The Truth is

WE KNOW THE TRUTH, DO YOU?

Welcome readers to the continuing blog tour for the latest science fiction/fantasy book release, the anthology called, WE KNOW THE TRUTH, DO YOU? by twenty-five authors of a variety of genres.

I know, Sci-Fi isn’t my usual fare. So how did I end up in this wonderfully creative anthology? Well, I know author, editor, and mom Terri Wilson. Terri and I live across town from each other. When she, along with other author friends decided to put together an anthology to celebrate the upcoming Area 51 raid (which as we know captured the attention of every social media outlet out there. Terri said, why not give them an alternative to going to a raid and give them a cool book suggesting that a bunch of authors might be able to suggest more about Area 51 than people could possibly guess.

So the call went out and wow, the response was incredible. Terri was amazed and the anthology began in earnest.

Even I was excited because I know Terri’s work ethic. She was my PA for a while, has been my editor, my beta and even my formatter. So when she said she was honchoing this book, I openly declared I was IN, despite not having a clue what to write about since I don’t “do” sci-fi.

Ah, but I write about vampires and a mythological phoenix, so what could be more alien than this? Who needed to come from off planet? Not my story. My story suddenly came to me. What if the Air Force didn’t have a secret but there was one at Area 51? What if the lack of secret was the conspiracy? And what if the truth there was magic at Area 51?  Magic that was dying….

From there I tied my story to my current paranormal fiction series, Evening Bower, and used the characters from my series to tell the story of a young Air Force sergent who disappears and the friends from my series who show up to help. Their discovery is shocking and unexpected, sad and yet hopeful. I called it MERMURINGS (no, that’s not misspelled).

Of course I worried my story wouldn’t fit in. I soon discovered I needn’t have fretted. The stories that were submitted included alien immigrants, conspiracy theories, military black ops, mystery, romance, serial killers, prison escapes, humor, unexpected endings (or is it beginnings?), and so much more! And of course, there are actual aliens who come to visit! This book developed into a tome of stories where there was something for everyone. Here are just a few sample covers.

But you know what really sold me on the anthology? ALL royalties are to be DONATED to US VETS. That’s right – ALL. None of the authors will take one dime. As a retired US Air Force officer, I am so proud to be a part of this book because of that!

Then guess what happened? FORBES did an article on the upcoming “Raid of Area 51” and THEY MENTIONED THE BOOK! I almost lost my mind. You can read about that here.

After that we authors began a blog tour and that brings you here, with me. The Area 51 raid? Nah, it was a bust. But you can learn the Truth if you get this anthology, because we have the answers and we’ll share them with YOU. This book will tell you all you need to know. I promise.

Check out the anthology website here. And then take this link to get your copy of this terrific book (that happens to be over 400 pages long!) Would 25 talented and insightful authors lie to you? The truth is waiting….

I’ll see you at the edge of Area 51. Until then,
I remain, Yours Between the Lines,

Sherry

Don’t Write and Self Publish A Book

I’ll bet that got your attention. Please don’t write and self-publish a book? This from a self-published author? Yup. In a world of self-publishing proliferation, I’m here to say you probably shouldn’t write a book, and I have a several reasons why not.

Lately, it seems everyone is into publishing their book. Ex-White House staffers, current and past Olympians, people in jail, people out of jail, famous, infamous, Hollywood stars, musicians, a rescuer, the rescued, the housewife who discovered how to budget, the lady who lost weight, the homeschooler who dabbles in poetry, the cute kid who made thousands selling lemonade. On and on, ad nauseum, it seems that people everywhere are jumping on the bandwagon to be known as a writer, and more specifically, an author. Many of these folks have the benefit of a large publishing house who expects to make money off their clients fame (even fleeting). This is especially true of people who live online.

Then there are “the others” — the lesser knowns probably more recognizable to the common masses like you and me. Check out the podcasts where the hosts are now writing books. Look at Facebook and Pinterest where people are deciding to turn their social life into books. Success and failure is making people decide to write. Had 15 minutes of fame? Self-publish a book. And the result is there are too many people diving into the publishing pool and most of the resulting books are terrible, making the entire pool feel cheap and stinky.

Yes, I went there and no, I’m not sorry.

There are lots of publishing companies (vanity and hybrids) waiting for you to pay for a publishing package and all you have to do is write the words. We’ll market and advertise and make you a “successful author,” they promise. Oh my, it’s too much to resist and the books are flying!

Problem is most of these self-published folks haven’t a clue about writing or how to write well. Most of these would-be writers don’t know what makes a good cover or what trends are passé or which ones are hot. Most novice authors haven’t build up a list of credits to their resume to bring weight to their upcoming “bestseller,” but they are certain all 17 of their family members will buy their book (only to discover that most of them expect a copy for free or else aren’t really interested).

Most author wanna-be’s think that they have a great idea for a cookbook and expect to write a Martha Stewart-esque in demand volume and make the bestseller list. Instead they publish a book with crappy pictures and their mom’s old recipes only to find there isn’t much of anything exceptional about their book and maybe they should have hired a photographer, a ghostwriter, and a taste tester.

There are some publishing companies that don’t care about your credits and promise to make you a star. All you have to do is agree to a contract and they will make your book shine with a slick cover and a professional interior. And they will edit your work too, give you some marketing, put your book in some book conferences and promote. All for a tidy fee of about $5-$10 thousand dollars. And before you gasp, you can get financing and ten copies of your book for friends. Look, the company will say, now you can promote yourself as an AUTHOR.

And so it happens. Another crappy 400 page, poorly written, edited by friends, with a cover showcasing a personal photo hits the Amazon self-publishing arena and muddies the water.

Yes, it irritates me but it makes me sad too.

I remember my long time desire to be an author. I didn’t think it would ever happen for me because I wasn’t a Stephen King or a Daphne du Maurier. But I studied the writing craft, I devoured books, I read “how to” and “how not to” books,  and I wrote and wrote and wrote. I tried publishing through regular channels. I sought an agent too. I was either off trend, too trendy, too inexperienced or too late. I finally self published in 2013 because this was a new possibility that didn’t exist when I first started! My first book came out in 2008. I was 54. I’ve been writing since I was five.

When a 22 year old publishes a book I can’t help but lift an eyebrow. There are few folks who are phenoms and publish brilliant works so young. Yes, there are some who succeed early and are wildly successful – V.E. Schwab comes to mind. She published at 24 and is now 31 and is a USA Today and NYT Bestselling author (and wow is she good). Most of us will never be her. And that is hard truth for many. But hope rises and young people, eager to get in the tide flow, jump in before they are experienced, seasoned, learned, practiced and oh…dear….I do wish they wouldn’t.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t be published or even that you must not if you are only 19 or 23. If you have stories to tell, write them. Enter story contests, seek out venues for your work, and along the way study your craft. If you feel this terrible burn to be published, then work it with small presses, newspapers, magazines, contests. If becoming an author is all you desire, then go with that passion and prepare for the realities of writing, specifically that you probably won’t be rich or famous. 

Why do you want to be an author? IF the reasons include because your friends are doing it, or because you’ll feel more important, then please don’t publish. If your reasons are because it will add to your professional resume or make you look smarter, then don’t do it. If publishing and being an author looks like exciting fun or because your mom thinks you should, please don’t! 

There is only one reason to write a book and self-publish. It won’t matter who else is doing a book. It won’t matter how many of your friends have published. It won’t matter if your boss did it or if your resume will seem empty without it. The only reason you need is that you have a story to tell and you NEED to share it.

And I know you will have studied how to write, you will understand that there is no free road to publishing, that there is trial and error and in the end, the likelihood is that you will never be on Good Morning America or sell 10,000 copies. (How I wish Oprah would read me!). 

But if you’ve studied, if you’ve researched, if you’ve found your way into trends, and have a good designer and formatter, if you’re prepared to work and sweat and cry and bleed. with an understanding that being an author isn’t all million dollar royalties and an easy life…then become an author because you are a writer and are compelled to write.

And nothing else matters. You are going to give the world the very best of you for no other reason than a desire to write the story.

Unless you do that, you should not write and self publish a book. And that’s the truth.

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Happy October! Fun things coming this month so stay tuned. What are you doing for Halloween? Be sure to drop me a note and let me know. This month we’ll look at some fun reads to celebrate the changing season.

Don’t forget my latest book, LOVE AND BLOOD, is now available. You might want to check it out if you want to be a part of the upcoming TRIVIA CONTEST.  More on that next time.

Until then…

I remain, Yours Between the Lines,

Sherry

Seasonal Changes and Mid-Year Review

The temperature may be 90 degrees outside and the A/C is definitely cranked down inside, but there are signs everything is about to switch over to a new season. I’m ready, are you?

(my house and I know we aren’t there yet, but hey…!)

When I was at the grocery store a few days ago, the magazines are touting “soups to warm you” and “easy casseroles for tailgating,” and snuggly quilts to make for those chilly nights. Covers display autumnal designs with pumpkins and warm colors of gold and orange. Domestic magazines are encouraging us to take our families on the ghost tours. In other words, Summer may have us firmly in her grasp but Autumn is pacing in the wings and she’s not far away.

Which is why I thought now was a good time to catch up with a mid-year review with what’s news and include what’s happened to be sure we’re ready for a change season.

UPCOMING NEW RELEASE: First, the July newsletter gave subscribers a first look at the new book cover! I followed this up with a release on Facebook, first on the Cover Me Darlings page and then on mine. Now you get to see the final front cover:

I’m completely crazed for this divine cover by Marisa-rose Wesley of Cover Me Darlings. The upcoming events are wonderfully captured. Hoping to for a SEP 21 RELEASE. No pre-order info yet.  If you want to be ready for the new book, then begin with the prequel, THE GYPSY THORN. Here’s a teaser and a link.
LATEST CHAT: I’ve done a Live Chat every month. Hope you’ve been listening. The latest one promised exclusive content for newsletter subscribers. August will begin those surprises. Catch up on the latest video here.  Newsletter subscribers can sign up here.

INSTAGRAM: Are you following all the pens I’ve been showing every Monday on Instagram? Here is the one for this week — you’re seeing it here the same time I’m posting on IG. Only two left after today. What a cool year of pens it has been. You can always scroll back through my IG and revisit them.

UPCOMING EVENT:  Find me next at Book ‘Em North Carolina, an author signing designed to fight against illiteracy. This will be my third time with them. The event is Sep 22, Robeson Community College, NC and the event is FREE. All you pay for are the books you buy. There are about 35 authors and publishers scheduled to attend. Plus there will be some panels and those are free too. Hope to see you. Here is the website with more info. Come by and mention this blog post and you’ll get a little something extra with my compliments.

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ON THE HORIZON: I was given a great idea and I am going to implement it right away. The suggestion was that I do some specialized videos about each of the books in my Evening Bower series, to include information about the characters plus read a snippet from each book. 

I like that idea and so I will begin this information right away! The first video will appear soon and be about Midnight Assassin. The second will be at the end of August and cover The Gypsy Thorn. The third will be about Time and Blood and appear around mid September. In the vids I will introduce you to characters, give you information about the plot and read something from the book. I will mention particulars about the characters that may enhance your experience with the story.

All this will be in preparation of the newest book’s release. Just before it comes out, I will do a teaser video (TBA) and mention some secrets that have never been discussed. Sound like fun?

Exact dates TBA in the newsletter, in here, and on my Facebook Author page. It’ll be FUN!

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There’s MORE!  FAN FICTION WRITERS!

My special book, Vampire Vignettes is planned for late spring 2019 (guessing). This book will be scenes that never made it into the regular novels of the Evening Bower. I have planned scenes between Drahomira and Franklin, Destin and Reaper, Rhea and Cooke…and so many more. But here’s where YOU come in.

I’m going to offer readers of the series a chance to have their fan fiction vignette INCLUDED in this book. You won’t be paid royalties when published, but you will have your own chapter in the back under Fan Fiction and you’ll be a published author too! Thinking right now up to three stories. More info on this coming.

If you have read the novels and plan to read the new book, then you will have all the information you need to do a fun vignette (of course I will happily answer any questions). Lighthearted is the key. They may be dark but they have to have some quirk to make me smile and must capture the established flavor and voice of the character. Look for specifics by the end of the month. I’m VERY excited about this and look forward to helping you out too.

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With the upcoming change of season, I’m changing too. I love the longer nights and the darker shadows.  New books keep me excited and the prospects ahead are as moonlight from a full moon. The changes make me want to write more….more….more!

Thank you for stopping by. Watch my newsletter and Facebook author page for updates, and of course, the Monday posts here. 

I remain always, Yours Between the Lines,

Sherry