Flexing Time and Muscle Between the Ears

MUSE MONDAY

It’s Muse Monday, but I’ve asked my muse to take a break for a couple of months. How’s that working for me? Not so perfect. Voices are whispering in my head. Hopefully, they won’t start clamoring until I get accomplished what I want before the end of summer—other writer jobs and relaxing now and then.

For instance, a drive to the top of the Mogollon Rim. I shared a couple of photos last time I posted. Flexible is my new mode of operation for the summer. If FDW says “take a ride with me and I’ll show you the fire by the lake last week,” I drop what I’m doing and go.  This area is so dry, we’re on high alert for fire. There have been several. One is still burning on the rim. Or he says, “let’s go to a movie,” I grab my purse and sprint to the car. Love going to a movie, and I’m going without guilt. Well, not real guilty anyway. I don’t have a work in progress, but I am setting up promotion opportunities. By the way, Wonder Woman was better than I expected. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

So, what am I doing if not writing? Some more famous authors than myself like to say the best promotion is writing the next book. I don’t totally disagree, but if no one knows I have ten books out there to purchase, writing another one isn’t getting me anymore fans. But this promo stuff taxes my brain more than writing. My last week has gone like this:

I spent three hours getting my books uploaded to Ask David.

http://askdavid.com/search/Brenda-Whiteside

FDW spent the better part of a day researching Amazon advertising, only to find out I have to go through my publisher to place an ad. That’s now in the works.

I wasted over an hour trying to upload information to my publisher for getting my books on audio. We still don’t have the problem figured out. Worry about that later in the week.

FDW spent the better part of another afternoon researching how to advertise on Facebook. No determination yet, if I will go that direction.

For two days, I read and studied all of the promotion advice and links I’ve saved over the last year. Kept some, tossed others. Got a general plan of attack.

I’ve contacted several blog sites and booked dates for future guest appearances.

I’ve reacquainted myself with Twitter and am now tweeting again, daily.

The maximum number of books I can list are now on Hometown Reads.

http://hometownreads.com/books/the-power-of-love-and-murder

Planning some giveaways on Amazon and Goodreads.

And the list of “to do” has only been dented. Yep, publishing books is not just about writing.

How long can I keep this up without starting my next series? Not sure. But here’s a hint: three friends, Jerome, AZ, a touch of supernatural swirling through the suspense and romance. It’s percolating!

Living with an Impatient Muse

 MUSE MONDAY

A favorite corner that pleases my muse

My muse has been testy lately. Okay, so I don't have an actual muse that I can point to or introduce to you. She's me, the inside me, that is chomping at the bit to write a new chapter in any one of the books I've put on the back burner for a few days. Which means I'm testy with myself.

I can't blame me for losing patience with me when I'm only doing what I have to do for all those other facets of writing.

First off, I'm a finalist in the Hot Prospects contest with my current manuscript, Southwest of Love and Murder. The judges sent me their comments which I can use to improve my pages before the final judges choose the winner in the Romantic Suspense category. The judges are editors from large publishing houses and I'd really like to impress them with my writing. I'm laboring over the improvements. Tedious and eye-bugging work.

Secondly, on Tuesday Amanda in the Summer starts a run of five free days on Amazon. Just being there isn't enough. I have to spread the word which means I've been writing guest blog after guest blog and reaching out to dozens of sites to mention the free days. If editing and re-editing the pages for the contest is eye-bugging then this sort of promo is doubly so. I'm pretty tired of staring at the computer.

I'm looking at the end of this week like a rabbit would a carrot dangling in front of her nose. But I have the sneaky suspicion that I will no sooner make it to the end when I'll get an email from my editor with the second round of edits for The Art of Love and Murder.

Oh be still my muse, er, me.

Be sure you go to Amazon tomorrow to download a free copy of Amanda in the Summer. http://tinyurl.com/mb5cwly

Toot-Toot...Promo Pride

MUSE MONDAY
Keeping it short and tooting my horn about my latest release, Amanda in the Summer. The reader reviews so far have been fantastic. Thought I'd share a new excerpt (first time revealed) and some of those reviews.

Excerpt:

July 28, 1968

Dear Auntie Tilly,

I didn’t get the whole of what happened while you

were here. You and my parents seemed all happy and

cool when you left though. You three are the most

important old folks in my life. What an odd threesome

you are to me, at times. You’re so very cool, free spirited

and groovy. Mom is—I don’t know what—

going through menopause? Daddy is Daddy and seems

to understand both of you. I felt some tension I’d never

noticed before, but I could’ve been projecting my own

insecurities into the atmosphere. Taking this step with

Kevin is huge, you know? Or maybe it’s just Mom’s

erratic behavior lately.

I can always count on you for the blunt truth. Like

when you told me that what I wanted with Kevin was

admirable. And regardless of how groovy I think the

way you lead your life is, I need to lead my own life. Of

course, I had no idea you’ve had a love relationship, of

sorts, all of your life…

A few of the Reader Reviews on Amazon:

This is a quick and rewarding read. I was captivated from start to finish and couldn't put it down. I became so engrossed in the various Amanda's lives and how they intertwined with Tilly's. This is a very poignant story reminding us that life, love, and friendships are not always what they seem on the surface. I strongly recommend this short and entertaining book.

If you remember writing to your dearest friend, telling her your deepest secrets, etc..... you will love this e-book!

Loved the lineage of the Amanadas. Clever approach for a heartwarming story. The letters were well written and I wanted more. Thank you Brenda.

This was well written. Once started I had a hard time putting this e-book down. As a matter of fact, I ended up going into work the next day sleepy! The only criticism I have is that when I got to the end, I wanted MORE.

"Amanda in the Summer" is a collection of letters written to a dear friend named Tilly. What makes this book unique is there is more than one Amanda. An aged Tilly gives all the letters to the youngest Amanda. Amanda learns more about her family through the letters than she could ever have imagined. I enjoyed the story, and did not want it to end.

On Amazon exclusively for 3 months:

http://tinyurl.com/mb5cwly 

UGH! PROMOTION

MUSE MONDAY

There are a few authors that actually like promotion, but most of us would rather get our hair styled by Donald Trump’s barber. Well, maybe not, but the point is we’re writers not promoters, and it’s so hard to figure out the what, when and where of promoting our books. Try to find stats on what works and what doesn’t work. Nada.

So take heart in that because you can do whatever feels comfortable and what works for you. No wrong or right. Here’s my list of the top ten do’s and don’t’s of promotion. Not necessarily in order of importance.

• Don’t try to do it all. Pick and choose because if you try to join every loop, every social site, print every form of promo – guess what – not only will you never write your next book, you’ll go broke both financially and mentally.

•  Do join Facebook. This is my personal social media favorite. Some authors prefer Twitter. Some do both.

• Do blog. You don’t have to have your own blog. Find some blogs to guest on a couple of times a month. The best ones are not all in-your-face promo, but they invite readers to enjoy the banter or subjects of interest.

• Do/Don’t be active on loops. Okay, I’m on the fence here. I belong to several loops and all I do a great deal of monitoring. I’ll occasionally comment and I like to support other authors when they ask. But if I spent my time commenting on all of them, my next book would not get written. So I monitor, have them on digest and I learn so much.

• Do network. Join RWA, your local RWA or any of the other groups for writers. I know there are mystery groups and children’s lit groups. These groups keep you in the know and will offer more info on promotion and learning your craft.

• Do be part of a critique group. I don’t believe I’d ever have gotten published without my critique partners input. This isn’t really marketing but then again, it’s a form of networking.

• Don’t quiet your mother when she wants to tell everyone including the grocery store checkout lady that you’re an author. My mom has sold a good number of books for me. I did have to stop her when she found out Barnes & Noble by her house didn’t carry my book – she was going to buy some and put them on the shelf herself. My point is, encourage friends and family to talk you up.

• Do have some bookmarks or post cards/business cards. If you haven’t published yet, have business cards anyway. Don’t get carried away – just a few. And get them from others in the business. Networking can never start too soon and these contacts may come in handy when you’re ready to publish. If you’ve published, get those bookmarks or post cards out there. I’m not a fan of spending money on any other kind of promo items. But this one is useful and sought after by readers.

• Do have a professional looking web site, even before you’re published. If you have the time and no money, do it yourself. I’ve seen many good ones that authors have designed themselves. First study what’s out there so you know what works.

• Do write your next book and the next and the next. The more you have published, the more you sell. One book is the best promo for the next one.

Speaking of promotion, would love you to join my site as a follower so I know I'm reaching you! Just click on follow me. If you haven't liked my page on Facebook, hope you do soon. www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor AND Don't forget to join my Quarterly Newsletter Group for a chance to win some gift cards! Here:
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