Today is November 30th, the last day of the November blog-a-day challenge among a few former classmates of Dani Greer's blogbooktour class. I'm pleased to say that with this short post, I made it. As soon as I publish, I'll pop on over to the group and give my report.
Starting tomorrow, I will post daily from Monday through Friday, and sometimes on the weekend. Although I was in the habit of writing posts the day before (or more) and pre-scheduling them to publish at 6:00 AM, I'd like to experiment more with writing and posting on the spot, even different times of the day. December, then, will be an adventure. I hope you'll watch for me to pop up to the top of your blogroll and then drop by for a visit.
I have three more book promotion events scheduled for December. One is easy -- appearing as a guest author at a local NaNoWriMo wrap-up event at the library where I'll help pass out awards.
The second appearance will be Sunday, December 6th from 3:00 to 5:00 at Who! Else Books at the Broadway Book Mall in Denver, CO, where I'll be joined by Colorado mystery authors and good friends, Mike Befeler, Linda Berry, and Beth Groundwater. If you live in the Denver area, I hope you'll come see us.
And finally, on December 12th, I'm scheduled to sign books at Reader's Cove Bookstore in Fort Collins, CO.
After that, I'll be joining local authors Cricket McRae and Barbara Fleming as we plan a panel presentation on the subject of strong women in fiction. We're hoping to schedule appearances at area libraries after the first of the year.
Doesn't seem as though we could possibly be facing December and the whole holiday season, does it? Where does the time go?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Selling Books at the Holiday Market
This is me, fairly early on Friday when I had plenty of energy. I was still a happy camper with a smile on my face on Saturday afternoon, but I looked more like something cat had dragged in. Thank goodness, I wore comfortable shoes both days.
The Holiday Market is held annually at the Senior Center in Fort Collins, Colorado on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving.
Although authors had occasionally signed up for booths in the past, the Authors' Nook wasn't established until 2008. This year was my first time as a vendor, and I shared Author Nook space with two local and very well-known writers: Barbara Fleming and Teresa Funke.
At this well-attended craft fair, booths fill the lobby, every activity room, the large multi-purpose rooms, the stage and the gymnasium. We three authors were very lucky to be placed in a high-traffic area in the lobby, not far from the main entrance. Visitors had to pass our booths at least twice as they covered every corner of the market.
In addition, we had the lovely wreaths and tree ornaments from Barbara and Dave Zinkhan's Odyssey Creations to look at for two days,
and another nearby that featured tempting preserves from Rocky Mountain Orchards. I bought this jar to give as a gift, but I think the pumpkin butter is more likely to end up on my own breakfast English muffins.
More accustomed to bookstore presentations and signings where it's common to have customers avoiding eye contact and rushing past so they don't have to talk to the authors, I was thrilled to be at a craft fair where people want to buy, want to ask questions about products and how things are done, don't mind chatting with the vendors, and stop to admire works even if they don't plan to purchase that item. I found the experience a lot more rewarding than a bookstore signing, and as much a promotional event as a sales event.
I sold thirty-one books, which is more than twice what I expected. I would do a local craft fair again in a heartbeat. Why do I say local? Because almost everyone who bought my book first asked if I was a local author.
At least twenty people stopped to look at The Prairie Grass Murders because they saw the review in Colorado Country Life, the magazine of the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Others came up to chat because they admired the six-foot crocheted scarf I used at the front of my table for decoration (it serves as the background for the above photo of the Pumpkin Butter). Since I also did a big business in free bookmarks and postcards (not to mention the Hershey's Kisses), I'm hoping those contacts translate into a few more online or bookstore sales between now and Christmas. I talked to dozens and dozens of people I'd never met before, including a few out-of-state folks visiting relatives for the holidays. This was definitely an excellent experience.
The Holiday Market is held annually at the Senior Center in Fort Collins, Colorado on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving.
Although authors had occasionally signed up for booths in the past, the Authors' Nook wasn't established until 2008. This year was my first time as a vendor, and I shared Author Nook space with two local and very well-known writers: Barbara Fleming and Teresa Funke.At this well-attended craft fair, booths fill the lobby, every activity room, the large multi-purpose rooms, the stage and the gymnasium. We three authors were very lucky to be placed in a high-traffic area in the lobby, not far from the main entrance. Visitors had to pass our booths at least twice as they covered every corner of the market.
In addition, we had the lovely wreaths and tree ornaments from Barbara and Dave Zinkhan's Odyssey Creations to look at for two days,
and another nearby that featured tempting preserves from Rocky Mountain Orchards. I bought this jar to give as a gift, but I think the pumpkin butter is more likely to end up on my own breakfast English muffins.
More accustomed to bookstore presentations and signings where it's common to have customers avoiding eye contact and rushing past so they don't have to talk to the authors, I was thrilled to be at a craft fair where people want to buy, want to ask questions about products and how things are done, don't mind chatting with the vendors, and stop to admire works even if they don't plan to purchase that item. I found the experience a lot more rewarding than a bookstore signing, and as much a promotional event as a sales event.
I sold thirty-one books, which is more than twice what I expected. I would do a local craft fair again in a heartbeat. Why do I say local? Because almost everyone who bought my book first asked if I was a local author.
At least twenty people stopped to look at The Prairie Grass Murders because they saw the review in Colorado Country Life, the magazine of the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Others came up to chat because they admired the six-foot crocheted scarf I used at the front of my table for decoration (it serves as the background for the above photo of the Pumpkin Butter). Since I also did a big business in free bookmarks and postcards (not to mention the Hershey's Kisses), I'm hoping those contacts translate into a few more online or bookstore sales between now and Christmas. I talked to dozens and dozens of people I'd never met before, including a few out-of-state folks visiting relatives for the holidays. This was definitely an excellent experience.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Mini-Report on the Holiday Market
We had a beautiful day in Northern Colorado yesterday (temperature in the upper 60s).
There was a great turnout for the Holiday Market at the Fort Collins Senior Center.
My book table faces a large booth full of spectacular handcrafted wreaths. I have my eye on one stunning creation in lavender and purple.
I sold books. (Yay!) Also did a big business in free bookmarks and free Hershey's Kisses.
Met dozens of really nice people who were kind enough to stop by and talk about books.
And I get to do it all again today. Sometime tomorrow I'll post a couple of photos and talk more about craft fairs/holiday markets as a venue for book sales -- why some books are more successful than others.
There was a great turnout for the Holiday Market at the Fort Collins Senior Center.
My book table faces a large booth full of spectacular handcrafted wreaths. I have my eye on one stunning creation in lavender and purple.
I sold books. (Yay!) Also did a big business in free bookmarks and free Hershey's Kisses.
Met dozens of really nice people who were kind enough to stop by and talk about books.
And I get to do it all again today. Sometime tomorrow I'll post a couple of photos and talk more about craft fairs/holiday markets as a venue for book sales -- why some books are more successful than others.
Friday, November 27, 2009
An Exercise in Sharing Ideas
Once a month Northern Colorado Writers hosts an 8:30 to 9:30 AM coffee at its writers' studio for members only. The mix of attending members varies from month to month, but we always have a lively discussion on various writing issues. This month our fearless leader introduced a new exercise she had adapted from a workshop given by Denver poet laureate Chris Ransick.
Attendees were asked to write down a specific question related to whatever project they were currently working on. Once the questions were down on paper, papers were passed to the left and each person wrote a fast, off-the-cuff answer. The exercise was timed, so with each prompt, a paper was passed to the left and the next question accepted from the right. At the end of the exercise, each of us had a page or two or possible answers/solutions.
I was amazed by two things:
1. How fast we can think when faced with someone else's problem (as opposed to how slowly we often deal with our own obstacles), and
2. The amazing and diverse answers I received to my own question. There were excellent ways to solve my plot dilemma. Why hadn't I thought of them myself?
Brain-storming using verbal exchanges is a great technique and is often useful in small groups. I found, however, that this individual, quiet approach helpful in a different way. It seems there is a unique dynamic involved with each form of expression. Do we use different parts of the brain when we write an idea as opposed to speaking an idea? For whatever reason, and thanks to the morning coffee group, I now have a way to take my character from Point A to Point B in a blizzard. I highly recommend this idea-sharing exercise.
Attendees were asked to write down a specific question related to whatever project they were currently working on. Once the questions were down on paper, papers were passed to the left and each person wrote a fast, off-the-cuff answer. The exercise was timed, so with each prompt, a paper was passed to the left and the next question accepted from the right. At the end of the exercise, each of us had a page or two or possible answers/solutions.
I was amazed by two things:
1. How fast we can think when faced with someone else's problem (as opposed to how slowly we often deal with our own obstacles), and
2. The amazing and diverse answers I received to my own question. There were excellent ways to solve my plot dilemma. Why hadn't I thought of them myself?
Brain-storming using verbal exchanges is a great technique and is often useful in small groups. I found, however, that this individual, quiet approach helpful in a different way. It seems there is a unique dynamic involved with each form of expression. Do we use different parts of the brain when we write an idea as opposed to speaking an idea? For whatever reason, and thanks to the morning coffee group, I now have a way to take my character from Point A to Point B in a blizzard. I highly recommend this idea-sharing exercise.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Day
All my warmest wishes to you on this Thanksgiving Day. I believe the following words are just as true today as they were when spoken in the late 1800s:
"Stand up, on this Thanksgiving Day, stand upon your feet. Believe in man. Soberly and with clear eyes, believe in your own time and place. There is not, and there never has been a better time, or a better place to live in."
---------------Phillips Brooks, (1835-1893), clergyman and author of the Christmas carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem (from The Quote Garden)
"Stand up, on this Thanksgiving Day, stand upon your feet. Believe in man. Soberly and with clear eyes, believe in your own time and place. There is not, and there never has been a better time, or a better place to live in."
---------------Phillips Brooks, (1835-1893), clergyman and author of the Christmas carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem (from The Quote Garden)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Quotes to Prepare You for Thanksgiving
I found these Thanksgiving-related quotes at brainyquote:
Well, it's obvious I wasn't striving for sentimentality.
As you know, I'm easily distracted and have been known to wander off topic. Having a quote here from Erma Bombeck made me wonder what other Erma gems I might find. There was one on football:
I cannot argue with that.
"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence."
---------------Erma Bombeck
"I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land."
---------------Jon Stewart
Well, it's obvious I wasn't striving for sentimentality.
As you know, I'm easily distracted and have been known to wander off topic. Having a quote here from Erma Bombeck made me wonder what other Erma gems I might find. There was one on football:
"Anybody who watches three games of football in a row should be declared brain dead."
---------------Erma Bombeck
I cannot argue with that.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Getting Ready for the Holiday Market
There were a lot of things to pull together for the two-day Holiday Market where I'll be selling books on Friday and Saturday. The event is held every year at the Fort Collins Senior Center. Booths are set up in all of the meeting rooms, the lobby, the two large multipurpose rooms, and in the gymnasium. In addition to the bake sale, there is a snack bar open all day that serves coffee and pastries in the morning and soups and sandwiches at lunchtime.
I have been visiting this event for several years as a customer, shopping for handmade Christmas decorations and crafty toys and gifts ranging from crocheted stuffed animals to handworked jewelry. Last year the Holiday Market included an Author's Nook, but I was out of town and could not participate. This year I'll be there both days with my books and audiobook CDs of: The Prairie Grass Murders and The Desert Hedge Murders. If anyone is looking for a new hardcover copy of The Prairie Grass Murders, please contact me directly.
For the last couple of days, I've been getting ready:
1. Checked my book inventory and packed the boxes. I'll leave some in the trunk of the car and retrieve them only if needed.
2. Prepared and printed the price list to prominently display on the table in a plastic stand since I am discounting books for these holiday sales. Made sure I had a copy of the sales tax licenses with me.
3. Printed book cover photos and prepared a small sign to show the recent coverage of The Prairie Grass Murders in Colorado Country Life.
4. Packed the rest of my supplies, including bookmarks and postcards and a plastic holder, a tablecloth, candy bowl, individually wrapped candies, and catalogues from Five Star Publishing.
The only things I have left for today: 1) stop by the bank and get adequate change for cash transactions, 2) swing by the office supply store to pick up a change box, and 3) prepare a sales sheet to mark down each sale by item.
As far as I know, only two other authors are participating this year. Teresa Funke will be there with her new release, V for Victory. Teresa's books focus on the World War II years and most are written for middle grade to YA readers. The other author is local historian Barbara Fleming, author of Journeying, a historical love story and adventure set on the Colorado prairie.
This will be the first time I've participated in an event this big (and one that lasts so many hours). The Holiday Market is well-attended every year, so I'm hoping that a lot of my local Twitter and Facebook friends will stop by to say hello.
I have been visiting this event for several years as a customer, shopping for handmade Christmas decorations and crafty toys and gifts ranging from crocheted stuffed animals to handworked jewelry. Last year the Holiday Market included an Author's Nook, but I was out of town and could not participate. This year I'll be there both days with my books and audiobook CDs of: The Prairie Grass Murders and The Desert Hedge Murders. If anyone is looking for a new hardcover copy of The Prairie Grass Murders, please contact me directly.
For the last couple of days, I've been getting ready:
1. Checked my book inventory and packed the boxes. I'll leave some in the trunk of the car and retrieve them only if needed.
2. Prepared and printed the price list to prominently display on the table in a plastic stand since I am discounting books for these holiday sales. Made sure I had a copy of the sales tax licenses with me.
3. Printed book cover photos and prepared a small sign to show the recent coverage of The Prairie Grass Murders in Colorado Country Life.
4. Packed the rest of my supplies, including bookmarks and postcards and a plastic holder, a tablecloth, candy bowl, individually wrapped candies, and catalogues from Five Star Publishing.
The only things I have left for today: 1) stop by the bank and get adequate change for cash transactions, 2) swing by the office supply store to pick up a change box, and 3) prepare a sales sheet to mark down each sale by item.
As far as I know, only two other authors are participating this year. Teresa Funke will be there with her new release, V for Victory. Teresa's books focus on the World War II years and most are written for middle grade to YA readers. The other author is local historian Barbara Fleming, author of Journeying, a historical love story and adventure set on the Colorado prairie.
This will be the first time I've participated in an event this big (and one that lasts so many hours). The Holiday Market is well-attended every year, so I'm hoping that a lot of my local Twitter and Facebook friends will stop by to say hello.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Colorado Author -- Becca Fitzpatrick
In my search for Colorado authors to feature here on Mondays, I've made a few exciting discoveries. Today's author, Becca Fitzpatrick, was a wonderful surprise.Becca's first novel, Hush, Hush, is a YA paranormal romance from Simon & Schuster that debuted at #10 on the New York Times Bestseller List in October 2009. For the story behind the novel, click on the book title above.
The sales rank for Hush, Hush on amazon.com yesterday evening was #567. There are 104 customer reviews. At barnesandnoble.com, the book was ranked #204. There are 142 reviews at that site.
Sigh.
From the synopsis at Becca's website:
"For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.
...Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life."
Perhaps fallen archangels will now replace vampires in the hearts and minds of teen readers. The cover alone makes me wish I had a teenager in my family to shop for this holiday season. I have put myself on the Hold list for a library copy and will be reporting on this very successful debut novel as soon as I can.
For more on Becca's book and its sequel, Crescendo, coming in 2010, visit her blog and the fan site, fallenarchangel.com.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Five Things I Want To Accomplish in the Next 39 Days
Thirty-nine days from today is December 31, 2009. I plan to accomplish these five things before the old year disappears forever:
1. Finish the first draft of my suspense/thriller (not sure what to call it yet) with a working title of "A Terrible Mistake." Judging by the amount of trouble my heroine is in, I may have to change the title to, "A Bunch of Terrible Mistakes."
2. Clean up my office, catch up on filing important papers, shred and dispose of waste paper, hang up my bulletin board, dust the furniture and blinds, and run the sweeper.
3. Outline a new novel.
4. Get rid of as many unused clothes, appliances, household goods, and other possessions as I can in an organized effort to simplify and declutter our lives.
5. When the working draft of "Mistakes" is complete, I'll set it on the shelf to rest. Then I'll return to another WIP, a historical novel set in frontier Illinois. The main character, Jo Mae Proud, has been hanging about, begging for attention. She says it's time I read through Wishing Caswell Dead, make the necessary changes to beef up her part in the story, and begin the submission process. She's right. I've let this project go too long.
What are your plans for the next thirty-nine days?
1. Finish the first draft of my suspense/thriller (not sure what to call it yet) with a working title of "A Terrible Mistake." Judging by the amount of trouble my heroine is in, I may have to change the title to, "A Bunch of Terrible Mistakes."
2. Clean up my office, catch up on filing important papers, shred and dispose of waste paper, hang up my bulletin board, dust the furniture and blinds, and run the sweeper.
3. Outline a new novel.
4. Get rid of as many unused clothes, appliances, household goods, and other possessions as I can in an organized effort to simplify and declutter our lives.
5. When the working draft of "Mistakes" is complete, I'll set it on the shelf to rest. Then I'll return to another WIP, a historical novel set in frontier Illinois. The main character, Jo Mae Proud, has been hanging about, begging for attention. She says it's time I read through Wishing Caswell Dead, make the necessary changes to beef up her part in the story, and begin the submission process. She's right. I've let this project go too long.
What are your plans for the next thirty-nine days?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
My Five Favorite Movies of All Time
There are very few movies I like enough to watch more than once. These five, in no particular order, are exceptions:
1. Psycho (1960) -- That shower scene with Janet Leigh will haunt me forever, and yet, every five years or so, I watch the film again.
2. Love Me or Leave Me (1955) -- Doris Day sings wonderful songs in this drama about a dance hall girl who loves a piano player but can't break free of the mobster (James Cagney) who wants her. This movie isn't always easy to find, but it occasionally runs on television.
3. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) -- I've loved all the filmed versions, and already have my ticket to see it on stage (in Northern Colorado) in April 2010. There are quite a few filmed stage musicals I can watch again and again, including The Phantom of the Opera, Showboat, South Pacific, and The King and I. However, Jesus Christ Superstar tops the list.
4. Overboard (1987) -- Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in my favorite frivolous, fun, and charming romantic comedy. I always laugh, no matter how many times I see it.
5. Key Largo (1948) -- Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall. I enjoy watching this film a lot more since moving away from hurricane country.
Do you love movies as much as I do? What are your all-time favorites?
1. Psycho (1960) -- That shower scene with Janet Leigh will haunt me forever, and yet, every five years or so, I watch the film again.
2. Love Me or Leave Me (1955) -- Doris Day sings wonderful songs in this drama about a dance hall girl who loves a piano player but can't break free of the mobster (James Cagney) who wants her. This movie isn't always easy to find, but it occasionally runs on television.
3. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) -- I've loved all the filmed versions, and already have my ticket to see it on stage (in Northern Colorado) in April 2010. There are quite a few filmed stage musicals I can watch again and again, including The Phantom of the Opera, Showboat, South Pacific, and The King and I. However, Jesus Christ Superstar tops the list.
4. Overboard (1987) -- Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in my favorite frivolous, fun, and charming romantic comedy. I always laugh, no matter how many times I see it.
5. Key Largo (1948) -- Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall. I enjoy watching this film a lot more since moving away from hurricane country.
Do you love movies as much as I do? What are your all-time favorites?
Friday, November 20, 2009
Instead of Reporting on the Same Old Same Old...
When I sat down to write this blog post, I drew a blank. The calm that follows trips and the writers' retreat has its disadvantages. Calm can be boring. How many times can I write posts about hiding away in my work space with the door closed? Do blog readers really care about my daily word count? How can I make the same old story interesting?
After a trip to the grocery store, I sat down at my computer and typed some words. I stopped and stretched after two hours. Then I walked downstairs to make a cup of tea. And then I came back and sat down and typed more words. See what I mean?
And this is pretty much what I plan to do each day through Monday.
To keep from boring you to tears (and chasing all of you away forever), I'm going to do a series of FIVE THINGS lists. Since I'm one of those freaky people who loves television and isn't afraid to admit it, I'll start with:
Five Favorite Television Shows:
1. American Idol (whenever its new season starts)
2. So You Think You Can Dance
3. The Mentalist
4. Desperate Housewives
5. Survivor
Any other TV watchers out there? If so, what do you like to watch?
After a trip to the grocery store, I sat down at my computer and typed some words. I stopped and stretched after two hours. Then I walked downstairs to make a cup of tea. And then I came back and sat down and typed more words. See what I mean?
And this is pretty much what I plan to do each day through Monday.
To keep from boring you to tears (and chasing all of you away forever), I'm going to do a series of FIVE THINGS lists. Since I'm one of those freaky people who loves television and isn't afraid to admit it, I'll start with:
Five Favorite Television Shows:
1. American Idol (whenever its new season starts)
2. So You Think You Can Dance
3. The Mentalist
4. Desperate Housewives
5. Survivor
Any other TV watchers out there? If so, what do you like to watch?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Mix and Match
What I'm Reading:
I finished Matt Hilton's Dead Men's Dust and found it a mighty fine debut thriller. It's dark and not for the faint of heart. Intense action, a really horrid serial killer, and a hero (Joe Hunter) who lives on the edge of darkness himself. I think he's a bit like Jack Reacher but he carries more baggage (yes, the play on words was intentional). Joe, however, is a Brit who's only in the U.S. to look for his half-brother who has gone missing. Matt's next book in the Joe Hunter series, Judgment and Wrath, is scheduled for release in the U.S. in August 2010.
The next book in my To Be Read (TBR) stack is a mystery, Boca Knights by Steven M. Forman. I'm still reading the two nonfiction books on writing.
What I'm Thinking About:
When the news came out about the mammography recommendations, I couldn't help but wonder who the heck was on this panel and whether the panel was made up of insurance lobbyists or doctors or economists. Here's what I found at Medical News Today and I highly urge you read the whole article:
And yet Katherine Sibelius, Secretary of Health and Humans Services, it was reported on the news yesterday afternoon, discounted the recommendation. As did the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and The Society of Breast Imaging. And yet, the members of USPSTF seem to have solid credentials.
You should be thinking about this. You should be wondering if insurance companies will take these recommendations as gospel and use them as an excuse to stop paying for annual screenings. If you're an "at risk" female under the age of fifty, you should be wondering how this affects you. I'm just sayin...
This Week's Quote:
A Recommended Blog:
Guide to Literary Agents written by Chuck Sambuchino of Writer's Digest.
The Best Thing I Had to Eat This Week:
Oh, hands down, it was the light, fluffy pancakes I had for breakfast Saturday morning at the NCW Retreat at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch. I never fix pancakes at home, and I rarely go out for breakfast, so this was a wonderful treat.
I finished Matt Hilton's Dead Men's Dust and found it a mighty fine debut thriller. It's dark and not for the faint of heart. Intense action, a really horrid serial killer, and a hero (Joe Hunter) who lives on the edge of darkness himself. I think he's a bit like Jack Reacher but he carries more baggage (yes, the play on words was intentional). Joe, however, is a Brit who's only in the U.S. to look for his half-brother who has gone missing. Matt's next book in the Joe Hunter series, Judgment and Wrath, is scheduled for release in the U.S. in August 2010.
The next book in my To Be Read (TBR) stack is a mystery, Boca Knights by Steven M. Forman. I'm still reading the two nonfiction books on writing.
What I'm Thinking About:
When the news came out about the mammography recommendations, I couldn't help but wonder who the heck was on this panel and whether the panel was made up of insurance lobbyists or doctors or economists. Here's what I found at Medical News Today and I highly urge you read the whole article:
"The recommendation, dated November 2009, comes from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a leading independent panel of private-sector experts in prevention and primary care, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services."
And yet Katherine Sibelius, Secretary of Health and Humans Services, it was reported on the news yesterday afternoon, discounted the recommendation. As did the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and The Society of Breast Imaging. And yet, the members of USPSTF seem to have solid credentials.
You should be thinking about this. You should be wondering if insurance companies will take these recommendations as gospel and use them as an excuse to stop paying for annual screenings. If you're an "at risk" female under the age of fifty, you should be wondering how this affects you. I'm just sayin...
This Week's Quote:
"Of the first seven novels I wrote, numbers four and five were published. Numbers one, two, three, six, and seven, have never seen the light of day... and rightly so."
----------Sue Grafton (from brainyquotes.com)
A Recommended Blog:
Guide to Literary Agents written by Chuck Sambuchino of Writer's Digest.
The Best Thing I Had to Eat This Week:
Oh, hands down, it was the light, fluffy pancakes I had for breakfast Saturday morning at the NCW Retreat at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch. I never fix pancakes at home, and I rarely go out for breakfast, so this was a wonderful treat.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Using The Little Rules of Action from Zenhabits
I follow a blog called Zenhabits. I've recommended it before and want to send it your way again. A recent post seemed especially appropriate for writers. It's called The Little Rules of Action.
There are a lot of things I like about this post. It's simple. It's direct. It's true. I'm not going to summarize or analyze The Little Rules of Action here. Leo Babauta does it exceptionally well without my interpretation.
In the last couple of months, I've been trying to change my own habits in similar ways. Here's how I've attempted to decrease my distractions and increase my writing time:
1. Multi-tasking is out and focused serial-tasking is in. I pick a priority task, focus on that task, finish the task. I work on one thing at a time.
2. Every blog post I read does not require a comment. As a result, I read more blog posts now. I still register as a unique visitor on the blog's stats, so the blogger benefits when I stop by. I'm more inclined to comment on a good post with no or few comments than I am at a post that already has ten or more.
3. Too many lists, Yahoo! Groups, and newsletters eat valuable time. I gained almost two hours a day of writing time by stuffing those e-letters and e-mail digests into folders (in case I want to read them later). I suspect one day I'll delete the contents of those folders unread and may even unsubscribe from the lists. I haven't missed them.
4. I try to consolidate my errands and appointments so I don't have to go out in the car every day. I figure that every time I leave the house it costs me at least an hour of writing time.
5. Practiced relaxation has made it easier for me to write (and to sleep). If I concentrate on relaxing and dropping my shoulders, I find my whole body relaxes. When I'm relaxed, everything I do seems easier.
6. When I sit down to write a blog post or work on my novel, I just write. Revision and self-editing comes later.
Have you been distracted lately? Overwhelmed by the number of tasks on your To-Do List? Can't seem to stop editing as you write? Read The Little Rules of Action and see if there's a way you can apply some of these simple steps to your own writing life.
There are a lot of things I like about this post. It's simple. It's direct. It's true. I'm not going to summarize or analyze The Little Rules of Action here. Leo Babauta does it exceptionally well without my interpretation.
In the last couple of months, I've been trying to change my own habits in similar ways. Here's how I've attempted to decrease my distractions and increase my writing time:
1. Multi-tasking is out and focused serial-tasking is in. I pick a priority task, focus on that task, finish the task. I work on one thing at a time.
2. Every blog post I read does not require a comment. As a result, I read more blog posts now. I still register as a unique visitor on the blog's stats, so the blogger benefits when I stop by. I'm more inclined to comment on a good post with no or few comments than I am at a post that already has ten or more.
3. Too many lists, Yahoo! Groups, and newsletters eat valuable time. I gained almost two hours a day of writing time by stuffing those e-letters and e-mail digests into folders (in case I want to read them later). I suspect one day I'll delete the contents of those folders unread and may even unsubscribe from the lists. I haven't missed them.
4. I try to consolidate my errands and appointments so I don't have to go out in the car every day. I figure that every time I leave the house it costs me at least an hour of writing time.
5. Practiced relaxation has made it easier for me to write (and to sleep). If I concentrate on relaxing and dropping my shoulders, I find my whole body relaxes. When I'm relaxed, everything I do seems easier.
6. When I sit down to write a blog post or work on my novel, I just write. Revision and self-editing comes later.
Have you been distracted lately? Overwhelmed by the number of tasks on your To-Do List? Can't seem to stop editing as you write? Read The Little Rules of Action and see if there's a way you can apply some of these simple steps to your own writing life.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The NCW Writers' Retreat: What Did I Accomplish?
When describing the Northern Colorado Writers' retreat at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch and the opportunities it offered, I offered the following possibilities:1. I would have a maximum of twenty hours of writing/editing/revision time available, provided I skipped the Saturday night movie and didn't wander away from my work space during quiet writing times.
2. Knowing I churned out 13,000 words at last year's retreat, I hoped to add 15,000 words to my current WIP during the weekend.
My actual work time and word count came up short of those goals.1. I documented my work time and found I'd done actual writing/revising a total of twelve hours and fifteen minutes. I spent an additional two hours reading over my hard copy of earlier chapters to check for inconsistencies and making notes on the pages.
More than two hours of potential working time was used to watch the movie (yes, I watched the whole movie -- Finding Forrester). The rest was used to walk outside, take pictures, work around the kitchen doing dishes or snacking, sleep, or just stare out the window, deep in thought.
2. The total number of words added to my manuscript was 7,101.
That's less than half of what I had hoped for. I am consoled by the fact that my novel took a couple of very interesting twists and turns I did not expect. I spent some of my twelve hours staring at my laptop, deep in thought, wondering what in heck my characters should do next. Whether typing or thinking, it was productive working time, in total silence, no interruptions.With a renewed interest in my story, I was back to work yesterday, adding the next two scenes. With luck, the retreat was just the push I needed to get this first draft finished. My longer term goal is to have revisions and editing done in time to pitch the novel at the Northern Colorado Writers Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the end of March.
The snow began Saturday evening and continued overnight, so we had plenty of photo opportunities as we walked to the lodge dining room for breakfast. Really, would you hide in that corner and write when you could walk through this scenery on your way to a hearty ranch breakfast that someone else fixed for you? I didn't think so.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Colorado Author -- Robert Greer
Note: Stop by tomorrow if you want to see my numbers on hours of writing time accomplished and word count added to my novel during the weekend retreat. I'll also post a few photos to give you an idea where we were, where I worked, and how it all looked before and after the snowfall.
Colorado Author -- Robert Greer
Today's author has written seven novels in the CJ Floyd mystery series, a couple of medical thrillers, and his latest release, a standalone contemporary western novel called Spoon.
Robert Greer is a professor of several medical specialties, has a masters degree in creative writing, writes textbooks as well as fiction, and he raises cattle. You can't get much more versatile than that.
Released in October 2009, "Spoon tells the story of Arcus Witherspoon, a mysterious half-black, half-Indian, oddly clairvoyant man searching the West for his roots. Hitchhiking near Hardin, Montana, Spoon falls in with a ranching family struggling to keep their ranch afloat amidst the pressures of hard economic times and an encroaching coal company."
The first book in the CJ Floyd series is The Devil's Hatband and the most recent is Blackbird, Farewell. At the beginning of the series, Greer's main character is "a Cheroot smoking African-American bail bondsman . . . a man who plays the odds whether chasing down bond skippers, keeping a thumb on Denver's gang-banging vermin, or working on the occasional bounty hunting case that comes his way. Dressed in a Stetson, cowboy boots and a black leather gambler's vest, CJ, a Vietnam veteran, helps keep his 'home front' community of Five Points together and its denizens on the straight and narrow."
I understand Floyd changes careers later in the series, but I haven't read that far yet. I read and enjoyed the third book in the series, The Devil's Backbone, partly because it had been recommended by a friend and partly because I had hiked a trail near the Devil's Backbone located just west of Loveland, Colorado. I'm now looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
Synopsis quotes are from Greer's website. More information on all of Greer's books can be found at his website.
Colorado Author -- Robert Greer
Today's author has written seven novels in the CJ Floyd mystery series, a couple of medical thrillers, and his latest release, a standalone contemporary western novel called Spoon.Robert Greer is a professor of several medical specialties, has a masters degree in creative writing, writes textbooks as well as fiction, and he raises cattle. You can't get much more versatile than that.
Released in October 2009, "Spoon tells the story of Arcus Witherspoon, a mysterious half-black, half-Indian, oddly clairvoyant man searching the West for his roots. Hitchhiking near Hardin, Montana, Spoon falls in with a ranching family struggling to keep their ranch afloat amidst the pressures of hard economic times and an encroaching coal company."
The first book in the CJ Floyd series is The Devil's Hatband and the most recent is Blackbird, Farewell. At the beginning of the series, Greer's main character is "a Cheroot smoking African-American bail bondsman . . . a man who plays the odds whether chasing down bond skippers, keeping a thumb on Denver's gang-banging vermin, or working on the occasional bounty hunting case that comes his way. Dressed in a Stetson, cowboy boots and a black leather gambler's vest, CJ, a Vietnam veteran, helps keep his 'home front' community of Five Points together and its denizens on the straight and narrow."I understand Floyd changes careers later in the series, but I haven't read that far yet. I read and enjoyed the third book in the series, The Devil's Backbone, partly because it had been recommended by a friend and partly because I had hiked a trail near the Devil's Backbone located just west of Loveland, Colorado. I'm now looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
Synopsis quotes are from Greer's website. More information on all of Greer's books can be found at his website.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Retreat Ends
Writing, writing, breakfast in the Antique Dining Room, writing, writing, writing, check out at eleven.
Wooee, baby! Let's hope I'll be reporting some good word counts when I finally get online this afternoon.
Wooee, baby! Let's hope I'll be reporting some good word counts when I finally get online this afternoon.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Shhhh...Writers At Work
It's Saturday. I'll be writing almost all day today. I created this post Thursday night because I'll be offline until Sunday evening. I'll be catching up on e-mail and blogs next week. Enjoy your weekend.
Friday, November 13, 2009
At the Weekend Writers' Retreat
This afternoon I'll check in for the Northern Colorado Writers' Retreat at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch near Loveland, Colorado. There are only six of us (all female) attending this year, so instead of rooming in the big Wagon Wheel Bunkhouse facility, we'll be sharing two cabins. Each of us has our own room for sleeping and writing, however, so we should be very productive. We'll have some meals in the main lodge and some in our own cabins. Since we have kitchens in each cabin and a common area, we can indulge our coffee and tea habits whenever we wish, make a sandwich or popcorn, and enjoy the social times built into our schedule.
NCW director Kerrie Flanagan created this great organization by starting with a writers' conference, adding the organization with classes and a newsletter, then establishing the writers' studio with classroom space as well as a library and quiet room for writing. Now we have the retreat, she's expanding the blog (The-Writing-Bug) to include guest posts, and there will soon be a subscription newsletter for writers that will include articles from a variety of talented professionals, not just NCW members.
On top of everything else, the NCW studio also hosts the work of local artists. After a reception at the studio, the artist's work is displayed for two months before the next show is announced. At the moment, the wonderful paintings of fifteen-year old Chloe Abbott-Phillips provide inspiration to the writers who work and study in those rooms.
Don't you writers wish you had a Kerrie Flanagan in your town?
But back to the retreat. As I look at the schedule, I see there are twelve definite hours scheduled for quiet writing time. One can skip the Saturday night movie and add two more hours, get up earlier on Saturday and Sunday and add two more, and write late in the evening to increase the total writing time another two to four hours. I could squeeze a good twenty hours of writing time out of this weekend. Doesn't that sound like writer heaven?
My goal is to add at least 15,000 words to my novel this weekend. I'll let you know next week how that worked out.
NCW director Kerrie Flanagan created this great organization by starting with a writers' conference, adding the organization with classes and a newsletter, then establishing the writers' studio with classroom space as well as a library and quiet room for writing. Now we have the retreat, she's expanding the blog (The-Writing-Bug) to include guest posts, and there will soon be a subscription newsletter for writers that will include articles from a variety of talented professionals, not just NCW members.
On top of everything else, the NCW studio also hosts the work of local artists. After a reception at the studio, the artist's work is displayed for two months before the next show is announced. At the moment, the wonderful paintings of fifteen-year old Chloe Abbott-Phillips provide inspiration to the writers who work and study in those rooms.
Don't you writers wish you had a Kerrie Flanagan in your town?
But back to the retreat. As I look at the schedule, I see there are twelve definite hours scheduled for quiet writing time. One can skip the Saturday night movie and add two more hours, get up earlier on Saturday and Sunday and add two more, and write late in the evening to increase the total writing time another two to four hours. I could squeeze a good twenty hours of writing time out of this weekend. Doesn't that sound like writer heaven?
My goal is to add at least 15,000 words to my novel this weekend. I'll let you know next week how that worked out.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Mix and Match
What I'm Reading:
Same as last week. I hated to leave Matt Hilton's Dead Men's Dust at home but it's a hardcover and we were traveling light. Can't wait to get back to it. Have also not finished the two non-fiction books on writing. I suspect I won't finish any of these books until next week because I'll be at a writing retreat Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon (more about that tomorrow), and I also have a critique to do for my writer's group Monday evening.
Note to self and to blog/Twitter/Facebook/e-mail friends: The retreat is only for working on the novel. I will not, repeat not, be online between Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon.
What I'm Thinking About:
Getting this post finished so I can go to bed. Tomorrow is another travel day and we need to get up very early. And I don't go anywhere until I've had my coffee.
This Week's Quote:
A Recommended Blog:
mnmlist.com A blog about minimalism
I enjoyed the post called: Learn to love less
The Best Thing I Had to Eat This Week:
My daughter makes a simmered mixture of chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and maybe some ingredients I don't remember at the moment (Herbes de Provence?) and then serves it over pasta (or sometimes rice). Delicious topped with fresh shaved Parmesan.
Same as last week. I hated to leave Matt Hilton's Dead Men's Dust at home but it's a hardcover and we were traveling light. Can't wait to get back to it. Have also not finished the two non-fiction books on writing. I suspect I won't finish any of these books until next week because I'll be at a writing retreat Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon (more about that tomorrow), and I also have a critique to do for my writer's group Monday evening.
Note to self and to blog/Twitter/Facebook/e-mail friends: The retreat is only for working on the novel. I will not, repeat not, be online between Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon.
What I'm Thinking About:
Getting this post finished so I can go to bed. Tomorrow is another travel day and we need to get up very early. And I don't go anywhere until I've had my coffee.
This Week's Quote:
"The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business."
-------------------John Steinbeck (from brainyquotes.com)
A Recommended Blog:
mnmlist.com A blog about minimalism
I enjoyed the post called: Learn to love less
The Best Thing I Had to Eat This Week:
My daughter makes a simmered mixture of chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and maybe some ingredients I don't remember at the moment (Herbes de Provence?) and then serves it over pasta (or sometimes rice). Delicious topped with fresh shaved Parmesan.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Looking At Ordinary Things In A Different Way
I had the best afternoon imaginable yesterday. I did nothing except play with my six-month-old granddaughter and tag along on a long stroll around a small lake called Jamaica Pond with my hubby and our daughter and baby Talia. Hubby (now known as Grandpa) was all strapped up with the baby carrier. He held up pretty well for an old guy.
Small children have a way of making us look at common things in a new way. Talia, for instance, is fascinated by anything electronic. The television must stay off most of the time because she won't take her eyes off the screen when it's on. The laptop computer enthralls her the same way, and she thinks it's loads of fun to lunge for the keyboard and make exciting things happen. And if she gets close enough, she tries to taste it.
A tall pile of magazines is a temptation not to be ignored. The stack must be toppled...and tasted. She even had to taste my sweater when I held her in my lap.
So today I'm looking at the television screen, and the computer, a stack of magazines, even my sweater, and wondering what Talia sees that I don't see. Color? Movement? Texture? Or is everything just a potential teething ring? After all, we did catch her chewing on the coffee table.
There's a lesson here, of course. As writers we need to stay alert to our surroundings, do things that make us see everyday items in a new way. We tend to take the same route to the grocery store, order the same meal at a frequently visited restaurant, wear the same clothes on Sunday, follow an orderly routine first thing in the morning, or before going to bed.
What happens if we change it up a bit? Take the long way around when we drive to the store and pay attention to what we see along the way? Go to that favorite restaurant, but order something we've never ordered before and savor every bite?
Forcing ourselves to look at ordinary things in new ways can help us write better descriptions. What do you see when you look at your laptop? What do you think Talia sees when she's staring at the television? And have you tasted a sweater lately? Or a book?
Small children have a way of making us look at common things in a new way. Talia, for instance, is fascinated by anything electronic. The television must stay off most of the time because she won't take her eyes off the screen when it's on. The laptop computer enthralls her the same way, and she thinks it's loads of fun to lunge for the keyboard and make exciting things happen. And if she gets close enough, she tries to taste it.
A tall pile of magazines is a temptation not to be ignored. The stack must be toppled...and tasted. She even had to taste my sweater when I held her in my lap.
So today I'm looking at the television screen, and the computer, a stack of magazines, even my sweater, and wondering what Talia sees that I don't see. Color? Movement? Texture? Or is everything just a potential teething ring? After all, we did catch her chewing on the coffee table.
There's a lesson here, of course. As writers we need to stay alert to our surroundings, do things that make us see everyday items in a new way. We tend to take the same route to the grocery store, order the same meal at a frequently visited restaurant, wear the same clothes on Sunday, follow an orderly routine first thing in the morning, or before going to bed.
What happens if we change it up a bit? Take the long way around when we drive to the store and pay attention to what we see along the way? Go to that favorite restaurant, but order something we've never ordered before and savor every bite?
Forcing ourselves to look at ordinary things in new ways can help us write better descriptions. What do you see when you look at your laptop? What do you think Talia sees when she's staring at the television? And have you tasted a sweater lately? Or a book?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Old "I Was Traveling" Excuse
Hubby and I traveled Monday. Even though I travel fairly often, I still find it tedious and draining. Could be my age, I guess. As I get older, I find I'm more and more attached to my own bed, my own cozy reading chair, my own writing space.
When we planned this trip, I had high hopes of pulling my laptop out on the flight and working on my book. Instead, I slept almost all the way from Denver to Boston. On an early afternoon flight, no less.
I had more plans to write after we checked into the hotel last night. But there I was, wined and dined and ready to crash at 8:00 PM Colorado time. I sat at the desk to work on this post, but the desk was too high and my arms hurt and I kept yawning.
Tomorrow's post may be more energetic. No promises, though. We have kids (grown up ones) to visit and a six-month old granddaughter to enjoy. There are definitely some different priorities for the next two days.
When we planned this trip, I had high hopes of pulling my laptop out on the flight and working on my book. Instead, I slept almost all the way from Denver to Boston. On an early afternoon flight, no less.
I had more plans to write after we checked into the hotel last night. But there I was, wined and dined and ready to crash at 8:00 PM Colorado time. I sat at the desk to work on this post, but the desk was too high and my arms hurt and I kept yawning.
Tomorrow's post may be more energetic. No promises, though. We have kids (grown up ones) to visit and a six-month old granddaughter to enjoy. There are definitely some different priorities for the next two days.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Colorado Author -- Megan DiMaria
I met Megan DiMaria at Barnes & Noble Centerra in Loveland, Colorado. It was October 24th, the same day I signed with a group of mystery writers. Megan had been scheduled for the hours just prior to our appearance.
When we heard the announcements, and realized there was another author in the store, we hurried up to meet her before she could get away. As I heard about her books and listened to her pitch, I realized Megan was writing in a genre that I haven't covered much on this blog: Christian fiction. I am pleased to introduce her work to my readers, but must caution you mystery and thriller writers that you won't find any dead bodies, killers, or sleuths in Megan's work.
Suspense, on the other hand, is as necessary to a good romantic or general fiction novel as it is any other genre. The synopses for Megan's stories demonstrate that writing fact.
Searching for Spice (synopsis from barnesandnoble.com):
"Linda Revere longs to have a sizzling affair . . . with her husband, a practical, no-nonsense community college science teacher. Unfortunately, life isn't scripted, and nothing goes according to plan. From having a demanding boss, and at times a frustrating job, to helping her family and friends with their troubles, life seems to be preventing Linda from achieving her goal of an exciting and passionate marriage. Linda hopes God will answer her prayers to jazz up her marriage, but is she ready for what happens next?"
Out of Her Hands (synopsis from barnesandnoble.com:
"In this second novel, Linda Revere is back and continuing to struggle with the turmoil of contemporary life. Linda has been praying for her children's future spouses since they were very small. Confident that her prayers will be answered, Linda is not prepared for the young woman her son brings home. But Linda soon learns that while everything she once controlled is out of her hands, God is still in control. Megan uses her trademark humor while dealing with issues to which her readers will relate."
Megan is available for book club appearances. You may also visit her at her blog, A Prisoner of Hope.
When we heard the announcements, and realized there was another author in the store, we hurried up to meet her before she could get away. As I heard about her books and listened to her pitch, I realized Megan was writing in a genre that I haven't covered much on this blog: Christian fiction. I am pleased to introduce her work to my readers, but must caution you mystery and thriller writers that you won't find any dead bodies, killers, or sleuths in Megan's work.
Suspense, on the other hand, is as necessary to a good romantic or general fiction novel as it is any other genre. The synopses for Megan's stories demonstrate that writing fact.
Searching for Spice (synopsis from barnesandnoble.com):"Linda Revere longs to have a sizzling affair . . . with her husband, a practical, no-nonsense community college science teacher. Unfortunately, life isn't scripted, and nothing goes according to plan. From having a demanding boss, and at times a frustrating job, to helping her family and friends with their troubles, life seems to be preventing Linda from achieving her goal of an exciting and passionate marriage. Linda hopes God will answer her prayers to jazz up her marriage, but is she ready for what happens next?"
Out of Her Hands (synopsis from barnesandnoble.com:"In this second novel, Linda Revere is back and continuing to struggle with the turmoil of contemporary life. Linda has been praying for her children's future spouses since they were very small. Confident that her prayers will be answered, Linda is not prepared for the young woman her son brings home. But Linda soon learns that while everything she once controlled is out of her hands, God is still in control. Megan uses her trademark humor while dealing with issues to which her readers will relate."
Megan is available for book club appearances. You may also visit her at her blog, A Prisoner of Hope.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Book Signing at Old Firehouse Books
Don't Cricket McRae and I look as though we're having fun? Thanks to the great staff at Old Firehouse Books in Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado, that's exactly what we did yesterday from noon to three. We talked to dozens of readers, passed out bookmarks and shared our tray of sweet treats from Fiona's Deli and Cricket's delicious homemade chocolate molasses oatmeal cookies, sold a few books, signed more to leave on the shelves, and had a great time.
I have a side story to tell. In various places around Fort Collins there are rearing horse statues, with another one coming soon to a corner near our excellent Senior Center. I'd been looking for the horses that are on public view, so imagine my surprise when I walked right into one yesterday.
With the signing scheduled for noon, I had packed up my signing supplies and the tray of goodies and headed for Old Firehouse Books. After toting my things inside the store, I moved my car to one of the Old Town parking garages and walked the two and a half blocks back, taking a short cut through Old Town Plaza.
There I happened across one of the rearing horse statues I've been looking for. Being one who is easily distracted, I stopped, pulled out my camera, and took a few pictures.
This one is a lot more attractive and a lot less intimidating than the bright blue devil horse that guards the Denver International Airport grounds. That scary creature has bright red eyes and probably gives kids nightmares.
I took a few photos and hurried on to Old Firehouse Books.
One of the toughest things about book signings in bookstores is that most writers are also heavy readers. The desire to browse and buy can be overpowering. The bad news for Cricket was that our table faced the cookbook shelves, and she loves cookbooks.
The good news for me was that thrillers and mysteries were toward the back of the store. Out of sight, out of mind. I did wander a bit, however, and wouldn't you know it, I found a book about Twitter. I bought it to donate to the Northern Colorado Writers Library (as soon as I finish reading it, of course).
For you Colorado authors (and out-of-state authors visiting Northern Colorado), remember Old Firehouse Books when you set up your signing schedule. You'll love 'em.
I have a side story to tell. In various places around Fort Collins there are rearing horse statues, with another one coming soon to a corner near our excellent Senior Center. I'd been looking for the horses that are on public view, so imagine my surprise when I walked right into one yesterday.
With the signing scheduled for noon, I had packed up my signing supplies and the tray of goodies and headed for Old Firehouse Books. After toting my things inside the store, I moved my car to one of the Old Town parking garages and walked the two and a half blocks back, taking a short cut through Old Town Plaza.There I happened across one of the rearing horse statues I've been looking for. Being one who is easily distracted, I stopped, pulled out my camera, and took a few pictures.
This one is a lot more attractive and a lot less intimidating than the bright blue devil horse that guards the Denver International Airport grounds. That scary creature has bright red eyes and probably gives kids nightmares.
I took a few photos and hurried on to Old Firehouse Books.
One of the toughest things about book signings in bookstores is that most writers are also heavy readers. The desire to browse and buy can be overpowering. The bad news for Cricket was that our table faced the cookbook shelves, and she loves cookbooks.
The good news for me was that thrillers and mysteries were toward the back of the store. Out of sight, out of mind. I did wander a bit, however, and wouldn't you know it, I found a book about Twitter. I bought it to donate to the Northern Colorado Writers Library (as soon as I finish reading it, of course).
For you Colorado authors (and out-of-state authors visiting Northern Colorado), remember Old Firehouse Books when you set up your signing schedule. You'll love 'em.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Book Signing at Old Firehouse Books
I'm signing books at noon today with mystery author Cricket McRae at Old Firehouse Books in Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado. If you're in the neighborhood, please drop by. We'll have a big tray of those delicious mini-treats from Fiona's Deli (lemon bars, brownies, etc.). And, of course, my usual bowl of chocolate treats, including Hershey's Kisses.
Copies of The Prairie Grass Murders will be available for sale along with my new release, The Desert Hedge Murders.
Cricket's home crafting mystery series includes: Lye in Wait, Heaven Preserve Us, and Spin a Wicked Web.
We hope to see you there.
Copies of The Prairie Grass Murders will be available for sale along with my new release, The Desert Hedge Murders.
Cricket's home crafting mystery series includes: Lye in Wait, Heaven Preserve Us, and Spin a Wicked Web.
We hope to see you there.
Friday, November 6, 2009
How I'm Now Keeping Twitter Time Under Control
I have author friends who still won't explore Twitter world because they're convinced the social site will be a time suck and will not provide a direct benefit such as drastically increased blog traffic or book sales. I don't blame them a bit. Twitter can be addictive. It takes a long time to build the relationships that lead to more blog traffic. And book sales? Maybe, maybe not.
My original reason for exploring Twitter was to increase traffic to my blog, and also to The Blood-Red Pencil blog where I am a contributor. I also use Twitter to promote classes and workshops for Northern Colorado Writers, book signings, and books I've read and wish to recommend.
At the beginning, I spent way too much time reading tweets (messages posted by the people I follow) and searching for more people to follow. It takes time to learn the process and figure out how to efficiently use this tool while also making one-on-one contacts. It also takes time to learn who you can trust (and you shouldn't click on links until you're very sure).
Once I was past that newbie phase, I found these self-imposed rules make Twitter fun to use without taking up too much time:
1. I change my password from time to time. I don't want to lose a lot of time fixing things if my account is hacked.
2. I don't tweet the link to every blog post. I pick the ones I think will appeal most to my target audience, two or three times a week, and tweet that link one to three times during the day.
3. I check to see who has recently included my Twitter ID in a tweet (by clicking on my ID in the sidebar). I acknowledge these with a reply when appropriate.
4. Then I quickly scan three or four pages of recent tweets. If I see a comment or question of interest, I reply. If I have something to say or ask, I'll post a note on that subject.
5. I try to hold myself to ten or fifteen minutes per session.
Like Facebook and other social media sites, Twitter will eat up as much time as you allow. You need to invest a lot of time at the beginning, perhaps the first three months. After that, it's up to you. Are you strong enough to set time limits? Powerful enough to resist the fun extras and stick to the plan? If so, try it out.
My original reason for exploring Twitter was to increase traffic to my blog, and also to The Blood-Red Pencil blog where I am a contributor. I also use Twitter to promote classes and workshops for Northern Colorado Writers, book signings, and books I've read and wish to recommend.
At the beginning, I spent way too much time reading tweets (messages posted by the people I follow) and searching for more people to follow. It takes time to learn the process and figure out how to efficiently use this tool while also making one-on-one contacts. It also takes time to learn who you can trust (and you shouldn't click on links until you're very sure).
Once I was past that newbie phase, I found these self-imposed rules make Twitter fun to use without taking up too much time:
1. I change my password from time to time. I don't want to lose a lot of time fixing things if my account is hacked.
2. I don't tweet the link to every blog post. I pick the ones I think will appeal most to my target audience, two or three times a week, and tweet that link one to three times during the day.
3. I check to see who has recently included my Twitter ID in a tweet (by clicking on my ID in the sidebar). I acknowledge these with a reply when appropriate.
4. Then I quickly scan three or four pages of recent tweets. If I see a comment or question of interest, I reply. If I have something to say or ask, I'll post a note on that subject.
5. I try to hold myself to ten or fifteen minutes per session.
Like Facebook and other social media sites, Twitter will eat up as much time as you allow. You need to invest a lot of time at the beginning, perhaps the first three months. After that, it's up to you. Are you strong enough to set time limits? Powerful enough to resist the fun extras and stick to the plan? If so, try it out.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Mix and Match
I haven't done the Mix and Match for a while, so here goes:
What I'm Reading:
In fiction, I just finished Free Agent by Jeremy Duns, a classic spy story by a debut novelist. I liked it a lot and am looking forward to the next book in the series which is scheduled for 2010.
Now I'm reading Dead Men's Dust by Matt Hilton, How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries by Lynn Emerson (which won the Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction of 2008), and Writing for the Web 3.0 by Crawford Kilian.
What I'm Thinking About:
How I wish each person who reads this blog today would enter a request to your library to order a copy of The Desert Hedge Murders, ISBN 978-1-59414-785-2. And if it's not too much trouble, would you ask one or more of your friends who live in different cities to do the same?
This Week's Quote:
A Recommended Blog:
Hey, There's a Dead Guy in the Living Room.: Mystery Publishing from Idea to Bookshelf.
Regular contributors are: Jeffrey Cohen, Barbara Poelle, Lynne Patrick, PJ Nunn, Alison Janssen, Robin Agnew, and Kim Malo. My editor, Denise Dietz is listed as designated contributor, and her husband, author and editor Gordon Aalborg, as guest contributor.
The Best Thing I Had to Eat This Week:
A big juicy beef and buffalo burger with extra sharp cheddar cheese. I also cut up two large white potatoes into chunks, coated them with a bit of olive oil, and baked them on a cookie sheet at 425 degrees. They brown quickly, so turn them once during baking. Better, healthier, and easier than french fries.
What I'm Reading:
In fiction, I just finished Free Agent by Jeremy Duns, a classic spy story by a debut novelist. I liked it a lot and am looking forward to the next book in the series which is scheduled for 2010.
Now I'm reading Dead Men's Dust by Matt Hilton, How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries by Lynn Emerson (which won the Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction of 2008), and Writing for the Web 3.0 by Crawford Kilian.
What I'm Thinking About:
How I wish each person who reads this blog today would enter a request to your library to order a copy of The Desert Hedge Murders, ISBN 978-1-59414-785-2. And if it's not too much trouble, would you ask one or more of your friends who live in different cities to do the same?
This Week's Quote:
"There are differences in culture, in law, in language, but at their most basic level, civilizations share one undeniable truth: the scream of a victim sounds the same the world over."
---------------Matt Hilton, Dead Men's Dust
A Recommended Blog:
Hey, There's a Dead Guy in the Living Room.: Mystery Publishing from Idea to Bookshelf.
Regular contributors are: Jeffrey Cohen, Barbara Poelle, Lynne Patrick, PJ Nunn, Alison Janssen, Robin Agnew, and Kim Malo. My editor, Denise Dietz is listed as designated contributor, and her husband, author and editor Gordon Aalborg, as guest contributor.
The Best Thing I Had to Eat This Week:
A big juicy beef and buffalo burger with extra sharp cheddar cheese. I also cut up two large white potatoes into chunks, coated them with a bit of olive oil, and baked them on a cookie sheet at 425 degrees. They brown quickly, so turn them once during baking. Better, healthier, and easier than french fries.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
An Unexpected Surprise from Colorado Country Life Magazine
First I received an e-mail from a friend, telling me my first Sylvia and Willie mystery, The Prairie Grass Murders, was one of the mysteries featured in an article in the newest Colorado Country Life magazine, a publication of the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association.
That evening, a member of my critique group handed me a copy to see for myself. Not only was my book featured in the article, but the magazine's cover photo featured a bookshelf full of mysteries as the background, including mine.
The article is called Mad for Mysteries and was written by Julie Simmons. In a case like this, I like to check amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com to see if my sales ranks received a bump. I wasn't too hopeful in this case, because The Prairie Grass Murders hardcover has been remaindered and is no longer available new from booksellers. But here's the surprise: the sales rank on amazon.com includes sales of new and used books from the associate booksellers. My sales rank of The Prairie Grass Murders had jumped to about 80,000 (and that's a great number considering where it's been lately). Luckily, I still have new copies of the book to sell at my upcoming local booksignings.
This piece of accidental exposure points out something we often miss as we look for ways to promote our books. There are many publications across the country like Colorado Country Life that do book reviews, like to feature articles on local authors or books set in the region, or would be willing to publish your article on a subject of interest to their readers and include your own book, website, and blog information in your bio. Some listings might be in Writer's Market, others available through internet searches. It's an opportunity we can't afford to pass up.
That evening, a member of my critique group handed me a copy to see for myself. Not only was my book featured in the article, but the magazine's cover photo featured a bookshelf full of mysteries as the background, including mine.
The article is called Mad for Mysteries and was written by Julie Simmons. In a case like this, I like to check amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com to see if my sales ranks received a bump. I wasn't too hopeful in this case, because The Prairie Grass Murders hardcover has been remaindered and is no longer available new from booksellers. But here's the surprise: the sales rank on amazon.com includes sales of new and used books from the associate booksellers. My sales rank of The Prairie Grass Murders had jumped to about 80,000 (and that's a great number considering where it's been lately). Luckily, I still have new copies of the book to sell at my upcoming local booksignings.
This piece of accidental exposure points out something we often miss as we look for ways to promote our books. There are many publications across the country like Colorado Country Life that do book reviews, like to feature articles on local authors or books set in the region, or would be willing to publish your article on a subject of interest to their readers and include your own book, website, and blog information in your bio. Some listings might be in Writer's Market, others available through internet searches. It's an opportunity we can't afford to pass up.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Story Jumps Boundaries, Characters Are Out of Control
Lynnette's story began as a simple novel of suspense. The first outline had only one chapter that was not in Lynnette's point of view. Then one of the bad guys grew bigger than the part I had given him, so I wrote some chapters from his point of view. He was only a minor bad guy, so it became necessary to give the major bad guy a bigger part in the story. Scenes from his point of view clarified the plot. I now had the outline of a multiple point of view novel written in 3rd person past tense. It was looking good.
That single original non-Lynnette point of view chapter that I mentioned in the second sentence, however, created the need for a sub-plot taking place half a country away from Lynnette's location. Yep, I needed scenes from the cops' point of view. There was a good cop, and her partner, and the detective with a nasty attitude. I reined this team in, thank goodness, and let the good female cop keep all the police action. It was hard pushing the bossy detective around, but the good female cop helped me out on that.
While I had my back turned, concentrating on the cops, my first minor bad guy dropped dead. What? I didn't plan for that to happen. I loved writing scenes while pretending to be this guy--using foul language and acting like a slimeball. It was great. How could my story move forward without this guy?
Okay, I obviously had to bring another minor bad guy into the mix. He, unfortunately, showed up with a sub-plot of his own. Holy crap, I thought. Where did this guy come from and why is he messing with my plot?
I sat back today and listened to my characters fight about their roles in my (their?) novel and whether I even know what I'm doing with a story this big. They seem to want control. They want this book to be less of a suspense novel and more of a thriller, and they have some great ideas how to make it work.
Isn't this writing gig weird?
That single original non-Lynnette point of view chapter that I mentioned in the second sentence, however, created the need for a sub-plot taking place half a country away from Lynnette's location. Yep, I needed scenes from the cops' point of view. There was a good cop, and her partner, and the detective with a nasty attitude. I reined this team in, thank goodness, and let the good female cop keep all the police action. It was hard pushing the bossy detective around, but the good female cop helped me out on that.
While I had my back turned, concentrating on the cops, my first minor bad guy dropped dead. What? I didn't plan for that to happen. I loved writing scenes while pretending to be this guy--using foul language and acting like a slimeball. It was great. How could my story move forward without this guy?
Okay, I obviously had to bring another minor bad guy into the mix. He, unfortunately, showed up with a sub-plot of his own. Holy crap, I thought. Where did this guy come from and why is he messing with my plot?
I sat back today and listened to my characters fight about their roles in my (their?) novel and whether I even know what I'm doing with a story this big. They seem to want control. They want this book to be less of a suspense novel and more of a thriller, and they have some great ideas how to make it work.
Isn't this writing gig weird?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Colorado Author New Releases
I have three new releases to report from Colorado authors:
TERESA FUNKE
Teresa Funke's 3rd book in the Home-Front Hero Series, V for Victory, was released in October.
Product Description from amazon.com: "Based on a true story in the summer of 1943... Twelve-year-old Miguel Montoya feels left behind. Everyone else in his large family is "doing his part" during World War II. His brother is flying dangerous missions over enemy territory, and his sister and aunt are home-front volunteers. Miguel offers to take their places in the family grocery store, only to be told he's not old enough to do anything more than sweep floors and keep an eye on his bothersome little nephew, Victor. So when the Empire Theatre announces a scrap metal contest to help the war effort, Miguel decides to win! As he and his best friend, Gary, scour their San Antonio neighborhood for old scrap, they keep one eye on the military planes that fill the skies and one eye out for bullies threatening to steal their stash. When Miguel befriends a wounded soldier, though, the realities of war hit home. And on the fateful day when his family needs him most, it is Miguel who must do his part to save his nephew."
Teresa is also performing her new one-woman show at the Bas Bleu theater this week in Fort Collins, CO, starring the women of Dancing in Combat Boots, tales of women during World War II.
TOM PICCIRILLI
The October release from Tom Piccirilli is Shadow Season. This book is an adult mystery.
Synopsis from barnesandnoble.com: "An ex-cop, Finn was left literally blinded by violence. The one thing he can still see is the body of his wife, Dani, and a crime scene that won’t fade from his mind’s eye. Now a professor, Finn never would have guessed that an isolated girls’ prep school could be every bit as dangerous as city streets. Especially when he stumbles upon a local girl lying in a graveyard in the middle of a raging blizzard.
Finn may live in a world of total darkness, but it’s about to get a splash of red. The memories that torment him still have the power to kill, and a group of innocent students has been put in harm’s way by a pair of vicious criminals stalking Finn for unknown reasons. Secrets are creeping from the shadows around him—the kind that even a man with perfect vision never sees until it’s too late. They’re about to become terrifyingly clear to Finn—and it all begins with the scent of blood."
LAURA RESAU
The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau was released in October for the 10 and up age group.
From amazon.com: "Zeeta's life with her free-spirited mother, Layla, is anything but normal. Every year Layla picks another country she wants to live in. This summer they’re in Ecuador, and Zeeta is determined to convince her mother to settle down. Zeeta makes friends with vendors at the town market and begs them to think of upstanding, “normal” men to set up with Layla. There, Zeeta meets Wendell. She learns that he was born nearby, but adopted by an American family. His one wish is to find his birth parents, and Zeeta agrees to help him. But when Wendell’s biological father turns out to be involved in something very dangerous, Zeeta wonders whether she’ll ever get the chance to tell her mom how she really feels—or to enjoy her deepening feelings for Wendell."
Laura Reseau has two other books available which I highly recommend. I've read and given a signed copy of each to my grand-niece. The first is What the Moon Saw, and the second is Red Glass.
As we get closer and closer to the holiday shopping season, I would like to recommend giving books to your friends and relatives (especially the children) as gifts this year. I'll be listing lots more suggestions as the month goes on.
TERESA FUNKE
Teresa Funke's 3rd book in the Home-Front Hero Series, V for Victory, was released in October.
Product Description from amazon.com: "Based on a true story in the summer of 1943... Twelve-year-old Miguel Montoya feels left behind. Everyone else in his large family is "doing his part" during World War II. His brother is flying dangerous missions over enemy territory, and his sister and aunt are home-front volunteers. Miguel offers to take their places in the family grocery store, only to be told he's not old enough to do anything more than sweep floors and keep an eye on his bothersome little nephew, Victor. So when the Empire Theatre announces a scrap metal contest to help the war effort, Miguel decides to win! As he and his best friend, Gary, scour their San Antonio neighborhood for old scrap, they keep one eye on the military planes that fill the skies and one eye out for bullies threatening to steal their stash. When Miguel befriends a wounded soldier, though, the realities of war hit home. And on the fateful day when his family needs him most, it is Miguel who must do his part to save his nephew."Teresa is also performing her new one-woman show at the Bas Bleu theater this week in Fort Collins, CO, starring the women of Dancing in Combat Boots, tales of women during World War II.
TOM PICCIRILLI
The October release from Tom Piccirilli is Shadow Season. This book is an adult mystery.
Synopsis from barnesandnoble.com: "An ex-cop, Finn was left literally blinded by violence. The one thing he can still see is the body of his wife, Dani, and a crime scene that won’t fade from his mind’s eye. Now a professor, Finn never would have guessed that an isolated girls’ prep school could be every bit as dangerous as city streets. Especially when he stumbles upon a local girl lying in a graveyard in the middle of a raging blizzard.Finn may live in a world of total darkness, but it’s about to get a splash of red. The memories that torment him still have the power to kill, and a group of innocent students has been put in harm’s way by a pair of vicious criminals stalking Finn for unknown reasons. Secrets are creeping from the shadows around him—the kind that even a man with perfect vision never sees until it’s too late. They’re about to become terrifyingly clear to Finn—and it all begins with the scent of blood."
LAURA RESAU
The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau was released in October for the 10 and up age group.
From amazon.com: "Zeeta's life with her free-spirited mother, Layla, is anything but normal. Every year Layla picks another country she wants to live in. This summer they’re in Ecuador, and Zeeta is determined to convince her mother to settle down. Zeeta makes friends with vendors at the town market and begs them to think of upstanding, “normal” men to set up with Layla. There, Zeeta meets Wendell. She learns that he was born nearby, but adopted by an American family. His one wish is to find his birth parents, and Zeeta agrees to help him. But when Wendell’s biological father turns out to be involved in something very dangerous, Zeeta wonders whether she’ll ever get the chance to tell her mom how she really feels—or to enjoy her deepening feelings for Wendell."Laura Reseau has two other books available which I highly recommend. I've read and given a signed copy of each to my grand-niece. The first is What the Moon Saw, and the second is Red Glass.
As we get closer and closer to the holiday shopping season, I would like to recommend giving books to your friends and relatives (especially the children) as gifts this year. I'll be listing lots more suggestions as the month goes on.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Whatever Happened to Lars (Ringstveit) Twedt?
Lars Ringstveit was a Norwegian who came to the United States with two of his brothers when he was in his teens, sometime in the early 1900s. An older brother, Peter Ringstveit, had immigrated earlier and was already acquiring land and herding sheep in Montana. Peter helped his brothers by sending them money for travel, and he tried to help them find jobs in the U.S.
Although Peter had kept the Norwegian spelling of his full name, a new last name was assigned to Lars when he came through immigration, an Americanized shorter version: Twedt. He may have spelled the name Tvedt at some time during his life.
Although Peter never married, he did well with his sheep ranch and grew more successful over time. None of his brothers prospered in the U.S. One eventually went back to Norway, married, and lived out his life as a fisherman. Another had problems with alcohol and possibly mental illness and died in a nursing home.
Lars married in South Dakota and had two children, tried several business ventures, abandoned his first family, remarried and had two more sons and twin daughters, and finally abandoned that family as well. He served in two different branches of the United States Armed Services during two different wars. Over the years he also lived in Illinois and Nebraska, and probably other states as well.
Although Lars did try to reconnect with his first children later on in life, the effort was not successful. He eventually disappeared. It was not until Peter, the older brother, died that Lars's living children from his two families met. Peter had known about and visited all of the children at times. The half-brothers and sisters bonded almost immediately and became great friends. Lars was later declared dead in order to settle his affairs, but the family never learned when or where he died or where he is buried.
I would like to satisfy my curiousity about Lars Ringstveit Twedt, who was my maternal grandfather. My initial efforts to track him have not been successful. After the first of the year, I plan to subscribe to one or more of the genealogy research sites and do a little more digging.
Have you done any genealogy work on your own family tree? If so, what databases or resources did you find most useful?
Although Peter had kept the Norwegian spelling of his full name, a new last name was assigned to Lars when he came through immigration, an Americanized shorter version: Twedt. He may have spelled the name Tvedt at some time during his life.
Although Peter never married, he did well with his sheep ranch and grew more successful over time. None of his brothers prospered in the U.S. One eventually went back to Norway, married, and lived out his life as a fisherman. Another had problems with alcohol and possibly mental illness and died in a nursing home.
Lars married in South Dakota and had two children, tried several business ventures, abandoned his first family, remarried and had two more sons and twin daughters, and finally abandoned that family as well. He served in two different branches of the United States Armed Services during two different wars. Over the years he also lived in Illinois and Nebraska, and probably other states as well.
Although Lars did try to reconnect with his first children later on in life, the effort was not successful. He eventually disappeared. It was not until Peter, the older brother, died that Lars's living children from his two families met. Peter had known about and visited all of the children at times. The half-brothers and sisters bonded almost immediately and became great friends. Lars was later declared dead in order to settle his affairs, but the family never learned when or where he died or where he is buried.
I would like to satisfy my curiousity about Lars Ringstveit Twedt, who was my maternal grandfather. My initial efforts to track him have not been successful. After the first of the year, I plan to subscribe to one or more of the genealogy research sites and do a little more digging.
Have you done any genealogy work on your own family tree? If so, what databases or resources did you find most useful?
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