Stop, you're both right...

Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

This week, I've seen a wonderful thing. I've witnessed a most uplifting outpouring of kindness as I watched people bring my sister and her son gifts, clothes and money to help them get through Christmas after having been burned out of their house by a fire on Monday night. It was touching to see so many people giving and giving to a person whom they didn't know, a person who could have been any number of things besides just another human being who was suffering. No one asked her if she was a Christian, or if she believes in God, or if she attends a church in town. People really just wanted to help. I believe that this is what God intends. He wants us to help one another and he doesn't want strings attached. It has always been my understanding that when you are trying to help someone, you are not focused on who they are or what they stand for. You are focused on helping them through whatever it is that they are going through and hoping that you have done all you can without making them feel obligated to do something in return.

So, it got me thinking. My sister was helped by a couple of churches and many, many, churchgoing folks. My sister does not currently go to church. In fact, she believes in some things that scare Christians. I also believe in some things that would scare Christians. But the bottom line is that we both believe in God and have faith that He is leading us on this journey and that whatever He wants to do in our lives is what we must accept and hold as right. We see God's beauty in all things and understand that there is not just one right way to connect with Him. In fact, I feel that to believe that there is only one right way to speak to God is somewhat shortsighted and I'll tell you why. There have been many times in my life when I know that God was right there with me. Many times when I couldn't have been further from being a good Christian woman. I'm still working on being a good Christian woman, but I can look back and see that he pulled me through things that I never should have come through as a sinner who refused, not just put off going, but REFUSED to go to church. I know that there was a time in my life when I was so angry with Him that I worried I would never find my way back to Him. And, if it hadn't been for a constant connection to him through meditation and through constantly looking for answers to the questions I had by exploring other religions and ways of worship, I would never have been able to set foot in a church again.

The point is that He was listening even though I wasn't in church. He was listening even when I wasn't sure if I was a Buddhist, a Wiccan, or a Baptist. He was listening and I'm still here, ready to do what I can to live His will for me.

As the pastor at one of the churches we attend now said at one of the sermons this month, you won't get to heaven by simply going to church. You won't get there by tithing, you won't get there by doing the things you think are what good Christians are supposed to do. At least, you won't get there by doing these things without having this one most important thing: love for God. If you don't love God, no matter what form He takes in your life, you cannot get to heaven. If you don't love God, you can't do His work. You can go through the motions, but you're really only doing these things for yourself and your own gratification. If He isn't at the heart of everything you are doing, then it isn't really for Him.

It's been so hard for me to focus on writing and promoting my books these days because I've been trying to fix my own slanted perceptions of just exactly who I'm doing all of this for. If it isn't for Him, then it isn't worth the time. Yes, it is fun to write and yes, I hope people enjoy what I write, but more than that, I really want to write things that bring people closer to Him. Going into 2010, I'm hoping my work will be worthy of what God wants me to put out there for you. If I'm quiet, you know I'm still working on it.

Here's hoping that you have a wonderful New Year's and that 2010 brings you closer to what matters most in your heart.


3~So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4~Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:3-4 (New International Version)



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Writing patiently...

I used to get so worried when I wasn't writing every day. I had books in my head and ideas scribbled all over the place, but I was making no concentrated effort to organize these thoughts. After writing the third book in the Rona Shively series, Keeping the Faith, I realized that it was the waiting and hanging back that helped make the book into something that I am very proud to have written. If I had rushed through it, I never would have developed the story the way I needed to and I certainly wouldn't have reached novel-length without pulling all of my hair out.

They say that slow and steady wins the race. I have to agree with that. I've never been a patient person and once I started writing, I learned quickly that if I am not patient, I will not accomplish what I want to accomplish. If I rush through writing a story, it won't be any good. If I rush through doing updates to my web pages, I'll forget something or make a big mistake somewhere along the way. If I rush through my interactions with others, I'll miss some valuable piece of information or advice that I might need later on. So, writing and the business of writing has been teaching me patience, slowly, but surely.

What this means to me is that I see things happening much more clearly. When I do accomplish a goal, it is because I have taken all of the necessary steps to do so. I haven't taken any shortcuts. And it seems like the more I back off of things and let them happen as they are supposed to, the more I accomplish. I'm very happy with the way things have been going and I know that even though it is taking me a while to get back into my writing groove, the day will come when I can sit at my keyboard and finish that fourth book in my mystery series. The day will come when I have the finished Women's Self-Esteem book in my hands. I just need to make sure that I am letting things happen the way they should and not rushing to be finished.

For me, the last three years have been amazing in terms of my writing career. Although I'm not a bestseller...yet, I have met so many wonderful people and learned so much about myself and how my world works. My writing has improved over time and I find that I am giving myself more time to recharge in between projects than I did when I started on this journey. That is so unlike me. I'm still anxious to see what else I will learn, but the difference is that now I'm willing to take the time and let that knowledge make its way to me instead of hunting it down and clubbing it over the head.

How do you pace yourself and your writing? What lessons have you learned about writing patiently?

Until next time...


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The Best Advice I Ever Got...

came from the book, The Right to Write by Julia Cameron. In her book, she said, "Put the drama on the page..." or something along those lines. No matter how it was phrased, it works. She was referring to channeling your emotional energy into writing and not letting everyday drama bog you down. When I read this, I thought, "Wow, that makes sense!" Why hadn't I thought of that before? Well, probably because I've been hip-deep in drama my entire life and it never occurred to me that I didn't have to be until recently. All this time, I had loads of material just waiting to become a bestselling novel. Well...maybe just a widely read short story...or...poem...ok, a haiku???

In any case, I've struggled with various issues over the years; some of them not so pretty. But once they were written down, they didn't seem so daunting and I was able to get through them. Not exactly journalling, just processing what is going on around me through the written word has been an invaluable tool for coping with day to day stress and anxiety. For example, when I miscarried last year for the fifth time, I wrote an article called, "Empty." This article was meant to be a way of processing my pain and helping me to understand my feelings. It did just that and as an added bonus, it ended up being published by Alive Magazine earlier this year. It's coming up on a year since the loss and truthfully, I feel that the article gave me a sense of closure on the matter and it isn't as painful to discuss or even think about as it was before I wrote about it.

Some things have been bogging me down lately and I have a suspicion that this is because I haven't taken enough time to write down my feelings about what has been going on in my life. When I write, I somehow transfer all of that emotional energy onto the page and it doesn't seem so overwhelming as it did floating around in my head. I can always tell when I haven't been writing enough, too, because I feel edgy and disconnected from myself.

For those of you who write, does your writing help you to cope with the stress in your life? Do you find it therapeutic beyond the sense of accomplishment you get from simply getting your ideas out? Or is it just me? :)

I don't know about you, but I certainly feel better just having written this post.

Until next time...


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Do writers get sick days?

Since I basically work for myself in terms of my writing life, I guess the answer to that question is "yes." The bigger question is, "Will a writer actually take one?" I've been battling some kind of upper respiratory bug since before Christmas and the bug seems to be winning. Although I just spent the last two weeks working like crazy on promotional items, short stories and other efforts, I still feel the need to be working on something even when my head feels like it could literally, roll right off of my shoulders.

Taking a sick day gives you the time you need to recharge and as an added bonus, you can justify not spending every waking moment thinking about what you have to do on the very basis of the fact that you are taking a sick day. In spite of this, I have a real problem with being anywhere near my laptop and not working on something. Sure, I feel guilty any time I call in sick to my job as a librarian, but I can't seem to let myself call in completely sick to being a writer. It's like being a mom. Even when you're sick, you're still expected to be a mom and take care of every little thing that your child might need. It's a given.

To me, working on my writing and promoting my writing is what feels normal. It's what feels like home. When I can't do this, I feel disconnected; out of sorts. That feeling only adds to the crappiness of being sick. The problem is that by not allowing myself to rest from my writing, I only get worse. I go from being sick to being SICK. And then when I'm coughing my head off and feeling downright crummy as I have been for the past couple of weeks, I can't seem to remember what I was writing about from one moment to the next. This makes me feel like a big idiot and I really hate feeling like any size of an idiot.

That said, I have to admit that today, instead of getting up and heading for the computer, I stayed in bed until 10 a.m. for the first time in years. It felt good to rest for a change and I'm trying to lay low for the rest of today so that I can be better for tomorrow. I know that if I don't, I'll never be able to get back to what I love doing; the writing. So, as I hit the publish button on this post, I'm going to get ready for yet another nap. No e-mails, no tweets, just sleep.

How do you recharge when you've run yourself into the ground with writing, promotion, networking, etc.? Help your fellow writers out by commenting with your best tips here.

Until next time...

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Truer Words Were Never Spoken

I recently came across a quote about time. It reads, "The myth that we must have "time"-more time in order to create is a myth that keeps us from using the time we do have."

I'm not sure who wrote this, but these words are definitely speaking to me these days. I've been in kind of a funk since I finished writing the third book in my mystery series. There have been a few days when I was inspired to write, but for the most part, I've been struggling with a bit of a block. This sucks because for one, I don't believe in writer's block. I believe that I am simply being stubborn and not allowing myself to do the one thing that I truly enjoy out of some kind of self-directed spite. It makes no sense that I would deprive myself in this way, but hey, that's the kind of gal I am.

In all of this, I have been claiming that time is the main reason why I haven't been sitting down to write. I say that I'm too busy or too tired because all of my time is spent working or thinking about work. This is most definitely a cop-out. In reality, I have never stopped having ideas for things I want to write, hence, I cannot cry "Writer's Block!" It simply isn't accurate. And the problem isn't a lack of time. I spend lots of time sitting at home, looking at my computer but doing little to nothing productive. So, in the spirit of having some spirit, I decided that I would take at least one day out of the week and go to my local library to write for a couple of hours. It sounded strange to my husband at first, I'm sure, but he hasn't complained yet so I'll keep at it.

Though it isn't like me to take time for myself in such a grandiose manner, I must admit, I kind of like having a few hours where I can concentrate on writing or finding good information about marketing without having to get up and check on my daughter or hear my husband's television shows in the background. This seems to be just what the doctor ordered. In case you hadn't figured it out, I'm at the library right now. And...I'm writing. Go figure. It wasn't writer's block at all. It was me-time deficiency. Lots of women suffer from this.

So, the next time you find that you're feeling a little less than motivated, think about finding a way to break free from your routine and give yourself some time alone. A change of venue, as it were. It might be just what you need to get your mojo back.

Until next time...




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On the road again...

It's funny how the places you imagine are, in reality, so much like the place where you live. What I mean by this is that I had always envisioned the state of New York to be this big, urban expanse and I really hadn't thought that there would be parts of the state that looked so much like my hometown.

I recently visited the city of Waterville, NY to present one of my Tea & Mystery discussions at their public library. As usual, the presentation went well and I met some very nice people there. I was surprised that the scenery didn't actually change between where I live in Ohio and there. In fact, had I not missed my daughter so much, I wouldn't have even known I'd left town. Although the foliage is beautiful this time of year, after about three or four hundred miles of the same landscape, you start to wonder if you're actually moving forward. The drive did give me a chance to start working on my next Rona Shively novel. I got my first three chapters drafted on the way to Waterville.

I've always loved visiting new places and this road trip proved to be all too short. Since I recently started a new job, I wasn't able to stay as long as I would have liked to check out the rest of the area. Perhaps next time I'll have a couple of days to spare. Until then, I'll just have to look at my own trees.

If your library would like to have me come out and do a Tea & Mystery presentation, please contact me here. I'm still booking these events and would love to visit as many libraries across the United States as possible.

Until next time...

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Waiting...

makes me nervous. Right now, I'm waiting to hear back from a publisher about the third book in the Rona Shively series. Right now, I'm kind of nervous. For reasons I won't go into here, I'm trying to switch publishers. I just think it's time. Doing this means moving away from what I'm familiar with and jumping out into "Reject Me" territory. Though I know it is a fact of life, I'm not all that hot on rejection. Who is?

My third book is the first full-length novel I've ever written and I think I've done some really great things with the Rona Shively character this time around. The story has some good, some bad, and some ugly...but no Clint Eastwood unless you count Rona's new love interest, Garrett Shaw. Rona is nearing forty and so, in the next book, you'll see that she's starting to mature a little. It's about time she did. She's held some grudges in her day and now, she's starting to rethink her position on some of these. Still, she maintains that she's fully justified in hanging onto the others.

One way or another, Keeping the Faith will be published. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the publisher I've approached will pick it up, but if they don't, I'll figure something out. For now, the series is in a state of literary limbo awaiting the call to be printed but keep the faith, everyone. Rona Shively will return.

Until next time...


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It's all about the numbers...

The older I get, the more I begin to notice that my life revolves around numbers. How much money is in my bank account, how many days of daycare I'll pay for this week, how many words I need to type in order to get my book finished, how much weight I need to lose, how high my cholesterol is, etc. Take today for instance.

I got up at 8 a.m. and spent a total of 20 minutes checking e-mails. I then hurried to get my daughter to daycare by 9, but ended up getting there at around 9:30. I went to the gym and walked a total of 17 laps which took a whopping 20 minutes before riding the stationary bike for 11.5 minutes and getting 2 miles in. This means I'll be able to eat those extra 50 calories I've been wanting to get my hands on. Woo-hoo!

After the gym, I went to the store. Geez, I hate to even think about the numbers involved there. After spending about $20 at the store, I stopped to put $42 worth of gas in my car. That will get me about 350 miles. Maybe. All the while, I was thinking that last night I had just hit 43,000 words on Keeping the Faith and that I really need about 20,000 more to ensure that I hit novel length with this one. We'll see. I've been working on this book for approximately seven months, four days, three hours and twenty-six minutes. During that time, I've thrown out about 97 pages worth of plot that I hated.

When I got home from doing all of this, I checked the tv listings to see what was on and decided not to watch Seven, The Three Amigos, or 1408. I had to get to work by 1 anyway. So, after answering 32 e-mails, a couple of instant messages and commenting on three or four blog posts I remembered that I needed to get the ISBN numbers for a few books I wanted to find. By the time I looked these up, I was sure that my brain might explode.

You see, I hate numbers. That's why I try very hard not to do any tricky math and I can't really commit to playing the lottery. There's just too many damned numbers.

Until next time...

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Tea & Mystery

Recently, I've started scheduling discussion events with libraries called Tea & Mystery. At these gatherings, we are going to discuss the mystery genre and how it has found its way into our daily entertainment diet. It should be lots of fun and We're even going to play a whodunit game as part of the presentation.
I'm looking forward to doing these discussions. I enjoy mysteries every day whether it is on my television, in my car on audiobook or on my own computer where I write them. I hadn't realized just how much my life revolved around mysteries until I started putting together these discussion events. If you are able, please join me at one of my upcoming Tea & Mystery presentations. The schedule is below:

8/28 New Carlisle Public Library, New Carlisle, OH 7 p.m.
9/10 Clark County Public Library, Springfield, OH 7 p.m.
9/27 Champaign County Public Library Urbana, OH 2 p.m.
10/14 Waterville Public Library Waterville, NY 6 p.m.

All events will last about two hours and participants will be encouraged to bring their favorite mystery books with them so that they can share their thoughts on the topic. More information about registration will be available a few weeks prior to each event.

If you have a private group that would like to have a similar discussion, please let me know. I can do these in person or via conference call!

Until next time...


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More of the same...

I hate to beat a dead horse, but the damned thing keeps neighing. I say this in reference to some submission guidelines I recently read on a publisher's website. I was just innocently looking for information about some of the different publishers out there and I ran into what I consider to be a very prejudicial statement, spelled out in black and white for all the world to see. I know that I shouldn't let it anger me so, but it is very disheartening to see this over and over. To explain:

Do not send us books printed by PublishAmerica, iUniverse, Xlibris, or anybody else as a sample of your work. It will, in 99.9% of the cases, work against you. Obviously, that also means don't include those books in your query letter or list of credits, either.

I won't mention which publisher's website this was on and I don't want to sound whiny, but for Pete's sake people. Right now, I'm a PublishAmerica author. Although they aren't at the top of anyone's list for best and brightest publishing group, they do not charge a fee and should not be lumped in with publishers who do. My work through PublishAmerica should be considered as work that I can include on my list of writing credits. It was distributed through the big warehouses and I did receive royalties (no matter how meager).

I have spoken with authors who paid through the nose to have their books published and they don't seem to be having the same problems with credibility as I have had as a PublishAmerica author. Even though I've said, time and time again, I paid nothing to have my book published. I was never asked to pay for their services, nor did I ever do so.

Because of this seemingly universal snubbing, I have been denied book signing opportunities, book reviews, memberships to writing groups and now, it appears, the likelihood of being published through another publishing house because my work with PublishAmerica simply doesn't count.

I'm sure there are people out there who believe that all of this makes sense and that PublishAmerica authors have not put in their time as writers. They base this solely on their own beliefs about the publisher and project their feelings onto the writers. They have no real basis for their claims other than their own bias and quite frankly, I think that sucks.

My intention has always been to submit my first novel-length effort to a bigger publisher and see if I have what it takes. As someone who views a show of effort as a positive thing, I see absolutely nothing wrong with writing and publishing through a smaller, less prestigious publisher to get started in the writing world. My goal here is not to grumble and complain, but to enlighten those who are clinging to the notion that PublishAmerica authors are just hacks or vanity press writers who couldn't possibly succeed on a more substantial playing field or who were somehow deviously suckered into signing with a predatory publisher. Hasn't anyone ever heard of starting out small or what I like to call an entry level position?

I'd worry that writing this blog post might damage my credibility, but it appears that I probably didn't have any to begin with. After all, I'm just a PublishAmerica writer. What do I know?

Just another example of how narrow-minded people can be...just another reason why I write.

Until next time...







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Thoughts for today...writing, living, feeling...

For those of you who don't know, it's been a rough year for my family. We've had several things that didn't quite go our way. The economy sucks, my presidential candidate isn't going forward in the election, gas is too damned expensive and I can't seem to get my frigging car (which I just bought in April) to run from one place to another. These things, on top of a miscarriage and my husband's nine week long recovery from knee surgery were enough to drive me almost completely crazy. It's just been one shit storm after another. So, what keeps me from going completely crackers? Well, I'd have to say that aside from my daughter, my writing is the one thing I can count on to make me happy. No matter what else is going on, I can go to writing and put my feelings, however shitty, down on paper. I can choose to share these thoughts or keep them to myself. I can write angry or I can write happy, it really doesn't matter. The point is, I write.

Times like these make it difficult to concentrate on major writing projects such as my mystery series, but I have found that simply taking the time to jot down notes about what I would like to have happen in my book is a very effective way to gain ground. As a matter of fact, I have recently uncovered several scribblings that I made at various points during the past few months which made wonderful additions to what I am writing. I have written and rewritten Keeping the Faith at least three times now and I'm finally starting to like what I see. It is frustrating for someone like me, a person who hates rough drafts and rewrites, to continually revamp a story. I think, however, that this means I am growing as a writer. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.

I have been saying for the past six months that Keeping the Faith will be ready for publication by this Fall and I am diligently working toward my self-imposed due date. The setbacks have been tough, but I can always come back to the writing after a bad day. It keeps me going and reminds me that there is something in my life over which I have at least a little control. When all else fails, I can decide who lives or dies in my books. I decide who wins and who loses. I can make someone sick, and I can heal that person if I so choose. It's delusion at its finest. Although it doesn't make up for what I have lost in real life, writing does give me an outlet through which I can process the pain and the feelings that sometimes get lost in the daily shuffle. I can say what I need to say in any way I want to say it and this is very important when life is handing you a bunch of lemons.

It's probably obvious to you all that I'm a thinker, one of those analytical, what does it all mean types who drives everyone around me crazy. I love to pick things apart; sometimes I simply can't help myself. I just hope that my analysis of things is at least entertaining enough to keep you reading. If it isn't, I'll still keep writing. Complain if you like, hell, complain even if you don't like to, it's good for you. The point is, if you've got something to say then say it. It matters, even if it only matters to you.

Until next time...



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Benston Blogs Lightens Up

You may have noticed that the atmosphere over here is a little "lighter." I decided it was time to ditch the dark background and opt for a more upbeat theme. I hope that you will like the changes.

There will also be changes in the type of content I write here. Since I pretty much write about whatever is on my mind, you may have noticed that I cover lots of topics in a given month. That was getting to be a little tiresome, so I'm going to try and hone down my range of topics so that it all begins to make a little more sense. Just one more thing I want to do for my readers. ;)

In addition to news about my mystery series, I'll be including some tidbits about my experiences with writing and how I've tried to overcome some of the obstacles that writers encounter. That's really the point of the blog, isn't it?

Until next time...



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Counterproductivity...

Yes, I'm nuts. I'm probably not the only person in the world whose metabolism kicks in just enough to make me hungrier. Though sometimes, it feels that way. I used to overeat because I was bored or frustrated. Now, I'm just frigging hungry all of the time. On the plus side of things, I have been walking every day and I've even started doing more stuff outside since learning that I had miscarried. I made a promise to myself to try and get into better shape...if only I could stop eating these damned fudge bars. It's not like a box a day habit or anything, but it certainly doesn't seem like the right thing to reach for when you're trying to lose a few pounds.

In any case, I'm struggling to get my brain back in gear and part of that means that you might be subjected to a little weirdness here on the blog. Pardon my lack of coherence...it's a fudge bar haze.

Currently, I'm working on that ever-absconding third Rona Shively book. It just keeps getting away from me. I have edited and re-edited and I decided after the third round of editing that I really hated what I had written. In essence, I started over, but I'm still stuck. Not sure what I'm waiting for, but I guess I'll figure it out sooner or later. It's something akin to losing one's mojo. Perhaps.

Keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer or two, and whatever other things people do for people who need a little good luck to come their way. Any day now, something wonderful has to happen. ;)

Until next time...

Writing Mystery vs. Fiction...Preference or Passion?

I've always loved a good mystery. In reading, I prefer a good whodunit to almost anything else. Whether it's the witty charm of a Kinsey Millhone or the brazen determination of a Stephanie Plum, I would never choose to read straight fiction over a mystery novel. I think this is why, when I started writing my own books, that I chose to write a mystery series. Although I had little experience with writing this genre, I was compelled to try my hand at putting together storylines that sort of drag the reader into a big mess. Was I successful? Who knows? That, in and of itself, is a mystery.

I was once told by a famous author that I should never have tried to journey into the intricacies of writing mystery without first having tried my hand at mainstream fiction. Her exact words were, "I advise novice writers to conquer the basics of characterization, plotting, tone and narrative in straight fiction before launching into the mechanics of the mystery." Not bad advice, but certainly a little discouraging for the aspiring mystery writer. If I had no desire to read straight fiction, how would I go about writing it? My plot ideas always come out the same way, someone gets killed or wronged in some other way, my main character tries to figure out who is responsible for it, and everyone eventually finds out who, what, when, where, why and how. I like to throw in some awkward situations for entertainment value and occasionally, my characters have substantial epiphanies that keep them motivated to figure out what has happened. I'm not sure I could comfortably write straight fiction. I couldn't stay interested enough in what I was writing.

Before I wrote the first two books in my Rona Shively mystery series, I checked out nearly every mystery writing book in our local library and looked at hundreds of websites on how to write, plot and develop your voice. I wanted to make sure that I was doing the right things and that my writing technique followed whatever patterns a good mystery writer should follow. After all, my qualifications for writing a mystery were pretty much made up of my tendency to read three mysteries at any given time, watch shows like Law & Order, CSI, and reruns of The Rockford Files, Charlie's Angels, and Starsky and Hutch. I have an inquisitive mind, what can I say?

I have thought about branching out into other genres and have even gone so far as to write a short horror story. In my mind, it still played out much like a mystery, only scarier than normal. The reason I write this post today is because I am at a point where I'm considering taking my mystery series in a new direction. In thinking about where I've been and where I would like to go with my writing, I know that I still want to be a mystery writer. I only hope that my series gets better and better with each intallment. In spite of my lack of professional experience, I want to be able to put together stories that are as compelling and entertaining as those I enjoy reading. My favorites, Janet Evanovich, Lisa Scottoline, Sarah Strohmeyer, and even Sue Grafton have inspired me to continue writing and trying to make my characters as intriguing and engaging as those they present.

For writers, do you have a preference of genre? If so, which ones? And what led you to that preference? I am wondering if any others out there feel that it is important to be an avid reader of your genre in order to effectively write within it. Readers, feel free to add your two cents. Just a conversation starter on this dreary Tuesday morning.

Until next time...

A Guest Post!

I encourage you to check out Nikki's website for valuable tips on book promotion!

Thanks,
Rebecca

New Virtual Book Tour Site Launch on February 1

Many people have heard about virtual book tours, sometimes called virtual author tours or virtual blog tours. They are a new and exciting way for authors to "tour" the internet - without leaving their home.

Imagine... you can meet potential readers from all over the internet and potential all over the world and you don't need to leave your home and family. In addition, a virtual tour is much more reasonably priced than the plane tickets, hotel rooms, meals etc that you need to buy for a book tour on the ground.

Authors and readers are all invited to visit the new virtual book tour site. There are over 100 articles and interviews to help authors learn more about book promotion. There are a number of web pages that were created by our tour site sponsors - they offer many products and services that could be beneficial for you. (If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com for more information.)

What's different about this book tour option? While our featured authors will visit other blogs throughout the month, each tour stop will be posted on the book tour site. Visitors who come to the site have the option of reading any or all of the information about the books and the author in one central location. So, whether you arrive at the tour on day 1 or the last day, you can easily catch up on all the details that each author wants to share with you. Each visitor has a choice about how they want to learn about the feature authors. I encourage you to visit the site frequently to find out what new information has been posted. The links which are posted below, take you to each author's tour page. All posts about their books are linked to these pages and are easy to access.

So, what books are we featuring in February? Here's some information about the authors you will meet during the month. They have all posted some information on the site and much more will be posted throughout the month.



Earl Ofari Hutchingson - The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Earl+Hutchinson+-+Feb+2008

The Ethnic Presidency is an explosive look at how racial and ethnic conflict has openly and covertly played a crucial role over the past three decades in influencing, shaping and ultimately deciding who bags the world's biggest political prize, the White House. It explains how racial politics is playing an even bigger role in the 2008 presidential election and future elections.


Steven Clark Bradley - Nimrod Rising
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/steven-clark-bradley-author-nimrod-rising


Have you ever felt that the world was guided in ways that are beyond man's control? The constant changes in the world since the time of Nimrod 4000 years ago until today and all the events that have shaken the world have been to bring the universe back into the hands of the Prince of Darkness, Lucia, a world that he had ruled with his Watchers before it was all ripped from his grasp when man was created. Nimrod Rising paints a diabolical picture of how the Prince of Darkness executes his evil plot to take the world back by force and destroy civilization in the process. From the Great Builder Nimrod in 4000 BC to today, 666 generations later, you can ride the storm of Nimrod Rising and experience the death of a world and the birth pangs of another. You will swear it is really upon us!

Virginia Vassallo - Unsung Patriot: Guy T. Viskniskki How The Stars and Stripes Began
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Virginia+Vassallo

The Unsung Patriot is the biography of Guy T. Viskniskki, the dynamic first officer-in-charge and editor-in-chief of The Stars and Stripes newspaper. Based in part on Guy's unpublished autobiography describing the first difficult months of the paper, his granddaughter's knowledge of the family verbal history paints a picture of a complex man. A devoted husband and father, Guy was unable to show the love he felt for his family. Guy poured his time and talent in the newspaper business. His knowledge and energy made the Army's newspaper a reality and his doctrine of "by and for the soldiers" still is the guiding light of the Stars and Stripes.

I want to extend an invitation for each person to visit the site and learn more about each of these authors and their books. I invite readers and authors to register on the site and create a profile page to tell us more about yourself. Also, feel free to post a comment about any of the posts or post an introduction on the forums. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com.

I look forward to meeting many new people.

Nikki Leigh
Author of the Book Promo 101 Series
www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

The Joy of Writer's Block...

Although I don't necessarily believe in this phenomenon, I am experiencing something that resembles writer's block. I've been stuck in the middle of my book for what seems like years, though it's really only been a few weeks. I've deleted chapters and started over at least three times. I've come up with so many other ideas in the meantime that I'm simply overwhelmed by the sheer potential of what is being held hostage in my cluttered mind. I have no idea why...well, that's not entirely true. I just can't say why right now. I have no idea how long this will last, but being a deadline oriented person, I can tell you that it's driving me a little nuts.

I've heard that writing something every day is the key to being successful. You don't necessarily need to publish something every time you write, it's the act of engaging in the creative process that helps keep you going. I guess I could try this...it has worked in the past. Or I could take a long break and then jump back into the deep end. Either way, I've been trying to take some time to explore other author blogs and see what's happening outside my little bubble. I'm motivated by the realization that I'm not the only one going through this.

The mini-mysteries have been a great way for me to exercise my brain. I really enjoy writing short stories and I've had these ideas on a list for a while now. I'm getting great guesses from readers and to tell you the truth, some of you have come up with much better endings than I did. At the end of the contest, I might compile them and share the alternate endings with you just for fun. We'll see.

For now, I've got my laptop up and running and I'm prepared to spend the evening writing and watching HGTV. Mini-mystery number three just might have something to do with home repair...or not. You never know where my motivation will come from. It's a thrill a minute here at the Benston house. Such is the life of a struggling author.

Until next time...

Things are going to start happening to me now...

or maybe not. All the same, I've got several irons in the fire. For one, I have a story that is being published in a new horror anthology in February of 2008 called From the Shadows. That's the name of the anthology, my story is called, Eleven. I think it turned out nicely and I'm anxious to see if horror fans will enjoy it. You can pre-order your copy now by going to http://www.triadpublishinggroup.com.

For my mystery fans out there, I'm still hard at work on the third Rona Shively story. Title to be announced soon!

I'm also still working on the women's self-esteem project, Reaching Higher Ground. I think I will have most of this finished by the end of the year. I had hoped for an earlier launch, however, things happen and sometimes you just have to adapt. ;)

In case you haven't been to my websites lately, I have recently updated all of them to include a link to my newest page for my short romance, Hearts and Flowers. Hearts and Flowers was published several months ago as an Amazon Short and I only recently started thinking that maybe I should have given it its own web page. The story is very sweet and so unlike me, but I think its heartwarming tone is just right for the season. If you get a chance, check it out at http://www.alittleromance.homestead.com. I've posted a sneak peek at the story in hopes of selling copies of the entire download for a whopping $.49 on Amazon Shorts!

All of this while battling the cold that will not die! I seem to have picked up the worst little case of congestion and sinus pressure in my brief history. Bear with me as I try to think clearly through the fog of antihistamines and headache medicine. I promise, once this sinus pressure eases up, I'll have something truly interesting to tell you.

Until next time...

My 50th post...

What to say? What to say? Well, I guess I will go with more of the same. I'm still reading several books that I think you might find interesting. Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin is still holding my interest. It's not that long of a book, but I tend to have limited pockets of time during which I can sit and read. Browsing through non-fiction books seems to work better for me than trying to read through the latest book by my favorite fiction writers. Luckily, there are audiobooks. Without these, I might never get to hear the latest Lisa Scottoline or Janet Evanovich stories.

Right now, I have several "browsing" books on hand. The first is called, Never Shower in a Thunderstorm: Surprising Facts and Misleading Myths About Our Health and the World We Live In by Anahad O'Connor. O'Connor is the "Really?" columnist for The New York Times. If that prompts you to ask "Really?" then you've got bigger issues than I can help you with. Anyway, this book is about dispelling myths such as "Does the Spanish Fly really exist?" or "Does grilled meat cause cancer?" or the title question of "Do you risk electrocution if you shower during a thunderstorm?" Intriguing? Yes. I picked a few at random and here's what I found:
The explanations given in this book are too involved for me to share here. I was going to dispell a few choice myths for you, but then decided that it really wouldn't be cool for me to spill the beans. Sorry if I got your hopes up on this one. My advice would be that if you are really interested in things like this, it wouldn't hurt to pick this one up. The book has tons of great statistics and so forth and would probably make a great gift for the inquisitive types on your Christmas list.

The second book I am looking at right now is called The Wish List by Barbara Ann Kipfer. I like this one because I am always looking for interesting things to want to do. Not necessarily to do, but just to want to do. It doesn't hurt to keep your dreams fresh. For example, I know that I am not likely to find myself in a situation where I am swimming with dolphins. For one thing, I'm terrified of deep water and big fish. For another, I don't trust them. Although they are built up to be this wonderful mammal (I guess) that wouldn't harm a human being, I don't trust any animal that can do the things that dolphins can do. Hell, I'm not even sure what they can do, but they kind of creep me out. In any case, this didn't stop me from putting "swim with dolphins" on my list of things I might like to do at some point during my life. Kipfer's list includes this and other crazy things like visiting all of the Major League Baseball stadiums in the U.S., tasting the native foods of every region on earth, and even flirting with Paul Newman. The book makes for interesting conversation with those around you and it gives you something to think about other than the usual lists of things you have to do to keep your household running. My new list, for example, includes learn how to read music, truly understand football instead of just watching in hopes of seeing a fight break out, and having dinner with three of my favorite men, Bob Barker, Richard Dawson and William Shatner. Can you imagine the conversation at this table? What a dream come true this would be! I might have to add James Garner to this list, too. After all, that's what wish lists are for. If you get a chance, pick this little book up and carry it around with you. Wishing is good for the soul.

In my never-ending quest for knowledge, I have also stumbled upon several good books about organizing your home. I have so much crap that I work with on a daily basis that it is sometimes difficult for me to keep everything tidy. I found 1000 Best Quick and Easy Organizing Secrets by Jamie Novak to be very helpful. Novak is the founder of Clutterproofing products. This is trademarked, but I couldn't figure out how to put the little symbol beside it, so I'll just have to spell it out. In any case, the book gives an itemized list of things you can do to make each area of your home and your life a little more organized. I have been using some of these and I have to say, I'm impressed. Several of these have been very helpful and I'm only halfway through the list. If you are into organizing, check this one out!

As usual, I'm always looking for inspiration and I have a few standard passages that I like to read from time to time to keep me grounded. Cynthia Kersey's book, Unstoppable has been a motivating force in my life since I found it years ago. I often pick this one up and read through it until I find the one that fits where I am in my journey. For today, I will share this poem:

Often your tasks will be many,
And more than you think you can do...
Often the road will be rugged
and the hills insurmountable, too...

But always remember, the hills ahead
are never as steep as they seem.
and with faith in your heart start upward
and climb 'til you reach your dream.

For nothing in life that is worthy
is ever too hard to achieve
if you have the faith to try it
and you have the faith to believe

For faith is a force that is greater
than knowledge or power or skill
and many defeats turn to triumph
if you trust in god's wisdom and will...

For faith is a mover of mountains.
There's nothing that god cannot do.
So start out today with faith in your heart
and climb 'til your dream comes true!

Helen Steiner Rice
Climb 'Til Your Dream Comes True

If that doesn't motivate you, try a couple more cups of coffee and check back with me later. Try to have a good day and possibly, a good week. Until next time...

The Evolution of Rona Shively...

The thing I enjoy about some of my favorite authors is that they share the emotional ups and downs of the character with readers. I think it is important for the writer to be able to feel the emotions of the character as they write. If you are scared, angry, happy or sad as you write a chapter, you’ve probably done something right.

As I am in the process of writing the third book in the Rona Shively series, I wanted to talk a little bit about how this character has changed over the course of the first two books. I like the fact that she is evolving and growing with each chapter. I hope that the readers have been able to sympathize with her as she deals with the ups and downs of relationships, financial difficulties, and just plain living.

I plan to put her through her paces in book three by having her face up to things that even I, the author, am not sure I can handle. As I write about some of these things, I feel them in the pit of my stomach and I hope that I will be able to draw upon personal experience to find the right words to capture the emotional intensity of the moment.

When I read a book, I expect to get caught up in the main character’s turmoil. I want to feel as though I am walking right alongside them, figuring it all out. Who are the writers that invite you into their stories? I’m interested in hearing from readers on this one. What significant passages have made you never want to put that book down? I know that for me, I hated to finish reading any of Lisa Scottoline’s books. Scottoline has a way of making you understand where her characters are coming from. She digs in and gives you the details so clearly that you can even smell the food cooking in her stories.

When it comes down to it, that’s what we really want. We need to be there, holding onto our favorite character, making sure that they go in the direction we want them to go. Or, if they don’t we at least know why they chose the wrong way. As I get closer to the end of Rona 3, I am so glad that there has been laughing, crying, nail-biting, etc. Hopefully, it means I’m doing something right.

Until next time…

Rebecca Benston

http://www.theronashivelystories.com

Blog post originally published at http://www.wordpress.com/booksden

Time for new things

It feels like it's time for a change. Not a change of location or a change of jobs or anything like that, but a change of perspective. I've spent a great deal of time worrying over the past year. This time last year, we were moving back to Springfield and I was worried about money and how all of the changes of the previous months would impact my family. Today, it feels like we've tied up alot of the loose ends that were strangling me. I finally feel comfortable with our choices and am motivated to go forward.

The first thing on my list of things to do is to finish the third installment in the Rona Shively series. I've been working on it here and there, but I keep getting sidetracked by one thing or another. I'm about sixty pages into it and I'm not sure I like the direction it has taken. I'll most likely end up going back through and deleting the things I don't like before I can write another page.

The second thing on the list is to start compiling the data I've collected for the Women's Self-Esteem book. This project is very important to me and I'm hoping to make more of it than just another title on my list. Not that my other books aren't important to me, but I have a real interest in doing something that will be helpful to other women. So far, the responses I've gotten to my surveys have been wonderful and I can't wait to start writing.

The last big project I have planned for this year (mind you, my year is running from September to August for some reason) is a semi-autobiographical book that I have wanted to write for many years. I have some great ideas for it including some interesting information from my father's childhood home in Beattyville, KY. This one's a huge project, so it will take a while to get it going.

I'm excited about the prospect of getting these stories on paper. It will make the struggles seem worthwhile. All of this and for the first time in a long time, I feel content. The only thing I'm worried about now is losing my bad attitude. Whatever will I do without my negativity?

Until next time...