Gotta Love The Sweet Spot, And Other News by Margo Hoornstra

Right now I'm at that sweet spot in my current work in progress. Coming into the home stretch to push through the soggy middle and have it completed. Ready to type THE END. In the next few weeks, anyway. Followed, of course, by edits and rewrites then even more edits and rewrites.

True, I do have a ways to go, but I am pumped.

Thanks to the universe et al, I'm cruising right along with On The Make, Brothers in Blue Book 3. I know who the bad guy(s) is/are, I know what happens to whom and why. For the most part, anyway. After all, I am a pantser. However, I do know exactly how my hero and heroine reach their Happy Ever After.

Not to brag or anything, **wink, wink** but the other day I wrote virtually from sunrise to sunset and beyond, and logged an impressive (I think anyway) three thousand plus words. I even wrote most of the final chapter. I'll admit, a little out of sequence, which drives some, I should say one, linearphobic critique partner I know bonkers...but I digress.

As nice as it is to be finishing this one, there are still those Brothers in Blue Books 1 and 2, On The Surface and On The Force respectively. It's promo time for those. Especially OTF, whose release date is fast approaching. (October 29, to be exact.)

On The Force

Since we've all come to the conclusion blogs don't necessarily sell books, I'm not heavily involved in a blog tour or anything. But. to promote On The Force,  I am going to make an appearance, as I noted here not too long ago, on the widely read blog Just Romantic Suspense. My dates are November 7 and 8. A reader's format choice copy of On The Surface is my Giveaway Prize.

On The Surface

Thank you, by the way, fellow Rose Buds and others for the wise counsel and always valuable suggestions for tweaking my post to make it more interesting, so I can make the most of my time there.

Another promo event I have going on is a local book signing on Thursday, November 15th from 1-7 PM. The Great Escape: A Deer Widows Expo at the Saranac Public Library in Saranc, Michigan. It's a townwide shopping event with vendors, artisans and authors. This will be my fourth, or maybe it's my fifth time participating, and I've always had good luck, as in many sales, at this event. It's an added plus to be able to get in some shopping myself. Fellow Rose Diane Burton will be there with me. (If nothing else, we can enjoy each other's company if things happen to slow down some.)

In and around that, there's On The Make to wrap up. So I guess I'd better get busy, huh?

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my website at www.margohoornstra.com

So Tell Me, Rose Buds...What Do You Think? by Margo Hoornstra

Hi There Fellow Rose...Buds and Important Others,

With a new title coming out the end of this month, October 29 to be exact, it's promo time for me. As part of my getting the word out plan, and at Jannine's suggestion, I've secured a spot at Just Romantic Suspense, November 7-8. This is what I'm sending in. Tell me what you think.

"Nothing is working for me anymore. I quit."

Flouncing into the living room from my home office down the hall, I plopped on the couch, arms crossed over my chest in true body language style, to protect myself and shut down any argument.

Across the room in his favorite recliner, my husband glanced up. "You know you don't mean that."

Obviously, he hadn't received the body language interpretation memo.

"This time I do." I held myself tighter.

He didn't seem to notice. "Really?"

"Yes. Really."

"Okay, I'll bite. Why?"

"Nothing's working." I hate when I have to repeat myself with him. "My contemporary romance series about women millionaires is going nowhere. I'm not excited about it."

For the next few moments he sat there, quietly letting me fume. Then... "How about this? I see a woman in her apartment, alone and confused. She's just lost her job and doesn't know what to do next. Enter an undercover cop who needs to run surveillance on a resident across the street, and her place is the perfect vantage point."

That was all I needed to hear...

What had started as a short story about an old, abandoned colonial house was morphing into a full length romantic suspense novel with a cop turned bounty hunter hero and an unsuspecting and wrongly accused ex-con out on probation. My hero had a friend and colleague still on the force, who helped him out now and then with 'inside' information.

Fleshing that one out, eventually titled ON THE SURFACE I got the idea for a Brothers In Blue series, four heroes who met at the police academy to become life long friends.

From there, I went on to the suggested unemployed heroine and undercover cop and eventually, ON THE FORCE was born.

Here's a sneak peek.

Losing her job and reputation is nothing compared to the prospect of losing her life

Top notch CFO Sydney Raines is devastated when her coveted job working for a high profile conglomerate is yanked out from under her. Determined to restore a mangled reputation, she finds her second chance when the owner of an upscale art gallery hires her as his personal assistant.

Straight arrow cop Vince Miller is assigned to crack an international art theft ring. Working undercover, he never counted on meeting Sydney Raines, let alone falling in love with her.

Then an unexpected twist in the case reveals the identity of a serial killer, along with the shattering realization that Sydney could be the psycho’s next victim.

*******

“It would have compromised the assignment.”

After she finished the sentence for him, he nodded. “Exactly. The feds were involved. I couldn’t do anything but keep quiet. Those guys don’t take kindly to having civilians interfere in their operations.” 

“Interfere? Really?” Her tone deepened to one of disbelief. “And after the feds left the case?”

He took a moment to swallow. “We…you and I…never seemed to have the time.”

“That is so lame, Vince. In all the alone time we did spend together the past couple of weeks.” A fast breath huffed out of her. “You couldn’t take five minutes?”

“Five minutes wasn’t going to cut it. We’ve been at this a lot longer right now, and nothing’s been resolved.”

“You couldn’t even try?” Tears moved up to tinge her voice. Even as she clamped her mouth shut, her chin continued to tremble.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to. Didn’t think about it a lot.” He lifted an arm toward her then, thinking better of it, let it drop. “You were always so busy with your new job.”

“Seriously? You not being able to tell me the truth was my fault?”

“No. Of course not. I’m not saying that at all.” Pressing his lips tight, he again broke eye contact. “It’s no one’s fault you had responsibilities. Out of town business. The reception Curan had you put on.”

“You could have been honest with me. Not used me the way you did.”

“I never used you.” He pulled in a breath as he looked up at her. “It was my job, Sydney. I was just doing my job as I’d been instructed.”

“Certainly you were. You’re not a magazine reporter, you’re a cop. One who was working undercover to bring a man to justice who, by your own admission, never did anything wrong in the first place.” With both hands at her sides, she drew them into fists she relaxed, then clenched tight again.

Vince lifted his chin, half expecting her to clock him with a well‑aimed right hook. “That’s not exactly how it is.”

ON THE FORCE is Book 2 in the Brothers In Blue series.

It joins ON THE SURFACE Brothers In Blue Book 1, which will be my Reader's Choice giveaway. Both books are published through THE WILD ROSE PRESS

So what do you think? How'd I do? Too much? Too little? Or just about right?

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my WEBSITE

To Remember and Honor: In My Own Unique Way by Margo Hoornstra

It's September 11th again. As I do here each year, I ask you to join me in remembering how fragile and precious our many freedoms are. And to acknowledge and honor those brave individuals who knowingly enter into harm's way to preserve those freedoms for us.

In addition to those who serve on our behalf in foreign lands who so deserve our gratitude, so too do the men and women of law enforcement here at home. As one who has spent many years, first as a spouse, then mother to members of the profession, police officer heroes have a special place in my heart.

In that spirit, I created the four book Brothers in Blue series. Four heroes who met at the police academy and became life long friends. The dropout, the straight arrow, the movie star and the maverick. All share a passion to serve and protect, each in their own unique way.

On The Surface, Book 1 - Is available now.

He sought vengeance only to discover love.

On The Force, Book 2 - Comes out October 29th.

Losing her job was nothing compared to the prospect of losing her life.

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my WEBSITE

This Is How To Be A Success At #Promo by Margo Hoornstra

Wow! Kazow! I’ve done it! At long last, I’ve FINALLY done it! I’ve really, really done it!

I’ve solved the what works and what doesn’t promotional conundrum that has so many romance authors, even authors in general, stumped.

Yay!!

April Fool!!

I know! I know! It’s three weeks past April First. Sorry. Just couldn’t resist.

Okay, so maybe I haven't completely solved the elusive promo puzzle. No silver bullet information to impart here. What I have done, though, is to obtain some insight into the problem. And, maybe, just maybe, gotten a peek at some kind of solution.

The end of last month and beginning of this, I set up a couple of Sponsored Product ad campaigns on Amazon for the two self-published titles I have out there.

Saturday In Serendipity

and

 For Money Or Love

Our own Alison Henderson had used them, I was told, with some success. Another of our own, Jannine Gallant had used them too. Why not me?

First, I needed to understand what, exactly a Sponsored Product ad was. (Bringing traffic to the buy page of MY product as the result of being on the buy page of others.) Not an easy concept for me to grasp, I’m afraid. Once I had that mastered though, I started by listing upwards of 75 keywords, in this case names of other authors with books similar to mine, AND established track records, ie high numbers of good reviews. Next was to set my daily cost limit at a conservative $5.00 and my bid limit (still not exactly sure what that is) at $.25 per and I was off.

Initially, things began to look very, very good. Impressions were coming in at about 4,000 a day for SIS and 2,000 a day for FMOL. Sixteen clicks on each in the first ten days! My exposure on KU (Kindle Unlimited) and KOLL (Kindle Owners Lending Library) was growing. People were actually reading my books! I sold a copy.

My other books, traditionally published through The Wild Rose Press 

On The Surface 

Only If You Dare

and

Night Stars and Mourning Doves 

were selling. Minimally, but selling.

Then, without warning, the newness of it all began to fade. Impressions dwindled to about half of what they had been after only two weeks. Currently, Saturday In Serendipity averages 400 a day, For Money Or Love a mere 100.

Nonetheless, there is movement. There is visibility. There are sales.

My plan is to hang in there for another month or two and see what happens. Though I don’t have exact royalty figures for any of the titles right now, I do know I have made more than I’ve spent.

And isn’t that what advertising is all about anyway? In that sense, this current campaign of mine is a success.

Go figure.

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my WEBSITE

#amwriting From a Slightly Different Perspective by Margo Hoornstra

Lately on these pages, my fellow Roses have discussed the writing process from their perspective. The struggles to get a book just right before it’s presented to the public. Several things to be sure of include:

1. The main characters are properly fleshed out and believable
2. Keep point of view true and constant throughout
3. Close all story arcs
4. Tie up all loose ends
5. Provide a clear and satisfying ending
6. Once finished, make sure every word is right and punctuation is absolutely perfect

The only way to guarantee a product readers will flock to and buy. Right?

Well, I just finished a block buster, made into a movie, best seller by an amazingly prolific author. In paperback format, by the way. My thinking was to get some insight in to how it’s done correctly as I embarked on my latest effort. The book I read was written in the nineties, and still today ranks right up there in block buster bestsellerdom.

So, it stands to reason each and every item of the above checklist would have been strictly adhered to. Right?

To my surprise, not necessarily.

Here’s my humble opinion on how this book fared when compared to the above checklist test.

1. Main characters’ believability. This was done to a point, but more through the actual telling of their preferences rather than showing them react. Plus they were always in adrenaline mode. Never really acting human. And, half way through an otherwise smart heroine became TSTL, and almost didn’t.
2. Consistency in POV. Not hardly. Some first person, some third. Lots of omnipresent head hopping. Hard to follow at times.
3. Completed story arcs. While passably done, quite a few character actions were left hanging. Put there, IMHO, more for shock value than story substance.
4. Tie up loose ends. Again. A lot of shock value chapter endings with storylines that were never heard from again.
5. True and satisfying ending. While the ending was a real, well, ending that rang true; it wasn’t in the least bit satisfying. Again, IMHO. It was as if the whole build up of so many previous chapters was crammed into the last few pages as almost a series of after thoughts.
6. Perfect on the page. While, of course well done in this aspect. There were errors. A few periods and commas that were missed. Some passages that could have used another content edit. Certainly not perfect.

What does this tell us? In my opinion, again, it tells us that the books we write don’t have to be flawless, they just have to be…good.

How about you? Any books you’ve read recently that, while memorable in their own right, weren’t exactly perfect in each and every aspect?

As you ponder this deep and deliberate question, here's my latest effort, Book 1, in the Brothers In Blue series On The Surface

Maybe not flawless but, the best I could do in making it memorable.

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and stories I write, please visit my website

#amwriting, Yes…But There’s More by Margo Hoornstra

Most publishers, The Wild Rose Press which is mine included, ask their authors to fill out Manuscript Information and Cover Art Sheets to accompany completed manuscripts. In my case, for the recently released On The Surface. Book 1 in the Brothers In Blue series.

The Manuscript Information Sheet is self-explanatory and contains pretty cut and dried information such as the dedication, praise and reviews, blurb, excerpt, brief author bio and keywords. I won’t bore you with the details of those items except for the last one. Keywords. For On The Surface, I chose rebel hero, framed heroine, secrets and betrayal.

The Cover Art Sheet, obviously used by the artist to design the cover, can be a little trickier to complete in that it makes you think about your manuscript beyond the main characters and story itself.

Starting out, providing physical descriptions of the hero and heroine, is easy enough and can be as simple as blonde hair, blue eyes, slim build, and such. Casual to formal dress. Jeans, tank tops and T-shirts. That kind of thing.

Then there’s time period, season and setting. Again, easy peasy. “Present time/contemporary. Spring through Summer at the Rest Easy Bed and Breakfast on fictional Cascade Lake, a resort town in Northern Michigan. Also, some scenes take place in Metro Detroit.”

Next up is tone of the book. In this case, I entered “Deception, concealed identities. All is not what or whom, they seem with the undertone of big city crime set on the backdrop of a beautiful resort town bed and breakfast.”

Then we come to the question of what is the most important element of a book cover? Person, place or object? Animal? Couple? If couple, in what pose? I take that to mean what is the main component that explains what you’ve written? My reply was “A landscape of a lake. The title, On The Surface, refers to the deceit of the hero and heroine regarding each other and their relationship.”

Final question. What is the story really about? After months of writing, re-writing, editing and re-editing the story this should be a piece of cake, right? Not necessarily. Following much deliberation, I came up with “Deception and pursuit of vengeance by the hero. Independence from an abuser for the heroine.”

Whew! Done and done!

As many of you know, this is the finished product. And I must say I’m thrilled with the result.

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my WEBSITE

And please note. If I don't respond to comments right away, I'm away from my desk for a while.

We Writers Are Still Never Too Old To Learn And I'm Proof by Margo Hoornstra

We’ve all heard the adage “Do as I say, not as I do.” That one sure does ring true when it comes to me and promo. With a communications and public relations background, I think I have some good ideas. I know how to do the visuals, create Media Kits and design Sell Sheets for my books. Plus, it’s not that I haven’t tried and tried and tried to promote myself and my books in other ways too. It’s just that I haven’t yet hit on anything that really seems to connect with readers.

Okay, well there was this one time. I had hired a Virtual Assistant to spread my name and the title of my recently released novel Only If You Dare, on as many venues as she could. My publisher, The Wild Rose Press, had the book available for free at the time and, after getting the title a spot on a site called freebooksy, in one day, I had over 12,000 downloads. Though I received no real sales revenue from the venture, I did garner about ten very nice reviews to use on my website and the Praise Page of subsequent books.

I’ve also done blog tour after blog tour after blog tour after…well you get the idea. While doing a blog tour takes a lot of time and effort, it is enjoyable to interact with various bloggers, answer their questions, create the essays they ask for. I also provide free PDFs for review, to those who will accept them. Unfortunately, the actual payoff simply hasn’t been all that great as far as copies of books sold. Although I have received several very nice reviews to, again, use on my website and the Praise Page of subsequent books. (Are you seeing a pattern here?) But there was another definite down side to the blog tours as well. Some bloggers either didn’t put up or didn’t promote my appearance, so the prep work and time put in is all for naught.

One event that seemed to cause a spike in the revenue on my royalty statement came about rather serendipitously. I had recently re-connected with my local Romance Writers of America Chapter, Mid-Michigan. (one I actually founded a few years before, but that’s a post for another day.) At the time MMRWA periodically put out a newsletter in which they highlighted various member authors. This one particular month, I was the highlightee with a front page article containing my picture, a short bio and information about my latest release. As it happened, this particular month the chapter had purchased a booth at a rather large women’s expo event, not only to showcase member authors but to recruit new members for the group as well. Part of the Potential Membership Packet they distributed to the many attendees contained the newsletter featuring me and my books, among various SWAG items, bookmarks, pens, business cards and the like.

What I need to do now, is try to combine what has worked for me in the past with what others, who know much more than me on the topic of promotion, suggest that will/should work for me in the future.

Such as, but not limited to:

 Join a group – not any group, be selective. Find blogs and FaceBook groups that cater to the genre you write. Post within their guidelines, of course, to get your name out there.

Keep your website updated and fresh. This also goes for your author pages on Amazon, Goodreads, FaceBook, BookBub. Let’s face it, these social media sites outside of your individual website, are where most readers are going to find you.

Develop a newsletter. We’ve all heard this is essential for authors looking for readers. But content is key. “WoooooWhooooo! You out there, come spend your money on my book.” Might not be the best selling point. Think of giving rather than getting in this instance. Give the reader something to take away from their visit with you. Preferably in the form of information, ideas, entertainment, reading material, gift cards.

What I do in the spirit of a free takeaway that doesn’t cost me anything is to post original short stories on my website readers can download.

An ongoing promotion effort I use is to hire the services of Author Promo Pal. A pretty savvy promoter who keeps me and my books out there by tweeting me/us on Twitter, posting on FaceBook groups.

Another promo tool I’m using at the present time, wasn’t my idea at all but came from my editor at TWRP, Ally Robertson aka our own Alicia Dean when it was time to promote my newest release On The Surface.

She suggested I take the two self-published novels I currently have for sale on Amazon and include the following inserts.

Near the front of the book is a tease:

Coming next from Margo Hoornstra

On the Surface, Book 1 of the series Brothers In Blue

To serve and protect was never more personal

With the Buy Link

Toward the back of the book is a blurb and excerpt.

Florence Price of The Novel Difference implemented this for me.

Although the jury is still out as to whether this particular promotional tool will work. Go check it out using the Look Inside tab at For Money Or Love and Saturday In Serendipity then come back and comment to tell me what you think.

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the short stories and books I write, please visit my WEBSITE.

Also look for me on

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOODREADS

It’s Here! … so now what? by Margo Hoornstra

As many of you who read these pages know, On The Surface, Book 1 in my Brothers In Blue series and first romantic suspense, releases worldwide on September 29, 2017. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, you name the book outlet and, thanks to The Wild Rose Press, I – rather, On The Surface – will be there. For all the world to see!

So how, exactly, does one go about getting the world to…well…see it?

Tweets, FaceBook posts and well-run blog tours help some. But, what else could I do to get the word out I wondered? Then an idea arrived at my door. Literally. The local shopping guide. Of the paper and ink variety. Circulation of a few hundred thousand.

When my first book came out in 2009, and having been a communications and public relations specialist in my former life, the press release was my go to promotional device. I’d sent one to them at that time they were happy to publish. Why not try again?

There’s only one problem. I’ve always been good at promoting others and their message. When it comes to tooting my own horn, not so much.

The whole who, what, where, when, why and how comes easily enough. The facts and a bit of a tease. Like this.

On The Surface, Book 1 in the Brothers In Blue series, is the latest book release from local author Margo Hoornstra. Available in both electronic and print formats at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO and other venues where books are sold, On The Surface is the story of one man’s revenge turned to redemption.

Then to add insight into the story. Using the entire blurb would be a bit much, don’t you think? With a general audience and all, better to keep it generic, and definitely PG.

Brad Collins is a bounty hunter more by necessity than choice. Determined to bring in the felon who ruined his life, he’s soon neck deep in a different situation he never saw coming.

Keep them reading with a little more to come...on.

On The Force, Book 2 of the Brothers In Blue series, is set to release in the fall of 2018.

Personalize with a touch of bio.

A city girl turned country woman, Margo enjoys hikes around the wide open spaces of her home, hates to cook and loves to read. With the kids and grandkids near, she and her husband reside in Potterville.

Now for a catchy headline. How about one of these?

All Romantic Suspense Fans! Listen Up!

(Maybe too in your face catchy, huh?)

Attention, Fans of Romantic Suspense.

(Meh)

Fans of Romantic Suspense, Don’t Miss This!

(There I go. Too in your face again.)

How about the simple.

Latest Book Released by Local Author.

Short, sweet, to the point…and done.

So, what do you think? Should I send it in?

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit my WEBSITE

Oh, almost forgot, the one thing you can't do in print promo is provide the BUYLINK 

Now, it's really done.

RWA2017: Lesson One – Give Them What They Crave by Margo Hoornstra

In my August 11^th appearance on this page, I talked about attending the 37^th Annual Conference of Romance Writers of America. Despite some pro and con controversy about the value of membership in this organization, in my opinion, the group does strive to support romance authors in their craft and their career, from those just emerging and pre-published to multi-published masters. Many commenters on August 11^th asked me to share what I learned in some of the many workshops.

So let’s begin….

In all the sessions on the craft of writing, the message was the same. Emotion is the takeaway readers seek, especially from a romance novel. They want to be invested, to feel or empathize with the characters. Maybe relive a treasured memory through the story.

The first workshop I attended was Seducing Your Readers in Chapter 1, presented by Michael Hauge.

The tease and bio go something like this…

Salvaging a novel with a weak opening is next to impossible. Never try to “grab” your reader at the beginning of your novel. You must seduce them, draw them into your world, create empathy for your heroine, set the tone for your story, introduce immediate conflict, lay the groundwork for your heroine’s arc, and foreshadow what lies ahead. This presentation will reveal how to compel your readers to keep turning the page.

Michael Hauge is a story consultant, author, and lecturer who has consulted on projects for every major Hollywood studio, including films starring Will Smith, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Kirsten Dunst, Robert Downey Jr., and Morgan Freeman. He is the author of Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds, and has presented his lectures and workshops to more than 50,000 writers and filmmakers around the world.

My initial decision to sit in on this one was mainly prompted an author friend who exclaimed how attending a presentation of his a few years ago was so eye opening for her, it changed her writing life forever. You could say I bought into her enthusiasm, the emotion she projected.

Suffice it to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

One element of writing he shared, I’d heard before. In framing characters, a writer needs to begin with the wound. An event or ongoing painful situation she believes she’s over, that still determines her behavior.

The hero, of course, needs to come to understand this, and her.

According to Mr. Hauge, the primary reason a manuscript fails to resonate with editors, and therefore receives a rejection slip, is because the hero and heroine have no real reason to be together, except for the fact the writer wants them to be.

Kind of like – I love you because we are in this book together. Not very compelling, or interesting.

My main takeaway from the session is the core of the following paragraph.

The reason the hero is the heroine’s destiny is because he’s the only guy who sees her beneath her identity and connects with her at her essence. He sees her true self and connects to her on that level.

Did your heart beat a little faster? A contented sigh emerge? Me too!

The need for a deep and unique connection between two souls is a dynamic that has stayed with me, one that I’ll think about, and try to inject into my writing in every interaction between my hero and heroine.

Emotion. Deep, heartfelt emotion.

Hopefully, mission accomplished in my September 29, 2017 release On the Surface.

It’s available for pre-order here.

My days to blog at The Roses of Prose are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit me at my website