Words of Wisdom Promoting a new novel without an established reader base is daunting and intimidating. After hosting a book-launching event, and asking (begging) friends to please read, review, and recommend Busted to others, I needed to expand my universe and have been seeking professional and influential blogger reviews. When a novel is submitted, there…
My writing professor recommended that I create an audio version of Busted. As I embarked on another expedition that I knew nothing about, I discovered that a company called ACX, (Audio Book Creation Exchange) which is owned by Amazon, dominates 95% of the market. Through ACX, an author can have an audio book created and…
I’m an introvert, and that’s probably why writing is so appealing. I’m alone in my office, sitting at my desk, and creating an imaginary world. I’m in control. Safe. As a published author, I need to be extroverted to promote my book. Even though I’m uncomfortable, I force myself to do one new thing every…
Recently I read a writer’s blog written by an agent who identified nine ways NOT to begin your book. I read the list and when I reached the ninth example, I said, “OH NO!” Not only have I been struggling to write my second novel, now I need to rewrite the first chapter. This past…
As I researched drug trafficking for my first novel, Busted, my opinion about illegal drugs changed. Previously I’d supported the war on drugs; after all, drugs are bad. Over time, I came to the conclusion that prohibition doesn’t work, and in fact, creates a black market where illegal and illicit substances thrive without regulations. My new philosophy…
Every 9 seconds in the U.S. a woman is beaten. That’s what was displayed on the video presentation at the Human Options annual fund raiser on May 20, 2017. (Human Options, located in Orange County, California, is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and abuse.) While staring at that number, waves of disbelief washed over me. I…
After spending eight and a half years writing and rewriting, I began submitting my novel a year ago April. I received twenty-five agent rejections, of which many were complimentary but didn’t want to do another story about drugs. Just one agent read the manuscript while the others had reviewed the first chapter; plus I had…
