Month: May 2013

New work, covers, and Names…

As I’ve said before, I’m working on several manuscripts. Sometimes I do a little on each every day and other days I working primarily on just one.

My newest work steps a little away from my normal writing. I’m really excited about it. It deals with two different time periods and a type of time travel, but don’t worry, it’s still a romance, just different. 

I’ve been working on something special that will come out tomorrow, but nope, can’t tell you until tomorrow. Also I’m working on a new edition on “Tender Flames which was the second book I published. It’s had great reviews and I’ve listened to my readers, so I’m making a couple of changes. When I’m done, it’s going to come out as a revised edition and also will be coupled with the 2nd book in that series, “Rekindled Flame”. I’m really excited about this one.

The fun thing, or maybe not so fun at times is figuring out the cover of your new work and the name. I usually have an idea in my head how I want it to come out, but finding the right picture and one I can legally use is not easy. Then you have the font for the words on the cover and wow there are so many to choose from. Oh, then you have to name it. Sometimes the name sells the book, so no pressure, it just has to be perfect, that’s all.

So good luck with your writing and make sure you make it count because that’s where you make the difference.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Does your writing affect you?

It’s a real question. Does your writing affect you? What I mean is does your writing give you food for thought? Saturday was a very rainy day in Georgia, so I spent a good bit of time working on one of my latest books in progress. As I was writing I realized that I actually had tears streaming down my face. 

It was then that I realized that my writing affects me. I have to admit it was a very emotional part of the manuscript. Some people would say, ‘why do you get affected so by your work?’ Well, as you know if you’ve followed my blog, I’m an emotional person. I have a soft heart and when I work on a sad part I cry, a happy part I smile and a infuriating part I scowl.

My son sits and watches me sometimes. He always laughs when he sees the tears. It’s a constant addition to his daily entertainment for him to see his mama get emotional over a book or movie or song for that matter. He always says, ‘Mama, you’re not really crying over that are you?’

Oh, well. I feel like if it affects me so much, maybe it will affect the reader as well. In some of the reviews of my books, fans have said as much. They’ve even talked about getting a box of tissues ready. I guess being an emotional person brings about a lot of emotional parts to my books.

One more thought on this is that romance brings about emotion in a lot of people. Maybe it’s bringing up a memory that’s been hidden in your heart, or maybe it’s just touching. Whatever the reason, just let the tears flow. Bring out the heart of the work you do. That’s what makes it your own.

God made us all different and some of us were made with a soft heart. If we cry as we work, then we’re giving it all we have. 

As always good writing, and may God Bless You…

The Heart Reader

This is a good morning read…

Annie B's avatarEyes Wide Open

Did you know that God can read our hearts? It’s true.

Have you ever been in the midst of something in which words just fail when you come to meet with the Lord in prayer?

Sometimes this happens because we are so distracted, our thoughts just keep on straying, interrupting, intervening.

Other times, we may truly be so over wrought with emotions, grief, turmoil, or a host of other things, that words simply elude us.  At this point, we tend to get frustrated and just go back into our own little world.

I have even recently experienced times in which I am so utterly happy that I can’t seem to find the right words as I come to the Lord in prayer….just wanting to praise Him.

I don’t know if this will help you or not – I certainly hope that it will – but I want to share a secret with you:

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Roller Coaster Sales…

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Have you ever felt like your sales were on a roller coaster? Sometimes I feel like I’m on a roller coaster. One day you’re on the uphill ascent then the next day you’re barreling down the other side so fast it takes your breath. 

Some of the sites where you can put your books for sale only report sales once a month and that really puts you to task. My sales sometimes amaze me. I can go on a tweet fest and the sales ramp up. I looked at my pages views on Smashwords.com last night and it actually looked like a roller coaster. The funny thing is all the hills were around a social media blitz.

So, if you’re having downhill sales, try doing a tweet fest. Don’t forget those hash tags. I’ve really learned a lot about the use of them. When I do a tweet fest I try to go to every site my books are on and tweet that book from the site. Also working on a list for one of my posts regarding social media sites that have worked well for me. 

Don’t let downward sales affect your writing. Sales are a fickle thing. One day you do really well, and sometimes you have really good weeks. Then a plummet for a day or so and you’re poking out your lip and giving up. Don’t do that! Have faith. If it was selling good those days, it will again.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Outlines and writing between the lines.

If you’ve read my blogs before you know I like to do an outline of my book ideas before I start writing. Most of the time that is. Sometimes when I get the inspiration for a book I can’t quite see the middle and end, but if I do I make sure to jot it down in the order I see it happening.

The problem is sometimes the filling in of the chapters between the outline sections. One of my reviewers wrote that they loved the book but wanted more descriptive matter. They wanted to know more about some of the characters. So, in my latest works I’ve been really working on more descriptive matter. But on that same note I’ve been careful not to just jumble up words for the sake of words on a page.

Have you ever read a book that had too much descriptive matter and not enough actual needed matter? Recently I read a book that was just such a creature. I ended up skipping parts of the book as I got bored with the long drawn out descriptions given. That’s what I’ve tried to keep from doing in my work.

So how much is too much or too little? I guess that’s up to the writer. Regarding the review of that one book, some of the places that I didn’t elaborate, I felt like it didn’t need any further explanation, but that was just the way it came into my heart. But when the reader reads it, they may not get the point that I’m trying to make with less words and more heart. It’s a double edged sword. 

Oh well, we can’t please everyone. One article I read from a well known author said to just please yourself and make it your own. She said if you strive to please everybody all the time you’ll lose that part that makes your own work special. It makes sense.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…