Writing Workshops Times Two

I was honored to be asked to conduct two workshops recently. The first was a month-long online workshop for the Celtic Heart chapter of Romance Writers of America. The subject was Point-of-View, one that's near and dear to my heart.

The second was a chapter meeting workshop for the Dallas Area Romance Authors and the subject was Building Brand You: Creating a 5-Star Online Presence.

As different as these two experiences were, they were similar in a few ways, too. And I loved them both.

Both required advanced preparation of materials: a series of written lessons to be posted on a loop every few days for the online and a powerpoint presentation for the in-person.

I had to work to make the information relevant for the particular audience, knowing that in both I would find expereince, published authors and very new writers at the beginning of their careers.

And I had to work both into my very busy schedule at our store.

But the rewards were great! Not only did I learn more about both topics, which I do every time I conduct at workshop, but I also got PAID! And in both cases, the audience was receptive, participatory, grateful and interested! I didn't bore them!

My goal is always to give them information they can actually use!

Okay, So I Lied

I said I would do a better job of keeping up and then I didn't.  So mea culpa. In my defense, the new store has been crazy busy and every spare minute has been spent doing marketing for it, instead of my book bizz.

But there is actual writing news to share:  I am deep into an agent search for someone to represent Sensible Shoes, my nearly finished women's fiction manuscript.  I identified a list of New York agents who are accepting women's fiction and have sent a number of email queries (which are the new enviro-friendly way to submit, thank heavens) to them. So far I have received 3 rejections (sad, but I'm used to it after all these years.)

The good news is that one of the agents I sent to used to handle Erma Bombeck. As you may or may not know, there is a strong Erma Bombeck presence in the book and it would be oh, so, serendipitous to have them represent me, too. And I haven't heard back from them, and no news is good news. We used to say that where there is outstanding mail (or email in this instance) there is hope.

Hopefully, that hope is not too far-fetched as I would love to get a "real" New York agent for my "real" serious book (which isn't too serious if you know Erma Bombeck, or me, for that matter.

Anyway, I'll try to do a better job of keeping up. Yeah, right.

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

New Year's Resolution--for the Millionth Time

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, the time for looking back and looking forward.  The year slipping away has been phenomenal:  two books published, milestones for our business, the same for our children.  It has also brought some sadness and challenges, especially for our parents.  As always bittersweet.   And so another year sneaks in, and what will it hold?  Certainly its share of joy and tears.  But, this year, I'd like to look back on a couple of specific triumphs:   finish Sensible Shoes and climb myself back up onto the diet bandwagon.   If I could accomplish those two things, then I would feel like the turn of the decade was all I could have hoped for. 
If I can finish Sensible Shoes and then sell it to a New York publisher, well, then, all would be right with the world and I would be content until 2020.   That doesn't seem too much to ask for, now does it?

Most Interesting

The January issue of the Lake Highlands Advocate and I am profiled as one of the 5 Most Interesting People in Lake Highlands.  The magazine has been following the progress of the books on this blog and I am thrilled that they deemed it INTERESTING.   So here is the link to the article (sans picture) online:

http://www.advocatemag.com/lake-highlands/magazine/The_List_LH_0110.html?c=y

And, I would invite you to browse my website for more info about me and the books, including the trailers and excerpts.

http://cindycausey.com/

And if you're interested in purchasing either (or both) books, you can get them from Amazon.com.

I guess I've come full circle now.  I started this blog to follow the publishing path from start to finish.  I hope this isn't the end.   I'm working on a new book and with encouragement, such as the article in the Advocate, I will complete it soon and start the process all over. I hope you'll stick around for the journey.

15 Minutes Continues

Just when I thought my 15 minutes of fame were over, I got an email from the Advocate, our neighborhood four-color magazine, and they want to include me in the cover story for the January issue!  It is a Best of the Best story.  They ran an article about this blog last January and a mention online about the book signing, call ing me "The most famous romance author in Lake Highlands".  How funny is that since I'm the ONLY romance author that I know of in Lake Highlands.  Anyway, it's all very fun.

The book signing was a great sucecess and here is a picture.

Book Signing this Saturday!

It's actually going to happen. I am having a book signing at Highlands Cafe here in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 4-6:00 p.m.  I met with the very sweet women of Highlands Cafe and we decided to serve spinach dip and tea to the hungry hordes who que up for the signing.  HAHAHAHAHA.   Here's hoping SOMEONE comes!   I've ordered plenty of books and Scott will be there to help me sell, plus a couple of the kids.  Then after that we will head up to Uncle Julio's where Molly is a manager and enjoy a family birthday dinner for Scott--who's turning the BIG 6-0.

A great day!    Can't wait.

Excitement for Fall

So long since posts, but things got really busy after school started and now it's crazy indeed.  PLUS things have really heated up for A Hot Time in Texas.  I will be having a book signing in Dallas at Highlands Cafe, a sweet dining spot in our community, on Saturday, Nov. 21 late afternoon.  I'm hoping everyone who hasn't ordered a copy of Hot Time will stop by and stay for dinner. I'll also have copies of Drum, too, plus  I would love to sign copies already purchased. 
And as if that isn't exciting enough, LakeHighlandsToday.com is doing an interview and will post it online the week before the signing.  Woohoo!
AND the Dallas Public Library may purchase the books for all the Dallas area libraries.  Wouldn't that be amazing. My little books in the library!
More to come, but that's it for now!

A Hot Time in Texas Makes it Debut

At last! My second book from The Wild Rose Press is here! A Hot Time in Texas is a late summer sizzler set in the fictitious town of Howard, Texas and, well, I'll let the new review tell you all about it. This is what The Romance Studio had to say:

"Ms. Cindy Causey has written a wonderful book about a couple who both wanted something so badly they couldn’t see any way for compromise. The main couple was so attracted to each other. The chemistry sizzled and the conflict was electrifying. Causey created two people with their futures already settled who had not counted on love getting in the way. These people were so well written it was as if I was in the tiny town of Howard living with them and all the chaos as it presented itself.

The secondary characters were adorable, especially Ethan’s mother. This small town, written in Causey fashion, simply drew me into its clutches and made me want to live there. Even knowing how things were progressing, there was myriad of surprises and laughter (as well as tears) written throughout this manuscript. The story was fast-paced and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

I recommend this book as a good read which will leave great feelings long after the last page is read. "

And here's the new video trailer for Hot Time.

High-Tech Workshop

This past weekend I had a great time presenting a workshop on building websites and book video trailers to the authors at Dallas Area Romance Authors, a chapter of Romance Writers of America. I took my tech guy, Scott, with me because I had designed a multi-media presentation with DVDs, Internet, PowerPoint, and sound. It got pretty complicated, but worked great. We only had a couple of glitches (like losing the Internet connection) but, hey, it was a great time for a bathroom break while we fixed it. About 60 writers, very enthusiastic and they laughed in all the right places. Thank heavens. Here's a picture.

It's a Hot Time in Texas!

My second book, A Hot Time in Texas, is available on Amazon.com----3 weeks early! Hard to believe it's already here. I haven't even been able to finish all my promotional ideas for A Different Drum and now I need to start on the second one. Who'd would ever have thought that I'd have THAT problem! What an embarrassment of riches.

I feel so blessed this summer with all that's happened with the books and the documentary for Good Sam. I'm just trying to maximize the potential of all this. I would hate to feel like I did with Cherish that I just never did enough.

So, here I am, thinking I will keep a low propfile about Hot Time for a little while until Drum gains a little more ground.

So everyone, keep it under your hat.

Incredible Review for A Different Drum

The release of the book has been amazing. Several book signings and parties with friends and family. And yesterday I got an incredible review from an online review site call Between the Lines. The reviewer Jade Ryan gave me a TOP PICK, which I've come to understand is rare --better than 5 stars!

Here's an excerpt and link to the whole thing.

"About one chapter into this book, and I was hooked. I snarled at my children who dared draw my attention away."

http://blog.lyndacoker.net/2009/07/13/wrdf-review-of-a-different-drum-by-cindy-causey.aspx

I'm on cloud nine about this and wanted to share with all of you my great news on this crazy wild journey.

At Last!

The book is here. Well, not here exactly since my author copies haven't arrived yet. But it's THERE. For sale on The Wid Rose Press.com (here's the link)

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/a-different-drum-p-1260.html?zenid=8b2a81d844f9c1de0fd3eeabafc0eef3

and Amazon.com. Here'sthe link:

http://www.amazon.com/Different-Drum-Cindy-Causey/dp/1601544502/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243786212&sr=1-12

It's complete with a review from the fabulous LJ who was the first one to get a copy. I've spent the last couple of days, between working, trying to get the word out via about 2,000 social networking sites and vehicles. GEEZ. I wanted to post a little more info here, so I needed to wait until I had the time.

I put up the trailer on YouTube. Here's the link, in case you haven't seen it a thousand times already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dg3iJilcaQ&feature=channel_page

I have to say the whole thing is a little overwhelming. It's the ending (or the beginning) of a really long journey which started when I woke up one morning in 1995 with a story in my head that had to be written down. I never fancied myself a fiction writer. That was the year I sold my serious non-fiction book.

Fiction is so, so made up. It's fanciful, fun, and frolicsome--at least in my head. I know there are serious fiction writers out there who can make me cry and think and change my mind. But that's not me. I'm afraid it never will be. Oh sure, I have serious thoughts, God knows. But I save those for my non-fiction writing. My fiction will forever be light, airy, funny (I hope) and quirky.

I hope you'll check out A Different Drum. I hope you like it. I'll hope you'll come back for more in August when A Hot Time in Texas will be out.

So, the original purpose of this blog was to follow the process of getting a book published. That purpose is fulfilled and now Sensible Shoes will morph into ---who knows? I appreciate those of you who have followed along. I hope you'll stick around for whatever's next.