Junk Mail Ideas by Andy Scheer

Need ideas for your fiction? Check your email. Awhile ago I wrote about how visiting the zoo lets you observe an amazing diversity of people—who could help round out your novel’s cast. This morning I realized ideas for scenes come free to my in-box.

My wife (a hardcore couponer) and I reserve one account for commercial updates. While she sees it as a source for bargains, it’s also a potential treasure trove for writers wanting to think outside the box of their own experience.

Yesterday came an offer for a Beef Wellington dinner at an expensive, exclusive restaurant. With a few clicks I toured the restaurant, learned about its options for wedding receptions, scanned the menu, and visited the romantic dining room. A few clicks to its reviews on Tripadvisor.com offered insights into what people experience there—including one encounter with a bartender having a bad day. Lots of ideas—all free.

This morning three back-to-back email offers grabbed my attention.

● The first, from livingsocial.com, advertised “couples’ massage + foot soak + champagne.” Down the page I found opportunities for a day of paintball for two, tattoo removal, and “Nia fitness” classes.

Not my usual activities, so I’d need help just to think of them, let alone describe them with realism.

● Second was a deal for yoga classes and ionic foot baths. Ionic? I thought that was a kind of Greek column.

Scanning down the screen I learned about a barbecue cooking class for two, followed by an introductory pistol course (also available for a girls’ night out) followed by whiskey and cigars at a steak house. (The girls’ night out option substitutes red or white wine and light appetizers for the whiskey and cigars.)

● Third came a deal for a 90-minute light plane flight experience that includes on-the-ground instruction in a flight simulator, followed by a “45-minute flight with you at the controls.”

Not suitable for your novel? Other choices included an eight-hour fly fishing trip for two, a golf lesson with swing evaluation, and ten one-hour Irish dance classes.

Whether you need ideas or a source for details, the answers are just a few clicks away.

Sweet and Simple by Linda S. Glaz

I’m not going to be waxing philosophical today. I’m simply going to share a Christmas tree that I created this morning for my office.

Out of fairness, I saw a similar one on one of the morning talk shows (can’t remember which one, errggh!) but I think as writers you’ll all enjoy it.

Tired of the same old, same old, I wanted something that reflected who I am. So, bottom to top are some of my classics, some of my old favorites, and some of my new.

They all have special meaning, except for those who made the list merely because they were needed for the right size. J

Hope you enjoy!

Pushing Book Sales During the Holidays by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

It's that time of year again, when people are shopping, have budgeted to shop, and are in the mood to shop! This is good news for authors and publishers hoping to push book sales. As readers log into their favorite sites to purchase books during the season, authors are in the perfect position to promote their books to online consumers worldwide in a way that was never possible for authors in the past with print-only, store-only books.

Throughout the holiday season, publishers will be watching and hoping for increased sales to make up for any slumps that were suffered over the past year. Since ebooks sales grew 50% in 2012 and now make up 28% of all U.S. adult fiction and non-fiction sales, publishers will be paying close attention to ebooks in particular. This is where an author's online platform could make a difference in promotion efforts. 

Book sales are expected to increase with iPads, tablets, Nooks and Kindles given as Christmas gifts. People who have these new gadgets and their new gift cards will be eager to try them out after the holiday and into January. 

It isn't too late to pull together an effective marketing plan for the holidays. You still have 3 weeks left until Christmas and the whole month of January to convince these new gadget holders to download your book and try it out. 

Offer Holiday Specials
Unless you are a self-published author who is in control of your sales prices, you don't have any control over discounts. If you do, offer some kind of discount to lure would-be readers. If not, find out if your publisher will be offering any discounts and promote it through your connections like crazy. You could always offer special pricing through your own website from your own stash of books, which would afford you to buy more books from your publisher. Consider bundle packages if you are a multi-published author with a few series out.

Create a Festive Theme

You could create a cute little graphic ad that you could post on your website/blog, newsletter, all your social media sites, and make it available for others to share. Write blog articles related to a theme or story in your book and post links to your social media accounts. Be sure to include your branded graphic with a link where to buy your book. 

Partner with Other Authors

There is always more impact with more numbers. Approach other authors with your ideas and see if they would like to participate in a short blog tour, scavenger hunt, social media party, host a big contest with you, and swap blog articles.

Feel free to add a few more ideas in the comment section for others. What do you have planned for the holidays? 

Holiday publishing wisdom by Terry Burns

Thank you for stopping by. Today's first page submission is a upper middle grade fantasy adventure. :-)

Please let us know if you would read on by leaving a critique in the comments below.
And check out the reveal of last weeks author at the bottom of the page :-)

                                          *****

                      

Trumpet blasts resounded across the bustling city square.  A huge knight, donned in full armour, stood on the wooden stage that had been erected especially for this momentous occasion. Thousands still flocked slowly into the ancient, crumbling walls of the historic city of Erundel, as they awaited the arrival of Treanthor, their admired emperor. His yearly visit had been long anticipated.

As crowds pressed forward to catch a better view of the knight, the warm air became rich with the smell of bodies clothed in thick woven cotton and leather, mingled with the scent of ale, horses and various potions, which were being hawked by traders at the entrance to the gates. Wafts of smoke from stallholders cooking chickens on spits blended in to create a unique aroma that was unusual to newcomers to the city.

Young children waved flags enthusiastically and joined as everyone began to chant Tre-an-thor! Tre-an-thor! Tre-an-thor! Several boys climbed the willow trees that lined the furthest side of the quad, waving to those below, while some older ones pointed their prized ska-swords into the air, showing off the gleaming light and sound feature on their xanth-powered gadgets.

 Rumours had circulated that one day, xanth would be able to power electricity once again in people’s homes – perhaps a return to the way of life before the Great Catastrophe of 2025. Treanthor always declared that he was working towards it – but insisted that it would take time and, for now, the people should be content with all that he had already achieved for them. 

 Today would mark the beginning of a new era. That was the message that had been sent out into all the towns and villages. Those who came to Erundel would be the first to witness his latest, marvelous invention; something far greater than ska swords or glow toys or magic tricks.

  Ree-Mya, a young mother with long, dark hair, stood among the throngs of people, one of the last few to be let into the square before the mammoth gates were locked shut by guards. 

Would you read on? 

        

Last weeks contributing author was Eddie Jones.

Eddie is a North Carolina-based writer and Acquisition Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. He is a three-time winner of the Delaware Writers Conference and his young adult novel, The Curse of Captain LaFoote, won the 2012 Moonbeam Award and 2011 Selah Award. He co-writes the He Said, She Said devotions, available at ChristianDevotions.us.

Dead Man’s Hand, the first book in the Caden Chronicles mystery series, released from Zonderkidz in November, 2012.

Eddie’s new devotional book, My Father’s Business, features Biblical insights and practical applications for those seeking God's "yearning" (will) for their life. A great book for anyone who longs for more than mere "work."

You can visit with Eddie at  http://www.eddiejones.org/ .

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana Flegal

Thank you for stopping by. Today's first page submission is a upper middle grade fantasy adventure. :-)

Please let us know if you would read on by leaving a critique in the comments below.
And check out the reveal of last weeks author at the bottom of the page :-)

                                          *****

                      

Trumpet blasts resounded across the bustling city square.  A huge knight, donned in full armour, stood on the wooden stage that had been erected especially for this momentous occasion. Thousands still flocked slowly into the ancient, crumbling walls of the historic city of Erundel, as they awaited the arrival of Treanthor, their admired emperor. His yearly visit had been long anticipated.

As crowds pressed forward to catch a better view of the knight, the warm air became rich with the smell of bodies clothed in thick woven cotton and leather, mingled with the scent of ale, horses and various potions, which were being hawked by traders at the entrance to the gates. Wafts of smoke from stallholders cooking chickens on spits blended in to create a unique aroma that was unusual to newcomers to the city.

Young children waved flags enthusiastically and joined as everyone began to chant Tre-an-thor! Tre-an-thor! Tre-an-thor! Several boys climbed the willow trees that lined the furthest side of the quad, waving to those below, while some older ones pointed their prized ska-swords into the air, showing off the gleaming light and sound feature on their xanth-powered gadgets.

 Rumours had circulated that one day, xanth would be able to power electricity once again in people’s homes – perhaps a return to the way of life before the Great Catastrophe of 2025. Treanthor always declared that he was working towards it – but insisted that it would take time and, for now, the people should be content with all that he had already achieved for them. 

 Today would mark the beginning of a new era. That was the message that had been sent out into all the towns and villages. Those who came to Erundel would be the first to witness his latest, marvelous invention; something far greater than ska swords or glow toys or magic tricks.

  Ree-Mya, a young mother with long, dark hair, stood among the throngs of people, one of the last few to be let into the square before the mammoth gates were locked shut by guards. 

Would you read on? 

        

Last weeks contributing author was Eddie Jones.

Eddie is a North Carolina-based writer and Acquisition Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. He is a three-time winner of the Delaware Writers Conference and his young adult novel, The Curse of Captain LaFoote, won the 2012 Moonbeam Award and 2011 Selah Award. He co-writes the He Said, She Said devotions, available at ChristianDevotions.us.

Dead Man’s Hand, the first book in the Caden Chronicles mystery series, released from Zonderkidz in November, 2012.

Eddie’s new devotional book, My Father’s Business, features Biblical insights and practical applications for those seeking God's "yearning" (will) for their life. A great book for anyone who longs for more than mere "work."

You can visit with Eddie at  http://www.eddiejones.org/ .

Velveteen Books by Andy Scheer

Sometimes the marks of a book's influence are obvious. Like the 1982 19th printing of Sunset Favorite Recipes my wife used Thanksgiving morning.

Nearly thirty years ago, when we were newlyweds, my parents had given us the book. Now the covers are held together with tape, the corners are frayed, and the pages are covered with thirty years of spills from helping feed four generations of family and countless guests around our table.

As the Christmas season begins, I think of two other gifts of milestone books. Though less worn, they influenced me deeply.

Christmas morning when I was ten, I unwrapped a hardcover edition of Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdal. Through multiple re-readings, this epic true adventure baptized my imagination with the power of narrative nonfiction—and awakened the idea that someday I might also write.

Christmas morning three years later, I unwrapped another hardcover treasure: the current Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. It contained nearly every word I'd need through high school, college, seminary, and my work as a professional writer. In the past decade I've replaced it with a more recent edition, but the tradition remains unbroken. (With its thumb tabs, I find it as easy to use as an online dictionary. But more dangerous, as each page is filled with distracting readings about other words.)

No wonder that when I think of giving a lasting gift, I often think of books.

A Terrible Four-Letter Word! By Linda S. Glaz

A peeve of mine is the use and overuse of the word just and I am so quick to point it out to anyone submitting to me. I also make sure when I present at conferences that I weasel it into any and all presentations.

…let me back up a bit. I recently had to complete final edits for one of my books. I nearly choked as I read the novel for what must have been the umpteenth time. I took out 23 extraneous justs but left about 40 others. Didn’t want to press my luck in the “only important changes” department.

How awful, how unprofessional, and how humiliating. I can only hope no one else notices quite as much as I did. Don’t get me wrong, I read that word abused every single day, and even with bestselling authors, but should they overuse the word?

I just don’t get it. If you just try, you can write without it. Just think about it for a second. Just about every story has plenty of justs, and you just don’t need them. I, however, just can’t help using them. They just get the point across with little effort.

See what I mean? So easy to fill space with that little four letter word.

I know I harp on this topic over and over, but it continues to rear its ugly head. After reading my own novel for errors, I realized it isn’t “others” who do it, we all do.

Is there a word you “just” can’t seem to write without?