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Using the Force and Fish Slapping Friends

March 30, 2008 by in category Archives

Recently my cousins convinced me to get a Facebook account. As soon as I had one I had cake, snowballs, pillows and fish thrown at me. Somehow I don’t think the rise of social networking means the demise of blogging.

Blogging has incredible potential because it is a platform for you to get your voice heard to the web — and therefore, the world — whereas getting a sheep thrown at me on Facebook has no intrinsic value other than making me laugh.

What I do like about Facebook is that I am connecting with friends I haven’t heard from in quite some time. Unlike MySpace, I can control the application on my page. I use Scrabulous for online scrabble matches and I have Just Three Words where you write a story either alone or with others three words at a time.

My favorite Facebook app is the scrabble game Scrabulous. I know, it’s trivial and silly and maybe even a little stupid. But to score 33 points off of XI to take the lead in a match is fantastic (Your turn Dana).

If she beats me I may just have to throw a sheep at her…

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A Fantasy Life – Part 7

March 28, 2008 by in category Archives

Fantasy and reality have a way of crashing into each other. At the moment I am editing two books at the same time. Flipping back and forth from world to world can be confusing. Then I’m running a contest to launch my new fantasy short stories, Whiskey Shots Vol 17, set in Augeas. That means I have to update my Augeas Encyclopedia since I’m giving it away as a prize along with the stories. Also, I have to finish the short stories that go with The Enchanted Hawk so I can run a contest on April 1 to launch that book. I’m also trying to put a trailer together and can’t remember how to get the captions on the pictures. It seemed so easy the last time.

Also, the two on-line classes I’m teaching for Axia, at the University of Phoenix, are going into their last week and the final projects are due. Power Point projects that I have to view and grade. Did I mention, I hate Power Point presentations. They can be so boring.

Then I remembered it was my turn to blog and had no idea as to what to say. Also, I want to come up for an idea for a Nocturne Bites, but no dark, menacing heros are coming to mind. Something in a nice shapeshifter would be good.

I hope you like Trevor. He is one of Gideon’s soldiers in “The Betrayer”, part of Whiskey Shots Vol. 17. I’m still waiting for Gideon. He is suppose to be the handsome hero.

Art work by Jasmine Tanner – http://veildandy.deviantart.com

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What Inspires You

March 25, 2008 by in category Archives tagged as

Spring Inspiration

By Lori Pyne

Spring is a time of renewal for me. As the days grow warmer, I return to my healthier eating and exercise plan (shorts and bathing suits loom). The budding trees, warmth and sun lure me back outside (my hands itch to dig and plant). Windows opened, dust bunnies hunted, and clutter tamed, winter’s gloom is chased from my home.

Spring’s renewal stretches into the area of my work. A file is opened. A long neglected project is resurrected. Interest rekindled. While I hope the magic of Spring will blossom into a bountiful harvest of a completed project, at this time, I will enjoy the joy of interest renewed.

How does Spring inspire you?

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Lori Pyne is a member of OCC, and a multi-tasking volunteer. She is currently serving as one of our Online Class Moderators, Guest Reception Coordinator and Coordinator for the Book Buyers’ Best Contest for published authors. She is married with one son, and works full time for an entertainment law firm.

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e-maginings: EPICon2008 Report

March 23, 2008 by in category Archives tagged as , , , ,

Earlier this month I attended EPICon2008 in Portland, Oregon. For those not familiar with EPICon, it’s the annual meeting of EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection, an organization of e-book authors and publishers. This is one of my favorite cons, as it is small and intimate, and thus great for networking.

There were some great workshop, but I’ll only mention a few. Two of the best were given by publicist Penny Sansivieri, of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. The compnay specializes in internet marketing. She spoke on “Red Hot Web Tricks” and “Red Hot Internet Publicity”. Among other things, she recommended that bloggers put their blog on their website, so hits are credited to your site rather than Blogger.com or WordPress or whoever, and to update the blog at least once a week. More often is better. She also said blog commenting is a powerful tool (hint, hint). Posts should be relative to your interests and include a link back to your site. She also said an email newsletter is “83% more effective than any other promo”. Guess I’d better start doing that more frequently! Author Marketing Experts has a free newsletter you can subscribe to with more promotional hints. Their website is AMarketingExpert.com.

The Paranormal Panel: Bigfoot Has Feelings Too! was chaired by author Murdoch Hughes, complete with werewolf mask. I didn’t have my camera with me, but author Debbie Fritter did and sent me this photo. Murdoch’s latest mystery, The Seattle Barista Killer, features a vegan werewolf as sleuth. Other panelists were Frances Evlin, Michelle Levigne and Brenna Lyons.

Caitlyn Willows, aka our own Catherine Snodgrass, gave an excellent and frank talk on How to Research Erotica. She pointed out that “graphic language alone doesn’t make erotica”. Your story should be about the full experience of body and emotions, anticipation and fulfillment”. She suggested considering a subscription to Playboy or Playgirl, as well as investing in a good book (or two or three) on human sexuality.

One Saturday morning, author Adrianna Dane and I did a talk on Author As Producer: How To Create Your Own Book Trailers on a Budget. I’m happy to report that the talk went well and we had a lot of positive feedback afterwards. I had blogged about this topic a few days before and I received a comment on the post from Sheila Clover English about her new ebook, The Book Trailer Revolution: Book Marketing and Promotion Through Digital Video. It’s free as a download from Circle of Seven.

Saturday evening was the EPPIE Banquet, preceeded by a champagne reception sponsored by All Romance eBooks. Here’s a photo of me and Janet Cornelow Quinn taken with author and cover artist Skylar Sinclair at the reception. Dinner was filet mignon and salmon, and the hotel kitchen outdid themselves. Catherine, w/a Caitlyn Willows, and I were both EPPIE finalists, but alas, neither of us won in our respective categories. Maybe next time.

What’s your favorite conference?

Linda Mac / Lyndi Lamont

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Advice to Myself as a Newbie Author

March 22, 2008 by in category Archives tagged as , ,

by Shauna Roberts
http://ShaunaRoberts.blogspot.com

Today’s Guest: Linda Wisdom

Linda Wisdom is a born and bred Californian who was first published in 1980 and has gone on to write more than 70 romance novels. She is presently writing a paranormal series; 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover is out now, and Hex Appeal will come out in November 2008. She and her husband share their house with a spoiled Yorkie/Chihuahua, an Amazon parrot, and a tortoise, all who’ve been in her books.

Linda, if you could travel back in time to before you were first published, what advice would you give yourself?

What did I know about writing and the business of writing when I first started out? Nothing. Did I have anyone to ask? Nope. Did I survive? Considering I sold my first two books in 1979 and I’m still doing it, I must be doing something right. Or I’m just plain lucky.

If I had the knowledge I have today and could go back in time, what would I tell myself?

1. Keep the enthusiasm in your heart and soul even if you wonder why you keep on doing it when you’re hitting a brick wall. Remember that a brick wall is made up of pieces and those pieces can be broken down. Sure, it may take time, it may hurt your head from batting it against it, but the end result will be worth it.

2. I would tell myself that to always look ahead. Look at what you’re doing now and what you want to do down the line. I started out with category romance and then slid into romantic suspense, paranormal, and humorous romance. But paranormal was always my first love. I wrote several category books with paranormal elements, but I knew I wanted to write stronger paranormal and now I’m doing it. Along the way, I honed my craft, didn’t rush it, and made sure it was everything it was supposed to be.

3. Always remember this is a business. A rejection only means that one editor didn’t like it. It’s not personal, and what she/he didn’t like, another can love. Look at what’s said in a rejection, take the suggestions, and use them. Consider it all a learning experience that will make you all the better in the long run. It doesn’t mean you have to agree with all you hear, but keep your listening ears on, as Judge Judy says.

4. One phrase I keep in mind is roll with the punches. There are cycles in writing. Be prepared to roll with them. Know that changing publishers can mean you might be starting all over again. Park your ego at the door and just plain work. There are a lot of examples out there why it’s necessary. But I’ll be nice and just give you one. Years ago I knew an author who had her career mapped out to the nth degree. She planned when she would sell her first book, which would naturally make the top of all the bestseller lists, and when she’d win awards for the book. You name it. When the book was released, she sent out letters to bookstores that pretty much said, “I wrote the absolute best book you will ever read and I know you will love it.” The book didn’t sell well and she never sold another one. Maybe it was because her ego got in the way. And it could also have to do with her writing not catching on with readers.

Writing is a career and a way of life for us.

Of course, I could go back in time and tell myself all of this and I might not believe a word I said. I’d have to learn it all by myself.

So listen to those who’ve paved the way for you. We don’t expect you to agree with all we say, but just remember something: Who better to believe than someone who’s been there?

✥✥✥✥✥

Visit Linda Wisdom’ MySpace page at www.myspace.com/lindawisdombooks and her blog at http://witchychicks.blogspot.com. Her book 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover (Source Books) can be ordered online from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

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