Celebrating New Years With Friends #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

December 30, 2019

Do your characters celebrate New Year’s and if so, how?

I haven’t written a holiday scene (any holiday!) into my books. (Hmm, I should change that one of these days) So, I had to think about it.

Harmony, from my mysteries, isn’t the type to go watch the tinsel oak leaf drop from the water tower in Oak Grove. What else would the town use to mark the New Year? And the water tower is the logical spot, being up on the hill and visible from many places in the town. No, she’d rather sit in her comfy chair, read a book, sip a glass of wine, and listen to classic rock. At least, almost until midnight, when she’d jump onto a video call with Eli to wish him a Happy New Year. He’d be up coding and welcome the break and the chance to flirt with his favorite lady.

Jake would be out bar hopping, flirting with all the ladies, the life of the party everywhere he went. He’ll even play along when guys flirt with him. When he finally heads to his place at 3 or 4 in the morning, he’ll still sober despite having a drink in his hand all night long.

The shifters in my Free Wolves series take advantage of the human holiday. (They celebrate a different New Year’s Day.) They can move about in their shifted forms, and no one will own up to spotting them. Because if someone claims to have seen a huge wolf in the alley, their friends will call it a night and take them home for being too drunk to stay at the bar.

Image by Jonny Lindner from Pixabay

The best part, as far as the wolf-shifters are concerned, is that the day marks a universal moment of peace. For twenty-four hours, all hostilities between packs cease. Any pack that dares to break the tradition is shunned by all packs for the next year.

As a result, it has become a day when old enemies mingle,  treaties are signed, and new alliances are formed. Cubs are rarely born on the New Year, and when one is, the cub is considered a special gift to its pack, a bringer of good luck. They are also much sought after as mates and often are used as bargaining chips in inter-pack negotiations. Naturally, this practice is seen as archaic by the more modernized packs.

So, it’s a day when old friends and old enemies can drink together. But shifters have a higher tolerance for alcohol so they don’t get drunk as easily. (Jake? But I’m getting my series crossed.)

What are Gavin and Dot doing to celebrate the New Year? As pack leader. it’s obligatory that Gavin spends his night with his pack in the Fairwood village. There will be a bonfire in the middle of the pack gathering grounds with an assortment of refreshments provided. Fireworks will be set off, and the old tradition of banging pot lids together will add another layer of noise. Gavin and Dot will make sure that they take a moment to talk to everyone who shows up to the party, then quietly slip away to find a private place to kiss at midnight.

That’s what I imagine my characters do to celebrate New Year’s. I wonder what everyone else’s characters do? I’m going to follow the links below and find out! But before I go, I want to wish everyone good fortune and happiness in the New Year.

December 30, 2019

Do your characters celebrate New Years’ and if so, how?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Lessons Learned #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

December 23, 2019

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

I started a list of everything that changed about my writing after publishing my first book, and realized this post could get quite long if I included all of them. So, we’ll start from the “biggest” changes and work my way through a few of them.

Probably the biggest change was I started paying attention to chapters. Yes, Wolves’ Pawn started life as one long story with no breaks. I wrote the prequel and kept on going. When I completed the story and decided that hey, maybe it was good enough to publish, the first editing I did was to add chapters. It’s harder than it sounds, to find the right place to break into the action without leaving the reader hanging. (or hanging so they want to keep reading!)

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Next up – head hopping. I wasn’t even familiar with the term until I shared the first chapter of the book with a critique group. For those of you who don’t know, it means bouncing from one character’s point of view to another’s. Yes, I was guilty of it. I don’t do it any more (much) and normally catch it when I slip. The sad part is that I’m much more aware when other authors do it, and mentally take imaginary points off for the transgression.

Let’s mention editing in general. It’s a lot of work. But as I’ve done more of it, with each new book, I find myself catching mistakes before they get put in the document. It slows down my writing speed, but then I take less time editing. Seems like a fair trade-off to me. Same with passive voice. I don’t use the word ‘was” near as much as I used to in my writing. Along with trying to banish ‘had.’

What’s the most unusual (in my mind) thing I’ve learned? The proper use of the hyphen (-) the en-dash (–) and the em-dash (—). I didn’t even know about the existence of the last two before getting ready to publish Wolves’ Pawn. I don’t claim to be an expert, but at least I have a concept of how to use each of them. (I’ll spare you the boring details.) 

But the most important thing that has changed since publishing my first book? I no longer write my stories out by hand. Yes, gone are the days of notepads with page after page of handwritten words, with slashes through paragraphs and notes written in the margins. Which translated to additional time spending hours interpreting my own writing and transcribing it on the computer. It took effort, but now I’m comfortable creating my first draft on a computer.

Phew! That feels like a lot of changes, so I’m going to stop here. But before I go, I want to wish everyone who is celebrating this week or last week or next week a Happy Holiday. May your days be cheery and your nights warm.

Now I’m off to check what the other authors on the hop have changed in their writing process.

December 23, 2019

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/p/0edb449030ce498aa0d1a75cbb40e072

Resources for Writers #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

December 16, 2019

What are the most important resources for writers? (Magazines, books, websites, etc.)

I started thinking about this week’s question, and realized how much different my answer will be today than it was twenty-some years ago. Put it this way- I only recently purged all my old copies of The Writer’s Digest from storage. And I still have one year’s worth of Poets and Writers (once upon a time called Coda) on my bookshelf. Stashed away, I have the 2001 edition of the Poet’s Market, with 1800 places to publish your poetry. (Which I’ll probably end up throwing away because I can’t come up with a justification to hold onto it.)

Of course, they are all remnants of the days of yore, back when the internet was just becoming a ‘thing’ for non-academical types.  How the world has changed.

But, my needs have changed as well. I no longer focus on poetry. Y’all aren’t reading this for my newest poem, it’s my fiction that (likely) sends you here.

What do I consider my most important resources?

Let’s start with on-line editors. The two I use the most are ProWritingAid and Grammarly.  I normally beat the heck out of my manuscript with ProWritingAid and then fine tune it with Grammarly. Between the two of them, I find a lot of errors and ways to improve sentences and structure, but even using both of them doesn’t result in perfection. (and sometimes they disagree!)

Human eyes can pick up on things that machines can’t. Editors are great, but can be expensive. A way to help overcome this obstacle is the use of  good beta-readers and online critique groups. The one I’ve used is CritiqueCircle.com. Of course, if you can find a writers critique group that in your local area, that can also be a valuable resource.

But the best resource I’ve found? Other authors. There are all sorts of groups on-line where you can connect with other people and share knowledge and ideas. And yes, places besides Facebook. I belong to one group that focuses on marketing for romance writers and another that is for mystery writers. Between the two, I’m constantly learning new things. Oh, and don’t forget that local authors’ group!

What am I forgetting? Lots, I’m sure. That’s why I’m excited to check out the other posts this week. Oops, there’s one! Blog posts by other authors can be a wealth of information. Let’s go find more by following the links below to the rest of the blogs in this hop.

December 16, 2019

What are the most important resources for writers? (Magazines, books, websites, etc.)

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Welcome Kasper Beaumont & Her New Release

  By Uncategorized

I am tickled pink to welcome Kasper Beaumont on the occasion of her new release, Captive of the Darkness. For my readers that aren’t familiar with you and your stories, introduce yourself, please.

Hi everyone, so nice to be here with PJ on the blog today. I’m Kasper, a dragon-loving, lightsaber-wielding fangirl who likes to write.

I guess things are quiet here in my sleepy little town in Australia, which causes my imagination to run wild. I write high fantasy books about a quest to restore the stolen Elven Jewel. And my new Captive of the Darkness book is an adult paranormal one about angels and demons in a strip club. Something for everyone in the family, I guess.

What book was most influential in your decision to become a writer yourself?

These kind of questions are always hard because I read so widely. Probably have to name Enid Blyton as an early influence. The Magic Faraway Tree and the Famous Five series.

What sorts of conditions are most conducive to your productivity?

Quiet times when no-one is around to distract me. I like to write in the wee hours of the morning or late at night. Also, I put a ban on Facebook until I finish a chapter. It’s a good incentive.

In your experience, what is the best thing about being an author?

Two-fold in my book. One, is bringing happiness to others when they read it. Two, is a lasting legacy after I’m gone. I like my family to be proud of me and the thought that a piece of me will live on.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Hand down it’s gotta be revisions. I do several self-edit passes on every book before they go to the editor. Only thing is, I’d much rather be writing.

Are you a plot driven or character driven writer? Why?

Do I have to choose? You’re being mean. Well sometimes I have a certain place to get to in the plot and I coerce my characters into behaving.

Other times there is total anarchy and the characters definitely call the shots. I had planned for the plot to veer a certain way but one of the characters becomes difficult to fit the script and we take a new tangent. That is sometimes where the best writing is discovered,

Tell us a little about your new release. Where did you get your inspiration?

It’s confession time, I see. The type of books I read is always subject to change on a whim or a good recommendation. Someone gave me the Fallen series to read and I loved it. The idea of angels and demons sprang into being there and soon morphed into the new Hidden Angel series. So far, I have finished book one: Captive of the Darkness. I also have book two written in draft form and the bare bones of a plot for book three. This series both excites and terrifies which is a thrilling way to write.

Thanks, Kasper. May your sales be plentiful!

Title: Captive of the Darkness

Author: Kasper Beaumont

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Captive-Darkness-Hidden-Angel-Book-ebook/dp/B081MW4D1P/

Release date: December 14th.  Preorder is now available.

In Kasper’s own words: 

On Riley’s 18th birthday, she is told she’s a demon hunter, like the rest of her family.  She shrugs the news off in disbelief but that very night she unwittingly enters the lair of a powerful demon and her whole world is turned upside down.

She meets a stripper nicknamed Cupid, who states he is prisoner of the demon.  He is a graceful ballet dancer forced into slavery but yearning to escape his dangerous master.  When she sees a glowing aura around this young man, she realizes he isn’t just any ordinary lad, but something very special.  She knows she must try to save him.

Blurb
Can an angel be hiding here on Earth?

A veil of secrecy is lifted on Riley’s 18th birthday. She thought she knew the world, but now discovers she is a demon hunter. It doesn’t seem real, but then she meets Him, a charismatic young dancer with special powers.
He is a prisoner of a powerful demon.

What secrets does this stranger hide? Will Riley risk her own family to save Him?

 
Excerpt:

Small sandy feet pounded the warm pavement along the beach.  His heartbeat thrummed in his ears, faster than he ever thought possible.  The whispering kept getting closer, no matter how far or fast he ran.  He swiped a cap from outside a shower cubicle.  It was rather large for his head, a perfect disguise.  This covered most of his blond hair and shaded his eyes.  He hoped to outwit whoever was chasing him.  Turning a corner, he dove into a shaded alleyway and bent over to catch his breath.  An aching side-stitch now caught his attention, winding him.  His hands trembled as they rested on shaking and weakened knees.  Turning his cap backwards, he held his breath and peeked a look around the corner.  There was no sign of pursuit.  He let his breath out and wiped the sweat cascading down his cheeks that had soaked his swim shirt.  Fear drove him on.  It was instinct, not a rational decision on his behalf.  Then all the hairs on his body stood up on end.  A cold shiver ran down his spine.  A shadow passed over him.  A whisper, quiet and close.  Warm breath could be felt on his neck.  He turned around slow.  His eyes widened as his hands grasped for the wall at his back.  There was nowhere left to run.  “Oh please no…”

Biography:

 
Kasper J. Beaumont was born and raised in Australia and lives a quiet life with the family in a seaside town. Combining a love of fantasy and a penchant for travel in the Hunters of Reloria trilogy, she started to write on the urging of friends and family and enjoys watching readers become immersed in the magical world of Reloria. Kasper is a pen name for a rather shy author who is happy to remain unnamed.

 

The Hidden Angel series is a urban paranormal fantasy involving Angels and Demons in the seemingly ordinary city of Brisbane. Riley discovers she’s a demon hunter on her 18th birthday and enters a dangerous new world.
Book 1: Captive of the Captive, published 2019.

The Hunters of Reloria trilogy is about the magical world of Reloria where halflings and fairies share a lifelong bond. Dwarves, elves, knights and dragons inhabit this country, but their world is about to be invaded by scaly lizardmen and giant Cyclops.

Prequel: Fandri’s Adventures, published 2016.
Book 1: Elven Jewel, published 2012.
Book 2: Hunters’ Quest, published 2013
Book 3: Dragon’s Revenge, published 2014.

 
Kasper’s links:

Meet Eli Hennessey #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

December 9, 2019

It’s been awhile since we’ve done this. Interview one of your characters. Introduce them to a new audience or give existing readers new insight into their motivations.

Spoiler alerts ahead! If you haven’t read The Marquesa’s Necklace, the first book of the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, this interview may spoil some of the fun.

Today we’re talking with Elijah Hennessey, owner of Shifter Technologies, a tech company that specializes in  providing computer software for law enforcement agencies. We agreed to meet at his office in the Orlando, FL area. When I arrived, I only had to wait a few minutes until I was escorted into his office. The first thing I noticed was his unusual eyes- they were the palest blue I’d ever seen.

The anticipated offer of coffee came quickly, which I declined in favor of water. I noticed that there were at least three cups in various spots on my host’s desk, buried between various stacks of paperwork.

Me: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, Mr Hennessey.

Him: Please call me Elijah.

Me: Sure. Elijah, when I started my research for this interview, I discovered you basically don’t exist on the internet. Can you tell me about that?

Him:  It’s deliberate on my part. I want potential customers to see how serious I am about security, and by not using every social site and app that’s out there, I set a good example.

Me: You think social sites are a security problem? 

He smiled, picked up a manila file folder off the top of a stack, and passed it to me.

Him: Here’s what I found out about you. Do you still drink London Fogs with peach tea? By the way, you should change your password and have a different one for each site you visit.

Me: (Taking a drink of water to cool the heat in my cheeks.) Thanks. I’ll get that taken care of. But moving along, your software is listed as a top performer by Law Enforcement Magazine. Congratulations.

Him: Thanks. I give credit to my staff. I’ve got some real sharp people who can see a coding error a mile away and fix it before anyone else knows it exists. They get all the credit.

Me: What’s your vision for your company?

Him: It’s no secret that we’re making a big move into mobile apps for law enforcement. Police officers don’t need to carry around oversized tablets and laptops when they can do everything they need to on their phones. We just have to up the security factor by ten.

Me: Where did your obsession with security start?

Him: It was a necessity when I served in the military. When I moved into civilian life, I saw an opportunity to use my knowledge as a career.

Me: Switching topics, there’s a rumor about you and a librarian up north. Care to confirm?

Him: (grinning) What does the internet have to say about it?

Me: Nothing. I looked. She must follow the same theory about a social media presence as you do.

Him: (His grin getting bigger) Imagine that.

Me: Can you at least tell me what your “type” of women is?

Him: (Leaning back and clasping his hands behind his head) Easy. Smart ones. Ones that know how to think on their feet and come up with alternative solutions to existing problems.

A knock on the door interrupted us, and his administrative assistant  stuck her head in the door. “Your next appointment is here.”

Me: Thanks for your time. I’ll send you a copy of the interview when I get it pulled together.

Him: My pleasure. 

*****

Do you have any questions for Eli? If so, leave them in the comments and maybe he’ll answer. 🙂 While he waits, I’m going to go meet some new characters on the other blog hop entries.

December 9, 2019

It’s been awhile since we’ve done this. Interview one of your characters. Introduce them to a new audience or give existing readers new insight into their motivations.

Rules:

1. Link your blog to this hop.

2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.

3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.

4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.

5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Living The Dream #IWSG

  By IWSG

December 4 question – Let’s play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!

*****

Funny how well this topic ties into Monday’s Blog hop.

So let’s pretend. I’ve changed one little thing and suddenly I’m a best selling author. I no longer have to work my day job and I have all the time in the world to write. Hey, this is a dream, right?

I’m living in a mountain cabin that has a creek and a small lake nearby. I love to write sitting by the flowing water, and the lake is big enough for my husband to fish in. The cabin has enough room that we aren’t cramped when my daughter and her family come to visit. Of course, it magically has internet despite being in the middle of nothing. And speaking of magic, the house would clean itself. 

Image by ArtTower from Pixabay

Because I have all the time in the world to write, I’ve started my series about the gritty female PI in Pittsburgh. It’s a lot edgier than the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, but my audience loves her. too. And I’m even fitting in more of the Free Wolves books.

 

Oh, and I get to travel to writers’ conferences and book signings more often. That way I can still improve my craft, meet existing fans, and hopefully make new ones.

That sounds pretty darn good to me! What am I missing? I’ll take suggestions in the comments!

 

 

It’s a Trade-Off #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

December 2, 2019

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

It’s a deceptively simple question, really. I only have to change one little thing. Except I’m the kind of person who worries about the domino effect. If I change this one little thing, what else breaks? For example, the day I got out early and got sideswiped on the way home. That wouldn’t have happened if I left work at my normal time, right?

Or how about the time I got stuck in a long line at the grocery store? Sure, I was saying bad words and pushing the speed limit on the way home. Until I saw a guy in a motorized wheelchair barely moving. I pulled over to see if there was something wrong. Turns out his battery had run down, but help was already on the way. I stayed and talked to him until his family got there. Nothing earth-shaking about the incident, but if the timing hadn’t been perfect the encounter wouldn’t have happened.

So, maybe it’s all part of the butterfly effect. You know, if a butterfly flaps

it’s wings in the Amazon a tornado happens in Texas. It’s part of the chaos theory. One simple, small change can have a much bigger consequence.

As a result, the initial question—one thing I would give up to become a better writer—makes me nervous. What would the unintended side effect be? If I spent less time cleaning house and more time reading, would war break out in Canada? (I know, that’s extreme. It was supposed to be!)

I can’t give up watching TV. because I did that years ago. Giving up reading would have the opposite effect- I firmly believe that as a writer you should also be a reader. I suppose I could spend less time on the biggest time waster of all, the internet, but I never know when something I stumble across may be the spark for a new story.

But there is one thing I’d be willing to spend last time on—playing games on the computer. Sure, I do it mostly while I’m searching for the right words to use, but it’s easy to play two games instead of one. And I can’t imagine which part of the chaos theory that would trigger. I think it’s a safe solution. Fingers crossed.

I hope all of you out there are still safe. No tornadoes, right? I can’t help the winter storms—they started before I made the change. Now, as is my habit, no change there, I’m off to find out what the other authors would change.

P.S.  But you could make one little change for me…I’d love it if you would leave a comment.

December 2, 2019

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Marketing 101 #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

November 25, 2019

We’ve touched on this in the past, but it bears repeating. What’s the best way to market your books?

It’s the eternal question for those of us struggling to sell books, looking for a break, trying to find how to reach the right audience. It’s not easy. It takes a lot of time and energy. And I’m no expert.

What I do have is some experience. And I’m happy to share. Take it with a grain of salt, because I certainly haven’t found the magic formula.

Before I begin, I’m going to refine the question a bit and answer in two different sections—what I enjoy doing, and what sells the most books.

Me at the Deadly Realities book signing.

First, what I enjoy doing. I love going to events. Book events, cons, heck, this year I attended a chili festival. Anyplace where I can look the public in the eye and try to sell them my books. And talk to them about my stories and what they like to read in general. I consider it a win if I make enough to cover my table fee and what I paid for my books. Everything beyond that is a bonus.

Of course, one of the great parts of going to events is meeting other authors and vendors. Even if they don’t buy a book or two, it’s fun hanging out with new people. Or ones you’ve met at other events. I’m looking forward to the Bizarre Bazaar  in Loveland, CO this weekend (Saturday Nov. 30th). This will be my third year and it’s always an entertaining day.

What sells the most books? Paid ads in various readers’ newsletters., especially when the book being advertised is on sale. (I don’t do free books, but that a discussion we’ve had before and I won’t get into this time.) There’s a bunch of them out there. Some of my favorites are The Fussy Librarian, Book Doggy, and of course, ENT- EReaders News Today. I’ll be trying a new site next week, that came highly recommended by another author. It’s called Book Rebel, and we’ll see what happens. I haven’t even tried for a BookBub ad because their price is too steep for my pocketbook.

I understand the boost you get from those sites is temporary, but gosh darn it, if feels good to see the numbers go up on Amazon and other book selling sites. 

What doesn’t work for me? I can’t use Facebook to sell a book no matter what I try. Ads, posts, groups, I get crickets. Blog tours don’t do me much good either. And Twitter? Does anyone sell books on Twitter?

What’s on my to-do list? I want to try an Amazon ad. I’ve done my homework, and I think it has potential, although some articles say the ads are past their peak. We’ll see. I won’t hold my breath.

I’m hoping my fellow authors have additional wisdom to share. And if you know something I don’t, please tell me about it in the comments!

P.S. For those of you in the Unites States, I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving.

November 25, 2019

We’ve touched on this in the past, but it bears repeating. What’s the best way to market your books?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Deadly Reality Photos

  By Uncategorized

Just a few of the pictures from my stay in Estes Park, CO for the Deadly Reality book signing on November 9th.