Small Beer Press makes a great parody of the whole Harlequin Horizons fiasco. I laughed so hard that I decided to post a link for others to follow and have a good laugh for the day.
Enjoy!
http://smallbeerpress.com/not-a-journal/2009/11/22/small-beer-press-horizons/
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Harlequin Causes Industry Stir
Okay, I couldn't say it any better than the sites listed below. Check out the whole Harlequin self-publishing fiasco and let me know what you think.
http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2009/11/trouble-on-the-harlequin-horizon.html
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/11/harlequin-hacks.html
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/11/sfwa-statement-on-harlequins-self-publishing-imprint/
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/want-to-self-publish-how-about-harlequin/P300/
http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2009/11/trouble-on-the-harlequin-horizon.html
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/11/harlequin-hacks.html
http://www.sfwa.org/2009/11/sfwa-statement-on-harlequins-self-publishing-imprint/
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/want-to-self-publish-how-about-harlequin/P300/
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Velicicon 2010
Okay, this is unprecedented...two blog entries in one day. But this subject matter warrants an extra entry. Please read the following:
Velocicon developed from the need for new tools in the paranormal, fantasy and science fiction writing industry. Velocicon will give you the means to take your story ideas out of this world and to the next level.
Dr. Dave Goldberg, keynote speaker for Velocicon 2010, is an Astrophysicist and associate professor from Princeton and Drexel. He will discuss the scientific reality of time travel. He’ll also be available for panel questions later in the day. What an awesome way to get your time travel off the ground and give it a new twist. What an awesome way to fire up you imagination.
We’ll have ghost hunters from TV with all their equipment. They go over a point by point explanation of their technique and equipment. Everything you ever wanted to know and had nowhere to go with your questions.
Barbara E. Szafranski, a celebrated medium and aura specialist will give a workshop explaining her science and customizing her presentation to your questions.
Finally we have a host of multi Award Winning Authors; Judy McCoy, John Grant, Isabo Kelly, Leanna Renee Hieber, who will bring it all together for you. Show you how to take all this new information, build on it and weave it into your story.
This is a conference like no other. This is Velocicon and we hope you can join us, March 6th at the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank New Jersey.
Velocicon
www.velocicon.com
Velocicon developed from the need for new tools in the paranormal, fantasy and science fiction writing industry. Velocicon will give you the means to take your story ideas out of this world and to the next level.
Dr. Dave Goldberg, keynote speaker for Velocicon 2010, is an Astrophysicist and associate professor from Princeton and Drexel. He will discuss the scientific reality of time travel. He’ll also be available for panel questions later in the day. What an awesome way to get your time travel off the ground and give it a new twist. What an awesome way to fire up you imagination.
We’ll have ghost hunters from TV with all their equipment. They go over a point by point explanation of their technique and equipment. Everything you ever wanted to know and had nowhere to go with your questions.
Barbara E. Szafranski, a celebrated medium and aura specialist will give a workshop explaining her science and customizing her presentation to your questions.
Finally we have a host of multi Award Winning Authors; Judy McCoy, John Grant, Isabo Kelly, Leanna Renee Hieber, who will bring it all together for you. Show you how to take all this new information, build on it and weave it into your story.
This is a conference like no other. This is Velocicon and we hope you can join us, March 6th at the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank New Jersey.
Velocicon
www.velocicon.com
Marketing-What works for you?
I love to write. I hate to market.
I admit it, I could easily be a hermit. Heck, I'm already half-way there as it is. The best day is one where I don't have to leave home. I can write, spend time with my animals, go for a walk in the woods, clean the barn, lug some straw and hay...there's always something to do on a farm. When I do go to work, it's part-time on a goat farm where I spend more time with the animals than the people. Ahhh, the good life. :-)
So, what I'm getting at is that for me writing is the easy part of the equation. When it comes to marketing my books..."What do you mean I have to talk to people? Interact with them on a regular basis. Oh, no." (picture me clutching my head in my hands and shaking it).
Okay, I'm exaggerating slightly, but the truth is just as hard to take. Where do you begin? What even works these days. So many avenues are available that it's mind boggling to even figure out where to spend your time and money. EVERYONE seems to be sending out e-mail blasts, newsletters, etc. I think it's been overdone to death and people are fed up with receiving so many e-mails in the course of a day that they end up deleting a lot of them unread. Newspaper advertising might work locally, but that's not where you'll make your money. Google ads, facebook ads, social sites everywhere you look. Yahoo and google writing groups, but from what I can see everyone else is there to sell their books, as well. Yikes, it's mind boggling.
As every other published author who'd like to see their book sales soar, I've spent money, time, energy, and done a ton of research with minor results. So what really works?
Here is a very interesting link that deals quite succinctly with marketing and promotion
www.freepublicitygroup.com/marketing_manifesto.html
So, why not share what works for you and your books.
Have a great day,
Catherine
I admit it, I could easily be a hermit. Heck, I'm already half-way there as it is. The best day is one where I don't have to leave home. I can write, spend time with my animals, go for a walk in the woods, clean the barn, lug some straw and hay...there's always something to do on a farm. When I do go to work, it's part-time on a goat farm where I spend more time with the animals than the people. Ahhh, the good life. :-)
So, what I'm getting at is that for me writing is the easy part of the equation. When it comes to marketing my books..."What do you mean I have to talk to people? Interact with them on a regular basis. Oh, no." (picture me clutching my head in my hands and shaking it).
Okay, I'm exaggerating slightly, but the truth is just as hard to take. Where do you begin? What even works these days. So many avenues are available that it's mind boggling to even figure out where to spend your time and money. EVERYONE seems to be sending out e-mail blasts, newsletters, etc. I think it's been overdone to death and people are fed up with receiving so many e-mails in the course of a day that they end up deleting a lot of them unread. Newspaper advertising might work locally, but that's not where you'll make your money. Google ads, facebook ads, social sites everywhere you look. Yahoo and google writing groups, but from what I can see everyone else is there to sell their books, as well. Yikes, it's mind boggling.
As every other published author who'd like to see their book sales soar, I've spent money, time, energy, and done a ton of research with minor results. So what really works?
Here is a very interesting link that deals quite succinctly with marketing and promotion
www.freepublicitygroup.com/marketing_manifesto.html
So, why not share what works for you and your books.
Have a great day,
Catherine
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Free Short Story
Just a short note to let you know that my publisher, Crescent Moon Press, has posted one of my short stories on their website as a free read. The story is titled, A Lifetime to Love
and is my take on the Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot love story...with a twist. :-)
This is the link that will take you directly to the story:
http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/Glade/ALifetimeToLove.html
While there, why not browse some of the books offered in the Shoppe. If you haven't read my latest, A Witch's Lament, you'll find it offered for sale as well.
Have a great day,
Catherine
and is my take on the Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot love story...with a twist. :-)
This is the link that will take you directly to the story:
http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/Glade/ALifetimeToLove.html
While there, why not browse some of the books offered in the Shoppe. If you haven't read my latest, A Witch's Lament, you'll find it offered for sale as well.
Have a great day,
Catherine
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
What to write?
That is the question. You'd think that being a writer, I'd find it easy to write a blog entry. The thing is, I can never think of anything to write. I open my blog, look at the blank page and have nothing to say.
Isn't that awful?
The thing is, I have a million stories rolling around in my mind and not nearly enough time to write them, so why can't I write a simple blog entry? Hmmm, I suppose that I function better in a fictional world. I can create, mold, shape and bring to life characters and places, but ask me to talk (write) about something real and I can't quite seem to shift into that gear.
So, since my brain doesn't seem to want to work today and I feel the need to give you some worthy tidbit of information, I'll let someone else do the work. Check out this site for some basic and interesting mythbusting information on writing and publishing.
http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/get-real-publishing-myths-exposed-562837.html
Have a great night,
Cathy
Isn't that awful?
The thing is, I have a million stories rolling around in my mind and not nearly enough time to write them, so why can't I write a simple blog entry? Hmmm, I suppose that I function better in a fictional world. I can create, mold, shape and bring to life characters and places, but ask me to talk (write) about something real and I can't quite seem to shift into that gear.
So, since my brain doesn't seem to want to work today and I feel the need to give you some worthy tidbit of information, I'll let someone else do the work. Check out this site for some basic and interesting mythbusting information on writing and publishing.
http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/get-real-publishing-myths-exposed-562837.html
Have a great night,
Cathy
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Guest Author at Romance Junkies
Take a minute to check out the link below and see what I wrote over at Romance Junkies.
http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/?p=576#comments
http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/?p=576#comments
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Wow Factor
Wow. I have my first deadline.
Up until now I've written on a loose schedule, never having a reason to write other than the urge that drives me to create. Sporadic, maybe, but I managed to complete 5 manuscripts, get a good start on 2 others and write a few short stories. I lived through the drawer full (and I do mean full) of rejection slips and make it through the typical writer's lack of confidence. After the usual process of submitting my manuscripts and waiting for another rejection (or not), I've had 4 of my manuscripts published.
Well, Crescent Moon Press, publisher of my book, A Witch's Lament, loved the book so much they contracted me to write the sequel. I was expecting to write the book and submit for acceptance, but they sent me a contract to sign. How cool! They trust in me and my writing enough to give me a contract on a book that hasn't been written yet. Wow. I'm thrilled.
Now, I have no choice. If I want to finish the manuscript in time, I have to write every day and I have to say, I'm kind of enjoying the pressure. I love to write but have a terrible habit of procrastinating...the goats can be a very tempting time waster. Especially in the nice weather.
Writing every day makes it easier to keep in the mood and up to date on what's going on in the story, so I think it makes for a more even flow.
Anyway, gotta go...I've got a book to write. :-)
Up until now I've written on a loose schedule, never having a reason to write other than the urge that drives me to create. Sporadic, maybe, but I managed to complete 5 manuscripts, get a good start on 2 others and write a few short stories. I lived through the drawer full (and I do mean full) of rejection slips and make it through the typical writer's lack of confidence. After the usual process of submitting my manuscripts and waiting for another rejection (or not), I've had 4 of my manuscripts published.
Well, Crescent Moon Press, publisher of my book, A Witch's Lament, loved the book so much they contracted me to write the sequel. I was expecting to write the book and submit for acceptance, but they sent me a contract to sign. How cool! They trust in me and my writing enough to give me a contract on a book that hasn't been written yet. Wow. I'm thrilled.
Now, I have no choice. If I want to finish the manuscript in time, I have to write every day and I have to say, I'm kind of enjoying the pressure. I love to write but have a terrible habit of procrastinating...the goats can be a very tempting time waster. Especially in the nice weather.
Writing every day makes it easier to keep in the mood and up to date on what's going on in the story, so I think it makes for a more even flow.
Anyway, gotta go...I've got a book to write. :-)
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