I just got off the phone with my college English teacher. The college I attended was VERY literary fiction driven. This means I was not the prized pupil. However, I did manage not to alienate all of the teachers who I'm sure wondered more than once why I was in the English Literature Program. I LIKE BOOKS SO SUE ME and I couldn’t pass the mandatory statistics exam required for the healthcare administration program. Ah, well.
I was not surprised when her first words to me were “I can’t believe you are writing this kind of stuff. You have such a creative mind which you should apply to something with more substance.” But I was surprised when she said that she liked it minus of course my ever present grammatical errors. That’s what editors are for, right?
Anyway, my conversation with my beloved teacher has prompted me to review the age old discussion of what is the difference between Popular/Commercial Fiction and Literary Fiction? At the end of the day, it is still a story put into book (or e-book) form meant to entertain, right? So why is it that we, as creative and non-conforming, beings are determined to argue or even suggest that one is better than the other? We often pride ourselves on our differences and our ability to create yet we put down one form of writing because it is not what we deem as appropriate or “good” or “real” writing.
Me? I don’t care what you write as long as when I read it leaves me with some kind of feeling. There has to be something that I can take away from it and I personally don’t care what. Just don’t leave me hanging. Alright, that is my rant for the day. What are your thoughts?
Monday, October 29, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Reviews: The Good, The Bad and The...Paid?
Check out my latest guest post on Michele Shriver's blog on the pros and cons of book reviews.
http://micheleshriver.com/2012/10/26/reviews-the-good-the-bad-andthe-paid/
http://micheleshriver.com/2012/10/26/reviews-the-good-the-bad-andthe-paid/
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Introducing Author Catherine Converse
To win a copy of The In Between, fill out the rafflecopter on the right side of the blog page. The giveaway is open within the US only from Oct. 22nd to Nov. 1st. Good luck!
Title: The In Between
Author: Catherine Converse
Genre: Science Fiction
Number of Pages: 296
Pub. Date and Company: August 26, 2012- Golden Dot Publishing
ABOUT THE BOOK: Two girls with opposing backgrounds join a secret intelligence agency located deep in the earth, where their psychic dreams are used to prevent murder. As the girls form a unique friendship, they begin to dream about the same serial case, triggering a chaos that spirals through the agency tunnels, and proves the lives they need to save are their own.
MEET CATHERINE
Catherine Converse lives with her husband and four children in beautiful Montana. She studied Business at Carroll College in Helena, Montana and Marketing Communications at West Virginia University. Her love of writing took off in her years working as a marketing consultant using creative writing to sell. Now she uses it to take readers on an adventure.
FIND THE AUTHOR
Website: http://catherineconversebooks.com
Become a fan of The In Between series: http://facebook.com/theinbetweenseries
Become a fan of the Author:http://facebook.com/catherineconversebooks
PURCHASE THE BOOK
Amazon (Until December)
Formats: Kindle, Paperback
Friday, October 19, 2012
Being a Wallflower IS NOT an Option!
Relentless promotion is the cross that any author must bear. Whether we want to or not and despite if we are signed to an agent or a major publishing company. Writing the book is only a small portion of the battle given the 4 stages of publishing a book: Creation, Production, Distribution, and the big one: PROMOTION!
A great promotional tool is to take part in an interview. In my experience, many authors shy away from public interaction and allow the book to speak for them. I am here to tell you that an interview is not that bad, even if you bomb! In today’s world of increased self-publishing and social media, being a wallflower is not an option. Why does Kris Jenner have a best seller and not you? She promotes, promotes, promotes and promotes some more! She is relentless. (Yes, I know. She is an open book and puts her business out there shamelessly. But who are we to judge? She would make one heck of a novel character.)
Scenario: You are contacted by a radio personality who has kept up with you on Twitter and now wants to interview you about your new bestselling book. The good news is that someone out there thinks you are interesting enough to talk to and broadcast to their many listeners. The bad news is that you are a total introvert and the thought of public speaking of any kind makes you want to suck your thumb and curl into the fetal position. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND!
I’ll tell you a story to make you feel better. I recently had an interview that was taped live on Blog Talk Radio. The host was great and the interview flowed really well. We didn’t stick to the typical boring interview questions and it was a real conversation with lots of laughs and jokes. I even received feedback from listeners the next day commenting on how lively the interview was. That is until I listened to the playback and was smacked in the face by how many times I said “um” and “so.” Totally embarrassing. Take a listen to the interview here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/inside-acting/2012/09/14/catching-up-with-actor-and-jet-girl-engelia-mccullough
Just to clarify, I tend to say those words when I am excited about something versus nervous. But to the average listener it comes off as if I’m a nervous and inarticulate mess. My point to this story is that who cares if you totally bomb? Who cares if you don’t present as well as you would have liked? You got free publicity and that is nothing to shake a stick at. As long as you got your points across, engaged the audience, had a good time and the host was satisfied then you have had a successful publicity event.
Of course, I now realize that I need to work on my public speaking. As endearing as I can be (just stroking my ego a little), hearing a person say “um” every other sentence is distracting and annoying. This prompted me to look up interview tricks and tips. I have listed these below with the source as well as some of my own tips. Hopefully, you can take something away from it. Also, I have listed different interview sources below. Please be sure to do your research and select the best one for you.
Most importantly, just have fun with it and bask in the glory of being interviewed!
Share your story: Have you ever had an interview that didn’t go so well? Or maybe you had the best interview ever! Tell us about and don’t forget to plug yourself at the end of your post with your name, website and Twitter handle.
Interview Techniques (This is not an all inclusive list but a good start)
1.Prepare – Learn about your host and the format of the show. Listen to some of the past shows. Get a feel for how the host structures the interview from the speed of the show to potential questions, etc. Have a piece of paper and pen ready to take notes from the host or any callers. This will enable you to better answer any questions thrown your way. Some hosts will provide you with a pre-interview sheet. If they do not then ask for it! It can’t hurt.
2.Have what you want to talk about ready to go and present it in a new and fun way.
3.Energy is the key! I know you are on the phone but the audience can still hear and feel your energy. If you are slow or low energy they will pick up on it and most likely tune out. (Courtesy of: www.mrmediatraining.com)
4.Plug yourself- the host may not remember or have the additional time to do this. (Courtesy of: www.mrmediatraining.com)
5.Be aware of your opportunities. For me, I know that I say “um” a lot. This is something I need to be aware of and take the steps needed to correct this. One technique that I read about is to speak a little slower and take the time to formulate my answer before I answer the question. This does not mean speaking at a snail’s pace or waiting five minutes before you respond to the question. Just take your time. Also, have a bottle of water on hand because as you talk, you will experience cotton mouth.
Interview Sources (This is not an all inclusive list but a good start
www.npr.com
www.blogtalkradio.com
www.examiner.com (Search for interviewers that specialize in your genre. They can be local to you or outside of your immediate area. If they are close to you, contact them and see if they would be interested in conducting the interview face to face)
www.radioguestlist.com
A great promotional tool is to take part in an interview. In my experience, many authors shy away from public interaction and allow the book to speak for them. I am here to tell you that an interview is not that bad, even if you bomb! In today’s world of increased self-publishing and social media, being a wallflower is not an option. Why does Kris Jenner have a best seller and not you? She promotes, promotes, promotes and promotes some more! She is relentless. (Yes, I know. She is an open book and puts her business out there shamelessly. But who are we to judge? She would make one heck of a novel character.)
Scenario: You are contacted by a radio personality who has kept up with you on Twitter and now wants to interview you about your new bestselling book. The good news is that someone out there thinks you are interesting enough to talk to and broadcast to their many listeners. The bad news is that you are a total introvert and the thought of public speaking of any kind makes you want to suck your thumb and curl into the fetal position. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND!
I’ll tell you a story to make you feel better. I recently had an interview that was taped live on Blog Talk Radio. The host was great and the interview flowed really well. We didn’t stick to the typical boring interview questions and it was a real conversation with lots of laughs and jokes. I even received feedback from listeners the next day commenting on how lively the interview was. That is until I listened to the playback and was smacked in the face by how many times I said “um” and “so.” Totally embarrassing. Take a listen to the interview here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/inside-acting/2012/09/14/catching-up-with-actor-and-jet-girl-engelia-mccullough
Just to clarify, I tend to say those words when I am excited about something versus nervous. But to the average listener it comes off as if I’m a nervous and inarticulate mess. My point to this story is that who cares if you totally bomb? Who cares if you don’t present as well as you would have liked? You got free publicity and that is nothing to shake a stick at. As long as you got your points across, engaged the audience, had a good time and the host was satisfied then you have had a successful publicity event.
Of course, I now realize that I need to work on my public speaking. As endearing as I can be (just stroking my ego a little), hearing a person say “um” every other sentence is distracting and annoying. This prompted me to look up interview tricks and tips. I have listed these below with the source as well as some of my own tips. Hopefully, you can take something away from it. Also, I have listed different interview sources below. Please be sure to do your research and select the best one for you.
Most importantly, just have fun with it and bask in the glory of being interviewed!
Share your story: Have you ever had an interview that didn’t go so well? Or maybe you had the best interview ever! Tell us about and don’t forget to plug yourself at the end of your post with your name, website and Twitter handle.
Interview Techniques (This is not an all inclusive list but a good start)
1.Prepare – Learn about your host and the format of the show. Listen to some of the past shows. Get a feel for how the host structures the interview from the speed of the show to potential questions, etc. Have a piece of paper and pen ready to take notes from the host or any callers. This will enable you to better answer any questions thrown your way. Some hosts will provide you with a pre-interview sheet. If they do not then ask for it! It can’t hurt.
2.Have what you want to talk about ready to go and present it in a new and fun way.
3.Energy is the key! I know you are on the phone but the audience can still hear and feel your energy. If you are slow or low energy they will pick up on it and most likely tune out. (Courtesy of: www.mrmediatraining.com)
4.Plug yourself- the host may not remember or have the additional time to do this. (Courtesy of: www.mrmediatraining.com)
5.Be aware of your opportunities. For me, I know that I say “um” a lot. This is something I need to be aware of and take the steps needed to correct this. One technique that I read about is to speak a little slower and take the time to formulate my answer before I answer the question. This does not mean speaking at a snail’s pace or waiting five minutes before you respond to the question. Just take your time. Also, have a bottle of water on hand because as you talk, you will experience cotton mouth.
Interview Sources (This is not an all inclusive list but a good start
www.npr.com
www.blogtalkradio.com
www.examiner.com (Search for interviewers that specialize in your genre. They can be local to you or outside of your immediate area. If they are close to you, contact them and see if they would be interested in conducting the interview face to face)
www.radioguestlist.com
Why on Earth Did I Buy This Book?
I sincerely hope that I am not the only reader out there that has bought a book, taken it home and excited about the good story to come sat down on the couch with a nice cup of tea or glass of wine, flipped open the first page only to have your heart drop by page fifty because of how boring or confusing the book is.
If I am the only person whose had this happen to them than que sera sera. But I'm pretty sure that I'm not. I won't name the book because I don't want to influence anyone's decision to read or not to read the book. Also, the piece is a "fantastic book" according to one of the author reviews on the back cover. Keyword for me: Author. I would like to just once pick up a book where the majority of the reviews on the back cover are from readers or avid readers or book clubs.
Back to why on earth I spent $25 on this book from a major retailer. Statistics show that readers spend less than ten to fifteen seconds total on the front and back cover of a book. This may be even less time for an unknown author. I have listed the attractions in order of how I viewed them. This may vary by reader.
1) The cover. The color of the front cover is this striking teal color. Not only did the color pop out from the other mundane colors of black, white, brown and standard blues but the cover had a matte, glossy look to it that looked different. My brain immediately zeroed in on this book.
2) The title. The title is listed on the spine where it should be. The title was not stacked which meant I had to direct my head in an awkward right lean leaving me with a little bit of tension in my neck. Not a big deal. I’m willing to take the hit for a good read. All of the words were in capital letters. Kudos. The title of book did not fit in with the other titles on the shelf. Kudos. I liked the author’s name. It was not a known author and I like reading books by new authors. Kudos.
3) Back cover. This was a hardback book. The back cover consisted of three reviews. All of these reviews were from authors of other books. They used buzz words like “gripping”, “well-written”, “evoked”, and “page-turner.”They got me. So, I flipped open the inside of the front cover.
4) Front cover. Here is where the reader has their first introduction to what the book is about. It is where they get to read about the main character and plot where hopefully they will feel a connection to the story to come. The synopsis immediately set the tone for the book by letting me know the location (London), the time period, about the main character and what drama she is going to face. It so happened that the issues the main character would be up against were taboo for that time period. That let me know right away that this was a book full of secrets, passion, and disgrace. My heart was already pounding and my fingers itched to see what the pages of the book held.
5) Skimming. I opened the book and allowed the inside pages to fall open. The pages fell open to page 155. My eyes zoomed in on a sentence that started with “One of the patients.” Yahtzee! The word patient told me that someone was either in a hospital or insane asylum. I read the paragraph and the author pulled me in with the great imagery produced with well-placed words and characters that I wanted to know more about.
6) Double check skimming. I flipped to another page. I did not want to be duped by a fluke skim as can sometimes happen when you first open a book. This time I flipped to page 258. This contained dialogue between two characters. One was a woman and I assumed to be her doctor. The dialogue was strong and listed names which once again made me wonder why these people were so important to the story. I wanted more so…
7) I bought the book. I rushed home and began reading. By page 196, I was bored. The only reason that I got that far is because I didn’t want to stop reading a book that I paid almost $30 for. The book took way too long to introduce the first twist, often the imagery was overwhelming in that I felt it overpowered the characters and dialogue and I found myself disliking the majority of the characters. I’m not sure if that was the author’s goal or not.
Side note: Sorry kindle and other eBook people out there. Yes, I am still paying full retail price for books. I like browsing through the rows upon rows of books. Seeing what new titles are out. Touching the soft covers and pages surrounded by other readers trying to find that next good read. It takes me back to being a kid and spending hours in the library reading books and finding new reading treasures to take home.
Post read: I finished the book. My suggestion to any reader is to always finish the book no matter what. I do it because there have been times when a book disappointed to the very end and then hit me with a twist that left me speechless. This book did not do that but oh well.
This book will eventually be donated as I do with some of my books. Right now, it sits in my office adding to the stack of other vetted books.
The point of this blog? When you buy a book it’s a true testament to marketing at its best. The publishing companies and authors know what to do to hook us.
Attractive graphics An interesting title A back or inside cover that pulls you in Great reviews Well-placed verse or dialogue that is strong and catchy
So, why on earth did I buy this book? Why do any of us buy books?
It's quite simple. I bought the book because it looked like a good book that appeared to have something to offer me. This can go for any genre or topic from thrillers to self-help to romance to nutrition. For those out there who have had the same experience don’t sweat it. It happens and at the end of the day you got to read a piece of literature that you selected. Some people out there don’t have that option to be introduced to other worlds and possibilities. We do.
Enjoy it and keep reading!
If I am the only person whose had this happen to them than que sera sera. But I'm pretty sure that I'm not. I won't name the book because I don't want to influence anyone's decision to read or not to read the book. Also, the piece is a "fantastic book" according to one of the author reviews on the back cover. Keyword for me: Author. I would like to just once pick up a book where the majority of the reviews on the back cover are from readers or avid readers or book clubs.
Back to why on earth I spent $25 on this book from a major retailer. Statistics show that readers spend less than ten to fifteen seconds total on the front and back cover of a book. This may be even less time for an unknown author. I have listed the attractions in order of how I viewed them. This may vary by reader.
1) The cover. The color of the front cover is this striking teal color. Not only did the color pop out from the other mundane colors of black, white, brown and standard blues but the cover had a matte, glossy look to it that looked different. My brain immediately zeroed in on this book.
2) The title. The title is listed on the spine where it should be. The title was not stacked which meant I had to direct my head in an awkward right lean leaving me with a little bit of tension in my neck. Not a big deal. I’m willing to take the hit for a good read. All of the words were in capital letters. Kudos. The title of book did not fit in with the other titles on the shelf. Kudos. I liked the author’s name. It was not a known author and I like reading books by new authors. Kudos.
3) Back cover. This was a hardback book. The back cover consisted of three reviews. All of these reviews were from authors of other books. They used buzz words like “gripping”, “well-written”, “evoked”, and “page-turner.”They got me. So, I flipped open the inside of the front cover.
4) Front cover. Here is where the reader has their first introduction to what the book is about. It is where they get to read about the main character and plot where hopefully they will feel a connection to the story to come. The synopsis immediately set the tone for the book by letting me know the location (London), the time period, about the main character and what drama she is going to face. It so happened that the issues the main character would be up against were taboo for that time period. That let me know right away that this was a book full of secrets, passion, and disgrace. My heart was already pounding and my fingers itched to see what the pages of the book held.
5) Skimming. I opened the book and allowed the inside pages to fall open. The pages fell open to page 155. My eyes zoomed in on a sentence that started with “One of the patients.” Yahtzee! The word patient told me that someone was either in a hospital or insane asylum. I read the paragraph and the author pulled me in with the great imagery produced with well-placed words and characters that I wanted to know more about.
6) Double check skimming. I flipped to another page. I did not want to be duped by a fluke skim as can sometimes happen when you first open a book. This time I flipped to page 258. This contained dialogue between two characters. One was a woman and I assumed to be her doctor. The dialogue was strong and listed names which once again made me wonder why these people were so important to the story. I wanted more so…
7) I bought the book. I rushed home and began reading. By page 196, I was bored. The only reason that I got that far is because I didn’t want to stop reading a book that I paid almost $30 for. The book took way too long to introduce the first twist, often the imagery was overwhelming in that I felt it overpowered the characters and dialogue and I found myself disliking the majority of the characters. I’m not sure if that was the author’s goal or not.
Side note: Sorry kindle and other eBook people out there. Yes, I am still paying full retail price for books. I like browsing through the rows upon rows of books. Seeing what new titles are out. Touching the soft covers and pages surrounded by other readers trying to find that next good read. It takes me back to being a kid and spending hours in the library reading books and finding new reading treasures to take home.
Post read: I finished the book. My suggestion to any reader is to always finish the book no matter what. I do it because there have been times when a book disappointed to the very end and then hit me with a twist that left me speechless. This book did not do that but oh well.
This book will eventually be donated as I do with some of my books. Right now, it sits in my office adding to the stack of other vetted books.
The point of this blog? When you buy a book it’s a true testament to marketing at its best. The publishing companies and authors know what to do to hook us.
Attractive graphics An interesting title A back or inside cover that pulls you in Great reviews Well-placed verse or dialogue that is strong and catchy
So, why on earth did I buy this book? Why do any of us buy books?
It's quite simple. I bought the book because it looked like a good book that appeared to have something to offer me. This can go for any genre or topic from thrillers to self-help to romance to nutrition. For those out there who have had the same experience don’t sweat it. It happens and at the end of the day you got to read a piece of literature that you selected. Some people out there don’t have that option to be introduced to other worlds and possibilities. We do.
Enjoy it and keep reading!
Book Review- The Painted Bridge by Wendy Wallace
The Painted Bridge: A Novel
Author: Wendy Wallace
I have to say that Wendy Wallace’s attention to imagery was refreshing. Her utilization of well-placed verse such as “along a driveway edged with tall trees that still clung to the last of their foliage” to “”a panicked, choking wave rose in her chest” allowed me to see myself in the setting. I thoroughly enjoyed this throughout the book. Anna Palmer is a character that the reader can relate to. You empathize with her from the betrayal she feels at the hands of her husband to the growth she experiences by the end of the book.
Also, I appreciated the historical significance of the book. Even though the story takes place in another time period, the discrimination and alienation of the women in the book reminds the reader why the women’s suffrage movement was so important and necessary. Something as natural as a woman’s cycle was seen as her having hot blood and leeches would be used to “cool” her blood. Although a fictional book, The Painted Bridge does contain historical significance that exhibits the attention to detail and research taken on by the author.
Unfortunately, the same things that made this book interesting at times were the same things that left me confused at certain points: wordy descriptions and an ambiguous plot. The book contains several twists that are not revealed until the last twenty pages. The buildup of tension on every page was lacking and a more fast-paced storyline would have been better suited to this mystery/suspense. There were even some revelations that went over my head because of too much symbolism. Once you are introduced to the characters, they don’t develop much beyond that. Their actions may change but it is not due to some internal change or revelation. It is because they have to as a result of the direction the story has taken. By the last chapter, I found myself reading just to finish the book and I wasn’t really interested in the secrets of the characters.
Overall, the book was well written from a prose standpoint. But if you are looking for a mystery or suspense set in that old country charm that sends chills down your spine with every door bang, creaky floorboard and weird groundskeeper encounter, this is not the book. The suspense outlined in the book sets you up for failure. The mysteries introduced were cliché and some were not clearly solved or revealed. This is a book that I would recommend to a high school or college literature class as part of an analysis group or project. Chalked full of symbolism, historical references and literary elements it could be beneficial as an educational tool.
View all my reviews
Author: Wendy Wallace
I have to say that Wendy Wallace’s attention to imagery was refreshing. Her utilization of well-placed verse such as “along a driveway edged with tall trees that still clung to the last of their foliage” to “”a panicked, choking wave rose in her chest” allowed me to see myself in the setting. I thoroughly enjoyed this throughout the book. Anna Palmer is a character that the reader can relate to. You empathize with her from the betrayal she feels at the hands of her husband to the growth she experiences by the end of the book.
Also, I appreciated the historical significance of the book. Even though the story takes place in another time period, the discrimination and alienation of the women in the book reminds the reader why the women’s suffrage movement was so important and necessary. Something as natural as a woman’s cycle was seen as her having hot blood and leeches would be used to “cool” her blood. Although a fictional book, The Painted Bridge does contain historical significance that exhibits the attention to detail and research taken on by the author.
Unfortunately, the same things that made this book interesting at times were the same things that left me confused at certain points: wordy descriptions and an ambiguous plot. The book contains several twists that are not revealed until the last twenty pages. The buildup of tension on every page was lacking and a more fast-paced storyline would have been better suited to this mystery/suspense. There were even some revelations that went over my head because of too much symbolism. Once you are introduced to the characters, they don’t develop much beyond that. Their actions may change but it is not due to some internal change or revelation. It is because they have to as a result of the direction the story has taken. By the last chapter, I found myself reading just to finish the book and I wasn’t really interested in the secrets of the characters.
Overall, the book was well written from a prose standpoint. But if you are looking for a mystery or suspense set in that old country charm that sends chills down your spine with every door bang, creaky floorboard and weird groundskeeper encounter, this is not the book. The suspense outlined in the book sets you up for failure. The mysteries introduced were cliché and some were not clearly solved or revealed. This is a book that I would recommend to a high school or college literature class as part of an analysis group or project. Chalked full of symbolism, historical references and literary elements it could be beneficial as an educational tool.
View all my reviews
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