Books and Merchandising

On Friday over at Operation Awesome, Katrina put up an awesome post on merchandising and books. She talked about all the cool stuff you can get with some books (all the Harry Potter products, Arwen's necklace from LOTR, etc.).

I've bought a couple items from favorite books, among them:

The silver ring Jamie gives Claire in Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER





and a set of perfume from Jessica Verday's THE HOLLOW





I love stuff like this. It is so fun to have something real from a story you love. Even more fun when it's from one of your own stories. Like my gorgeous TREASURED LIES necklace :D (made by the awesomely talented Bonny Anderson - go check out her store HERE!)





And, the Team Zenn necklace I made for Elana Johnson's POSSESSION release giveaway (Team Jag has a "jag"ged lightning bolt pendant to go along with the "Vi"olet beads and silver butterflies.)





Having something tangible you can use to help market your book is both lucrative and just plain fun. Is this something you've ever thought of doing with your own books?

Post Title

→

Books and Merchandising

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2011/06/books-and-merchandising.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

POSSESSION Winner!

My wonderful son, when asked to chose a number between 1 and 8, picked number.....6!!! Congrats to


Shari!!

Shoot me an email (addy on the sidebar --> ) with your address and I'll send out your very own copy of POSSESSION and your POSSESSION-themed necklace :D

Post Title

→

POSSESSION Winner!

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2011/06/possession-winner.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Celebrating in Style :)

I mentioned in a post recently that one of my traditions when I finish a book is to have my amazingly talented writer/jewelry maker friend Bonny Anderson make a necklace for me. So, I was very excited to do this when I finished my current book, Treasured Lies. In the book there is a locket that is an important element. I wanted something similar to the one I describe in the story. And Bonny created the PERFECT necklace for me :D I am so excited about my Treasured Lies necklace, I just had to share it with you all :D








If you are ever in the market for some beautiful jewelry, I highly recommend visiting Bonny's shop :) You can find her HERE.

Also, don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's post for a chance to win a copy of Elana Johnson's awesome Possession and a Possession-themed necklace :D

Post Title

→

Celebrating in Style :)

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2011/06/celebrating-in-style.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

IT'S POSSESSION TIME!!!

It's finally here!!! Let me join in the fangirl shrieks everywhere and let out a huge SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! for a very sweet friend of mine. Today is the official book birthday of the absolutely fabulous Elana Johnson's debut novel, POSSESSION. I love this book...LOVE it. And am very excited to help spread the love around a little :D

Here is the blurb and gorgeous cover for those of you who haven't seen it yet :)



Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

*happy sigh* To celebrate, IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

I will, of course, be giving away a copy of this awesome book. BUT this is just too big and too exciting so I have to throw in a little something else. One lucky winner will get not only their very own, shiny copy of POSSESSION, but will also get a "POSSESSION" necklace. (Please forgive me as my camera is on the fritz...I will post a pic as soon as I can) This adorable necklace has a Zen pendant, Violet beads, two silver butterflies, and comes with a "Jag"ged surprise :) (no, unfortunately, not hottie Jag himself) ;-)

To enter, just leave a comment. I'll take entries until Sunday at midnight and will announce the winner on Monday morning. There are more giveaways and POSSESSION awesomeness happening all over the place today! Check out Elana's blog and Christine Fonseca's blog for some good links and if you find any others, feel free to post them here and share them everywhere!

Good luck and CONGRATS ELANA!!!!

Post Title

→

IT'S POSSESSION TIME!!!

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2011/06/it-possession-time.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

It's Launch Day!!! Let the Blog Tour Begin!

Welcome to Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers Blog Tour!!

We've got an awesome first day! I am thrilled to be hosted today by the absolutely amazing

Christine Fonseca
Elana Johnson
Bethany Wiggins and Suzette Wiggins
and Lisa Amowitz

Starting today, every commenter along the blog tour will get an automatic entry for the huge Grand Prize Swag Basket! For every stop you comment on, you get another entry (one entry per stop). So if you visit each of the lovely ladies listed above, and LEAVE A COMMENT ON THEIR POST, you'll receive four entries for today.

At the end of the tour, I'll draw a name to select the winner :)

There will be several other opportunities to win copies of my book and swag bags along the way as many of my blog tour hosts will be featuring their own giveaways. I'll post each stop every morning and will also keep a running tab of them in the Blog Tour Giveaway tab above. Links for the giveaways and the Blog Tour stops will go live once the actual posts are up.

I hope you all join me for the tour! I'm being hosted by some really amazing people. It's going to be a blast!

Post Title

→

It's Launch Day!!! Let the Blog Tour Begin!

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2011/01/it-launch-day-let-blog-tour-begin.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Exciting Events This Week!

Coming up on Thursday, the release of my book Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers!! (unless you want to order from Amazon...they are already shipping :D (clink link on sidebar if you'd like to check it out))

It's going to be a fun couple of weeks coming up. On Thursday, to coincide with the release of my book, my blog tour will be launching with a little help from some awesome friends. The first stops on the tour will be at the amazing Elana Johnson's, the fabulous Christine Fonseca's, the wonderful Lisa Amowitz's, and a little something will be going on over at the Operation Awesome blog.

If yo look up above, there is a tab set up for the Blog Tour. For a complete list of all the stops along the tour, check out that page. As the posts for each stop go live, I'll set up the links so you can follow the tour. There will be several giveaways (books and fun swag) and I'll have a list of those with links under the Blog Tour Giveaways tab.

Also! We'll be doing a Grand Prize Giveaway at the end of the tour. One commenter from the whole tour will be chosen to win a huge basket of books and swag! To enter, all you have to do is comment....the more stops along the tour you comment on, the more entries you get :) More details to follow!

So stay tuned!! The fun starts Thursday!

Post Title

→

Exciting Events This Week!

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2011/01/exciting-events-this-week.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Friday Round Up and a Little Linkage

Last night's chat with Elana was a complete BLAST!!! Loads of good info and lots of laughs too :) If you missed it, you can view the transcripts over at the Operation Awesome Blog. Thank you so much to all who participated, and a HUGE thanks to Elana! She not only came and spread her awesomeness, she even stayed for an extra half hour. You are sheer AWESOME Elana, no doubt about it :)

Today on the Operation Awesome Blog we have an interview with the fabulous Janice Hardy! Janice is stopping by as part of her blog tour for the second book in her Healing Wars trilogy, BLUE FIRE. She is dishing about fantasy and what makes it so awesome. Be sure to stop by and say hi!!

Also today, Theresa Milstein is hosting a fun Halloween Haunting on her blog Substitute Teacher's Saga - stop by for a chance to win some awesome signed books and haunt a few blogs :D

COMING UP! Monday - don't forget to head to Steena Holmes's blog for a Logline/Hook line Blogfest!! Get those loglines/hook lines polished up!!!

And for a little funny, as it is Friday - check out Operation Awesome's Kristal Shaff in her How to (not) Write a Query video :D Hilarious! CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Post Title

→

Friday Round Up and a Little Linkage

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2010/10/friday-round-up-and-little-linkage.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Query Chat Tonight! and How to Write a Non-Fiction Query

Today's the day!! Join us at the Operation Awesome Blog at 9pm EST/8 CST for a LIVE query chat with the Queen of Ninja Queries herself, the awesome Ms. Elana Johnson. 

In honor of our query talk tonight, I thought I'd repost an article I did last year on How to Write a Non-Fiction Query. Elana will be addressing fiction (which I know most people who read this blog write) but in case there are a few of my non-fiction peeps hanging in the wings, here's a little something for you :)

And for everyone, no matter what genre you write, DO NOT MISS this awesome opportunity to get all your query questions answered by the woman who literally wrote the book on the subject. (Seriously, she did, and it is AWESOME...you can buy it HERE) :D


Now, for non-fiction queries, even though the elements are similar to a fiction query, it's just a whole different angle of pitching your book. So, here goes.

What to include in your non-fiction query:


1. Your lead/hook

Just like in a fiction query, your opening paragraph should hook the editor or agent into wanting to find out more. But you also need to clearly state what the book is about. With fiction, sometimes you might leave out some details in order to entice your audience into wanting to read more. But with non-fiction, publishers generally buy the book before it's even written based on your proposal. They need to know specifically what is in your book in order for them to want more, so get right to the point. Don't save the best for last. Start with your strongest material. You could start off saying something like, "In a recent NYT article, it was reported that over 60% of Americans are dying to buy my book." :D You could also use a strong anecdote or comparison.

2. Supporting Material

This is where you back up your thesis (the idea for the book). You could add some preliminary details that you've researched. This is also where you would state why your book should exist. What is the need for it? Maybe mention the strong market for it. Will your book help millions of students pass their math classes? Say so. Will it teach all those frustrated mothers how to deal with fussy children? Point that out. Are the skateboarding teenagers of the world crying out for a book on cool stickers to decorate their boards with? Well this is the book they've been waiting for!!

Sell your idea and back up your claims. Just make sure you do it in a page or less :D

3. Author Bio

As in fiction, this is where you toot your own horn as loud as you can. But make sure the material is relevant. The editors and agents don't need to know how many kids you have or what kind of dog you have, unless your book is about training kids or dogs :D Do you have any publishing credits? Put them in! Degrees, special training courses relevant to your book, any other experiences that prove why you are the best person to be writing this book? Put it in! You want to show them why you are qualified to write the book you are proposing, why you are the best one for the job. So any relevant credentials you have, be they educational, professional, or real world experiences, should be included.

4. Closing

Use strong closing statements to finish off your query. Don't be shy about stating clearly what you are looking for. "I am seeking representation for this book. I look forward to your response." Don't use phrases like "I hope you like this," "I hope I'll hear from you soon." Keep it strong and confident. And be sure to thank them for their time. Being polite never hurts :)

And it is always a good idea to have a writer friend or three look over your query before you send it to help catch those embarrassing typos we all make. :)

When you are writing your query keep in mind these two things: what is the need and how does your book address that need?

This is your selling point - this is what will make a publisher buy your book. With my book, I pointed out how many students were in this country (with actual statistics), pointed out that every single one of them had to take Language Arts classes where they would be expected to write essays, and then I pointed out how much trouble the vast majority of these students have with this task.

I mentioned how other guidebooks out there tend to be too technical, hard to understand, and just plain boring and how this does nothing but further confuse and frustrate students. And then I zinged in with how my book was going to change all this. I pointed out the ways in which my book was different, mentioned specifically everything my book would contain (step-by-step instructions on how to write over a dozen different types of essays, including the SAT essay; rough draft, edited, and final copy examples of each type of essay; tips on researching, citing sources, and proofreading).

I followed it up with my bio - and since this was a weak section for me, I made sure to list EVERYTHING that could help show why I was the best person to write this book....my degrees, my personal experience with helping people with writing, my experience with my blogs, and the publications in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.


And it worked :)

Please join us at over at Operation Awesome tonight! Bring your query questions and take notes! See you there :)

Post Title

→

Query Chat Tonight! and How to Write a Non-Fiction Query

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2010/10/query-chat-tonight-and-how-to-write-non.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Writing Compelling Characters

Huge blogging experiment day!!!! If you haven't checked out the incredible list of people participating in this yet, head to Elana's blog - just truly WOW.

So...how do I write compelling characters? My first drafts I really just sit down and write. My characters come out, start developing little quirks and foibles, and in revisions, I take a look at those and exploit them to the best of my ability :D

For instance, my very first main character, Min, was a clutz...if there was a puddle, she'd fall in it, if there was a table to run into, she'd be yelling ow, if there was some way to make a fool of herself, she did so. I love this about her. It makes her funny and gives the reader a reason to root for her. But I didn't want her to ONLY be a clutz.

So here is where my layering begins. I look at the other aspects of her personality and try to beef up other parts of her. She's highly intelligent, brave, curious - so I went through the story and made sure those aspects of her character were apparent.

One thing I learned from my CPs was to be consistent with my characters - the MC of my last book is a boxer. She's feisty. But I had a lot of sections in the book where that aspect of her character got lost. She wasn't reacting to certain situations the way a feisty boxer chick should react. So I had to go through and make sure she was being consistent to who she was.

Bottom line - I try to write characters that people will want to read about. Characters that are flawed and real, who do things and say things the way real people would. The character's main quirks and personality traits generally come through in the first draft. And then during my layering process I go back through and beef up other aspects of his or her personality to make sure they aren't one dimensional, so one trait doesn't overshadow who they are as a whole. And I make sure they are true to who they are.

Be sure to head to Elana's blog and check out all the other fabulous posts on this topic!!!

LAYERS - (for Vicki) :D

Post Title

→

Writing Compelling Characters

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2010/09/writing-compelling-characters.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Unplugged Week

I'm signing off for the week! I really want my book done and out the door before my kids are out of school for the summer. Somehow, I don't think I'll be getting a lot of work done when they are running around all day :D

See you all Monday! May everyone have a happy and productive week :) Oh! And if you haven't headed to Elana's blog yet, go go go!! She's doing some awesome giveaways all week to celebrate the sale of her book, Control Issues. Go enter!

Post Title

→

Unplugged Week

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2010/05/unplugged-week.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Something Better than Friday Funnies

Okay, I know I said we'd do Friday Funnies today, but something happened that needs to be addressed instead.

After months of waiting to celebrate, I can finally share the amazing, wonderful and ultra-exciting news that my sweet and incredibly talented friend, Ms. Awesome Herself, Elana Johnson


HAS A BOOK DEAL!!!!!


Can I get a WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!


Here is the announcement from PM:


Elana Johnson's CONTROL ISSUES, set in a brainwashed society where those gifted with mind control best join the powers that be, but one rebel girl tries to beat them at their own game, to Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse, by Michelle Andelman at Lynn Franklin Associates (NA).

Congratulations Elana!!

Post Title

→

Something Better than Friday Funnies

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2010/05/something-better-than-friday-funnies.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Spreading the Awesome - P.C. and Kristin Cast

The fabulous Elana Johnson decided to Spread a little Awesome, and invited a few friends along  :) Today is Spread the Awesome Day. Basically, I and many other writers will be singing the praises of one of our favorite books and its author. We will link our posts so you can follow through the most awesome Recommended Reading List ever. Speaking of which, be sure to head to Shelli Johannes-Wells blog for her choice of Awesome.

I cheated a little and chose a series instead of just one book - The House of Night series, by P.C. and Kristin Cast.

My very sweet stepkids got the first three books for me for Christmas 2008. I had them done in a day a piece and immediately ordered the rest of the series. A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

At the time, I was very new to YA and MG writing - the Twilight series was about all I had read of the genre. So opening the first book of the House of Night series was a new YA adventure for me.

I found a fun world where vampires are a part of normal society - still a little feared, mistrusted, "different", but it is a world where the best and brightest actors, artists and scientific minds are vampires - where being a vampire is a genetic trait - where you are marked as a teenager and sent off to a private vampire school where your body may or may not accept the change into adult vampirehood.

The series follows Zoey Redbird, an exceptional fledgling who exhibits powers and abilities (along with wicked awesome tattoos) far beyond her years and experience. Throughout the series, Zoey learns the meaning of true friendship, love and betrayal, sacrifice and service, and fights the forces of pure evil.

She is supported by a seriously awesome cast of secondary characters including several love interests to literally die for, a cowgirl best friend named Stevie Rae who becomes a whole new type of vampire, and the resident witch with a B, Aphrodite, who you can't help but love.

It's a wild ride and an awesome fun read. With incredibly beautiful covers :)

For more information on P.C. and Kristin Cast, visit their website. P.C. has written many other novels in addition to the House of Night series, which she co-authors with her daughter, who also has several solo novels. For more information on the House of Night series, visit the site devoted to it HERE.

And now for some fun stuff....I couldn't very well tell you how awesome this series is without giving you a chance to own part of it for yourself!


GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

Just fill out the form below, hit Submit, and you are entered! I'll take entries for the next week, until midnight, Sunday May 9th. Our grand prize winner will be announced bright and early Monday morning, May 10th.

Since some of you may have read all or part of this series and some of you may be newcomers that would like to start it, I'm going to give you a choice of prizes :D Click on the titles for the book summaries.

Prize Choice 1: Book 1 of the House of Night series - Marked





Prize Choice 2: Book 7 of the House of Night series - Burned (just released!)





Prize Choice 3: The Triple Moon necklace, created for the House of Night series




If you have started the series and are somewhere between books 1 and 7 and would like another one instead, just choose either one of the book options in the form below. I'll double check with the winner what book in the series they'd like to have. :)

Post Title

→

Spreading the Awesome - P.C. and Kristin Cast

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2010/05/spreading-awesome-pc-and-kristin-cast.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

A Contest, An Award, And a Blog Chain, Oh My!

Happy Monday! Okay, we've got a couple fun things going on. First off, Elana Johnson is running an awesome book giveaway contest, so head to her blog for all the details! She's giving away SEVEN SIGNED BOOKS (most of them personalized). Definitely go check it out :)




Next, the very sweet Laura Diamond awarded me with The Honest Scrap Award :D Thanks Laura!!! For this award, I'm supposed to tell 10 truths about myself. Soooo....

1. I prefer even numbers to odd - to the point that odd numbers kinda drive me nuts, especially when it comes to buying fruit - I always buy 6 apples, never five...weird stuff like that LOL

2. When I hit 30, my hair went curly instead of gray

3. It took me almost 10 years and 4 colleges to get my Bachelors degree...I didn't get kicked out or anything, I just moved a lot and kept losing credits LOL

4. I'm probably allergic to chocolate but just can't quit it

5. I read the first books in the Outlander and Clan of the Cave Bear series in one day (a piece, not one doay for both of them...I'm good, but not that good :D They are 1000 + page books after all LOL...couldn't put them down)

6. I've lived in seven different states, two on the east coast, one on the west, a couple in between and even an island (Hawaii)

7. One of the reasons I wanted to date my husband was because his family is Scottish and I had just finished reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and was completely enthralled with anything Scottish :D

8. I am the oldest of five kids - my last brother came quite a bit later than the rest of us, and my husband is quite a bit older than me....so my youngest brother is the same age as my stepson :) And I apparently like the phrase "quite a bit" :D

9. I had an almost photographic memory...until I had kids. Now I have trouble remembering my name

10. Loves to dance but NEVER in public :D

Annnnd, I totally flaked on my blog chain duties - I was supposed to post my entry on Saturday and then promised I'd do it last night. Oops *embarrassed face* So, without further ado, my blog chain post :D




The awesome Eric chose this topic. He wanted to know:



Do you create characters that are larger-than-life or are your characters more like the average Joe?

I like larger than life characters, but when it comes to my main characters, so far at least, I create characters that are more like the average Joe. BUT, these characters are put in larger than life situations and do larger than life things. They find out they have special powers, or have ghostly friends, or end up on a treasure hunt in a life or death race for some jewels.

And I like to give them out-of-the-ordinary quirks. A proper Victorian lady who isn't so proper and is the least graceful thing on two legs; a sweet average high school girl who boxes on the weekends; a shy, quiet valedictorian who does extraordinary things when no one is watching.

So I guess I do a little of both. My characters are seemingly average - or they are average on the surface, but they all have a fun twist to them, whether it's something supernatural or just a cool quirk that isn't expected.

Be sure to check out the always extraordinary Bonny, who answered this question before me, and the amazing Mr. Shaun, who will post next :)

Post Title

→

A Contest, An Award, And a Blog Chain, Oh My!

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2010/03/contest-award-and-blog-chain-oh-my.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection

Celebration Contest!

 


Well, my fabulous readers, I believe I promised you a contest :)

How about a super easy contest with lots of opportunities for extra entries?

How To Enter:

To enter the contest, simply leave me a comment on this post. You can say anything you want, just a quick "hi!" (try and keep it nice though ;-D ) and that's it! You are entered!

Extra Entry Opportunities:

1. Be or become a follower of this blog = 1 extra entry

2. Blog it, tweet it, Facebook it, or MySpace it = 1 extra entry per announcement = 4 possible extra entries

3. Put it on your blog's sidebar = 2 extra entries

4. Be or become a follower of my other blog, Papers, Prose, and Poetry (click HERE or on the link in the sidebar) = 5 extra entries

That is a grand total of 12 possible extra entries  :D

Leave me your tally with links to your posts in your comment. Everyone will go on to a spread sheet and a handy random number generator will choose the winner.

And now for the prizes (drum roll please......)

One lucky winner will win:

A query critique from my ever awesome agent, Krista Goering

A copy of the incredible Query Queen Elana Johnson's e-book - From the Query to the Call

and

A $20 dollar gift card to Barnes and Noble.

Depending on the response, I may just have to throw something else fabulous into the prize pot :)


So hurry and enter!!!! I will be accepting entries for one week, from today, Monday Feb 22nd, until midnight on Monday March 1st.


The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 2nd.

Happy Entering Everyone!!

Post Title

→

Celebration Contest!

Post URL

→

https://shortemohaircuts2011.blogspot.com/2010/02/celebration-contest.html

Visit short emo haircuts for Daily Updated Wedding Dresses Collection