Suspended Sequel by Andy Scheer

Thanks to a Christmas present from my son, I can now read the sequel to a book I first read in 1964.

Living in a suburb of Detroit, I'd taken several school field trips to the Henry Ford Museum and had been impressed with its collection of antique autos. So when my teacher distributed order sheets for paperbacks from Scholastic, I was primed for Kings of the Road by Ken W. Purdy.

I don't remember if I had to raid my Yogi Bear bank for the full cover price of seventy-five cents (this was when quarters were still silver). Regardless, it was priceless. Over the next decade I reread it countless times.

Its twenty chapters (most adapted from magazine articles) opened me to the world of such classic automobiles as Bugatti, Mercer, Stutz, Cord, and Duesenberg (origin of the phrase “it's a Duesey”). Decades later I'm still traveling to classic car museums. More important, I'm still reading voraciously--and helping other writers master the art of dynamic prose.

My copy of Kings of the Road, printed in 1963 on cheap paper, is too fragile for me to revisit its pages. But I knew hardcover versions on better paper were available online. So I passed the hint before Christmas.

Published in hardcover in 1972, Ken Purdy's Book of Automobiles promises to pick up where Kings of the Road left off. After nearly fifty years, I'm eager to resume the journey.

What Lies Ahead in Fiction by Linda S. Glaz

So far this month, I’ve read a lot of articles about the future of fiction. I’ve heard that historic is being pared back, contemporary is pushing ahead again, that Dee Henderson has brought romantic suspense back to the forefront. So what is the real direction fiction is taking?

When I first became an agent, I thought I’d be signing mostly suspense authors.

I LOVE SUSPENSE!

And yet, historic fiction and historic romance have filled “most” of the slots thus far. I’m hooked on it.

I also have suspense, romantic suspense, contemporary, and even a thriller. So what do they all have in common?

Awesome writers…writers who make the written word come alive to all the senses. I not only see the protagonist, I hear her voice, see his eyes, taste what she tastes. And I feel their joy, sorrow, fears and more.

I realize the industry can change from year to year, month to month, even day to day, but one thing does not change…good writing. And eventually that good writing will find a home. It might not be tomorrow or even next month, but it WILL find a home.

So, there you have it. My take on the future of fiction. GOOD fiction, despite the genre, will find its way into a reader’s hand if the author doesn’t quit. Doesn’t sigh and say, “Oh well, they aren’t buying my type of novel anymore. Why keep writing?”

Never forget my mantra; feel free to make it your own. When you have to write as surely as you have to breathe, then, and only then, are you truly a writer!

All About U = Unfollow by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Social Media is a wonderful marketing tool, but it is useless when used ineffectively. Marketers must remember that Social Media is more about networking than advertising, discussions than blasting, asking than demanding, and personality than traditional business. The moment your Social Media becomes all about you or your business, is the moment you've lost the upswing direction toward your goals and you will start spinning around in Social Media circles worse than a bottle cap that will eventually come to a grinding halt.

You need to give people a reason to follow and many more reasons to keep following.

Here are a few tips when trying to decide what to post and retweet.

If it is something that will be educational, informative, humorous, fun, appreciated, motivational, and inspiring--share it.

Educate and Inform
When possible, post original content from you and/or your organization. I suggest at least 2 original posts each week, but keep in mind that it doesn't always have to be original content from you. If you see an informative post that a competitor, friend, or client posted, hit the "share" button or "retweet" it.

You might be wondering, from a competitor? Really? The answer is, a resounding yes. Not only will it still be appreciated, but they might later return the favor. Your followers or customers will feel like they can trust you even more, because they will know that you will not withhold good information from them--even if it comes from a competitor. You need to establish this trust. It is a MUST in any relationship. While you need to have a couple of original posts each week, remember that even if some of the info isn't your original content, people will remember that they still got it from you. This will prompt them to follow, since you are being informative.

Provide Humor and Fun 
People appreciate a little good humor throughout their day. They need to laugh and smile. This develops fellowship, another MUST in any relationship. Humorous posts, videos and photos are often retweeted and shared more than any other type of content. It develops insight into your personality and the culture of your business. It may have something to do with your business and/or product or it may have nothing to do with it at all. It's okay. Keep in mind that there is "good" humor and there is "bad" humor. Before sharing, always take a moment to consider if it is something that could be taken the wrong way, hurt someone's feelings, or show negativity. If so, don't share it.

Share Good Causes and Promote Goodwill
Others will appreciate your business if you are willing to share and retweet posts that promote nonprofit causes, community services, new product campaigns, freebies and contests, and anything that will promote goodwill toward others. When national disasters strike or tragedy happens in your industry or local area, extend sympathy. This can be done without taking sides, or getting into politics or religion. Be human, and if you are representing a business, make sure your customers know that your business cares about people. It will help remind them that there are people behind the scenes of your business who have emotions and feelings. This part of your personality builds appreciation in others.

Be Motivational and Inspiring
Sharing inspirational quotes can do great wonders to remind people to not give up, to take that extra step, to be different, daring and bold. Be positive and promote ideas that will motivate others. Don't forget that images and videos can be just as inspiring.

If you remember to sprinkle in your announcements, events, discounts, sales, and promotions among other posts that are not all about you and your business, people will follow you. And because you give them personal value in sharing what is helpful and important to them, they will continue to follow, and thereby, see the other things you REALLY want them to see.

What do I represent? by Terry Burns

I don't understand why people will submit to an editor or agent without looking at submission guidelines to see what they are representing and how they want to receive it. Would they go to a doctor without first checking to see if they are a general practitioner or a specialist of some kind, to see if they treat whatever they need treated? Would they go to a store looking for something without seeing if it was something the store sells?

But it is clear from the submissions that I receive that many, maybe even most, have not bothered to look at what the agency, or me personally are trying to represent at the present time. They send me things that our guidelines clearly say we do not handle at the present time, wasting not only my time but their time.

I'm from West Texas, the Texas Panhandle to be precise, and I wear a big hat. I don't know how many people jump to the conclusion that I only handle westerns. Every conference I have people who say they did not submit to me because that's not what they write. I would represent a good western, but at present only have a couple of clients that write them.

There are those who won't send me a romance because they figure I'm an old cowboy and wouldn't like them. I'm also Irish which means I tear up in a good chick-flick or like a romance that brings a smile to my face. Admittedly if it gets a little too flowery for me I tend to pass it to one of the ladies, but other than that . . .
I work with a lot of middle reader and young adult. Seems a lot of people don't expect that out of me either, totally ignoring the fact that I have 5 kids, ten grand-kids and two great-grandsons. And you don't expect me to be drawn to things for young people? True, I don't do things aimed at those younger than middle reader because I'm not a good judge of them. They all look cute to me.

I like historical or historical romance if it catches my interest. I like a good mystery, but they don't seem to like me, I'm having trouble finding a home for the few that I have. I handle some nonfiction but not as much these days. There is so much available online for free that it can be hard to place, and when it does find a home it is more about the platform and name recognition of the author than anything else. I am particularly not having any luck in the devotional market, way too many people there chasing too few publishing opportunities. Again it may be more about platform and name identification than anything else.

I like inspirationals and women's fiction, books aimed at a male audience if it is something that can also appeal to female readers. Mostly it needs to be a book that is well written, one that pulls me in from the very first page and keeps me in the story all the way trough. I like books that make me feel what the author is feeling: happy, sad, mad, scared . . . some genuine emotion.

People are making a mistake if they take a look at me and decide because of my age or the way I dress or the way I talk or some other characteristic that I will like or will not like something. There are plenty of places starting with those submission guidelines or the many places where you can find out more about the books that I'm placing that will tell you for sure whether we might possibly be a match or not. It should be that way for all agents or editors. Before we submit to one we should have a good idea whether they are a possibility or not. Blind or mass submissions seldom work. For one thing, many agents or editors feel if the submission they are receiving is not personal to them that it doesn't deserve a personal response.

So, does that help to figure out what I might or might not like?

Writing Goals for the New Year?

Happy New Year one and all!





I have been away from my desk almost two weeks now, visitng with family and friends. Planes, and many automobiles, (no trains this trip) have passed me and my luggage across the state of Pennsylvania, east to west. I am now in Pittsburgh. :-) Later today another friend will transfer my luggage into her cars trunk and I will sleep at her home near the airport where she will deliver me early tomorrow morning for my 9 am flight back to North Carolina.

Today I get to visit with Joyce Hart at Hartline's main office. We will catch up on a few personal things of course but I hope to go over several projects I am working on now and get her advice. Since Joyce has been in this business over 30 years, I value her wisdom and suggestions.

When I packed my lap top, I had hopes of catching up on manuscript reading and even put my kindle in the bag.

How much reading did I get done? Not a lot.

But I did bake gingerbread cookies with my niece, sing Karioke Christmas Day with family, friends and my son. I painted at a store where we can choose ceramics, and then they fire glaze them after wards. My creation will arrive by mail later. :-) I watched a chick flick and my friends and I laughed our heads off a few times over silly things girls can giggle over. I ate way too many carbs and sugarcoated items, while sitting around in my jammies, texting Christmas greetings and New Year hellos to folks all over creation.

But today, I get back to work.

And I am grateful. I represent incredibly gifted people. They arrange words in ways that inspire me or make me laugh out loud, weep or breath in deeply the joy of living.

May this year be one in which we all learn something new, reasses our priorities and dream big dreams. After all, we serve and know a God who spoke all we know into existance. He is the author of our salvation. There is no end to His creativity, and He loves to use us to speak, to touch and to love others. Words fail me but maybe a few of you can make a comment as to how you hope to allow Him to speak through you this year?

New Year Blessings to all,
Diana




 






Last week author first page was submitted by Dustin Turner:  Dustin is an entrepreneur, world traveler and former International Field Director for a Christian medical relief agency. His work has taken him to such global hot spots as Sudan, Eritrea, Egypt, Mauritania, Cambodia, China, and Haiti. Dustin lives with his wife and three kids in Kansas City. " For those interested, additional samples are available at www.facebook.com/AuthorDustinTurner.

New Year Reading Resolutions by Andy Scheer

What books should I read in the new year?

My resolution for the next fifty-two weeks includes not only some authors who are new to me, but also some genres toward which I don't gravitate.

I got the idea from author Bob Hostetler, with a boost from Stephen King.

Until recently I've avoiding anything by King, except for his wonderful craft book, On Writing. With apologies to Seatbelt Suspense author Brandilyn Collins, I'm just not cut out for scarey stories. But late this summer I opened King's 11/22/63 and read it straight through—twice.

Likewise I'd never read any of John Grisham's legal thrillers. But when Sports Illustrated printed an excerpt of a Grisham baseball novel, I knew I had to read Calico Joe. Now I'm thinking of searching my shelves for my mass paperback copy of The Testament.

Years ago at a writers conference Bob Hostetler described how each January he devises an annual reading plan—one that charts a course for fifty to seventy books that span a range of genres, forms, and authors.

I'm not ready to schedule my reading so specifically. I want to be open to serendipitous discoveries. But left to my own desires, I'd stick to familiar paths:

British Navy historicals (e.g.: Patrick O'Brian )

Ancient Rome detective stories (e.g.: Lindsey Davis)

amateur detectives (Aaron Elkins et. al.)

action stories by Clive Cussler and his co-writers

nonfiction travel accounts (e.g.: Paul Thereoux)

World War II histories

I'm not sure I'm ready for a romance novel. And I'll pass on political rants. Otherwise, I'm open to suggestions. If you've recently read something you just can't stop talking about, tell me too.

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana L. Flegal

Thank you for stopping by our Would You Read On? page.

This will be our last posting for this column. We will post a first page periodically but will use Weds to also offer you a few thoughts from Diana as well as guest posts from  publishing industry folk with great information and authors of excellent blogs.

I hope you will stop back in Weds and see what we will be offering.

 The blindfold sharpened Ali’s senses. With blood pounding in his ears, he searched the night sounds for clues to his location. He felt concrete beneath his feet...they must be in the city...but which? They’d driven long enough to reach Makkah or the fishing villages near the sea. They were outside—he was sure of that—and he felt exposed, vulnerable. The arid desert night was cooling rapidly and he tried not to shiver. A bead of sweat clung to his forehead but he didn’t dare touch it. No sudden moves. He felt the presence of the two men that brought him there. They were close, and probably watching.
            The drive had been disorienting, then the blind walk, and now the waiting. Fear gnawed at him. He reminded himself that he had chosen to be here.
            Ali heard three taps on a wooden door, then the whine of oiled hinges. Men spoke in hushed tones. Someone pushed him forward and the door closed without a sound. It was dark inside, darker than the street.
             “Were you followed?”
            Ali knew that voice.
            “Laa,” another man answered.
            A pair of strong hands pulled off his blindfold. In the shadows, Ali recognized a foreigner. It was Michael Givens.
            “Salaam, welcome,” Givens said.
            “Salaam,” Ali answered.
            Givens cracked the door open again and scanned the alley. Satisfied the streets were safe, he shut the door and bolted both locks. “Almost there.”