A Dash of Words with Loleta Abi Romance Author

Three Links 12/6/19

Loleta Abi

Writing:

1. https://www.janefriedman.com/vivid-characters/ “Today’s post is by regular contributor Peter Selgin, the award-winning author of Your First Page. He offers first-page critiques to show just how much useful critical commentary and helpful feedback can be extracted from a single page—the first page—of a work-in-progress.”

2. https://stevelaube.com/never-burn-a-bridge/ “Ours is a small industry, and both editors and authors move around with regularity. If you are in a business relationship and let your frustration boil into anger and ignite into rage–and let that rage descend on someone in the publishing company–you may end up burning a bridge. And that person whom you vented on might someday become the head of an entire publishing company.

True Story

A salesman got into a verbal altercation with the buyer for a major chain. The salesman stormed out and called his boss, asking to be taken off the account so he would never have to talk to that buyer again. A month later the salesman’s company hired that buyer as the salesman’s new boss. (Yikes!)

A, B, C, D, & E (and beyond)

The following scenario is based on a true story. An author was so frustrated with her editor she wrote a scathing letter to the publisher (A), dressing down the entire editorial staff. The next year that editor moved to a different publisher (B); and when that author’s proposal was presented at a meeting, the editor relayed to the publishing team (B) the volatility of that writer.”

3. https://writershelpingwriters.net/2019/12/is-it-necessary-to-write-every-day/ You know my answer to this! I take the weekends off! It refreshes me.

Research & Fun Bits:

1. https://annerallen.com/2019/12/commenting-on-blogs-builds-platform/ I’m re-learning this. It’s important to comment on blogs.

2. https://nicholasrossis.wordpress.com/2019/11/30/7-things-to-do-before-your-book-is-released/ “You may remember Kurt Walker from his recent post, 9 Ways To Market Your Book With No Money. Kurt is a digital marketer and a college paper help writer at Easyessay.org. Besides that, Kurt is a guest blogger at AustralianWritings, UK.bestessays.com, and Superior Paper writing service. Kurt specializes in email and social media marketing. He is the father of three kids and a passionate New York Knicks fan.

Today, he’s sharing with us some ideas, both offline and online, to help make your book’s launch an event to remember!”

3. https://killzoneblog.com/2019/12/what-is-this-historic-mystery-stone.html “One of my recent research trips led me to the New Hampshire Historical Society and Museum. I went there to copy two diaries — one from 1880, another from 1881 — written by a close family friend of the victims and female serial killer, a man who gave a fascinating firsthand account of daily life before, during, and after the murders. Reading the handwriting is a challenge that I’m still working on.

Quick research tip: if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, it helps to photograph the handwritten pages so you can enlarge the chicken-scratch at home.

After I finished photographing the diaries, my husband and I toured the museum, and we stumbled across an intriguing unsolved mystery.

In 1872 construction workers unearthed a suspicious lump of clay near the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee (also in New Hampshire). The clay casing hid an egg-shaped stone with nine carvings, depicting a face, a teepee, and an ear of corn, along with strange geometric designs.”

Some Things More Serious:

1. https://beckiesmentalmess.blog/2019/12/01/%f0%9f%8d%8e-december-1-2019-quotes-and-food-for-thought/

2. https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2019/12/04/the-classic-trilogy/ “Many of you know that I’m a member of Story Empire. This is a blog where we try to help our fellow authors with tips, tricks, tech, and writing advice. I’m up today, and my topic is the “classic” trilogy. Stop over and say hi. You might check out some of the other things Story Empire has to offer while you’re there.”

3. https://killzoneblog.com/2019/12/i-hate-being-caught-being-wrong.html “I’m writing this on Monday evening, December 2, 2019.  This morning, I submitted my copy edited manuscript back to my publisher, having endured my annual pity party centered around the theme, “If you know so much, write your own damn book.”  It’s the constant picking at the niggling details that make me crazy.  Yeah, I get that “which” vs. “that” is a real thing, as is “farther” vs. “further”.  And, as I discussed last time in my epistle about my comma conundrum, I’ve accepted that I’ll never get certain things right.

But come on.  “We can’t take this argument any further/farther.”  They both make sense.

Copy editors make me think too hard, that’s the problem.  (See that friggin’ comma splice?  Boy, did we hammer on comma splices at my last critique group meeting!)  Even I–the passionate purveyor of the principle that there are no rules in writing–admit that there are rules to grammar, and I try very hard to stay out of the way of those who understand these things.  But then there are the stylistic choices.  Such as . . .”

Teaser Fiction & Poetry:

1. https://charmedchaos.com/2019/11/30/haiku-sentinels/

2. https://rachelpoli.com/2019/12/01/short-story-sunday-293-cheat/

3. https://somethingferal.wordpress.com/2019/11/30/earth-quakes/

Book Reviews, Cover Reveals, & Author Interviews:

1. https://mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com/2019/11/30/christmas-cupcakes-a-caper-death-by-cupcake-4-by-d-e-haggerty-bookreview-rbrt-dehaggerty/ “t’s all candy cane cupcakes and peppermint coffee until you find a dead elf on your doorstep.

Only the elf wasn’t a real elf, because elves don’t actually exist – not even at Christmas time. A college student dressed like an elf decided taking a nap on the stoop of Callie’s Cakes in sub-zero winter temps was a good idea. It wasn’t. Anna, the pink-haired baker extraordinaire, is convinced the student’s death was not an accident. She drags Callie and Kristie along with her as she attempts to discover who killed the elf … um… student.

Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes find the killer before Christmas is ruined?

Cupcakes not included, although you’ll find recipes for all the delicious Christmas cupcakes Anna bakes.”

2. https://mariacatalinaegan.com/2019/12/01/daeios-140-feet-down-by-colleen-eccles-penor-genre-dystopian-thriller/ “They believed Daeios would be a safe haven.

They were wrong.

Fleeing apocalyptic weather, a young survivalist woman and her family seek safety deep underground. But a new danger awaits them.

When the leaders of the shelter announce their plans to repopulate the earth using all fertile females, Shea knows she will be forced to become a breeder. Horrified at her impending fate, Shea must make the gut-wrenching decision whether to breed with an elderly, sadistic man and bear his child, or to fight the breeding, knowing that defiance will endanger her life and that of those she loves most.

A dystopian thriller with overtones of The Handmaid’s Tale, Shea’s chilling story will appeal to readers with an interest in family and survival.

Contains mature situations and language.”

3. https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2019/12/03/review-viral-blues-tuesdaybookshare/ “Someone knows about the hat. The creature from another dimension that helps Lizzie fight against the creatures of darkness.

They are summoned to a cryptic meeting with a secret society, where they meet other people with enhanced skills. It turns out someone, or something, has been tampering with the world’s vaccine supply. The goal doesn’t appear to be political or financial, but biblical pestilence.

Can this group of loners come together in time to make a difference when even the proper authorities are obstacles?

Check out Viral Blues, for your dose of paranormal adventure, with a strong sample of dark humor. And in…”