We will be in Lompoc this Saturday morning, which is expected to be a perfect day with a high of 74 degrees and nothing but sunshine, particularly inside THE BOOKSTORE where Leslie Sevier, et al, will be their usual cheery selves, meeting your every need. I will be there as well, with my full line … Continue reading LOMPOC, CITY OF FLOWERS
ideas
The Importance of Research in Fiction
I am an advocate of research for any book genre. Fiction is no exception. I can not think of a form of fiction where research is not desirable, even for works in which the entire content is a figment of the author’s imagination. Any story must be plausible. Most readers desire to connect the dots … Continue reading The Importance of Research in Fiction
How To Find My Book
While the title of this post may seem self serving, it is so only by way of introducing a dilemma common to both readers and authors. It is the opposite ends of the same stick. Readers want to know how to find the kind of book that will particularly engage them, and authors want to … Continue reading How To Find My Book
Reviewers: Part of the Team
At first the argument suggesting authors should not read their reviews was compelling. Justified from an emotional point of view, this sage advice was intended to protect authors from ultimately meaningless harshness and even cruelty - after all, there are a lot of nutcases out there - or so the reasoning went. Indeed, a few … Continue reading Reviewers: Part of the Team
Marketing On Radio
This past week has been busy. To gain visibility for my latest Zack Tolliver, FBI series novel Canaan’s Secret, I took a guest spot on two radio shows, one a blog talk radio show and the other an old fashioned over-the-airwaves local radio show live in a studio. The effectiveness of both for my … Continue reading Marketing On Radio
Pushing Paperbacks
Up to now, e-books have been my Nirvana, or at least my focus. But, as mentioned in previous posts, categories on Amazon (really the only place to sell e-books) have become very crowded. In my chosen category books that had resided comfortably in the middle of the top one hundred now struggle to climb higher … Continue reading Pushing Paperbacks
Six Ways to Start Your Creative Juices Flowing
I share with you some of the my ways to overcome the curse of Creativity Deprivation. 1. Exercise. I run. Not every day, but frequently. And I find that plots and scenarios pop into my head unbidden as I jog along (I don't use an iPod). But I don't believe that creative resurgence is limited … Continue reading Six Ways to Start Your Creative Juices Flowing