When Authors Have to Have a Thick Skin

So, probably the worst part about being an author is when someone gives you a lousy review.  Anyone can write and publish a review these days; all they have to have is a blog, no credentials required.  It doesn't matter that they didn't read your book very carefully or are misinformed; they can say whatever they like.  And it's seen as poor form for an author to respond in her own defence.  Not only does it look like sour grapes, but the author might become the target of malicious reviews as payback.  While the book-sharing platforms can be a lot of fun - people get together to recommend the books they love - they are also used by people who self-aggrandize by trashing other peoples' work.

Today The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster got trashed, and that's frustrating.  Not just trashed, but major plot points were given away without so much as a "spoiler alert," and when I pointed this out to the site managers, my knuckles were rapped.  I won't direct you to the website because I don't want to promote them and because I don't want to spoil the book for people who haven't read it yet.  I am, however, very grateful every time someone who enjoys one of my books makes a special effort to leave a good review.  It is so much easier to tear things down than to build them up.

So, thanks to everyone who likes my books and passes the word along to their friends.  I'm going to hold my head up and keep on writing for a long time to come.  Cheers!

The Marriage Market Free Today and Tomorrow on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/The-Marriage-Market-ebook/dp/B00CDXRGP4

A determined young woman in search of a husband with two best friends competing for her affections. An ambitious widow who defies social convention by going into business for herself. A rakish lawyer who falls disastrously in love for the first time. These are the central players in this old-fashioned Regency romance. The Marriage Market will sweep you from the ballrooms of the “haute ton” in Bath to a romantic vineyard in Tuscany. (Originally published as Good Intentions.)

The Marriage Market Published

Published by Books We Love on Amazon

The Marriage Market

A determined young woman in search of a husband with two best friends competing for her affections.  An ambitious widow who defies social convention by going into business for herself.  A rakish lawyer who falls disastrously in love for the first time.  These are the central players in this old-fashioned Regency romance.  The Marriage Market will sweep you from the ballrooms of the “haute ton” in Bath to a romantic vineyard in Tuscany.

Buy it at http://www.amazon.com/The-Marriage-Market-ebook/dp/B00CDXRGP4

Well, that's it.  All three of my novels are now published with Books We Love and available as e-books with Amazon.  I'd sit down tonight and put my feet up, but I'm going to the Calgary Crime Writers party to celebrate the short list for the Edgar awards for mystery novels.  If I have anything to celebrate, I'll let you know.

Cheers!

Connecting Book Series to the Same Town

I just read an interesting article that was brought to my attention by the Romance Writers of America e-newsletter I receive.  It was about author Robyn Carr and how she found success, after starting out writing historical bodice rippers, by writing a series of books that take place in a small town of 600.  Her books focus on different "alpha males" in the community and allow character to reappear in different stories.  I remember romance writer Jennifer Crusie doing the same thing with three of her books.  It's a great idea.  People get to know a character, and then they get to see him from a new angle.  Today's romantic lead can be tomorrow's protective brother, etc. . . .  Plus, it's like watching the "Andy Griffith Show," for all those who've seen the popular 1960's TV show that took place in a fictional small town in North Carolina.  The reader becomes familiar with, and hopefully likes, a cast of characters in a small town, and gets to revisit with them in other books.  That's why book series are so popular, as opposed to one-offs.  People like to spend time with characters they already love.

Here's a link to the article about Robyn Carr.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/56699-robyn-carr-growing-a-midlist-author.html

The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster Free Today on Amazon

Hi All,

The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster is free today on Amazon if you'd like to nab a copy.

Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Affairs-Harriet-Walters-Spinster-ebook/dp/B00C8EO0UC.

Wish me luck!
Cathy

The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster

Published by Books We Love on Amazon.com.

Harriet Walters, a twenty-six year old spinster, is evicted from her home and sent to live with a persnickety aunt. Resigned to the life of an unpaid companion, fate intervenes and Harriet becomes an heiress. Leaving her small town life for the glittering attractions of London, Harriet chooses an unconventional path to happiness and love. 

Welcome to the Regency world, where life is slower, people are more courteous, and men and women court each other. So, pour yourself a cup of tea or chocolate, sit back in your chair, and enjoy an old-fashioned romance.

Buy it at http://www.amazon.com/Affairs-Harriet-Walters-Spinster-ebook/dp/B00C8EO0UC

Framed for Murder Free on Amazon Today

My cozy mystery/romantic suspense novel is free today on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Framed-Murder-Nolan-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00C4ZVPDK

Anna Nolan is walking her dog outside her small home town one night when she discovers a body. And not just any body - her ex-husband, Jack. Suddenly, Anna is the police's favorite suspect, and even if the investigating officer is tall, blond, handsome, and has a cute British accent, she doesn't relish the attention. Trying to divert suspicion away from herself, Anna investigates the three different women her actor-husband had been romancing on a local movie set. But she'd better be careful; one of them could be a killer. (Originally published as Road Kill)

A Tribute to Steve Carell

 I just finished watching "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World."  It starred Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, and was about two neighbours who get to know each other as the world is about to be destroyed by an asteroid. I watched it all alone, and I was sobbing at the end.  Steve Carell might be known as a funny man, but he's a seriously fine actor in all senses of the word.  My cat had to come over and comfort me.

I don't like all of the vehicles he's appeared in, to be sure.  "The Office" is not my thing.  I watched most of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and didn't really care for that style of humour.  However, the last few minutes when Mr. Carell gazes into the camera after he's consummated his marriage and begins singing "The Age of Aquarius" and "Let the Sunshine In" always make me happy.  The suicidal brother in "Little Miss Sunshine" who shares a room with a nephew who's on a break from talking - lovely.  Maxwell Smart in "Get Smart" with Anne Hathaway as Agent 99 is wonderful.  How you can make Maxwell Smart seem smart and sexy is beyond me.  And Gru in "Despicable Me."  I don't own any other animated movies now that my daughters are grown up, but I had to buy that one.  His accent in that is hilarious.  The best is when Julie Andrews, playing his mother, uses the same accent.  And now tonight's film.

I guess I could compare Steve Carell to Rowan Atkinson.  Both are known as comic actors and both of them are not drop-dead, sexiest-man-alive types.  But when Mr. Atkinson isn't playing that idiot, Mr. Bean, and the intelligence shines out of his eyes, you know that you are watching a gifted actor.  As for Mr. Carell, you know that he is intelligent, and you can also see how multi-talented he is.  However, I see that he has just made a movie called "Fox Catcher."  In it he plays John Du Pont, a schizophrenic who killed Olympic wrestler David Schultz.  I don't think I'll be catching that one.

Publishing With "Books We Love"

Well, I feel like a whirl wind has caught me up!  I just signed a contract on Wednesday with the e-publisher "Books We Love for Readers We Love," and the folks there really move.  By the end of the day on Wednesday, I had sent them the manuscripts for Framed for Murder, The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster, and The Marriage Market, and by Friday (Good Friday, I might add), I had the proofed copy back for Framed.  They worked all Easter weekend and produced the three covers and my new author's page.  I've also been reading their authors' loop, and what a friendly, terrific bunch of people they are.

Why did I choose to leave the indie path, at least for the e-publishing of my novels?  Jude Pittman, President, gave a presentation at the February meeting of our Romance Writers of America Calgary chapter, and I picked up their brochure and business card.  I thought about them over the ensuing weeks, and then happened to sit beside a member of CaRWA at the March meeting who had just published her first book with them.  She talked about how friendly they were, how quickly they worked (compared to traditional publishers who take over a year to get copies of your book into stores), and how many copies her book had sold in just two weeks (6,000!), and I started to seriously consider going with them.

Books We Love is an international group with the President living here in Alberta, the VP in the States, and the writers in Canada, the States, and England.  They traditionally take only published authors, and since I was self-published I wasn't sure they would take me, but they did.  They copy edit the manuscript, design the book cover, publish the book with Amazon (and eventually other e-book retailers), and promote the books, all for nothing up front, plus offer a good royalty rate.  And, judging by my fellow CaWRA member's success, their stamp on a book is the gold standard to their loyal readers.

I knew that it would take a long time to get my books out to as many readers as Books We Love can do in just a couple of weeks, and I went for it.  I look forward to seeing Framed for Murder published with Amazon later this week, and the other two sometime soon. Wish me luck!

And, if there are any other writers reading this in my situation, Books We Love is looking to expand their authors' pool.

Check them out at http://bookswelove.net/bookswelove.php.