Heather Weidner's Blog, page 101

Which Author Events Should You Do? How Do You Decide?

I love meeting readers and writers at book and writing events, and I'm fortunate to have quite a few near me. But as a writer, how do you decide which ones to participate in -- especially when your primary job is to write your next work? Traveling and marketing are an investment of your time and money.

1. ROI (Return on Investment) should be a consideration. Selling books is important. But I've done events at indie book stores where we didn't have a great turnout, but the store ended up selling a case of books during the week when there was more foot traffic. I've also made some invaluable contacts at events. Sometimes, building relationships is worth more than selling tons of books. If there is a cost for a table or an event, you need to consider whether or not it is worth the effort and value. If you've never attended the event, ask around to see what other authors have experienced.

2. I try a lot of events (at least once). We've done several over the years where the readers weren't my target audience (mystery). I attended and had fun, but I probably won't go back.

3. I believe in helping other authors, so I do a lot of writing workshops. Again, you may not sell hundreds of books, but you do make contacts, build email lists, and pick up fans and followers.  

4. I am also fortunate to be a part of several writing groups, and we plan events and signings together. There is nothing worse than sitting alone at an author's table. When we band together, our social media and fan reach grows exponentially. Plus, we often carpool, and that saves some money.

5. We've done some signings at some unconventional places for mystery authors (e.g. a Hallmark/gift store, a gas/restaurant/gift store complex on the way to North Carolina's Outer Banks, a winery, several museums, and several farmers markets). You would be surprised. We've sold more books at places like this than traditional book stores. Be creative when you book signings.

6. Be prepared -- no matter what the event. Make sure you have business cards, bookmarks, or postcards. Sometimes, folks don't buy a book at the event, but if you have something to give them, you may make a sale or referral later. I even take bookmarks on vacation. We stop at a lot of little gift shops that sell books.

7. I appreciate the events that do a lot of publicity, and I always make sure to share, tweet, and post. I want to be a part of groups that are organized and interested in building their audience. (I've attended several events, where there was little to no publicity. Surprise, surprise, the attendance wasn't that great either.) 

Best wishes for the marketing of your book. It's a lot of work. I logged over 2,000 miles this year for book events.

What Ryka Taught me about Search and Rescue Dogs

Recently, Dave and Ryka from K9 Alert Search and Rescue talked to our writers' group about search and rescue dogs. They also did several indoor and outdoor demonstrations, so that we could see the dog in action. Here's what I learned in case I ever include a search or cadaver dog in a mystery.

1. Ryka is certified to search for missing persons and human remains detection (search and rescue as well as cadaver searches).

2. They are part of a non-profit group that assists the Commonwealth of Virginia's Emergency Management and local law enforcement.

3. Police dogs are trained to track all human scents. This means that they are looking for a scent at the scene. They are searching for the freshest trail. Search dogs are trained to hunt for a particular human's scent.

4. Humans are all like "Pig-Pen" in Peanuts. They give off a cloud of scents and skin cells wherever they go.

5. In the past, lost persons in the woods could often be found near water. He said that now they are finding lost people at higher elevations (often because they are trying to get a cell phone connection).

6. Scents are affected by the sun/heat and the wind. Thermals affect how far/high scents travel.

7. Searches for missing persons often include K9 teams, trackers, horse teams, and helicopters. Helicopters are often used for forward-looking searches. He said that the ground teams are usually the ones to locate the missing person.

8. He said that one handler and dog can cover about forty acres in 2-3 hours.

9. Cadaver dogs are trained to do a passive alert when they find a scent, so they don't disturb a possible crime scene. When Ryka alerted, she sat near the area where she detected the scent.

10. He said that if they are doing a search in a building, they often ask for the AC/heat to be turned off because the vents distribute the scent throughout the building.

11. Clandestine graves are often shallow. Many times, they're covered with a small amount of dirt and debris.  

These volunteers do amazing work and provide invaluable assistance during times of crisis. I loved watching the camaraderie between handler and dog. To find out more about K9 Alert Search and Rescue, check out their website.

When Are You "Done" with Your WIP?

Naively, I thought I was done with my WIP (Work in Progress) when I typed, "The End." Yep, I was done. But, is it ready? Not quite. Here's what really happened...

I went through several rounds of self-edits and revisions. Then I submitted it to my critique group, and that led to more revisions. We submit fifty pages a month, so it was about four months for revisions.

Then, I hired a line editor to review it for me and provide feedback. And yes, that caused more changes.

I finally submitted it for publication. My editor at the publishing company provided some feedback. Then their proofreader had some changes.

After the book was formatted for printing, I did several rounds of final proofreading.

But, it is a better book because of all the feedback and edits. It's hard to take critiques and criticism - especially when it's your baby. But I've learned this is part of the expected process, and it does yield a much better product (than the first draft). I rewrote the first chapter to Secret Lives and Private Eyes five times. I rewrote the ending twice.

It feels good to type "The End," but it's really just the beginning of the next stage in your publication journey. Best wishes for your writing (and revising)!

Unusual (But Practical) Gifts...

Most girls get flowers or other gifts from their dad. My dad, the cop, always put safety and preparedness first. I received flowers too, but these are some of the more unusual gifts he's given me over the years.

Car Emergency Device - When I moved to Richmond, VA (River City), he gave me a multifunctional tool for my car. It has a metal head that can break a car window if you drive off a bridge and can't get out of a submerged car. It also has a blade on the handle for cutting through a seat belt. We have one now in each car.

Emergency Fire Escape - When we moved into a two-story house, he gave me a portable fire escape that you can throw out a window and climb down to safety. It lives under my bed.

Window and Sliding Glass Door Locks - When I moved into my first apartment. He did a safety check and brought additional window locks and a device for the sliding glass door.

DNA Kit - Once, he gave me a DNA kit in case I went missing. The idea was to swab your mouth and put the sample in a container for storage in case it was needed.

Whistles, Pepper Gas, and Flashlights - He's given me several whistles, econo-sized pepper gas canisters, and a Maglight flashlight that doubles as a small bat.

And often when I leave their house, my southern mom sends food home, and my dad sends bullets that can be used on the practice range. The gifts are unusual, but I know he loves me and is looking out for me. I had an unusual childhood, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The Mysterious Life of Pets

Riley and Disney's Selfie...

The Secret Life of Pets is all the rage here, and I can't wait to see it. Pets, especially dogs, are an integral part of my life. My husband and I share our home with two crazy Jack Russell terriers, Disney and Riley. They keep our house safe from squirrels, birds, joggers, cyclists, and delivery drivers. The pair of Jacks are full of energy, and they hang out with me when I'm writing. But they do let me know when we've been still for too long. Everything is a game to a JRT.

My mysteries always have at least one pet. My PI, Delanie Fitzgerald,  shares her office with her partner and computer hacker, Duncan Reynolds, and his English bulldog Margaret. Margaret is Duncan's four-legged shadow. She doesn't provide much security, but she's a great companion. She enjoys treats and fast food, and she rules the office at Falcon Investigations.

In addition to Margaret, my novel, Secret Lives and Private Eyes, also has barn kitties, two alpaca (Myrtle and Steward), and a pack of dogs named for an 80s rock band. My short stories usually contain animals too. Dogs and cats appear throughout my stories in the Virginia is for Mysteries series.

I'm in good company, the Spencer novels contain Pearl the Wonder Dog, and many cozy mysteries are known to have lots of pets. Here are some good resources if you're interested in more stories with pets.

Dogs are Cozy TooDog Themed CoziesMystery CozyCat Mysteries

Riley's Not So Good Hiding Place...

8 Customer Service Truths That Apply to Authors

I am always looking for good customer service books and case studies for work. I recently finished Bruce Loeffler and Brian Church's he Experience: The 5 Principles of Disney Service and Relationship Experience. It has some good take-aways for writers. We don't always think about customer service or relationships with our readers, but maybe we should. Here's what I learned...

Excellent companies all "possess a relentless resolve to create the best experience possible for their clients or customers." I say that excellent writers do the same.The I CARE philosophy is: Impression, Connection, Attitude, Response, and Exceptional. It's key to how you interact with your customers."Average never inspired anyone."We get into trouble when we leave things to chance, or we are unprepared.Are you ready? Put some energy and enthusiasm in your voice.Be intentional and deliberate.The FACE philosophy is: Friendliness, Attitude, Connection, and Excellence. Your name is the most important thing you own. I thought that as I writer, I would just create brilliant books. I didn't realize how many presentations, interviews, workshops, and book signings were involved. I'm glad I have a business background and experience with public speaking through Toastmasters. How you present yourself and your work are important to readers.

Oops - Sloppy Writing Habits That Will Get You in Trouble Every Time

When I'm in my writing zone, I tend to slip into some bad habits, and often, I don't realize I'm doing them until I start editing and revising. Here are some of the big ones that writers often make.

Show; Don't Tell - We've all heard the command to show our readers without telling them what's going on. It is so easy to slip into this habit. Reread your chapters and eliminate sections that are just descriptions.

Every Little Detail - You don't need to account for every minute in your character's life. You can skip ahead in time and omit the routine details. For example, if your character if flying from New York to Nashville, and the airport and plane are not germane to the story, have her go to the airport and then jump ahead to the landing in Nashville. We don't need to know about the security check, inflight movie, snacks, or the baggage claim.

Cut the Chitchat - Dialog in fiction shouldn't contain the normal, mundane chatter. Pare down your character's conversations to what is needed for the story.

Keep it Conversational - Dialog in fiction should be conversational (unless there is a need to have a character be more formal). Use contractions, short sentences, or incomplete sentences to mimic how real people talk.

If You're Bored - If you're bored, your reader will be too. Cut the fluff. Get rid of unnecessary words and anything that slows the action of the story down.

Multiple Adjectives - Don't layer on the adjectives. One good one will do. And pick strong adjectives. Leave out the plain Jane ones that don't add anything to your sentences.

Weak Verbs - Look at your verbs. If they are weak or propped up by blah adverbs, rewrite the sentence. You need action verbs that will keep the momentum of the story.

Last Sentences - Look at the last paragraph of each chapter and verify that it compels the reader to continue on. If it's boring or slow, your reader will use it as a good stopping point. 

Character Names - Avoid overusing your character's name. Look at your paragraphs. You shouldn't see the name over and over. If you find a pattern, rewrite some sentences. I've had beta readers tell me that the overuse of names slows down the action.

Overused Words - Know the words you tend to overuse. For some reason, I'll use a word or phrase multiple times. In my last manuscript, it was "peek" and "rolled his eyes." I searched for instances and did rewrites.

I tend to use "that" and "just" too much. During the revising stages, my search/replace feature is my friend. It helps me quickly find the overused words.

Exclamation Points - Don't go crazy with the exclamation points. Hardly anyone is that exuberant. My writer friend calls these the jazz hands of writing.

I find the writing is the easy part. The revising and editing take me much longer because I need to weed out the sloppy habits. Best wishes with your writing projects.

Whew! I Didn't Realize How Much Marketing Authors Do

My debut novel launched this month. Whoo hooo! I planned a launch celebration and did interviews, author spotlights, and guest blog posts for 27 sites. I did a Facebook hop, a Goodreads give-away, a radio interview, and a podcast interview. And I'm just getting started. I have book signings and presentations scheduled through October. Whew! I also work a full-time job, so I've learned to balance it all.

When I started writing, I didn't realize how much marketing was required of authors. It has been a rush of activity (especially with all the other things going on at the same time), but it has been fun.

Here's what I did and how I attempted to stay organized...

1. I have a calendar for book events and marketing deadlines. I carry it with me and update it faithfully.

2. I track my marketing efforts to give me data to see what types of activities increased social media followers, blog/website traffic, and book sales. It will help me when I plan other marketing campaigns.

3. I also make a conscious effort not to devote all of my time to marketing. I have to make sure that I carve out writing time because ultimately, my job is to write the next book.

4. Since I work during the week, I block social media time to keep up with the comments, tweets, and other interactions. I do about thirty minutes in the mornings and about ninety minutes in the evenings. I make lists in Facebook and Twitter, so it helps me keep up customized newsfeeds.

5. I did a lot of guest blog posts for this launch, and I wanted each one to be different. Before I started, I made a list of themes and unique items in my book. That gave me a good list of blog topics. I did one on the Sears and Roebuck catalog house that my sleuth lives in, a day in the life of my character, a tribute to the 80s, a list of every-day spy gadgets, and an homage to Nancy Drew.

While it has been a whirlwind of activity over the last few months, it has been tremendous fun. And I look forward to this summer and fall's events!

Growing up as a "C.K." and How It Inspired My Love of Mysteries

I'm a "C.K." (Cop's Kid). I had a great, but sometimes unusual childhood. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. I think it played a huge influence in my love for all things mystery.

As a small child, I'd go with my dad to the shooting range. One of my first jobs was to collect shell casings in a metal peanut can when he was done firing. Those suckers were hot. You had to be careful.

He was the SWAT commander in the 1970s, and they needed practice bullets. I sacrificed a ton of crayons for practice ammunition. What other elementary school kid knew how to melt crayons and fill shell casings?

In first grade, my dad was the BEST for career day. He arrived in a police car, and then he had the police helicopter fly over and land in the field next to the school. He was way cooler than the insurance salesman. I still owe him for that one. He and the helicopter pilot were a hit!

One summer evening, my sister and I learned how to use a night scope. It was fun to watch the neighbor's dog illuminated all in green.

But NEVER watch police shows with law enforcement professionals. There were very few police dramas that my dad liked because most were too "Hollywood" and not real. I loved "CHiPs," and I never heard the end of it about Ponch and Jon not even riding their own motorcycles. (I didn't care that they were towed behind a truck.) But this stuck with me, and as a mystery writer, I do a lot of research to make my stories as accurate and plausible as possible. And my dad, now a retired police captain, is my best resource on police procedures and crime scenes. (The only police shows that he liked were "Hill Street Blues," "NYPD Blue," and "Barney Miller.")

As a C.K., I learned respect for guns and law enforcement. I am still a fan. Our police, fire, and first responders are heroes. They risk everything every day. I too vividly remember when my dad was called out for emergencies, and I wondered whether or not he'd come home that evening. These men and women (and their families) give up a lot in service for us. He worked just about every holiday, and we was right in the middle of every emergency or crisis.

While it wasn't a "normal" childhood, we had some interesting dinner conversations, and it was a wonderful time that I wouldn't trade for anything. Happy Father's Day, Dad!

It's Almost Book Launch Day!