Archive for March, 2010

Smashwords to Distribute Ebooks to Apple iPad iBookstore

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Smashwords does it again. ‘The People’s Ebook Store’ has signed a distribution agreement that will make qualifying Smashwords books available on the iPad.

This is so cool and amazing. As an indie author and ebook publisher, it’s tough to get my ebooks onto the big selling sites. Now, Apple is about to add another great opp called iBookstore, the online site that will support Apple’s new ereading gadget called the iPad.

Am I discouraged because I can’t get into iBooks as an indie publisher? Nope. At least, not any more…Smashwords has come to the rescue.

Smashwords logo

Now, if I follow Smashwords’ detailed instructions, my four ebooks may soon be available for the oh-so-cool iPad.

Now, if I could just sell enough of them to afford to buy an iPad…

Posted in Epubbing General | 1 Comment »

How to Create Memorable Characters, Writers’ Workshop, Victoria, BC

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Creating memorable characters for your genre fiction can be both challenging and rewarding. It ain’t easy but it can be done. And if you’re in Victoria, BC, in May, check out my course which is being offered by Camosun College on Saturday May 8th.

You don’t have to have weird and wacky types like you’d find in Dickens (but bully for you if you do); however, you do want personalities that stand out, that resonate with your readers.

After all, think of any good book or movie. Do you remember the intricacies of the plot? Or do you remember the players?

How about The Sculptress, by Minette Walters, as an example. It’s an award winning mystery novel with a terrific twisty turny plot but what I remember most is the titular character, Olive Martin, as she sat in prison carving human figurines out of wax. Let’s just say she stuck with me.

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Posted in Epubbing General, Writing | Comments Off

Finding a Literary Agent/Getting Published Using a Partial Submission…Not

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

I was recently asked to pitch novel/series ideas to Guideposts.

I’d been very fortunate to have participated in writing six novels in their cozy series, the Church Choir Mysteries, now available again, in large print.

The Angel's Secret cover

After some serious contemplation, I developed a concept that I thought would sing to them. Initially, my pitch for a cozy inspirational series, called the Sisterhood of Shepherds, went well and I was asked to submit the usual 50 pages plus an outline.

Took a few weeks but I finally finished it, ran it by a couple of independent readers who loved it, and then sent it off to the managing editor. More weeks dragged by until I received a nice but negative email. Ugh.

I was crushed and disappointed; I thought my concept suited them to a tee. After a few days kicking myself and them, I decided, what the hay? I’ll submit it directly to some publishers.

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How to Publish Your E-Book, Victoria, BC Workshop

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Attention writers!

You may have already been published or perhaps have struck out trying to find a traditional print publisher.

You’ve heard of print on demand and other forms of self-publishing but are wary of costs.

You still want the opportunity to get your work into readers’ hands.

Well, it’s very possible to do so in an extremely inexpensive yet effective way: self publish your work as an ebook and sell it online!

Cover for A Hemorrhaging of Souls

I’ve done it several times and am now selling electronic books at a number of major online book selling sites, like Amazon Kindle Store, Kobobooks and iTunes.

You can do it, too…and if you live in Victoria, BC area, you can spend Saturday, April 24th, with me at the Publish Your Own Ebook course offered by Camosun College.

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How to Write a Mystery Novel – Victoria, BC Writers’ Workshop

Monday, March 15th, 2010

If you live on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, and you’ve always wanted to write a mystery novel, then take your fingers off the keyboard and listen up.

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been asked to teach a workshop on writing mystery novels for Camosun College in lovely Victoria, BC. The workshop is based on my experiences crafting a number of mysteries and on my little how-to primer, Youdunit Whodunit!

cover image for Youdunit Whodunit!

The workshop is offered on six consecutive Tuesday evenings from from April 20th to May 25th, 2010. For more details and how to register, go to Mystery Writers’ Workshop at Camosun College.

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Posted in Epubbing General, Writing | 2 Comments »

The Electronic Evolution of Publishing

Monday, March 8th, 2010

I recently gave a speech to a local group called the Victoria Writers’ Society on the Mysterious Evolution of Publishing.

An engaging crowd of over thirty writers and editors attended. My focus was on electronic publishing and blogging and how I have used ebooks to give a couple of my novels a second life. My efforts appeared to go over well as there were numerous questions and much discussion after.

One of the best things occurred about a week later when the president, Debra Henry, kindly emailed me a sweet thank you note for “an information-packed evening that was both engaging and inspirational”.

She added the following:

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Podcasting – How to Write Genre Fiction 2/2

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Since I always enjoy peeking behind the curtain and seeing the secrets therein, I love hearing what other fiction writers offer as their methods, tips and techniques.

Now that PODCASTING exists as an easy to make and even easier to hear medium, it’s a perfect platform for what I have in mind: a ‘radio’ show that chats with published authors to discover the insights they’ve gleaned from the real life wordsmithing trenches.

Old-fashioned Mic

Old-fashioned Mic (Photo CM Seter)

But what exactly is a podcast? Glad you asked. In a nutshell, media files are published online using RSS (stands for Really Simple Syndication) feeds. These files or POD (taken from the concept of “Portable on Demand”) and casts (taken from the term “broadcasting”) may be heard via a computer or an MP3 player.

My plan is to produce a regular free podcast which offers simple, practical and helpful ways to improve your writing based on the experiences of published Canadian genre writers.

And, I’m going to post my experiences about the creation and production to help other podcaster wannabes.

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Posted in Electronic / Digital Publishing, Epubbing General, Writing | 3 Comments »