Hello muse!

Life is good! My wayward muse came back to me last night, and I finally managed to move forward from the point I've been stuck at for weeks.

Now, I'll admit I haven't been giving the WIP my utmost attention lately, what with organizing promo, doing homework for the Blog Book Tours class, and trying to promote the May Birthday Celebration for Lyrical Press. Not to mention the kids and the day job...

But in the back of my mind, every time I thought about opening that file and getting back to work - I'd freeze up. I was convinced it stunk and there was no rescue and no point in bothering. Finally, finally, I sat down last night and started to peck at the keyboard, putting down any old words until things started to flow again.

And they DID! I mean, it still stinks, but that's okay - I'm allowed to write shitty first drafts, that's my mantra. I can fix it in editing, and I like editing. We're not talking pages and pages of prose, either. I wrote about 1200 words, but that feels like SO MUCH when you've been stuck.

The really nice part is that I know where the scene is going and when I sit down to write this morning, I think things are going to go pretty well.

Notable links of the week

I have a routine of reading various blogs and groups throughout the week, and I learn all kinds of valuable things that I'm so grateful someone posted. So, I like to gather them up and pass them along for others who might might have missed this information.

Happy Friday!


By way of NA Sharpe’s blog, I have news of the 4th annual Muse Online Writers Conference: October 12 - 18, 2009. It’s free and it’s on-line! Registration ends August 1st.

http://nasharpe.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-online-writers-conference.html#links


Great discussion of ebook piracy here on Jessiewave’s Review blog

http://reviewsbyjessewave.blogspot.com/2009/05/piracy-and-not-on-high-seas.html


A good article about Twitter for authors in Publisher’s Weekly, via BlogBookTours in…Twitter! What else?

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6647149.html


Both Loose Id and Torquere Press have been putting out calls for submissions in their short story and anthology lines

http://www.loose-id.com/submissions.aspx
http://www.torquerepress.com/submissions/index.html

What makes you take a chance?

So, what is it that will make you take a chance on an author you've never heard of before?

It's no secret that my first novel is coming out in a couple of weeks, and I have a lot of promo and advertising ahead of me. I've been out there in the groups and loops, offering opinions in Yahoo, taking part in chats, and schmoozing on blogs. I've been making an effort to get my name known out there.

Soon, however, is the real deal. On May 18th I have an actual book to promote and I'll be out there showing my baby off to the world....

I have some printed cards, I have a slew of interesting blog posts relating to the book, I have some giveaways and contests planned. I even already have a handful of blog tour stops set up.

People will often buy books from authors whose work they're already familiar with, but what is it really that makes you take a chance on a brand new one?

Sometimes you just have to phone it in...

Sometimes it's just one of those days.

Sometimes there is family drama, and your publisher is calling in help, and work is crazy busy. Every time you answer the phone, you're landed with another short deadline, another problem, another project. The bills are past due, the paperwork is piling up, and something else needs to be redone.

Sometimes you just have to retreat to a bar, get a beer, and send in your blog challenge with your iPod....


What is your escape when you have one of those days?

A little summer dreaming...

This is one of my favorite views in Madeira Beach, FL - Dino Martini's stomping grounds. That's taken from the gazebo of a little restaurant called Waltz.


Now all I need is a glass of sangria!

Free ebooks all month long!

This month marks the first full year for Lyrical Press, Inc. and to celebrate they have lots of fun things in the works.

For starters, they are giving away an ebook a day at the LPI Blog. All you have to do each day is comment and you have a chance to win a free ebook - winners are announced the following day.

That's 31 chances to win free ebooks!

Including my own LIKE COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS later this month.

At the end of the month, they'll be giving away a gift basket filled with all kinds of goodies donated by Lyrical Press authors (including something fun from me).

So stop by the Lyrical Press blog this month and check out the party!!

http://lyricalpress.blogspot.com/

I'd like to take a moment to welcome everyone from the Blog Book Tours group!

This is a fantastic learning experience and it looks to be a lot of fun. You can expect to be hearing more from me now that I'm taking part, AND I can finally say those magic words:

My book is coming out this month!

Like Coffee and Doughnuts will be released from Lyrical Press on May 18, so you can look forward to announcements, interviews, guest blogging, and even a few contests!

On top of that, this month is Lyrical Press's first birthday and I'll be taking part in several events to promote that as well.

It's going to be a fun month!

~~Elle