How Thick is Your Skin? by Alison Henderson

My new release BOILING POINT is finished and ready to go. Whew! Of all the books I've written, this one required the most lashes to whip it into shape. When I finish a book, I always think it's wonderful--and I'm always wrong. I never seem to learn. Fortunately, I have a number of others to help point out the errors of my ways in no uncertain terms.

Previously, I'd been lulled into a false sense of competence by my editors with my former publisher. They were lovely people. They were gentle and supportive but recommended only minor changes. They didn't make me a better writer. I was always vaguely disappointed when I received a manuscript back without any substantive suggestions to improve the story or characters.

Well, let me tell you, that didn't happen this time. I received pages of very pointed comments, both from my editor and beta readers (my sisters). Fortunately, they addressed the very points that had been gnawing at me all along. For some reason, it's always easier for me to correct major errors when someone else sees them, too. I don't know--maybe I need to learn to trust my own judgement better.

My editor is brutal, but in the best possible way. Jannine, you know it's true. The first time we worked together, I was crushed when I received her notes and read through the manuscript. It wasn't easy to accept that after three published books, I was still such a beginner. This time wasn't much better, even though I knew what to expect. However, I try to learn at least one lesson from each book, and Jannine, you'll be proud to hear I found and corrected a few additional instances of "telling" on my own as I worked through the edits.

One of my sisters began her email, "Don't take this personally." That made me laugh out loud. How else would I take it? You can't separate the creator from her creation. For better or worse, I'd spent months laboring over that manuscript. Fortunately, she had some excellent suggestions for strengthening the secondary characters, and I was happy to use them.

The book that finally makes its way into the hands of readers next month is much stronger than the one I thought I'd "finished" a few weeks ago. I'm proud of it and eternally grateful to those who helped make it the best it could be.

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com

Hooking Readers by Christine DePetrillo

The hardest part about being an author is getting your work in front of readers. Writing the story is a piece of cake compared to finding people who genuinely want to read your books and who will leave reviews that get other people to read your books. I’m not a very outgoing person. I don’t like to shove my work into people’s faces. I can barely get myself to give a bookmark to someone who has already shown an interest in what I write. The one time I did resulted in a bank teller giving me her phone number and saying that she had “experiences” she could share with me that I could write about. Think Fifty Shades experiences, people. Not what I write at all.

And now I had to switch banks.

I’m also not a look-at-me person. I’d rather be the wallpaper in the restaurant than the flaming dessert the waiter has wheeled into the middle of the room, causing everyone to gasp and clap and be wildly impressed.

Yeah, I’m sweating just thinking about that sort of attention.

I’ve done price promotions, newsletters, book excerpts, blog tours, book signings, made book trailers, ran contests… the usual stuff. I’m wondering in this post today what other authors have tried with good results.

I’m also curious about what readers want. What lures you in to try a new author? What turns you off?

 

Toodles,

Chris

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com

SAFE, Book One, The Shielded Series, available now!

Where did that character come from?

As I've noted before, I usually try to get a good idea of my characters before I start to write. I like to know some of their background, their history, any quirks and oddities lurking in their fictional closets.

The other day I was working on my current manuscript and I was working on a Snip Scene: this is a scene I know I'll use at some point in the ms, I'm just not exactly sure where or when. The heroine and hero are talking and the lights go out. The lights should not go out. Bad guys are coming.

The hero goes to his desk and takes out a gun. The heroine asks if he has a backup. I gave her some knowledge of firearms, so this is not unusual. Then she proceeds to talk through an escape plan that's really pretty darn good. He says, "You're not a typical governess." And she says [wait for it], "No, I've done quite a bit of security work."

Well, damn -- that's the first time I heard about it! Suddenly a whole new realm of possibilities opened for me with this woman. Maybe that explains why she did so-and-so in the past; maybe that's why she reacted that way to a previous scene. I knew the events of her past, but now I know the why of them.

Did my unconscious mind know that this was going to come out of the blue like that?

This has totally changed the plot line (in a good way, I might add) and I am having fun with this 'new' character in my book. I really can't wait to see what happens next.

Memories of 9/11 Terrorist Attack Fallout

By Vonnie Davis

Most of us recall where we were when we heard of the attacks on American soil. I was working at what was then Citibank--now Citi--in Hagerstown, Maryland. This particular Citibank was a large three-building campus that never, ever closed. It was open every minute of every day, all year long. On the opposite side of the massive parking lot was a child-care center the size of an elementary school for employee's children. Each building had two restaurants.

Over a total of 25,000 employees kept the credit card, calling center, investment, and mortgage departments open. I worked as a technical writer in the mortgage department, writing closing documents to conform with changes in tax and legalities applicable to the banking industry.

Whispers spread quickly over the cubicles to turn to CNN news online. We all watched in horror, knowing that some of Citibank employees were in those buildings. Before long, our departmental supervisor called us into our meeting room. With a shaky voice, he told us about the attacks. He was visibly shaken. His sister, also a Citibank employee, was one of the missing and he couldn't reach her.

Then, if things weren't bad enough, he informed us the corporation feared we were next in the terrorists' path. "So, stay alert and keep on working." Well, if that doesn't inspire the will to work, I don't know what does.

We all marched back to our stations, the talk heavy between us. I sat at my computer, wondering WHY?  Why would the terrorists come for us? We were cubicle workers in little Podunk Hagerstown.

The next day, we were called in for another meeting. We were told why our campus was in "supposed" danger. Al Qaida and Bin Laden had money invested in Citibank and their assets were frozen.

A couple days later, someone opening mail had white powder fall out over her. Everyone went into a panic. Agents were soon in the facility. We were given new orders. Wear latex gloves while working and use special soap in the restrooms. The next morning, we came to work to find everyone wearing plastic aprons. New ones were handed to us. We worked like that for weeks, encased in latex and plastic and running on fumes of fear. At night, we watched the news of the happenings at ground zero in disbelief.

We were Americans. This couldn't be happening to us. . . but it was. It did and so many innocents died or have suffered the loss of loved ones.

Unfortunately, the terror remains here and in other countries. Different groups. Different names. Same sick agendas. Like ISIS, for instance. Featured in my Black Eagle Ops Series, ISIS is the enemy. Book two releases on November 23rd and is eligible for pre-order.

In this powerful, sensual romance from the author of Her Survivor, a broken woman meets a shattered warrior—and discovers a passion strong enough to heal each other’s deepest wounds.

Navy SEAL Reece Browning sacrificed body and soul in the line of duty. He survived torture at the hands of America’s enemies, but lost his career and his voice in the process. Traumatized and desperate to get his PTSD under control, Reece escapes to Eagle Ridge Ranch. Under the big Texas sky, he finds peace, a renewed sense of purpose—and a woman who makes him feel like a man again. Her smile lights up his dark days, and her caress helps him forget the night terrors.

Ex-Marine Gina Wilson also bears painful scars: emotional wounds inflicted by men she once trusted with her life. She has fought hard to overcome her demons and build a good life for her daughter, and Reece is too intense, too damaged, too raw to let into her heart. Yet she’s drawn irresistibly to his steely gaze and heated embrace. No one else understands what it’s like to suffer in silence. And when Gina’s daughter is threatened, it’s Reece who risks everything to save the day.

Pre-Order at: https://amzn.com/B01CBM44Q0

For more information about Vonnie Davis, visit her website at www.vonniedavis.com

Remembering September 11, 2001: And A Tribute To Our Many Heroes by Margo Hoornstra

 

 

Fifteen years ago today, our nation, the United States of America, was forever changed. But was it really? Maybe we're more aware of the great freedoms we have in this country--and, because of that, what we have to lose. In my opinion, though, we're still okay. Because we're fortunate for those in our military and the law enforcement community so dedicated and devoted to serve, protect and keep us all safe.

 

 

 

I'm honored to be the friend, granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, wife and mother to some of them.

Please join me in remembering, and honoring, so many, many heroes who live among us.

For me, it never gets old, or taken for granted. Each and every time I think of those courageous individuals and what they do.

It takes my breath away every time.

Thank you all.

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. I can also be found at:

www.margohoornstra.com

What Lies Beneath? You don’t want to know about this suspense! by Rolynn Anderson

My hairdryer led me into the abyss.  Fairly new, with all ‘ionic’ features, whatever that means, the ding-dang dryer was acting up.  It would blow hot hair, then cold; it would produce lots of air, then very little.  First thought: I’d bought a lemon; second thought: Is there a problem with the air vents?  Are they obstructed?  

Were they ever!  I took a tweezers to those layers of dust.  Gone!  Result: the hairdryer operated as good as new.

I walk by the refrigerator.  A yellow indicator light draws my attention and I squint to read the information.  “Clean coils!”  What?  More dust and more havoc to deal with?  On my knees, then flattened on my side, I shine the flashlight into a place no one ought to have to look.  Horrors!  Globs of dust everywhere.

Now where do I find a brush narrow enough and long enough to clean out those coils?  And how important is this task?  I use the longest brush cleaner I have; I even stick a wood lefse turner into the dark reaches, hoping I’ll gather up some dust.  I bring out globs of the stuff, but more remains, unreachable.  Yet, the indicator light goes out.  Success!

Later I think: I should have turned off the power on the refrigerator while I dug around those dark places.  I won’t forget to add that safety feature next time.

Here’s the thing.  Our kitchen refrigerator has stood in place for about 20 years.  We ‘owned’ it when we bought the house in 2000.  I swear, no one has ever cleaned those coils.  Did you know there’s a pan for collecting water down there?  How gross does yours look compared to mine?

Worse, we brought a very old refrigerator to this house to provide coolness to my chardonnay wine collection.  Forty years of chill-time?  Have I ever cleaned its coils?  Of course not!  But now I’m thinking I better, even if I don’t want to. 

Lesson to self:  One obstruction leads to another.

Question for my readers: What else have we forgotten to clean out after all these years?

Speaking of obstructions, every character in FEAR LAND confronts a barrier to their happiness.  If these people don’t solve their problems, anxiety, instead of joy, will take over their lives.  Watch how a soldier, a psychiatrist and a boy deal with trauma in this suspense novel, spiked with romance!

http://amzn.com/B012JE75ES

http://rolynnanderson.com

REPEAT by Brenda Whiteside

I'm cheating today and not composing an original post. My life has been fraught with too much family drama, exchanging RV's, blowing car engines, tire blow outs, and anything not related to my writing career. This post is from last spring on my personal blog. I spent a lovely day on Apache Lake, not far from our RV ranch in Tonto Basin, AZ. I thought about deleting the photos of Rusty since he passed last summer, but it's a good memory. Hope you enjoy.

Since Frank and I have been in Tonto Basin all week, I'm a little short on farm news, so I'd love to share some pictures of Apache Lake. I don't get out on the water very often. I decided to not get a fishing license this year since most days I write. But I love an occasional lake day, and I hadn't been on Apache Lake in many years.

On the road. Water below.

The road in is narrow, dirt, and a bit treacherous. The Apache Trail

There's a story of someone who lived in a cave.

hasn't changed in decades. It certainly keeps the crowds down so that one of the most gorgeous lakes in Arizona isn't overrun.

The evidence is there.

Rusty waits for Frank to catch a fish.

It was a beautiful day.

Apache Dam

There are areas that look landscaped.

Rusty licks the fish before it goes into the water.

The scenery changes.

A relaxing day to read.