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Fantasy, Magical Realism, Paranormal? Codes in Cover Art

Book Cover Art Is Really a Science Fantasy, magical realism, or paranormal — the codes in cover art tell you what to expect within a book. But do you type these large categories into an Amazon search bar when you’re looking for your next novel? If I do, the way to find the books is judging them by their art. The cover tells all! And that’s no accident. I thought in my early writer days…

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How to Build Buzz for Your Debut Novel

You’ve written a novel that’s been published — traditional, small press, or indie — HOORAY! And you launched. Now you’re watching the sales numbers and offering to do blog tours and readings. What else? How to build buzz for your debut novel? You look at author websites and see pitches for freebies and long lists of books. You see bestseller list mentions, excruciatingly gorgeous blurbs from famous authors, and you might feel a little perplexed…

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Promoting Your Book Should Be Fun and Easy

Promoting your book should be fun and easy — are you crazy? When there are millions of books out there competing for attention, getting your published book to shine in a spotlight that readers can find seems at first like finding a gold ring that’s been thrown into the ocean. If you’re a new author and waiting for your book to launch, or it has just launched and you’re obsessing over not doing enough, you…

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Surviving Your Book Launch

The most wonderful thing has happened, the thing I always wanted, and I’m in here under the covers hiding from the book launch day for my first novel, The Renaissance Club. It was published on January 23 by Fiery Seas Publishing, a wonderful new publishing company.  Your book launch may not be as scary as mine, but probably it will be. You might find yourself hiding like I am because after all the effort to write…

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Places That Verb Your World – Around the World in Books – Part 2

In Places That Verb Your World- Around the World in Books, I’m going to create a series of posts about novels and nonfiction books that take you traveling. Armchair traveling is one of my favorite ways to travel around the world. I’m not much good on an airliner these days, unless in First Class, and so I do a lot of my traveling via books. I have my longtime favorites and my new favorites, which…

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My Exciting Blog Tour — The Art of Promoting a Book, Part 1

My novel, The Renaissance Club, has been very well launched! My wonderful publisher, Fiery Seas, not only threw a five-day virtual launch party, but also organized a 31-day blog book tour! These book reviewing blogs feature excerpts, author interviews, reviews, and Q&As with authors.They’re the online equivalent to flying the author around the country to appear at bookstores to sign and read from their books. In the new world of social media and virtual appearances,…

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My Book Is Out In the World!

Having a book out in the world isn’t a new experience for me. With three poetry books out in the world, I’ve experienced the elation, stage fright, happy overwhelm, and sheer joy in completing a book and giving it an audience. But to have a novel published is in another sphere. It’s a goal I’ve had since I was a child. And yesterday, I achieve it, with the release of The Renaissance Club from Fiery…

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Pre-Launch Book Party for My Novel Happening Now!

Come over to my Pre-Launch Book Party for my novel The Renaissance Club! Today is Quote Day. Post a favorite quote, a quote from your book, an inspirational quote, and bonus points for quote in the form of memes.  I’d love to hear the lines from your books — the ones you’re writing or the ones you’re reading. Here are a few of my favorites on writing:   And these are for fun and inspiration:…

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If You Could Travel into the Past, What Good Could You Do?

If you suddenly found you could time travel, what good could you hope to do by traveling into the past? Could you time travel to prevent a war or a plague? Would you want to ensure that friendly, intelligent aliens landing on our planet weren’t obliterated by weed-killer? Would you want to change your own history to become richer, more successful, or healthier? Would you try to spare someone close to you a catastrophe? Some…

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A Pinterest Illustration Board for The Renaissance Club

Many people haven’t been to Italy, and without visiting there, it’s almost impossible to see the work of Gianlorenzo Bernini. My time-travel novel,  The Renaissance Club, (now available for pre-order on Amazon in either paperback or ebook) features not only his art, but Bernini himself. It’s set in five Italian cities rich with art and beautiful architecture: Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, and Venice. Rome especially features his expressive, passionate art. He’s the genius artist of…

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