Tag: Books

QuickJAB

I Always Wanted To Be A Spy

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I Always Wanted to be a Spy 29 6x9 new girl with gun THRILLER 2

MAGGIE SLOAN’s lifelong dream to be a spy began when she was four years old and already a focused, self-trained spy. After college, Maggie’s job searches are futile despite her willingness to consider diverse employment opportunities, until the county library system hires her as a librarian.

When Maggie’s brilliant observational talents and her potential to expose complex criminal activity draw the attention of an international ring, she becomes their target. However, a senseless murder changes her life forever, and MAGGIE transforms from prey to predator.

Will the librarian with the soul of a spy and the unusual security team stop the desperate kingpins or will she become the latest victim? It all comes down to kill or be killed.

 

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SPY

 

REMEMBER!

If you love Maggie’s story, leave a review, especially if you are interested in reading another MAGGIE SLOAN adventure!

 

 

 

QuickJAB

Book Expo at The Villages

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Expo The Villages Dec 2018.jpg

My books are ready for the hordes of readers who are expected to bust down the doors at the Book Fair/Expo at The Villages in Florida. The Villages is a huge retirement community in Central Florida lovingly referred to “Land of the Blue Hairs” by people who are old enough to remember ladies with blue hair before it was fashionable to have pasteled and multi-color hair. After yesterday when I was almost run down three times in the parking lot, I call it the “Land of the Zooming Maniac Golf Cart Drivers.”

So how was it? I chatted with new friends, sold books, enjoyed seeing old friends, laughed a lot, and will definitely go back next year.

My favorite:

Man <Flips through book>: How much is Pink Baby Alligator?

Me: Ten dollars.

Man: Will you take eight?

Me: No.

Man: <reads back cover>: How much is it normally?

Me: Ten dollars.

Man: I really want it for my grandson.

Me: ….

Man: What would you say if I told you I have only five dollars?

Me: Go make a friend.

Man <cracks up>: I’ll pay your ten dollars if you’ll sign it to my grandson and let me take a picture of you with the book.

Me: You drive a hard bargain.

Man: <laughs harder. Buys book, asks wife to take a picture of him and me with the book, takes a picture of me with the book, and walks away still laughing.>

 

QuickJAB

Author, Subspecies Independent

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Indie Author

I’m an Independent Author, a businesswoman, and an entrepreneur.  I’m surprised when I tell people, even other writers, that I’m an Indie Author their response is “What’s that?”

I want to say, “I write for Indiana Jones.” Wouldn’t that be the coolest answer ever? But instead, I stick with the mundane. “A free-agent author.” Then I worry I might appear on some fantasy football draft.

Their response, “Oh. Self-published.” Do they even realize how much disdain drips out of their mouths and onto their shirts? Ewwww.

My answer: I flip the book over and point at the publisher logo. And give them the dreaded Mom Stink Eye.

My publishers are indie businesses, not traditional publishers. More entrepreneurship. No advances, no agents, no on-staff editors, no hundreds of books published a month.  And I have complete control over the creative compositions, my novels, from start to finish.

My readers love what I write and read my books. And even review my books! I adore my readers.

Oh. If you see Indie, tell him I said Hi. Better yet, tell him to drop by the farm for a homemade brownie.

 

 

 

QuickJAB

Author Highlights ~ Misty Hayes

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MG Hayes Author

About Misty Hayes

Misty Hayes has always had a thing for escaping headfirst into fantastical books, which is what led her to start writing her own adventures. As someone who has spent a long career in law enforcement, Misty has a love for strong female protagonists. She also directs short films and claims to have been bitten by the traveling bug (not to be mistaken for a radioactive spider).

When Misty isn’t filming or roaming the planet, or diving into another novel, she’s spending time at home in Texas with her myriad of nieces and nephews in tow.

The Blood Dagger Series is a high-octane Young Adult Paranormal trilogy.

Misty Hayes Author Page on Amazon

The Blood Dagger Series

 

Interview with Misty Hayes

Q. How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do?

A. I may be biased here, but I’d like to think that my ten-year-old self would be slack-jawed and wide-eyed—police officer and writer—I still feel extremely fortunate in being able to do both.

Q. What is your definition of success? 

A. That’s a great question, I guess if/when I get there I’ll be able to answer this question more thoroughly. Easy answer is—being happy with where I’m at in life at that particular moment. Sometimes it’s hard for me to enjoy the little moments like I should.

Q. What is a dream you have that you’ve yet to achieve? 

A. Having my book be turned into a major motion picture or TV show.

Q. If you see a puddle on the ground, do you walk around it or over it? 

A. Depends on how lazy I’m feeling at that particular time. I love to run in the rain, though… makes me feel like a kid again.

Q. What tips do you have for a new writer? 

A.  Don’t overthink your work; have faith in your characters and writing because in the end, you’re the only one who can bring them to life.

QuickJAB

UPDATE Author Highlights ~ Susie H. Baxter

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Susie Baxter - 2_2 for back covrAWARD-WINNING AUTHOR!

**UPDATE**

Susie H. Baxter‘s novel, Pumping Sunshine: A Memoir of My Rural Childhood, received the prestigious RPLA FIRST RUNNER UP Award for a Published Novel in addition to FIRST PLACE for a Published Autobiography or Memoir at the Florida’s Writers’ Conference on October 22, 2018.

Congratulations, Susie!

About Susie H. Baxter

Susie H. Baxter serves as Creative Nonfiction Editor for Bacopa Literary Review, the annual print journal of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville, and teaches memoir writing at Santa Fe College.

During her career as an acquisitions editor and publisher for a health-science publishing house in St. Louis, Baxter commissioned dozens of successful clinical reference books, authored by world renowned physicians. Recognition for her success included Times Mirror’s coveted Editor-of-the-Year Award.

She is the author of three books: C. G. and Ethel, a Family History; Write Your Memoir, One Story at a Time; and Pumping Sunshine, A Memoir of My Rural Childhood, and a finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Award competition, sponsored by the Florida Writers Association.

Susie H. Baxter Author Page on Amazon         susiehbaxter.com

Interview with Susie H. Baxter

Q. How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do?
A. She would not be surprised that I am currently renovating an old house—scraping peeling paint and cutting glass to replace broken window panes. But she would be surprised that I had a career in health-science publishing where I recruited physicians to write medical references, and that I have written a book about her childhood.
Q. What is your definition of success? 
A. Success is achieving a goal set by one’s self, no matter how large or small.
Q. What is a dream you have that you’ve yet to achieve? 
A. To consistently be relaxed and organized.
Q. If you see a puddle on the ground, do you walk around it or over it? 
A. At the age of five I stepped into it and ruined new shoes my parents bought on credit. Today I would walk around it. For sure. The punishment for my naivety is still vivid.
Q. What tips do you have for a new writer? 
A. Join a writing group so you can get encouragement and feedback. Trust your gut, but if two or more readers tell you a change is needed, believe it.
Thank you, Susie!

 

QuickJAB

American Library Association and their Banned Books Week

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Bannedbooks

The American Library Association uses Banned Books Week, September 23-29, to highlight books that have been (are going to be?) banned. I think it’s kind of a reverse psychology thing. You know, better read these banned books before we take them off the shelves again, wink, wink.

Good marketing, ALA. However, as an Indie Author and publisher, I shun the American Library Association. I’m sure there are a few indie authors who have managed to get a library to include an indie book on their shelf, but the library process is definitely not indie author friendly. I’m sure libraries would welcome donations of books, and there may be authors whose intent upon publishing is to provide a free book for anyone to reads. Not me.  I donate my free books to schools. And one or two to the local library while I wait for the ALA to catch up to the world of Indie Authors.

Maybe I’ll unshun ALA for a week. After all, maybe their campaign will encourage one or two people to pick up a paperback or an ebook and READ!

Here’s the link to the blog where I first learned about BBW.  Any blog titled Dysfunctional Literacy should be on everyone’s Must Read list.

What Books Would You Ban for Banned Book Week?

QuickJAB

New! The Girl Who Saw Clouds

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The Girl Who Saw Clouds is a story of conspiracy, family, and survival.  The novel is available NOW on Amazon in both ebook and paperback.

Link to The Girl Who Saw Clouds on Amazon

Girl Who Saw Clouds Cover 5.5x 8.5 June 1 2018 ebook cover.png

AIMEE LOUISE is a bright, quirky 14-year-old with autism who doesn’t recognize facial expressions, but instead sees clouds that reveal a person’s true intentions. After a cyber-attack takes down the nation’s electrical grid, can her ability to see danger where no one else does expose the secret plot to take over the U.S.?

QuickJAB

Acknowledgments

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thank you text on black and brown board
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

The novel’s done. The final draft has been copyedited, proofed, and formatted for publishing. Now for the Front Matter and the Back Matter. Somewhere in the Front Matter or the Back Matter, it depends on which template you use or source you listen to or read last, is the Acknowledgments.

I’ve read that writing the Acknowledgments is a drudge. Harder than writing the book. It took me a year to write the book. Don’t need a year to write Thank You, right?

I did a little internet search on how to write an Acknowledgement for a novel. I learned I spelled it wrong. The next thing I learned is that I shouldn’t bore the reader or be superficial. Of course, I immediately decided anyone who can’t even spell Acknowledgment correctly must be superficial, so I’m doomed.

The Ack – we’ll call it – is supposed to be specific, walk the reader through the entire process of writing the book, but not be too long, must be witty, and again with the not boring. Also, mention names, but respect people’s privacy…ACK!

So here ya go….

ACK!! THANKS Y’ALL, FOR EVERYTHING!

There. That should just about cover it. Didn’t even split an infinitive or invoke a gerund. Nailed it!

 

 

FlatRose

Pink Baby Alligator, Marketing Assistant

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#FlatRose took her new assignment as Marketing Assistant seriously at the I Heart Books signing event in Jacksonville, FL.

When folks stepped close enough to snitch a piece of candy, Rose directed them to the opportunity to be eligible for our drawing for a free book, Sweet Deal Sealed, and the opportunity to be among the first to know when The Girl Who Saw Clouds is published. Triple bonus!

She was a little embarrassed for the balloon creature that was supposed to be an alligator, according to the balloon guy. Rose was heard to whisper it looked more like an anteater.