RELAX, PUT YOUR FEET UP, AND BREATHE ~ LUCINDA RACE #RomanceGem

Hey, all! I've got one gem of an author here for ya! That's right, one of my Romance Gems blog friends. Please welcome Lucinda Race who's here today to tell us a little bit about herself and her newest release, BREATHE. Let's start by asking her a few questions...

How do you balance the demands of your everyday life and your writing life? 

I struggle with balance as I'm all in when it comes to life. When I'm writing a new book it's always on my mind so I might not be in front of a keyboard but I'm still working, like pieces of a puzzle. Everyday life does require my attention as life is hectic but writing it my relaxation, well and reading too.


Where do you live? Where would you love to live? 

I live in western Massachusetts and I do enjoy traveling but to coin a phrase there's no place like home, other than I'd like to live near a beautiful lake in our area. Maybe someday.

What was the last song you listened to in your digital library? 

Drake White- Making me look good again - it actually is a song I use when writing my male hero in my upcoming August release, Blush book 3 Crescent Lake Winery

What one thing (modern convenience) could you not live without? 

My laptop - I have NO idea how writers did edits with typewriters or gasp long hand - here I just cut and retype and the offending words are poof gone like the wind.

What is something you struggle with when you write? 

Having enough time to write, it's like when I read a book I love to read until the book is done, same thing when I write I hate to leave the characters, its like walking out on a fascinating conversation and not hearing the best parts.

I hear you on that! I hate leaving my characters in a predicament, because, you know, they need me, and I really hate leaving them in the middle of a sex scene. That's just cruel! ;)

Well, thank you for sharing yourself with us, Lucinda! Now let's hear a little more about BREATHE.

Blurb ~

Romance and fine wine both need time to breathe…

Her family’s successful winery business in the Finger Lakes region of New York should have gone to Tessa Price. She’d always dreamed of running the winery, but when the “prodigal son” returns to take up the reins, she boldly strikes out on her own, purchasing Sand Creek Winery—a cash-strapped competitor—right out from under her family. She can forge her own destiny, using her marketing skills and big plans to bring new life to the winery. But first she has a proposition for the sexy previous owner. And he’s likely to hate it.

Kevin “Max” Maxwell would never have willingly sold his winery to anyone named “Price.” Family always comes first, and if paying for his sister’s cancer treatment cost him his business, it was worth it. But when the new owner offers him a one year contract to stay on as general manager, with a possible bonus, he really can’t afford to turn it down. He can ignore the effect her deep brown eyes and heart-shaped face have on his senses for a year, can’t he?

Relationships, like slowly ripening vineyards, take time. But Max has been keeping a secret from Tessa, one that could destroy her hopes for their future. Will a terrible accident force Tessa and Max to face how much they have to lose, or tear apart their budding relationship forever? Sometimes a romance is like a fine wine. To be its best, it just needs time to breathe.

Here's where to purchase BREATHE:

https://books2read.com/u/3JXYeK 

Here's where to find Lucinda: 

https://twitter.com/LucindaRace

FB https://www.facebook.com/LucindaRaceAuthor/

https://www.instagram.com/lucindaraceauthor/

Goodreads – Lucinda Race- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10174985.Lucinda_Race

Book + Main Lucinda Race https://bookandmainbites.com/search/Lucinda%20Race

Youtube Lucinda Race https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lucinda+race+author

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/lucindaraceauthor/

Universal Link https://books2read.com/ap/xyYO2g/Lucinda-Race

Bookbub Lucinda Race https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucinda-race

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Lucinda-Race/e/B00Q0MMNUM

Lucinda’s Heart Racers Reader Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/118597305361578

https://lucindarace.com

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/feed/6

Thanks for joining us! Have a great day!

GETTING BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS ~ AN INTERVIEW WITH JAMES MOUSHON

Welcome back to my blog! It's been a bit since I've had someone on, but I want to start posting again, without burning you or myself out. We're going to start things off with a prolific writer, James Moushon, who is also a huge supporter of other authors. He recently surveyed a group of his fellow authors about marketing and shared the results. You can find that here:

7/2/2020 - Authors: The Task of Finding Readers – A Study - https://bit.ly/2CxTAWf 

I asked James a few questions about it and his other experiences. 

Hi, James! Welcome to the blog. I'm so glad to have you here. So, what inspired you to write the author survey you recently published?

It's all about paying back. I have received so much help over the years in writing articles (starting in 1993) and books. I decided in 2012 to start a blog to help other authors. Recently, I have been helping several authors get started when they were having trouble finding readers or any niche for that matter.

I reached out to the 400+ authors that I have interviewed and asked them how they were handling the problem. Great ideas. So, I shared them with my blog followers.

I have done many studies with other authors (almost a hundred articles), all trying to help authors with the digital world of publishing.


What are some of the topics of these other studies?

Because of the interviews I’ve done with authors, I have a database full of knowledge that I share in my posts. My Author Spotlight interviews concentrate on publishing and marketing, not like the traditional ones that feature the stories, characters, and plots.

My other studies also include cover design, book launches, using links, rendering the eBook, and certain content issues. For a complete list of the studies, check out my website: JAMES MOUSHON - MYSTERY WRITER / BOOK INDUSTRY BLOGGER - https://jamesmoushonauthor.net/


So, would you say then that finding readers is one of the biggest problems authors face these days?

Finding readers is a big challenge. The indie authors are on their own. At first, the easy entry into publishing their novel was appealing. Authors that had been rejected by publishing outfits now have been given an opportunity. Unlike bookstore shelves, there is no limit to the number of eBooks for readers to find.

Then the problems started. Authors who are on their own are finding out this is a business, not just writing. Some say the eBook market is saturated, especially in certain genres. (300k new authors a year)

Some authors try to hide from the audience. No social media. No contact point like website forms or giving the reader their email address. Just set up a separate email account, aside from their personal account, and form a relationship. These readers will be first to buy your next book.

Another problem is the search engines that readers use to find your work is changing. They are changing from a display of information to an advertising platform.

For example, if you enter the exact name of the finding reader post mentioned above, you get a hijacked version of the post that Norton says is an unsafe site to open. After going through four pages of the search results, there is no mention of the post.

Well that's aggravating. How have you seen the industry change since you first got into it?

I started in the industry on the technical side in the early 1990s. I was involved in the conversion of paper to digital, like business forms and books. Back then Adobe’s PDF files were the standard and it looked like Microsoft’s Reader could take the lead. Then Amazon jumped into the industry and things changed forever.

I attended my first Book Expo in 2003. (still have the manual) Book festivals are still the best firsthand knowledge of how the industry is changing. I have attended the Tucson Festival of Books since 2013. Lots of great authors. Their presentations and offerings are changing each year.

With the bookstore's decline and the Amazon dominance of the marketing place, things have changed. The top publishers are even doing less marketing for the established authors.

There is more to the game now. 

What would you say has been the most successful marketing strategy you have used?

Social media is my main marketing strategy. I have established several blogs and my website where I promote my books and short stories. My marketing effort is focused on trying to get readers to go back to the blogs.

Now one of the hot marketing tools is to get involved with other authors in the same genre and publish a collection of books. The use of eBooks allows them to publish at a much lower cost. Also, it exposes one of the author’s readers to the other author's novels.

What keeps you doing what you're doing?

It is all about payback. I’m trying to help authors get exposure and learn from other authors who have gone through the process. 

What do see as the future of indie publishing and marketing?

It will become much more competitive than it is now. The authors will have to get into groups and build a relationship and a following.

I try regularly to publish a post on my blog, showcasing multiple authors and their latest books, and run it through social media. I get a lot of views on my blogs which gives the authors great exposure to readers in their genre. (1.3M views)


What is NEXT for you?

a. A study on How to Setup a Book Collection with Other Authors and now that helps in the future marketing.

b. I’m writing another Jonathon Stone Mystery Novel (WIP) – ‘Out of Time’


Thanks for the interview. This was very nice of you.

My Website: James Moushon – Mystery Writer / Industry Blogger


Helping Authors with Book Industry Blogs

Indie Author’s Corner

HBS Author’s Spotlight

HBS Mystery Reader’s Circle

~ Take a Waltz Down INSPIRATION STREET! ~

Please welcome former columnist turned author Darrell Laurant to the spotlight!


I first “met” Darrell when I ran across his blog, “Snowflakes in a Blizzard.” Darrell, tell us what you mean by that title.

It has to do with the fact that there are currently more than 15 million books listed on Amazon. I was standing at my living room window in Lake George, NY one day, watching it snow (it snows a lot up here), when the thought occurred to me that getting noticed as a new writer these days is like a snowflake trying to stand out in a blizzard. Hence the name for a free book marketing service that I started to help other authors who are struggling to have their work recognized and appreciated.


That analogy is so apt! When did your love for writing start?

In the womb, probably -- my mother is an excellent writer. When I was about 8, I mimeographed a little newspaper and sold it around my neighborhood for a nickel. I suspect people bought it because they thought it was cute. I'm no longer cute, but still writing.


That sounds just like the way Stephen King got his start! What is something you struggle with when you write?


How much is too much and how little is too little. As a longtime journalist, I'm very conscious of the need to engage readers without boring or tiring them, and that's a fine line to walk.


Indeed! Give us a brief glimpse at your road to publication. 

It was a bit unorthodox. With my first book, "Even Here," I went to an acquaintance who ran a printing company and asked if he would print my book with nothing upfront and let me pay him back out of the money it brought in. To my amazement, he agreed, and the book sold over 3,000 copies in just a local area. (He got repaid).



That's the first time I received that answer! I know you are retired now, but could you tell us a bit about what it was like being a columnist?


I had a wonderful job with a small daily in Lynchburg, VA -- so wonderful that I passed on a couple of offers from larger papers and stayed there more than 30 years. As a columnist, I generally produced stories that fell somewhere in between editorials and news. I could write about people just because they were interesting, and not because they'd done anything newsworthy in the previous five minutes. And because I was the only writer on staff with a photo next to my column, I wound up as a sort of mini-celebrity in the community (mixed blessing). My editors gave me a lot of leeway, and at four times a week, I came up with over 5,000 columns during my career, trying never to repeat any of them.



Wow! I'm sure that was a challenge! Do you have a job/hobby outside of writing? What is it and how does it mesh with your writing?

I also run the aforementioned Snowflakes in a Blizzard (snowflakesarise.wordpress.com), which meshes quite well.


Do you have any other hobbies that you’d like to share?


Reading, traveling, playing pool, finding new music to listen to and participating in a couple of fantasy sports leagues.

Ugh! My husband does fantasy sports, too. He really enjoys them! Where do you live?

In Lake George, NY, which is beautiful but a bit cold -- winter comes early and spring comes late. Maybe someday we can afford to flee to a warmer refuge from December through March. I make a better snowbird than penguin.


Ha! Love that! I'd rather be a snowbird, too! Share with us a little about your family. Married? Kids? Pets?

My wife Gail and I are both Upstate New York natives and have been married for more than 40 years. We have a daughter in Lynchburg, a son in Colorado and four grandchildren. We also love dogs and have three, a German shepherd and two malte-poo "ankle biters." They're more fun to watch than TV.



Which leads right into my next question. If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose, and why? 

A tiger, because I'm not as assertive as I should be. Tigers are very assertive.


What was one of the best Christmas presents you ever received?

My Kindle, on which I am currently juggling about 12 books.


Me, too. I didn't think I would like it, because I was more old school and into paper books, but when you can hold dozen of books in one hand, what's not to like? What CD is in your CD player right now?


"Bittertown," by Lori McKenna, whom I just recently discovered. Like Neil Young, Steve Earle, Springsteen and others, she has kind of a quirky voice, but it works.


Name your favorite children's story.

The Secret Garden.


Interesting... What was your nickname growing up or now?

In Lynchburg, it was "Durl," because that's what "Darrell" sounds like with a southern accent.


Reminds me of the Bob Newhart Show when there was Larry, his brother Darrell, and his other brother Darrell. 

What is your biggest pet peeve?


1. Failure to communicate. It irks me, for instance, when I send out an article query and never get a response. No matter how busy an editor claims to be, how much time does it take to hit "reply" and say either "Would like to hear more" or "Thanks, but not for us"? If it's the latter, you can then move on to someone else, instead of being on permanent hold.


2. (A tie). The fact that it's become incredibly difficult to contact with a real human being on the phone. The automated systems that confront me rarely address whatever problem or issue I may have, and so often there is no alternative. I guess that also goes back to communication.


Yes. Communication is key. Thanks for joining us today! Now let's hear a little bit more about INSPIRATION STREET...

Blurb ~

This book describes some of the intriguing people who have lived in the 1300 and 1400 blocks of Pierce Street in Lynchburg, Virginia, but it is also more than that. Through what they accomplished during the days of segregation and beyond, these individuals represent 100 years of African-American history in microcosm.

Author Bio ~

Darrell Laurant is a veteran of more than 40 years in journalism, serving as a sportswriter, reporter and columnist for newspapers in South Carolina and Virginia. Inspiration Street is his fourth book, following Even Here: A Small Virginia Community, a Violent Decade (1992); A City Unto Itself: Lynchburg VA in the 20th Century (1997), and The Kudzu Kid, his first novel, published in 2014. A history major at Belmont Abbey College near Charlotte, North Carolina, he has long been intrigued by the effects of the past on the present and future. The issue of race, especially in the South, has been of particular interest. Laurant retired from the newspaper business in 2013 in order to devote more time to his other writing. He now lives and writes in Lake George, New York. He and his wife Gail have two children—Jeremy Laurant, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Cindee Layne, of Lynchburg Virginia—and four grandchildren.


You can purchase INSPIRATION STREET here:


http://amzn.com/193820526X

~ IN THE EYES of Film Critic/Author Sylv Jenkins! ~

Please help me welcome author and film critic Sylv Jenkins to the blog!


Tell me, Sylv, when did your love for writing start?

I’ve been writing short stories about 20 years now, just for me to escape into. I had three short stories published in a book with some other authors about 9 years ago, which was out for three months as we were raising money for a charity. Now that was a great feeling.

I stopped writing for a few years and then I started it back up again last year where I wrote my first novella. When I finished I put it aside until recently when I had a stern talk with myself about getting it published, so I’m hoping this year will be the year, although after reading the first few chapters I have changed quite a bit of it.



Do you have a job outside of writing? What is it and how does it mesh with your writing?

I’m self employed running Film Festivals around Hampshire, when films are submitted, I will watch and make a decision on whether or not to show at our festivals. I also critique and review as well. My other job is the best, I home educate my 9 year old daughter. We took her out of school May 2015 due to her being ill. She lost so much confidence in herself and she couldn’t catch up with the class. Today she is my bubbly little girl full of life and learning so much.



I'm glad your daughter is better! As a film critic, I'm sure watching all those films adds to your writing. Do you have hobbies that you’d like to share?

Spending time with my family, reading, writing, and watching films.


Where do you live? Where would you love to live?

I live in the UK, but I would love to live somewhere exotic, I can dream :)



Share with us a little about your family. Married? Kids? Pets?

I live with my partner, Joe and my three wonderful kids, Helyn 17, Rhys 14 and Jayne 9. We have 6 guinea pigs (well they are really Helyn’s but they are gorgeous and you will often find me out in the garage talking with them) and we are looking at getting some fish.



That's a lot of guinea pigs! What was your nickname growing up or now?

People could never spell my name right, Sylvia would become Slyvia or Silver at one point. So I was know as Sly until about 10 years ago and people called me Sylv which has stuck with me every since.


Who was your hero when you were a child, and what did you do to be like them?

My dad was my hero, all through my childhood he was very ill, but I can always remember how strong he was and he always kept going no matter what right up until he died just aged 50.

Sounds like quite a guy! Thanks for joining us, Sylv, and best wishes for IN THE EYES!

In The Eyes is about twins who have special powers that ignite when they reach a certain age.

~ It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Suuuper Kam! Writer, Blogger, Reviewer, She Does It All ~

Today I have Kameron Brook in the spotlight, author, reviewer, blogger. (You can catch her on her blog, Kam's Place, at: http://www.superkambrook.com/)

To start off with, tell us a little bit about yourself.

A few years ago, before I dedicated all my time promoting others, I used to write erotic short stories. Through Razor’s Edge Press, I had published four sexy tales. On my own, I published two more deliciously naughty stories. The stories through REP are now no longer in print; however, you can still purchase Dreams Really Do Come True and Naughty Delights at Amazon. (To find out more, visit Kam's Place http://www.superkambrook.com/)



Do you have a job outside of writing? What is it and how does it mesh with your writing?


I’m a full time mom to two great kids – a six-year-old daughter and a fifteen-year-old son. I know what you’re thinking, that’s one heckuva age gap. Yeah, but I think of it this way. When he’s sixteen, he will aid me in chauffeuring duties. For now, I’m balancing mom duties, home, and reading all the wonderful books, which appear, on my blog. Good thing I excel at multitasking.



Good thing indeed! What made you switch from writing to reviewing and blogging?

Writing was fun but I got more enjoyment in helping others achieve their goals. I know how hard it is for most authors to get their work noticed, so if my blog assists them in reaching new readers, gaining more sales, then my job is done.


On the behalf of writers everywhere--thank you! What is the hardest thing about reviewing/blogging?


I’ve literally read well over a thousand books – which means I’ve had my share of hits and misses. Man, I hate when I have to write about a book that fell flat for me. Bad critiques are hard to write and harder for an author to read. That’s why in every review, I will write at least one positive point.


That is difficult! Your blog, Kam’s Place (http://www.superkambrook.com/ ) has a bookshelf with loads of books on it as the background, which I feel is very appropriate for you! You zipped through reading several of my books at a rate that I found astounding. How many books do you read in a month’s time? Do you tend to gravitate to certain genres? 

Yeah, I’ve had many people comment on how fast I’ve read their book(s). I even had an author quiz me on his book because he didn’t believe I could’ve possibly finished it in a day. I won’t mention his name but I’m proud to announce I passed his test with flying colors. Now, he knows why I go by the twitter handle @superkambrook.


As for part two of the question, I love a vast array of genres. I pretty much read whatever lands in my greedy hands. Romance, mystery, comics – don’t care, just hand me a book and watch my smile bloom.

Strangely enough, I met another fast reader recently and he said the same thing, that people (teachers, specifically) questioned how much he was comprehending if he was reading that fast. But his brain, like yours, just worked at super speed. For someone like me, whose brain seems to work in slow motion (it gets there eventually, but it takes a while) that is phenomenal! But not only is your talent impressive, it is also helpful for other readers. For those of us who love to read but find it hard to squeeze in the time, it's important that the books we read be quality books. So it is great to have someone like you who can cover a lot of ground and lead us in the right direction when we go to choose a new read. 

We'll finish with a few questions that are just for fun. Name your favorite children's story.

I didn’t have a favorite. Even back then, I’d read whatever I could find. Not surprising, literature class was my favorite subject.


Yeah. Not really a fair question, is it? Who was your hero when you were a child, and what did you do to be like them?


My mom is most definitely my hero. She raised three kids (alone) while still attempting to master the English language. She showed me how to be a strong, independent woman. She also taught me the value of a dollar and how to appreciate everything I have in life. She believes in “paying it forward” and so do I. And now, so do my kids. 

Your mom sounds like a special woman. What are your three favorite smells?

I love the smell of clean sheets, a new book, and my husband. No matter what cologne or body wash he uses, I just have to sniff him when we hug/snuggle/or make love. That’s not odd, right?

No, not at all. Thanks for joining us today, Kam! Again, readers, if you want to find out more about Kam, her writing and/or reviewing work, go to Kam's Place (http://www.superkambrook.com/) and tell her M.J. sent ya! ;) 

~ FIND THE MAGIC with Alicia Dean! ~

Award winning author and editor, Alicia Dean, shares her process of creating a story, along with bonus tips in Find The Magic – How to Plot a Story in 10 Easy Steps.

*** ON SALE - 99¢ through November 15, 2014 *** 

How to write a novel? That is the question. There are probably as many answers to that question as there are people who ask it.

Wanting to write and actually doing it are two very different things. I am well acquainted with the sometimes grueling process of churning out a story. Over the years, I have tried many methods for creating and completing manuscripts, and have tweaked and honed it down to a workable (for me) process.

Using specific examples from one of my own novels, Without Mercy, I share my method in this mini how to book. The first eight steps actually deal with plotting while the last two are designed to help expand your outline into a well-developed draft. There is no one, perfect way to create a story, but there will be a method, or methods that work for you. I’m not sure if this is the one, but it works for me. Only you can decide if it also works for you. Fingers crossed that it does!

Buy FIND THE MAGIC ~ HOW TO PLOT A STORY IN 10 EASY STEPS here:

Kindle:

http://amzn.com/B00OR0IY0W

Nook:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/find-the-magic-how-to-plot-a-story-in-10-easy-steps-alicia-dean/1120638115?ean=2940150382169

Find Alicia Here:

www.AliciaDean.com

Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.

In addition to being an author of more than twenty published works, Alicia is both a freelance editor and an editor for The Wild Rose Press, under the name, Ally Robertson, in their suspense line.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.



Find Alicia here:

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean