novels of suspense, romance and intrigue
Three of my suspense novels are now available as audiobooks with virtual voice narration, allowing listeners to experience the stories in an innovative and accessible format. Latest releases include "Strangers on This Road," "Unrecovered," and "Down an Unknown Road," with more titles coming soon.
Kindle Direct Publishing recently launched virtual voice audiobooks, allowing creators to pick voices and modify settings. I spent many hours working with "Evelyn," my virtual narrator, and while it's not perfect, it could be a great solution for independent authors to publish audiobooks.
I didn't actually intend to publish under a pen name. But it felt right, to have my previous name become a fictional one, a pseudonym, as a new era in my life began. I didn't consider not continuing to publish under it. The pen name that I continue to use is one that I made mine.
Some of my favorite fiction authors are unapologetically genre-defying. It isn't necessarily why I like them, but I appreciate that they didn't allow or aren't allowing themselves to be confined to one category.
I'm currently reading a mystery about authors by arguably one of the most well-known novelists in the world, J.K. Rowling, writing as Robert Galbraith. I'm finding Rowling's commentary about the publishing industry, about writers and writing, an interesting subtext to the story, given her unique perspective in that regard. One fictional author is successful and… Continue reading What Makes a Book Good?
These are slow times in my marketing and writing, as I work through editing a manuscript and feel less than inspired to think of ways to publicize my work on social media or to set up new deals or promotions. Both inwardly (creatively) and outwardly (outreach to readers), I'm in a down cycle. Editing always… Continue reading The Slow Slogging Days
It's been an incredibly strange time for all of us, strange and complicated and challenging, defined by fear, uncertainty, isolation, unity, unexpected blessings and unplanned burdens. In the first month or so of shelter in place, I found it difficult to get my scattered thoughts down in my journal, much less to work on any… Continue reading A Row of Books
It's a big learning curve for indie authors, doing most if not all of this on our own. Those of us who are savvy with social media—and that does NOT include me—have a big advantage in today's market, but it's only one element to book promotion.
In addition to the pleasure my books have given me, the experience has been something of a revelation. It occurred to me yesterday that I have reason to feel confident about my work. Reason to believe in my own product. I've been proud of myself for completing them, but didn't consider their intrinsic value beyond what they mean to me personally.
Just this past Wednesday, I finished writing my latest novel. I've talked before about what a high it is to finish, and this week that was an especial treat, since my day job threw some interesting (code for "yucky and upsetting") curve balls my way. Day jobs have a tendency to do that, and it… Continue reading A New Direction
Before I began to write the first book in my series (not my first book, which wasn't much good), I'd taken a lot of time to think about why I really wanted to do this. What did I want to write—and why? Did I hope for fame? Fortune? Prizes in literature? Bestseller lists? A big display in Barnes and Noble?
Writing can be a lonely and discouraging experience at times. Those inescapable dark days when we feel like we'll never amount to anything and can't write worth a damn (even though we know it's our lying, double-crossing internal doubter talking), or when someone, even kindly, manages in word or action to dismiss or diminish what… Continue reading The Very Best Days
I think you could safely call it a slump. It's a nice descriptive word, slump. It sounds like what it is. Lately I've been somewhat underwhelmed with myself as an author, besieged by doubts. Who did I think I was, that I could really do this? At some point someone will catch onto the fact… Continue reading The Downsides of Writing: Underwhelm and Self-Doubt
Last night I was invited to give a talk about writing to a women's group, which was an honor and a pleasure. I so appreciate the attention and interest of those 25 women, who asked such intelligent questions and so generously celebrated my accomplishments. Following is the text of what I shared about myself. I’m… Continue reading Defining Who You Are as a Writer
The competitive publishing market highlights both benefits and challenges of traditional publishing versus self-publishing. While agents and publishers offer resources for success, many authors remain unpublished or face contract termination. Self-publishing is now affordable, allows for creative freedom, and provides full ownership of work and royalties, empowering authors to define their own success.
Many people express a desire to write a book, but are hindered by doubts and excuses. The only obstacle to writing is not doing it. Writing can be both challenging and fulfilling, regardless of external measures of success.
It's a good moment to look behind and ahead, at the turning of the year. Accomplishments, failures, lessons learned, goals achieved — and new goals and hopes for the months to come. I've never really made New Year's resolutions, but from the time of the solstice to the changing of the calendar, it does seem like… Continue reading Looking Back, Looking Forward
A lot of bloggers will be posting about Thanksgiving in the next week, giving thanks, counting blessings and good stuff like that. I don't mean to be unoriginal, but I can't help but jump on the gratitude bandwagon and say how intensely grateful and humble I feel this year to have achieved my longtime dream… Continue reading “Thankful” Just Isn’t a Strong Enough Word
I was against self-publishing for quite some time. It just wasn't for me, no way, nohow, mainly because of the following two stumbling blocks: I felt bombarded with stories (from NPR, agency sites, advice from other authors) about how the publishing industry looks down on self-publishing. It wasn't the right way to do it. Self-publishing… Continue reading Why I Self-publish
Now that I'm really doing it, actually selling my books through Amazon as a self-published author, suddenly I'm faced with something I have a really hard time doing: effective self-promotion. I never mind when other people promote their books, businesses, bands, creations, blogs, whatever amazing things they're doing. I don't think "FOR SHAME!" and shake… Continue reading Selling Myself on Self-Promotion
