A Word Please

Let’s Talk Giveaways!

Darcia Helle — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:00:08 +0000

I drop things all the time. My fingers and my brain don’t always speak to each other and, poof, stuff falls to the floor. A while back, we bought dishes that are pretty but also heavy and extremely breakable. Do I need say that they haven’t lasted long? You know what solves the problem? Corelle! Yeah, I know, this is an odd discussion for a book blog, right?

Not really. Some of my characters like to cook and entertain (though I do not like to cook and consider it an irritation). They’d use the fancy china and expensive crystal. Others are more into take-out and maybe even have clumsy fingers that drop everything. They’d go for the Corelle. Why am I telling you this? Because today I have the pleasure of announcing an exciting new giveaway! CSN Stores, which has over 200 websites to shop on, is providing a $35 gift certificate to the grand prize winner! I could buy some Corelle to replace those dishes I’m constantly breaking! The second place prize is one of my print books and third place is one of my e-books. The winners choose the title they’d like!

To enter, you need to live in either the U.S. or Canada. (Sorry about that but the world gets pretty big when you have to ship stuff). You also need to be 16 or older and can enter only once per person. Leave a comment here before 7 a.m. EST Friday, September 10 and be sure to provide a working email address. I’ll contact the winners via that email. That’s all you have to do! Simple, right?

Now let’s talk books!

I currently have 6 published titles. Here’s a brief rundown, from my most recent to my first:

The Cutting Edge is dark comedy / suspense. Skye Summers is a hairstylist with murder on her mind. Her clients drive her nuts. She fantasizes about killing them with her surgically sharpened shears.

Miami Snow tosses a desperate guy into a world of temptation.

Beyond Salvation is the second book in my Michael Sykora series. A runaway girl gets tangled with a religious cult that offers their own form of salvation. (This can be read as a stand-alone.)

No Justice is the first book in my Michael Sykora series. Michael offers justice to those the system has failed.

Hit List: Suspense with a twist of insanity & a side order of romance!

Enemies and Playmates is romantic suspense. When the abused fight back, the abuser’s world might just shatter.

To read blurbs and excerpts, click on the titles or the book covers in the widgets in the left sidebar.

Good luck!

Susan Helene Gottfried’s Rock & Roll Fantasy

Darcia Helle — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:20 +0000

Visiting us today is author and rocker Susan Helene Gottfried. Reading about her fictional band ShapeShifters is like being handed a backstage pass with unlimited access. Her characters are fun and gritty and love to rock!

Let’s get to know Susan:

Susan Helene Gottfried walked away from a career in the music industry in order to write books, so it makes sense that most of her fiction revolves around rock bands. Once you get those record stores, radio stations, and fellow roadies and promoters under your skin, they never leave.

When not writing, Susan captains the team at Win a Book, a promotional site for authors and book bloggers — and readers like yourself.

Visit her online at http://westofmars.com
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Just in case anyone is wondering, yes, that’s an octopus in Susan’s hands! She tells me it belongs to uber-literary-agent Janet Reid.

Now a little about Susan’s new book Trevor’s Song:

Fame and fortune have destroyed many a rock star, but Trevor Wolff has bigger problems when his best friend, Mitchell Voss, commits an act of monogamy with sexy artist Kerri Broadhurst.

ShapeShifter band dynamics will never be the same with this new woman on the scene, and the distractions of two girlfriends and a world tour aren’t enough to keep Trevor from feeling like his carefully constructed world is crumbling around him. The pesky little illness he’s been hiding from his bandmates isn’t helping, either.

Trevor is determined to drive Kerri away so life can run properly. He’ll do whatever it takes, or die trying, and not just because if he doesn’t get well soon, time might be up for old Trevor. The last person he expects help or sympathy from is Kerri herself, but he may have to make common cause with his enemy if he’s to survive the fallout from the secrets he’s been hiding.
***

Susan took a little time out from her crazy life to answer my questions. Here’s how our chat went:

The story of Trevor’s Song began as blog posts. Those posts are now within two short books titled The Demo Tapes. Can you tell us a little about that?

Actually, the novel came first. I began the blog (The Meet and Greet at West of Mars) to help build my readership for the novel. I was convinced that I’d have this huge following and that publishers and agents would come knocking on my door, demanding to publish the novel.

Unfortunately, along the way, I learned that agents and publishers were steering clear because (according to them), books about rock stars historically don’t sell well, no one wants to read about a man, and a couple other reasons that may or may not have been valid.

Yet at the same time, I had this readership — granted, only a couple hundred, not the thousands I’d dreamed of or that the publishing industry demanded — who wanted to read this background stuff I was filling the blog with. They wanted it in perspective. On a timeline, starting with the day Mitchell and Trevor meet and going forward from there.

My original intent had been a total vanity thing for The Demo Tapes. But my readers demanded I make them into something more and to work to build my audience even more. I’m glad they wanted this. It’s been a great ride.

I don’t agree with the assumption that books about rockstars don’t sell. Then again, I don’t agree with a lot of the assumptions made my mainstream publishing companies. I, for one, love to read about rockers. My two favorite things, music and books, in one place!

Will people need to first read The Demo Tapes in order to understand the characters and plot in Trevor’s Song?

Heck, no! The Demo Tapes books are meant to be supplements. Food for the groupies who can’t get enough of the boys.

Frankly, I wish more authors would do this sort of thing. With self-publishing what it is these days, when a reader connects to a character or a set of characters they simply love, why deny them the chance to spend more time together?

I agree and love the idea!

Where did the band’s name – ShapeShifter – come from?

Trevor, of course. His name is Trevor Wolff. He’s a man who, as a kid, used to dream of shapeshifting into a wolf and ripping his father’s throat out. Dad could be a bit… abusive, you see.

Trevor seems to be the heart of ShapeShifter. He’s a complicated character, at times difficult to love which makes us love him even more. Is his character based on anyone you know/knew?

If Trevor’s based on anyone, it’s me! He’s my hidden inner core, the part of me who always knows how to one-up someone, who knows how to point out the truth and make you stop and think. He’s terribly ugly (or so HE says, although I’ve got to admit he’s not the pin-up boy his bandmates are) yet he gets all the girls.

And I do mean he’s my HIDDEN inner core. I can’t do half the things that Trevor gets away with. I’ve tried.

I won’t ask exactly which of the things you’ve tried, though I’d love to know!

Who is your favorite character and why?

Ooh, hard to pick between Trevor, Mitchell, and Kerri. You don’t see as much Kerri in The Demo Tapes as you will in Trevor’s Song. Trevor’s the bad boy everyone loves. Mitchell is handsome, moody, sexual, tender. He’s the ultimate romance hero. And Kerri? She’s cool incarnate. Nothing flusters her, as you see in Trevor’s Song (repeatedly, in fact). She’s this amazingly supportive spouse who manages to maintain her own career. Yet she makes sacrifices, big ones, for Mitchell and his life — and never regrets a single one of them.

What are you working on now?

Well, Demo Tapes: Year 3 is in the works. I’d been hoping to get it out around this time, but the summer intruded and I wound up spending an incredible amount of time with my kids. We had a blast, too. Talk about sacrifices you never regret!

I’m also working on the follow-up to Trevor’s Song, as I do leave the reader hanging a bit at the end (of course, common sense will tell you what happens, at least in a general sense). And I’ve got another book in the works that’s set in the fictional city of Riverview, where the band comes from.

Not enough? I’m also working on something totally, completely different. But have no fear. ShapeShifter will make a cameo, although as the plans are right now, if you blink, you may miss them!

Before I sign off, let me thank you for having me here today, Darcia. I love meeting new readers and spreading word of the Trevolution.
***

Want to get to know more about Susan and her books? Her website/blog has all sorts of craziness going on. But it’s crazy in a good way and you won’t ever get bored! Here’s the link: http://westofmars.com/

You can contact Susan directly via email at: Susan@Westofmars.com

You can find all 3 of Susan’s books – The Demo Tapes, years 1 and 2, and Trevor’s Song on Smashwords in paperback format on Lulu.

All 3 can be downloaded in various e-book formats on Smashwords.

Trevor’s Song should be available on Amazon soon! Also, Susan has a message for anyone interested in purchasing her books: I have print copies of all three books here in the house for anyone who’d like an autographed copy (they make great gifts!) — and would like to point out that I’ll sell anyone in the US or Canada a print copy of Trevor’s Song for $20, postage included.

A huge thank you to Susan for hanging out with us today! Feel free to post comments for Susan here and/or visit her website!

Bestselling Rejects

Darcia Helle — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:00:52 +0000

I used to save all my rejection slips because I told myself, one day I’m going to autograph these and auction them. And then I lost the box.
~ James Lee Burke

The mainstream publishing world is shrinking, if not collapsing, in much the same way as the music industry has and is. This is due in part to the combination of the explosion in technology and the withering economy. However, the $50 million 4-book contracts for author “superstars” is largely to blame for the publishing companies having no money left to risk on the unknowns. Their stubborn refusal to move with the changes, rather than against them, is another drawback for new and talented authors seeking representation.

Rejection letters are a way of life for most authors. Now, more than ever before, finding an agent willing to read past two lines of a query letter is a daunting task. As authors, we tend to equate our value as a writer with an agent’s opinion. We label these people as experts. But even so-called experts get it wrong.

Here is a sampling of famous authors and the rejections they endured:

1. The Diary of Anne Frank was rejected 16 times. After reading the manuscript, one publisher wrote, “The girl doesn’t, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the ‘curiosity’ level.”

2. Joseph Heller, author of the classic Catch-22, received this message from one publisher: “I haven’t the foggiest idea about what the man is trying to say. Apparently the author intends it to be funny – possibly even satire – but it is really not funny on any intellectual level.”

3. J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected by a dozen publishers. Finally, a small London publisher took on the project because the CEO’s 8-year-old daughter begged him to print the book. I bet Penguin and HarperCollins regret their decision on that one every day.

4. Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Torrents of Spring received a scathing rejection. It read in part, “It would be extremely rotten taste, to say nothing of being horribly cruel, should we want to publish it.”

5. A Time to Kill, bestselling author John Grisham’s first novel, was rejected by 16 agents, then a dozen publishers, before someone decided his work was worth printing.

6. When Edgar Allen Poe tried to break into the market with his short stories, one publisher had this to say, “Readers in this country have a decided and strong preference for works in which a single and connected story occupies the entire volume.”

7. Margaret Mitchell’s classic Gone With the Wind was rejected 38 times. What were all those “experts” thinking?

8. 17 publishers rejected The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot.

9. When Herman Melville sent out his manuscript entitled Moby Dick, he was told, “We regret to say that our united opinion is entirely against the book as we do not think it would be at all suitable for the Juvenile Market in (England). It is very long, rather old-fashioned…”

10. Bestselling author Ayn Rand, whose books are now classics, suffered many rejections. After reading The Fountainhead, one publisher said, “I wish there were an audience for a book of this kind. But there isn’t. It won’t sell.” Fourteen years later, Rand went through a similar process with her book Atlas Shrugged. One publisher said, “… the book is much too long. There are too many long speeches… I regret to say that the book is unsaleable and unpublishable.” Fortunately, not everyone agreed.

11. Irving Stone’s novel Lust for Life was rejected 16 times before finding a publisher and going on to sell about 25 million copies.

12. Author megastar Stephen King was not immune to the harsh words of rejection letters. One publisher had this to say about King’s first novel Carrie, “We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.”

Thankfully, these authors persevered despite the doors that continually slammed in their faces. Their books eventually found a home. But how many didn’t? How many equally talented – or even more talented – authors fell by the wayside? How many potential classics sit in a drawer because no agent or publisher believes the material is worth publishing?

I wrote for twelve years and collected 250 rejection slips before getting any fiction published, so I guess outside reinforcement isn’t all that important to me.
~ Lisa Alther

J.R. Rain’s Vampire

Darcia Helle — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:00:08 +0000

J.R. Rain and his world of vampires join us today! J.R. is going to tell us a about his paranormal fiction novel Moon Dance. First, a little about the man behind the vampire:

I live in a small house on a small island with my small dog, Sadie, who has more energy than Robin Williams. I will be self-publishing a slew of my novels over the next few years, so stop by often and check out what’s new.
***

About Moon Dance:
Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.

Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn’t exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head.
***

And now a chat with J.R.:

Moon Dance is written in the first person. What made you decide to write from a female’s viewpoint?

You know, writing from a female’s perspective never occurred to me as something odd or interesting, but as I think back to the fiction I read, yeah, very few male authors write from a female’s perspective. (Two that come to mind are Robert B. Parker’s Sunny Randall series and James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club). Writing from a female’s perspective does tend to generate a lot of reader responses. I get everything from I “hit a home run” and “I really get how women think” to “I failed miserably” and “I should just stick with writing about men”. Sigh. Well, the truth is, men and women are not so very different. Sure, life experiences have forced men and women into certain roles, but we all want the same things: we want love, we want to be in a great relationship, we want the best for our kids, we want to be surrounded by supportive friends and family, to enjoy our jobs and our lives. Most of what we do is in pursuit of one or all of these things. In such matters, men and women are not so different. Quite simply, to answer your question, the story of Moon Dance called for a female lead, and I did my best to step up to the challenge.

When you set out to write this book, which came first for you; the characters or the plot?

The character of Samantha Moon, definitely. Back in 2003, I was watching an episode of “Bewitched” and I found myself wondering what would happen if a vampire was trying to quietly assimilate into a neighborhood, rather than a witch. What would this vampire have to do to fit in? How could they keep their vampirism a secret? From this, Moon Dance was born. (Now you can see where I got the name “Sam” from.)

Do you have a specific writing routine?

Yes, I write twice a day. I write once in the mornings after I make some fresh ground coffee and stop just before noon. Then I head out to Starbucks for a light lunch and to read a novel (currently I’m reading Stephen King’s Under the Dome…and loving it). I then will write for another two or three hours, wrapping up around dinner time. Sometimes I’ll sneak in a writing session at night if my brain is feeling fresh. Generally, though, my nights are for answering emails and updating my various websites.

Have you always had a fascination with the paranormal?

I like to believe in a world where anything is possible…and sometimes is.

You’re writing a sequel to Moon Dance (which I can’t wait for!). Can you share a little about it?

Hmm. Let’s see, how much should I share? (I do give you a taste of the sequel in my short story collection, “The Bleeder”. It’s a scene I decided not to use in the sequel but hated taking out.) As far as how much to share, well, I will say this: Samantha and Fang will take their online relationship to another level. The book is called Vampire Moon and will be out in a few months, perhaps sooner.

Where can readers go to learn more about you and your books?

My website at www.jrrain.com. There they can learn about all my books, where to order them, follow me on Twitter and Facebook, and catch up with all things J.R. Rain in my Monthly Writing Blog. Happy reading, everyone.
***

You can learn more about J.R. and his work on his website: www.jrrain.com.

Check out his Moon Dance on Amazon, in both paperback and Kindle format:

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What do you think? Could there be a vampire living next door to you?

Famous First Lines

Darcia Helle — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:00:23 +0000

In our modern world, we are always going at breakneck speed, running from one thing to another. Technology has ensured that we are never disconnected from friends or from work. We “multitask”, all day, every day. Consequently, we’ve learned to expect instant gratification. This applies to our reading habits, as well.

How long do you give a book before you decide it’s not worth reading? A few chapters? A few pages?

Capturing a reader’s attention early in a book has always been important. Now, however, our shortened attention spans make it even more vital.

Would you give a book only a single line to draw you in? Here are some brilliant first lines that have hooked countless readers:

1. “When I finally caught up with Abraham Trahearne, he was drinking beer with an alcoholic bulldog named Fireball Roberts in a ramshackle joint just outside of Sonoma, California, drinking the heart right out of a fine spring afternoon.” – The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley

2. “If I could tell you one thing about my life it would be this: when I was seven years old the mailman ran over my head.” – The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall

3. “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.” – I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

4. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” – A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

5. “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.” – The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

6. “It was the day my grandmother exploded.” – The Crow Road by Iain M. Banks

7. “Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person.” – Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler

8. “It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York.” – The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

9. “Granted: I am an inmate of a mental hospital; my keeper is watching me, he never lets me out of his sight; there’s a peephole in the door, and my keeper’s eye is the shade of brown that can never see through a blue-eyed type like me.” – The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass

10. “He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.” – Scaramouche by Raphael Sabatini

Do you have a favorite of your own?

Tom Carter Treks Through China

Darcia Helle — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:00:01 +0000

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to strap on a backpack, head off to a new country, and explore for a few years? Tom Carter, today’s guest author, has done just that! One day he lived in California, the next he was finding his way around China. From his experiences, he has created a masterpiece of photos that make up his book, CHINA: Portrait of a People. Tom’s a fascinating guy whose adventures would make a spellbinding memoir. And hopefully someday he will write one! Today, Tom answers a few of my questions about his experiences in China and what drew him there to begin with.

But, first, a bit about Tom:

Travel photographer Tom Carter (1973) was born and raised in the City of San Francisco and graduated with a degree in Political Science from the American University in Washington, D.C. Following a political career with a number of high-profile state and national campaigns, Tom decided to “peek over the fence” and subsequently spent 18 months backpacking down the length of Mexico, Cuba and Central America. Tom later spent one year in Japan, one year in India, and four years in the People’s Republic of China, travelling extensively throughout the country’s 33 provinces and autonomous regions. The result was his first book, CHINA: Portrait of a People, hailed as the most comprehensive book of photography on modern China ever published by a single author.

Tom’s book, CHINA: Portrait of a People:

Despite increased tourism and rampant foreign investment, the cultural distance between China and the west remains as vast and unknown as the oceans that separate them. China is in fact made up of 33 distinct regions populated by 56 ethnic groups – and American photographer Tom Carter is one of the only foreigners in history to have visited them all. At 640-pages and over 800 photos, CHINA: Portrait of a People is a visual tribute to the People’s Republic of China, with an ardent emphasis on the People.
***

A chat with Tom:

What drew you to China?

The irony of being an author and a photographer in China is that it was the last career move I ever expected of myself. Coming to China was a combination of several factors. First, as a San Francisco city native, I have been around Chinese people and culture my entire life, yet due to their isolationist tendencies, I never felt that I really understood them. Coming to China was a way to learn about their customs and finally get to know them as a people. Another factor that brought me here was the stagnant US economy circa 2003. Despite a university degree and professional experience in my field (politics and communications), I couldn’t for the life of me find a good job at that time. I have no doubt this is what a lot of people back home are presently experiencing as I write this now, 7 years later. So I took my skills where they were wanted: China! I was hired as an English teacher (FYI to unemployed Americans: there are no end to English teaching jobs in the PRC; come on over!). My first year was spent in a small town teaching primary school students, then, once I felt comfortable in this new culture, I moved to Beijing to teach corporate business English, which was more in line with my professional background. The final factor that brought me across the world is my insatiable wanderlust. I love to travel, and teaching English in China was a way to travel and get paid for it.

How did the language barrier affect your ability to interact and work within the different Chinese cultures?

Actually, despite having traveled extensively across both hemispheres I have very little capacity for languages. I tend to hit a ceiling after a certain number of words. Usually I can learn enough to get by – what I call Survival Chinese – then the rest of the time I wing it. This is easy to do in China because first of all, Putonghua (spoken Mandarin) requires no conjugation; it’s just straight memorization of vocabulary and tones. Second, the authorities and people in charge here (like bus ticket vendors, hotel clerks, police, students, etc.) tend to speak enough English that you can fall back on them when you need help. There are literally hundreds of dialects spoken across this country – even Chinese people tend not to understand other Chinese people outside of their home provinces – so really, everyone is kind of in the same situation as you. Lastly, the Chinese are so darn friendly that you can literally communicate solely on smiles and warm gestures. This is how I obtained most of my photographs in CHINA: Portrait of a People.

Did you run into any difficulties or restrictions from the Chinese government?

As one might presume, living in China is not without its restrictions. The Communists prefer to keep the general public misinformed, so EVERYTHING from the media to blogging is either heavily censored or totally blocked. Heck, I can’t even access Darcia’s blog to do this interview. Moreover, foreign journalists are eyed with extreme suspicion (understandable; most western newspapers only write negative stories about China), so even a freelance photographer such as myself has a really hard time taking pictures here. I had my camera swatted out of my hands numerous times by police, security guards, etc. for taking photos of the most innocuous things like demolition sites, hanging laundry, etc. They don’t mess around here. Once I took some photos of a peasant riot (pictures appear in my book) and minutes later I was surrounded by plainclothes police threatening to imprison me if I didn’t delete my memory card. Such is the life of a foreign photographer in China. But I should point out that real people (meaning non-cops) in China are unbelievable good natured about having their photo taken. As you can see from my photos, their friendliness shines through.

You take some of the most amazing photos I’ve ever seen. What is your inspiration?

Thanks, Darcia, but I have to decline the compliment; I am just a backpacker with a camera. Literally, these are photos that any tourist can take, it just requires the patience and resolve to get out there and see parts of the world that AREN’T on the tour itinerary. Fans email me saying that they prefer my book over the usual “postcard-perfect” coffee table books for this very reason; because it helped them realize that you don’t need to be some pro-photog or well-funded journalist to take decent travel pictures. So, if my book inspires a new generation of photographer and world-travelers, then that is compliment enough for me.

What surprised you most about the country and its people?

The better question would be: what DOESN’T surprise me in China. Seriously, every turn of the corner is a new adventure waiting to happen. Every neighborhood is a whole new photo-essay waiting to be written. This country is magical like that. Beijing and Shanghai might have been over-developed by city planners to the point of being unrecognizable, but the rest of the country, the rural countryside, is literally the world’s final frontier. I’m not just singing praise for China because she is my new adopted home. There are many things about China and its culture that frustrate me to no end. But still, nobody can deny that this is a true land of opportunity where even a foreigner can reinvent him/herself and achieve success that would otherwise be impossible back in the States.

Can you share one experience from your time in China that impacted you the most?

Just one? I have so many, heh. Well, I think the most profound experience I have had in China thus far was when I almost died from Encephalitis. This is a viral disease that attacks the brain and kills within 7 days. I had it for 3 before I was treated. And even then, the Chinese hospital staff had no idea what to do. Luckily, my mother has been an Emergency Room RN for 30 years . She got on the phone long-distance with my Chinese doctor (and a translator) and instructed him step by step on how to diagnose and treat me. That was a pretty intense 10 days for me.

What has your publishing experiences as a new author been like?

Actually, my book is not really new. It’s just “new to you”, ha ha. CHINA: Portrait of a People was published in Hong Kong in 2008, however it was not sold outside of Asia or on Amazon until just this past July 2010. Finding distribution abroad was a real challenge for my publishers. And getting the book reviewed has been even more frustrating; there is a certain bias in the mainstream press against indie books like mine; we tend to get passed over by well-financed authors. But strong word-of-mouth combined with diligent viral marketing, such as conducting this type of blog interview, finally broke down the literary barriers. I am now on Amazon and in American bookshops. But the good fight is not over: now it’s up to my fans to keep the momentum going by writing their reviews of my book on Amazon. In that way, CHINA: Portrait of a People will remain competitive against the corporate coffee table books that presently dominate my genre.

What’s next for you?

After 4 straight years in China, I lived a year in Japan in 2008, teaching English again so I could save my money to go travel in India, which is where I was all last year to photograph my next book. But that project is still a long ways off. In the meantime, you can visit my homepage for updates and new photos.
***
Check out the trailer for Tom’s book and see some of his gorgeous photos:

Unfortunately, due to Internet restrictions in China, Tom won’t be able to join us here today to answer any questions or comments. But you’re welcome to share your thoughts here and I will be sure to pass them on to Tom! You can learn more about Tom and his work in the following places:

His website: www.tomcarter.org
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/CHINA-Portrait-of-a-People/37283293610

And you can purchase his book on Amazon!

BestsellerBound!

Darcia Helle — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:35:00 +0000

I’m excited to announce the ‘grand opening’ of my new message board BestsellerBound! This is a gathering place for readers and indie authors; a place to talk about books and the writing process, find new gems to read, and get to know one another.

As I’ve traveled my own publishing path, I’ve learned a lot. One of those lessons has been how incredibly difficult it is for indie authors to get noticed. The mainstream world refuses to recognize us. My own local newspaper will not review my books, simply because I have the “self-published” label stuck to my forehead. Major publications will not review indie authors. Bookstores will not carry our books on their shelves. It’s an uphill battle. But each time a reader contacts us to say that they enjoyed one of our books, we know that what we do is worth the time and effort we put in.

Now that I’ve become part of the network of indie authors, I realize how many incredible books I’d been missing out on. I read their work and I’m amazed that no agent or major publisher has picked them up. Many of the books I’ve read could easily stand on the bestseller list beside Patterson and King and Roberts. Yet, they go unnoticed and unread. As a fellow author, I’m able to find them. Although, not that long ago I was among the readers who had no idea these people existed.

For these reasons, BestsellerBound was born. I wanted a place where we indie authors could connect with our readers as well as one another. I hope you’ll drop in and hang out with us. We’ll be discussing books of all sorts – and not just our own. We’ll also be sharing our stories, sort of the backstage pass to an author’s life. You’ll be the first, and perhaps the only ones, the hear about discounts and specials we run for our books. You can request books to review, read articles and essays, and share your thoughts. So grab a cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of wine and come on over. We’re looking forward to seeing you there.

http://www.BestsellerBound.com

Author Brigitte Thompson!

Darcia Helle — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:16 +0000

Today I have the pleasure of introducing Brigitte Thompson, author of a series of financial books. Brigitte tackles the subject of bookkeeping for writers in her book Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers. Writing is not all about the creativity. It’s also a business and should be treated as such. Admittedly, this is an area I need lots of help with!

Brigitte has graciously answered a few questions for us. But, first, let’s get to know her:

Brigitte A. Thompson is the founder and President of Datamaster Accounting Services, LLC. She has been active in the field of accounting since 1986 and is a member of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the Vermont Tax Practitioners Association.

A prolific writer, Brigitte is the author of several business books, contributing author and freelance writer specializing in accounting topics. Brigitte lives in the Green Mountains of Vermont with her husband and three children.

You can find her online at http://www.BookkeepingforWriters.com, http://www.DatamasterAccounting.com, through her publisher http://www.CrystalPress.org and on Twitter @taxtips4writers.
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A conversation with Brigitte:

Tell us what Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers is about.

Writers have many important questions to ask about income and expenses, but no single source for answers. I created this book, Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers, to be that source. It is an easy-to-understand guide to organizing a writer’s financial life. This book addresses issues writers face daily such as how to deduct travel expenses, determine taxable writing income, and claim home office deductions. Navigating through the recordkeeping required for a small business owner can be difficult. This book is written exclusively for those of us who earn money by writing. Readers will also find that each part of this book works together to assist in forming an overall business plan. The chapters take the writer through a comprehensive process that works as a building block towards a successful writing business.

Have you found that freelance writers require a different set of bookkeeping rules?

Many bookkeeping rules are universal such as the requirement to record income, but there are some areas of the tax law that are of more interest to freelance writers. This includes dealing with royalty payments, bartering, personal property and agent fees. My book addresses the universal tax rules as well as the infrequently discussed rules that apply specifically to freelance writers. Learning how to document expenses and how to track income will give writers the best chance at overall business success.

What are some tax deductions that freelance writers might not be aware of?

There are many tax deductions available to writers. Some expenses are common, such as the cost of purchasing a case of paper or paying for a computer software upgrade. Other costs incurred in the operation of your writing business may not jump out at you as expenses when they could be. For example, consider the following accounts. Mileage: Trips made in your vehicle to pick up office supplies can be counted as a business deduction if you record the proper information to support it. Meals: Treating your agent to a restaurant meal with the discussion focusing on your next book can also generate a tax deduction when properly documented. Shipping: UPS charges and postage used to mail a query or review copy of your book can be a small expense, but it should still be tracked. Those small deductions add up and every penny spent as a qualified business expense will reduce the amount of income tax you owe. Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers devotes an entire chapter to expenses including a comprehensive listing of expenses and detailed information regarding what documentation is required to support each one.

Many people find numbers, especially when related to bookkeeping and taxes, intimidating. Will this book make these things easier to understand?

Yes, my book breaks down complicated number crunching into easy to follow steps. By reading the book, readers will understand why it’s important to keep certain receipts and how those pieces of paper factor into the overall success of their writing business. Sometimes knowing the reasoning behind a task makes it easier to complete. Writers can take advantage of some wonderful tax deductions, but only when they are aware of the possibility and know how to accurately document the expenses. My book explains it all in a reader friendly format.

What are some of the challenges readers face with regards to bookkeeping?

I found the most common challenge writers face revolves around what they can claim as income and what counts as a tax deduction. For example, if their first job is writing the school newsletter, is the money received really income? Do they need to do something with the Internal Revenue Service before they can be considered a business? How do they handle self- employment tax? The second most common concern for the freelance writers is related to proper documentation. What receipts did they need to save? How should they be kept? What information needs to be recorded to prove the expense? These are all great questions and they are addressed in the book.

Why is it important for writers to understand bookkeeping?

Writers are earning money and this money needs to be reported as income on their income tax return. If writers do not have any expenses to claim, their taxable income will be higher and they will owe more income tax. Understanding what can be claimed as business expenses when you are a writer and how to properly document these expenses will help ensure the success of your business. The most important thing you can do as a writer is to become organized. There are many books available on how to organize your writing, but this is the best book available about how to organize the financial side of your writing business.

How can we purchase your book?

Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers is available through Amazon.com and my publisher (www.CrystalPress.org). Any local bookstore can order my book by ISBN-10: 0963212389 or ISBN-13: 978-0963212382. List price is $17.95.
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Brigitte does a masterful job of explaining the financial world in terms that all of us can understand. Bookkeeping Basics for Freelance Writers isn’t just for freelance writers. Any author who is self-published, published through a small press, or even those with major publishing companies can benefit from the information in Brigitte’s book. Check out her books and save yourself a lot of headaches, as well as a lot of money!

Do you have any bookkeeping secrets of your own to share?

R.J. McDonnell Rocks The Read!

Darcia Helle — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:00:03 +0000

R.J. McDonnell is the author of the humorous, riveting, Rock & Roll Mystery Series featuring P.I. Jason Duffy. While promoting his books and getting to know his readers, R.J. learned some interesting facts. He put what he learned in practice together with what he learned in theory during his college years and has come to share a few excellent tips with us today.

First, a little about R.J.:

RJ McDonnell is the son of a Pennsylvania State Police Detective. In addition to a traditional education, RJ also had the benefit of seeing every police detective drama on television and in the movies. His father would frequently critique these stories for believability of characters and police procedures.

Instead of becoming the third generation of McDonnell’s to enter the police force, RJ found that his talents lie elsewhere. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Penn State University and a Masters at Marywood University. During his college years RJ was a rhythm guitarist and vocalist in two bands. Shortly thereafter, he moved to San Diego where he went to work for a professional writing service. In addition, he wrote a monthly column for the Military Press, and another for a San Diego publication, providing advice to job seekers.

In the 90s, RJ discovered he had a knack for comedy writing. He wrote for a local San Diego cable television show that had a Saturday Night Live-type format. Over its two seasons on the air, 34 of his skits were produced.

While he continued to work as a professional nonfiction writer, his creative juices were now flowing. After college, RJ’s interest in crime stories transitioned from television and movies into novels. He discovered that the lack of detail and intricacies that his father complained about were abundant in the novel format.

“Rock & Roll Homicide” is the first novel in a series featuring private investigator, Jason Duffy. The second novel, “Rock & Roll Rip-Off,” was released 3/29/10. RJ is currently writing the third novel in the series, which will be Jason’s first serial killer case.
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And now an insightful article R.J. has written about his experiences in passing on the love of books to “nonreaders”.

How to Interest Adult Children in Reading Books

Did you ever take a vacation to a place you’ve never visited, and find that your expectations and the reality of the trip were very different? That was my experience when the first novel in my Rock & Roll Mystery Series was published. I anticipated a traditional mystery audience in the 35- to 70 age range, and I was half-right.

Four months after Rock & Roll Homicide was published, The Christian Science Monitor ran an article on how the novel was generating a very unusual demographic phenomenon. By analyzing the social networking profiles of 200 people who purchased the book through a marketing campaign on MySpace they determined that the other half of my audience was comprised of 18- to 35-year-olds who enjoy music, but rarely read books. They made this determination by looking at the “Books” section of their profiles and seeing comments like, “I hate books,” and “I hate to read.”

A few weeks after the article was published I began receiving emails from parents telling me of their experience in passing my book on to their adult children and grandchildren. After receiving several of these, I got one from a wise grandmother who went one step further by initiating a discussion with her grandson about the strained relationship between my detective and his retired police detective father. She said that it didn’t take long before the grandson started noting similarities to the problems he was having with his own father.

I was fortunate to have an amazing behavioral psychology professor as an undergraduate at Penn State. Dr. Alan Kazdin went on to chair the Psychology Department at Yale and was named the president of the American Psychological Association in 2008. I applied what I had learned from Dr. Kazdin and shared it with my readers who were trying to pass their passion for reading on to their adult children.

Following a couple of years of trial and error, I am now doing a library tour where I share what I’ve learned. The highlights are as follows:

After the child has finished the book ask questions that will make your child appear bright and insightful. Watch a few Larry King interviews if you need help in this area. Be generous with your praise. Try to get on a topic that will lead to a heart-to-heart discussion; then ask for a commitment to read a second book. Go with the first and second books in a series if possible.

Avoid topics that could lead to arguments when discussing the first three books. Drugs, religion, and politics are volatile topics that should be deferred until at least the seventh book.

Introduce such topics as themes, subplots, and levels of meaning as subtly as possible. Make sure that your child remains the star of the discussion. Avoid assuming the role of mentor or English teacher.

Transition into nonfiction around the tenth book. Start with something simple and avoid thick books. Be sure you are on target with their interests – give them what they want, not what you think they need.

Keep it positive. If your child stalls at any point in the process, don’t resort to the tactics you used to get him to finish his science project. Conjuring up bad memories from high school will derail the program. Make it his special time with Mom.

Above is the five minute version of my 90 minute presentation. If you opt to initiate a reading program for a family member and get stuck, feel free to send me a brief email. I may be able to put you in touch with someone who succeeded in overcoming the obstacle you are experiencing. I can be reached through my website at www.rjmcdonnell.com. If you have a child with an interest in music, I have a two-chapter excerpt of the first two books in my series on that site.

Initiating a successful reading program can be a bit labor intensive, but the payoff can be immense. Like the vacation that I alluded to in the first paragraph, the reading program can take you down some unexpected paths. If you can ride through the rough spots it can positively impact your family for generations to come.
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R.J.’s books are young adult-friendly. There’s no strong language or graphic sex scenes to deter parents from sharing his books with their young adult and/or adult children. Plus, they are fun reads!

You can find R.J. on his website: http://www.rjmcdonnell.com. He’s a friendly guy. Don’t hesitate to drop a hello his way!

Author Greg Dawe’s Theta Head

Darcia Helle — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:33 +0000

Author Greg Dawe is a fascinating guy. Want to know why? Just read his bio! Greg is here today to talk about his new – and first – book Theta Head. Strange title? You might think so, particularly if you aren’t a science geek. But a glimpse at Greg’s book will tell you that you don’t need to be a science geek to love his book. When asked about the genre Theta Head falls into, Greg puts it this way: Theta Head is a novel which sits somewhere between contemporary fiction, speculative fiction, and present day science fiction. At its heart it is a modern-day mystery, one that explores the theme of how technology can bring people closer to themselves, as opposed to others. The central questions is: Will technology develop a mind of its own, or can it have ours?

Before we move on to his book, let’s get to know Greg:

Born in London, Greg has been writing since he was 12. Just as the web was emerging in ’93 his interest in new technologies led him to study the UK’s first multimedia degree.

He then worked in London for as long as he could before buying a one-way ticket to South East Asia, where the laidback lifestyle gave him the peace, space and time to write more persistently. Drifting in and out of teaching English to sustain this writing habit, always more at home in a foreign country, Greg is still wandering in Asia, slowly learning that wherever he goes, there he is.
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About Greg’s Book:

Stark naked consciousness is exposed like a raw nerve as Georgia’s search for her missing boyfriend, Ben, takes her from London through Asia.

On route she discovers that Ben has been using a neuroscience technology – one that offers the potential of complete liberation to anyone who uses it. It is a technology Georgia must embrace if she is to find Ben, but one that is such an intimate catalyst for change Georgia isn’t sure she can handle the side of herself it uncovers.

It is only her desire to find Ben which drives her on; a force which leads her to the Theta Heads and a choice: continue using the technology to hack away at her layers of mental static and find the real reason he disappeared, or let go and face a future without him.

Theta Head – technology doesn’t need a mind of its own, it can have ours.
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Greg has written an article to share with us, on his publishing experience with a small press in the U.K.

The benefits of being published by a raptor among lumbering herbivores.

As a recently published debut novelist, I’ve worked much more closely than I’d anticipated with Caffeine Nights Publishing, both in the editing process and in shaping a promotional strategy for my novel, Theta Head. It’s been very much a two way exchange of ideas and information and that strategy is evolving even as I type. Really, it is; as I write this I’ve pinged a few emails back and forth with my publisher discussing the creative side of editing Theta Head’s book trailer/author interview video. I couldn’t ask for a closer, more creative relationship than that.

So what exactly does my publisher do for me?

To begin with all I have is my book, which I wrote for a reason. That reason was because I hadn’t seen many contemporary novels which dealt with technology and character in an intimate way before. The theme of Theta Head – technology bringing people closer to themselves as well as to other people – was one I was keen to explore. So I researched who else was interested in this topic and gradually built up a picture of my target demographic. That’s great, I thought, but what do I do with that list?

This is where a small publisher is so invaluable. As a professional media company Caffeine Nights has the contacts, the press lists and press kits, which I do not. They are able to take my information and then directly target this group of potential book buyers. And they have the experience to get the most out of those contacts, something, as a non-professional media person, I would more than likely make a blubbering mess of.

Author/Publisher Intimacy

Working this closely has given me invaluable insight into how publishing works, how much leg work is involved in getting things off the ground – especially promotion – how much persistence is needed, and how being with a small publisher has many advantages, the main one being author/agent intimacy. Small publishers are dynamic, able to react quickly to get reviews or interview requests out. Above all, they listen. They want to know what my opinions are. They take into consideration my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to marketing. And last but not least, they don’t laugh at me when I look puzzled when they say things like ‘you need to develop a platform.’ Plat… what? Form… of plats? So now I know what a platform is and I’m slowly developing one. But like I said, it’s a two way dynamic exchange if ideas and information, one which is evolving as I type, and one which I genuinely hope other authors have the benefit of experiencing.

Caffeine Nights Publishing Response:

(What do they bring to the table for marketing and promoting?)

The Internet has rapidly changed the way publishers work. It is easier for a smaller publisher with a sustainable roster of authors to work on a one to one level and make them part of the whole process of publishing from collaboration on artwork and editing to gearing a specific marketing/public relations plan for the book and author. Publishers need to remember that each book and author is different. What worked for one author may not suit or work for another so building a relationship of trust and collaboration is vital. Greg has been very proactive and conducted lots of research into areas he wishes to influence. By working closely together we can target those areas with greater effect. We are constantly looking at new tools and ways to reach people with our books and also to make the process of working with an author easier. We have a good grounding in public relations so we have had success on all media with our books and authors and that includes TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and specialist websites. Where possible we will also make films with our authors and distribute them through our own website (cnpublishing.co.uk) , YouTube channel (Caffeine Nights Films) video distribution services and importantly social media.

(What guidance do they lend after the book has been released?)

Small publishers do not have the advertising or marketing budgets of the mainstream publishers – nowhere near it. So we have to be smart, we also have to be realistic and tell our authors the chance of their book flying off the shelf from day one is low and then some. It is more a case of building a profile for the book and author. Our investment is pretty much long term and we aim to sustain interest in titles for as long as we can. We don’t have 30 to 40 titles out a week and it’s not a case of pumping the title out there and moving on. We will publish only 8 to 10 titles in a year so we can concentrate on each author. For us a key word is sustainable, everything has to be sustainable. The book industry is one of the dirtiest in terms of waste and carbon footprint and our environmental ethos is reflected in the way we work with authors. Authors ask will my book be in the book shops, the question should be “Will it sell in the book shops?” . We could go down the route of printing thousands of copies (like the mainstream publishers) flooding the stores and then passing the remainders on to supermarkets to be sold for £1.99 or returned to landfill but we want to be different. We will do our best to create the demand, we will support authors, we will arrange books signing, we will send books for review, we will run good PR campaigns for each and every author. The public decide if it will sell.

(Do they work with authors as a team or send them out into the world on their own?’)

We work as a team, though many aspects are daunting for authors, such as the first public engagement or book signing. We brief our authors for media and what to expect. Most will have had some form of experience in front of our cameras to help them prepare for interviews. We try to be as pro-active as possible and look for new ideas. Working with an author is paramount to any success the book will have to not do so would be a wasted investment.
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You can learn more about Greg and his work in the following places:
http://gregdawe.com/
http://www.cnpublishing.co.uk/

Here in the U.S., you can find Theta Head on Amazon:

Intrigued? I know I am! I haven’t had a chance to read this one, yet, but it’s high up on my list!