Melissa Lenhardt's Blog, page 6
June 1, 2015
Get Book News First
http://eepurl.com/bd3AQf
Melissa
Some news is a’coming…
I know it’s been a little, how should I say this?, quiet around the Swamp for the past few months, but there’s a very good reason for it. Soon, I will be able to tell you the reason. Hopefully, this week.
Going forward, news about my books will come first through a newsletter. You may remember I ran a contest a couple of months ago promoting it. If you didn’t sign up for it at that time, now is the time to do it! I promised I wouldn’t spam you and, true to my word, I haven’t sent one since the contest. Now, it’s four months from the release of STILLWATER, and news will be coming more frequently and I want you to hear it first!
To sign up for my newsletter, CLICK HERE.
And, watch your inbox for some exciting news! The banner picture above might be a hint. ;)
One more thing: 199 people have added STILLWATER to their Goodreads Want to Read shelf! Have you? If not, go over and be the one who puts it over the hump!
March 4, 2015
It’s my first STILLWATER giveaway, and super easy to enter!
I know it’s seven months until STILLWATER: A NOVEL is released, but I cannot contain my excitement! I’ve been thinking of what contests and giveaways I should have closer to the release and thought, “Why wait?” Plus, I had a pretty awesome idea for the swag to give away and I wanted to share.
I have a friend who is a wonderful artist. Seriously. I’m in awe of her creativity. So, when I went to her with my idea, she said, “Yep. I can do that.” And, it looks just as awesome as I expected!
Seriously, how cool is mug? The words all relate to the book, either character names, themes, or specific places. Why a coffee mug, you ask? Because Ellie Martin, the main female protagonist, owns The Book Bank, a combination bookstore and coffee shop. Hence, a hand-painted coffee mug.
How do you win this awesome coffee mug? Simple.
Sign up for my newsletter.
Going forward, my blog post will focus on writing instead of book news. The best way – the first way – to get news about the book, events, contests and exclusive content will be the newsletter. It’ll be delivered right to your inbox. No blogs to follow, no social media accounts to check and hope my announcements will, against all odds, show up on your timeline. But, I’ll also announce stuff on social media, so if that’s your preferred way to get news, follow me on Facebook and Twitter.
Don’t worry about me spamming you with newsletters. Marketing is important but it’s also time-consuming. Every minute away from it is a minute I’m not writing or editing. So, I’ll only send you newsletters when it’s important, or can’t keep it to myself news!
The contest will run through FRIDAY, March 6. Sign up! I’d love to share my publishing journey with you!
February 14, 2015
When friends ask what’s the hardest part of writing a book I answer, “All of it.”
This quote by Margaret Atwood was the first thing I saw when I opened Twitter this morning and wow, is it a perfect sentiment for where I’ve been this week, starting a new MS.
I’m not a plotter. Oh, how I long to be a plotter, but that much organization completely kills my creativity. She’s already a timid little thing, the last thing I need to do is murder her with PLANS.
I know, in broad strokes, the beginning, middle and end of every book, but I’ve never been one to outline chapter by chapter what happens when. One Nano I tried the Snowflake Method. Lasted about a day.
My method is think shit up, and write it down quick, before I forget it.
Have I told you before? I have a horrible memory.
Anyway, not a plotter. That’s why my “synopsis” includes lots of parentheticals such as, “she is betrayed by the con-woman (not sure why; will figure out later, probably jealousy but OMG Boring, and Predictable. UGH.).” There’s also a few, “blah, blah, blah” and “yada, yada, yadas” in there.
So, it’s no surprise I’m an insanely inefficient writer. I will, almost always, write at least 20,000 words that end up in the trunk file. One day, I’m going to hem all those scenes together and publish a seven part, stream of conscious contemporary mystery/historical fiction/women’s fiction/erotica epic that will take the literary world by storm. I’ve jettisoned more awesome scenes than I can count. Actually, I don’t want to count them. It’s too depressing. I’m an expert at killing my darlings.
So, here I am, starting a MS with the beginning and the middle and the end clear in my mind, but the details of how they get there are fuzzy. Or non-existent. And, this time, I have a deadline. Not a self-imposed deadline I can meet or not meet depending on my inspiration. An honest to goodness deadline where there will be consequences if it isn’t met. Which means I can’t dither.
I can’t check my phone every time a sentence isn’t forming right.
I can’t get up and switch the laundry over, decide I need to make a cake (I wanted to the other day but didn’t *pats self on the back*), clean out the cabinets, organize the pantry or wash the dishes.
I can’t wait for the perfect word because now, at 7,000 words, none of them are perfect, but they’re all salvageable.
Yesterday, I sat in front of a blank screen, knowing I needed to write at least 2000 words and didn’t have an idea to save my life. I ended the day with 3500 words and two damn good scenes under my belt that I hope survive to the end. We’ll see.
So, if you asked me today, “What’s the hardest part of writing a book?” I’d say, “The beginning.” Ask me again in a few weeks and I’ll say “The end.”
But, I’ll be damn happy to be there.
February 6, 2015
I’ve yet to master the art of the pithy, clickable post title, so you’ll have to click through to see my good news.
Something happened yesterday. A monumental event I knew was coming, eventually, but I wasn’t prepared for how absolutely cool and fantastic it was. My debut novel, STILLWATER, went up on Amazon. It is available for pre-order.
From mashable.
A couple of things: yes, I know there’s no cover image. That will come, hopefully soon, but I don’t know when exactly.
Second, the tentative release date is October 6, 2015. That can always change, but for now, that’s the target. As long as it is released before November 19, I’ll have achieved my goal of getting published by 45.
Third, it will be available in electronic formats before October 6 and hopefully in audio as well.
Fourth, pre-orders are love.
So is sharing.
January 1, 2015
Because everyone’s doing it – 2014 Year in Review and One Resolution
Happy New Year!
With all due respect to 1995 (married), 1999 (first child) and 2002 (second child), 2014 has been the best year of my life. Personally, everyone is happy and healthy. No major tragedies in my immediate family. There have been losses and sicknesses in my extended family which remind me how lucky and blessed I am. I know that won’t last. It never does. But, at this moment in time, our family is happy and at peace.
What has made this year stand out from the rest is what I’ve accomplished professionally. In January, I set a couple of professional goals for myself: 1) become more active in the writing world 2) write and submit short stories for publication. I achieved both goals. Let’s run it down:
Elected to the DFW Writers Workshop Board of Directors in January
Frisco First Chapter contest – (l-r)Art Molinares (Henery Press), George Goldthwaite, me, Kendel Flaum (Henery Press)
Sold an excerpt of my historical fiction novel, PALO DURO, as a short story to The Western Online.
Sold THE WAGES OF SIN mystery short story to Heater Mystery Magazine.
Interview NYT bestselling author Deanna Raybourn, as well as Kenneth Mark Hoover and Kendel Lynn on my blog.
Sold FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT romance/erotica short story to a holiday themed anthology, published in November.
Submitted an erotica short story, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, to an anthology. Will hear if it’s accepted or not in January.
Won the Frisco Library First Chapter contest with the first chapter of PALO DURO.
Was a finalist in the Whidbey Writer’s MFA Alumni Emerging Writers Contest.
Along with Kendel Lynn, founded the Sisters in Crime North Dallas chapter and was elected Vice President/Programs.
Attended DFW Writers’ Conference and the Texas Book Festival.
Completed the sequel to STILLWATER and started the third novel set in the Stillwater world.
With Deanna Raybourn at a signing at Murder by the Book in Houston
If I stopped there, it would be a fantastic year. But, the most exciting achievement came in July when I signed a publishing contract for STILLWATER with Skyhorse publishing.
So, yeah. It’s an embarrassment of riches. But, I’ve also worked very hard for a lot of years to get here. And, the hard part is just starting. Next year will be insanely busy with working with my editor to make STILLWATER shine, learning about publicity, marketing and the business side of the publishing industry, and finding time to write. I also need to get back on the fitness wagon and lose about 20 pounds.
Which brings me to my one resolution. It isn’t to lose weight; that’s a constant resolution. It isn’t to write consistently; another given. No, my 2015 resolution might be the most difficult one I’ve ever set for myself.
DON’T PROCRASTINATE.
I could say get organized, plan your day, etc., but Don’t Procrastinate is more succinct and covers it all. I’m working on being more succinct in my writing. A two word resolution is a good start.
What are you resolutions for the New Year?
November 1, 2014
I love November!
I love November. The weather finally settles into what passes for Fall in Texas. Sometime in the first week, all the leaves will change color. The next day, or so it seems, they’ll all drop. Unless you live in my neighborhood which is full of live oak trees. Our leaves drop in the spring, which is as annoying and weird as it sounds.
Walking into Kroger yesterday, my husband was shocked to see Christmas items for sale. No surprise here. Holiday season truly starts with Halloween, but November 1 is the day it goes into overdrive. Poor Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, is marginalized to a few end caps with brown and orange leaf-shaped plates and bags of Pepperidge Farms stuffing mix and cans of pumpkin.
If you’re a writer, November might mean NaNoWriMo. For those reading who aren’t writers, NaNo is a month-long challenge to write a 50,000 word novel. For the curious, that averages out to 1,300 words a day during one of the busiest months of the year. STILLWATER, my novel which being published next Fall, started eight years as a NaNo project. Two things remain from that first attempt: the main character, Ellie, and the town, Stillwater. Strange to think of how it evolved from an attempt to write a modern-day version of Jane Austen’s Persuasion to a murder mystery.
November 1 is also the date the sequel to STILLWATER starts on. If you follow me on Twitter, you;ll know this sequel, working title THE FISHER KING, has been killing me. Everyone said the second book is harder and boy were they right. Though true to form, I’ve made the process more difficult than it need be. But, my writing style seems to be writing a book and a half worth of prose before finding the real story. Such is life. I’ll have to evolve into an efficient writer if I want to achieve my writing goals.
It’s fitting that I’m working on a novel set during the exact dates I’m living (though STILLWATER & THE FISHER KING are set in 2012). I can walk outside and observe the how the shadows fall on the ground, the crispness in the air, the spikes of temperature that catch us Texans off-guard. My mind turns to Thanksgiving dinner plans, Christmas shopping. Which of my characters would be thinking of these things, as well? Those are the things you forget about when writing in July a book set in November. The little things give novels a richness and lived in feel that readers love, without realizing they love it. The five senses, a sense of time, a sense of place, characters we can recognize and relate to–though not always approve of–are what make novels linger with a reader.
For me, the second draft is a focus on the little things. Enriching the novel with the senses while also cleaning up the mystery and sprinkling clues in I forgot on the first time. Getting rid of lazy, passive first draft words, tightening and sharpening the prose and expanding narrative. This is when the story takes shape. This is when the doubts which have plagued me throughout writing the first draft–I’m terrible! I’ll never be able to finish a MS again. Why did I ever think I could do this? I suck.–recede and I finally start to believe again.
And, about damn time.
October 31, 2014
Friday Twitter Tips – Marketing, Publicity, The Funny and Query Tips, Which Will Never Die
Taps microphone. Hello?
Shields eyes from spotlight. Anyone here?
There’s a drunk slumped at a table with an empty bottle of Wild Turkey, a suburban mom with a tiny bit of spit-up on her shoulder and a man whose thousand yard stare can only mean he’s at the end of writing a first draft. Thanks for sticking around, guys. Sorry for the delay. Traffic was a nightmare.
Where have I been, you ask? Working on the sequel to STILLWATER (coming Fall 2015), which means I’ve been procrastinating like a mofo. My favorite form of procrastination has been researching book marketing, which says to engage your readers/fans through social media–Twitter, Facebook, Blog–which I haven’t been doing because I feel guilty I’m not working on my sequel.
The good news is, the sequel is coming along. It’s still a hot mess, but it’s getting there. I’ve also learned a few things about book marketing. Here’s what I’ve learned:
Facebook isn’t nearly the marketing dynamo everyone thinks it is. The posts on my page have very little reach, even when I share it on my personal page and my friends share it. Why? Because Facebook wants me to pay for promotion.
Heard the “you must have at least 2,500 Twitter followers” stat again this weekend. Apparently, this magic number will be the deciding factor for publisher’s sales/marketing departments if they are on the fence about buying your book. Still think its a specious piece of advice.
Blogging is more difficult when your posts need to be more than just some random woman on the internet posting her thoughts about books. I have to look at everything I post through the “How Will This Help/Hurt My Book Marketing” lens, which has sucked what little blog creativity I had out the window.
But, there’s always Friday Twitter Tips. No surprise my favorite tweets focus on craft and marketing/promotion these days. But, there are still a few query tips because they never, ever die.
Craft
How to be a plotter even if you’re a pantser http://t.co/j0qX16uYUh
— Bridget-Now Novel (@nownovel) October 27, 2014
How to Write a Synopsis When Your Novel Has Lots of Characters http://t.co/DNb1ptG6Tn
— Writer's Digest (@WritersDigest) October 14, 2014
Publicity/Marketing
Book promotion article re: free days – recommended by @authorStacyHoff http://t.co/xWUTxXrHHc #WW #amwriting #authors #books
— Stacy Hoff (@authorStacyHoff) October 29, 2014
"Yes, Agents Google Writers." Plus: do you know the optimal times to post to social media? #mondayblogs http://t.co/PhYVn105b6
— Carly Watters (@carlywatters) October 20, 2014
Authors dealing with media! This is a concise list for what an author’s website should include! via @DigiBookWorld
http://t.co/28NVdw97yb
— Liza Dawson Assoc. (@LizaDawsonAssoc) September 5, 2014
Smart author tips on how to interact with bookstore staff re: signing copies, facing books out etc. http://t.co/0cuKDy0DZA
— Carly Watters (@carlywatters) August 19, 2014
Create Your Writer Platform — find readers, make connections, and sell more books http://t.co/R9fznrggK4
— Writer's Digest (@WritersDigest) August 16, 2014
Because Query Tips Never Die…
Please stop using "snarky" or "feisty" to describe witty, non-passive female characters. They don't mean what you think they mean. #querytip
— Sarah LaPolla (@sarahlapolla) August 8, 2014
Do you know what can always be cut from a query? How you found out about me, and how you "understand that I rep X genre." #pubtip
— Laura Zats (@LZats) August 19, 2014
Agents share their query letter pet peeves: http://t.co/scnurPYLQb
— Writer's Digest (@WritersDigest) August 14, 2014
I'm not taking unsolicited queries at the moment, but I just got one addressed "Dear Literary Agent." Don't do that. #pubtip
— Eric W. Ruben, Esq. (@EricRubenLawyer) August 11, 2014
Things you don't need to do before #querying: 1. Don't pay someone to design a cover, or a book trailer.
— Jennie BOOloboy (@JennieGoloboy) August 8, 2014
Things Only Writers Find Funny
19 Signs You’re "That Guy" In Your Writer’s Workshop: http://t.co/WxihEKevQi @BuzzFeedBooks @GuyInYourMFA
— Penguin Random House (@penguinrandom) October 9, 2014
PREVIOUSLY ON FRIDAY TWITTER TIPS
Article Links Edition
Do Your Homework
More Query Advice
DFW Writers’ Conference Edition
Query Advice Edition
Writing Advice Edition
One Submission at a Time
#PubTips
#PubTips
#PubTips
#PubTips
October 17, 2014
MG Book Review – The Great Cat-Nap by A.M. Bostwick – A clever take on noir for mystery lovers of all ages.
Take a clever, determined reporter who moonlights as a detective, a sidekick who spends most of his time flirting with the ladies, a kidnapped beauty, and a host of lowlifes who just might hold the key to unlocking the case and what do you have? You have The Great Cat-Nap, a delightful middle-grade mystery in the vein of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. With cats. Yes, you read that right. Cats. And really, what better animal to have as a stand in for Sam Spade than a slick, black cat with green eyes?
Reading this novel as an adult was pure pleasure. The cat puns are thick on the ground, but somehow not overdone. You’ll find yourself laughing at loud at how Bostwick turns even the most pedestrian cat stereotype on its head, and sometimes into something vaguely seedy, but still age appropriate. Cats that need to switch to water from heavy cream late at night. Dilated pupils from too much catnip. A crazy-cat lady beloved by the cats she rescues from the streets. Then, Bostwick will throw in a reference to noir canon which will go over kids’ heads but will have adults nodding their heads and laughing at its ingenuity.
“Of all the rundown newspapers in all the cities, she had to walk into mine.”
But, let’s not forget the kids. They will love this book. It’s a clever mystery which will keep them guessing but is also so well laid out they might be able to come up with the solution to the mystery just before Ace does. Any child who loves animals will love this book. Cats, dogs, a mink and a rat all play prominent roles. There’s enough danger to keep them on the edge of their seat and enough humor and cleverness to keep them engaged and reading. It’s not hard to imagine children who have their own pets, cats especially, putting this book down and imagining their pet as the star in their own adventure.
The Great Cat-Nap by A.M. Bostwick
Ace is a hard-core newspaper reporter. He’s tenacious, confident, and assertive. He’s also a cat. When the famous show cat Ruby the Russian goes missing, Ace is on the story. But he bites off more than he can chew when he agrees to play detective and find the prize-winning cat, believed to have been kidnapped by animal smugglers. Calling on his feline friends, a few dogs, and even a boastful rat nemesis, Ace’s investigation will lead him from the most respected parts of town to the lowly haunts of the underground alley cat system. He’ll have to try to break a cat out of the pound for priceless information and get into a single-pawed battle with smugglers before getting his shot at solving the dangerous crime, culminating on a chilly October night in the gray and lonely streets of downtown.
The winner of the 2014 TOFTE/WRIGHT CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD, this 55,000 word middle-grade mystery is filled with adventure, suspense, and humor — all told from the point of view of a cat!
E-Book available from
About the Author
A.M. Bostwick writes Middle Grade and Young Adult novels. An early draft of her young adult novel, Break the Spell was a finalist in the 2013 Wisconsin Romance Writers of America Fab 5 Contest. The Great Cat Nap, winner of the 2014 Tofte/Wright Children’s Literature Award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers, is her debut novel. Abigail lives in Tomahawk, WI, with her husband, dog and thrill-seeking cat. Follow her on Twitter @BostwickAM
October 13, 2014
One year and counting. Plus, Big News.
We are one year out from the publication of my debut novel, STILLWATER, and things are starting to get interesting. Not only am I writing the sequel, tentatively titled THE FISHER KING, but I’m researching press kits, email marketing and newsletters. In short, I’m educating myself on every possible way to get the word out about STILLWATER to as many people as possible. Blog, Facebook, Twitter, newsletters, print media, I’m going to try it all. But, probably the absolute best way to reach readers is through Goodreads and Amazon.
Amazon won’t help me until the book is available for preorder, which won’t happen for months. But, Goodreads. That’s another story.
That’s a long introduction to say I am now officially a Goodreads Author.
*throws confetti*
Okay, celebration over. Back to work.
Do you remember when I announced my publishing contract I said I would need your help in the upcoming months?
I need your help.
If you’re on Goodreads, you can find my author page here. Click on “Become a Fan.”
Then, scroll down a bit and you will see the link for STILLWATER.
Now, this next part is very important. So important I’m giving it it’s own line.
Add it to your Want to Read bookshelf.
This is critical. Why? Well, other people who are friends with you will see it on their timeline and maybe they’ll add it. You can recommend it to your friends, as well. The more people who Want to Read STILLWATER the better. Why?
Interest on Goodreads and pre-orders on Amazon (when it’s available; it’s not yet) will give the book buzz, which can then be translated to media buzz, which will be translated to sales, which will be translated to readers, which will be translated to more sales and more readers which will be translated to a happy author!
If you aren’t on Goodreads, why aren’t you? You can join easily using your Facebook login. Then follow the steps above to Become a Fan and add STILLWATER to your Want to Read bookshelf.
That’s it for now. We won’t have a cover for a few months, at least. When we do, I’ll be waving that baby all over the internet. You won’t miss it.
