Kimberly Packard's Blog, page 4

Reading Room with Clover Autrey

Before authors started making stuff up, we were readers. To celebrate Independence Day (and Independent Authors Day!), I’m launching a new weekly feature – Reading Room – to celebrate our roots are readers. And, I’m excited that my friend Clover Autrey has agreed to be my first victim, er, guest.

The lovely Clover Autrey

Say hi to Clover …

Was there a moment when you decided to become an author?  If so, was there someone or something that sparked that?

I remember at a very young age, swinging outside on my grandparents’ large set while daydreaming and I had the sudden thought that being a writer would be the best job ever. That thought never left me. I still think it’s the greatest job ever.

Do you read when you write?  If so, does your writing influence the books you pick up?

I always read. Every day. But it’s the other way around for me, what I’m reading influences some of the things I write. Maybe it’s just a turn of a phrase that has nothing to do with what I’m writing, usually doesn’t, because I don’t read anything like what I write, but it will inspire me to do better or make sure that how I put down things is fresher and better. Simply make better work choices in stringing together a sentence. I’m always inspired by books in some way.

The publishing industry has experienced much change in the past few years, how do you think these changes impact the readers?

I’ve always considered people who read for enjoyment to be highly intelligent and intuitive. Opening the doors for more writers and books that otherwise wouldn’t have been given the chance to ever see the light of day has only given readers that many more choices. They’re smart. They can try new books and ferret out new writers that they love and dismiss the ones they don’t enjoy so much all on their own. It’s a great time to be a writer and a reader.

As an author, do you think you read differently now? If so, how?

Yes. The joy of falling into a great story will always be the same, but sometimes I can’t take my writer hat off and stop analyzing plot points, and seeds of foreshadowing, and metaphors used. I annoy myself when I can’t turn that off. Though with the really good books that just take me away, I’ll usually read twice, once as a reader and then again to soak in the brilliance and try to learn from it.

You have a table for four reservation and can invite three of your favorite authors (living or dead). Who would you invite and why?

Rob Thurman, mainly to see if she is as snarky and over-the-top hilarious as her characters. With what comes out of her imagination I can’t picture a shy and demure person, but with writers you never know.

Clover with Marjorie Liu and her sister Heather

Marjorie Liu. I actually met her once. She’s this beautiful, quiet, gracious, petite woman that has a fireball career with not only her books, but writing for gamers and X-Men Comics and her hand in who-knows-how-many-other-projects. I’d mostly like to talk to her about pacing. Her books tend to span a day at most, but the amount of things that happens in those short hours is phenomenal. I’m exhausted on behalf of her characters when she’s done with them.

Joss Whedon, because, well, he’s Joss Whedon. Brilliant. I’d probably be intimidated to even look at him. Except he has beautiful reddish hair so I’d have to.

LOL! I think we’d all like to meet Joss!

In a Word:

Typically better, book or movie?

Book. The books are always better. However, I like watching the movies after I’ve read the book because then I feel like I know secrets that others might not get. Sometimes if I know a movie is coming out, I’ll hurry and read the book first before going to see it. Never the other way around.

E-reader or paperback?

Both. It depends on where I am. At home, I tend to grab up the paperback of choice for that week, but when I’m out and stuck in the car or waiting in a doctor’s office, I pull out the eReader. I usually have 3 books I’m reading at a time so switching from one to another is no problem.

Favorite beach genre?

Hmmm, whichever book I happen to be reading is what I’ll take. Honestly, I rarely relax by the water by myself so reading is out. If I’m not playing, I’m gabbing with my friends and sisters so I don’t really get much beach reading in.

If you had time to read one more book in your life, which would you pick?

That is the cruelest question ever! I don’t even want to think about only having one more book to read. In fact, the only thing I feared about dying is all the new stories I’ll miss out on. That is, until I decided that I don’t care what anyone says about the afterlife, I’m coming back and haunting a library. Only one more book, who are you?

But if I have to answer it, I’d probably go back to one of my favorites either written by Rob Thurman or Nora Robert’s Sign of Seven trilogy. So what if I’ve read them a gadzillion times?

Sorry, Clover! I’m not always known for my niceness.

Highland Moon Sifter

Thank you so much for being my first in this new weekly series. Clover just released the last book in her Highland Sorcery series, Highland Moon Sifter.

Bekah McRafferty has one goal. Travel back in time and kill the Moon Sifter Shaw Limont so that billions of the human race can survive.

Yep, that was the plan until she actually meets the Highlander. He’s not exactly the evil guy history made him out to be. Creator of monsters that nearly ate mankind to extinction? Well, maybe. Maybe not.

But now that she’s jumped into the 13th Century with the future of humanity depending on her to kill the guy she’s rapidly falling for, and with monsters on her tail, trying to stop her, what’s an assassin to do?

Highland Moon Sifter brings to a conclusion the 4-part series featuring the sibling guardians within the Highland Sorcery novels, featuring Toren, Edeen, Col, and Shaw Limont.

You can follow Clover Autrey on Twitter at @cloverautrey, her Web site, or Facebook page.

 About Clover:

Most sweeter romances today are classified as either Inspirationals or something pushed in the Young Adult category. But what’s out there for readers who don’t necessary want to read about religion or teenage angst, yet want all the trimmings of a love story—adventure, excitement, the budding draw of new love, adult situations and yes, some basic physical attraction—without having the characters go there?

Clover Autrey’s books have been referred to as “Romance in the Safety Zone.” The pages are chock full of adventure, attraction, fantasy and love, safe enough to read with your daughter or your grandmother, yet not so sweet it will put you in a sugar coma.

Inspired by her love of Louis L’Amour heroes, Clover (yeah, that’s her real name), packed up and moved to Texas where she found a real live Texan of her own. She’s been there ever since where she and Pat (who else would a Clover marry but a Patrick?) listen to the coyotes howl at the trains each evening.

Picking Scabs

I know the “ewww” factor will be high on this title, but it’s meant to make you uncomfortable … because if you are an author and you want your readers to feel exactly what your characters are feeling, you’re going to have to bleed.

Yes, it’s going to hurt. But shake it off …

The other day in my awesome critique group, I told one of my friends that he just scratched the surface of emotion in a piece … the he just picked at the edge of the scab when he really needed to pull it off. Driving home that day, I realized I needed to heed my own advice for a scene.

One of the signs of good writing is how emotionally involved the reader is with the characters. Adding depth ensures that when a character laughs, the reader laughs; and when a character hurts, the reader feels that same pain. And, for the latter, it may mean that the writer will have to bear the brunt of that emotion to fully bring the reader into the emotion.

Sometimes, diving into that drags us into a dark place that we’d rather not revisit. But you, dear writer, do not have the luxury to not look away from painful or uncomfortable memories. You owe it to your readers to go there, face your fears to give them the most authentic experience.

I realized I didn’t go deep enough the other day. It’s a painful scene with my main character, something that knocks the air out of her lungs. I first wrote it during a writers retreat with a couple of awesome writer pals (hi Chrissy and Amber! *waves*) and when I finished, I gasped at the end and teared up.

But it wasn’t good enough. I had to go deeper, I had to show the hurt she experienced, even if it meant I had to go back to parts of my life where I’d rather not return (ask any of my friends from my single days, if they had to eat Oreos in bed with me, they don’t want me going back there either).

So, I went back in. I worked on building up the emotion and pain. And this time, the tears couldn’t stop.

Did I pull the scab all the way off?

Only a reader can tell me.

The Garage Author

If you’ve had the pleasure to share a drink with me, you’ve probably heard my theory about how the literary industry today is in the same place the music industry was 20 years ago. I’ve even blogged about what these changes mean to authors in the query stage and those of us Indie published authors out there selling their books.

Being an Indie author is wonderful! Don’t get me wrong. I adore my publisher, Goodmedia Press, and she indulges me with witty text banter while I’m out there hustling my books. And, after a few conversations with traditionally published authors being told by their agents that “the check is in the mail” for months on end, I count myself very fortunate to find a cheerleader who respects me as an author and a girl trying to keep the shoe closet filled.

I’m in a program through the Kroger stores in Texas in which local authors do in-store book signings during the weekends. It’s a wonderful opportunity, but also a lot of work giving my spiel a million times, pointing people in the direction of the restroom and greeting card section and trying to keep my inner snark monster at bay when faced with comments like “I’ve never heard of you before.”

Somewhere in here is an author … maybe.

If you remember back to the early 90s (stretch way back … past Baywatch, the Rachel haircut we all had and the Soup Nazi), the Pacific Northwest was home to a burgeoning music scene, one that bucked the commercial norm with long, stringy hair and guitar-driven angst that made flannel stylish (I think I still owe my dad a few of his flannel shirts back). It was so anti everything else that was commercially popular at the time, but us Gen X-ers embraced it, bringing these Indie musicians front and center just months after playing someone’s garage.

The same is happening now in literature. Despite industry changes, there is a big opportunity for Indie authors to cultivate an audience even if their work doesn’t fit neatly into one package (Phoenix, for example, is a cross-dresser). And, like my Indie music counterparts, I may be playing the small clubs, but it’s all good, because I get a chance to talk with each of my readers and get to know who is interested in the story.

So, when will Indie authors take off and start playing the stadiums? It’s hard to tell. There’s been some harbingers of success like Amanda Hocking and Hugh Howey, but both of these guys are actually self-published and write genre fiction … meaning that they were fortunate enough to have a built-in audience and had the writing chops to keep them there. (For the record, self-publishing is Indie publishing, but Indie publishing isn’t self … I need a drink before I can explain the difference).

This is an exciting time to be an author. I have more friends with books coming out now than ever before – using all forms of publishing. I see so many people at Kroger excited to have a new book to dive into – so literature is far from dead. My advice to readers, stop and say hello to the nice author hocking her books in the produce aisle – she could be the next Pearl Jam er, best-seller.

And to you authors, it’s completely worth giving up your weekends to shiver in the frozen food section when you have a surprise like this waiting for you:

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And for the record, greeting cards are on Aisle 19.

Cheers!

K

 

Remembering Why We (Can) Write

Why do you write? For many, the answer is as primal as “why do I breathe? Because I have to.”

Some may cite that they have a message that begs to be heard, some insight into a larger truth that they can’t not share.

And, of course, you have many who write simply for themselves, to open a portal into untapped emotions to make sense of their lives.

No matter the reason, there is one commonality shared by all American writers: the freedom to put words on paper without the fear of persecution. It’s a freedom that some of us may take for granted, but many authors – most notably Salman Rushdie for The Satanic Verses – have feared for their lives after writing words that others deemed dangerous.

So today as you remember those who have fought and lost their lives for our country, thank them also for our freedom of speech. And, writing.

Mouthing Off: The Importance of Word of Mouth to Debut Authors

This post originally appeared earlier this week at Blogging Authors. Please visit their site for more great posts on writing.

If you’ve just returned home from a long stint on a desert island, welcome home. Let me get you up to speed: Dallas is back, but our beloved J.R. is gone; we still don’t have flying cars; and Lady Gaga was not a figment of our imagination. And, if you’ve just returned and you’re a writer: everything you knew about publishing before has changed. Drastically.

Just a few years ago, debut authors with a marketing budget relied on their publishing houses to send them on whirlwind media tours to do guest appearances on morning talk shows, lunch with book reviewers from the daily papers and spend their evenings meeting adoring fans at the local book store.

Sure, some debut authors do still have the opportunity for this jet-setting lifestyle, but your chances of winning the lottery and getting swept off your feet by a prince are much greater. The industry consolidation has fueled the rise of the Indie publishers, which in of itself has major potential for up and coming authors, but the downside is the lack of the blockbuster budget.

So, what’s a debut author with an Indie publishing house to do?

The answer is easy. Mouth off.

I’m not talking about the kind of mouthing off that would get you chomping down on a bar of soap. I mean word of mouth. I consider myself to be one of the fortune Indie authors. When I signed my contract for my debut novel Phoenix with Goodmedia Press late last year, I not only had a marketing-savvy publisher in my corner, but I also brought to the talk many years of marketing and PR experience. But, the hurdle I had to get over was thinking of myself as the client, and give myself the advice given to my clients.

Think about the last time you heard about a good book. How did you find out about it? Perusing a book store? Maybe, if there is one within a twenty mile radius. Clicking through an online bookstore? Sure, but where to start? A trusted friend? More than likely, you’ll agree with this.

In the PR world, we tell clients that word of mouth is invaluable – both negative and positive. But, for the sake of this blog, we’re going to focus on the positive, because we all wrote Pulitzer-worthy novels, right?

Think about Facebook. You may see an ad for a product and chances are, you scroll right past it. But, you’re best friend from high school posts something about the same product and raves about how it changed her life. What do you do? Run right out to the store and buy it.

Books are no different, and in a changing industry where bookstores are shuttering Indie authors must rely on word of mouth publicity to get their names out there. So, easily said, but how do you do it?

Find your talkers. Think about the conversations you’ve had with your hairdresser, your nail tech, your neighbor. Have books ever come up? If so, give them a copy of your book and don’t be afraid to ask to spread the word if they enjoyed it.

Book clubs are also invaluable tools for spreading word of mouth awareness for your work. I’ve spoken to two since Phoenix came out, and both times I had a fun, engaged audience that wanted to talk about the characters that I love – and turns out they love as well. And the best thing about book clubs, they talk to their non-book club friends about what they’ve read.

On the Interwebs, you can use sites such as Goodreads.com to help spread the word. For no cost, Goodreads will give away copies of your book to their community of readers. Not only is this helpful for getting new eyes – and hopefully new reviews – but it’s great for having your book added to several “to-read” shelves.

Don’t hop that next flight back to the deserted island yet!

Yes, the world is changing for authors, but what it does is give greater control to the author of his or her marketing, which, in turns, makes the authors more accessible to the readers. It can be a bit daunting, but once you start meeting people and realizing that the characters and story you labored over has resonated with them, it makes it worth all the throat lozenges and tea and honey concoctions from all the talking you’ll be doing.

Party Crashers

If you’re a writer flying the Camp Pantster flag over your computer, you know that your WIP often surprises you with plot twists and turns. But what happens when a Party Crasher walks into the room?

Exactly what my Pardon Falls Party Crasher would say.

Because the Muse – like Father – knows best, you welcome this new character with open arms.

Writing a story is sometimes like a flood. As the piece gains momentum, you pick up new characters along the way. These characters are very organic, feeling like they are part of the tapestry you’re weaving. The Party Crashers are a bit different. These characters can be major game changers, catalysts to the story.

My own personal Party Crasher came to me several months ago. She’s going to be a POV character in my third novel, but I should have known that when she started speaking to me out of turn, she’d show up in Pardon Falls.

I already know that in book 3, she’s going to be an antagonist to Amanda, my main character. She’s not a bad guy, quite the opposite, she’s in law enforcement – which doesn’t bode well for Amanda considering she’s on the run. But this new character, Fallon, is more than an external antagonist, she ignites something in Amanda – doubt, determination and jealousy.

That’s quite a load for a character to carry. Which could be why the other day, while driving to work, Fallon revealed to me that she doesn’t want to wait her turn. And, when I asked how in the world this was going to work, she showed me the way … which cruelly, adds to Amanda’s jealousy.

Party Crashers in writing aren’t like those who show up at your party to drink your good wine, double dip in the ranch dressing and flirt with your boyfriend. They can show up bearing incredible gifts for your story.

For Your Listening Pleasure

I know it’s been a while since I last posted an update. It’s not that I’m being lazy … hustling books, working furiously on Pardon Falls and oh yeah, day job, has kept me busy.

While I await my next stroke-of-genius blog post to come to me, I give you this video for your listening pleasure. It’s by Joseph Arthur (does anyone else think he looks like John Lennon?), a beautiful song called In the Sun. It’s not new, but I rediscovered it yesterday on my iPod on a long drive and couldn’t help but listen to it over and over and over.

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Why?

Because what struck me about it is that this is exactly my main character’s frame of mind in regards to her relationship with David in Pardon Falls. So much so, that I’ve dubbed it Mandy’s Prayer to David.

I hope this whets your appetite while I’m working away on the follow up to Phoenix. Enjoy!

 

The Moment We’ve All Been Waiting For: The 1-Star Review

I am proud to say that I’ve joined the ranks of Stephen King, Sandra Brown and J.K. Rowling.

What the what? Am I getting too big in my britches to put myself in their league?

Well, yes, but also, no. We all share something in common – a 1-star review.

A 1-Star review does not equal the Death Star.

A few weeks ago, it happened. I knew it would. Heck, I was even hoping it would happen before it did just to rip off the band-aid and know I could survive it. A reader didn’t connect with Phoenix and he shared his opinion. As for negative reviews, it was a very nice one, so I don’t begrudge him one bit. Like I said, Stephen, Sandra and J.K. all received negative reviews and they are still standing.

I’ve been fortunate in that the my readers who have posted reviews have been so incredibly kind and generous in giving it 4- or 5-star ratings. But, a 1-star review doesn’t mean that readers will pass over your book or put it back on the shelf. According to Goodreads, quite the opposite, it can add validity to your novel (meaning that your Great Aunt Bertha isn’t the only person posting all the reviews).

While there is a tinge of sadness that characters I love didn’t resonate with a reader, I’m not going to let it stop me from doing what I have to do: write. I have to focus on the big picture – for the one negative review, I have 16 positive reviews (and no, not all from Great Aunt Bertha!).

And, he finishes his review by encouraging me to keep writing and he’ll try my next book. Yes, sir, I will keep writing. And hopefully you’ll keep trying my work.

C.A. Szarek Blog Tour

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to talk with my awesome friend C.A. on the launch of her first novel, Sword’s Call. Not only has C.A. offered to answer some of my silly questions, but she has kindly offered a Swag package*.

Alright, so let’s hop right in and meet the fabulous C.A.

What was your inspiration for Sword’s Call?

I actually had a dream about Cera, the heroine, and her wolf. No joke. It was a really long time ago…I started this book about thirteen years ago. I grew up reading fantasy and I suppose I was majorly influenced by Anne McCaffrey. But I think alot of this story was just born from my love of fantasy. I always wanted to make up my own world.

What is your writing process?

Writing process? What’s that? Hehehe…well, I don’t know that I have an actual, disciplined process. As I go on this writer’s journey from book to book, I am learning that every book will be different for me. For this one, it was a trade off of procrastination and binge writing. Now I am trying to write consistently. I write at lunch at work and in the evening from about 6p-8:30 or so. I find that’s when I am my most productive.

How did you find your publisher?

My friend Jeanne Guzman. She has her Dragon Hunters Series with Gypsy Shadow and they were a good fit for me. Good thing they feel the same way.

What’s next for the characters and world you built in Sword’s Call?

Well, they are far from put on the shelf to rot! Cera and Jorrin, the couple from Sword’s Call are in book 2, Love’s Call, and will make appearances as the series goes along, though the books are stand alone, so you can read them out of order if you wanted, but I personally always read series in order. For the world itself, I have parts of 4 books written, though I have ideas for at least five. They all have a home at Gypsy Shadow, because they signed my whole series. I am excited to see where my characters take me.

Ok, time for the lightning round. Answer these questions in one word with what jumps to your mind first.

What is your superpower?

Invisibility

Zombies, vampires, werewolves or angels?

Vampires

What song on your iPod will you deny downloading until the day you die? (Come on, we all have one)

Answer the phone by Sugar Ray. Makes me giggle every time.

Now for the book excerpt!

Chapter 1

Heart pounding and fists clenched, Cera sat in the Dragon’s Lair’s darkest corner. By choice, the candle on the table was unlit. The bowl of stew half eaten, food the last thing on her mind.

The door to the tavern swung open. Her white wolf growled low and deep beside her. Cera glanced up, squinting in the sudden flood of sunlight. As the door slammed shut and her eyes adjusted to the renewed murkiness, she took in the newest arrival.

Then she focused on Trikser. She couldn’t have him going for anyone’s throat.

“Shhh, Trik, it’s okay.” She ran a hand through his fur, smoothing his hackles along the length of his spine. The big wolf looked up at her and licked her hand. One corner of her mouth lifted and she bit back a sigh.

The only reason the owner of the tavern, Marshek even let him in was because no one else was allowed to enter the Dragon’s Lair if she was inside without him. No one according to Trikser, that is. He’d almost taken the hand off the last guy who’d tried.

“What’ll ya have?” Marshek barked, revealing his instant dislike of the newcomer.

She fixed her eyes on the bartender. Then she took a closer look at the man sitting in front of him. His pointed ears betrayed his heritage, but his height suggested he was not of pure blood.

Marshek was known to be tolerant of elves but he hated what he called half-breeds. Cera could imagine what the grumpy, middle-aged tavern owner was thinking, and it wasn’t friendly.

She rose, Trikser also immediately rising, awaiting her move. The white wolf was her bondmate and had been since he was young.

Relax, she thought-sent.

Trik sat, but his body was tight, tense. He didn’t respond to her mental order.

Moving to the bar, her wolf followed, slinking close to the floor, moving in a slight crawl. His belly probably touched the filthy planked flooring of the tavern.

Cera made a face but forced a breath. Detached control. Sliding onto the stool next to the half-elfin man, she was just in time to hear his order. His voice was clear and deep.

Marshek filled a mug with ale and started to put the jug in its place on the shelf.

“Wait, Mar,” she said with a wave of her hand, “I’ll have some of that, too.”

With a curt nod, the older man poured her a mug. She brought it to her lips, glancing nonchalantly at the stranger. His coal black hair brushed the collar of his hooded gray cape, giving him a rather unkempt look, but rugged rather than messy.

Cera couldn’t see the hue of his eyes from her seat but his high cheekbones made his profile appealing, his sleek tapered ears adding to the attraction. His powerful jaw line was clean shaven, an oddity in these parts. She could tell he was aware of her perusal. He was young, not much older than her, and had the stunning beauty of the elves.

His chest heaved as if he’d taken a breath, and he finally glanced at her. Blue. His eyes were a deep, sapphire blue. Her heart skipped a beat but she ignored it. The man said nothing, not that she’d expected him to.

And, now about the fabulous C.A.

C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she’s not writing.

She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.

You must buy a copy of Sword’s Call … so how do you do it?

Gypsy Shadow

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Amazon UK

Smashwords

And, you can like C.A. as much as I do on her Goodreads, Facebook or Amazon author page, or follow her on Twitter or her Blog.

Now about the free stuff – comment below and be entered to win!

* Swag package is for U.S. residents, for you international readers you’ll receive an e-book copy of Sword’s Call.

Where’s Waldo, er Kimberly?

You won’t find me in a red and white toboggan, but after looking at my schedule for the next couple of months I feel like I’ll be playing Where’s Waldo trying to figure out where I am, where I’m going and how late I’m going to be.

I mentioned before that I’m out hustling Phoenix through a great program in Texas with Kroger stores. This weekend’s appearance was great with special guest appearances by my niece and nephew, my favorite camp counselor, a dear college friend and a couple of former work colleagues. With book festival season heating up, I’ll be hitting the streets bringing Phoenix to (hopefully) more readers.

Here’s where you’ll find me over the next couple of months:

Friday, March 29, 6:30 p.m., Dallas Area Romance Authors Dreamin’ in Dallas Conference, Doubletree Hotel, Richardson, TX Click Here for More Information
Friday, April 12, goodmedia press book event, White Bluff Resort (email me if you’d like an invite – kimberly@kimberlypackard.com)
Saturday, April 13, North Texas Book Festival, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Click Here for More Information
Friday, April 19, 3 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kroger In-Store Book Signing, 3939 Frankford Rd., Dallas

So as you can see, I’ll be out hustlin’. Come see me. If you said you read about it on my blog, I’ll dance, sing, make you a balloon animal, ok, maybe I should stick with writing, but I’ll do something cool for you, like sign a book.

And that doesn’t include birthdays, weddings, vacations, and work. Whew. I’m tired just thinking about it. I wonder if I can outsource some of these signings to my niece. She got some practice in this weekend.

 

Are there child labor laws in the literary world?