Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Readers who made a difference – Author David Rothman (a Tar Heel!)

Posted: October 29, 2011 in Uncategorized
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 I could truly relate to David’s post.  Readers are the best.  TY David –

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Readers come first — unless you want to write for your sis and mama!  Andy & friends are so right.

Slightly off topic, I’ve got a great  how-not-to example  as the author of seven traditionally published books. I’m no longer on speaking terms with a brilliant but old-fashioned editor who objected to my posting a page on the Web where readers could correct errors.

No, I’m not saying you should cater constantly to readers if, say, you want to be Jane Austen. She wrote for herself and is beloved today because she was not targeting her contemporary market. But if you care about verisimilitude, an enthusiastic audience before you die, and Grisham-level sales, then readers should count endlessly. Better to go  E  ahead of  P if you can. After Twilight Times Books published the e-book of The Solomon Scandals,  my quirky Washington suspense novel, one devoted fan in Arizona spent hours proofing. The paper edition benefited mightily. How touching that a complete stranger thousands of miles away could be so engaged.

Scandals  isn’t for everyone, however. Writing it, I cared more about the darker side of life in D.C. several decades ago than I did about indulging in unmitigated nostalgia, whether about sex, politics, journalism or real estate tycoons. But thanks to reader feedback I’ve discovered whole new audiences. I’m a lifelong liberal. I wrote Scandals  to tell a story, not make a political point, but who’d have thought that two Obama-hating friends would be among the book’s biggest fans?

Meanwhile kudos to Andy for starting up his readers-who-made-a-difference series. With a philosophy like that, he’s got a sure sale in the D.C. area when Shades of Gray comes out.

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David Rothman, a UNC-Chapel Hill grad and a former poverty beat reporter and feature writer for the Journal newspaper in Lorain, Ohio, lives in Alexandria, Virginia. He blogs at solomonscandals.com, and is reachable at  www. solomonscandals.com,  davidrothman@pobox.com   or @DavidRothman on Twitter .  Scandals’ Amazaon information is HERE  (purchase today!! )

Readers That Made a Difference – Author Kellianne Sweeney

Posted: October 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Hello, my name is Kellianne Sweeney and I am honored that Andy has asked me to guest post on his blog.  We met on twitter where he is quite the Ironman Retweeter and a very solid presence over there!   Watch for him to be guest posting on my blog http://blogkelliannesweeneydeardiary.wordpress.com/  in December.

Andy asked me to discuss how readers have pushed me to become a better writer.  Who were these people and how did they do this to me?   This was the very question that I asked myself when I went about deciding to whom I would dedicate my first book “The One That Got Away”.  The answer was immediately clear to me and involved three different stages of my Writing Journey.

The first reader of note was my sixth grade teacher. Of course he was required to read and grade my writing, but he actually encouraged me to write more than was required. I happily obliged and included elaborate illustrations to accompany my stories. I will never forget the day he told me that he expected to see a published book written and illustrated by me. This comment meant the world to a shy, preteen girl. I have left the shyness and preteen years behind me, but have carried that inspiring thought with me throughout the years.

The second person that I dedicated my book to was a friend from high school. I had many friends in high school, but he was the only one that had a real passion for writing. I admired his creative spirit and his dedication to expressing himself with the written word.  He was not technically a reader, however.  When I look back I find it odd that neither one of us actually shared our writing with each other,  just the love for producing it. After high school, we went our separate ways. Twenty six years later, we met for lunch. Within that period of time he had established himself as a successful screenwriter. In those same number of years I had put writing aside for practical reasons. As a result of that lunch meeting, I caught the Writing Spark again and I intend not to lose it this time.

The third reader and I were both employed as teachers at the same school. The idea for my novel was born through random discussions with her. She also challenged me to write in first person, which I had been reluctant to do. She faithfully read every word as I finished each section. She was a constant source of inspiration and encouragement for me throughout the process of writing my novel.

Of course there are many other people that have sculpted, influenced and helped me grow as a writer and I am very grateful for their impact. I expect that I will encounter many more that will color this ongoing process. There is no end to improving this beloved skill and readers are an integral part. Traveling this path with others who adore the written word is just plain wonderful. I wish you all the best in your writing endeavors.

My novel “The One That Got Away” is available in many online bookstores including Amazon at    Kellianne Sweeney

Check out my Blog at    Kellianne’s Blog

 

 

Guest Blogger – Linda Rae Blair

Posted: October 21, 2011 in Uncategorized
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  …I asked Linda to impart a little wisdom to me by telling a story about how a reader made a big impact on her writing.  I thought this was a terrific story.  

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Author of The Preston Andrews Mysteries, Romances & Historical Sagas

I have a very dear friend who used to be my manager at a very large, very blue computer company. She was forever calling me in to discuss a letter I had written–in a former life she was a teacher–and we would argue (with love) the merits of this phrase or that one until we agreed.

Years later, I published my first novel (without an editor) and, of course, my dear friend of now many years read it. One day I stopped by the office to say hello to my former coworkers (I’d retired by this time). She stepped toward me with that look I knew so well. I braced myself.

She said she had read the book, and she very confidentially whispered that she had found about 38 errors (not 30 or 35, but 38–my God, had she counted them). I almost died right on the spot! She rushed to clarify that most of these were probably things that would be missed by most readers (I took her at her word but didn’t feel any better). She said she would gladly mark it up so I could fix it, if I wanted to do so.

Well, only a dummy would leave a bad product out there so, of course, I took her up on it and published an edited version.

My dear friend has been one of my two editors ever since. She always says she is amazed at how well I take her comments and suggestions. I always tell her that I would be really stupid to ask for her help and then not listen to her! It takes us back to all those years ago when we sat behind closed doors arguing about this item or that one. No wonder she’s amazed, I often think.

But then, in those days, I wasn’t asking for her opinions. These days, Pat, I’m darned glad I get them!

Web site, purchase links & Blogs: http://lindaraeblairauthor.wordpress.com/
Facebook Pages: Romances & Sagas https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Rae-Blair-Author/263112224770
               The Preston Andrews Mysteries https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Preston-Andrews-Mysteries/190229027705826
               Mysteries By Blair (non-series-related mysteries) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mysteries-By-Blair/132343700194865
Twitter: @lrbauthor

In the beginning…

Posted: October 18, 2011 in Uncategorized
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  Once upon a time, there was a blog.  Everyone said “Hey, if your novel gets published, then you MUST have a BLOG!”       So I got one.

But they forgot to tell me what to write!!

So, I guess I’ll just make it up as I go along.  Bear with me.  It’ll get better.  I double pinky-swear.

FAQ’s – 

 Debut Novel –  Shades of Gray published by Triple J Press, to be released in early 2012.   

Mediums – Ebook,  softcover, pdf,  more to come

Novel Rating –  Probably “R” for language.  Sorry – no gratuitous sex

Genre –  Thriller / Suspense

My Writing Experience –    Nothing published but I have been working at it since I was a wee, wee lad

 

 

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