Monday Musings: I Should Be Writing

I've spent the morning working on my online presence - updating blogs, websites and social media sites. It's taking me longer than it should but there's a good reason for that. A fabulous one, actually.

Yup, that's me today - flitting back and forth, back and forth, making a decision then changing my mind just as quickly. This squirrel brain is making for slow progress and honestly, I don't think I'm going to get to the actual writing portion of my day.

How's your Monday?

Sarah Grimm
romance with a SEXY beat
Blog / Website

Under Re-Construction

Off The Keyboard is being re-constructed and will be back up and running soon!

Stay tuned for new guest author posts 

and tons of fun!

Weekly Dose of Inspiration

Today's writing inspiration is brought to you by the letters Y-U-M.
(also known as Dominic) Wowsa.

What inspires you? 

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Monday Musings: The Hats I Wear

Am I the only one who feels like they’re being pulled in a million different directions? I can’t be, can I?

Sometimes I get so caught up in all of the different roles I play, all of the different hats I wear, that I lose sight of myself. Of the things that I need in order to meet my goals and stay true to ‘me’.

How many hats do I wear? Let’s see…

Wife
Mother
Sister
Daughter
Bookkeeper (let me add this one is for 6 different companies)
Tax Preparer (ok, so it’s only at year end, but hey, it’s on my mind right now)
Dog Groomer
Cook
Parts Gopher
Maid
Taxi Driver
Writer
Friend

There’s probably more, but you get the idea. Just looking at that list makes me think of the old saying ‘Make time to stop and smell the roses.’ I’d love to, really I would. But sometimes, there are too many hats to fit on my head at once. And the one that most often falls off? Unfortunately that would be ‘Writer’. *sigh*

If your list looks like mine, and it most likely does, how to you balance them all? How do you find the time to stay true to yourself? I’d love to know. 

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Writer Wednesday: It ALL Began with Tom Jones

LOL. It's true! And this is my story.

My girlfriends and I were returning from one of our fun trips to see my sister in Tulsa. We were tired, and our conversation had died to mumbles. One decided to spark things up with her version of Car Games. Simple, really. She'd ask a question and we'd answer. No brainer.

Question: Pick one--Tom Jones or Englebert Humperdink. I picked EH because he was more romantic. The other three picked TJ because he is wild.

A few more rounds went by, and then she asked, "Write the opening paragraph of a book, using the word window." My insides sunk to the floor because deep down, I wanted to write. And she knew it. (She's never said if she asked this question to jumpstart me or not, but it did).

The others said something. I was afraid to. Afraid what I'd say would be stupid. So I had nothing. And since I was holding things up, they said I could email them something later on. Whew!

Once home, the regular stuff of life hit and I didn't get to the computer for a couple of days. In the back of my head, I knew I had to do this because they wouldn't forget. Just like the proverbial elephant. So I opened a word doc and holy moley, my fingers flew. They didn't stop. I went back and back and before I could *snap*, I'd written eight chapters.

Still, I had to show my friend. I copied it on to a disc, met her for lunch, and gave it to her. We met a few days later, she passed the disc and said, "Keep going."

And I haven't stopped.

~Vicki

From sassy writer Vicki Batman comes three romantic tales with a dash of humor: Little Birdie Who… and Other Stories

"This is NOT Working": One of those days at a new job when nothing is going right until the new boss steps in.

"Check Her Out": Gum: it’s a sticky situation, especially between the store manager and Auntie Caren when her nephew has to pay for the package he stole.

"Little Birdie Who… ": A new town, a new friend, a new beginning. Who would have thought a little bird could bring two people together?

Monday Musings: Swag

I'm attending the RT Booklovers Convention this year - and signing at the BookEXPO, yay! - so I've spent a lot of time lately brainstorming, creating and ordering new promo swag. I always try my best to come up with something fun and unique, something that pertains to the book but that readers will enjoy. From the feedback I've received, I usually manage, however I still feel the need to ask...

Are there any promotional items that you LOVE to receive?
What about those items you don't bother taking or keeping?

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Character Quickie: Justin Harrison

20 quickie facts about Justin Harrison:

Birthday? August 27
Favorite color? Red - like the highlights in Paige’s hair.
Nickname? None that I’m aware of.
Birthmark or scars? A round scar at my left shoulder from a .38 and another on my left side from the surgeon.
Siblings? None
City of residence? San Diego, California
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Cinnamon
Occupation? Homicide Detective with the San Diego Police Department
Hobbies? Sex
Favorite song? You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Moldy Cheese
Your greatest fear? That I won’t be able to protect Paige.
Most treasured possession? 1969 Pontiac GTO ‘The Judge’
Special talent? When bad things happen, someone needs to help restore order, solve the puzzle and uncover the identity of the bad guy. I’m very good with puzzles.
Cat or dog? Dog
Pet peeve? I have no stomach for people who take advantage of others weaknesses or misfortune for their own gain.
Unforgettable moment? The first time Paige told me she loved me. Although I could have done without the Beretta pressed against her ribs at the time.
Spicy or not? Spicy
Favorite guilty pleasure? A frosted mug of beer and a cigarette (which I was forced to give up).
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Was the Beretta really necessary?

Justin Harrison is the hero in Sarah Grimm's award-winning romantic suspense, NOT WITHOUT RISK.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/VCdnYz

Amazon.ca: http://amzn.to/WUvTcX 

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/12I4rTr 

Nook: http://bit.ly/134DlkP

Breaking the Process By Sascha Illyvich

Most writers have a set process they use to write stories. They either plot meticulously (yo!) or they fly by the seat of their pants. Some set word count goals (again, yo) others do what they can when they can.

The creative process differs for all of us but the habits we establish help shape our careers, our futures. If we're diligent about work habits, success can be ensured. If we're persistent, if we're downright employing the concept of Kai Zen, the art of continuous improvement, then our processes get refined so much that every day seems the same, yet different.

Except when it doesn't, you find your editors are screaming at you because you know better about becoming a lazy editing author. Or when your agents are calling you with news that your last project needs another round of revisions but editors like the storyline…

It's maddening. Especially when you realize the reviewers are all saying how much they love your books, sales of your novels are steady but not as good as they could be, what then?

The one thing I'm evaluating in my career as of this writing is the process. Before, I pulled up the plotter pad my mentor gave me, filled out most of it, came up with some basic character descriptions, then just wrote. I wrote more and threw everything I had into that first draft, kept a rigorous schedule even when life got in the way.

It affected my health. I had to cut back on my hobbies, then cut back on how late I stayed up just to make or exceed word count. But the stories still had deadlines and I still had a life outside of publishing. The stories I've put out in the last few years have suffered not because they were poorly written, if that were the case they'd never have sold. But because they could have been longer, with more character development time spent. I was trained to write with my heart, but also with the idea that more is better. The more releases, the more the gravy train could keep rolling.

One year I was listening to a video interview from Rammstein, the German industrial metal band and the frontman said in translated German that "Rammstein has always been about militant structure. In this album (I think it was Rise, Rise) we broke free and let loose" or something to that effect. You know what? His statement about previous albums described me to a T.

Over the years I've realized I needed a change, a different structure. I needed something that flowed better with the emotional depth I put into my novels, while allowing me more downtime. I needed my readers to see I was capable of writing longer stories. I needed readers to understand me better and realize I screamed not just for me, but for them. But if I were to proceed in my usual militant way, I'd be dead and burned out before you finished reading this blog and obsessing about me. (Hint, you obsess about me, the bad boy of romance!)

Having a looser schedule allows me to begin breathing once again as a writer and more fully develop my characters while keeping my focus on the larger prize.

A little bit about Sascha:

Proclaimed by the Publishing industry as the Bad Boy of Romance, I started writing thirteen years ago. My erotic romances have been listed under the Night Owl Romance and Road to Romance’s Recommended read list, as well nominated for a CAPA by The Romance Studio.

Find me at http://saschaillyvichauthor.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/saschaillyvich

 

Character Quickie: Paige Sinster

20 quickie facts about Paige Sinster: 

Birthday? February 20th
Favorite color? Purple
Nickname? Principessa. Donovan, my mate, calls me Princess in Italian. Sometimes its sweet, sometimes its snarky.
Birthmark or scars? A mark of the Circle of Magdalena on my hip
Siblings? Six sisters. I’m part of the Seven Sin Sister prophecy.
State of residence? California
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Chocolate
Occupation? Pastry Chef & Café Owner
Hobbies? Baking & Shopping
Favorite band? There’s nothing like Abba to bake to!
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Creamer. I can’t drink my morning coffee without it.
Your greatest fear? Failing. Even now with my soul sin of Pride gone, I fear failing.
Most treasured possession? My mating jewels from Donovan
Special talent? Baking, especially with chocolate
Cat or dog? Cats are cleaner and when they purr, I can’t keep my eyes open.
Pet peeve? Interruptions in the kitchen
Unforgettable moment? My first spanking! Trust me, you wouldn’t forget it either!
Spicy or not? Spicy… very, very spicy.
Favorite guilty pleasure? Dessert in bed.
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Why did you have to make me seem so bitchy in the beginning?

Paige Sinster is the heroine in Vanished Pride,
book four in the Seven Sin Sisters series.
BUY IT HERE

To learn more about Paloma Beck
and her writing please visit her WEBSITE.

Weekly Dose of Inspiration

I had a difficult time coming up with something that inspires me this week.
That is, until I found these...

I LOVE THESE SHOES!!!

I love these shoes so much I've decided that I'm going to find them and buy them. That is, once I hit my weight loss goal. Yup, these are my inspiration NOT to eat the last cookie. NOT to run to the corner gas station for that bag of white cheddar popcorn.

My inspiration to get out of my writing chair and out in the garage, where my husband has his very own 'gym' complete with everything you'd find at a local gym.

What's even better? 
Hubs won't even ask me how much they are.
Honestly!
He's got a bit of a shoe fetish and I think he loves these shoes as much as I do. LOL

 ~*~

What inspires you?

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Mentors by Diane Burton

I love mentors in a story. Gandalf (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings), Obi Wan Kenobi (Star Wars) and Morpheus (Matrix). And to prove that I don’t watch only sci-fi/fantasy movies here are some other mentors. Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) in The Sting, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) in the original The Karate Kid, and Glenda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz.

Mentors give advice, explain the big picture and, sometimes, give the hero something magical—Luke’s father’s lightsaber (Star Wars) or the ruby slippers which will enable Dorothy to return home (The Wizard of Oz). Mentors lead the young hero by the hand (sometimes, by the nose) to do what is right. Usually, the mentor must spell out the call to adventure for the hero then has to wait around (with gentle prodding) while the hero decides whether to answer the call. Mentors need patience, but sometimes they have to give the hero that kick in the patoot s/he needs.

My hero, Celara d’Enfaden, in The Pilot owes the life she leads now to her mentor. Though he’s only mentioned briefly, Celara’s affection is evident for the man to whom she indentured herself to escape her home planet, taught her starship mechanics and how to be a pilot.

But the mentor can’t take the journey with the hero. You know the old saying about leading a horse to water? The mentor can only take the lead up to a point. It’s the hero’s journey and s/he has to go on alone.

In my writer life, I’ve had many mentors. Writers who’ve generously shared their knowledge and experience in the industry. In mythology, the mentor is often called The Wise Old Man or Woman. In my case, the writers who’ve mentored me were usually younger. I just started my writing career later in life than they did. I still have mentors, writers I learn from. To pay it forward, I’ve tried to mentor others.

Who are the mentors you recognize from film or books? Your own life? 

Blurb: The Pilot

There’s no place like home and he just stole hers. Cargo hauler, risk taker Celera d’Enfaden must work with rule-bound Administrator Trevarr Jovano to save her brother from a galactic gangster.



Excerpt from The Pilot 

Celara pushed her chair away from the table and climbed up on it. “Quiet down, you Rimmer scum.”

The patrons laughed then quieted. Someone paused the Seinfeld vid.

She lifted her drink again. “A toast, Rimmers. Let’s hear it for the wonderful, fantabulous, yada, yada, yada, Administrator Jovano. May he live long enough to enjoy good health.”

To her surprise, silence met her toast. No one raised their glasses or mugs, even in jest. Everyone was looking at her, standing on the chair. No, they were looking past her. Only thing behind her was the door. Kleema groaned and buried her head on her arms on the table. Booted footsteps rapped on the rough-hewn plank floor then stopped behind her.

“Thank you for the compliments and the good wishes for my longevity.” The baritone-and-chokiris voice sounded just over her shoulder.

If ever there was a need for a personal cloaking device, it was now. Or a magic ring with which to disappear. Sec Admin Trevarr Jovano stood behind her. Waiting. She swore she could feel him breathing.

Undaunted, she turned around. As the room tipped, she reached for the back of the chair. “Whoa, those mudslides sneak up on you.”

Missing the chair, she grabbed the closest thing—Trevarr Jovano’s black-clad shoulders. Beneath her fingers, the strong muscles contracted. “Hey there, Admin Man. Heard my toast, did you?” She grinned down at him.

He wasn’t smiling. “You should sit down before you fall down. Or better yet, go home and sleep it off.”

A dark fury swept away the sweet tranquility of two, tall Kruferian mudslides. “I can’t go home, you snake. You stole my home.”

She swung a round-house punch at him, missed her objective and would have fallen ignominiously off the chair had he not caught her. For several long secs, he held her tightly against his chest, her feet dangling off the floor a good twenty-five centimeters. His green eyes caught hers and darkened.

The heat in the room rose ten degrees. Her heart tripped, the air leached out of her lungs. His eyes. She could drown in those green depths.

The Pilot is available at Amazon ~ Smashwords ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction, and romance into writing romantic fiction. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America as well as the Mid-Michigan, Young Adult and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal RWA chapters. She is the author of the Switched series, about twins exchanging places—from Earth to a starship and the reverse. With The Pilot, she begins a new series about strong women on the frontier of space. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Diane can be found around the Internet at:

website: www.dianeburton.com
blog: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmburton72
Facebook: http://facebook.com/dianeburtonauthor
Goodreads: Diane Burton Author
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dmburton72/

Start Doing

I'm in the writing 'cave' today, so forgive me if all I share with you is this wonderful quote I discovered this weekend. I'm wondering if I could blow it up to poster size so I could place it on my living room wall?

Character Quickie: Jesse Snowe

20 quickie facts about Jesse Snowe:

Birthday? August 17, 1989.
Favorite color? Blue.
Nickname? Everyone just calls me Jesse.
Birthmark or scars? A leaf shaped birthmark on my hip, a small scar on my jaw.
Siblings? None.
City of residence? Las Vegas.
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Pina colada.
Occupation? Dancer in an all-male revue.
Hobbies? Dancing, yoga, gymnastics.
Favorite song? I have so many, but if I have to pick one, maybe Push Up by the Freestylers. It’s a great song to dance to.
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Blueberry yogurt.
Your greatest fear? Coming out to my fellow dancers.
Most treasured possession? Cell phone photo I took of Val when he wasn’t looking.
Special talent? I’m good at yoga and dancing.
Cat or dog? Dogs. They love you no matter what.
Pet peeve? People who think a ticket to the revue includes a grope session with the dancers. There’s always a few at every show.
Unforgettable moment? Hiking date with Val.
Spicy or not? Spicy, please.
Favorite guilty pleasure? Pepperoni pizza and beer.
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Why did you have to give me a job as a stripper? Why couldn’t I be the bartender?

Jesse Snowe is the hero of 

Pender Mackie's book, 

STAGE FRIGHT, 

available now at Amazon, 

Loose Id, and ARe.

Don't forget to visit Pender's

 WEBSITE.

Writer Wednesday: Editing

I think it’d be safe to say that one of the banes of a writer’s life is editing. While I’ve learned to appreciate the editing process, I can probably speak for all of us out there when I say the process can be arduous and painful. The good thing is we hold the power to lessen our own pain in this process. Here are some tips and tricks that I’ve found to help keep the editing process from becoming a raging headache.

1. Print out your manuscript – Yes, I know ink is expensive and it will take a lot of paper. But you’ll be thankful in the end. It’s the old adage of looking at something in a different light makes it look completely different. Reading your words on the printed page can sound/look very different than how they do on the computer screen.
2. Read it out loud – this is especially useful for dialog. Reading your story out loud will help you with word flow. Think about it, if you stumble over reading a sentence out loud, you can bet you’ll have a number of readers that will get tripped up reading it too. I know some authors who like to read their stories into a recorder and listen to it as they are reading along with the written manuscript so they can focus more on the way it sounds. 
3. Critique partners – Try to find people that will give you the feedback you need. You can do yourself a favor by explaining in detail or making a list of questions to help your partners understand exactly what you need from them. Finding partners that understand your genre can be a plus too.
4. Read it backwards – This clearly wouldn’t work well for content necessarily, but this is a great way to help you proof read your manuscript for typos, grammar, and punctuation. It allows you to not focus on the story content and more on the technical aspects.
5. Put it away for a week or more – Now I know time isn’t always on our side, but sometimes the best thing to do is put it away and pull it back out after some time has passed. If you can manage, put your manuscript away for a month. The more time that separates the last time you read it and your next round of edits gives your mind time to clear out and gives you the opportunity to read it with fresh eyes. 

What do you think? Anyone else have some editing tips that work well for them?

Lizzy Bergstrum thought she finally reached a point in her life when she could honestly say she had it all. A thriving writing career. A wonderful daughter. And a marriage to the love of her life. But looks can apparently be deceiving because her husband just walked out on her and their eight year old daughter hates her.

Gavin Bergstrum can’t handle the direction his life has taken. Not only did he get laid off from his job, but his wife seems to barely remember he exists. Convinced he’s tried his best to change things, he begins to wrestle with the possibility of divorce. But he can’t think straight in the same house as Lizzy. Hating to leave his daughter, but needing time to think and come to terms with what he feels he needs to do, Gavin decides to return to his small home town in Oregon and stay at his family ranch with his father and brothers.

 In shock, Lizzy gives Gavin his space. But as time passes and he doesn’t say a word about their marriage, Lizzy decides it’s past time she takes matters into her own hands. Without a word, she follows Gavin to Oregon.

Now facing a daughter who blames her for everything, an irritated husband, and a small town that feeds on the drama, Lizzy finds herself trying to figure out how to convince Gavin to give her another chance, teach her daughter it takes two to make a successful marriage, and overcome her own insecurities – all without compromising who she is.


AUTHOR BIO: 

In between her to-be-read pile and trying to bring the characters in her head alive, Kristen spends as much time as she can with family and friends. Much to her husband’s dismay, she enjoys collecting purses, shoes, and jewelry. During those rare times she’s not working at her day job, rushing her daughters somewhere, watching movies with her husband, and trying to meet a deadline, she can usually be found energetically cheering for one of her favorite New York sports teams.

As with just about every other writer on the planet, Kristen grew up an avid reader. She started with young adult before she technically hit the age range and moved on to sci-fi classics by Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. At fifteen, her best friend gave her a book she just had to read! The book was Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts. Always a sucker for a happy ending, she was a goner and fell in love with the romance genre. Having started writing novel length stories at the age of eleven, Kristen’s stories all took a romantic turn from that point on.

You can connect with Kristen here:

website www.KristenBeairsto.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/AuthorKristenBeairsto

Twitter www.twitter.com/AuthorKBeairsto

Courage

"Everyone is afraid of something." Isn't that what 'they' say? We say we are afraid of the dark, when in truth we are afraid of what's in the dark that we can't see. We say that we have a fear of heights, when it's the falling that we fear.

My husband is a deputy sheriff. He does things in any given day that send chills up my spine and goosebumps down my arms. He just shrugs it off and takes another bite of dinner.

How much courage does it take to put yourself out there, to submit your writing for other people to read and (gasp, swallow hard) reject? It takes a lot of more courage than some have. There are those of us who muster up this courage and send our work out to editors and agents, hoping to get back positive word.

Now what kind of courage does it take to self-publish?

Some may say none. After all, you don't have to deal with the rejection of the highers, but I disagree. Recently someone near and dear to me (*cough* Sarah) just released a previously published book with an updated cover and new sheen of polish. (Have you *seen* this cover?)

To me this is an amazing feat, a study of self-confidence and intestinal fortitude. I find it inspiring and...inspiring.

Am I announcing an intent? No, not yet. Just an idea, something to muse about this Monday morning.

How about you? How do you feel about self-publishing? Is it courageous or dangerous?

Arachnophobia means afraid of spiders. Does anyone know the word for "afraid to self-publish"?

Character Quickie: Jessie Hutchinson

20 quickie facts about Jessie Hutchinson: 

Birthday? August 3
Favorite color? Green. Definitely. Well, forest green. Like Lucian's eyes.
Nickname? Jessie is short for JessAnna, and everyone calls me Chatterbox. *blushes* And Lucian calls me his Temptress.
Birthmark or scars? None. I've lived a pretty boring life until my car broke down.
Siblings? My sister, Sally. She's always been such a… witch with a 'b', but now I know why, and it's okay. We get along now.
City of residence? Roseville, CA
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? A few weeks ago, I would have said Very Vanilla. Definitely. But now? Sometimes I'd be Blushing Berry. Other times, Sinful Sangria.
Occupation? Nurse.
Hobbies? *clears throat* Lucian
Favorite song? There's way too many to list. I love classic rock, and Lucian introduced me to classical music.
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Mustard? Maybe.
Your greatest fear? Making a fool of myself, and I do it regularly.
Most treasured possession? *holds up left arm to display beaded charm bracelet* This bracelet. Dorn gave us all one, to help us stay focused on the mission. The ones for the guys are gorgeous jeweled watchbands.
Special talent? That depends who you ask. Most people would say making a scene.
Cat or dog? Both.
Pet peeve? Women who bat their lashes and expect a man to fall at their feet.
Unforgettable moment? When I said Lucian was prettier than any woman I knew.
Spicy or not? Spicy.
Favorite guilty pleasure? It used to be chocolate, but now, it's watching Lucian. Though Lucian covered in chocolate… *sigh*
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Why did Lucian have to get injured so seriously? That was horrible!

Jessie is a co-heroine in "Dorn" Book 2 in Azure Boone's and Kenra Daniels' Archangels Creed series. She and the other members of her Quadumvirate have to fight Satan's genetically engineered Khareformen and create their Holy Warrior. 

To learn more about Azure and Kenra please visit their BLOG.

Creative Marketing by Juliette Springs

As a new author or established author everyone is using these marketing essentials:

Website/Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Newsletters, LinkedIn and Good reads. When used effectively these items help authors establish their brand and platform and drive readers and potential readers to your books. Since a lot of writers are using these social media, it’s time to get creative and a personal touch to make your platform & brand stand out and gain new readership.

Gain new readers with a personal creative touch. Start by donating a book “gift-basket” to the following places: rest homes, hospitals, and senior citizen centers. Each of these facilities has patients/residents/staff who probably love to read. While you are personally promoting your books, you’re also brightening someone’s day.

How about donating a couple of your paperbacks to your local library for checkout as well as donating personalized bookmarks? Most libraries have free bookmarks on their counters for patrons to take at their leisure.

If you’re already published or (even if you’re not) chances are you have some expertise in the area of writing. Schedule a free (or low priced) writing workshop about some aspect of writing. It can be an all-day event or for just two hours. Not only will you gain aspiring or established writers for networking purposes you also will meet potential readers. Door prizes could include a free book, author swag, or a coupon for 15% off one of your ebook. Get the email addresses of each participant and add them to your email list. Your local library is a great place to hold this event. To make it bigger and better invite other writers you know to host a session and donate door prizes too.

The key to gaining readership and extending your platform is to give readers something they want. What genre are you writing? Based on the genre of your writing develop free, interesting tidbits of information your readership/potential readership would be interested in knowing. Here are some guidelines:

Paranormal genre: Articles/Info about haunted houses, astrological info, history of vampires/werewolves/witches in the US. If you’re writing about a witch living in a haunted house, who falls in love with the ghost- Write an article about haunted houses in your region or “design” a tour of haunted houses they should visit. Is your heroine an Aries that falls in love with a Scorpio? Write an article on your blog about the compatibility of a Fire/Water sign relationships.

Erotic: This genre lends itself to a multitude of possibilities. A series of articles on your blog could include:

“Spicing up your sex life”

“Sex toys for Dummies”

“BSDM 101”…just to name a few.

Historical: Tweet historical facts about the setting of your novel. Write an article on your blog about the life of women during that time period. Post pictures of actual homes, castles, etc. of the time period your novel takes place.

Things to also consider doing:

Offer online classes

Book signings

Lecture about historical aspect or interesting aspect featured in your novel.

Recipes featured in your book

Consider posting deleted scenes of your book on your website to keep reader interest until your next novel comes out. This will work especially well for a series.

I hope my tips have given your valuable tips or even sparked ideas for extending your reach.

Until the next time

Juliette 

Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/JulietteSprings

www.juliettesprings.com

The Karma Chronicles~Vanessa’s Story Blurb 

Devastated after an emotional break-up, Vanessa decides to finish her fall semester and leave Bear Creek University and the town of Bear Creek forever, certain starting over in a new place will soothe her wounded heart. Her plans are derailed when her ex-lover returns wanting another chance. Despite the chemistry between them and their sensual history, should she risk her heart again for a man who told her she wasn’t good enough for him or his tribe?

Bowing to tribal pressure, Sean Yonah was forced to hurt his best friend and lover, the one woman he couldn’t get enough of. Now the Spirits say she may be his “other.” Sean knows what he did was deplorable, but if he doesn’t convince Vanessa to forgive him, he’ll lose a lot more than the love of his life.

BUY IT TODAY

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / All Romance eBooks / Bookstrand

Juliette's Contact Information:

Website/Blog: www.juliettesprings.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JulietteSprings

Monday Musings

It's my morning to share with you my musings, and frankly, I have no idea what to tell you. I've had the most God-Awful sinus headache all weekend, have been struggling to upload a book to Amazon - it keeps reverting back to draft - and, I downloaded a 'safe' program last night and got a whole bunch of extra garbage I'm in the process of removing. Not really exciting stuff, huh? :-)

I think this morning I'll just leave you with this. (and if anyone has one of these signs, can you send it to me? I'm in desperate need of one. lol)

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Character Quickie: Isabelle Carson

20 quickie facts about Isabelle Carson:


Birthday? January 2
Favorite color? Lilac
Nickname? The elf that waylays me prefers princess.
Birthmark or scars? I have a recent tattoo that I’d rather not talk about.
Siblings? 2
City of residence? Small town – Sherwood Hills
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Chili-mango – sweet with underlying heat.
Occupation? Antique store owner.
Hobbies? Home restoration.
Favorite song? I Don’t Want To Talk About It – rendition by Rod Stewart & Amy Belle – but I’m hoping this will change.
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? A Château De Gironville bordeaux. I like my red wine chilled.
Your greatest fear? That men will not see past my sex-kitten body to the person inside.
Most treasured possession? My Tudor Revival house.
Special talent? Finding treasures amongst the trash.
Cat or dog? Dog
Pet peeve? Men who can’t connect emotionally.
Unforgettable moment? When Serenity Resorts disappeared. I will never forget that moment.
Spicy or not? Spicy
Favorite guilty pleasure? Apple toffee cheesecake.
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Couldn’t you find a less dramatic way to bring Jonathan and I together besides giving us to that demented elf as playing pieces in his seductive game when you knew how committed I was to my relationship recovery program?

Find more about Isabelle in Sharon Clare's release, RHAPSODY, available now at Amazon.

Don't forget to visit Sharon's WEBSITE for more about her and her writing.

Weekly Dose of Inspiration

Just a thought to hold you through the weekend...