Only 99 Cents

I wrote The Last Daughter while living in Yukon, Oklahoma.

I met a friend at the Mustang Library and we would write for four hours at a time.

Libraries have great writing vibes.

Until Friday of this week, The Last Daughter is only 99 cents.

 

Help Yourself!

 

 

If you read The Last Daughter,

please leave an honest review on Amazon.

 

Thanks!

Jess

IWSG DAY: Unfinished Business

Today is IWSG Day because it's the first Wednesday in June.  IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh.  You can follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page. 

The purpose of IWSG is to share and encourage. So today I'm wondering ... have you ever started something that you never finished? Whether it was a novel, a knitting project or a jigsaw puzzle, I've read that the number one reason we quit a project is because our motivation fizzles. I must be queen of the fizzlers because I have a lot of unfinished projects--from jewelry projects to journaling to braided rag rugs to novels!

When it comes to my writing, I often give up when I hit a rough spot. What I really need to do is focus and plough through the brick wall I've created. I've noticed that usually the reason I can't go forth is because I've taken a wrong turn, put my characters in a predicament that isn't conducive to my plot or the story, creating an impossible action/reaction--or next scene.

When I wrote The Last Daughter I never had such a problem. You know why? Because I brainstormed and outlined; I had a plan. First I identified all my characters and wrote character sketches for each one. I knew my theme, what the word count needed to be and had a deadline. I followed the "breadcrumbs" I created to the end of the story and successfully completed it.

I wish I could train myself to immediately go into outline mode with each new project, but I don't. I tell myself that each book has its on personality and therefore, its on birthing process. That's true in a way but it only takes me so far. If I know beyond a doubt that I write better and to completion by outlining, why don't I just do it?

How about you? How many notes do you make about a project before or during the writing process? How extensive are they? Do you have any unfinished projects? Any plans to finish them? Share.
 

The Last Daughter - A GREATER DETROIT RWA 2014 BBA FINALIST!

The Greater Detroit RWA 2014 Booksellers Best Award announced the finalist for their annual contest, and guess what! The Last Daughter is one of them! If you remember, in my previous post, I wondered if I would ever write again so this is just the shot of encouragement I need to MAKE time. Sometimes it seems like too much of a challenge between the wedding planning, retired hubby, church work, renovation and decorating. Surely I don't have a touch of laziness! Surely not!

I'm not really familiar with this contest. Every month or so, we RWA members get our trade magazine that lists contests and conferences and I decided to enter The Last Daughter in the novella category. I chose this contest because of the judges. They're booksellers. That makes being a finalist even more special to me. I had to print out several copies of The Last Daughter and have them bound for the judges. It was time consuming and at times I wondered if I was wasting a tree, but now ... I'm so glad I took the time. I'm flattered and honored, excited and  super-pumped, even though I've got some wonderful competition in the other five contestants.

 

Winners will be announced at the RWA National Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

  

In no particular order, the following is a list of finalists. Those listed with an asterisk are also nominated for Best First Book.  When I see contest winners, I'm always curious about the publishers and editors so if you'd like to know who they are, go to the Greater Detroit RWA 2014 Booksellers Best Award link.

 

Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!

TRADITIONAL

Last Chance Proposal Barbara DeLeo

The Courage to Say Yes Barbara Wallace

The Cattleman's Ready-Made Family Michelle Douglas

First Comes Baby Michelle Douglas

A Marriage Made in Italy Rebecca Winteres

Crashing into Tess Lilly Christine

SHORT HISTORICAL

The Witch Finder Blythe Gifford

Before the Larkspur Blooms  Caroline Fyffe

Lachlan's Bride Kathleen Harrington

Surrender to the Earl Gayle Callen

At the Highlander's Mercy Terri Brisbin

SINGLE TITLE

Mystic Cowboy Sarah M. Anderson

The Time Between Karen White

Home to Whisky Creek Brenda Novak

Lost Melody Dolores W. Maroney

The Pieces We Keep Kristina McMorris

SHORT CONTEMPORARY

The Rancher She Loved Ann Roth

*Doctor, Soldier, Daddy  Caro Carson

Conceal, Protect Carol Ericson

To Tame a Cowboy Jules Bennett

His Southern Temptation Robin Covington

LONG CONTEMPORARY

Kidnapped Cowboy  Lindsey Brookes

Out of his League Cathryn Parry

A Kiss to Die for Gail Barrett

The Cowboy's Christmas Baby Carolyn Brown

Seduced by his Target Gail Barrett

PARANORMAL

Midnight's Kiss  Donna Grant

Omega Susannah Sandlin

Allegiance Sworn  Kylie Griffin

Fire of the Dragon Lori Dillon

Tempt Me Tamara Hogan

The Reunited Shiloh Walker

INSPIRATIONAL

Vanished by  Irene Hannon

Cozy Christmas by Valerie Hansen

Shenandoah Nights by  Lisa Belcastro

Wedding On the Rocks by Rose Ross Zediker

Healing the Forest Ranger by Leigh Bale

LONG HISTORICAL

*For the Love of A Soldier  Victoria Morgan

The Hunter  Monica McCarty

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke  Samantha Grace

Love's Price Cheryl Holt

What a Duke Desires Sabrina Jeffries

YOUNG ADULT

Camp Boyfriend J.K. Rock

*Running On Empty  Colette Ballard

Briar Rose Jana Oliver

Dirty Little Secret Jennifer Echols

*Playing Tyler  TL Costa

EROTIC

On her Masters Service Lexi Blake

Unforgettable Alison Kent

Avoiding Mr. Right  C.J. Ellison

* Masque   Lexi Post

Too Fast  Alexia Haynes

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Trapped  Irene Hannon

Ashes, Ashes, They All Fall Dead Lena Diaz

Til' Death Sharon Sala

Hard Target Kay Thomas

Pieces of You- A Snowy Creek Novel Loreth Anne White

NOVELLA

Christmas At Copper Mountain Jane Porter

Outside the Lines Kimberly Kincaid

The Last Daughter Jessica Ferguson

One True Love  Lori Wilde

Take Me, Cowboy Jane Porter

A Cowboy for Christmas Katheirne Garbera

 

IWSG: Reviews--Gotta Love 'em!

IWSG is the brainchild of our awesome Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you want to become a part of this group, check out our website. I should say, check out our beautiful, informative website. Lots to see and learn there! We're also on Facebook now. Exciting!

Today, let's talk about reviews ... or should I say, let's whine about reviews. Actually, I don't want to talk or whine... I want you to explain them to me. Aren't reviews a little like voting? Can a bad review cancel out a good one? Does each review stand alone? No doubt, they all confuse me.

I've really enjoyed the reviews I've received on my novella, The Last Daughter. I have thirty of them. I know it takes time to figure out what to say, so I appreciate everyone (yes, everyone) who took the time to write one.

It thrills me to think thirty people actually read my book ... and I have friends who read it that don't review. Ever notice how weird friends act around you before they read your book? Like ... they're scared it's going to be crummy and they won't know what to say to you. I understand that. I've felt that way too. And then there are friends who buy it, read it ... don't tell you until afterwards. I understand that too. Better to protect friendships. (I knew a guy who sent his friends detailed critiques of their published books. Ouch!)

I guess my biggest complaint about reviews is when someone writes that there are huge gaps in the story, that it didn't make sense. That hurts. Especially when I worked hard to create/construct a story that makes sense. I want to know where those gaps are. 

A couple of people stated The Last Daughter was a horrible story. For one person, that wasn't strong enough. S/he said, "Horrible. Horrible. Horrible." I guess three horribles makes it worse than horrible. Point taken. Stories that have to do with abuse aren't for everyone. Yeah, it gets a little dark but you read worse in the newspaper.

Oddly, these reviews haven't bothered me. Seriously, they haven't, but they have confused me. Were there gaps because of a glitch in the epublishing, the formatting? Couldn't a reader tell if that happened? Or did I seriously screw up some transitions?

One review that had me really confused was the one that said, "I really enjoyed the book which moved along at a nice pace. The one thing I never like in any novel is when the female allows a man to have the upper hand, as this one did with her ex boyfriend. She should never have allowed him back into her life."

Ex boyfriend? What ex-boyfriend?  She didn't have one. Still, I'm glad she liked my story and thought I had good pacing. That's important.

I did get some excellent reviews. Believe it or not, not all of them came from family and friends. Some of the "fun" ones are HERE.

30 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

   




Share with me: how do you feel about reviews? Do you learn anything from them? (I'll be paying closer attention to transitions--just in case!) Some of my friends say they never read them. Really?  C'mon, never?

 

The Last Daughter - FREE

Just a short quick post to let you all know The Last Daughter, my romantic suspense, is FREE today through Friday. I hope you'll all download it whether you read it or not. Here's the link:

http://tinyurl.com/kzmoxzz

 

If you do read it, please leave an honest review on
Amazon. Flattery will get ME nowhere.

 

Thanks gang!

Book Release - TODAY!

Today my book is up on Amazon. I didn't schedule any blog tours, and in fact, I haven't even announced it on Facebook yet. I have trouble promoting myself. Maybe I should pretend this book belongs to someone else. I can always sing someone else's praises.

If you haven't read Alex Cavanaugh's guest post on maintaining momentum, scroll down to the previous post and read it. My problem is ... I don't have a lot of momentum to maintain!

So I'm telling my followers here ... if you purchase The Last Daughter, I hope you'll review it on Amazon, tweet about it, talk about it on GoodReads. Even if you don't like it, I hope you'll review it. It's the silence that's the killer--not the bad reviews.

This is an exciting day. Very different from holding a print book in my hands, but fun just the same. Celebrate with me.

Release Date

I finally have a release date for The Last Daughter. All I can say is ... don't hold your breath! I don't want any followers passing out on me. The date is December 4th. Seems like a mighty long time to me, but it could work to my advantage. I can order some promo goodies for conferences. Is that done for ebooks? I'm totally uneducated when it comes to promoting my own work--and the manner in which it should be done. I hate watching the time and the calendar, scheduling blog tours and hops and give-aways, etc. {{sigh}}  All and any advice will be appreciated.

I do have some good news. I've signed a contract with a small press for a Christmas story. The theme is The Twelve Days of Christmas. My story will take place on December 15th--the tenth day before Christmas. Now don't get confused; that means, my hero and heroine will be living their lives on December 15th and their entire story will take place on that day.

My deadline is September 1st.
My release date is October 1st.

Whirlwind, right? I'm choosing photos for the cover and I don't even have a title yet! Or a completed story! Okay... not much more than a germ of an idea.

How do best selling authors with multiple deadlines do this?

The fun thing is that my Christmas story (about 9,000 words) will be released as a single ebook along with eleven others. And then ... and then ... we'll all be combined into a print book, an anthology. I guess what I'm most excited about is having my name on the cover of a book with multi-award winning writer Kathi Macias. Kathi has authored more than 40 books including those she ghosted.

Whatever made me think I could finish my novel before moving on the 27th? I seem to be running in place--ever so slowly adding to the word count. Seems I'm doing more cutting and editing than actual writing.

Tuesday is another long writing day at the library. I know I'll accomplish something there. Wish me luck, keep fingers crossed for me and/or send prayers. And offer any advice you think I need. My eyes and ears are open!

 

Markets and Moving and More

It’s true, time flies when we’re having fun.  When we’re experiencing sad, painful things, time drags and every day seems to last forever. We’ve been in Oklahoma for a year and three months. Doesn’t seem like a year. Only when we took the 10-hour trek to Louisiana (and back) once a month did it feel like forever. Today we learned we’ll be pulling out on July 27^th.  As anxious as I am to get home, I’m sad to be leaving. I’ve enjoyed being here in Yukon—meeting my friend Janie at the library for writing day, going to Discovery Church, having lunch with friends every Sunday. Exploring the fantastic Salvation Army Family Store for books and going to Half-Price Books in OKC. Things are different at home.  I can’t imagine living there permanently again. We’ll see what happens.

So … I’m setting goals to reach by July 27^th because I have no idea what will happen once we get home. I know it will take awhile to get acclimated, and I hate unpacking boxes!

I’m still trying to finish my novel to send to Love Inspired. The editing/revising is what takes so long. Fresh writing moves pretty fast. Interruptions keep popping up. Today I’m reading the galleys of The Last Daughter, my novella. Seems like every time I post, I’m reading over it for some reason.  Has it taken forever to reach this point? Seems so, but my editor says it won’t be long before it’ll be available. I’m anxious to see what kind of response it gets since I’ve never written anything like it. It has a little darkness to it. A dose of reality I call it—dark reality.

 I have a couple of articles to write for Southern Writers Magazine, and a new nonfiction project I’m toying with.

In the meantime, here are a few markets for you.

Over at Cruising Altitude 2.0, D.L. Hammons is revving up his Write Fight 2013. You have until midnight June 30^th to enter your 500 word short story. Take a look and follow instructions to perfection.  http://dlcruisingaltitude.blogspot.com/2013/06/write-club-last-call.html?showComment=1372432138957#c822276601668980747 

Slice Magazine is open to submissions from now through August 1 for short stories of up to 5,000 words that explore the theme “Escape.”  “We’re looking for anyone with a fresh voice and a compelling story to share—basically any work that really knocks our socks off. We’re not drawn to experimental or heavy-handed genre fiction. The best way to get a sense of Slice‘s content is to read the magazine.” Slice pays $100 for published stories. Find out more details here .

Samhain Publishing is seeking contributions for a fall 2014 gothic horror anthology. Editor Don D’Auria “wants to feel that claustrophobic, shadowy, oppressive gothic atmosphere” Stories may be supernatural or non-supernatural, historical or contemporary, and may feature ghosts, vampires, werewolves, homicidal maniacs, or almost anything your imagination can create. 25,000 to 30,000 words. Deadline for submissions is September 15, 2013. Stories will be published individually as ebooks in Spring 2014, then compiled into the anthology for the fall. Find all the details here.

Do any of these interest you? What are you working on? SHARE!

Do You Know What You Don't Know?

I’ve been doing line edits on my novella. Not fun while feeling miserable. I don’t get sick often but when I do … it’s usually a whopper. I’m on the mend though so thanks for good thoughts coming my way.

About the line edits … It’s frightening to realize how much I don’t know about POV, showing and telling, and overwriting. The most subtle observation/thought/action on the part of a character can be a point of view violation. If I dwell on these things I don’t know, I’ll find myself in the middle of writer’s block quicksand—sinking fast. Instead, I’m trying to marvel at how much stronger my story becomes when I edit, choose stronger verbs, cut unnecessary words and repair those POV problems. And I’m trying to learn. Odd that I can catch these problems in other people’s manuscripts but not mine. Why is that?

I love my story. I love my characters. Is that wrong to say? Probably, but I’m a little impressed with myself for ‘thinking up’ such a story. For so long I’ve felt creatively dead. I felt like I really stretched my brain.

My novella is called The Last Daughter and is part of the Scrimshaw Doll series by Oklahoma Romance Writers. It's a romantic suspense and should be out later this year. Here’s an unofficial blurb:

Given away as a child, Rayna Guilbeau grew up with questions—questions about her real family and questions about how she ended up in Louisiana with a disfiguring heart branded on her chest. When she sees a sale ad for a house in Oklahoma City called Wounded Heart, she feels an instant connection. Somehow, the house holds the key to her mysterious past.

Trent Jones, an easy-going picker who’s always looking to make a few bucks, is the new owner of Wounded Heart, a three-story house filled with antiques and mystery. When an intriguing young woman shows up on his property at midnight, claiming she was born there, he knows his life is about to change.

A mysterious trash man, a gunshot through a bedroom window, and a cursed doll named Tiva spark an emotional journey into danger. Together, Trent and Rayna find answers, family, and unwavering love.

You can get to know some of my characters by following The Schrimshaw Doll blog. I contributed my second post today. You can check out both posts by clicking on the following links. Would love for you to leave a comment!

Rayna Finds Her Mother: Now What?

Cursed Dolls Don't Weep--Or Do They?