Janet Cantrell's Blog, page 2

Goodreads Giveaway Coming Soon!

Hop over to Goodreads on the 22nd to win a paperback of FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE. It will end on the 31st and I'll mail out 20 copies to lucky winners!

In the meantime, you can put the book on your to-read list here and you'll be sure and get the notification.

Repeat of My Malice Domestic Recap

I’m repeating the blog I posted on Travels with Kaye yesterday, so if you’ve read that, go ahead and skip this. Now you have three extra minutes in your day!
It was exhilarating and exhausting, as usual. This year I was there to let people know about two new books of mine that both came out in early April.
Here’s me at Malice Go Round, giving one minute of information on each book. This is an event described as Speed Dating, But with Authors. A pair of authors visits 20 tables of 8-10 people each, staying for 4 minutes and taking 1 minute to change tables. We tell the listeners about our books and give them bookmarks and sometimes other things so they’ll remember us. I paired up with Jim Jackson, James M. Jackson is his author name. His newest book is ANT FARM, in his Seamus McCree series. My new ones are FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE (by Janet Cantrell) and REQUIEM IN RED (by Kaye George). This event was Friday morning after I checked in Thursday night.
This picture was taken by Patti Phillips when I was at her table.
After Malice Go Round, I walked over to Booeymonger’s with Judy Penz Sheluk, who was at Malice for the first time. This sandwich and salad place is where the Guppies have gathered for lunch ever since the convention moved to Bethesda from Crystal City in Virginia. I got to chat with several Guppies there.
Later that afternoon, I met with my agent, Kim Lionetti. This is the only time I see her face to face, once a year. That night Berkley, my Fat Cat publisher took us out to dinner at The American Tap Room.
Early Saturday, 7:30, was the Sisters in Crime breakfast, where all the Guppies wear boas or reasonable facsimiles. Jan Rubens, who came with Jim Jackson, took this picture of ALL the Gups that attended. After I wore a feather boa one year and threw it away the same day, I wear my chartreuse scarf.  








I admit I deflated a bit and stayed in the hotel for lunch, then went to my panel, “Death for Dessert: Sweet Murder” in the afternoon. Our admirable moderator was Nancy J. Parra and the panelists were Kathy Aarons, Maggie Barbieri, me, and Jessie Crocket/Jessica Estevao. We all write cozy mysteries with dessert recipes in the back. We discovered that Jessie is actually the only one of us who is a good cook. This photo was shot by Julie Hennrikus.

I raced to the wine and cupcake reception given by my agency, BookEnds, guided by Terrie Moran, who had also guided me to the dinner the night before. If these people keep guiding me, I’ll never learn how to get anywhere. Actually, I may not anyway, so I’m grateful for that!
Our panel signed books soon after that, then we did a cocktail or so, then the Banquet with the Agatha Awards.
I highly regret that I wasn’t able to make it to the New Authors Breakfast the next morning at 7. I chalked it up to getting older, but I came down with a cold and bronchitis as soon as I got home, so I’ll blame that instead. I’m making plans to hold a mystery conference/convention where nothing starts earlier than 10.
My own camera, as usual, stayed safely tucked inside my suitcase for the whole trip. Someday I’ll take pictures!

Another fun time talking to and seeing so many of my online pals!

What is WFH?

 It’s Work for Hire, but what does that mean? And what does it have to do with the fact that I took a pen name just for this purpose?

Yes, it's work, but not manual toil!
When BookEnds Literary Agency signed me on with agent Kim Lionetti, I was writing as Kaye George. Since BookEnds handled a lot of cozies and that’s what I wanted to write, and since I had never written one, Kim had to make sure I could write them. Some people do call my other series cozies, but they are actually traditional mysteries (except the Neanderthal series—that’s sort of traditional, but also historical—prehistorical).
What’s the difference? A traditional mystery contains a murder and can be set anywhere with any kind of sleuth. It can dwell on the gory details and show an autopsy. It can contain seedy characters, some of them with foul mouths and bad habits. A cozy, in contrast, is lighter and gentler. No gory details, no explicit sex, no cursing (or if there is any, it’s minimal), no harm ever done to children or animals. Especially animals. In fact, many cozies feature cats, dogs, and other pets. There may be some romantic interest, even some romantic tension, but the real stuff is behind closed doors, as we say. Many cozies have come to be based around a hobby or a career like baking, catering, sewing, libraries—respectable things like that.
Now, what about this WFH? Jessica Faust at BookEnds explained it better than I ever could, so I’ll put that link here.http://bookendsliterary.com/index.php/2016/04/07/what-happens-when-the-publisher-owns-a-concept/
A quick summary of that, in case you don’t want to click over, is that the publisher came up with the concept and maybe some of the characters. They may have decided who will get killed or who the killer will be, or that may be left to the hired author. Sometimes auditions are taken, that is, submissions are turned in to them from agencies which have had a writer take on the task and do a proposal. (A proposal is usually a fleshed out synopsis of the plot, based on the original germ of the idea, plus the first three chapters.) When an author is chosen by the publisher, a contract is signed. This contract makes it clear that the publisher owns all the copyrights to this series. They own the concept, the characters, and even the author name (hence my other pen name of Janet Cantrell).
Why, you may ask, would a writer want to do this? There are a few good reasons. Cozies are extremely popular among mystery readers, so they sell well. (And the agencies and publishers know what their readers want.) My first two both achieved national best-seller status, I’m pleased to say. Also, if the publisher came up with the concept and accepted the proposal, that series will definitely get published. Thirdly, it’s a good way to get a foot in the door with that publisher and maybe later get a series with your own name.
One little hitch in my case. Due to multiple mergers and acquisitions, the publisher is looking at the bottom line and deciding to throw in with mostly huge megasellers, discontinuing many of their popular cozies. A lot of cozy writers can take their series to other publishers, and many are doing that, but I can’t, because I don’t own any of this one. Bad timing on my part. The market at this publisher fell apart right as I established my toehold.
The Fat Cat series maybe continued, but only if sales of the third book, FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE, which came out this month, are spectacular. I’m hoping, of course, but I’m also thinking of what else I can do, and I’m writing a proposal for my agent to send to other publishing houses. Wish me luck on both these fronts!



It’s a strange business! I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
http://janetcantrell.com/

Giveaway last week, and this week…

I was so gratified at the signups for my giveaway last week. I think all the books have been mailed out, and as of today, all the correct books mailed out.
I’m also so happy to see reviews popping up! If you’re a reader of my blog, which means you’re a cozy mystery fan and probably follow other writers, you know how important reviews are to us. They help casual passersby decide whether or not to take a chance on our books.
This third novel in the Fat Cat series is my make-or-break novel. If it doesn’t do well, the series won’t continue. I would LOVE to continue writing this series, so would LOVE it if anyone who likes the books would post reviews. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, your own Facebook page—wherever they pop up, they help.
PS. There's an interview and a giveaway going on until the 25th at Linda Thorne's blog.


Okay, enough begging. Now back to reading more cozies!

Giveaway until Wednesday!

I'm giving away 5 books to celebrate the release of FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE on Tuesday. One a day from now until the 6th. Leave a comment below or on Facebook and I'll pick one every night until midnight EST the 6th!

RELEASE TIME X-POSTED

I haven't done much of this, but it's crazy time, so I'm repeating my Kaye George blog here, since it applies to both of us. (Both of me?) You'll see why below. Here's what posted yesterday in Travels with Kaye. If you've read that already, you can skip this and save yourself some time!

(But I will add that FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE is on preorder for a reduced price right now! On Amazon as well as the places in the link at the bottom.)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/042526744X/)



Here goes:



OK, it’s time to admit it. I am crazy busy right now and I’ve been neglecting my blog. (But the word search was fun and I might do that again.) I’m promoting two new releases, one next week, another the week after. I might as well do it here, too.
 I have several guest blogs coming up. I hope these are ways to get people looking at me and my work.
I’ll be at the Henery Press blog April 1st, no joke! https://www.clubhenhouse.com/blog/
For the week of the 4th, I’ll be hosting the facebook group, Nose for Trouble, as Janet Cantrell.
On the 7th, I’ll be at Kevin’s Corner. I WILL talk about my double releases there.http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
From the 11th through the 25th, there will be a giveaway at Linda Thorne’s blog.http://www.lindathorne.com/blog/
Elaine Douts interviewed me for a Writers Who Kill post for the 27th. http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/
In addition, Berkley Prime Crime has set up reviews from 76 people, plus an interview at Fresh Fiction and some blogs at other places.http://freshfiction.com/pages.php?id=blog
I’m doing a signing at Books-A-Million in Knoxville for FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE on April 24th, 2-4.
Also, watch for a Goodreads giveaway beginning the 5th. I’m giving away EINE KLEINE MURDER to promote the second in that series, REQUIEM IN RED.https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4037415.Kaye_George
So, here are the new books. FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE on April 5th and REQUIEM IN RED on the 12th. HOWEVER, both are available for preorder if you need them right away.
Here are preorder places for Fat Cat:http://www.bookfinder4u.com/IsbnSearch.aspx?isbn=9780425267448&mode=direct
Here are preorder places for RIR: http://www.bookfinder4u.com/IsbnSearch.aspx?isbn=1941295436&mode=direct    
       
Have a great April!

Something different

I've seen others doing these lately, so I'm trying one. A word search! To whet your appetite for FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE. I'd love to know how you like it.

Meet Eddie Heath

I'd like to introduce you to a character who will appear in the next Fat Cat book, FAT CAT TAKES THE CAKE, coming April 5th. I wonder what you'll think of him! Click the link below for a bit from Eddie.

http://www.killercharacters.com/2016/03/cant-wait-for-reunion.html

Fat Cat at Large discounted!

I’m making a brief post to let you know that Fat Cat at Large has been discounted to $1.99. I have no idea how long this will last, so if you’d like to try the e-book, I recommend you jump on it.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0425... & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fat-c... https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...

Henery Press giveaways!

For February 10th and 11th (you're not too late!), you can leave a comment over at Kaye George's place and win a copy of Janet Cantrell's FAT CAT SPREADS OUT. Without further ado, here's the link.

https://www.facebook.com/Kaye-George-114058705318095/