two winners here on Lauren Clark Books!
Congratulations (and a big Mardi Gras Prize Pack) goes to:
Linda Moore
and
Lora Roberts
If you didn’t win this weekend’s contest, don’t fret!!! Stay tuned to LCB in the coming weeks! I’ll have news on the audiobook and paperback editions of Stardust Summer, more contest information, and other fun details about my upcoming blog tour running from February 21st – March 21st, 2013.
xx, Lauren
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February 16, 2013
Valentine’s Weekend Promo!
and on your Kindle, too!
Do you want to fall in love with a good book this Valentine’s Day weekend? How about 9? Then don’t miss this special promotion. For four days only (February 14th – February 17th), 9 popular Chick Lit authors will be lowering the prices on their favorite rom-coms to 99 cents on Amazon.com! At that price (A bottle of wine costs more!), why not sample them all? Some delicious literary treats await you, and unlike chocolates these goodies are calorie-free!
Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey - Daytime talk show producer Jamie Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turned metrosexual boyfriend. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down the ”one who got away.” But are some loves best left behind? BUY: FINDING LUCAS
In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister – Handling the problems of hysterical hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a day’s work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without ending up on the couch herself? BUY: IN NEED OF THERAPY
Rita Hayworth’s Shoes by Francine LaSala – Jilted bride Amy’s down on everything until she convinces herself to purchase a cute, ridiculously expensive pair of second-hand shoes. Once she does, life starts looking up, and she falls into an unexpected new romance with the last man she’d ever expect to love. But can a pair of shoes really be magic? And is her new prince really just a frog? BUY RITA HAYWORTH’S SHOES
Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie – When Roxy Rule shares a passionate kiss with her lifelong best friend, she must come to terms with her feelings for him while dealing with two sisters in full crisis mode, a boss who makes her want to stab herself with a letter opener and a fiancé who can’t wait to walk down the aisle. Can she keep it together–or will she break under the pressure? BUY BREAKING THE RULES
The Green Ticket by Samantha March – College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty, but her good fortune quickly turns disastrous when she realizes her job is filled with lies, betrayal, and cover-ups. Keeping up with classes, her girlfriends and a budding romance, Alex feels the pressure – but will she overcome the challenges? BUY THE GREEN TICKET
Unmasking Maya by Libby Mercer – Disgraced New York fashionista, Maya Kirkwood, is fashioning herself a new life as an artist in San Francisco when she’s hired to do an installation of her work by dorky, yet dashing dotcom executive, Derek. The sparks soon start to fly… But is this a good thing? BUY UNMASKING MAYA
A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr - Jane Frank is newly single after nine years and looking for a second chance at love. But when she dives head first into the NYC dating scene and finds it infested with flakes who are interested today and gone tomorrow, it may be time for Jane to turn the tables! BUY STATE OF JANE
True Love Way by Nancy Scrofano - When her high school sweetheart, Josh, suddenly returns after twelve years in Paris, Marlo Spencer travels to her hometown to try to rekindle their relationship. But when dreams of a blissful reunion are shattered as old secrets and betrayals are revealed, can she forgive and forget, or will true love find a different path to her heart? BUY TRUE LOVE WAY
Picture Perfect by Lucie Simone - Lauren Tate’s perfectly planned life quickly unravels at the seams when a smear campaign threatens her career as a top TV executive, but she learns just how cutthroat showbiz can truly be when the hottest scandal in Tinsel Town turns deadly and the Hollywood hunk who’s stolen her heart goes missing. BUY PICTURE PERFECT
HAPPY READING!!!!!!
XX, LAUREN
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February 15, 2013
Kindle & Nook Versions Are Live!
Thank you to everyone for the lovely comments and congratulations on publishing Stardust Summer! I am so pleased to share that both the NOOK and KINDLE versions are live this morning.
I was so excited to see the Nook version pop up on the Barnes and Noble website, and shortly thereafter, the gals from Duolit sent over the Kindle version.
I was halfway into my trip, but stopped in Crestview, Florida to upload the .mobi document to the Amazon/KDP site. Yes, the Kindle version is live thanks to McDonald’s free wi-fi!!!
(And who says an author’s life isn’t glamorous?)
Please take a moment to leave a comment about YOUR favorite Summer experience to enter my contest, going on through midnight, Saturday, February 16th. Two readers will win a fun-filled Mardi Gras basket filled with goodies, masks, and moonpies!
Please remember to leave your email so that I can get in touch with you! I’ll be announcing the winners on Monday morning.
Here are the new ebook links:
I hope y’all have a GREAT weekend … and happy reading! If you have a chance, please click the “like” button on the Stardust Summer Amazon page. It would make my day. :)
xx, Lauren
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February 14, 2013
Stardust Summer Release Day
Today is my unofficial release day for Stardust Summer and I’m so glad you stopped by to share in the fun! As I get ready to launch my month-long book tour with ABG Reads beginning February 21st, I’ve been busy uploading my ebooks, checking cover art, and waiting for my new title to pop up on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, and Amazon.
It takes an entire team to bring a book to market, and today, I wanted to send out a huge thank you to my wonderful early readers, who include Maxine Kidder, Laura Pepper Wu (30daybooks.com), Elizabeth Wright, Doug McCourt, Lizz Gentry Woodrich, Ron Wright, Lorelei Buzzetta, Ashleigh O’Dowd, and Tobi Helton (forgetthehouseworkimreading).
I am also indebted to Damonza (Damonza.com), who created the fabulous cover for Stardust Summer. And big hugs to the talented formatting gals at DuoLit (DuoLit.com), Toni and Shannon, y’all rock!
The ebook is up and available *NOW* at Smashwords and Kobo. It should be available later today for the Nook on BN.com and this weekend on Amazon for Kindle readers.
Here are the links if you’d like to pick up a copy today:
Stardust Summer on Smashwords
Stardust Summer on KOBO
And in honor of my “unofficial” release day, I’ll be giving away Mardi Gras Prize Packs to two lucky winners! Items will include masks, beads, moon pies, and other fun items!
To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below about your FAVORITE thing about Summer (i.e. A long-awaited vacation, cookouts, the beach, or getting a new swimsuit?) I want to hear all about it! Please also leave your email with your comment so that I can get in touch with you!!
The contest will run through midnight on Saturday, February 16th…and I’ll be using Random.org to pick the two winners! If you miss out on this contest, don’t worry, Colette has lots more planned for my Stardust Summer tour February 21st – March 21st!
Thank you so much for stopping by today …. leave a comment and your email … and I’ll be sure to update everyone about the title releases on BN.com and Amazon. Have a great Valentine’s Day and good luck with the contest! I’ll be on the road all day today with my younger son, John David, but will be checking the website periodically!
xx, Lauren
For more on the upcoming Stardust Summer book tour, check out Colette’s site here:
ABGReads
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Stardust Summer
Single mom Grace Mason doesn’t believe in miracles, magic, or love at first sight. She likes the quiet life, complete with her eight-year-old son, their tiny house, and her teaching job. For Grace, happiness means that nothing much ever changes in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Then, one thousand miles away, tragedy strikes. A massive heart attack leaves Grace’s estranged father comatose in an Upstate New York hospital. While a team of doctors fight to keep Henry Mason alive, Grace and Evan rush to his bedside to say their final goodbyes.
Henry’s passing brings little closure for Grace, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to her new surroundings. What begins as a short trip results in an entire summer spent with Henry’s second wife, Kathleen, and her next-door neighbor, Ryan Gordon, the town doctor. When a series of unlikely events lead to Evan’s disappearance, Grace must face her worst fears to find her son and bring him back home.
Stardust Summer explores the complexities of forgiveness, what it means to be a family, and the fabulous possibility of falling in love—again.
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