Friday was National Book Lovers’ Day. Have you ever wondered who determines all these “national” days? Who decides what’s worthy and what isn’t? How do they pick the date? Not that I’m dissing National Book Lovers’ Day. Any book celebration is a going to get my vote. But I always thought it was an act […]
Blue Dragon Publishing, LLC is very thankful to the Williamsburg Boat Club for the kind words and plug as they christened the Blue Dragon into its fleet. It means a lot that they appreciate me and what I have brought to the club, and that they have enough faith to put Blue Dragon on their […]
What is a back story and why is it important? Many authors are excited to get into the nuts and bolts of the story and often skip this very important step. I would argue it’s more important sometimes than others. If you are writing a nonfiction, back story doesn’t really come into play. If you […]
Marketing is hard, especially if it isn’t your specialty or passion. But here are eight things you can do to promote your book that you don’t need a marketing expert to pull off. 1. Social Media Reviews If you are on Instagram or Facebook, try to find reviewers who enjoy your genre. Follow them for […]
I was at a book signing with Blue Dragon author Amy Voltaire where she was signing her book, My Name is Erin, and My Mom’s an Addict. A parent stopped by the booth and made a face upon seeing the title. “Do you really think you need to bring that subject into the schools?” she […]
After your book has gone through the editing process but before final printing, you should receive a printed copy of your book. This proof copy may or may not be bound. This is a great time to read your book yet another time and look for any typos or words that aren’t quite right. Hopefully […]
I love libraries. And I love people who read books. So it would go to reason that I would love librarians. I am at the American Library Association Conference in Washington DC this weekend. This is the third one I have attended, and I learn something new each time. Not only do I get to […]
Picture books are tougher to write than you think. The words have to be simple enough to fit the age group, but interesting enough to catch the parents’ eye. Rhyming is good for children because of the sing-song tone which is comforting to them. But it can’t be annoying because the parents need to keep […]
You may have heard me tell my story before. I was in the Air Force for 28 years. During my first duty station I had a stalker. At the time it was scary and difficult to live through. After a number of years, it became the basis for my first book, The Obsession. Many people […]
Are you looking forward to summer? I do, even though I am working just as many hours as during the other seasons. Maybe it’s the extra daylight, leaving more time to sit on the back deck and get in a few reading chapters. I have a stack of books I’m still working on from last […]
As Memorial Day approaches, please be sure to thank a veteran for their service. I am always touched when someone thanks me for my service, and it happens more often than not. People are genuinely appreciative of our military (what a shift that is from what older veterans had to put up with). I’m honored […]
Happy Mother’s Day! Why do we celebrate mothers? The best answer is, why not? Mother’s Day is not really about the gift, but the thought. The homemade gifts I have received still have a place of reverence on my countertop and kitchen table. As we grow and understand our mothers don’t really “need” anything, the […]
Creating cover art is a specialization in the book world. It is NOT my specialty. There are trends to track, colors to express emotion and fonts that convey meaning. In the traditional publishing world, the author may or may not have input into the cover process. As a hybrid publisher, I’m able to guide my […]
When my daughters were Girl Scouts going door-to-door selling cookies, it was hard to get them to see the long-term rewards of knocking on doors today. I had to break it down for them. They would determine what they were going to spend their cookie profits on, and we would work backwards to figure out […]
Spring is a season of new beginnings and rebirth. In the Blue Dragon Publishing world, it’s also the start of book signing season and new releases. Time to plan out the year ahead and prepare the authors for events. April is especially busy for Blue Dragon. We are hosting a Girl Scout Day on April […]
Swallow’s Dance by Wendy Orr My rating: 3 of 5 stars Reading was not a waste of time but I didn’t feel hooked from the beginning. It was more like something I had to finish because I started it. Even halfway through the book I was trying to identify the point of the story. The […]
Chicago Manual Style – Time I know it’s frustrating to hear that you shouldn’t proof your own work. Then, to add insult to injury, not even your school teacher father or mother can proof your work. Why? You are all too close to the story. You may try to argue that your parents are particularly […]
Do Authors Ever Go On Vacation? Short answer is…no. At least I don’t. Getting away from my desk is a relief and something I look forward to, but my laptop is never left behind. What if the urge hits me to knock out a few thousand words? I can’t pass up that opportunity. Although many […]
The City of Lost Fortunes I LOVED THIS BOOK! Bryan Camp did a great job weaving together many different spiritualistic beliefs in a way that was entertaining and educational (in a fun way). The dialogue was realistic and catchy. Hard to believe this is his first book. I look forward to reading more of his […]
The Unexpected Struggle of Using Unexpected Words Too Often Did you ever read a book when the author uses a word that sticks in your brain? Maybe it’s a new word you’ve never heard before. Maybe it’s one you haven’t heard that often. It’s a great way to expand your vocabulary. But when the author […]
Telephone Tuesday Today is Telephone Tuesday. They truly have a day for everything! How does this relate to writing? Most phones these days have cameras. Pictures can be a great inspiration: a perfect scene that is begging to be described in one of your books; a fun quote posted on a bulletin board or at […]
I enjoy reading a mix of fiction and fantasy to simply lose myself in the story. The other part of my brain craves improvement and knowledge. I recently picked up a book by Jordan Ring called Volcanic Momentum. There is something to be said for a book that pushes you to become a better you. […]
When eBooks first came out, like all things tech, the sales shot up. There was talk that the print book was going out like the vinyl record (and you see records are coming back…). With the excitement of having light-weight, portable bookcases available at a reader’s fingertips, many people jumped on the bandwagon to experiment […]
Your Writing Space Is your writing feeling dull and sluggish, following the weather trends outside? Maybe it’s time for spring cleaning. Perhaps your writing space has gotten cluttered over the winter; papers piled up, scribbled notes on scrap paper, unopened mail. Or is that just me? Take a few hours and go through those things. […]
Your Writing Space Is your writing feeling dull and sluggish, following the weather trends outside? Maybe it’s time for spring cleaning. Perhaps your writing space has gotten cluttered over the winter; papers piled up, scribbled notes on scrap paper, unopened mail. Or is that just me? Take a few hours and go through those things. […]
Girl Scouts It’s cookie season. For some people that means extra pounds to work off later in the year. For others, it is a time to prepare their gracious “no thank you” speeches for when they have to walk past yet another Girl Scout cookie booth outside a store front. I was a Girl Scout […]
It’s cookie season. For some people that means extra pounds to work off later in the year. For others, it is a time to prepare their gracious “no thank you” speeches for when they have to walk past yet another Girl Scout cookie booth outside a store front. I was a Girl Scout leader for […]
Telephone Tuesday Today is Telephone Tuesday. They truly have a day for everything!How does this relate to writing? Most phones these days have cameras. Pictures can be a great inspiration: a perfect scene that is begging to be described in one of your books; a fun quote posted on a bulletin board or at a […]
The Unexpected Struggle of Using Unexpected Words Too Often Did you ever read a book when the author uses a word that sticks in your brain? Maybe it’s a new word you’ve never heard before. Maybe it’s one you haven’t heard that often. It’s a great way to expand your vocabulary. But when the author […]
Do Authors Ever Go On Vacation? Short answer is…no. At least I don’t. Getting away from my desk is a relief and something I look forward to, but my laptop is never left behind. What if the urge hits me to knock out a few thousand words? I can’t pass up that opportunity. Although many […]
I recently took a workshop led by Jessica Grace Kelley and Hannah Capin about writing for young adults. Both Jessica and Hannah have published young adult fiction and had a lot to offer to the class. First thing to realize is that Young Adult is not a genre, it’s a category. Makes sense. Young Adult […]
Relieving Stress Just in time! I read this article today from Entrepreneur Magazine with 5-Stress Relieving Strategies. Even I can find time for some of these. While some people are rushing to set their goals (and really mean it this year!), this article by Derek Doepker gives you 5 tips that you can squeeze into […]
Chicago Manual Style – Time So how do you do with commas? I think I’m pretty good most of the time. It took me a while to adjust between the military writing style using American Psychological Association and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) used in novels.You may have heard that it’s optional to put […]
Chicago Manual Style – Time Am I the only one that gets confused by 12 a.m. and 12 p.m.? Probably not, which is why the Chicago Manual Style suggests always using the terms noon and midnight to avoid misunderstandings (CMS 9.39). That will make my life much easier. The book has a lot of helpful […]
Chicago Manual Style The Chicago Manual of Style is an essential guide for writers, editors, and publishers…and word geeks. I turn to this 1,000+ page reference guide often as I’m writing or editing to look up the approved way of formatting or abbreviating something. But I get lost in the interesting facts that probably only […]
Energy is Everything Do you perform better at a certain time of the day? That is when your energy is highest. You can keep up that pace by re-energizing yourself throughout the day. Our bodies naturally go in cycles where they need to recharge every 90 minutes or so. Pushing through it with coffee or […]
Change Your Morning Kevin Kruse, author of 15 Secrets of Successful People Know about Time Management, stresses the importance of giving yourself some time. And if you don’t do it first thing in the morning, it isn’t going to get done. Some people spend that time in mediation, others in a good workout. Think about […]
Touch It Once Touch it once. Sounds simple, right? For some things, it is. I don’t have a problem putting dishing directly into the dishwasher after eating. It’s better than them piling in the sink waiting to be done. That’s an example of touch it once. Kevin Kruse, author of 15 Secrets of Successful People […]
Outsource “Leverage your expertise and delegate the rest.” These wise words come from Jeff Moore, president of two seafood companies. Another word for delegating these days is outsource. Kevin Kruse, author of 15 Secrets of Successful People Know about Time Management, talks about the importance of prioritizing how you spend your time. He quotes the […]
Meetings Most people don’t appreciate meetings. I hated them when I worked at the Pentagon. It was a matter of running from one to the next. While it was great to be able to gather the information, there were so many that it was hard to get work done. For that reason, I have always […]
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Slider_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Notebook In my 28 years in the Air Force, I saw many Army officers carrying notebooks. And not any notebook; it was typically a green hardback that could fit in their cargo pants pocket. I never understood the draw. Kevin Kruse, Author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know about Time Management, finally explained […]
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Slider_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Leave at Five Without Guilt As Kevin Kruse, Author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know about Time Management, explains, to leave the office at five without guilt is more about setting your priorities than actually leaving work. There will always be more to do. This was especially true when working at the Pentagon. […]
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Slider_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] With apologies to Kevin Kruse, author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know about Time Management, I am going to put my own spin on his most excellent book. The second thing he talked about is determining your Most Important Thing. Determine what the most important thing is that you need to get accomplished […]
Nothing sells your book better than your book cover. It’s the “face” of your story. Hiring a professional cover designer is worth the money. Your cover design needs to capture the attention of the readers so they will pick it up and read the back cover. The cover should not focus on one scene in […]