IWSG: Marching Onward

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for IWSG blog hop. This brain child of Alex J. Cavanaugh, this monthly fest is a chance to share encouragement with other writers or ask for some propping up for yourself. Please join this growing group by checking out the others participating today or chiming in on the Facebook page.

Today, I'm also guesting at Sharon Ledwith's blog, I came. I saw. I wrote. Sharon is one of my fellow Musa authors. Even though our publisher closed their doors less than a week ago, Sharon has already found a new publisher for her books. She's that kind of 'keeping on swimming' person. I'll be talking about how to build your blog audience, most of which I learned from people participating in IWSG.

If you stopped in here on Monday, you read the news that both publishers who had contracted my epic fantasy series have closed their doors. It was a double-whammy smack for February. I had a pity party for myself for about three days. (No one else showed up to the party even though it had wine.) Then I went to work searching for a new home for my two series. Not every publisher will take on reissues and some don't want fantasy. The epic fantasy market is a strange one. A few 'big' names do really, really well while newer writers have trouble being found. Check out the local bookstore where George RR Martin's books take up two shelves of space.

It could be worse. Back at the start of my writing career, a publisher who had two of my romances under contract declared bankruptcy. My rights were tied up in court for months with no assurance I would get them back. I learned then that those bankruptcy clauses in contracts don't really mean anything. At least this time, my publishers cared about their authors enough to do it right.

But I'm going forward with the belief that I will find a new home for those series and the motivation to finish the third and final book in the one series. There are so many avenues available to writers these days. I won't give up on them. And my romance career as Susan Kelley is still going strong. So while I wait for answers to my queries, I'll be working on the next book for my romance publisher.

"If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it." John Irving

"Nature, time and patience are the three great physicians." Bulgarian proverb

Also, don't forget that tomorrow from 1pm to 2pm and 8pm to 9pm, there is a chat going on about the A to Z Challenge on Twitter. Use these #'s.
#AZchat
#atozchallenge
Hope to see you there with questions, ideas or just an introduction.

Do you know any publishers who take on reissues? Are you familiar with Sharon? Care to share any horror stories of your own about publishers closing? Do you agree with the above quotes?

In Like a Lion

Today I'm introducing my Dragon Soldier team over at the A to Z Blogging Challenge and giving the day's advice for enjoying April during the challenge. And don't forget that Wednesday is IWSG posting day.

My mother had many sayings passed down from her mother and grandmother. Every March she would remind that if March comes in like a Lion, it will go out like a lamb. Since we had a bit of winter storm yesterday, I'm hoping the kinder weather shows up tomorrow. March was named for the Roman god of war, Mars. Let's home spring wins the war against winter.

If you were born in the years, 1938, '50, '62, '74, '86, '98, then you fall under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger. You are forthright, sensitive and possess great courage. Is that you?

Another bit of wisdom from my trusty Old Farmer's Almanac is that it takes three weeks, on average, to form a good habit.

Now for the news that is already going about the internet but how it personally affects me. About three weeks ago, I received a letter from Crescent Moon Press telling authors that they would close their doors at the end of March and return all book rights to authors. I wasn't shocked to hear this as they had become extremely slow at answering emails and other signs.

I decided it might be for the best and decided to query Musa Publishing to take on the fantasy series I had with Crescent Moon Press since they did such a professional job with the series I had with them. To my dismay, on the day my book was to be released by Musa, I received a similar letter and returning my rights to me as on last Friday. This closing did shock me and made a sad end to February. I won't even go into all the frantic rearranging I did for the promotional things I'd planned for that book release.

I bet you can guess what my post will be about for IWSG on Wednesday.

Any Tigers here? Ever heard my mother's bit of wisdom for March? How long do you think it takes to form a good habit? Did you have any worse career news than I did in February?

Another Writing Week

Much thanks to Patricia Stoltey for letting me share my reason for not taking the indie route with my books. I think the discussion will be going on for a long time. For at least as long as traditional publishers are around but that's a discussion for another day.

On Monday, I'm going to introduce my Dragon Soldiers who will be helping me during the April A to Z Blogging Challenge. I'll have a post on the A to Z site and something here also. You can also volunteer to be one of those lucky soldiers. Let me know in the comments and I'll get back to you quicker than even Smaug can fly.

"The most-called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear." Maya Angelou

A whole lot of my writing time has been high-jacked by responsibilities connected to my position as secretary of Pennwriters. Members of the board have been working hard to get a new, website up and running and get the registration for the conference coming up in May up and running. We're having a teleconference tomorrow morning. My point wasn't to whine about the time, because my part has been so small. It takes a lot of patience and understanding for a group of people to put together such a massive undertaking. There are many complex wheels turning behind the scenes of a big conference like ours and it's easy to allow frustration to surface. Hopefully, we'll have a successful conference and everyone will still be talking to each other when it's over. I hope we're all still friends.

I want to also thank LV Barat for hosting me earlier this week. She's another of Musa's authors who must know decide where she's going from here. I talked about the lack of clean water in medieval times where lots of fantasy novels are set.

More on bad news February next week. I don't want to talk about it today and jinx something else bad into happening. And this is an entire post without complaining about the weather.

Enjoy your weekend and share your plans. I'm planning on doing major catch up on writing and some blog posts. Has February been good to you? You can complain about the weather if you want. Ever done a teleconference? Agree with Maya Angelou?

Book Signing Fun

I spend February 14th at a book signing with many author friends from central Pennsylvania. It was the 2nd year for the event at a local greenhouse and nursery. Due to ominous weather conditions, the customer turnout left something to be desired and no one sold a lot of books. I wasn't overly disappointed and think I sold more than my share. But the best part was spending time with my fellow writers. We had lots of time to talk and just visit.

Megan Hart

When I went to my very first writing conference, I met a young writer in the elevator and we struck up a conversation. We were both starting out and decided we would read each other's manuscripts and be critique partners. Megan Hart was miles ahead of me in mastery of craft, but she also spun stories that were brilliant. To no one's surprise, she's now a bestselling author of romance and of mainstream fiction. Sitting beside her at the book signing gave us a chance to catch up as we're no longer critique partners but will forever be friends. Isn't her outfit lovely? I always remind Megan about when my daughter first met her. Kelley was only about twelve years old and declared with great authority that Megan looked like a writer as compared to me who just looked like a mom.




I know I've mentioned my friend, Natalie Damschroder on my blog before and linked to her blog. She is the major organizer behind this author event and makes it so easy for the rest of us. All we have to do is walk in and set up our books. She's multi-published

Natalie

in romance and I like to call her my 'go to' girl when I have a question about the writing business. She keeps on top of things.

Cate

Cate Masters is well known to many of you. I've done numerous book signings with Cate and she is one of the kindest, most gracious people I've met. We also have worked with the same publishers in the past and I often email Cate with questions about this or that. Cate is also one of the fastest writers I know even though her personal life is very busy.

I'll share more pictures on Friday. But a lesson from this event is to look for venues other than bookstores to hold signings. Many places love to host authors and if you draw customers they'll want to have you back.

Don't forget that tomorrow is the #AZchat or #atozchallenge on Twitter from 1-2 EST and then again from 8-9 EST. Bring your questions. March is almost here and your A to Z hosts will be rocking with advise to improve your experience in the challenge.

Tomorrow I'll be guest posting on Patricia Stoltey's blog where I'll be explaining why I've elected to seek out publishers for books I've regained my rights to rather than choosing to self-publish them. I'd love it if you stop by and offer your opinion.

Are you familiar with any of the writers I shared a table with? What does a real writer look like? Where is the oddest place you ever held or attended a book signing? Will you join us on Twitter?

Shaking Off the Blahs

I hope you'll join me today at LV Barat's blog where I'll be talking about drinking in the medieval world where so many high fantasy novels take place. You'll also find a link to one of my favorite reference books when you get there.

Didn't think it possible for twenty degrees to feel like a heat wave but that's where we're at this February. But March is only days away and soon we'll see those spring bulbs pushing their way toward the sun. Cold weather and get a person down, depressing the creative urges and even the urge to exercise and eat right. Just in time to get us thinking about our health, new dietary guidelines have been published. Here's an article from the New York Times where they share some opinions and facts.

It seems that despite all those terrible facts about cholesterol and eggs, they really aren't bad for you and are an excellent source or protein. Coffee, can be good for you. I saw an article in the paper suggesting that 3-5 cups of coffee per day might be okay for a lot of people.

Things everyone should watch out for, added sugars like in soft drinks and many fruit drinks and juices. Just eat the real fruit and don't buy juice at all. Sodium is a big item to avoid also. Processed meats and cheeses are very high in sodium content and should be avoided as much as possible. Red meat, not so good, and anything high in saturated fats.

Eat as natural as you can, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and get your protein from poultry, fish and nuts. Drink water.

Exercise, exercise, exercise. I'll be so glad to get back outside working in the yard. I have a lot of ground to take care of so it gives me a second bout of activity after my morning runs or walks. Even weeds sound lovely after all this cold and snow.

I'm past the mid-point in my next science fiction romance. I haven't settled on a title yet but my publisher is good at suggesting possibilities so we'll come up with something together. My next series is already taking shape so I need to get this one done.

"Never go to a doctor whose plants have died." Erma Bombeck

What do you think of the new dietary guidelines? Any surprises? Ever think about how lucky we are to have clean water supplies?

Do stop in at the A to Z blog today for some more inspiration and leave me a note if you'd like to be a Dragon Soldier and help me out during the challenge. I could really use one or two more helpers. And a new post at IWSG will get you on track for another week of inspired writing.

Today, I'm turning my blog over to C. Lee Mckenzie. Read about her release and join her contest. You can find me at Michelle Howard's blog as she helps me celebrate the reissue of Keepers of Sulbreth from Musa Publishing. Also, if you didn't check in on my post yesterday at Dianna Gunn's blog, The Dabbler, I would love to hear your thoughts as I share who and what helped my career in the early days.

AMAZON

There's nothing’s more dangerous than a wizard-in-training. And Pete Riley, has just proven it. He's worked a bad time spell--a very bad time spell.

No YouTube, no smoothies, no Manga. Not ever again. Not unless Pete figures out how to reverse his spell and free Weasel and him from Victorian England. 

He has until the next full moon. Only a few days.

Tick. Tock.

Here’s how the story starts, and it only gets worse.

One minute the clock was tick-tocking on the mantel and the next it was a smoldering mess.

“No,”􏰁Harriet shouted. Then she braced one hand on her desk and covered her eyes with the other.

Pete froze, not blinking, not breathing, but waiting to see if Harriet would point one of her long, bony fingers at him and turn him into a turnip or something slimy.

SEQUEL TO ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD

To celebrate the launch of The Great Time Lock Disaster I'm giving 20 eBooks away. Hope you'll jump in to the copter and go for a ride!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Usually, C. Lee takes on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. Her first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, which dealt with cutting and suicide was published in 2009. Her second, titled The Princess of Las Pulgas, dealing with a family who loses everything and must rebuild their lives came out in 2010. Double Negative (2014) was her third young adult novel. Researching it turned her into a literacy advocate. Her fourth YA, Sudden Secrets came out in December 2014. 

When she really want to have FUN, she writes middle grade books. Alligators Overhead and The Great Time Lock Disaster are now available.

WEBSITE   BLOG   FACEBOOK  TWITTER  GOODREADS

Are you familiar with C. Lee and her books? Have you met Michelle Howard or Dianna Gunn yet? What are your plans for the weekend? Are you thawing our or deeper in the freezer like us?

Cold But Busy

The A to Z Blogging Challenge is only six weeks away. Still lots of time to sign up and if you have already signed up and picked a theme, you'll enjoy The Theme Reveal Blog Hop scheduled for March 23rd. Sign ups are open.

Also if you've signed up and would like to expand your A to Z experience, I could still use a few Dragon Soldiers. Check out the cool badge you can display on your blog sidebar. You know you want
one. Let me know in the comments and I'll get back to you sooner than a dragon can start a fire.

Tomorrow, to fire up the enthusiasm for April, we'll have our first Twitter Chats from 1 pm to 2 pm and from 8 pm to 9 pm, all times EST. These chats will continue every Thursday from tomorrow until the end of April. Check it out at #atozchallenge or #AZchat. Hope to see you then.

Also tomorrow I will be a guest at The Dabbler where Dianna Gunn, publicity expert with Musa Publishing will host me. Hope you'll stop over there.

This Friday is the reissue of Keepers of Sulbreth. I'm very excited but also worried. It is a reissue
that sold pretty well when first released. What if nobody wants it who hasn't already purchased it? Nothing is a sure thing in this business. Wish me luck.

And today, you should stop by IWSG group where Janice Hardy is our guest. She has some great things to say about improving your manuscript.

We're expecting more snow later today and then two days of frigid cold before more snow on Sunday. Not to wish my life away, but winter really needs to move out of here. I think if you live anywhere in North America, you feel the same way.

"The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent." Carl Sagan

I think that fits Mother Nature's attitude about now.

I'm working on the 3rd Warrior of Gaviron book now that I have a small breather between edits for my fantasy series. Not sure how long that breather will last so maybe the cold is a good thing, keeping me inside to write. Looking for a silver lining here.

Have you ever had a book reissued and if so, did it do well? Can you join us for a Twitter chat tomorrow? Are you signed up for the theme reveal? Do you agree with Carl Sagan?