Snapshot #2

Yesterday was the beginning of my publisher’s annual We Love Our Readers Sale and Sweepstakes. The publishing company does a lot to bring this opportunity to you, but many of our authors contribute and sponsor the event as well. I want to share about two other of our sponsors – these two both write mystery/suspense!

Julie Cosgrove is an award-winning author of sixteen novels as well as short stories. She developed a passion for words at a young age. She began with word search puzzles. Then she solved the word games in the daily newspapers. She and her mother shared many fun hours playing Scrabble and Hang Man.

Then, another passion developed―whodunnits. She loved the Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes, and Hercule Poirot movies that played on Saturday afternoons on TV. Nancy Drew and the romantic mystery novels of the late Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt kept her eyes dancing over the pages through her school years.

Later in her adult life, her passion for Christ spurred her to write faith-based fiction and devotionals for several publications, which she has been doing since 2009. Her blog, Where Did You Find God Today?  now has readers in over fifty countries.

But her passion remains mystery, the cozier the better. Now, she has mysteries stacked up on her watchlist on Britbox and a long list of cozies on her e-reader’s to-be-read list. She loves to write them as well.

You can find all of her fiction and nonfiction books as well as her blog’s link on her website, www.juliebcosgrove.com.

Her completed “Relatively Seeking Mysteries” is on sale this week because We Love Our Readers! Click the image to find out more about these three friends that get into some deep, hot water when they innocently begin investigating their ancestries. Who would think that something as benign as looking back into history could be so terribly dangerous? Learn more about book 1, One Leaf Too Many, HERE!

Suspense author Dena Netherton has a three-book series as well. “The Hunted” series is an edge of your seat psychological suspense dealing with a stalking situation that was inspired by real issues from the past. Now based in Wyoming, Dena writes with a goal to give you stories that are compelling neough to keep you up all night.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She studied music and theater in the Midwest and in Colorado and taught music for thirty-five years. In the 1970s, when Dena was just a teenager, her family took a road trip through the Pacific Northwest, ending with a stay in Anacortes, Washington, and a ferry ride through the San Juan Islands. She was captivated by the beauty of Washington’s west coast and vowed she’d one day move to the area. Forty years later, not only did God move her to the beautiful area, He inspired her with stories set there.

Dena’s prayer as a Christian author is that her stories inspire and encourage your faith. Her goal is to write stories compelling enough to keep you ‘up all night.’ Find Dena on her website: denanetherton.me.

Her series begins with Haven’s Flight.

How can you flee from an unseen enemy?

Haven Ellingsen enrolled in Life Ventures Therapy Camp in the Cascade Mountains to help her heal from horrible memories of her mother’s violent death at the hands of an armed robber. But now, a greater fear dogs her steps. The rustle of leaves or the snap of a twig could be nothing. Or it might signal the sinister presence of the stalker who won’t stop following her. It seems like a cruel trick from God to throw Haven into another dangerous situation only a year after her mom’s murder.

He hides near her tent and listens to the girl talk with the counselor. Mostly she talks about her father. She’s unhappy, and he can’t stand to listen and do nothing about it. He needs to rescue her. He needs to make sure she doesn’t ever go back to that man. His own father was the cause of his mother’s death. And Ruth’s. He can’t let that happen again. Not with this girl. When the time is right, he’ll take her away to his hidden cabin where she’ll be safe. And he will feel peace for the first time in years.

Can one month of survival training equip a girl to face all that the rugged wilderness and a madman can dish out?

All three books of the series are on sale this week. Click the image to reach the series page on Amazon HERE.

Don’t forget to also enter our sweepstakes. We’re giving away a free Kindle Fire, a selection of books for it, and a $50 Amazon gift card to boot! You’ll not want to miss out on this opportunity. Visit WriteIntegrity.com for the scoop!

Author Connections

In an attempt to promote Christian authors, author Leann Harris asked me to participate in a twist on a blog hop.

Christmas Wishes

I hope you’ve been enjoying The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt! I’m loving it! And I’m LOVING learning about these wonderful authors! Have you seen their articles at Write Integrity Press? Amazing recipes! (Even I have been tempted to don an apron!) And peeking into their favorite Christmas memories has been a delight. Not to mention all of the articles, tips, pics, and recipes at the Magnificent Hope Christmas Party. Along those lines, I have something new to share with you!

Conference Encounters #2

A writing conference is a great place to make friends and influence people, unless you have a twisted tongue like mine. My mouth is always getting me into trouble when it starts stumbling over my teeth. You can read my last week’s encounter HERE!

Prayer

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. James 5:13

ACFW conference, the ground-floor halls had little groups all through them. Some chatting, other’s laughing. 

Attitude is Everything

Last week I did something mean, and you can read about it here. I’m contritely sorry if I robbed you of sleep when I didn’t reveal the most important thing to bring to the ACFW conference. But I told you I’d share the topic today and here it is!

The most important thing to bring to the conference is … ready?

Facebook: Profiles vs. Pages and the ART of Giving Back

The Facebook situation is fun if your just doing the social thing, but for writers and business folks, Facebook provides opportunity to share a message. And used well, it can stir a great following for that message.

But first and foremost, Facebook is social.

Profiles

That’s why anyone using it must have a profile. (Only one to a customer, please.) The profile is the social face of the person. And that section has benefits and rules connected to it.

For instance, on a profile, a person “friends” other people. You friend them and they accept you. So you have a little community of happily cohabitating friends that connect with others as well as each other. When you take a picture of one of these friends, you can “tag” them in it and a notice goes up on their board that you did. They stop whatever they are doing and run over to your wall to check out the picture you took of them.

Cute. Studly. What’s that thing hanging out of your nose?

Anyway. I digress. The point is, you can make a status report or post a note or photo and tag your friends to inform then that it is there and includes them. They’ll come look. No really. They will.

Pages

Pages are different. Being for businesses, nobody can friend them. Sad and lonely place to be. They can be liked though and a whole lot more than just the profiles. See profiles can only add 5,000 friends, but page likes go up and and up. I’m not even sure they have a limit. So as your business grows, so can your outreach.

In the “voice” of your page, you can post on your own page. You can “like” other people’s pages. You can even post on those pages you’ve liked. However, you can’t friend anyone. So you can’t post to anyone’s profile, even if they like your page. You can’t comment on any profile at all.

One is the loneliest number …

There are benefits to pages though. A page establishes a writer as professional. Once published, those books can become part of the timeline and also tabs on the front page. Second, pages offer statistics that you can’t get with your profile. I can see at a glance how many people have liked me, how many have visited my page, and how many have liked or commented on anything I’ve said.

The other stat that I’ve recently noticed makes it clear that Facebook isn’t showing all of my page postings to all of those who liked my page. For instance, the last post on my page was an announcement of yesterday’s blog. Only 20 people saw it. Not that 20 people visited the link. The post only showed up on the feeds of 20 of those who have liked my page. The other 147 went along without knowing that I posted anything.

*Sniff*

So here is some Über-important things you can do, for me and any of your Facebook paging buddies.

• Like their page. A page-owner can only invite you once. If you choose not to like their page, you withhold essential encouragement for no good reason. Liking doesn’t hurt. Doesn’t cost. Doesn’t fill your feed with spam. It just encourages your friend.
• Like any posts that you see from their page. Again, unless it disagrees with your moral fiber – and I totally get that and won’t chat about politics for that very reason! Yikes! – there’s no good reason to deny your friend the little click of a mouse key. And what do they get when you like a post. BIG! It doubles the amount of people who see the post, giving them a better chance of getting out their message.
• Really want to be a good friend? Share their posts. Sharing the ones they post from their profile is fun, but it doesn’t help their business. Sharing posts from their page means SO MUCH! When a page owner has their posts shared, Facebook decides they deserve more attention and shares their following posts with more people.

Didn’t realize you had such power at the tips of your fingers did you? Use the power for good, Luke!

By the way, you can find me at http://www.facebook.com/MarjiLaine

HUGE Summer Reading Sale!

Clash of the Titles has a BIG week coming up!

Wednesday marks the beginning of our June Releases Clash, hosted by the lovely Gail Pallotta. She’ll introduce you to five amazing new books, so get your voting finger ready.

Saturday, we’ll announce the three finalists in the 2012 Laurel Awards. Our judges have been raving about the books, saying they wished they had more than just the first two chapters. Remember, this year’s judges are readers like you, who have no connection with the writing or publishing world. You could be one of them! If you’re interested in being a judge for the upcoming Olympia Award, please email us at contactcott(at)gmail(dot)com.

Our current judges are still sending in their score sheets, but by Saturday, we’ll have the final tally!

In the meantime, we’d like to pass along that Astraea Press is having a HUGE Summer Sale. Almost all of their stock is available for $.99 on Kindle and Nook. To whet your appetite, here are five titles from their Inspirational line. The sale lasts until the end of July, but get your e-books today, before you forget!

JUST A LITTLE FAITH by Amy Norris

Contemporary Romance

Paxson Taylor’s recent relocation to St. Louis leads her to a life different from what she’s experienced in the past. Through her work with a small charity, she meets and attracts the attention of professional baseball player, Sebastian Quinn. Flattered, Pax tempers her desire for the handsome playboy with her need to serve her God—a God Seb doesn’t believe exists. Through unspeakable tragedy, they grow closer and with disappointment, drift apart. How can two people from opposite ends of the faith spectrum reconnect when they need each other most?

$.99 on KINDLE

$.99 on NOOK

LIZZIE AND THE GUERNSEY GANG by April W Gardner

2012 Selah Award winner in youth fiction

Middle grade historical/adventure

Lizzie Browning loves nothing more than her tiny, island-home of Guernsey, but when German troops invade, she knows it will never be the same again. For Lizzie, younger brother Andre, and Cousin James, the time to escape is now, and they know just how to do it. With the right tools and a little help from a boat named, Trina, they’ll be off the island in no time. When things start going wrong, Lizzie wonders about God’s plan. From the looks of it, He might expect them to live under Nazi rule…forever.

$.99 on KINDLE

$.99 on NOOK

THEN SENTENCE by Elaine Cantrell

Contemporary Romance

How could he do it! How could her father bring into their home the guy who burned the church? Yeah, it was an accident and her dad’s a minister, but if he wanted to save this man’s soul, why didn’t he go to the prison to do it?  And no matter how cute the criminal is, no matter what anyone says, she doesn’t watch him all the time. Nice girls don’t fall for guys like Clint.  Do they?

$.99 on Kindle

$.99 on NOOK

THE MULLIGAN MAN by Monique O’Connor James

Short Story

When six kids are at a party, partaking in a little too much fun, one of them is killed. The Mulligan Man, a character straight out of folklore appears offering them the chance to fix all the wrongs. In order to complete the deal, the teenagers must find out the truth of what happened, perform a random act of kindness, and become friends.

If they meet these stipulations, he will allow them to bring their friend back from the dead. In the process they learn not to judge, to stay away from drugs and alcohol, and that love can bridge even the boundary of death.

$.99 on Kindle

$.99 on NOOK

THE PECULIAR PRINCESS  by Christina Graham Parker

Romance

Sent back four hundred years to reclaim her birthright as Princess of Dresdonia, Lexy Newberry discovers the only thing harder than living without electricity is guarding her heart from the perplexing Lord Lukas Reynard.

$.99 on Kindle

$.99 on NOOK

FOR MORE CLEAN FICTION IN OTHER GENRES SEE ASTRAEAPRESS.COM

Content Matters – Three Ways to Hone Your Blog

When I started blogging, I got the idea that my blog consisted of an online journal. Whatever stimulated my imagination went onto the web. Yikes! And that’s how I feel when I look back at some of my posts from last year at this time.

Meanwhile, all of the social media articles I read clamored that I should have a focus to my blog. A platform. It took awhile for me to get the point. My blog needs to be an extension on my writing in such a way that the people who read my blog might also be interested in my books.

Not so hard for non-fiction writers since their main topics would obviously make up the perfect environment for their blogs. Anyone interested in the articles they write would easily be interested in their books. But I write fiction.

Being a novelist makes the exercise tricky. Some folks have a settled focus, like Ronie Kendig and her Discarded Heroes series about military suspense. With military being the main setting of her novels, it makes a great base for her blog. (No pun intended!)

Keli Gwyn‘s blog is another good example. Her romance novels exist in the Victorian age so her blog also details articles about romance and about the historical era she loves.

It’s quite a challenge to compile a platform. But there are some steps you can take to discover your own unique place on the World Wide Web.

1. Connect with your books.

Now I’m currently unpublished, but I still have two books completed. A third book planned and a supporting short story that goes along with the others. I may not have anything to sell right now, but blogging before publishing builds a base of folks who might be interested in my fiction when my books do hit print.

The more people who enjoy your online writing, the more chances for your books to sell.

So how can you hook your books to your blog? Do you write about children or animals? Do the main characters have a unique occupation? Do they come from an interesting place? Maybe their hobbies can stimulate your content? Anything that can connect your story to your articles is a major plus.

2. Know your audience

In order to provide information that will meet the folks you want to meet, you need to do your homework. Start out by discovering the genre in which you normally write. Not all writing fits in perfect little boxes, but you can tell the difference between historical and steam punk, right? Get close to the appropriate genre and then do some research. What type of people normally like that genre?

This is important because you don’t want to write blog content that will be wasted on folks who couldn’t care less about your book. Just because you might like dirt biking or mountain climbing doesn’t mean that the majority of people who read cozy mysteries will like the same thing. Get the picture?

Your facts don’t have to be scientific surveys. You can look through pics of Facebook folks who like your genre, or search the category on a Twitter hashtag. Get a feel for it beyond yourself. What ages, races, genders will go for your book? And what types of things would those ages, races, genders like to read about?

3. Unless you’re an expert, don’t only write for other writers.

This is a hard lesson for me. I call myself a jack of all trades, master of none. I know a little bit about a lot of things, but it’s easy to write about writing, because that’s what I’m doing right now. And in truth, MANY writers devote their entire blog to the journey of publishing —- and successfully! But for me, settling into that easier comfort zone limits my audience. Besides, the authors writing about the world of publishing know a heck of a lot more about it than I do.

So I have to pursue other things that future readers of my Christian Romantic Suspense stories will like.

Armed with my knowledge that I’m smack-dab in the middle of the age group for romance readers, I can look to myself and my friends for things that they are interested in. Some things that come to mind: Homeschooling, craft fairs, church activities, kid activities, art, history, travel, event-planning, interior decorating, weddings, grandchildren.

None of those topics have much to do with my books, but these gals (for the most part) read my genre. I need to delve into things that are interesting to them. (Thankfully they are also interesting to me!)

My stories don’t really have a great hook like a historical premise or a specific population of folks. Set in a fictional small town in Texas, their location also doesn’t draw curiosity or a wealth of topics. So I’ll focus on the fact that they are first – Christian. Thursdays is my posting day for inspiration and devotion.

Tuesdays I’ll hit one of the topics that interest Christian romantic suspense readers. Shouldn’t be too hard since I’m a homeschooling, event-planning, craft fair goer, and scrap-booker with kids nearing the wedding stages of their lives.

That leaves my Wednesdays open for offering helpful information to other writers. As I’m learning, I’d like to share to make someone else’s road easier.

Your turn: Help other writers get a feel for this! What is your favorite genre, your age, and your primary hobby? And while you’re at it, what types of blog posts do you most like to read?

A New Literary Contest Comes To Clash of the Titans

Get Ready to Spar!

 

Dust off those swords (in the Spirit, of course) and put on that literary armor, 

because Clash of the Titles has an announcement.

 

The Laurel Award is expanding, and we know you’ll be excited about it.

 

We are creating a NEW annual literary contest, and it’s strictly for unpublished writers! 

Also, authors will no longer need to be a previous Clash Champion in order to compete for the crown. 

Submissions for this contest open October 29, 2012, 

but first we must name it. That’s right! We want your help naming this exciting, new branch of Clash of the Titles. After reading about it, please take a moment to click on which name you think most fitting for this contest—The Spartan OR The Olympia. (Use survey below.)

 

About this new contest:

 

All never before published writers of Christian fiction may submit their work.
$10 Entry fee. 

First two chapters will be judged.

Final scoring by a select panel of beta-readers.

Prizes: 

Special feature on Clash of the Titles’ blog.

Tour through COTT’s Blog Alliance.

Page on our site for a full year.

Podcast interview with Author and CAG board member, Cynthia L. Simmons.

A beautiful plaque.

 

The outcome is in the hands of readers, not industry professionals.

 

You’ve written the book of your dreams, now what do readers think? Enter the arena and find out. 

 

Stay tuned for further dates and details by 
subscribing to our blog and “liking” our Facebook page.

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