I've been reading Daring Greatly by Brene Brown and as a result, I've decided to dedicate this year to reaching out to other people. That means putting myself in a vulnerable position, because they might "shut me down" or reject me. It involves taking a risk, doesn't it? That's exactly what Brown means by "daring greatly." Well, so far, the venture has been worthwhile. On a whim, I emailed Alice Zinn, a renowned miniature artist, who lives just … [Read more...] about A Year of Daring Greatly Starts Now!
mysteries
Why You Should be Reading More Thrillers by Women–and a CONTEST
I don't often go on tilt, as my boys say, but once in awhile, I get frustrated with the book industry. Case in point: A conference I once loved posted their line up of "star authors." There wasn't a single woman in the bunch! When I asked why, they told me, "Oops. We couldn't come up with any women's names who would be big draws, especially since we usually feature thriller writers." They must be drinking their own Kool-Aid, something spiked … [Read more...] about Why You Should be Reading More Thrillers by Women–and a CONTEST
Behind That Door…
For months I've been driving past a sign that says, "Sunshine State Carnations." Today I decided to drop in. The kind lady who greeted me laughed. "We don't have carnations. Haven't for fifteen years." "Oh." I was really disappointed. But I wasn't about to give up. I'd seen the small riding tractors. The greenhouse webbing. And I wasn't ready to go home. So I said, "What do you have?" She laughed softly. "Come see," she said as she led me to … [Read more...] about Behind That Door…
What a Burglar Won't Tell You–But You Will Wish You Knew!
Here are some safety tips from reformed burglars shared by Dr. Sarah Layton, Corporate Strategy Institute. These are useful tips … [Read more...] about What a Burglar Won't Tell You–But You Will Wish You Knew!
Are My Books In Your Local Bookstore?
They might be. Or they might not be.And I can't tell you exactly why. Book distribution...well...it's tricky, and confusing, and a big mystery. Trust me, even Sherlock Holmes could be baffled by the ins and outs of book distribution. My friend Emilie Richards does a wizard job of discussing this on her blog.So, yes, I know that fans have found my books in chain booksellers around the country. But I also know that sometimes, they don't see my … [Read more...] about Are My Books In Your Local Bookstore?
The Rising Tide of Cozies, Part 1
I just completed a four-part article about 'craft cozies," mysteries that center around a craft or a person involved in crafts. The first installment is now up at ForeWord Magazine, and you can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/puxwykWhy should you care? Well, maybe you'll come up with a couple new marketing ideas or an idea for a mystery series of your own! … [Read more...] about The Rising Tide of Cozies, Part 1
