Mary R. Woldering's Blog, page 3

Ham Acting one of my Characters

I recently discovered YouTube and created a 17 second video (In preparation for a trailer)
Decided to do a kind of prequel for one of the female leads in my series Children of Stone: Ariennu of Tyre - In this scene the one-time camp follower & thief (now near death from a host of diseases due to drunkeness & debauchery) has just seen the hero Marai lay waste to her encampment via what appears to be magic. She thinks she called up a god because her former BF slighted her. COMMENTS PLEASE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-RIW...

Mis-adventures in Self-Publishing

Talk about the Blind leading the Blind. Watch me make a presentation about self-publishing at the HP handheld calculator convention in October of this year in Nashville. Other than the Slide Show, I did a little research, but based most on my limited experience. My Son, Thomas, filled in the tech notes. There was NO REHEARSAL and NO NET...
But I'm FEARLESS that way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KEU5...

Virtual FantasyCon 2015

I'm a participating author on Paranormal Monday November 2, but you'll want to stop by 9:AM 60 10:00 PM November 1-8 for all the other fantasy genres. Over 200 authors talking about their work.

Steve DeWinter says it better!
Watch and then visit us that week!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uzrF...

Mary R. Woldering

Writing from the heart, or writing to sell?

A long, long time ago when I was in Art School, I learned there were two kinds of artists, each with equal passion. One was the artist who painted from the heart, caring little if the work ever sold, but knowing they had produced something of at least personal value. On rare occasions this artist sold well enough to make a living, but often did not (hence the starving artist) Another kind of artist studied trends, perfected techniques and produced work with unequaled zeal and marketed excellently. This artist became wealthy and famous.

I see the same thing in the world of fiction writing. Some writers produce work from the heart which, in today's fast paced world, falls short of success.

Other authors know the trends, know how to pick a cover that entices, a price and number of pages that's just right, and a topic that produces a 6 figure income.

In critiquing writing as in painting, the idea is not to judge whether one kind of artist or writer is better than the other kind.

Each can learn from the other and tweak what they are doing accordingly, if they desire.
We all try. Our goals are not the same, but they are equally lofty. Let's lift each other up to the heights instead of pulling each other into the pit of self-doubt.

Have a nice week. Mary R. Woldering

Adventures in Self Publishing

My spouse is going to a convention in Nashville for HP Calculator collectors. As usual I am tagging along. This year, when I mentioned I might bring some print books to sell the head of the convention asked if I would give a slide show on adventures in self-publishing.
I've made more mistakes than anyone else I know and I'm certainly no expert (still not selling my books) so I wondered what extemporaneous slide show I might devise that would interest a room full of geeks and collectors.

For better or worse I've made one about why I decided to self-publish.

Versatility in presenting books. We'll see if it sells a copy or two.

Brain to Books Interview by Angela Chrysler

In case you missed it http://www.angelabchrysler.com/mary-w...

Here's a link to my interview by Angela Chrysler. It went live August 18, 2015 Many other Authors were featured.

Going Forth By Day

Another 5 star review on Amazon

This came in June 7, 2015 and reviews Book 1 of Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal

Reading this book is like looking at a kaleidoscope at an IMAX movie theatre. I have never read an author who has such an unusual way of describing color and motion. They really should use excerpts from it in a college writing class. This story transports you into a world you never could imagine and in a time when people had so little compared to us. Our garages seem lavish in comparison. The places and names are hard to get around but add to mystery of the story. The love scenes enrich rather than embarrass. You will hate the ending because it leaves you hanging for the sequel.

Debbie Herbert interviews Mary R. Woldering

A much better link to the interview I did with Debbie Herbert the other day. Read...and enjoy...Tons of fun! Want to interview me for some BLOG excitement? just ask and I'll interview you back too!

http://www.debbieherbert.com/guest-au...

Children of Stone: Voices in Crystal

Going Forth By Day

A TRAVELING BOOK

COULD THIS BE THE START OF SOMETHING? I HOPE SO!!!

I was chatting with my son on the phone and he mentioned he had an acquaintance who had READ MY BOOK 1 Voices in Crystal. He'd never told her about it, because he doesn't see her that often and (by the way) he lives almost 450 miles from me.
I was stunned.
My books have really not done that well, so my first thought was "I wonder how she got a copy?" I have a list people to whom I've sold every print book. It's impossible to track the e-books.
I'll have to find out how the subject came up. He said she had read it and LIKED it... that it was a GREAT STORY. She didn't know there was a book 2 and she certainly didn't know the author was a friend's mother...
Curious.... So although it was not an official review posted on Amazon Kindle or Goodreads it works for me. ‪#‎ChildrenofStone‬ ‪#‎crystal

And interview with Denise Baer

http://baerbookspress.com/writing/aut...