Tax season is over and I’m back!

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Well now that the main part of tax season is over I’m back to my blogging and writing schedule. I’ve missed speaking with all of you everyday. It’s funny how you miss it. My writing has seriously suffered this year, but I plan to make up for the lost time and quickly.

I have several projects coming up and in the works. Today and tomorrow I’m working with my assistant/editor on those projects and I’ll be letting you in on them really soon… Also be looking for several giveaways of Ridge before Oakley comes out in the next week or so. I’ve received some great response from this new series and I’m excited about what’s to come in this next chapter of my writing.

Also I’ll be working on my publishing company more closely and am excited about the things coming up with it. Since I have a great designer on my team, I know things will only get better. We’re working closely with a fellow author to create her author platform. Can’t wait to get involved again now that things aren’t so busy.

Well off to write and dream. Hope all is well with all of you and enjoy this day you were blessed with.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Is it your opinion or not? Truthfully!

Good Wednesday morning! Hope all is well with all of you. As for me I’m a little perplexed to say the least. Being a writer I use social media to advertise and promote my work. I’ve grown a tough skin over the last couple of years regarding the remarks that can be scathing and my opinion is it’s your opinion, or is it?

You may be wondering why I say it that way, well here goes. I was scanning Facebook last night and came across several really scathing posts regarding someone local. The bad thing is it all started from one side and it wasn’t pretty. It actually put a bad taste in my mouth regarding social media etiquette. Should you comment on a post that you’re not personally familiar with? It would be like posting a review of someone’s book without ever reading the book, just going with the flow of what others say. Is it right to do that?

Why is it that in today’s world we follow the leader and don’t go with our own hearts? We jump on the social media band wagon and destroy someone without knowing the facts. The problem with this is that every story has two sides. When we don’t know the whole story we shouldn’t push forward. It’s called everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty, it’s the American way, or have we steered away from that? As I sat and glanced over some of the comments I was amazed at the audacity of some of them. The pitchforks were raised and the witch hunt was started. Does anyone remember the ramifications of the witch hunts? Yeah, that’s what I’m saying, get both sides before you share or comment because someone’s life is at stake and many times these types of things affect more than just the person that you’re directing your anger toward. Think about all those that can be affected in the background.

I’ve written many posts regarding reviews, the good and bad. If you put yourself out there, you’re setting yourself up for people to throw darts or compliments at you. Have you ever noticed that if you get a good review, other reviews similar start appearing, but also goes with bad reviews. I’ve received some really great reviews and I’m eternally thankful. Of course I’ve received some nasty reviews, but I always use the ones that are done in taste as a learning experience. I actually followed one critical review with a rewrite. The rewrite actually went to the top 10 on Amazon charts for several weeks. It was a good review in my eyes. But then you have those that see a bad, scathing review and they suddenly want to add to it. The funny thing is, well actually it’s sad, a couple of bad reviews I’ve received were obviously not from an actual reader. They even got the story wrong in the review. It’s the same with the witch hunt’s that span across social media.

Should we learn social media etiquette? I think we should use tact when sharing or commenting. Can you imagine a social media without all the negative thoughts? I’ve seen more and more people stating this on social media. They want to see the negativity brought down a little. Of course some negative posts are beneficial if handled correctly, not just for the benefit of someones ego, but full of facts.  It would make for better reading in the early morning as I sip my coffee, but of course this is my opinion, possibly not yours.

What are your thoughts on social media etiquette? Would you enjoy a nicer experience?

As always, great writing and May God Bless You…

Problem? No, just a writer…

Have you ever been caught staring at someone? Come on, you know you have. I’m a people watcher. It’s part of being a writer. I’ve been sitting in a crowded room before and noticed someone doing something out of sync with everyone else. Of course then my overactive imagination stitches a story regarding why they’re acting different.

I’ve actually written stories based on people watching. It’s really fun to sit back and watch a couple in love. You wonder what their story is and then you piece it together with your own spin. Maybe they met by chance or have been friends for years and turned the tables. What’s really fun is you don’t know their true story, but your imagination can expand on what the eye sees. If they’re holding hands and giving those cute lovey looks, you can expand on the romance side of the story. Maybe they’re newlyweds or just newly dating. It’s up to your imagination.

I love to watch people in love. Guess that’s why I love weddings. A wedding can fill many pages of your mind. Most of the time I know the person getting married, but I’ve attended weddings where I’m not too familiar with the couple. I can sit and imagine their love story, the engagement and the romance. It’s fascinating really.

So yes, I have a problem, but it’s for a good cause 😉

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Do you feel the luck of the Irish?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all! Can you find the 4 leaf clover in this picture?

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How many of you have rummaged through a bed of clover looking for the 4 leaf clover? I’ve done this many times and found some, but mostly I found green stains on my knees and hands 😉 The back yard at our Church is covered in clover and the children scavenge through it constantly looking for the hidden treasure in the millions of little clovers. It’s fun to watch their enthusiasm as they try their best to find good luck, but do you get it if you find it? I don’t know, but it’s fun to try…

Sometimes I think publishing a book is like a clover field. There are so many authors out there publishing and trying the same as you. Will you be found in the clover field? Will someone pluck you from the field and give you the luck of the Irish? It’s the gamble we take every time we hit the PUBLISH button. But it’s worth it.

For me I feel as though my luck was found the moment I typed the first word and finished the first book. It’s been such a wonderful experience but I do hope to one day be pulled out of the crowd and maybe have some luck of the Irish thrown at me, but until then I’ll keep publishing and joining the crowd. At least I’m in good company among my fellow authors.

By the way, don’t forget to wear something green today unless you want to be pinched, then don’t wear any green. And yes, there are still those that keep up the tradition and I’ve carried the bruises many times to prove it…

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

P.S. Oakley is Coming!

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It’s time to write, now what…

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It’s time to write! What tools do you use to set up and get ready? Do you have a writing ritual? Well here’s a little look into my writing tools and what I need to write.

When I sit down to write I do it in a couple of ways.

Writing in the tub:

If I’m in the mood for a warm, lavender scented bath and want to write I grab my trusty pen and pad, well that used to be the norm, but now I grab my phone and use a dictation app, then download to my computer. It’s a great way to relax and write at the same time. But I suggest you let anyone in the house know what you’re doing. My son thought I was talking to myself.

Writing on the go:

What if you’re in the car waiting in line or maybe waiting on your child to get out of school, well use that time to write. I keep a pad and pen in my purse for just that moment. Now I use my dictation app on my phone, but usually in this situation I use my writing pad because people look at me strangely if I’m talking and there’s no response.

Writing in my writer zone:

Ok, when I’m in my normal writing zone which is the corner of my comfy couch, I usually have my laptop in my lap. But since I downloaded my phone app, some days I dictate then edit, but when I’m in the writing zone, you know the one, where I’m totally into what I’m doing, I love to feel the keys under my finger tips. I also have a large spiral notebook and pencil within reach for character changes and notes. If you don’t do this, then I suggest you start. It helps keep the facts straight.

Beverage of choice:

As any writer will tell you it’s imperative that you have a cup of something within reach. I usually have either coffee or warm flavored tea handy. If I’m writing in the early morning hours I have coffee, but for the afternoon writing I grab herbal tea. It’s just a good way to stay focused.

Music:

Some writers say they can’t write with noise around them, but some days if I’m writing a pivotal part of the story I need music. If it’s a sad part, then I play something somber, but if it’s a dramatic part, well I play something to go with that. Sometimes music inspires me to go in a different direction than maybe I’d planned. The sounds not the words inspire me.

Well, that’s a little bit of how I write and what I use as far as the tools. I’m working on a post for later regarding the programs that I use in designing and writing my books. Since I own a publishing service now I’ve expanded that list. So be on the look out for that post.

Don’t forget that all of March weekdays I’m offering a sale on my website of my paperbacks. Go over to stephaniehurtauthor.com and check out today’s savings. Also, Oakley is coming soon, so if you haven’t read Ridge yet, there’s still some time to get into the Five Oaks Ranch series and meet the Cauthen clan.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Not perfect, well it’s the first draft…

First off, let me get this out there. My March Madness Sale is ongoing on my website. Today is Slide3

SO go by my website and get 20% off my paperbacks. Everyday is a different deal and some days are a mystery amount that includes a mystery gift…

Well, on to today’s soapbox drama… How’s your first draft look? If it’s perfect then you put too much work into it. I know, you’re looking at the screen and thinking I’m crazy, well you’re half right. Your first draft should be just that, your first draft. This is where you get the story down in words, not the perfect, ready for publishing manuscript. That’s why it’s called the first draft.

My first draft’s always look like a murder scene after I get through with them. They’re grammatically horrible and so out of sorts. This is where I throw everything I have at the keyboard and pay no attention to the details of spelling and paragraph breaks. Especially when I use my dictation program on my phone.

I sat the other night in a warm bath with my favorite lavender/ chamomile bath salts. A idea for my current work in process came into my mind, so I grabbed my phone and started dictating the idea. The next morning when I downloaded it into my draft document I laughed until I cried. It was horrible. If you’ve ever worked with a dictation program then you know what I mean. Many times I was so caught up in the story that I forgot to say ‘new paragraph’ or ‘open quote, end quote’. It was plain out pitiful.

It took me a few minutes to clear up the mess. Yes I do go ahead and clean the downloads from the dictation program so that I understand what the heck I was saying. I’ve actually deleted several paragraphs of my first drafts and that’s painful, but needed. Some days I get to about 3/4 of the way done and realize I don’t like where my first draft is headed, so I change the direction.

I do recommend editing your first draft before you send it to your editor. If your first drafts are like mine then it’s a must because my editor would put it back on my desk and say ‘what?’.

So how’s your first draft look when you hit the end?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

A Writer…Maybe…Life…Definitely

It’s Sunday morning and raining here in Georgia. At least the temperatures are warmer than freezing and we can partially thaw out. As I prepare for Church and get dinner precooked I’m thinking… always thinking. Maybe it’s a story to write, part of a work in progress or a life thought, but I’m always thinking. Guess what? Are you ready for this? You’re always thinking too…

Some people come up to me and ask how I write. Well it’s like life. I put one word in front of another and form a story. In life we live one moment at a time and in writing we do one page at a time. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but the concept is. Anyone can sit down and write something. It might not be publish worthy but they can write. Some days what I write isn’t worth anything but throwing in the trashcan.

The other day I sat reading a work in progress and it didn’t appeal to me. Unfortunately I was over 6000 words in when I decided I’d put it to the side and come back to it. Then a day or two later something happened during my travel through life and it was like a light bulb turned on. I sat down with my new iPhone app that dictates for me and I restructured the story and deleted the whole 6000 word manuscript and replaced it with the new one. Now I’m happy. Life stepped in and made the corrections.

Writer’s watch life go by and snag snippets here and there, putting them into their work. We experience life just as you do, but for some reason a writer sees things in a different light. We put a flourish on the simplest task and enhance it into something that could change someones life or maybe their way of thinking. Amazing what a day in the life of a writer holds.

I watched The Fault in the Stars last night for the first time. I’m speechless… Now reading the book is in my future. The story is full of life lessons, some hard earned. I’m not planning on giving anything away or spoiling it for you if you haven’t  seen it, but I will say this. It’s a phenomenal story and as a writer I sat in awe. This is from a fellow writers words that came from life. Amazing.

So, I’m a writer some days, some days not so much, but I live life every day and so do you. Do you put one foot in front of the other as you walk? Sure you do, but do you live life for every moment. Grasp it and hold on to it and one day you might write it down and become a writer.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

The Scoop on the Book Signing!

Good Monday morning everyone! I’ve had several inquiries regarding the book signing event I had on Saturday. It was really great and I’m still smiling. The turnout was humbling to say the least and seeing all the familiar and new faces was fun. I met some really wonderful people and was able to talk books non stop.

Since this was my first book signing on record I was a little nervous, but the minute I stepped into A Novel Experience Bookstore in my hometown, Zebulon, Georgia, well let’s just say the nerves flew out the window. The smell of the books that surrounded me made for a relaxing atmosphere.

I settled into my chair and went to work. A couple of times I actually forgot my name! It’s true… I talked about Ridge as though he was a real person instead of a fictional character that came from my head. Someone actually asked if he was a real person because I made him real in my conversation.

A fun fact about my book signing, I sat in the place where famed author John Green (Fault in the Stars) sat for one of his book signings. It was like sitting in the presence of royalty. Yep, he did an early book signing there. Feeling special…

The gracious bookstore owner is already talking another event for the release of Oakley which is coming in a couple of months. Oh my, a couple of months, that means I’d best get off this blog and get to work. Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday and stay warm. It’s really cold here in Georgia and expecting some snow and ice in parts of the south. Burrrrr!!!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Go by Amazon and get your copy of Ridge… http://www.amazon.com/Ridge-Five-Oaks-Ranch-Book-ebook/dp/B00TFOPOFI

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Author Website – Do you have one?

Good Monday morning! As always I hope you had a great weekend. Have you noticed how short they seem sometimes? Well, on to Monday and the countdown to my book signing. Yikes I only have a few days…

Today I want to talk to you about websites. Do you have one? Have you thought about it, but didn’t know where to start? For a long time I thought about it and put it off. Well, now that I have one I’m glad I made the jump. It’s been a great way to meet need readers and spread the word about my books and releases. I can honestly say it was well worth the money to get it up and going.

If you’re unsure about the whole thing I give you some pointers to help make the decision.

1. Websites give you the ability to advertise to a wide variety of people. If someone searches a particular topic, then you could pop up.

2. Your fans will have somewhere to go to keep up with you and to know what’s new with your writing.

3. You can attached your blog to the website and add a new element.

4. Newsletters are easy when you ask people to subscribe to your newsletter through the website.

5. It’s makes you look more professional as a writer and you can sell your books directly from the site…

If you’re still unsure, just shoot me your questions. I’ve recently added Website design to my list of services at Horseshoe Publishing. Put your name out there and watch what happens.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…