All Blog Posts Tagged 'readers' (46)

Sobbing on the Pages

I've never been much for sob stories. Of course, great literature tends to be tragic, and some of those stories are on my list of all-time favorites. I love reading versions of the King Arthur legend, for example, but I know that I'll be sad at the end because that "fleeting wisp of glory" could not sustain itself in the face of Man's corruption.

The best tragedies offer us some kind of hope, but even so, as I've gotten older, I find myself reading fewer books that I know can't end…

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Added by Peg Herring on May 19, 2010 at 10:26pm — 5 Comments

Networking

It's something you should never see, IMHO, but more about that later.

I spoke at a Career Day last week, and the topic of networking came up. The students didn't know what it was, but since I shared the stage with a newspaper reporter, we explained how we reciprocate in helping each other. I give her interviews that hopefully pull in readers. I aslo buy advertising space in her paper. She gives me publicity that should result in name recognition and book sales. Neither of us…

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Added by Peg Herring on April 19, 2010 at 10:34pm — No Comments

Free Writing Contest: "My Best Fiction"

We are proud to present the free BookRix writing contest: March 15, 2010 to May 10, 2010

Put forth what you consider to be your best work of fiction, whether it’s a short story, script, adventure, vampire romance, fan fiction or even Manga: All genres are welcome in this contest! The work must be at least 20 BookRix pages long, but…

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Added by Nils on March 16, 2010 at 10:52pm — No Comments

New suspense/action novel: The Raven Affair

THE RAVEN AFFAIR was released on the 11th of February. An action/suspense novel in Ebook format, available online any day now. The paperback is due in March, check it out at www.SNEDELTON.com…

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Added by STEVEN NEDELTON on February 18, 2010 at 11:46am — No Comments

Who Reads Mystery?

Smart people, of course!

Well, that's part of it. Mystery readers come in all shapes and sizes, but I've been to lots of conventions where they gather, and they are a dedicated lot. Authors sometimes cringe at the thought of meeting their fans, because they'll be put to the question: why was Character C's motive so weak? How did Character A travel from New York to L.A. so fast? And did you know that your Character B has blue eyes in book one and green eyes in book two?… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on February 1, 2010 at 10:09pm — No Comments

A reader's review of CROSSROADS by Steven Nedelton

“An exciting new book is out, Crossroads by Steven Nedelton. I recommend it highly, in fact I bought it. It is a mind bending thriller that deals with espionage, murder, revenge and mayhem. If you have ever ridden on a roller coaster, you had better keep your hands in the car with this one. This will keep you on the edge of your seat but at times there is NO edge. Mind control takes over leaving you grasping and gasping at this Ian Holm style story. It is, however, much more than that. You… Continue

Added by STEVEN NEDELTON on January 30, 2010 at 1:09pm — No Comments

Not a Clue

Wouldn't you like to just grab some people by the coat and tell them how it is?

"Why is it so long before you book comes out?"
I don't know.

"Will they release it in paperback?"
I don't know.

"When will it be available as an audiobook?"
I don't know.

"Why don't you tell them you want...(any of the above) done differently?"
That I know. Because my name is not Nora Roberts.

Added by Peg Herring on December 31, 2009 at 10:38pm — No Comments

Christmas Greetings

As 2009 draws to a close I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to my success as a crime writer, not least the wonderful people who have bought my crime novels, or borrowed them from the libraries, and those who have been kind enough to tell me how much they have enjoyed reading or listening to them. Thank you so much.

I would… Continue

Added by Pauline Rowson on December 22, 2009 at 10:56pm — No Comments

Monday, Monday, and Teasing

It's been a frustrating morning, with CS insisting my password was wrong and resisting all attempts to solve the problem. The same with Verizon, which is merging with AllTel and making my life complicated.

As Ellen D. would say...Anyway:

I'm reading Kate Morton's THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON, a sort of classy soap opera. I don't usually like authors who tease the reader continually, "I didn't suspect at that moment what I would soon encounter" can be used once or twice, but soon… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on November 30, 2009 at 11:35pm — No Comments

Germany Remembers Fall of Berlin Wall & CROSSROADS

Sphere: Famous Street Was Caught Between East and West

Merkel, who grew up in East Germany and was one of thousands to cross that night, recalled that "before the joy of freedom came, many people suffered."

She lauded Gorbachev, with whom she shared an umbrella amid a crush of hundreds, eager for a glimpse of the man many still consider a hero for his role in pushing reform in the Soviet Union.

THRILLER CROSSROADS provides some of the subtleties hidden… Continue

Added by STEVEN NEDELTON on November 14, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Feet on the Ground, Ms. Author!

I found somewhere a list of things one shouldn't say to a mystery author, and I got a charge out of it, because I've heard just about all of them: "I don't read fiction" (with nose lifted); "I buy my books at garage sales, but I'll look for yours"; and the most frequent, "Oh. My (son, daughter, granddaughter, neighbor, washing machine repairman, etc.) wrote a book, too." (That one is often followed by, "Would you like to read it?" or "Could you send it to your agent?")

I've added… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on November 9, 2009 at 10:45pm — 3 Comments

What Exactly Is "The Old Razzle-Dazzle"?

Whether we're considering quality of writing or branding or charisma, the problem is the same: personal differences. I gripe a lot here about writing that I consider bad, but obviously somebody liked/likes it, so I'm different from those people.

Readers look for different things from books, so what I want isn't necessarily what you want. I've learned to smile like Buddha and say nothing when people gush over their favorites, books I wouldn't read if you gave them to me along with… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 15, 2009 at 11:15pm — 4 Comments

The Gift of Murder

I've probably mentioned I'm part of this year's Toys for Tots anthology from Wolfmont, titled THE GIFT OF MURDER. Now I can tell you that I recommend it, since I finished in this morning over breakfast.

I'm pleased to have been included in the anthology, an entertaining mix of holiday crime stories. A great gift for the readers on your holiday list, since you get 19 chances to please instead of just one, and you support a worthy cause at the same time.

Nice work, Tony… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 9, 2009 at 9:56pm — No Comments

There's No Predicting

If you'd asked me a week ago, I'd have said that writers' groups don't buy books. Most of the time when I speak to a group of wanna-be writers, they're there to pick my brain, and the enticement of reading my work evades them entirely.

Then I meet a group that surprises me, and I have to run to the car to get more books (always more books in the car--that's a rule.) And I take orders from more people who didn't come prepared to buy the book but want to send a check.

The… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 7, 2009 at 7:30pm — 2 Comments

Deferred Gratification

I had a professor at the U of M(ichigan...she hangs her head after Saturday's humiliation) who was always on about deferred gratification and how Americans had lost any grasp of it in modern times. It's hard to argue the point after seeing the newly touted sports channel that lets you "see every touchdown in every game" on a Sunday afternoon. Jump from game to game, just watching the highlights? How long would it take to be totally lost as to which team you were watching? And what's the… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on October 5, 2009 at 9:21pm — No Comments

Writing contest RAIN STORIES – win cash with your story

Summer is about to end? Autumn is knocking at the door? Take advantage of the unpleasant rainy weather and enter the latest BookRix Short Story Writing Contest for free: Tell your rain story and turn your wordsmith powers into positive cashflow and fame.

Key Facts:

- Write a story that has anything to do with rain, or Mr. Rain, or a dog named Rain, whatever.

- Authors can win up to $1000

- Readers have the chance to win a Amazon voucher

- No entry fee required –… Continue

Added by Nils on September 16, 2009 at 12:02am — No Comments

BookRix - community connects writers to readers

www.bookrix.com - a social network for writers and readers, where everyone can convert novels, non-fiction, poetry, comics, poems etc public as an e-book in own design.

You can edit your books with a special tool, or simply upload your doc and pdf-files. It's free to read books online. You can even download e-books for e-reader or smartphones for free. Find community features like individual user profiles, forum, groups etc and make new contacts, discuss with like-minded people or just… Continue

Added by Nils on August 26, 2009 at 12:28am — No Comments

Things Learned from Readers

I went to a book club meeting last night where my book, MACBETH'S NIECE, had been read. Everyone was very kind, and it was one of those gratifying experiences where you're treated as an expert and you feel a bit like an imposter playing the "Author" role.

The part that sticks with me this morning is the questions. These are all people who read, and from the general discussion I think they read decent material: good fiction and nonfiction too. They analyze things as a group, much like… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on May 21, 2009 at 11:20pm — 8 Comments

Note to Self

It started with a note from someone else, an anonymous writer who found my webpage and wrote to say how much she liked MACBETH'S NIECE. She didn't have to do that, but it was more than welcome in my life at this moment. Talk about throwing someone a lifeline!

Which reminds me of my promise to myself that I would let authors know when I read their books and found them worthwhile. I don't think it matters if you're on the top of the bestseller list or just starting out, specific,… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on May 1, 2009 at 10:14pm — 3 Comments

The Dreaded Flashback

I happen to like flashbacks if they aren't too obscure. That's a good thing, because my newest WIP is going to require it. The problem is that obscurity thing; I want each flashback to clarify the overall plot, not make the reader crazy with extraneous detail.

I wrote the first few chapters, which take place in the now, setting up the premise, introducing the characters, and establishing the hook. Now it's time to start feeding the reader bits and pieces of the protag's past so we… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 6, 2009 at 10:31pm — 1 Comment