Wow!

So it's been a week and a half since Jesse's Brother has been released. I've done interviews, guest blogs, and chats so far. These were all fun things to do in the name of promotion. What I was scared of were the reviews! Right before the release date, I sent out Jesse's Brother to be reviewed by Pheobe Jordan. I checked her review blog every day to see if the review had been posted. It was finally with a rating of 4 out of 5 open books. It made my whole day... okay, week.

Pheobe said, "I very much look forward to reading any of Wendy's future novels because like I said she has me hooked."

Anyway, I'm so proud even though I've prepared myself for a not-so-good reviews. Hopefully I won't get any huh? One thing I'm wondering about is how many people buy books based on reviews. Does a review influence your book buying choice?

If you have a few minutes, take a peek last night's project! Talk to you soon... Wendy Ely

Close to the Heart

I'm curious to know how many writers out there have that one special novel or even a short story that means more to you than all the others. For me, that extra special book was written in a genre I rarely write. I market myself as a paranormal author but no matter how many werewolf or vampire tales I spin, I continuously receive more fan mail about this book.

The Wooden Nickel is a vintage romance set during WWII and The Great Depression and is loosely based on my grandparents. I've had readers approach me at book signings with a bummed look on their faces because I'm only signing copies of a current paranormal release. So, I've decided to sign The Wooden Nickel at the 4th Annual Buns and Roses Tea for Literacy on October 11th.


It's a fun event where authors have the wonderful opportunity to have tea with readers. I promised some of the readers last year that next year I would sign The Wooden Nickel so I can't disappoint.






Another reason I think this book is more popular is because of its wide appeal. It's appropriate for young and old alike. Perhaps the biggest appeal though is the message, ever lasting love.

I visited my mother the other day and she told me she just finished reading it for the third time and cried all over again. My grandmother volunteers at the hospital and convinced the gift shop owner to purchase my book and sell copies. She said the owner loves to tell shoppers that the author is a granddaughter of one of their volunteers.

My grandma rocks! She's a marketing genius. She really knows how to spread the word. She started talking up a product sold in my uncle's pharmacy. He sells those emergency necklaces to call 911 for the elderly and disabled to wear. She wears one and told all her friends about it. My uncle called her and said, "What did you do? I'm selling out of these things and the customers all say you sent them."

So, I'll just sit back and wait for Grandma to run into a movie producer. In the meantime, I'll dream about my favorite actors playing the characters I created. Do you have a favorite book you've written and dream of seeing it on the big screen one day? I'd love to hear about it.

Here's the book video for The Wooden Nickel. I'd love to hear your thoughts.




Happy Tuesday,
Alisha

Change is in the air

Do you ever have that feeling like something is brewing, just a little buzz crawling across your skin, but you’re not able to detect exactly what’s going on? I have that feeling right now, and it’s driving me insane trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s like I can feel an internal storm just waiting to erupt. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

I live a hectic, but simple life. Just me and my daughter with our two dogs roaming around in our 100 year old house. Usually, that’s just fine with me. I enjoy it. But lately, I feel like maybe I’m missing something. I’m not sure what it is, but my heart doesn’t seem to be fully engaged in my surroundings. I’m finding myself pulled into my daydreams more and more. Maybe it’s the change of season, or the fact that I’m realizing that this year is already headed toward it’s close, and I haven’t accomplished anything that I set out to do. Maybe it’s a sign that my muse is waking up and is planning a full on attack (that would be nice). Whatever it is, I can feel it running through my veins, heated and charged, getting ready for whatever lies ahead.

My concentration is shot. I’ve started and stopped writing a hundred times, but I can’t seem to stay focused on the story. I’ve tried editing, still no good. I’ve now convinced myself that there’s a reason for that. Whatever kind of change is working it’s way through me right now seems to be the culprit. At least, that’s what I’m blaming it on. J So, for now, I’m going to think that this is a good thing. It’s a time of rejuvenation for me, and at the end of whatever it is, I’m going to come out stronger and better for it.

It seems strange to me, that this is happening now. Shouldn’t spring be the season for rejuvenation? Maybe my internal clock is off.

Have you ever experience this? I’d love to hear your story. Give me something to look forward to. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Tommy, Can You Hear Me?

Well, I'm happy to report that I arrived home in one piece from my trip to Atlantic City. I had a good time and learned - or rather relearned - some things I'd forgotten over the years. The traffic coming home was a little heavy in places, but hey, what do you expect for rush hour on the Garden State Parkway?

So, everything went swimmingly, my hubby and dog were waiting with big smiles to welcome me home. We sent out for dinner so I wouldn't have to cook...and then I went to bed. Or tried to. First of all I had to clean my ear where it had been bothering me the last few days....

Enter a Q-tip, a 50 lb Golden Retriever mix, and door.


Do you see where this is going?

One knock of that big muscular body of my Lilygirl and the cabinet door swung shut with a great deal of force right on my ear, where the Q-tip stook out. There was a pop, overwhelming pain, and then nothing but blood in my right ear. I hit the floor, my hubby came running as I wailed and sobbed. The dog tried to lick me by way of apology. Sad to say, her efforts were in vain. I still can't hear out of that ear and I have a hole the size of Pittsburgh in my eardrum.

The ENT I saw said in a case like mine 95% of the time, the hole will close on its own and hearing will be restored in about six weeks. This, however, has not stopped me from worrying that I'll spend the rest of my life hearing the world like I'm sitting with my head inside a goldfish bowl. Yes, I have hearing on the right, but it's that odd annoying sound one experiences when they have a cup-full of water in their ear. You all know the feeling of which I speak. The ENT also told me I was lucky because the injury did not involve any bony structures, therefore surgery is not indicated in this case. Well, thank God for small favors! I was so not looking forward to surgery.

This happened at about 2am on Thursday morning...so explain to me exactly why I wake up on Sunday afternoon after working two twelve hour shifts and had relatively no pain would it be excruiating? My first guess is that the inflammation from the initial pain response in the area has started to fade and those pain receptors in the ear are now able to fire. I'm telling myself this. If I am still on my knees in pain tomorrow, I'm going to call for some pain meds or some anti-biotics as I'm afraid I might get an infection. (Though the ENT assured me that my particular injury ususually doesn't become infected). I did pack my ear with cotton while at work, since hospitals are notoriously full of bugs and I didn't want to introduce anything into my ear canal that could impede healing.

But you know, in the back of my mind I'm wondering if instead of something horrible happening to me like I mentioned last week, if my magic was just strong enough to divert death and dismemberment, but not enough to deflect all injuries.

I mean, what else am I to think about so freak an accident?

So, that's been my last few days. How are you all doing?

-Kate

I Need Chocolate

Here is the final push before my next release “The Cadet’s Officer” is released on October the 1st (I believe)!

So please, please buy “The Pauper’s Prize” and make a starving artist (for chocolate) really happy. You can click here to purchase a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

I so need chocolate *giggle*

Presenting Dellani Oakes- guest blogger

Character Questionnaire
Manuel Enriques

Dellani Oakes: What is your story?
Manuel: My story is still being written, but a portion of it is chronicled in "Indian Summer" by Dellani Oakes.
DO: Who are you?
M: My name is Manuel Enriques and I am confidential aid to Governor Ferdinand Deza.
DO: Where do you live?
M: I live in the beautiful town of St. Augustine in the Florida territory.
DO: Are you the hero of your own story?
M: What is a hero? A man who does what he must to protect that which he holds dear. I am such a man. If that makes me a hero, then I accept this role gladly.
DO: What is your problem in the story?
M: The problem is that there is a pesky British spy wandering around causing trouble. The beast is wily and sly, but I'll catch him, have no doubt.
DO: Do you embrace conflict?
M: Conflict is in many forms. If it is in the form of a beautiful woman, I embrace and make love to it. If it is in the form of this annoying little fly speck of a spy, then I spit on it and grind it to dust beneath my heel.
DO: Do you run from conflict?
M: Never! Face conflict proudly and fight it to the death.
DO: How do you see yourself?
M: In my life, I have done many bad things. However, I am trying to change to be worthy of my darling Gabriella.
DO: How do your friends see you?
M: I haven't many friends, but those are very close. They see me as strong, intelligent, passionate with women, stubborn and capable.
DO: How do your enemies see you?
M: My enemies never see me. They are dead long before that. If by chance they do catch a glimpse, it is as of the face of death.
DO: What are your achievements?
M: That is perhaps not a question I should answer here, eh?
DO: Do you keep your achievements to yourself?
M: Many of them, yes.
DO: But why? Surely your accomplishments are wide ranging and very nearly stuff oflegend.
M: Not all legends have a happy ending. Some things are better left unsaid.
DO: What makes you happy?
M: Would you like to me say something poetic like a beautiful sunset or the seagulls above the water? I am not poetic man. What makes me happy is very simple, my love for Gabriella. It drives me, moves me to be the best I may be.
DO: What, if anything, haunts you?
M: In a soldier's life, are there not many things to haunt him? What haunts me, cariña, is better left forgotten.
DO: Do you have any distinguishing marks?
M: Oh, yes. I am very well appointed.
DO: You would love for me to ask what that means, wouldn't you?
M: No, I would like you to read the book and find out.
DO: Have you ever killed anyone?
M: I was a soldier, of course I have killed. And nearly been killed more than once.
DO: What is your most prized possession? Why?
M: My most prized possession? Must I have just one? Perhaps my pistol. Or my best pair of boots? No, not really, although I am rather fond of these pants.
DO: Oh? Why is that? (All I get is a sly grin and a slow, wicked wink.)

You can find more from Dellani Oakes here: http://writersanctuary.blogspot.com/

Silent Lucidity...Writing from Dreams

To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.
Anatole France (1844 - 1924)

Hope is a waking dream.
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC), from Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers

Dreams that do come true can be as unsettling as those that don't.
Brett Butler, 'Knee Deep in Paradise'

To want to be what one can be is purpose in life.
Cynthia Ozick, O Magazine, September 2002

He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.
Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001), "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "Eleonora"

The wisest men follow their own direction.
Euripides (484 BC - 406 BC)

Dreams are sifted reality, our mind's way of filtering through the thoughts we don't dare think during the day. ~ Alisha Paige


How do you come up with new ideas for your latest novel? I'm always curious to see what inspires writers. I'm a big dreamer..yeah, I dream big and I actually remember very vivid dreams. I've been known to wake up from a dream and jot down everything before I forget it. Have you done this?

Once I dreamed I was this teenage girl that moved to a new world (Early America) with my parents. I was very wealthy and our home was ready for us when we arrived, built with the best materials of the day. Servants were carrying my large trunk inside our new home. I watched from the windows, looking out at this foreign, new land as a very handsome man rode up on a horse. I'm watching all of this out the wavy oval glass of our front door. A bear approaches and the man pulls out a knife and spars with it. I gasp and know right then and there that I will marry this man one day. Then I woke up. Ahhh! How disappointing! I immediately wrote the dream down. I usually don't dream of other time periods. This was really odd.


Another night I dreamed I was the member of a wedding party. This is the weird part..my ex husband was there too. After the wedding, there was a huge party in this hotel and we were all staying in two adjoined, very luxurious hotel suites. It was late night and everyone had crashed. In my dream, I wake up when I hear voices, whispers really and doors creaking open. I look over the shoulder of the person sleeping next to me..again, this was highly odd....I don't make a habit of sleeping with a herd of people...and I see all these men coming in, posing as waiters in white coats, pushing room service trays. Very methodicallly, they go from room to room, executing people. They had come from the room adjoining where the bride and groom slept. I watched from the dark as they lifted sheets off of faces. Some they killed. Some they did not. When they finally, very quietly left, everyone is on their feet, screaming. The police are called and word spreads that the bride and groom are dead. I awake for real, shortly after and jot everything down. This dream was so real. I was shaking when I woke and remember the feeling of utter terror. I wrote the introduction to a story called Wedding Day Massacre but have not finished it. Maybe I'll dream the rest of it.

I had a very disturbing dream just a few nights ago. I was vacationing with all my family near NY. We rented a home on the water. It was summertime and we were swimming when we noticed all this debris blasting through the skies above her heads like there had been an explosion. There's total confusion and then we witness a hideous thing. The statue of liberty shoots way into the sky. Everyone is pointing and screaming. It was awful. I don't even want to write about that. **Shudder**



Dreams are fascinating. I remember once being terrified in a dream and I actually knew it wasn't real. I spoke to this ghost and said, "Hey, this is my dream. I'm in control, not you." I stuck my tongue out at the phantom and she disappeared. I always have ghost dreams. Very strange.

I never dream about werewolves or vampires and I write about shapeshifters. Why is that? Has anyone out there studied dreams? I really should read more about them. In my opinion, they are our thoughts sifted. In other words, the stuff we think about but don't dare admit. Who dreams about your ex boyfriend or ex girlfriend? Hey, I don't share these with Michael. I think those dreams are about unresolved issues...maybe things we should have said to the other person...for closure. They seem to be for me at least.

What about when you dream about someone you loved who has died? Now I'm not convinced those are real dreams. I think they're REAL, but that's another topic all together.

Do dreams help you come up with new ideas? I'm dying to hear about your dreams!



Happy Reading and Writing
~Alisha

I'm Baaaaaack

Wow! That was so much fun! I'm glad to be home, but I miss it already. 

I told you last week that it was my daughter's 18th birthday, and I believe I promised you pictures. Well, here they are! 

Since you only turn 18 once, we decided to mark the occasion with a trip to our favorite place on earth...Nashville.

We took an extended weekend and spent 4 fabulous days having fun. We both had a blast!

We arrived on Saturday, and after getting settled into our hotel, took off to the Tennessee State Fair. She wanted to see JB Rocket, our favorite group from this season of the television show Can You Duet.

It was a great show. The guys really delivered! I have to admit, I was very disappointed with meeting them after the show. It would have helped if people weren't butting in line ahead of us so we could have gotten more than two words out of them and maybe some direct eye contact. But, we still had a good time and enjoyed the performance.

On Sunday, we went to the Hall of Fame.

All I can say is wow! There was so much to see. And I was thrilled to see a great display for one of my favorite singers, Hank Williams, Jr. Actually, it was for the Williams family, not just Hank, but it was great! So many interesting things. We saw Carrie Underwood's dress from the 2009 ACM awards. Holy cow! 

The train on that thing was huge! I couldn't even imagine walking in that thing. It was gorgeous, though.

Monday was her birthday! 18 years ago, on September 14, 1991, she nearly killed me...literally. Actually, we both almost died. I had Toxemia, and I was flown by helicopter to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis for an emergency cesarean. She was born two months early at 3 lbs 5 1/2 ounces and 17 inches long. Hard to believe that was so long ago. Now, she's a beautiful young woman.

We celebrated appropriately! We spent the day shopping! What could be more fun than that? The night was even better, though.

We went to see her favorite singer, Billy Gilman, at a writers night at the Copper Kettle. Wow! What a view! If you're ever in Nashville, you really need to check this place out!

Fabulous show! It wasn't our first time seeing Billy live, and I have to say, he always gives a stellar performance. Very sweet guy and always friendly.  

A member of Billy's band, Steve Hornbeak, also played some of his own music. Another excellent performance! (Steve is the keyboardist in the picture above Billy) Sorry, Steve. We did take more pictures of you, but they turned out blurry. :-(   Steve is a Christian singer, and I have to say, you can see he feels it when he sings. It makes me want to be a better person.

On Tuesday, we went to check out Belmont University in Nashville. My daughter is hoping to go to school there. She's so excited about it.

We bought her this t-shirt from the bookstore on campus. I have a feeling she would wear it daily if she could. Oh well, if it keeps her motivated, I'd wash it nightly. 

So, that was our fabulous trip. Can't wait to do it all again! (and again, and again, and again...)

Renewing Spirituality

Before you go running and screaming from the room thinking I've called a Sunday Come to Jesus Meeting, fear not...I have no intention of raising my fist to the congragation and calling down hellfire and brimstone on anyone. What I'm talking about is how I've neglected my spiritual side for the past...um....maybe 7 or 8 years.

Yeah, I know. It's very sad.

However, this past week something happened to me that made me realize that pushing that part of your soul away to the distant corner of your life because you "just don't have the time" isn't always a good thing when you have a creative personality.

It's not a secret and I make no bones about the fact I am a practicing witch. (Well, I guess not so much practicing lately if you read the above paragraph!) For me, I never cared what name something was given, it's the intent of the prayer or positive energy raised during a working that is the main thing. The reason I was drawn to the craft was that I could practice in my own home, in my own time and be at one with the Creator without the middle man. It just so worked for me. I'm not so much a fan of organized religion, I'm more a fan of disorganized ones. That's not to say I'm not spiritual, or don't believe in the teachings of Christ or Buddha. On the contrary, I believe in them all. I'm very much an equal opportunity believer. I wear my pentagram on a chain with a Celtic Cross. I have the symbol for Ohm in my truck. I think there is power in all religious symbols and I leave nothing to chance. As Fox Mulder said, "The truth is out there."

But my point is, that no matter what you believe, sometimes life just gets in the way. And with "disorganized" religion - like the solitary practioner Wiccan- it's very easy to get busy with a project, or into the groove of a busy work schedule and cut that out of your life. The "Oh, I just don't feel like it tonight," is an excuse easy to fall back on. As I did many Sundays while still going to church, back in the day.

But I digress. So, I had this thing happen to me that made me really freak out. It was an illogical fear over something that nearly made my heart stop. I decided the best way to combat the negitive energy I believed someone unleashed on me was to do a ritual and banishing of said negitivity. (If you know anything about witchcraft, you know we are all about the positive and ethics are extremely strong. Words have power and you say nothing that could do harm or call negitive energies down on another which is what I felt someone had done to me.) I needed to just cancel it out and move it away from my life - something I hadn't done in a very, very long time.

Here's where it gets rather embarrassing.

So, I'm going through my filing cabinets, trying to find my wand, candles and all the other paraphenalia of a working. I found charms and altar figurines I forgot I owned. I no longer had a broom. Damn! Had to call my hubby at work and ask him to pick me up one fit for a magic circle. Oh, and can you get me two red candles, a silver, gold, yellow, blue, and green? My chalice is on a high shelf covered in cobwebs and kitchen grease. Gross! So, I made due with a jelly jar shaped like a chalice that we use for a juice glass. I pulled out my Book of Shadows and ...Gee, where's North in this house? Needless to say, I probably should have spent more prep time before the day before.


With my materials collected, I cleansed body and mind with a scented oil bath, some Tibitian chants, incense and candles. I hadn't meditated in years either. I was a bit rusty...but then something wonderous happened. I found my center. This amazing and uplifting energy began to stir within. Where I had been dreading the prep stage of the practice, I suddenly couldn't wait to get started. I listened to the prayers of Hildegard von Bingen set to music. It's a lovely CD of very spritual music from Vision Records - (I think they're the same company who put out the Gregorian Chants.) As I'm meditating, I have a very clear vision come to me of my problem and me crossing out the negitivity with sword strikes. Immediately I felt lighter, untroubled. I went on to do my ritual and banish the negitive energy as I'd been taught, but I think I did most of the hard work during meditation. For the rest of the evening and even today...three days later, I feel so much better than I did a week ago.

My heart is lighter. The world is...I don't know...shinier? And I feel like the veil that had come down on my writing has lifted a little. The creative energies are flowing quite well now.

So, don't be like me...don't wait years to indulge your spiritual side. No matter what you believe, or what path you choose to walk, be sure to walk it if only to get your mind right. If your idea of religion is sitting in a dark room and staring at a cactus, do it! If you believe in nothing... then find something that makes you feel light and do that. But do something, you might be as surprised at the results as was I.

Blessings,

Kate

Oh, and wish me good travel as I drive to Atlantic City this week for a conference. I hate driving alone that far.

Apologies....

My apologies for not posting a blog today. Between edits on my book, Elfin Blood, that has a release date of November 9th, research for a legal brief that is due on November 3rd, and my boys' football games that had me at the ballpark from 9:00 a.m. until 6 p.m., the blog slipped my mind. Not to mention that my publishing house that had my book, The Devil's Den, announced that it was closing it's doors effective immediately, so my mind has been more than a little scattered this week.

I'll be sure to work on something fabulous for next week! In the meantime, I hope everyone has an awesome week!

~~Huggles

Emotions: Fuels a smooth ride

I remember a friend who sat in front of his computer for hours and stared at the blinking cursor. There were only a few words typed on the screen. I watched him switch the words, trying to make the sentence as perfect as it could be. He was trying to write a convincing proposal for the company to grant his program another year of funding. He was a college graduate with years of experience working for the advocacy program. But he couldn’t convey his message, what he wanted to say. Why? Because all his attention was diverted to his empty words. He didn’t tap into his emotions and in the process faced the trouble of rules. The grammar rules.

 

Of course, when writing a memo, report, resume, etc. you must have clean, free of error sentences. But there comes a time when one should free himself of the restrictions of rules. Especially when writing a story. Now, where am I going with this blog? Let me tell you. Someone said that I write my draft so fast. Perhaps. But if you look at my draft, it is not without flaws. When I write, I write what my own feelings dictate. I immerse myself with the character’s emotion without bothering with the tags or whether I wrote the sentences the right way. There is no formula that I follow. Yes, you must have the skill to write. But for me, that is just the tool to help express my feelings. Without emotions, there is nothing to write. Start with your feelings. Perfection comes later.

If you disagree, please feel free to jump in. Leave your comments.

 

I write about people falling in love (I’m addicted to the idea :) ). Each time I write a book, my hope is for the readers to feel the characters strong emotions, to see them as more than fictional, to be able to relate to the turmoil, love, frustration or whatever the hero and heroine is facing at the time.

 

 

I am aware that every person sees the world differently. Care to share your view?

 

Tierney O’Malley

http://tierneyomalley.com

Sex! Sex! Sex!

Bet that got your attention, didn’t it? Well, if it weren’t for sex then I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this post right now, would I? Sex, after all, is what makes the world go round.

So when my publisher asked its authors to write a sex scene for an upcoming anthology I jumped at the chance. I mean, it’s not easy writing such scenes, and to be honest I usually construct the story first, making sure the sex scene when I do put it in fits and is an integral part of what I had just written. In other words, it’s not just there for the sake of titillation. Sex must have meaning, and in the end a purpose within the story, so I believe. If it were just pages and pages of sex with no rhyme or reason then it would be pornography, wouldn’t it?

Actually, the same can be said for anything really. Too much of something within a book isn’t a good idea. I read a book the other day that had, get this, eight pages, yep, eight pages of the author describing a snake! Talk about gratuitous. I never picked it up again.

So, getting back on track, what makes a good sex scene? The answer is as varied as the positions in the karma-sutra, but to boil it down, for me anyway, a sex scene must not be shy.

When a character does something in a book, such as slay a dragon, solve a crime or get suited up and explore space, then obviously we experience such things on their level, their feelings, what they see, what they hear, etc, etc… I really believe that when a character has sex, then we should experience that, too. No closed doors in other words.

I like to get into the head of one of the characters in the action. I think it makes it more tangible that way. When a character reaches climax, then by God I want to feel that, too! What would be the point of them doing such a thing in the first place if we don’t know how the character felt? Sex, after all, is also about pleasure.

No matter the sex of the characters involved, be it m/f or m/m or f/f or any combination thereof, characters, like people, want to be loved. Sex is the ultimate way to express love and I always strive to show that.

I just hope my sex scene I submitted was what the publisher wants…I’ll let you all know. I bet you’re asking what type of scene I did? Well, I did a scene that involved a vampire and his sacrifice *grin* Very hawt (hopefully) I titled the scene: “The Lamb of Darkness”. It was a fun write with no restriction and no ‘story’ to worry about for a change. Very liberating. I think I need a cigarette and a slice of pizza now.

Until next time…

Just stuff...

I should probably be getting ready for my day job right now but here I sit, writing to you guys! The author side of my life has been pretty busy lately. First off, Jesse's Brother will be released on Monday... Wahoo! I just got line edits for Confessions so we are almost done working on it. But to add to that, I'm a judge for a contest and reworking my novel New Year's Resolution so I can resub to two publishers! Awesome stuff? I think so!

So what's going on with you? Let's chat!

Wendy Ely

The Ultimate Hero: Patrick Swayze

Yesterday, my heart broke. God must need dancers in heaven. He was one of the most talented, sexiest alpha men to ever grace us with his presence. He is an excellent example of the ultimate hero we authors strive to create in our books. He was so very in love with his wife. The two of them dancing is so beautiful.












Thank you for your gift to the world, Mr. Swayze. The world is a darker place without your light.

Happy Birthday to my daughter! And congrats to my friend Debbie on her new release!

The Silver Casket
by
Debbie Mumford

Cat Logan, a young American with a recent degree in medieval literature, travels to Scotland to discover her Celtic roots. She finds more than she bargained for when a mysterious silver casket (rumored to hold the desiccated heart of a long dead Scottish laird) transports her back in time to the 1400s and the man whose heart she holds in her hands.

Publisher: Freya's Bower
Genre: Time Travel/Historical
Rating: Tangy
Book Length: Novella

Available Tuesday, August 18, 2009

It's hard to believe, but my daughter is 18 today!! Happy Birthday beautiful!

It's so not right. She should be 8, not 18. Wow, do I feel old! We're out of town right now, so I'll update you all on our trip next Monday. Maybe I'll even have some pics to share. 

Sales and the Meaning Thereof

Before you read any further, be advised this is not a blog about the defintions of sales and marketing in the writing world. There are enough articles from experts on the topic, and I am far from one of those. However, I do want to give you all a personal perspective of what sales means to me. The biggest thing is validation. It's always rewarding to put something out there and know others find it interesting, exiting or enjoyable. Knowing someone got lost in a world you created for a few hours is the greatest high in the world.

Anyhoo, over my last few blogs, I've discussed a few topics that have been rattling around my addled brain as I work on my plethora of projects. Or read those of others. Well, I just finished reading one of my sales statements for the month of August and I have to say, I'm rather shocked, which is why I chose this topic for today's blog.

Personally, I'm one of those authors who get excited when I sell even one copy of a book because well, that's one person besides a critique partner who wanted to read what I've written. And they're paying for the privilege, unlike a CP where I've foisted the WIP onto their unsuspecting brainpan. It's funny, you know...at each of my books' releases, I've dreamed of awesome sales that break all kinds of records. (That's the dream for everyone, right?) And while I haven't set the world on fire, I can admit that I've hit the best-sellers lists at my publishers. What amazes me, is that some books I show steady sales for...even if less than ten per month...are titles I've had out for a few years. (Let's hear it for the almighty backlist!) That is so surprising to me, not to mention rewarding. I almost want to say to the computer screen, "You mean people are reading my new stuff and going back to find my older books....that's so cool." - The computer screen isn't nearly as impressed as I.

Now, for a word about word-of-mouth. I'll admit, my checkbook has been pretty damn low this year. I haven't had the cashflow to do the amount of advertising in mags like Romantic Times, as I have in the past. Most of the time, I've had to divert royalties to pay household expenses. Sigh. I've had to cut back, especially when I had to purchase a new notebook computer a few months ago. While I got a great deal, it still cut into my writing checking account. (Yes, I keep a separate one from the household account, it's easier to account for writing related expenses that way.)So, to what do I attribute the sales this month of my title Scythe that blew the doors off the rest of my books? Taking into account this book has been out for three months, and the only promotion I've been able to do for it has been my cover on the Samhellion newsletter, and my avatar on Romance Divas. I've put it on blogs, and things, but quite honestly, I think there's been a trickle down effect. Kind of like Reganomics for Readers. A few reviewers read the book and loved it, wrote it up on their sites, giving it high marks and awesome praise. They've pimped the book to others, who purchased copies...but all this takes some time. Like a river flowing down the meandering path around the mountains, it takes a while for it to reach the ocean, but eventually it does reach it.

When I think of the sales enjoyed by other authors, my mind kind of boggles. I can't even imagine what it's like to sell tens of thousands of copies at a pop. I hope one day to know that feeling intimately. For now, I'll take what I can get and feel grateful for each and every sale. Maybe that should be my new slogan on my website. "MK Mancos/Kathleen Scott- conquering the world one book sale at a time."

A special shout out to Mark. Big hugs and congrats on your number one sales!!! Yay!!! I tried to post on your blog, but as per usual this site did not accept my comments. (I have trouble logging on for comments for some reason.)

To Lynn - Congrats on your first release. I wish you many, many sales and new titles to join the first of what I hope is many.


To Wendy - Less than 12 days now from your release. I'm sending up prayers for mega sales.

To Gracen - Congrats on your latest contract. That's just awesome!

If, I've missed anyone who's posted good news lately, I apologize. I wanted to get everyone in on the group congrats and back slapping. We have such a talented group of writers here, we need to celebrate more often.

Cyber cake and Champagne all around!

Love and Big Sales to all,

-Kate

Seven Deadly Sins!

The seven deadly sins are generally known as: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. But my idea of the seven deadly sins consists of smexy-sexy celebrities.

So, here are my seven deadly sins:

Deadly Sin #7

Angelina Jolie – yes, I’m a straight woman, but I’d probably go gay for her. Many of you might be thinking “what the hell!” right about now, but I find her profanely sexy!

Deadly Sin #6

Charlize Theron – yes, another chick, but again, I think she's profanely sexy as well and this straight girl would swap sides of the fences for her too.

Deadly Sin #5

Jared Padalecki – he's a goofball, so that makes him even sexier. I couldn't decide which picture to post, so you got both of them.

Deadly Sin #4

Johnny Depp – in any version the many is smexy-sexy hot!

Deadly Sin #3

Jon Bon Jovi – #2 and #3 could easily be flip-flopped.

Drop that blanekt, Jon!!!! PLEASE!!!

Deadly Sin #2

Hugh Jackman – I prefer his long hair, but I even like the Wolverine look.

And finally my number one Deadly Sin....*drum rolll...*

Deadly Sin #1

Jensen Ackles! For those that know me, this is not much of a surprise. But I think he is the hottest thing since, well, ever! The many faces of this man playing Dean Winchester on the CW's television show, Supernatural, are freaking sexy! Every emotion is sexy, smiling, frowing, laughing, crying, in pain...I love them all! And I like him scruffy too...please raptly adore with your eyes, but do not touch! I'm certain God's going to gift him to me anytime now! ;-)

So, who are your seven deadly sins? Hope you have an awesome weekend.

Of Art and Things

The next release I have will be on October the 1st. A short story for eXtasy's Fantasy Garden series titled "The Cadet's Officer." I am so excited :-)

With my latest release "The Pauper's Prize" doing so well, and now the news of another release next month, I am in writing heaven...literally.

I don't have the cover for "The Cadet's Officer" as of yet, but I can share with you a little blurb. I am still madly doing the final edits--only a few weeks to go! Yikes :-)

Living on an exploration spaceship light years away from any civilization can get real lonely, even though there are thousands on board with you. Adam Wilkinson dreams of being with another man, and secretly he has a crush on the second in charge, Evan Cleary. But will the hunky, hard as nails officer want to be with Adam? Or more to the point, does the dreamy, absolutely perfect man even know Adam exists?

Also, today I went to see the Salvador Dali exhibition that's currently on at the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) The largest collection of his work ever presented in Australia. It was simply awesome! That man was a genius. There is no other word for it. To see what he could paint at 15, then move through his life to see such stunningly detailed surrealistic works blew me away. Even the tiny little ants looked life like! Leanne commented that when the man painted velvet, it looked like velvet! So true.


The other funny thing was, when we arrived a tour group was going through the gallery. A lovely elderly lady was the guide. It was hilarious listening to her say 'sexual' and 'genitals' many, many times over through the course of the tour she was giving. The best part was when she coined Dali's famous phrase: 'the great masturbator.' I couldn't help but chuckle! Classic! Also, to see his photographic work, his drawings and even the jewelry he did was amazing, let alone marvel at the paintings. Seeing them in a book does not do them justice. His paintings were alive!



I also got to see the famous lobster phone, too. The man had talent. Such an inspiration, especially as my work has lots of genitals and sexual content in it *grin*



So catch you all next week. Hopefully I can post an excerpt of The Cadet's Officer then...Have a chocolate filled week everyone :-)