November 2007 Blog Posts (171)

A Hard-working Author's Daily Schedule

I start work early, being an early riser. By 7:00 am I'm at the computer, planning a full day's writing. Here's how it goes.

7:00am Check email, write blogs and post

8:00 am Still trying to think of what to write on the dumb blog.

8:15 am Got it! Now to answer the email.

9:00 am Sent email to publisher and several businesses. Also replied to friend in Chicago, sister, daughter, daughter's friend, people at church, and one fan.

10:00 am Down to work. Read…

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Added by Peg Herring on November 30, 2007 at 10:33pm — 1 Comment

My book cover is in

I admit it: I was worried. What if I didn’t like my book cover? I was afraid of oversized nipples on pecs the size of watermelons and bulging prison-gym muscles. So when the cover came in, I was nervous. To appreciate my nervousness you need to know that authors don’t have a lot of say where their covers are concerned; that’s not in our realm of responsibility and thus we’re at the mercy of our publishers and cover…

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Added by NL Gassert on November 30, 2007 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Mcmanus

I just finished The Blight Way by Patrick McManus. I've always enjoyed McManus' humor essays. The are funny all the way down to your toes. His humor isn't as thickly spread in his mystery novel, but it has the same assured voice and a pretty good plot. Mosly I liked the characters -- I think it's what McManus does best. Still expected Rancid Crabtree to show up somewhere along the way.

Cliff

Added by Clifford Royal Johns on November 30, 2007 at 1:47pm — No Comments

Take the Marketing Poll

I'm currently working on a promotions book for authors. Part of the book will include a Q&A section with answers to author questions.

To supplement, I've created a marketing poll at www.angelawilson.net. If you have time, check it out - and email your top three marketing questions.

Thanks!

Angela Wilson
www.angelawilson.net

Added by Angela Wilson on November 30, 2007 at 10:21am — No Comments

Modern Policing

Over at Type M 4 Murder (http://typem4murder.blogspot.com) we've been having a lively discussion on the RCMP Taser incident at Vancouver airport, and what policing means to us. We are none of us police officers, so we don't have any special insight, but we are citizens. Check it all out.

Added by Vicki Delany on November 30, 2007 at 6:43am — No Comments

I'm covered!



I’ve been anxiously awaiting this moment. While I’m totally useless myself when it comes to graphic design, I’m enamored of cover art and love sampling it in a good bookstore. I like covers that are unusual,

colorful, say something about the book inside, and have a bit of

mystery to them - what is that about? Hmmm, let’s take a look . . .





So I was delighted to get the cover art for In the Wind, and…

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Added by Barbara Fister on November 30, 2007 at 2:33am — 2 Comments

Doggone Memories

posted by Jeanne Munn Bracken

Sandy was never a satisfactory dog. No dog is perfect, of course, as we well knew from earlier canines we'd taken in.

Our first, Sheba, was hit by a car, and Whiskers, who we loved dearly despite her chewing everything, we had for 15 years.

I thought I wanted a dog, and the kids were sure they had to have one. Ray didn't want one at all. Several years passed before some people showed him the picture of a dog they had to give…

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Added by Writers Plot on November 29, 2007 at 11:23pm — No Comments

Read This or Else!

Yesterday I wrote on perspective and how my own writing career has changed how I judge a book. One reader of my blog commented that we must keep reading, both to learn and to refuel. I certainly agree. Reading is key to writing. Extending that thought, both reading and writing are key to thinking, and we as a nation lose ground with each non-reader who graduates high school. By non-readers I don't mean people who can't read; I mean people who consistenly choose to do something…

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Added by Peg Herring on November 29, 2007 at 10:34pm — No Comments

I've Been Working on Making a Book

Yeah, it's been awhile since I've been here. Since the last

visit, my son and his wife had a baby and that makes me a _ _ _ _ _

mother but I don't allow anyone to call me that so they call me the

"Ancient Mariner," which is very confusing because I'm not anywhere

near a marina.



And I've also been making a book, and in the tradition that all authors

are forced to be in nowadays, I am going to plug the damn thing. But

it's great (of course), and there is… Continue

Added by Andrea Campbell on November 29, 2007 at 4:00pm — No Comments

The Agent Question – Will They Respect Me in the Morning?



The Agent Question – Will They Respect Me in the Morning?

By Jordan Dane

As a debut author, your first relationship with an agent can be like a courtship. The first blush of an offer to represent is followed by the unforgettable satiation of that first deal. You light up a cigarette and revel that nothing will ever be the same again, but in…

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Added by Jordan Dane on November 29, 2007 at 3:49pm — No Comments

advance praise for THE PROTECTOR

  • Sexy, sizzling—and sweet! NL Gassert manages to combine the tenderness of first love with thrilling action in The Protector. The tropical setting on Guam is fresh and beautifully evoked, and the engaging characters of Mason and Soren will keep readers turning the pages, rooting for these lovers against tropical storms and terrorist agents. —Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu and Mahu Surfer…
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Added by NL Gassert on November 29, 2007 at 10:00am — No Comments

I Want A Little Red Dot

posted by Doranna Durgin

It's taken a long time for this one to sink in, but I'm finally getting there.

When I was younger, I often took people by surprise. I was assertive; by unconscious default I approached situations as though expecting not to be heard, and so I made myself crystal clear from the outset. But others were often taken aback; they felt I was in fact adversarial.

So I worked on that. Over time, I softened my approach. Oh, not…

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Added by Writers Plot on November 28, 2007 at 10:39pm — No Comments

It's All About Perspective

I used to be a generic reader, one of those people who read cereal boxes and pamphlets in the doctor's office about male urinary tract infections. I'm still voracious, but I find that the more I write for myself, the more critical I am of what I read. I can no longer finish a book if the author doesn't create characters I respect, and by that I mean characters who ring true to me. Even with some authors I admire greatly, I find myself asking, "Oh, come now, would a straight-laced, uptight…

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Added by Peg Herring on November 28, 2007 at 10:26pm — No Comments

Guthrie's Hard Man

Finished late last night Al Guthrie's Hard Man. Man oh man. Pretty rough stuff. Recommended if you can take it. I can see why some people have been so critical about this (and how it's all connected to the neo-noir discussion), though. Is there some sociological truth hidden in there? Or even questions?

My reading's been pretty vicious as of late. First Marquis de Sade, then Al Guthrie. I've also been reading collections of readers' letters from old porn magazines. They can be…

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Added by Juri Nummelin on November 28, 2007 at 9:25pm — No Comments

When your book comes out your life will change...

Right?





Well, that's what I used to think and it is what a lot of aspiring novelists think. And so, since I teach writing at the UCLA Extension School (yup, I'm in New England – I do it online), I blogged today on the UCLA Writers' Program blog about what it feels like when those boxes arrive – and what you can look forward to!…









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Added by Clea Simon on November 28, 2007 at 8:37am — No Comments

Hell of a Woman Signings

I’m doing a bunch of signing this weekend for Hell of a Woman, an anthology of female noir.



Latitude 33 Bookshop

with Megan Abbott, Eddie Muller and Theresa Schwegel

311 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach

949.494.5403

Friday, November 30th @ 6:30pm



Mysteries to Die For

with Megan Abbott, Naomi Hirahara, Eddie Muller and Cornelia… Continue

Added by Christa Faust on November 28, 2007 at 6:48am — 2 Comments

Don't I Look Like Myself?

In novels, characters are often defined by their physical appearance. The man who frowns all the time is negative and irritable; the woman whose conscience is clear shows it in her relaxed demeanor. It's a useful tool, and it may often be true that our natures are betrayed in physical manifestation. But I don't think that's always the case.

I direct a choir of some fifty people, and if their expressions while singing were used as a judgment of their mental state, one would conclude…

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Added by Peg Herring on November 27, 2007 at 11:10pm — No Comments

The Lovely Leftovers

Posted by Lorraine (L.L.) Bartlett

Carved_turkey I wasn't expecting to get the majority of the turkey from last week's Thanksgiving feast. Hoping, but not expecting.

Friday we had a guest and decided not to subject her to leftovers, so out came Leann's marvelously easy top round Swiss steak in the Crockpot recipe. (And it smells sooooo good cooking,…

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Added by Writers Plot on November 27, 2007 at 10:46pm — No Comments

Seth Harwood Interview











Suspect: Seth Harwood

Age: Yeah, okay, I dunno

Occupation: Writer, Podcaster, Creative Writing college prof.

Last known location: Bezerkley, er, Berkley, CA



In this week's episode,…

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Added by Angie on November 27, 2007 at 1:50pm — No Comments

CRIES AND WHISKERS is (almost) out

Hi folks,



I'm bursting. CRIES AND WHISKERS, the new Theda Krakow/Musetta mystery, is here! Well, my boxes have arrived, anyway. The advance press has been gratifying and the book should be appearing in stores (and Amazon, etc.) over the next few weeks. However, this is the gift giving season. So if you are interested and you'd like to make SURE you get your copy, or if you want an autographed and/or personalized copy for yourself or to give, please consider ordering from one of the… Continue

Added by Clea Simon on November 27, 2007 at 5:50am — No Comments

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