BOOK EXPOSITIONS DO WORK!

I've been out of pocket for some time on my blogs but have been busy with promotion and writing. And all of those life things that get in the way of what we really want to do. . .WRITE!

Our Book Exposition in Oceanside, California was wonderful. There were not only readings by authors but presentations by publishers, agents, printers, and leaders of workshops. I took notes like crazy and hope that some of it will prove worthwhile in my endeavors to get "Pink Poodle" out to the public. And I actually sold books--more books that I have ever sold at one of these gatherings.

If you are able to attend one of these, even a small one where you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to participate or attend, do so. If you don't sell any books (fat chance of that at these things), you will still come out a winner. Hand out your business cards, offer a bookmark to ones who seem interested, and have a flyer there with a short review of your book and an order blank on the bottom. And let everyone know you are available for book signings or workshops or lectures.

Chat with other authors, pick their brains about their book selling, writing, etc. Make note of the organizations they belong to, the networking they do (you're doing it too with this group), and glean all of the ideas you can from this connection.

Get your name out there, gals (and guys).

PUPPIES HAVE BEEN BORN!

I received my shipment of books last week and have been selling, promoting, and smiling. I have been quite successful in selling books and hope my promotions, ads, and word-of-mouth to friends and family will lead to even more sales.

Today I did my first Book Exposition which I found was a great success. It was a good agenda, the agents/publishers/printers/authors filled the day with good useful information as well as a look at their books. I sold five books which was a lot more than many other authors sold so felt blessed. The crowds at Library functions are quite small and these aren't the greatest sources of sales, but they are so willing to offer us a venue, we can't not go.

I am getting some feedback from friends who purchased the book and they tell me which stories they enjoy most. I am quite surprised by some of them--for example, one reader really enjoyed "Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair." Who would think that one would ring a bell. But the reader said she enjoyed the reaction of the sleeze bag husband when his wife and mistress got even.

I promise to make a king-size effort to keep you all in touch with those poodle puppy books and how they grow (sell)...if I don't fall flat on my face from exhaustion from all life is throwing my way.

UPDATE AND SYNOPSIS: THE CAUSE

We're getting closer to a release date. The iUniverse marketing department is attempting to make contact; I will give them a call on Monday. I have seen one of their plans and it is way too expensive for this poor gal. I'm not sure that I can afford any of their plans to be honest. I have begun a mailing list for the drafted (not finished) press release I plan to send out both by mail and to friends via e-mail. I will contact my other sources for book signings. I am also planning on paying for some ads online and in several magazines I subscribe to that might help the promotion. But, as I have found in the past, word-of-mouth is the best promotion tool any author can have.

SYNOPSIS FOR THE CAUSE

Tara knew who had killed her daughter--the worthless surfer Cindy had married. But the law hadn't paid much attention to her pleas for justice. So Tara decided to seek her own revenge and sought out an underground source for a device to send the SOB to hell.

This story shows the process of taking the law into your own hands. Usually, we read of wives seeking justice in their own way, but Tara is a heartbroken mother who wants her daughter to rest in peace. She takes care of the murderer in her own way.

UPDATE AND GUMBO UNDERCOVER SYNOPSIS

Hello, dear readers. I have exciting news. I completed the galley proofs on Thursday and the cover corrections were done within twenty-four hours. The cover is outstanding--writer friends have said it is awesome and reminds them of chick-lit. I have to smile as some of the stories could be catagorized as "mid-life chick-lit." I hope to have the text corrections by mid-week.

GUMBO UNDERCOVER SYNOPSIS:

I feel in love with New Orleans many years ago. Out of school, I was fortunate to get a job with a downtown law firm; eventually I became the office manager. Between a boss who was fooling around, a wife who wanted me to catch him at it, and the ghost of a Voodoo queen floating around the city and its occupants, I was in for a real "treat" in the French Quarter.

Now, this gal--me--Chris--wanted to keep her job. That was my reasoning when I stood out in the shadows on that particular night, attempting to get a big scoop for Lily, the wife. What I received was the opportunity of a lifetime.

Join me in solving the mysteries of old-world spells and cheating men.

GALLEY IS READY

Exciting news. The galley has arrived. It's been here for less than forty-eight hours and I've done 89 pages of the 188. Isn't that neat?

Interesting tidbits for you who are contemplating self-publishing with one of the many POD companies--they do a great job, number one. But--if, like me, you can't afford the huge fee for line editing, you will be shocked at how many tiny mistakes you will find when you get that galley back. I am amazed at what I didn't catch!

There are also a few formatting mistakes which are the publisher's responsibility to correct--but you have to point them out on the Proof Sheet. And I found an em dash missing on the back cover. It was in my document I emailed them and without it, the sentence doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense. So I'll point that out.

We're busy this weekend but I'll attempt to complete this at night so I can get to filling out the proof form. Hopefully, this will all be done by Monday.

We're getting closer to holding a book in our hand.

MAY THE BEST WOMAN WIN

Kelly Reed is throwing a big party to celebrate the last day in her home after her divource is finalized. Her ex is turning purple, swears she is plotting against him, and she might take the hint--after all she does know where the bodies are buried.

The party is on a roll when Kelly brings out pages of research/documentation/dirt on a deal her ex has involved some the lady attendees men in--a crooked deal. Assuring the women there is proof their males didn't have a clue what they were involved in, the revelers create a plot of their own.

On the eve of her ex's remarriage, they all decide to get even with him. On the honeymoon night, he discovers how vengeful women can be. And he's about to find out whether or not women can win in a man's world.

LEAVING TOWN SYNOPSIS

I am out of here.

Aunt Jewel is giving me the evil eye, questioning me about my last meeting with the sheriff, and now wants to make sure the jerk is dead. And when we arrive at the grove where I left him, she "stages" the scene.

The town folks will be surprised what their lawman had going on in his life, the newspaper will print the entire story with pictures, and Aunt Jewel and I will blow this hick town for Las Vegas.

Maybe we can attract a couple of good ole boys looking for some mid-western fillies to have fun with.

WASH THAT MAN OUT OF MY HAIR SYNOPSIS

Jolie had waited along time for just the right man to come to her small town. She thought she had found her future with Wade Blaine. Until Emily Blaine walked into her beauty shop. There's nothing worse than a cheating husband who thinks he can do it over and over with no punishment.

Jolie and Emily unite to wash that man out of their hair for good.
**

NOTE: The book that contains this story, "Pink Poodle Pie (and Other Tales of Women Getting Even) is in the cover design process.

Keep checking here for a release date.

CURED SYNOPSIS

Ray Powell had to have Jan Langford. He thought she was his in college where they met, but she got away. Years later, he found her, knew she was interested but he had to show her who was boss when she tried to get away. When they found them at the cabin in the mountains, he was taken away.

He's back. Waiting for her to come out the door of her home. But what he doesn't know is that she's practiced her answer to him on just such a day.

CLOSED HEARTS SYNOPSIS

Peace. Blessed peace at last.

Jim and I had raised six children, were comfortably well off, and had absolutely nothing to say to each other. He had found a new love, and I blamed myself for not being what he needed, or wanted.

When my heart finally gives out, I almost welcome it. But I am in for a surprise when I arrive at the funeral home's morgue. A hooded figure offers me an avenue to seek revenge.

And I take it.

BAD NEWS SYNOPSIS

I, Cecelia Eexler, live in the Golden Manor Retirement Home along with friends,
Myrna and Sue Ann. We keep involved in classes and events at the Home but we do miss out on one thing--the romance effect. We don't have enough men around. So when a new man comes on the scene we all, even I succumbed, attempt to get his attention. But one of us turns out to be greedy, vile, rotten to the core, and a sneaky vamp.

***

Note: This book is at the publisher and the next step is editing the front and back cover information I provided early in this treak along the road to publication.

VENGANZA SYNOPSIS

Maura has been dumped by her attorney husband for a cute paralegal half her age. She is not too happy about that and mentally runs through schemes to get her old life back. Her old-neighborhood friend wants his part of the fortune he thinks she will receive if he takes care of the ex. Maura, doesn't want to go to jail and definitely has no desire to share anything with Ramon.

Her attorney, Sheila, the woman John Weston dumped for Maura, keeps her on the straight and narrow--of course, she also helps set up a heap of evidence against her former lover.

Together the two women take care of both men.

****
Venganza is the Spanish word for revenge and this story is all about that lovely word.

A LITTLE TASTE OF SUGAR

I'm a PI and I've got the biggest case of my life sitting right here in my hand. The eldest son of Marilyn Broussard, the newly deceased Mrs. Broussard, has hired me to make sure his mother had died legitimately. While checking out the mourners at the funeral, the woman approached me. She was a stunner and I knew she had something to do with this death.

I hadn't expected her to be the most deadly bartender in town though.

***
This story in an earlier version was published in "Mystery Times" magazine and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

MOUSE TRAP, ETC.

Mother's know best but most daughters will not listen. When my sweet Angel married that Stephan character, I warned her she needed to cover her...well, she has a cute little rear that needs to be protected. Sure enough he was after her money.

Mother's may not be listened to but they can take care of business. Especially when they learn to use a computer to reach accounts in certain islands in far away places.
Find out what this mother does to save her loved one in "Mouse Trap."
***

I've been home for two weeks and the time has been filled with the final edits on this book, a Book Extravangaza where I managed to sell some books, meet new authors, and rekindle friendships with some others, and travel to and from my brother-in-law's side. He has hospice in now; the leukemia has won.

I would love to hear from any of you who have tips on how to promote books. This is my third one and it doesn't get any easier. I need some new plans, updated schemes that work. I have two booksignings lined up when the book is released but I need to do much more than those, the usual mailings, and the search for book reviews. Selling your work has always been hard work, but in this economy it is more than difficult.

Why should someone who is on a limited budget purchae my book? Or any book for that matter. I know I buy books to escape, to get a laugh, to solve a mystery, to have some character warm my heart. I need to learn some new strategy. Got any ideas?

HELP!

APOLOGIES TO ALL READERS

I have been busy working on the final edits of Pink Poodle Pie before I send it to the publishers for another editing process. I have not kept up on this blog the way I inteneded but by the end of the week beginning July 13, I hope to have it off to the publishers and will begin to give you more synopsis. I hope to give you a more indepth article of the publishing and marketing process as I go along also. So hang in there for me, please.

Right now I am in rainy Florida. On July 4th after months of preparations by my daugher and family, and just a week of my help, my lovely youngest granddaughter, Shannon Hall, was married to Richard Hughes. It was, of course, a beautiful wedding and the happy couple is on a cruise ship in the Caribbean right now. We will fly home on Saturday afternoon (I am not fond of flying at any time but especially nhot in stormy weather!) and won't get to hear all of the news of their trip but somethings should be totally private, don't you think? LOL

I promise to get back to you all soon.

Barb

"WHAT DO YOU DO, HONEY" SYNOPSIS

The Slasher has now killed three women and Dr. Elizabeth Parker may be next. As she reaches her car in the poorly lighted hospital parking lot, she is approached by a man she is sure is the killer. In spite of her fear, Elizabeth engages the man in a conversation about the arts.

Read how the good doctor beats the Slasher at his own game.

PINK POODLE PIE SYNOPSIS

Mama lied when she said a woman can hold a man with her cookin’ and her lovin’. Duane wandered, back to an old flame from high school, a woman whose claim to fame was the ownership of a pooch parlor. When I find out about the cuddling going on in her doghouse, I decide to take some of mama’s advice: the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

Duane never could turn down a slice of home baked pie.

SANITY ISN'T FREE SYNOPSIS

The second story in the Pink Poodle Pie collection is a fun read, as you will see below:

I, Amanda MacKinnon Russell, after a taste of the psych ward, am headed for a permanent stay if I don’t find a way to rid myself of the freeloading husband I find has been cheating on me big time. With a little help from Daddy’s friend, good-old-boy Sheriff Dooley, I work out a plan that will show how fragile minds can be.

I wonder if anyone will send him snack money where’s he going.

EASY MONEY SYNOPSIS

I promised my readers that I'd give them a synopsis of each story included in my Pink Poodle Pie. So tonight we'll address the first story--Easy Money.

Easy Money

Bonnie had all the money from a trust fund—all; the money both Karl, her ex-husband and Clyde, who calls himself her current husband, want their hands on. How they go about grabbing the money comes back to haunt them both.

Who wins the money?

PINK POODLE PIE IS ON IT'S WAY

My new book,"Pink Poodle Pie (and Other Tales of Women Getting Even), was submitted to iUniverse last week, has been accepted as formatted correctly, and today I received notice that it is in Editorial Evaluation. In other words, the editors are giving it a good going over, will find the real goofs I've made, and will help me create a better book than the one I submitted.

Why did I choose iUniverse? I did my homework. I contacted most all of the well-known POD publishers (and many of the lesser known) and made the decision that iUniverse was the best for me. I am not a smart computer person and found that many of the other publishers had confusing hoops I had to jump through in order to have my book published. iUniverse made it so much less stressful. They assigned me a great publishing rep, Amy He, who guided me through the submission process after giving me all the necessary information to choose which plan I wanted to go with.

With this blog, I'll keep you all posted on how this process works, step-by-step. I'll offer you a glimpse at the stories in this new collection (my other collection, "The Quilt Maker" can be found on Amazon.com, as well as my memoir, "Growing up Barefoot in the South."). And I will urge you to work hard at writing, editing, rewriting, and submitting your book to be published.

First of all, I'll explain how this collection came to be. I taught/led a creative writing class for about nine years. When I gave assignments or suggested prompts, I wrote with my students/members also. Many of the stories in this collection came out of that class. Most of them have been published and/or won literary contests; one was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by an editor of a magazine where it was published. It wasn't until later that I realized I had a small collection, and began the process of seeking a traditional publisher.

All writers will understand that dilemma. Not only has the publishing economy been in the tank for several years, it is also very difficult to publish a short story collection. After a pile of rejections, I began to research other ways to publish. I don't plan to make my fortune here, never have thought to do that with my work. I want others to read my work and, hopefully, as with my other works, let me know how much they enjoyed my stories. After all the searching, I've set off on this journey. I hope you will come with me.

Join me on this path, up the hills, down through the valleys, and cheer me on when I falter. Next blog will be a synopsis of the short stories contained in "Pink Poodle Pie."