Tag Archives: novels

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Reviews and Roses

If you are a writer, you will relate to what I have to say today. As you may know, the initial premise for my novel, The Brevity of Roses, came to me in a dream. At first, it seemed a simple story, but the more I wrote, the more I disturbed the placid surface and uncovered treasures in the depths. I fell in love with my characters’ story, and tried my best to do it justice.

Like you, I’m sure, I wondered how well the wonderful story in my head had come through the keyboard. Would readers see only a shadow of the story I had intended to tell them? My critique partners and beta readers reassured me it was all there, but I figured they were too close to the story, too close to me. Then last night, I read this review by Christa Polkinhorn and finally quit holding my breath.

This is a turning point for me. Yes, I know, my reviews won’t all be good ones. No one writes a book that everyone loves. But it’s enough to know that some readers will “get” the story I meant to tell. I can live with that.

Contest news! Congratulations to Dorte H who won the e-book from Cathryn Grant’s contest. I hope you enjoy the read, Dorte.

For the rest of you, I hope you enjoy your weekend, a holy time for many. I’ll take some time to revel in my roses, the spring bloom smells the sweetest.

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Silencing the voices

I’m used to dealing with my inner editor and critic’s voices, but now that I’m pressed to get busy writing my next book, I’ve discovered a new voice—the marketer’s . It told me to consider my publishing “brand.” What sort of book would readers expect from me? That new voice wrapped up my muse like a mummy.

I second-guessed everything I’d already written. I’ve struggled to write another word since. For a minute—just one—I regretted making the decision to publish. In the privacy of my mind, I’m free to write whatever I want. If some sentimental little story begs life, I write it. If a dark tale of revenge takes my fancy, I write it. If a quiet little tale of self-discovery pops into my brain, I write it.

Ah-ha, a common denominator—I am the writer.

Some fiction authors are branded as writers of mystery, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, or they write only for teens or children. They have restrictions I don’t have. I write general fiction. I have the freedom to explore, to take many paths.

So, shut-up, new voice! All I want my readers to expect is a well-crafted story, as good as or better than the last one. That’s my obligation to them. That’s my brand. I can write the story that comes to me. The question should be, how best can I tell the story, not do I have permission to write the story?

What do you hear from those “helpful” voices in your head?

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Oops … I embarrassed my mother!

“Linda used the F-word in her book! And here I’ve already told my friends at church to read it.” This is what my mother said to my sister in a wake-up phone call yesterday. I had sent my mother a copy of Brevity, and she started reading it as soon as it arrived. My sister works nights, and I can imagine my mother watching the clock until she thought it was safe to phone my her.

My mother is 87 years old. She’s also forgetful. I warned her mine was not a book her elderly, Christian friends would like. (Though they probably all watch the same soap operas she does, and you can see and hear “everything but” on those.) But she’s proud of me and couldn’t resist a little bragging—at least that’s my take.

Once upon a time, I was in a critique group session when the topic turned to the advisability of using four-letter words in your writing. At that point, the most vocal opponents had read only chapters of Brevity that contained PG dialogue, so I cringed when I heard them express their opinion that only weak writers resorted to using curse words.

Don’t get the wrong idea. My writing is not rife with words to turn my mother blue. Out of 87,351 words, I used some form of the “F-word” 13 times. Even damn appears only 21 times. I don’t think that’s out of line for contemporary fiction aimed at adults.

I do not cuss—all right, I slipped once and said, “Damn it!” But I see nothing wrong with my characters using expressions that would come naturally to them. Renee, one of my Brevity characters, is a streetwise bar waitress. She’s outspoken and has a temper. I think it would be laughable if she said, “Oh shoot!” or “You darned jerk!” or even “That frickin’ idiot.” In other words, she wouldn’t speak like me. I don’t even use the euphemism frickin’.

So yeah, I embarrassed my mother, but she still loves me. I think.

Your turn: How do you feel about “street language” in fiction? And why?

 

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The Frugal Self-Publisher continues!

First off, a reminder you still have time to read the interviews and comment to win a copy of my novel The Brevity of Roses. –>

I added a paragraph to my opening statement on the Frugal Self-Publisher page, to explain why I had to be frugal. I also added a disclaimer to make it clear I’m not being compensated for recommendations of software, books, or businesses I used in publishing my novel.

The second installment describes more of my effort to ready The Brevity of Roses for print. In it, I tell you why I chose Createspace as my printer/distributor and talk about cleaning up your manuscript file.

Here you go … and it’s free!

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The Frugal Self-Publisher debuts!

Oh, the things we do to get published! Today, you can read the first installment of my exhilarating, frustrating, comedic, and rewarding journey to self-publication. Perhaps someday I’ll be as proficient at publishing as I am at writing, but that day is not today.

If you are considering self-publishing, I do believe you can benefit from my experience. It will either scare you off, or guide you away from the mistakes I made to the successes I achieved. So … here we go:

The Frugal Publisher

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Have I lost you?

Hello, blog friends. I apologize if it seems I can’t quit talking about The Brevity of Roses. It’s my first published novel, you see, and I’m excited. You get that, right? And did you notice I said first? Yes, I’m writing the next one right this minute. If you haven’t read Brevity yet, and wish you had a free copy, let me remind you of the two giveaway contests running now. Look over there –>.

Tomorrow, I will post the first in a series of articles about my self-publishing journey. I’ll begin the series with the decisions I made on how to put my book out there because I’ve written previously about my reasons for deciding to take publishing matters into my own hands:

You’ll notice a new tab at the top of this blog: The Frugal Self-Publisher. This is where you can follow my journey from novel writer to published novelist on a very limited budget. It can be done.

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Another interview means another free book!

Cathryn Grant, author of the psychological thriller The Demise of the Soccer Moms lured me to her blog for more questioning. She’s extremely intimidating, as you can tell by her photo, and she soon had me confessing to writing poetry and other strange habits. Please visit Cathryn’s blog to read the interview. And if you do what she says, you could win a digital copy of my novel The Brevity of Roses.

Did you know? You don’t have to own a Kindle to read Kindle books? You can download the free Kindle app to your PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, or Windows phone and read all the ebooks you want.

So, now you have no excuse not to enter Cathryn’s giveaway. Go. Go now.