Launching a New Book by Heather Haven

~ Heather Haven ~ 8 Comments

Launching a new book is exciting, scary, and uncheap. Uncheap is not supposed to be a word but I hesitate to write that launching a new book is expensive. So I invented the word uncheap. Same amount of $ outlay but settles better in my mind. I like to feel positive about every aspect of my work.

I used to do everything needed to launch a new book in the days when I was young, energetic, and poor. I’m not rich now but above all else, I’m not young anymore. And energy? Let’s just move on. But I will say no matter what, I always had a professional editor for each of my books even when I did the covers, formatting, and uploading myself. As I am a shameless but determined amateur, I still do covers for some of my books, but not the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries. I handed that over to professionals long ago. And they have proven it was the right thing to do.

To the left is the probable cover for my latest book of the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries, Bewitched Bothered, and Beheaded. Book 9 and counting. It needs some tweaking here and there, but essentially, this is it. Up until this book, I continued to do the formatting and uploading for the series. This time, I’ve decided to let them do everything. Ka-ching, Ka-ching. But I am anxious to start the 10th book of the series, Cleopatra Slept Here, currently but a dream. If I hand everything off, I think I can get to it sooner. The months I spend on getting a book launched takes away from any creative time I have for a new book. This may not be true for everyone, but it is for me. So I am experimenting with the less is more school of thought.

Speaking of experimenting, last May when I launched the 4th book of the Persephone Cole Vintage Mysteries, Hotshot Shamus, I decided to take some of the money I saved by doing everything myself and spend it on advertising. The Big Push. The Percy Cole series has never been the seller the Alvarez Family has been and I often wondered if it was because I never spent enough moola on it. I got my answer. NO. I couldn’t capture a large enough readership no matter how much I spent. The reviews I got from readers amounted to they loved this no s–t lady who conquered a man’s world at a time when women simply didn’t. Okay, so people who read the books seemed to like them. But I still couldn’t get enough readers to justify the investment spent on mounting each book.

Maybe it’s because the series takes place during WWII, not a glamorous time. Maybe it’s because when people read historical books they either want non-fiction or more romance and glamour in their historical fiction. Maybe it’s because I’m not well-known. Maybe it’s because the cat sleeps in the sun. But these are all conjectures. For the moment, it’s time to pull back on the Percy Cole series and concentrate on what works. And as I love the other series just as much, I will concentrate on writing the Alvarez Family.

And launching their books. So here’s to Lee Alvarez and her wonderfully eccentric family. And to all who read about them. Much appreciated.

What Goes Under It All

~ Janet Dawson ~ 9 Comments

I’m thinking about undergarments.

Lest you think that’s peculiar, I’m a writer, working on a historical novel. And thinking about what my characters wear.

More about the undies later. Let’s talk about what goes over them.

My long-running Jeri Howard series is contemporary, set in the present day. Jeri is a private investigator. I was a woman in my thirties when I began the series, but I’m aging faster than Jeri is. As an investigator, Jeri wears comfortable clothing, usually pants, though in Where the Bodies Are Buried, she dresses up in a business suit and low heels to go undercover as a legal secretary.

Most often she wears comfortable shoes, since she may need to walk distances as she tails a suspect on a city street. She certainly doesn’t want to stand out in a crowd when she has to duck into a doorway or a coffee shop to avoid being seen. In Cold Trail, she hikes over the hills in a regional park, following a lead.

So, Jeri dresses a lot like I do. I favor casual and comfortable. My wardrobe consists of a lot of T-shirts and stretchy pants. As I write this, my feet are ensconced in warm comfy slippers.

I’ve never felt the need to detail Jeri’s undergarments, though I do mention at one point that she sleeps in an oversize T-shirt.

Then I started a new series, set in the early 1950s, featuring Jill McLeod, a Zephyrette on the California Zephyr, the sleek streamliner train that ran between San Francisco and Chicago from 1949-1970. The current Amtrak version is a successor to that passenger train. Jill is a train hostess, the only female crew member. Her job is to walk through the train from time to time, keeping an eye on the passengers and what they need. While she’s on duty, Jill wears a uniform. It’s teal blue, with a skirt and jacket worn over a white shirt, and a military-style cap. When Jill is off-duty, however, she dresses in the styles common at that time. It’s the era of full skirts and dresses with waists, and Jill’s hair is styled in the popular poodle cut.

Speaking of undies, that was the era of girdles and bullet bras. I’ve never written about Jill’s undergarments, but in one book I have her climbing into her berth in a pair of comfortable pajamas.

On to the historical novel—and more about undies. The book I’m working on is set in the late 1870s. I am currently obsessed with researching what people wore. I bought a book called Clothing Through American History: The Civil War through the Gilded Age, 1861-1899. I found a sidebar titled “The Layers of a Proper Lady’s Toilette.” It describes nine layers and 25 pounds of clothing to make up the proper undies for a lady, and goes from stockings to drawers, to chemise, petticoat and corset. We won’t even talk about the damn bustle.

How in the hell did women function when confined in this cage of fabric and metal? I suspect we could have another blog post on how women’s fashions interfered with their lives as well as their movement. And not just in the nineteenth century, and earlier. Remember when it was scandalous for women to wear pants? And when many women, my mother included, strapped themselves into girdles?

We will draw a veil over those bell bottoms I wore, just about the same time I bought those platform heels and fell through a door. Jeri would never do that, at least I don’t think so.

I’m not sure the protagonist in my historical novel wears all that clothing, though. Things were different on the western frontier, where farm wives sewed weights into the hems of their skirts to keep them from blowing up and showing off their undergarments. In the late nineteenth century, women did in fact wear split or divided skirts for riding horses, something I’ve eagerly adopted for my protagonist, since she’s traveling in the first part of the novel, sometimes on a wagon seat and sometimes astride her own horse.

I haven’t decided what to do about her undies. She’s independent enough to push against societal norms. Will that extend to foregoing a corset? I guess I’ll find out.

Guest Blogger ~ Heather Ames

~ patyjag ~ 9 Comments

THE BOOK THAT DIDN’T WRITE ITSELF

Some books almost write themselves. The plot sails along, the characters all interact as they should. Even the backdrop feels like it’s an impressionist painting that only needs a few brushstrokes to make it shine.

Book 3 of the Ghost Shop series wasn’t that book.

I had trouble finding a title, even though the theme was a haunted vineyard that wasn’t producing anything except anger and bad vibes. Compounding the problem, I wanted all books in the series to have titles starting with the letter T. After mentioning my dilemma to several people, two came up with the same suggestion: Tainted Legacy.

Still not completely sold, I used it as a working title I liked more as the plot struggled along, characters tripping over themselves and refusing to fall in line when I tried to take them in a certain direction, creating strange sidebars that, when I researched them, were grounded in reality.

I’d had a similar problem with book 2 of my Miami-based Swift/Roberts series. A group of friends became suspects of one kind or another in a cold case murder and kept squabbling like an unruly flock of geese, twittering songbirds or more likely, buzzards. I had a great deal of trouble reining them in. After opening one chapter in particular, I’d stare at it, then close it again without changing a word. Finally, with 4 drafts completed, the squabbling stopped and everything fell into place.

Tainted Legacy felt like a rerun with different players. Since I don’t outline my books, surprises are lifeblood for me. They fuel my imagination and reveal things about my characters I could never envision with the rational side of my brain. But when one of those characters presented me with a pivotal scene during what should have been the final 4th draft, I balked. That draft is supposed to be a read-through. An opportunity to catch those last few errors that typically occur, regardless how many times a manuscript is polished. I remained stuck, unable to work on the file for 2 weeks. My version of writer’s block. Something I had never experienced before.

Finally, I wrote The End, but was it? I hadn’t made any significant changes to that scene. It flowed too well. Now, I had to go back and read through the entire manuscript for a 5th time. If I changed my mind about that chapter, the entire storyline would have to be revised. The manuscript wouldn’t be ready for publication in time for a shipment of books to arrive before the Portland Holiday Market, the biggest show of the year for NIWA (Northwest Independent Writers Association,) and my unofficial book launch for Tainted Legacy.

I took a few deep breaths, got back in my office, and swiftly completed that 5th draft/read through. The plot worked. The character who had thrown that pivotal scene at me stood back and smirked. It had to be there. It complicates the relationships between the main protagonists when they should have cleared a major hurdle. It forebodes trouble of a possibly monumental degree in the books that follow.

This year, I’m planning to work on the 4th books in both my series. I have titles and rudimentary plots, big steps toward meeting that goal. Without encountering angry wine or squabbling teenagers, Maine Issues and Trick or Truth will both be available before the end of 2024.

Tainted Legacy

A barren vineyard in Dallas, Oregon. Two deaths. An unexpected heir who wants a quick sale. Is it a bargain, or an invitation to become entangled with the misfortunes of the Taricani family?

Sinister winery owner Vincente Valderos calls in psychic Sunny Weston and her partner, retired detective Ash Haines, to solve the mystery and save their souls…until the next time he summons them.

https://www.amazon.com/TAINTED-LEGACY-Ghost-Shop-Book/dp/B0CMCDCYP1

Heather Ames writes two mystery/suspense series, one with a paranormal twist, standalone suspense, romantic suspense, and short contemporary romances. When she’s not writing, she’s either thinking up new plots, traveling the world, or dreaming up new adventures.

Website:

https://heatherames.weebly.com

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GOOGLE IT!

~ Kimila Kay ~ 5 Comments

Eons ago, when I wrote my first book, I actually had to go to the library to research untraceable poisons, fast acting poisons, skin absorption poisons. Yes, I was poisoning someone and yes, I’m that old!

I loved going to the library, I mean after all it is filled with books! But as a single mom at the time, with two young boys, my opportunities to languish in a palace of books were limited.

Also, during my early writing days, there were no TV shows like Criminal Minds or CSI. Though I have a dark and twisty mind, I didn’t know anything about “behavioral analysis” or “DNA” or “national criminal databases.”

In my next WIP, my villain convinced another inmate to kill himself while posing as the villain. The villain would then assume the dead inmate’s laundry job and smuggle himself out of the prison in a laundry truck. My weapon of choice was a lightbulb gasoline bomb, an idea I stole from “The Longest Yard.” So, I was back in the library researching how to make such a bomb. When I found no such information, I resorted to asking my electrician uncle who said he’d remember not to make me mad.

Then, when I wanted to know what type of firearm an FBI Agent carried, I emailed the FBI. Instead of receiving an email reply, the FBI called me. Evidently, at the time, they kept this information secret, and I was told I’d be placed on a list as an author in case I emailed them again.

A side note about lack of technology when I wrote this book, it was written longhand on countless sheets of a legal pad. Then I would spend hours carefully typing the novel on a non-autocorrect typewriter. Good times!

Imagine my delight when the World Wide Web was created, along with my ability to own a desktop computer! And, of course, my creative brain couldn’t get enough of shows like CSI and Criminal Minds.

By the time I wrote my next novel, it was 2004. My husband and I were finally empty nesters, and I was blessed with the opportunity to work from a home office.

I have an overactive imagination, which isn’t always accurate. Now when I need to verify an action one of my characters might take. Or the consequences for a specific crime if my villain is caught. Maybe I just need to know what the times are for sunrise/sunset in a specific month. Whatever the question, Google is at my fingertips!

I love that I can get instant information from several sources and within minutes to hours, I have my answer. Generally, I copy and paste my newfound knowledge and store the Word file in a folder for my current WIP. Another great tool is the ability to search my Word program for a specific item, but if I failed to save the nugget of info, I can always Google it again!

Googling does have its pitfalls. When I researched how to smuggle drugs in an RV (think gas tank) I received a phone call from Homeland Security. At first, I thought I was being pranked and the following conversation ensued:

“Hello, Mrs. Setzer,” a baritone voice filled my ear, “this is Agent Michaels from Homeland Security. I’m calling regarding your recent research on how to smuggle drugs into the United States from México.”

Okay,” I laughed, “who is this really?”

“Agent Michaels from Homeland Security.”

“How’d you get my cell number?”

“We’re Home Lane Security, ma’am.” Agent Michaels sounded annoyed. “Please answer the question.”

“I’m an author and just doing research for a book.”

“Understood. You will be placed on a list as an author, but you may want to be careful in the future with regard to your Google searches.”

Oh, good, I’m on another list!

Recently, I was struggling to settle on titles for two new WIPs. One book centers around a character’s survival while stranded on a ledge after a fall. The second WIP is about a serial killer who places bodies into a river. These two books will be part of a series that has two-word titles, which are my favorite. As I had my hair cut and colored, my stylist, Larry, and I tried out different word combinations. We landed on “Ravine”, which I really liked, but needed a lead word beginning with R.

You guessed it, we turned to Google! During my two-hour visit, Google sparked our imaginations with words like rescue and remote. We had fun trying different words with “Ravine.” Given a ravine is generally in the woods, our search led us to rattlesnake dens located on rocky ledges. We finally settled on “Rattlesnake Ravine.” Not only do I love the title, but our brainstorming created another threat for my Hero. And if you hate snakes as much as I do, researching and writing about their behavior was creepy!

This series already has “Redneck Ranch”, “Whispering Willows”, and “Willow’s Woods.” And though the titles are perfect for their novels, I really wanted to use a different consonant. So, on another recent visit to Larry, we repeated our title Googling session, finally landing on “Fatal Falls.”

Now, in an era of instant information, I am in awe of the tools available to me. From acquiring specific knowledge to checking facts to looking for inspiration, I can use Google, Bing, Wikipedia, and more.

While I love being able to use technology with my writing projects, I’m not planning to go down the AI rabbit hole. My mind is already dark and twisty without the benefit, or detriment, of Artificial Intelligence.

I very rarely visit a library these days to do research, but I do still write longhand on a legal pad. My favorite writing spot is a noisy bar where I get lost in the cacophony of sound. And when I need a tidbit to round out a character, to verify the average temperature in Oregon in October, or fact check how a rural Sheriff’s Department would handle a crime scene … I just Google it!!!

Happy Googling, Ladies!!!

Exploring for Ideas

~ susanoleksiw ~ 1 Comment

I began the Anita Ray series in 2010 with Under the Eye of Kali. Anita Ray now appears in five books and numerous short stories, and I’m currently working on book number six. In book five, In Sita’s Shadow, Anita is pulled into investigating a group of tourists who don’t seem to care about each other though they are traveling together and know each other from earlier encounters.

After living in India in the 1970s and again in the 1980s, and making numerous short trips since then, I’ve learned that nothing really stays the same in that country. Change is a constant, and at each return I’ve been surprised, intrigued, delighted, and confused by some of the changes. To help me think through the story line in a new short story or novel, I reread notes and spend a lot of time with my photographs. Some of them are leading to a new story that is still in the “idea” stage, based on an annual ritual.

Attukal Pongala, a ten-day religious festival, is held every year in Kerala, South India, drawing up to three million women for the ninth-day Pongala event. This is the largest gathering of women in the world, and they come from all over Kerala (and beyond). The state provides extra trains and busses to bring women devotees to the city. The movie theaters remain open all night, people open their courtyards to visiting devotees, and free tea is available in the morning. 

At a precise time, dictated by the stars, a fire is lit and the flame is passed along to assisting priests who spread throughout the city to start the three million fires. The women cook a porridge of rice, jaggery, coconut, and banana as an offering to the deity of the Attukal Bhagavati Temple throughout the morning. Free lunch buffets of rice and vegetables are set up throughout the city, provided by men, who may be associated with a temple, a place of business, a family, or a fraternal group. 

At the dictated time, in early afternoon, other priests spread throughout the city blessing each cooking pot and its porridge. Once this is done, the ritual is over for that participant, and the women pack up and head for home, hurrying to catch the bus or train. The city cleans up, collecting the bricks used for the hearth, and sweeping up the debris.

One of the features of this event that I only discovered by accident got me thinking about my new story. As a very visible foreigner wandering around the festival taking pictures and occasionally chatting with the women, people were eager to explain things to me or show me something. In one of these encounters a woman who spoke perfect English pointed out a side street with no cooking fires. This was curious, and I walked along with her until we arrived at a small bungalow with a car port. Inside the car port sat perhaps two dozen men and women scowling or looking bored. The woman explained that they were pickpockets and other petty thieves who were corralled for the duration of the festival, so the devotees could cook in peace and safety.

When I reviewed my photographs months later I noticed a couple with a small group of men and women seated in front of a closed shop with no cooking sites in front of them. A few men stood nearby. I’ve wondered if this is another group temporarily detained during the festival. As you can guess, the ideas for a story began to percolate and I’m now at the stage of working out the details before I begin writing. 

The Pongala festival is unique, and open to everyone. When the pot boils over (pongala), it signals abundance in the offering to Bhagavati, and the deity is pleased, suggesting good health and good life for the family in the coming year. This year’s Pongala will be held on February 25, 2024.

For the Anita Ray series, go here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HR76ZKP?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_bs_series_rwt_tpbk&qid=1708783919&sr=1-10

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