Happy Hump Day! League of Gentlemen and a Good Review

If you're not familiar with League of Gentlemen from England, then you need to be.  The series is available via Netflix.  Here's a few clips to get you acquainted.  Don't ask me why the writing is backwards.  Enjoy!





Wait to see what comes after the end of this clip.  :)






Anyone else a fan of LOG or Psychoville?  Hmmm?


Also, if you have a sec, please check out this review for Fourth Degree Freedom done by Melysah at 4 The Love of Lit.  

Updates and Earthquakes

It has been a heck of a week.  Mostly I'm just adjusting to having a full time job again and trying to get in a morning work out and a lunch work out.  So far so good!  I'm trying to switch my writing time  to nights and that's been an adjustment.  I didn't do much writing this past week but I'm hoping to pick it up this week.

The next few months look just as busy and/or busier as I'll be most likely working some extra hours at the day job.  Hey, more money.  :)

On to writing news! 

I have a short story being published this week over at Mixer Publishing.  I'll post a link if one is available. 

I won an Honorable Mention in the Ohio State Newark New Play Contest for my play "The Last Day". Playwriting wise, not a ton of news.  I've had some interest in my play "Stuff" but no takers as of yet. 

Twist Turn and Burn has been downloaded over 1,000 times!  I linked to it on a few free ebook sites and now it's gone viral and is listed on a lot of sites, a few I didn't even know existed.

Sales for Fourth Degree Freedom aren't remarkable by any means, but I've gotten some very good feedback and a good review so far.  I've approached 30 book bloggers and I have a few reviews scheduled.  I should have one later this week!  My plan is to keep approaching book bloggers and try to spread the word that way.

And then there was that earthquake.  I was at work.  I was sitting next to a coworker, being trained.  At first it felt like a rhino was walking past.  We're on the fifth floor of a building, keep that in mind.  We thought there was work being done on the roof or something.  Then, our floor started to rumble and bounce.  None of us were sure what was going on.  We were pretty sure it was an earthquake when the building started to sway.  It might have lasted a good seven seconds, but I'm not positive.

This was my first ever earthquake.  I stood up, spread my arms like I was ready for action.  Then I froze.  The problem was, I was surrounded by windows and couldn't remember what I should do.  I wasn't near a door frame and I wasn't sure if we should just run out of the building or ride it out.  I did the best thing I could.  I stood very still.  I was prepared to jump under a desk if need be but it wasn't that severe. 

Once the earthquake passed, we were evacuated.  No one was harmed and our building was fine.  And then we went to happy hour.

nicubunu Openclipart.org

Flash Fiction Friday! Independence Long

Independence Long was not your typical girl. When she was eight, she had already invested heavily in lemons seeing a dire need for lemonade in the muggy summer weather.  When she sold her lemon stock, she bought Apple, for a different need entirely.  Therefor, it should have surprised no one when Independence Long sold her parents.

It was a unique idea, at the time at least.  Independence, now independently wealthy, saw no need for her parents.  Her butler took care of her cleaning, her chauffeur drove her around, and her cook took care of all her dietary requests.  Her parents were superfluous.

Some called the selling block a bit much, but Independence Long paid them no mind.  She presented her parents and their selling points.  She pitched her mother as a slightly used lover and comforter and her father as a stern man but a hard worker.  She got a fair price for them.

She used the money she got for her parents to pay for her third car, a used Porsche.   It was a fun car, a little pick me up on lonely days.  Her driver wrecked the car their second trip out.  Independence didn't bother filing an insurance claim.  "It's okay.  It was found money," she said.

THE END

I'm thinking of using Independence Long in a short story.  This is more of a character study. 

The Cat Who Could Walk Through Walls

I'm recommending this book because it's strange and interesting but I do not know enough of Heinlein's work to geek out big time on all it's interconnections to his other novels.  Sorry blogosphere, I haven't hit that level of nerdom yet, but I'm sure I'm on my way.

Basic plot:

Colin Campbell is forced on the run after he is framed for murder.  He marries his girlfriend, Gwen, and they flee with a bonsai tree and a bum that was hired as a part of a plot to kill them.  They go to the moon then to a distant planet in another time and universe.  There are multiple times in which they should be killed, are threatened to be killed, and are nearly killed, but they live.  They escape frequently and with great aplomb and witty repartee.  Every character has about six names, ten secrets, and even minor characters return in big ways.  By the end of the novel, you're not sure what's quite real.  At least I wasn't.

Why I'm recommending:

I get a little annoyed at Heinlein's need to discuss his personal beliefs in the form of long and contrived conversations.  I hate that his characters frequently say "HUH?" in order to get their counterpart to speak more in depth on their personal philosophies.  It's an annoyance.  Write an essay.  This is fiction.

Having said that, I love that this is a huge romp through space and time and that it constantly questions what is real.  I love that there are old fashioned coincidences, far too many murder plots to keep track of, and an unapologetic banter between the newlyweds in dire situations.  I also love the ending.  I really loved the ending.  The ending is half the reason I'm recommending the book.  Really liked the ending.

I will not gush over this one as I did LOWBOY though I did like this novel.  I found it fun and inventive and chock full of story.  I read it for free from the library but if I had spent $20 on it I would have felt like I got my money's worth.

There you have it.  The Cat Who Could Walk Through Walls is worth $20. 

Star Trek As We Know It Blogfest

Today, I am participating in the Ellie Garrat blogfest "Star Trek As We Know It".  Basically it's packed full of awesome.  The rules are simple:

• On August 22nd post your top five Star Trek characters and episodes and/or films, and tell us why you love them.
• Warp your way over to as many of your Starfleet comrades as you can and comment on their choices.
• Spread the word on all hailing frequencies, and feel free to post the image on your blog.
• Wear red at your peril.

So, let's get started shall we.  As usual, I'm not going to quite follow the rules.

1. THE SHATNER - I love William Shatner both as Kirk and as every other role he's ever played ever (I'm winking in your direction Boston Legal).  I'm putting him down for sexiest captain.  Deal with it.

See what I mean?  SEXY.

2. DATA - OH MY GOSH.  I loved Data.  I wanted to be Data.  Some days, I still want to be Data.  He was so cool.  Also, I had a touch of a crush on him.  Do not judge me.

3. BEST MOVIE MOMENT EVER:




4. The Star Trek Holodeck - I want to live there.  I want to live there now.  Someone, build me a holodeck!

5. Damn it Jim quotes.  Damn it Jim, I'm a blogger, not a trekkie.  Okay, maybe I'm a bit of a trekkie.

Also, I love that those who wear red die.  I'm goofy for my new "T is for Tiberius" shirt.  It is the best piece of clothing I've bought all year.  I love that Netflix just released tons of Star Trek for screenings and that Arlington, VA had an outdoor Star Trek movie marathon last year which my husband and I attended.

To all who participate, I will see your blog soon, I'll be in meetings most of today.

And, for the nonTrekkies in the audience, here is a video that I found when looking up Star Trek on Youtube:

Flash Fiction Friday! Dog Day Afternoon

I sent a piece of flash fiction to Bibliophilic Blather and it was posted last week.  Alas, I had already posted my piece on vampiric grandmothers by the time I found out my dog piece was going up on the other blog.  So, I'm attempting to push you over there today.  It's a strange little story, the prompt I was given was Dog Days of Summer.  So of course I stole the title, you don't need to tell me that (love that movie).  Here is the link: 

Libby's story on Bibliophilic Blather.

Back to Work - The Conclusion

I head back to work on Monday.  Yes, I've actually been working before this, but at a severely part-time job.  I'm going back to reduced full-time hours at a different job.  More stress, more hours, more pay.

But Libby, what does this mean to us?  To our relationship?

Fear not dear reader.  There will be changes, but nothing we can't deal with.  Ours is a strong connection, one that weather any difficulty.

I will continue to post and will stick to a schedule, but that schedule will be less strict.  Instead of five posts a week, expect three.  They are as follows:

Monday - Update/Writing Day

Wednesday - Reading recommendation and every other Wed will be video day

Friday - Still the good old flash fiction

There may be other surprise posts as well.  I'm hoping to keep quality while reducing quantity.  I'm also hoping to release a few new collections of short fiction as well as a novel in the next six months.  Wish me luck!

I may be commenting a touch less than normal for a while.  Please be patient, I have to adjust to a new schedule.  I love you all though and will do my best to visit and comment on your blogs!


I hope this goes well.  I'm a bit nervous. 

How is everyone else doing?

Videos Videos Videos and Bowling

As promised, here's the bowling:

MORE AWESOME BOWLING TRICK SHOTS - watch more funny videos

I have to see this crazy creepy movie:





And a movie I will NEVER EVER WATCH!!!!!





Sorry guys, sometimes something is so disturbing, it must be shared.  PS - there's a second one of these.

Recent Reads I'd Recommend: Galore

Galaore begins with an adult albino male being cut from the belly of a beached whale, and it just gets weirder after that.  There are ghosts, curses, home remedies and a creepy certainty that almost anything may happen.  Oh, and there's also lush language and a pretty tremendous story to boot.

Galore is a story that takes place over a century or two in a small fishing village in Newfoundland.  The main plot follows the rivalry of two families, the Devines and the Sellers.  I find that I generally have a difficult time with stories that cross a major span of time.  My problem is that I fall in love with characters and get annoyed at having to learn about a whole new generation half way through.  That was not the case with this book.

I did fall in love with Michael Crummey's first generation of villagers, but then I fell in love with the successive generations as well.  I also fell for the American doctor that settles into the village in Part 2 of the novel.  He offers a whole new perspective and a new way into a new generation.

I was surprised by the authentic feel of the voices.  The history was well researched.  The village, its inhabitants and the ins and outs of their joys and sorrows were delivered in rich detail.  In the hundred years, you see the village change from Catholic to Protestant, from self-sustaining to dependent, from magical to tragic (at times). 

The women are just as tough as the men but in their own special way.  One of my favorite lines was delivered by a female who was just propositioned by a man:

"I already have one asshole in this dress, why would I need another?"

I don't know about you, but that's a pretty cutting rejection.

I finished Galore several weeks ago but haven't been sure how to tackle the recommendation.  I sincerely enjoyed this book and got lost in the voices.  Unfortunately, it's so broad in scope, so extremely well written and about so many different things, that it's difficult to discuss, at least for me.  I feel like Galore is a good word for a large work that is thoroughly enjoyable, completely unbelievable and true at the same time. 

I leave you with a link to another review:

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/afterword/archive/2009/09/25/book-review-galore-by-michael-crummey.aspx

Anyone have a book to recommend?  Leave any suggestions in the comments below.  I'm always looking for new books to read!

Hello Amazon! Fourth Degree Freedom Gets Published

Saturday night was many things.  It was an early night.  It was a night of tasty burritos made by the hubby.  There was a well deserved hour of rest after eight hours at the day job.  It was also the night I published Fourth Degree Freedom.

I'm not going to say I published the book and it was an instant success.  I did manage to sell two copies within a few hours, one to me and one to my mom.  It's okay if you're impressed.  

I had a terrific round of banter on my facebook page about the release of the book.  I tweeted it a few times but since I despise twitter spam, I stopped after three tweets.  I posted it on the kindle boards.  Then I had a beer, and it was delicious.

I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all my readers that chimed in about the cover and blurbs.  I took all of your advice very seriously and changed both the cover and the blurb.  I deeply appreciate all of you for taking the time to help me and for the continued support.  Virtual Hugs To All! 

I'm leaving a link here to the Fourth Degree Freedom Amazon page.  Feel free to click it if you want to see the end result.  There's a yummy sample to download.  You know you want to.

Fourth Degree Freedom Amazon Page

Flash Fiction Friday! The Key To A Long Life

The flowers were beautiful, red and white roses arranged in a small bouquet.  "Gorgeous.  They're simply gorgeous Mr. Sing," Amelia gushed.  She paid and gave Mr. Sing a large tip.  "For all you do."  She then took her flowers and headed out the door.

"Do you need help to your car?" Mr. Sing asked.

"Mr. Sing, one does not make it to ninety-three by allowing others to assist them constantly.  But I thank you none the less."

Her next stop was at the grocery store.  She wished she had more time to buy proper chocolates but she'd been held up at the orphanage.  She liked story time but she'd made the mistake of picking a book the children liked so much that they made her read it twice.  She wasn't one to say no.

At the grocery store, she purchased two boxes of their best chocolates, which were not up to her usual standards but would do for today.  She winked at the teenage boy that rang her up. 

"Did you just wink at me?" the boy asked.

"Young man, one does not make it to ninety-three by forgetting to flirt.  Now, if you'll be so kind as to bag those groceries for me cutie."

Then it was off to the jewelry store.  A new diamond bracelet was in order for the occasion.  The service at the jewelry store was prompt.  She had a reputation there and everyone was more than willing to bend over backwards for her. 

"Please, madam, be careful on the way home, it looks like rain."

"My good man, one does not make it to ninety-three by fearing the weather.  One toughs it out," Amelia said.

She instructed her driver to hurry home.  He nodded at her and she offered a great big smile from the back seat.  Amelia was never known to be rude to those in her employ.  Bad manners did not suit a lady of her stature.

Her driver helped carry in her packages.  He put her flowers in water and made sure the house was secure.  Just before he left, he reminded Amelia that he had a sister that would be more than happy to be employed in domestic duties.

"No thank you, dear.  One only makes it to ninety-three by staying active.  I find domestic work does the trick."

"As you say ma'am.  She could always just drop by once or twice a week."

"No need, but thank you."

She waited for the driver to leave before she carried the roses and chocolates up to the master bedroom.  There, strapped to the bed, was the young woman she'd purchased earlier that morning. 

"Why, hello dear."

The girl screamed through her gag. 

"Do keep it down," she said.  "I've brought you gifts.  Would you like some chocolates?"

She wasn't sure, but she thought she heard the girl scream a few expletives. 

"That's not very ladylike.  I'd like to spoil you, if you'd let me.  But if not, I suppose it's down to business.  If you survive, I have a lovely gift for you downstairs."  Amelia smiled, revealing her fangs.

Getting Stronger

I used to be in great shape.  By used to be, I mean four years ago.  By great shape, I mean I was thirty pounds lighter and could run way faster, like three minutes per mile faster.  I like to blame marriage but really I just got distracted.  One of the reasons I was in great shape was because I was incredibly bored.  I had just moved back to VA from WA and knew no one.  So I hit the gym.  I hit the gym every day.

dcatcherex Openclipart.org

Now, I feel like I have so much to do I'm not sure how to get it all done.  Add a busy schedule to way more writing hours (hello sitting on my ass all day) and lots of going out to eat and beer, and there you have it.  Not a real mystery.

I'm trying to find my way back to being in shape.  I'm starting a new work out regimen.  I was doing really well a few months ago.  If you follow me on twitter you saw my daily mile posts.  But then I got sick.  I got sick twice in two months.

So now I'm back at it.  More work outs, harder work outs, more running (though I'm doing this at a slow increase - I see too many self-inflicted injuries at the running store to do otherwise).   And more vitamins.  I kind of stopped taking vitamins for a while and I think that contributed to cold number two.

I do want to make one thing clear, I actually don't mind the extra weight.  I never feel heavy.  I still feel athletic even if I'm not.  It's a gift (possible self-denial).  I can still run 10 miles at a time, I just do it way slower than I used to. 

I actually like working out because of the discipline and dedication it encourages.  I also like seeing little improvements like being able to run more and more miles at one go.  I feel the same way about writing.  Each activity, working out and writing, are grueling and draining and some days I don't want to participate and I hate them.  Ultimately, each is rewarding and well worth the effort. 

I am trying one new thing and I wanted to see if my fellow writers and all-day-ass-sitters, also known as office dwellers, ever do the same thing.  I'm taking little breaks every 30 minutes or so and doing sit-ups and push-ups or stretching or walking or just doing something active.  I wonder if any of my dear readers have done this and how they liked it?  Does anyone else have ideas about how to keep active when your job requires lots of sitting?

 

Thanks for the Help. Here are some Videos

Thanks everyone who chipped in with advice on the cover and the blurb for my short story collection!  I'm busy working on the blurb, and by that I mean I'm off to work and then I'll be busy working on the blurb. 

As a thank you, here are some funny videos!

Paul Rudd Pitches Harvey Weinstein from Paul Rudd

Idiots with Zoe Saldana & Kate Bosworth from Zoe Saldana

Stop The Environment from Ed Asner

Book Blurb Opinions Please

Guys.  Thank you.  Yesterday's post and the responses I received were quite helpful.  I played with photoshop for a while.  I added blue, I removed blue.  I enlarged text and then I shrunk it.  What I got as a result was something similar but different.  Here is the new cover:

Similar but different.   Main changes, my name is outlined in black, "and other stories" is white and moved to orange background, title is bigger and the orange background is a touch darker than before.

Now, if I can have some help on the book blurb.  As with many authors, this is my weakest area.  Basically, Fourth Degree Freedom is a collection of five short stories.  I did some research on Amazon for collections of short stories by indie authors and found that most tell a little about each story.  Makes sense.  Here's what I have so far:

Fourth Degree Freedom explores the best of humanity and the worst.  The stories range from hopeful realism to the dystopian side of speculative fiction.  Each story twists and turns through darkness and light, settling somewhere in the shadowy margin of existence.

Thank You For Calling - a young woman fights to keep her sanity, her marriage and her hope while working on a chat line for lonely people

The Event - Do the youth decide to go along with the government's plan to rid the population of the elderly, or will they fight back?

Fourth Degree Freedom - A family struggles with a child that was literally born a monster.

The Last Six Miles - Overweight, depressed and recently dumped all described Samantha, until she found running and her own self-respect.

She Floats - If you woke up and didn't know where you were, would you panic? What if you woke up in a giant aquarium?

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.  I have the Best Readers Ever!

Cover Art Opinions Please

My most immediate project is to publish a collection of short stories on Amazon.  This is not a money making scheme, just a way to build an audience.  My hope is to have a few of these collections published before I'm ready to release the novel.

The steps I've taken so far are as follows: I had to pick five short stories.  Three were previously unpublished, one was published a year ago and one was published on the blog just recently.  I didn't need a common theme but I wanted them to fit together naturally.  I found five that I am happy with.  I reread, re-edited, reread and then formatted.  I created the title page, table of contents and author notes.  In my author notes I mention the blog and offer Twist Turn and Burn as a freebie.

Then I had my husband edit for me.  He is better at grammar, by a lot.  It's embarrassing.  He's a computer guy but he kicks my butt in grammar.  I made the changes he requested.  I am now paying to have it edited.  Why?  Because I don't want to be that author.  The one with all the grammar mistakes.  You know, that one.

While I'm waiting for the editing to be finished, how would you all feel about helping me with blurb and my book cover?  Just looking for some opinions.  I'm making the book cover myself because I just want something simple with a few elements that can be changed out to make a new cover for a new collection of short stories.  I want them all to link together in cover style.

Here is the cover I designed for collection number one:

 When I change the cover, I'll change the orange to another color, change the title from "Fourth Degree Freedom" to another title and may/may not change the boy in silhouette.  I'm still deciding that.  You can click the image to make it bigger.

Any opinions/suggestions?  Thanks in advance!  Tomorrow, we attack my blurb.  :)  Thanks guys.

Flash Fiction Friday! Poison Pills

Lindsay tried to shut out the little girl's agony. Abby rocked back and forth on the floor, her arms wrapped around her stomach. Her crying was at its worst point, when her tears and screaming were interrupted by wet coughs. Her eyes were shut tight against the world, against Lindsay.

The TV and radio were already on full blast but nothing could drown out Abby's cries. Lindsay was no longer sure if she was hearing Abby screaming, or if her head was manufacturing its own wails of pain and contempt. She paced around the little girl. She wanted to shut the door, to go outside. Anything to stop the screaming.

Lindsay cupped her hands over her ears. "Stop. Just stop."

The cries and screams amplified in her head, crashed into her brain, made her nerves ache. She grabbed the medicine bottle from the table and took it into the kitchen. She opened the lid, ready to shake the poison pills into the garbage disposal. But she hesitated.

"Ms. Madison, if you do not continue to give Abby her prescription, we'll be forced to return her to the care of the state." His name was Edward Marshall, and Lindsay hated this man. She had met with him a few days ago, two weeks after Abby was forced into a state approved medical trial.

"But they hurt her. You have no idea how bad they hurt her."

Mr. Edwards had smiled then, a politician's empty smile. "Ms. Madison, the state of New York has mandated that children under their care suffering from AIDS are to take this medicine. If you choose not to give Abby her pills, you'll be endangering her life. We can't have that."

"But it's still in testing. They don't even know if it will work. Please. I'll pay for a better medicine. Just let me give her something that doesn't hurt her."

Edward leaned in then, his fake smile replaced with a sneer. "Either you give her that medicine or she goes back in the system. Who knows where she'll end up?  Do you know what can happen in some of those homes?"

Lindsay put the lid back on the pills.

Story inspired by the New York Guinea Pig Kids scandal.

Yummy Awards!

Momma loves awards. :) Two great bloggers, Jessie from bibliophile anonymous and Lisa L Regan gave me awards. Check out their blogs, you won't be sorry.  Jessie writes wonderful reviews, very thorough and articulate and Lisa's a writer on her way to finishing her novel.

Let's start with Jessie.

The awards come with rules.
1. Tag the person who nominated you as I did above.
2. Give 7 facts about yourself and answer the Favorites Questions
3. Pass these awards to fellow Bloggers.
4. Notify the bloggers of their awards

Seven Libby Facts:

1. I've had 17 hair colors in my life - 18 if you count the grays seeping in.

2. I've moved 20 times in fifteen years.

3. I only learned to cook at the age of 29 and I LOVE IT.

4. Miss Piggy was my first hero.

5. I can't stand anything on my throat: turtle necks, tight necklaces.  Yuck.

6. I love the smell of skunk.  Do not judge me.

7. My favorite days are the ones where I don't leave the couch.

Favorites

1. Name your favorite colors.
Purple, green and yellow.  Lots of yellow.

2. Name your favorite song.

Lola by the Kinks

3. Name your favorite dessert.
Chocolate Chip Cookies

4. What pisses you off.

Rude people

5. When you are upset you...
I lay on the floor.  Sometimes for hours.

6. Favorite Pet.
Sharks are too big so I'll go for teeny tiny dogs. 

7. Black or White?
Really?

8. Biggest Fear?
Dying with tons of regrets from not trying.

9. Best Feature?
I think my nose is cute.

10. Everyday attitude:
Fun, I think.  Though some days grumpy.

11. What is Perfection:

A good night's sleep.

12. Guilty Pleasures:

Reality TV shows - I love Gordon Ramsay. 

And the award goes to:
I'm going to break the rules here just a little bit and list some of the blogs I find most fabulous in the hopes that you'll hop right over!  I may or may not tell them about the awards - it is late and I am tired.

Neil Gaiman - a little known author that could use a boost.

Sara at Cutest Landing - so fun.

Michael J Sullivan - if you like fantasy, I suggest you check out Mike's posts/books

Jamie Todd Rubin - the man that knows all things sci -fi

Writer and the Resin Roommates - sometimes playing with dolls can be more than just freaky

Throwing Books - the name alone deserves attention

The Palindrome Effect - I love anyone that loves the Picard (though Kirk rules)


Now on to Lisa L Regan:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have bloggity-blog fun!

No answers for this one.  This award is for new bloggers with less than 200 followers.  So, I shall share some bloggy love.  Same as the above awards, I may or may not leave notes letting these cats know.  It is now later, and I am more tired.

Indie Snippets - 200 word clips from new indie novels.  Twist Turn and Burn will be featured there soon.

Wicked and Tricksy - a shared blog that covers a lot of ground about writing

Bookworm Blues - another great book blogger

Chazley's Blog - Chazley is very approachable and writes an entertaining blog.  She was kind enough to help me out via email with some research for the novel I'm writing.

L Blankenship - Notes from the Jovian front - I think you'll like what L's cooking up over there.

Whoo hoo!  Awards!  :)  You like me!  You really like me!  Do not judge me.

Happy Hump Day! Shark Week

Shark week.  I love sharks.  Sharkie shark sharks!  But enough about me, more about funny shark related shorts.  :)








Enjoy the week!

Recent Reads I'd Recommend: Write 2 Publish

Today's recommendation is not a book.  Today's recommendation is geared towards struggling writers looking for sound advice, especially those writers thinking of self-publishing.  I'd like to direct your attention to Robin Sullivan's blog: Write 2 Publish.

I first met Robin a few years ago at a book group that was discussing her husband's book, Crown Conspiracy.  Her husband, author Michael J. Sullivan, has gone on to be quite a self-publishing success and has recently signed a very nice contract with Orbit.  Robin has been involved with indie press, small press, self-publishing, agents, querying, big six publishing and now runs her own indie company, Ridan Publishing.

The reason I want to recommend everyone check out Write 2 Publish is that it's a free resource for any writer that needs to know more about marketing, and that is every writer no matter how you're published.  Robin's post today struck me because it's right in line with something I just started toying with, publishing my short fiction on Amazon.

Here are just a few tips on Robin's blog: creating stark raving fans, using short stories as a loss leader for book sales, how to format your book for print self-publishing, using bitly to track your links, and how to approach book bloggers for reviews.  Self-pub or traditional, these are all good things to know.  Oh, and Robin's also very successful, her authors at Ridan sell a lot of books.  Oh, and she doesn't just give an opinion, she gives examples as to how these techniques have worked for others.

Due to  my close proximity to Robin (go Northern Virginia!), I was able to take a seminar she offered in marketing for authors.  Here was the best part, she skipped Facebook, Twitter and your blog by saying, "You already know all that."  And we did.  So she focused on more in depth techniques.  If you are ever in an area where Robin is speaking - she's been dodging out of NOVA to a few other states - take the class.  It's easy to listen to someone who's already proven themselves.

Just in case you think I'm stretching the truth about Robin, she's so good, Joe Haldeman asked her to release The Forever War ebook.  Yeah.  Joe Haldeman.  The Forever War.  Kind of cool.  I just  bought it.  :)

So, hop on over and take notes.  In case you missed my multiple links to the site, click here.

Anyone else have sites they'd like to recommend?

Smashwords Update and a Thank You

For those new to the blog, I post flash fiction here every Friday.  I'm working on my debut novel, Tough Girl, and am hoping to release it this coming January.  Right now, I'm working on the novel and on building an audience.  What better way to draw in readers than to offer them something to read? 

Building an audience is harder than it sounds.  I still think publishing fiction on the blog is a good idea, but how to let people know who I am and that I have a blog.  I used social bookmarking sites  and posted it Facebook and started a Twitter account.  That helped, but I still wasn't getting the results I was looking for. 

So then I got this brilliant idea I stole an idea from M. Pax.  She posted three of her short stories on Smashwords and gave them away for free.  She found new readers.  I decided to put together a collection of the flash fiction I'd posted on this blog and give it away on Smashwords. 

I published it a little over a week ago.  I made my own cover - mistake number one.  I am not talented in that area.  I did edit the stories several times but didn't pay to have it edited because it's a freebie.  If you're currently looking at the side panel and thinking the cover isn't so bad, it's because a friend redid it for me.   

Here are the results after one week:

Twist Turn and Burn has been downloaded 83 times.

I was able to become a Goodreads Author, so now I have a defined channel to communicate with readers.

I have approached several book bloggers about reviewing Twist Turn and Burn.  One has already reviewed it.

I joined Smashwords Boards and have already started connecting with other writers.

I joined Kindleboards and have started connecting with writers and readers.

And a side note - I'm toying with the idea of releasing a collection of short stories on Amazon in the next few months.  I'm taking my time to decide that one though. 

ALSO - because I don't know if my friend who was super awesome and redid my cover would like his name mentioned publicly or not (can't have everyone requesting cover art) - I will give a big anonymous THANK YOU.  It is way better than what I could have done, and did.  You made my day!  I LOVE the candles. 

Has anyone else out there found a good way to draw in new readers?  I'm thinking it's harder before you publish a novel than after, but I don't know if that's true. 

Anyone else published a short story or a collection of short stories?