Loving the Holiday Bazaars!

 Selling at Christmastime has always been a favorite of mine. It could be the possibility of finding new readers or the excitement of getting another book from an author you've read before. I love Christmas Bazaars at local schools. Everyone is in a good mood and, for once, I don't have to worry about the wind or rain terrorizing my books! I really appreciate inside events. I don't do nearly enough of them.

  

Picture courtesy of Pixabay.com

I did a bazaar at a local YMCA this weekend. We had a pretty decent crowd and lots of different vendors. I met a retired schoolteacher who sold homemade candles. After learning the process of making the candles, I think I'll stick with writing. Way too much patience is needed for my liking.

Across the aisle, I met a woman and her son (fresh out of high school) that began a pottery making business. She had the coolest designs and the prettiest covers. On the other side of me, a grandma and her two grandchildren were selling homemade relish and other condiments.

And, of course, the requisite Paparazzi, Avon and Pampered Chef were present.

This is just a reminder that nice, thoughtful gifts can be found at your local craft fair and holiday bazaar. You never know what you're going to find (magic wallets, included!!)

Hope everyone has a wonderful Turkey Day!

Penny

Trying something new!

 After a few book events, I realized I had quite a few people tell me that they don't have much time to read anymore. I started thinking about what if I wrote shorter stories and marketed these to potential readers? In my children's line, I have chapter books for early readers that fits between picture books and YA. Their word total is less than 10,000. 

So, I started thinking about creating a series with novellas. I've never written a novella before. But before our writers' group did two anthologies, I've never written short stories, either (other than in school). With the anthologies, I dreamed up the story of a girl that has no magic in a world where everyone has magic. I liked the characters so much, I decided I would flesh out their story in the novella world.

Magic Today series Book ONE: Green on Magic

 

The novella can run between 7,000 and 14,000 words. That gives me enough space to set up some background installation without being super involved. My full-length novels take me about a year or so to complete (between 70,000 to 80,000 words). These novellas are a fresh breeze through my life. Action and fast pacing keeps the story line moving.

I have a plan for 3 books in this series, but if people seem to like it, I definitely am open to more stories from the main characters, Wren and Darian. Book one is now available on Amazon and I'm waiting to have in-person stock for book events after Christmas. I'm really looking forward to seeing if I can entice more people into my fantasy book world with these novellas.

Time will tell!

Happy holidays!

Penny

Surviving a 1-Star Review

 Nothing can bring me down quite so quickly as a 1 star review. The worst is when it has no accompanying worded review. Why didn't they like it??? All other reviews received have been 5 stars. So now I'm second guessing everything that makes me an author. I liked the book. The kids that read it liked the book. 

 

It's like my baby. And that baby just won the Ugly Baby contest. Deep down, a part of me asks, Is the book really that bad? Did they mean to click 5 stars and accidentally hit 1? Yeah, probably not. 

BUT... if you're going to hit someone with 1 star, have the decency to back it up with some detail.

Because 1 star sits like a brick in the pit of my stomach.

 So, if you as a reader feel the need for some reason to deliver the worst review possible, at least make the effort to inform the public what you didn't like about the work. Because I'm open to criticism and I'm not saying I'm the perfect writer. I'm far from it. The thing is, I have no idea what's wrong with my book.

Self doubt has been my enemy. And I worry about how I can sell my book to the public this weekend. But I will lift my chin, take a deep breath to calm the nervous butterflies and present the work to the best of my ability.

Please be kind to each other.

Write on!

Angie

Finding the Fortitude to go on!

 The title sounds dramatic... in reality, it's not so much. I've been battling the dregs of not wanting to work on my current WIP. This is nothing new. It seems I'm all energy and creativity in the beginning and middle of a manuscript, then my brain turns to a new project before we've finished what we're working on. 

  Image courtesy of Stockvault

I'm used to it and I always just go with it. If my brain decides it has a great idea of a children's book, I'll entertain the notion. It's part of my process, I guess. 

But my current, A Girl's Guide to the Bermuda Triangle has been interrupted more times than it should. It's going on the 4th big interruption. It will get finished. I have the final scenes mapped out and I know where my characters are going. Now I just have to get after that part of my brain that wants to procrastinate finishing the darn thing. 

This will be a nice end cap for my Girl's Guide series. First it was ancient Greece, then Purgatory, now the Bermuda Triangle. Who knows, I might find another crazy, wacky place for someone to go in the future. But for now, I'm going to make myself complete this book 3.

Stay tuned and happy writing!

Penny

Book selling events set!

 I have June events scheduled to sell books! It's been one year and seven months since I've been to such an event. For some reason, I'm terribly nervous! And really excited, too. I have eight new books to debut that include adult supernatural adventure and several children's books (and corresponding coloring books).

Now that I'm fully vaccinated, I feel a little more comfortable going out in public. Unfortunately my daughter's age hasn't been called for the vaccine yet, but we're still wearing masks when we go to stores. Outdoor events we feel more comfortable now.

My first two events in June are all outdoors. I have masks ready and hand sanitizer on the ready to place on my selling tables. July is my one and only event that is indoors, but it's usually pretty small and I'll be fully masked.

Now is the time where I need to remember what my pitch is for each book I have. It's been so long, I've forgotten how to quickly tell someone interested a little bit about my book without stumbling over words. 

The only one that comes to mind right now is for A Girl's Guide to Purgatory: A girl dies, goes to Purgatory and falls in love with the manager.

Now I just have to remember ten more! Easy peasy!

Everyone stay healthy and write on!

Penny

First vaccine down, one to go... and hope for the future!

 I just received my first COVID vaccine yesterday it was such an uplifting experience. Everyone there was in a good mood. The shots seemed to have injected hope into our future. I've had a year of no book events, no family vacations, and no movies!  It's too much! 

I can't wait to be able to go out and not worry about what will happen. Six weeks. Yes, I'll still wear a mask, but it's a giant safety layer surrounding me because of the vaccine. Being chronically ill, this past year has been very trying. The fear of the unknown kept me happily at home. My nine year old daughter did so good and just rolled with it.

I'm looking forward to being at my first book show of the year (hopefully in July). I will be able to present my Wizards of the Vatican first book, Ritual of Blood. It's been out since the shutdown in early 2020. I never got to market it and it's been sort of on hold in the book world. I can't wait to see how it's received.

I hope everyone stays healthy and happy!

Stay paranormally weird and write on!

Penny