Daily or Not

St. Pat's Drawings

2012-03-12T07:23:00.001-05:00

Let's have some fun!

I have this envelope containing bits of numbers. Once a number is drawn, I count up or down to that number and Voila! a winner is chosen. This is High Tech. :)

For St. Patrick's Day, I'm having several contests for Wild Dawn. For one and a paper copy of Wild Dawn, you'll have to subscribe to my free e-newsletter. Contest ending March 17.

All Contests Ending March 17. Please check your account e-mail from which you can be gifted. If the following account e-mails are not correct, I cannot gift you. Do NOT enter using the comments on this blog.

KINDLE: For Kindle's Wild Dawn, send e-mail. Make certain to include your Amazon.com account e-mail, so I can gift you.

NOOK: For Nook's Wild Dawn, send e-mail. Make certain to send your e-mail for BN.com's account, so I can gift you.

SMASHWORDS: For Smashword's Wild Dawn, send e-mail. Make certain to send your e-mail for Smashwords.com, so I can gift you.

Good Old Alphie

2012-03-10T21:39:00.000-06:00

With all the new gizmos for writers, I was thrilled that someone reached into their bag and hauled out one of my continuing favorites, an AlphaSmart 3000.

This little guy only has four lines of digital print and is not backlit, but it runs on 4 AA batteries for 750 hours. They were created to teach Second Graders keyboarding, and so they are practically indestructible. I've dropped mine on a concrete floor, and held my breath as I lifted it up. Worked fine.

They are made for rough draft, with a direct link to a computer for editing. A copy/paste program is available, called Get It.

At about 1 pound, they hold about 20 pages per file. Small in comparison to netbooks, etc. The AlphaSmart 3000 is not Internet available, which actually is an advantage for those who are easily distracted by e-mail, etc.

One of the advantages is that there is no warm-up, just a pop on/off at the same place where you left it.

In a pinch, they can be attached as an extra keyboard.

Years ago, prior to laptops and netbooks, you could see writers sitting around with their AlphaSmarts. Many writers still are using them. (Oh, poor Apple IIE. I love thee yet. :))

I just checked Ebay and used (which they aren't making new ones) run around $20-30. But if you go that route, make certain that you get the connecting cable. If you get the battery model, you actually do not need a charger.

For young mothers on the go, or those writer during breaks at their day job, this oldie is terrific, because of the pop on/off feature and packability, i.e. in a handbag. If only this had been around when I was working my day job and writing for 2 publishers.

There are newer models, i.e. Neo, etc., with a little bigger screen. But "Alphie" is really good for articles, short stories, blogs and business letters.

Painter or Writer or What?

2012-02-28T17:08:00.004-06:00

I thought you might like an inside view of what a writer might also do....

Imagine this canvas bunny surrounded by clover and white blooms. I hope. I'm painting it from a photo I took of a yard rabbit. Lovely photo. The canvas bunny is dubious at this point. :)

He's waiting while I'm working on my writing projects, poor unfinished thing. But hey, if he doesn't turn out, I'll just gesso him out and do something else.

I've lost some painting skills, because of not keeping up with painting. But my family likes these efforts and they're encouraging.

It's difficult for a writer who loves to do many creative projects to write and only write. (I love to bake, too.)

I love painting, and painted before I was published. But I'm getting back into painting now, and had to completely rebuy my acrylics.

Acrylics suit my fast pace now, as I am now a writer, busy with writing projects. Stacks of blank canvases wait.

These ducklings were my first return to painting. They are nothing but little fluff balls, the picture taken while walking along a river. I do like direction-type paintings and water, but gee, I should have chosen something easier than those ducklings. I like the one above and to the left of the mother; one who sets his/her own direction. Their little beaks are nothing but a stub. Sigh.

Because I find small painting difficult, these seagulls weren't that easy either. This basic photo was taken off the coast of California, but I fudged a little on the splash over the rocks. Palette knife would have been great on the rocks, but I've not yet returned to that level yet.

Okay, graphic artists. You can probably create that, too, but truly there is nothing like the drag of a brush on canvas. I spoke to another writer/painter who loves her brushes and canvases. She is also torn between loves and how to spend her creative time. Many writers are also creative in other fields, i.e. sewing handbags for one writer. (By the way, graphic artists, I'd love to use a drawing tablet and stylus, too.:))

Speaking as a painter (and not the quality I was when painting more) the colors and canvas also appear in written descriptions.

Generally, these creative streaks run writers, who pick up from their "other" sides.

When I first started writing, this was what editors noticed: the scenes portrayed in words. But I saw them in my mind. They also noticed dialogue and characterization, and the rest, I set out to learn.

Somewhere I read that it takes two hours a day to perfect a skill. Again, it's difficult to make a time-choice for writer/painters. But there are plenty of us out here....

If you are a painter, photographer, etc., I understand.

For Valentine's Day: Sleepless in Montana

2012-02-13T13:07:00.000-06:00

SLEEPLESS IN MONTANA

For Valentine's Day, here's one of my favorites, Sleepless in Montana. Most/All of my books are favorites (a question writers are often asked), because I've invested so much research, and because they're my babies. All of our own babies are pretty and well loved. :)

But Sleepless in Montana holds a particular part of me, Dear Valentines, that perhaps my other books do not. Hogan Kodiak, the hero, is an artist, and he contains some of what I as an artist perceives and feels in color and flow. As I wrote, I actually felt/perceived Hogan's artistic sensations. He was my Valentine and still is, tho I've done some other characters with art.

I've just lifted this backlist title, originally published in 1999. I'm in love with the cover, which naturally Hogan and I designed, perfect for Montana. BTW, I drove to Montana, one of my favorite sites, for research on several books.

Here's the reviews:

Sleepless in Montana seamlessly combines lovestories for all the Kodiak family members into one intense and tightly packagedtale. Cait London delivers once again! Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times

“...entertaining storyline.” Publishers Weekly

Sleepless in Montana is an emotional, multilayeredstory that will linger in your mind long after you finish the last page. A mustread! Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web

The succinct,non-communicative, native Montanan in me says, just read it. All About Romance, LizZink

This story was fantastic!...I recommend this bookto anyone who enjoys romantic suspense. Delia Larkins, Old Book Barn Gazette

And here's the blurb/storyline:

To protect the most vulnerable of the Kodiak clanfrom a killer, the embattled adult children and their mother return to the BarK. Hogan Kodiak, the eldest and the family’s outsider, is on his own ranch.Bitterly at odds with his father, he can’t rid himself of Jemma Delaney, hislongtime nemesis, now the woman he desires. Determined to unite the Kodiaks andsoothe Hogan’s troubled spirit, Jemma is no sweetheart as their romance firesup. As murder circles the Bar K, the Kodiaks untangle their past, their loves,and uncover the killer’s horrible secret.

*** ***

I hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day, Dear Valentines, and that you enjoy Sleepless in Montana. I'd love to hear from you....

Love Your Dreck Day

2012-02-05T08:31:00.000-06:00

Love Your Dreck/Drek Day

Writers often complain that they're writing worthless Blah, Blah, Blah. It's termed Dreck/Drek.

Dreck is defined as Trash and Rubbish.

But Dreck, as it pertains to writing, is just a mush of ideas that can't quite take form, no matter how much we push them. There's nothing good about this mass of what we really want to write. Of the ideas circling our brains.

People, people. Dreck provides the doorway to what some people term as Writers Block. Personally, I do not believe in WB, the darkly feared boogeyman man of writers. Do not focus on what you think is WB. The more you focus on it, say it, you're setting it firmly into your creative brain and actually creating your block... Do not even think it. But more on that later.

When you're looking at that blank page on the screen, that first page, it's terrifying. Questions like, "I know I have a good idea, but what if I can't write it?" circle your brain.

Okay, well, to get rid of that first page fear, here's a tip: Type in your regular format page, i.e. Name/Address/Contact left corner; go down spaces, Title Something, by Someone. Power down. Leave the page for awhile. When you come back, that page isn't blank anymore. This according to my own psychology of myself.

Writers have to do a lot of that, reassuring themselves, pulling little tricks to make them more comfortable with The Piece, The Work, The Book/Short Story.

So that takes us to Dreck, possibly the most valuable tool in our arsenal.

You see, before a story starts to take shape, there are all sorts of ideas that the writer wants to infuse into his story. It's a huge bundle, even for the most efficient plotter. (You know there are Plotters and Plungers, right? :))

So here's this mass of material at the start of actual writing. We want all of it in the story, somewhere. But where to begin?

Just pick a Story spot that's best for that moment. Write. Write that Dreck. Free it. Push it out. Write more Dreck, stuff that doesn't move in a cohesive line, just a bunch of drivel, dotted with punctuation. This is probably your first chapter. Do not allow yourself to be discouraged when you do not have perfect prose, the perfect starting place for your story. Write on, Dreckers.

Dreck is a start, and that's a doorway through and into your story realm.

Sit back and take a look at your Dreck, this whole mass of too much that has to be filtered through the storyline. Your story is in there, but the pieces are too many to pick the right starting place. Snag a piece you think might work and write the Second Chapter. Then the third.

Go back to Chapter One and review. It's probably still a big lump of ideas. You may wish to cut that chapter, start with another scene, etc. By the time you're 3/4 through the writing, you may want to go back to the start and infuse another element that just popped up, or delete an element/storyline that just isn't working.

The point of writing Dreck is that it gets the writer started. And that's what is important.

So, have you written your Dreck recently?

Writer's Jumpstart Tips for '12

2012-01-15T12:15:00.002-06:00

When Night Falls

At the Top of '12, I'm looking back at my goals, and prioritizing. One long-term goal for some time now has been to return to painting. I've almost completed 2 paintings. Another goal was to write a mystery short story (humor), and The Coupon Killer was born. I plan more of Jemma Kowalski, named after an old wrestling favorite, Killer Kowalski. :) And I'd intended to launch the L.E. Klein name somewhere, so The Coupon Killer was a two-fer.

Due to seasonal flu stuff I missed doing a workshop on Writers Block, which will come later. So sorry, local Write-In people. But look forward to my mini sessions in '12. I love the pop-up sessions.

Like Most Writers, I'm fully charged to take off in '12 with all sorts of goals. To start off '12, I started a redo of my website, which has waited while I got my E-Pub Feet wet.

If you are fully charged to jumpstart your writing in '12, the following may help you. They are included at Writers Tips included at my website. I am so hoping this helps someone. To start, here are my Twenty Top Tips for Writers:

The Biggest Tip of All: Do Not "Find" Time. "Make" Time. Think Positive, Be Aggressive in this goal. Mind set is everything.
1. Self Motivate; learn to use your personal carrots and triggers.
2. When Writing to Sell: Consider Your Individual Time Frames vs Your Attention Span
3. Protect Your Writing Time. Prepare in advance and avoid Vampires.
4. Edit off/away from Biological "Up" Time*
5. Work for self-reliance.
6. Block number of pages on a calendar
7. Focus on the Story's Theme/Thread Throughout; keep notes on it.
8. Finish the Piece! A completed project is truly your graduation certificate.
9. Prepare Yourself Psychologically. Be your own best friend with affirmations.
10. Get Away, Experience Life
11. Cut the Umbilical Cord. Send Your Piece into the Cruel World.
12. Keep Lists of Agents/Publishers, ref: Market Talk below *
13. Keep Databases, lists of ideas/character names/story ideas.*
14. Network in Person and Private, Talk with Other Writers *
15. Do Not Do As Others Do. You are an individual; weigh advice and choose only for your needs.
16. Write Business Letters and Mail Them on Regular Designated Day*
17. Use Ring Notebooks with Replacement Paper (if non-computer)
18. Do Not Compare Yourself to Other Writers
19. History Lessons: Know that you did the best you could, made the right choice, given the tools/knowledge at the time.
20. Learn to say "no." *Busy Work

Other topics are: Pre-Plotting and Plotting/What Do You Want to Write?/ How to Get Ideas/Dependable Story Nuggets/Understanding the Givens/You Have Your Idea/Begin Laying Plot/3 Yellow Brick Roads/Editing the Plot Line/Style, Impact Writing.

This is a massive offering, almost a mini-course itself. I spend a lot of time on Plotting, because I "came into" writing with strengths of basic characterization and dialogue. But I worked really hard to learn Plotting.

I plan to redo the plotting flow chart, but it's still there. I think basic computer programming and flow charts helped me to understand plotting early on. What works in programming's If-Then, works in creative writing.

I hope you'll visit my Writer Tips section at my website. There are several pages, and I'm reworking/editing sections, plus adding an E-Pub tips section later.

And be sure to subscribe to my E-Newsletter for more insider stuff, including contests.

Note: Discard the Read More. There is More but at my website. :)

Pseudonym or Not

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

NIGHT FIREThe use of a pseudonym is constantly on the tabletop of writer issues. My personal experience is: I started with Cait Logan, this because my real name is too long and unappealing, according to editors. Since I wanted to be published after 7 years of effort--back in the typewriter/carbon days--I went with a pseudonym.

So that's how it began. Then Silhouette wanted a different pseudonym, despite writing in the same subgenre as my Cait Logan name, so Cait London came along. I thought that was clever at the time, the use of CL and developed all sorts of CL stuff for marketing. (Please visit my booklist for more information and links.)

But today, I'm here. Amid epublishing my backlist and with Avon and Silhouette publishing my other books. You can find links to my booklist here. But now, I'm placing all my romance subgenre (western, romantic suspense/category/paranormal, women's) under the Cait Logan "Brand".

"Brand" has a lot to do with an author's name. Basically, that means a product that readers believe will be within their expectations of certain dynamics, i.e. as Cait London, I write romance, so there will be romance.

There is much discussion about the use of pseudonyms, and why. (I just mentioned my reason.) One reason an author might start a new pseudonym is a technique known to boost sales--if the primary pseudonym does not have the desired sales. Many authors do this; many editors recommend it when sales figures sag.

But at this time, I see other authors who have used their real names their entire career. And I believe that makes marketing on Twitter, Google+ and other social media much easier.

Recently, I wrote a short story which is not a subgenre of romance, under the name of L.E. Klein. Writers often add new pseudonyms when diversifying into new writing realms. Diversification allows the readers to know exactly what "Brand" they can expect. For example, Jayne Ann Krentz, beloved by many, many readers, writes futuristic romantic suspense and suspense; Amanda Quick (another name) writes regencies, and as Stephanie James, she wrote for Silhouette or Jayne Castle in MacFadden years ago. Apologies to Jayne Ann, who is a super long-term author, if I mucked those up. I admire her very much.

Another example would be Barbara Samuel, writing earlier as Ruth Wind, writing now as Barbara O'Neal. Yet a perfect example would be Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb, again 2 different styles/branding.

Many erotica writers take pseudonyms to fit into the genre, and/or because they wish their privacy.

The benefits of a pseudonym boil down to: privacy and branding of different styles. The disadvantages are that it takes a lot of effort in cross-marketing to draw attention to a new pseudonym, and that there can be confusion in doing so. Cross-marketing isn't easy and calls for development of a whole new style of ad work and that takes tremendous energy.

All this is a difficult choice. A very individual choice per writer.

Do you think a writer should maintain one name, either real or a pseudonym, or diversify?

Farewell 2011

2011-12-31T10:41:00.000-06:00

With a brand new year at hand, I'm lining up my business projects along with personal goals. One of the most important skills any self-employed, including writers and artists (I'm doing a little of that now) can do is to learn to prioritize.

At the end of the year, a time I really enjoy, I think back upon the past year and what I've learned. Now that's a priority. What's important, and what isn't. Revamping some of the covers shown at the side was a must.

With respect to indy publishing my backlist, the building blocks of learning this whole thing were huge. I thought I'd share a little:

1. Software programs are moving right along/improving and easier to use with this new publishing development. Currently, I'm using the ever present Word to clean my scanned oldies. Then switching to OpenOffice/freeware to set Chapter Headings. That's easier for me. Also, OO has an Add-in, Write2Epub which creates easy .epub files.

Epub files are essential. Take them to Calibre, also freeware, to neaten up. (Almost everything you need is freeware.) And then check with a purchased program, Jutoh, to see if .epub specs are met. Some home formatters are using Jutoh entirely. (It's a how-I learned when I started deal.:))

Typically, to start cleaning a Word file from a scanned book, it's best to do what you can, using the Find option in Word. I place a * at the beginning and at the end of an italics. This is important, because the cleanest file comes from copying the Word file and pasting and saving it in Notepad. (Again, that's how I learned to do it, much more intense than using Word's option.)

That cleaned file needs to be copied and then pasted back into Word, using the Special Paste option/Save.

If you're publishing to SmashWords, their guide to formatting is essential.

Keep in mind that there are professional services for the above. There's more, but that's the end of that segment.

Flashback2. Ad work is essential. I haven't done enough of that and my goal in 2012 is to do more. This year, it was just enough to get started and understand different facets. Contests are ever popular and I put up a Contest page at my blog. Discovering which options work the best is a new project, along with an upcoming new one, Sleepless in Montana, a light romantic suspense.

Romantic suspense. The range of this subgenre is extensive, from light to dark. Sleepless in Montana, which I'm "dressing" for epublication now, is very light.

3. Reviews are essential. This comes under the goals list. My early books do not have Internet reviews, and I'll be out there looking for reviewers in 2012. If you are a reviewer, please let me know.

4. Buddy-Up. Find a group you like and work with it. You'll learn from others. I've joined a few, liked some, didn't fit into others, so it's a what you like. But they can help you. For instance, one writer, Elizabeth S. Craig posted a really helpful spreadsheet of Cover Designers, Editors, Formatters, etc. I think Elizabeth may be one of the more interesting people I've E-Met in 2011. Do check out her site. Elizabeth keeps up her ad pressure in a style I admire. Which brings me to Google+, which is on my 2012 goal list.

I'm on 2 super E-Loops right now, chock full of information and support. Love those guys. I also rejoined Ninc this year, a group of all pros, who share and help.

5. As for Agents and Legacy/Paper Publishing: This evolution is changing the face of what they were, into what they are becoming. Ereaders, Fire, iPad2, etc. are changing the works. Some writers are placing their own works into paper, using CreateSpace, Lulu and others.

When Night Falls

My Goals for 2012, aside from the ever-present return-to-yoga, diet, painting: (In case you haven't experienced this, it is difficult to balance writing and painting. Projects hold you emotionally/mentally, ideas set in and are difficult to shift. I'm doing better, tho. :))

1. Learn more about Ad Work, the different touch points.
2. Get more reviewers on board.
3. Join Google+
4. Reassess Facebook. (I'm more of a Tweeter. :))
5. Finish another Jemma Kowalski mystery. (Short stories are difficult for me. I only did one because I was prodded by a friend. :))
6. Finish my new romantic suspense.
7. Publish my first Women's Fiction, now completed.
8. Close off what doesn't/didn't work in 2011, cleaning the clog.

In Review:
2011 was my Learning Year.
2012 continues the process, but with a step-up from learner.

I love this end of the year-time, setting goals for the new year, and prioritizing ongoing projects. I hope you're enjoying this time of year, too.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Writing: What Works/Sales

2011-12-20T10:36:00.000-06:00

When Night Falls

What works best in marketing books?

It’s all debatable. The topics on the table right now are: Titles, Reviews, Bonus Material, Benefits of Twitter and Facebook, and always Covers.

Right now, I’m dealing with replacing a blah title on book I wrote years ago and am now publishing in eformat. Not a clue why the publishers wanted that title, but blah, blah blah. I’m indy publishing, so I can darn well do what I want with it.

When the book is originally published in traditional or legacy as some term it, it will already have reviews under that same title. That means when the title is republished in eformat that the reviews generally go with it. However, when re-titling the same work, those reviews can be lost.

Reviews. The essential sales piece and correct format is also essential. If epublishing some reviewing site require so many stars on the reviews, 10 at one place. Some require say 4 5-star reviews, and then some require a book blogger review, etc. Getting readers to review means asking them for a slice of time they could use elsewhere. But readers/writers please review?

Which brings us to the Snarky Review. Ah, people. Reviews are Subjective, which means they are taken in and appraised by the very individual and personal preferences of people reading them. Sometimes the story flows with the reader's expectations/values whatever. Or maybe not. Or maybe their having a bad day and nothing is going to hit him/her right. (It's like that with editors, too. :))

But some people delight in ripping apart, putting down, for whatever reason. "It was so awful. Wallbanger quality" is interesting. Because usually, when questioned, the book was so awful that they read it completely through and could remember exact passages. Personally, if I read a book that is really awful, I'm not reading it throughout. So, something held that reader.

In a writer's world, a snarky review can be the unfortunate result of another writer's jealousy. Sorry, but it happens. Some people just delight in that.

Writers pick up a few callouses, or they should, and not take these snarky reviews to heart, so deeply that it disturbs their real life. On the other hand, a good, thoughtful review can be used by the writer as an evaluation of better writing in their next story.

If you have a Kindle, there is a handy application at the end of the books, which you can use to review or to simply give stars. I try always to do this.

Flashback

But back to Titles. Typically, a book is titled to its market. A women’s fiction book may have a softer title than a mystery. (Personally, I stay away from Death, Kill, etc.) But in ereading, a catchy title may suit that market better.

Which brings us to the different ways a book can be published, but under the same title. Many writers with reverted titles, such as moi, are using Lulu or CreateSpace, and other publishers to create trade paper books. Generally, that title has to fit somewhere on the Cover. Use too many words and you’ve lost impact. Because… the author also has to have their name large enough for repeat buyers. Plus sticking a nice quote from a reviewer on the cover somewhere adds interest.

Too many words in the title is generally troublesome. We want titles to slap into reader’s memory banks, so they’ll remember what to buy. We want reviewers to remember the titles.

The question of Bonus Material came up recently. Bonus Material refers that little extra kiss at the end of the book. Make that kiss too long and you’ll lose some readers. Too short and they’ll feel as if you didn’t deliver. I’m not certain how I feel about Bonus Material. I wonder if it might not be better as a short story, if it is epublished. But in paper, naturally, it would need to be included at the end of the book.

At the end of the book, after The End, ad work is essential, especially in epublishing. That’s where we splash Subscribe To My Enewsletter, my website and blog. Or, in the case of my MacLean trilogy, the titles of all the other books.

Enewsletters are invaluable. Generally this means a consistent reader, who cares enough to stay attached to what you’re doing. I’ve got a contest running right now on my enewsletter, just a simple drawing that ends Dec 30 for an epublished book, The Loving Season (The MacLeans) first of the MacLeans.

Which brings us to the best mode of promotion. It seems like everyone has their own preference. Free books is generally a super promotion, which nudges sales on more books. I don’t have any free books at the moment, other than the drawings I’m having for my ebooks at Twitter, coming up soon.

Twitter is excellent promotion ground and so is Facebook. Goodreads and others.

But exactly how much promotion can a writer do, and still write?

Every day, writers balance promotion and writing and generally life. Everyday, they make choices on the topics above.

I'd love your comments on them.

Contest Time

2011-12-14T08:25:00.012-06:00

Flashback is doing well in sales, so I'm pretty happy about that. Here's the blurb:
Rachel Everly won’t stop until she uncovers every painful secret that led to her sister’s tragic decline and suicide. Who was the monster that drove Mallory into death? Facts point to Kyle Scanlon, a sexy mechanic and a thorn in Rachel’s side for years.
As Rachel returns to her oceanside home town and her sister’s haunting memory, she carries her own hidden terror. Driven to unravel her sister’s desperate passages, Rachel is also driven toward Kyle, who holds secrets of his own. He fears Rachel will follow her sister into the dark side. In the shadows, a killer waits to strike...
***

I'm getting set for contests, etc. in '12, so I hope you'll join my enewsletter, Twitter or Facebook groups. I especially love Twitter and learn a lot from the articles referenced there. Plus, I like keeping up with what the world at large and writers are doing, too.

I haven't decided which book to start off books for ereaders, but watch my Twitter posts. I'll specify for which ereader.

Special contests will pop up in my enewsletter. But meanwhile, I thought you might like to know what I'm doing this season....
This is a photo taken near my house. I thought it would look great on some kind of a cover. Wish those were crows in lieu of starlings. I use a lot of photos and have to scan some older 35mm.

Gosh, 35mm. What a shame. I loved fiddling with those lens and filters. I got some great shots along the way, tho. Boxes of them.

This is what we had for our non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner, apple dumplings in sauce. A little bit of work, especially if you make the dough as I did, but delicious, especially warmed with ice cream over the top.

Really, it's one of the best deserts ever.

Here are some little kids' Christmas presents, easy, fun, cheap and sure to be appreciated.

These are pillowcases for little travel pillows. Guess what? Big adults like them, too.

To see what else I'm doing for Christmas, click Read More....

I'm still working on this one, but my goal was to start painting again this year.

It's really scary to pick up brushes and paints again, after so long. This one is "cooling", a time to stand back and think about what is that last change.

It's like writing. When finished, it's good to take a pause, sit back, do something else and the masterpiece "cool". Some great twist, etc. or change is sure to pop up. But so important to get some distance from the piece.

I hope you enjoyed the visit and don't forget to sign up for my enewsletter, because I'm starting contests there in '12.

Whew! I just made it before the end of the year. :)

The Daddy Candidate/MacLeans on Sale

2011-12-01T10:17:00.013-06:00

The Daddy Candidate is now on sale, with an updated cover.

The Daddy Candidate is the last of the MacLean trilogy.

Here's his blurb:
Published 1991 by Silhouette Desire; MacLean Trilogy: When cold, hard systems-warrior Maxwell Van Damme does a reorganize-systemize favor for J.D. MacLean (Angel vs. MacLean), he isn't expecting J.D.'s sister-in-law, Irish Dalton.
Freestyle, nurturer Irish owns Abagail's House, a Colorado B&B. Her business system (1 apple-shaped cookie jar and 1 shoebox) and free passes to those in financial distress unnerves Max. She isn't happy about Max set to re-do her caring kingdom...
But it only takes one kiss... Then Max beats first-night baby-odds and he's set for a take-over...
(Teaser at the Read More Click)

The Loving Season is first and is now .99. Read about how Mac makes chili and captures Diana.
Blurb:
Author Rating--Sweet/Sensual. First of MacLean series, published as Desire, 1989. The Wyoming B&B is filled and on a voyage of self-discovery after a bad marriage, Diana is re-routed to a ranch home. She's not expecting a bagpipe-paying grumpy rancher. But she looks like a stray and Mac is keeping her. He's determined not to love again, and with 2 grown sons, Diana isn't planning romance, or physical attraction. And then, guess what happens?

I loved this book. Got to research dog sledding, too!

Angel vs. MacLean is second. J.D. MacLean wants revenge on the irritating woman he can't forget.
Blurb:
Contemporary Category, Published 1991.
Two fighters, each with revenge on their minds, step into the arena of primitive attraction...
Denver's leading attorney, Katherine Kelly, didn't want trucking czar J.D. MacLean back in her life. But J.D. wants revenge; he's, furious that after one night in his bed years ago, a teenage "Kat" married an older rich man--while J.D. was struggling to raise a baby and build his business. Now, years later, he holds Katherine's baby sister in his financial fist, and he doesn't intend to play fair.
Their flashfire sensuality ignites as J.D. wants more than payback from Katherine; he wants everything...

Reminder: Click the Read More for The Daddy Candidate's Teaser?

HE'D COME TO SYSTEMIZE HER BELOVED B&B...

MAX'S FIRST TAKE:
She looked very hot and very passionate.
The thought startled Max, tightening his taut stomach. These days, wrapped in the comfort of his experience and age, he rarely thought of women as hot and passionate, nor soft and sweet. She reminded him of Tchaikovsky's passionate strains, rather than Bach's smoothly integrated chords. Max stirred against the leather seat restlessly, uncomfortable with his comparison of Irish to his favorite composers...
Her pert nose suited her freckles, and a soft vulnerable mouth caused Max to think of California strawberries—not the large, too-sweet variety, but the medium size with the interesting tart flavor...
Distracted momentarily, Max thought they were nice breasts. Not too full, nor too slight.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. In his palms, they would feel exactly right. About the size of succulent Valencia oranges, though the tips probably would have the slight nuance and mellow bite of a fine French wine.

IRISH'S FIRST TAKE:
She gripped the mud ball in her hand more tightly. Van Damme's purpose was to mess with her land, and she intended to give him the feel of it immediately.
He looked exactly like what he was—a businessman, cutting the warmth and affection from his life by hurrying through all the whimsies that make life enjoyable and make people lovable, Irish thought sadly. She noted the hard clean-shaven face, the slashing dark brown eyes that appraised and dissected everything in their sweep. His skin lacked laughter lines, and a taut muscle moved in his jaw as though he couldn't wait to accomplish his mission and soar out of the wilderness in his shiny car.
Irish glanced at his car. He probably loved it as much as she loved her inn. After all, hit men/systems warriors deserved their special loves, too.
She sensed that Maxwell Van Damme had never known real love.
She doubted that his auburn hair had ever been mussed by the wind, that its tendency to curl had ever been freed; she doubted he laughed easily or exclaimed with delight.
She wondered who and what would make him smile, lighting his cold dark eyes with warmth.
"Hello, Max," she said quietly, returning his stony unreadable gaze evenly. "Are you hungry?"
He flicked a wary look down his nose at her, as though she were a wrinkle that needed ironing. Though Max probably never experienced a wrinkle or a gravy stain in his life, he needed attention, just like a little lost boy, she thought whimsically. She allowed her lips to curve with the thought...
***

The Coupon Killer Short Story

2011-11-14T08:49:00.010-06:00

The Coupon Killer is my first short story as L.E. Klein, another pseudonym. This may be a series, not certain yet. It's a humorous take on a woman detective and coupons. Since one member of my family is into coupons, this short story seemed logical. We sell our family off in pieces, you know. That's what Kathleen Eagle said during a speaking engagement and it's really true. My Potter-Daughter is just waiting for the "ax" to fall. :)

Here's the blurb on The Coupon Killer:

Short Story by L.E. Klein
L.E. Klein is a pseudonym for Cait London, also a pseudonym.
Meet Jenna Kowalski, a Kansas City suburb homicide detective. Recently divorced, Jenna holds her own in the all-male force. As the smallest, most agile, Jenna has been been hefted up, lowered down, and scrunched into places no woman should enter. She craves good bear-claw pastry, coffee, and Jose Morales, a co-worker. Her chances for the first two are good.
*** ***
A body found outside an alley dumpster has Jenna working a new case. The Body was a couponer, desperate enough to climb into the dumpster after them. The scissors found in her throat said someone didn’t like her. But then, as temporary lead detective, Jenna finds no one liked her, not even Maggie’s husband. The question is: Who killed Maggie? And can Jenna learn the ins and outs of couponing?
***
While I'm epublishing my backlist, I'm also writing new stories and taking a real look at covers. Here's a new one for When Night Falls, now .99 at Kindle.

When Night Falls is now .99 for a limited time at Kindle.

Currently, I'm working on Sleepless in Montana, placing it into eformat. But I thought you'd enjoy The Coupon Killer, an 11,000 word short story, .99.

With constant updates on my titles, you may wish to subscribe to my free e-newsletter. And if you have time, I'd really appreciate your comments about When Night Falls new cover.

Romantic Suspense

2011-11-07T07:43:00.004-06:00

Flashback is now in Kindle format and soon in other formats. This is the 2nd of a string of romantic suspense.

Some reviewers list my suspense stories as thrillers. I don't think so. Story weight usually falls heavily upon the characters, romance included. My stories are lighter romantic suspense, which means I keep the blood/gore/cursing down to a minimum, while seeking who did what, i.e. murder.

It's a reader-preference thingie. My stories usually do have a cast of characters, which not all readers prefer. Some do like the spread of family, backgrounds, etc. involved, which I think makes the best setup for character-driven stories.

Character-driver as opposed to plot driven, which would be more mystery. I like the lighter suspense and character emotions, the relationships, the backgrounds.

Backgrounds are so important; motivations and need arise in the character from the backgrounds.

Some time ago, a writer-friend and I were talking about "flat" writing styles. That is, the characters were not fleshed out, at least enough for the reader to grip and dig into them. That gripping comes from a familiar experience or something human to latch onto, drawn from similar experiences.

Background accomplishes the, well, background, upon which to set the foreground, and the story stream, what drives the characters, what matters to them....

For instance: if a character runs his thumb over a scar on furniture, it may remind him of how he built that cabinet, with his father, just before his father was murdered. What did his father say in that scene, anything for the writer to "latch onto" and create a clue to the murder?

Some things matter big-time.

Addressing the romantic side now: It's about the Bed. I've written about this before, but watch for next time.... :)

Upcoming EBook: Flashback

2011-11-01T09:00:00.009-05:00

You'll be enthralled by this skilled mystery and steely, smart heroine.
Reviewed By: Terri Clark/Romantic Times Magazine

Here's a brand new cover for Flashback by Cait London, coming soon. This is an e-version of Flashback, HarperCollins 2005.

What's it all about? Ask Harriet Klausner of The Best Reviews:

"Tense romantic suspense thriller"
Rachel Everly returns to her home town, Neptune's Landing to learn why her sister, Mallory, committed suicide. Rachel wonders if Kyle Scanlon is the underlying reason as the hunk has tempted every female in town from the moment he opened up his mechanic shop.

Rachel is surprised to find out that her sister left her with her pride and joy the Nine Ball family pool hall. Because she feels guilty for not being there for her sibling, Rachel plans to honor Mallory by turning the place into a thriving business.

She moves into Mallory's small apartment above the pool hall, but finds the place haunting as she constantly yells (a bit overdone) why at every hint of Mallory's presence, which is everywhere, and starts to locate clues of the source that propelled her sister to apparently kill her self. Clues to the evil that controlled Mallory until her death was her only relief from her dark side; Rachel is next if she fails to interpret what she truly inherited from her sibling.

FLASHBACK is a tense romantic suspense thriller starring two combatants falling in love while the heroine wonders if her beloved led her sister to the dark side. The war between the lead couple is fun to follow, but the key to the exciting story line remains Rachel's efforts to learn what drove her sibling to suicide. As readers ponder why also, only Kyle can keep Rachel from repeating her sister's mistakes, but she must trust him to be her champion; a difficult undertaking when you deem him unworthy of her and most likely in her estimation the cause.
Harriet Klausner

Watch for more, but meanwhile here are more reviews for Flashback:

Davenport Books Examiner/Examiner.com
Reviewer: Teresa Moraetes
May 10, 2011

‘Flashback’ is a romantic suspense thriller by Cait London, a USA Today and New York Times best-selling author. This book was published by Avon in September 2005 and is 416 pages. It takes two people through a tension-filled relationship while searching for answers to the death of a loved one.

Rachel Everly returns home to Neptune’s Landing to attend her sister Mallory’s funeral, who tragically committed suicide after a 3-year struggle with alcohol, drugs, and beatings that led to her demise. She soon encounters Kyle Scanlon, the town mechanic, whom she has always despised. Believing that he was in a relationship with Mallory, she goes on the hunt to find evidence to prove his part in her downfall. Little did she know that the more time spent with Kyle, sparks would start to fly for this sexy, yet secretive man.

She learns that Mallory left Nine Balls, her billiards business, to her. She moves into the apartment above the business against everyone’s advice. While living there, she constantly smells and hears Mallory, bringing her some comfort. This makes her even more determined to understand why her sister would take her own life.
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Evidence begins to pile up against Kyle being the culprit. As Rachel pursues her investigation, she discovers secret compartments holding items that clearly paint another picture of Mallory’s life. This, in turn, points towards other possible suspects and more speculation about her sordid life.

Rachel starts asking more and more questions to get people riled up in the hopes of learning Mallory’s secrets. Gradually, the clues she uncovers points to the unimaginable. Setting herself up as bait, she pushes harder to uncover the monster that harmed her sister and, at the same time, begins to trust and love Kyle. Together, they must piece together all they know to capture the true villain so they can finally lay Mallory to rest.

This is the first Cait London book read. Although it took the first couple of chapters to really get into the story, it did eventually move forward for an enjoyable read, leading to a surprising, but excellent ending.

The author did a great job in bringing Rachel and Kyle together. Their constant word-play and sexual tension as they began falling in love proved to be exciting and fun.

Not only did the budding romance between Kyle and Rachel keep me entertained and interested, but one becomes involved in the lives of all the characters from the beginning to ending of the book. An even more amazing job was accomplished by keeping the reader caught up in the events leading to Mallory’s death.

The author’s idea of allowing Mallory to talk to Rachel helped the readers understand what some people go through when they lose a loved one. It shows that one sometimes needs resolution to move forward.
***

FreshFiction.com
If you want a good thriller, this is the book. From the get go, Cait London leads you through the darker side of a young woman who lost her way. The characters made the book wonderful and creepy at the same time. I was so caught up in the story I couldn't put it down until I got to the end. I really can't wait for Cait's next book.
Barb Boehler, Reviewer

***

Flashback is an excellent example of romantic suspense done right. The sexual tension between Kyle and Rachel is obvious from the beginning. I quickly became involved not only in their developing romance, but also in the mystery surrounding Mallory's death. I have been fan of Cait London since her early Silhouette days. I look forward to what Ms. London has in store for the future. Flashback packs a punch!
Melissa
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

***
Author Cait London has become well known for her special gift of pulling readers quickly into a story. Once you begin this suspense novel you will not even WANT to resist! My only pet peeve with this story is that Rachel yells aloud at Mallory's felt presence too often. The two main characters, Rachel and Kyle, are a pleasure to watch clash. I never knew which one would win or what would happen next. ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I hope you watch for Flashback, a romantic suspense thriller as a few reviewers labeled it.

Here's The Loving Season

2011-10-01T14:02:00.009-05:00

The Loving Season (The MacLeans) is the first book of the MacLean series.

Originally a Desire, it is now epublished for your enjoyment. I hope. We're working on Angel vs MacLean and The Daddy Candidate, books 2 and 3 now.

Here's the story:
Author Rating--Sweet/Sensual. First of MacLean series, published as Desire, 1989. The Wyoming B&B is filled and on a voyage of self-discovery after a bad marriage, Diana is re-routed to a ranch home. She's not expecting a bagpipe-paying grumpy rancher. But she looks like a stray and Mac is keeping her. He's determined not to love again, and with 2 grown sons, Diana isn't planning romance, or physical attraction. And then, guess what happens?

Mac needs a fake romance with Diana to throw the judges into his favor. He's in a chili cook-off and desperately wants the prize against an old-time chili-contest foe. With Diana in his corner, he just might win.

I love to cook and you can find all my homemaking stuff at MyJamJar, my other blog. I've been so busy writing and getting my older books into epublishing that I had to let that go. But there's plenty of stuff there about baking, sewing, squash, etc. And cookies, perfect for this time of year.

Last night I watched a program on bagels, so that may be coming up.

But for now, here's My chili recipe. It's loosely measured, as I'm a pinch of this and a scoop of that cook.:

Slowcooker:
Soak black dry beans through the night. (I see no reason to pay higher for canned, when you can make a whole slowcooker and use them as you go, i.e. tacos, chicken tortilla soup, etc.)

Cook until tender. Add browned hamburger (or not). Add tomatoes, canned or not. (I can my own.) Add 1 whole onion, chopped, garlic. Add green pepper.* (see below) You can brown the previous with hamburger., small can green chiles, then start spicing: chili powder, cumin, crushed red pepper, paprika.

Simmer for hours.

For variety, skip meat, add mushrooms, Rotel, etc. Top with Doritos, then cheese, or just cheese. Or chopped green onions. I like that fresh taste.

I think Mac's secret ingredient in The Loving Season (The MacLeans)
is not only Diana, but paprika.

What do you think?

A Mountain Man Meets a Lady

2011-09-25T09:33:00.013-05:00

Wild Dawn, one of my favorite American frontier books, written as Cait Logan, is re-appearing by Cait London :) BTW, I traveled to research, and the "dawn" overlay in the cover is actually the sunset taken from my home.

Here is my Dear Reader letter in the book, because to me, author's backstories are interesting:

Dear Reader:
As Cait Logan, I wrote several western historical romances, and category (series romance). I’m placing these into epublishing (as Cait London) for those who enjoyed them the first time, and those who are just discovering these lovely Northwest historicals. (I hope you read Delilah and the Mountie, one of my favorites, now available.) I traveled these trails and visited forts and vistas, and loved every minute of research.

Wild Dawn reflects how many bargain-made marriages began in history. To survive in Wild Dawn, and with danger all around Lady Regina, evil pursuing her, she must accept the mountain man, MacGregor’s offer of safe-keeping and marriage. While MacGregor is serious about marriage, he’s pretty rough around the edges, though he means well. But Regina only wants his help to get to safety. And then, there’s Jack, his adorable little son, just four months old and needing a woman’s care. MacGregor will fight to keep this English lady safe and safely wed to him... He’s in for a surprise with this “little woman”, set on escaping him and building her own life. For MacGregor and Regina, it truly is a new start, a new Wild Dawn.

I just love MacGregor, rough as he is. One of my favorite heroes, and I hope yours.
I also fell in love with the paisley shawl, a fashion of the day, and used that as a theme in a contemporary weaver’s novel, Tallchief for Keeps, a romance amid the Tallchief Silhouette Desire miniseries.

As an artist, I loved these written canvases and I hope you do, too.
....
How the mountainman MacGregor proposed to the English Lady Regina, who has been deserted and is starving in a mountain cabin is next....

He shifted his arm beneath the fur cape, the wind lifting the edges about his calves. “My son, Jack, is under this robe. He needs that cabin tonight, and I’m coming in. That fancy little gun won’t go through buffalo hide. The chambers are empty anyway.... Tuck it away.”

When she stared at him blankly, he nodded and took a deep breath. “I’d appreciate you asking me in. I’ve come a long way for you.”

Long legs shifted restlessly beneath the buffalo cape. “The Indians know you’re MacGregor’s woman—that’s me—MacGregor. I’m needing a woman for Jack, ma’am, and you’re the choice cow of the herd.”

“Cow?” she repeated blankly.

“Female... woman,” he answered impatiently. “You’ll find I’m not good with words.”

Stunned, Regina’s gaze slid down the tall man’s body, shrouded by the cape down to his buckskin leggings and boots.

A cold chill ran up her spine before she straightened her shoulders. Fear danced over her flesh like icy sleet. The mountain man had no claim on her; his arrogance caused her to remember her father.

“I’m a blunt-spoken woman,” she tossed back at him. “I haven’t heard of you, nor am I ‘your woman.’ If you have a child in your robes, show him to me and you may have shelter for the night.”

When he spoke the wind rose, penetrating the rags covering her feet. MacGregor’s black eyes sliced at her, and his voice reminded her of a castle mastiff’s growl. “No one doubts my word, ma’am. Jack’s tucked in snug enough, and I’m not bringing him out until we’re in the cabin. I’m done palaverin’—talking.”

He lowered his head deeper into the mass of buffalo fur. “I’m tired and my son needs that cabin, ma’am,” he said roughly. “We’re coming in. You’ve got the night to think about living or dying.... The way I see it is, you have four choices: You can freeze in that cabin this winter— alone... let the Indians turn you into a tribal squaw... or maybe some trapper will set you up as his property in a back room and hire you out.”

Then he added quietly, “Or you can marry me.”
....
MacGregor and the Lady Regina do not expect what will happen in this marriage of convenience.

I hope you enjoy one of my favorite stories.

When Night Falls Now on Sale

2011-09-19T10:19:00.012-05:00

When Night Falls NOW .99, Featured at Daily Cheap Reads, 8a. Central, 9/20/11.

When Night Fallsis my first openly romantic suspense, though looking back at my booklist, suspense and psychic are strong threads running throughout.

Now at .99, I hope you'll enjoy the story. Here it is:
As the town's secret keeper, Uma Thornton has built a quiet, safe life, until the drive-by murder of her best friend, Lauren. Tormented by his past, Mitchell Warren returns to Madrid, Oklahoma to find peace; suspicion turns to him as a serial killer stalks the quiet streets and rose gardens. When Mitchell's bad boy brother, Roman returns, old hatreds and new desire throb in the rose-scented air for Uma's friend, Shelly. Suddenly, Uma is torn from her safety, and tossed into passion and danger with Mitchell when the killer wants his secrets hidden forever....

TEASER:
Fearing for Uma, Mitchell raced toward town. He couldn’t breathe, his heart racing as his truck skidded to a stop by the Lawrence house. He shoved open the door, calling, “Uma?”

Deadly silence answered him, and Mitchell pushed up the stairs, two at a time, his body cold. Uma’s office was neat... and empty.

The bullet hole in the window reminded him that she could be—

He swallowed, hurrying down the stairs and through the kitchen and out the back door to the garden. The roses she loved were beautiful, glossy and rich, and perfumed, and too still, the air seeming thick and layered and cool on his naked chest... too still, as if they were waiting...

Tail twitching, the gray tomcat watched him from his back steps. The cat leaped aside as Mitchell hurried inside to call, “Uma!”

The word echoed hollowly back to him, and the house was still and cool and trembling, as if—- The stillness inside him, the prickling of the hair at his nape and on his body, every sense Mitchell had knew that Uma was in danger—that the stalker had chosen his time. “I know, Lauren. I know....”

Mitchell had made a mistake... he’d been certain that the danger walked in the night. But now it was only evening and still light, the sun barely fingering through the growing shadows on Lawrence Street. “Lauren, take care of her... Please...”

....

REVIEWS:

A supposedly sleepy town burns with dark emotions and dangerous impulses in Cait London's romantic thriller. The complicated relationships between characters make building, or in some cases rebuilding, trust and love a challenge that Ms. London accomplishes nicely. Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times Magazine.

Fans of romantic suspense will thoroughly enjoy Cait London's latest tale that focuses as much on the tension as the two love stories ... The cast is strong and inviting while the identity of the killer is impossible to name. On top of that are two beautiful romances that lead to a pleasant time for the audience. Harriet Klausner The Best Reviews

***** There is much more going on than I could tell you in the synopsis. In fact, more than one romance blooms in the story. A secondary couple adds more spice and the third girlfriend has husband trouble. Good luck trying to figure out who is behind it all. I had several suspects in mind. I gave up trying to figure it out and just enjoyed the story. I loved it and do not hesitate to recommend it to all. *****
Detra Fitch Huntress Reviews
....

I love roses and if you're a historical rose buff, you're sure to find them in When Night Falls. Plus a double romance and a colorful setting. Bless you, Oklahoma.

I hope you'll visit Daily Cheap Reads, 9/20/11 at 8a. Central, and post your comments for When Night Falls

See you there!

Novel Interuptus

2011-09-13T12:03:00.001-05:00

Novel Interuptus is well-known in writerdom. I coined the phrase, but am certain you know its source :)

Writers are also people, dealing with life and with a new little one in our family, I’ve been on a professional break while visiting. Thank you, Panera, for your sticky buns, coffee and Wifi. (Wifi, because we’re never quite unplugged, some business going on as usual.)

Just back from hiatus, I visited my favorite area group, Springfield MO’s Sleuths, a mystery group. Correction: hard-working group. This is a variety of writers, photographers, etc. Often groups have a high percentage of non-working members, just those attracted to those who are producing. Not so with this group.

It was a stirring, productive meeting with round of members reporting their publications. First, a workshop on producing origami mini-books by Beverly Crandell. I love these mini-books, developed from 8.5X11 paper, folded to make 4 pages with back and front. They are excellent for children, and great promo items containing teasers, website/blog info.

Next was Linda C. Apple, an inspirational writer and speaker. She’s dynamic, funny, informative, and above all, very professional.

I needed that connection to other writers.

Which brings me back to catching up. There are certain things that continue, while on break, and others left. I’ve found through my career that the people who deal with priorities fare better. As a professional right, I’m dealing with these issues now:
1. Rights Reversion from publishers (See Passive Guy for really good info on contracts)
2. Reworking my early attempts at epublishing. New software has developed and this is a steep, continuing learning curve. I credit Barbara Freethy and Kathy Carmichael as mentors.
3. Happy Day! I’ve finally gotten support in the form of a proof reader who is great, and she’s helping with #2. These reverted and scanned books are filled with errors and a drain on eyes. I’m floating now, happy with support. Learning how to ship manuscripts to her in Kindle form was one thing, and we’re learning how to work better together. I appreciate each and every comment she makes.
4. Sifting through what social media works for me and the comfortable ones for me. I’ve signed up for various URLs and test them. One popular Social Media is not at all comfortable for me because of their shifting policies. I love Twitter, though.
5. Redesigning a romantic suspense cover, When Night Falls, to match an upcoming title, Flashback. With a line of romantic suspense developing now, the covers should have identifying “look”.
6. Debating a publisher name for various material, separate from my pseudonym. If you have great ideas, please send? :)

What a learning process! I’m on a couple of professional-only loops, chockful of shared info. But there is great information everywhere.

To prioritize, choosing where to spend your creative (and your private-life time) is probably the most basic problem a writer has.

Or anyone :)

The Best-Selling Tallchiefs

2011-08-01T04:29:00.015-05:00

Oldies and Goodies, that's what Harlequin has stashed in their Treasury section. (List Below)

You can find your favorite authors by placing Name Name Harlequin Treasury. Some of the following are a part of my Tallchief Series, and the order is on the postcard above. This series came out to 10, I believe, a best-selling series based on the contemporary descendants of a Scotswoman and a Sioux chieftain. The family of 5 was orphaned when the eldest was 18, and they stayed together. Each book is based on a legend concerning an item from Una's (Scotswoman) dowry, etc. Each family member set out to reclaim the historical item, and the legend comes true.

My editor at the time Melissa Senate (she's writing wonderful books now) was stunned when she saw my proposal (This for all you writers out there :)) I had no idea how to submit a series proposal and did all five at once, complete with legends and genealogy tree.

Since the Tallchief's parents were murdered in hold-up, I added 3 more books, based on the sons of the murderer.

The Perfect Fit, Typical Male (Harlequin Desire), Rafe Palladin: Man Of Secrets, The Groom Candidate, The Seduction Of Fiona Tallchief (Desire), Rio: Man of Destiny (Silhouette Desire), Blaylock's Bride (Silhouette Desire), Rio: Man of Destiny (Silhouette Desire)

Blaylock's Bride connects to Midnight Rider, Dan Blaylock hero. Midnight Rider will soon be placed in ereaders.

I was so pleased with the cover of Tallchief For Keeps, a single title set amid the Tallchiefs. The graphic is super.

I hope you'll enjoy these books and I look forward to hearing from you.

Laughable Book Cover Lore

2011-07-19T15:54:00.024-05:00

Warning! Only those with humor may enter.

I've been thinking about this post for some time and now is the time.

In case you don't remember the dino-publisher days, there once was a cover, Christina Dodd's I think (best guess, anyway), where the cover model actually had THREE hands.

One of my covers beat that: It had 5 nipples between the fireplace bust, the hero and the heroine, whose tight blouse wasn't covering enough. I hadn't had time to really look at the cover when my daughter, her friend's family and I went to dinner. Where of course, I proudly presented my new cover. The infamous nipple-cover, shocking them.

Typically, writers don't have cover-say. They can input and sometimes the publishers are gracious enough to ask for comments along the development-way. But generally, those covers are the publisher's ball game and they play what they think will sell best.

Some years ago, a distributor (there used to be a lot of them back there in dino pre-ereader days)spoke at a writers' conference. He held up covers and explained what sold. And since back then, the field was most men, his descriptions were those of an insider male-distributor.

At the Edge, the first of my psychic triplet Aisling trilogy, would have been labeled, Hand on Thigh and Face in Throat (translated: Kiss of the Vampire). While At the Edge is a recent romantic suspense, back then, we saw a lot of hand on thighs. People, it is not erotica, despite the look.
Wild Dawn
is now in epublishing, and if you read it, please do leave a review? This is an early historical backlist, written as Cait Logan. I've epublished it as Cait London, in keeping with my other stuff.

Said Distributor, who was great to authors, BTW, called this The Bored Woman pose. Or--God, how much longer is this going to take?

We're coming to my favorite. Hold on....

A Lady's Desire
is now in epublishing, which a nice male back always serves sales. But notice Lady on the Line, a backlist Cait Logan, not yet available for epublishing.

Lady on the Line, my very first published book a Berkley Second Chance at Love, is about a woman lineman fighting her own in a basically male-dominated field. Poor Lady. She's what the distributor tagged as "The Nursing Woman".

I have to agree. She's pretty enhanced, but that was what he said appealed to the distributor-buyers (back then :))

Here's a good one in his list of what appeals to male distributors. "Put a horse in it," he said.

I notice we're still using a lot of horses today. They are loveable. Pretty big, brown eyes.

Placing a story element on the cover is usually recommended. Or not.

Titles are probably the most grabbing and now there's some neat graphics out there, really super stuff.

The Aisling trilogy is available either in paper, or in electronic form everywhere. I loved this trilogy and somewhere earlier in my blog, I started interviewing the sisters who, because of their special gifts, could not live close to each other. A Stranger's Touch made the NYTs extended.

The two covers after At the Edge were hero/heroine faces kissing, unicolors. I liked those better and I loved the Aisling trilogy. Really, really loved the individual stories and the story threads/arc that ran to the end. I'm so hoping you read it. And try to read it in order:
1.

2.

3.

About those face/body covers....

Call me weird. No, wait. Don't.

But cut-off heads drives me nuts. I know they bother other readers, too, so I'm not alone. (I hope.)

Then, the leg covers. They only remind me to exercise more and that my days walking on spikes are over.

The need for a striking cover can change the writer's story. Or rather, they change to story to match the cover.

For example, I could not have a hero with gray hair, because the cover artist couldn't manage that. I had to rewrite Tame the Fury really fast, because the cover artist made a mistake: my heroine's blond hair was already black on a cover run, and I had to change all the references from hair like say, gold as the wheat field, to whatever.

That error did enhance the book and I wrote the poem, My Highland Rose, to go with the story, the heroines black hair. But that was panic time as the print run was scheduled.

There's more in Book Cover Lore, fantastic funny stories. But that's it for now and I hope you enjoyed the ride....

When Night Falls Now on Sale

2011-07-10T08:22:00.015-05:00

When Night Falls Now on Sale.

I love When Night Falls, which involves historical roses and a sleepy Oklahoma town. I fell in love with the sisterhood of the women, their family histories, and of course, the yummy bad boy heroes, Michel and Roman.

Here's the blurb and reviews of When Night Falls...

When Night Falls Blurb
As the town's secret keeper, Uma Thornton has lost a baby and is fending off an ex-husband-suitor. She's built a quiet, safe life, until the drive-by murder of her best friend. Tormented by his past, Mitchell Warren returns to Madrid, Oklahoma to find peace; suspicion turns to him as a serial killer stalks the quiet streets and rose gardens. The town never liked the Warrens, and when Mitchell's bad boy brother, Roman returns, old hatreds and new desire throb in the rose-scented air for Uma's friend, Shelly. Suddenly, Uma is torn from her safety, and tossed into passion and danger with Mitchell when the killer wants his secrets hidden forever....

Reviews:
A supposedly sleepy town burns with dark emotions and dangerous impulses in Cait London's romantic thriller. The complicated relationships between characters make building, or in some cases rebuilding, trust and love a challenge that Ms. London accomplishes nicely. Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times Magazine.

Fans of romantic suspense will thoroughly enjoy Cait London's latest tale that focuses as much on the tension as the two love stories ... The cast is strong and inviting while the identity of the killer is impossible to name. On top of that are two beautiful romances that lead to a pleasant time for the audience. Harriet Klausner The Best Reviews

***** There is much more going on than I could tell you in the synopsis. In fact, more than one romance blooms in the story. A secondary couple adds more spice and the third girlfriend has husband trouble. Good luck trying to figure out who is behind it all. I had several suspects in mind. I gave up trying to figure it out and just enjoyed the story. I loved it and do not hesitate to recommend it to all. *****
Detra Fitch Huntress Reviews
The deathly suspense, danger spreading across the rose gardens as a serial stalks the town, begins with this sampler:
***

At ten o'clock, the night was heavy with honeysuckle, and moths fluttered against the neon lights of Madrid's closed stores. Inside Peggy's Ice Cream Parlor, the jukebox was playing Peggy's favorite housecleaning song, "La Bamba."

What was that ominous quiet within herself? Uma wondered. That stillness as if everything had stopped turning, waiting....

She dreaded that certain stillness, because it usually signaled unhappiness, like the death of her mother....

She studied the insects that twirled in the shaft of a streetlight as though caught inside an imaginary cage. The light pooled onto Main Street's pavement, gleaming on the few cars and form pickups that passed beneath.

Since the day Bonnie Parker had posed for a picture with Clyde Barrow on their "running car," nothing had ever happened or changed in slow-moving, safe Madrid. Crops and cattle and sweet iced tea on a hot summer night ruled, punctuated by small town gossip and tips on growing roses. Excitement ran to the town dances, high school graduations, weddings, and Norman Evans's old Holstein bull sashaying down Main Street. Every year, he ate the beautification club's "city-pretty" flowers, and the club threatened to barbecue him on the next Fourth of July picnic.

Uma licked the tiny trail of melting strawberry ice cream from the waffle cone, then inhaled the scent of honeysuckle and roses and newly mowed lawns. The ordinary night in a rural town seemed too perfect, as if time were held on a sliver of glass, balancing back and forth, waiting to be shattered. She'd sensed that unnerving stillness the early morning she'd gone to her baby's room. And then, her world had stopped...

"I just can't make up my mind whether to keep this scarf or not," Pearl said suddenly, always vain about her appearance. She held out the brightly colored floral scarf. "Here, Shelly, you try it on. I want to study how it looks."

"Give me that." Lauren grinned and playfully grabbed the scarf, swirling it around her cotton dress. She danced away from Pearl, who tried fiercely to grab it away.
Smiling at Lauren's teasing play, Uma barely noticed a car rumbling out of the night and passing under the streetlights. It was unfamiliar, but looked like any other car passing through Madrid on a quiet evening.

Within Uma, that fragile sliver of glass quivered and she turned slowly to study the car. It bore Oklahoma dust, this two-door Chevrolet Impala, just like Ed Jones's powerful '71 model, dark navy blue body, white hardtop. But unlike Ed's, this one's windows were tinted the color of death. Once more the glass shattered within Uma and her heart stopped.

Then, in the open window, a man's narrow face caught the light, and with a blaze of fire, the sound of gunshot split the quiet night. The tires squealed and the car shot out of sight.

Lauren immediately crumpled to the sidewalk, the rose sprigs of her bodice stained with a widening dark circle of blood.

Uma dropped to her knees. She prayed that her mini-course in emergency care would save her friend's life. She placed her hand over the wound, trying to stop the flow of blood. "Call the clinic! Get the doctor!"

One glance at Pearl's stunned pale face and rounded eyes, and Shelly sprang to her feet. "Never mind. I'll do it. There's a phone in Peggy's."

"There's no pulse. She's gone," Uma stated grimly as she removed her hand from Lauren's throat and began to stroke her hair. A selfless heart, Lauren had never failed to understand, comfort, and support. Oh, Lauren, why you? We need you.

In that moment, with her friend's head upon her lap, and the police siren screaming in the hot, sultry night, Uma knew that all their lives had changed forever.
Then Uma heard Lauren's whisper, like the soft wind teasing the tendrils near her ear. I'll always be with you....

She lifted her hand and found Lauren's blood staining it—she was gone. Like a treasured pioneer patchwork quilt ruined by a willful child's scissors, their lives had been torn, and would never be quite the same.
*** ***

With dual romances, and lots of suspense and an unusual twist, When Night Falls also includes just a touch of humor between Uma and Mitchel and the family relationships, new discoveries amid the darker elements.

I designed this cover, using a photograph of the roses I took on my daughter's California street.

I hope you enjoy When Night Falls and look for more of my romantic suspense and other books soon.

Christmas in July Sale

2011-07-04T15:05:00.013-05:00

Rugged Glory
Two at .99 Limited Time.

1. Rugged Glory is Classic Cait London, the schoolteacher and the rancher. Here's a blurb:
Rugged Glory: Light contemporary. Prim and proper widow Sami Lassiter, the guardian of her two young nieces, needs a summer job and big tough Ben Woden needs a tutor for his son. This rough and rugged Wyoming rancher talks blunt and kisses sweet and hungry, but he’s got a lot to learn about treating a lady. While Sami deals with Ben’s take-over notions, she deals with a hard past and reminds her of another man. As Ben raises her unexpected passions—and temper, cool and collected Sami discovers primitive hungers of her own.

Here's a sweet little scene:

SURRENDER, AT LAST...
“Come here, little bit.” Two arms wrapped about her, hauling her down beside him. A heavy thigh clamped over her legs, locking them immobile.

Shackled by the strength of his body, her head tucked beneath his chin, Sami squirmed but could not dislodge his hold. “Mr. Woden!”

“I’ve watched that pretty little mouth talk and wondered how your lips would taste, half-pint,” he murmured. “I bet they’re as sweet as high-meadow flowers.” A callused hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face toward his lips.

“Mmmm.” Sami’s protest slid back into her throat, muffled by the pressure of his lips.

A heartbeat later, he murmured against her mouth, “Easy now, little bit. Easy. I won’t hurt you.”

His lips teased hers. Tantalizing kisses prowled the soft contours of her lips. As his mouth played tenderly on hers, Sami felt her taut body yield to the mellow warmth, easing her curves to fit the hard lines of his body...
*** ***

As a special note: These people have not so-simple issues and settling the past is the way to their future. Scarred in childhood, Sami has lost the love of her life, so she's fighting her attraction to Ben. His own childhood wasn't sweet, but Ben digs in to try to help his son. I loved the two little girls. Sami try to change their poor upbringing, their "potty-mouths" and she's doing a good job. But when Ben gets her so riled she finds herself in a mud-wrestling contest, Sami has problems of her own.
*** ***

But Wait! Here's more...
Midnight Rider (Blaylocks)
For more on this early Cait London contemporary romance, please check the previous post.

Summer Sale!

2011-07-02T10:44:00.006-05:00

Midnight Rider (Blaylocks) now .99

BTW, Wild Dawn's .99 sale will soon be ending. Better buy up :)

Nook, Kindle and other places. Midnight Rider features Dan Blaylock, the first in the Blaylock Cait London series. While the cover is an update (I've learned a little since starting self-publishing :)) the story is great.

Here it is:
Hannah Ferguson is back in Jasmine, Wyoming, and rancher Dan Blaylock is so ready.

She’s ruined him for other women and now she and her ranch are under Dan's financial thumb. But Hannah isn’t the teenage girl who once wanted him, an older man. She’s a contrary, sexy redhead, and determined to stand on her own feet, despite the odds stacked against her.

While Dan’s set to have his fire-woman, she’s not that easy, set on her own path—desperate to find answers from the past.

Yet neither can deny the fire between them....

And here's a teaser, because these two have old scores to settle as Hannah fights to resolve a secret that has haunted her--and keep Dan's hands off her ranch.

THEY DANCED THE FANDANGO...

Stepping close, then quickly away, they circled each other and the crowd slid into the shadows.

Heads high and bodies straight, they stared at each other. Dan's boots beat a steady tempo on the hardwood floor, his hands behind his back. Hannah's body arched toward him, her arms raised high to click castanets.

Stepping close, his hands clasped behind his back, Dan allowed his body to brush hers, his black eyes daring her to step away.

Hannah raised her face to his, her feet matching his steps. Riding on that edge, wrapped in nothing but the music and heat, Hannah strained against the limits of time and memory.

Dan was hers now, their bodies and minds moving together...

*** ***
I'm updating other covers and getting set for more sales, so continue checking back.

Construction of a Paragraph

2011-06-28T14:33:00.010-05:00

When Night Falls, Romantic Suspense.

With all the buzz going around about Harlequin's letter to those "actively writing", I'm sure you'll want more information on that. I belong to Author's Guild, a necessity for published writers and Ninc. Both provide excellent information and help.

Keep in mind that once a contract is signed, that's it. But the translation of terms can be extremely quasi, depending on who's doing the translation.

Then, there's Passive Guy at The Passive Voice, who has a lot to say about everything professional, especially e-rights and self-publishing which top sellers, are leaping into, a real must read. And very intense. I mean, A Real Must Read.
Those are my 2 high points as if this date.

Wild Dawn, Western Historical. Now .99 for a limited time

Secondary, but highly important to writing is paragraph construction. I just went over this with a writer-friend. She believed that if someone is still speaking, all dialogue within successive dialogue, should be in one paragraph.

As I update and edit my early books, I'm finding that I had the same editorial problem as many do today: placing dialogue amid paragraph narrative.

So let's go there: 1.) If dialogue is placed within paragraph narrative, it loses impact. 2.) However, (there's always an exception) if it is quoted dialogue, it's a quasi deal, depending on feel. Feel is really important, but we're not going there today.

First paragraph basics:
*In dialogue, Jane's voice can be tagged by action, such as, "I can help you." Jane looked directly into Mary's eyes, and took her hand. "I really can. Just tell me what happened."

When Mary looked away and withdrew her hand, Jane knew she couldn't lose this one brief opportunity. "Mary, please tell me."

!Let's take this apart. We know Jane is still speaking in both paragraphs by placing a tag line. Action can do as well. But see what is lost in impact, when running the dialogue together:
"I can help you." Jane looked directly into Mary's eyes and took her hand. "I really can." When Mary looked away and withdrew her hand, Jane knew she couldn't this one brief opportunity. "Mary, please tell me."

NOTES:
!Jane is still speaking, and tag lines define who is speaking.
!A tag line can be the name of the other person, i.e. Mary. If it is, no other motion, tag line is needed.
!Now. In a running conversation, tag lines define the speaker. They are not needed for a 2-4(maybe) of short repartee.
!In today's books and epublishing we are looking at shorter paragraphs than years ago. In some paperbacks, (choosing them for size demonstrations), one page can consist of 2 paragraphs. That's a lot to wade through and hold today's readers' attention. We move fast now, chugging right through excessive wording.
!The Ultr-Most important point in dialogue is that the reader knows who is speaking.
Back to Jane's dialogue: In the middle quote, Jane is pressing Mary, thus her reinforcement for impact.

So what about structure of the paragraph for Impact?

The structure of a paragraph, the beginning/middle/end sentences, is highly important.
One of my characteristic rough-draft problems, and everyone has them, is writing for the gusto, getting that story down and alive. (If you're a dreck-writer, be proud. It takes dreck, actually getting the story down on paper, to create a story. Then edit. I need a T-shirt that says, Dreck Writer and Proud of It.)

In rough-draft narrative, I sometimes place the most important sentence of a paragraph at the end, or at the beginning. This is one of the first editing skills I learned. A former editor taught me to place numbers over each line in the paragraph. It's a decision of which should lead, which should end. The weight of the sentence determines its placement. Thus, sentence 3 may really belong in position One. Especially if sentence 3 applies more to the previous paragraph.

By using this method, the construction is more orderly. Excess, superfluous sentences are also recognized. Superfluous Guys cut impact; they absolutely sink it.

So how does one paragraph fit within the chapter, the book?

Ordering paragraphs within a chapter is also important: those building emotion, those dropping dead body/twists.

Sentence Tip: If you have more than 1-2 clauses within a sentence, look at it critically. Watch clauses beginning with to/thats/whens/thens/ands/buts, etc.

I mentioned The Feel of the story.

But that's for another post :)

Author Branding: Help or Hurt

2011-06-23T13:04:00.014-05:00

The Basket Maker's Wife Now on Sale

In general, people brand themselves in personal and life style. Writers do it better--no, just kidding.

Writers need branding to promote their work and thus sell. Branding would be writing a similar story line/theme or focus, i.e. detective mysteries. Branding would include marketing such as: packaging the cover, creating a look and focused content for blogs and websites, social networking, etc.

The basis for Branding is that readers understand they are getting certain content when reading a specific writer; they expect that similar story line or subgenre, i.e. Nora Roberts, romance whatever the subgenre. Then Linda Lael Miller's audience gets their western fix, Kathleen Eagle has a definite Native American-western brand, which she does well, Alison Brennan's top mysteries, etc. Janet Evanovich's humor-mystery style is branding. Stephen King and Dean Koontz, etc. all brands, writing within a framework of what they are best known.

When Night Falls

Then writers sometimes produce secondary brandings, i.e. J.D. Robb futuristic suspense. Jayne Ann Krentz has written under that name, Stephanie James/Amanda Glass, and more, depending on the subgenre and the series. Each pseudonym is applied to the brand/elements/storyline of what readers expect within that framework.

I've written several romance subgenres under two different pseudonyms, Cait Logan at the start of my career, and the rest as Cait London. As I closed in on the final pages of The Basket Maker's Wife, a women's fiction*, choices of Author Name had to be made, this for cover purposes. (See previous blog in which the cover has Ellie Klein, and new cover as Cait London.)

*I'm labeling The Basket Maker's Wife as Women's, because the focus in on the transition of the women in the story, with romance as a secondary element of one of them.

At the Edge
A Stranger's Touch
For Her Eyes Only

This women's story is a step-off romance subgenres of western historical, romantic suspense, long and short contemporary (category), some with paranormal elements. (See my booklist?) Yet I took input on which pseudonym to use in my basket series, and the consensus ran to Cait London, which is an established "Brand" for better sales.

Again, the advantage to Branding is to promote sales.

But Branding sometimes works against the writer.

Branding sometimes limits the creativity of the writer. This is because agents and publishers want sales, and they *may* want the writer to stay in the same creative vein, stay with the same material, stay with the same series.
When the writer's creativity and determination leads to a conflict with their agent and/or publisher, it can be cut the umbilical cord time. A very scary time, as there is much safety in Branding.

Writers are very individual creatures. Some repeat the same stories, the same characters basically, with a few changes, and they sell to those readers expecting the comfort of getting the same story line. These writers can write forever, perfectly comfortable in this same stream, and it's good marketing to a tried-true audience.

However, other writers may want to step out from under the umbrella of Branding, making a departure. This is very difficult, even for top authors with a waiting audience for their next one. These writers may argue fiercely with their agents and/or publishers for stepping off the mark of what readers have come to expect from their Brand.

Branding under one name/pseudonym may be very constrictive if the publisher "owns" that name, or has a non-compete contract clause. If the writer has an established name that remains with the "House"/publisher, the advance of a new publisher with a new name can be much lower than the previous. Leverage can also be placed against the writer to remain in one stream. A career writers or perhaps any writer views writing to publishing as income-producting, as well as creativity. If held within one framework for must-sales for whatever reason, i.e. supporting a family, and that writer's creativity feels oppressed, it's a dangerous ledge. And turning down invitations from other publishers can be major career-frustration.

If choosing to step out of their known brand, or add a new one, writers must work extremely hard to Cross-Market their different Brands. Cross-Marketing is a huge undertaking, causing for a redesign in Ad Work, website and blog design, perhaps even establishing or entering new groups to promote.

In writing across the subgenres and now placing my backlist into epublication, I am not certain it was wise to follow my creative muse into new pastures. But that is/was my creative nature. I am hoping at this point that my publishers' covers and my own self-published ones will define the separate romance subgenre and my new Women's, The Basket Maker's Wife.

I feel very strongly that now, a time of change, is perfect for writers to explore their creativity well... if they feel they must and can.

However, it is a major decision and a huge undertaking for a well-published writer to decide to step off their established and comfortable Brand.

It's all about the Muse, my friends, and how it works for individual writers, as creativity and as employment. Watch for more on establishing that market niche, calling up the elements that create growing reader interest.

The Aislings: Psychic Triplets

2011-06-19T16:56:00.000-05:00

I love my Psychic Triplets, Claire, Tempest, and Leona. They're available now in either paperback or ebook form. If you haven't read them yet, I hope you will.

The Aisling Triplets are descended from an Ancient Celtic Seer and the Viking Chieftain who captured her. Each has a unique gift, so unique that the sisters cannot live near each other, or their thoughts will cross... and someone is determined to kill them.

At the Edge (See all Romantic Suspense Books)
A Stranger's Touch (See all Contemporary Romance Books)

For Her Eyes Only (See all Literature & Fiction Books)

A world class pyschic, their mother, Greer Aisling appears through the individual stories, loaded with these triplets psychic gifts.

Claire, the youngest and most vulnerable, Tempest (Who made the NYTs) who's a handful, and Leona, the oldest and fiercest of the three, each have their own romance with that killer in pursuit.

Claire's gift is that of picking up other's thoughts; Tempest has to wear gloves, because she can feel the history of an object and know the thoughts of those who held it; and Leona, sees flashes of the past.

Try putting all those psychic talents too close and you've got a lot of trouble.

If starting to read The Aislings, I suggest starting with Claire in At the Edge.

I loved writing this trilogy, each with a different setting, a different psychic talent and romance, and always with that stalker at the ready.

To learn more about the Triplets, please hit the Triplet Tag....

Backstory: The Basket Maker's Wife

2011-06-15T23:16:00.013-05:00

The Basket Maker's Wife
I've started uploading The Basket Maker's Wife and am excited that she's finally coming to life. It's been quite a journey.

The blurb:
Contemporary women's fiction. For twenty-two years, Nora Elliot and her sons have lived in the small Ozarks town of Mill Haven. She's hidden her shameful past, but her nightmares won't let her. With two grown sons, no-nonsense Nora has one goal—to care for the elderly woman she adores, intuitive Jessie Holcomb, and Jessie's beloved Basket Shop. Then a young woman on-the-run arrives, and the three women's lives unite, changing Nora's forever... As if there's not enough changes in Nora's life, it's not menopause she's dealing with, rather a baby from the one night with younger Dan Beringer who has unsuccessfully pursued her for years and her own arrested sexuality. Add one son who uncovers the Elliots' ugly past, and another son, who hates her for it. Amid a cast of characters who love her, Nora fearfully faces the past, a new full life, and the terror of a shocking gift that has waited for her....

The following pictures are my own basket and hat, used in the cover. I'm doing more of that now, using my own photos.

The Basket Maker's Wife
is based on the Celtic trio, The Maiden, The Mother, The Crone (older woman), and those are the three stages of a woman's life.

In The Basket Maker's Wife, Nora Elliot is flanked by Lynn, The Maiden, and Jessie, The Basket Maker's Wife at 90. A gifted intuitive, Jessie places blessings in baskets, suiting them to the needs of the individual.

For 22 years, Nora has hidden her shameful past from her sons, only babies when she first arrived in Mill Haven, a small town set in Missouri's Ozarks.

Amid the rolling green hills, craftsmen are aplenty, and I've watched basket makers and studied their craft to research.

I also visited a working mill, one of Missouri's many, and included that among the many shops in Mill Haven.

But when Lynn, a woman on the run, arrives with her 3-year old son, Nora's life begins to change.

The three women, Jessie/Nora/Lynn blend their lives and the others help Nora face her nightmares from the past and her future.

I feel very deeply about this story, as I do all my stories, no matter the subgenre, and I'm hoping readers will, too.

The Basket Maker's Wife
will be my 14th self-pubbed ebook, a new story, and this has been quite the journey. If you have read any of my work, I hope you will comment and/or review my books, and those of other authors as it helps present those books to new readers.

The Basket Maker's Wife
is unusually layered in that there are several lives involved, all rotating around Nora Elliot. Nora's story is a perfect set up for others in Mill Haven, featuring the original cast of characters and of course, the baskets....

The Basket Maker's Wife

2011-06-14T16:20:00.003-05:00

This is the final cover for The Basket Maker's Wife, my white oak basket and hat photos included.

Thanks to good friends who input on my name and design, I like this version much better.

Watch for more later, and don't forget about the sale on The Wedding Gamble, until the end of June. I thought June, the wedding month, was the perfect time to place it on sale.

THE BASKET MAKER'S WIFE isn't up yet as I'm still formatting it for Kindle, Nook, etc., but it's a very different kind of story for me.

With my diversity in women's fiction, I'm hoping the cover styles sets each kind of story in the right slot.

Romantic Suspense encompasses a broad field, from scary/gut and blood to relationships and suspense, which WHEN NIGHT FALLS is. With the heavy saturation of roses throughout the story, I felt it was only right to put roses on the cover, dotted with blood. Those are my roses, btw.

Readers are wanting more romantic suspense and that's nice to know. So nice of them to write. One wants Leaving Lonely Town in epublishing, because she wants to re-read the story she read in paperback, a second-go 'round.

Cover-thinking takes a lot of time and energy, maybe more than writing a short story :) which is coming up, a mystery.

Look for more on THE BASKET MAKER'S WIFE soon.

New: The Basket Maker's Wife

2011-06-11T13:16:00.006-05:00

I'm getting ready to self-publish a new women's fiction, under a different pseudonym, Ellie Klein. (Which is short for L.E. Kleinsasser :))

The Basket Maker's Wife is a special story and you'll hear more later, but for now, I'm designing the cover, and that is my basket and my hat. I'll probably wiggle the cover a bit, but that's about it.

I'm nuts about baskets, and this is a Ozark white oak basket. I have others, including a picnic basket, which Nora Elliott in the story uses right away.

Oh, she's not the Basket Maker's Wife, but you'll see who is....

Watch for more about The Basket Maker's Wife.

I'm looking forward to this new adventure as Ellie Klein, but am continuing to write Cait London stories.

Barbara Freethy Hits the NYTs

2011-06-09T12:36:00.006-05:00

Today, I'm terrifically excited about Barbara Freethy hitting the NYTs elist at #1. In fact, she's hitting well everywhere. SUMMER SECRETS and DON'T SAY A WORD are hitting high at USA Today's lists, too.
Read Barbara's Blog and see how much work is involved in lifting up her backlist; it covers all jobs: writer, formatting, cover art, promo. Really interesting. Plus she's got super covers, which she does her mighty-self.
Right now, she's got a string of great front list, plus her previously published books for sale. The girl is doing terrific, either with publishers or on her own, raising up her backlist to epublishing.

I'm so glad for her. I believe she's been undervalued in publishing and now, on her own, she's sky-rocketing, a la Konrath/Hocking/Eisler.
Meanwhile, I've just raised up my own, a romantic suspense, WHEN NIGHT FALLS, and have also finished a new one, out of my Cait London brand. I'll have to learn now to market it under a different pseudonym. Just a few more checks and I'll raise it up, too.

After that, a short story that has been cooling, also out of my brand.

All this is a terrific experience, and a steep learning curve. Be sure to follow Barbara's blog, very interesting material.

Self-Publisher's Must: Good Editorial

2011-05-24T08:34:00.011-05:00

I'm working on this cover for When Night Falls, a suspense set in a sleepy town, saturated with secrets. This is for a backlist book which I'll be lifting up soon. Need to add USA Today Bestselling Author somewhere.

Speaking of author's backlist books...

Currently, authors are encouraged to retrieve any/all publishing rights they may have to books, generally out of print. Alan Rinzler has a supergreat article on the importance of backlists. Please read. Also read his sidebar info. Super good.

Speaking generally (because there's always someone with a unique experience): Until epublishing came along, most of those backlist books molded on the shelf and no one really cared about their rights--because there was no place to take them.

Epublishing and self-publishing changed that. Now authors are scrambling to get their rights, and publishers are sometimes (rem: there's always those unique instances) are trying to retain them, too. This calls for amendments in some cases (keeping that qualifier going), which had darn well better be thought out by the author. In any contract, epublishing rights should be qualified, that is: 1.) by limits of time and 2 years is the norm; 2.) amount of sales per unit, or per $ amount. That's just for starters.

Cannot tell you what a dance it is to retrieve and retain rights.

If you want to get a good look at what is happening with authors with backlist, those with agents and wanting to self-publish, those without agents who decided to self-publishing on their own, look at these major NYTs bestsellers, Neal Pollack and Barry Eisler, who are putting their NEW material into self-publishing. This upheaval makes the agent role interesting.

New opportunites are springing up in agent roles, i.e. With backlists and self-publishers on the rise, a clearing/marketing agent for overseas sales and movies, handled on a per item charge would be great. I've recently found this may be almost a non-existant (now) beast. The reason this agent-type would be helpful is all those backlist books with professional editing, ready for a new audience. That's what I've found anyway, my early books in late 80s and early 90s+ have a new readership.

I've been working on getting my backlist rights back and learning how to epublish for about 1 1/2 years now, no easy task either one. Meanwhile, I wrote new material, one complete women's fiction along the lines of Sarah Addison Allen and several proposals for psychological romantic suspense.

The IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER while reading below is that a backlist is heavily edited by professionals. I would have any new material professionally edited. Some writers use professional editors prior to submission to their publishers now. Why? Because editors are really busy with management tasks and do not have the time they used to. So it behooves the writer, in some cases, to get a professional editing job prior to submission anywhere.

Big Note: A good/professional editing job might not be a friend or family member, rather a "cold eye" who specializes in whatever. Very few writers have friends and/or family who are qualified to be editors. In fact, some people who label themselves as editors, may not have qualifying experience, either.

Remember: Professional Editing pays. There is a big movement to cut poor writing from self-publishers, or even mid-size online and POD publishers, so really take that future of self and mid-size publishers into consideration when considering any form of publishing. You can ruin sales and futures by poor editorial work. It's the best-foot-forward deal and first-impression counts.

Freelance editors and cover designers are plentiful now. But it's important to get the right ones to suit your work. As an artist, I thought cover design would be easy. It isn't. I'm wading through this now in my 12th-13th self-pub backlist book.

Keep in mind that when rights are reverted, that doesn't mean grants of cover, translation, format, etc. can be used. The writer/self-publisher must do new ones. Enter formatting services. I'm doing this myself, but the learning curve is steep as there must be 1000 ways to do it per ereader format, i.e. Mobi for Kindle, etc. I've helped a few people with this, but when I began back when that 1.5 years ago, help in the wilderness was scarce. Thank you, Barbara Freethy. Thank you, Kathy Carmichael for cluing me into much needed PR stuff. (BTW, Barbara Freethy is doing super with her back and front lists. She's just topped the charts book at BN's NookBooks.)

Self-publishing your own stuff, formatting, covers, etc. is only a tiny part. Then comes Facebook, Twitter, Kindle and Nook Boards, etc. I love my TweetDeck and tweets, BTW. If you get a chance, read Amanda Hocking's articles in which she says she basically worked like a dog to get her YA series up and running, when publishers wouldn't buy it. They missed out, beaucoup. On her and Konrath, who is sort of a granddaddy of Kindle, etc. epublishing how-tos. Both Amanda and Eisler, etc. talk of using editors. (Amanda has signed with St. Martin's now.)

Many agents are editorial-acting, prior to presenting works for sale.

With publishers cutting crews of every kind, good editorial should be easier to find. Going rates can be anything, but generally divided into two parts, line edit and overall. I just saw one editor's price of overall, $2/page. Another basically acts as a writing mentor, plus editing, several thousand per book. Her clientelle says she's worth it.

If you have services to offer and you are headed toward self-publishing, try to barter your services for what you need, i.e. formatting, covers, editorial. Bartering is age-old and serves us well today when cash is low.

Critique groups do not qualify as editors. Recently, I visited a critique group to see how they were doing. Some basic info was right, and some critical stuff dead wrong. To pass a critique group is not on the level of a good professional editing job. UNLESS you have professionals within that group. I'm not dismissing the value of a critique group, but recommending one step more, an editor.

How Important is Editing to Self-Published? Take a look at Amazon's Kindle forces who are checking punctuation, etc. Look at how online publishers plan to keep their quality high, and thus sales. Raising quality with be the new yardstick now.

It's all really about Sales. Poor Editing results in no comebacks for more sales. With more writers placing their backlist titles into e or self-publishing, this stiffens the competition for Indy writers who do not have that track record. Quality is the key for these Indy writers and that comes from good formatting and excellent editorial.

With these backlist authors, who also have front list and built promotion stepping into the Indy publishing ring, competition for sales is fierce now, with ads and reviews, tags, etc. It's a big ballgame with a lot of choices for those with ereaders. The best advantage for an Indy publisher, other than a great story, great cover and good formatting, is good editorial.

Mother's Day Week

2011-05-12T11:29:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day week sales are up for THE LOVING SEASON, the first of the MacLean trilogy and NIGHT FIRE, a western historical romance set on the Oregon Trail.

Daily Cheap Reads helped these .99 sales immensely, one of the new marketing avenues available to authors. ReTweeting helped, too. I happen to love Twitter the best.

One of the things I got this week from Twitter was a link to the Make Use Of site, really interesting, and one I've added to my subscriptions. On it was a description of how to use Calibre software, which I love. Calibre is an ebook manager, able to transfer one format to another, to organize an ereader library, and it's able to sinc with ereaders. (Not certain about Apple products, here, just PCs, which I use.) Someone can comment on iPads, etc., if they wish?

So nifty stuff out there to discover. For one, I downloaded Smashwords Guide to my ereader. Hit an info bit that was useful in my indy publishing, that Style Guide for 2007 is different from 2003, which seems to work better in formatting.

As for my ereader, I'm not too certain how to download newspapers, magazines subscriptions yet, or from the Cloud, but I think Calibre handles all that, too. Or maybe my ereader's Wifi would do just as well, after subscription, if necessary. Haven't tried it's Wifi yet.

YouTube has great stuff on Calibre, too. I love YouTube for how-tos, including my mando dumpling recipe. (Okay, this week I used a recipe for black bean with garlic sauce marinated chicken thighs from another recipe.) Which reminds me, the Korean market should have in their fresh greens today, and I love their baby bok choy, not available in grocery stores nearby.

For the week's discovery, I found a lode of free books at Barnes and Noble's NookBooks. Many notable authors there and some new ones that I'll be reading on BN's Nook for PC. They have apps for almost every ereader but mine. Gotta love those apps.

Kindle for PC is a great app and I use that regularly to check my epublishing and to read Kindle Books.

Both places, Amazon and Barnes and Noble, have great reader and author boards, KindleBoards and NookBoards. If you want to communicate with your favorite author, those are good place, and also GoodReads, which is starting a Book Club.

Then while searching at our local Books-A-Million for Melissa Senate's The Love Goddesses Cooking School, I saw sales promo for Nooks. That seemed strange as Nooks are usually Barnes and Noble products. Nooks are becoming more competitive all the time.

As for Melissa Senate, she's one of my favorite people. In fact, I think she's Everyone's favorite person from what I see. :) A highly respected woman/author/mother/friend, whichever order hits whomever.

To date, I'm happy with my little Kobo, purchased on sale at Borders. In the Springfield, MO area, we weep over the loss of our closed store. I purchased it as a gift, and the case, too, but have to say I'm enjoying all the Gutenberg public domains, 110 of them, on it. Plus those I downloaded, i.e. the Viking Sagas.

Then, I learned a lot about laptop batteries, along with my replacement. No, I didn't take out the battery when connected to power for a long time. No, I didn't let it run out and then recharge periodically. Yes, I want to keep my barely alive old battery and try to revive it as an extra for our Missouri T-storm writing/work periods. No, battery place, you can't have it for recycling. Lots to learn about replacement batteries.

Loads of new stuff in the last days of my .99 sale for THE LOVING SEASON and NIGHT FIRE.

I'm amid choosing a new title and hoping I can come up with one mating a romantic suspense with the rose-element contained within.

See you next time, and I hope you enjoy THE LOVING SEASON and NIGHT FIRE.

Mother's Day .99 Special

2011-05-06T08:33:00.014-05:00

Promo first and then a discussion of epublishing. Ad work, you know. Serious stuff.

For Mother's Day Week, NIGHT FIRE and THE LOVING SEASON are on sale for .99 each. I hope you'll take advantage of this e-offer.

NIGHT FIRE is set on the Oregon Trail, which I drove to research. (I used a car :)) Read what happens when a woman, determined to lasso one man, leads a wagon train filled with not so-sweet women into Oregon to find husbands. But Arielle gets derailed by Luc, a passionate French-Spanish frontiersman set on his own mission. She marries him on his deathbed. But poor Arielle, set to get another husband, discovers that Luc is alive and wanting a husband's right.

Available through BN.com (NookBooks), Smashwords (varied), and Amazon's Kindle.
THE LOVING SEASON features Mac MacLean and is the first of the MacLean trilogy, all previously Silhouette Desires. I was thinking about holding a chili recipe contest for this one, as Mac is desperate to win his chili contest and uses a B&B over-flow guest to up his chances. Gotta love a WY cowboy opportunist.

Daily Cheap Reads is hosting a Mother's Day Special with a bank of authors, so be sure to visit that Mother's Day week and pick up bargains of your favorite authors.

Remember: It's just one week, that of Mother's Day, and then sale prices will be changed--or at least mine will.

Click READ MORE for the latest in e-publishing:

Yesterday, I met with four great writers, each set on their own epublishing starting gate and wanting more information. I'd done this before, keeping the sessions small and intense (8:30a-12).

While not an expert, I've muddled through a few things in my one year of working to get my backlist into epublishing. So much has changed since then, but I was glad to give this group info that might jumpstart their work.

Now, I'm not exactly an easy workshop leader as I want HOMEWORK. But so far, these 2 small test groups are eager for more and working the best they can to learn. This was information, no PowerPoint, etc., as in a small group, each with netbooks/laptops available for sharing, it shouldn't be necessary. Plus, I'm in a real time-crunch with my own stuff.

I got home to dump my day's email and found that Amazon has launched yet another enterprise that will probably rock the publishing industry as we HAVE known it. Read about it here. I read more today, more detailed in the article's approach as to how this will affect the publishing industry as we have known it. I urge everyone to read this article.

The implications and impact are astounding, possibly putting Amazon in the league of legacy publishers, and led by NYTs bestseller Connie Brockway.

Best Wishes, Montlake Romance and Connie!

Just Some Spring Photos

2011-05-01T13:39:00.006-05:00

I thought you'd enjoy what I do in my other life... I use some of these photos in my art work and on my covers. It's especially fun to place my grandkids into the petals.

Epub Format: Friend or Foe

2011-04-28T15:13:00.013-05:00

Celebrating number twelve of my early books, now up at Amazon and other places.The Wedding Gamble is one of my favorites and stuffed with great reviews. I designed the cover, learning as I go.

But who said epublishing was easy? Not so, my friends.

There's much to learn, different formats and many different ways to apply everything at Kindle, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords, a popular aggregator.

I've just done my first workshop on introducing this tangled stuff and learned a lot from the small group of my lab testers. I've wiggled into my own comfortable eformat, thanks to Alison Kent and Nadia Lee's CSS guide.

It's been about a year now, testing, buried in code, futile attempts at perfection, and trying to write a bit along the way, but what a journey.

I learned more from the workshop's attendees and am going on record to say that any writers' group that has not addressed epublishing is not doing its best job for members. (Mm. Maybe I've stressed that earlier.)

Factoid: Love paper books or not, epublishing is here to stay. MS Word is the software in business and formatting (Or OpenOffice), and the standard space between sentences is ONE.

Factoid: WordPerfect Lovers, all I can say is a great big Hug to you.

If you're just starting out, be prepared to dig in and learn quite a bit of software, including Word 2003, Calibre and Mobicreator, all free software, plus Adobe Digital Editions. The last three are good "testers" and all I can say here is test, test, test. Also test on Kindle for PC and Nook for PC and other applications.

If you are NOT prepared to learn a big wide list of how-tos, you might consider services, i.e. cover designers, formatters, ad/promotion services. However, you are probably going to spend over your profit. And that comes down to what you really want. The more you can do yourself, or you can barter for services, the more your profit has potential.

Notepad and Find/Replace are my biggest tools while creating .html necessary for Nadia's version of CSS format.

Judith Tramayne has great tools over at YouTube. And she makes a point in her videos about the heavy html coding in Word and OO (OpenOffice, also freeware).

Her mission and Nadia Lee's is to get clean code. You can see just how dense Word and OO's coding is by opening Notepad and then at File, open your html file.

However, I differ with Judith's method of transferring paragraphs by copy and paste each individual paragraph, and came up with another method. This because my books are 50-100k, and I'd go numb with copy/pasting paragraphs. Watch for that how-to at a later post.

Of all the methods I've tried, all the tips and headaches, Nadia's CSS code produces the cleanest html to insert into Mobicreator for Kindle or Calibre for Barnes and Noble.

I'm still learning and just picked up a tip from Judith Tramayne.

And after all that, any beginner has 2 choices: 1.) either decide to work demon-hard and learn, chipping away at a mountain of info and software tips, or 2.) hire services.

And guess what? At this date, my calculations are that formatting, cover design, etc. is just 40% of the journey. 60% is marketing, something I'm learning now.

And loving the journey.

A Lady's Choice now on sale until 5/1/11 for .99

Coming Soon: THE WEDDING GAMBLE

2011-04-12T13:14:00.000-05:00

While A LADY'S CHOICE remains on sale until 4/20, THE WEDDING GAMBLE will soon be available for your ereader.

First published by Dell Books, it's one of my favorites and others, as you can see by the following reviews.

More about THE WEDDING GAMBLE when it's actually epublished, but here's the blurb:

1881 Montana
Top billiardist Cairo Brown owns her own elegant parlor and she's on her way to her dreams. But she takes a down-on-his luck gunslinger as a challenger and the game is on. Solomon Wolfe needs a grubstake to give his not-sweet six-year old niece the home he's promised. And she's needing a temporary "Ma". When he bets a battered wedding ring and a run-down ranch against everything the lady has and wants, Solomon and Cairo are in for a collision of sexy, humorous surprises against a backdrop of deadly revenge.

The backstory on the research for this book involved antique billiards cues, balls, tables, let alone the game. Mike Shamos of The Billiards Archieve helped with technical points of this historic game. More about that later. Meanwhile, here's the reviews:

Publisher's Weekly
The unusual twist on the "marriage of convenience" device provides an extra dollop of delight while the carefully detailed background adds richness to a satisfying story about two survivors surprised by love. Complex family entanglements and revenge culminate in a rousing finish to this thoroughly enjoyable western romance.

Romantic Times, Frances L. Trainor
Though an emotional read, THE WEDDING GAMBLE is not without humor. On the surface, Solomon is a hardened gunfighter and Cairo a driven lady. Ms. Logan [London] one of the most popular writers in the genre, delivers reading pleasure while peeling away the layers to expose Solomon and Cairo's true worth.

More reviews. I hope you read them all:

Affaire de Coeur, Laurel Gainer

I just couldn't put the book down! The plot was just full to overflowing with wonderful characters, hilarious trouble and tempestuous passion!

Rendezvous

Feel and understand life in the old west as Cait Logan [London] takes you on this adventure in a great detail. Call the shot--every turn of the page is another match you do not want to miss. And all for the love of the game.

B. Dalton's Heart to Heart

This sexy, captivating historical romance is filled with unforgettable characters, so The Wedding Gamble is no gamble--it's a winner all the way.
****

THE WEDDING GAMBLE was closely edited by Mary Ellen O'Neil, and thank you again, Mary Ellen, for one of the best books of my career.

Watch for more soon...

Featuring 2 Western Historicals

2011-04-06T15:03:00.009-05:00

Since April is my birthday month, I'm celebrating with a sale price for A Lady's Choice until April 20, 2011.

Also April 7 at 5p Central, Daily Cheap Reads will feature two of my historicals, NIGHT FIRE and Wild Dawn, western historical romances.

I've been working for awhile to get my backlist up and running and now I'm learning a few of the cornerposts in selling. Daily Cheap Reads is one of them. If you visit at 5p April 7 and read her reviews, I would so appreciate your comments on her blog, which is widely read.

I'll also be posting the time on Twitter to several hash marks. Retweet if you would, please?

Formatting, learning the processes of epublishing, self-publishing is not easy, and it's taken me a while to dig out places like Kindleboards and learn places on Twitter.

Meanwhile, my new stories have had to wait. I'm currently working on another historical, widely reviewed and garnered a great review from Publisher's Weekly. That is The Wedding Gamble.

This is a great book about an 1880s professional lady billiards player, and I'll be writing about how I researched the historical game's rules, and on site at Fort Benton Montana, the historical society there, plus Interlibrary loan newspapers of the time.

Dell did an exceptional job on the rose cover, and reknowned Elaine Derillo was the artist who PAINTED the stepback, complete with historical detail.

I'm working on that cover now and using my own rose photographs, but nothing could compare with that high gloss, gold embossed font.

I'm hoping to get that up soon, but meanwhile, please note my sale price of A Lady's Choice until April 20,11, and Daily Cheap Reads April 7 at 5p CDT.

Quite the little adventure getting these books back into the stream of a new readership. Oh, and you Goodreads people, watch for my books there, too?

Covers: Use Your Photos

2011-03-30T23:09:00.038-05:00

I thought it would be interesting to show how an average person can do passable covers, while not a graphic artist, and while using resources at hand.

It's quite a savings to look around the house/yard and come up with ideas for book covers. I've used earrings for my blog, Celtic design for my Aising Psychic Suspense Trilogy; used the pink rose and others for my family photos, tucking children into the petals, etc.

I have an old Kodak, and am a point and shooter, but if you visit Makenwords, you'll how a freelance writer makes her camera pay.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 (Win/Mac) does everything you need for an amateur or maybe professional graphic artist, which I'm not. You can shrink, turn twist, but everything is based on layers and at 72 dpi for Webwork. 300 dpi (dots per inch) if you want create a real live book cover. For Smashwords, Kindle and Barnes and Noble, the size is 600 X 900 pixels.

A Lady's Choicebackground is a photo of one of my beach/lighthouse canvases (yes, I'm an artist, or was before writing heavily). That's beige sand, tinted green for a background. I'll be using that sand a lot for backgrounds, tinting differently every time.

The flowers from that Bartlett Pear tree? Placed on the stockphoto couple, layer by layer. I think when I ended up there was something like 32 layers. There might be an easier way of doing this, but I can manage this way. Each photo comes in a little frame that can be Minimized and/or Turned.

I only have a mouse, not a graphic pad and stylus, which would allow better cutting around the blooms, but it is good enough for me. Notice the little specs which were not quite erased from the background. It's easy to go in and Paint them whatever to blend.

As for NIGHT FIRE, I did quite a bit of touch-up work on it. I painted in the woman's camisole, cropped the stockphoto and did quite a bit of Smudge work around the man. Also, Arielle, the heroine has long red hair, so I highlighted it. I also used a "spotlight" to center more on her.

I loved the flames I saw on Kindleboard's Author covers and just had to have them on Night Fire.

The wagon silhouette graphic was done long ago, Percherons replacing the historical oxen, because Arielle is taken the giant horses West to breed. Lots of research in how much these horses weigh and how much they can pull. Bred from time of the Knights.

This graphic on an orange background was worked into the flames by using a graphic brush. I love those flames, a stockphoto.

Next is the cover for A Lady's Desire. As you look at it, it looks like a puzzle. But the roses are some I took in California, overhanging a lovely white picket fence on my daughter's street. (The pink rose I use in Twitter and Facebook) was also taken there.)

Study the cover, you can see the different parts, added into the layers of the cover. The white part of the 3 roses was actually transparent. When fitting items into a composite, on top of others, transparency is everywhere, but the item being used.

Those roses will probably turn up quite a bit, either as singles or triples.

To select a certain part of a photo for use, crop the area needed and remove the background. Adobe Elements 9 is great for that.

Next is Wild Dawn and MacGregor, my favorite mountainman whose English bride has secrets of her own, leading him a quite the chase.

I started with a black background, placed a layer over that with a stock photo, covered her pretty little body a little bit better to blend with the lower area. Then another layer of my backyard's sunset, but lightly not solid. (Think dawn.:))
Which brings me to the why I used a black background. That is to make the fonts "pop", stand out. I using the same font for all my Cait London books, but changing the title for the time-period. Free fonts can be found everywhere on Internet, including FontSquirrel. It seems like everyone has their own favorite place to gather fonts.

And stockphotos. At istockphoto and other places free stockphotos are usually available every week. Download them and store up. Very useful and cost savers.

All of this takes precious writing time, which is why some writers hire graphic artists. I believe that good graphic artists are worth their prices, which can average 300-600$ or more, depending.

While I'm not perfect, I am enjoying creating my own covers. I'll be scanning my truckload of photos for use on more covers.

That rose. I'm tucking more family photos into the petals soon...

Why E-Books?

2011-03-27T12:42:00.001-05:00

A Lady's Choice was my first self-pubbed ebook, and I'm lowering the price in April to celebrate my birthday. This cover isn't what is online at this writing (things have to be approved first), but soon will be. It's softer and appropriate for the state of Washington, where I grew up.

The background is from beach sand on one of my canvases, and the blooms are really Barlett Pear from my front yard. I graphically tinted the background, and will probably do that with other category.

With the onset of epublishing now, an industry turnover, we're all rethinking publishing now. We're thinking how we are going to buy our books. How does this new thing work?

J.A. Konrath and Barry Eisler have a lengthy conversation on this, both coming from different places in publishing, but deciding on the same road.

Publishers were not buying Konrath, and he decided to try self-pub. By the end of the year, he expects millionaire ratings on his self-pubbed sci-fis. Since he started, he now has a top agent and a movie query. But he's worked hard at this since 2005 (I think that was the date).

Eisler has his stripes in traditional or "legacy" publishing. (Legacy is a new word for this, I understand. I guess there's a reason :)) A mystery writer, he's leaping into self publishing with a short story that netted 20k, sold at 2.99/pop.

Different paths for these two hit writers. Same end. One thing they both stress is Cover Quality, and rates run from 300-600$ according to some. If you have time to ingest this whole dialogue, do. Tremendous information there for writers considering this, and readers who want to know why writers are turning to this format, and what's happening to the paper books they love?

It comes down to dollars. These two writers can make more by going out on their own, than having the publishers and others take their cut.

On the other hand there's Amanda Hocking with Switched (Trylle Trilogy, Book 1)
She couldn't get published traditionally-legacy, either, got disgusted and dove into self-publishing. She made 2 mil, made history as a 26-year old who had self-published for 10 months and now she's got a major deal with St. Martins, a traditional, very established "house".

And now there's more news from one of Romance's Biggies, Connie Brockway... Totally expected. We're already seeing romance writers considering options, like Julianne MacLean who is a favorite historical romance writer. She self-pubbed her dream book, something publishers did not buy, and it's flying on the downloads. (She probably doesn't know that I have a MacLean Trilogy. :))

I was just in my favorite bookstore, waiting for another Addison-Allen new one, and it was hardback, priced at $25. I don't know who can afford hardback prices any more, but good luck to them. I have never liked hard back. I like the feel of trade and paperback. I'll either get her trade, or download her e-book. (Probably wait for trade, if I can.)

Trade, paperback and downloaded books are all way cheaper than hardback. In these times, on-the-cheap is a priority. But understand that contracts mean business, and that is, if the contract states hardback, that's what the author gets. I'm certain there is manueverability between publishers and authors. Or I hope so.

And the best selling lists are changing. How we do business is changing. (I just added Arusha's picture in here, because I'm remembering her today. A silver Yorkie, she passed at 14.)

That's the scoop today. It's like a race now: authors with reverted backlists, such as myself are working furiously to get them up into e-pub. Not that easy, btw.

Despite the ease of e-readers, there is also a big financial whammy for authors and readers that has to be considered....

Spring Stuff

2011-03-23T06:20:00.004-05:00

Signs of spring. It's a perfect time to get some sunshine, take my camera along. These are from my yard. And I thought you'd enjoy them. I love daffodils and lily of the valley, spring flowers.

I'm researching new work, which involves doing the stuff, i.e. learning how to cook some Asian. I'll write about this later, over at My Jam Jar. All I can say now, is that it is good eats, and it is research :) I have several research projects going right now.

I often try to do whatever my characters might be doing--no jokes here, please. But in this instance, YouTube has furnished lots of information. In fact, YouTube can show you how to do almost everything.

These are gorgeous, too, and there is a whole wall of these gorgeous beauties behind my home.

I use all of this in my work, but am slowing down now, due to Spring Time house/yard stuff. You understand, I know.

I've written somewhere about Novel Interruptus, and how to deal with it. That's when life throws you a bad bullet and you just have to deal with it.

A few friends are experiencing that now, and these gorgeous shots are for them.

Guest Blogging Today

2011-03-17T10:51:00.000-05:00

Hey! I'm wearing of the green today, and also blogging about e-publishing and the tools needed for that at Sleuths Ink, a Springfield, MO mystery group.

This is an experiment, as I am familiar with this group, and visit often. I was pleased to be invited to blog with them. The experiment part? Prior to the post, Sleuth's member, Shirley McCann, sent the post's basic content to the members. Why? Because it's ever lovin' homework. I'll be available for any of the comment questions that will be asked, if they've done their homework.

Right now, I'm designing yet another cover for Rugged Glory, my 1986 Berkley Second Chance at Love release. It's a sweet story, the rancher and the schoolmarm, contemporary. But even in my early work, now going into epublishing for a new audience, I see the tingles of suspense starting. Authors usually have themes that continue through all of their books, and looking back, I see that first glimmer.

These are Rugged Glory's first covers, the original and the reprint for the Diamond line. It sold really well, a good basic category contemporary. And it's doing well now in e-publishing at Kindle and other places.

When self-publishing a reverted book, which Rugged Glory is, the author may not use the publisher's format, cover, etc. This is my design, after a very first one I've since pitched.

I had some notion that I'd number my category books, just as the publishers do. But hey. This is a different ball game. Ball Game is the topic of my blog at Sleuths Ink today, the epublishing, self-publishing Ball Game. I hope my post will help beginners in e-publishing. I started cold, made many mistakes, so someone should profit from my learning-journey. :)

While the contents of this cover serve the story elements, sweet/western/mountains, it is not bright enough for epublishing and I am on the search for a new design. I'm thinking bright such as NIGHT FIRE.

I've met so many great people along the way, such as Julianne MacLean who has a great guest post concerning a book she loved, but couldn't get published. When she self e-published it, the results were terrific and empowering. Now this was an original story, The Color of Heaven, and marked as Original. (When epublishing my backlist, I am careful to note Previously Published in the front matter and blurb.)

Cannot say enough about go-getter self-publishers like Lori Devoti, who like Julianne shares her how-tos for those who follow.

Barbara Freethy really helped me get started, and that's the whole big jump--to get started.

Marsha Canham is a go-getter epublishing her backlist now and writing more. She's had great input to my covers. Julie Ortolon was recently on Daily Cheap Reads and happy to share all. Julie is also a designer, wearing many hats.

And many more people are sharing/learning, and working really hard. Self-publishing is not a snap, folks, and marketing/advertising calls for stamina and learning/networking with others. I'm excited for so many friends who are doing well in this new medium.

More at Sleuths Ink blog, basically a how-to get started guide. And I'm still learning.

And finally, I'm idea-shopping for Rugged Glory's new bright cover, so if you'd like to help, would love e-mail.... :)

Time Crunching: Work-Life

2011-03-14T22:26:00.023-05:00

With spring here, or trying, I'm multi-tasking between writing, marketing, home stuff, family. So how best to spend my time.

NOTE: Check out the roses above and on A Lady's Desire. They're from my photos.

Priorities come first: paying bills, car/house upkeep, etc. Checking on how my daffodils are blooming...

But as a writer, it's bang for buck, or spending minutes where they count best. There's writing new stories, but also a whole realm of other necessaries included in this profession.

Promotion is definitely a part of any professional writer's life. Getting the "word" out there, generating those sales. On the marketing campus, networking is essential.

Twitter is my first choice for networking, learning interesting things I might not have found in my day's routine. Facebook is currently overwhelming me, in addition to e-publishing my early "classic" novels. You can refer to my other posts and an upcoming one at Sleuth's March 17th about the steep learning curve in self-publishing, e-format.

With a packed day, have to say that I'm enjoying every minute of my career with all its little necessary segments, i.e. creating and maintaining my website and blogs.

I'm entering several new communities, and making new friends there, such as The Romance Reviews. If you're an author, that is a great new place to promote, and offers free and paid advertising. Daily Cheap Reads is doing an excellent job for writers. Beautiful, hard-working people.

Then, as a mother and grandmother, I have a full plate. Did I say, "plate"? You can find more over at My Jam Jar, one of my blogs, but I love to cook and getting into Asian now with a bamboo steamer, dim sum, etc. (My daughter promised to teach me about chopsticks on her next visit. I have enough of them for everyone, so we'll all try.) At this writing, I'm cooking slow-cooker stew, because today was cold and rainy. (A slow-cooker is a writer's best friend, no more burning when absorbed by the story we're writing. But just watching the people of Japan deal with weather, on top of their country's damage, chilled me.)

On that full plate, are my hopes and prayers for the people of Japan. In the last few days, that was a priority, and I hope you've donated whatever possible, too. I am inspired by the number of countries involved in various phases of rescue/support, etc. We are now a global community, feeling this tragedy deeply. CNN and others are doing a terrific reporting job. If one ever digs into feel self-absorbed with their individual problems, one look at today's news and everything may be put into a different perspective.

On another note, apart from the tragedy, I can't wait for Sarah Addison Allen's next, The Peach Keeper. I've loved her work since Garden Spells (Bantam Discovery)

What's uppermost in a Writer's Day?

Exercise? Should be some of that in there, too. I try to walk 2.5 miles a day, but am a slacker when the weather is pitiful.

I'm focused on getting my reverted rights back out there, so that has been a priority with me in the last months.

Of all, one thing that I have just placed to the bottom of my list is too much free-wheeling on Internet and Social Media. Social Media has been an excellent resource in this world tragedy.

As a professional, Social Media is a must, but addiction to it is damaging, at least when in a time-crunch. And people, there is never enough time for everything.

But take time to smell the roses and appreciate them.

How are managing time and life today? Do you think you're doing your best? What can you do better?

NIGHT FIRE on the Oregon Trail

2011-03-03T09:51:00.017-06:00

NIGHT FIRE: love on the Oregon Trail, now available for your ereader.

SPECIAL NOTE: At the cover bottom, you'll note horses pulling the wagon, when most wagons were pulled by oxen. However, the heroine is taking Percherons West to breed and she's out to prove what they can do.

Here's Kathe Robin's review in Romantic Times Book Reviews: "Cait Logan [London] beautifully blends the heart-tugging atmosphere of an Americana Western with a humorous, poignant love story sizzling with sexual tension on the Oregon Trail. NIGHT FIRE is a marvelous read.

More on how Arielle Browning marries a dying man and becomes Mrs. D'Arcy to lead her Widow Train on the Oregon Trail. As head of The Society of Widows for the Purpose of Matrimonial Bliss, businesswoman Arielle is set to "acquire" and marry her childhood friend. That doesn't sit well with Lucien Navaronne D'Arcy who recovers and is intent upon keeping his bride.

I'm just now epublishing this backlist novel as Cait London, rather than Cait Logan, as I was in Berkley Diamond's line in 1994.

NIGHT FIRE is special to me, as all my stories are, because I've actually traveled to the location of the fictional story. In NIGHT FIRE's case, each landmark of the Oregon Trail had to be timed, a matrix designed of how long it took to get from Point A to Point B. Also, visiting the areas really helped so far as what the pioneers (emmigrants) experienced.

Thank Goodness we were driving, and not in a Conestoga wagon, loaded so heavy that the wheels left ruts even today.

With each story that I am bringing back to new readers, the experiences return just as fresh as when I was actually in that spot. I write about some of this in the foreward of the stories.

There are many, many NIGHT FIRE titles, but I thought this graphic was more suitable than the original cover. I designed this graphic. I'm an artist, remember? I'm using Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 (Win/Mac) for graphics, btw.

The wagon graphic is one I used in the original promo of NIGHT FIRE.

This is the original cover.

I hope you'll check out DELILAH AND THE MOUNTIE and WILD DAWN, all based on trips I took to gather research.

Or, just visit my website for more information. Or subscribe to my e-newsletter.

I've always been very proud of these western historicals and now I'm so pleased to reach new readers, who also enjoy them.

Until next time...

Watch for more updates on NIGHT FIRE and my other backlist books as I am working full steam to epublish them to new readers.

Double Trilogies!

2011-02-15T05:25:00.007-06:00

Double Trilogy-Time!

THE AISLINGS must be my favorite of all Cait London series, and I love all of them beaucoup. These just fell a little closer to my heart because of the psychic elements. Plus I love all Celtic stuff and Vikings, and contemporary The Aisling triplets are descendants of an ancient Celtic seer and a Viking Chieftain. With a blood line like that, you know there's going to be trouble. And for Claire, Tempest and Leona there is plenty to keep their psychic gifts busy and their hunky heroes.

Each has a different psychic gift and is tightly webbed with the others, so much that they cannot live close because they'll influence each other's thoughts. Now that could be bad when romance is involved. Best read in order, THE AISLINGS are available in paper and in epublishing everywhere.

I hope you'll visit THE AISLINGS at my website to learn more about them.

THE MACLEANS are second on the list, a backlist trilogy that is now popular in eformat.

As I worked on these, to present them in Kindle, Nook, etc. I fell in love with them again.

Again, these might be better read in order, starting with The Loving Season.

I'm working on more backlist books, from contemporary, psychic, humor, and right now another historical, NIGHT FIRE, a romance set on the Oregon Trail.

As with all my books, I drove this trail, and/or visited the highlights, such as in DELILAH AND THE MOUNTIE, set in British Columbia.

WILD DAWN is the story of a mountainman claiming an English lady for a wife. (In romance, this story would be labeled "Marriage of Convenience". I did love this guy, as I love all my heroes and heroines. How much fun to bring them to life for others again! Once popular, this new format is bringing new readers to the western romance, still beloved by many.

I've written across the romance subgenres and enjoyed the Tallchief series and others, so I hope you enjoy them, too. Every time I bring back a book in epublishing, I'm so excited. It is hard, reward-able work, but the journey of visiting these stories is really enjoyable.

I hope you enjoy my books. My newsletter is available, but I'd love to hear from you too.

Early Valentine's Day!

2011-02-04T15:09:00.015-06:00

Midnight Rider (Blaylocks)

Happy Early Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day can be so much fun, and you can see what I've been doing, in addition to watching the snow. I've already mailed packages to those living away.
To celebrate it, I've created a sweet short story (romance, of course), and am offering it at my website.

I hope you do visit, because SAM'S STORY may be short and sweet, but it is FREE. :) Sam Knight is just the kind of guy we girls like. Or I do, anyway. I'm hoping to write about his brothers and sister, too.

Be sure to visit my updated "Classic" pages, where my early books are being offered in e-format. AllRomanceEbooks offers them in PDF, too. Or you can use Calibre to translate them from Kindle, etc.

The MacLean Trilogy is one of my favorite projects. I love Mac, J.D., and Max. I really should write a story about Madame Abagail LaRue, the ghost who walked Irish's B&B. Well, Irish MAKES the most of a good story, helping the madame's noises, etc. along.

A Lady's Desire

BTW, the yellow roses on A Lady's Desire are my photographs, and so is the pink rose I use for an icon in some places.

And if you're not on my enewsletter, I'd love to see you there!

The MacLean Trilogy Done

2011-01-23T09:22:00.007-06:00

This is THE DADDY CANDIDATE's brand new cover, which completes the MacLean trilogy. First published as a Silhouette Desire in 1991, he's back in business in e-format. Or will be soon. As of now, I'm busy lifting it up online, so watch for him...

And don't forget, it's only a few days before January's sale of DELILAH AND THE MOUNTIE ends.

When Systems-Warrior, Maxwell Van Damme, does a favor for J.D. MacLean, he isn't expecting Irish Dalton, J.D.'s sister-in-law. Irish's bookkeeping, which is keeping her receipts in an apple cookie jar and a shoebox, and giving away free passes to her B&B, sends cool, hard, scarred Max into system-fits. He's not expecting Irish's free-wheeling, loving spirit to collide with his rigid cold one. And then, guess what happens?

Irish's resident ghost, Abagail LaRue Whitehouse, continues from Angel vs MacLean, and strictly-business THE DADDY CANDIDATE becomes gets a little off-center in this loving nest.

THE LOVING SEASON, ANGEL VS MACLEAN, were the previous MacLeans, in that order. They are now available.

Watch for THE DADDY CANDIDATE. If you enjoy humor, you'll find some of that amid the loving, too...

WILD DAWN NOW ON SALE

2011-01-14T08:56:00.012-06:00

WILD DAWN now available at Kindle.

It will soon be available elsewhere. To celebrate DELILAH AND THE MOUNTIE is .99 here for the month of January.

Romantic Times Review: WILD DAWN is a story of survival, not only living through a rough mountain winter, or the survival of the body, but also the survival of the spirit. With MacGregor's tough and tender teaching, Regina discovers her inner strengths, her true beauty, and the ability to vanquish her enemies. Cait Logan [London] has penned an unusual, exciting, stunning, and intense book that wilol touch readers' hearts and souls. SENSUAL

Affaire de Coueur: Cait Logan [London] has penned a marvelous masterpiece! I loved every page from first to last... You won't be able to put it down once you start reading. It is wonderful. Sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, always entertaining. This book should be a must on your keeper's shelf!

INFO FACTOID: WILD DAWN is a revisited epublished format, the original published in paper 1992 as Cait Logan. (The same year as MIDNIGHT RIDER at Desire as Cait London, confusing, isn't it?) I'm putting most of my titles under Cait London. I keep repeating this, sorry, but this whole placing my backlist into current epublishing has been quite the learning journey, courtesy of hand-holding by a lot of writer-friends.

Of my self-created covers, I'm liking this one the best. Or maybe THE LOVING SEASON. BTW, THE LOVING SEASON is the first of the MacLean trilogy, ANGEL vs MACLEAN (#2), and THE DADDY CANDIDATE is almost ready to lift up; I'm doing that cover now.

If you're not on my enewsletter, you may wish to join to keep up with what I'm doing, announcements, contests, etc. You can find a handy-dandy icon at my website or on this blog.

While DELILAH AND THE MOUNTIE features Washington Territory and up the Cariboo Trail (correct spelling)into British Columbia, WILD DAWN is set in the Southwest. I drive to all my settings, and thoroughly enjoyed this research trip, though my preference is for more to my home "stomping" ground, Washington State, Montana, etc. Filled with Indian wars, English on hunting trips (Regina is kidnapped from one), WILD DAWN was another gorgeous trip. I think I have photos somewhere of the sand dunes near the Sangre de Cristos mountains. I did take a lot of photos.

The DAWN in WILD DAWN is from one of my photos, taken right from my back yard.

I hope you enjoy all of my books and discover Lady Regina's Legend before she does...

What's Love Got To Do With It

2011-01-05T09:52:00.022-06:00

Now on Sale at .99 for a Limited Time.

Tina Turner's song perfectly suits What's a Cover Got To Do With It?

Answer? Almost everything.

DELILAH and the MOUNTIE is already up, the western historical featuring a Mountie after his brother's killer--the suspect is Delilah's youngest brother. With another historical, Wild Dawn, almost ready to be lifted into epublishing, I'm considering Cover Looks.

This is why authors want that contract clause: Cover Say or Cover Input. But when writers chose their own covers, like in epublishing, calling on friends for input is really important.

When self-designing a cover, starting thinking basics, a name brand? Think larger author name than title. What elements are in the story? Appeal to what strata of readers? Where to "shop" for ideas? Stockphoto URLs, free or paid?

All this thinking is really like plowing through muck, until an idea forms. But hey! Wait. If doing several books in the same genre or subgenre (Rem: I'm a fiction writer) it should be a look that suits all. For example, I have western historical, contemporary category (Desires), romantic suspense and psychic, or romantic suspense/psychic.

What's your opinion of any of these covers? More on that later...

Lots of discussion on the writer boards about covers as we place our reverted titles into epublishing, or perhaps some new stuff. I'm not particularly happy with some of my early titles, so debate changing them, with clear notification to readers, of course. However, some writers say it is "death" to change a title. So important to weigh that one. While you're weighing that one, consider a choosing a font that shows well and reflects the book.

I'm not a fan of the border/band look, which shows fonts well, providing a background. I've just seen too many books relying on that look, until it looks very standard, and quite trade. To me, as this is all subjective. (I'm a paperback writer, another song.)

Then guess what? Think minimized as the cover would be on Internet? Does it "pop"?
To meet Kindle, NookBooks, Smashwords and others (those are the top popular ones), it has to meet their specs.

Designers are out there and can easily handle writer's ideas, but you also have to think budget and how much you're willing to invest. Prices I've found range from very little graphic work ($25) to the popular JA Konrath's estimate of $300-900. Many authors do their own covers with the help of stockphotos and graphic software.

I'm struggling through this now. As a canvas artist, I thought this would be easier. It isn't. I've redone several covers and plan to redo more.One test is how well they sell. Some writers like Marsha Canham do great, sailing through sales with tallships and pirates. I miss pirate-theme books, so those, plus some feminine background appeal.

Terry O'Dell has a great description of her process. In fact she has a great blog.
If you have time... I'd really appreciate your input on these covers, keeping in mind that I'm changing the 2 numbered ones whenever. AND there's definitely a contest coming in the future...

MacLean 2 Up Now

2010-12-23T06:15:00.005-06:00

ANGEL vs MacLEAN, book #2 in The MacLeans, an early Cait London Silhouette Desire, is now available in several place, more soon. THE LOVING SEASON, featuring Mac and Diana was book one.

THE DADDY CANDIDATE, book 3 is next.

ANGEL vs MacLEAN features cause-fighter attorney Katherine Dalton Kelly, the widow of a rich older man. The man she's determined to avoid broke her young heart years ago, by dismissing her The Morning After Making Love.

Oh, he had his reasons, but J.D. MacLean cannot forgive "Kat" for running off to marry that older rich man--then coming back to flaunt her huge diamond in front of a struggling trucker with a baby daughter.

But the playing field has come full circle, and J.D. is now a powerful rich man. He's also the guardian of his adorable little grandson.

He's rich enough to get Irish, Katherine's baby sister in his financial grip and now Katherine will have to deal with him...

Now, J.D. isn't the sweetheart that his brother, Mac, is, and he's out for payback.

Take one adorable little boy, one remodeled bordello now a B&B with a resident ghost, and a woman who's tangling with the past and J.D., and you've got fireworks...

Irish, Katherine's baby sister and Max Van Damme are featured next, in THE DADDY CANDIDATE.

All three of the series, THE LOVING SEASON, ANGEL vs MacLEAN, and THE DADDY CANDIDATE were top selling Silhouette Desires, now avaialbe in ebook format.

THE LOVING SEASON was my first book for Silhouette Desire, preceded by 5 SECOND CHANCE AT LOVES at BERKLEY.

Join my newsletter and watch for possible sales and notices of new books?

And stay warm!

The MacLeans Book 1

2010-12-18T09:55:00.006-06:00

The Loving Season (The MacLeans)

THE LOVING SEASON, my first category for Silhouette Desire is now in epublishing in Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords, which spins to different sales sites.

THE LOVING SEASON is the first of the MacLean series and ANGEL vs MACLEAN will soon follow.

A little about Mac and Diana's unexpected love story...

Author Rating--Sweet/Sensual. First of MacLean series, published as Desire, 1989. The Wyoming B&B is filled and on a voyage of self-discovery after a bad marriage, Diana is re-routed to a ranch home. She's not expecting a bagpipe-paying grumpy rancher. But she looks like a stray and Mac is keeping her. He's determined not to love again, and with 2 grown sons, Diana isn't planning romance, or physical attraction. And then, guess what happens?

I hope you enjoy Mac and Diana, and my other early books now changing to epublishing...

And I hope you're enjoying the holiday.

Making Writing Time

2010-12-15T10:23:00.005-06:00

I'm just about ready to lift THE LOVING SEASON up to Kindle, Nook and Smashwords. This cover is about done, or I may wiggle it a little.

In formatting it for epublishing, I was struck by Mac's sensitivity and fear of falling in love again--with a woman on her own journey. Without giving too much of the story away, I found that it was true--what an editor had said of some of my work--that my characters redeem each other.

So Redemption may fit into the title of an upcoming release. :)

Then, about the time that it takes to redo one of these early books (still love them, love the stories), and this may be for the writers out there:

TIME. There's just not enough of it for a producing writer.

But this morning, I received an e-mail that pinpoints what some writers think about others. The phrase ran something like this and is certain to set any producing writer's hair on end:

"I just don't have the time you do."

Hmm.

Double Hmm. Okay, I've written through a schedule of a day job, a single mother with 3 daughters, and 2 publishers. I've painted the whole house twice--on the outside, and now on the inside. I run a house and a yard, and I'm still a mother and now a grandmother, very active in all things. I keep up active networking with writers, in some cases mentoring.

Yet. I have always been regimented about writing time, even prior to publishing.

Networking and promotion suck up a tremendous about of professional time, say maybe 50-60% or more. Bookkeeping, technical stuff, machine maintenance, software, all that backside stuff of just putting your fingers on a keyboard, take time.

And energy. I find that my "Smartest Time" is in the early a.m., before the dawn and through the morning. After that, it's pretty well editing, networking, whatever.

So there just isn't TIME.

I think that we envision other's lives as if they are outside our own little boxes. That outside our lives, THEIR lives are different.

And they are, but not when it comes to writing. You have to Make Time and keep at it.

So we're all alike in how much Time WE DO NOT HAVE. But we're writers and generally, we make it work. Like every other writer, I keep it moving, with a full locker of story ideas and proposals, and now one completed book, all set to market.

I'm putting pressure on my reverted books now, something I've wanted to do for years. So we shift priorities around, but we're always making time and writing. Any writer usually has a fertile mind, stories brewing constantly, so some are stashed, and waiting. Others are developed for submission.

One writer said he writes around the corners of his life. I think most of us do, but then we slice a big chunk of regular time (like my early a.m.s) for stepping into our stories.

Uh-huh. It all takes time.

Win a Kindle!

2010-11-30T20:42:00.020-06:00

A Lady's Choice

I'm one of 22 authors participating in Access Romance's Holiday Track-Down. You'll have to get the specs at Access Romance.

Not only is a Kindle offered, but several Prize Packs!

I'll give you a really strong hint: Check out my new web page for my backlist books. These are my early books, brought back to life in epublishing. This is quite the task and the list is growing. I'm doing and redoing the covers as I discover more about this format. Most are available on Kindle, Nookbooks, Smashwords, and A Writers Work. The links are on my new page.

I'm in full holiday mode now and enjoying the return to these early stories. I have quite a list, so watch for more.

And sign up for my email newsletter? I'm also on Twitter and Facebook.

Here's a Holiday Anthology, done with other authors. It started out as a collection of holiday mysteries and ended up as romance :)

This is a 3-in-1 and the cover was absolutely gorgeous.

I hope you're all relaxing a bit this holiday season. We're having a low-key season and I'm alternately writing and baking. Gingerbread men coming up!

Free Downloads or Piracy

2010-11-17T09:20:00.014-06:00

I’m preparing my early books (1986-) for epublication, and including this clause with the copyright notice in front of my name:

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author. *

*This also pertains to uploading to free download sites, which is considered piracy and does not recognize the labor of this author or their livelihood from that work. Please discourage piracy and purchase works (other than those offered by the author or publisher or copyright holder as Free Books). Thank you.

Why would I change the usual time-old notices listed near the COPYRIGHT of every published book today, that “stuff” tucked into the “front matter”?

Because COPYRIGHT MATTERS. COPYRIGHT says who owns the right to publish that book. The real rights, not because the person purchased the book at the store. When you buy a legally published book, you have the right to read it, period. Not publish it on the Internet.

Here are ugly realities in just who can legally do what with a physical paper book, and or one that is epublished:

Piracy. Theft. Scamming. Not pretty words, are they?

Hmm. So how do those words pertain to writers and books, specifically electronic (remember, paper books can be scanned and lifted to the Internet) books that are being offered for “free” on the Internet?

Piracy/Theft is scooping away a high percentage of writers’ incomes. The following tale isn’t pretty and calls for fundamental understanding:

1. Understand that to be able to lift up a book to the Internet and offer it in any way, ownership of COPYRIGHT is necessary. That means your name needs to be by the little circle with a c inside and/or the word, “Copyright”. Usually, the author’s name and date follows.

2. Understand that not everything that is advertised as “Free Download” is legally authorized by whomever owns that book’s copyright. The COPYRIGHT belongs to the originator of the piece, when it originates, when it is published. This is the Writer/Creator.

3. Understand that owning the book, in any format, does not give the right to copy/scan it, use it for profit/tangible or intangible gains.

4. Understand that if this book, in any format, has been illegally dispensed by some uploader-pirate to a Free Download Site, then it is ILLEGAL.

Let’s define that “Free” in two ways: ONE: The author and/or publisher has authorized the free downloads. They’ve given permission for that specific epublished book to be downloaded. Authors/Publishers often issue Free Downloads for advertising purposes. All very legal, if the downloader recognizes and agrees to the usage terms, whatever they may be. Very Important Note: They may or may NOT have given permission to circulate with certain stipulations.

TWO: HIGHLY BAD/EVIL. A dastardly person either scans a paper book into epublishing and lifts it to a “Free Download” site, or they take an epublished book(s) and lift/upload it to a Free Download Site.

Why would anyone do something clearly illegal—if they do NOT own the copyright?

Because “Pirates” receive some compensation for uploading some writer’s hard work; repayment can be an exchange or just feeling good, because they are sharing with friends and getting Smiley Faces or Stars by their names. Or glowing comments in their section. Or maybe it’s a thrill from playing a game. But their compensation feeds on a writer’s income derived from months/days/hours of pushing themselves to the limit creatively and physically at keyboards and screens.

FACTOID: Do you know that many writers work 7 days a week? That some of those days are 12-14 hours? That they/their families may depend on their income, not easily gained? That publishing is an industry and when professionals network, it’s intensely business?

Crunch the numbers:

If the illegally uploaded book is downloaded by say 1000 people, or even 50, do you know how much income the writer is losing?

Multiply that one writer by thousands of writers whose names are on that COPYRIGHT notice, each having from one to several books.

Then, it’s likely that another Pirate downloads that book and takes it to another Internet Free Download site. It’s uplifted again, and more downloads ripple out from there. Translation: More income sucked away from writers.

FACTOID: Pirates illegally upload and/or download not only single books, but bundles of an author’s work. Those bundles are books/ebooks that are sucking away income the writer would have derived by legal buyers.

FACTOID: Piracy is Global.

Across Writerdom, millions (probably closer to billions) are lost to Internet Pirates, who offer works that are not theirs.

To exist in Writerdom calls for cash. To provide for self/family calls for cash.

We’re writers because we are creative by nature, but we also work very hard in a tough business. Taking away compensation via Piracy equates to theft of a writer’s income. (Damages to a career result, but that tale/affect will have to wait.)

The Point of this Tale: DO NOT PIRATE. If you do not own the COPYRIGHT of any book, story, fiction/non-fiction material, etc. you do NOT have the right to upload it, use it, without the permission of those who LEGALLY OWN the COPYRIGHT, and/or their publishers.

Consider this: If you access Internet material from an illegal upload, and you download it, that would make you the recipient of illegal goods, wouldn’t it?

The publishing industry works to prevent Piracy, but we need more. Here’s my two best recommendations, but I hope there are lots more:

1. Attn: Writers, Publishers, Industry Professionals, Writing Groups, Speakers. In every possible way, inform the reading public, traditional or epublished, speak out about Piracy, define it. Explain the damage piracy does to your friends over coffee. Work it.

2. Attn: EReader People. Before you download any material listed as Free Download, make certain that permission has been given by the author or publisher.

Writers, please comment. But please DO NOT MENTION ANY OF THESE SITES. Mention/links circulate their PR. Thank you, and good luck.

Stay Tuned...

Backlists Now Available

2010-11-07T08:19:00.013-06:00

You'll love BacklisteBooks. If you read a really good book years ago and loved it, but have now switched to an ereader, you're in luck. Because as one reader wrote to me, "I love all your books, but your early ones in paper are getting a bit worn with rereading. Now with my ereader, I can revisit the story easily."

BTW,I hope you like Midnight Rider's revised cover. I'm still learning a lot about designing ecovers. I've always had input to traditional publisher's covers, and now I see some of their problems, plus it's a different medium and really needs that pop.

So far, I've got the following Cait London books at Smashwords and Amazon:
A Lady's Choice, A Lady's Desire, Midnight Rider, Rugged Glory, Gambler's Lady, and Delilah and the Mountie.

They're available at other places, too: Nookbooks, Sony, Diesel, etc.

A fast moving/growing group of NYTs and USA Today bestsellers, with back and front lists, they are very busy getting your favorites into epub. Available at both Smashwords and Amazon stores, BacklisteBooks are adding more traditionally published backlist books--as their own publishers.

I'm learning and in this fast moving bunch and it's exciting, if I can keep up :)

Currently, I'm searching for just the right look for Rugged Glory. Learning a lot about cover graphics, too, a necessity with this long backlist and more coming. You can join Facebook's BacklisteBooks by clicking on the graphic to the lower right column and visiting their website.

Hint: for Halloween, BacklisteBooks issued a discount coupon at Smashwords, and here comes Christmas! Sign up for their Facebook page and learn more.

Cait's Couponola Discount

2010-10-27T11:59:00.007-05:00

Wow. I love this new cover for Delilah and the Mountie, my new ebook, created by Amanda Kelsey at RazzdazzDesigns. To celebrate, I'm offering a 50% discount coupon at Smashwords on A Lady's Desire. Just enter the code, JX34K until October 31.

I was late getting into Backlistebooks, but hope to be there soon and able to join on their coupons. Coming in late, I thought I'd double the discount.

Writers at Backlistebooks are putting their published works into epublishing and having quite a good time. Do visit them, and check out their sales coupon for a limited time. Make haste! You'll find Diane Chamberlain, Alison Kent, Patricia Rice, Linda Wisdom and many more on the Backlistebooks coupon at Smashwords.

Highly involved in the process of formatting and covering their epublished works, these writers work together as you can see at Backlistebooks. Writers and readers are following the development of the ereaders, and here's what Lori Devoti, also a member of Backlistebooks writes in her review of the Nook.

I don't have an ereader, but I'm following changes very closely. Several friends have Kindles, and they love them.

I tested a few at the store and found that because I read quickly, I needed either a larger screen or a faster page turner. Of course that was a bit ago, and they've probably improved.

Do visit Backlistebooks to see the writers and pick up your coupon.

And don't forget mine for A Lady's Desire. It's JX34K .

Writers Survival Guide X Industry Take

2010-10-09T12:31:00.006-05:00

No one knows where publishing is going, but lots of ideas and plans floating around in writer-stratusfere. Opines as I have many, really do not amount to as much as the jam I've just made.

I've just presented my The Business of Writing talk to a local writers group, complete with handouts and truly hope they use those handouts, i.e. Twenty Top Tips, You as your own resource, Market Talk, Tax Keeping Records for Writers, etc. (I only keep records; a pro-tax person does my taxes.)

When meeting, presenting to any group, I am struck by how much we all need to network and communicate...outside our usual writer-realms. And that is up to the individuals to add to/and or explore research and what is easily available.

Balanced between writing new ones and getting my reverted rights titles into epublishing, I'm really watching avenues of profit and what suits me, my stories. I'm learning a lot about self-publishing because of my reverted rights on early titles. But I'm also watching how publishers are handling their balancing act: providing traditional books for the stands/slots and figuring out a new model for this frenzy of epublishing.

First, the Gloomy Stuff: Keep in mind that publishing is changing as we breathe each breath. Media savvy seems to matter more than story. Questions of Are Publishers and Agents Necessary compete with Perfect Pitch How-tos. Now established writers groups are suffering membership losses, because How-tos are everywhere and agents and publishers are accessible without attending conferences.

In tough financial times, few have $$ to attend/travel to conferences, pay fees, rooms. More depend on Internet. Correction: Almost everything depends on Internet.

But stepping through that gloom, with gleaming sword raised, here's a few of my FWIW, For What Its Worth, that I recently passed along to a writers group, along with handouts. That FWIW is uber important to remember, because everything is in flux and so am I.

First: Google Konrath and you'll find he's phenomenal, creating his own epublishing machine. So as an option to traditional publishing, there is self-publishing, Amazon, etc.

From the self-publishing platform, a wealth of small business spring up, i.e. graphic artists, format people, promoters, communities sharing resources such as BVC, Book View Cafe, a professional co-op.

At this posting, Novelists Ink's conference is in Florida. I'm following it with TweetDeck (get to uses of Tweeting later). If you want to follow, use hashtag #Ninc. They also have a great blog with lots of info. To belong to Ninc, last I checked, the applicant needs 2 traditionally published books by a recognized publisher within 5 years. So a covey of all pros attending this conference, with publishing houses/agents/authors/promotion people telling how it is.

So let's get logical, from the POV, Point of View, of what we know now and see where our time and energies are best spent.

At the same time, let us not override our needs, our creative energies, or our dreams of publication. Let's just skip on over to what I consider logical--AT THE MOMENT...

On the bright side, a newcomer may have a better chance of "a fresh new voice" selling than someone well established. On the other hand, someone well established has a lot going for them, too, i.e. new avenues with a new pseudonym. (I'm doing some of that now, adding onto my Cait London pseudonym.)

FWIW, we're in a flipping-over stage, transitioning from everything, keeping little and rushing toward new horizons. For instance, Konrath might not be a good model for someone who isn't a marketing genius, or who has little resources. He's a media pro, IMHO. Self-publishing suits him. He has a developed marketing platform that is definitely working. He makes very good basic points for anyone not on his marketing level: Get a professional looking cover and provide clean, edited copy.

Smashwords and others do a good job. Smashwords can even provide ISBNs upon arrangement. Apple wants ISBNs, and Smashwords, the service, not the ISBNs, is free. Smashwords can translate your .doc into book form.

Then, small publishers are looking good lately. But they also have to compete with this changing monster. So check out small publishers.

Amazon's Kindle is based on HTML basically, but mobicreator and other software can help translate your document into form, or you can hire it done. So there are avenues.

When I spoke to this group, one person asked where to get details about Kindle and publishing. People, people, people. Any URL usually has a menu, and or a FAQ. Kindle's would be their DTP platform.

Let's jump to Twitter and how to use it. Fun? Or research? Somehow, Twitter affects the individual posting with an immediate sense of truth. Users seem less guarded, and that is why I follow some publisher and agent posts.

I also follow comments on Query Tracker, quite the useful tool when shopping for agencies.

Another useful tool is the very popular Guide to Literary Agents, a Writers Digest blog.

Now, submitting to agents: Some take personal email, others have a query submission online and want only email, with varying requirements. A few want snail mail, so it's important to check all that. Typically new agents, either starting out on their own, or joining an established agency are "hungrier".

At this point, I don't know how much studying Pitch sessions can help. Yet we are inundated by these sessions.

So how can writers best use their time? FWIW: If you're a writer, you're going to write--something, sales or not. It's just built into you.

When it comes to marketing your work, it's important to at least have a blog, the very least, something that you can link to. They take time, but can also draw interest when submitting your work.

FWIW: I'd go for freebies on everything. Blogs have free templates and many a successful blogger is using a cheapo template. You can also get a free website, tho I love my Blue Host, and if a free website, you can link from your blog to lengthy articles.

Right now, FWIW, it seems to me that media and graphic-wise writers are ahead and lagging behind are storytellers. Now, when I say "media" that also means those writers who are great speakers/presentors.

FWIW: Research, research, research. In this industry, you get/reap what you put into it, what you invest in learning and doing. Mediabistro is a favorite of mine, with terrific newsletters and options.

Bottom Line: If you're a writer, you're going to write, either for personal satisfaction, the need to write, or writing for publication pay. But if you're a writer, you'll write.

All we have to do is to get real in this changing publication climate, watching it morph by the heartbeat. Writing is/has been a reclusive job, but now, we're learning that we have to prioritize, sectioning off writing time and marketing/promotion time.

Very interesting times....

Midnight Rider Rides Again

2010-09-28T08:15:00.003-05:00

Midnight Rider (Blaylocks) Extrmely popular, MIDNIGHT RIDER by Cait London rides again. One of the Blaylock family series--remember THE SEDUCTION OF JAKE TALLMAN, a cousin?

It's so much fun revisiting Hannah and Dan as they unravel their past, and Hannah's need to recover her own and therefore, her life.

Originally, a Silhouette Desire, Man of the Month, MIDNIGHT RIDER is now available in Kindle, etc.

Midnight Rider (Silhouette Desire)

As with all of my early books, brought back in with epublishing, MIDNIGHT RIDER has an author's note, telling a little about how the story came about or how I felt as I wrote it.

Here's a little of the Author's Note in MIDNIGHT RIDER:
Set in Wyoming, one of my favorite western states, MIDNIGHT RIDER isn’t like some recent stories, because the hero isn’t wealthy, but he’s a real cowboy gem with his own Code of the West. He’s also 41, in the tradition of my hero-characters and he’s got that macho personality that just beckons a woman to take him down—and to love him. A strong man, Dan needs a woman to match him, which Hannah does. But she’s locked in her own struggle to unravel a very special past and this heated-up cowboy isn’t the kind to wait. He’s just as ornery as his buffalo bull and the longhorn bull, who compete for her love.

I’ve visited small towns like fictional Jasmine on my research travels and love them. Oh, those cowboy-ranchers....
***
Revisiting these early books has been my Labor of Love. I hope you'll also like upcoming ones, and DELILAH AND THE MOUNTIE, now available in Kindle.

Reminder From a Friend

2010-09-21T11:30:00.005-05:00

This a.m. a friend reminded me that I'm not posting links on this blog. Well, I need to....

So to catch up, because I should have a new e-bk on Kindle soon, here are the links to my early books, rebooted in Kindle and other places, i.e. A Writers Work and Smashwords. Keep in mind that my publishers also have placed an amount of my e-books everywhere:

You'll note that the first four are category books and the last a historical. Please read my previous posts concerning them.

I'm also placing a nice backstory in each of these books. How I got the idea, traveling to research, how one story folds into another. I really am enjoying revisiting these early books, and I've loved all my stories. To a writer, their like children, from conception, to birth, to growth and enjoyment.

More later....

1. Lady's Choice:

2. Gambler's Lady

3. Rugged Glory:

4. Lady's Desire:

5. Delilah and the Mountie:

Delilah and The Mountie

2010-09-14T22:55:00.005-05:00

If you've read my latest post, Westerns Ride Again, you'll know I've been revisiting my early books in epublishing.

DELILAH, published 1995 as Cait Logan for Berkley-Jove, is now DELILAH and THE MOUNTIE, available in epublishing through Amazon as of now. And issued under the Cait London brand. The Mountie is a North West Mounted Policeman, NWMP, hot on the trail of his brother's killer. And that suspected killer is Delilah's baby brother. The whole Mountie history, later merged with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, is really interesting, so is the Cariboo Trail.

I chose to give each of my different writing brands a logo, and for westerns, it's a black feather, with Historical written beneath it.

Interesting how one book leads to another. I've just finished reformatting a contemporary western, MIDNIGHT RIDER, which took all sorts of awards and led to the Blaylock author-driven miniseries at Harlequin, and Jake Tallman, a cousin, in THE SEDUCTION OF JAKE TALLMAN.

MIDNIGHT RIDER is almost ready for lift off at this moment, and I'm working on a proper cover.

With new work ready to be edited, these old beloved books wait to be revisited. I still love the stories as I did then, and revisiting them is a real pleasure.

Watch for more on this revisiting early Cait London books as we're working on them now....

Westerns Ride Again

2010-09-09T07:05:00.006-05:00

Now that summer is over and I'm back at my keyboard, I'll try to do better at keeping up my blogs--which I love btw. I've had some great writerly experiences this summer, but now it's time to settle down to business :)

First up: Published by Berkly-Jove in 1995, DELILAH, renamed DELILAH and The Mountie in 2010 is getting ready for lift-off into epublishing.... With a different cover. I'm working on that now.

As Cait London, a pseudonym, I have quite a few books in my front and back lists. I'm bringing my early books into epublishing, but it is a slow, slow process. You can find them at Amazon and just about anywhere else.

Revisits allow minor changes, such as changing my then-pseudonym, Cait Logan, for current Cait London. But hey, guys, same writer whether contemporary or historical. You'll find a different style that goes with each time period.

I loved writing my Northwest historicals, riding the trails, researching everything--no hardship at all. DELILAH's U.S./Canadian Okanagon and Cariboo trail to Barkerville, B.C. was fabulous. So I've actually been in my story locations, even if fictionalizing the names.

I'm working on a new cover for DELILAH and Her Mountie now, but this one is gorgeous, especially its stepback by the artist Pelligrino. Back in the day, there were more artist renditions/paintings than the graphic works now, which can be just as attractive. As a painter myself, I lean toward that.

So here's the introduction I'm using for DELILAH and The Mountie:

DELILAH
“Cait Logan beautifully blends the heartwarming atmosphere of an American Western with a humorous yet poignant love story.” Romantic Times

TAME THE FURY
“The fire and spark between the protagonists is really exceptional, generating and maintaining the best sensual and romantic tension seen in a long time. Definitely a book for readers who adore sizzling verbal sparring and a relationship between hot-tempered lovers!” Romantic Times

WILD DAWN
“An exciting, stunning, and intense book that will touch readers’ hearts and souls.” Romantic Times

NIGHT FIRE
“A marvelous, not-to-be missed read.” Romantic Times

***
PUBLISHED BY READER REQUEST
Dear Reader:
Welcome to DELILAH, previously published by Berkley-Jove Books as Cait Logan and now reissued under Cait London, another pseudonym.

I’ve added “and the Mountie”, because in Simon Oakes is definitely worth mentioning. I’m certain you’ll fall in love with him, too. In revisiting DELILAH, I fell deeply in love with her story again. The research for DELILAH was fascinating, and my daughter and I actually traveled the trail from Okanogan/Omak Washington state, up to British Columbia, Canada, then to the Cariboo Trail to Barkerville. I grew up near the Columbia River, not far from our origin point, Okanogan/Omak Washington state. (By the way, the Okanogan Indians are part of the Confederated Colville tribes, pronounced Call-ville.)

While a hefty portion of my fellow writers leaned toward Southwest stories, I researched and rode the Northwest Indian and mining trails. I grew up in rural inland Washington state, and its history is fascinating. (Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce is buried there.)

I have been to the locations of all of my books and the experience is unforgettable, definitely one of the benefits of my vocation. I cannot say enough about the beauty of this trail, from the lush fruit line valleys, to the exciting mountains and wild, untamed Frazer River, churning below. Amid tons of photographs somewhere, we documented this trip, and sat one night, viewing the Northern Lights in a field near Barkerville.

Barkerville, B.C.: Among all the restorations of forts and encampments I’ve visited, Barkerville stands out the most, as the best. A mining town, started by a strike, it is fabulously presented now. You can walk down the board lined streets, visit the wooden shops, the church, the courthouse, and see the giant waterwheels churn nearby. I loved this town and commend the Canadian government for its restoration.

We also visited the Mountie museum, and mention of the Whoop-Up Trail (whiskey traders) there, led to another book, set in Fort Benton, Montana just below the border. (I’ve written several books, historical and contemporary, set in Montana.)

Note two different spellings, U.S. and Canadian, caribou for the animal, and Cariboo for the Canadian spelling. Also, in the U.S. Okanogan and in Canada Okanagan. The Cariboo Trail and all the stops are not to be missed. Loved the journey and I hope you will love Delilah and her Mountie as much as I do.

As I prepare DELILAH and Her Mountie for epublishing, I am struck by how deeply I feel about my stories, every one, either contemporary or historical. I’m so glad that this new format allows new readers to enjoy her story, too.

Please visit my blog for more information about DELILAH and HER MOUNTIE, and my other early books, as well as new ones. I’d love to hear from you. Just e-mail.

And if you ever get the chance to travel these historical trails, take it. Barkerville, B.C. is fabulous for its history and more.

Why Do Writers Write?

2010-08-20T12:21:00.010-05:00

I sit here, picking away gobs of spray insulation foam on my arm (my first attempt), and seriously contemplating my writer's day.

Who knew this stuff would come back at you, scrolling in puffy strings everywhere?

Okay, I digress. What can I say? I'm a virgin-insulation sprayer. That was yesterday. Messy, but finished. Yesterday, I also edited gobs. So yesterday was Gobs Day.

Today, I'm preparing for the first of September, ready to launch my babies out into the world. These last two weeks before September and/or to Labor Day are busy for everyone. Students are back to school, homeowners are planning fall fix-up, and writers are really working hard.

With Missouri's extreme heat this summer, I've hit the keyboard during the afternoon, modifying my usual early a.m.s to the heat.

Summer is really busy as you can see on my blog My Jam Jar. But with a pretty busy family, there's always lots to do. I've dropped off from the track a little as writers do when they're intensely into projects. But I'm creeping back into gear, now that my rough draft is finished.

In touching base with other authors, the discussion came up about Writing For $ vs. The Love of Writing. Everyone has different takes, and I've get read an article on Guide to Literary Agents blog (really good blog) BTW, about writers income, and living off it.

I've been doing that for a number of years, after leaving a day job, but also writing for 2 publishers. Writing is my only income, and according to this article, the percentage of those writers may be as low as 1%. I'd heard 2% earlier.

I've seen Writing listed in the Hobby Sections of online communities. Really? Say it isn't so.

Most writers usually have some other source of income, either through spouse, retirement, investments, day-jobs, etc. I have a big problem with that label as we work darn hard out here. In fact, most writers I know are working at multiple tasks, day-jobs, various writing projects, and their own specialties.

Tip: Writing for sucess has specific personality elements. One is regimentation and ability to prioritize. The multiple-taskers above do know how to handle a calendar with life and writing deadlines, and they know how to prioritize. One writer, a teacher, spoke of writing around the corners of his life. I think that says it well for those with so-called day-jobs.

Prioritizing your writing projects isn't easy. Writers who complete their mss, edits, whatever, usually step back to catch up with life for a time. Then, they're back at the keyboard, brainstorming new proposals, working on platforms/PR, whatever. Because? It's necessary to be brewing new stories all the time, keeping the creative flow moving along. I keep a Toy Box of story ideas, when one drops in on me and just dipping into that plasters me with ideas. I think most writers have more stories in them, then they can actually write in their lifetimes.

Sometimes that's a sluggish situation, such as one writer I recently spoke with, has different family situations that are absorbing her physical and mental energy. Don't we all? There are just times when the Big Bird of Paradise drops one on you and you have to mop up the best you can.

We are different, my writer-friend and I, because when I'm deeply troubled, I can take a mini-vacation by dropping into my stories--taking a little mental health break. She cannot, and there's nothing wrong with that. But it is important, if not dealing with a money/career-making deadline, that we are human, flesh and blood and we need what we need to survive. Every writer is different in that aspect.

Recently, I've just stepped off the writing Boardwalk (didn't meet Snooki, thank goodness) and worked on different projects. I needed to try new fields, and old. "Mining" we call it. I write because I need to, because it's a part of me, my daily routine, my feel-good time. I miss it, when life (and home fix-up) pops in, eating up my creative time.

But then, I'm a scheduled writer, with regular hours. Make the coffee, check the e-mail and settle in with my characters. (Incidentally, they only come to my PC and don't like travel.) Another writer may write in bursts, when "they feel the muse", but that's not for me. I'm behind on updating my blogs now, and my website. But I'll get there, because I'm really into my stories now and don't want to leave my mental creative nest.

But as I've said, all writers are different in their goals, needs and financial situation. My first goal was just to get my name on one book. That was almost 70 books ago and a really gratifying career that I'm still enjoying.

So, if you are a writer, ask yourself, why you write and how dedicated you are, and what you are willing to sacrifice. I need to do this on a poll, I guess, but I'd rather get back to my stories.

Writers Survival Guide X

2010-07-31T13:17:00.010-05:00

While Orlando's RWA (Romance Writers of America)mixes fun and business, I'm holed up in my cool MO home, working away. Rather, I'm preparing to work, but am writing this post first.

BTW, note Book 4 in my early category book, A Lady's Desire, first published as Second Chance at Love, Cait Logan. In each book, I write about how this story arrived on my fingers or something that made the book special. I wish I'd scanned all the great reviews for each one, but their in a box somewhere, so maybe sometime... No small thing to be a USA Today bestseller or a NYTs either, which wasn't/isn't why I write, so these great reviews sometimes still shock me. I set out to get my name on just one book and now, close to 70 later, I'm still stunned.

Writing posts and keeping up with business does sometimes start the fiction-wheels turning. Amid much business and several books, I thought I'd share another Writer's Survival Guide, Number TEN. Check out the tag Writers Survival Guide and Writers Stuff and you'll find a whole backlog of maybe-useful info, if you work it.

This morning's post is leading with a little reminder that whatever the reason, it's always nice to keep those fingers from keys, until whatever sharp reply is under control. Once that Send key is hit, that e-mail may not be recovered.

The moral of this story is: what goes around, comes around in the professional writing community especially. It's essential to remember in all correspondence, which is in print/email, that any comment can endanger a potential entry door into publishing. That is, authors, agents, publishers all communicate in a sometimes very small community. A sharp reply, a bit of temper, to one can ripple wherever and amazingly fast. Likewise, poor professional manners.

After that tidbit, which is only too true, I spent this a.m. networking/catching up with business/e-mail. I'm on several loops, some professional, some websites and blogs, Facebook and Twitter. At Twitter, that's @CaitLondon and I'm currently using TweetDeck of the many apps available.

My books and e-books are available at different sites, publisher's versions and my own via reverted rights for traditional books. Every author must try to retrieve their rights, if possible, and it is no small job, if you have a longer list. In fact, it's a whole day-job to manage. A simple letter to the right person, starts the ball rolling.

For some time, I've been happy with VirtualMechanic's website software, but have been putting off a badly needed update to their new software, SiteSpinner Pro. Terrific support from Derek and the forums, and as a website host, BlueHost is surpreme, even handling your domain name's renewals for you. If you start up with them, please mention that Cait London sent you as that gets me some points on their next charges. Highly recommend BlueHost and they have a supreme CGI bin for users, lots of storage and facilities I haven't even started to tap yet.

This a.m. I checked into my Bloglines account. This is a blog "aggregator". Interpreted lightly, this beast goes out and collects everything subject and/or blog I want. Very handy for a busy person, because Bloglines holds all the blogs until I can run thru what I want and can hold in a CLIP file for later reference. Very handy. I clicked on the ones I wanted for later reference and the rest slid off into Ciberspace, not clogging up my account.

Bloglines also offers several other features, like a free blog. Check those out.

With a lot of business on hand, and an author usually does, I recommend use of mailbox filters to save time. To a writer, Time is like Money. We use it to create and hopefully provide some income.

Most writers have several mailboxes, according to the task. One for editors/publisher business is essential, family and friends, one per email loop, one for subscriptions (storing newsletters, etc. in one place is very hand). But also include one mailbox for the stuff you have to sign up for, but not really that important, i.e. I like to check over the different Coupon places. Some email can wait, so it just sits in that mailbox until you can deal with it, like I did this a.m.

Of those I hit this a.m., I think an article by Carolyn Kaufman at QueryTracker was the most immediately useful, as I've just backed up my machine. Carolyn's article, Backing Up: Know Your Options is a recommended read for everyone.

I back up and store on external hard drives, but also the WIP on thumb-drives. Writers get paranoid about backing up for good reason. So much work can be lost if a computer's hard drive dies.

Generally, Anything on QueryTracker is good, and Elana Johnson does a good job there. While you're there, sign up for their newsletter.

More:

Another great newsletter comes from Cynthia Sterling. She picks up stuff from everywhere. You'll find her at her blog, Cindi Myers Market News.

One big freebie for you KIDLIT writers: There's a free online conference at WriteonCon with tons of editors and agents/writers there. This starts August 10, 2010, I think, and there is a chat for registration. Quite the online offering.

Novelists, Inc, a professional members only group, has a great blog filled with tips from pros.

I also belong to A Writers Work, which is an author's co-op for traditionally published authors who have reverted rights and are self-publishing their books or are writing new material.

And the topper is probably Publishers Market Place, free version, available at Cader Books. For intense useage, they also have a $20/mo option.

I hope you've enjoyed this issue of Writers Survival Guide.

Outlaw Love in Kindle

2010-07-19T18:30:00.004-05:00

Outlaw Love - Brenda Joyce Anthology
Lady Desperado is my story in Outlaw Love. Monday is a business day for me, so I can devote the rest of the week to writing.

I was going through contracts and struggling to make a so-called "paperless office" by scanning legal stuff, i.e. contracts, etc. when I hit material about this anthology. Naturally, I wanted to check it out and found that it's still going strong.

I need to reread my Lady Desperado and post a back story for it. If you're following the new epublishing of my early books, you'll see that I enclose a back story to each one. Love those.

I was thrilled to be invited for this western historical anthology by Dell Books. In the lead was Brenda Joyce, Connie Brockway (isn't she super?), Cait Logan (moi), and Stephanie Mittman, new back then.

Thrilled. Short stories, and I think this was 30k maybe, are extremely difficult for me to write. I tend to think in layers. Lady Desperado was one of the most difficult work I've done, though all of it is pretty intense. Very intense.

A 1997 release, it is now in Kindle form with my other books. It continues to sell but now in a new form.

So if you like westerns, I wrote as Cait Logan and will soon be working on Delilah and her Mountie.

A Writer's Choice

2010-07-16T10:25:00.007-05:00

After just finishing Kindle's A LADY'S DESIRE, early category romance, I'm questioning which project to start next.

Let's see: 1. There's life stuff; 2. business (that ugly underbelly of the fun writing-part)which is scanning, filing, oh yeah--need to update my website really badly. I have new software, so it's not that easy a re-do; or 3. finish the 100 pages and edit my WIP that basically stopped while learning how to work with my reverted early books.

Any one of the 3 is major time consuming. So time vs. priorities is one of a writer's "real life" problems. I did a seminar on this for writers, complete with help from Julie Hood's and my own handouts, blocking time.

DELILAH'S Stepback.

Mm. Then there's Delilah, my "Mountie" western historical. It's all scanned and waiting.

This book is special to me, as they ALL are, because I've invested so much of myself and love into the story. For Delilah and Simon, her Mountie, I drove the entire route from basically Okanogan, WA up the Cariboo Trail (that's Canadian spelling is correct) to Barkerville, B.C., a perfectly restored historical mining town, complete with Chinese waterwheels.

I took pictures of this great car trip, so if I can just dig them out, they'd be great to work into Delilah's cover.

I always research heavily, more than what shows, and this trip, complete with Northern lights, Fraizer River, mountains, Barkerville was supreme. My westerns and some contemporaries are set in the Northwest, the westerns following the Indian, trapper, gold miner, etc. trails. The Oregon Trail was unbelievable, even car-driving, because you actually see how much the pioneers suffered in crossing.

And the interviews! Loved interviewing local history buffs and gathering regional materials.

So right now, it looks like DELILAH is in the lead for priority.

But then, I'm really really wanting to finish my women's fiction, the first of a series, I hope.

New Lady's Cover

2010-07-11T08:51:00.013-05:00

Flash! A Lady's Desire returns. Also watch for coupon savings until 7/15/2010.

Originally published as category in Second Chance at Love by Berkley, A LADY'S DESIRE, reformatted for electronic versions, is now available at Smashwords and soon to Amazon's Kindle and other places. Watch for it at your favorite shopping URL.

Dan Jones, tough business torpedo, isn't taking no for an answer from Ozarks bred Rainey McDowell. And she's not settling for anything less than love, not even when sensuality is both sweet and mind-blowing. *Double-click on photo to see how great the watercolor filter worked on Dan's face.

A LADY'S DESIRE mentions previous characters K.C. and Barrett Redding, whose preqel, LADY ON THE LINE, was my very first book.

All my early category books are numbered or set to be, and the return to them is one of dedication and love. More information on previous posts.

Both Ladies' stories are set in Branson, MO, or that region, a favorite of tourists.

It will be awhile before LADY ON THE LINE (she's a lady lineman) is lifted up, 'cause I'm working on new material, don'tcha know? :)

I've just checked and while most of my books are available via traditional/paper publishing, the following electronic publications of my books follow:

TAKING HER TIME
FOR HER EYES ONLY: romantic suspense
AT THE EDGE: romantic suspense
A STRANGER'S TOUCH: romantic suspense
WITH HER LAST BREATHL: RS
HOLD ME TIGHT
HIDDEN SECRETS: RS
TALLCHIEF: THE HOMECOMING (Reader requests continue for more of these and other series)
SILENCE THE WHISPERS: RS
FLASHBACK: RS
TALLCHIEF: THE HUNTER
INSTINCTIVE MALE
TOTAL PACKAGE
SLOW FEVER
EVERY GIRL'S GUIDE TO... (There is a "companion" book for this one, EVERY GROOM'S GUIDE TO...

Then, my own reissuing of early books:
GAMBLER'S LADY
A LADY'S CHOICE
RUGGED GLORY
A LADY'S DESIRE

I'm way behind on my website's update, but am hoping to also post this current list there--someday :) I do my own 3 blogs, My Jam Jar and The Second Cup, with this one, plus my website, whenever.

Books can be found in different places, and lately some at A Writer's Work, a co-op with other traditionally published authors, republishing their early work.

Smashwords has my own publications, plus most are definitely for Amazon's Kindle.

Coupon Savings on Early Favs

2010-07-08T07:07:00.040-05:00

If you've been following Daily or Not, you'll see that I'm reviving some of my early books. So far, there are just three as they take time to reformat for e-book readers. Also, I'm designing my own covers, which I love as I am basically an artist. I loved the apple blossoms on A LADY'S CHOICE, courtesy of istockphoto.

You can also find these books at other locations, such as Amazon and A Writers Work.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN E-BOOK READER: Adobe has a great free ereader for download and also Calibre, free software.

Attn: Smashwords Coupon Savings: But to celebrate my first 3 of many to come, I've used a coupon (date 7/8/2010 to 7/15/2010) at Smashwords (though you can find all three at Amazon). The coupon code at Smashwords for A LADY'S CHOICE is BY43W

Set in WA state's mountains, where I grew up: Emily Northrup would rather freeze in a snowdrift than be rescued by Cal McDonald. He's 6'2" of sheer male power, her teen year's older idol, and he destroyed her years ago. She's not having a return bout years later. But her aunt, Cal's neighbor, is in trouble. Bewitched by Emily for years, Cal is afraid the city girl-butterfly won't stay, yet he can't pushing her for what they both want.

The other Smashwords coupons are for the following: GAMBLER'S LADY, VE77Z coupon code
Story set in Las Vegas: Big tough Nick Santos and Kim Reynolds' story was reissued from a SCAL (that Second Chance at Love)to Diamond/Berkley.

With an ex-wife who is doesn't love their child prowling around, gambler and casino owner Nick Santos finds himself hiring Kim, the casino's lady "handler" for a pseudo-wife. And he wants to handle her, make their fake marriage real. Readers love his 4-year old daughter, Cherry, and so does Kim. But she's been wounded, and Nick is just too overpowering, set in his ways. Playing house with Nick is playing with fire, but Nick always gets what he wants...

As with the book I'm working on now, this book needed updating. At the time of the first writing, I researched all books, but things change, i.e. cell phones now, no dialing, etc. I'm a Yatsee and Rummy player, so some of the poker scenes in this book took some doing :)

RUGGED GLORY MM73F coupon code

Ah, Wyoming... The Cowboy and The Schoolmarm story: Rough-cut rancher Ben Woden needs a summer tutor for his rebellious teenage son and Sami Lassiter fills the bill. But as the aunt and guardian of 2 small daughters, she's got her hands full at Ben's ranch.

She's spunky, independent and prim and Ben's control is shot to pieces by this 5-foot proper schoolmarm. Widowed Sami learns that she can love again, but Ben's a whole lot of man to handle.

While working with these three, I was in for a unique experience...

I'm glad I took the journey and will continue to refire these favorites while writing new work.

One of the things I noticed about the parameters of early category is that the men and relationships were usually older that today's category. There are five in this SCAL series.

I'm almost ready to upload A LADY'S DESIRE, which will be #4, and ties to LADY ON THE LINE, my very first ever published book about a lady lineman. If you read A LADY'S DESIRE, you'll also want the prequel, LADY ON THE LINE.

As you read these stories, you'll see that they are milder perhaps than today's category books. While not romantic comedies, they do contain humor for which I did receive awards later. Some of the best rewards, however, come from reading reader's letters and e-mail.

Watch for A LADY'S DESIRE coming soon and I'd love to hear from you. Also, my enewsletter is available for updates.

A Site to Behold!

2010-06-15T09:17:00.009-05:00

I've just launched Gambler's Lady and A Lady's Choice epub at A Writers Work.

This new and ever-changing website features early books of select authors, basically their backlist translated into electronic form. (I've included back stories in my books, which some readers find really interesting. Writers have tons of back stories.)

The site is up, but learning what the involved authors prefer and working as a community family, they are developing the website.

So far, this list of traditionally published and experienced authors includes: Fran Baker,Becky Barker, Nicole Byrd, Phoebe Conn, Ginger Chambers, Jasmine Cresswell, Kathy Lynn Emerson, Barbara Freethy (who just had a new book lauch in her great series) Lori Handeland, Holly Jacobs, Elizabeth Kary, Patricia McLinn, Patricia Rice (She's got a brand new Signet coming out in July with tons of books in her front and backlist), Patricia McLinn, Leigh Riker, Karen van der Zee and others coming soon.

This community/family of long-time authors and friends is somewhat similar to Book View Cafe.

With all the new readers out there, there is lots of excitement about bringing favorite books to life again in electronic form. Most of the authors have been on the NYTs and/or USA Today and other bestselling lists. A polished bunch with loads of experience are working hard on A Writers Work launch site.

These hard-working career writers, like myself, also work on new projects, have websites and are on Twitter and Facebook, etc. A Writers Work is on FB and growing fast.

A special thanks for Patricia McLinn (rhymes with Suzanne McMinn, one of my favorite bloggers at my own "mommy-homey" blog, My Jam Jar. BTW, drop over to My Jam Jar and see my family's new pasta recipe, rich with cream cheese. Kids love the bow-tie pasta.)

A Writers Work is Patricia McLinn's brain child, gathering up traditionally published authors with backlists.

So you're invited to take a look and post a comment, plus join the newsletter of this expanding and every changing site at AWritersWork.com.

Daily Dose

2010-05-26T11:39:00.009-05:00

Rugged Glory is now available on Amazon's Kindle. This meets my goal of having 3 early category/contemporary books in epublishing.

I'll be offering a coupon for A Lady's Choice at Smashwords.com later on, but pretty happy about getting at least 3 done before moving on to a western historical, Delilah. I plan to do just one now and need to move on with my WIP then.

Delilah is my Mountie book, set in upper mid-Washington state, 1887, and flows up into British Columbia, a trip I made to research it, plus visiting the Royal Mountie Museum. Quite a lot of research went into these western books, but the real plus was actually driving these early trails, including the Oregon Trail.

It will be awhile until Delilah is done as it is a lengthy book, but I've always thought Tom Selleck would be perfect in that great scarlet jacket. The history of the Mounties is really interesting, and I visited Barkerville, BC, one of the best restorations I've visited, Chinese waterwheels, etc. (stepback below)

Other writers and I are talking quite a bit about the Industry...

The artist on this book was spectacular, shown in the stepback.

This next weekend I'll be missing one of the great reader-writer conventions, Lori Foster and Dianne Casteel's in Cincinnati. I had the best ever time there about 3 years ago and met so many new friends.

One friend in particular helped me get started in graphic work, and recently called to thank me for helping her. I so appreciated the call, referencing the editorial of her first chaper, plus explanations why, a follow-up. It's important to understand the whys and my first editor did much the same for me, explaining how to end a chapter, the music of it, whatever.

Editors now handle so many duties that they are unable to help.

One of the best learning guides available to new writers is the study of a marked up, edited ms. Few people utilize these ms returned to the writers, but if you can get your hands on them, you can see the whys and learn how to edit better.

This writer said that she's applying this to everything she produces, which is a lengthy, variable list.

I'm so happy for her and I know this is going to be her great year.

I did not want to do it and was very anxious that I might lose her friendship, but she is making good use of it as a learning tool and I feel good.

I feel really good, because I've done this just once before and there was no feedback and no use made of my invested time. Quite discouraging. So this feedback was really appreciated.

New: Rugged Glory

2010-05-21T10:06:00.009-05:00

This is my design for Rugged Glory, an early Cait Logan traditionally printed contemporary romance, and now in electronic format as Cait London. (See the early Berkley covers below, the second a reprint in the Diamond Line.)

Others are now available from Amazon's Kindle (Cait London), A Lady's Choice and Gambler's Lady. Rugged Glory will be soon. However, A Lady's Choice and Gambler's Lady are also at Smashwords. You'll note these early books are numbered. Not a clue what I'm going to do with my western historicals yet. :)

While reformatting and updating these early books, I've also added personal notes about the stories. This has truly been an enjoyable journey, revisiting my early work.

The following is a blurb from Rugged Glory:

Here's a blurb featuring big tough Wyoming rancher Ben Woden (don't you love how I work in my Viking gods?:)) and Sami Lassiter, a teacher and a guardian of her two small nieces. Ben is a lot of handle (Bens are always good guys, btw) and he's set for a take-over, but Sami has issues of her own, including her love for her deceased husband and a tough background. Some of you are interested in older age heroes and While Gambler's Lady, Nick Santos, is 45, Ben is 41.
Blurb:
SURRENDER, AT LAST...
“Come here, little bit.” Two arms wrapped about her, hauling her down beside him. A heavy thigh clamped over her legs, locking them immobile.
Shackled by the strength of his body, her head tucked beneath his chin, Sami squirmed but could not dislodge his hold. “Mr. Woden!”
“I’ve watched that pretty little mouth talk and wondered how your lips would taste, half-pint,” he murmured. “I bet they’re as sweet as high-meadow flowers.” A callused hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face toward his lips.
“Mmmm.” Sami’s protest slid back into her throat, muffled by the pressure of his lips.
A heartbeat later, he murmured against her mouth, “Easy now, little bit. Easy. I won’t hurt you.”
His lips teased hers. Tantalizing kisses prowled the soft contours of her lips. As his mouth played tenderly on hers, Sami felt her taut body yield to the mellow warmth, easing her curves to fit the hard lines of his body...

Gambler's Lady Now in EPub

2010-05-13T13:06:00.012-05:00

Gambler's Lady, one of my first Cait Logan books began as a Berkley Second Chance at Love and then was reprinted by Berkley, with a new cover in their Diamond line.

I am very up front about reissuing books and with the copyright in my name, changed Cait Logan to Cait London. I am so hoping that new readers will enjoy these early books.

This cover is my design and graphic work, as the publisher's print format and covers do not belong to the author.

BTW, I led the Diamond Line as the romance lead with Tame the Fury, a 1900 Washington state romance, set in my home "land", amid new orchards and the Mighty Columbia River.

BACKSTORY:
When Gambler's Lady first emerged as an SCAL, I was just attending my first RWA conference in Dallas, TX. Scared stiff, lurking in the background, typical me getting the lay of the land. Little did I know there was this thing called PR, when my then-editor lifted Gambler's Lady and went into rooms saying, "This is what we're looking for. Read it."

I was shaken. All that attention. Shudder. Scary.

Now: Be joyous, toss your hat in the air, wave flags, if an editor does that. Paste the book cover all over you, wear it in your hair like a tiara. :)

These early books, later 80s, originally produced on Apple IIE (some of us remember them fondly) and an early PC, are not in file form now and have to be scanned, no easy task. The cleanup of a scan is massive, so I can see why straight to epub writers, straight into format without scanning/cleaning, now have an easier job. In some cases, when these books are uploaded, you find errors you missed the 2-3 go 'round of editing. Amazing.

But for me, getting these books up again is a Labor of Love. I loved them then and now, and the basic stories hold true. Dwight Swain, top of the mark writers and teachers (The Techniques of the Selling Writer) had one of books and sent a really nice postcard. He said I wrote a romance the way it should be written. I've got to dig out that postcard and frame it.

As another well-published writer, reproducing her early books and updating them as I am, said it well: "The learning curve on this is really, really hard. But once you get the processes down, easy enough."

But back to Gambler's Lady, uplifted just today to Smashwords.com and to Amazon.com. The latter requires copyright proof and we're doing that handshaking now. All reformatted books, published first by a traditional publisher, must be handled with absolute copyright assurance. This is doing-the-dance as westerners sometimes say, in that the author and/or representative request rights back, specs as designated in the original contract and/or amendments. Some publishers give them back readily, others are "warehousing" these rights as no one really knows where this epublishing stuff will take us.

One place it is taking us is into piracy. I urge anyone connected with publisher--writers, agents, press, URLs offering free books to note that while an individual may purchase a book, that does not give them the right to copy it and lift it up to the Internet as a free download.

Millions of dollars are lost by this illegal activity, and somehow there is a gap between the professional branch of book publishing, authors included, and the copyright legalities unaware reader-person who wants to share with their friends for kudos.

These illegally copy and uploaded books constitute thievery from author's pockets/income.

The other day, I spotted 12 of my books, zipped and uploaded to be downloaded for free. Not happy.

Publishers issue cease and desist orders, but these free downloads pop up again.

I am hoping that writer's groups bring more awareness to this illegal activity, and that the URLs hosting these copies issue stern warnings to any participant, uploader or downloader, about copyright notices. We really need to close this gap between knowledge of copyright and Internet usage.

Like I said, uploading these early books is a Labor of Love. It's amazing, but while time passes on finishing my new stories, I'm still in love with these early books. Looking back, I put my heart into every book, which is what I believe every author should do.

A Lady's Choice Now Available

2010-05-04T22:24:00.008-05:00

A Lady's Choice is now available in epub at Smashwords.com and soon at Amazon.com. It's in the romance section and more later...

What can I say? A labor of love to write as an orginal, when I was just starting out in my career. That love still exists as I am working on these early books. To revive these early books has been a long time goal. A Lady's Choice was published under the Cait Logan name, which is on several historicals.

Like another friend who started years ago has said, "They deserve another look, don't they?"

This learning curve has been quite the experience and the graphic I created for a new cover was more fun than the intensive check to catch errors created by scanning said book with old paper. Those are apples and blossoms around the couple, because this area is fruit country. (I actually was an Apple Blossom princess in Wenatchee, WA's yearly parade.:)

The first book was a Second Chance at Love, Berkley Books, Joan Marlow (Golan), my first editor there. SCAL spawned many writers as has Berkley. I even had a "cousin" there, Daisy Logan, whose real name is Sara Orwig. :) There are 5 of these books.

With one book up, I'll work on more as I can. It seems as if books are children, that you continue to love them.

A Lady's Choice is set in country where I grew up, inland Washington state, approximately a couple hours from the Canadian border.

It's been a long road to get this first one up and I'm working on more as well as new work.

But these truly are Second Chance at Love books and I'm enjoying the journey. I hope you do, too.

A Writer's Day

2010-04-29T11:23:00.007-05:00

I'm busy with early books right now, formatting, cleaning, whatever, and hope to e-publish them. As another well-known writer said, they were good and they deserve it.

Now I'm just getting started on this, learning as I go, whatever. So yesterday, I was closing in on the final clean-up of A Lady's Choice, an early Berkley, Second Chance at Love. There are many character whatever errors when scanning from the actual book that have to be cleaned. So, working hard, closing in on misplaced periods, whatever. And I decide to stretch a bit after this intensity.

Well, the bees had arrived on one of my yard trees. See that story at The Second Cup, another blog.

Basically, my writing day was sucked up by the The Great Bee Adventure and I'm trying to get back into the mode right now.

I did finish the day with a conversation with the most interesting person/writer who knows-all, Kathy Carmichael. She is extremely in-the-know about writerly business and just about everything, and has helped me immensely on this rejuvenation project, my early books. If you ever meet her, you're in for a good experience.

With all the interruptions (those bees everywhere) yesterday, I could have used the Success Journal spiral bound book she and author Vicki Hinze created, which is pretty unique. Take a look. Basically, it is a work book for scheduling, listing, thoughts, affirmations, etc. 400 pgs. Pretty neat idea.

And apparently the bees are still here, the orphans, so my day today is likely to be interrupted. I have yet, after hours and hours to get one early book up, a new cover on it, etc. Sigh. I'd rather be finishing my WIP.

Looking back, A Lady's Choice, the book I was working on, deals with country where I grew up, Washington State orchard country. Bees are a necessity there, in the orchards, because of polination. What a coincidence!

It happens like that sometimes: You'll be working on a piece and suddenly something synchronistic pops up. Or you'll be working away on writing a fresh piece and suddenly, guess what? Some other writer has already written the basic theme.

In that case, don't worry. Because you will have your own ideas, characterization, plot twists, style that will totally make this theme--and there are generic ones--different and your own work.

There are books called "cookie cutters", styled after major players, etc. Most real writers will put so much of themselves into a common theme, that the book will seem all fresh.

It's pretty amazing how you can be writing and suddenly this synchronistic thing pops up that totally changes your story, like someone you've just met, a news tidbit, whatever.

So life definitely has its twists.