Terry Odell's Blog, page 57

Patience, Grasshopper

Patience, Grasshopper

Whether you’re pursuing a traditional writing deal, or are an indie author, there’s a lot of waiting involved. Patience is part of the game. Used to be, you used snail mail for queries, and responses could take weeks. Months. Developing patience was as important as developing a rhino-thick skin.

Disclaimer: I’m retired, the kids are grown, and I’m not supporting myself with my writing. My marker of success might not be yours. My writing income is gravy, and sometimes it’s r...

Reader Expectations, Genre Expectations, and Imposter Syndrome

Reader Expectations, Genre Expectations, and Imposter Syndrome

I’ve been working on my next Blackthorne, Inc. novel, and have been having trouble switching from the Mapleton mystery structure to a romantic suspense. Some days, I think my brain is slogging about two months behind my reality.

I’d written five chapters before I forced myself to stop and take stock. My Mapleton mysteries are single POV books, and in this new one, I had yet to leave the hero’s point of view. The heroine-to-be was men...

Doublespeak: Voice and Manuscript Surgery

Doublespeak. A Look at Voice.

 

It’s my turn at The Kill Zone Blog again. Today’s topic: Voice. I’m talking about character voice AND authorial voice.

I’m also guest blogging at Pikes Peak Writers, talking about surgery for your manuscript.

Hope you’ll pop over.

The post Doublespeak: Voice and Manuscript Surgery appeared first on Terry Odell.

Fresh Starts

Remember when I talked about one of my early short stories being included in the Pikes Peak Writers Anthology, Fresh Starts? (If you don’t, you can find the article here.)

Things are moving forward toward an April 9th release. First up: the cover.

A little about the anthology:

After the fires are out, the smoke has cleared, the divorce is over, the widow has stopped wearing black, the sun has risen, the monsters are dead, the world is saved (or destroyed!), the storm has calmed, and the trouble...

Happy Double Birthday!

Happy Double Birthday!

 

Deadly Options drops (that’s publishing/marketing-speak for ‘released’) today. That’s a whole lot more exciting than the fact that I’ve survived yet another trip around the sun. It’s been a heck of a ride, hasn’t it?

I started writing Deadly Options in late June. The pandemic was raging, and I knew there was no way I was going to include it in the book. After all, who knew what the situation would be when I finished the book? Not to mention, I had no desire to read abou...

Don’t Take Anything for Granted

Don’t Take Anything for Granted.

I love being an indie author, but there are times when it would be nice to have a publisher handle some of the issues that crop up. Of course, first you have to know there are issues. By chance, I looked at my listing of my Pine Hills Police box set at Audible, and was taken aback at some of the negative reviews, complaining about the sex in the books.

A closer look revealed that Audible had categorized the book as mystery/thrillers, which brings with it a certai...

Friday Punnies

Friday Punnies. No, it’s not a typo.

Only FIVE DAYS until Deadly Options drops! Yes, I’ve been busy this week, so how about some groaners?

Meanwhile, I’m working on my newsletter, which will go out on Wednesday. If you’re not already a subscriber, there’s a link in the menu bar (and you’ll get a free short story.)

 

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Cover Branding

I’m talking about author branding, especially as it relates to cover design over at The Kill Zone Blog today.

A couple of other reminders:

 

 

 

 

There are lots of free mystery books to download from Book Funnel here.

 

And, there’s still time to preorder Deadly Options so you’ll have it waiting on your device on February 24th. Why wait?

Are Gordon’s Days in Mapleton Numbered?

Now available for pre-order. Deadly Options, a Mapleton Mystery/Pine Hills Police crossover.

The post Cover Branding ...

Happy Valentine’s Day

My normal Monday post is early this week, because it’s Valentine’s Day and I have a gift for you.

I remember the electronic tire pressure gauge the Hubster gave me one year–along with flowers and chocolate. Guys have protection wired into their DNA, and wanting to keep others safe is one way they show their affection, so I accepted the gift understanding the thought behind it. It didn’t hurt that he was the one checking my tire pressure, too.

 

My gift to you? A change of pace from my usual genr...

More Friday Fun

Hope one of these brings a smile to your day.

 

Have a great weekend, and Happy Valentine’s Day.

The post More Friday Fun appeared first on Terry Odell.