Let's Talk E-Publishing!

I had a phone call from a writer friend last night. Actually, it was a Skype call, love that thing!
It was really cool to connect with Michelle since I missed the ACFW conference this year. We caught up and talked books, which of course is what writers do. If you haven't checked out Michelle's books yet, do. She's a very talented author.
Anyway we got to talking about E-Publishing. She's got a couple of books coming out with Desert Breeze and mentioned that they're actually seeking romances that take place during different eras. I checked. Vietnam is specifically mentioned. Which got my attention. If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you'll know why and I won't bore you with the details.
I've never been a huge fan of electronic publishing in the past. Of course the dream is to hold my very own book in my hands and ooh and aah over it. (Narcissism at its best). However, given the fact that I'm totally in love with my iTouch and the Kindle application, I can definitely see the merits of going this route now. I know we're in the Electronic Age, and more and more people are reading books online. I'd still be holding a book in my hands, it'd just be on my iTouch.
So here's my train of thought:
The plusses - my book would be available to the masses (assuming it were to be accepted for publication). Adoring fans would be begging for more...okay, I know, enough already.
I still get paid.
I become a published author. Aaah.

Minuses - no actual hard copy. Yet. Not to say that the company won't be able to do this one day, but at the moment they're only publishing electronically.

At the end of the day, its just another publisher to submit to. But if my manuscript was accepted, I'd have to decide if this what I want.
Something to think about.

What are your thoughts on E-Publishing?

Shaping Exercises

Relax, I'm not going to make you drop and give me fifty.
If you are so inclined, you can do that on your own time.
My title refers to what I've been doing with my dog.
I want him to perform certain behaviors on cue, like touching a target with his nose or paw.
Bringing back a frisbee and actually letting me have it.
There are a number of 'shaping exercises' I can do with him that teaches him to work with me and shows him that it's fun too! Hopefully the lessons will stick and in a few years, we'll be able to work as a team out on the agility course.
Doing this kind of training with Noah has made me think about all the lessons that have 'shaped me' over time.
It's amazing really, when I actually take the time to go through my past experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly, the things that have stuck. Some things that have, I wish hadn't, and vice versa.
For instance, I took maths for my entire school education, extra lessons even. I still can't do a simple calculation without freezing. Don't ask me to pay the bill and add gratuity. It's really not pretty.
But I know how to keep a clean house and put on a mean dinner party. Thanks, Mom.
The ironing lessons didn't go so well however.
It's funny isn't, what gets stuck inside our heads forever.
Well, let's play a game. Aren't you excited?!
This has been done on a number of blogs lately, and I thought it might be fun to do here.
I'm going to give you a few words, and you have to tell me what you think of when you read them! This should be the first thing or two you think of. Don't give yourself time to ponder!
If you're a writer, this is also a great game to play with your characters.
Okay, here we go.

Pink
Clock
Window
Shoe Polish
White
Chocolate
Telephone
Paper
Pine
Salt
Key

Since it's my blog, I'll go first.

Pink - Little girl gone, living forever in our hearts
Clock - Waiting.
Window - outside, where I long to be
Shoe Polish - My father's shoes. Making them as shiny as can be
White - Nurses, doctors, hospital. Fear
Chocolate - Heart shaped box
Telephone - Anticipation, dread, annoyance
Paper - white, blank, looks better with words on it
Pine - Christmas
Salt - the ocean. Stinging eyes
Key - Home

What Are YOU Working On?

They say writers love to talk about themselves. I used to laugh at this. I'm generally quite shy, and don't tend to be a conversation starter. I certainly avoid being the center of the conversation. If you've ever attended a writer's conference, you can just imagine my discomfort at certain times.
Pitching, for instance. Yes, I know, you make your appointments, go sell your stuff. Nobody forces you to do it.
Ahem. I beg to differ. You all know who you are.
Then there's the meals. I usually dig in and keep my mouth fairly full so when my turn comes I have an excuse not to talk. But usually, at some point over five days, somebody is bound to ask, "What are you working on?" or "What do you write?"
The latter is much easier to answer. Spit out a genre and move on. But what am I working on? This second? What did I come here to pitch and hope to get a good response for?
Yeah.
I need to work on my marketing skills. And a bunch of other issues I have.
If I ever do sell a book, it's pretty much going to have to be one of those million dollar babies that just sells itself. I'll be the reclusive writer hiding away in a cave in an unknown land, such treacherous territory that only the stupidest of journalists would brave the terrain to get an interview.
That's my dream, but it's not very realistic, is it?
So I thought we should all band together, suck it up, and get some practice in here. We've only got nine months until the next ACFW conference!

You can do a full pitch if you want, or just tell me what you're working on at the moment. I'll be nice, I promise. I've had coffee.
I'll go first.
I'm working on a short contemporary romance that we'll pitch to Steeple Hill. It's an old manuscript that I'm rewriting, pretty much completely. So far so good. I haven't worked out a pitch yet. Ha. Good excuse, right?!
I'm also working on getting down some ideas for a new book idea that's rattling around in my brain. It's going to take place in Thailand. I think.
And I'm working on finding a home for my Vietnam book. Am I a little masochistic or what? Time will tell.
Well, that's me.
What are YOU working on?

This post is cross-posted over at Writers' Rest
Why? Because I'm lazy. And I'm actually supposed to be writing all day today, not writing blog posts.

New Blog Launches Today!

Today is the launch of International Christian Fiction Writers!
I am so happy to be a part of this exciting new venture. I would love for you to stop by, leave a comment, and then spread the word however you want, Twitter, Facebook, your blog!
Thanks so much and happy reading!

Tough Call

If you come here often, you'll know I whine a lot about how hard it is to get published. Not meaning to sound ungrateful you know, because I'm sure all those Amish fiction authors are having a good time in Book Writing And Actually Getting Paid For It World, but I've been down here in Been Writing For Centuries And Still Unpublished World for a loooong time. And you know, being modest here, but I'm pretty sure it's not my writing. Ten years ago, yeah, the writing sucked. Big time.
Now, not so much.
So what's a starving writer to do? Okay, I'm not starving. Don't send food. Wait...no, never mind.
I've been thinking about targeting some of the 'sweeter' houses. Had an email chat with my agent about it. She knows her stuff. Thinks it might be a good idea. But I realized today exactly what this means in terms of my writing.
It means, you know, writing books for houses that publish, ahem...that Amish stuff. And the like. Not that there's anything wrong with those books, 'cause they're selling, so somebody has to be reading 'em.
It's not me. To each his or her own, don't shoot. I mean shoot like shoot, not shoot like...okay whatever.
I have a couple of stories kicking around that I can resurrect and get ready to send out. In fact, I won't lie. I've been working on one this week.
But I'm in a little trouble. Here's why.
Can't Do This
Um. Yeah. Newsflash. I don't do sweet.
I also think I'll need a crash course in Perfect Christianity 101. Apparently I flunked the first one.
Here's the thing. And I'm really talking to myself so you don't have to stick around if you're busy. I won't hold it against you.
Do I write simply for the sake of getting published?
Do I write the stories God puts on my heart, even if they're too 'real' to stand a chance in a major publishing house?
Do I ignore the common sense decision that would say write a few sweet romances, get your name out there. You can always write those 'real' books later.
Or do I continue to just write and leave the rest up to God?
It's funny though, this story is getting good, better by the day. I like it. So I don't know.
If I finish it and it sells, will I have to trade in my old crusty self for a newer, sweeter model? (That's the sound of me puking).
Will I be forever stuck in Candyland?
Dang. I thought I had a plan.
Thought it was gonna work.
Now I'm not so sure I'll be happy if it does.
We saw Oliver Twist a few weeks ago. So...to quote Fagan, who I adore by the way, "I'm reviewing the situation. I think I'd better think it out again."

I Need A Little Hope Today

I don't know about you, but I am easily discouraged. I have never really been a 'go get 'em' type. More the type to hide under the covers when the going gets rough. Hey, I don't mind admitting it. I'm 44 years old so what you get is what you get. Take it or leave it.
My personality quirks don't always make for a good writer though. You need a pretty tough hide, and I don't always have one.
Lately I feel like I'm walking through a desert with no end in sight. Every now and then I think I see an oasis, but it turns out to be a mirage.
I read a book over three days starting on Friday. Just Between You and Me, by Jenny B. Jones.
I couldn't find a thing wrong with it. It was even written in first person, which I'm not keen on reading or writing.
It was so well written that I'm even considering writing something in first person myself.
But my shoes are filled with sand. My legs ache because I've been trudging through this flat, barren land for so long.
And it's hot.
What am I doing here? How did I get here?
How do I get out?
Yes, I've had a lot going on in my life the past year. Been busy building a house. Moving. Haven't had time to write. Haven't had time for a lot of things.
Is any of that really an excuse? Did anyone kidnap me, tie a blindfold over my face and dump me into this godforsaken land?
Nope. Somehow I ended up here all on my own.
Being in a desert is one thing. Being in a spiritual desert is quite another.
And there's plenty of blame to go round.
Not getting anything out of church. Worship sucks. Don't like Sunday school.
Don't have time.
I've said all of those things and more. I know some of you have too.

What do my lame excuses have to do with God?
If I don't do A, B, C or D, does God just disappear? Does He wash His hands of me and declare me a lost cause?
Or does He push back in the holy recliner, pick up a good book, and wait?

I have a sixteen month-old male Border Collie. We're having a few issues. He's still pushing his luck with me, testing me and seeing just how far I'll let him go.
I'm a pushover. He's got a cute face and big brown puppy dog eyes.
But if he ignores my commands, I know it's going to mean trouble down the road.
So I keep going out there with him, keep trying and waiting on him to get it. Some days when I say "Come!" I get an instant recall. Other days...well let's just say its a good thing dogs don't have fingers.
Eventually though, if I work at it and love him through those times I just want to strangle him, Noah will realize that it's much more beneficial to him to obey me than not.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm the same way with God. Not that I'm intentionally disobeying Him, but sometimes I'm just not paying all that much attention.

It doesn't really matter if nobody relates to this confession. I'm putting it out there because I want to. But if you are relating, let me encourage you.
This is not the first time I've been in the desert. Sadly, I am sure it won't be the last.
The way out is my choice. The map is sitting on my bedside table, waiting for me to blow the dust off it and check it out once in a while.
If you feel like starting over with me today, I found some hope here. Isaiah 40

Are you in the desert? Want out? Maybe we can find the road together.
If you've been there, offer some encouragement.
Let's talk.

My iTouch!

I got an iTouch for my birthday. I'd been reluctant to get one, as it looked way too complicated for me. However, my father, the giver of all things Apple, presented me with one last week. I should have known. With Apple, nothing is ever really complicated! I've learned how to do most things I need on it. Its not a phone, but if I use skype, it can be! Of course I've been spending too much time checking it out, but that's another story!
I have to say the biggest perk with the itouch is being able to download books! I love to read, but our bookstore selection here is pretty pitiful, so I usually do a big order from Amazon a few times a year. Well, now I don't have to. I downloaded the Amazon Kindle application, and voila, at the touch of a button I have whatever book I want at my fingertips! I'm so happy about this. Yes, I know, you have to get used to reading on a small handheld device, but it isn't a big deal, I promise you! I'm rejoicing at the fact that I will no longer have to lug a bag of books with me up to Canada each summer as I have done in the past. They'll all be right there on my iTouch. I will however have to make sure I stock up on ordering them in advance though, as we have no wireless up there!
SO anyway...given the fact that I now have the ability to read the books I want to, I'm asking for recommendations.
I don't care if they're Christian or secular. Tell me what you've read lately that has stuck with you. Why are you recommending it?
If I decide to read a book you've recommended here, I'll tell you what I thought of it!
Looking forward to reading...