Michele Scott's Blog, page 8
August 8, 2011
Life Experiences Translated to Fiction
People often ask me if I use any of my life experiences in my books. I do. I don't necessarily use exact experiences, but I do use the feelings and emotions from experiences that I have had. I have pulled from certain aspects in my life and used them, just like the experience I had with the stalker issues when I wrote DADDY'S HOME. When my next book COVERT REICH comes out next month under the A.K. Alexander name, I will blog about how I drew from the experience of having my first born in the inetnsive care unit for the first two weeks of his life. That event alone brought me back to my creative writing self, and has helped me write a thriller that I think will make readers happy (fingers crossed. And this one will be edited, copyedited and proof read tenfold!).
If you have read MOMMY, MAY I?, or plan to, and you read this blog, you might think to yourself that there is no way I could have drawn from personal experience on this one, because it contains some pretty disturbing scenes. Those of you who know me, may scratch their head, and think I didn't know Michele was so disturbed. I'm not. Well, maybe a tad, but not much. So, are you wondering what I might have drawn from experience wise to write a book about a sadistic serial killer who has more than just a couple of revolting and sick tendencies?
Well, first off, my heroine Helena Shea is a recovering alcoholic who has made a mess of her life. I am not a recovering alcoholic. I may joke around here about all the wine I drink, but that in part is because of The Wine Lover's series, and also because I do enjoy a glass of wine. But alcoholism is no joke to me. Addiction runs in my family. I think that is why I am a little bit paranoid if I do go for a second glass of wine. I don't like to feel out of control, ever. I've seen too many peole who I care about lose control due to alcohol, or drugs, or both, and it isn't pretty. In fact, it's down right uncomfortable all the way around. It is also painful as hell to watch an addict sink. However, I have also learned that sometimes it takes rock bottom to get them to help themselves, and sometimes even that doesn't work. In Helena's case, she has received help, but she's still kind of a mess. She is trying hard to rectify her past mistakes, and make her world right again. I can relate to her because she is a lot like someone who I love dearly, and who I have watched for years deal with her addictions. As you can see, I was able to pull from real life when it came to my heroine.
But what about my villian, the evil Richard Shelton? When I started writing the book, I asked myself, "How is a serial killer created?" "Are they born that way?" "Is it their environment, etc?" I read some books on profiling and even interviewed a profiler. And then, my uncle dropped a bombshell on me. We actually have a serial killer in the family tree! His name is Edmund Kemper, and he is some kind of distant (very distant) cousin on my grandfather's side. The real irony is that when I had been reading a book on serial killers for research, his name had been mentioned. I knew that it was a family name, but it didn't connect for me at all. I won't go into details here as to what this guy did. You can google him, if you want. I did, however, research him and his crimes. Doing so was creepy and unsettling, but by doing so, I was able to write a book that I think hits the mark in the creep and unsettling factor. I will let readers give the final verdict on that.
As mentioned in the blog from a few days ago, if you have any interest in reading this book, or DADDY'S HOME, and would like a fifty page sample before purchasing the book(s), all you need to do is e-mail me at michele@michelescott.com.
I hope you will give them a try.
Thank You,
Michele
If you have read MOMMY, MAY I?, or plan to, and you read this blog, you might think to yourself that there is no way I could have drawn from personal experience on this one, because it contains some pretty disturbing scenes. Those of you who know me, may scratch their head, and think I didn't know Michele was so disturbed. I'm not. Well, maybe a tad, but not much. So, are you wondering what I might have drawn from experience wise to write a book about a sadistic serial killer who has more than just a couple of revolting and sick tendencies?
Well, first off, my heroine Helena Shea is a recovering alcoholic who has made a mess of her life. I am not a recovering alcoholic. I may joke around here about all the wine I drink, but that in part is because of The Wine Lover's series, and also because I do enjoy a glass of wine. But alcoholism is no joke to me. Addiction runs in my family. I think that is why I am a little bit paranoid if I do go for a second glass of wine. I don't like to feel out of control, ever. I've seen too many peole who I care about lose control due to alcohol, or drugs, or both, and it isn't pretty. In fact, it's down right uncomfortable all the way around. It is also painful as hell to watch an addict sink. However, I have also learned that sometimes it takes rock bottom to get them to help themselves, and sometimes even that doesn't work. In Helena's case, she has received help, but she's still kind of a mess. She is trying hard to rectify her past mistakes, and make her world right again. I can relate to her because she is a lot like someone who I love dearly, and who I have watched for years deal with her addictions. As you can see, I was able to pull from real life when it came to my heroine.
But what about my villian, the evil Richard Shelton? When I started writing the book, I asked myself, "How is a serial killer created?" "Are they born that way?" "Is it their environment, etc?" I read some books on profiling and even interviewed a profiler. And then, my uncle dropped a bombshell on me. We actually have a serial killer in the family tree! His name is Edmund Kemper, and he is some kind of distant (very distant) cousin on my grandfather's side. The real irony is that when I had been reading a book on serial killers for research, his name had been mentioned. I knew that it was a family name, but it didn't connect for me at all. I won't go into details here as to what this guy did. You can google him, if you want. I did, however, research him and his crimes. Doing so was creepy and unsettling, but by doing so, I was able to write a book that I think hits the mark in the creep and unsettling factor. I will let readers give the final verdict on that.
As mentioned in the blog from a few days ago, if you have any interest in reading this book, or DADDY'S HOME, and would like a fifty page sample before purchasing the book(s), all you need to do is e-mail me at michele@michelescott.com.
I hope you will give them a try.
Thank You,
Michele
August 4, 2011
Screw Up Leads to Screw-Cap Wine
Boy, does it really suck to screw up! And I have to say that I really screwed up. You know how sometimes you can screw up? Let's say (for all of my horse friends out there) that you are in the middle of a dressage test, and you do a ten-meter circle instead of the twenty-meter circle the test called for. Or maybe you're cooking a meal, and you grab chipotle powder instead of cinnamon, and when your kids bite into their oatmeal cookies their mouth lights up. At least you can laugh at that one.
But what if the screw up is super major and thousands of people are aware of it, not just you? Yep. Me. Now. Sucks.
Here is what I did: About six months ago, I made the decision to upload two thrillers that I had written over five years ago onto Kindle, Daddy's Home and Mommy, May I? I had a couple of friends read through them for mistakes (general typos, grammar, and content). Now first off, I know better than that. Family and friends are not the people you want proofing your work. BAD idea. Why? Well, it isn't because they aren't smart. It's because they love you, and they aren't looking at your work with an eagle eye. They are reading it and loving it because it's yours. In this case mine. I also went that route because cash was tight and hiring an editor and proof reader is not cheap. However, in retrospect I would have been better saving up some extra cash and investing in my career. HOWEVER, what happened with these books was not something I ever would have imagined. They freaking took off like crazy in The United Kingdom. They both hit Top Ten in Kindle sales, and Daddy's Home went to number one. The first reviews on these books were stellar (and from readers I did not know). What I thought would happen with these books was that a few of my family and friends would buy them and that would be it. Nope. Thousands bought them, which is great until I started getting some nasty reviews on both of them. I mean, really nasty reviews. Here are just a couple:
"I am really baffled by those reviews that give this book more than one star. I wish it were possible to give none. It is actually quite insulting that such rubbish gets published at all. The plot is totally predictable, the characters undeveloped and the dialogue stilted and unconvincing. It is about as badly written as anything you are likely to read. Ever! At one point the supposed romantic hero (a virtual blank space) is referred to by the name of the villain. I call that careless."
"This book was full of errors, not just typos but grammatical and careless mistakes. Did it get proof-read at all? The subject sounded interesting, but the really dreadful standard of writing made the book, for me, impossible to read. I abandoned it half way through. I assume this was self published, but this sort of badly put together rubbish gives self publishing a bad name and does no favours to the many excellent self published books. If you can't write then please don't."
OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!!!!!!! Those hurt. The night I read those, I broke out the wine (the screw-cap because the cheap stuff tends to get you buzzed faster. Kidding, kidding...), and went to bed. Then I got pissed off at
myself and realized I needed to do the work that I had not done before. I needed to pay an editor, get a copy editor, and do the extra work. Of course, I have had some fabulous reviews on these books as well, and that helps. I am not even sure if reviews always affect sales. My ego says they do.
Why am I telling you this? If you are also a writer please learn from my major mistake! I know I have. I will never, ever, ever put another book out that has not been through an editor, a copy editor, and probably three more readers. I will get opinions and not go off half-cocked.
If you are a reader, and you bought one of the earlier versions of these books and you are irritated at me, I am making you an offer. I will replace your book with any of my other books. Or, if you have not tried either Daddy's Home or Mommy, May I?, I will send you the first fifty pages FREE, so you can decide if you want to purchase the full version or not. Fair? I hope so.
Lesson learned! I hate screwing up and plan to avoid it in the future. :)
Cheers,
Michele
But what if the screw up is super major and thousands of people are aware of it, not just you? Yep. Me. Now. Sucks.
Here is what I did: About six months ago, I made the decision to upload two thrillers that I had written over five years ago onto Kindle, Daddy's Home and Mommy, May I? I had a couple of friends read through them for mistakes (general typos, grammar, and content). Now first off, I know better than that. Family and friends are not the people you want proofing your work. BAD idea. Why? Well, it isn't because they aren't smart. It's because they love you, and they aren't looking at your work with an eagle eye. They are reading it and loving it because it's yours. In this case mine. I also went that route because cash was tight and hiring an editor and proof reader is not cheap. However, in retrospect I would have been better saving up some extra cash and investing in my career. HOWEVER, what happened with these books was not something I ever would have imagined. They freaking took off like crazy in The United Kingdom. They both hit Top Ten in Kindle sales, and Daddy's Home went to number one. The first reviews on these books were stellar (and from readers I did not know). What I thought would happen with these books was that a few of my family and friends would buy them and that would be it. Nope. Thousands bought them, which is great until I started getting some nasty reviews on both of them. I mean, really nasty reviews. Here are just a couple:
"I am really baffled by those reviews that give this book more than one star. I wish it were possible to give none. It is actually quite insulting that such rubbish gets published at all. The plot is totally predictable, the characters undeveloped and the dialogue stilted and unconvincing. It is about as badly written as anything you are likely to read. Ever! At one point the supposed romantic hero (a virtual blank space) is referred to by the name of the villain. I call that careless."
"This book was full of errors, not just typos but grammatical and careless mistakes. Did it get proof-read at all? The subject sounded interesting, but the really dreadful standard of writing made the book, for me, impossible to read. I abandoned it half way through. I assume this was self published, but this sort of badly put together rubbish gives self publishing a bad name and does no favours to the many excellent self published books. If you can't write then please don't."
OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!!!!!!! Those hurt. The night I read those, I broke out the wine (the screw-cap because the cheap stuff tends to get you buzzed faster. Kidding, kidding...), and went to bed. Then I got pissed off at
myself and realized I needed to do the work that I had not done before. I needed to pay an editor, get a copy editor, and do the extra work. Of course, I have had some fabulous reviews on these books as well, and that helps. I am not even sure if reviews always affect sales. My ego says they do.
Why am I telling you this? If you are also a writer please learn from my major mistake! I know I have. I will never, ever, ever put another book out that has not been through an editor, a copy editor, and probably three more readers. I will get opinions and not go off half-cocked.
If you are a reader, and you bought one of the earlier versions of these books and you are irritated at me, I am making you an offer. I will replace your book with any of my other books. Or, if you have not tried either Daddy's Home or Mommy, May I?, I will send you the first fifty pages FREE, so you can decide if you want to purchase the full version or not. Fair? I hope so.
Lesson learned! I hate screwing up and plan to avoid it in the future. :)
Cheers,
Michele
July 23, 2011
A Writer's Workshop
I have read many books "On Writing," throughout the years. I still do. I most recently read John Locke's book on how he sold 1,000,000 e-books in five months and enjoyed it a great deal. It dealt with the marketing and sales aspect (obviously) and contained some great information in it. Some of my favorite books on writing are by James Frey--"How to Write a Damn Good Novel," etc. These are fantastic books on how to build your story. I also love Sol Stein's books on the topic. The "Writer's Journey" by Chris Vogle is another great resource. There are a ton of great books on writing available to us, and thats' a really good thing because as writers we are always wanting to learn and evolve.As I read these books, I consider them in a way to be a mentorship. I have a few mentors that I work with on a regular basis like Mike Sirota (Yoda) and my dear friend Don McQuinn. Both of these guys are excellent sources as teachers and editors. They have been in the business for many years and understand the nuances within it. They give back, and I think as writers become successful that giving back should be a part of their writing life. Giving back is an important aspect to being a human being. Part of the way that I have tried to give back to writers over the past few years is by teaching at workshops and conferences. I have a lot of fun doing this because just being around other writers gives me energy. Writing is like air to me, and writers are the blood. We all need one another. It is the one aspect of my life that my family or friends who do not write can not fully understand about me. This is a passion that I was born with and it will always burn inside of me. The feeling of writing a scene that brings me to tears or makes me laugh is an unspeakable high. Or, when I create dialogue that moves me in some way, or characters and plot lines that pour out of me, I feel joy. I also feel this joy when working with others who share this passion.
That's why I decided to take the workshops I have put together over the past few years and incorporate them into a book for other writers. It's not a long book, and many of the ideas are not original. They are concepts that I learned from other writers and then finessed into what worked for me. I cover everything from creating three-dimensional characters to plotting to marketing and publishing. I also included worksheets and some ideas to get your "think tank" working. I have written about my personal experiences as a writer and hopefully if you choose to read it, I will save you from some of the mistakes that I have made along the way. I also hope it touches you in some way and that it gives you value for your writing and possibly for you personally. If you are interested in checking out "A Writer's Workshop" for your Kindle ($2.99), here are the links in both the U.S., and the U.K.
U.S. http://tinyurl.com/3dmf3dk
U.K. tp://tinyurl.com/3sqfhlb
Have a wonderful weekend!
Cheers,
Michele
July 3, 2011
Stalker on the Prowl
There is an experience that I think most women can relate to. There are some men who can also relate, but on a different level; they certainly can react when someone they love, such as a wife, sister, mother, friend has had this extremely uncomfortable experience. From the time women are little girls they are taught to look over their shoulder, to be aware of who is around them, and to trust their instinct. I can remember my dad having a talk with me before I went off to college and him telling me exactly what to do if I felt threatened. I can remember an LA police officer coming into the sorority house I belonged to and telling the members what to do if threatened. My husband gives me a reminder now and then as to what I should do if I feel threatened. All three of these men suggested everything from screaming, to going straight for that male anatomy that would make any man scream…
Now for women, a threat can just be as simple as a feeling. If we live alone or even spend a night alone, we have a heightened awareness that we carry with us because it is ingrained in us.
I can remember the first time I felt truly threatened. I was about eighteen, and I was going to get my hair cut. I had never been to this particular salon, and I was not a genius when it came to directions. So, driving my 1984 Celica (most likely with Madonna belting out Lucky Star on my tape cassette), I found myself sort of lost and, as usual, low on gas. This was an issue my father has had with me since the day I got my license. Anyhow…I noticed these skuzzy-looking dudes driving next to me in their beat-up car. They weren't just skuzzy. They were creepy, nasty-looking, long-haired, greaseball, slime ogres. And, they started following me. My stomach sank, and I could feel the rapid beat of my heart and the burst of adrenaline as I realized there was no gas station in sight, the gage was low, and I could not for the life of me find the salon. Remember, this was pre-cell phone. I tried to ignore the guys, speeding up and slowing down, singing along with Madge, and I knew that I had to get my wits about me—and at eighteen, I will admit that wits were not my strong point. I can remember talking to God out loud, just asking that He would get me safely to where I needed to go before I ran out of gas. Amazingly, that is exactly what happened. I found the salon and pulled into the lot where other people were around. The creepers kept on going. It was unlikely that these piece-of-shit characters were going to do anything to me, but I won't ever know. I am sure, however, that they enjoyed intimidating me and freaking me out.
Through the years, other things have happened, things that would make me edgy and nervous. However, nothing quite like that until I was much older and the single mother to my boys. The boys were five and three at the time. My oldest belonged to a pee-wee soccer team. As usual, on Saturday mornings we would venture out for my son to play in a game. My youngest was with his dad that morning, so it was just my big guy and me. I was pretty shy during those years—I was a single mother who had been through some tough crap, and I had a tendency to keep to myself.
My kid had a helluva game. I was cheering as any happy mom would. As I stood on the sidelines, I could not help the feeling that someone was watching me. This sense enveloped me. It was surreal, and in a strange way, claustrophobic. I scanned the parents around the arena and the park. My eye caught this guy who just did not fit in. Dads of youngsters have that certain "dad" look. I don't mean in a physical way, but you know when someone on the side of a game is Dad. He looks that part by his demeanor and interest in the game. This dude was young, okay looking, tall. But definitely no one's dad. He smiled at me. A serious shiver snaked down my backside. I walked a few feet further down the side of the soccer arena. I did all that I could to focus back on the game and not the man who I knew was watching me. I was able to do a decent job of that, mostly because my son was playing an amazing game. When he scored the final goal, I jumped up and down and hollered out his name. As I went to run out to meet him, I realized that the man had made his way over, and before I could get far enough away, he actually said to me, "It was good for you, too, then."
Oooh! Gross and just totally inappropriate! My jaw dropped. I ran over to where my son was and stayed in that mix of kids and parents until I couldn't spot him anymore. I can tell you that for the rest of that day, I was constantly aware of my surroundings and looking over my shoulder. With my little boy, that awareness turned into full-on, "This Mom will kick your ass mode, you blankety-blankety-blank (you can fill in the blank )."
I am sure there are readers out there who can relate to these two situations—the kind where your heart races and real fear charges your every nerve ending. It's that feeling that a good thriller gives you while reading it. It is those exact feelings and the combination of these two stories (plus one that I won't go into here about a stalker ex-boyfriend who I hope lives under a rock somewhere) that were the catalyst for my thriller, Daddy's Home.
Readers ask all the time if I ever draw from real life experiences. Although the thrillers that I have written take the feelings from these stories to the extreme, I think that we have all experienced fear and can relate to the intensity of emotion. While these situations were unpleasant, I was able to get those emotions on the page and have watched as both Daddy's Home and Mommy, May I? have climbed the Amazon U.K. charts. Daddy's Home, was #1 and Mommy, May I? have remained in the #5 position for over a month! If you like thrills and chills, then I hope you will give these thrillers a try.
Also, feel free to share if you can relate to either one of these experiences. I'd love to know how you responded and what occurred.
Thank You!
Cheers,
Michele
http://www.michelescott.com
Daddy's Home US Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/68ozryt
Daddy's Home Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/6a9dzl4
Daddy's Home UK Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/65j37qf
Mommy May I? US Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/69o23t8
Mommy May I? UK Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/4xays2k
Book trailer for Mommy, May I?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xhbb5h_book-video-trailer-mommy-may-i_creation
Now for women, a threat can just be as simple as a feeling. If we live alone or even spend a night alone, we have a heightened awareness that we carry with us because it is ingrained in us.
I can remember the first time I felt truly threatened. I was about eighteen, and I was going to get my hair cut. I had never been to this particular salon, and I was not a genius when it came to directions. So, driving my 1984 Celica (most likely with Madonna belting out Lucky Star on my tape cassette), I found myself sort of lost and, as usual, low on gas. This was an issue my father has had with me since the day I got my license. Anyhow…I noticed these skuzzy-looking dudes driving next to me in their beat-up car. They weren't just skuzzy. They were creepy, nasty-looking, long-haired, greaseball, slime ogres. And, they started following me. My stomach sank, and I could feel the rapid beat of my heart and the burst of adrenaline as I realized there was no gas station in sight, the gage was low, and I could not for the life of me find the salon. Remember, this was pre-cell phone. I tried to ignore the guys, speeding up and slowing down, singing along with Madge, and I knew that I had to get my wits about me—and at eighteen, I will admit that wits were not my strong point. I can remember talking to God out loud, just asking that He would get me safely to where I needed to go before I ran out of gas. Amazingly, that is exactly what happened. I found the salon and pulled into the lot where other people were around. The creepers kept on going. It was unlikely that these piece-of-shit characters were going to do anything to me, but I won't ever know. I am sure, however, that they enjoyed intimidating me and freaking me out.
Through the years, other things have happened, things that would make me edgy and nervous. However, nothing quite like that until I was much older and the single mother to my boys. The boys were five and three at the time. My oldest belonged to a pee-wee soccer team. As usual, on Saturday mornings we would venture out for my son to play in a game. My youngest was with his dad that morning, so it was just my big guy and me. I was pretty shy during those years—I was a single mother who had been through some tough crap, and I had a tendency to keep to myself.
My kid had a helluva game. I was cheering as any happy mom would. As I stood on the sidelines, I could not help the feeling that someone was watching me. This sense enveloped me. It was surreal, and in a strange way, claustrophobic. I scanned the parents around the arena and the park. My eye caught this guy who just did not fit in. Dads of youngsters have that certain "dad" look. I don't mean in a physical way, but you know when someone on the side of a game is Dad. He looks that part by his demeanor and interest in the game. This dude was young, okay looking, tall. But definitely no one's dad. He smiled at me. A serious shiver snaked down my backside. I walked a few feet further down the side of the soccer arena. I did all that I could to focus back on the game and not the man who I knew was watching me. I was able to do a decent job of that, mostly because my son was playing an amazing game. When he scored the final goal, I jumped up and down and hollered out his name. As I went to run out to meet him, I realized that the man had made his way over, and before I could get far enough away, he actually said to me, "It was good for you, too, then."
Oooh! Gross and just totally inappropriate! My jaw dropped. I ran over to where my son was and stayed in that mix of kids and parents until I couldn't spot him anymore. I can tell you that for the rest of that day, I was constantly aware of my surroundings and looking over my shoulder. With my little boy, that awareness turned into full-on, "This Mom will kick your ass mode, you blankety-blankety-blank (you can fill in the blank )."
I am sure there are readers out there who can relate to these two situations—the kind where your heart races and real fear charges your every nerve ending. It's that feeling that a good thriller gives you while reading it. It is those exact feelings and the combination of these two stories (plus one that I won't go into here about a stalker ex-boyfriend who I hope lives under a rock somewhere) that were the catalyst for my thriller, Daddy's Home.
Readers ask all the time if I ever draw from real life experiences. Although the thrillers that I have written take the feelings from these stories to the extreme, I think that we have all experienced fear and can relate to the intensity of emotion. While these situations were unpleasant, I was able to get those emotions on the page and have watched as both Daddy's Home and Mommy, May I? have climbed the Amazon U.K. charts. Daddy's Home, was #1 and Mommy, May I? have remained in the #5 position for over a month! If you like thrills and chills, then I hope you will give these thrillers a try.
Also, feel free to share if you can relate to either one of these experiences. I'd love to know how you responded and what occurred.
Thank You!
Cheers,
Michele
http://www.michelescott.com
Daddy's Home US Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/68ozryt
Daddy's Home Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/6a9dzl4
Daddy's Home UK Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/65j37qf
Mommy May I? US Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/69o23t8
Mommy May I? UK Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/4xays2k
Book trailer for Mommy, May I?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xhbb5h_book-video-trailer-mommy-may-i_creation
June 24, 2011
Core Reader Friend
If you are interested in being a "CRF," here is the deal--I am only able to manage 100 "CRF's," so if you are truly intrerested and want to particpate, I hope you will let me know asap. :)
So, here is what a "CRF" is:
A "Core Reader Friend" follows this blog. It's the best feeling for an author to know that there really are readers out there interested in what I write. I am only offering this offer to those readers who are signed up at my blog.
I consider you a part of my "Core Reader Friends," and because I do a lot of writing and I will be releasing four more books this year—one under my name as Michele Scott and three more under my pen name A.K. Alexander--I have been thinking of ways to get the information out there on a larger scale about the books.
Here is what I am offering the "Core Reader Friends" group, (which will consist of only 100 friends), I would like to e-mail each "CRF" free PDF copies of each of my books three weeks prior to the release. I would be doing this in hopes that first off, you would consider tweeting, putting info out on facebook and writing a review if you like the book. You would have no obligation to do this, but I am hopeful that you would.
I would also like to send you out any hard copies of my books that you might like to have a copy of. I would happily sign the books however you would like them signed and send them to you at no cost. I encourage you to visit my site and then e-mail me at Michele@michelescott.com and let me know which of these books that you would like to have--that is any and ALL books.
Each "CRF" will also have an opportunity with each book release to be entered to win something extra special. That could be anything from a Kindle, a nice bottle of wine, signed copies of books from myself or other authors, to a vacation on the bay in Coronado, California!
All you have to do to be a "CRF" is send me an e-mail at Michele@michelescott.com with "CRF" in the subject line. Let me know that you want to be a part of this group and that you are signed up at http://adventuresnwriting.blogspot.com. Those who join will automatically be entered to win a Kindle or NOOK (your choice).
If you do sign up, I will be sending you out current PDF copies of my new thrillers that were recently published: "Daddy's Home," and "Mommy, May I?" Both of these books have been on the top 10 Kindle paid sales list, and "Daddy's Home" was number one for over a week. If you haven't already read the blog post about it, I encourage you to do so.
Thank You for reading my books, being a friend, following my blog, and considering becoming a "Core Reader Friend."
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Michele
http://www.michelescott.com/
So, here is what a "CRF" is:
A "Core Reader Friend" follows this blog. It's the best feeling for an author to know that there really are readers out there interested in what I write. I am only offering this offer to those readers who are signed up at my blog.
I consider you a part of my "Core Reader Friends," and because I do a lot of writing and I will be releasing four more books this year—one under my name as Michele Scott and three more under my pen name A.K. Alexander--I have been thinking of ways to get the information out there on a larger scale about the books.
Here is what I am offering the "Core Reader Friends" group, (which will consist of only 100 friends), I would like to e-mail each "CRF" free PDF copies of each of my books three weeks prior to the release. I would be doing this in hopes that first off, you would consider tweeting, putting info out on facebook and writing a review if you like the book. You would have no obligation to do this, but I am hopeful that you would.
I would also like to send you out any hard copies of my books that you might like to have a copy of. I would happily sign the books however you would like them signed and send them to you at no cost. I encourage you to visit my site and then e-mail me at Michele@michelescott.com and let me know which of these books that you would like to have--that is any and ALL books.
Each "CRF" will also have an opportunity with each book release to be entered to win something extra special. That could be anything from a Kindle, a nice bottle of wine, signed copies of books from myself or other authors, to a vacation on the bay in Coronado, California!
All you have to do to be a "CRF" is send me an e-mail at Michele@michelescott.com with "CRF" in the subject line. Let me know that you want to be a part of this group and that you are signed up at http://adventuresnwriting.blogspot.com. Those who join will automatically be entered to win a Kindle or NOOK (your choice).
If you do sign up, I will be sending you out current PDF copies of my new thrillers that were recently published: "Daddy's Home," and "Mommy, May I?" Both of these books have been on the top 10 Kindle paid sales list, and "Daddy's Home" was number one for over a week. If you haven't already read the blog post about it, I encourage you to do so.
Thank You for reading my books, being a friend, following my blog, and considering becoming a "Core Reader Friend."
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Michele
http://www.michelescott.com/
June 21, 2011
Answer a Few Questions and Enter to Win a Kindle
In the last month a very cool thing has happened for me as an author and I am trying to figure out how it happened. I am hoping my readers will respond to this post either by posting a response here or sending me an e-mail at michele@michelescott.com. You will be entered to win a Kindle. I will announce the winner on my site on July 21st.
The questions I am looking to be answered are: 1. What causes you to buy a book--cover, description, etc? 2. What is your favorite genre? 3. Are you inclined to read a series over a stand alone? and 4. What do you think is most important--plot or characters? Also, please tell me a bit about yourself and reading habits if you would like. I am a curious author. :) Here is my story;
It is an open account of my journey as a writer.
I am posting this in hopes that if anyone is ever feeling down about their work, or life in general, that maybe my story will inspire them.
I started out being published in 2005 with the Penguin Publishing group. They put nine of my mysteries out. All of the books have had multiple printings. I took a second mortgage on my home (stupidly) and put all of it into marketing my books. You can imagine how that worked out for my family and me. I sold our home of eleven years a few months ago and moved into a new home, which has actually turned out better for us in many ways. I sponsored contests that included a B&B spa weekend in Napa Valley. I signed books at umpteenth book stores where at the most I think I signed two dozen books. I hired a publicist. I did everything that I thought was right in getting books out there. I was on 4-6 month deadlines, churning out books at a rapid clip that combined with all of the marketing and raising three children nearly sent me over the edge. There were a lot of personal painful issues as well during the past few years, along with really trying to succeed as an author. I lost my ex-husband who was still a friend and parent to our sons to suicide (if anyone is ever facing suicide with a family member, I wrote an article for the NY Times that may help http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/20... lost my best friend to cancer, and am now the primary caregiver for my dad who has Parkinsons. I nearly gave up my writing all together when Penguin decided to not publish the 10th book. I really had reached a rock bottom place and found myself pretty depressed. I kept that hidden from everyone because people know me as "the happy nice girl," but being a successful writer had always been my dream since I was nine-years-old, and I felt that I not only had failed at that (even though books sold), but that I had also jeopardized my family's financial stability based on this dream. I went back to a day job with my family's business in hopes of paying back the debt I had accrued by risking everything on my writing career. Then, I found Joe Konrath's blog (jakonrath.blogspot.com). I also read what others were saying about e-publishing. I followed their advice. I had already gotten back rights on 3 of my mysteries. I also had three books I had written from the past that had never been published, but they are thrillers, so I chose a pen name from my kids' names never realizing at first the symbolism in the name: A.K. Alexander. I took those 3 books and had them edited and had good covers done. I took the three mysteries and had new covers done and looked at reviews on the books from when Penguin put them out, making tweaks where the past reviews said there was a flaw in the book. I put them on Kindle and nothing much happened. I sold maybe a half a dozen for a few months, then a little more, and finally a couple hundred on average a month.
Then something happened this past month and I can't completely quantify it. I wish that I could. My thriller "Daddy's Home" started climbing the U.K. charts It climbed steadily each day and hit #1 thriller, #1 romantic suspense, #1 psychological drama, and finally # 1 in paid Kindle sales! The book remained on the top 10 Kindle Paid sales for a couple of weeks, and has stayed steady in the top 50. My other thriller "Mommy, May I?" is now in the top 10 along with "Daddy's Home." My third book is just beginning to catch on ("The Cartel," along with my Michaela Bancroft series. The Cartel is my favorite book of all of the books that I have ever written, so my fingers crossed it takes off like the other two.
I am currently finishing the next thriller and have outlined three more. I am also writing a new mystery. I feel good again. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I remembered how good it feels to write a book and discover readers enjoy it.
I guess my point is, keep at it, even when it seems like everything is a bit dark. Just keep writing. As writers, it's what we do best and it's what makes us happy. Do it because you love it and you want readers to find joy in it. It only took me twenty years and 14 books to get to this point. Who knew it would be due to e-books? I certainly didn't.
Cheers,
Michele
A.K. Alexander
For links (free chapters, etc) to all my books, please visit my site http://www.michelescott.com
I hope you will take some time and let me know what works for you as a reader. It will not only help me as a writer, but I hope others as well. You never know, you may win a Kindle just by answering a few questions.
The questions I am looking to be answered are: 1. What causes you to buy a book--cover, description, etc? 2. What is your favorite genre? 3. Are you inclined to read a series over a stand alone? and 4. What do you think is most important--plot or characters? Also, please tell me a bit about yourself and reading habits if you would like. I am a curious author. :) Here is my story;
It is an open account of my journey as a writer.
I am posting this in hopes that if anyone is ever feeling down about their work, or life in general, that maybe my story will inspire them.
I started out being published in 2005 with the Penguin Publishing group. They put nine of my mysteries out. All of the books have had multiple printings. I took a second mortgage on my home (stupidly) and put all of it into marketing my books. You can imagine how that worked out for my family and me. I sold our home of eleven years a few months ago and moved into a new home, which has actually turned out better for us in many ways. I sponsored contests that included a B&B spa weekend in Napa Valley. I signed books at umpteenth book stores where at the most I think I signed two dozen books. I hired a publicist. I did everything that I thought was right in getting books out there. I was on 4-6 month deadlines, churning out books at a rapid clip that combined with all of the marketing and raising three children nearly sent me over the edge. There were a lot of personal painful issues as well during the past few years, along with really trying to succeed as an author. I lost my ex-husband who was still a friend and parent to our sons to suicide (if anyone is ever facing suicide with a family member, I wrote an article for the NY Times that may help http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/20... lost my best friend to cancer, and am now the primary caregiver for my dad who has Parkinsons. I nearly gave up my writing all together when Penguin decided to not publish the 10th book. I really had reached a rock bottom place and found myself pretty depressed. I kept that hidden from everyone because people know me as "the happy nice girl," but being a successful writer had always been my dream since I was nine-years-old, and I felt that I not only had failed at that (even though books sold), but that I had also jeopardized my family's financial stability based on this dream. I went back to a day job with my family's business in hopes of paying back the debt I had accrued by risking everything on my writing career. Then, I found Joe Konrath's blog (jakonrath.blogspot.com). I also read what others were saying about e-publishing. I followed their advice. I had already gotten back rights on 3 of my mysteries. I also had three books I had written from the past that had never been published, but they are thrillers, so I chose a pen name from my kids' names never realizing at first the symbolism in the name: A.K. Alexander. I took those 3 books and had them edited and had good covers done. I took the three mysteries and had new covers done and looked at reviews on the books from when Penguin put them out, making tweaks where the past reviews said there was a flaw in the book. I put them on Kindle and nothing much happened. I sold maybe a half a dozen for a few months, then a little more, and finally a couple hundred on average a month.
Then something happened this past month and I can't completely quantify it. I wish that I could. My thriller "Daddy's Home" started climbing the U.K. charts It climbed steadily each day and hit #1 thriller, #1 romantic suspense, #1 psychological drama, and finally # 1 in paid Kindle sales! The book remained on the top 10 Kindle Paid sales for a couple of weeks, and has stayed steady in the top 50. My other thriller "Mommy, May I?" is now in the top 10 along with "Daddy's Home." My third book is just beginning to catch on ("The Cartel," along with my Michaela Bancroft series. The Cartel is my favorite book of all of the books that I have ever written, so my fingers crossed it takes off like the other two.
I am currently finishing the next thriller and have outlined three more. I am also writing a new mystery. I feel good again. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I remembered how good it feels to write a book and discover readers enjoy it.
I guess my point is, keep at it, even when it seems like everything is a bit dark. Just keep writing. As writers, it's what we do best and it's what makes us happy. Do it because you love it and you want readers to find joy in it. It only took me twenty years and 14 books to get to this point. Who knew it would be due to e-books? I certainly didn't.
Cheers,
Michele
A.K. Alexander
For links (free chapters, etc) to all my books, please visit my site http://www.michelescott.com
I hope you will take some time and let me know what works for you as a reader. It will not only help me as a writer, but I hope others as well. You never know, you may win a Kindle just by answering a few questions.
June 13, 2011
Huevos Rancheros and Caramelized Grapefruit with Schramsberg 's Blanc de Blancs
It has been a long but fun weekend, and in order to get the week going a good brunch is in order... This brunch is not only delicious and elegant but easy, too. Serve it with Schramsberg Chardonnay-based, vintage-dated sparkling wine. Blanc de Blancs blends citrus with tropical fruit notes and contains a soft vanilla flavor on the back palate.Huevos Rancheros
6 6-inch corn or flour tortillas
vegetable oil
1⁄2 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
12⁄3 cups (14 oz) canned tomatoes, chopped
8–10 green chiles, chopped (substitute: 2 4 oz cans green chile)
3⁄4 tsp salt
6 eggs
1⁄8 tsp pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1⁄4 cup butter, melted
Fry tortillas in oil until crispy. As you fry try to form a small well in each tortilla. Place tortillas in a baking dish. You may require two dishes depending on size. Sauté onion and garlic in 2 tbsp of oil until tender. Stir in tomatoes, green chile, and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt. Pour equal amounts of tomato mixture over each tortilla. Preheat oven to 350°.
Carefully break eggs, one on top of each tortilla. Sprinkle remaining salt, pepper, and cheese over eggs. Drizzle butter over; cover. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve immediately. Serves 6.
Caramelized Grapefruit
1 grapefruit
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp port wine
2 tbsp butter
Cut your grapefruit in half and pour 1 tbsp each of brown sugar, port wine, and butter on each half. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes; serve hot. Serves 2.
May 20, 2011
Aussie Prawn and Scallop Skewers with Rosemount Diamond Chardonnay
The sun is finally shining after several days of rain here in San Diego. This reminded me of the perfect time for some skewers and relaxing outside with some great company. This recipe is from A Vintage Murder part of the Wine Lover's Mystery Series. All my Wine Lover's Books have great recipes, and Happy Hour also has great food and wine pairings.
½ cup mango chutney
½ cup orange juice
½ cup sweet and tangy barbecue sauce
8 pineapple chunks, each about 1" square
12 large prawns, peeled and deveined
12 large sea scallops
8 cherry tomatoes
8 pearl onions blanched, peeled
In a food processor or blender purée chutney, orange juice, and barbecue sauce until smooth.
Thread four 12-inch skewers in the following order: pineapple, prawn, scallop, tomato, onion,
prawn, scallop, tomato, onion, prawn, scallop, pineapple.
Brush skewers liberally with sauce and place in center of cooking grate. Grill 6 to 8 minutes or
until prawns are pink and scallops are opaque, turning and brushing liberally with sauce again
halfway through grilling time. Serve with remaining sauce for dipping.
The tangy mango sauce makes an irresistible addition to this Australian seafood celebration. You
can find mango chutney in gourmet markets and specialty stores.
Serves 4.
½ cup mango chutney
½ cup orange juice
½ cup sweet and tangy barbecue sauce
8 pineapple chunks, each about 1" square
12 large prawns, peeled and deveined
12 large sea scallops
8 cherry tomatoes
8 pearl onions blanched, peeled
In a food processor or blender purée chutney, orange juice, and barbecue sauce until smooth.Thread four 12-inch skewers in the following order: pineapple, prawn, scallop, tomato, onion,
prawn, scallop, tomato, onion, prawn, scallop, pineapple.
Brush skewers liberally with sauce and place in center of cooking grate. Grill 6 to 8 minutes or
until prawns are pink and scallops are opaque, turning and brushing liberally with sauce again
halfway through grilling time. Serve with remaining sauce for dipping.
The tangy mango sauce makes an irresistible addition to this Australian seafood celebration. You
can find mango chutney in gourmet markets and specialty stores.
Serves 4.
May 10, 2011
Changes with Aging
You know it's a very sad day when you realize that there is going to come a day when your parents will no longer be around. I think there are many of us now between our 40's and 50's who are living this reality and on top of that reality, we are also living with the fact that as our parents age, we find ourselves in the position of taking care of them. I now find myself right there in that place.
I have always been a caretaker by nature. I was the favored babysitter in the neighborhood as a kid mainly because I had no real social life. But also because I really loved t babysit. I had children fairly young starting in my early twenties and having my third one in my early thirties. I've always loved to take care of children and animals. It's something that makes me feel needed and good. But now in my early forties I am finding that is no longer small kids I am taking care of. I do still take care of my kids but obviously they are older now. And of course I still have a plethora of animals to keep me busy, but what I failed to think about years ago was that there would come a time when I might need to take care of my parents—the people who have always been the ones taking such good care of me.
For the most part is my dad who needs the care giving right now. He has Parkinsons Disease and it is a horrifying experience to watch my dad who has always been so active and full of life to now find himself debilitated by the disease. My mom is still capable of taking care of herself and does a good job with my dad, but she is also getting older and needs a break now and then, so that is where I come in. Like I said—I never thought I would be here. No one ever thinks that. However, here we are and I have to be honest, I love being able to take care of Dad and give back. He was the one who first really believed in me as a writer. He was the one who took me out on trail rides as a kid and we would play cowboys and bad guys for hours. He was the one who called me Shelly Belly and would carry me fireman style and tuck me in after reading a story to me as a little girl. He has been an amazing father and my mother is a remarkable pillar of strength and graciousness. Her courage and strength in the face of adversity reminds me that good things come by staying the course—and although she never intended to find herself in her golden years having to take care of my dad, I know how much she loves him and how much he loves her—and after 47 years together that is a very good thing.
I couldn't be a luckier daughter than to have these two people as my parents. So when it gets tough—and at times, it does—I just remember who raised me and how they raised me and I am grateful to be the one who can now pay them back even if it is only a little bit.
I have always been a caretaker by nature. I was the favored babysitter in the neighborhood as a kid mainly because I had no real social life. But also because I really loved t babysit. I had children fairly young starting in my early twenties and having my third one in my early thirties. I've always loved to take care of children and animals. It's something that makes me feel needed and good. But now in my early forties I am finding that is no longer small kids I am taking care of. I do still take care of my kids but obviously they are older now. And of course I still have a plethora of animals to keep me busy, but what I failed to think about years ago was that there would come a time when I might need to take care of my parents—the people who have always been the ones taking such good care of me.
For the most part is my dad who needs the care giving right now. He has Parkinsons Disease and it is a horrifying experience to watch my dad who has always been so active and full of life to now find himself debilitated by the disease. My mom is still capable of taking care of herself and does a good job with my dad, but she is also getting older and needs a break now and then, so that is where I come in. Like I said—I never thought I would be here. No one ever thinks that. However, here we are and I have to be honest, I love being able to take care of Dad and give back. He was the one who first really believed in me as a writer. He was the one who took me out on trail rides as a kid and we would play cowboys and bad guys for hours. He was the one who called me Shelly Belly and would carry me fireman style and tuck me in after reading a story to me as a little girl. He has been an amazing father and my mother is a remarkable pillar of strength and graciousness. Her courage and strength in the face of adversity reminds me that good things come by staying the course—and although she never intended to find herself in her golden years having to take care of my dad, I know how much she loves him and how much he loves her—and after 47 years together that is a very good thing.I couldn't be a luckier daughter than to have these two people as my parents. So when it gets tough—and at times, it does—I just remember who raised me and how they raised me and I am grateful to be the one who can now pay them back even if it is only a little bit.
May 9, 2011
Girlfriendology Interview
It's no mystery ... when you get the girls together, it's gonna be fun and there might be some wine involved! (At least among my girlfriends!)Check out my interview with Girlfriendology the online community for women based on inspiration, appreciation and celebration of female friendship. Girlfriends make us healthier, happier, less stressed, live longer and even feel more beautiful. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/girlfriendology/2011/05/06/girlfriendology-interviews-michele-scott-author-happy-hour
