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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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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 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)…
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Author Spotlight: Melissa Westemeier Brings More Nun the Wiser Fun!
One of the best parts of being a part of Tule Publishing on both sides of the desk is getting a first peek at their new books. I’m having a ball copy editing Melissa Westemeier’s Nun the Wiser series. The stories are delightful! I especially loved the whole Comic Con vibe in A Fatal Habit, which released on February 16 and is available wherever you get your e-books! Have fun! Melissa Westemeier is a Sister in Crime and teacher from Wisconsin. She uses humor to explore serious subjects, and her published books include murder mysteries, rom-coms, and a trilogy loosely based on her years tending bar on the Wolf River.…
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Sunday Snippet: The Another THE END & a Cover Reveal Edition
What a wonderful feeling to be able to type “The End” at the finish line of a long arduous writing experience. I have another novel done—really, truly done! And my critique partners are on-board, one even said, “I love this story!” That is high praise indeed from a person whose writing I’ve admired for years. Help Wanted, Cowboy is out to betas right now, and I’ve been going through it in preparation for sending it to my editor next week. Since I got to THE END, how about I do a cover reveal for this book? The amazing Lee Hyat has given me another wonderful cover for Help Wanted Cowboy,…
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Sunday Snippet: The Red Boots and Style Edition
I’ve been working on becoming more confident and seeing myself in a new way. Clothes are part of this very slow transformation–wearing them, buying them, choosing them… knowing what best suits me. In the daybook Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach talks about finding clothes that fit your lifestyle. That assumes I have a lifestyle, which I’m not entirely sure I really do. I’m a writer and editor. I pretty much live in comfort clothes–yoga pants, T-shirts with a sweater tugged over the top of them or a sweatshirt if it’s really cold outside. Slippers or socks and I’m good to go for the day. There are even days, I confess,…
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Author Spotlight: Welcome Back Mystery Writer J.C. Kenney!
We have a winner! HiDee Silverwood Ekstrom, you are J.C.’s giveaway winner! Thanks to everyone for stopping by! Nothing makes this author happier than welcoming great writers who also happen to be good friends to the spotlight. Today it’s my real pleasure to welcome mystery writer and fellow Tule author J.C. Kenney to join me here on the blog! (Confession? I’m in love with Elmo Simpson!) J.C. Kenney is the Agatha award winning and bestselling author of The Allie Cobb Mysteries, The Darcy Gaughan Mysteries, and The Elmo Simpson Mysteries. He’s also the co-host of The Bookish Hour and Bookish Moment webcasts. When he’s not writing, you can find him…
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Sunday Snippet: The Five Fun Facts Edition
William Harris and Julie Syers, you are my e-book winners! My publisher will be sending you both e-books of The Cowboy’s Comeback. Thanks so much for coming by! Okay, right off, I confess I’m truly down-to-my socks tired. Between book release promotion and heading to THE END on Book 3 in the Juniper Falls Ranch series, and working on editing gigs, my brain is basically mush today. Sometimes, that happens on Sundays–whatever intellect I have left goes into hiding and even remembering how to use my new coffeemaker is a reason to stop and pause. (I remembered and I now have coffee–yay!) When that brain drain happens on a Sunday…
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Author Spotlight: It’s Me, Montana Cowboys, & a Giveaway!
We have a winner! Laura Delgado is the winner of the Montana Goodie Box! Thanks, everyone who stopped by! I love having all of you here! Bonjour, mes amis! Cue the confetti! Light the fireworks! The Cowboy’s Comeback, Book 2 in Juniper Falls Ranch, my very first cowboy contemporary romance series. I’m doing it–writing western romance–and I’m having the time of my life! As I work on finishing book 3 in this new series, I’m falling more in love with the little Montana town of Marietta with each book. I talk about gratitude a lot here. It’s a very real part of my life every day and today, I’m so…