Nothing stays the same, does it? I keep casting my thoughts back to one calendar year ago. The amount of change in my life is positively dizzying. (Is that a word?)I'm not just talking about a change in locale. CHANGE IN WORD COUNTSThis morning I heard from my editor that Book #4 is a bit long. I'm not surprised. I had noticed that my original goal was 80-85,000 words. The more recent contract we're negotiating shows a final word count of 70,000 … [Read more...] about Time for a Change…or Two
books
Almost Seems Like Home
Yesterday I drove to the grocery store and back without thinking. Not a big deal to you. But it was to me. You see, I'm feeling at home.This has been a year of tumult. In January, my mother's exam found spots in her lungs. However, the spots didn't light up, so the doctors were convinced it wasn't cancer. "Probably scar tissue," they told us. By June we knew the truth: She had terminal lung cancer.Still, Mom clung to hope. After all, last time … [Read more...] about Almost Seems Like Home
I'd Rather Be Eating Kibble…Or Why Some Books Are Hard to Take
Every day the Universe conspires to teach me lessons I don't wanna learn. As they say in the movies, "Resistance is FUTILE." And yet, I still struggle.Today, my dog was the teaching assistant. Rafferty decided he didn't want to eat his food. Being a good dog mom, I coaxed. "Ah, come on, Raffie." Then I threatened. "Eat your food." And finally, I resorted to unfair tactics. I poured beef boullion over the kibble.To no available. He licked off the … [Read more...] about I'd Rather Be Eating Kibble…Or Why Some Books Are Hard to Take
Tweet, Tweet, Tweet–and You Could Win a Big Box of Books!
Argh. Every day I open my email and think: I don't have time for all this. I especially don't have time to update my website, to check all the posts on all the list-serves I belong to, visit every online community I need to, and comment on everyone's blog as I should.But I do have time to Twitter. Apparently, the rest of the world agrees. The site has reported an eight-fold rise in visitors since 2007, and in December reported 2.7 million people … [Read more...] about Tweet, Tweet, Tweet–and You Could Win a Big Box of Books!
Paper, Scissors, Death Delivered to My Door Today
The first copies of my new book came today by Fed Ex.Do you remember the scene in Back to the Future? The dad opens a box and pulls out copies of the book he's written. Well, it's exactly like that. The box (in this case a padded bag) arrives at your door, and you open it with trembling hands.In my case, you show your dogs what you've done. They were mightily impressed. They're big fans.Then I called my dear friend Olivia, and I suggested we … [Read more...] about Paper, Scissors, Death Delivered to My Door Today
101 Ways to Market Your Books
101 Ways to Market Your Books by Joanna Campbell Slan, author of Paper, Scissors, Death (Available September 13, from Midnight Ink. ISBN: 0738712507 Pre-orders now accepted.) This article was prompted by a challenge by John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book. 1. As I write it, I think of the discreet audiences within and build in opportunities. 2. Get the best cover possible. 3. Ask for help refining my back cover matter. 4. … [Read more...] about 101 Ways to Market Your Books
