Tawdra Kandle's Blog, page 78
March 20, 2012
Spring Into Books!
Welcome to the Spring Into Books Blog Hop, hosted by eReading on the Cheap and Beck Valley Books !
I'm happy to be participating in my very first hop as a host (yes, that's right, I'm a hop virgin!), and I'm giving away a signed copy of Fearless !
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Hop around and check out the rest!
1.
eReading on the Cheap (Int)
2.
Beck Valley Books {INT}
3.
Reading Lark (US &CA)
4.
Liz Schultes Bat Country {INT}
5.
Taking Time for Mommy (US/ Canada)
6.
Belinda Boring / The Bookish Snob 18+
7.
Reading Lark After Dark (US &CA) 18+
8.
Mommy Reads too Much (US)
9.
Some Sharp Words
10.
Stephanie Nelson -Tid Bits
11.
Susan Heim on Parenting (US)
12.
Simply Stacie (INT)
13.
Pretty Opinionated US
14.
Midwestern Moms
15.
olivia hardin. . . writer
16.
Day by Day in Our World {US}
17.
My Photopage – {INT}
18.
Gypsy Mama Logs (US)
19.
My Devotional Thoughts (International)
20.
Reading It All (US)
21.
Simply Ali +18
22.
Mary @ Sweeping Me (Int)
23.
Valeries Reviews (US)
24.
Rage, Sex and Teddy Bears (18 +)
25.
Bookworm Lisa {Int}
26.
My Life. One Story at a Time. {INT}
27.
Colleens Book Nook
28.
momto8blog
29.
Tales From the Nursery
30.
Coupon Queen of Texas (US)
31.
My Mommys World
32.
Tawdra Kandles Author Site {US}
33.
Marie Symeous Blog {UK only}
34.
My Unentitled Life
35.
Giveaway Blogdom
36.
Easy Peasy Recipeasy {US}
37.
Lisa the Word Nerd
38.
Helping You Connect to Yourself
39.
Central Bargains and Giveaways
40.
Boys To Books
41.
Lizzy Ford Books
42.
Believe in Yourself
43.
Marys Cup of Tea
44.
Heavenly Savings (US+ CA)
45.
Aubut Family
46.
Cheap Is The *New* Classy {US/ Canda}
47.
Scattered Figments (Int)
48.
Classic Childrens Books
49.
How Was Your Day?
50.
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (Int)
51.
A Pear of Sisters {US/CAN}
52.
GoingCrazy!!WannaGo??!! (US/CAN)
53.
The Review Girl – International
54.
Making Time For Mommy
55.
Lola James – Paranormal Romance Author (INT)
56.
Identity Discovery
57.
Stephenie at Stephie Reads Books
58.
Potato Chip Cats (US/CAN)
59.
The Kids are Grown, Now What?
60.
Building Carpenters (US/CAN)
61.
Dixieland Deals
62.
HaveSippyWillTravel
63.
Asha Butterflys – (US)
64.
BloodWrites Mystery Site
65.
Rockin Rebel Deals
66.
Mikis Hope
67.
Minding Spot
68.
Casey Crow (INT – 18+ only)
69.
4 the LUV of SaNiTy
70.
the ABC kidZ (US)
71.
ReadingDivas Blog (US)
72.
Ginas Library
73.
My Crafty Life (US)
74.
Been There Done That with Kat (USA)
75.
Book Luvin Babes
76.
Simmworks Family Blog
77.
Zara Alexis: The Bibliotaphes Closet {INT}
78.
Romance Meets Life
79.
S. P. I. R. I. T: Fire Storm
80.
CountryLife4Me
81.
Reviewing Shelf (INT)
82.
The Shopping Duck
83.
For Him and My Family (Int)
84.
Jenns Book Blog
85.
A Mom Having Fun
86.
Practical Frugality
87.
Reviews by Karen
88.
CountryLife4Me – Open WorldWide
89.
DogTipper. com (INT)
90.
CatTipper. com (US & CAN)
91.
Mom to Bed by 8
92.
Nichole Chase {US/ Can}
93.
Time 4 Mommy {Int}
94.
Lynne @ Lavished with Books
March 18, 2012
Writers: A Higher Standard?
These days, I spend a good deal of time with other writers on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. It's wonderful to interact with these creative minds, and most of the time, I really enjoy it.
But every now and then, I see a tweet or post pop up. . something along these lines: "This is how my book got it's title!" Or "My characters love there story."
Cringe worthy grammar issues make me. . well, cringe.
Am I too picky? Maybe. After all, these are just a few lines tossed out into cyberspace; it's not the Great American Novel.
True. . .but shouldn't authors, people who have chosen to embrace the written word as their vocation or avocation, be held to a higher standard? At the very least, shouldn't we use the basics correctly?
My own personal biases are the least of the reasons to watch our grammar. As indie writers, we are already fighting preconceived notions that we just weren't good enough to make it in the world of traditional publishing. I've encountered some traditionally-published writers who sniff (in their tweets of 140 characters or less!) that indie books are poorly written, poorly edited, amteurish imitations of 'real' books. Why should we give them reinforcement for that argument?
You can be a writer even if you don't know all the basic grammar rules, but you'll be a better writer if you make the effort to understand them. Learn how to use there, their and they're as well as its and it's. Study sentence structure. And then pay attention to every tweet and post. Yes, we're all going to make mistakes here and there. That just means we need to proofread all the more vigilantly.
Writing well truly is its own reward. . .and the best revenge!
March 12, 2012
New Interview and Review
I love a good interview. When the questions are interesting and provocative, giving the answers is so much fun.
My latest interview is here, at Literary Sweet. I think you'll enjoy it! Heather also reviewed Fearless.
March 4, 2012
Going Indie: Choice or Surrender?
I don't like drama or controversy, but there are topics about which I am passionate. Motherhood. Homeschooling. Religion. History. Publishing. Strike up a conversation on any of those subjects, and we'll be talking a long while.
But don't worry, today I'm only tackling one aspect of publishing.
I make no secret of the fact that when I began my career as an author, I fully intended to go the route of traditional publishing. I anguished over query letters, fretted through rejections and did abundant research on agents. For two years, I pursued this path.
Over the course of time, though, I began to realize what I didn't like about traditional publishing. The condescending attitude of some agents and editors rubbed me the wrong way. Don't misunderstand me; I know that these people are bombarded almost around the clock by writers submitting manuscripts, asking questions, wanting information and any kind of connection. And some of the agents are actually quite gracious and kind. But others whom I met were jaded by the game. I didn't learn anything from them, except that I really wasn't sure I would want this kind of person repping my books and working closely with me.
There were other things that turned me off to traditional publishing, and there's no need to list them. Suffice it to say that over time, it dawned on me that I had a unique opportunity to take my destiny–or at least that of my work–into my own hands.
Once I embraced that choice, I was pleasantly amazed by the kindness of the indie publishing community. Other authors who were further along the path were willing to give me tips and advice. Professionals helped me with PR, book covers and all the other aspects of publishing that I hadn't considered.
In the indie community, we promote each other. We review each other's books; we retweet; we give shout outs. We support each other, because we know that together, as a whole, we are stronger.
Are there some bad apples in the bunch? I'm sure, but I haven't run across them yet. Are there bad writers who use indie publishing because they wouldn't make it in mainline publishing? Sure. But there are also some really poor books that make it to the shelves even in traditional world. Believe me, I've read some of them!
I don't think traditional publishing is going to die any time soon, and I hope it doesn't. Some of my favorite authors live in that world, and I think it serves an important purpose. You won't find me bad-mouthing it. But in return, I expect a little respect from those authors who went that route. Don't assume that simply because I decided to go indie, I gave up. I didn't. I made a choice that works for me, for my work and for my life.
Choice is almost always a good thing, and I am tremendously grateful that in the publishing world, we have lots of that now. Let's support each other, whether we're traditional, indie, e-book or trade. Build up, don't tear down.
March 3, 2012
Real People vs. Read People
I love my characters, and for the time that I am writing their stories, I am so immersed in their world that these people are more than real. I have to remind myself not to mention them in non-book conversations, as that kind of talk garners me odd looks.
So after schooling myself to avoid piping up about Tasmyn learning to drive stick shift or Michael getting into his first choice college, it's quite jarring that once the book is published, others speak to me as though my characters are living, breathing people. It has taken me a little time to adjust and enjoy it. But I absolutely love it when, in the middle of conversation, someone begins talking about Michael as though he's a mutual acquaintance or asks me questions about Nell, as if I had just come from visiting her.
I'm not sure if all of this is merely gratifying to me as a writer or enabling my own insanity. Either way, it works for me. Hearing how each character has impacted readers helps me to develop nuances in their personalities and their stories. And. . yes, it does give me a little writers' high!
March 1, 2012
Balancing Promotion and Writing
I love the world of indie publishing. The freedom and the community is wonderful. I wouldn't do it any other way.
But I think we all need to recognize that finding balance between the business and the art of writing can be a real challenge.
I wrote a book. (Well, I've written a series, but for now, let's tackle one book.) As a friend recently pointed out to a fellow author, I wrote that book so that other people would read it. To that end, I am responsible for publicizing that book, getting word out about it, encouraging people to pick it up and read it.
So if I said that I am a writer, not a promoter, I would be short-changing my work and possibly negating the reason for writing a book in the first place.
On the other hand, PR is a monster that can swallow huge chunks of time without notice. When I go on Twitter or Facebook, I run the risk of getting sucked into an endless chain of tweets and posts before I realize that it's two in the morning and I need to sleep. Factor in real life (like most writers, I have other responsibilities and commitments), and it is a dilemma.
I'm trying to segment my PR work to the evening, when I can sit with my family watching TV or movies and still have the computer on my lap. I'm using every tool I can find to make promotion easier. Other authors have been very kind and gracious in sharing their tricks of the trade, and I am very grateful.
Right now, my writing priority is editing the third book in the series, which is completed but hasn't been touched since I wrote the last word. Once I have Breathless launched in both ebook and print form, I'm taking a break to edit the third book and finish the fourth.
I'm dying to get back to writing, to just putting words on paper, but right now, I'm focusing on not looking at PR as a necessary evil, but as an opportunity to make lots and lots of new friends!
FEARLESS is Available in Print!
This is really exciting! FEARLESS went live on Amazon yesterday as a paperback book. Yes, an honest-to-goodness, you can hold it in your hand book.
You can go to Amazon to order the book, and if you'd like a signed copy, please post on my Facebook page.
Thanks as always for all of your support and encouragement.
February 24, 2012
Just a little Breathless. . .
Here it is. . .the beautiful cover* for BREATHLESS, the second book in the King series. I am so excited for you all to read this book. . .it was fun to write, and early reviews have been fabulous!
This is just a little teaser. . .it's coming soon to Amazon and to independent book sellers.
Tasmyn Vaughn is not having the senior year she expected. Her boyfriend Michael leaves for college, she's being stalked by a suspicious preacher, pursued by the hot new boy at school and blackmailed by her chemistry teacher–who just might be a witch. Tas needs all of her many talents–and a little help from unexpected sources–just to keep her head above water. . .literally.
*Cover design by Elizabeth Sharp (http://sharpcovers.blogspot.com/ )
February 18, 2012
We need YOU. . .
. . .to help with book promotion!
It is so cool to see friends and family posting about Fearless. I am grateful for every positive bit of publicity, and word of mouth is a terrific way to promote a book. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I've had some people ask me what they can do to help with PR. There are a few very simple things that would help publicize the series and get more people reading!
Go to the book's page on Amazon. (Just click that word!) If you've read Fearless, leave a review there. It's easy to do, and it doesn't have to be anything long and involved. Just a few quick sentences about how you loved the book.
While you're there on the book's page (see link above), you'll see a little button that says "Like". Click that button! It means you like the book, and believe it or not, that helps.
If you are not already doing this, become a follower of THIS website. How do you do that? See that sidebar on the right? Right under the Facebook button, you'll see a little link "Subscribe Via Email". Click that link, and whenever I update this page, you'll get an email letting you know.
And speaking of Facebook. . if you're a Facebook user, and you haven't "liked" my author page. . please click on the Facebook button on the sidebar and do it!
Do you tweet, tweetheart? Well, then click the link and follow me there.
If you are not at all computer-friendly and you prefer your word of mouth support to be REALLY word of mouth, stay tuned. The print version of Fearless will be out in two weeks, and I will have lots of ideas for you then. Meanwhile, if you know of a terrific independent book store in your area, please let me know! Leave a comment below or email me.
It really DOES take a village to launch a book, and I have a wonderful village. Thanks for everything you do and are going to do. You all rock!
February 15, 2012
FEARLESS Review
Melissa at the blog READING IT ALL has posted a glowing review of FEARLESS. Please check it out here, and leave a comment. . .she's got a terrific blog!
