Writing Out Of Season

I  think one of the hardest parts of writing, for me, is finding the right head space, tricking myself into slipping out of my physical reality and into a fictional world. It can also be hard coming back out of that other world, but that's usually not a problem. 

The book I'm currently working on is set at Christmas. I'm writing a story about a couple stranded in the snow, making love in front of the fire in a cozy cabin in the mountains while I'm sweating through a summer heat wave. This isn't the first time I've done this--I'm sure it won't be the last--so I thought I'd put together a small list of tips on how to trick your brain into feeling the out of season vibes. 

The main thing you want to do is to involve all of your senses--or at least as many as possible.

I'm something of a scent junkie (you can check out my posts HERE, HERE and HERE for more about that). So I generally keep a lot of essential oils and scented candles around anyway. For this book I'm mostly sticking to bayberry candles, frankincense incense, pine and peppermint essential oils, and gingerbread-scented wax melts in a diffuser. 

Sight is a bit more tricky because nothing here looks even remotely snowy or mountainous. But I have a pice of black-and-white speckled granite that I picked up in Tahoe. I've hung a few ornaments near my desk. My computer desktop is a Christmas book cover. And I've broken out the Christmas mugs--including my new favorite a big, red, Rae Dunn, double-sided mug that has naughty on one side, nice on the other. 

Sound is super easy. Spotify has tons of Christmas playlists. A lot of times the instrumental covers are my go-to because I have a tendency to get distracted by the lyrics. I've also created my own playlist for this specific book: Christmasing With You

Taste is another easy one. I've been snacking on candy canes and making my own gingerbread lattes and mulled wine. Most years, I keep a carton of eggnog and a bag of cranberries in the freezer to aid me in my holiday writing, but I moved last January, so this year I don't have either of those. Republic of Tea's Red Velvet Cuppa Hot Chocolate tea is nothing at all like eggnog, but it's doing the trick. I would like to find some savory flavors, but nothing's come to mind so far. Thanksgiving sandwiches? The red and green holiday lasagna that's a bitch to make but definitely evokes the holidays? I might have to bite the bullet. We'll see.

Touch is the toughest because I'm not donning fluffy socks and a sweater. I might have to settle for wrapping my hands around a mug of something warm or taking a holiday-scented bath. Or luring my husband under the mistletoe? Yeah, that might be my best bet. 

Christmasing With You will release on November 1st as part of the Let's Get Naughty holiday anthology--available for pre-order now!

Let's Get Naughty 

A Limited Edition Romance Anthology 

If you think it's too soon to get on Santa's naughty list...think again. 

Cancel your plans and spend this holiday season with 26 romance authors who have teamed up to bring you a delicious holiday treat. 

This collection will have it all: fake relationships, second chances, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, workplace romance, age gap, CEO’s, bikers, and falling for the best friend’s brother. 

Each of the authors will have an unforgettable, steamy story. So come on over, grab a blanket, and get started on finding your next favorite author today. 

Let’s Get Naughty is the perfect anthology for you to binge this holiday season.

Buy Links:  https://books2read.com/letsgetnaughty

Author Rant Ahead

 You have been warned. 

I belong to a lot of author groups online (I also belong to a lot of reader groups, btw, but that's a rant for a different day). And rarely does a week go by without some newbie-ish author asking for advice about things that make my blood boil. Like so-called self-publishers that only charge a grand or two to put your books into print. Or self-styled literary agents who eight-hundred dollars to get your book ready to submit to a publisher. 

Typically, responses to this sort of thing tend to be something along the lines of, "Don't do it!" "It's a scam." "That's not how this business works." And yet nine out of ten times the author who's (theoretically) seeking advice will respond by saying, "but he/she seems so reputable." Or, "I just don't have the time to market my books myself." 

I just don't know how to get through to these people. What I want to say is something like this:

Dear Newish Author,

I once was you; perched on the edge of publication with one, or possibly two, books under your belt. You have no idea how to market your books. You barely even understand how publishing works.  And you're still at the silly question stage: What font should I use for my ms? How many pages should my chapters be? 

On the one hand you have people offering to lead you by the hand and help you navigate this confusing new world. On the other you have people offering what you think has to be the lamest, least helpful phrases of all: "Congratulations. You've written a book. Now the hard part begins."

Obviously the latter have no idea what goes into writing a book--am I right?  Because how could that be true? How could anything be harder? And, how could anyone believe that something that discouraging could ever be helpful?

Well, because it is. 

Marketing and promoting your book is something that all authors, even the traditionally published ones with A list agents have to do. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And, yes, it's complicated and confusing and time-consuming and soul-destroying and, especially if you're a math-challenged introvert (as so many authors tend to be) much, much harder than writing. 

Writing (even popular, commercial fiction) is still an art form. And, like all art, ultimately there is no right or wrong way to do it. 

This isn't to say that there aren't rules and conventions that you'll probably want to follow--especially if you're hoping to sell your book, get decent reviews and make actual money. It doesn't mean there's no learning curve, or no trends or fashions that you'll want to consider. But, in the writing stage, the world is (quite literally, if we're talking about the fictional world you're creating) yours to do with as you wish. You have no one to please but yourself.

Marketing, OTOH, requires  a whole different skill set. For example, you to find an audience--people who are A) are looking for books to read. B)  would enjoy your books in particular and C) are willing to actually either buy your books or rent them through proper channels--like libraries. 

In a world where pirating books is rampant, where read-and-return is viewed as a clever game, where readers are pre-loaded with prejudices, triggers, and lists of words that will automatically land your book in their DNF pile. Words like moist or nub or honeypot, or plunged or wet or chuckled.

 Maybe you'll get lucky. But, in all likelihood, finding your tribe will be much, much harder than you think it will be right now.  Some readers only want free books. Some only want to read books in third person, or first person, or present tense, or with a specific number of narrators--no more than two, but not less than two for example. Some are easily triggered, others will only read particular tropes. And then there are those who would probably love your books except that they won't read a series until it's finished--so your series will never get finished because either you or your publisher won't see the point of it. Clearly there's no audience for it. Let's just pull the plug. 

You could be a great writer, but a terrible marketer. BUT you could also be a terrible writer--and it's hard to keep the faith and trust that it's the first, not the second, because the resultant lack of sales still looks the same. And there will always, ALWAYS be someone ready and eager to tell you that if your book isn't selling it MUST be because it's bad. 

It's depressing and demoralizing. It makes you feel helpless. I know. I've been there. I think we've ALL been there, to one extent or another. And that's when the scam artists crawl out of the woodwork looking to take advantage of you. 

Please don't let them. Please don't give up or take the easy way out. Because it's NOT the easy way. You'll end up giving them money that would be better off spent elsewhere. You might end up giving away your rights, and sometimes it's too hard a slog to get them back. You could conceivably lose all the joy you now get from writing. You could find yourself unable to write at all. 

Educate yourself about industry standards. Cultivate realistic expectations. Develop a long-view approach to your career. And, FFS, if you ask other authors for advice, please don't write off what they tell you just because it wasn't what you wanted to hear. 

Congratulations. You've written a book. Now the hard part begins. BUT YOU CAN DO THAT TOO!

HERE BE NEWS for July 29, 2019

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Monday, July 22 - 
"HERE BE NEWS" - All the latest from the gang at Here Be Magic.

Tuesday, July 23-
“LETTING YOU IN ON ONE WRITER'S SECRET” – Author Linda Mooney reveals why her striking book covers match up with her characters and her stories so well.

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Ever wonder what writers read for fun? Watch for our joint blog post Thursday, August 1st, on Here Be Magic. And we hope you'll leave a comment and let us know what YOU'RE reading too!

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HERE BE NEWS for July 22, 2019

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Monday, July 15 - 
"HERE BE NEWS" - All the latest from the gang at Here Be Magic.

Tuesday, July 16-
"WHY I LOVE RED INK - the Vital Role of Editors" - Author Dani Harper explains why a good editor is a writer's very best friend. 

Thursday, July 18 -
“Instead of Christmas, WHO WANTS HALLOWEEN IN JULY?” – According to author Maureen Bonatch, she could celebrate this spooky season all year long. And she has a treat for readers with an ebook for 99 cents for a limited time.

Now Available as an Audiobook!

BEQUEATHED
Contemporary Fantasy Romance
by Linda Mooney

Word Count: 19.4K

$2.99 e/$6.99 p/$6.95 a

Narrated by Linda Mooney

Length: 2 hrs, 12 min

Hear a Sample

(Email Me if you want a free code!)

Homeless and destitute, Claire Stines has no choice but to move into the log house bequeathed to her out in the Minnesota wilderness. Although she has little else to sustain her other than a few dollars and even fewer seeds of hope, she believes she can make a fresh start for herself, and if she’s lucky, maybe find a little romance.

But first she has to overcome the rumors of the house’s supposedly dark past. More importantly, who is that young man she’s seen in the woods, and why has he been watching her from a distance ever since she arrived? 

And why does he both fascinate and terrify her? 

Warning! Contains a decades-old curse, hidden compartments, dead fairies, spirits in the forest, unrelenting winter cold, and a possible explanation for people gone missing in the woods.

Excerpt and Buy Links

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