A Side Effect of Becoming an Author

May 31, 2010

As a result of studying the art of writing – which is what I consider it – I have come to realize that now every book I read is subjected to a perusal of syntax, spelling, missing words, etc.  It’s a bit dismaying because now that authors are being pressed into editing their own work [...]

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A Wonderful Opportunity

May 28, 2010

For the past three years, the Atlanta Writer’s Club has offered a Writer’s Conference.  I have participated in the last two, and in both cases, I wouldn’t take anything for the experience.  Agents are no longer dreaded critics after meeting them, but simply hardworking people like you and me, who need to fall in love [...]

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Yet Another Critique

May 3, 2010

In just under two weeks, I will be meeting with Sorche Fairbank, who will be discussing her critique of my first 100 pages of Wiregrass Country. Sometimes it’s difficult to stay positive about wanting to get the book published. After so much effort in writing it, now there has been almost as much effort put [...]

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Your Family History is Full of Story Lines

April 17, 2010

If you have been watching the celebrity genealogy feature on NBC, ‘Who Do You Think You are?’, you’ll have noticed that families contain all sorts of interesting characters, both exciting and daunting. I first got interested in genealogy when my oldest child presented me with a brief history of our maternal family which went back [...]

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Da Query…

April 5, 2010

Decided to explore why my queries are getting no results so posted to a forum.  Query was promptly dissected and its weaknesses laid out on the operating table. Another struggle, ‘getting’ what is needed in communication for agents.  However, got some excellent advice, and even though feeling rather low in energy today, I was determined [...]

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Self-publishing – second thoughts

March 29, 2010

I’ve been writing about change and how important it is to recognize it and accept it when it is inevitable.  For that reason, I may reverse my position regarding self-publishing. Just today, I examined a new site by an author called onthebookshelf.com.  It provides everything you need to put your book out there, available to [...]

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Vanishing Georgia

March 21, 2010

The University of Georgia has a collection of photos entitled “Vanishing Georgia”.  Yesterday morning, as  a friend and I drove through back roads in northeastern Georgia, I was reminded once again of how much of our rural state is vanishing beneath the ravishes of both time and rural sprawl.  I saw some lovely Victorian homes, [...]

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Making a book cover in 155 seconds

March 13, 2010

This is a cool video on you tube of  making a book cover in 155 seconds… I went to the Five Stones Press party for “The Fall” last night at Eagle Eye Books. The syndication of a book is an interesting concept, especially in light of the difficulties the publishing industry is currently enduring.  We’ll [...]

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Tracking my Submissions

March 10, 2010

I’ve decided to create a little widget that tracks my submissions of Wiregrass Country.  Right now, I feel my response rate is good.  I have one request for material out of seven submissions.  I have five rejections, but four of them were personalized and very courteous. The agent who has accepted my submission is Jennifer [...]

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Bouncing off the Walls!

March 4, 2010

Yes, I am bouncing off the walls, because I have received a manuscript request for the first three chapters from an agent! It is so wonderful to have someone interested enough to investigate your work.  There are so many good writers out there and we all know how many books pass across an agent’s desk [...]

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