12 photos, no text. So go download it and share it and enjoy the flowers. 2 days only because the 3rd day seems like overkill.
Apple Blossoms Freebie Weekend Is Here
12 photos, no text. So go download it and share it and enjoy the flowers. 2 days only because the 3rd day seems like overkill.
Apple Blossoms in Spring
Yes, the Apple Blossom book is live at Amazon. I'll eventually get around to putting it in Select and then having a free weekend. 12 images of apple blossoms.
Wouldn't this be a good gift book for someone's birthday? It costs less than a greeting card and there's more to it.
Wouldn't this be a good gift book for someone's birthday? It costs less than a greeting card and there's more to it.
I know it had to be someone who comes here--I even think I know her name--bought a copy of Unheard. You have no idea how touched I am by your enthusiasm and support. Thank you.
I'm a little bit stalled in my planning for Parked. I know you want bulletins--maybe I should be tweeting but I don't have a twitter account. I'm trying to think how to compress what was supposed to be 3 books into 1. It's a question of their timeline.
Yes, I uploaded Unheard to Amazon this morning so with luck it'll be available tomorrow sometime.
Unheard
Yes, it's done. As done as it's going to be for a while. I expect there is a space missing somewhere even though I instituted a thorough search for it!
I didn't upload it to Amazon yet, but will do that tomorrow. It should be live at BN tomorrow as they're pretty quick about it.
Here's the blurb
Renie Lake is the product of a broken home and of the streets. She learned to be tough. After a drug bust, Renie’s taken from her mother and goes to live with her father. Life is just as dangerous but in unexpected ways. Then she meets Jan who is deaf. He communicates easily even though he can't hear. Renie can't communicate at all even though she can.
I didn't upload it to Amazon yet, but will do that tomorrow. It should be live at BN tomorrow as they're pretty quick about it.
Here's the blurb
Renie Lake is the product of a broken home and of the streets. She learned to be tough. After a drug bust, Renie’s taken from her mother and goes to live with her father. Life is just as dangerous but in unexpected ways. Then she meets Jan who is deaf. He communicates easily even though he can't hear. Renie can't communicate at all even though she can.
Victor Vasnetsov
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| left to right--Dobrynya Nikitich, Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich |
Very famous Russian painting. Why would I show it to you?
(I feel a little like Gilderoy Lockhart but it's not about launching my own hair care products and my favorite color is not lavender.)
Correct answer in comments wins...a copy of Unheard.
Apple Blossoms
Last month the apple blossoms were in bloom so I was out there taking photos of them. When open they're quite white but when in bud, they're quite pink, so that was eye-catching.
I decided to gather 12 of those together and do another essay.
Photography is a lot like writing for me. It's about what seems right to me rather than what's correct. As with writing, I like to have a focal point. What is the importance of what's in front of you? What should you be paying attention to?
It's a little like reverse stage magic where the intention is to distract you, to pull you away from what you should be looking at---the magic at work. I want to push the viewer/audience/reader to what I want them to see.
Whether they see it or not, I'll probably never know. And the great part is they may see something I don't.
So next month I'll put that up for a freebie weekend and you can enjoy photos of the apple blossoms if you're interested.
I decided to gather 12 of those together and do another essay.
Photography is a lot like writing for me. It's about what seems right to me rather than what's correct. As with writing, I like to have a focal point. What is the importance of what's in front of you? What should you be paying attention to?
It's a little like reverse stage magic where the intention is to distract you, to pull you away from what you should be looking at---the magic at work. I want to push the viewer/audience/reader to what I want them to see.
Whether they see it or not, I'll probably never know. And the great part is they may see something I don't.
So next month I'll put that up for a freebie weekend and you can enjoy photos of the apple blossoms if you're interested.
The Buttercup Book
There are so many lovely buttercups in the area now, I couldn't resist taking portraits of them. There are 12 and no text, not a even a poem. It will be free this weekend and I encourage everyone who wants to look at some flowers to download it.
I made the images as large as possible, still it's a confining size.
I call this one the Buttercup Overlord but it's not in the book.
It would be nice to have photographic essays available as ebooks. There's a guy whose work I've seen on Flickr and he's terrific. I'd pay (a little) to have 12 of his photos on my reader. Maybe I'll start a trend!
Yes, Unheard is almost done. Yes I'm thinking about Parked. Yes, I read the new reviews for BA and they were lovely, I was very touched, so thank you.
I made the images as large as possible, still it's a confining size.
I call this one the Buttercup Overlord but it's not in the book.
It would be nice to have photographic essays available as ebooks. There's a guy whose work I've seen on Flickr and he's terrific. I'd pay (a little) to have 12 of his photos on my reader. Maybe I'll start a trend!
Yes, Unheard is almost done. Yes I'm thinking about Parked. Yes, I read the new reviews for BA and they were lovely, I was very touched, so thank you.
Unbelievable Offer
The first person to leave me a comment can have the villain in Unheard named after them.
Limited time offer since the book is almost done.
Limited time offer since the book is almost done.
Bad Apple #4--Parked
No, I did not start the writing but I have been thinking. And I know some of you are really sticking with me and believe that I will do this. Hang with me so I can satisfy us all with the final installment and that will take time.
Just remember--if you can--that only a few short years ago readers had to wait for years for a series to be completed. Hey, I'm still waiting for Book #2 in the I Am Number Four series. And that doesn't come out until Aug. We waited more than a decade for Harry Potter. Digital gives you the illusion that good writing can happen fast. It can't. Good storytelling takes time. I apologize for the wait, but I can't do this unless I'm going to do the best job I can for both of us.
Patience is a virtue so please be virtuous. ;-)
I can give you some hints. Truly and Neal will make an album. It will be called Parked By The Side Of The Road and that's for a reason. Tru will feel he has competition for Neal while he's working in LA. Tru will make a stunning announcement. And Joe will continue to be a very loose and dangerous cannon.
That's it. Now you really have to wait. This is not the cover but a test.
Just remember--if you can--that only a few short years ago readers had to wait for years for a series to be completed. Hey, I'm still waiting for Book #2 in the I Am Number Four series. And that doesn't come out until Aug. We waited more than a decade for Harry Potter. Digital gives you the illusion that good writing can happen fast. It can't. Good storytelling takes time. I apologize for the wait, but I can't do this unless I'm going to do the best job I can for both of us.
Patience is a virtue so please be virtuous. ;-)
I can give you some hints. Truly and Neal will make an album. It will be called Parked By The Side Of The Road and that's for a reason. Tru will feel he has competition for Neal while he's working in LA. Tru will make a stunning announcement. And Joe will continue to be a very loose and dangerous cannon.
That's it. Now you really have to wait. This is not the cover but a test.
By Force of Will
I'm sorry I haven't be around much in the last month, I've been working on the chain gang!
I finished a short project that I didn't mention here for a couple reasons. I'm working on a new series but I went back to an old book thinking I could just reformat it and I'd be good to go. I suppose that marks me as a real optimist. That's good to know about me!
Here's the hot off the computer book du jour. By Force of Will.
I finished a short project that I didn't mention here for a couple reasons. I'm working on a new series but I went back to an old book thinking I could just reformat it and I'd be good to go. I suppose that marks me as a real optimist. That's good to know about me!
Here's the hot off the computer book du jour. By Force of Will.
Blurb:
She was given drugs before she was born. So was her brother. It killed him. Delaney Fairchild wishes it had killed her when she arrives in her real now, 30 years in the future. She’s supposed to become a hyperop because everything is all about the long war, a thousand years long with no damn end in sight.
She was given drugs before she was born. So was her brother. It killed him. Delaney Fairchild wishes it had killed her when she arrives in her real now, 30 years in the future. She’s supposed to become a hyperop because everything is all about the long war, a thousand years long with no damn end in sight.
Delaney doesn’t know what the freak hyperop is except she
feels like a freak in a freakish, backward world.
This is the story of the resistance. Some people still believe life has value and
freedom is worth fighting for. And some
people believe those people should be dead.
Yes, that is in fact Blue Raja. I loved that title but someone said to me something like "I didn't have any interest in reading that because there's some comic book that mentions those two words together..." I'm not sure, still, what that's all about. But okay. Rename it, give it a new cover that hopefully has nothing to do with another comic book that I've never heard of. I just know Batman, Superman, Archie. I haven't read comic books since I was about 9. I understand they're popular but they're not written for me, I'm pretty sure about that.
Maybe this will interest some readers who weren't interested before.
Maybe this will interest some readers who weren't interested before.
Her Cold Kiss, Live and Possibly Dead
Yay, Amazon. This is the first time you published something faster than BN. Well done, you! So Her Cold Kiss is live at Amazon right as I type.
It's not intended to be a secret, but I did use a pen name on the book because it's not for the same audience as Dream Horse readers. It was a little bit of a difficult decision to make and I hope it works.
Here's the final cover.
Taking the risk of spoiling the story's journey, here's the last line
"Her lips were so cold, it was like kissing a dead thing."
It's not intended to be a secret, but I did use a pen name on the book because it's not for the same audience as Dream Horse readers. It was a little bit of a difficult decision to make and I hope it works.
Here's the final cover.
Taking the risk of spoiling the story's journey, here's the last line
"Her lips were so cold, it was like kissing a dead thing."
Her Cold Kiss
Or at least that's what I think it will be titled by the time I publish it. There more work to writing a book, but just because you got to the end doesn't mean you're done so there's always quite a bit of work still to be accomplished. Sometimes what you thought in the beginning changes by the end so you have to make it all compatible.
I've been working on a cover. This is the best place to try it out even though Photoshop is lovely, you want to see the art in a less kind venue.
Here's the blurb
I've been working on a cover. This is the best place to try it out even though Photoshop is lovely, you want to see the art in a less kind venue.
Here's the blurb
From the first moment she saw him, she knew she loved him, would always love him, had always loved him. They came from two worlds but he was as perfect for her as she was for him. She loved music and he was a musician. He had eyes so beautiful it made her catch her breath. She longed to be caressed by his hands, to be touched by him, to be loved by him. Her life became about one thing—making sure they were together always.
She would do anything to make it happen.
And if she was his high school English teacher, why should that matter? This time they would get it right. This was a love for the ages.
Freebie Weekend The Missed Wish
My novella, The Missed Wish, is having a free weekend. Here's the link. THE MISSED WISH
Download away. If not for Chris Westphal, it wouldn't exist. This is what happens when you carry an idea around for ten years. It becomes so heavy the handles start to rip off the tote bag and you either drop it or you write it.
Here's the blurb:
“Greg Rydell loved being married so much, he did it twice. The only problem was instead of sequentially, he did it concurrently.”
You’d love to have this said about your father on national television, too, right? No, you’d hate having a bigamist as your father and so did I.
I tossed a coin into the fountain and wished for my family, suddenly I had two of them. I knew when I went back to grab my quarter, I had gotten the wrong coin. Now I was getting someone else’s wish—to be famous.
All this insanity was played out in front of Mill Crocker, the captain of the school polo team and the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen or expected to see. Of course the humiliation didn’t didn’t stop at keeling over in the dead faint when the news about the Rydell Family 2.0 was revealed, or when I went on a stupid talk show to tell my father exactly what I thought of him or being chased by reporters on my first date with Mill. Embarrassment lurked everywhere waiting for me.
Somehow it didn’t bother Mill. He liked me because I was fearless on a horse and could ride as well as he did.
Mill didn’t take my wishing seriously but I did. I wished I could be with him forever.
The way things were going, that was stacking up to be my missed wish unless I got the right coin back. But how was I going to find it among the thousands in the fountain?
Bad Apple Back at BN
This is something you didn't know about me--so few people do, actually. In my astrological chart, my sun is in the 5th house. That's the mark of a gambler. Not that I believe any of that ;-)
So I gambled that Bad Apple 1 would be served well by having a stint in the Kindle Select Program. Some people experience great success with it and the freebie giveaways. I can't say it did anything for The Apples and I am very glad to say Bad Apple 1 is live again at Barnes & Noble. This way people can read the series from the beginning as they should.
So I gambled that Bad Apple 1 would be served well by having a stint in the Kindle Select Program. Some people experience great success with it and the freebie giveaways. I can't say it did anything for The Apples and I am very glad to say Bad Apple 1 is live again at Barnes & Noble. This way people can read the series from the beginning as they should.
The Ice Cream Parlor
This modest little book on the history of the ice cream parlor with a collection of vintage recipes is having a free weekend at Amazon, so go on over and download it. There are some photos so it's a good way to pass 20 minutes. There's always the possibility you'll find a dessert you'd like to try.
Gee, I totally forgot I made a book trailer for it! (I am concentrating on the new book)
I can't seem to get it to embed but here's the link Ice Cream Parlor Book Trailer
Gee, I totally forgot I made a book trailer for it! (I am concentrating on the new book)
I can't seem to get it to embed but here's the link Ice Cream Parlor Book Trailer
You Guys Are Too Cute!
And dear and precious! If I could, I would give you a hug and some cookies.
libralionmjb and Keanse19, thank you for the reviews at Amazon. You truly ;-) touched my heart.
And maybe I have good news for you. I've been turning some of my books into paperbacks. I think the Flashes are quite probable but when I thought about Bad Apple I realized it is up in the air. I know there were 3 more planned but I'm trying to think of a way to make those 3 into 1.
I can hear the groans from here, trust me. I read a series years ago about a family in Canada and it was so wonderful, I felt like I was living in their house. I was enthralled by the characters who were absolutely real for me. I know what it's like. I love Neal and Truly, too. I lived with them. Were you under the table crying? I was. So 1 instead of 3 is a disappointment, but it's better than none.
I will make you a promise, though. If I never write the book, email me and I will tell you what happens to Neal and Tru. And Joe, of course. He doesn't go away, like something bad stuck to your shoe.
Thank you for taking the time to write the reviews. Let's hope this encourages those freebie downloaders over the next 2 days to read the series and get halfway as excited about these people as the rest of us are.
libralionmjb and Keanse19, thank you for the reviews at Amazon. You truly ;-) touched my heart.
And maybe I have good news for you. I've been turning some of my books into paperbacks. I think the Flashes are quite probable but when I thought about Bad Apple I realized it is up in the air. I know there were 3 more planned but I'm trying to think of a way to make those 3 into 1.
I can hear the groans from here, trust me. I read a series years ago about a family in Canada and it was so wonderful, I felt like I was living in their house. I was enthralled by the characters who were absolutely real for me. I know what it's like. I love Neal and Truly, too. I lived with them. Were you under the table crying? I was. So 1 instead of 3 is a disappointment, but it's better than none.
I will make you a promise, though. If I never write the book, email me and I will tell you what happens to Neal and Tru. And Joe, of course. He doesn't go away, like something bad stuck to your shoe.
Thank you for taking the time to write the reviews. Let's hope this encourages those freebie downloaders over the next 2 days to read the series and get halfway as excited about these people as the rest of us are.
Waiting For You New Cover
I'm very pleased with this cover as it reflects the book, and Jemima, much more fully than anything so far. Now I need to make the same kind of shift in tone for Ariel then they'll be set.
Facelift, No Botox
In the paper era, books remained the same. A new edition might have a couple changes but nothing major.
In the digital era, books can be changed and should be if the creator thinks that's appropriate.
This morning I woke up and had a better title for Fling so I changed the title, changed the cover and changed the description. Those things seem more of a reflection of the story now.
***
In the digital era, books can be changed and should be if the creator thinks that's appropriate.
This morning I woke up and had a better title for Fling so I changed the title, changed the cover and changed the description. Those things seem more of a reflection of the story now.
***
When Jemima Blume was a small girl, she and her best friend prayed for their perfect partners. Ariel believed the prayer would be answered and for her, it was. Jemima, with all her family disruption, wounds and hurt, opened her hand letting all hopes and prayers drift away.
Until the day she meets Jay Gold. She loves him immediately and fully. That’s not a possible love. It’s intriguing and dramatic yet not believable. It is the stuff of little girls’ dreams and old wives’ tales.
Jay finds Jem irresistible and is drawn deeper into the relationship while the rest of the town seems to lose its collective mind. Ever the scientist, Jay wants proof her love is real. It’s not something Jem can prove so she lets him go.
But once a prayer is answered, there’s not much you can do about it.
Bad Apple 4, 5 and 6
I know I have fans of Maisie and Emer. I think you love them as much as I do and I'm so grateful for your interest and enthusiasm. There are 3 more books planned and I'm so sorry to disappoint you but I can't do them right now.
Here's the reality of writing. It's how I earn a living. If something doesn't sell, I have to try to write something that does. Bad Apple found you, you found Neal and Tru, but not enough readers did.
I tried putting Bad Apple 1 for free on Amazon hoping that if readers downloaded the book they would be intrigued and want to continue with the story. A lot of people did download the book but they didn't go on to purchase 2 and 3. There were no sales of 1 after it was free.
So it's sad but that's what a writer's life is like. You do your best and sometimes people don't connect with the work.
Read Flash and Flash of Light. Kip and Alex are great. Read Just Kate. Kate and Fitch are wonderful.
Read Miss Wish's Missed Wish. Mill and Caprice are lovely together.
Tell people when you like something. Leave 5 star reviews so Amazon realizes it's a good book and puts it into their algorithm (people who liked this also liked) and more people find out about the books you like. Leave good reviews wherever you go--GoodReads, Shelfari, BN, Smashwords. We're in this together. It's a partnership. Writers and readers are closer than ever before in the history of the written word and we need your help. Can't do it without your support.
Here's the reality of writing. It's how I earn a living. If something doesn't sell, I have to try to write something that does. Bad Apple found you, you found Neal and Tru, but not enough readers did.
I tried putting Bad Apple 1 for free on Amazon hoping that if readers downloaded the book they would be intrigued and want to continue with the story. A lot of people did download the book but they didn't go on to purchase 2 and 3. There were no sales of 1 after it was free.
So it's sad but that's what a writer's life is like. You do your best and sometimes people don't connect with the work.
Read Flash and Flash of Light. Kip and Alex are great. Read Just Kate. Kate and Fitch are wonderful.
Read Miss Wish's Missed Wish. Mill and Caprice are lovely together.
Tell people when you like something. Leave 5 star reviews so Amazon realizes it's a good book and puts it into their algorithm (people who liked this also liked) and more people find out about the books you like. Leave good reviews wherever you go--GoodReads, Shelfari, BN, Smashwords. We're in this together. It's a partnership. Writers and readers are closer than ever before in the history of the written word and we need your help. Can't do it without your support.
Dream Horse in Paperback
Yes, I've been quiet for a while. That's because I've been busy. I have a couple different projects I've been working on and decided to do paper editions of Dream Horse, Murder Is Exhausting and Nothing Serious.
Dream Horse was written quite a few years ago and was titled Impossible Charlie. Charlie was a real horse and he was very impossible. It was published traditionally and you can still find a paper edition at amazon.fr. Charles L'Impossible or something. When the rights reverted to me, it was the first book I self published. I used the artwork by a famous designer who did this collage in trade for some rare postcards. His name is Michael Bartalos. But when it became a digital book I realized that people didn't know by the title what either Nicki & Wynne was about or what Impossible Charlie meant. So I renamed N&W to Summer Horse and suddenly people understood that. After thinking about it for quite a few weeks, I renamed Charlie Dream Horse and created the cover using a photo I took of my own horse, Sparky.
I was happy being only digital but then began to realize a lot of readers could enjoy these books but haven't gone digital yet. So that's what I've been doing this month.
When will it be available? Soon. At Amazon.
Dream Horse was written quite a few years ago and was titled Impossible Charlie. Charlie was a real horse and he was very impossible. It was published traditionally and you can still find a paper edition at amazon.fr. Charles L'Impossible or something. When the rights reverted to me, it was the first book I self published. I used the artwork by a famous designer who did this collage in trade for some rare postcards. His name is Michael Bartalos. But when it became a digital book I realized that people didn't know by the title what either Nicki & Wynne was about or what Impossible Charlie meant. So I renamed N&W to Summer Horse and suddenly people understood that. After thinking about it for quite a few weeks, I renamed Charlie Dream Horse and created the cover using a photo I took of my own horse, Sparky.
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| 1st paperback and Kindle Edition |
I was happy being only digital but then began to realize a lot of readers could enjoy these books but haven't gone digital yet. So that's what I've been doing this month.
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| Cover for the new paperback version |
When will it be available? Soon. At Amazon.
