Thursday, September 29, 2011

Author Interview: Jo Ramsey

I love meeting new people, and meeting new authors is especially fun because I can bring them onto my blog and introduce them to all of you.

This is my new friend Jo Ramsey. She's a really fun, talented lady, and I had the chance to interview her this last week.

Me: Jo, we just met, and I'm excited to learn more about you. Tell me about yourself, your career, and all that good stuff.

Jo: I'm a former special education teacher; I graduated university in 1992 and after that taught, worked as a teacher's aide, and substituted for almost seventeen years. When I moved from Maine to Massachusetts in 2009 to marry my second husband, I couldn't transfer my certification, so now I work part-time in my father-in-law's office. I've been writing since I was five years old, and during junior high, high school, and college, I wrote about 20 young adult manuscripts, all of them longhand in spiral notebooks.

Me: I wrote one book longhand in a spiral notebook, and that was enough to cure me of it. You must have fingers of steel. But sorry - I'm interrupting. You were saying?

Jo: My first publication wasn't until 2002, when a phonics-based reading program I'd written was published by Oxton House, an educational publisher based in Maine. The program, which was published under the name Kimberly Ramsey, is calledStories from Somerville, and is used in districts in at least a dozen states. Other than creating that program, I had stopped writing for several years, but in 2004 I started again. My first young adult novel, Connection, which is book 1 in my urban fantasy series Reality Shift, was published in January 2010. Since then, books two through four in that series have also been published, along with books one and two in my other urban fantasy series The Dark Lines. Those are all published by Jupiter Gardens Press, and book five in Reality Shift and book three in The Dark Lines are under contract. I also have two books currently under contract with Featherweight Press.

I live in Massachusetts with my two daughters from my first marriage, my husband, and two cats.

Me: I'm a homeschooler and a huge, huge supporter of phonics. Can you tell me a little about your method?

Jo: My program uses a phonics sequence developed by Dr. Phyllis Fischer, who was my adviser at university. The sequence begins with the consonant sounds, then short vowels, then what we used to call "magic E" words or "silent E" words, and so on. She also has a program, but hers doesn't come with any reading materials, only speed drills where the student reads the same few words in random order over and over, with the goal being for them to do so within a certain amount of time. I needed some phonics-based reading materials to accompany her program for my students, and since my budget at that school was too small to be able to buy any reading materials, I wrote my own. The stories are fiction, following a group of kids who sometimes make poor choices but who end up being friends and starting a band. When I taught reading, I introduced new sounds and "sight words" with flashcards, then had the students read the story round-robin style, each taking one line. My program also has comprehension and phonics worksheets (the phonics sheets are sold under the title "Say, Read, Spell"), so after reading the story we would do part of the comprehension questions, then a phonics worksheet. We worked on the same story every day for a week so that the students were solid in their knowledge of the sight words and the phonics sounds they were meant to learn.

I'd say the program worked pretty well. During the first six months I used it, one child, who was so delayed that no one believed she could make real-time gains in any area, gained six months reading skills. One of the boys gained eighteen months of skills during that time. (All based on testing that their classroom teacher did.) And one girl, who came into my program right when I started using it, was unable to even spell her own name correctly when she started with me, in the fall of her second grade year, because her phonics skills were so poor. A year and a half later, at the end of her third grade year, she was reading and writing at grade level.

Me: What are you working on right now?

Jo: I'm working on a paranormal novel about a fifteen-year-old boy who is assaulted and is turned into a werewolf during the attack. And I'm about to start revisions on Reality Shift 6.

Me: Have you yourself ever been turned into a werewolf?

Jo: Not that I'm aware of, though I do feel a little weird during the full moon sometimes...

Me: What would you say is your favorite part of being an author?

Jo: I have more than one favorite part. I love writing the stories, because it's so much fun seeing my imagination come to life on the page. I like knowing that my books are encouraging kids to read, at least according to feedback I've received. And the feedback is the third thing at the top of the "favorite" list. I really love hearing from readers.

Me: If you were stuck on a desert island and could only take twenty books with you, how would you get those twenty books to the island?

Jo: I guess they'd have to be on my smartphone's Kindle app, since that would be small enough to have with me.

Me: I've discovered that many authors have their own little ritual or set of habits they go through in order to really write. I am most productive when I have a tube of ChapStick close at hand - can't write with dry lips - and usually a glass of ice water and some sunflower seeds. What do you need to really get in the groove?

Jo: I don't really have much of a ritual. I like to have something to drink--a cup of herbal tea or hot chocolate, a diet cola, or a bottle of water. Otherwise, there doesn't seem to be anything that makes me more productive; some days the writing happens and some days it doesn't.

Thanks for being my guest today, Jo!

If you would like to know more about Jo Ramsey that I didn't ask her here, you can go check out her website. You can read her bio, learn about her books, and all kinds of fun stuff.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Book Review: Jabberwocky by Daniel Coleman

Sometimes I meet someone and just instinctively like them. This is how I felt when I first met Daniel Coleman. We were doing a book signing together at The Book Table in Logan this last July. It was a pretty slow signing, but not for lack of trying! I had the chance to talk with Daniel a bit, and then so did my husband, and it was a lot of fun.

Daniel's book, Jabberwocky, is based on the poem by Lewis Carroll, but is a story all of its own. I was pretty impressed by that idea - that takes a lot of imagination. As Daniel describes it, it's written in Carroll's style, but it's easier to understand. My understanding is that Lewis Carroll was influenced by LSD, so anything Daniel wrote would have to be easier to understand, right?

 My husband picked up a copy of the book and disappeared into it for a couple of hours, and then read it again not too long after.  This is rare - he works hard and doesn't get a lot of downtime, so for him to read something twice is unusual these days.  (He's read Harry Potter multiple times, in multiple languages - did you know it was translated into Russian, even? - but that's beside the point.)  He enjoyed the book so much, I invited him to guest blog.  So, without further ado, here's my husband, Matt:

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading Daniel Coleman's book. Jabberwocky.  It was hard for me to put down once I began reading it. Daniel relates the gripping tale of a quiet hero, Tjaden, who, motivated only by resolving the problems posed to his family and friends, accomplishes the impossible. Tjaden, the kind of hero who avoids publicity whenever he can, quietly goes about his work, until creatures and situations threaten his loved ones.  While displaying the wonderful qualities of this young man, such as hard work, staying fit, dedication, firm goal-setting and -reaching, Tjaden exposes corrupt government officials who create catastrophes in order to gain power, and shows the world how to use biotechnologies, such as hormonal and skeletal triggers, to calm monsters in the animal and human kingdoms. I especially enjoyed the parallels Daniel drew to human and monster families.  I recommend this book for anyone, especially boys, aged 10 and up."
If you'd like your own copy of Jabberwocky, you can purchase it here

FTC:  My husband bought this book and we decided to review it on our own.  Yes, we actually bought a book.  With money.  Actual cold hard cash.  See, not every book I review was free ... just most of them.

Monday, September 26, 2011

L.I.F.T. Women's Conference

Wouldn't it be great if there was a conference just for women, a place where you could go for Laughter, Inspiration, Friendship, and Testimony? And wouldn't it be awesome if it was held soon, oh, say, on Saturday, October 29th? And wouldn't it be even cooler if it was someplace easy to find, like Orem High?

Do I hear a yes?

Well, guess what ...

There is one! On that very day! In that very place!

Covenant Communications and Seagull Books are sponsoring this amazing event where women from all over will gather to hear presentations on events that are pertinent to our times. Click here for all the information and to register. It's only $20.00 if you sign up before October 20th - that's an unheard-of price. I'm attending, unless something bizarre happens to keep me from it - it would be great to see you there!

Friday, September 16, 2011

September Blog Hop


Hey everyone! I had so much fun with the blog hop I held last month, I thought it would be completely awesome to do another one. Come back tomorrow to enter to win my prize and see who else is participating - with over 40 blogs in the hop, you could win over 40 prizes!

If you would like to be a participating blogger next time (October) pop me a note at tristipinkston AT gmail.com.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Book Review and Contest: Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack

During my recent two-month signing gig at Costco, I was often asked the following questions:

1. "Are you Josi Kilpack?"

2. "Do you know Josi Kilpack?"

3. "Are your books like Josi Kilpack's?"

4. "Have you read Josi Kilpack's books?"

The answers are:

1. No. (But you already knew that.)

2. Yes, I've known Josi for years and we've done book signings and conferences and all kinds of other way fun stuff together.

3. Yes, actually, my books are somewhat like Josi's, and it's funny how that came about - she was writing Lemon Tart at the exact same time I was writing Secret Sisters, and we hadn't mentioned our projects to each other. Maybe older lady detectives were in the air or something. But my books are shorter, a little more off-the-wall, and are geared toward the LDS market, while her books are longer, a little more grounded in reality, and are geared toward the national market, while still very appropriate for LDS readers.

4. Of course I've read Josi Kilpack's books!

And that brings us to the real point of this blog - the latest Josi Kilpack novel I read, her latest release, Pumpkin Roll.

I might start out by saying that I'm a little bit predisposed to like the book because I really like pumpkin roll (my sister Leigh makes an awesome one). I don't know if that contributed to my feelings or not, but this is my favorite out of the Sadie Hoffmiller series to date.

When Pete Cunningham, Sadie's love interest (boyfriend just seems so juvenile to her) is asked to come babysit his grandchildren for a week, Sadie goes along with to lend that grandmotherly touch. Nothing official has been decided between the two of them yet, but the children accept Sadie as being part of the family, and indeed, it seems she belongs there. She busies herself with baking and housework, happy to spend a week doing what she does best - making people feel at home - and of course, happy to spend a week with Pete.

Strange things start happening, though - a crazy neighbor lady, thought to be a witch, seems to put a spell on the house, doors slam shut even though there's no wind, the electricity goes out, Sadie hears voices - and they realize something very strange is going on. The book is set in the Halloween season and the whole premise is spooky, making the timing of this novel's release very wise - we're already in a Halloween mood and the book ties in perfectly.

As Sadie starts investigating, she learns that Pete might not be all he's cracked up to be, and she regretfully begins to investigate him as well. She follows every lead, she leaves no stone unturned ... but at the very end, she's surprised (and so was I) by the solution to the case.

Pumpkin Roll is filled with recipes, as are the other books in the series, and it's also filled with Sadie's wry humor and unique perspective on the world, which is why we love her.

And now, I have something fun to announce ...

In conjunction with the release of this novel, the author, Josi S. Kilpack, and the publisher, Shadow Mountain, are sponsoring a contest for a new iPad2. To enter, leave a comment in the comment section of this blog before November 1, 2011. Winners will be announced and notified November 3, 2011.

For additional ways to win, go to www.josiskilpack.com

FTC: I received a free copy of the novel in exchange for my review. I was not compensated in any other way. No one even brought me a plate of pumpkin roll, which is just as well, because if they had, I wouldn't have been able to eat it anyway. Not that I don't want to, but because my doctor would skin me alive.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Calling All Cooks!

Do you love to cook? Do you love the thrill of creating something new in the kitchen? Do you love the aromas wafting through your house, that moment when it's time to taste and see how it all came together? Then you and I must have a chat ...

I'm currently working on Drop-dead Delicious: Recipes from the Secret Sisters Mysteries, which will be released next summer. A cookbook author needs a lot of help to prepare recipes for publication - I did Bless Your Heart by myself, only sending out a few recipes for testing, and it was really difficult. It's so much easier to create when you have a test kitchen of helpers to share their experiences with the recipe, and to be that second set of eyes ... er, second set of measuring spoons ...

What I Need:

I need roughly eight to ten people who love to cook and who will take the recipes I send them, test them out, and send me their thoughts on the ease of preparation, the clarity of the instructions, how the food turned out, etc. Each tester will make around ten recipes. I will send them out one at a time, and the tester will return their thoughts to me within a week's time. I will then send out the next recipe.

What You Will Receive:

The thanks of a grateful nation. Well, okay, maybe not, but the nation is full of people who need to eat ...

You will receive a free copy of the cookbook when it is completed, and you will be thanked in the acknowledgments. You'll also have the fun of trying out new recipes and knowing that your input will make all the difference in the final product.

If you are interested, please send me an e-mail.

*Many of the recipes in this book contain dairy, wheat, or nuts. If you are sensitive to these foods, I would recommend that you pass on this opportunity, but thank you!

*I need testers who can commit to ten recipes. Please contact me only if you're able to make this kind of commitment.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Virtual Book Tour - and Contest!

You frequently hear me talking about blog tours for other authors that I have either set up or am participating in - this time, it's a blog tour for my own novel, Hang 'Em High! The third book in The Secret Sisters Mysteries, it's just as fun and full of merriment as the rest.

Backliner: When Ida Mae Babbitt receives an invitation to visit her son Keith's dude ranch in Montana, she's excited to mend their broken relationship, but not so excited about spending time with cows. Arlette and Tansy go along with her, ready to take a vacation that does not involve dead bodies or mysteries of any sort - one must have a break from time to time. But it seems a no-good scoundrel has moseyed into Dodge City and is bent on causing all sorts of trouble for the ranch. Unable to keep her curiosity in check - especially when it seems her own son is the most likely culprit - Ida Mae decides to investigate. Can she lasso the varmint and get him to the sheriff in time?


To celebrate this book's release and blog tour, you are invited to participate in a contest! Over on the right sidebar, you'll see a list of blogs that are participating in the tour, along with the date on which their review will appear. If you visit their blog on that day and leave a comment on the review, you will be entered to win a manuscript evaluation done by little ol' me, up to a $75.00 value. Horror and erotica excluded, and if you aren't a writer, you can give the evaluation to a writer friend as a gift. You can enter on as many blogs as you like. The winner will be chosen at midnight, October 5th MST, so I must have all entries in by then.

So, put on your cowboy boots and come join the fun! We'd love to have you along - and the first review is up today!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Book Review and Giveaway: A Bible Fit for the Restoration by Andrew C. Skinner

I remember listening to general conference in April of 2007 and being very impressed by a talk given by M. Russell Ballard called The Miracle of the Holy Bible. He spoke of the sacrifices made by men throughout the ages to bring the Bible forth for everyone to read. We are more recently reminded of these events in history by Boyd K. Packer, who spoke of them at our most recent general conference, April 2011, in his talk Guided by the Holy Spirit. Each talk pointed out how very lost we would be as a people if men of faith had not acted on their convictions and said what they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost to say. They put action behind their words, most lost their lives because of it, and now the entire world has access to the Bible because of their bravery.

A Bible Fit for the Restoration by Andrew C. Skinner is subtitled, The Epic Struggle that Brought Us the King James Version, and rightly so. It was a struggle. Hundreds of years ago, the common man did not have access to the Bible. Only the clergy could read the holy words, and in many cases, they were working from a text written in Greek and had to rely on their own interpretation. They would then teach those words to the people, who were expected to act on faith, and these people often had confused ideas about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The people needed to be able to read the words for themselves so that they could feel the spirit of the words and gain testimonies of their own, rather than acting on the faith of their leaders. Personal testimony is crucial if a person is to stand up to the trials and tribulations they will face in their lives, and these people weren't given that opportunity.

This was of great concern to biblical scholars dating clear back to St. Jerome (347-420 AD) who stated his concern that not only was the Bible not available to enough people, but that the translation was bound to become corrupted as it was copied over and over from text to text by "copyists more asleep than awake."

We move forward in time and learn more about men such as John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, and William Tyndale, among others, and we see how each one of them were instruments in God's hand to help us, the everyday people, gain access to His word. The Bible never was meant to be studied only by a few. God intended for every one of us to have access to it. Wycliffe was responsible for the first English translation of the entire book, taking it from the Latin translation. Martin Luther translated it from the original Greek into German, and his beautiful language skills became the basis for much of the German language today. We can't overlook the invention of movable-type presses, as brought to us by Gutenberg, without which we wouldn't have books today. (And the thought of not having books ... that's just a really sad thought.) Each puzzle piece had to be in place, down through these hundreds of years, in order for us to fully enjoy the access to the scriptures we have today.

Each of these men devoted their lives to one prevailing truth: every human has the right to study the word of God for themselves and to decide, for themselves, not because of any other person, whether they believe that word of God. It's because of these men that we have enough information before us to really have freedom of religion - you can't make a choice for yourself if you can't study out all the variables for yourself.

Andrew C. Skinner is a diligent researcher and brings to us the story of these men complete with references, detailed background information, tidbits about the political climate of the times, and pictures of the places mentioned throughout the book. While this volume is not long, coming in at just over a hundred pages, it is absolutely packed with great information. I came away feeling educated, uplifted, and so grateful for the hand of the Lord in guiding these men on their paths so that I can sit down, pick up the Bible, and read it for myself. When I think how the Bible has blessed my life, and then try to imagine what my life would be like without it, I'm all the more indebted to these martyrs who gave their lives in this cause.

I now have something fun to share with you. The publisher of this book, Cedar Fort Inc, provided me with three additional copies of this book for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is leave me a comment telling me why you are grateful for the Bible. Please make sure that your e-mail is visible through your Blogger profile or that I have some way of notifying you that you have won. You can enter from now until Saturday, September 1oth, at midnight MST. Winners will be chosen by Random.org.

FTC: I received my copy for free from the publisher and was in no other way compensated for my review.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Book Review: Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins

From the second I saw this cover, I knew I had to read this book. Seriously, have you ever seen such a gorgeous cover? It almost sent me out hat shopping. I say "almost" because I don't look very good in hats.

Hearts Through Time is a ghost story with a twist. Usually, ghost stories are freaky, but this one is romantic.

From the cover: A love story that transcends time . . .

When a woman claiming to be a ghost from 1912 appears in Nick Marshal's office and begs for help in solving her murder, he thinks he has lost his mind. A scandal that rocked Hollywood almost destroyed his law practice, so he doesn't need any more fireworks as he rebuilds his life. Still, he is intrigued by Abigail Carlisle's plea, and he needs clients, even if this one insists she's dead. The more secrets Nick uncovers, the deeper he falls for the beautiful ghost.

Abigail believes Nick is her heart's true desire, but how can happily-ever-after happen when she's already dead? The more time she spends with him, the more real she becomes, until Nick can finally touch her.

In a strange turn of events, Nick is suddenly whisked back to 1912, two weeks before Abby's murder, but she doesn't remember him. When he attempts to win her over so he can save her from a tragic destiny, Abby thinks Nick is courting her for her inheritance. But even if he can rescue her and make her trust him again, how can they be together forever?

My Review: I really enjoyed this love story. The characters have great chemistry, the premise is awesome (seriously, who thinks of having a murdered person and the detective who solves her murder fall in love?) and I really enjoyed the twists and turns throughout. If you in the mood for a fun romance that's definitely off the beaten path, Hearts Through Time just might be the one for you.

FTC: I was not haunted or murdered into giving this review. I did, however, receive a free copy.

Sunday, September 04, 2011

A Guide to Signing at Costco

I was very blessed to have my sixth novel, Dearly Departed, picked up by Costco. I signed there regularly from the end of June to the end of August, and had a fantastic time. I'd like to share with you some of the things I learned during those two months in hopes that they'll be helpful to other authors who will also be given that opportunity. Keep in mind that these are things that worked for me, and as you go into the stores, you may find your own ways of attracting customers. There are many ways to skin a cat, as the saying goes - although I never have understood why anyone would want to skin a cat.

Preparation:

There are a few things you can do at home before you ever go to the store that will help ensure your success. Eat a good meal with a lot of protein. Dress in nice, but comfortable, clothing. Wear supportive shoes. Yes, ladies, it's tempting to wear your cute new high heels, but I really advise against it - your feet, ankles, knees, and hips will pay the price. I also found that I became very warm in the store, so after my first few visits, I started wearing my hair up in a clip rather than down. That helped me not overheat. You know what your body needs - honor it and prepare to take care of it.

Supplies:

I recommend that you prepare a bag or a box with the following things -

  • A cute tablecloth. Costco does provide one, but sometimes they are dusty or a little bedraggled, and if you bring your own, you can be sure that it's in good condition and goes well with your book. A six-foot rectangular is best.
  • A table decoration of some kind. I was given a cute statue of a bookworm, and I sat him on my table at every signing. Not only did he give a little more visual interest to the table, but the little kids just loved him and would often stop to pat his head, which made their parents pause for a moment, which gave me the opportunity to speak with them.
  • A water bottle. You'll be talking a lot, you'll get thirsty, and you will want to keep yourself hydrated.
  • A handout. This may be one of the most important things you can bring. I'll discuss this in more detail below.
At the Store:

Try to arrive fifteen minutes early. When you let the manager know you're there, they will ask an employee to help you set up, and that usually takes a few minutes. You want to start your signing on time to fit in as many actual sales opportunities as possible, so by showing up a little early and getting set up, you can begin when you're supposed to.

Put plenty of books on your table. It sometimes feels easiest just to grab one small stack from the table, but you want your table to look abundant. This also gives you, and your customers, a subliminal message: "I expect to sell a lot of books today." That will create an atmosphere that is very conducive to sales.

Have everything you need out on the table. Signing pen, bookmarks, newsletter sign-up sheet - have it all accessible so that when you need it, you don't have to stop and dig for it.

The Actual Signing:

Now that you're all set up and ready to go, it's time to have some fun!

Personal interaction is the best way to bring people over to your table. Some authors have already created such a name for themselves that they can sit quietly behind their table and they will get mobbed by scores of rabid fans. Other authors, though, are still working on building up their name recognition, and they do that by interacting with the public. Stand, rather than sit. When you stand, you are many times over more likely to attract attention. Smile and say hello to everyone who passes. And ... here's where handouts come into play.

Think of something you can bring with you to give people as they go past. I did bookmarks at first, and handed out hundreds per signing. But that wasn't the best use of marketing money. Even though I did get a number of sales, the bookmarks were around six cents each, and if I handed out two hundred at a signing, it was adding up to $12.00 per signing for bookmarks. I was also afraid that the customers would just toss the bookmark at their earliest opportunity, and that would be a waste. So I came up with an idea that was unique to my books. I made up a black-and-white flyer on a half sheet of paper that showed the cover of my book and a catchy blurb, and then at the bottom was a recipe. This tied in with my book because at the end of the Secret Sisters Mysteries series, we're releasing a cookbook that will feature the foods mentioned in all the books.

Then, as people went past, I would say, "Hi! Would you like a free recipe?" If they said yes, I would hand it to them and say, "There's also some information on there about my new novel." In this way, I got my information into their hands, called their attention to the fact that there was more on the sheet than just a recipe, and opened up the door for a conversation. Coming in at two for a penny, the fliers were more cost effective, and because people love to keep recipes, I decreased the likelihood that it would just be thrown away.

When They Say No ...

Customers in Costco are very busy. I know that when I shop in there, I put myself in battle mode. I have a list, I know where I'm going, and I walk fast. My mom has often complained that she doesn't like to go there with me because I walk so fast, she can't keep up. That's just the mentality of the Costco shopper. We know we need to have a firm objective or we'll get lost in the hustle and bustle.

As people pass your table, they are very often in this mindset, and they will often say "no" before they even know what you want. This isn't an uncommon exchange:

Me: Hi there! Would you like -

Them: No!

This isn't something to take personally. To quote the Madagascar penguins, just smile and wave. (You don't really need to wave, though.) Just turn to the next passing person. Most customers will be very appreciative of the thing you're giving them, and will be polite in their refusals, if they aren't interested.

After the Hand-off:

I believe that in any book signing situation, there are three steps the author should take in feeling out the customer and introducing their product. It has a lot to do with feeling out the customer's interest level and showing respect by not being pushy. If you offer your information in a non-pushy way, that customer is likely to remember you kindly, and they may purchase from you down the road, even if they don't today. If you're pushy and in their face, they will remember it, and they will tell their friends, and you'll build a reputation opposite to what you want.

The first step is what I think of as the introductory step. At Costco, I'll greet people with an invitation to accept a recipe. As I hand over the recipe, I tell them there's also a blurb on there about my new book. If they take the recipe and keep walking, I leave it at that. However, if they pause, we go into the second step.

This is to give them my quickest pitch about the book. In the case of Dearly Departed, it's: "My main characters are three little old ladies who infiltrate a nursing home to solve a murder." If they are still engaged, I then say, "It's a lighthearted mystery comedy, a ton of humor all the way through, without any language or graphic violence." At this point, they generally either thank me and keep walking, or they start to ask me questions.

It's important to break up your pitch into sections like this so you can give just the right amount of information to meet the interest level of the person. I can't tell you how many times I've:

  • been at a store and had an author or salesman give me a much longer pitch than I wanted to hear
  • been at a store and wanted to know more, but the author or salesman had prepared a pitch that was so short, I was left wanting, and they didn't seem to know what to say after that
Be respectful of your customer's time and don't try to make them listen to more than they want to hear, but be prepared to have long conversations as well.

When Not to Approach:

To go along with our discussion of being respectful, I'd like to suggest that you not approach the following groups of people -

  • People on the phone
  • Mothers who are currently wrestling with screaming children
  • People who are visibly upset
In each of these instances, step back and give them space. They're dealing with something bigger than their decision whether or not to buy a book, and to intrude would be rude and thoughtless.

Taking Note of Your Target Audience:

My book is about an elderly Relief Society presidency, so generally speaking, the people who buy my books are middle-aged ladies. When I am approaching people, I tend to naturally gravitate toward those ladies in my marketing efforts, and find myself more rewarded. However, this is not to say that we should ignore everyone else - it's just saying that we need to be aware of which demographics are more likely to buy. I had a great conversation with a guy studying film making at UVU with an emphasis on horror. That may be about as different from what I do as you can get (except erotica) but we had a great conversation. He didn't buy a book, but he took my information, and I was able to share some things with him that he found helpful. I also sold a book each to two Goth girls wearing plastic bras. It surprised the daylights out of me that they were interested because I hadn't pegged them as people who would want what I had to offer, but they came up to me and asked me to sign two copies. This shows the importance of smiling and greeting everyone who passes, even if you think they aren't likely to purchase.

Sometimes It's Not about Sales:

During my two months at Costco, I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Several of them were aspiring authors who needed some guidance in how to take the next step. Some of them just needed someone to talk to at that moment, like the lady who was planning her husband's funeral. To me, a successful signing isn't measured by books sold. It's measured by lives touched, both me being helpful to someone else, and the things I learn from the people I talk to.

Taking Care of Yourself:

We've talked about standing up, but now I want to talk about sitting down. It's important that you not push your body further than it can go. If you're not used to standing on hard floors for long periods of time, work up to it gradually. Sit down during slow times. Stay hydrated. Make sure that you're not hurting yourself. It's wonderful to have this Costco opportunity - it's something only a small percentage of authors get to do - but approach it wisely and make sure you're not hurting yourself. Know your limits and honor them.

Bringing Helpers:

You might find it helpful to bring someone along to help you, especially if you're in one of the larger stores. I did several signings alone, and at other times brought my mom, my son, or my husband along, and in each case, found that having a helper was a good idea. They could hand out fliers to people while I talked to prospective customers. They held down the fort while I ran to the bathroom. They could refill my water bottle. Having a helper there can increase your productivity. It's something for you to feel out for yourself, but I found it to be a good thing. And when it came to my son, it seems no one could resist his cute little face. Nearly every person he approached took a flier.

Most Importantly ...

Have fun! You're there to celebrate this awesome accomplishment - you are a published author and you have landed a spot in one of the most coveted sales venues in the nation. Enjoy it. Enjoy the people. Enjoy the chance to share what you love to do. If you find that nothing else I've said strikes a chord with you, I hope this does - leave the stress behind and just appreciate the moment. Your talents are being given a showcase. Your name recognition is about to skyrocket. Your opportunity for future sales is going to increase exponentially. You are planting seeds for a bounteous harvest later on. The expression "joy in the journey" is completely applicable here - even if you have a slow day, you are paving a path for your future as your information gets into people's hands. I did a signing at Swiss Days in Midway and was told over and over, "I saw your book in Costco." You become recognized, and in this industry, that's a good thing.

My book is no longer being carried in Costco - you need to hit a certain sales bracket in order to remain in the store over an extended period of time, and because my book is a little more specialized, that didn't happen. But I know my experiences there are going to help me in a ton of other ways, and I'm so happy for the chance I had to be a Costco author.



Friday, September 02, 2011

Book Review: Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphreys

In her new novel Double Deceit, author Stephanie Humphreys explores a world entirely different from her first release, historical fiction novel Finding Rose.


From the cover: 

Someone is watching . . . 
As a young widow, all Elaina Bryant wants is a fresh start. Determined to put ten painful years behind her, she returns to her hometown and moves in with her sister, Natalie. Elaina soon accepts a job working at a small bookstore owned by the handsome Ryan Hill and his mother. Despite her reluctance to become romantically involved with anyone, she is drawn to Ryan and finds herself falling in love.
But someone isn’t happy with Elaina’s new life and is watching her every move. Her tormenter seems determined to destroy her sanity and her future, but Elaina can’t convince anyone the threat is real. Natalie is preoccupied with her own blossoming romance, and their friend Peter, a police officer, seems to believe the threat has been manufactured in Elaina’s own mind as a result of her guilt and grief. 
Now Elaina’s plans for a new start are crashing down around her. She knows she will have to find the answers before she can overcome the past and enjoy love and happiness again. But how can she protect those she loves when she doesn’t know whom to trust?

My Review:  I really enjoyed this LDS suspense novel.  Elaina is a believable character, understandably traumatized after all she's been through, but doing her best to rebuild her life.  The author does a great job of showing the turmoil someone in this situation would go through, and the reasons for her determination to build a new life.  Ryan is a very likable love interest and we can easily root for the two of them to have their happily ever after.  


I have to admit, I was especially interested in the fact that this novel is set in Canada.  Most LDS fiction is set in Utah, or in the United States, at least, but as the author is from Canada, it's natural for her to set her books there, and I find it a refreshing change.  


If you're looking for a good suspense novel without gratuitous violence or language, pick up a copy of Double Deceit.

Now, a couple of fun things ... Stephanie is running a contest on her blog, so click right here to go enter.


And if you'd like to hop around and see what the other reviewers have to say about this novel, here are the addresses:

August 15 - Maria Hoagland   http://mariahoagland.blogspot.com
August 16 - Heather Gardner  http://fireandice.blogspot.com
August 17 - Rachelle Christensen  http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com
August 18 - Jane Still  http://janeisfeldstill.blogspot.com/
August 19 - Deborah Davis  http://debbiesinkspectations.blogspot.com
August 22 - Renae Mackley  http://renaeswritespot.blogspot.com
August 23 -  Cindy Hogan  http://cindymhogan.blogspot.com
August 24 - Matthew Tandy  http://matthewtandy.blogspot.com
August 25 - Taffy Lovell  http://sweeterthantaffy.blogspot.com/
August 26 - Kathy Habel  http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com
August 29 - Don Carey  http://donaldjcarey.com
August 30 - Teri Rodeman  http://terirodeman.blogspot.com
August 31 - Cathy Witbeck  http://cathywitbeck-storypainter.blogspot.com/
Sept. 1 - Shelly Seele  http://seeshelwrites.blogspot.com
Sept. 2 - Tristi Pinkston  http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com
FTC:  I was not stalked or threatened into posting my review, but instead, was sent a free copy and asked nicely.

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Book Review: Lydia by Wanda Luce

At six and twenty, the impoverished Lydia Hathaway has endured bleak years of heartbreak, longing for a love that never came. Her deceased father's foolhardiness has left her family bankrupt, and Lydia is eventually left no alternative but to take a position as the companion and governess to Susan Ashcroft of Danbury Park in Surrey. During the first days at her post, Lydia pines bitterly for a life she believes forever lost. Anxious for peace, she rambles one morning across the muddy wilds of the Ashcroft estate where she has a most unimaginable encounter with the notorious Lord Connor Denton. As their paths continue to cross, Lydia falls ever deeper in love with the charming rogue while battling against his growing assault on her heart. In spite of his forward attentions, she considers his behavior toward her as nothing less than idle flirtation. And why should she think otherwise? As the wealthy son of an earl, Lord Denton may choose from among the most beautiful women of England's first circles--none to which Lydia claims inclusion. In spite of her indignation over Lord Denton's rakish maneuvering, she anguishes beneath the reality that he is forever beyond her reach. Tormented in a relentless battle to suppress a love she cannot overcome, Lydia resolves to leave the Ashcrofts and Danbury Park forever. After all, she is nothing to Denton--isn't she?

My Thoughts: When my publisher first handed me their new release and asked me to review it, I wasn't sure what I would think. I love "bonnet" movies, but I've always found the language of the Jane Austen and other Regency novels to be a little hard to understand. In Lydia, I was pleasantly surprised to find that while the language did have the flavor of the times, I could understand every word, and I didn't have to flip a switch in my brain from "English" to "Regency" to get what was going on.

Our main character, Lydia, is a very likable young lady, and it's easy to feel her emotions and understand her predicament. In the Regency era, people faced things that we'd consider pretty simple today. Don't have money? Well, go get a job! Someone spreads a rumor about you? Set them straight and get on with it! Not sure if someone loves you? Grab them, kiss them, and see if they kiss you back! Sure enough - today, we can take care of our problems in a pretty forthright way, but back in Regency times, they were constrained to certain codes of behavior, and young ladies had to wait for the objects of their affections to declare themselves. No grabbing him and kissing him allowed - they had to wait to be grabbed and kissed, and Lydia does wait, a good long time, for Lord Denton to make up his mind. Granted, he was dealing with plenty of his own issues, and he didn't want to dally with her affections until he was sure of himself, and that was the right thing to do, but poor Lydia was left to wonder all that time. Thankfully, he eventually did settle the question, and they found their happily-ever-after. I can tell you that without spoiling the story because it's a romance, and if they didn't end up together, you couldn't call it a romance.

I enjoyed the interactions between the characters, the use of costume and conventions to paint a picture of the times, and observing the social mores that make the era what it was. The only thing I did wish had been done a little differently was the moment when they both confess their feelings - I'd been hoping for just a little more there. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the story, found it highly diverting, and feel that any properly brought-up young lady should add it to their to-read list.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my opinion and was not threatened with losing my inheritance if I posted a negative review.

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