Tuesday, January 15, 2019

3T Writing Tidbit

This is another in my 25 Ways You're Losing Readers (and what you can do about it) series.

 Readers. The most amazing people on the planet. New writers quail in their shoes when they hand over their babies to readers for the first time. They cheer when the readers respond positively.

That doesn't change. No matter how often you publish, an author will always want to throw a ticker-tape parade for each and every reader who loves her writing.

It's wonderful! The best feeling in the world. But you still have more work to do. As an author, you need to go further.

You want readers to tell you how much they love your writing? Take it to the next level.

Write stories to inspire readers to tell others how much they love your writing.

Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits. Click here to see all 25 Ways You're Losing Readers

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

2T Repeat Performance

In December 2016, the lovely Magical Musings crew decided it was time to close down their blogging shop. I had three wonderful years with them. This is another of those posts.

Taking up the (Unreasonable Obsession) Challenge--my Cool Stuff--originally posted August 29, 2015.

Leisha began this, and Zoe challenged us to continue it--whether it's a '68 Mustang or the perfect summer day, we all get a twinkle of delight at really cool stuff. Here are a few of mine.

1. GEMSTONES. Yeah, the shinier the better. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds...we toured the gems room at the Natural History Museum and I might have drooled a time or two. Strangely, I don't wear a lot of jewelry. I think I like to look at it more than I like to be weighed down by it.


2. MYSTERIES. Detective books like Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, a seventh-of-a-ton, orchid-growing, beer-swilling genius, and Elizabeth Peters's feisty 1900s archeologist Amelia Peabody; smart crime dramas with great characters like NCIS and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Sherlock (Holmes), who is so popular, he is in books, television, movies, and more!

3. SCENTS. Good smells, like roses, lilacs, perfume, soap, author Leigh Morgan's candles. New-mown grass and hay. Incense. Bakeries. Ooh, donuts...mmm. Bacon sizzling, even though I'm a vegetarian. Coffee...hmm, must be dinner time, lol.

4. PUZZLES. I do CrossSums every day and enjoy variety puzzles so much I bought a box of 40. The trick is getting the mechanical pencil to run out of lead at the same time the eraser is worn away to nothing.

5. Whose Line Is It Anyway? Scenes from a Hat. Colin doing his dinosaur imitation. Wayne singing anything. Other humor too, Stephanie Plum, DragonBall Z Abridged, Weird Al, Marx Brothers, Simon's Cat, xkcd.

6. SCIENCE FICTION. Again, from books to television to movies: Asimov, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Marvel's Avengers. Many science fiction stories are about friendship and solid teamwork, which I adore. Others rejoice in grand adventure. Some have both! Who doesn't love the way Sarah Jane and the Doctor constantly rescued each other?

My niece knitted her own Tom Baker scarf and I'm just tickled every time I see it.

7. VISTAS. Not just on earth, but anything I can gaze at and breathe freer. Lakes, fields, forests, mountains. Even a big backyard satisfies something deep inside.

India Gala 2014 (32)8. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. If it bangs, blows, or bows, I love it! My earliest memories are of banging on a toy piano, and I loved visiting my aunt, thinking she was the coolest because she had a real one!

What's your coolest stuff?

Thursday, January 3, 2019

1T Status Update

Happy New Year! Have any of you made resolutions for 2019? I don't usually, but this year I have two: Eat More Protein (it's amazing how much better I feel) and Relax More (also amazing how much more energy I have for work if I've done some serious relaxing first).

What about you? What are you doing differently this year?

Oh, and I'm working on Soul Mates, the final book of the Pull of the Moon series. Just at the beginning stages right now, but the characters are developing nicely.

The big news is that I'm expecting second round edits shortly for Night's Kiss (the Ancients, book 2). I don't have a release date yet, but I figured with 10 books in the Biting Love Universe (14 if you count the Short Bites), a countdown reread would probably stretch until release day. *grin*

The Biting Love Universe. A cup of high-octane, steamy UF romance, a dollop of small-town mayhem and two (or three) lumps of sarcasm and geek culture references. Start from the beginning with Bite My Fire.
https://books2read.com/BiteMyFire
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073TSV9VV
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B073TSV9VV
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B073TSV9VV

Get in on my giveaway! Two lucky winners will receive a copy of Bite My Fire. Steamy and sweary. Adults only, please.