It's Been So Long, But I'm Still Here

Since I last posted in June, I have been busy opening a storefront for our family business LH Media Center. It's off theground and running now and I'm taking a little breather to get caught up with writing news.   One of the perks of owning your own store is being able to put books out on the counter to sell!  

Link to the store website

But the big news is that my trailer for A Hot Time in Texas got a great review from Kris Tualla of 1st Turning Point Reviews in August.  Here's what she had to say about the trailer:

Kris’s Comments:

Good things: This video has nice music, engaging narration and appropriate photos. At 67 seconds long, it’s succinct and to the point. The minimal use of text is just enough to keep the viewer engaged, but not so much that it interferes with the narration. It’s classy and easy to watch.

I only have one question—while the lighthearted tone matches the “summer sizzler” description, I did want a little indication of exactly HOW Twink was ruining Ethan’s plans; was it only attraction? Or is there something deeper in their conflict? The “pull” was missing.

Teaching moment: This video is a perfect example of how less is more. With the addition of the one sentence I wished was there, we are still looking at 75 seconds, max. I watched the whole thing several times and never once wished it would get to the point! Well done!   Link to 1st Turning Point Review

Nice to know the book still has legs after a year!
And anyway, I love the trailer, too!  Wanna see it?  Here's the YouTube link and while you're there you can see the one for A Different Drum.    Link to the trailer

I'll try to do a better job of keeping up.  Promise!

New Covey Book Trailer Awards

Can you help me out? The book trailer for A Different Drum is up for an award at http://thenewcoveytrailerawards.blogspot.com/. Please go to the website and vote for number 6!  No prizes, just bragging rights, but hey, who doesn't want to win something?  The site is fun and you can get addicted to watching all the trailers.  They mix all the genres so I'm up against children's books, mysteries, paranormal, you name it.  Some of the trailers are really good, some are awful, but most are way too long for my taste.
I'd love for you to vote for mine, but also I'd like your comments here or on my Facebook page about what you thought about the videos--what was good and what didn't work.  I create these for other people, too, and I'd like your feedback.  Voting goes through the end of the month.  You can also see the videos for both books to the right on the BRAND NEW VIDEO BAR!  How cool is that?  Let's go to the movies!

Writing for Suite101.com

Trying to keep my hand in the game, or a number of games, I have signed up to submit articles to Suite101.com, an online repository of articles about everything from How to Change a Tire to Ten Tips to Keep Your Marriage Hot to What's Wrong with Our Education System? My articles are about writing: craft, publishing, career, etc. This is the latest:
Formatting a Manuscript for Submission: Dos and Don'ts of Type and Setup for Publication

Pretty dry stuff unless you're into getting published. The other one is even more specific, but funnier.
That/Which vs. Who/Whom
Anyway, check them out if you're a glutton for grammar.

I'm A Literary Luminary!

Just when I think this whole thing is over, something amazing happens.

Last night I received a phone call asking me to represent Lake Highlands High School, my alma mater, at a banquet in April, honoring teachers, etc. in the Richardson ISD.  The theme is Literary Luminaries, and there will be a published author from each of the four high schools.

They will have books for sale and signing, which is cool, plus fund raising, auction, etc. to raise funds for the schools. The sponsoring group is Excellence in Education.

I am so honored and just a little intimidated. What if the author from Berkner High School turns out to be Nora Roberts or Stephen King or someone incredible.  Or, I could be lucky and the guy sitting next to me wrote the definitive tome on the lives of bees or something. 

No matter, the truth is, IT'S AN HONOR JUST TO BE INVITED.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Here's the ugly part.  I almost sold out and abandoned the reason I started this blog in the first place:  to chronicle the book writing and publishing business.  But I've realized that I need to stay true to my purpose, even if this is just a journal to myself.   So it's back to business.

AND HERE'S THE BAD PART:  The Fastest Rejection on Record!

I sent an email query to The Nelson Agency and got an email response THE SAME DAY!  Nothing good comes that quickly, so of course it was bad news.  "Just not right for their list."   I would give a lot to know something a tad more specific.   At least I didn't have a lot of time to build my hopes up.

Yeah, I can always find a silver lining.

AND NOW FOR THE GOOD PART:

Seriously Reviewed, a website that "seriously reviews" romance novels has put my book trailer for A Different Drum on their front page as a Best of Romance Trailers.  Here's the link:  http://www.seriouslyreviewed.com/

This business is a lot of work.  My publisher sent the link for this and I responded by sending in the info to the Serious Reviewed site.  So,  they didn't just pick my video off YouTube.   No, I had to be proactive, which is what has happened all along.   I guess I'll just keep on keeping on.

Agent Quest Continues

Sent another query to an agent today, this one to Nelson Literary Agency in Colorado, via email. I know, not NYC, but a friend recommended them for my book. 

I have been polishing the verbiage in the query forever.  Here is the "blurb" that tells a little about the book:

Lead character Tess Thomason’s boring, predictable life is turned upside down on her fiftieth birthday when her newspaper editor demands she take over the fashion column at the paper and her family presents her with gift cards for a semi-extreme makeover. It’s no secret that she’s gained a teensy bit of weight since gay ex-husband Jack left her for his podiatrist. But with the gift cards mocking her and her deadline looming, she has to decide: jump out of her comfort zone and move forward or stay stuck in neutral forever. To make matters worse, her daughter announces she’s pregnant and plans for a hurry-up wedding follow, complicated by her best friend’s battle with breast cancer and her sister-in-law’s separation from Tess’ arrogant, chauvinist brother. Through it all, Tess’s attitude is laced with humor and tongue-in-cheek soul-searching, even as her life spirals out of control and she discovers a surprising new relationship she thought she’d never have again.

So, fingers-crossed.  This one says they answer within a a couple of weeks.  That's encouraging.

New Year, New Book

At last this blog will live up to its name.  I spent most of Sunday searching for New York Agents, ready at last to query about my latest manuscript, Sensible Shoes.  I actually found one who had a form online and I sent it in.  I am still one chapter from completing the MS, but so close and it takes so long for agents and editors to respond (sometimes up to 8 months) that I feel comfortable about sending this in now.   I also identified about 8 more likely agents, all in New York or close to (like lovely New Jersey.)  Some take electronic submissions and some only snail mail, so I will do an excel spreadsheet (so anal retentive, but the only way to keep up with who gets what when) and get it moving.

So we're off on another journey, this one is a more meandering course instead of the breakneck ride of the last two books.   No roller coaster here, just slow and steady wins the race--we hope!!!

Anyway, if I get a NY agent, you will hear the screaming all over town--nay, nay--the world!

A Good Review?

I need your opinion.  This morning a review came in for A Hot Time in Texas that I can't figure out.  It's from Between the Lines, an online reviewer.  She first has an issue with the name Twink and alludes to the idea that Twink might be a slang word for something I am too naive to understand.  No one has ever made this suggestion before.  Then she mentions that some of the dialogue sounds a little contrived.   So I'm thinking she hates the book, but she gives it an overall 4 stars (Great Read- A Keeper).  This is VERY HIGH PRAISE.  I looked at her other reviews and she is a brutal, hard grader.  So I guess I am pleased that she really did like the book and gave it such high marks. Although I am at a loss to understand the Twink remark.  I actually knew a woman named Twink and thought it was a great name for a pixie-ish character.  So, help me out.  If you know of a problem with the name Twink, let me know.

Here's the link if you want to read the whole thing.

http://blog.lyndacoker.net/2010/01/06/a-hot-time-in-texas-by-cindy-causey.aspx