Riptide by Debbie Mack

No, I don't usually do book reviews here, but sometimes something special comes along.

If you’re looking for the ultimate beach read, you should treat yourself to Debbi Mack’s newest crime novel. Riptide is so riveting you might forget to turn over, but the pace is so hot you’ll want to dive in to cool down!

The action takes place in Ocean City MD, where lawyer “Sam” McRae must defend a friend accused of murder.  The search for evidence to clear her friend’s name drives McRae to come up against a local businessman with more influence and power than morals.  Alone against a community apparently determined to convict her friend, McRae must prove herself both smarter and tougher than ever.

Taking nothing away from Mack’s well tuned plot, what really made this book for me was Mack’s top notch protagonist.  Despite being an attorney, Stephanie Ann "Sam" McRae is more Sam Spade than Perry Mason.  This tough, feisty and relentless broad makes Riptide a great, fun ride. 

Join in on the big Facebook launch!  https://www.facebook.com/austin.camacho.author#!/groups/305994622792418/

To self-publish, or NOT to Self-publish – Part II

My blog last week focused on the pluses and minuses of self-publishing and several of you offered insightful comments.  The one thing I think we can all agree on is that it is a highly personal choice and may not be for everyone.

When you make the shift from independent author to independent publisher a lot of responsibility shifts to your shoulders.  Suddenly, you are responsible for cover art, proof reading, editing and the overall design of the book.  If it’s an ebook you also need to handle conversion of the manuscript into the right kind of file.  That all translates into a lot of time and a steep learning curve OR several thousand dollars out of your pocket.  These are things you simply can’t skimp on, and it’s very important to face the hard facts concerning what you can and can’t competently do yourself. 

The other side of that coin is the Henny Penny result.  Since you did all the work and baked the analogous bread all by yourself, you get to keep all the profits.  If we’re talking about a Kindle book, that means as much as 70% of your chosen sale price.  That kind of a profit margin might allow you to experiment a lot more than traditional paper publishers  dare to. 

And remember that independent publisher means just that.  You can still get your book printed on paper with a nice hard or soft cover, push it into book stores or gift shops, and do book signings or give talks with book sales at the back of the room.  Old school can still be made to work.  But if you’re more a cutting edge kinda guy or gal, ebooks are marching into the future.  Are you familiar with fiction streaming?  Wattpad?  How about enhanced books with pictures, web links and interactive software built right in?  Either way, you make the calls for marketing strategy without having to push someone else.  You set the cover price, and change it whenever you like.  You decide when to put your books on sale, or maybe give several hundreds away.  You can get blurbs from writers you know, and post them wherever YOU think they’ll have the best effect.  If you want to invest in yourself you can get a book trailer made or buy ad space in the magazines you think your readers read.  It’s all up to you.

But while a lot has changed, some things stay the same.  Only placement with a traditional publisher will get you an advance.  It makes it more likely that a major reviewer will read your book.  And it multiplies your chance of winning a significant writing award (for instance, traditional publishing is a requirement to be nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar award.)

These reasons make some of us continue to wish for a traditional publishing contract, even those of us who are successful do-it-yourselfers.  And there may not be a clear right answer.  Either way, we know that the publishing industry is going to change radically in the next few years.  Only you can know whether it’s better or worse for you.  Me, I intend to be prepared for whatever happens as far as I can be. 

So, as a writer who wants to be broadly read, what will influence YOUR choice?

To self-publish, or NOT to Self-publish

If you feel that THAT is the question, you're in good company.  And I'd like to invite you to join the debate here for a couple weeks.

This conversation arises due to the extensive changes that have rocked the publishing world in the last few years.  In the past, each publisher had a couple stars and a mid-list.  But these days, mid-list writers are an endangered species.  Publishers neither have the money nor the confidence in writers to publish a bunch of books that might not make much money. 

That means that unless you’re one of the blockbuster boys it’s real hard to make writing fiction a career.  At the same time, one can’t help but notice that the writers getting nice contracts seem to be people who are already names - actors, celebrities, big-name chefs, etc.  Fiction authors who do land contracts seem to be getting smaller and smaller advances.   We look over at people like Joe Konrath making $150,000/month with e-books and wonder if that’s a workable alternative.

I have nothing but respect for Mr. Konrath, but anyone who tells you they know the future of publishing is kidding himself.  BUT, since nobody really knows what the industry will look like in a couple years, isn’t this the perfect time to try new things? 

Also, with so many big names stepping into self-publishing it is no longer the mark of the desperate wannabe.  More and more successful e-book authors are getting contracts with mainstream publishers.  Even agents (maybe the most conservative people in the business) are starting to see e-books as valuable entrees into the publishing world.  True, not every e-book is worth buying and you might get tarred with that same brush.  But is every printed book worth buying?  I think not, but they are a bigger financial gamble for the buyer than an e-book at $2.99 or even 99 cents.

Of course, it’s not all that simple.  Not everybody WANTS to learn book design, how to choose covers, the ISBN process, hunt for distribution and be a publicist.  Let’s face it: a lot of us just want to write!  If that’s you, maybe self publishing is not for you.  On the other hand, learning the ins and outs of the business has certainly given me a better perspective on what to write and what readers want.  And, frankly, it has gotten me more engaged in my work.

More pros and cons from me next week, but first, I want to hear what YOU think?

4 Essential Self-Publishing Tips for Writers

Nadia Jones is a frequent flyer on various blogs.  At the online college site she blogs about education, college, student, teacher, money saving and movie related topics.  She sent me a guest blog on self publishing that is longer than my usual posts, but it was so meaty and useful I decided to share it with you. 

With the rise of eBooks and "indie" sentiments throughout society, more and more authors are taking the self-publishing route for their work. Publishing is no longer a realm solely governed by major commercial publishing companies and firms. Fewer authors are finding themselves dependant on third-party publishers to get their book published and out to the public. While this is an extremely invigorating and rewarding process, self-publication with a long list of do's and don'ts and can prove to be a major challenge. Self-publishing is a wonderful option for authors looking to have complete artistic control over their work and have the satisfaction of going through the entire novel writing process on their own. These are four must-know tips for authors interested in self publication.

Pick Your Niche

This first step begins even before the writing process for some. Knowing your book's niche area is essential for the publishing and promoting side of things. You'll want to keep that niche in mind during your writing process to help guide you in a focused way. This niche area will help you determine exactly who your audience is and how to reach them. Focus is important in writing and in marketing. Finding a niche to write within is usually a fairly natural process for writers. We write best when we write what we know. What we know is our niche. Explore the niche you feel most adept to. What's missing from your niche? What does that audience want to see? These are all important things to look at as a writer and a publisher. Knowing who your audience is and what your audience wants are the two most important aspects of successful publishing.

Edit, Edit, Edit

With self publication, you are often your own editor. Unless you hire a professional editor yourself (which can get pricey), you will have to do it yourself. Editing is an extremely important step in the writing process. You should proofread and revise your work thoroughly before you even begin the publishing process. An unfinished or sloppy final product will be difficult to promote. There are numerous online resources for editing that can help with the process and it is always a good idea to get a second set of eyes on the page. Ask a friend or colleague to look over your work if they are willing. Sometimes we can look over our own mistakes very easily. It is also important to get some distance from your work before you try revising and editing it. If you are too close to your work or you have written the words too recently, you may miss important mistakes or be too reluctant to make essential changes.

Know Your Competition

Before you self-publish, you must carefully study your competition. Now that you have your niche in mind, explore other authors and books in that niche and genre. Compare and contrast what you are doing with these books. See where they are successful and where they are not. By knowing what your competition is up to, you can more easily bring something fresh and unique to your niche. You want to find a way to stand out from the others, without alienating yourself. 

Self-Publication Means Self-Promotion

This is one of the most difficult (and important) aspects of self publication. Without a publishing agency or a literary agent to market your book for you, you'll have to learn to do it yourself. Promoting your book is the only way that people are going to be able to see it. Self publication puts you at the disadvantage of not having all of the media and other contacts in the literary world. However, this does not mean it is impossible. Be aggressive and be ready to put yourself out there. Promote your book online, organize book signings, and send out reviews to newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Promoting your book should become your primary goal. Get active on social media, reach out to your professional contacts, and do all you can to make waves about your publication.

You can reach Ms. Jones at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.

How Long Did It Take To Write This Book?

Morgan Mandel is a former freelancer for the Daily Herald newspaper, prior president of Chicago-North RWA, prior Library Liaison for Midwest MWA, and belongs to Sisters in Crime and EPIC. She enjoys writing thrillers, mysteries, romances and also enjoys combining them. Her latest paranormal romantic thriller is Forever Young: Blessing or Curse, Book One of the Always Young Series.  I chatted with her at the Love is Murder Mystery conference about her writing process and thought you would enjoy what she had to say.  She was kind enough to send along this guest post/ 

Yesterday marked the close of another great Love is Murder Mystery Conference. One February, three years ago, Austin and I were in the book room at that year’s conference and I was moaning about how long it took to get a book published. He suggested self-publishing. It was a scary thought, but I had nothing to lose by trying it. I hired Helen Ginger as my editor and published the romantic suspense, Killer Career, under my own brand, Choice One Publishing Company, that August.

After that, I kept getting ideas for books. I’d start one, then put it aside when another brainstorm hit. It didn’t help that I also had a day job, so my writing time was limited. I was floundering, not getting anywhere, with people asking when I’d have another book out. I had no idea.

Then, at the end of 2010, a blessing happened, although it didn’t seem so at the time. I lost my day job. Now I could spend more time writing, but at what? I’d started so many. There was the thriller with tons of characters who took a pill to be young again, another about my dog, Rascal, also a NaNoWriMo romance I’d not completed, not to mention a thriller about a guy with amnesia.

I decided to finish them in the order I’d started. In January, 2011, I ignored the other manuscripts and tackled Forever Young: Blessing or Curse. I whittled down its cast to one main heroine, a few friends, plus her opposition, and pasted the extra characters into another document for a spinoff. Sometime in August, I typed The End, but it wasn’t really the end. I rehired my editor, Helen Ginger, hired Stephen Walker as my cover art designer, completed edits and consulted about the cover art, then did the formatting for Kindle and Smashwords. I’d thought the book would be done sooner, but it didn’t land on Amazon until December 16, followed by Smashwords the next day. I then conquered CreateSpace’s foibles and am happy to say my novel is now available in print.

Anyway, getting back to my original question -- How long did it take to write this book? I don’t really know.


Learn more about the talented Morgan Mandel and her writing at http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/ , and
Website: http://www.morganmandel.com/

Can’t Seem to Find the Time? 5 Tips for Developing a Writing Schedule

This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey.  She has a good grasp on time!

If you are like most writers out there, you probably don’t have a multi-million dollar book contract, with deadlines to meet and people to please. Writing your novel is more than likely a labor of love, a project that you set out to accomplish because you feel that you have something important to share with other readers. Juggling this labor of love with many other obligations—raising children, working a full-time job, keeping house—can seem all but impossible. You just can’t seem to find the time. The key, however, is to plan rigorously while still leaving yourself some breathing room. Here are a few ways to do just that:

1.      Don’t set unrealistic deadlines. Be flexible.

Writers are an imaginative bunch. It comes as no surprise, then, that we can be unrealistic about things that we should be approaching more objectively. Instead of setting an impossible deadline, like finishing your novel in a few months, give yourself some extra time based on your internal writer’s clock. Sometimes even a short story can take months from an initial draft to finished product.

2.      Set aside time to write whenever you are most mentally alert.

Socrates once suggested that the key to living the good life is being aware when he said, “Know thyself.” More than just a self-help pronouncement, this is especially good advice for writers, who use intuition and creativity more than any other faculty in order to write well. Knowing when you are most mentally alert and creative—for many, it’s first thing in the morning after a cup of coffee or late at night when the kids have fallen asleep—will help you produce your most penetrating prose efficiently.

3.      Enlist the help of a writing partner who will motivate you.

When we keep our writing projects to ourselves, it can be difficult to stay motivated because we are writing, at the moment, only for ourselves. You don’t necessarily need to join a writer’s group; all you need to keep you working according to your plan is to seek help from a friend or two who loves to read or write. Have them read chapters of your novel as you complete them, sit with them over dinner, and talk about how you can improve your work. Even if your friend isn’t a professional editor, you’ll still get an opinion from a typical reader, and talking about your work with someone else will inspire you to keep at it.

4.      Get into the habit of writing daily, even if you aren’t working on your project.

The only way to produce a steady stream of work is to make writing a hard-wired habit, something that you do as automatically as personal hygiene. Of course, it will take some time, but start by setting aside a short block of time, like thirty minutes to an hour, in which you do nothing but write. Don’t pressure yourself to work on your big project. Even if you are just scribbling journal-style notes, it’s the best way to get your juices flowing in a disciplined manner.

5.      Use milestones as goals instead of page numbers or chapter numbers.

Many novelists try to enforce their writing goals numerically. They tell themselves that they will get three chapters written by the end of the month, and they then race to meet their goal. The problem with this approach, however, is that it doesn’t take into account that novels are, in some ways, like living things. It would be the same if you were to tell yourself that you will find a partner and get married by your thirtieth birthday—life and novels don’t quite adhere to a set calculus. Instead, try setting goals based on plot milestones. For example, you can endeavor to resolve Character X’s mini-conflict within the story by the end of December. This type of goal-setting will help avoid stilted novels that result from thinking in numbers.

Completing a project as long and demanding as a novel is something that very few people, even self-proclaimed writers, are capable of. And it often takes a few tries to get it right. Regardless, if you set goals, both and long- and short-term, without being too hard on yourself if things don’t get done according to plan, you’ll eventually make it to the finish line. Good luck!

Lauren Bailey welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99@gmail.com. 

Hardboiled Help from the Sons of Spade

A new friend has set out to help preserve the hardboiled detective genre.  But I should let him introduce himself.

I’m Jochem Vandersteen, blogger behind www.sonsofspade.tk and author of the Mike Dalmas and Noah Milano stories. I’m also the founder of the Hardboiled Collective and Austin asked me to tell you all a bit about how that came about.

When I published my first Noah Milano short story on www.thrillingdetective.com the web was starting to get filled slowly with cool zines showing off the work of up and coming writers. It was a great way for writers like myself, who were writing about PI’s, crooks and other hardboiled character that might not appeal to a huge audience but surely to a niche of connoisseurs. It offered me the chance to introduce Noah Milano, son of a mobster, security specialist and always looking for redemption.

It encouraged me to put out my first novel, White Knight Syndrome at iUniverse. Then I started to promote it by showing people what my work and main protagonist had to offer through the e-zines.

Then the ebook revolution started. What a great way to get my work out there. It changed the writing world even more than those e-zines did. The audience that I could offer my work was huge, the possibilities to promote my work bigger than before. Social media, blogs and boards can help an author to get noticed without the big campaign a legacy publisher can fork over the cash for.

Blogging about PI-fiction at www.sonsofspade.tk I’d managed to befriend a large amount of writers. I decided their work could use an extra push. I decided they could help my work get an extra push.

I started to invite people and most were happy to join. The Hardboiled Collective was born. The goal is to get people to notice and buy the wonderful works of hardboiled fiction out there. We all help each other out by informing our own fans about the other great stuff out there. It’s been great working with these people and we’ve all benefited sales wise.

I think these kind of groups are the way of the future. Writers are not competitors anymore, they need to be partners. With groups like mine you don’t need a publisher anymore.

Check out the great work by the Hardboiled Collective here:

http://www.amazon.com/lm/R11XQIPKS6YD96/ref=cm_lm_pthnk_view?ie=UTF8&lm_bb