The House on Cedar Ridge by Pamela Ackerson

8/25/2024

Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Pamela Ackerson introduces us to the first volume in her Museum Series, “The House on Cedar Ridge”:

Transported back in time, a reclusive and timid curator of a haunted museum engages in death-defying battles against a powerful, vengeful witch.

A mysterious ivory fan, a surprise marriage, and the suspicion a witch was among them…

In the great house of Cedar Ridge, secrets whispered along the corridors and hidden crevices. The morning sunlight upon the walls of the museum cast a deceiving appearance of serenity. There were those who wouldn’t know gentle repose, who must be denied peace, because the walls within harbored dangerous and frightening secrets.

The residents of Locke Bay were aware of a stranger in their midst. A woman whose presence was felt by all. Many would soon be aware of her presence and the mystery surrounding her.

No peace could be found; the walls within harbored dangerous and frightening secrets
A mysterious ivory fan, a forced marriage, and a vengeful witch was among them threatened those who sought repose in the great house of Cedar Ridge. Danger and deception whispered along the corridors and hidden crevices. The sunlight upon the walls of the museum cast a deceiving appearance of serenity.

A jealous and angry witch was among them…

Thalia Jefferies believed the danger at the Cedar Ridge Hills Museum had passed and life could begin with new dreams and second chances.

The corridors and hidden crevices in the great house on the crest of the hill whispered warnings of an evil presence. The malevolent danger was as strong and relentless as the waves from Superior.

She had to find help and create a campaign, a series of battles to prove she, too, had the resources to pit powers against the witch's dreadful plans for her future.

The battle lines were drawn.

From award-winning, bestselling author Pamela Ackerson, The Cedar Ridge Hills Museum Box Set time travel adventure has arrived.
Grab your copy today.

This book is creepy! But in a good way! Pam is quite good at setting a dreadfully dark atmosphere and dropping hints that cause you to look over your shoulder now and then. Think twice about reading this book alone unless you enjoy lots of goosebumps.
I enjoyed the twists and turns as Thalia fights to save her life and return to her future where she came from.
The descriptions took me deep into an eerie part of the past of Lake Superior.
Pam is quite an author. She has earned her awards.
I loved the story and you will too.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/House-Cedar-Ridge-Hills-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-house-on-cedar-ridge

You can connect with the author:
http://www.x.com/pamackerson
https://www.facebook.com/PamelaAckersonAuthor

Tags:
horror, history, historical fiction, time travel, romance.

Copyright © 2024 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.

63 Comments

Pamela Ackerson link

8/26/2024 10:19:42 am

Thank you very much for the wonderful review.

Mark

8/26/2024 12:27:02 pm

You are welcome. I enjoyed the story, creepy parts and all.

First question.

Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

8/26/2024 12:49:59 pm

Ah, there's so much and so little to tell. Even though I'm a serious homebody, I love to travel all over the US. There's so much to see here and so many wonderful people to meet. Working from home, I tend to need to runaway for a few days. Disney World and St. Augustine are my favorite get there fast and take it slow vacations. I'm also a music buff. I play the guitar and keyboard. I'll sing my heart out when no one is home. And yes, I can carry a tune.

8/26/2024 01:31:33 pm

We have things in common since we both work from home and love going to Disney World.

You are musically talented. My musical talent is limited to playing the stereo in the car. And no, I struggle to match tones and carry a tune.

New questions.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?

What kind of work do you do if you are a part-time writer? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.

Pam

8/26/2024 01:38:16 pm

I am a full-time writer. I work PT for AdC book review magazine managing their marketing and advertising department. It's a bi-monthly magazine and doesn't take me away from my writing.

8/26/2024 02:47:46 pm

That sounds like a perfect job for an author. You probably have a good idea of what kind of advertising might work well for an author.

We might talk more about that later.

New question.

You are in the midst of this book being made into a movie. The dream of so many authors. What can you tell us about that process and how it is going for you?

8/26/2024 03:27:44 pm

It is a perfect job for an author. I love it. Marketing and advertising for authors can be intimidating. I'm sure you've heard that quite often. The movie/TV industry is a whole different world. I could tell you almost everything about the book industry. But this is mind-blowing. Different terminology, different perspectives, and completely different writing techniques. So far, it's been a huge and exciting journey. It's a long process in comparison to book publishing. Nothing happens quickly. Quick, in their eyes, is three years. It started with an "elevator pitch" and took off from there. I learned how to write a treatment, a one-pager, and scripts. The bullets, blurbs, and log-lines are probably the only thing that came naturally to me.

8/26/2024 05:09:41 pm

Three years is quite a long time but I am not surprised because there are so many moving parts. Congratulations!

New question.

Do you have any advice for an author who is interested in a movie contract?

8/26/2024 05:53:34 pm

Keep your writing professional. Get your name out there so it's recognizable or easily found. As a writer, stay professional. It's a business and should be treated as such. They will google you and they will make sure you are up to par. Anything else, ask me that in three years. I'll have a lot more wisdom under my belt. The biggest thing is make sure you know who you're working with. Do a search on their names. Look them up on IMDB. Check out the movies/tv they've done. And most of all, a lawyer who understands the film industry. Have you worked with anyone who has done tv/movie scripts?

8/26/2024 07:01:32 pm

That sounds like good advice to me.

I will add, do a lot of research because there are scammers posing as legitimate people in the industry.

Here is a copy-and-paste link that might be useful or hit the search box below: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/07/26/turn-your-book-into-a-tv-or-streaming-series Joanna is very smart and is one of my favorite bloggers.

New questions.

What is your favorite genre to read for pleasure?

Has writing changed the pleasure of reading for you?

Pam link

8/27/2024 09:23:34 am

I enjoy different genres, but my favorite it nonfiction historical. I do enjoy a good cozy mystery when I'm not digging deep into my nonfiction books. Writing hasn't changed the pleasure in reading. For a while, when I was content and proof editing for a publishing house, it was hard for me to enjoy the stories because I was trained see the errors. When I started reviewing, it was just the opposite. The review is supposed to be about the story, not how good the editor was.

8/27/2024 10:33:33 am

I enjoy history quite a bit, but historical fiction is one of my top five favorite genres. I like cozy mysteries also and have reviewed several of them elsewhere on my website as well as hist-fic.

Some authors have told me that their reading pleasure has been diminished because they find themselves dissecting the book as they read since becoming an author.

I didn't have to train to spot spelling errors, they jump off the page at me and interrupt my reading pleasure. I have gotten quite used to it because 95% of published books have spelling errors in them. I am able to reenter the author's magic pretty well now.

New questions.

Why do you write?

How has writing changed your life?

Pam Ackerson link

8/27/2024 10:53:56 am

I love history. I love science. It's probably why writing historical time travel has become my passion. As an author, even though I can edit someone else's work, I still need an editor and someone to "refine" my work. That's why I like working with you. I tell authors about you all the time. Why do I write? I enjoy creating things and entertaining people, helping them run away to different worlds and just escape from the every day doldrums. Seeing the look of excitement in readers' eyes when they grab my latest book. Or having them tell me, they've read all of them, when is my next one coming out. When I hear that, I know I've done a good job of entertaining them.

Writing really hasn't changed my life, it's been a major part of who I am. I started telling stories to my younger brother to keep him entertained. Wrote some of them down. It wasn't until I was in high school that I took it seriously. My English teacher sent one of my short stories into a contest (Science Digest) and I took first place. The only time I stopped writing fiction was during college and when my kids were little. Once they were in school, I started writing again on a regular basis.

8/27/2024 01:26:55 pm

You are correct. Everyone needs an editor, even a proofreader if ewe no watt eye mean. ;-) I love your stories because they combine two of my favorite genres sci-fi and hist-fic. Thank you for the recommendations.

I love how writing has always been a part of your life. Some people seem to be born with a storytelling gene. I was not born with that talent. I found creative writing to be very difficult in high school. I have always been a reader, I learned to read before the first grade and have never stopped. Reading rescued me from terminal boredom.

New question.

Does your work, past or present, have any influence on your writing?

8/27/2024 01:43:45 pm

Can't be a professional author without making sure your book is a professional product. I can't say it enough to new authors. They see dollar signs on cost, but now quite grasping the point that they're trying to sell merchandise.

I'm a watcher. The wall flower who checks the room out before she opens her mouth. Being that way I see a lot more than people realize. Most of my stories carry something of me, my experiences in life, people I've known-their experiences, and even those I've been acquainted with, the good -- the bad -- and the ugly. Authors joke around and say "Don't get an author angry, she'll kill you off in the next book" Sometimes, wink:wink:, it's not a joke. However, all of my books have hope for a better tomorrow.

8/27/2024 04:28:53 pm

An author has to be a student of people, being aware of all the foibles and indiscretions that we are all susceptible to. It's the little things that make or break a character.

Many authors want their book to pay its way and are very reluctant to invest money into improving the product, the book. Frequently, the first book languishes and barely sells. Experience shows that the average author sells around 400 copies of their book. That implies that a lot of authors sell a handful or less because some authors sell millions of copies.

What many authors don't know is that having multiple books, multiple series in multiple formats on multiple platforms makes it easy to sell lots of books. Does that require money? Yes, it also requires time unless you hire someone to manage any aspect of the author's book business. Hiring someone means more money. This is the way a lot of authors make money. It takes a long time and it takes good writing.

Don't anger an author! Darn good advice. Literary homicide hurts until the ink dries.

Hope is an important ingredient! Without hope there is no reason to read a book. Thank you for including hope in your books.

New questions.

Who was the first person to inspire you to write?

What inspired you to write this book?

8/27/2024 05:59:16 pm

Both my parents are the ones who inspired me to tell stories. My mother encouraged me to start a notebook and keep them all together. (I still have it....somewhere) My father was also the one who paid for an editor for the short stories when I was in high school and early college years before they were sent for publication.

When I started writing my very first book, my parents and family were behind me, always encouraging. When it was picked up by a publisher (1998 -- Home of the Braves) My father said he would read all of my books and he did until he passed.

Little story about Home of the Braves and We the People, which was re-published as an indie when I got my rights back. (the Wilderness Series) I was writing about the Cherokee tribe when I started having a repetitive dream. I kept dreaming about flying with eagles (always have eagles around me) and we would land on this rocky platform surrounded by Native Americans. The dreams didn't stop until I found the mountain range in an atlas. It was in South Dakota. I started doing research about the tribes there and switched the story to the Lakota instead of the Cherokee. And that, oddly enough, was the inspiration for my first two books, a dream that wouldn't let go until I listened to what it was saying.

8/27/2024 07:52:10 pm

You had wonderful supportive parents, just like it is supposed to be. They saw your burgeoning talent and enabled you to follow your dream. I love it.

I love that. A wonderful dream and story.

Many authors have told me how a story sometimes writes itself. A minor character might explain to the author how they are far more important to the story than presently assigned. The authors report how glad they are they followed the story or character.

New question. Change of direction.

Have you ever seen a UFO or UAP, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?

8/28/2024 09:48:54 am

Clearing throat...Yes I have. I was sunning on the grass near the cliffs on Cliff Walk in Newport when I heard a buzzing. When I looked up I saw an object flying over the water near the Forty Steps and then after a minute or two it was gone. I jumped up and ran home. When I told my mother, her response was, "you must've dozed off and dreamed about it." Noooooo... But I let it go. What if she was right? However! The next day someone had managed to take a picture of it and it was in the local newspaper. That ended up being a very interesting dinner conversation.

When we went out west, I was hoping to spot some. Sigh, but we didn't. Guess they were on vacation, too.

8/28/2024 10:45:16 am

A lot of people claim to have seen a UFO.

My sisters have told me we saw one when we were children. Probably in Oregon. However, I have no recollection of that event. They are interesting but many seem to have an evil intent toward us.

New question.

How many drafts did your book go through before publishing?

8/28/2024 11:21:42 am

Many people don't believe in UFOs. And that's understandable. I just can't see how with all those gazillion stars and planets that not one has the technology to reach us. The maths don't add up for me.

I've heard authors talk about how they've had 20+ drafts and I always second guessed myself because of that. I tend to fix as I go. For example, I'll reread the last chapter I wrote, do rewrite, etc and then start writing. It's kind of a prompt for me to do that.

When I first started writing novels, I'd say about 8 or 9 drafts. Now it's about 5, sometimes 6, depending on how many beta readers I use.

8/28/2024 12:14:20 pm

The math of probability is daunting, yet it is at best a guess and guesses don't always pan out as expected.

Your writing has improved and I think your experience mirrors that of many authors in terms of the number of drafts. Knocking off some rough edges in that first draft is a good idea as long as your inspiration doesn't disappear. Some authors, mostly new authors, try to create a perfect first draft and inspiration tends to wither quickly in those circumstances.

New questions.

Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.

How many drafts did the cover go through?

8/28/2024 12:31:29 pm

I'm extremely picky about my covers. It takes days, sometimes weeks of looking through hundreds of images. Many of the models are paid individually to go on my cover. My favorite go to is:
https://thebookcoverdesigner.com
They don't allow AI
I love the work that BetiBup33 does. He's fantastic. He works with me, adding the models on the original images of his cover I've chosen and has it in my hands in less than 24 hours. He listens and does exactly what I ask for. I try not to use stock models but sometimes, well, I need to.
There was, maybe, one time where I didn't like the way it came out and it was fixed within an hour!
So, to answer your question, 99.9 % if the time, one draft.

8/28/2024 03:11:15 pm

Covers are a big deal! I don't have to tell you that. The old saw, "Don't judge a book by its cover." applies to everything except books. The cover and the title are the first chance to grab a reader's eye and keep it on your book for more than a second. Not just important but critical!

I think you care a great deal about your covers.

New question.

At first glance, the cover seems obvious, but I frequently miss a detail or two. What do the elements on the cover represent?

8/28/2024 03:34:07 pm

House on Cedar Ridge was one of those covers that I knew immediately that I wanted it. I even bought it before the books were finished. Then, I got in touch with the model and we worked together to get it done.

The manor in the background reminded me of Seaview Terrace (the Dark Shadows house in Newport) and the Ohio Reformatory which is where the story idea was born. The red and orange were fantastic and screamed danger to me. On the back cover you can see a silhouette of a couple in one of the windows. It reminded me of the figure in the window I saw in the picture I took of the Ohio Reformatory. It's just eerie and that's exactly what I wanted. The shadowing of the characters shows they're stuck in two worlds... and the next two covers show how they've changed and evolved with the time traveling.

Also, I'd like to say I'm doing a BOGO right now (limited time)
Buy The House on Cedar Ridge Book One

https://amzn.to/3ABEdtq

Get The House on Cedar Ridge: Locke Manor
book two FREE
https://amzn.to/4dCRYXq

8/28/2024 05:33:48 pm

Fabulous covers! I love them.

Copy-and-paste time folks for the book links. Sorry, my webhost doesn't allow live links in the chat.

New questions.

Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?

Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

8/28/2024 05:52:18 pm

This book wasn't difficult. I loved the title. I hadn't done a title search on Amazon yet which would be the only reason why I'd have changed it. I was hoping to keep it, it was just perfect for the book. A huge haunted house up on a hill overlooking a cliff with Lake Superior's waves crashing in the background. Perfect! I could practically smell the ocean!

I always do a title search. It's okay if another author has the title, I just don't want a dozen books with the same title as mine. I changed the title of my most recent book four times because everything I picked was a popular title and I didn't want to fall into the abyss and get lost.

The characters names are normally very easy for me to pick. Sometimes, I'll change them. One minor character in one of my FBI books had his name changed four times, poor guy.

This may sound odd but I pick the name because it sounds right with the story and the character. It has to feel right.

8/28/2024 06:58:32 pm

A title search is a great idea! Occasionally, I run into several books with the same title. I am always surprised a little bit. It is important to stand out any way you can.

There is nothing wrong with the way you pick names. Though some authors, especially hist-fic authors, visit websites that feature the most common names by decade for different areas or countries, sometimes those websites list names from hundreds of years ago.

New question.

Have you written and published any short stories before writing your book?

8/28/2024 07:31:42 pm

Yes, short stories is where it all began! My first published short story was science fiction about the first human clone. I did so much research on cloning, I could've written a paper on it. Back then it wasn't easily available. Books had to be "borrowed" from other libraries and it took weeks to get them in, books were borrowed from colleges by friends and families who had access to them. I wanted it to be accurate. That was the story that took first place in the contest. After that, I'd publish a short story or two a year in different magazines and digests.

I do still write them and have several short stories that are available on Amazon.

8/28/2024 08:25:40 pm

That sounds like a good story! There are so many interesting topics is sci-fi.

Short stories are a nice way to polish writing skills and maybe earn a little bit of money. Besides journals, contests can also help a writer learn more about writing. I have recommended to writers that short story writing contests, especially those that provide feedback from the judges, can help a writer improve their writing skills. I do have a warning, there are a lot of shady contests out there. Some want to extract as much as they can from your wallet, others want to steal your intellectual property. Here is a copy-and-paste link about those things: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests. You can also use the search box below to find the link. There are other blogs I have links for on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. Anne Allen is one of my favorite bloggers, she shares so much good information.

New question.

How long had you been writing before the first short story was published?

8/29/2024 09:02:20 am

Probably about 8 years. I'd been telling stories I'd created in my head since I was 7/8? But it wasn't until my a year or so later that my mother bought me a bunch of spiral notebooks to write them down in. I was 15 when I wrote the story that was entered into the contest. But it didn't get published until I was 16.

8/29/2024 10:42:26 am

Storytelling is very strong in you. You probably filled a lot of notebooks with your stories. I imagine all that writing kept you out of a lot of trouble.

Winning a writing contest and seeing your story in print must have been an amazing feeling at age 16.

New question.

Have you ever written any fan fiction?

If so, what storyline were you mimicking?

8/29/2024 11:27:34 am

Sort of, but not quite. I wrote a two page flash fiction titled: My Wife Left Me for William Shatner. It's a cute, funny, short I've never published. There's a dialogue in there that says:
You see, my wife wasn’t in love with the hot, ticket from fifty years ago. Nope. Not at all.
She’s in love with the old Shatner now.
He’s like one hundred years old! He’s practically the crypt keeper.

I do have a short novelette I started about Captain Jonathan Archer but, well, it's sitting there in the "do I really want to?" pile. That's as close to anything that could possibly be called fan fiction. I prefer sticking with my own imagination, creating my own characters..

8/29/2024 01:35:58 pm

That crypt keeper line is pretty good. I like it.

I think you're better off sticking to your imagination. Though, for a teen or pre-teen writer fan fiction can be a decent way to start learning how to write. Writing is like golf, you can always get better, but you really can't beat it.

New question.

What other books and genres have you written?

8/29/2024 03:01:42 pm

Many! Considering how long I've been writing, a very wide variety. Sci-fi, time travel, thriller, suspense, historical, cozy mystery, FBI crime fiction, contemporary, sweet romance, and children's stories. Nonfiction includes: WW2, inspirational, marketing/advertising nonfiction, inspirational and state journals.

Oh, yeah, and my very first and only hot romance. (which was a challenge from one of my readers.) It's the hot version of Sweet Realms of Deception, only it isnt' 'closed door' romance.

You see, my father said he would read all of my books...so guess what they DIDN'T have in them!

All of my stories, even the nonfiction have hope for a better tomorrow!

8/29/2024 05:34:30 pm

I love reading all of those genres, except for the steamy one. So many genres, I bet you never run out of ideas!

New questions.

How many books are you planning for the series?

Any side stories?

Are you planning for more than one series?

8/29/2024 07:02:19 pm

Well, glad you asked. The House on Cedar Ridge is a three book series. However, there are going to be three spin-offs. Skies of Blue (Janet's story) and Sweet Realms of Deception (Keoni's story which is an FBI crime). I'm finishing the last book of the spin-off which has Chase who was introduced in Keoni's story as an undercover agent. The first two are not time travel. The third one is a time travel and temporarily titled. I haven't done a search on it yet.

No plans right now for another series. Although I do have an enchanted romantasy I've started writing and researching, titled Deja Mew which will be out in June 2025.

I haven't run out of ideas yet...

8/30/2024 08:38:00 am

That sounds wonderful. A lot of readers get excited when they find a book they love and see that there are more in the series! You are doing well!

Deja Mew is a cute title especially if it has something to do with cats.

I have recommended to many authors they keep an idea journal, so none are lost.

New questions.

What do you think of the current controversy regarding AI, Artificial Intelligence?

Did you use AI in any of your writing or planning for your books?
I am not including research in this question because most of the major browsers have embedded AI in the browser.

8/30/2024 09:40:58 am

Yes, Deja Mew has to do with enchanted cats. I have a folder and various notes on my desk labeled "to write".
AI is a blessing and a curse. If it's being used to take from someone else's work, no. And unfortunately there are too many people creating books, graphics, videos with AI and that isn't right. Create your own, don't steal from someone else.
I don't use AI to write my stories or create graphics.

That said, I'm a beta for Amazon's virtual voice audio books. Voices used for these audios are used with permission. Am I taking away from voice actors? Yes and no. I've got two books where I paid a lot of money to have voice actors do the books through audible. Now that they gave me the option for virtual voice, I'm able to offer my other books to audio book lovers. I wouldn't be able to do it otherwise because of costs.

8/30/2024 04:56:44 pm

To my knowledge, I have yet to read an AI written book. I think I have seen quite a few AI covers. They tend to look strange.

Audio books are a good use of AI. You narrators don't get upset with me; you are not being replaced. I have been predicting this for several years. Narrators will soon be able to buy a license for cheap AI voices. They will also be able to buy a license for famous voices which will cost more money of course but cheaper than a human can do it. Because it takes a human 8 to 10 hours of production for an hour of finished audiobook. There will always be those who prefer a human-narrated audiobook and that will be a premium expense. With 3 to 4 price points narrators will be able to make money more than before and those who love audiobooks will see price drops. I have a friend with severe dyslexia and an audiobook is the only way he can read a book. He loves to 'read'.

Many third world countries have wide internet coverage, but most citizens can only afford a cell phone. An audiobook is the perfect way for them to read.

New questions.

Have you encountered a troll reviewing one of your books?

How did you handle it?

8/30/2024 05:26:37 pm

I've seen a couple of AI articles. It was obvious (to me) by the wording that it was done by a machine and not a person.
The AI with Amazon, I believe when I was considering being one of their beta's they mentioned legal use of the voices that the AI was using. So, I'm guessing they paid for the rights to use the voices for the virtual voice.

Unfortunately, yes, I have a couple of trolls. At first it bothered me. Now it's okay, go ahead, I released a new book, how many days will it be before you give me your one or two star. And they're consistent with it too. I don't know who they are because they just do the star rating and not a commented review. Even if I knew, there isn't much I can do about it so, no losing sleep allowed.

I don't get upset if someone doesn't like my stories. That's okay, everyone had different tastes. They don't have to like my stories.

I get more flabbergasted when someone give me a one or two star and/or comments about the editing though. The comma police...I won't say anything, but I sure do want to sometimes. It's not about how good or bad my editor was. The reviews are supposed to be about the story. My editors aren't perfect and I don't expect them to be.

I also think they tend to pick on indie authors more, like they're looking for mistakes, scouring every line. Petty people. I won't let them get under my skin. There are too many fantastic readers out there to let the bitter few ruin it.

8/30/2024 07:30:03 pm

Many authors blow a gasket when they encounter their first troll. Trolls tend to be mean, vindictive and seem to have no rhyme or reason for who they target. They seem to derive a perverse satisfaction by giving another person grief. So sad. Most of the time it's obvious by the comments they haven't read the book. If they don't leave comments, I would think that someone feels threatened by the author's success.

I tell authors that the negative review validates the positive reviews. It is not just the author's mother and her bridge club leaving those good reviews.

You are quite right. Every book has an audience and conversely there exists a non-audience. No one has ever written a book universally loved by all. Even the highest selling books have detractors.

New question.

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid and how old were you?

8/30/2024 08:39:22 pm

The keyboard warrior...
I was 16 when I got my first paying job as a clerk in a library. I loved it! If I could have stayed working there I would have. I mean, seriously, what other dream job could there be for a writer? Unfortunately, it didn't last. The hours were conflicting with school, my sports, and other activities and mom said no more. I didn't get another job until I graduated from high school.

8/31/2024 07:20:47 am

That would have been a cool job!

Growing up in a small town provided limited opportunities for teenage employment. I picked berries and beans several summers in a row. No pun intended. I also did some babysitting for a neighbor. The editor of our local newspaper hired me for a while. I cleaned up, addressed copies for mailing and took pictures at school events.

New question.

Have you done any public speaking? If so, will you be doing more in the future?

8/31/2024 10:27:03 am

Working for the local newspaper sounds like a really cool job.
I don't do public speaking. Not for me. Ironic too because when I was younger I'd perform (sing) in front of hundreds and thousands of people. (Long story behind why I stopped) Now? Nope. You're going to have a really hard time getting me up there never mind to speak.

8/31/2024 01:54:10 pm

You echo the sentiments of many authors concerning public speaking. Many authors shy away from public speaking.

Singing provides a hint to successful (not melting down into a puddle) public speaking. Knowing what you are going to sing/say makes a huge difference. It makes all the difference.

Hear me out. I had a terrible stammer in school. Whenever I became nervous my tongue refused to cooperate. I was tongue-tied. Except when I was singing a song, I knew the words to. I didn't understand that concept until years later. I took a Dale Carnegie course in effective public speaking and human relations. I learned that I could speak about anything if I knew a lot about the topic. It had to be something I studied, formally or informally, for a long time.

Does speaking in public make me nervous? Absolutely! But I know my material and can channel that energy into my talk. Public speaking is a little like acting, you have to overplay it to seem natural to the audience.

The audience is there because they want to hear the expert. A lot of people love listening to speakers about favorite topics. The audience is already on the side of the speaker. They are not storming the stage with pitchforks and torches.

Now, I remind authors that no one knows their book better than they do. The author is the expert when it comes to one of their books. I make note of this so authors don't miss opportunities to promote their books at book signings and readings.

I can talk at great length about proofreading and promoting books, also cold-brewed coffee. I know those things well.

The author knows their book better than anyone.

New questions.

Have you entered any writing contests?

Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

8/31/2024 02:36:15 pm

I can go on for hours talking about books, promotion, advertising, but in small groups only, like round-table type discussions where it's a little bit cozier and more comfortable.

Yes, I've won a couple of contests and awards. The awards were for the nonfiction story "I am a Runner" I co-wrote with Maria Papalia-Meier. The true story of a sepsis survivor. It's a very inspirational story that will definitely give you goosebumps. She was told she'd never run again because of the issues she had with her feet and the amputations of her toes. . A few months back, she ran her first marathon. How fantastic is that!?

8/31/2024 04:59:30 pm

Cozier and more comfortable sounds nice.

That is an amazing story! I love true stories like that. They can be so inspiring.

I had a sepsis a few years ago. I had enough sense to get downstairs and tell my wife something was wrong. She hustled me into the car and then the emergency room. It was weird.

New questions.

Among present or past family members and friends how many are or have been writers or authors?

Is there anyone you know who might claim you as their inspiration for writing?

8/31/2024 05:30:20 pm

Sepsis is super scary. I had no idea it could be that bad. I'm glad you listened to what your body was telling you. Too many people don't.

Doing research and interviewing Maria, getting everything organized was a huge endeavor but it was worth it.

Relatives past: Eugene O'Neill, on my mother's side. As far as I know, no one in my present family and friends are published. I'm the only one who chose this path.

I have no idea if I've inspired anyone to write. I have encouraged many authors to follow their dream of writing and getting published. Some of them have and I'm glad they did.

I have received emails and comments from readers telling me my stories have touched them.

8/31/2024 08:09:35 pm

Sepsis is very strange, I felt like I was losing control of my body. I guess I was. My hand shaking on the trackball was a real attention getter.

Literary blood runs in your mother's family. Very cool.

You are a great encourager for certain.

Hearing from your readers must be very gratifying.

New questions.

I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you?

How many books have you put in KU?

9/1/2024 11:51:58 am

Yes, I love KU. It's great. I love it. All of my books excluding the journals and those with a publisher are available on KU. I'm a beta author for Amazon's new Virtual Voice Audio books, too. That is also going well.

9/1/2024 01:57:11 pm

Wonderful! I am glad to hear that! Not all authors do well on KU. It seems to me that having multiple books on KU makes a big difference.

New question.

Several years ago, Amazon required authors to sign an exclusive contract. The author was not allowed to place their books on any other platforms while their books were in KU. Is that still the case?

9/1/2024 03:34:45 pm

As far as I know, yes, it is still exclusive but only with the ebooks under the KU contract. I can still promote or place my ebooks on websites as long as the "sale" is directly through Amazon.

That said, I've tried D2D (Draft to Digital) It didn't work well for me. I didn't really sell many books at all. I also know authors who have done very well with them.

My 2 cents? Try different avenues and do whichever works best. For me it's Amazon.

9/1/2024 05:53:19 pm

I thought that was the case for KU. Authors earn a fraction of a penny for each page read. This is another reason why having a list of multiple books is beneficial.

New question.

What is your favorite food and beverage?

Are you a good cook?

9/2/2024 09:27:22 am

Earning $ with KU can go both ways. During the holiday season, it's very low, but most likely because people are buying print books as gifts. Multiple books definitely adds up the sales during the rest of the year. I do promote the fact that most of my books are KU and I believe that helps. If you don't tell the readers, they're not going to know.

Favorite Food: Steamed Clams with chourico or linguica. (Portuguese sausages)
Favorite Beverage: Tea, hot or cold

Am I a good cook? My family thinks so. The plates get wiped clean and seconds are usually the norm. I also learned how to cook many meals from professional chefs when I worked in a Sicilian/Italian restaurant.

And I love to bake. Homemade bread, cookies, cake, pies, etc. I prefer that over the processed/ready made foods and treats.

I mean, really, who doesn't love walking into a house that smells like freshly baked foods! YUM

9/2/2024 12:14:36 pm

Dropping sales in KU makes sense in the Christmas season. I never thought of it that way.

The steamed clams with sausage sounds nice. I love seafood. I love food. You must be a good cook.

Baking bread! Ahh! I do love that smell.

New questions.

Have you ever gone through the query process?

Were you seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers and why did you choose that path?

9/2/2024 12:33:58 pm

We get the steamers from the local seafood place in town. Just thinking about it makes me go, yum. I think I'll send hubby down there to see if they have any. :-)

Yes, I've gone through the query process. For my first book, I sent out a couple queries and received offers. Years ago, I was told I needed a literary agent so I tried once and was told no one wanted time travel. When Amazon offered to have me as a beta for their KDP and Create Space, I jumped on it, and never looked back.
When I submit it's directly to the publishers.
Attending conferences gives and author a huge in. They meet you, they like you, they want to work with you. (If you've got what they're looking for.)

I do have an agent now, but I didn't query him. I attended a seminar he hosted, and since then, he's been working with me.

Why did I choose these paths? To be honest, the road with least resistance. I'm not the type of person who keeps banging their head against an inflexible wall. They either want your book or they don't. An author must be flexible. My father always said, if you see a road block, find a different path. That advice has worked well in the book industry and life in general.

9/2/2024 01:09:07 pm

Your father gave you good advice. It has certainly served you well. You have done some smart networking.

New questions.

What do you think of the query process now?

Will you ever query a manuscript again?

9/2/2024 01:44:55 pm

I think a lot of new authors don't understand the query process and it makes it harder for them. On top of the bad advice that so many so called experts throw around, it doesn't help. 99% of legitimate publishers literally tell the authors how they want to be queried. Most literary agents do as well.

The process now is easier and more open. Which also makes the agents and publishers slush pile even bigger. If an author doesn't follow their guidelines, it'll go straight into the circular file. They don't have the time nor inclination to deal with someone who doesn't follow the specs given.

I probably would go with querying again, if I needed to. Being a hybrid author, to me, is very important. If tells the book industry echelons that I've got what it takes to do both forms of publishing: traditional and self.

9/2/2024 02:09:17 pm

Following instructions are important. No two ways about it. Nobody wants to deal with a rebel or an illiterate.

Working both sides of the room has advantages. Many traditionally published authors, at all levels, are making a choice similar to yours. Here is an extreme example of that. Copy-and-paste time again or hit the search box below.

https://kriswrites.com/2020/07/22/business-musings-the-kickstarted-game-changer-part-two/

Last questions.

Did you use an indie publisher for this book or did you start your own imprint or press?

Or did you choose self-publishing as the best way and why?

9/2/2024 02:20:43 pm

The House on Cedar Ridge (series) is self published with Amazon. I haven't started my own publishing press. I've used Amazon KDP or Create Space before it merged with KDP.

My accountant recommended I register an LLC because of the movie deal. So, I'll be doing that soon.

I prefer self publishing with Amazon. I make good sales, they know how to promote their business and the experts know what they're talking about. They want authors to succeed. If their authors do well, then they do well.

Like I said earlier, having a traditional publishing house with one of your books is also a good thing. And the one book I do have with a publisher now is also available on Amazon.

9/2/2024 02:34:00 pm

You must have many reasons for self-publishing. Not the least of which is that you keep control of your intellectual property. Congratulations!

Thank you for being a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with our visitors.

Until next time, keep on writing.

9/2/2024 02:37:42 pm

Thank you very much for having me, Mark. This has been a fantastic week with you.
Have a good moments day!

The House on Cedar Ridge by Pamela Ackerson

Leave a Reply.

Who am I?

Archives

Categories