Reader Connection

First, I want to thank all of you for the tremendous reception you've shown for my new release. THE SACRIFICE scared me just a little because it was different from either of my earlier two books. Thank you for the warm reception.

To celebrate it going live, I put RED TIDE up for free for three days (ending Thursday, 10/24) and THE MISSINGS at a bargain price of only $1.99 which will end Friday.

And here's this odd little thing I'm working through… when I look at the numbers, the first thing that hits me is their scope. Through Amazon, my books are being read around the world. And then there's this: readers who I may never meet will read my words, and I will in some way be connected to them. Whether they like my books or not (and oh, I want them to like my books), I have connected to someone living in another country, another state, even down the street. It's a one-on-one, almost intimate connection. That's a little freaky.

It's a wonderful thing to work through.

And it's all good with friends.

FEAR

'Tis the season, right?

I'm talking about scary stuff today at Crime Fiction Collective. There are so many different kinds…



It's all better with friends.

Photo Shoot

When I published my first book, I set the timer on the camera and scuttled to the sofa. It's not a bad picture at all (and continues to be one of LoML's favorites).  With the second book, LoML took a few shots and knew immediately what the right choice was. I agreed.

But for this one? I decided I needed to step up my game. Here's what I have to say: if you are in a position to go "pro", don't hesitate.

Thursday morning I went for my first professional photo shoot that wasn't for LoML. It was for a headshot for the cover of my new book, The Sacrifice, scheduled for release on October 22nd.

I'm almost forty years older than I was when I did that first one, where I donned enormous earrings and sexy lingerie. (It was all GP, in case you're wondering.)

And to top off the age thing, I woke up Thursday morning not feeling on top of my game. I was "off." Not in the moment by any stretch, with a stomach that was queasy and a breathing pattern that made me dizzy. And a stiffness that was unusual even for me.

With everything that could go wrong going wrong (I left the house that morning with only a general idea as to where I was going, and the GPS in my car just laughed at my efforts) the professionalism of one photographer made it all okay, and made it happen. The photos could have all been horrible, but she both instructed and inspired and I'm happy.


Kelly Weaver Photography (recommended to me by authors Shannon Baker and Jeanne Stein) did a bang-up job. It's scary to think what might have happened had I been on top of things.

Oh, and.. LoML has chosen the photo for the new book. Gotta love it.


It's all better with friends.

Multi-Cultural Characters

Today at Crime Fiction Collective, I'm talking about writing multi-culturally. If a writer hasn't been intimately involved in another culture, how do they develop a character from that culture?

It's all better with friends.