Black Friday E-book sale

The Kentuckiana Authors, which I am a member, are having a Black Friday Weekend sale. E-books are 99¢, including my romantic suspense novel, "Compromised." Stop by and check out the great books we have to offer. http://ow.ly/F2Gub

Happy Thanksgiving

Christmas Catalogs

Does anyone besides me miss the old Sears and Penney's Christmas catalogs? What is your favorite Christmas memory?

STRESSED! What to Write?

 

Yes, I'm a bit stressed and have been for about a month or so. You see, while I am published as a romance writer, I have always wanted to be published as mystery writer. I started writing my first mystery book in 2009. I have about five chapters finished on it. Why only five chapters? Well, my romance writing kept pulling me back. 

I published my first romance in 2009. In 2010, I decided the mystery I had started could be a series. However, that first book would not work as Book 1 in a series, so I started the first in the series in 2010 while also working on a romance that was published in 2011. 

I kept getting ideas for more books in the series before I had even finished the first book. I actually have plot ideas for fourteen books in that series! In 2012, I kept writing romance though because I was in the "groove" writing that. I published three romances in 2013 and for NaNoWriMo in that year, I started on the third book in the mystery series. Whew!

So, here it is nearing the end of 2014 and I'm doing my best to get my most recent romance published, but still wanting to write that mystery series. I even have a publisher picked out to submit it too, if I ever get that first book finished. I did a lot of editing recently on Book 1 and have about five chapters written. Then last month, I hear this little voice in the back of my head saying, "Come back to romance."  I have seven and a half chapters finished on a romance and also the urge to work on another one that is only up to chapter one. Sometimes I wonder if I need some Prozac to relieve my stress.

So, today I am home from my day job due to the snow we had last night and I will be writing. All I need to do is figure out which genre I'm going to work on. Wish me luck.

Carol

 

Nerds

We finally scraped our old television that we bought in 2005 and got a new HDTV. I may never write another book again.

All I want to do is look at that sharp picture. My husband and I were watching The Big Bang Theory last week and were looking at all the things in the background that we never noticed before. Shelton and Leonard actually have a book on their bookshelf about comets that is the exact same book that my husband has on our bookshelf. Nerds.

Carol

Eleven things I learned at Magna cum Murder XX

I spent the weekend of October 24-26, 2014 at the Magna cum Murder mystery writing conference. For those that don't know, Magna cum Murder is a conference for both mystery writers and readers. The last time I attended it was held in Muncie, Indiana and sponsored by Ball State University. Now in its twentieth year, it is still sponsored by Ball State, but is now held at the historic Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, the perfect atmosphere for discussing mysteries.

While this wasn't my first Magna, I'm still sort of a newbie for this conference, last attending in 2010. I had a wonderful time this year listening to all the guests and panelists talk about the aspects of writing mysteries and thrillers. Below are a few of the things that I learned this year.

11. When sharing a hotel room, make sure to exchange cell phone numbers with your roomies prior to the conference so you can find them when you get there. {{waving at Marian and T.}}

10. Some beads used for Rosaries can be poisonous. Thank you, Lucy Zahray (The Poison Lady) for that information. She's always so informative.

9. The elite military unit, Delta Force, really does.... I mean, really doesn't exist. (Sorry, John)

8. Parnell Hall is still as funny as ever. Don't let him tell you that he isn't a good panel moderator, because he is.

7. A lot of murders happen in small towns and especially in coffee shops, at least they do in mystery novels.

6. Prior to the conference, check the window washers schedule at the hotel so the audience isn't so distracted at your panel. Although, it was really funny.

 

photo courtesy of Beverly Ray

5. I have yet to win the Swimsuit competition. Those that attended the conference will understand.

4. John Gilstrap's favorite curse work is "F--k!" Thank you, John. Your answer will forever be burned into my memory.

 

3. I learned how to bury a dead body so its more difficult to find. Could come in hand someday, for one of my books of course. The presentation by Karen Cooper, CSI retired, from Florida was fantastic.

2. I could listen to Dorothy Cannell tell her story about Cedric over and over and each time still laugh out loud. She's a wonderful person.

And, the #1 thing I learned at Magna cum Murder XX: Jeffery Deaver is not nearly as creepy in person as he looks on the back of his books. I loved talking to him during our elevator ride from the tenth to the second floor and then again later when he signed a book for me.

I tip my hat (if I had one) to the Magna cum Murder staff who did an awesome job with this year's conference and I look forward to attending again.

Carol