Category Archives: Writing
Traditional Publishing vs Amazon.
A moment for some observations.
As I hop around the internet and blogsphere, I often see a lot of chatter regarding Amazon vs Traditional Publishing. Not surprisingly, I find many articles and comments about how much Traditional Publishing dislikes, resents, (hates) Amazon, that big old nasty price cutting distributor of all things books and more. But according to my limited observations, and those of many of my writing friends, Amazon is the biggest distributor of books, both Indie and Traditionally Published.
For Amazon to sell books, they need a supply of books to sell. And for Traditionally Published books to be sold, they need a place to sell them. I know, all very obvious observations. But what this means, is these two players NEED each other. Gasp!
It’s sort of like a marriage made in hell with all the blessings of corporate America. Of course, we can guess which one needs (or hates) the other more. I don’t believe Amazon hates Trad Pub, but I do get the impression that Trad Pub hates strongly dislikes Amazon.
Usually the weaker partner in a relationship ends up resenting their place in that relationship, so I’d go with Trad Pub is the one with more to lose.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not against Trad Pub. I’m in favor of all paths that lead to the mountain top.
Of course, a great big international sales outlet like Amazon needs content (i.e. books) to sell, but if Trad Pub goes away, Amazon still has a line out the door, around the block and down the road of writers with books to sell. It’s kind of hard to imagine writers are going away, and I don’t expect them to stop going to Trad Pub as a valid resource to produce their books, but I do see an uptick of Indie writers producing their own books.
So where is this all going? When I tell people I have written three books, the third one recently released, the question I get most isn’t who published you? The question I get most often is; can I find your books on Amazon? And my answer is YES.
Just saying…..
Enjoy always, T
Butts Be Gone!
Since my last blog post, I’ve been a bit busy, and loving it. No more Big Fat Holiday Butts, except for the one sitting in this chair, But… let’s not go there.
I’ve been working on the back cover copy for my soon-to-be-released book, Away Over-Yonder. It’s going very well, with a little help from my friends – here’s a shout out to Carissa and Sherry, Love you Gals. I’ll be sharing the book description here with you all in the next few weeks, so stayed tuned. Very exciting.
This will be my third and final book of the my Ellers Family time-travel series: Here & Beyond.
I’ve also been working with my publisher on the cover art for the book. Here’s a shout out to Shari at Llumina Press who has to deal with a scatter brain like me, poor dear, she must be a saint. I want the covers of the three books in the series to have the same look and feel. There aren’t any people on my covers, only places to evoke time, place and feelings. The first book, Return In Time, has the silhouette of a castle at sunset – or is it sunrise? No it must be sunset, those vivid colors only seem to grace our skies when the light is leaving our sight. The second book, Somewhere To Belong, has a castle off in the distance – or is it a simple farm house? No, it’s a castle, but is it home? I hope it evokes the feeling that somewhere off in the distance is a place to belong.
Along with all this I’ve been working on a new book, I’m at about 10,000 words. It’s a good start and I’m excited about the story. The working title is Until We Meet Again. Titles, I have found, are subject to change. I have one book that’s gone through at least half a dozen working titles, and it’s still not out yet, so the title is still subject to change. At this point, I’m thinking; Dreaming In Moonlight. Feel free to tell me what you think.
Well, I think that’s about it. Back cover text, front cover art, new book, lots of fun. Yep, embrace the challenge and life is good.
Oh, before I forget (like I could). I got a sales report for last year for my first two books and I’ve sold over 2,000 copies. I am pleased. Thank you very much for playing in my delightful sandbox with me.
I hope and plan to get back to posting my ABCs of Romance. I’m up to letter H. I’m thinking Honorable Hank or Horny Harry, which shall it be? All so much fun.
Until we meet again… Cheers and Enjoy Always, T
We’re off to a grand start of 2013.
No more BIG FAT HOLIDAY BUTS
December was a slow writing month for me.
It was full of great Big Fat Holiday Buts. .. Such as…
I was going to work on editing my third novel, Away Over Yonder, BUT I had to put up the Christmas tree and then I had way too much Christmas shopping to do.
I was going to find the perfect cover photo for my book, Away Over Yonder, BUT I got side tracked looking at all the pretty Christmas decorations and doing on-line shopping.
I was going to keep writing on my current WIP, BUT I had more Christmas packages to wrap.
I was going to write another blog post, BUT I had to attend another holiday party.
Well, I think you get the idea. I’ve been sitting on a whole lot of BIG FAT HOLIDAY BUTS.
However, since the end of the Christmas season is finally upon us, I’ve started writing on my WIP again and have written over 5k words. I’m also scheduled to go over my edits early next week and – well – I’ve written this blog post. At least it’s a start.
So – Happy New Year and Cheers to 2013.
I’m very close to being done with the 2012 holiday season. I just have one more holiday related party and then I will take down my tree. Hopefully, I’ll soon be back to some semblance of a normal writing life. (Normal writing life? Does that even make sense?)
Keep smiling and Enjoy Always, T
Scottish Highland Games, oh my.
This past week end I attended the Scottish Highland Games at the Alameda fairgrounds in Pleasanton with my good friend, Tresa. Besides having the opportunity to see a lot of good looking men in kilts, I wanted to connect with the MacNicol Clan. I drew on the MacNicol clan for inspiration in my books, Return In Time, Somewhere to Belong and the soon to be released third book of the series, Away Over-Yonder.
Dale Nicoll of Clan MacNicol and Me.
Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, I think it’s only fair to mention that my characters in the From Time to Time series are all completely fictional. I make stuff up. But that really is me with Dale Nicoll of Clan MacNicol. I had a grand time as he told me all about the clan and their homeland on the Isle of Skye.
Dale W. Nicoll telling me about Clan MacNicol.
While I was visiting the Clan MacNicol booth, we were entertained by the Nicolson pipe and drum band. Sharp looking guys, don’t you agree?
Nicholson pipe and drum band.
- Nicholson clan brings out their big drum.
What a treat. After hanging with Clan MacNicol for awhile, Tresa and I wandered around the fair grounds and eventually made our way over to the area with the Scottish highland guards. We met some very pleasant, sharp looking warrior, guards. They were very nice to tell us about the weapons used when the Scottish warriors went into battle. And they took the time to pose for some picture taking. Really nice guys.
Might fine Scottish highland guards.
We also met one of the guards, Michael. In my books, one of the brothers of my MacNicol clan is named Michael. Fairly impressive looking.
Scottish Highland Guard.
Michael with his son, Andrew. Like father, like son. Great guys doing a great job defending mighty Scotland. I felt pretty safe too.
Michael, Andrew with Tresa and Me.
A Scottish highland guard with his wife, Kim and daughter, Kaylyn. Very nice people, past and present.
Highland Guard with wife and daughter, and Me.
I had a grand time. And now I have a lot of great stories to add to my collection. My only regret is that I have to wait another year before the Scottish games return and I can go back to visit with my new found friends. But I’m already looking forward to next September.
Enjoy now and enjoy always, T
Doing my best, as best I can.
I’ve recently sent off my manuscript for Moonlight Dreams to an editor I like and admire. I’m hoping it will be well received. Hell, I’m hoping she loves it so much she wants to pee her pants.
But then, I took another look at it, again, and I’ve found ten (or twenty!) errors. You know, little things like misspelled words, typos and such, and I think Crap, Crap, Crap, why did I do that?
And then I sit back, take a deep breath – to keep for throwing up – and remind myself that what’s done is done. And it all okay. God still loves me, even if no one else does, TYG.
If the editor likes the story enough, she’ll want to work with me. If she doesn’t (like the story) the lack of those ten (or twenty) typos isn’t going to change her mind. At least I hope not.
I mean, really, if the likeability of my story rests on the absence of any and all typos, I’m toast, or perhaps moldy old Swiss cheese, turning green and full of holes. Woe unto me.
But! If she really likes my story, and can get past my tendency to make a few mistakes, (God bless my human soul) then we’re golden. Every day I get up and try to do my best. Some days are way better than others. Some are like sucking lard through a straw. Some days I shine. And every day is another chance to try and do my best. Not Mark Twain’s best, or Suzanne Brockmann’s, or Monica McCarthy’s, or so&so XXX’s best, [fill in blank with your favorite and bestest author]. I can only do my best.
And if I love myself and the world around me – the world will love me back. So here’s to loving me and loving you. Cheers and Enjoy always, T
