Despite being the single highest cost of self-publishing so far, the copyedit will be the one expense I will never regret.

That would have been the list if this article was entitled “A single most important thing I’ve learned”. But it’s not, so there are ten more below. Which I guess makes it eleven…never mind! Anyway, after getting eight quotes and four samples from Australian and American editors, I chose Lu Sexton of A Story to Tell to copyedit Shizzle, Inc and I’m blown away with the results. To be honest, I had a lot of reservations about paying for editing. After all I’ve already had a structural edit; I’ve revised the draft no less than a hundred times myself; I speaka English real good. Handing over cash for a promise of making your draft better is scary, even if that promise comes with a professional reputation and an exceptional…

Over the last week I’ve seen a lot of blog posts about a very talented writer and a wonderful woman: Judith Barrow.

So I’ve decided to crown her Woman of the Week!

Check out some of her memories here:

http://scvincent.com/2015/07/26/guest-author-judith-barrow-memories-a-short-story-and-a-new-book/

Here she is as  interview guest on my blog a while ago.

Here is her contribution to womens healthweek:

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/womens-health-week-guest-author-judith-barrow-breast-cancer-survivor-2/

And this is her new book:

Living in the Shadows which concludes her amazing trilogy.

Here is an article on Judith’s blog about the inspiration behind it :

https://judithbarrowblog.com/2014/11/23/the-inspiration-behind-pattern-of-shadows/

I’ve got the book at home and can’t wait to get a chance to read it.

Find the Book on Amazon US and UK

Connect with Judith on her blog 

An Elevator Ride Doesn’t Last Very Long

Every author has been in the position where someone asks them to describe his/her book. It happened to me several times at a book-signing last Saturday (although, if you read my previous blog post, it didn’t happen as often as I hoped it would).*

What’s your book about?

The answer you give to that question is called an “elevator pitch.”

The term itself comes from the scenario of an accidental meeting with someone important. It’s any quick, catchy pitch you can deliver in the short time it takes for an elevator to reach its destination.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term before. I didn’t invent it. It’s been around the business world for decades. Now, however, as an indie author you need to think about it in terms of your new book.

By preparing an elevator pitch in advance for your book…

“Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.”

— Oscar Wilde

Éilis, whose poetry and writing you can find on The Sound of What Happens,  tagged me in the Three Quote Challenge.

First, you thank the person who tagged you. Then, post a quote you love on three consecutive days. Choose another person to carry on, if they so choose and have the time.

I’d like to invite S.K. Nicolls, author of Red Clay and Roses to participate. Hope you’ll join in, Susan!

Review for Death in a Red Canvas Chair: A Rhe Brewster Mystery (Rhe Brewster Mysteries Book 1) by N Granger

This is a quirky cosy mystery with ER nurse Rhe Brewster at the centre of the investigation. When her son plays soccer and she discovers a body dumped by the side of the game, Rhe alarms the authorities and before you know it, she is deeply involved in solving the case. Rhe is quite a character, the most apt description of herself is: “despite his PhD in Psychology he (her husband) still doesn’t understand me.” I think many would struggle and that is what makes her such a wonderful and watchable protagonist.
Familiar with Sheriff Sam there is little that can stop her.
The victim was a college student and the investigation starts to step on Rhe’s husband’s toes, a professor at the same college.
The plot is quite complex…

I am delighted to host Nicholas C. Rossis today as he launches his new book, Infinite Waters, a collection of short stories. Nicholas is the award winning author of a number of books, including the superb Pearseus series that cleverly blends the best of Sci-Fi with elements of mythology and philosophy, as well as the delightful Runaway Smile, a children’s story in which a young boy discovers that the only smiles that matter are the ones that are shared.

Nicholas’ blog is a popular one; full of informative articles on writing, publishing and marketing, often tinged with humour and with links to a number of stories to read free online. Quite apart from that, he is a genuinely supportive writer and a nice guy. No surprise then that he has received several nominations for the upcoming Annual Blogger’s Bash Awards, hosted by Sacha Black.

Finding Inspiration

Like many…

Check out below, on how it’s done and come on down:

https://jfb57.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week157-2/

This week’s prompt is … at last we were free… + 100 words

A New Page

Trina had to pull herself together. I need a cold shower. She pounded on her roommate’s bedroom door. Quiet as a tomb.

“Sarah. Wake up.” Trina squinted at the clock down the hall. “Come on, kiddo.” She gave the door another whack and proceeded to the bathroom and turned the water on. Then off. Odd. She paused. Blinked. And retraced her steps. “Time to sober up.” She turned the knob. “It’s Graduation Day. Remember we said we were free to start… Sarah…? A new page for the rest of our lives?

“You’re so cold.”

Oh. My. God.

Where’s my cell? “I need an ambulance. Hurry-please!”

The End

© 2015 Tess and How the Cookie Crumbles All Rights Reserved