Welcome to the International Authors' Day Blog Hop

Today is International Authors' Day, a day to celebrate those who have the imagination, skill, talent, and tenacity to bring us a world of books. As a reader, I definitely appreciate a well told, well written story, but as an author I understand the amount of sacrifice, time, and angst required to take an idea from first draft to the shelves of your  favorite bookstore. 

International Authors' Day is sponsored by Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay of  b00k r3vi3ws blog. Follow the blog tour at the end of this post where you will meet some great new authors, peruse their books, then enter a giveaway to win great prizes (BOOKS!) 
 

My mother had lots of stories of me as a child but the one I love best was the story of my wanting to drop out of school three weeks into first grade because "I still can't read or write!" Seems I couldn't wait to learn these skills. She had a conference with the teacher to ask her to move me along. I still remember those early primers featuring a little black dog named Tag. 

Once I mastered reading I was always lost in a book and I still am. I'm not one to turn down the promise of a good story which is why I have to-be-read stacks on my nightstand, at the base of my bookcase, and on my Kindle and iPhone (is it possible to overload those things?) I'm always in the midst of reading four or five different books in a variety of genres contained in various devices: hardcovers, paperbacks, ebooks, and audiobooks. Some I bought, some were gifts or giveaways, some are borrowed from the library. I don't discriminate. If it looks good I'll pick it up. I may not finish, but I start. 

There is never enough time for reading. 

I hope I live long enough to get through my TBR piles. 

Respond to this post and you'll be entered into a drawing to win a copy of each of my Kindle reads - Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer's love story, (full-length novel,) and short stories Collection and Ino's Love. 

All raffles run July 14-18. Happy reading!

How Important Is An Author's Online Presence?

photo by Marek via Dollar Photo Club

All the publishing pros will tell you that having an active online presence is an author's most important asset. How else will readers discover your work? How will those interested in what you have to offer locate you? How else will you stand out from the rest of the crowd? I recently experienced firsthand how imperative it is for an author to be available to an audience online. I consider myself to have a solid online presence and what I saw when I researched other authors baffled me.

A few weeks ago while at work at a community college in upstate New York, I got a call from Dorene who works in our continuing adult education program. She asked me to help her locate the author of a book she wanted to purchase for a class. She wanted to buy the books directly from him. I teach a few classes in self-publishing at the college, so although I am officially a campus nurse Dorene figured I'd be able to help.

"Did you look him up on LinkedIn?" I asked.

"No," she said. "Great idea."

We looked for him on the site and came up with nothing. We checked his Amazon page, but there was no author profile and no contact information listed. We looked for him on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, all the usual places authors set up an online presence, but did not find him. We did a Google search and came full circle back to the Amazon page with no info.

Stumped, I apologized and said, "I guess he doesn't want to be found."

She was disappointed. "We're looking at another book, and that author is approachable, so I guess we'll go with him."

I felt bad for the author who lost the opportunity to put his book into the hands of a classroom of students. If he had simply set up an author profile on his Amazon page with contact info, he would have made a nice sale.

Not long after that I was talking to Gail, my contact at Thrall Library who works with me to coordinate the library’s Local Authors & Illustrators Showcase, coming in September. She had an author she wanted me to invite to the event. She gave me a slip of paper with his name and phone number. 

Before I contact an author for this event, I check him out online to make sure he fits with the program and to see what he can offer to our patrons and the other authors attending. And although I had a phone number for this guy, I wanted an email address, my preferred method of communication for this event. As you can imagine, coordinating 20+ authors can become confusing and overwhelming. An email trail keeps me organized and sane. 

So I did my research on all the usual sites and discovered this author had no online presence other than his Amazon page with no author profile. Bummer. I resorted to calling him, and after we played some telephone tag he agreed to participate. He gave me an email address, and we are now communicating online, although he says he does not have internet service at home and visits his local library once a week to take care of his email. 

After our initial conversation, I shook my head, amazed that the author of five print books would opt out of an online presence. We live and work in a global market. There's no telling who might be interested in what this author has published or who might want to invite him to an event where he can share his work with an audience and perhaps sell a few copies. Again, a profile on his Amazon page including contact info is all he needs to avail himself of opportunities.

A year ago, I attended a local author event at another library (it's where I got the idea for the event in my hometown). I met a few authors of children's books. I'm in need of these authors to round out my program so I thought I'd invite them to join us. I had the event program and lots of info I'd collected (bookmarks and postcards) from these authors and sat down to do some investigating. 

I was shocked to find that although many of them had some online presence - a Facebook or Twitter page,  a website -  many of them were inactive and had not posted or updated their sites in months. What was going on? Were they interested in getting out there with their books? None of them had listed an email address. Of the five I checked out, two looked promising, so I reached out to them via their Facebook accounts, but we are not friends, and such messages get sent to a secondary inbox. I learned this when I reached out to a blogger for a possible interview and didn't get a reply for months because she didn't realize she had mail waiting for her in this box. I imagine my messages to these authors will lie undiscovered, and they will miss out on an opportunity to connect with readers and other authors, and sell books.

One more story regarding my locating authors for this event: I learned of a local guy with a new book and decided to invite him. He had a great online presence - Amazon profile, and Facebook, Twitter, and About Me pages - but I couldn't find an email address. I decided to contact him via Twitter and he responded! Happy ending! But I shouldn't have to work so hard to get in touch with someone who has recently published a book. 

What's the moral of these stories? If you're serious about your career as an author, indie or otherwise, it's imperative you establish an online presence. You can do this for free. At the very least, build an Amazon author profile. Then start a Facebook, Twitter,  Pinterest, LinkedIn, About Me, or Google+ page (one or all, your choice, but at least one.) Create a webpage, your home on the web. On every site, include an email address. If you don't want to use your personal email address establish a new account specifically for your author activities. Remember to check it daily. Update your Amazon page and social media pages frequently. It's important to look active and engaged to potential readers and those looking to establish a relationship.

Publishing is a competitive business. Discoverability in a field of millions is difficult. Don't make it hard for people to find you. Not everyone will be as patient and determined to track down an author as I am.

Find me on Amazon! 

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Guest Post: How to Write a Book in Two Months with Author Lois D. Brown

Today I welcome mystery author Lois D. Brown, who will share with us how she wrote a book in two months, something I bet all authors wish they could do. Since it takes me years to write a book, I'm especially intrigued with Lois' accomplishment. Lois also has a special contest to tell us about with a grand prize of  3 nights in a vacation townhome in Kanab, Utah, thirty minutes from Zion Natinal Park. Read on!

About Lois D. Brown

Lois Brown's love of all things fantastical began at an early age when her five older brothers made her watch television shows such as “Dr. Who” and “Lost in Space.” (Yes, the originals.) Her passion for science fiction continued when, at age 12, she spent an entire summer buying “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” collector cards. As an adult, she has appeared on television shows such as “Myth Hunters: The Curse of Montezuma's Gold” and “American Unearthed” discussing Montezuma’s treasure and Freddie Crystal in Kanab, Utah. If you’d like updates on Lois’s adventures in writing and treasure hunting, please subscribe to her newsletter at www.loisdbrown.com. Other novels by Lois include: Cycles (a top five finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult Indie Books of 2012); Spaces; and Catching Katil (a tween mystery set in the 1980s.) 

Welcome to Adventures in Publishing Lois! Please tell us how you wrote your mystery Robbed of Soul in two months.

Thanks for inviting me to visit your blog, Marianne. So you want to write a book in two months. I have a little advice. (Writers always do.)

Two years ago it took me almost twelve months to write a middle grade book that was 30,000 words long. This past fall I wrote an 85,000 word adult mystery in two months. What made the difference?

Point #1: Like your book

First off, let me say that to write a book, and to write it fast, you need to like your idea. I wasn't so jazzed about writing the middle grade book. I thought it had a good premise and was marketable. However, I was completely passionate about Robbed of Soul. It’s set in a real town, Kanab, Utah, which I love to visit. It includes legends about Montezuma’s gold and historical tales from treasure hunters in the 1920's. And the protagonist is a woman who survived eight months in solitary confinement in Tehran. All of these are things that fascinate me. So much so that I've actually appeared on a television show about Montezuma's treasure. 

Point #2: Make it a competition.

I contacted a friend of mine who was about to write her second book. (If you don’t know someone personally, there are tons of online author support sites that would work too.) My friend and I made writing our books into a competition. It made all the difference. Every few days we would check up with each other. We’d send a quick text asking how many words the other had written that day. It was fun. First she was ahead. Then I was ahead. Then she was ahead. Yes, she finished the book before me, but it didn't matter. We both finished writing rather large novels in less than ten weeks.

Point 3: Get rid of distractions 

I created an atmosphere that was conducive to writing. Our family’s main computer is in the kitchen. I like it there because I can see what my kids are doing on it. But, it really makes it difficult to focus. The fridge is about six feet from my computer chair. It whispers to me all the time. I knew I had to change where I wrote Robbed of Soul. I set up a desk in the corner of my house the furthest away from my kitchen as possible.  I also put my cell phone in a different spot than where I wrote. 

Point 4: Write while you do chores

There is a free app for iPhone called Dragon Dictation. It's easy to download and it's simple to use. While it's not perfect, it does a good job of transcribing everything I say. I use it for outlining. I write dialog with it. I'm even using it to write this blog. I speak into my cell phone while I'm riding in the car, when my hands are tired of typing, even while I walk around the house picking up messes.

Point 5: Stay awake!

Caffeine does a number on me. I really don't like consuming large quantities of it. However, I found Crio Bru to drink. It has a great natural stimulant in it, tastes good, and I feel like a legit writer with my steaming mug of brown liquid at my side. Another natural stimulant I use is an orange essential oil. I like the brand doTerra. I keep a small bottle of this essential oil right next to my computer. When I started to feel drowsy, I open the lid, pour a drop on my hands, and rub them together. I then breathe in deeply and have an immediate pick me up. And it makes my keyboard smell good. (No, I don't own stock in either of the companies.)

About the contest

Do you like books? Do you like Zion National Park? 

Join the ROBBED OF SOUL book launch giveaway

 and you may win 3 nights in a vacation townhome in 

Kanab, Utah. (Thirty minutes from Zion.) A $450 value!

 (Or a $100 Amazon gift card if preferred.) 

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway 

About Robbed of Soul

Rescued but psychologically damaged from a failed mission, ex-CIA officer Maria Branson takes the job of police chief in the quiet town of Kanab, Utah. Rest and relaxation are the doctor’s orders. She gets neither. Instead, a missing mayor, the spirit of a dead Aztec warrior, and the over-confident-yet-attractive head of Search and Rescue await her in a town whose past has almost as many secrets as her own. As Maria investigates a modern-day murder, she disturbs a world of ancient legends and deadly curses. Yet most lethal of all is Maria’s fear someone will discover just how empty her soul really is.

Available at Amazon, Smashwords, and Google Play.

Follow Lois on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

# # #  

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Today's Guest on the Adventures in Publishing Blog: Christian Romance Author Melanie D. Snitker

My guest today is Christian romance author Melanie D. Snitker. Melanie has enjoyed writing fiction for as long as she can remember. She started out writing episodes of cartoon shows that she wanted to see as a child and her love of writing grew from there. She and her husband live in Texas with their two children, who keep their lives full of adventure, and two dogs, who add a dash of mischief to the family dynamics. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys photography, reading, crochet, baking, archery, camping and hanging out with family and friends. Welcome to Adventures in Publishing Melanie! Please tell us about your new release, Finding Peace.

Thanks for inviting me to speak to your readers, Marianne. If you like clean romance novels with a dash of mystery and suspense, check out Finding Peace. This is the first book in my new series, Love’s Compass, and is the story of Kentucky “Tuck” Chandler and Laurie Blake.

Book Blurb

Police Officer Tuck Chandler is good at his job. He’s also good at holding women at arm’s length. Jilted by his fiancée for his dedication to his job, he’s not about to open himself up to hurt like that again.

Laurie Blake is a struggling photographer. After growing up in a wealthy family, she’s determined to make it on her own, even if it means doing it the hard way.

When Tuck is assigned to a puzzling burglary involving Laurie’s fledgling photography business, he goes into it with his usual perseverance. He wants to help her – if she’ll let him. As the case unfolds and the mystery deepens, another question arises.

Will the past get in the way of their future?

Book Excerpt

It had been a long day and Laurie was more than happy to be driving back home again. The plastic over the passenger side window flapped in the wind and she hunched her shoulders against the cold. She had to turn up the volume on the radio to hear it.

She smiled as she thought back over the two photo sessions. They had gone extremely well. The next step would be to go through all of the images over the following week and process them. She couldn’t wait to be able to upload the finished pictures so that the families could see them.

A vision of the newborn peeing on his daddy made her chuckle. It was all part of the job and she came prepared. But she had to admit, she was glad it was him and not her.

The day ended with a trip to one of the local ponds. The moon was full and she couldn’t resist taking photos of its brilliance reflected in the water. Now it was late and all she wanted to do was go upstairs to her apartment and slip under the warm quilt on her bed.

Still smiling, Laurie pulled her car to a stop and stepped onto the pavement. The early night air seeped through her jacket. Her feet quickened, thoughts of hot tea an incentive to unlock the door and get all of the equipment from the trunk of her car as quickly as possible.

She reached for the door. Her hand stilled when it swung open a couple of inches before she had a chance to insert the key. Holding her breath, she nudged it open further with her foot. She squinted, trying to make out the shapes in the dark room. 

Had she forgotten to lock the door?

No, surely not. She usually double and triple checked to make sure everything was secure before she left.

Hands shaking, she reached for the light switch. Feeling the plastic with the tip of a finger, she pushed it upward. The light that illuminated her studio made her eyes burn and she blinked as she stepped inside.

Swallowing hard, her gaze flickered from the desk against one wall to the stands supporting her backdrops.

A man stepped away from one of the shadows in the back corner of the room.

Laurie screamed.

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Finding Peace is available on Kindle and in paperback:

Amazon US

Amazon UK Paperback

Amazon CA   

Barnes and Noble

Other Books by Melanie D. Snitker

Calming the Storm

A Christian Romance Novel

A marriage of convenience isn't exactly what Rachel Peters had in mind. 

What else can she do if she wants to raise her young niece, and give her a more stable home than she and her sister grew up in? Rachel is at risk of losing custody of her last blood relative, and she needs to prove she can provide for her niece and raise her in a nurturing environment. 

Professor Brandon Barlow is invested in his college students’ lives, wanting to ensure their success. When it is clear that Rachel is struggling, he takes a personal interest in trying to help her. But can he keep his heart from getting involved in the process? 

Brandon reaches out to Rachel as he tries to break through the walls she has built up over the years. With love and patience, Brandon hopes to help Rachel realize that, even when she experiences storms in her life, she isn't always alone.

Calming the Storm is available on Kindle and in paperback at Amazon.

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Contact Melanie D. Sntiker

Website

E-mail 

Facebook 

Twitter 

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AmazonAuthor Page US  

Amazon Author Page UK 

Cover Reveal: Keely Brooke Keith's Uncharted Redemption

From the author of The Land Uncharted comes the second book in the Uncharted series, Uncharted Redemption. Written like a historical, set like a scifi, and filled with romance, Uncharted Redemption continues this suspenseful story of life in a hidden land.

Uncharted Redemption

Author: Keely Brooke Keith

Release Date: February 24, 2015

Publisher: Edenbrooke Press

Description: Levi Colburn, resentful of his father, haunted by his mother’s tragic death, and pained by his love for the unattainable Mandy Foster, breaks from the Land’s tradition and begins to build a life of his own. When rebels tear through the village of Good Springs, Levi vows to deliver justice and restore the woman he loves. As tradition stands in the way of redemption and threats from the outside world begin to appear, Levi must learn his greatest battles cannot be fought with his fists. Romantic, suspenseful, and filled with adventure, Uncharted Redemption weaves dramatic new layers into life in the Land. 

Purchase Links: 

Amazon 

Smashwords 

Barnes and Noble 

iTunes

Pre-order signed paperbacks: Uncharted Redemption 

Add Uncharted Redemption to your shelf on: Goodreads, Shelfari, FictFact, and LibraryThing

Have your ebook of Uncharted Redemption signed via Authorgraph

Uncharted Redemption is the second book in the Uncharted series. If you haven’t read The Land Uncharted, it’s best to start here: The Land Uncharted

About the Author

Keely is a bass guitarist and lives on a hilltop south of Nashville. When she isn’t writing stories or playing bass, Keely enjoys dancing, having coffee with friends, and sifting through vintage books at antique stores.  

Connect with Keely

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Today's Guest: Historical Romance Author Patricia PacJac Carroll

Love cowboys? The romance and allure of the Old West? I've always been a sucker for a good story about the new frontier and the men and women who conquered it. Meet today’s guest, sweet historical romance author Patricia PacJac Carroll, creator of the Mail Order Brides of Hickory Stick series. Welcome to Adventures in Publishing, Patricia!

Hi, I’m Patricia PacJac Carroll. I’m a writer, Christian first, and blessed beyond my imagination. I live in the Dallas-Ft Worth area in Texas with my wonderful treasure of a husband, my spoiled dog, Jacs, and my awesome grown son, Josh. Did I say I was blessed? The PacJac is from my initials and my husband’s. I used it as part of my author name because there were already other Patricia Carrolls on the Internet. I was attacked by breast cancer but have fought back and writing strong. Check out my blog - Invasion of the Booby Snatcher.

I write historical romance set in the American West. I love the freedom of the old West, although life during that period was difficult, especially for women. The stories in my new series Mail Order Brides of Hickory Stick are especially interesting in light of the modern versions of matchmaking, such as Internet dating sites like e-Harmony.

Caroline’s Love is the first of the series. Each novella is a stand-alone story, but the characters and town of Hickory Stick are involved in each of the other stories.

I love the premise of these stories. Thomas J. Connors decided he and his brother needed a wife. In the wilds of Colorado panning for gold, women were in short supply, so he got the idea of sending off for one for him and one for his brother, Jackson.

Everything seemed to be settled and the agency in Richmond, VA. had two women picked out. Thomas was pleased with himself, but failed to tell his brother of his plans. However, as things often go, unbeknownst to Thomas the woman running the agency disappeared and a reporter discovered Thomas’ very touching letter asking for a woman to share his dreams.

The letter went out into newspapers as far away as New York City. Three women made their way to Hickory Stick, all thinking they were going to marry Thomas J. Connors.

You can imagine the fireworks.

Here is the first page.

 Caroline’s Love

Chapter 1

May 1868

Richmond, Virginia

Caroline Lovelace tucked the worn envelopes into the pocket of her beige, traveling skirt. She’d read the letters at least a hundred times. A tear slid down her cheek quickly followed by another as she bade her war-torn state of Virginia good-bye. Although the sound of cannon and rifle had been exchanged for the sound of hammers and building, she could no longer put up with the obnoxious offers from the carpetbaggers. They might have overrun her state, but she’d not give them her future.

She stared at the black locomotive, considering it a rather unlikely steed to ride to her rescue. After brushing a spot of dust from her jacket, she boarded the now chugging train that would take her to her knight who awaited her in a town near Denver in the Colorado Territory.

Hickory Stick.

The temporary stab of fear she’d felt while boarding gave birth to a sharp, piercing doubt. How could she abandon her beloved Richmond and go to a place named for a twig? Her once grand home, now owned by a wealthy coward, along with the haunting knowledge of the graves of her fiancé and father reminded her of the loss and predicament she was leaving.

Her poor love. Robert never even got a shot off at one of those, well, those mean old Yankees. He died of pneumonia shortly after running off to save the cause. Humph, because of that I am alone without even the status of war widow. She’d been forced to join the large number of unmarried, poor women scrapping to survive in the defeated South.

The train pulled out of the station with a cloud of black smoke and a jolt that jerked her head against the metal rail over the green, padded seat. Caroline set her lips in determination to let go of Richmond. She was soon to be a bride. “Mrs. Thomas J. Connors.”

“What?” A sultry voice from the seat across the aisle shook Caroline from her thoughts.

Caroline declined to own up to her oral thinking even though she’d startled her own self when she’d spoken aloud. To cover her error, she smiled at the woman. “Pardon?”

The stranger brushed a fly from her bright yellow gown, a dress far more suitable to a ball than a railcar. “Were you talking to me?”

Annoyed at the woman for intruding on her thoughts, Caroline tugged on the fashionable hat she’d bought with the last of her savings. “No, I. … Well, I wasn’t.”

The woman pointed at Caroline’s skirt. “I couldn’t help notice you had a packet of letters. … My name is Julia Brooks.”

Caroline fanned the air between them. Even though Julia’s gown was exquisite, the bright red lips against her very white skin placed the woman in a lower class. A painted lady, perhaps? Caroline scooted away from the woman and closer to the window. “I’m Caroline Lovelace. Perhaps you’ve heard of my father, Judge Lovelace.”

Julia smoothed the yellow satin ensconced around her. “Yes, I’ve heard of the good judge … and his demise.”

Caroline’s head snapped up. She wanted to wipe the smug grin from the woman’s face. Then again, Caroline had learned to ignore such taunting words. Yes, her father had died under unfortunate circumstances. Very unfortunate. He’d gambled the last of the family fortune in a house of ill repute and lost his life over the hand of a woman. Although Caroline’s mother had been dead for over ten years, Father should not have been caught in such a place, much less been caught dead in the Golden Palace.

A terrible nagging drew Caroline’s gaze to Julia’s necklace. There on the tart’s alabaster neck sat Grandmother’s ivory cameo. An exasperated, “Oh,” escaped Caroline’s lips. Too late to stop the announcement of her discovery, she whirled to once again face the window. However, the passing scenery was not on her mind.

Purchase Caroline’s Love and other books by Patricia PacJac Carroll on Amazon.

Connect with Patricia:

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My Next Adventure -Middletown Thrall Library's First Local Authors and Illustrators Showcase

My local library has been so good to me throughout my publishing adventures. Reference librarian Mary Flannery-Climes has offered moral support from the beginning and is always willing to listen to me go on and on about my next project.  Gail Myker, adult program coordinator, hosted a book reading and signing for Blue Hydrangeas and allowed me to present my Adventures in Publishing program "How to Independently Publish Your Own Book" to a wonderful audience. Library director Matt Pfisterer said "Yes!" to my suggestion that the library put on a local authors event. So it is with great pleasure that I take part in my latest adventure - Middletown Thrall Library's first Local Authors and Illustrators Showcase on Saturday, December 6^th. 

The Hudson Valley is rich with talent, especially literary talent. This event is a great way to give these authors and artists exposure and to introduce them to readers who may be looking for something beyond the bestsellers. This free event promises to be a wonderful opportunity for readers to meet local authors, to learn about the publishing process, and to view these authors' books. It's also a great place to shop for holiday gifts.

“We are very pleased to provide an opportunity to connect a diverse group of really talented local authors with people who regularly come to Middletown Thrall Library in search of great reads and unique literary perspectives,” says library executive director Matt Pfisterer.   

The featured authors and illustrators come from all over the Hudson Valley and include Sandi Bischoff,  Maria Blon, Jeanne Bogino, Allie Boniface, Dawn Bonney, Carole Bugge, Bern Cohen, Matthew Field, Sharon Fox, Jason Gehlert,  MJ Hanley-Goff, Lynn Marie Houston, Liz Matis, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Lisa Vaughn, Fred and Barbara Weissman, Justine Williams, and Michael J. Worden. 

These authors represent a variety of genres including general fiction, romance, paranormal, fantasy, thriller, horror,  and crime, as well as poetry, memoir, cookbooks, writing instruction, and self-help.

Workshops with Maria Blon and MJ Hanley-Goff will also be available.

The first session (11 AM - 12:30 PM) will feature children's and young adult authors and illustrators. The second session (1 PM - 4:30 PM) will feature authors writing for adults. 

Refreshments will be served.  Author-donated items, including books, will be raffled off to attendees throughout the event. 

For more information, please contact Gail Myker at (845) 341-5483 or thrall3@warwick.net

If you're in the area, don't miss this event.