In the works …website reno, book launch fever, and the revelations of my 14-year-old self

by | Feb 19, 2014 | Adventures of a Writing Life | 0 comments

I’ve so much in the works, right now. For one thing, this website, which is being redesigned (long overdue!). Here’s a sample of how it is going to look:

Web page design

The main change, however, is that the site will be simplified and weeded, to make it easier for you (all) to navigate. For example, I won’t have two blogs (one on writing and one on research), but one—this one. You will begin to see research topics covered here now and then.

The visual design is thanks to Kris Waldherr and the overall plan is thanks to Nancy MacDonald, who has a great deal of experience with author websites. My thanks to them both for their patience! (I tend to be resistant to change.)

Promotion plans for THE SHADOW QUEEN are coming together. (For those of you in the Vancouver and Toronto areas, see my Events page.) Doubleday has created a powerful book trailer which I won’t reveal until close to publication … so you will just have to wait!

I will soon get an email newsletter out. If you haven’t subscribed, do so here. With each newsletter, someone from the subscriber list wins one of my novels. (It’s such a pleasure to do this—giving is truly as rewarding as it is said to be.)

And, speaking of winners, Angela Guyton just won 20 novels (!!!) from various authors on a Goodreads promotion, including a copy of THE SHADOW QUEEN.

And, of course, I am writing/revising/researching GAME OF HOPE, my Young Adult novel about Josephine’s daughter Hortense. I recently was part of a panel of women writers at the San Miguel de Allende Writers’ Conference. Each of us read from our work for 5 minutes. I read from a diary I kept when I was 14—such an eye-opener! I definitely must revise the novel to include a fairly constant mention of Hortense’s love interest!

This ‘n that … 

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A Picture Says It All … or Does It? Judging an Author by their Photograph (poor Milton)

4 Easy Steps To An Irresistible Book Blurb (however, it’s never easy!)

Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling (excellent)

 

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A belated newsletter announcement, an ebook special, plus this ‘n that

by | Feb 4, 2014 | Adventures of a Writing Life | 0 comments

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I sent out a newsletter on the 1st of the month, in time for Groundhog’s Day (or Candelaria in my winter part of the world). If you’re not on the subscriber list, you may read “On groundhogs, duets & lists” here.

I’m happy to see that the ebook special for The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. is still on: under $2.00. (I was told that it would end February 2, so I’m pleased.)

I’m in the habit of emailing myself articles to later note on this blog. My inbox has gotten way out of hand, so I’m going to clip away at it from the bottom up. Here is one note I’ve long wanted to share:

Leslie Fulton, who writes the delightful blog Pepy’s Wife, has filled out a book survey and I was  very pleased to see that Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe was her answer to the question, “Best sequel ever,” and further, that she described the Trilogy as a tour de force. (Go, Josephine!) (And thank you, Leslie!)

I love to see Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe singled out: a difficult middle child of the Trilogy, it was a challenge to write. Bestselling author Anna Quindlen recently listed it as one of her top 5 favourite love stories. (Sigh.)

I’m so busy! Writing the 2nd draft of The Game of Hope (working title of the first Hortense YA novel), preparing for publication of The Shadow Queen (soon!), a winter round of ailments, website renovation, etc. etc. etc. Where does time go? Please forgive me for not showing up here more often. Hang in!

I’m about to send out a newsletter: sign up if you’re not already on it. All subscribers will have a chance to win an autographed book!

by | Dec 7, 2013 | Adventures of a Writing Life | 0 comments

book gift

I’m about to send out a newsletter about the fun things that have happened and are about to happen—plus, starting with this newsletter: one of the subscribers will win one of my signed books.

Using Random.org, I will send a signed copy of one of my books to a winner drawn from the list of all newsletter subscribers. Even if you live in Russia, even if you live in Japan! So get on the list!

Arrow Sign on here.

As many of you already know, I don’t send out many newsletters, so your in-box will not be overwhelmed. Also: no spam, I promise, and you may easily unsubscribe at any time.