Tag Archives: books

Advice, Books, Editing, Uncategorized, Words, Writers, Writing

AN APPLE A DAY!

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A writer friend of mine from “The #Awethors,” posted a link to this great informational site. I found #2 to be quite interesting. It informs us that Amazon is cracking down on sloppy self-publishing. This is a good thing!

To this point, many people have believed that self-publishing was for losers who could not get a million-dollar book deal from one of the highfalutin publishing houses in the big city. Those of us new (or old) to the industry know (or have learned) this is not the case. But, you know what they say about a few bad apples.

Beginning this month, Amazon has decided to pluck those worm-infested fruits from the bushels of books being offered.

If you have an interest in learning more, dear readers, I offer the following link for your perusal:

http://www.writtenwordmedia.com/2016/01/25/10-trends-publishing-indie-author-needs-know/?utm_campaign=twitter+10-publishin-trends-jan2016&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=blog

 

 

Please return and let us know in the Comments section of this post if this information was helpful to you as you pursue your own writing career.

Books, Current Book, Current: Bosses and Blackjacks, historical nonfiction, Rants, Uncategorized, Words, Writers, Writing

THE REVIEW IS IN!

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My book, “Bosses and Blackjacks: A Tale of the ‘Bloody Fifth’ in Philadelphia” has received it’s very first Amazon review, and it’s killing me because the reviewer is listed as “Amazon Customer.”

FC

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsLoved this book!

By Amazon Customer on January 30, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition

Amazing book. You will not want to put this book down. Author’s writing style is captivating and made me feel like I was there. Looking forward to future books from this author.

Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse

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I have no way to know who this kind person is—therefore, I’m going to go to all my available sites to post a big THANK YOU!
 
(You know who you are…you little devil.)
 

 

Books, Current Book, Current: Bosses and Blackjacks, historical nonfiction, Words, Writers, Writing

TA-DA!

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While the blizzard of 2016 roars outside on the east coastFC—I thought I’d give you a little something to read while you take a break from shoveling the drifts! (And if you missed out on the snow—take a break anyway—it is the weekend, after all!)

I did it! I published my first book on Amazon—and it feels amazing!

If you are so inclined, please click on the link below. I hope it meets with your approval!
http://www.amazon.com/Bosses-Blackj…/…/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0…

Books, Current Book, Current: Bosses and Blackjacks, historical nonfiction, Rants, WIP, Writing

IT’S ALMOST TIME!

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WELL, FOLKS, WE’RE DOWN TO THE WIRE…

Waiting for the proof copy of my book, “Bosses and Blackjacks: A Tale of the ‘Bloody Fifth’ in Philadelphia.”

I’ve got other things to do with my life (as we all do), but all I can think of is the book!

I go from being giddy that I’ve accomplished this goal, to being sad that’s it’s almost done! From excited butterflies to nausea. I feel like I’m in a Twilight Zone episode where time stands still waiting for the big plot reveal!

While I wait…I thought I’d share the final cover art with you, my dear readers.  Hopefully, it meets with your approval.

Amazon—here we come!

FCBC

Books, Current Book, Current: Bosses and Blackjacks, historical nonfiction, Uncategorized, WIP, Words, Writing

LABOR OF LOVE

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Baby elephanthttp://www.phuket101.net/2015/02/baby-elephant-playing-on-beach.html

 

Did you know elephants are pregnant for almost two years? Actually, the average is twenty-two months!  And then they deliver a baby weighing as much of two hundred and thirty pounds! Can you imagine?

Yes. I can. I’ve been pregnant with my book, “BOSSES AND BLACKJACKS: A Tale of the Bloody Fifth in Philadelphia” for three years! At least, that’s what it felt like. In reality, with time out for holiday seasons, it was actually more like two-and-one-half years—so I’ve still got Momma Pachyderm beat!

Morning sickness was the endless research. The girth increase was felt with each additional chapter written. Toward the end, attempting to bend over to pick something up from the floor or cutting my toenails, was represented by the painful process of editing.

Now—at last—I’m in labor!

By that, I mean I have sent the entire finished manuscript to be formatted and finalized for submission to the magical world of Amazon!

Here’s hoping the delivery will go smoothly! (I can guarantee my book baby will not weigh 230 pounds!)

Stay tuned for the “birth announcement!”

 

 

 

Advice, Books, Editing, WIP, Writers, Writing

Let Me Get Right to the Point!

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You know how when you are reaching the end of a fantastic book—and you don’t want to finish it—because then what will you do with the rest of your life?

You’ve been living in this fantasy world for hours and hours, perhaps days and days. You don’t want to say goodbye to the people (or creatures) who inhabited that world with you. What will become of them? Where will they go next? You want them to live and grow old with you. But they can’t and they don’t.

Depressing, right?

That’s where I am in my writing. I’m this close to finishing my first book, and I’m a little depressed because I will have to say goodbye to the familiar occupants of my pages. What will become of me? Where will I go next?

If my son were here, he would place one hand on each of my shoulders, look me in the eye, and say, “Calm down.” For some reason, that always worked.  Amazing.  Writing that helped.

So, “buck up,” me—“get back to work and finish that thing!”

Please visit the “comments” section. I’d love to hear how you, dear reader, push through when you’re nearing completion of a writing project, and make the decision to say, “Th-th-that’s All Folks!”

Books, Survey, WIP, Words, Writers, Writing

NAME DROPPING!

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Name_in_lights_banner
Imagine your name here!

Today, I have two quick questions for you—

#1:

Would you like your name to be used in a book?   (Not porn, of course! Unless you have some spectacular attributes you want to brag about.)

#2:

If you knew your name appeared in a book, would you be more likely to read it?    (Or, in the case of porn, at least look at the pictures?)

DISCLAIMER:  No, I do not write porn. Humor, folks. Humor.

 Please let me know in the comment section.  Thanks for stopping by!

Books, Horses, Quotes, WIP, Writing

If Wishes Were Horses

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Horses running free
Galloping Wishes!

I believe the actual quote is: “If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride.”

But, when I was a child, my mother used to tell me:  “If wishes were horses, you’d have a stable full!”

She was right. I was always wishing for something or other. The interesting thing is, nothing has changed. I’m still adding horses to my stable.

My current wish is to get my act together and finish editing my book, Bosses and Blackjacks. I don’t seem to be able to do any serious work on it until after three o’clock in the afternoon. That takes me crashing headlong into dinner time. I know I should be cooking, but I’d much rather keep on working and have someone else spoon-feed me until I want to quit for the day.

Am I being unreasonable? Wishful thinking?

Does anyone else out there have this sort of “particular-time-of-day-when-you-want-to-just-keep-at-it-until-you-exhaust-yourself” issue?

Let me know in the comment section below.

In the meantime, I’ve got to go put some fresh water in the troughs.

Current: Bosses and Blackjacks

First One Out of the Gate

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Police Lieutenant David Bennett on horseback.
Police Lieutenant David Bennett on horseback.

Bosses and Blackjacks is currently with the editor and I hope to make it available to readers before the end of the year.  In the meantime, I thought I would whet your appetite by giving you a small bite to chew on…slowly, very slowly:

Politics in Philadelphia is a rough game…has been since the time of Ben Franklin. But, when murder takes place in the Fifth Ward on primary election day in 1917, it sparks outrage – not just in Philadelphia, but throughout the nation.

WWI now shares headlines with the conspiracy trial in the “City of Brotherly Love.” Police Lieutenant David Bennett, in charge of the “Bloody Fifth,” is arrested along with the Mayor and other members of the political machine run by the powerful Vare brothers. Interfering with a free and fair election, it would seem, is as contemptible as actually pulling the trigger.

historical fiction, united states

Let’s Begin, Shall We?

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Dog with signA long time ago, in a galaxy far away…no wait, that’s not right.

Some time in the past (not necessarily yours), there was a world of generalities.

There were televisions (with three channels, that you had to stand up and walk however many miles to manually turn a knob to change); telephones (with heavy black receivers that had little holes that you listened through and spoke into, and rotary dials that wore your fingernails down if you had to dial a long-distance number); maps (that had so many folding parts it took an engineer to get it back into the original paper rectangle which was stored in your car’s glove compartment); ovens (that could cook a whole turkey in seven hours); tablets (made of paper, with lines on it so you would know where to write the words with your pencil or pen); and books (made from trees, that required the heavy lift of turning pages with your hand, over and over and over again, until you reached the end).

Now there is a world of bits and bytes.

We have HDTVs, smart phones, GPS, microwaves, electronics of all shapes and sizes in which to manipulate and store our data, and digitized devices that can hold up to twenty-eleven-gazillion different kinds of reading matter.

I have written a book – Bosses and Blackjacks.

When it becomes available – hopefully, by the end of this year – feel free to read it in any way you feel most comfortable – except under water…neither paper nor electronics fair well when wet.

That’s all for now.  I’ll be in touch.