Since You're NOT Writing ...

But since you are NOT ... then you should definitely be laughing ... check this out (you'll be glad you did!):

http://title2come.tumblr.com/

So stinking funny.

Authors & e-book Profits

A very interesting post (and a short read) on the profits authors make versus the profits publishers make on e-books:
e-books-and-profitability

What do you think? Are authors compensated adequately for their work?

Book Review: FROST BURNED

I love this series! But this book fell short.

Here are the two reasons I could not give this book five stars:

1. It's plot is dependent upon an "Alpha & Omega" book titled FAIR GAME. What if you haven't read the other series? Up until now the two series have stood alone. They've shared a few characters, but their plots have never relied upon each other. Luckily, for me, I read FAIR GAME first, and so FROST BURNED made complete sense to me, and I felt like it picked up right where the other book left off. However, a friend of mine and my daughter had not read the other series, and neither of them liked this book. How could they? Details were missing. And, I won't let my daughter (teenager) read the other series, because there is too much sex in the other series. This series is much cleaner.

2. The ending. I won't spoil anything for you, but I felt the "reasoning" behind the whole plot was ridiculous. It came out of left field, and took the author pages of "telling" to explain why the certain people were behind it all. Nope. It didn't fit for me. The ending is such a tricky thing. It has to wrap everything up in a finished package, and this time Briggs fell short. But don't worry, I'll still buy your next book! Because I love Mercy Thompson! :)

To read more of my book reviews, friend me on Goodreads.com !! :)

Book Review: ALONG THE WAY HOME

Ahh. I am thrilled to write a review for this book!

I don't normally read historical romances, because I'm not much into "romances" when it comes to reading ... I prefer action, suspense, and a bit of horror.

Well, imagine my surprise when I found action and suspense in this story! There was no "horror" in this book, but I was thrilled to discover that there was so much more than just a story about a girl who meets a guy. If you like a sweet romance, you'll get that with ALONG THE WAY HOME.

I've been to many of the locations referenced in the book, and I felt like I was travelling right along with the main characters as they came west.

Clean language, no detailed sex scenes, appropriate for all ages.

A great adventure. A great book for everyone. I highly recommend it.

Failure NOT an Option!

Today, we have a special treat! YAY! My pal, Christi, is hosting the blog! ... Take it away ...

 

 

First, I’d like to give a big thank you to my critique partner, Margo, for allowing me to host her blog! I truly appreciate her sharing her readers with me as I celebrate the release of my debut novel, Along the Way Home.

Failure Wasn’t an Option: How it Took Me 13 Years to Sign a Book Contract

Publishing is a tough business and not for quitters. While right now I’m happily thinking of how to best promote my debut novel, it took over THIRTEEN years to get to said happiness.

Yes, it took me thirteen years to go from, “Hey, I’ve got a really great idea for a book!” to signing the publication contract from Astraea Press.

And there were plenty of times during those thirteen years when I considered quitting. Considered that maybe I didn’t have it in me to go the long haul. Considered that maybe the process was just too hard. Considered that maybe my story idea was stupid and no one would want to read about a family’s adventures and misfortunes on the 1843 Oregon Trail. Considered that maybe to get published I’d have to compromise my beliefs.

But, even though over those thirteen years there were plenty of days, months, and even years when I didn’t write at all, there was always a little voice deep inside me, rooting me on and saying “Don’t worry. Right now you’re dealing with a lot, but when things calm down you’ll get back to this story.”

So, I listened to that little voice while I was pregnant with our twins in what turned out to be a high-risk pregnancy that forced me into two months of complete bedrest. I listened to that voice when our twins were born one month premature. I listened for the next two years while I was buried in diapers, toys, drooling smiles, potty-training, and tears of exhaustion and joy. 

I listened to that little voice while packing, unpacking, and then packing up again through a total of four out of state moves (Washington to Minnesota, Minnesota to Montana, Montana to Washington, and then Washington to Oregon).

Then, once our twins were two years old, that same little voice helped me to eek out five minutes of writing time here, another five minutes of writing time there, until lo and behold, my twins were five-years-old and I’d finally finished my book.

And then I realized that my book was horrible.   

But that same little voice was still with me, now saying, “Ok, you’ve got a lot of work ahead, but you FINISHED and that’s something to be proud of. Now get to work on making it BETTER.”

So I did. I went to my very first writing conference and realized there were people just like me, striving to write until they got it right. I made some great writing friends at that first conference.

Now, armed with my own little voice and a few writing friends with actual voices, all of whom were giving lots of encouragement, I ripped my book apart and revised it, from the first word to the last…SIX TIMES.

Then I found a local writing group and two critique partners (lots of love here to Margo Kelly and Artemis Gray!) who showed me I had a lot more work to do. So I revised it again…TWO MORE TIMES.

Then, I went to the Willamette Writers Conference in August of 2012. Conferences are expensive and I could only afford one of the three days, and getting that money took holding a yard sale. But, my husband and entire family are very supportive, so clutching my yard sale proceeds in one hand and my query letter in the other, off to the conference I went.

I met more amazing writers, got requests for partials from three of the three agents I met with, and then drove home with my dreams soaring—dreams that were quickly dashed when I got rejected by one of the agents and never heard back from the other two.

But still, that little voice inside just wouldn’t let me quit. I revised my query letter until it shone, showed it to everyone who would look at it, revised it TWENTY more times (no, I’m not kidding) and then one minute after I put my twins on the school bus for their first day of second grade I began querying in earnest.

A few months into it I had around forty rejections, but I also had six agents and three editors (Medallion Press, Tor/Forge, and a small press) reviewing requested partials/fulls, an R&R offer from an agent, and an offer pending from another small press.

Then, it happened.

I was rejected by an agent who called my book lovely and sweet, raved about my writing and the storyline, but ended with the statement, “…let your characters engage in sex and describe the sex. As it stands, I’ll pass. Put the sex in and I’ll take another look.”

I assure you, I have thick skin when it comes to rejections. I’ve racked up my fair share since I began querying, and normally took them with a grain of salt (and chocolate—lots of chocolate), but this one really bothered me. I understood if a rejection was based upon my writing style, the likeability of my characters, or a flaw in the storyline—but to be rejected solely on the basis that I choose NOT to include sex? That one didn't go over well.

So much so that I finally decided it was time to query the one publisher I’d had my eye on for months. A publisher that cares not only for the authors, but for the kind of work they attach their name to. I'd discovered Astraea Press before I started querying in September and really liked the stance the owner, Stephanie Taylor, took against unnecessary sex.

During a 2011 interview, Six Questions for Stephanie Taylor, she made the following statement: “…Astraea offers a safe haven for good books where the focus is on the STORY and not the sex”.

I sent off a query to Stephanie at Astraea Press late one afternoon, and woke up the next morning to an offer! And it was my birthday too!

I immediately pulled my novel from consideration from all the others who were reviewing partials/fulls/had offers pending, because I believed so strongly in Astraea Press, and the niche they’ve carved out for themselves in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

I hope my brutally honest story inspires you to never ever EVER give up on your dreams!

How do you keep writing/pursuing your dreams when it gets tough?

Kate Davis is intrigued when her father reveals his dream of starting a horse ranch in Oregon Territory. Settlers out west value a strong woman, and though she manages the financials of her father’s mercantile her competence earns her ridicule, not respect, from Virginia’s elite society.

Jake Fitzpatrick, an experienced trail guide, wants land out west to raise cattle and crops. But dreams require money and he’s eating dandelion greens for dinner. So when a wealthy businessman offers double wages to guide his family across the Oregon Trail, Jake accepts with one stipulation—he is in complete control.

Departure day finds Kate clinging to her possessions as Jake demands she abandon all he deems frivolous, including her deceased mother’s heirlooms. Jake stands firm, refusing to let the whims of a headstrong woman jeopardize the wages he so desperately needs—even a beautiful one with fiery green eyes and a temper to match.

Trail life is a battle of wills between them until tragedy strikes, leaving Jake with an honor-bound promise to protect her from harm and Kate with a monumental choice—go back to everything she’s ever known or toward everything she’s ever wanted?

Advance Praise for Along the Way Home

…author Christi Corbett unfurls an unforgettable epic romance inside of an epic Western adventure. Beautifully crafted, this debut novel is a tender journey of the heart as well as a treacherous journey of many miles.

Eve Paludan, author of Taking Back Tara (Ranch Lovers Romance series)

 

A breathtaking account of courage and adventure along the Oregon Trail.

Jillian Kent, author of The Ravensmoore Chronicles.

 

A dash of action! A touch of intrigue! Loads of sweet, clean romantic promise…

Reid Lance Rosenthal, Winner of 15 National Awards, #1 Best Selling Author of the Threads West, An American Saga series.

 

About Christi

I’m addicted to coffee, sticky notes, and the Oxford Comma. I live in a small town in Oregon with my husband and our twins. Our home’s location is especially inspiring because the view from the back door is a hill travelers looked upon years ago as they explored the Oregon Territory and beyond.

 

Along the Way Home is a Sweet Historical Romance. It released in ebook format on June 11, 2013 and will be available in print July of 2013. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookstrand, Astraea Press (my publisher),OmniLit, and several other retailers.

 

When I’m not writing I love chatting with readers and writers alike. You can find me in one of the following locations:

Email: christicorbett@gmail.com

Blog: http://christicorbett.wordpress.com

Twitter: @ChristiCorbett

Facebook: Christi Corbett—Author

....

Thanks, Christi.
 
Check back on Friday for MY review of Christi's book. :)

Fun Camping Pictures!

A few of my favorite photos from our recent camping trip:

First day - dogs are still clean

View from the hammock

River after a night of thunder storms

 

 

Black Sabbath and Rascal Flats - yes, that's right

 

 

Beautiful blue skies of Idaho

 

 

Such a flattering picture of me ... not! But after a freezing cold night, we thought it would be best to stay in our warm beds and read awhile. Notice that Sabbath (the dog) is doing his part to keep my daughter warm.

 

Last day. Last fire. Sun is shining. Time to head home to a flushing toilet. :)

 

 

 

 

Gone Camping

Yup. I'll be sitting by the river reading a book for the next week. See ya when we return! :)

 

 

IWSG: When is it GOOD ENOUGH?

First Wednesday of the month = Insecure Writer's Support Group. Visit here for more info: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

So you've written a novel. When is it finished? When is it good enough?

Well, it's *probably* not quite there yet if:
1. You just finished writing the first draft.
2. You have only let your best friend and mother read it.
3. You relied on the computer for spell check and grammar check.
4. You have never read a book in the genre of your story.
5. You have never read a book on the craft of writing.
6. You've only revised the story once.

Maybe it's finished if:
1. You've revised the story a million times (or more but you lost count).
2. You've had several (or at least two) critique partners (who are skilled writers themselves) rip it apart.
3. You've had a beta reader (someone who doesn't know you personally and could care less if they hurt your feelings) read a polished version and give their feedback for improvement.
4. You've studied the craft of writing (by reading books on the topic or attending classes).
5. You've read a lot of books in the genre you're writing.
6. You've revised, edited, polished the story one more time.

It's a tough call, but the bottom line is: at some point, we have to say it is finished. As my CP said, "Stop picking at the wound, or it will never heal." Ick.

:)

How do you know when you're WIP is finished?

Children Leaving Home

Okay ... Now I'm feeling a bit weepy. While I am THRILLED that my mailbox today contained a letter from each of my boys ... the opening of my oldest boy's letter made me cry. I know he meant it as a funny little comment, but I'm a little "tender hearted" this last week.

Here's what he wrote:
"On the assumption that you shipped off Jacob, never to be seen again, how does it feel to get rid of another kid?"

Awful. It feels awful.
I know I'm supposed to be thrilled that they've chosen to spend the next two years of their lives serving others, but the idea of my children leaving home has hit me harder than I expected. I've really grown to love them so much. And I'm SURE you know people who rarely go back to visit their parents or family after leaving home, and I'm worried they won't come back to visit! :(

My daughter assures me that they will all come back to visit.

I hope so.

My daughter also told me (as she was giving me a hug) that I should be pleased that they're capable of leaving and going out to do good in the world.

Okay.

But I'm still a little sad today. So here are some pictures:

Mitchell is on the right (with the dark tie). - This was his first baptism.

Mitchell sent me a picture to show me that he's trying to eat healthy. :) I told him to add some vegetables and spinach.

 

Jacob with some friends from college. Jacob is the one with the pink tie.

 

Jacob - always happy.

 

Katie with her Prom date.

Katie and her Prom date.

 

Sparse Postings

Yes, my postings have been sparse this last month. Between the typical busy month of May and my computer crashing ... it's been a challenge to write blog posts.

But here's the good news:
1. My son is letting me use his computer until mine is fixed (if ever).
2. I sent my new manuscript off to my agent.

Now I can worry that she'll hate it wait patiently until I hear back from her.

Happy June.

I'm so glad May is over.

:)