Terry Odell's Blog, page 44

Is Customer Service Dead?

Is Customer Service Dead?

Still wading through the aftermath of our aborted trip to Antarctica. Details here.

There are two prongs to deal with: the airline and the cruise company, as we booked them separately.

Nowhere can we find anyone who’s able to give us personal attention.

As a comparison: a few years ago, we took an extended trip through the British Isles for our 50th anniversary. The tour we signed up for didn’t have enough people to run it, but our travel agent stepped up and gave us so...

Disappointment

This is a post I hoped I wouldn’t have to write. I’m supposed to be in Antarctica, but sometimes the best laid plans ….

We had this trip planned for two years. First, Covid shut the trip down, and we opted to rebook for the following (this) year. Delta hit, then Omicron, but we were vaccinated and boosted, and given the precautions both the airlines and the cruise company were taking, we felt the risks were low. A birthday trip of a lifetime.

That didn’t mean we didn’t have hoops to jump through...

Off to the (Relatively) Unknown

Off to the (Relatively) Unknown

Terry’s Place is on a temporary hiatus while I’m traveling (I hope) to the waters of Antarctica.

This trip was supposed to have happened a year ago, but … Covid. There are still a lot of hoops to jump through, but as I write this, our biggest challenge will be the weather here. A winter storm is due, and the airline has already notified us that if we can make alternative arrangements (we can’t), we should be thinking about doing so. Given the unpredictability of ...

Packing for Travel – Your Tips?

Packing for Travel – Your Tips?

The Hubster and I are getting ready for a major bucket list trip. We leave next week, but our focus—mine, at least—has been on the myriad of details that have to be attended to.

Packing, of course. We’re going to be on a ship in the Antarctic, so it’s pretty much a given that if we forget anything, we’ll have to do without. And it’s not like the “old days” when people brought huge steamer trunks on trans-oceanic voyages.

We opted to upgrade our airfare for the le...

Rules, Conventions, or Guidelines

I’m over at The Kill Zone Blog today, talking about following the rules when it comes to writing. The post was triggered by a recent book I’d started (and didn’t finish) because the author chose to defy what I consider a “rule” of writing. But is it a rule?

You can find the post here.

The post Rules, Conventions, or Guidelines appeared first on Terry Odell.

A Valentine for You

It’s Valentine’s Day, and I have a gift for you. Romancing the Geek was the first story I’d ever written with a required theme, word count, and deadline. It was originally published by The Wild Rose Press, but I have the rights now, and I’m offering it to you. It’s also included in Second Chance Rose, my collection of short romances.

Stephanie’s lifelong dream is to design toys—sweet, cuddly toys. Instead, she’s hired as a glorified typist, forced to share an office with Brad, a geek, who’s ha...

Friday Fun Again

It’s been a busy week here. Time for a break.

 

Have a great weekend!

The post Friday Fun Again appeared first on Terry Odell.

Getting Readers on Board with Characters

Getting Readers on Board with Characters

Before I start: Are you looking for something to read? There’s a 50-author giveaway of first in series romance books. A wide variety of sub-genres, so if your e-reader is feeling neglected, there are plenty of offerings. My own In Hot Water is among them. Stock up now. Winter’s not over yet, and why not curl up with a book? No limit on how many you can choose.

And now, on with your regularly scheduled blog post.

As writers, we want readers to get on boa...

Book Auditions

Book Auditions

**If you missed Friday’s post notification email, I was having issues with my provider. You can find that post here.

The first page of a book has to grab the reader and make them want to keep reading. They’re going to decide right then and there whether they want to spend time with the character and/or the situation. I sent my editor my first 2 draft chapters of the next Blackthorne book–consider it a book audition. No point it spending months writing a new book, getting the produ...

Audio Changes at the Triple-D Ranch

Audio Changes at the Triple-D Ranch

Now that In the Crosshairs book birthday is in the rearview mirror, I’ll start by saying THANK YOU to everyone who pre-ordered, ordered, and reviewed the book. It means so much.

What’s next? Audio. My narrator for the Triple-D Ranch series, Pamela Almand, has been sending me chapters as she records them, and it’s so exciting to hear her bring the characters to life. We’re hoping to get everything recorded and proofed before I head out on vacation later this mo...