Authors are some of the most generous people I know. So many fellow authors have helped me along the road to publication by offering advice, critiques, and contacts. If it weren't for their assistance, I wouldn't be where I am today--able to make my living by writing. I only hope that I can do the same for others.

But they aren't only generous with their time and advice, they're willing to give monetarily as well. Several groups have come together to use their talents to help Japan. Here are some auctions to help those affected by the tsunami:

Authors for Japan
Genre for Japan
Write Hope
Writers for the Red Cross

I'd like to highlight one other group of children's authors, illustrators, and publishers who have banded together to help Japanese children. They've donated goods and services that are being auctioned at Children's Authors and Illustrators for Japan. Everything from books to prints to editorial services are available.

Even if you're an adult author, you can take advantage of some great critiques by well-known agents and editors going up for bidding over the next few weeks. Keep an eye out as postings are added daily.

If you're a YA author, Leap Books editor Kat O'Shea is offering three critiques. If you've been dying to submit to Leap Books, here's your chance. Normally they take only agented submissions, but the authors that Kat critiques can submit manuscripts to Leap Books. Watch for Auction #67 posted today.

Want a critique by agent Ammi-Joan Paquette? Or from Liz Waniewski from Dial? They'll be coming up later this week.

And while you're at the website, be sure to look at all the other terrific items up for auction. And don't forget to collect one of these great badges to show your support.

Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Conference

A number of us attended the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Conference this past weekend. The highlight for me was the number of presentations by Donald Maass. His keynote address was special.
Maass acknowledged the anxiety among many writers and tried to calm those fears. Ebooks are big - in January 25% of published books. He cited a well known thriller writer who walked away from a 1/2 million dollar contract to publish on ebooks. Wow.
He listed three trends he see for the 21st Century that fiction writers need to embrace.
(1) The concept of genres are dying. No longer will there be just romance or westerns but paranormal romance, urban fantasy. As an agency, they are trying to sort out where to place some of these great books. He said think of genre as a starting point only.
(2) Combine literary (fine writing) fiction with commercial (sells well) fiction. This ends up with a faster paced novel with deeper meaning. He says writers must write from passion and a personal place.
(3) Publishing itself. Rapid publishing. Marketing: Build a community and relationships through social networks and giving books (maybe a short story) away to hook readers. He called Twitter Blogging on crack. Guts of the matter is that writing hasn't changed. Still need that great story.
I'd be interested in what others thought.

Freebies for Read an E-Book Week!

Celebrate by reading an ebook! Have you read any good ones lately? I have so many on my hard drive waiting to be read. I really need an ereader.

Which makes me curious - how many of you own ereaders? Or do you simply read ebooks on your computer? Have you ever read an ebook on a different device? Maybe your phone?

The industry's shifting all the time, and ever, it seems, in the direction of digital. Ten years ago, I probably couldn't have imagined reading a book on my computer, or even being an e-published author. But now I have fourteen available, and have released four short stories through Smashwords/Kindle. Another three ebooks will release soon.

So I'm definitely celebrating ebooks! These past two years have been an amazing experience. My stories range from sweet to erotic, contemporary to historical, paranormal and fantasy, flash to novel-length. I hope you'll give some a try. :)

For Read an E-Book Week, I'm participating in the Smashwords celebration and making all my titles free. Yes, you read that right - free! They were very affordable before at 99 cents, but now they cost nothing. Nada. Gratis. Grab 'em now!  Most were previously published by small online presses or web zines.

Hotline to Hell's a fun little paranormal story, another cautionary tale about selling your soul without exploring other options.

Reflections is another fun little paranormal, set during one of my favorite times of the year - Halloween. On the night when the veil between the two worlds thins, you never know what might cross over and cause a little mayhem and chaos. :)

Imprints is a more mainstream/literary short story. Much of it was derived from real life, based on the experiences of two reporters whose tales sometimes embodied the old phrase "truth is stranger than fiction." 






 

If your tastes run more to speculative fiction, Trick of the Light is always available for free from Smashwords.

I have another free read available from the Wild Rose Press:

Cinderella Dreams (are tough to shake) is a short Vintage, set in the 1980s. Yes, relive your days of Madonna wannabes and Eighties music. :)

Give them a try! And I'd love for you to check out my other stories. I have lots to choose from. :)

Have you ever visited...

Pomfret Street Books, the cool used bookstore at 21 East Pomfret Street in Carlisle? If you haven’t yet, you should. It’s open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Oh, and the store now also has several new copies of my books! Signed print copies of:

Surfacing, my fun contemporary fantasy featuring a mermaid and a wannabe rock star.

Follow the Stars Home, my historical Native American romance set at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School founding. This book was a Top Ten Finisher in the Preditors & Editors poll!

Picture This, my contemporary women’s fiction novella set in Harrisburg. A 2011 EPIC finalist!

One Soul for Sale, my Halloween paranormal novella. Also a 2011 EPIC finalist.

The store's shelves are jammed full of every type of book you can think of, plus some you hadn’t. Only about half their titles are in the searchable database, but you’re better off browsing in the store anyway. I always leave there with a few books by favorite authors. Hope you will too.

Kindergarten Story Writing Contest

A long time ago, I took a course through the Institute of Children's Literature. It was a correspondence course, so I was wary. I was also sloth-like in my progress, not taking the assignments (or deadlines) very seriously.

Twenty years later, I look back at my young, unpublished self and shake my head. I have gone on to take a second ICL course, the assignments for which became the backbone of my second published book. These folks know what they are doing, and they offer guidance and support to their students long after they have "graduated." (Check out their website for more information, and for a free issue of Children's Writer).
They also offer writing contests. Their latest is the Kindergarten Story Writing Contest. If you've ever had the desire to write a story for a five-year-old, here's your chance. I entered a few years ago, and let's just say that, published or not, not everyone can write well for kindergarteners.

In the interest of full disclosure, I need to tell you that by posting this, I will be entered in a drawing for - you guessed it - children's books. But to be entered, all I had to include was the link.I didn't have to tell you what I think of ICL, or that my entry in this same contest was embarrassingly bad. (That's just gravy).

But as a writer who feels that ICL was an important stepping stone on her career path, I though you should know.

A Bookend to Susan's Blog

First off, congratulations to Susan on her news about Beyond the Gate becoming available on Kindle. No matter how many times a writer has been published, the news of a new book or a new format never gets old.

Just like life, publishing has a life cycle. Two weeks ago, I found out that my first book, Acting Assertively had "sold out." Sounds exciting, until you realize that in the world of educational publishing, that means "out of print." I've begun the process of getting the rights back, and am now beginning the new adventure of determining the next step in the life cycle of this book.

So, I'm asking my fellow Susquehanna Writers and the readers of this blog: have you ever had a book go out of print? What did you do next? And what was your experience like?

Get It Now

After many delays and lots of pushing and complaining, Amazon finally made Beyond the Gate, Book #2 of The Futhark Chronicles, available for Kindle. 

I learned some things during the last few weeks debacle.  Sometimes books from independent publishers get pushed to the back of the line by Amazon so they can get the books from the big publishers ready first.  It's been quite frustrating.

Enough whining.  Beyond the Gate picks continues the fantasy adventure that began in The Keepers of Sulbreth.  Cage Stone and Sabelline Shelton step into the dark of the cave system they must negotiate to reset the magical seals keeping underworld demons from invading their homeland of Futhark.  From the first step nothing goes as planned. 

You can read the first review for Beyond the Gate at my blog here.  I hear 2011 is the year speculative fiction takes over the bookshelves and the visual medias like TV and movies.  Get a head start with The Futhark Chronicles.

Author Night

Thanks once again to the Grove Family Library in Chambersburg for hosting Author Night last night. Luckily, Mother Nature and Old Man Winter were on good terms, allowing easy travel. :) I had a wonderful time speaking with attendees.

Below are some pics from last night's event, which featured local authors Ken Gibble, Eileen Graham, Valerie Malmont, Cate Masters, Dody Myers and Mike Silvestri.

Mike Silvestri spoke about his authorial journey.

Lucky attendees were able to purchase Mike's books.

I also had my books available.

And also spoke about my writerly origins.

Arts in Elementary Education

Research indicates that the United States has fallen well behind other nations in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The current economic climate also necessitates the re-prioritization of tax dollars. The resulting reaction at the school board level is to sacrifice programs viewed as “non-essential” such as the arts in favor of STEM. As a conservative, I can sympathize with this reaction. Tough decisions need to be made, however care must be taken to avoid making misguided, snap judgments.

All of us possess different talents, gifts, and skills. In my view, a key objective in elementary education is to help children identify what makes them unique as individuals and encourage an appreciation and further development of their distinctive gifts. I believe this is important to a child’s emotional development and self-esteem. Children guided by skilled educators along with involved parents will eventually gravitate toward fields of study in which they excel and have an interest.

My point is that children need to be exposed to all educational disciplines during their formative years. Elementary education is not the appropriate place for cutting any discipline be it STEM related or the arts. This is where a child's education needs to be well-rounded.

Not all of us can become scientists or engineers. Without a doubt, our way of life depends on these individuals. We need to encourage young people who demonstrate skills in the hard sciences to follow that path. On the other hand, not all of us can become concert pianists, best selling authors, or great artists. It is equally important for us to identify and encourage these children, too. For life would be empty without the arts.

Visit the library with me

On Thursday, Feb. 3, I'll be at the Grove Family Library in Chambersburg, Pa., helping celebrate its fifth anniversary. The library has a wonderful lineup of events for the entire week.

I'm most looking forward to Author Night, which is Thursday. I'll have copies of books there, so it's an opportunity to get your signed copy. :)

Other authors include Dody Myers, Eileen Graham, Ken Gibble, Valerie Malmont. Oh, and fellow Susquehanna Writer, Mike Silvestri will be there too. Mike's an eloquent speaker as well as writer.

It should be an evening of fun, some insights into local authors, and maybe a little cake.