Nancy J. Cohen's Blog: Nancy's Notes from Florida, page 103

Orlando Revisited

We just returned from another weekend in Orlando, Florida. It was hot but not so bad early in the morning when we went for our daily stroll. It’s a peaceful scene at the lake by our condo.

On Saturday, we visited Baldwin Park to view the lake there and the main street with its restaurants and boutiques. We had lunch in Chi Pan Asian and walked around. Baldwin Park is a quiet enclave with upscale residences in the middle of Orlando.

Lake at Baldwin Park

Mexican Restaurant

Chi Pan Asian

The next day, we drove to Disney’s Boardwalk Resort to have lunch in one of their numerous restaurant, a brewerie/grill, and then we walked all the way around the lake by the Yacht and Beach Club resorts. We could see the Dolphin and Swan hotels, too. We got back to our car just before a torrential downpour.

We celebrated our son’s birthday at Christini’s. Our eyebrows nearly dropped off when we saw the wine prices. $65 for a bottle of a Napa Cabernet. My husband looked it up later, and it lists $22 online. Clearly, this is where they make their money. They need it, too, as no less than five waiters in tuxedoes hovered around, refilling our water glasses and whisking our plates away if we put down a fork. An accordion player serenaded us, his instrument gleaming with mother-of-pearl keys. Fresh flowers sat in a glass vase on each table, covered with black cloths. It’s a very romantic atmosphere, great for special occasions and romance. But really, is ravioli and veal marsala with a polenta cake worth over $35 each? The Caesar and Caprese salads were excellent, and the main dishes were quite tasty. So was the crusty bread with a creamy eggplant dip. Umm, I’m getting hungry thinking about it. While we enjoyed our evening there, the bill for over $200 is one we probably won’t want to repeat any time soon. Fortunately, the next birthdays in the family are in September, which in Orlando is Magical Dining Month. You can get 3 course meals at fancy restaurants for $30 each. That’s a much better deal.

Christini’s

Caprese Salad

Veal Marsala

Also, please check out my blog post today over at The Kill Zone where I offer 6 Tips for File Management.

Free Writers Marketing Camp

Marketing Summer Camp July 14-15, 2012

Marketing Summer Camp is a free, two-day online conference designed to help authors learn the basics of marketing and promotion, and to fine tune skills already obtained. It will include guest speakers, pitch opportunities, prizes, top giveaways, and plenty of learning and fun. It will be held on the Yahoo group, Marketing for Romance Writers. Membership is open to published as well as non-published authors, editors, publishers, literary agents, author promotion services, cover artists, and virtual assistants. MFRW members are automatically signed up for Camp. If you want to take a particular course, read the messages posted with that title of the class. If you want to skip that class, don’t read them. It’s going to be that easy. Handouts and goody bags will be up for grabs once the conference begins. Giveaways include advertising packages, blog tours, and more. Discounts on services will also be available for all attendees.

PITCH APPOINTMENTS

There will be pitch appointments with multiple publishers for camp attendees. These will take place after camp so you don’t have to miss classes.

Sign up NOW by joining the group: http://is.gd/mfrwgroup

To learn more:

Website: http://is.gd/mfrworg

Paperli: http://is.gd/mfrwpaperli

Newsletter: http://is.gd/mfrwnews

Facebook group: http://is.gd/mfrwfb

Marketing Camp Schedule: http://is.gd/mfrw_camp_hours

The MFRW Friends of Romance Award is presented to companies seeking to aid authors with promotion at little or no cost, and to offer affordable programs. In 2012 they are: The Romance Studio, Romance Junkies, and CoffeeTime Romance. The award is one way we can help authors and publishers save money and obtain ethical and excellent service. http://marketingforromancewriters.org/friends.htm

Love, Life and Hiroshima

Love, Life and Hiroshima by LaVerne Clark

Jenna Thomas stormed into my head the moment I started thinking of a premise to a superhero-themed novella. Why superhero? I’d heard of a submission call that excited me like nothing else had in a long time. Rushing to my computer, I swept aside the current WIP I’d been labouring over and let the words pour out on the new. Pretty soon, I had my first pivotal scene; how my heroine came by her abilities; the setting – and then I hit a brick wall. Jenna dug her toes in and point-blank refused to be cast as a superhero. No matter how much I tried to manipulate her, or how much pleading and whining was involved, I couldn’t get her to budge. There was no way on earth she was going to be flying around saving people left, right and centre. Jenna shunned the limelight, preferring to keep her distance from the general public as much as humanly possible.   

“Fine then,” I finally snapped, throwing my hands up in surrender. “Show me who you really are then and why I should write your story.” As I sat at my computer sulking over the fact I wasn’t going to be writing a fantastic superhero story after all, she revealed her story to me and I was captivated.

Jenna’s family originated from Hiroshima, Japan. They’d lived quiet, ordinary lives until that fateful day of August 6th 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped over their city, changing everyone’s lives forever. After the initial horror had passed, it became apparent a new one was on the horizon – radiation poisoning – and Jenna’s family fled to New Zealand. Trekking halfway around the world, they thought they’d escaped the repercussions of the war – but the radiation from the fall-out had affected them after all. It sank deep into their molecular structure and changed their DNA forever.

For most of the family, it presented itself as cancer, killing them off one by one. But for a select few, it brought strange abilities instead. For a long time, Jenna was sure she’d been dealt the dud-hand – and then she met Nick – and for the first time, she thought she might have had it wrong.

Although the horror of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were well before my time and in a different part of the world, I remember seeing the black and white photos described in a scene of Affinity as a young girl and they haunted me. I didn’t know how much until I met Jenna, and I could see them in my mind’s eye as clearly as the first time I gazed at them in shocked fascination.

But along with those feelings of distress and sorrow, I experienced equal ones of awe and inspiration. Amongst the awful photos were occasional ones of hope and beauty. The people of Japan affected by this terrible event were undoubtedly angry at what had been done to them, but I never saw hatred in their eyes. Maybe it was because they were sick of the fighting – or more likely they were just too devastated. Whatever it was, it affected me personally and Jenna’s story is a result of that long-ago memory.

Maybe we can’t all have special abilities like Jenna does, but what we do all have at our core is the ability to empathize and care for one another. We have the capacity to forgive atrocities and get on with life – and that to me is an incredible ability worthy of any superhero, don’t you think? J

AUTHOR BIO   

Like the heroines in my stories, I married my own gorgeous hero and have been blessed with a school-aged son and a toddler-aged daughter. I’m passionately involved with the charitable organization, “Greyhounds as Pets” after falling in love and adopting my own ex-racing greyhound, and became the Area Coordinator for my region. Perhaps, in the back of my mind was the old adage of owners looking like their dogs, but sadly, my legs don’t seem to have got any longer and my waist hasn’t shrunk to minuscule proportions, but on a good note, at least my nose isn’t any longer! I’m a member of Romance Writers of New Zealand and live in the beautiful coastal town of Nelson at the top of the South Island, the sun capital of the country.

BLURB: Affinity

In the wrong hands, Jenna Thomas’s legacy could be a curse—in her mind it already is.

As a child, a routine x-ray awakened an abnormality in Jenna’s DNA giving her the ability to “call” creatures and take on their attributes. Labeled a freak since then, Jenna’s learned to keep everyone at a distance. But all that changes the day she saves a young boy from drowning, and the story goes viral.

Nick Hawke, an off-duty policeman, witnesses part of the drama. Captivated by Jenna’s exotic beauty, he decides to investigate, not sure what to believe. Jenna puts his cynicism to the test—even as the attraction between them grows.

As word of her extraordinary rescue spreads, a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to control Jenna’s abilities draws near. With her feelings for Nick putting him in danger too, can Jenna risk everything to protect them both?

http://www.laverneclark.blogspot.co.nz

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaVerneClark

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_139&products_id=4888

Booksigning Checklist

Are you a new author facing your first booksigning event? Or maybe you’re a seasoned player and you haven’t done one in a while. Here’s a checklist of what to bring. Some authors scatter chocolate kisses or other candy on the table, but I’ve found this practice only attracts children to snatch the candy. It doesn’t entice anyone to buy a book, but it does make your display look snappy. Always offer passersby a bookmark or other item. If they’re too intimated to check out your books now, they might read your material and order them later.  

Autographed by Author Stickers (optional; not all readers want a sticker on their signed book)

Book Cover of Next Release

Bookmarks

Books to Donate (optional; can be used for a library donation, for a door prize, or as a giveaway to audience members who ask questions)

Box of Books (for when you sell your own; otherwise keep in car trunk in case bookseller doesn’t come through)

Bottle of Water

Business Cards

Calculator (if you are selling your own books)

Camera (if you want pix of your event for your website, Facebook page, etc.)

Cash (if you are selling your own books)

Conference/Membership Brochures (to promote your local writing organizations)

Flyers/Brochures/Postcards   

Laptop or iPad (optional; to showcase your book video)

Mailing List Sign-up Sheet

Notice of Upcoming Appearances (in case they want to catch you at another event)

Poster (optional; ask your publisher for one or make your own)

Sharpie ultra fine point black ink permanent markers

Wheels (to carry boxes of books when you bring your own; look in luggage store for folding wheels)

July Contest

JULY AUTHOR CONTEST: Win a free book!

Find the answer to this question on my website: “Where did Marla Shore discover the body in Shear Murder, and what was the victim’s relation to the bride?”

Prize: Mystery gift box including a signed ARC of Shear Murder    

Contest begins on July 3, 2012 and ends on midnight, July 24, 2012. Drawing will be held using Random.Org. Winner will be announced on Nancy’s blog and website the next day.

Rules

To enter the drawing, send an email to contest@nancyjcohen.com

In the Subject line, put Contest

In the Body of the message, put your first and last name and email address along with the answer to the question.

*One entry per person, please! U.S. Residents only due to postage constraints.

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No purchase is necessary. By your entry, you certify that you are at least 18 years of age and agree to the conditions of this contest. You will hold the Author harmless for any misdirected emails and release her from any liability claim that may arise from your entry. By this entry, you give permission for your name to be added to the author’s email newsletter list.

Easy Recipes

In case you’ve wondered, I don’t spend all my time writing. I still like to experiment in the kitchen with new dishes. Here are two recipes I’ve made recently that have fairly quick preparation. Enjoy! (And next time, I’ll have to remember to take photos!)

QUICK TURKEY CURRY

1 cup diced green pepper

½ cup diced celery

½ large sweet onion, diced

4 green onions, sliced

2 Tbsp canola oil

1-2 package(s) Perdue short cuts cooked turkey breast or 1-2 cup(s) cubed leftover turkey

1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained

2 oz package slivered almonds

4 Tbsp all-purpose flour

½ tsp curry powder

½ tsp paprika

¼ tsp dried basil

16 oz low sodium chicken broth

1 small jar pimentos, drained

Cooked rice, 4 servings.

In a large skillet, sauté the green pepper, celery, and onions in oil until wilted. Stir in the turkey, water chestnuts, and almonds. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the flour, curry powder, paprika and basil into the broth until blended. Stir into the skillet mixture and add pimentos. Cover and simmer until heated through. Serve over rice. Yields 4-6 servings. Tip: You can buy two 8 oz packages of pre-chopped green peppers, celery, and onions at the grocery store as a substitute for the green pepper and celery if you want a faster prep time.

EASY CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 package (18-1/4 oz) Devil’s Food cake mix

½ cup baking cocoa

2 egg whites

1 egg

1-1/3 cup water

8 oz low fat plain yogurt

2 tsp powdered 10X sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine egg whites, egg, water, and yogurt. In a large mixing bowl, blend cake mix and cocoa. Beating at low speed, add liquid mixture to dry ingredients. Blend well. Pour into a 10 cup fluted tube baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake for 35 minutes and test for doneness with toothpick. Cool on wire rack before turning cake out onto a plate. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

For more great recipes, check out the Recipes Page on my website!

Reassessing Your Goals

Summer is supposed to be a laid back time of rest, relaxation, and fun in the sun. On the other hand, with seasonal meetings and events suspended until September, it can be a good time to get in some good work hours.

The only way to accomplish anything during these lazy days is to set goals. You should be setting your annual goals every January, in terms of writing and the business aspects of writing. So here you are six months later. How many of these line items have you finished? Do you wish to change/remove the remaining ones? Add something new?

In looking back over my files, I am stunned to see that I hadn’t done this for 2012. Oh, dear. How could I be so lax? Usually I’m very goal directed. I suppose having my tenth Bad Hair Day mystery coming out in January proved too much of a distraction. So let’s set goals that will serve from now through the end of the year.

Writing Goals

1.  Write Hanging by a Hair, my next Bad Hair Day mystery. Short-term goal: Finish the first half within the next two weeks. Why? Because then I’ll have to take a break to attend some family events and to do the edits for Warrior Rogue when they come in.

2.  Polish and submit Warrior Lord, the third book in my Drift Lords series. With the manuscript running longer than 400 pages, this will take me easily a month or two.

Calculating all the time factors in, my goal to finish Hanging by a Hair is on target to December. I need a month or two for the edits to Warrior Rogue and for reading the page proofs. Then add in another couple of months to revise Warrior Lord. And I need a good six to eight weeks uninterrupted to finish the mystery. Holidays, a Caribbean cruise, and other occasions will cut into this six months period. Is it any wonder I am working harder than ever this summer?

Business Goals

1.  Prepare promotional campaign for Warrior Prince, including setting up a virtual tour and writing all the blogs ahead of time, scheduling ads, devising contests, social networking, etc. This could literally take up all of my time.

2.  Create video trailer for Warrior Rogue.

3.  Prepare and upload special bonus materials for readers of my Drift Lords series. I’ve done a lot of world building and would like to share these details with readers.

This is about all I can handle for now. There’s always more to be done, but life has to be lived, too. Just know that I am dedicated to getting more books out there for you to read.

Now take a moment and reevaluate the writing goals you’d set at the beginning of the year. Do they have to be modified? How many have you accomplished so far?

Recent Reads

I haven’t posted any book reviews lately, although you can follow me on Goodreads to catch my reports. But people often ask writers what we like to read. So here are the books I finished in June.



THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass (Teen Fiction)                           

Thirty five girls are chosen to compete for the hand in marriage of handsome Prince Maxon in the land known as Illéa. America Singer, a musician and member of a lower caste, enters her name in the lottery after her crush Aspen casts her off. She doesn’t expect to get chosen and is surprised when her name is announced. Soon she journeys to the palace to meet the prince and appear in broadcasts with the other contestants. As she gets to know Maxon, her feelings for him blossom, but the Selection is marred by increasingly violent rebel attacks. What do the rebels want? Why does the king suppress the region’s history? And what’s America to do when Aspen joins the draft and shows up as a palace guard?

The world-building works in this novel that’s part fantasy and partly a take-off on reality shows. I believe it’s billed as the Hunger Games meets the Bachelor. Certainly, the gorgeous cover draws you in. As a reader, you quickly become invested in America’s happiness and wonder how she might help the country if she ends up as Maxon’s bride. But his choice isn’t made by the last page. You have to tune in to the sequel to continue the story and might find this tactic somewhat frustrating.

Accustomed to reading romance novels, I would have liked a conclusive ending. It disturbs me that I might have to read two more books to reach a finale, but I like the story enough that it might be worth the wait. I know how I would like this tale to end. I just wish it wouldn’t take three books to cross that finish line. Find on Amazon

TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG by Connie Willis (Time Travel Historical)

The Connie Willis books I’ve read have been complex stories that take place in dark times of global history. To the contrary, this title is more like a Shakespearean comedy of manners. It’s a twisted tale, hard to follow at first, seeming to wander aimlessly with silly incidents, until the story finally becomes more focused at least halfway through. Then my interest peaked but not so much in the beginning. Certainly I didn’t find it hilarious, more like amusing, and a cheerful diversion from Willis’s usual works. As always, her depiction of the era is vastly detailed and immersive. If you were to start with one of her books, though, I wouldn’t choose this one.  I think you need to be a fan to appreciate its absurdities, although some readers love this book the best. My favorites are Doomsday, Black Out, and All Clear. Find on Amazon

UTTERLY DEVOTED by Regina Scott (Regency Romance)

This pleasant Regency romance is a staple in the genre but the plot is a bit contrived. Left in the lurch by the rake Jareth Darby after he loved her and left her, Eloise denies his attraction when they meet again several years later. He is determined to reform himself and begs her forgiveness. To earn her regard, he promises to pass three tests, but neither of them count on falling in love. Can Eloise get over the past in order to accept her future? Find on Amazon

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEER by Tracy Anne Warren (Historical Romance)   

When Princess Emmaline of Rosewald is told that she must marry for the political future of her country, she runs away to London for a last fling before bowing to duty. But she doesn’t anticipate the confusion and chaos that greets her in the big city, nor does she know what to do after her reticule is stolen. Adrift in strange territory, she accepts the offer of a stranger who comes to her assistance.

Nick Gregory, the Earl of Lyndhurst after his elder brother’s death, is still adjusting to his new title when he encounters the lovely wench in the street. Assuming her to be an unemployed governess by her refined manner, he offers shelter until she can contact her family. But as he gets to know Emma, his need for her grows. Emma reciprocates his affection, but she’s aware that their relationship must end. Duty calls, and she will not forsake her country. What she doesn’t anticipate is that Nick isn’t willing to give her up and will pursue her until she becomes his wife. Find on Amazon

ANGEL’S ADVOCATE by Mary Stanton (Mystery)

In this Beaufort & Company Mystery, attorney Brianna Winston-Beaufort accepts the case of a young woman accused of ripping off a Girl Scout selling cookies. But the girl’s troubles are minor compared to those of her recently deceased father, whose condemned soul pleads for Brianna’s assistance in celestial court. Was he murdered like he hinted, or did he die in a car crash as everyone believes? Did he become aware of shady goings-on among his associates, or was he a part of them? And how does poor Lindsey fit in? With one case in the temporal world and another in the realm of angels, how will Brie learn the truth? With the supernatural help of her friends and a couple of guardian dogs, she sets on the path to justice. Angel’s Advocate is a twisted tale of paranormal mystery with a dollop of Southern charm. Find on Amazon

What are you reading these days?

Author Branding

As authors, we’re advised to promote our brand to readers. What does this mean? Think about your favorite writers. You know what kind of story you’re going to get when you pick up one of their books. It could be heartwarming characters, small town settings, or fast-paced thrills and chills. Or maybe it’s a recurring theme that strikes a chord within you. But if we’re the writer, how do we define our own brand?

Sometimes we have to wait until we’ve written a few books to see what reviewers say. We can glean an idea of how our stories affect readers by their responses. Or we might recognize the core story in each of our books, those defining elements that call to us. Or we can ask other people what they see in our work.

You’ll want to showcase your brand in several places:

Signature Line

This would be a tagline that goes under your name every time you send out an email or make a post on a listserve.

Website

You’ll want to deploy metatags that mention your branding elements. So tag yourself in the header and in perhaps a sub-header as well, and then in the body of your text.

Logo

Here’s an opportunity for a pictorial representation of what you write. You can even put your logo, along with your website URL, on T-shirts and such as contest prizes for your fans.

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In my opinion, deciding on a tagline—like a blurb for a book—is harder than writing the story. It’s especially difficult when you write in more than one genre.

So here we come to the point of this post. I need your help.

I’m having an identity crisis. When I post to a romance loop, my signature line says Warrior Prince: A Drift Lords Novel. When I post to a mystery loop, I say Shear Murder: A Bad Hair Day Mystery. But I need something that encompasses both the genres I write. For example, my website says Author of Mystery and Romance. (Should I have a sub-header? And if so, what should it say?)

In other words, I need a new tagline.

Here’s my current signature, when I’m not using an actual book title:

Nancy J. Cohen

Romance and Mystery

Where passion & danger collide

I could change it to:

Author of Paranormal Romance and Humorous Mysteries

This one is good, but what if I write a new mystery that isn’t funny? My agent cautioned me against being too specific. Too narrow of a brand can box you in.

Here are some other suggestions. Quotes come from reviews. Please let me know which ones you like the best!!! I need a zippy tagline that reflects both the genres I write. Or make up your own combination and let’s hear it!

Sassy Sleuths, Sizzling Passion, and Suspense

Tales of Mystery, Romance, & Otherworldly Adventure

Tales of Murder, Love, & Laughter

Fun, fast-paced Florida mysteries and paranormal romance

Fast-paced humorous mysteries and paranormal romance

Hot heroes and sassy heroines mixed with intrigue and murder

Author of Paranormal Romance and Fun, Fast-Paced Mysteries

“Murder, Mayhem, Humor and Romance”

“Humor, Romance and Mystery”

“Humor, Action and Passion”

“Fun, entertaining, out of this world reads”

“Amazing heroines, sexy heroes, lovable sub-characters”

“Great characters, strong storylines…”

“Strong, sexy heroes, ….”

SciFi/Fantasy Romance and Fabulous Florida Mysteries

As for a logo, do you have any suggestions for an image that would combine the types of books I write? Murder mysteries and sci-fi/fantasy romance with paranormal elements (note that my new series takes place on Earth).

What would catch your attention? And feel free to share your tagline here.

News from Nancy

I’m happy to announce that I’ve sold Warrior Rogue, the second book in my upcoming paranormal romance series, to The Wild Rose Press. The first book in the Drift Lords series, Warrior Prince, debuts on Sept. 21 in print and digital formats. The book trailer is available now if you want a sneak peek: http://youtu.be/aVm2FIumw0o

Meanwhile, I’ve made a few minor changes as per my editor on book number two. These took me one day to do, and now I’m waiting for the line by line edits. My editor is really sharp and picks up things I miss, like a day of the week being inconsistent or repetitions of backstory. So I am always grateful for her input that makes my book stronger.

I love the epic adventure of this series, the Norse mythology, and the inclusion of magical elements. It’s the first time I’ve delved into the realm of fantasy in a modern day setting, so I hope you’ll follow me along on this new journey. Check out my vision board on Pinterest to see some of the images for this story.

Once again, the action takes place in Florida. What can I say? I love writing about this diverse state. But it doesn’t stay there. In Warrior Rogue, the tale begins in Tokyo and moves to Hong Kong, New York, and Palm Beach. I’m busy planning contests and more to keep you excited about the series debut.

The weather has been gloomy for South Florida, with overcast skies and occasional heavy showers as Tropical Storm Debby lingers in the area. But rainy days are good for staying home and getting work done, at least for those of us without day jobs. In between working on my paranormal series, I’m writing my next Bad Hair Day mystery. Today brought me up to page 95. I’ll keep my steady pace of 5 pages a day for 5 days a week until summoned to work on Warrior Rogue again.

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What do you like to do on a rainy day—get things accomplished at home; or read, watch TV, and cruise the Web?