Just read a brilliant article that made me think about how I write and what I write about and how is the best approach to deliver that message.

In the article Why Storytelling is the Utlimate Weapon by Jonathan Gottschall,
he concludes that “A story is a trick for sneaking a message into the fortified citadel of the human mind.”

Everyone loves a good story but it is the story filled with emotion and a premise that sucks people in, this is the story that will stick the best.

This article matches how good storytelling and good marketing go hand … Read More »

How does you set up a blog tour?

That is a question I asked myself a week ago. I have never done one before and even though I have seen other authors do them and in some case followed them from blog to blog, while others I simply stumbled upon as I visited my regular haunts.

Well, being a research queen I quickly got to work. I found out a few things.

Review me please!
Yes, I am begging.
It isn’t dignified, nor is it pretty but asking for people to criticize your work is a necessary evil.

Reviews. Why do we need them?
Simple.
We need them to help get the word out that your book exists.

Sort of like the song from NERVO :
We’re all no one ’til someone thinks that we’re someone
Until then we are no one
And you got me looking at you, looking at you

Pretty much reviewers are the one’s that can get you talked about and not just one reviewer. The more the … Read More »

I am so excited to reveal the March Madness line-up for 2012. We have some amazing guest stopping by the blog for two-weeks of pure mayhem and fantastic information.

March 19th—Liz Pelletier, Publisher & Senior Editor, Entangled Publishing
March 20th—Alicia Rasley, Author, Writing Instructor & Editor
March 21st—Kayelle Allen, Author & Founder of The Author’s Secret
March 22nd—Don D’Auria, Editor Samhain Horror, Samhain Publishing
March 23rd—Frazer Lee, Award-winning writer and director of short horror films & on Final Ballot for a Bram Stoker Award for best debut novel
March 24th—Sophia, Director of Fiction Vixen Inc. & Book Reviewer
March 25th—Tom … Read More »

I have a slew of resolutions this year:

1. Get in shape – hit the tread mill at least 30 mins. a day. (No so hard to do while reading a good book featuring a treadmill like Liz Fichera’s Craving Perfect)

2. Read more paranormals – lately I have been in the doldrums and I know it because I am not getting enough daily doses of vampires and werewolves (Must pick up Caridad Pineiro’s Lost series)

3. Have to eat healthier homecooked meals (Easily done by whipping up delicious Latin inspired meals from the HOT IN THE KITCHEN recipe book)… Read More »

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

The holidays are about love, joy, remembering our past and moving towards a better future.

I love celebrating the holidays with my family and friends, exchanging cards and presents.

Best of all, I love going to the holiday parties to mix and mingle.

Nothing like a good glass of wine and good conversation to make everyone bright and merry.

I am inviting all of you to come and join me in celebrating this wonderful time of year with some amazing authors for good conversation and merriment.

There will be prizes handed out too!

So, join … Read More »

Last Saturday I attended a workshop sponsored by the San Diego RWA chapter. The guest was Tami D. Cowden, co-author of the book Heroes & Heroines Sixteen Master Archetypes, and her latest release Fallen Heroes: Sixteen Master Villain Archetypes.

When it comes to my own writing, plot always comes before character. Don’t get me wrong, I have an idea of the character, but it’s always sketchy. On the other hand, I can see all the obstacles that I’m going to throw at that character. But when it comes to making that character grow and change, I have to really … Read More »

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You’re sitting in front of your laptop. A stark white Microsoft Word page is giving you the evil eye. You try to stare it down but it doesn’t seem to work. You swim round and round in your head like a fish stuck in a muddy puddle – to no avail. There’s not a scrap of inspiration to be found, and it feels like your brain will refuse to provide ideas for quite possibly the rest of your natural life.

Congratulations: you’ve directly reached Writer’s Block, without passing GO and without collecting $200.

There’s … Read More »

HAPPY 4th of JULY!

Today on Meet An Author Monday is Xakara!

Writing From the Middle: Bi/Pan/Poly

Thank you for having me today, Gabriella.

Being here is a wonderful way to celebrate today’s release of DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT (PsiCorps #2). As the second volume in my PsiCorps Chronicles the new book picks up six months after the end of GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST (PsiCorps #1), a few days before the Fourth of July. It’s centered around U.S. Marshal Mackenzie Matthews and his attachment to the agents in his care. Marshal Matthews and his partner Marshal Kincaid Ides are introduced in … Read More »

There’s Something About Mary

Let’s talk covers. I love my cover. I love the colors, I love the rose. On the right side, you can even make out a faint architectural drawing, which speaks to the vocation of titular character Andi Rowe. I’ve had so many compliments. This must be what it feels like when someone praises your baby. Or, close enough. A gorgeous cover!

But the truth is I didn’t always love my cover. My first reaction was quite different.

To give you some back story, I originally had my own vision of what should be on the cover. … Read More »