Having A December Birthday

Post note - my apologies to Jane. We had a snag and her post was suppose to go life two days ago (her birthday). It was too good to delay another month so you lucky readers get two posts today - mine and hers. Sorry Jane. Big Mike

December is not the greatest month for a birthday. It’s not quite so bad before Christmas Eve or Christmas Day because folks are shopping anyway and picking up something for the birthday person and having a little celebration doesn’t seem quite so much like a after-thought. My oldest son, Jim, has a birthday on December 10, so we made that the day we put up and decorated the tree, thereby making it special for him while he was still at home.

But mine is December 27, two days after Christmas. By now everyone is sort of feeling the Christmas blahs. My mother always made cupcakes for dessert after our main meal and put a candle on mine, plus always a present, so it wasn’t as though I didn’t have a little celebration. But it was an aftermath one and always sort of felt like that. Not that those who knew when my birthday was hadn’t put Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday on my Christmas present--as I suppose those who have birthdays on the 25 must get. Still, they have the satisfaction of knowing they share the 25 with the star of Christmas, which counts for something.

Jim married a gal whose birthday was December 28, so I made a point of always remembering to send her a birthday card and a gift. I still do. Still she and I both agree that the 27 and the 28 are rotten times to have a birthday.

When I was a child my mother always had my “birthday party” in the summer, which was fine with me. For her, too, I realize now because it could be held outdoors where we played games and kept all the mess in the yard for the birds and insects to enjoy finishing off later. So as a child, when it matters most, I didn’t actually miss out on parties.

Actually now that I’m an old bat, I find it really doesn’t make any difference what time of any month my birthday is because I hate to see them roll past, always making me a year older. A year wiser? Hey, guys, that’s a fallacy, if ever there was one.

And so I’ve written a poem for myself called:

Too Old For Birthdays

Every year they come around, no matter what the weather,

Love ‘em, hate ‘em, they don’t care, birthdays come forever.

Yesterday you were a child, and birthday parties were fun

Today you’re an adult, but not ready to be done.

If no one remembers, you feel it’s not fair

Because no matter how you protest, you still do care.

Italians call it domoni, and say tomorrow never will come

But soon time marches on and gets you under its thumb.

Now it’s my tomorrow, so up to the belfry I’ll flit

And write my stories up there, instead of trying to knit.

Old bats have long memories of how hot it used to be

Never think that I’ve forgotten how she plus he equals we.

I know each step on love’s turbulent raceway

Where the truth beats the odds, come what may.

Be you dragon, human, eldritch or fay

Alien, witch, were, demon or gay

Love leads even the devil astray.

So be sure that from my belfry high above

This old bat will always celebrate love.

Feedback

Michael W. Davis

Davisstories.com

From time to time I’m fortunate to get feedback from readers or those interested in writing fiction. It’s not everyday, rather at intervals of two months and usually they provide some comment or question about one of my books or the process of becoming an author. A week ago I received correspondence from an English teacher, Ms. Hernandez, at a school in Northern California. Her students were preparing essays on writing and used my website as a basis to help point them to sources on a plethora of topics related to creating fiction.

I’ll admit, I spend a lot of time maintaining the link page for the purpose of sharing what I’ve learned in the last six years; specially the good, bad and ugly of the fiction world. I do enjoy sharing, so much that I assembled all my lessons learned and provide them in a DVD entitled, “So you want to write a novel,” but to have a teacher and her class use my website to foster the minds of the next generation, wow, that is neat. Even for an old turkey like me, it did warm my innards.

One of her students, Anna, even discovered her owe source pertaining to famous historical romances and forwarded it to me in the chance I’d like to add to those I reference on my website. So, if you visit Davisstories.com, take a glance at the link page, search for the new source “Famous love stories” and thank young Ms. Anna and her teacher. Talk about irony. There’s a scene in my romantic suspense novel SHADOW OF GUILT dealing with the eternal bond between men and women and I wanted examples that would stand out as historical paragons of such commitment. I even used all the authors at the writer’s water cooler to help. Boy could I have used Anna’s help then.

To Anna and her terrific teacher, Ms. Hernandez, back at ya and good luck in all you do with your life and wonderful inquisitive minds. Thank you.

Michael W. Davis (Davisstories.com)

Author of the year, 2008 & 2009

Shadow of Guilt, “To each crossing of paths, there is a reason.”

Blind Consent, “The answers are buried in the secrets of the past.”

Whispers of Innocence, “Things are not always what they appear.”

Tainted Hero, “Sometimes good people do bad things.”

Veil of Deception, “Sometimes truth cuts deeper than a lie.”

Forgotten Children, “Greed is blind to human suffering.”

Final Solution, “How far is to far.”

Writing in Waiting Rooms

I've spent a good portion of the last few days in waiting rooms --at the ER, in doctors' offices, etc., due to my elderly mother's recent fall.

I always tell my students that, during stressful times when "life gets in the way", your writing provides a sanctuary, a place of refuge. It's like a daily yoga or meditation practice -- you may feel resistance on the way to the mat or the cushion, but if you do it any way, you feel better and get results.

That's what writing does, too.

I'm under extreme deadline pressure -- getting a book out to one publisher, while also prepping a series for another publisher. I have a heavy roster of classes to teach, and other freelance work that also pays the bills. Writing is not just my vocation and my passion -- it's how I pay the bills.

I can't make excuses, I can't "not write", or there won't be a roof over my head.

I'm taking notebooks with me, for several different projects, and switching between them during those interminable waits. I'm taking galleys and going over corrections. For just a few minutes at a time, I escape into my fictional worlds, and they help me deal with the decisions and stresses of the "real world" when I'm pulled back.

I'm also eavesdropping shamelessly in all these locations, gathering material on situation and character for future pieces.

Because, when you're a writer -- everything is material.

With best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous, and healthy new year!

Annabel Aidan

Annabel's Champagne release is the paranormal romantic suspense ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT. She can be found at www.devonellingtonwork.com/annabelaidan.html

SUNDAY DECEMBER 25, 2011

MY FIRST 'REAL' CHRISTMAS

    Greetings everyone! I wish you all happy holidays on this Christmas day. I am CC Kaufman an author associated with Carnal Passions and Champagne Books. I would like to thank the folks here at TWV for the invitation to participate by writing a monthly blog.

I have spent quite a bit of time this week thinking about a good topic for my first ever blog. I know this is supposed to be about writing or at least connected in some way, however, dredging around in the recesses of my strange little brain can be dangerous, the results often mystifying, and always unpredictable. With that in mind, I thought the safe choice would be an obvious subject considering the day. We humans tend to identify changes in our lives and philosophy with occasions of some sort. My approach to today’s holiday changed on Christmas day many years ago. As a child I often felt disappointed on Christmas, which led to a general feeling of discomfort about the whole thing. We were not dirt poor, but neither were we that well off.  I suppose my folks did their best to impress me with the deeper meaning of the day but unfortunately fell short on that subject. I remember seeing most of my school-mates receiving new bikes, Levi’s, (a hot commodity in those days!)  and a lot of things my parents could not afford; you get the picture. Fast forward many years. I was living in a small mill-town along the river outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania called Verona. A quaint little town with big oak trees, cobble-stone streets, and a railroad that ran right through the center of town. I rented a third floor two room walk-up apartment in a big, old house right on the river. My best friend and I worked days in a little forge shop down the road a bit, both attending school at night. We had no money, living payday to payday, eating a lot of rice and beans. We chose to ignore the fact Christmas lay dead ahead, and that we had no tree, no decorations, and certainly no gifts.  On Christmas Eve we debated those hard facts over a bottle of Scotch ‘borrowed’ from my friend’s father. We were best friends, both feeling sad that we had nothing to offer the other on this eventful day. Maybe it was his idea, maybe mine, maybe the Scotch, or most likely a combination of all three, but we stumbled upon a solution to our dilemma. We decided we would exchange one item from each that the other admired, desired, or coveted. He occasionally wore a thick wool army jacket that I liked very much, (to say nothing of the fact it would keep me from freezing while walking to work), I asked for that. He thought only a second before he asked me for my new Beatles, “Abby Road” record album (it was vinyl, does that date this story!). Agreed on and sealed with a handshake, we exchanged our chosen gifts on Christmas day. It was at the time, and will forever be, the most meaningful gift I have ever received. That mutual act of friendship, of giving something so valued to someone else, taught me what Christmas and the exchange of gifts on that day really means. I wish you all the best this holiday and a great and prosperous New Year.

CC Kaufman - Author - 

Reconcilable Differences 'R'  @ http://www.carnalpassions.com
Night of The Machetes  @ http:// www.champagnebooks.com

 The Invitation (R ) @  http://www.carnalpassions.com
My web-   http://www.cckaufman.com
 

Writing’s Gifts

This Christmas Eve, with all its promised gifts and with the year’s end soon to urge individuals into introspection, I find myself reflecting on what writing has given me. My ninth-grade teacher would be gratified to know improved grammar is one blessing. To be published one needs to know grammar, plus all the proofing and editing involved demands it. This gift led to a teaching job, a huge gift, but there are many others.

Writing lets me give my imagination free reign; for once the world is mine (insert evil laugh) and I can do with it what I like. Writing gives me a voice. Does that equate to imaginary power, or power through imagination?

Having a book published, even one not on the NYT Bestsellers list, gave me innumerable insights. The biggest gift is not the celebrity or notoriety some writers receive, but satisfaction. Satisfaction found in finishing a work and conquering the struggles that erupt throughout the project. (Don’t you struggle at some point in every writing project?) Satisfaction came when a publisher accepted my manuscript, and those readers who have bought my books seem to enjoy my words! Along with satisfaction are closely related aspects of pleasure, perseverance, and accomplishment.

I’ve received more than satisfaction. When I began to recognize my mistakes and learned to correct and improve my work, I learned craft. As I now tell my classes, writing teaches thinking, like following a logical order, and looking at all aspects of a situation to discover both the subtle as well as the obvious choices. I also learned about criticism and rejection, and while difficult to accept, they offer a challenge to do better.

Once introduced into the publishing world, another gift emerged -- a community of writers as varied and interesting as the characters found on a library’s bookshelves: some helpful, friendly, and supportive, some spicy with strong opinions, and others quiet and slow to engage.

Everyone believes they have a story inside them. (If you think the plural pronoun agreement with indefinite singular antecedent is wrong – check out Merriam Webster’s Ask the Editor – it’s such a relief!) I was determined to write mine. I’m sure many writers on this list have similar feelings, and most likely have discovered other gifts. What is stopping your from writing your story?

A Christmas Beyond My Memories

Years ago, I picked up an illustrated hardcover copy of Cider With Rosie, Laurie Lee's recounting of his early days in west country England just after the First World War. Originally published in 1959 (the year I was born), my copy was released in 1984.

I don't know how I came by the book - I think I got it because of the illustrations. It sat about the house for a few years before I read it.

It took me to a place and time I wish I could have visited, with its hardship and beauty. One particular passage comes back to me every Christmas. I hope I'm not breaking any laws by inserting this excerpt, but I feel I must share it with you.

The boys set out on their annual caroling trek, visiting the various manors around their little village. Their last stop is Joseph's farm.


"We grouped ourselves round the farmhouse porch. The sky cleared, and broad streams of stars ran down over the valley and away to Wales. On Slad's white slopes, seen through the black sticks of its woods, some red lamps still burned in the windows.

Everything was quiet; everywhere there was the faint crackling silence of the winter night. We started singing, and were were all moved by the words and the sudden trueness of our voices. Pure, very clear, and breathless we sang:

As Joseph was a walking
He heard an angel sing;
'This night shall be the birth-time
Of Christ the Heavenly King.

He neither shall be borned
In housen nor in hall,
Nor in a place of paradise
But in an ox's stall...'

And two thousand Christmases became real to us then; the houses, the halls, the places of paradise had all been visited; the stars were bright to guide the Kings through the snow; and across the farmyard we could hear the beasts in their stalls. We were given roast apples and hot mince-pies, in our nostrils were spices like myrrh, and in our wooden box, as we headed back for the village, there were golden gifts for all."

I wish all of  my writer, reader and publishing friends a magical Christmas and a Happy Holiday. I hope everyone meets with success in 2012. 


Sandra Cormier is the author of BAD ICE (Champagne Books), a hockey romance.

Some Common Writing Issues

Nearly forgot that today was my posting day, what with the holidays and all the hustle and bustle associated with them. In between all the gift purchases, and trying to get work done on my own projects, I've had several editing requests come in. So, for today, I'll post a small number of items that I've seen coming up a lot lately in all of these edits:

• Repetition: This actually goes for two separate issues that many writers stumble upon, possibly without even noticing.
  The first is when you unknowingly repeat words or phrases within close proximity to each other. When we're writing, and even reading, we often gloss right over this issue. But try reading your material aloud, and see whether you notice something amiss. A recent writer's group meeting I attended had a read-along where I noticed that the writer was repeating a *this and that* phrasing over ten times in a single paragraph. Others I've noticed over the years have been where people begin every sentence in a paragraph with I, he, and it. So, take a closer look. It's quite possible you'll find a few of these little tidbits as well.
  The second is a little bit trickier to detect, but with a closer read, it comes out. In this case, the words we use are unnecessary because they repeat the same information that is given elsewhere. Some examples would be the phrase "fall down" (when have you ever known something to fall up?), or telling the reader that the character is holding something in their hand (which is usually the obvious place to hold somewhere). Giving sounds or smells, and also describing them with the words "sound" or "smell" (such as "a clapping sound") are also some big ones.


• Wishy-Washy Words: Readers like action, but they like it to be strong...and quite often we write in ways that aren't so strong (or as I like to refer to them, "wishy-washy"). Some really good examples of this involve the phrases "started to", "began to", "almost" "somewhat" and other phrases, when paired with verbs, that imply only a partial action. Unless your character truly only partially conducted their affairs, you can usually remove these wishy-washy words and not impact your original intent.


• Descriptive verbs: We're all guilty of it. We want to rely on our old standby verbs like walked, grabbed, said, and other such standards. In addition to getting in on the repetition issue previously mentioned, we also run the risk of not being descriptive enough with our words. Did your character truly walk, or did they inch, creep, or saunter? Did they grab something, or did they clutch it, or maybe even snatch it away? Did they just say their words, or perhaps they whispered, screamed, or maybe even choked up over their words?

Hopefully these have been useful for those writers reading this post. And I hope that when you take a look through your own material, you'll catch a few of these and strengthen your writing accordingly. So, good editing, and enjoy the ride!
T. M. Hunter
http://astonwest.com

Season Greetings, Everyone,

I wanted to share with all of you what my characters in The Time Key (my book on time travel and my first foray into the realm of Science Fiction and my current novel–in-progress) have been thinking about this past month.

“You know what blows me away about our known universe. It’s how it’s so ideally suited for life as we know it. For example, if the protons in an atom were just 0.2 more massive than they actually are, they would be unstable and decay into smaller particles. Atoms would not exist and neither would we! If gravity were just slightly more powerful, the consequences would be nearly as grave. It would cause stars to run through their fuel at a fraction of the time and sputter out before life as we know it had a chance to evolve. In other words, the universe is life-friendly. Too many coincidences to be mere accidents according to many scientists.”

She picked up on his expansive thought-wave. “It’s like the universe is adapted specifically for us, not the other way around. This colossal fluke, deepest mystery, or stardust magic or whatever you want to call it is paradoxically our biggest headache in physics. And this is why so many of us are thinking that there must be multiverses out there, to account for ours being so perfect for us. But, of course, this cannot be proved. Maybe it would just be easier to think there is a benevolent creator that did all this just for us.” She smiled at him in wonder, feeling the pure magic of the moment engulf her in its sweetness. Never before had she truly experienced the profound insight to life that this man in front of her invoked. How had she gotten so lucky. . .

Wishing all of you the very best of the holiday season and a warm thank you for your camaraderie on The Writer Vineyard this past year! It has meant a lot to me.

Best,
January Bain

Forever Man July 2012
Champagne Books
First in the Forever Series
www.januarybain.ca

A New Name for the New Year

I've posted about this before on my blog.  But as the time draws closer, I thought a little reminder might be in order.

So, I have reached a decision...like I do every time the year inevitably draws to a close.  This of course, is something that I've been debating for some time.  But I feel the time has come now to finally enforce it.

I've decided to change the name of my blog page to tktoppin.blogspot.com.  I know, right?  It's been a long time coming.

It makes sense for this change over to my own name, rather than the name of my first book.  After all, I will be writing more books, and I will be chattering about things other than The Lancaster Rule books.  It's also fitting that come next year, the final of the Lancaster trilogy will be released into the world, and so comes the end of the tale.  It simply won't be relevant to hold onto the blog page name.

My decision to change the name has not come lightly.  In fact, I even considered creating a new page in Wordpress.  But then I thought, why should I?  I already have a blog that also serves well enough as a website if any one is interested in learning more about me.  And why should I have more things to manage?  I like keeping things simple.

So, come January 6th, 2012, I will be switching over to the new name.  Don't worry, I'll be sure to inform everyone -- ad nauseam -- well before the change over takes place.  The only tedious part of this change, is that I'll have to update ALL my links to ALL the places I'm linked to.  May the force be with me.

And if I don't get a chance to say if before... Hope everyone has a wonderfully merry Christmas, and I'll see you in the New Year!

Cheers.

Stupid Gifts for 2011

Are you panicked about Christmas yet? I am. Or, are you one of those organized (sick) people that have been collecting things for family members since last year’s after Christmas sale? We celebrate Christmas with my side of the family this coming Sunday. That leaves me two days to prepare. So far, I have my Mom done. On Christmas Day we celebrate Christmas with my husband’s family, that’s nine days if you’re keeping track. I only have my husband done.
I hate crowds and I hate shopping. So, I thought I would check the internet for ideas. Armed with a list, I plan to arrive at the store, and get in and out of chaos without aimlessly wandering around in a panic. I Googled the top Christmas gifts of 2011. I wasn’t sure if the stupid gifts on the list were the top gifts purchased in 2011, or if it is all the crap left from last year that the merchants desperately need to peddle.
For the low, low, low price of $39.99 I could purchase a remote control pillow. Huh? Do you move the pillow around the bed with a controller? No. It is a universal remote for you television, so you don’t misplace it. Too bad I have a Husky with separation anxiety that chews on anything fluffy.
Just in time for Christmas for the criminal in your family, a $35.00 beanie hat. What’s so special about the hat? It has an adjustable beard. Wear the hat and beard. Rob the convenience store. Fold away detachable beard. Run.
There is a microbrew of the month club for $31.95 a month. For a year the recipient will receive 12 bottles of beer each month. Well, for $15 a month I can buy my brother-in-law a 30 pack and that would at least get him through a night.
Perhaps a variety of e-books would be a better, easier, one size fits all gift. Champagne Books is having an amazing sale going on in December. On Thursday December 22nd, Bolt Action will be available for 0.99! Check it out, there is a book for everyone
In Action Thriller, Bolt Action Detective Leslie Bolt is a smart talking, gun hording, Harley riding investigator forced to work a serial murder case with her sexy ex-lover. After a childhood of abuse suffered at the hand of her father, Leslie sleeps with a Ruger Blackhawk .357 under her pillow, has a Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker rifle in her broom closet, and a Saturday Night Special stashed in her road-hog cookie jar. The body count mounts, and Detective Bolt must conquer her own past, as she races to capture “The State Quarter Killer” before her sister is the next victim. Secrets of the past, murder, deception, sexual tension, and “The State Quarter Killer”, Bolt Action offers it all.

TO BE TECHIE OR NOT TO BE

By:
Angelica Hart and Zi

A: Have you ever considered that technology has changed our outlook as well as our relationships. I have a friend who's grandson's name is David, but he shortened it to DVD. Plus, the other day, while out with a couple of gal pals, one was complaining that her husband wasn't paying enough attention to her, the other recommended a new perfume, thinking pheromones. The former woman considered it a bit, then went up to the perfume counter and asked if they had anything that smelled like a computer.

Being a writer, I sometimes feel as if I live on the computer, and when I'm away from home, my mini-computer comes with me. I spend more time with it than any member of my family. So I'm thinking this is not good. It is time to take a stand, to be set free of tea brewing in my Bunn Tea Brewer, a pot and stove works nicely, no cells, if I'm not at home or the office, they can call back, radio rather than Nano, pocket calendars rule, and fax machines never work anyway. (Angelica folds her arms, staring at the heavens as if this profound announcement will change her destiny) It is time to restrain the techno-monsters. I'm not that tech savvy anyway.

Z: (Zi gives the hairy eyeball look, brow down almost to his cheek.) You know just enough to be dangerous when it comes to technology.

A: Be nice.

Z: It's a compliment. It's not like I'm letting everyone know about the time in the computer store when you asked the sales clerk for a mouse pad, looked it over and said, ‘will it be compatible with my computer?’

A: You lie!

Z: Did. Been wanting to tell that joke.

A: At least I wasn't the one to call tech support and when asked if I was running the system under Windows said, 'No, my desk is next to the door. The one under the window is working just fine.'

Z: I didn't say that.

A: (Grins.) Been wanting to tell that joke. (A dual eye roll ensued with Angelica giving up first.) Seriously, what do think? Should I give up some of my technology? Is it overwhelming my reality?

Z: Let me ask you this, do you want to want to whether or not Champagne Books will pick up our latest submission?

A: Of course.

Z: How do we get the news?

A: Through email.

Z: Ta da! Your answer. The tech world is where we live. It makes writing easier. Correspondence easier. Our books are initially e-books. It is the Google Dance of our life. Yes, we need to make time for life outside it, but... (He looks at Angelica gravely) Consider life without spell check.

A: (Angelica shudders, takes a long breath) I had one of those rare moments of crazy.

Z: Rare?

A: Oh, go blog something.


A and Z: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good blogging blog!

****
We'd love to hear from anyone interested in what we do. Anyone who writes us at writingteamcw@yahoo.com with blog in the subject line and leaves an s-mail address, we will send you a gift and add you to any future mailings.

Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER DOLLS ~ SNAKE DANCE ~ CHASING YESTERDAY
www.champagnebooks.com

STEEL EMBRACE by Vixen Bright and Zachary Zane
August 2011 http://www.carnalpassions.com/


THE FABLE OF SIN-SIN CINDERELLA Series
angelicahartandzi.com

Rejuvination

Four more days and counting! Besides writing, I teach so this time of year is crazy. Finals start Friday and run through Tuesday. After that? It's Rejuvination time.

Lately I've been sitting at the computer and staring at my current manuscript. I eek out maybe five sentences a night due to the fact that mind is awhirl with other stuff. Day-to-day stuff involving work, family and the many other obigations I've signed up for. But the coming break will give me a chance to clear my thoughts and get pumped back up to write.

So yeah, the best gift Santa brings me each holiday season is time. God bless and may you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Gearing up for for the Big Day!

Every author starts to prepare for their book's big release day a couple months beforehand. One thing I like about working with Champagne Books is that I know what my release day is going to be very soon after signing my contract. I have plenty of time to prepare. From that point on, the count down clock begins ticking.

The first thing I do is announce the sale (of course!) on my blog, website, and all the social media sites I'm in. I set up a special page for it on my website and as I collect more information (like the completed cover, ISBN number, blurb, excerpt, book trailer, and such) I'll add it to that book's page.

Last month, I received my cover for The Right to Remain Mine, which is coming out in February. (I know, YAY!!!) It's one of my favorite covers; I just love the purple tones.

Once it arrived, I got started on a book trailer. I used to use Windows Movie Maker, but then I bought a new computer and I couldn't find the Movie Maker on Windows 7, so...I bought a picture/movie program maker called ProShow Gold and started making videos from that. It's a little different, but I'm slowly learning the ropes. Here's how that went over:



In November (about three months before the "big" day!) I began to contact blogs for a guest post/interview tour. So far, this is what I have scheduled:

-Jan 24 (Tues) Interview at Books-N-Kisses

-Jan 31 (Tues) Guest Post at The Roses of Prose

-Feb 13 (Mon) Interview at You Gotta Read

-Feb 20 (Mon) Guest Post at Romancing the Book

-Feb 24 (Fri) Interview at Fallen Angel Reviews

-Feb 2012 Interview at Joyfully Reviewed

-Mar 06 (Tues) Interview at BookWenches

I will also be doing something at Book that Thing, Books-N-Kisses, and Bookerella but final plans have not been made there yet.

It seems like with ebooks, online promotion is important. In the past, I've been interviewed by my home town newspaper, I've printed out postcards for my stories, I've contacted local libraries but since the story sells online, those ventures haven't panned out as well as I'd hoped.

Group chats are fun; I like to participate in those every once in a while.

And I've tried buying cover ads on review sites for that extra promotional effort.

I enjoy adding my books to my author pages on sites such as The Romance Reviews, Manic Readers, and Night Owl Reviews. Once the book releases, I'll add my book information to my Goodreads and Amazon Pages.

Then the contests will start to give away free copies.

By this time, I'm usually exhausted about talking about my book, but really, it's only the beginning.

What are some of the trials and tribulations you go through to get your book out there and noticed?

Reminiscing

As we get older and the holidays grew closer there's a tendency to reminisce about the past. So, I'll ask your patience while I remember Christmases that make me smile.

As the kids grew older themselves, devising a way to keep them from guessing what they were getting for Christmas became a challenge. I came up with a code which I hid. Each package had a letter which corresponded to a name on my list. Little did I know that code and list was useless, because several years ago the oldest admitted, they'd slit the scotch tape and peek. Lesson number one - don't try to out smart your kids.

We lived in the north of the US and often had snow long before Christmas, a lot of snow.
We also cut down our own Christmas tree, so that meant bundling the kids up and tromping through cold, wet snow to find the 'perfect' tree. It also meant hot chocolate with marshmallows after we got home. I'll have to comment here. The 'perfect' tree was always bad on side, leaned in one direction or another or was too tall and had to be trimmed to fit in the living room where it held the place of honor for several weeks. Lesson number two - It's the little things the kids remember. They still talk about cutting down the Christmas tree and the hot chocolate I made.

Then there was the midnight Christmas snacks that were a tradition in our house. After midnight mass, we came home to wake the kids because Santa had come while we were at Church. We'd enjoy a late snack while the kids attacked the gifts. Cheeses, crackers, dips, lunch meats and lots of the cookies and candies we'd made to shared with the neighbors. The kids would open their gifts and then hit the table to feast mainly on the cookies and candies. While we went to bed, they played all night with their new toys. Lesson number three - there really is such a thing as a sugar high.

It a bit early, but may each of you make the kind of Christmas memories that will make you smile as you grow older. Have a wonderful Holiday and a blest new year.

How to Avoid Being Attacked by a Trojan

Hey, everyone. Rita Bay checking in with a first post at The Writers Vineyard. Just contracted with Champagne Books to publish my paranormal novella, INTO THE LYON’S DEN, which will be released next summer. Thought I’d share some timely seasonal advice on --- 

How to Avoid Being Attacked by a Trojan

While the title might inspire salacious images for some, this is a serious story that offers up some gift-giving advice for every blogger, writer and internet user. In the last year while writing my Moonday’s Heroic Hunk in History blog at Southern Sizzle Romance, I was attacked by a Trojan. Not once, but twice.

Imagine surfing the internet looking for an Elizabethan marzipan recipe when a warning in what looks like a Windows message pane pops up on your screen saying your computer has been infected, then the next message requests permission to launch a program to save your computer’s virtual life. If you click OK, you’ve just allowed a virus in disguise to infect your computer. The lurker records your keystokes (including passwords) for thieves who will empty your accounts, max out your credit cards, and steal your identity OR maliciously crashe your computer.

Each year, I hit the Black Friday sales to buy a computer program suite that protects me from viruses, malware, and other malicious critters. Some programs also provide free online data storage, cleans up your register, scarfs up your cookies, and performs other esoteric activities to keep you well. When you’re out shopping or online this holiday season, buy some protection. Mine, an annual special, at $20 was 75% off and included free installs on two additional computers. SO, be safe and choose a gift that will keep you and your loved one(s) disease free in 2012.

Join me at ritabay.wordpress.com to check out Holiday Celebrations each day throughout December with current events, old memories, and random trivia. Until next year when we interview Miss Jane Austen about the trials and tribulations of writing and publishing,

Rita Bay
"Celebrating Romance Across the Ages"
ritabay.com
ritabay.wordpress.com
southernsizzleromance.wordpress.com

“Into the Lyon's Den” from Champagne Books, Summer, 2012

Wondering...

As an author, it's a challenge to market your work. The old days of "when I get published, Simon & Schuster will blast out the news of my book" died with rotary phones.  Writing a novel is the easy part. The rest is a hard slog.

I see cheerleaders for other authors and I wonder how I can get one. Google was not helpful; I do not want a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader (hell, I'm a Steelers gal born and raised) nor do I want the cheerleading outfit for the boudoir. If you saw me in real life you'd know how totally ludicrous that notion is...

No, the notion is to have a reader or groups of readers out there on the social media touting your work and singing your praises. I must admit, I'm a little shy about asking people to do that for me. It seems...crass. Might be my upbringing, but I think if someone really likes my work that much, they'll tell their friends without me begging them to do so. In real life, I know that isn't true. You have to ASK people for them to know what you'd like them to do. I don't mind asking for reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, but this sort of cheerleading is even more than that. It's having your readers brag about your work on all the social sites they visit, telling everyone how much they loved your work, and how your book should be the Number One book on the Internet. It's asking them to post about it on all their groups on Yahoo, Google, and whatever else, maybe blog about you. Going beyond guest blogging on other author sites. Doing all the work of alerting the world about your book. It's awesome if you can get someone that excited. The question is, how can you do it without sounding like the biggest egotist this side of Charlie Sheen?


What do other authors think about asking readers to market for them?

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It seems I’ve been hearing Christmas carols since mid-November—around the same time Walmart set up their Christmas trees and decorations. Now, all of a sudden, it seems Christmas is upon us. To be honest, though, I’ve been in Christmas mode since last December when I started writing Reinventing Christmas for release this year.

I’ve learned that the spirit of Christmas created by songs and decorations can only survive for so long in one hundred and four degree heat in July. Then it becomes downright annoying. At this point, the challenge for me has been to find a resurgence of Christmas spirit now that the book is finished and published.

In my ‘day job,’ I’m a social worker with a non-profit organization. This is the busiest time of our year and the time I most love. Why? Because we have an Angel Tree and collect and distribute presents for children to thirty or more families—usually over 100 kids. We work like crazy and at a fever pitch those last few days before Christmas, including the weekend, and I find myself filled with sympathy for Santa’s elves. But then I see the kids—the gleam in their eyes when they look at a lighted Christmas tree. The joy when Santa rode by on a fire truck at last week’s Christmas parade. The anticipation when they talk about what they want Santa to bring. And I look forward to the innocence of the voices of the childrens’ choir at Christmas Eve mass. Always makes me a little weepy.

Of course, I see the other side, too—the parents who say they’ll have to tell their kids Santa can’t come this year because they’ve lost their jobs and are struggling to pay their bills. But that’s where I (along with my co-workers) get to make small miracles happen. Not on our own, by a long shot, but through the generosity of donors who buy everything from mittens to bicycles.

In my own childhood, I never had a Christmas without gifts. Even when my father’s work had been cut back, my grandparents came through. If anything, I was spoiled. And I can’t bear the thought of a child without a gift at Christmas, though I know that will be the reality for many kids in these hard economical times.

A five-year-old came into our office today with her mother who was there to get a voucher for food. I asked the little girl if she was excited about Christmas. She grinned and nodded, her eyes lighting up as she said, “Santa’s bringing me a Barbie.” And I knew that to be true, because I had written it down on our list to ‘Santa’ myself.

Yep, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Something else to help you get into the Christmas spirit is my new sweet contemporary romance, Reinventing Christmas. It’s available in ebook now at Champagne Books and at Amazon.com. Visit my website at http://www.lindarettstatt.com/ to read an excerpt and reviews.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Linda

Looking Back

Lately I've been feeling a bit of the writers' blues. I quit my day job so I could devote more time and energy to writing and marketing, and while I'm so glad I did -- I did, after all, write a whole novel in two months -- I'm just not seeing the spike in sales I was hoping to see. All around me are writers in the same boat: we're all trying to find the magic blog/Twitter/FB/chat/review formula that will ignite a windfall of sales. For awhile I pretty much lost sight of what was important, and how, for so many years, all I wanted was to be published, and that every sale, regardless of how few, would be an unimaginable blessing.


Then as I sat down to think about what I should blog about this month, it occurred to me that it's almost two years to the day -- December 9th -- that I first found out I was going to be published. My husband awakened me at 6:00 in the morning and dragged me to the computer so I could read an email from my agent that read, "Get your ass out of bed! Santa left you a huge present under the tree!" The rest of the day was a complete fog. I called my parents and ran around the house screaming. Later that day a package from Amazon arrived. My husband told me to open it early: it was an HP Netbook, which he wasn't supposed to buy for me until I got published. The fact that he'd done it anyway, and it arrived on the day that I found out I was published, was too much. I got so dizzy I had to lie down for awhile, and daydreamed about what my cover might look like, how wonderful it would feel to hold the print book in my hands, how terribly far away the release month of October felt.

Now, two years later, I have posters up above my couch of all three book covers from the Shadow Fox series. All of them are out in ebook and in print. I've received some great reviews, and while sales haven't been steller, they've been stable enough to give me confidence. Earlier this year Champagne Books awarded Shadow Fox Novel of the Year for 2010, and I've gotten fantastic feedback, as well as true friendships, from some of my fellow Champagne writers. I also have two other novels that are out in ebook, with a third coming in another month or so. My agent is helping me edit my new book, and I'm now looking two things I said I would never do in the eye: one was writing a novel for teens, the other a vampire novel (still in the planning stages). Last month I had a drink with my favorite author of all time, Guy Gavriel Kay, at the World Fantasy Convention. I sold 28 books at a book signing in my hometown, and sold a handful at my first fantasy convention. A couple of local business people think I'm famous, and my eight-year-old daughter tells everyone her mom writes wonderful books (not that she would know).

So I ask you: what the hell am I complaining about? If my past self, say ten years ago or so, saw me now, she would throw a fit. All she wanted, more than anything, was to get a book published. And here I have all this and more, and yet I'm still complaining. So as a favor to my past self, not to mention my present self, on the eve of my two-year-publishing anniversary, I promise to spend December feeling grateful. I won't let the doubts and fears encroach and dampen my spirits. I'll remember how it felt when I got that email December 9th, and how it felt to see the covers for the first time, and to open the packages that contained the first print copies. I'll remember every nice review and comment I've ever received, and I'll think about all the strangers who took a chance and bought a book from an author they'd never heard of. I'll be grateful for my new writer friends all over the globe, and I'll look forward, with relish, to the new books I have yet to write. And hopefully, if I do this enough, it will flow easily into the new year and become a habit. After all, feeling grateful will only bring new gifts to be grateful for.

Ashley J. Barnard
Dark Fantasy with a Contemporary Twist
http://www.ashleyjbarnard.com/

Born in Ice is now Out!

To celebrate the release of Born in Ice I'm having a blog tour, giving away an ecopy of A Way Back each day, and at the end of the tour one lucky winner will receive a Kindle. The tour started on November 23, but there are 10 days remaining. Each day you leave a comment, you're entered into the drawing. Today I'm at Dawn Alexander's blog/

I've received permission to post a snippet of the story each day. By December 14th, readers will have experienced the Prologue and Chapter One. So, join us and read more of this story.

Blurb:

Pulled from an icy grave…into a world of doubt and danger.

Frozen in ice for seventy-five years, Zana Forrester suffers the agony of
rebirth to learn her son is dead, and her daughter's whereabouts is unknown. The year is 2155. A man's soothing voice and gray eyes haunt her drug induced dreams. When she recovers, she meets their owner and finds her heart in danger.
But, a relationship isn’t a consideration; she must find her daughter.

Brock Callahan is drawn to the beautiful woman taken aboard his salvage ship. He's determined she'll be his wife and a mother to his young daughter, but he vows not to love her. All the women he’s loved died. While
Zana searches for her daughter, Brock must protect Zana from the evil that threatens.

Tour Schedule:

Dec. 6 – Dawn Alexander - http://www.chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/

Dec. 7 – Jennifer Wilck - http://jenniferwilck.com/blog/ Fried Oreos

Dec. 8 – Nikki Duncan - http://nikkiduncan.com/blog/

Dec. 9 – Jennifer Jakes (A Marshal of Her Own) - http://www.authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/ Cooking in the Victorian Kitchen.

Dec. 10 – Allison Knight - http://www.allisonknight.blogspot.com/

Dec. 11 – Holly Hunt - http://rhythempoets.wordpress.com/

Dec. 12 – Lisa - http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/

Dec. 13 – Liz Flaherty - http://wordwranglers.blogspot.com/

Dec. 14 – J.D. Revezzo - http://harshadpassion.wordpress.com/

Dec. 15 – Rachel Ferasek - http://www.rachelfirasek.com/ - Christmas Wish 3 books I’d like to have and blurb, etc.

Kindle drawing on December 16, 2011.

Thanks for Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque.com/
http://www.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/

TWV Contest - Final winners from last week

Winners from author(s):

T.M. Hunter & Ciara Gold




Last weeks winners

Congrats to Debby - You won a signed print copy of FRIENDS IN DEED from T. M. Hunter. Email your mailing info to engrboy@msn.com and claim your prize NLT midnight this Friday.

Congrats to follower Pablo - You won an E copy of DRAGON KING from ciaragold.com. Email your name to author at ciara_gold@yahoo.com and claim your prize NLT midnight this Friday.

Pets and people

Pets teach us a lot about ourselves. They don’t just look like us; they act like us. We’ve loved and lost many beloved “family members” over the years. Now we have a new mascot, Inkie

She is entirely black, but her heart is as pink as bubble gum soufflé. She makes our hearts lighter just watching her. In only two weeks she knew her job. She learned “English,” and stopped trying to climb into the oven and the freezer. On average she’d have been comfortable, as the old joke goes, but we’d have been devastated.

She’s eight-months-old at this writing and has us all figured out. She likes her bed—and us. Now she has both together. We put her bed between our pillows. She keeps watch overnight.

As to looking like us, well, her face takes on my expressions and her long graceful legs resemble my husband’s. Yeah, I’m a leg woman.

We’re convinced Inkie was sent by her great aunt, Kitty-kitty, who passed from our lives after 20 years of faithful friendship.

Penny Olsen, the main character in my new Champagne release, Kill Fee, has a pet Indian Hill Mynah bird, Bilgewater. He’s not only a crime fighter. He’s a good judge of character(s). As an observer of flawed folks and violent vixens, he knows whom Penny can trust. He also doesn’t suffer fools. His arch-rival is hero, Cole Martin’s cat, Cufflynx. Bilgewater is not above a little drama to keep Cufflynx in his place.

To read more, check my website and upcoming excerpts. As to Inkie, she is the first cat we named ourselves. She’s all ours, every enthusiastic adventuresome bit, paw to jaw. I think she has my eyes. Umm.


Julie Eberhart Painter is the Champagne Books author of Mortal Coil, Tangled Web, and Kill Fee released in October. See Julie’s Web site at www.books-jepainter.com

The Journey

We are all on a life journey, and when we write, so are our characters. This always makes me think about where characters come from. The truth is they develop from many factors: people the writer knows, personal experiences, news reports, portrayals, exposés, and other public personalities -- all mixed with imagination. It is in the imagination, however, that archetypes dwell, and like it or not, they inevitably emerge in each character an author develops.

Joseph Campbell in his book The Power of Myth led me to Vladimir Propp and his Morphology of the Fairytale, and Jungian psychology with its collective unconscious and archetypes. From these sources I learned our stories contain not only heroes and heroines, but also gift-bearing mentors, journey-blocking gatekeepers, challenge-bringing heralds, devilish shadows, and mocking jokesters. If the hero is successful, he or she earns the ultimate treasure and it seems every character along the way has a job to accomplish.

Were ancient storytellers psychologists? I don’t think so, but they must have been keen observers of human nature. Their audiences demanded good stories, and like many authors today, those storytellers believed in their dreams and used their imaginations. Another interesting snippet of information I read claims myths and fairy tales developed similar stories in every culture, and that when a significant change took place in a fairytale in one location, it usually took place in all locations. It’s all fascinating stuff about dreams and journeys.

What does this mean? Only that while characters seem infinite in their variety they are tied together in a collective imagination ready to provide readers entertainment and to perhaps help them on a personal journey. Perhaps that is why at any particular time in our own life journey, certain characters speak so fervently to us.

 Available from Champagne Books

Did ya know? – stats on publishing industry

Michael W. Davis

Davisstories.com

Eighteen months ago before my cancer, I presented a mini workshop entitled “So you want to write a novel?” Now that I’m a human again, I decided to expand the mini discussion into a three part series. At the presentations so many came up and asked, "Where can I buy the DVD?" to which I'd reply, "I don't have one?" To which they'd ask, "Why not?" How can you answer a question like that (g).

So, in responses, I had a session recorded (150 minutes) and its now available on DVD (wasn't that a smart idea I came up with, LOL). You can view a trailer and video of the workshop, along with where to purchase, at Davisstories.com.

Anyway, while updating my material after the cancer, I found some interesting stats on the publishing industry that you might enjoy. I need to put forth a few caveats first:

1. The sources for these estimates is available via the link page on my website (Davisstories.com) but I warn you, there are a ton of details to weed through to get to the snapshot below.

2. The data on the industry is VERY fragmented. Go to four sources, you’ll get four different answers, so I picked stats that appeared close in agreement.

3. The numbers change each year so consider these as “representative” of 2009 through 2010.

4. I selected strictly the USA industry since stats were more prevalent for that sector

Thus, you may find different stats doing your own search, and that’s great, but these are instructive on their own and provide a quick snapshot. So here we go.

Publishers – The following figures are ball park numbers:

· Six large publishers out of New York (Random House, Penguin, Time Warner, etc)
· 400 medium companies (Pocket, Tor, St Martin, MIRA, Bantam, etc)
· 86,000 small Indie publishers (Champagne Books, Wild Rose, Cobblestone, Changeling Press)

Titles and sales – Ever wonder how many books are published and sold?

· Roughly 1 million new titles are released in the US each year
· 87% of retail store sales come from 7% of all released titles
· 93% of titles sale less than 1000 copies
· 80% of titles sell less than 100 and only 500 titles sold more than 100,000
· Average book sells by AAP publishers are considered successful if 5000 for fiction and 7500 for NF
· Average total sales for a self published book are 200 copies

Gender Demographics – Here are some interesting numbers on reader gender stats:

· 65% of all book sales go to women
· Women account for 80% of sales for fiction
· The average American female reader buys 30 books/year & spends roughly $450

Genre Demographics – Every wonder about which genres readers prefer?

· 25% of book sales are for fiction
· 23% of fiction sales are online
· Distribution of total fiction sales: 22% Rom, 8% SF/Fan, 7% Mystery, 53% Religion/young/child
· Distribution of best seller sales (26 million books): 33% thriller/suspense, 28% Romance, 8% Mystery, 6% SF/fantasy, etc
· Romances – 65 million readers, 90% female
· SF/Fantasy – 50% men (If it were just SF, more like 90%)

State of book sales (2009/2010)

Paperback
· Aggregate sales declined 4% to 36% based on genre
· Borders closed 16 stores
· B&N closed 10 stores
· B&N sales declined 3.3%
· Waldenbooks has decreased from an original 1200 stores to 175
· Dalton has gone from 797 stores to 4

Electronic
· Sales grew 110% to 140%
· 37% of all Electronic buyers bought first E book last year (this have broad implications)
· In 2010 Amazon E sales exceeded other media by 11%,
· BN.com Electronic sales rose 60%
· Amazon sold 70% of all E books
· Half of E sells are readers over 50

As I stated in the beginning, these estimates should be considered general in nature, given the variance across the sources I researched, yet they are informative in turns of basic trends. There are three personal observations based on my gut reaction:

- Why the difference between paperback and electronic sales? It’s simple; average E books cost roughly $4 and paperbacks $16. Also interesting to note that from their beginning earlier in the decade, growth in the E market was slow, as the big six have tried to play up. Yet, if you look at the growth from 2008 to 2010, it’s exponential and the shape of the curve for 2004 to 2010 indicates it will continue to escalate in that direction. If you read articles from the industry controllers (New York agents and publishers) they denial the storm on the horizon, yet it’s coming regardless of their attempts to cover the truth. Cost of readers has decreased significantly and even old timers like me are adapting to new technology (bought my first I phone last month).

- Another interesting trend is the change in senior readers that are adopting E format. I saw that change across several data sources, which surprised me. My wife and I often observed that readers in their senior years would never accept E format because all their life they had enjoyed the touch of parchment. Still, when I read the number that half of E sales are to readers 50 and over, it appears that presumption was wrong. The cost is coming down for readers, but in this economy how many have 150 to 400 for a reader? Old farts that are retired, like me. We have more discretionary income. Also, three years ago, none of my 50 and older friends had readers. Now 1 in 3 does. Even a friend that has a standing order for every paperback I’ve written, he now buys them in E format. His reason? Cost and the fact that my paperbacks come out 3 to 5 months after the E version is released. So, the storm is just over the horizon, regardless of the mainstream publishing weenies going through cognitive denial.

I know this was a long post, but I hope you found it enlightening like I did. Later.

Big Mike
Michael W. Davis (Davisstories.com)
Author of the year, 2008 & 2009

Shadow of Guilt, “To each crossing of paths, there is a reason.”
Blind Consent, “The answers are buried in the secrets of the past.”
Forgotten Children, “Only Sara knows the truth.”
Tainted Hero, “Sometimes good people do bad things.”
The Treasure, “A lonely heart can impair one’s judgment.”
Veil of Deception, “Sometimes truth cuts deeper than a lie.”