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Wednesday Drop-In: Results of the Cover Survey
Bonjour, Mes Amis, Just dropping in real quick to let you know the results of the cover survey that I sent out to folks a few weeks ago. My friend who put the survey together sent the results of the data she collected. Here’s what the data tells us about the ideal book cover to appeal to the broadest possible audience: The winning formula: A photographic or richly illustrated cover, dominated by bright and vibrant colors, featuring compelling imagery that’s clearly related to the story — with mostly visuals and minimal text. Breaking it down by category: Style: The top three (photographic, illustrated, bold & graphic) are nearly tied, all hovering around…
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Sunday Snippet: The March Lists Edition
When I’ve got nothing, which is the situation as I sit here in front of my computer this morning, pal Liz always recommends doing a list or two. I figure why not? I was thinking maybe favorites books lists would be fun. What do you think? I’ll start. Five Favorite Childhood Books (Too easy, but also fun to think about): The Bobbsey Twins books by Laura Lee Hope–I often pretended I was Nan, the oldest girl twin. The Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene–I loved her sporty little convertible and dreamed about a boyfriend like Ned (FYI, he’s fiction). The Jennifer Wish by Eunice Young Smith–amazing stories about a family who…
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Author Spotlight: Mystery Writer Carol Light Joins Us Today!
Doris Lankford, you are Carol’s giveaway winner! Congratulations! Carol will be in touch with you! Thanks to everyone who came by! We love, love talking to our readers! It’s always a treat to welcome my pal and fellow Tule Publishing author Carol Light to the Spotlight. I love her mysteries and the fact that I always get a first look because besides being her travel buddy, I’m also her copy editor. I love seeing if I can figure out the whodunnit before I get to the end of the edit. Carol Light is an avid reader and writer of mysteries. She loves creating amateur sleuths and complicating their normal…
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Author Spotlight: Mystery Author Kris Bock Is in the House!
I love it when my friend Kris Bock comes to visit–I can just turn the blog over to her! Here ya go, Kris… Thanks, Nan. I’m always glad to be here, and today I’ve got big news! The Accidental Detective Is Back! Something Prowling in Paradise Park (The Accidental Detective Book 7) Kate has built a new life in Arizona, with the help of family and friends eager to keep her busy with new mysteries to solve. Her eccentric senior pals introduce her to the Standishes. These snowbirds returned to Arizona early to investigate their high utility bills and discovered squatters with a forged rental agreement. It could take months…
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Sunday Snippet: The Words, Words, Words…or Not Edition
Wow! You guys are amazing! What great 6-word stories! Kate Sparks, you were chosen at random as the winner of a $10 Amazon gift card–enjoy more words!! I don’t know if this is true or not, but I read that Ernest Hemingway was once bet he couldn’t write a short story in only six words. He accepted the challenge and wrote: “For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.” Wow. What a powerful story! When words are your stock-in-trade, writing fewer of them is hard. I just finished revisions on Help Wanted, Cowboy, book 3 of my Juniper Falls Ranch series. It’s going back to my editor tomorrow after I go through…
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Author Spotlight: Liz Flaherty’s in the House
Y’all know how much I love it when my bestie comes to visit! Well, she’s here today with her new release, Pieces of Blue, Book 1 in the Colors, the Harper Loch Trilogy. Check it out–you’ll fall in love with Maggie and Sam, the little dachshund Chloe, and Harper Loch, Michigan. Liz Flaherty has spent the past several years enjoying not working a day job, making terrible crafts, and writing stories in which the people aren’t young, brilliant, or even beautiful. She’s decided (and has to re-decide most every day) that the definition of success is having a good time. Along with her husband of lo, these many years, kids,…
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Author Spotlight: Welcome Romance Author Anna Grace
We have a winner! Cherie J–you are Anna’s giveaway recipient. Anna will be touch! Thanks to everyone who stopped by! I recently joined the Southern Oregon Central Oregon Chapter of the Romance Writers of America–another wonderful opportunity to meet more fabulous authors and sisters in romance writing. Anna Grace is one of my new SOCO author pals and I’m so very glad to welcome her to the Spotlight today. Award-winning author Anna Grace writes fun, heartfelt romance novels that have been described as “having the feel good vibes of a Hallmark film, with the emotional complexity of book club fiction.” Anna’s Oregon roots, love of family and community shine through…
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Sunday Snippet: The Women of Willow Bay Book Sale Edition
Mes amis, get ready. This is pure look at me! I don’t talk a lot about my first foray into book publishing a lot because my focus, naturally enough, is on my current releases with Tule Publishing. But I do have a whole other series that I love–one of the books–Once More From the Top— is the novel that put me on the USA Today Bestseller List. I published the books as an indie because at the time, my agent and I couldn’t get anyone interested in reading romance with characters in their, oh heavens! forties and fifties. Now seasoned romance is a real thing, and readers of a certain…
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Author Spotlight: Meet Karen Kay,
I’ve so loved getting to know “the fillies”–the authors who are a part of the Petticoats & Pistols blog that I have recently become a part of. They’ve all been so welcoming and they are all such amazing writers! One of the fillies is author Karen Kay. Amazon #1 Newest Release author in American Historical Romance, KAREN KAY is a multi-published Author of romance and adventure in the Old West, American Indian. She has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing insights into the everyday life of the American Indian culture of the past. As Reviewer, Suzanne Tucker, once wrote, “Ms. Kay never fails to capture the pride,…
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Sunday Snippet: The Good-Hearted Woman (A Heart Update) Edition
Glenda, you are my winner! I’ll contact you for your email to send your ebook to you. Hugs to all who stopped by and wished me and my heart well. I soooo appreciate you! A good-hearted woman. That would be me, mes amies … well, sort of. I had an appointment with my cardiologist on Monday last week. The first one in a year because I had been doing well and the every-three-months checkups seemed excessive. This time, though, I had some concerns—I’ve been more tired than usual, I’m getting breathless again when I walk with the ladies, and my blood pressure is consistently in the hypotension (low blood pressure)…