Terry Odell's Blog, page 256
March 23, 2012
Friday Field Trip - LA Marathon
Most of you should know that my daughter and I went to Los Angeles last weekend, and Nicole ran the LA Marathon. I thought I'd share a few pictures of the event. Nicole had a ride to the start (Dodger Stadium), so I didn't have to get up in the pre-dawn hours. My mom and I left the house early enough to make sure we could find a place to park along the route, and get there before Nicole estimated she'd pass that point. We were delighted that the rain had stopped the night before, giving both runners and spectators good weather.
Although the marathon organizers had all sorts of entertainment along the route, we figured we'd be better off at a spot where nothing was going on, and we were surprised to find plenty of street parking within a block or two of the route, so we were early. We ended up, according to the police officer at that point, at mile 16.75. Based on Nicole's estimated running pace, we figured we had over an hour to wait for her. When we arrived, the runners were passing in small groups.
While waiting, it's important to ring cowbells to encourage the runners.
Given there were about 23,000 runners, more and more began appearing in larger clumps.
You can imagine how hard it was trying to pick out individual runners. Luckily, we'd told Nicole approximately where we'd be, and because we purposely piced a spot with few spectators, she found us first. And was kind enough to pause briefly for a picture before continuing along the route.
(Nicole is the runner in the middle--one of these days, I'll learn how to make circles with Photoshop)
Once she'd passed, we left this spot and went down to the beach where the race would finish. Here, it was a mob scene. But we'd arranged a meeting place, and Nicole found us, and still had enough energy for her trademark smile.
Honda sponsored the marathon, and they had a car with the competitors' names on it on display. You might have to click to enlarge the image to see Nicole's name at the bottom of the first column.
And, for those of you who really don't care about pictures of strangers running down the street, here are a few of a gorgeous day at the beach in Santa Monica.
If you want to know more about the race from Nicole's side of things, click here.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.
Although the marathon organizers had all sorts of entertainment along the route, we figured we'd be better off at a spot where nothing was going on, and we were surprised to find plenty of street parking within a block or two of the route, so we were early. We ended up, according to the police officer at that point, at mile 16.75. Based on Nicole's estimated running pace, we figured we had over an hour to wait for her. When we arrived, the runners were passing in small groups.
While waiting, it's important to ring cowbells to encourage the runners.
Given there were about 23,000 runners, more and more began appearing in larger clumps.
You can imagine how hard it was trying to pick out individual runners. Luckily, we'd told Nicole approximately where we'd be, and because we purposely piced a spot with few spectators, she found us first. And was kind enough to pause briefly for a picture before continuing along the route.
(Nicole is the runner in the middle--one of these days, I'll learn how to make circles with Photoshop)
Once she'd passed, we left this spot and went down to the beach where the race would finish. Here, it was a mob scene. But we'd arranged a meeting place, and Nicole found us, and still had enough energy for her trademark smile.
Honda sponsored the marathon, and they had a car with the competitors' names on it on display. You might have to click to enlarge the image to see Nicole's name at the bottom of the first column.
And, for those of you who really don't care about pictures of strangers running down the street, here are a few of a gorgeous day at the beach in Santa Monica.
If you want to know more about the race from Nicole's side of things, click here.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.
March 22, 2012
Stop Dancing and Write the Next Book
What I'm reading: Spying in High Heels, by Gemma Halliday
Don't forget, you can still enter the drawing for Donnell Bell's book. Scroll down to Tuesday's post and leave a comment.
First, some odds and ends. I'm going to be sending out my newsletter in the very near future. In addition to updates and other writing news, I hold contests that can only be accessed through the newsletter. If you're not already a subscriber, why don't you take a moment to sign up at my website.
Speaking of my website, it's moving forward … slowly, because I've got a lot of travel this month. But it's getting there.
Sometimes, everything seems to hit at once. And even when it's good, it can be overwhelming. Where do you focus? How do you prioritize? If you add coming back from being virtually off the grid for five days, it can make your head spin.
What I came back to:
1. The debut of SAVING SCOTT. On the plus side, much of the initial marketing is handled by Barnes & Noble. The response has been wonderful. My challenge is to keep from checking sales and rankings every hour (or five minutes!). But if you're used to seeing your books hovering around the 25-50,000 rankings, seeing one hit the low 100s can be exhilarating, and you want to keep looking at that number.
2. An e-mail saying a reader recommended WHAT'S IN A NAME? and it would be featured on Daily Cheap Reads, and would I provide some buzz. Sure—as soon as I got back home to my PC, which was about 10 minutes before the feature went live. And then there was another challenge, because the book hit the top 100 in Romantic Suspense at the Kindle store, and there's something thrilling about seeing your book cover ABOVE one of JD Robb's. (click to enlarge the image)
3. An invitation to do a program later this summer at our local library was another surprise. I've been asking about doing programs for some time, but usually get the, "Oh, we don't do many of them, and we only schedule Big Name authors." Did I say yes? Do you have to ask?
4. A couple more emails asking me to guest on blogs, and asking about my books.
Needless to say, it was gratifying exciting to feel like a 'real' author for a day.
I've got new releases coming up, and it's tempting to sit around and work on two books that I'll be able to release as indie titles over the next couple of months. And then there's my upcoming hard cover Blackthorne, Inc. book, ROOTED IN DANGER, which comes out in April/May. (Did I mention it's already available for pre-order? )
What first? (And you'll notice I'm not including laundry or paying bills here.) Because trying to promote three or four books at once isn't going to work—at least I don't think so. Where's my focus? Stick with Scott for his 30 day showcase? Work on formatting it for Amazon and Smashwords so it's ready when day 31 comes around? Get WHERE DANGER HIDES ready to go as soon as digital rights are mine? Try to tie it in with the release date of ROOTED IN DANGER? Rework NOWHERE TO HIDE? So many choices, so many decisions.
And despite all the excitement, if I'm to be a 'real' author, I need to write books. New books, not back list titles or new formats of other books. It's just a matter of deciding what to write. Another Pine Hills book? Another Blackthorne, Inc. book? Or, another Mapleton Mystery, because a series with one book isn't really a series, is it?
So, despite all the marketing, promotion, and other tasks that go along with writing, it boils down to the product, and there's only one rule for that. Write The Next Book.
Tomorrow, I'll take you back to Los Angeles with me, for a few shots recapping my trip.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.
Don't forget, you can still enter the drawing for Donnell Bell's book. Scroll down to Tuesday's post and leave a comment.
First, some odds and ends. I'm going to be sending out my newsletter in the very near future. In addition to updates and other writing news, I hold contests that can only be accessed through the newsletter. If you're not already a subscriber, why don't you take a moment to sign up at my website.
Speaking of my website, it's moving forward … slowly, because I've got a lot of travel this month. But it's getting there.Sometimes, everything seems to hit at once. And even when it's good, it can be overwhelming. Where do you focus? How do you prioritize? If you add coming back from being virtually off the grid for five days, it can make your head spin.
What I came back to:
1. The debut of SAVING SCOTT. On the plus side, much of the initial marketing is handled by Barnes & Noble. The response has been wonderful. My challenge is to keep from checking sales and rankings every hour (or five minutes!). But if you're used to seeing your books hovering around the 25-50,000 rankings, seeing one hit the low 100s can be exhilarating, and you want to keep looking at that number.
2. An e-mail saying a reader recommended WHAT'S IN A NAME? and it would be featured on Daily Cheap Reads, and would I provide some buzz. Sure—as soon as I got back home to my PC, which was about 10 minutes before the feature went live. And then there was another challenge, because the book hit the top 100 in Romantic Suspense at the Kindle store, and there's something thrilling about seeing your book cover ABOVE one of JD Robb's. (click to enlarge the image)
3. An invitation to do a program later this summer at our local library was another surprise. I've been asking about doing programs for some time, but usually get the, "Oh, we don't do many of them, and we only schedule Big Name authors." Did I say yes? Do you have to ask?
4. A couple more emails asking me to guest on blogs, and asking about my books.
Needless to say, it was gratifying exciting to feel like a 'real' author for a day.
I've got new releases coming up, and it's tempting to sit around and work on two books that I'll be able to release as indie titles over the next couple of months. And then there's my upcoming hard cover Blackthorne, Inc. book, ROOTED IN DANGER, which comes out in April/May. (Did I mention it's already available for pre-order? )
What first? (And you'll notice I'm not including laundry or paying bills here.) Because trying to promote three or four books at once isn't going to work—at least I don't think so. Where's my focus? Stick with Scott for his 30 day showcase? Work on formatting it for Amazon and Smashwords so it's ready when day 31 comes around? Get WHERE DANGER HIDES ready to go as soon as digital rights are mine? Try to tie it in with the release date of ROOTED IN DANGER? Rework NOWHERE TO HIDE? So many choices, so many decisions.
And despite all the excitement, if I'm to be a 'real' author, I need to write books. New books, not back list titles or new formats of other books. It's just a matter of deciding what to write. Another Pine Hills book? Another Blackthorne, Inc. book? Or, another Mapleton Mystery, because a series with one book isn't really a series, is it?
So, despite all the marketing, promotion, and other tasks that go along with writing, it boils down to the product, and there's only one rule for that. Write The Next Book.
Tomorrow, I'll take you back to Los Angeles with me, for a few shots recapping my trip.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.
March 21, 2012
What's Cooking Wednesday - San Francisco Seafood Quiche
Don't forget to leave a comment on Tuesday's post for a chance to win Donnell Bell's best-selling book, THE PAST CAME HUNTING.
The past week has been a busy one, and I haven't been cooking. I dug through my files for a recipe I haven't made in ages, but has always been a crowd-pleaser. It's a nice "California" recipe, even though I was in Los Angeles, not San Francisco.
San Francisco Seafood Quiche
Ingredients:
1 pkg of 2 frozen 9" pie crusts (or use the refrigerated kind, or make your own, but I've never been good at it, so I've used the frozen ones.)
6 oz crab meat (or surimi if you're on a budget)
1 1/2/c c. cooked chopped shrimp
8 oz Swiss cheese, chopped
1/2 c finely chopped celery
1/2 c finely chopped scallions
1 c mayonnaise
2 T flour
1 c dry white wine
4 eggs, beaten
Instructions:
Separate pie shells. Combine crab meat, shrimp, cheese, celery,
scallions. Divide evenly in pie shells.
Combine mayo, flour, wine & eggs. Divide, pour over seafood.
Bake 35-40 minutes at 350.
Can do ahead and refrigerate. Bake at 300 for 15 minutes to reheat.
To make ahead and freeze: Don't bake. Freeze solid, wrap.
To prepare: unwrap, bake frozen 50 minutes at 350.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.
The past week has been a busy one, and I haven't been cooking. I dug through my files for a recipe I haven't made in ages, but has always been a crowd-pleaser. It's a nice "California" recipe, even though I was in Los Angeles, not San Francisco.
San Francisco Seafood Quiche
Ingredients:
1 pkg of 2 frozen 9" pie crusts (or use the refrigerated kind, or make your own, but I've never been good at it, so I've used the frozen ones.)
6 oz crab meat (or surimi if you're on a budget)
1 1/2/c c. cooked chopped shrimp
8 oz Swiss cheese, chopped
1/2 c finely chopped celery
1/2 c finely chopped scallions
1 c mayonnaise
2 T flour
1 c dry white wine
4 eggs, beaten
Instructions:
Separate pie shells. Combine crab meat, shrimp, cheese, celery,
scallions. Divide evenly in pie shells.
Combine mayo, flour, wine & eggs. Divide, pour over seafood.
Bake 35-40 minutes at 350.
Can do ahead and refrigerate. Bake at 300 for 15 minutes to reheat.
To make ahead and freeze: Don't bake. Freeze solid, wrap.
To prepare: unwrap, bake frozen 50 minutes at 350.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.
March 20, 2012
Remodeling, First Drafts and Opportunity
Today I welcome Donnell Bell to Terry's Place. I first met Donnell on a trip to Colorado when I was out visiting my newborn grandson. I'm thrilled to have her as my guest, and to celebrate the success of her debut novel, The Past Came Hunting. She's got a giveaway, so be sure to read the post for details. Winner announced over the weekend.
Today is a two-fer. While Donnell is here, it's my day over at the Blood Red Pencil. Their theme this month is small press-indie publishing. I'm sharing my thoughts.
Good morning, all. Terry, thanks for the invitation to blog with you. Congratulations, also, on your starred review in Publisher's Weekly for ROOTED IN DANGER. (See why I love her!)
My longtime critique partner hasn't written in a couple of years, thanks to the economy. Her husband literally had to leave town to work in Durango, and times were a little desperate for this family of five, with three kids, two of whom were/are in college. Robin pulled herself up by her bootstraps, however, and said, this is it, I'm going back to work. She did. Got into a business she'd long been interested in, which was real estate.
Turns out this has been a godsend for the Searle family and a smart move for Robin professionally because, while a lot of Realtors got out of the business because of the dismal market, Robin got into it out of necessity and is now starting to thrive.
What has this got to do with writing?
Many things. I can always use Robin & Peter's perseverance and determination as great character traits. Also, she said something to me the other day, which gave me the idea for this blog. She said, I love what I'm doing, but I miss writing.
The good thing about branching out and doing other things in addition to writing, is that while it may stymie your time, it doesn't necessarily have to make you any less of a writer. As a matter of fact, doing something different may actually enhance it. Think about it. Actors often research their roles by slipping into a character's occupation or lifestyle.
It's no different for a writer. We cannot write a book without research, and everything we learn in and around our other occupations is handy and fingertip-ready knowledge.
Robin talked about a house that had gone back on the market and would be in desperate need of remodeling. She sent me pictures, and I agreed it's going to need considerable work. But what she has there in my opinion is a rough draft. Ever look at the words on your page and think this is garbage?
Well, maybe it is, like this house… for now. But as Nora Roberts says, she can fix an ugly first draft, but not a blank page. The beauty of writing is you can add or subtract, remodel even.
Most of us have to work. Let's face it, writing isn't exactly keeping most of us in the black. What do you think? Do you use your jobs as an opportunity, or do you lament that you never have enough time. I'd love to hear your stories. I'll give away a copy, either digital or paperback, of my romantic suspense, THE PAST CAME HUNTING to one person. Happy remodeling & writing!
Donnell Ann Bell is a debut novelist for Bell Bridge Books. Her 2007 Golden Heart finaling novel The PAST CAME HUNTING, is #62 in Amazon, #3 in Romantic Suspense and #8 in Mystery and Thrillers, and her second release and 2010 Golden Heart final, currently titled Deadly Recall should hit shelves late 2012 or early 2013. She loves to hear from readers and writers. Check out her website at www.donnellannbell.com
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
Today is a two-fer. While Donnell is here, it's my day over at the Blood Red Pencil. Their theme this month is small press-indie publishing. I'm sharing my thoughts.
Good morning, all. Terry, thanks for the invitation to blog with you. Congratulations, also, on your starred review in Publisher's Weekly for ROOTED IN DANGER. (See why I love her!) My longtime critique partner hasn't written in a couple of years, thanks to the economy. Her husband literally had to leave town to work in Durango, and times were a little desperate for this family of five, with three kids, two of whom were/are in college. Robin pulled herself up by her bootstraps, however, and said, this is it, I'm going back to work. She did. Got into a business she'd long been interested in, which was real estate.
Turns out this has been a godsend for the Searle family and a smart move for Robin professionally because, while a lot of Realtors got out of the business because of the dismal market, Robin got into it out of necessity and is now starting to thrive.
What has this got to do with writing?
Many things. I can always use Robin & Peter's perseverance and determination as great character traits. Also, she said something to me the other day, which gave me the idea for this blog. She said, I love what I'm doing, but I miss writing.
The good thing about branching out and doing other things in addition to writing, is that while it may stymie your time, it doesn't necessarily have to make you any less of a writer. As a matter of fact, doing something different may actually enhance it. Think about it. Actors often research their roles by slipping into a character's occupation or lifestyle.
It's no different for a writer. We cannot write a book without research, and everything we learn in and around our other occupations is handy and fingertip-ready knowledge.
Robin talked about a house that had gone back on the market and would be in desperate need of remodeling. She sent me pictures, and I agreed it's going to need considerable work. But what she has there in my opinion is a rough draft. Ever look at the words on your page and think this is garbage?
Well, maybe it is, like this house… for now. But as Nora Roberts says, she can fix an ugly first draft, but not a blank page. The beauty of writing is you can add or subtract, remodel even.
Most of us have to work. Let's face it, writing isn't exactly keeping most of us in the black. What do you think? Do you use your jobs as an opportunity, or do you lament that you never have enough time. I'd love to hear your stories. I'll give away a copy, either digital or paperback, of my romantic suspense, THE PAST CAME HUNTING to one person. Happy remodeling & writing!
Donnell Ann Bell is a debut novelist for Bell Bridge Books. Her 2007 Golden Heart finaling novel The PAST CAME HUNTING, is #62 in Amazon, #3 in Romantic Suspense and #8 in Mystery and Thrillers, and her second release and 2010 Golden Heart final, currently titled Deadly Recall should hit shelves late 2012 or early 2013. She loves to hear from readers and writers. Check out her website at www.donnellannbell.com
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
March 19, 2012
Saving Scott's Official Debut
As I write this, I'm getting ready to leave town for the LA Marathon. However, due to the miracles of the Internet, the race will be over and I'll be heading home when you're reading this.
Today (Monday, that is—not Thursday when I'm writing it!) marks the official debut of
Saving Scott
as a Nook First special. This link is to the
Nook First
page, and I can only hope that Scott will be there for all to see.
I put the book up for sale last week—it went live late Wednesday. As I mentioned, it's exclusive to Barnes & Noble for 30 days. After that time, I'll be offering at the other e-book stores. But for now, you can get it here. And if you don't have a Nook, you can download the Nook apps here.
And, if you'd like to read an excerpt, you can find one here .
In an earlier post, I mentioned formatting, and gave some tips. However, there's a caveat. The software that the various sites use can still create glitches. So when you read an e-book, remember that the author might not have been "lazy" or "sloppy" in the formatting. Sometimes it's out of our hands. The folks at Barnes & Noble were very helpful when I reported things that didn't look right, despite my having everything formatted per their instructions. It was a special perk of the Nook First program, since they want the book to look its best, too.
What I learned about the Barnes & Noble formatting is that they default to fully justified text, but because they use automatic hyphenation, you don't get those lines with only two or three words on them. However, you get a better looking product if you do the justification first rather than have their software do it.
If you spot any problems, I'd like to know about them. I know a reader was very apologetic about pointing out some glitches in one of my books, but with e-publishing, it's relatively easy to fix them, so I don't mind at all. I won't thing you're stepping out of bounds. You can email them to me—contact information is on this site.
My newsletter opt-in form is another example of formatting being beyond my control. On my "old" website, the form is tidy and compact. On my new one, the Wordpress page template overrides some of the code, resulting in spacing issues between the fields that can make it confusing for the person filling it out. It's something I can try to fix, but probably not before the next newsletter goes out.
And speaking of the newsletter … you can sign up at either of my sites. I have a special contest each quarter for newsletter subscribers only, and I hope you'll sign up if you haven't already.
Tomorrow, my guest is Donnell Bell, who's talking about remodeling, first drafts, and opportunity.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
Today (Monday, that is—not Thursday when I'm writing it!) marks the official debut of
Saving Scott
as a Nook First special. This link is to the
Nook First
page, and I can only hope that Scott will be there for all to see.I put the book up for sale last week—it went live late Wednesday. As I mentioned, it's exclusive to Barnes & Noble for 30 days. After that time, I'll be offering at the other e-book stores. But for now, you can get it here. And if you don't have a Nook, you can download the Nook apps here.
And, if you'd like to read an excerpt, you can find one here .
In an earlier post, I mentioned formatting, and gave some tips. However, there's a caveat. The software that the various sites use can still create glitches. So when you read an e-book, remember that the author might not have been "lazy" or "sloppy" in the formatting. Sometimes it's out of our hands. The folks at Barnes & Noble were very helpful when I reported things that didn't look right, despite my having everything formatted per their instructions. It was a special perk of the Nook First program, since they want the book to look its best, too.
What I learned about the Barnes & Noble formatting is that they default to fully justified text, but because they use automatic hyphenation, you don't get those lines with only two or three words on them. However, you get a better looking product if you do the justification first rather than have their software do it.
If you spot any problems, I'd like to know about them. I know a reader was very apologetic about pointing out some glitches in one of my books, but with e-publishing, it's relatively easy to fix them, so I don't mind at all. I won't thing you're stepping out of bounds. You can email them to me—contact information is on this site.
My newsletter opt-in form is another example of formatting being beyond my control. On my "old" website, the form is tidy and compact. On my new one, the Wordpress page template overrides some of the code, resulting in spacing issues between the fields that can make it confusing for the person filling it out. It's something I can try to fix, but probably not before the next newsletter goes out.
And speaking of the newsletter … you can sign up at either of my sites. I have a special contest each quarter for newsletter subscribers only, and I hope you'll sign up if you haven't already.
Tomorrow, my guest is Donnell Bell, who's talking about remodeling, first drafts, and opportunity.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
March 18, 2012
Winners All Around
Thanks for your patience, everyone. John Sharpe's winners are Karen C. and Janet Kerr. Contact John at sharpewrites (at) gmail (dot) com to make arrangements to claim your books.
And a HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS to Nicole who finished the LA Marathon with a personal record of 4:09:12
Way to go, all.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
And a HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS to Nicole who finished the LA Marathon with a personal record of 4:09:12
Way to go, all.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
March 16, 2012
Friday Field Trip - Around the Block
As you read this, I'm on my way to Los Angeles. I won't have much Internet access until I'm home again on Tuesday.
Last Saturday, Hubster walked around our block. I asked him (very nicely, of course) if he'd mind taking pictures, as I was busy with getting everything done for my upcoming trip and book release. Here's what he saw. (Note: Sunday morning, it snowed --Welcome to Springtime in the Rockies!, and everything looked totally different.)
Remember to leave a comment on John Sharpe's Tuesday post for a chance to win his book.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
Last Saturday, Hubster walked around our block. I asked him (very nicely, of course) if he'd mind taking pictures, as I was busy with getting everything done for my upcoming trip and book release. Here's what he saw. (Note: Sunday morning, it snowed --Welcome to Springtime in the Rockies!, and everything looked totally different.)
Remember to leave a comment on John Sharpe's Tuesday post for a chance to win his book.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
March 15, 2012
What's in a Website?
What I'm reading: Winterkill, by C.J. Box
Don't forget: leave a comment on Tuesday's post for a chance to win a copy of NO MORE BULL.
First - the big news. SAVING SCOTT is now live at Barnes & Noble!
I'm on my way to Los Angeles for a family visit and to cheer my daughter on in the LA Marathon. I've been busy trying to migrate my website, although it's still very much a work in progress and following links will take you to my old site for some things, my new site for some others.
What's important to me in a web site?
First, it needs to be a place where people go for information, not entertainment. So, no animated graphics, no bouncing text, and no music. (I'll say that again. NO Music.) People browsing the web might be doing so late at night with others asleep, or they might be listening to their own music. If, for some reason, you do want music on a website, at least have it default to off and let the reader decide to turn it on.
Readability. For me, that means a dark text on a light background, and uncluttered pages. I simply can't read those white-on-black sites, and unless it's of vital importance that I do so, I simply navigate away.
Ease of navigation. If someone is looking for something, it should be clear where they have to look.
Links that work with as few clicks as possible.
For me, the challenge has been (aside from learning enough Wordpress to be considered dangerous) how to organize the site. I've learned how to create "parent/child" pages, so if you hover your cursor over a header on the Nav Bar, if there are sub-pages, you can find them. But do people actually do this? I hope so.
And what goes where? I've called one of my tabs "Books", but it's got more than my novels in there. And I've grouped my novels by series. This adds clicks, but I thought it would help readers zero in on what they're looking for. I know I went round and round trying to decide where to put "First Chapter Reads." They're included as links on each book's page, but if people are interested in reading them, they might like to see the choices all on one page.
I still haven't decided about reviews. Do I create a page for Reviews, and then sub pages (which is how my "old" site is organized), or do I create a link to a review page specific to each book and put it on the book's page? Or do people even care about reviews?
Eventually, I hope to migrate my blog to Wordpress as well, so everything is in one place. Although, I wonder how many readers actually pay attention to where they end up when they click a link.
Most of this technical stuff will wait until I get back. But for now, I'd love it if you'd visit the new site and give it a test run. Do the links work? Did you get lost? Is there something I've forgotten to include?
I'll be unplugged most of the time, although I'll try to check in at least once or twice a day while I'm gone. And cross your fingers that the forecast for rain for the marathon doesn't come true. Running in the rain might not be so bad, but standing around waiting and watching…well, I'd rather be dry.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
Don't forget: leave a comment on Tuesday's post for a chance to win a copy of NO MORE BULL.
First - the big news. SAVING SCOTT is now live at Barnes & Noble!
I'm on my way to Los Angeles for a family visit and to cheer my daughter on in the LA Marathon. I've been busy trying to migrate my website, although it's still very much a work in progress and following links will take you to my old site for some things, my new site for some others.
What's important to me in a web site?
First, it needs to be a place where people go for information, not entertainment. So, no animated graphics, no bouncing text, and no music. (I'll say that again. NO Music.) People browsing the web might be doing so late at night with others asleep, or they might be listening to their own music. If, for some reason, you do want music on a website, at least have it default to off and let the reader decide to turn it on.
Readability. For me, that means a dark text on a light background, and uncluttered pages. I simply can't read those white-on-black sites, and unless it's of vital importance that I do so, I simply navigate away.
Ease of navigation. If someone is looking for something, it should be clear where they have to look.
Links that work with as few clicks as possible.
For me, the challenge has been (aside from learning enough Wordpress to be considered dangerous) how to organize the site. I've learned how to create "parent/child" pages, so if you hover your cursor over a header on the Nav Bar, if there are sub-pages, you can find them. But do people actually do this? I hope so.
And what goes where? I've called one of my tabs "Books", but it's got more than my novels in there. And I've grouped my novels by series. This adds clicks, but I thought it would help readers zero in on what they're looking for. I know I went round and round trying to decide where to put "First Chapter Reads." They're included as links on each book's page, but if people are interested in reading them, they might like to see the choices all on one page.
I still haven't decided about reviews. Do I create a page for Reviews, and then sub pages (which is how my "old" site is organized), or do I create a link to a review page specific to each book and put it on the book's page? Or do people even care about reviews?
Eventually, I hope to migrate my blog to Wordpress as well, so everything is in one place. Although, I wonder how many readers actually pay attention to where they end up when they click a link.
Most of this technical stuff will wait until I get back. But for now, I'd love it if you'd visit the new site and give it a test run. Do the links work? Did you get lost? Is there something I've forgotten to include?
I'll be unplugged most of the time, although I'll try to check in at least once or twice a day while I'm gone. And cross your fingers that the forecast for rain for the marathon doesn't come true. Running in the rain might not be so bad, but standing around waiting and watching…well, I'd rather be dry.
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March 14, 2012
What's Cooking Wednesday - Tandoori Chicken
Don't forget to leave a comment on John Sharpe's post (Tuesday's) to be entered in his giveaway.
Tandoori Chicken
Serves 6
Ingredients:
3/4 c. Greek yogurt
1/4 c. water
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T Indian tandoori spice mix
1 T dried fenugreek leaves**
1/2 t salt
2 T lemon juice
1 T vegetable oil
6 skinless, bone-in chicken thighs
Lemons wedges and sliced onions for garnish
Instructions:
Combine everything but the chicken in a large bowl, and mix well. Add the chicken, cover, and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 400. Let most of the marinade drip off, and place chicken on a lightly greased roasting pan. (I used the non-stick aluminum foil). Bake for 20-30 minutes. Switch the oven to broil, and broil 5 minutes, turning and basting halfway through.
**Note: I didn't have fenugreek leaves. I didn't even have powdered fenugreek, but it smells like cumin, so I added about 1/2 tsp cumin instead.
Serve with rice, and garnish with the lemon and onions.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
Tandoori Chicken
Serves 6
Ingredients:
3/4 c. Greek yogurt
1/4 c. water
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T Indian tandoori spice mix
1 T dried fenugreek leaves**
1/2 t salt
2 T lemon juice
1 T vegetable oil
6 skinless, bone-in chicken thighs
Lemons wedges and sliced onions for garnish
Instructions:
Combine everything but the chicken in a large bowl, and mix well. Add the chicken, cover, and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 400. Let most of the marinade drip off, and place chicken on a lightly greased roasting pan. (I used the non-stick aluminum foil). Bake for 20-30 minutes. Switch the oven to broil, and broil 5 minutes, turning and basting halfway through.
**Note: I didn't have fenugreek leaves. I didn't even have powdered fenugreek, but it smells like cumin, so I added about 1/2 tsp cumin instead.
Serve with rice, and garnish with the lemon and onions.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
March 13, 2012
The Law and Order Approach to Writing Fiction
Today I welcome John Sharpe blogging about how Law and Order helped mold his writing. John is a Colorado native whose family lineage includes lawmen, ranchers, miners and businessmen - with a couple school teachers thrown in for balance. He spent many years in the magazine business and retired as managing editor of The Texas Longhorn Trails. He writes mysteries set in the mountains and ranchlands of Colorado.
John will be giving away two copies of his book (choice of print or digital) to randomly selected commenters. As always, you have until Friday to post your comments, and winners will be announced here over the weekend. (I might be late because I'll be in LA cheering on my daughter who's running the LA Marathon that weekend.)
I consider Law and Order (I'm talking the long running TV program here) a good learning tool for writers. I wrote for magazines for years while reading from one to three works of fiction every week and secretly wishing I was writing those instead of about the worries of hoof rot, wonders of artificial insemination, how to build an electric fence or reporting on current livestock market conditions. When I retired to finally write mysteries I realized I didn't know how. I had read hundreds of books but studied none of the techniques that allowed me to enjoy them. So before I could write I had to learn how.
I started by doing what I always did before I got a computer that I didn't need to crank and discovered Google, I went to the library. If I found a how-to book I liked by someone that seemed to know what they were talking about and had the credentials to back it up I would buy a copy so that I could highlight and write notes in the margins. I ended up with twenty-two of them. I know; they're sitting on a shelf behind me and I just turned around and counted. The second thing I did was join Pikes Peak Writers based in Colorado Springs, attended many of their seminars and their wonderful annual conferences.
I learned today's reader wants you to start off with a bang. Get their attention. Keep the pace moving to retain the reader's interest. Provide red herrings to keep them off guard. Add surprising plot twists. Don't write down to the reader, but avoid terminology that is too specialized without some explanation. Develop believable characters and provide them with dialogue that sounds like real human beings. A sonsabitch should sound like a sonsabitch and not Aunt Tillie at a pot luck. And don't forget - show don't tell.
As I studied these techniques, listened to presentations at the PPW Conference by renowned experts like Jeffery Deaver, James N. Frey and Donald Maass just to name three, I continued reading my two to three novels each week. Now I did it differently. I looked at point of view. I studied structure. I noticed how they started. I also became more critical and even quit reading some authors.
But what finally brought it all together was my weekly Law and Order fix. I've watched it from its first season - still do. One night it hit me like a Soupy Sales pie. They've got it down. They know what today's reader/viewer wants. The opening scene starts fast, introduces the crime and the victim, is kept short and gets you involved in the story. There is always at least one plot twist where you think they have the culprit figured out until something comes along to prove the detectives or the ADA's are on the wrong track. The characters are always diverse and well developed. I have heard Oscar and Emmy recipients credit their successful portrayal to the writers. If you want to enjoy great acting, watch Law and Order. Hmm, maybe it's the writers.
And they are masters of the surprise ending. I've given up trying to predict the verdict. And just because there is a verdict doesn't mean that the story is over. There can still be a twist.
Recently I had another pie in the face. The majority of today's readers have spent their lives watching television. Even movies are shorter. Most under two hours. Audiences (and readers) are used to quick fulfillment. What I've heard from published writers and their editors is keep it short. Between seventy-five and eighty-five thousand words for a mystery. Sure, there is your occasional dragon tattoo exception. But there's a lot more fast food sold than sit down. Today's public is in a hurry. Maybe a beginning author would do well to study the Law and Order formula - adding their own secret herbs and spices.
I'm not saying don't study your craft. Read the books. Attend conferences. Interact with other writers. Write., write, writ. But think KFC, not the five course meal.
To see how well John followed his own advice join him at www.johnsharpebooks.com for an excerpt from No More Bull, his current mystery featuring a veterinarian who has to solve a murder to save his reputation, career and finally his life. No More Bull is available on his website or through book stores, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Smashwords.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
John will be giving away two copies of his book (choice of print or digital) to randomly selected commenters. As always, you have until Friday to post your comments, and winners will be announced here over the weekend. (I might be late because I'll be in LA cheering on my daughter who's running the LA Marathon that weekend.)
I consider Law and Order (I'm talking the long running TV program here) a good learning tool for writers. I wrote for magazines for years while reading from one to three works of fiction every week and secretly wishing I was writing those instead of about the worries of hoof rot, wonders of artificial insemination, how to build an electric fence or reporting on current livestock market conditions. When I retired to finally write mysteries I realized I didn't know how. I had read hundreds of books but studied none of the techniques that allowed me to enjoy them. So before I could write I had to learn how.
I started by doing what I always did before I got a computer that I didn't need to crank and discovered Google, I went to the library. If I found a how-to book I liked by someone that seemed to know what they were talking about and had the credentials to back it up I would buy a copy so that I could highlight and write notes in the margins. I ended up with twenty-two of them. I know; they're sitting on a shelf behind me and I just turned around and counted. The second thing I did was join Pikes Peak Writers based in Colorado Springs, attended many of their seminars and their wonderful annual conferences.
I learned today's reader wants you to start off with a bang. Get their attention. Keep the pace moving to retain the reader's interest. Provide red herrings to keep them off guard. Add surprising plot twists. Don't write down to the reader, but avoid terminology that is too specialized without some explanation. Develop believable characters and provide them with dialogue that sounds like real human beings. A sonsabitch should sound like a sonsabitch and not Aunt Tillie at a pot luck. And don't forget - show don't tell.
As I studied these techniques, listened to presentations at the PPW Conference by renowned experts like Jeffery Deaver, James N. Frey and Donald Maass just to name three, I continued reading my two to three novels each week. Now I did it differently. I looked at point of view. I studied structure. I noticed how they started. I also became more critical and even quit reading some authors.
But what finally brought it all together was my weekly Law and Order fix. I've watched it from its first season - still do. One night it hit me like a Soupy Sales pie. They've got it down. They know what today's reader/viewer wants. The opening scene starts fast, introduces the crime and the victim, is kept short and gets you involved in the story. There is always at least one plot twist where you think they have the culprit figured out until something comes along to prove the detectives or the ADA's are on the wrong track. The characters are always diverse and well developed. I have heard Oscar and Emmy recipients credit their successful portrayal to the writers. If you want to enjoy great acting, watch Law and Order. Hmm, maybe it's the writers.
And they are masters of the surprise ending. I've given up trying to predict the verdict. And just because there is a verdict doesn't mean that the story is over. There can still be a twist.
Recently I had another pie in the face. The majority of today's readers have spent their lives watching television. Even movies are shorter. Most under two hours. Audiences (and readers) are used to quick fulfillment. What I've heard from published writers and their editors is keep it short. Between seventy-five and eighty-five thousand words for a mystery. Sure, there is your occasional dragon tattoo exception. But there's a lot more fast food sold than sit down. Today's public is in a hurry. Maybe a beginning author would do well to study the Law and Order formula - adding their own secret herbs and spices.
I'm not saying don't study your craft. Read the books. Attend conferences. Interact with other writers. Write., write, writ. But think KFC, not the five course meal.
To see how well John followed his own advice join him at www.johnsharpebooks.com for an excerpt from No More Bull, his current mystery featuring a veterinarian who has to solve a murder to save his reputation, career and finally his life. No More Bull is available on his website or through book stores, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Smashwords.
Like this post? Please share by clicking one of the links below.[image error]
