Kate Collins's Blog, page 326
October 31, 2010
Is Love All About Chemistry?
by Kate Collins
The other evening I was lucky enough to sit at a table at a dinner meeting with the loveliest couple, who turned what might have been a dull evening into an entertaining one. They'd been married just six years, second marriages for each is what I gathered, and were so obviously in love that it made my heart ache. So I had to ask how they met. Their story is what prompted the title and theme of this blog.
Many of you know that before I wrote cozy mysteries, I was a historical romance writer. I started writing romances at a time when I was desperate for my own Prince Charming. Then I met my Greek hero and my life changed forever. It wasn't love at first sight, but when I was at a point in our friendship where we were in close proximity, chemistry kicked in big time. BIG. TIME. We had a beautiful courtship that lasted the length of our marriage. But after we married, I couldn't write romances anymore. I'd found my soul mate and no longer needed to dream one up.
Now, with his recent passing, (our 13th anniversary would have been today) I watch loving couples with such longing for that closeness we had. So I found myself intrigued by this dynamic pair as to how they met and decided to marry.
Their meeting was quite by accident. They were both attending a Rotarian function in a distant city as part of their work obligations. Both were alone, and somehow they ended up beside each other, so that everyone assumed they were married. He is from the U.K., and she's an Illinois girl, by the way. He told me he saw her at his elbow and knew instantly that she was THE ONE. She was nodding vigorously as he explained it. I asked if she knew he was the one, as well, and she said, "Absolutely." Was it chemistry, I asked? They both nodded.
Are you a believer in chemistry? Does the right chemistry guarantee a happy marriage? What attracted you to your partner, or are you still looking for THE ONE?
Kate
The other evening I was lucky enough to sit at a table at a dinner meeting with the loveliest couple, who turned what might have been a dull evening into an entertaining one. They'd been married just six years, second marriages for each is what I gathered, and were so obviously in love that it made my heart ache. So I had to ask how they met. Their story is what prompted the title and theme of this blog.
Many of you know that before I wrote cozy mysteries, I was a historical romance writer. I started writing romances at a time when I was desperate for my own Prince Charming. Then I met my Greek hero and my life changed forever. It wasn't love at first sight, but when I was at a point in our friendship where we were in close proximity, chemistry kicked in big time. BIG. TIME. We had a beautiful courtship that lasted the length of our marriage. But after we married, I couldn't write romances anymore. I'd found my soul mate and no longer needed to dream one up.
Now, with his recent passing, (our 13th anniversary would have been today) I watch loving couples with such longing for that closeness we had. So I found myself intrigued by this dynamic pair as to how they met and decided to marry.
Their meeting was quite by accident. They were both attending a Rotarian function in a distant city as part of their work obligations. Both were alone, and somehow they ended up beside each other, so that everyone assumed they were married. He is from the U.K., and she's an Illinois girl, by the way. He told me he saw her at his elbow and knew instantly that she was THE ONE. She was nodding vigorously as he explained it. I asked if she knew he was the one, as well, and she said, "Absolutely." Was it chemistry, I asked? They both nodded.
Are you a believer in chemistry? Does the right chemistry guarantee a happy marriage? What attracted you to your partner, or are you still looking for THE ONE?
Kate
October 30, 2010
The Reach of a Book
by Leann
I understand the power of a book from my own childhood experience as an avid reader. I needed to escape and I was given the chance time after time. When I decided to become a writer I hoped I could offer the same escapism. But I had no idea what gifts would come back to me.
The first "wow" moment was after I'd written a few Yellow Rose books. If you haven't read any, they are about an "adoption P.I." Now, this was before there was a reality show about just such a person on cable TV. Anyway, a woman wrote to me, a woman who lived in Texas and not very far from me. I do research for my books (yes, even for a cozy!!) and this woman read what I had written about the Texas Adoption Registry. Texas is a closed adoption state--one of the few left in the country, I might add. Adoption records can only be unsealed by court order. You need lawyers and you need money if you want to find birth parents. The registry was created to make things a little bit easier for folks on a birth family quest. A person who gave up a child can register, give as much information about the adoption as they want. But they can only be reunited IF the child also registers. In other words, a reunion has to be by mutual agreement and lots of paperwork. This woman who wrote had been searching for her mother for years, but didn't have the money or the resources to find her. She learned about the registry through one of my books and immediately sent in her information. I wish this was happy-happy story. It's a happy-bittersweet story. The woman's mother had registered and she, too, had been searching for her daughter for years. She died before the woman who wrote to me could find her. But this woman did find some peace. Her mother had wanted to find her--and that meant so much to this reader.
I received an email this week about another something that came from my imagination and on to the page--quilts for cats. I had no idea if this quilts like this were out there and available for purchase, but it sounded like a good idea considering how much my cats love to lie on the quilts I make. This particular email brought tears to my eyes, just like the other story did. A woman had just had her 17 year old cat put down. But the vet sent "Meow" back home to be buried wrapped in a small quilt. This woman was so touched by this that she wrote to me. She'd read my books and knew about my quilts for cats. She wanted to make them herself to donate to her vet and wondered about size and technique. We exchanged some information and she wrote to me a few days later to say she's already made some and was ready to give them to the vet. There is comfort in a quilt in more ways than I thought. Just as there is comfort in a book.
What about you? What have books done for you in some unexpected way?
I understand the power of a book from my own childhood experience as an avid reader. I needed to escape and I was given the chance time after time. When I decided to become a writer I hoped I could offer the same escapism. But I had no idea what gifts would come back to me.
The first "wow" moment was after I'd written a few Yellow Rose books. If you haven't read any, they are about an "adoption P.I." Now, this was before there was a reality show about just such a person on cable TV. Anyway, a woman wrote to me, a woman who lived in Texas and not very far from me. I do research for my books (yes, even for a cozy!!) and this woman read what I had written about the Texas Adoption Registry. Texas is a closed adoption state--one of the few left in the country, I might add. Adoption records can only be unsealed by court order. You need lawyers and you need money if you want to find birth parents. The registry was created to make things a little bit easier for folks on a birth family quest. A person who gave up a child can register, give as much information about the adoption as they want. But they can only be reunited IF the child also registers. In other words, a reunion has to be by mutual agreement and lots of paperwork. This woman who wrote had been searching for her mother for years, but didn't have the money or the resources to find her. She learned about the registry through one of my books and immediately sent in her information. I wish this was happy-happy story. It's a happy-bittersweet story. The woman's mother had registered and she, too, had been searching for her daughter for years. She died before the woman who wrote to me could find her. But this woman did find some peace. Her mother had wanted to find her--and that meant so much to this reader.
I received an email this week about another something that came from my imagination and on to the page--quilts for cats. I had no idea if this quilts like this were out there and available for purchase, but it sounded like a good idea considering how much my cats love to lie on the quilts I make. This particular email brought tears to my eyes, just like the other story did. A woman had just had her 17 year old cat put down. But the vet sent "Meow" back home to be buried wrapped in a small quilt. This woman was so touched by this that she wrote to me. She'd read my books and knew about my quilts for cats. She wanted to make them herself to donate to her vet and wondered about size and technique. We exchanged some information and she wrote to me a few days later to say she's already made some and was ready to give them to the vet. There is comfort in a quilt in more ways than I thought. Just as there is comfort in a book.
What about you? What have books done for you in some unexpected way?
Cover Obsession
By Lorna/Lorraine
To continue last week's post on covers . . . (you can find it here). If you didn't see the addendum, my readers and I (with a big scoop of help from our own Heather and Dru) hashed out a new cover and title for my little short story. I won't say it's smashing sales records, but I did sell three copies of the story, so obviously cover by committee worked well in this case. I've come to the conclusion that I can't worry about that one story any more. Like a parent, I have to let the story go out on its own and live up to its own potential. (I think it was probably a good thing I never had children. Can you say helicopter parent?)
But that's not the end of my cover trauma. Okay, my cover trauma actually began the day I received my first cover for my first published book (Murder on the Mind). I was stunned -- and not in a good way. My agent (at the time) was even more appalled. She said, "It's terrible. It'll never sell books." Boy was she right. In fact, in retrospect, I feel like those words jinxed the book. It went on to have a 632 print run. Talk about failure.
So I was thrilled when I saw the cover for Murder is Binding. Whoa! Talk about pretty. In fact, my publisher was so pleased with it, they decided to use it on the Advance Review Copies, which I learned later, doesn't happen very often. Wee! The book was a hit, too.
Lightening struck twice. The publisher for the Jeff Resnick books hired a new firm to do their covers, and I got one of the best. (This time I pitched the idea and they ran with it.) I love this cover and it did well for me--at least with that publisher. (The publisher who bought the paperback rights for the first book decided one of the characters wasn't suitable for their readers. I didn't believe it then, and don't believe it now. But hey, it was their decision.)
When I got my rights back for Murder on the Mind, I came up with a concept and Mr. L did the cover. But my idea turned off women readers. (Honest, no deer are killed in the story!) Try though I might, I couldn't convince my agents/editor that the series should live on, so I decided to publish the third book online myself. Mr. L and I again did the cover, which I think is okay, but clearly, e readers are not busting their fingers to buy.
It was time to call in the big guns.
Several weeks ago I contacted a cover designer who'd done covers for other authors publishing their backlists. Several of his clients have made BIG BUCKS selling thousands of copies of their books with his covers. But Mr. Big Cover Artist was slow to answer my emails. I didn't get the feeling he really wanted the job. I felt really unsure of my decision to hire him.
Then a wonderful thing happened. An author I know decided to hang out her shingle as a cover designer. She did her own covers (about 12 of them) for her backlist and did another 12-15 for another author I know, and I was impressed. Of course, these were mostly for romance e books, but I could tell that she "got" covers. Well, why shouldn't she, she'd worked in the publishing business and has an art degree.
Yesterday we traded emails back and forth all day discussing what the books needed and what they deserved. I loved all her ideas and I felt like she felt she had a stake in the books success. Boy, did that feel good.
This saga isn't over yet, but I have a feeling it'll have a happy ending. In fact, I feel like a kid at Christmas. There's a big present with a big bow just waiting for me to open it. And when I do, it'll be a gift that keeps on giving (in terms of sales).
Best of all, I finally feel like my little series will have a shot at finding a bigger audience. New readers will discover my beloved characters.
At least . . . I've got my fingers crossed they do.
How important are book covers to you?
==========================
Be sure to check in with the Cozy Chicks on Monday -- when we will have a new feature and a new look!
To continue last week's post on covers . . . (you can find it here). If you didn't see the addendum, my readers and I (with a big scoop of help from our own Heather and Dru) hashed out a new cover and title for my little short story. I won't say it's smashing sales records, but I did sell three copies of the story, so obviously cover by committee worked well in this case. I've come to the conclusion that I can't worry about that one story any more. Like a parent, I have to let the story go out on its own and live up to its own potential. (I think it was probably a good thing I never had children. Can you say helicopter parent?)
But that's not the end of my cover trauma. Okay, my cover trauma actually began the day I received my first cover for my first published book (Murder on the Mind). I was stunned -- and not in a good way. My agent (at the time) was even more appalled. She said, "It's terrible. It'll never sell books." Boy was she right. In fact, in retrospect, I feel like those words jinxed the book. It went on to have a 632 print run. Talk about failure.So I was thrilled when I saw the cover for Murder is Binding. Whoa! Talk about pretty. In fact, my publisher was so pleased with it, they decided to use it on the Advance Review Copies, which I learned later, doesn't happen very often. Wee! The book was a hit, too.
Lightening struck twice. The publisher for the Jeff Resnick books hired a new firm to do their covers, and I got one of the best. (This time I pitched the idea and they ran with it.) I love this cover and it did well for me--at least with that publisher. (The publisher who bought the paperback rights for the first book decided one of the characters wasn't suitable for their readers. I didn't believe it then, and don't believe it now. But hey, it was their decision.)When I got my rights back for Murder on the Mind, I came up with a concept and Mr. L did the cover. But my idea turned off women readers. (Honest, no deer are killed in the story!) Try though I might, I couldn't convince my agents/editor that the series should live on, so I decided to publish the third book online myself. Mr. L and I again did the cover, which I think is okay, but clearly, e readers are not busting their fingers to buy.
It was time to call in the big guns.
Several weeks ago I contacted a cover designer who'd done covers for other authors publishing their backlists. Several of his clients have made BIG BUCKS selling thousands of copies of their books with his covers. But Mr. Big Cover Artist was slow to answer my emails. I didn't get the feeling he really wanted the job. I felt really unsure of my decision to hire him.
Then a wonderful thing happened. An author I know decided to hang out her shingle as a cover designer. She did her own covers (about 12 of them) for her backlist and did another 12-15 for another author I know, and I was impressed. Of course, these were mostly for romance e books, but I could tell that she "got" covers. Well, why shouldn't she, she'd worked in the publishing business and has an art degree.
Yesterday we traded emails back and forth all day discussing what the books needed and what they deserved. I loved all her ideas and I felt like she felt she had a stake in the books success. Boy, did that feel good.
This saga isn't over yet, but I have a feeling it'll have a happy ending. In fact, I feel like a kid at Christmas. There's a big present with a big bow just waiting for me to open it. And when I do, it'll be a gift that keeps on giving (in terms of sales).Best of all, I finally feel like my little series will have a shot at finding a bigger audience. New readers will discover my beloved characters.
At least . . . I've got my fingers crossed they do.
How important are book covers to you?
==========================
Be sure to check in with the Cozy Chicks on Monday -- when we will have a new feature and a new look!
October 29, 2010
Why I ♥ Autumn
By Denise Swanson
Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp cool weather, watching the leaves change, and swapping my capris and T-shirts for jeans and sweaters. This year I'm especially happy for the change in season. This past summer has been one wedding after another. While I usually adore weddings, after doing the extensive research for my April book, Murder of a Wedding Belle, I was already on wedding overload. But did that stop everyone and her sister from getting married this summer? No!
When the first invitation arrived, I was excited. A cousin I thought would never get married had found the love of his life and was taking the plunge. The event was a good hour from our house, but well worth the drive. Especially, since my other cousins and I had a pool going as to whether he would say, "I do" or run for the hills.
I was even kind of excited when the next invitation arrived. It was taking place in a beautiful theater and I was looking forward to seeing a wedding take place in this grand old building. But then I realized the event was taking place on a Friday night, which meant stuffing my husband into a suit the moment he arrived home from work and rushing to the location so we wouldn't be walking down the aisle at the same time as the bridal party. It also happened to be about 110 degrees that day so I ended up looking like a melted scoop of strawberry ice cream. Yes, my outfit was pink.
Fast-forward through five more weddings—you heard me right FIVE—and my desire for a good piece of wedding cake has been used up, as has most of my appropriate summer wardrobe.
However, the big wedding was yet to come. My nephew's nuptials in New Orleans. For this one we needed to drive thousands of miles (I hate flying). I also came to realize just how hard packing for a destination wedding could be. It took me four tries to find the right dress—elegant, but not fancy; dressy, but cool enough for the heat and humidity of NOLA in early September; and comfortable enough to survive the long day.
As it turned out, it was a beautiful ceremony and perhaps the best reception I've ever attended—certainly the best food. Still, after eight weddings, I'm happy for summer to end and autumn to begin. Surely there's no one left to get married.
Oh, oh. What's this large, stiff, white envelope in today's mail? The stamps have two interlocking rings on them. That can't be a good sign.
Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp cool weather, watching the leaves change, and swapping my capris and T-shirts for jeans and sweaters. This year I'm especially happy for the change in season. This past summer has been one wedding after another. While I usually adore weddings, after doing the extensive research for my April book, Murder of a Wedding Belle, I was already on wedding overload. But did that stop everyone and her sister from getting married this summer? No!When the first invitation arrived, I was excited. A cousin I thought would never get married had found the love of his life and was taking the plunge. The event was a good hour from our house, but well worth the drive. Especially, since my other cousins and I had a pool going as to whether he would say, "I do" or run for the hills.
I was even kind of excited when the next invitation arrived. It was taking place in a beautiful theater and I was looking forward to seeing a wedding take place in this grand old building. But then I realized the event was taking place on a Friday night, which meant stuffing my husband into a suit the moment he arrived home from work and rushing to the location so we wouldn't be walking down the aisle at the same time as the bridal party. It also happened to be about 110 degrees that day so I ended up looking like a melted scoop of strawberry ice cream. Yes, my outfit was pink.
Fast-forward through five more weddings—you heard me right FIVE—and my desire for a good piece of wedding cake has been used up, as has most of my appropriate summer wardrobe.
However, the big wedding was yet to come. My nephew's nuptials in New Orleans. For this one we needed to drive thousands of miles (I hate flying). I also came to realize just how hard packing for a destination wedding could be. It took me four tries to find the right dress—elegant, but not fancy; dressy, but cool enough for the heat and humidity of NOLA in early September; and comfortable enough to survive the long day. As it turned out, it was a beautiful ceremony and perhaps the best reception I've ever attended—certainly the best food. Still, after eight weddings, I'm happy for summer to end and autumn to begin. Surely there's no one left to get married.
Oh, oh. What's this large, stiff, white envelope in today's mail? The stamps have two interlocking rings on them. That can't be a good sign.
October 27, 2010
Conquering The Pie Dough!
After years of baking, I finally made my first homemade pie dough.
I have been intimidated over this prospect for ages and have been buying the ready-made dough by Pillsbury and painting the crust with a wash of eggs and cream to increase the brownness and flavor, but last weekend I took a 2-day intensive baking workshop at Sur La Table and was amazed at how easy it was to make this crust. Not only that, but it's super fun to make a lattice top and sprinkle finishing sugar over the fresh, uncooked dough.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Take this pie dough recipe and run with it and treat your guests to flaky dough that you just can't buy in the grocery store! Here's a wonderful video to show you exactly how it's done.
I made individual apple pies with my crust, but I can't wait to make a pumpkin pie this weekend.
What's your all-time favorite pie?
Buttery, Flaky Pie Dough
INGREDIENTS:1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and diced1/4 cup ice waterDIRECTIONS:In a food processor, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter. Process for 10 seconds to blend ingredients. Pulse 6 to 10 times in 1-second bursts until mixture resembles coarse crumbs (looks like peas). Immediately transfer to large bowl and stir in water, a tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Roll dough out on lightly-floured surface to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place crust in pie plate. Press the dough gently and evenly into the bottom and sides of the pie plate.
October 26, 2010
Hot Halloween Bikers
I've always had a fascination with bad boys. And what's badder than a biker. To me, they signify freedom from constraints that the rest of us have to wear like chains. Speaking of chains, bikers and chains go together like biker chicks and trash stamps.
Did I mention that my last boyfriend (before my lasting boyfriend) rode a Gold Wing? So I know for a fact - the air smells fresher from a motorcycle seat and the wind blows away any lingering worries.
And here in Wisconsin, Harley country, bikers are everywhere. I like bikers so much, I gave Story Fischer (in
Buzz Off
) a Hog riding boyfriend. During these last weeks of fall leading up to Halloween, you'll see them on the country roads. I took these photos on one of those back roads. Aren't they cool!
October 25, 2010
SURROUNDED BY KNITTERS
This Wednesday night, I'll leave for the Denver airport late in the evening for a 1:00am flight to Hartford, CT. It takes two flights to get there, but with the help of an Advil or Tylenol PM, I'll try to grab some shuteye on the four hour flight to Atlanta, where I hope to have time for breakfast before boarding the flight to Hartford, CT, arriving mid-morning. I'll return to Colorado Sunday evening, just as the Halloween trick-or-treaters are making their rounds.There will be no sightseeing in that New England state on this visit. In fact, I will probably only be outside in the morning and in the evening. The rest of the four days I'll be inside a large convention hall.
Why go to all that trouble for such a short flight, no sleep, and no sightseeing? Because I'll be totally absorbed in yarns, knitters, and all things fiber. I'll be attending STITCHES EAST, probably the largest gathering of knitters & fiber artists in the Eastern U.S. every year. I'm attending as a guest of Gene Ann's Yarns from Barrington, IL, and will be signing copies of the Kelly Flynn Knitting Mysteries at Gene Ann's vendor booth. I met Gene Ann over three years ago while visiting dear friends who live in that lovely Chicago suburb, Lake Barrington. And I've signed at Gene Ann's wonderful Barrington yarn shop for the past three summers.Last June, Gene Ann asked if I'd like to attend this October's huge knitting expo/convention in Hartford, and I jumped at the opportunity. There was no way I'd pass up the chance to immerse myself in yarns and fibers and talk to other "fiberholics."
So. . .if you or anyone you know will be attending this week's STITCHES EAST in Hartford, please drop by Gene Ann's Yarns booth #1005 on Friday at 11:30am and/or Saturday at 1:00pm. Gene Ann has even obtained copies of the new tradepaper release, DOUBLE KNIT MURDERS, even though the release date is November 2nd. Way to go, Gene Ann! Hope to see some of you there!
October 24, 2010
When You Leave This Planet . . .
by Kate Collins
I've been trying to find a lighthearted topic for my blog this week, but right now it's not easy to feel that way about much of anything. So instead I thought of something sort of, well, let's just say, something to ponder: When you leave this planet, what secrets will you leave behind for others to discover?
When my mom passed away a few years ago, my siblings and I had the sad and awkward task of packing up the contents of her house, which meant having to go through each cabinet, closet, and drawer, exposing every tiny element that made up her entire life. It was awkward because we knew there were things she wouldn't have wanted us to find.
At some time I will face that most difficult task again. But not for a long while. I'm so not ready. Yet the suddenness of my husband's death made me realize that it could be my turn at any moment. Or your turn. We sure don't choose when we get to go.
Have you ever thought about what would happen if you were suddenly snatched from your life? Do you have dresser drawers stuffed with things you'd rather others didn't know about? An underwear drawer that you REALLY don't want anyone to go through? (Think baggy, stretched out undies.) Are there junk drawers in the kitchen that would be an embarrassment? Treasures that you would want certain family members to have – or not to have? File cabinets filled with papers that should have been discarded ten years ago?
Okay, now be honest. Are you suddenly feeling the need to clean out your closets?
It's something to ponder, isn't it?
October 23, 2010
Craving (Not Carving) the Pumpkin
by Leann
I no longer carve pumpkins at Halloween. For some reason, our house gets very little traffic on that night and besides, my kids are grown and gone. It's a messy endeavor and for someone as klutzy as I am, also a little dangerous. But October is still pumpkin month--or "eating pumpkin" month.
Usually I wait until Thanksgiving to make the pumpkin pie from scratch. Homemade pastry is a little labor intensive. But since I signed up for allrecipes.com I keep getting all these tantalizing pictures of pumpkin pies, pumpkin breads and one I just made, a pumpkin dump cake. If you don't know about dump cake, you are missing something. Pineapple, cherry pie filling, cake mix and butter. Couldn't be easier. But there's a pumpkin version, too. So I made that today. It's a little more difficult than simple dump cake. You have to make a pie filling, but then you pour it into a 13x9 pan, sprinkle cake mix on top--yellow or spice--and cover with melted butter and nuts. I skip the nuts--allergic. I also use an egg substitute like I do in my pumpkin pie--you
guessed, allergic. But this comes out very pretty and smells so good. No pastry making involved!
Check it out!
Do you have a favorite pumpkin recipe? Please share!
I no longer carve pumpkins at Halloween. For some reason, our house gets very little traffic on that night and besides, my kids are grown and gone. It's a messy endeavor and for someone as klutzy as I am, also a little dangerous. But October is still pumpkin month--or "eating pumpkin" month.
Usually I wait until Thanksgiving to make the pumpkin pie from scratch. Homemade pastry is a little labor intensive. But since I signed up for allrecipes.com I keep getting all these tantalizing pictures of pumpkin pies, pumpkin breads and one I just made, a pumpkin dump cake. If you don't know about dump cake, you are missing something. Pineapple, cherry pie filling, cake mix and butter. Couldn't be easier. But there's a pumpkin version, too. So I made that today. It's a little more difficult than simple dump cake. You have to make a pie filling, but then you pour it into a 13x9 pan, sprinkle cake mix on top--yellow or spice--and cover with melted butter and nuts. I skip the nuts--allergic. I also use an egg substitute like I do in my pumpkin pie--you
guessed, allergic. But this comes out very pretty and smells so good. No pastry making involved!Check it out!
Do you have a favorite pumpkin recipe? Please share!
The Brave New World of E Marketing
By Lorna/Lorraine
A lot of authors are jumping on the E publishing bandwagon. Those of us who have our rights back can't afford to see our work sitting on the shelves not earning any income. Hey, we've got mortgage, car payments, and health care premiums to pay for and except for often paltry advances, we get paid twice a year. (It's just about impossible to pay the dentist in January when you won't get paid again until April or May.)
Of course, putting our work up on Kindle and Nook means we have to wear hats other than just that of author. Now we have to think about marketing as well.
The truth is, I'm just not as good as it as I would like. There's a reason big publishers have whole staffs dedicated to getting the word out on a book. And they know what sells. Me? Not so much. But in order to compete, I've got to be willing to say, "Hey, this doesn't work. I'll try something different."
I'm doing that with new covers.
Here's the original cover for one of my short stories. It's a sweet little story about a woman who makes one mistake that snowballs and changes her life forever. Because the story revolves around a child with a visible birth defect, I called it "Only Skin Deep" (as in "beauty is only skin deep). There are pink daisies in the story. I thought pink daisies would help sell this little story that is so dear to my heart.
It didn't.
In fact, it didn't in spades.
So, it was time to call on the big guns. What actually sells?
Sex.
Why not put that in the title? After all, it was a one-night stand that changed my heroine's life forever. (The title is supposed to be a take-off on "Love With A Perfect Stranger.) I haven't changed the book's blurbs, which say:
A one-night stand changes Leslie Turner's life forever when she discovers she's pregnant. Keeping the child means losing her business. Even more devastating, the baby is born with a disfiguring birth defect. Her carefully planned life falls apart . . . until years later when she once again meets her baby's father. Can they ever be a family?
Now, will this cover change actually sell more copies of the story? I'm hoping it will. What do you think?
And did I mention the price: 99 cents. Think of it as 1/3 of a Starbucks coffee. And, if you like it, you can read it again and again. (Try that with a cup of coffee.)
---------------------------------------
By the way, Sex With an Imperfect Stranger is available at these locations. (and remember, you don't need an e reader to download an e book or short stories. Kindle, B&N and Smashwords all allow you to download to your computer or ipad or ... whatever.) Maybe you'd like to give "Sex" a try. (P.S. Kindle, Nook and Smashwords all allow you to download samples of the stories/books, too.)
Kindle Nook Smashwords
A lot of authors are jumping on the E publishing bandwagon. Those of us who have our rights back can't afford to see our work sitting on the shelves not earning any income. Hey, we've got mortgage, car payments, and health care premiums to pay for and except for often paltry advances, we get paid twice a year. (It's just about impossible to pay the dentist in January when you won't get paid again until April or May.)Of course, putting our work up on Kindle and Nook means we have to wear hats other than just that of author. Now we have to think about marketing as well.
The truth is, I'm just not as good as it as I would like. There's a reason big publishers have whole staffs dedicated to getting the word out on a book. And they know what sells. Me? Not so much. But in order to compete, I've got to be willing to say, "Hey, this doesn't work. I'll try something different."
I'm doing that with new covers.
Here's the original cover for one of my short stories. It's a sweet little story about a woman who makes one mistake that snowballs and changes her life forever. Because the story revolves around a child with a visible birth defect, I called it "Only Skin Deep" (as in "beauty is only skin deep). There are pink daisies in the story. I thought pink daisies would help sell this little story that is so dear to my heart.It didn't.
In fact, it didn't in spades.
So, it was time to call on the big guns. What actually sells?
Sex.Why not put that in the title? After all, it was a one-night stand that changed my heroine's life forever. (The title is supposed to be a take-off on "Love With A Perfect Stranger.) I haven't changed the book's blurbs, which say:
A one-night stand changes Leslie Turner's life forever when she discovers she's pregnant. Keeping the child means losing her business. Even more devastating, the baby is born with a disfiguring birth defect. Her carefully planned life falls apart . . . until years later when she once again meets her baby's father. Can they ever be a family?
Now, will this cover change actually sell more copies of the story? I'm hoping it will. What do you think?
And did I mention the price: 99 cents. Think of it as 1/3 of a Starbucks coffee. And, if you like it, you can read it again and again. (Try that with a cup of coffee.)
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By the way, Sex With an Imperfect Stranger is available at these locations. (and remember, you don't need an e reader to download an e book or short stories. Kindle, B&N and Smashwords all allow you to download to your computer or ipad or ... whatever.) Maybe you'd like to give "Sex" a try. (P.S. Kindle, Nook and Smashwords all allow you to download samples of the stories/books, too.)
Kindle Nook Smashwords
