Writers Wanted!

Are you a writer? Would you like a few more people to find out about you and your books…for FREE? I’d love to interview you for my Wednesday Author Interview series. Just email me at mmeara@cfl.rr.com, and I’ll give you the full details. It’s easy and fun, and you might pick up a few more readers, too. And I have an opening tomorrow! Act fast and it could be YOURS.

Attention Writers!

Are you a writer? Would you like more exposure for your work? Would you like it to be FREE? Join me at The Write Stuff, and I’ll be happy to help. I’ll be glad to post news about your books, promos, sales, even excerpts of your work. The Write Stuff is a brand new (2 days old) blog focusing on writers and writing, and looking for folks interested in getting to know other writers for discussions, debates, tips, and support. Stop by today and click that follow button. And email me (or respond, either here or there) regarding how you can take part in what I hope will be a fast growing community. I can’t wait to meet you!

PS…NO CATCH. I just want to have a blog that benefits me and my fellow writers, especially new writers and indies, though certainly not limited to that. Come on by!

The Write Stuff

mmeara@cfl.rr.com

 

Paranormal vs Supernatural

 

Ever wonder what the difference is? I did some research, and quickly discovered there were lots of opinions out there, most dancing around the same basic distinctions (though some were quite different). I found the one that made the most sense to me, and suspect that’s what I’ll be using as my guidelines when I’m reviewing books in the future. The entire article at Knowledge Nuts can be found here. For purposes of this post, I’m going with their opening lines. Works for me.

“The terms “paranormal” and “supernatural” are often tossed around to mean the same thing—something we don’t understand. They’re actually two separate terms, though. “Paranormal” refers to something that’s not understood by current scientific knowledge; there’s the potential that something paranormal will someday be explained scientifically, and there’s a likelihood there’s a good, natural explanation for it. “Supernatural” refers to a phenomenon that is beyond our capability to understand, now and simply forever, because it just doesn’t operate under our rules.”

Question for You Writers Out There?

Just started working in Scrivener. Big learning curve, but I love it already. Also taking a course in tips and tricks, etc. Anyone using this program for writing novels? Would love to hear what you think of it. Have you mastered it? Do you love it?

I’m crazy about the concept of keeping all my research, photos, maps, URLs, etc, in the same location as my draft…in one program for easy access. I’m always trying to find the folder where I’ve stored something I need for the next chapter. I also love that you can easily import an entire book into the program, and you can convert your finished manuscript instantly into so many formats for publication.

Am looking forward to the whole program becoming second nature to me. I’m a geek at heart, so I hope to be comfortable with this in a matter of a few days. Fingers crossed. What do you think?

Wednesday’s Author Interview: Elise Abram

Today, our guest author is Elise Abram who writes what might be called “light science fiction,” and also has a newly released YA adult book available. Elise, welcome to Bookin’ It. So nice of you to join us today.
 
BI:. Tell us a bit about how you became a writer. When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career?
 
EA: Being a writer was never a choice for me; I’ve always felt compelled to write. Growing up, I told myself stories to keep myself occupied. Sometimes I wrote them down, but I never really liked how they sounded. I kept telling myself one day I’d write all my stories down and get them published, but I never did. The Internet changed all that, because I suddenly had access to content I couldn’t get before and I was able to teach myself how to write well. With practice, I got to the point where I actually liked what I was writing. Now I look back at my first stories and cringe, but I can also see my progress, which is really gratifying.

Wednesday Author Interview: Linda Rue Quinn

Today, I’d like to welcome Suspense author Linda Rue Quinn to Bookin’ It. I know you will enjoy meeting Linda, and learning about her books. I sure did!

Great Weather for…Soliciting?

Well, must be something about 90+ degree days that brings out the solicitors en masse. The last week or two has been one constant barrage of doorbell ringing, accompanied by the not-so-dulcet tones of two frenzied dachshunds who continue to bark for another three or four minutes after I’ve chased off whoever was at the door to trigger their stubby-legged outrage.

I’m trying to write, here, but instead, find myself under constant assault from people of all ages and clothing tastes, trying to sell me home security systems, cemetery plots, life insurance, flood insurance, frozen steaks in bulk all the way from Omaha, and even salvation, or at least their particular concept of what being saved is all about. Doesn’t matter if I tell them I have my own concept, a freezer full of steak (I wish), all the insurance I need (doubtful), a place in the garden set aside for my eternal rest (ha), and plenty of home security, provided by Ankle Biters, Inc. No matter what I tell them, the hits just keep a-comin’! Finally I got smart, and no one has rung my doorbell since. Could it really have been this simple all along?

A Good Idea

So, So Important!

Saw this on Twitter yesterday with a request to share, so…I’m sharin’! Lots of people honestly don’t know how important some of these things can be to an author, especially an independent one, who depends on word of mouth so completely. Hope you’ll pass it along, too. Let’s get the word out (in the nicest way possible, of course.) Folks…if you read it, and you love it, please let the world know. Thanks!

Sequel to Wake-Robin Ridge: Meet Rabbit

Introducing Rabbit.

This is actor Tristan Lake Leabu, my inspiration boy for the sequel to Wake-Robin Ridge. Rabbit is a little boy who has been raised isolated from civilization, in the deepest wilderness of the North Carolina mountains. Circumstances have left him alone in this wild and remote area at the age of ten. His journey to find the Good People his dying grandmother told him about, makes up the first part of his story. But an even bigger journey awaits him, as he learns how to live in a world full of things he has never even imagined, and struggles to win the love of the man he believes is supposed to take care of him.  I’ve just started on Chapter 6 of my draft, and so far, I think the story is shaping up pretty well. Hope my Beta readers think so, too.

Everything about Tristan Leabu is exactly the way I have described Rabbit, and having his picture on my Inspiration Board keeps me focused on his long journey out of the wild and into today’s world. He has already stolen my heart.

 

Author Interview Openings

Have a couple of openings for my Wednesday Author Interview feature, coming up July 9 and one on July 23. If you’ve written a book (or several) and would like to be featured on either of those days, please drop me an email at mmeara@cfl.rr.com  and I’ll give you full details. It’s easy and fun, and best of all, FREE. Hope to hear from some of you.

Wednesday Author Interview: Deborah Brown

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Today, I’d like to welcome cozy mystery author Deborah Brown to Bookin’ It. Deborah’s Paradise Mysteries are so much fun, and I especially love them because they are set in south Florida, and make me feel right at home as soon as I open the covers! Thank you for being here, Deborah. I appreciate your taking the time to talk to us today.

~~~

1. Deborah, can you tell us a bit about how you became a writer. When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career? 

Wow! I’m A Featured Author Today!

 

 

 

Evelyn Cullet has a very nice post up today, featuring me as her guest author of the week. It even includes some excerpts from both Wake-Robin Ridge, and Swamp Ghosts. Please check it out, and don’t forget to leave a comment.  Evey’s Writers Blog

Thank you, Evelyn, for the opportunity to share my work with you and your readers!

Need an Editor?

For those who don’t know, I’ve been buried in the final chapters of my draft for my upcoming novel, Swamp Ghosts. I’m happy to say that I’m close enough to the end to start the editing process on the beginning. Yay! I’m hoping to have this book published by the first of May, if all goes well.

In the meantime, I’m also happy to say my editor for Wake-Robin Ridge, Caitlin Stern, is once again going to be working with me. I can’t say enough good things about working with Caitlin. She was very accommodating and we were able to come up with an arrangement that was perfect for both of us. Her flexibility was wonderful, and she has mad skills, too.

In my case, I asked her to edit for typos, grammar, and general errors of the mechanical sort. Plus, she read the book as a reader would, and kept me honest when she felt my characters weren’t acting true to how I had described them. She never lopped out anything or replaced anything with her own words, which I would have hated. Instead, she circled and underlined and made suggestions in the margin, and let me make all the changes myself. If I was being repetitive, for instance, she would point out that something should probably be cut, and give me her thoughts on which sentence could be removed without changing my meaning. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, I agreed with her and made the suggested changes. In the rare instance when I really preferred my way, and stood firm, she was good with that.

In short, she made me a better writer, but didn’t do it for me. I re-learned a lot of half-forgotten grammar rules that had long disappeared into the dark corners of my mind, and she gave me easy ways to remember them in the future, too. Hyphens are still my enemy, but I know Caitlin will be on the job and catch my mistakes.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced but very good editor, I hope you’ll think about contacting Caitlin. I’m sure you would enjoy working with her. You can reach her at Caitlin Stern Writes for more specific info. 

Beta Readers Needed!

I’m looking for a few people who would be interested in reading my next book, chapter by chapter, as I go through the entire writing process. With Wake-Robin Ridge, I had several good folk who read the rough draft for me, as I went along, and gave me input that was invaluable in shaping my story. This is not the same thing as an Advanced Copy reading, and won’t be something everyone would be interested in. But if you think you’d enjoy being in on the ground floor and being able to offer suggestions about plot or character issues, at a time when it could influence the final outcome, please use the Contact Me button at the top of this page and email me for more details.

This second novel will be a romantic suspense set in Florida, with murder and mayhem on the wild and scenic rivers I’ve spent many years canoeing. Hope some of you might think it an interesting enough concept to want to come along for the ride. You will be able to read and comment at your own pace. Please don’t hesitate to write for more information if you are at all intrigued. Thanks for considering this. 

The Joys (and Pitfalls) of Self-Publishing Part 2

 

Copyrights. If you are writing a book, poem, or anything else that might be published with an eye toward making you some money, you must NOT forget to be careful of copyrighted material. In my case, I was very nearly done in by song lyrics. I hadn’t stop to think about them

The Joys (& Pitfalls) of Self-Publishing Part I

What an adventure the last ten months have been. Deciding it wasn’t too late to write a book, if I really wanted to, has changed the course of my life. Granted, it’s pretty late in the game for a course-changer . . . but it’s not TOO late. And I know, because I did it! 

I could sit around now and complain and grumble that I should have done this years ago,

Where The Heck Have I Been?

 

I don’t know if any of YOU guys have been wondering where I disappeared to, but I find that I have been wondering, myself. I seem to have been floundering in some alternate universe where I can’t even keep up with my blogs lately. That has got to stop. Must. Get. Control.  Or at least fake it well enough that no one knows I’m in freefall, down here. So, here is my attempt to touch base with those of you who are kind enough to follow this blog.

Where have I been? Writing. Yes, writing. Just not blogging. Some of you know I got the wild idea a few months ago that I was finally going to sit down and write a book. An actual book, with wordies on pages, and covers and all, as the Wee Free Men might say. I don’t have any idea of why I decided I was going to do this, except that it was something I’ve wanted to do since I was about five years old, yet never attempted. To my shock and dismay, I realized on my 69th birthday that time was flying by. (“Like sands through the hourglass, so go the Days Of Our Lives”). Soon, writing anything…even signing my own name…could cease to be an option. Do or die time…literally. Consider my writing a book something I wanted to tick off of my pre-Bucket List. (I’m refusing to admit that it might also be time for me to start a REAL one.)

Yesterday, I finished my story. I have written a beginning, a middle, and an ending, and have the Beta readers to prove it. I call it a story because it now needs to be slapped and bullied and mangled into becoming something that could pass for the aforementioned actual book. I have the plot laid out from start to finish, and I have developed my characters to the point that I’m compelled to set extra places at the table for them every night. But it is not a book, yet. Things will have to get bloody before I can claim that. 

Tomorrow, I begin the editing and revision process that I hope will leave me with a finished product I can publish. I will be going back through every chapter with a scalpel…okay, with a machete and a flamethrower…mercilessly hacking away all the stuff that doesn’t belong. I will be a brutal Inquisitioner, demanding to know if each and every line adds anything to the story, and is therefore worth keeping, or if the lines in question are merely self-indulgent crap, clogging up my prose like a hairball in a drainpipe. (See what I did there? We writers can make those sorts of comparisons with impunity, because…well…ummm…okay…you got me. There really is no reason for saying something like that, except that we can!)

Anyhoo…with any luck at all, hacking and trimming and pruning will not be as all-consuming as trying to make the plot come together in a sequence of events that makes sense. Therefore, if all goes well, I should find myself freed up for more reading, more reviewing, and more blogging. At least that’s my plan. Wish me luck!

Quote #65 – Deborah Harkness

In a Question and Answer session quoted on Meyer Lane’s Short Attention Span Press (a blog I’m learning to really enjoy), Deborah Harkness  had this advice for writers:

“Say yes.” The world is asking you to try new things, have fresh experiences, meet people, see foreign places, and learn things. Most of the time we say no. Say yes. Go for it. Try. Live. Dream. Refuse to be negative. Be generous with your own time and gifts. See what happens then.”

     —Deborah Harkness (A Discovery of Witches)

NOTE: This seems to me to be pretty darn good advice for ALL of us, doesn’t it?

 

Dangerous Talents by Frankie Robertson

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

My last post dealt with authors who blog on WordPress, especially self-published authors who may not have become household names yet. (Though, of course, we know they ALL will get there someday, right?)  Frankie Robertson isn’t a beginner, by any means, but I don’t think I would have discovered her books if I had not found her on WordPress,

Do You Read WordPress Authors?

I find myself constantly surprised at the number of writers with WordPress blogs, ranging from beginners to very experienced and well-known authors, whose names you would probably recognize immediately.  I have been trying to research

Quote #64 – John Gardner

“In nearly all good fiction, the basic – all but inescapable – plot form is this: A central character wants something, goes after it despite opposition, perhaps including his own doubts, and so arrives at a win, lose, or draw.”
     –John Gardner

Let’s Get Digital by David Gaughran

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

If you have any interest in writing and publishing a book of any kind, and you haven’t yet checked out both David Gaughran’s blog and his book, Let’s Get Digital, you really should.  I downloaded

Blog Sharing On Self-Publishing

In my Real Life, such as it is, I don’t know a single person who is currently writing a book, who plans to write a book, who has ever written a book in the past, or who even dreams of writing a book someday.  Man, do I hang out with boring people, or what? 

Quote #58 – Cyril Connolly

“Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.”
    

     –Cyril Connolly