The Crown for Castlewood Manor My American Almost-Royal Cousin Series By Veronica Cline Barton

9/22/2018

Multi-volume author, Veronica Cline Barton, introduces us to the first book in her cozy murder series, The Crown for Castlewood Manor:
The English ancestral manor of Cherrywood Hall is ready to compete for selection in an upcoming British TV period drama series: the grounds are manicured, the mansion is polished, and the servants are poised. American heiress Gemma Lancaster Phillips has crossed the pond to help her cousin defeat the three other stately homes vying for the prize.
What Gemma doesn’t realize is that this competition is life or death, and someone is taking that challenge literally. The occupants of one home are killed in an automobile accident, and murder becomes a frequent occurrence at the other locations. Who is behind the mayhem? Selection would be a major coup for both the estate and the community. At first the other contestants seem to be likely suspects, but no one is quite certain as the tragedies continue. Could it even be Emma’s beloved cousin Evan, the surviving heir to the Lancaster fortune, or Kyle, his best friend and estate manager? With the Royal family in attendance at each event, the puzzle becomes a crucial one for Scotland Yard, and they enlist Gemma’s help to solve the mystery.
When the competition’s winner is announced on New Year’s Eve, will Gemma’s future be forever tied to her ancestral past?

It has been quite a while since I have had the pleasure of reading a well-written cozy murder. I confess to being a little squeamish in the presence of a lot of blood and gore. I enjoyed this story so much, there was nothing to make me uncomfortable in this wonderful story about the behind the scenes selection process for an estate to be showcased in a British period drama, similar to Downton Abbey.
I can’t say much more without giving a spoiler, so let me say this about Barton’s writing. Her writing is marvelous! She handles the intricacies of first person POV so well. The story is told from the point of view of Dr. Gemma Phillips. This thoroughly American woman has studied the family history for her PhD. and has an eye for so much of the many decades of culture of British manors and estates. The scene-setting leaves little to be desired, the dialogue, action, and characterizations are simply wonderful in the small village and the stately manor, known as Cherrywood Hall. The clothing and foods of the past get some interesting exposure in this story. I was in suspense most of the time, and quite shocked at some of the plot twists! I have never been very good at guessing who the perp is, in a well-written story. You are going to get a great deal of reading pleasure from this book.
I award The Crown for Castlewood Manor a score of 4.9 stars; the score would have been higher, except for the small handful of spelling errors, I stumbled upon.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Crown-Castlewood-Manor-American-Almost-Royal-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38731986-the-crown-for-castlewood-manor
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-crown-for-castlewood-manor-veronica-cline-barton
You can follow Veronica Cline Barton:
https://twitter.com/VClinebarton
https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com
https://www.facebook.com/myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries
https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Cline-Barton
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Veronica_Cline_Barton

Here is the review of the second book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/cast-crew-and-carnage-the-filming-of-castlewood-manor-my-american-almost-royal-cousin-series-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the review of the third book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/deadly-receptions-the-debut-of-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the review of the fourth book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/mistletoe-and-mayhem-yuletide-at-castlewood-manor
Here is the review of the fifth book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/double-trouble-showtime-at-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton

Tags: mystery, suspense, traditional detective, cozy, castle

Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

61 Comments

Veronica Cline Barton link

9/23/2018 05:07:07 pm

Hi Mark, thank you for the great review, it's much appreciated!

Mark

9/23/2018 05:25:24 pm

Thank you, Veronica, I am pleased that you like my review. I really enjoyed reading your book as my score reflected.
I appreciate you taking time out for this interview. I have some questions, actually quite a few questions. We will see how many we get through in the next seven days.
My first questions.
What inspired you to write this series? You live in California. Have you ever lived across the Atlantic?
I am guessing, you are a big fan of Downton Abbey and shows of a similar ilk.

Veronica Cline Barton

9/23/2018 10:00:06 pm

I've never lived across the pond but travel there as much as I can. My ancestry has English-Scottish-Irish roots so the areas always had an appeal for me. Growing up I read Agatha Christie faithfully and was always tuning in to watch British mysteries.

I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey, and after the 6th season ended, I knew I had to start my series so that I could still experience the joys, adventures, sorrows (and dangers) of the British countryside.

I chose to do a series so that we could come together a few times a year to catch up on the latest happenings with the characters and of course face some of the new dangers that always seem to be lurking around the corners of these estates.

9/23/2018 05:46:22 pm

That is pretty amazing. I have quite a bit of the UK in my bloodline also, as does my wife. We both enjoyed DA quite a bit. Some excellent writing. and acting!
New questions.
I love Gemma's character, she is smart and every bit an American. She proves to be very adaptable also, as she seeks to help her cousin Evan. Is there any bit of you in her?
I found your choice of Gemma, an American, so interesting. Why did you choose to use an American to rescue the British Lancasters?

9/23/2018 06:04:47 pm

I think there are bits of me in Gemma's character (definitely her ma-ma's too). We do both hold doctorate degrees, I thought it would be fun to have a character with a strong academic background, to handle all the challenges and mysteries thrown at her, both socially and in the business sense.

In terms of the British/American angle, I got caught up in the thoughts of my own family, what would have happened if my ancestors had not left, or if we had kept the families in communication. Gemma's Lancaster family had British/American ties for centuries, but only reunified when her great Aunt Pippa married her distant British cousin, bringing her American fortune with her.

Gemma and her British cousin Evan help each other because of their family connection that exists now. I don't think they view one another as British v. American, bit rather as family helping family, if that makes sense.

9/23/2018 06:21:48 pm

I love Gemma's academic background. The fact that her historical research into Cherrywood and everything proved to be most beneficial in the competition.
Your emphasis of the American Gemma coming to the aid of her British cousin lends a wonderful, supportive-family vibe to the story.
New questions.
Highclere Castle is the real-life setting of Downton Abbey. I would imagine the cash-windfall of the BBC series made long-term plans for the survival of Highclere Castle far simpler to carry out. Have they developed other business to help keep the estate afloat?
Are most estates trying to diversify also?
Have very many estates, in the UK, disappeared, given up by the landholding family?

9/23/2018 07:39:16 pm

The Earl and Lady Carnarvon were certainly fortunate to snag the series. Did your story in any way reflect the reality of what they and other landholders went through in the process of the competition? How long did that process take?
New questions.
I was really impressed with how you brought the culture from decades past into the modern story setting. It was a wonderful hook for the competition and so interesting to me. I love to eat and try different foods. The history of the clothing and jewelry was quite fascinating also. Where did you find the original inspiration for using them in the plot? Where did you find all the detailed information of the foods, party menu, and clothing for the story? How did you make sure it was all appropriate to the age it came from?

9/23/2018 08:15:13 pm

The set location evaluations can vary from taking several months to a year+. As I understand, the manor house interior rooms are assessed for filming viability (ie how much footage can be filmed at the house vs. how many sets will have to be recreated), as well as the exterior grounds to support outdoor events and scenes. My contest events in the story for the formal tea, breakfast hunt, and dinner gala were fictional, but I think they'd be a good way to evaluate how such events would look on film at the estate. (Hopefully without the, ahem, mur-dah's that tend to occur in cozy mysteries)

I've been fortunate enough to have visited many of these type homes to understand the history and how the features and technologies of the homes advanced over the years, which is very interesting to me.

From the food and fashion perspective, I am a passionate pinner on Pinterest. You can look up just about any topic to research fashions of a particular period (I love Chanel, Lanvin, Poiret…), the foods eaten (menus from Queen Victoria's parties were quite spectacular), how food was prepared and stored, fascinating tidbits and ways of life that were groundbreaking for their time.

I am an avid British and European royal fan too and am always reading about their fashion choices and jewelry, particularly their crowns and tiaras and the history behind them. (I adore royal weddings too)

Finally, I read many books on the subjects and watch documentaries and series as much as I can. I take lots of notes on what seems to work, and what doesn't---these things go into the stories too.

9/23/2018 08:39:52 pm

You have done a lot of research. You have traveled extensively, it sounds like.
Have your travels been restricted to England or have you been to other parts of the United Kingdom, as well?
The menu for the Two Princes dinner that Pippa designed, where did the inspiration for that come from? Was it an actual menu from the early 20th century?
What is your favorite British dish to eat and what dish would you love to try, but haven't yet?
Speaking of Pippa, while her appearances were few, she had a definite impact on Gemma in so many ways.
Was she part of your original plan for the series or did she join the cast later?

9/23/2018 11:15:11 pm

We have made several trips to England and Scotland, and over to Ireland which included a stop in Northern Ireland. There's so much beautiful countryside to explore, we really enjoy our travels there---and I do love those castles!

The menu for the Two Princes dinner is an amalgamation of many menus from the period, including items from the Titanic menus, Biltmore House, royal menus, and some documentaries highlighting meals served by American heiresses who married into the British aristocracy. I have to admit I picked the items I would most like to eat off the different menus, hopefully not making too many culinary faux pas'!

British favorites? I love the items served in the British formal afternoon teas, giving you a taste of the savory pies and sandwiches, as well as the wonderful scones, tarts and cakes. Each one I've been to has been unique, and I really enjoy the whole experience of sitting down and being formally served these wonderful yummies. I'm pretty open to trying anything but I have drawn the line at trying kidneys (too many biology classes), I just can't go there, LOL.

Pippa has always been close to my heart, I love how she made the leap to leave her family in America and reunite them with the British side of the family by marrying her distant cousin. She inspired Gemma's PhD research. Gemma has a comradery with Pippa, both being Americans in a foreign land. Gemma sleeps in Pippa's former bedroom and sees her portraits all around Cherrywood Hall, so there's always a reminder for her to see. I feel comforted knowing that Pippa still watches out for her family. Is she a real ghost? I really can't tell you...but if I see sparks in the fireplace, well...

9/24/2018 12:20:32 pm

I have been to England twice, but have not ventured into the other countries.
You and my wife are very much alike. She loves those shows and has had many teas! She can even put on a respectable tea herself.
My wife is a Lady of Dunans Castle in Scotland. A friend bought her a single square foot of the property, they are raising funds to restore the castle. Here is the link: https://scottishlaird.co.uk/pages/becomelordlady I had to call her Lady Margaret for a week, it was fun.
I enjoyed the relationship Gemma had with Pippa. It was fun and a little bit spooky, just as it should be.
New questions.
In the course of your research about American heiresses in England, did you discover that most of them adapted successfully or not? Why do you think so many of these women made that journey? Did you discover any men who made the journey for similar reasons?

9/24/2018 01:16:33 pm

Teas are the best and I am so going to the Scottish castle link! (another excuse to wear my crowns)

The 'American heiress crossings' are fascinating to me. I don't think women had the academic or business opportunities available to them in the early 20th century---your option was to marry, and hopefully marry well (with or without love). Pretty sad really, but that was the norm of the day.

From the books I've read and documentaries I've watched, many of the heiresses went overseas to obtain titles and prestige they didn't have being labeled nouveau riche in America. The society hierarchy was out in full force---snobbery was alive and well.

Was every match a success? No, but it seems most of these women carved out a niche in their new lives that fulfilled them. My favorite example is Sir Winston Churchill's American born mother, Jennie Jerome--Lady Randolph Churchill She was very popular with London society, making many contributions to charitable and political efforts, while raising one of the most influential British (World) leaders of all time.

I didn't really find any male reverse examples. However, it is interesting that the two longest reigning queens in Britain (Elizabeth II and Victoria) both married princes who were somewhat down the ladder when it came to family fortunes and they seem to have had very strong marriages (despite remaining princes not obtaining the title of king).

9/24/2018 01:31:34 pm

How about the next-in-line royal, Edward. He consorted with and finally married the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. He renounced his claim to the throne, did he retain any titles? Did he and Wallis stay married?
Back to the stately manors. Did most manors have rooms with the old dresses and such? How about secret rooms?
The secret room contents found at the end of your book, did something like that ever happen in real life?

9/24/2018 05:07:59 pm

Well you brought up a royal scandal that rocked the world with that one! Edward did retain the title of Duke of Windsor after the abdication, and his wife Wallis was Duchess, however she did not receive the HRH status, a slight that wasn't well received by them I'm sure. They did stay married however until their deaths, I assume the abdication was worth it (I hope so anyway).

The secret rooms do exist, housing all kinds of treasures! I wanted to make a point in my book about the efforts to preserve the garments worn by generations of family members. I know most people would be interested in pots of gold or ancient Egyptian artifacts, but I'm partial to the clothes and shoes myself.

Secret rooms are found all the time in these older structures which were built hundreds of years ago, most without preserved drawings. They are usually found during renovation or modernization efforts, therefore the count of actual rooms in these old castles remains in a state of flux.

There were biscuit tins just found at Windsor Castle in rooms that were used to hind the crown jewels during the WWII bombings. I'm sure all kinds of treasures could be found in these beautiful buildings. I'd volunteer in a flash to go exploring!

9/24/2018 05:26:00 pm

That must have been far more than a tempest in a teapot for the Duke. What an phenomenal choice the man made. I hope his marriage was a happy one.
Secret rooms are very cool. I enjoyed the detail of the secret passages and lights in your story, discretion and permission were equally important.
It would be a lot of fun to explore some of those stately manors.
When I was still in construction, one old building we were working on, was discovered to have an unknown tunnel that led to the river's edge. Speculation had it pegged as a shanghai tunnel or for smuggling. Probably both.
New questions.
Have you ever used other acquaintances as the basis for a character, to the point they have recognized themselves in your book?
Is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters and why?
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

9/25/2018 01:20:28 pm

The hidden passages were also used as escape routes, there seemed to be a lot of attacks in earlier days!

I've really only used one person in real life in my stories, my neighbor Nancy is a neighbor of Gemma's at her cozy beach cottage in Malibu. Nancy is one of my beta readers, I asked for permission of course! She thought it was fun (and no, she doesn't get killed off in the story...)

The characters have attributes of people I've met through the years, both kind and not-so-kind. I don't want anyone to be offended. I always remember everyone has bad days at times.

Emotions are where the action is IMO. They are the reasons good people go bad and vice versa. To me that's the fascinating aspect to study---what drives a person to do the things they do? What happens to make a person do a complete change of character? What actions do characters take when they're in danger, angry, or in love? I'm always asking myself how I would react if I were in the same situation. Putting emotion in the story is what brings it to life---you want your readers to relate to your characters.

Strong ego can be a blessing and a curse to a writer. You can take a strong stand on what you believe in to create your story, having a vivid viewpoint. You want to give readers a vision of your world, not stuff it down their throat. There's always two (or more) sides to any story or discussion. Just because I don't believe as you do and vice versa doesn't make either one of us incorrect. If you're inflexible you're going to have a very narrow audience.

I think the best thing a writer can have is a 'smart' ego---be open to other opinions, be willing to change when it's called for, and in the end, have fun with it. Writing isn't a test...

9/25/2018 02:41:49 pm

Thank you, neighbor Nancy, for saying yes.
That is a great explanation of the importance of emotions in writing. We are all emotional creatures, and so many of our experiences have a profound emotional context, positively or negatively.
Writing should be fun, but querying and marketing can be very tough on an author's ego; so I think a good deal of emotional strength is required for an author to be successful.
New questions.
What is your routine when you sit down to write?
What software do you use to write and publish your books?
How long did the research process take before you started to write Crown? Do you write notes by hand or on the computer?

9/25/2018 03:39:22 pm

Querying and marketing are tough areas for anyone. I've been in the sales and marketing business for over 30 years selling enterprise software. You do need thick skin, and you need to adjust your approaches if you're not getting the results you want. There's always a buyer out there that wants your product, it's up to you to figure out who your audience is, and what's its going to take to get them to buy your product. Challenging yes, but I love it.

My writing routine varies, but when I'm finally sitting down to write the manuscript I've been planning for months, I set some pretty strict guidelines for what I need to produce each day (which averages approx. 4000-5000 words per day, typical length of my chapters). I try and adhere to this schedule as much as I can so that I can meet my editing/revision/publishing schedules and due dates (which are also part of the planning process).

Sometimes it takes weeks or months for me to commit to this routine, but once I'm in, I'm in. I know at the end of the day, if I don't meet my commitments, I'm the one that will be most disappointed, and I don't like that feeling, LOL.

I use MSFT Word to write my manuscripts in. I'm familiar with the software and it meets my needs for now. I'm open to trying other products, just haven't gotten there yet from a schedule perspective.

I started planning my series in 2016, coming up with the storyline, characters, events. I did a lot of online research, as well as reading, watching series, and travelling. I think for me the hardest thing once you get the basic premise defined for the series, is developing the scenarios of each book in the series, planning out who will be doing what and when.

A series development is a bit different from a stand alone effort, you need to decide timeframes, locations, and in the cozy mystery world---which characters are going to survive from book to book. You need to have enough meat on the bones to make each series title self sufficient too---as a reader, I've started several series myself in the middle, intrigued enough to want to go back and read the precursor stories. I hope readers find that with my series.

For planning processes, I use MSFT excel to develop characters and timelines to help make sure nothing falls through the cracks. I also have a notebook right on my bedside table and use it often for ideas that pop up just as you're falling asleep. I use note cards to pin to a felt board for each new story for the characters. If I'm out and in a pinch when a new idea hits me, I send myself a text message or email. Bottom line, keep lots of media handy, you just never know, LOL.

9/25/2018 04:03:23 pm

Congratulations on being such a disciplined person. A lot of your life-skills are serving you well, it sounds like.
Your experience in selling enterprise software has taught you a great deal about marketing and sales. I have reached the conclusion, no matter what your occupation is, you have a customer somewhere, a person or persons who receive the benefit of your labor. After almost 20 years in retail and another 20 years in construction, I have no doubt about it. We are all involved in sales whether we realize it or not.
It sounds like you have to be pretty serious about plotting if you want to write a series. Writing as a pantster will probably not carry you to the end very well.
You are so right, you have to be prepared at all times for when your muse drops a hint.
New questions.
What scenes do you find hard to write and why?
Is it hard or easy to connect with your muse, why do you think it is that way?
What type of environment is best for your writing? Noise, quiet, public, private?

9/25/2018 05:04:06 pm

I will say this, as much as you plan, and outline, and research---things can change as you write your story, sometimes I don't even know how a scene will end till the very end. I am always amazed when this happens, but 9 times out of 10, it works!

Beginning scenes are always a challenge, especially in a series where you're picking up from the happenings that have occurred in the previous book. You want to get the reader involved (hooked) into the new story as soon as you can to keep them reading, so you need to be mindful of how much you re-hash. So far my MC Gemma starts out the opening scenes in my books, setting the stage for what's been happening, and what's coming down the road. She may be howling at the moon, opening fan mail, or planning for an upcoming royal wedding at Cherrywood Hall---she pretty much knows what's going on to get the story started.

Transitional scenes and chapters are tricky too. Just as in life, not every day in the cozy mystery world is going to be filled with glitz or glam or mur-dah. I use dinners and cocktail hours for many transitions, people like to talk and you usually get some very useful tidbits to keep people guessing and the storyline moving. You want to keep things interesting as well as move the story forward, building suspense.

For the scenes that involve mur-dah, I try and keep graphic details to a minimum, one of the reasons I personally like the cozy mystery genre. You won't be getting a lot of blood and gore or scientific forensic details. You're going to be shocked when an event happens, and hopefully I can keep you guessing who the bad guys (or gals) are until they're unmasked.

For me, I connect with my muse fairly easily---one of the benefits of writing a series I think. I've come to know the characters and settings quite well, so it's a lot of fun when we do get together for the next story. It's changed my perspective as well, especially when I'm travelling. I see things through the eyes of my characters, and try and collect the details so that when they are written, the readers are going to feel like they're on site, seeing, smelling, hearing and feeling the details the characters are experiencing in a particular venue.

I tend to write at my best in noisy environments believe it or not. If I'm at home, the television or music is playing. I love going to a Starbucks and planting myself down for a few hours to write. For my 2nd book, it started in the empty bar of the hotel we were staying at in Reykjavik,Iceland---I had a cozy fireplace to sit by as the waiters and waitresses were setting up for happy hour and dinner. I'm able to drown out the background noise to focus on the writings at hand. It's comforting to me to have the buzz going on, and getting fresh cappuccinos whenever you get the craving is pretty nice too, LOL.

9/25/2018 05:40:56 pm

Just as life has many ways to surprise us, I am not surprised that you experience a similar thing when you are writing. I have heard many authors say that sometimes a scene turns out differently than they planned. It's important to be flexible most of the time.
That makes a lot of sense about the beginning scene in each volume of the series. You have to provide enough background so the rest is understandable, but not too much so you don't bore the reader.
I love how each author has different needs when writing. The noise helps you focus. I understand that quite well, I can read in just about any environment because I go deep into a story. On the other hand, I need quiet when I am proofreading.
New questions.
If you could meet one of your characters in real life, which one would it be, what would you do for three or four hours, and why?
When you are writing, is it hard to think of names? Is it hard to think of a title for your books?
Have you ever gone on an organized writer's retreat? How about attending a seminar or lecture to improve certain skills a self-publishing writer needs to know?

9/25/2018 06:11:36 pm

Wow, that's a tough question, I adore Gemma and Ma-ma for their attitudes and the activities they get involved in. Kyle would be fun to be with as well to understand some of the architectural preservation work that he does (as well as perhaps getting a tour of the Cherrywood Hall winery, that may include getting some free samples..). I think if I had to choose I would like to go back in time a bit and spend an afternoon with Aunt Pippa at Cherrywood Hall. It would be interesting to get her American perspective of this new environment and the efforts she involves herself in, and also understand what drove her to leave her country of birth (really--I think there's a story there). I'm writing a give-away short story of Pippa's first Christmas at Cherrywood Hall that I hope to make available to readers very soon. Mysteries didn't just start occurring at Cherrywood Hall when Gemma came over...

For names, the hardest thing for me is to get the English titles correct for the nobility characters, LOL. Did you know a Duke has a higher rank than a Prince? (I didn't). I do borrow from real life friends and relatives for first names (just the names, not the personalities) and I use names I've come upon in my readings and period drama watching too. I'm thinking Grizz might have to be worked in a future story :)

For book titles, it's a little easier for me because of the series built around the Castlewood Manor period drama series in my books. The book names will always include Castlewood Manor in the title for series consistency, with the rest of the title focusing on a major theme to give the reader a perspective of what's going on in this particular book of the series.

I hope to go on a few writer's retreats in 2019, I think that would be a fantastic experience and a great opportunity to learn new ideas and concepts. I try and attend local writing seminars whenever I get the chance, it's nice to network with other writers.

9/26/2018 11:31:38 am

I can certainly see you, and me, hanging out with Kyle, sipping wine. I would love to talk with him also, I studied architecture in college and worked in construction for over 20 years.
I am not surprised that mysteries have been occurring at Cherrywood for many generations. That first Christmas story sounds wonderful.
I did not know that a duke has higher standing than a prince.
New questions.
Do you have unpublished and half-finished books set aside that you may or may not get back to?
Have you gone on any literary virtual blog tours? Book signings in the real world?

9/26/2018 02:04:37 pm

I think a glass of Cherrywood wine with Kyle sounds amazing too, just have to watch for those pesky bodies...LOL

Right now I am working to finish book 3 in the series. I hope to have it published in November, released right in time for the holidays! I don't have any other unpublished or half finished works to date. The Castlewood Manor books are my first fictional writings, and have kept me very busy the past 2 years, LOL.

I have book 4 and 5 in the outlining phase. My goal is to have book 4 released by June, 2019.

I've also begun the outline of the story that is based upon the premise of the Castlewood Manor television series---an American mother (who happens to be best friends with the queen, who also is raising her royal princesses), brings her daughters to England to find suitable husbands...What could go wrong? LOL

I have been a featured guest on author Kay Latour's blog, and was recently featured on Women Writer's, Women's Books blog---I really enjoyed the experience and would love to do more.

I did have my first book signing this past spring at the LA Times Festival of Books held at the USC campus. I was in the Sisters in Crime (SinC) booth, a very fun experience!

9/26/2018 03:03:21 pm

That new idea sounds pretty cute! What could possibly go wrong! :-O
The book signing events were a lot of fun, I bet. I have a list of book bloggers on my Twitter home page, you might find some there who would love to partner with you in promoting your books.
New questions.
Do you have other writers you connect with, as in a critique group or support group?
Do you read books for entertainment or homework?
What are your earliest memories of writing, how far back does that go for you?

9/26/2018 03:45:05 pm

My main interaction with the writing community today is through my social media contacts, primarily on Twitter. I've only been active since February this year, but I've been able to 'twitter meet' some amazing writers, bloggers, reviewers and readers! The information shared has been so useful, I've learned a lot through my interactions (including you, Mark!). They are very supportive too, I'm very honored to be part of the community.

I would like to be more engaged with my local SinC chapter and GLAW in Los Angeles in 2019. I know it would be a good thing for me and my writing skills to engage with the local communities--the main issue is carving out the time! (poor excuse, I know...)

Reading for me is entertainment and homework these days. I've tried to expand out of my beloved cozy mystery genre this year and read the books of my Twitter colleagues that cross many genres, and I've really enjoyed it. I think it gives you a much needed refresh to step out of your comfort reading zone every now and then, to get exposed to new ideas and writing concepts. I've had a lot of fun.

My homework books usually revolve around reading historical fiction that involves the time periods and locations in my books, as well as books that highlight how a television series is actually filmed and produced. I've even gone backstage (in the reading sense, not for real) at the Oscars, to see how that show is produced, just in case Castlewood Manor happens to be nominated in any award shows...#JustSayin

I have a passion for cookbooks too, always love learning new recipes and experimenting with new dishes (I have about a 70/30 success rate, LOL). Some of my favorites include a Cross Creek cookbook from Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, one of my favorite authors, and a Mystery cookbook that features the recipes for dishes that occur in different stories. Who knows, maybe someday Chef Karl will publish a Cherrywood Hall cookbook?

Earliest memories of writing were probably had as I read Little Women, I wanted to be Jo of course. I did writing in school and was editor of my yearbook. Unfortunately going to engineering school in college put a damper on my fictional writing aspirations, although I did do technical writings throughout my career. Now that I'm 'retired' , I'm working harder than ever with the writing and loving it!

9/26/2018 04:39:46 pm

I, for one, am glad you are part of this community. I think there is a great group of people who share and support one another. I feel honored to be part of it also.
I think it's a good plan to be more involved with other writers. There is always that tension, should I write or take a chance of learning something that will help me write better? I think both are necessary. Just meeting fellow writers, with similar struggles, can be very uplifting for all involved.
Since I hung my shingle up, I have read so many different genres. Cozy murders was one of my first big leaps out of sci-fi and fantasy. It was a great reading experience. It was the first time I saw a recipe in a fiction book also.
I bet Chef Karl would have fun with that. I think it would be hard to choose between modern and old recipes. Maybe he should do both!
New questions.
Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?
What are common traps for beginning writers?

9/26/2018 05:24:16 pm

I never considered a pseudonym myself, but can appreciate why people might feel the need if they want to try and separate their private life with their writing life. The problem is with today's technology I'm not sure how long the 'secret' could be kept, it seems that privacy has pretty much been diminished these days.

My writing charm has to be crowns and tiaras. Since I began the series, I've become quite obsessed with the almost royals jewels, and pretty much have them in every shape and form (rings, earrings, necklaces, baseball caps, shoes, medallions that stick to my phone/pc/car, wine glasses....) I've tried to get the cats to wear them but so far they just throw hairballs at me, LOL.

With the last royal wedding with Harry and Meghan, I really enjoyed all the online speculation of what crown or tiara she would wear for the big day. There were some great posts and articles on the history of the crown contenders, and boy, some of them were just stunning. My collection of crowns is of the 'almost royal' kind, but they still sparkle and shine and make me happy. When I'm happy, I write :)

I think the biggest trap for beginning writers is the 'show don't tell' rule Your characters in the story are there for a reason and need something to do. It's kind of boring just standing next to the wall while the narrator tells you what's going on, never letting the characters speak...the characters get bored, and so do the readers.

I think another big trap is thinking you have to bite off a large chunk of everything for a story to be brilliant. One of my favorite fictional sleuths is Agatha Christie's Miss Jane Marple, who lives in a small English village. She solves her crimes because in the end, whether you're rich or poor, live in the country or city, educated or not---the emotions that drive certain actions are the same, human nature as Miss Marple says. She recognizes the traits and attributes from the everyday people in her village to solve big crimes. I want to be Miss Jane when I grow up :)

9/26/2018 11:28:06 pm

I once thought about a pen name, but Bic was already taken.
You and Mrs. Wordrefiner would have a field day at a royal wedding! Although, it sounds like you have more bling, she knows so much about the royals. She claims a distant kinship with Queen Catherine Parr. I think the gloves you are wearing in your picture are blingy cute!
Page after page of narration is very boring. It takes some creativity to step out of your own skin and into the skin of a character. I think writing in first person forces that issue to a large extent. I love the intimacy of first person POV.
Jane Marple is genius! She asks a couple of questions and then smiles and lets the person spill their guts.
New questions.
Are there any writing style that you disliked at first but soon came to like?
What is your writing Kryptonite and how has it affected you?
Is there really a such thing as writer's block and how do you overcome it?

9/27/2018 10:22:39 am

I'm sure Mrs. Wordrefiner and I would get along just fine! I'll send her a pair of my crown gloves if she'd like a pair...I have a few spares :)

I've read a few explicit horror reads the past few months that were very hard to engage with at first (I'm just not into explicit narratives of any kind) I stuck with it though and soon found the story beneath, which was very interesting. It pushed my boundaries for sure, but in the end I'm glad I went there...

My writer's Kryptonite is perfection, thinking I have to get all my t's and c's (for me that's tiaras and crowns :) ) in place and perfect before I start writing. I plot and outline and visualize to make sure I feel comfortable with a concept, not daring to start writing until everything is 'perfect'.

It's a shame really, because once I do start writing, things change in an instant and I often find myself going in directions I never even thought about initially (those characters seem to have a mind of their own). I'm working very hard to give myself 'permission' to go ahead and jump in and write without having the nth detail in my pocket. I'm making progress---I only went to the kth detail with the latest WIP :)

Writer's block is real for me! I had a bad case earlier this summer. The heat was just oppressive to me, I couldn't write anything. I just made myself do other things, read, research, take walks, swim...things that got me out of my own head for a while. It eventually lifted, but for a while, I wasn't sure...

9/27/2018 12:57:32 pm

Thank you for the offer of the gloves, I will ask her and let you know.
I have been in the same place with horror, I find it hard to get past some of the descriptions at times. There are good stories lurking under the surface.
As a potential plotter, I can relate to the desire for perfection. I also think all that background work is actually helpful, it seems to me that it frees you to follow the story, wherever the characters want to go. I think you are growing in your ability as a writer, so congratulations!
Many authors struggle with writer's block. One of my guest bloggers has written, what seems to me, a brilliant post on beating the dreaded writer's block. Here is the link: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/non-linear-writing I hope you find it useful. It actually makes a lot of sense to me. If I were writing a novel now, I would probably write the last chapter first and work backwards, after my plotting.
New questions.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?
Do you think reading, watching movies and listening to music help you be a better writer?
Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?

9/27/2018 01:41:36 pm

I'll definitely check out your writers block post! I'll take any piece of advice there I can get :)

Most valuable piece of advice from another writer? I think it's to be kind to yourself, writing is a journey. You're going to experience twists and turns, success and failures. Take it for what it is and move on. No one in any career is 100% successful all the time, I know that for a fact, lol. Just don't quit...

I definitely think that reading, watching movies and listening to music make you a better writer. I always learn something, get a new feeling or vibe. It stimulates the little gray cells which is always a good thing for a writer. I dabble in crafting too, and wield a pretty mean glue gun! I love making sparkly glass light boxes, decorated over the top with hundreds of sparkling beads and crystals. Little by little, bead by bead, it all comes together to make something beautiful. Of course the process may be sprinkled with @x&%$*# every now and then when the hot glue hits my fingers :)

I think having a variety of experiences is essential to be a good writer, not just suffering. I want to be able to express the exhilaration of swimming in 35 degree water between tectonic plates, how the wind feels whipping across your face at the top of the Eiffel Tower, how the cobblestones scrape your skin when you slip and fall when getting off a double decker bus that's still moving...Suffering a heartbreak or loss is one of those experiences. The more you have in your writer grab bag, the better equipped you'll be, IMO.

9/27/2018 04:32:04 pm

Mrs. Word Refiner thinks your finger-less gloves are so cute! She would love to accept a pair of them.
I like that advice of be kind to yourself. There is a lot of wisdom in that. For the author their book is so personal, but for the agent and publisher it's strictly a business decision. Will this new book produce a profit or create a loss for my bottom-line?
I think having hobbies is a great idea. Having an activity unrelated to writing is a valuable outlet and can't help but stimulate the creative juices.
My wife wanted me to share a video with you about becoming a Laird or Lady of Dunan's Castle: https://youtu.be/JKmC36w1ZpI
New questions.
Do you ever brainstorm with non-writers and if so, is it effective?
Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

9/27/2018 05:31:14 pm

Gloves will be sent, and I will definitely check out the Dunan's Castle video!

I do run by ideas to others to see how they react---everyone has a different view of what might work or not. I love getting mur-dah ideas when people find out I write cozy mysteries. My cousin was quite serious when she told me to take a victim to a pig farm, apparently if a pig eats you it's hard to trace because their DNA's similar to a human! (TMI, sorry if I made anyone squeamish!) You just never know...

I think when I read Gone With the Wind in 8th grade, I realized how powerful story telling could impact you. I was mesmerized by that book that literally pulled you through the Civil War and aftermath, seen through the eyes of a very self-centered woman who was trying to survive with what she knew at the time. I laughed, cried, grew angry and ached when I read that book. You know when you have that sort of emotional response it's had an impact. Very few books have impacted me as much.

I was one of the kids who came home from school and sat in front of our bookcase, pulling out volumes of a 1953 World Book Encyclopedia set to read for fun, eating snacks. (This was a billion years ago before the internet--and the encyclopedias were older than me BTW) I loved going through each volume, reading the paragraphs about topic after topic. I made an early connection between words and their meaning and it's benefited me my entire life. I love learning still, and always hope to continue.

9/27/2018 05:47:20 pm

I heard that about pigs also, a long time ago. It's an interesting idea.
Margaret Mitchell was a one-hit wonder. She wrote her book in 1936, won a Distinguished Book of the Year in 1936 and a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937. It certainly is an iconic book about America. No wonder it had such an impact on you. You have good taste.
You and I are cut from the same cloth in many ways. I used to spend hours reading encyclopedias also. We had an unabridged dictionary, Webster's I believe, that was six inches thick. I could easily get lost in that thing as well. I bet we would be unstoppable playing Trivial Pursuit!
New questions.
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?
What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your book?
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?

9/27/2018 06:35:44 pm

3 things I wish I knew before writing book 1: 1)I wish I had established myself on social media years before. I really had no presence before February of this year, well after my first book was written. 2)You don't make your writer's reputation from the writing of 1 book. 3)Remember this is a journey, enjoy it.

Lessons from publishing: Take the time to edit and review, and do often, with the help of professionals, before you publish. As an Indie author, this is exponentially important---you're swimming in a big world out there with some very talented fish. Make sure you give it your A game, no exceptions.

One other comment on publishing, I'm choosing to remain an indie published author at this time because I'm studying the industry, trying to see trends of where it's heading, and what path is best for me. I've retained ownership of my works because I haven't yet decided what my end game is yet. I see the industry changing, much like the aerospace and computer industries I worked in previously did, with dramatic paradigm shifts in the way they ended up doing business, that was much different from the past.

Best money I've ever spent as a writer is travel $$'s. Travelling gives me so many experiences and emotions that are priceless gems for my writings. I can always go back to my thoughts of a particular place, remembering the colors, the temperatures, the smells, the feelings I experienced---they've been invaluable.

9/27/2018 07:59:27 pm

The old author brand thing tripped you up. I think it has messed with a lot of people, I found it confusing at first. I had to figure out what a brand was first. Then how to present my brand to the world. I have been through more than one, I will say.
I have to agree with you about edit and review. The big publishers have whole flock of editors and proofreaders. So the indie has to hire out for all the functions they can't do. There is so much to be said about a pair of fresh eyes on a book in progress. Our brains can really pull a fast one on us if we are not very vigilant.
I think you have made a wise move, because you are right the entire publishing industry is in a state of flux, I think many more changes are still to come. That is one reason why I think publishers are so reluctant to give new talent a chance, they are hanging on by a thread.
That may be the best answer to that question I have seen yet! Travel does enrich us, it opens our eyes and new experiences are wonderful to utilize in writing.
New questions.
What does a dream trip for you look like? If money were no object, what would further your writing the most in the long run?
What is the message, moral, or takeaway that you hope people will get from reading your book? Is there more than one?
Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career?

9/28/2018 11:48:02 am

Dream trip for me is any where cold with some snow and rain (it's pretty hot and dry in southern California). I'd do a river cruise around the great cities of Europe and Russia in fall or winter. I'd love seeing the sites and experiencing the cultures (pretty good eats too I bet). I'm pretty sure some of the visits might just end up in a future story too...

Takeaway from my books? Friends and family matter, (even when you are, ahem, tripping over bodies) and take the chance---leave your comfort zone, I'm pretty sure MC Gemma is glad she came to Cherrywood Hall, it opened up a whole new world for her.

I just subscribed to Writers Digest, my first formal writer's magazine :) Also subscribe to Bon Appetit (I showcase a lot of food in my mystery books, I figure even characters get hungry, so let's do it right) and some travel publications too. Always looking for those little inspiration nuggets.

I love reading blog posts and go to many as I peruse Twitter, always some great topics and content. Blogs give you the opportunity to get to see another side of a writer or blogger that you don't get from a Tweet :)

9/28/2018 12:03:36 pm

The river cruise sounds very nice. I have backpacked around Western Europe in my college days. There are definitely good eats.
Great takeaway! Family and friends are so important, together we can have very rich lives! Gemma does seem very happy in England, she is needed by cousin Evan and Kyle, a new love.
You aren't the first person to mention Writers Digest. Maybe I should read it also.
There are a lot of great blogs out there.
New questions.
Is there a book that makes you cry no matter how many times you read it?
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable?

9/28/2018 12:26:37 pm

Not a book, but every single time I watch the last episode of Downton Abbey season 6, I cry, and I have seen that episode a ga-jillion times :)

I re-read my Agatha Christie books and stories over and over. I don't cry, but I get such an immense feeling of comfort, traipsing around the English countryside, solving mysteries and catching the bad guys. I know how the story ends by now, but I still get a thrill being back with my literary 'friends' and surroundings. I think I need to think about moving someday :)

Writing my manuscripts transports me into a whole other world. It may take me some time to jump in the zone, but when I'm there, I'm all in. It's very energizing for me, seeing how this new world is going to pan out. I always get surprised (in a good way) at the end. When I finally stop typing, I always have a big grin on my face, high fiving the characters. We did it! (Champagne corks pop...my characters do enjoy their cocktails)

I guess I've been lucky with self publishing to date, I haven't really experienced any unethical practices. (knock wood) Keeping my eyes open now!

9/28/2018 04:09:59 pm

You are having so much fun!
I have to agree, the last episode of Downton Abbey was very sad.
A lot of authors have told me they feel energized when the complete a writing session. I think it has something to do with the feeling of accomplishment.
You have been lucky.
New questions.
Do you think you were born to write or did you have to learn the craft?
Were you a plotter or a pantster when you started writing? How about now, has that changed?
Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first and second POV?

9/28/2018 04:43:03 pm

Well I do know I was born to read, a gift I started as a young girl. I never seriously thought about becoming a fiction writer until I was an adult though. I did do a lot of technical writing in my jobs and getting my degrees, so I think that helped me to hone my skills to be precise and thorough in my writings.

When I started my series there were some false starts for sure but I felt very comfortable with my series premise and characters. Over time the kinks worked themselves out as I became more comfortable with the process.

Because I write a series, I do have to be more of a plotter to make sure each book takes the reader to the next level of the overall story. Right now I have the series plotted out for 8 books---that could change obviously as things evolve. I have a spin-off series that goes about 25 years in the future that I'm mulling over now that involves the same family and friends.

With a series that far out I have to know what I think will happen in each book. As I've mentioned before though, as much as I plot and outline, when it comes to the actual writing and plots, I have been surprised many times, going off in a whole new path I had never considered. I guess a little bit of pantster is in every process, at least for me.

I think POV is a personal style choice. For me, since I love the mystery genre, most of the books I've read are in 1st person, because things move very quickly, you have to give the reader a clear view/faster pace to keep up with the latest happenings. It's a style I like very much, and it's why I use it in writing my books. It's more interactive, IMO, and helps avoid slipping into long narratives where a reader might disengage from the story.

9/28/2018 05:49:26 pm

I learned to read at the age of five. A retired school teacher lived behind us and taught me how to read with the Dick and Jane books. I loved it! I have been reading ever since.
I find your writing to be very comfortable, personally. The first person POV keeps the story moving right along. I appreciate there is no lollygagging around.
I can see that plotting ahead would be necessary. Your project is ambitious, but Crown proves you are capable.
New questions.
Do you have any Easter eggs hidden in your stories that only close friends or family members would recognize?
Do you believe that a good book will sell itself?
Do you think good marketing can overcome the limitations of a mediocre book?

9/28/2018 08:08:55 pm

Well I think my obsession over boots may have spilled over to my MC Gemma, LOL #JustSayin! If you ever come to our house, you will see I have a bit of a passion for pigs and pubs too---we have a small area near the front porch that is 'The Rusty Pig' hangout in the neighborhood. There are a few items from The Rusty Pig that may have found their way into the décor at The Howling Pig Pub in fictional Maidenford…

No, unfortunately a good book will not sell itself, IMO. Just like any other best seller product, you need the marketing, advertising and PR efforts in place to promote it. We spoke previously about the author's brand being in place as well, so that potential readers have more incentive to buy your book. You have to be diligent and do something every day that helps move the proverbial ball forward.

There are many fine books sitting unread, because the 90-95% of the needed effort to promote them are not being done. This is especially true for an Indie writer, but even if you have a traditional publishing contract, the onus is upon you to do the majority of promotional work as I understand it (unless of course you're JK Rowling or Stephen King---but those are just 2 people out of millions of writers...).

I think good marketing (or celebrity) will get people to buy a book initially (again, depending on the promotion and author brand), but word of mouth does get out if the book is mediocre or worse. I've been a long time follower of a fairly well known mystery author's series that I have loved, but recently the last few books of the series have just fallen flat (the author is branching out into other genres) I pre-ordered the last book solely because of the marketing, and unfortunately the book was meh, IMO. Too bad, I think it would be much better to end a popular series on a strong note, vs letting things slide because you're now interested in another topic. I will not be pre-ordering the next book.

9/28/2018 08:50:45 pm

No surprise about the boot thing! That was a shoe-in!
The rusty pig is cute, I wouldn't be surprised to see that stuff in the Howling Pig Pub.
I think you nailed it, as an indie you have to budget time, if not dollars, to market and promote your books. I have heard many traditionally published authors lament that the publisher wasn't doing enough to market their book. I do think that is one of the volatile parts of the industry, and the survivors are the ones who take control of their book.
New questions.
Do you have any problems when writing about characters of the opposite sex?
How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?
Is there a particular type of scene that is harder to write than the others?

9/29/2018 09:18:36 am

I think age and experience helps with writing about characters of the opposite sex---I've been very fortunate to have met a lot of great people so far. You pick up attributes, mannerisms, societal norms---all of which can be woven into your characters. My main challenge with my series to date is the majority of my characters are British written through the eyes of an American. I could never hope to do a 100% translation, but I hope I've put in enough British nuances to make a character credible (an hopefully haven't made too many translation faux pas'!)

What helps me the most is mapping out my writing schedule so that people know when I'm in book writing mode I'm just not going to be available. I don't like to make commitments and then break them. I think making and sticking to a schedule is very helpful---when it's play time we play, and when it's work time we work. It's worked for me so far (and I do like playtime quite a bit BTW---keeps those little gray cells charged :) )

I think the transitional scenes in a story are the most challenging---you don't particularly have a lot of glitz or glam or danger or mur-dah 100% of the time. You've still got to move the story forward though, even if you're doing more mundane tasks. I'm fortunate with my series---I think taking out the trash at a castle like Cherrywood Hall would be interesting LOL (might even find a body, or a crown...hhhmmm(writes this down)).

9/29/2018 10:25:29 am

Life experience does make a difference, without a doubt. As a person with a lot of experience, I think I would find it easier to write from the perspective of a teenage, since I was a teen once, than for a teenage writer to write from the perspective of a person entering retirement.
Your commitment to your plan is admirable, it sounds like it has served you well.
I hadn't thought of the difficulty of writing the transitional scenes. That makes a lot of sense, you can't have the story careening forward at breakneck speed all the time. There has to be scenes with calm and some peace, yet the story has to keep moving forward.
New questions.
Have you ever killed off a character unwillingly because it fit the plot?
With sequels, how do you handle the wishes of readers compared to your original ideas?
Have you read any fiction books that have changed your perception of that genre or style of writing?

9/29/2018 11:14:57 am

I have struggled with killing off a darling (or two) quite recently in fact---a not so nice character and a loved one. It's a very tough call, especially in a series where references may be made to a doomed character for some time. I still haven't quite made up my mind for one of them...

I always try and listen to and understand the perspectives and ideas of others. One of the problems is that readers don't have the entire vision/perspective of the series premise that I do A suggestion may work for a particular scene or plot, but not in the overall plan.
I'm always open to a new perspective, and even if I don't use the entire wish literally, the essence of your wish may in fact come true.

I think in the horror genre, I found that blood and guts does not a horror story make necessarily. I love the writing style used in Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House as an example. To me, I was scared stiff reading this story. MC Eleanor is a woman who has experienced life-long trauma, both in the paranormal sense and the abused psyche sense. Are there hauntings by ghosts? Or are they manifestations of our own horrid experiences magnified when we're in a so called 'evil' environment? Keep me guessing and thinking, don't throw things in my face is my preference (especially scary clowns or dolls... :0)

9/29/2018 06:17:20 pm

It seems wise to keep an open mind when a fan wants to share an idea. At least the fan will feel quite pleased, even if the idea won't last more than a few pages.
Horror is an interesting genre, there is a great deal of depth and variety. I have found it to be not one of my favorite types of books to read. It probably has something to do with the time I read several Lovecraft books in a row. I felt overloaded in more ways than one.
I much prefer to have a good laugh, than a good scare.
New questions.
How do you deal with a difficult section in a WIP?
Is there any particular time of the day that ideas usually hit you?
Do your friends and family members buy your books?

9/29/2018 07:25:12 pm

Sometimes a great idea just isn't going to work with the story and you have to be ready to revise or cut it all together. I can particularly tell when something's not working when I read my story out loud---if you get stuck saying what you've written, something is not right.

I've also had situations where you initially thought you'd introduce a concept turns out not to be the place or time. I've moved things around in my stories to get a better flow a few times. I've also just removed ideas or concepts too, you can't put a square peg in a round hole. (save it though if you like it...always good to save your ideas for use at another time)

I get many of my ideas at night, I think because after a full day of working with the material and thinking about concepts and situations, your brain does a lot of subliminal processing. Just when you're ready to shut down for the evening, BAM, comes the answers :) As we discussed before, it's always good to have paper and pen around to capture these brain breezes, you just never know...For me I find it's better to write down these late night brain breezes and evaluate them the next morning with a fresh pair of eyes...

Some of my friends and family do buy my books, which is very exciting and a little scary...I've received some great feedback and it's fun to talk about the books with them. There's a lot of people that are close to me that just don't read (gasp) so I try not to force the issue. The blessing to me is being able to meet so many new people because of my books, I've made many new friends that I'm very grateful for.

9/29/2018 09:34:39 pm

I was going to ask you about reading difficult sections aloud. I think it's a valuable tool and use it sometimes when proofreading and editing.
I think that's a good move to save ideas, they can easily be useful in another spot.
A lot of writers have told me they get so many ideas while asleep. One told me she wakes up almost every night about 2:30 in the early hours with ideas.
New questions.
Do these ideas come to you as a dream or some other form?
For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or print books?
What books are you reading at present?
What are your favorite writing reference books?

9/29/2018 10:29:06 pm

Ideas usually come to me just as I'm about to drift off, which can be a little frustrating, LOL, especially when it happens 2-3 times back to back. But I've learned to roll with it :)

For my own reading I prefer ebooks, primarily because of the convenience when travelling (plus it gives me more room to carry boots in the suitcase...) Hardcopy books are usually reserved for cookbooks, and some of my 'coffee table' style reads, that feature a lot of pictures.

I'm currently trying to read some of my Twitter friends offerings, most recently I've read Bibiana Krall's Alice and Carolina Spirit, Suzy Davies' The Cave, and C.A. Powell's The Last Days of Thunder Child-Victorian Britain in Chaos. next in my queue: Bibiana Krall's The Soul Keeper, H.E. Wilburson's The Day of the Martians--The Martian Diaries (audio book). My goal is to read and review 1-2 books time permitting. I enjoy it very much and it's great to read the works of folks I follow.

Most of my writer's reference material is via the internet. For me it's convenient and very comprehensive for just about any topic or guideline or reference you need.

Most used is the Chicago Manual of Style online---this was used by the folks at Createspace, who I worked with when editing my first 2 books.

9/30/2018 11:27:54 am

That is really nice, reading books written by your twitter friends. I am sure they appreciate it. Are you putting reviews up on your website also?
I have a Kindle and a Samsung mini-tablet as a back-up for my reading.
I have two references I use a lot, "The Copyeditor's Handbook" by Amy Einsohn, and "Self-editing for Fiction Writers" by Browne and King.
New questions.
Do you proofread and edit your own books or use a professional?
What are the main advantages of being self-published as opposed to getting a book deal?
Do you think independent publishers can produce a book as good as mainstream publishers?

9/30/2018 01:47:46 pm

I edit and proofread myself, and I also use professionals for proofing and content editing. I can go through a document many times and catch something. I think it's very important to get a professional view (or 2 or 3) and well worth the investment. I want to offer a high quality product to my readers if they're making the financial and time investment in me to buy and read my books. This is one area I will invest the big bucks...

I think it depends on what kind of deal you get :) As I've mentioned before, I'm sticking with self publishing at this time while I evaluate the industry and determine which path is best for me. Everyone is different I'm sure. I like the freedom self-publishing gives you, and maintaining all ownership rights (at least for now).

My next step is to start the query process for an agent to rep me. I think that will give me some additional insights as to what the best path for me would be, based upon their industry knowledge. There are lots of deal structures to be made, I'm interested in finding the one that works best for me and where I'd like to take the series. Finding an agent to help me with this process will be a good next step for me.

I absolutely think an independent publisher can produce a book as good as a mainstream publisher. The technology is evolving to put everyone on an equal playing ground, IMO. That said, as an independent publisher you have to be willing to spend the $$ to make sure the book is edited and produced in a high quality manner, and spend the $$$ for marketing and promotion. If you're not willing to make that investment, your competitive options dwindle very quickly...

9/30/2018 02:46:31 pm

Every deal is different in some way, no doubt.
I have a list of agents on my Twitter home page, you might find that useful. I curate a bunch of lists of people who offer services to authors, on my Twitter home page.
The cover is so important also, it's what causes a person to take that second and third look.
New questions.
What marketing strategy has had an immediate impact on your daily sales?
How do you convince readers to give you a book review?
What are your thoughts on bad book reviews?

9/30/2018 07:40:10 pm

The biggest assist for book sales is just establishing your presence on social media, participating in local events, my blog...I haven't offered promo's or freebies to date on Amazon, I expect to do some things for the holidays---we'll see what impact that has. I don't think there's any one thing that drives sales (unless you're a celebrity or famous author gets massive press coverage when a new book is released), it's old fashioned, day-to-day plugging, IMO :)

For book reviews, all you can do is ask. I try to promote reviews on my social media accounts and blog. It's so important to an author, but all you can do is ask...

Bad reviews are a tough one---I can see leaving a poor review if the story is full of holes or has poor edits, making for a disappointing read that you just can't complete. I don't understand someone who annihilates a book because they don't like a storyline---probably should do a bit more analysis before you make a purchase, IMO. Personal slights against an author are a no, no in my book.

9/30/2018 09:10:21 pm

That first Christmas story is a likely candidate for a give-away. You are right, time for marketing has to be allotted just as time for writing. Many writers struggle with that, I think because marketing isn't nearly as fun as writing.
I am glad to hear you are not stalking your readers and doing a little arm-twisting to get those reviews. ;-) Seriously, it is a pressing issue for just about every indie author. There doesn't seem to be an easy answer also, especially with the way Ama-zon has been kicking so many reviews and reviewers off their platform.
I think almost every author gets a bad review occasionally, sometimes it's deserved and sometimes not. Especially in the latter case, I suggest to authors this review really validates all the good ones. Plus, every book has an audience, some won't like it but at least they gave the book a chance. Trolls? Well, trolls are obviously trolls and most everyone knows a troll when they see one, just for the sheer ugliness, if nothing else.
New questions.
What do you think about book trailers?
Have you ever listened to an audio book?
Have you ever thought about doing an audio book?

9/30/2018 09:32:36 pm

Well I will try and get the Christmas story to you to review if you can squeeze it in---I'd love to get a review from you!

I personally have become a BIG fan of book trailers. Author Bibiana Krall has several that are wonderful for her stories and books (See: Alice, The Soul Keeper). Author Marcee Corn just released one for her book, Almost Thaddeus, that I just saw this morning--very well done. I think the trailers give a reader a new perspective to a story, helping to visualize the characters and premise. Opening for YouTube promos as well. I will be looking to do this with my series.

I will be listening to my first audio book this week--Author H.E. Wilburson's The Day of the Martians. I know several people who love audio books, so I will let you know!

One of the author's who was with me at the USC LA Festival of Books book signing was very enthusiastic about audio books---she said they were her best selling media. Definitely something to consider for the future as well.

10/1/2018 11:36:40 am

I would love to see that story! Maybe I could squeeze it in.
I have a list of several people who do book trailers, it might provided a starting point for you. It's on my twitter home page.
The Day of The Martians is a really good story! I reviewed that book and interviewed Wilburson in April, 2018. I enjoyed it so much! You made a good choice!
Thank you, Veronica, this has been a wonderful chat. I have learned a lot about your writing process. You have provided some great answers to my questions. I know you are getting ready for another trip to London. Give my best to the Queen and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

10/1/2018 11:49:32 am

Mark, thank you so much for your time and questions! It's been a very fun process---you and Grizz are the best! I will definitely be checking out your resource page too, to follow upon some other items on the check list!

Thanks again---and I will tell the Queen and Meghan hello if I see them. Cheers, Veronica :)

The Crown for Castlewood Manor My American Almost-Royal Cousin Series By Veronica Cline Barton

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