Here's My Plan for Writing and Marketing, This Week, and This Month

My Plan for Writing and Marketing by J.Q. Rose

So many avenues for marketing my books, Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Goodreads, Pinterest, Amazon, and now Google Plus. My head was spinning trying to keep up with all of them. Alas, I crashed and burned. I was trying to do everything, but not doing well at any of them. Needless to say I wasn't writing anymore fiction or non-fiction. With so many balls in the air, there was no time or energy to scribble down a short story, let alone a novel.

After studying my own reading habits, I realized I needed to add more books to my J.Q. Rose list. When I like an author, I always go back to see what else she/he has written. But if there are no other books for a reader to choose from, she can't buy them (Similar to the retailer's saying, "You can't sell out of an empty cart.) That's when I decided to prune my marketing responsibilities to give me more time to up my word count. Just as we prune plants to become stronger, I believe I can make my writing career better by concentrating on marketing I can do well (and even enjoy!) and focus on getting words on paper (or on my screen.)

Here's my plan.

• Dedicate certain days for posting on my J.Q. Rose blog every week, evidenced by Monday posts and the Hobby Hoedown Thursday event. I enjoy blogging and never seem to run out of ideas for articles.
• Invite authors to be guests on the J Q Rose blog and on the Girls Succeed blog.
• Never sign up for Twitter.
• Join the Insecure Writers Support Group who write blogs and share the posts with each other. Good source for writing information too at the IWSG Website.
• 
•  Participate in more blog hops and tours.  
• Join Google+. I read Guy Kawasaki's What the Plus! Google+ for the Rest of Us, a helpful book on what Google Plus is all about. I joined and post there. He says in the book it is primarily a photo and video site. It's a great way to share posts with readers.
• Open a Facebook Author Page. Because all the industry articles shout about the traffic on FB, I did open the FB page and I'm very pleased with the response and the stats that can be obtained from it. (Psst--Please like me at the J.Q. Rose Facebook page when you get a minute. If you are #100, I'll send you my latest short story!) 
• Set aside time after lunch Monday through Friday to write stories. No definite word count or time frame. Just write!

I am no guru on how to write, market, and sell books, but I am going to have the best adventure in discovering how to do it. This plan is my latest attempt. 

Do you have some tips for us on how you juggle all the responsibilities of being a published author? Please, share in a comment below. Let's help each other!!!

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This Week:

Halloween is this Thursday, so Hobby Hoedown will continue on Nov. 7. Have a safe and happy Halloween. I wrote about my Halloween Memories on the MuseItUp Publishing blog last week. When you read it, my memories may spark some of your own.

Here are the hobbyists in November's Hobby Hoedown event.

Nov.
7	Heather Greenis	curling
14	Margaret Mendel	photography
21	Jane Lebak	knitting
28	THANKSGIVING

All Month:

Breast Cancer Awareness month

Lavender Dreams

Ten short stories in this anthology to entertain you. More importantly, the authors and cover artist have generously donated these stories and their royalties to help raise funds for cancer research each year.

Authors:

MuseItUp Publishing Authors: Barbara Ehrentreu, Gloria Oren, Lisa J. Lickel, Nan D Arnold, Nathaniel Tower, Rosemary Gemmell, Suzannah Safi, Tanja Cilia, Vicki Batman

Buy Link at MuseItUp Publishing

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Christmas in October continues at Penny Estelle's blog. Win 50 prizes!

Christmas in October

Every Monday and Thursday during October,

six different authors will be spotlighting their books. 

Some lucky commenter is going to win over 50 different prizes. 

It could be you!  All you need to do is comment.

 The more you comment, the more chances you have of winning

all of these fabulous prizes.

Penny's blog. 

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!

New Mystery Cover Revealed for Coda to Murder

Huge THANK YOU to C.K. Volnek for this outstanding cover for my new mystery, Coda to Murder, to be released this Friday, February 22 by MuseItUp Publishing.  

Look for the virtual book tour to begin next week with prizes and fun as I visit fellow authors' blogs for interviews and discussions.

Please join me. See the side panel for the schedule!!

Scaredy Cat

If you're a scaredy cat, then don't read my mystery/light horror e-book, Sunshine Boulevard.  Here's a scaredy cat in this fun video. The music and the kitty are "purrrfect" together.

Hope this made you giggle.

Sunshine Boulevard is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Muse It Up Publishing and  major online booksellers.

Celebration Time--Win a Flamingo!

It's celebration time! My mystery/light horror story, Sunshine Boulevard, was released one year ago today, March 1. What an exciting time for me. 

Last year I experienced the joy of being published and the agony of wondering if anyone would like the story. The experience is similar to sending a daughter or son off to school. Mom is thrilled to have some time to herself, but worried how cruel the world will be to her "baby." 

I think many authors feel their stories are their children, so the publishing process is like giving birth. Today I am celebrating my book's first birthday! 

One benefit of publishing an e-book is it can have a chance to celebrate many birthdays. Booksellers will not remove it from the shelf after three months to make room for another book because there are infinite book shelves in cyberspace. 

In my blog introduction I wrote, "Come along with me on a new adventure into the world of writing, publishing and selling." What an adventure it has been. This past year I learned about the publishing world, honed my writing skills, and made so many new friends.  


I want to recognize and thank Lea Schizas, the editors, and cover artist Delilah Stephans at Muse It Up Publishing for shepherding me through this daunting, but exciting world of publishing. Karen McGrath, content editor on my book, is in my thoughts today. I'm sure she is red lining passive words and suggesting changes in the POV for stories written by Heaven's angels.

Muse It Up Publishing Bookstore

The generosity and support of editors and fellow authors overwhelmed me. That is not what one would expect in this world of thousands of books. Who knew instead of competitive attitudes and petty jealousies, the world of publishing includes so many thoughtful, kind people? Bringing my book to readers truly has been a journey, and I look forward to more challenges and adventures as I continue along this path.

I imagine you're wondering about winning a flamingo... Perhaps you are even asking, "Why a flamingo?" Take a look at the book cover for Sunshine Boulevard. Delilah Stephans, cover artist at Muse It Up Publishing, chose flamingos as the image to evoke Florida. Since my book takes place in the Sunshine State, I agreed it was the perfect design for the book cover. 


Notice the flamingos are in a heart shape? Delilah decided that too because the main characters are Jim and Gloria Hart, snowbirds from Michigan. 

Flamingos at Homosassa Springs State Park, Florida

Oh, yeah, about winning the flamingo. You KNOW you want one. But you probably don't want the hassle of feeding, watering, clean-up, and walking the bird. So I have the perfect solution.


Just enter a comment to be eligible to win a flamingo...that is a flamingo pen. Now if you are a writer or not, I know you will cherish this unique pen. You will be the envy of your neighborhood, school, co-workers, family, and friends. I mean really, who else is going to have this one-of-a-kind writing utensil? Maybe in your comment you can tell us how you plan to use it. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on Sunday, March 4. Look at the picture below to see the prize.

Can't you just see yourself penning a best selling novel, writing out a note card, or sending off a postcard using this delightful creature?

Thanks for stopping in for the celebration. Help yourself to the delicious flamingo cookies and fresh strawberry punch. (Strawberry Festival time in Florida now!) Please note the flamingo napkins and lovely floral centerpiece with the big plastic pink flamingo in the center. While you are munching the cookies, be sure to take time to watch the Sunshine Boulevard video.

Big thanks to Cool Text for the Celebration graphic.

Sunshine Boulevard is available at 

Muse It Up Publishing Bookstore

 Amazon 

bn.com 

as well as at many online booksellers.

You can find me in cyber space here on my J.Q.Rose Blog 

and at the J.Q. Rose Website 

J.Q. Rose Amazon Author Page 

Cupid Reads Tangled Love by Rosemary Morris

Tangled Love by Rosemary Morris

Richelda Shaw’s privileged life changes for the worse after James II’s daughter and son-in-law usurped his throne. When her parents die she is left penniless and alone, holding on to the oath she gave her father to reclaim their ancestral home.

Richelda entrusts her heart to the parson’s son Dudley, but he is not all that he seems. Her wealthy aunt saves her from poverty, and wishes to arrange her marriage to a dashing Viscount, whose care and attention make Richelda think and feel against her wishes.

However, as she travels a new path in London, she never forgets her oath. But hidden danger lurks and when she tries to find a legendary treasure trove she must also fight not only for her life but for true love.

Prologue

1693

Nine year-old Richelda Shaw sat on the floor in her nursery. She pulled a quilt pulled over her head to block out the thunder pealing outside the ancient manor house while an even fiercer storm raged deep within. Eyes closed, remained as motionless as a marble statue.

Elsie, her mother’s personal maid, removed the quilt from her head. ‘Stand up child, there’s nothing to be frightened of. Come, your father’s waiting for you.’

Richelda trembled. Until now Father’s short visits from France meant gifts and laughter. This one made Mother cry while servants spoke in hushed tones.

Followed by Elsie, Richelda hurried down broad oak stairs. For a moment, she paused to admire lilies of the valley in a Delft bowl.  Only yesterday, she picked the flowers to welcome Father home then arranged them with tender care. Now, the bowl stood on a chest, which stood beneath a pair of crossed broadswords hanging on the wall.

Elsie opened the great massive door of the great hall where Father stood to one side of an enormous hearth. Richelda hesitated. Her eyes searched for her mother before she walked across the floor, spread her skirts wide and knelt before him.

Father placed his right hand on her bent head. ‘Bless you, daughter, may God keep you safe.’ He smiled. ‘Stand up, child. Upon my word, sweetheart, your hair reminds me of a golden rose. How glad I am to see roses bloom in these troubled times.’

Richelda stood but dared not speak for she did not know him well.

 Putting an arm round her waist, he drew her to him. ‘Come, do not be nervous of your father, child. Tell me if you know King James II holds court in France while his daughter, Mary, and William, his son-in-law, rule after seizing his throne?’

‘Yes, Mother told me we are well rid of King James and his Papist wife,’ she piped up, proud of her knowledge.

With a sigh, Father lifted her onto his knee. ‘Richelda, I must follow His Majesty for I swore an oath of allegiance to him. Tell me, child, while King James lives how can I with honour swear allegiance to his disloyal daughter and her husband?’

Unable to think of a reply, she lowered her head breathing in his spicy perfume.

Father held her closer. ‘Your mother pleads with me to declare myself for William and Mary. She begs me not to return to France, but I am obliged to serve King James. Do you understand?’

As she nodded her cheek brushed against his velvet coat. ‘Yes, I understand, my tutor told me why many gentlemen will not serve the new king and queen.’

‘If you remain in England, you will be safe. Bellemont is part of your mother’s dowry so I doubt it will be confiscated.’

If she remained in England! Startled, she stared at him.

Smiling, he popped her onto her feet. ‘We shall ride. I have something to show you.’

*****

Before long, they drew rein on the brow of a hill. Father pointed at a manor house in the valley.  ‘Look at our ancestral home, Field House. The Roundheads confiscated it soon after the first King Charles’ execution.  Richelda, I promised my father to do all in my power to regain the property.’ Grey-faced, he pressed his hand to his chest. ‘Alas, I have failed to keep my oath,’ he wheezed.

Richelda not only yearned to help him keep his promise to her grandfather, she also yearned to find the gold and jewels legend said her buccaneer ancestor, Sir Nicholas, hid.

She waited for her father to breathe easy before she spoke. ‘If we found the treasure trove you could buy Field House.’

 ‘Ah, you believe Sir Nicholas did not give all his plunder to Good Queen Bess,’ he teased.

 ‘Elsie told me legend says he hid some of his booty in Field House.’  The thought of it excited her.  In his old age, when Sir Nicholas retired from seafaring, is it true that he put his ship’s figurehead, Lady Luck, in the great hall?’

‘Yes, for all I know she is still above a mighty fireplace carved with pomegranates, our family’s device.’

‘I would like to see it.’

 ‘One day, perhaps you will. Now, tell me if you know our family motto.’

‘Fortune favours the brave.’

‘Are you brave, my little lady? Will you swear on the Bible to do all in your power to regain Field House?’

To please him and excited by the possibility of discovering treasure she nodded.

Buy Links

Muse It Up Publishing 

Amazon US and Amazon UK Kindle Print
     Barnes and Noble
     Bookstrand - Mainstream
     Sony-e-reader
     Kobo
     Smashwords
     and online booksellers

New Releases from MuseItUp Publishing
    Tangled Love. 27th January 2012
    Sunday's Child June 2012
    False Pretences October2012

Author website www.rosemarymorris.co.uk
Blog http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com
 

Recipe: Amish Dressing from Author Roseanne Dowell

What's a Thanksgiving turkey dinner without dressing? Roseanne Dowell shares her dressing recipe. I must confess I usually go for the boxed kind. I made dressing for my in-laws one Thanksgiving. I still hear them crunching the dried up, tasteless stuff. I am going to be brave and try making Roseanne's.!! 


Roseanne is generously offering a copy of her book, A Second Chance, for a drawing. To enter, please send an email to rodow62 at yahoo dot com with "A Second Chance Contest" in the subject line. Thanks so much, Ro.

AMISH DRESSING
by Roseanne Dowell

 My mother in law used to make this every Thanksgiving.

18 slices bread (lightly toasted and cubed)(about 16 cups)
3 c celery (chopped) (sautéed in 1/2 c. butter)
¾ c. Small onion – sautéed with celery
2 c. potatoes (diced, cooked)
1/2 c. parsley (snipped)
1/2 c. carrots (chopped'- partly cooked)
Salt (to taste)
6 eggs
1 qt. chicken stock

Mix the above ingredients in order given. Add 6 well beaten eggs, 1 qt. chicken stock. Toss together lightly. Bake the dressing in a 9x13 well-buttered baking dish for 1 hour at 350 degrees 8-10 servings.

Half recipe

9. slices bread toasted and cubed (about 8 cups)
1/2 c. celery, finely cuts sautéed in butter
1./2 c. onion sautéed with celery
1 c. cooked diced potatoes (salted)
1/4 c. parsley (finely cut), I use dry
1/4 c. cooked, diced carrots
3 eggs, beaten
2 c. chicken stock

Instructions

Mix the above ingredients in order given. Add 3 well beaten eggs, 2 cups chicken stock. Toss together lightly. Bake the dressing in a 8x8 well-buttered baking dish for 1 hour at 350 degrees 8-10 servings.

Roseanne is sharing an excerpt from her romance/mystery book, Connection of the Minds.

Blurb:
Visions of someone’s life disturb Rebecca Brennan’s dreams. The dreams become dangerous and she’s determined who shares her mind. Her search leads her to a small town and puts her life in danger too.

Excerpt:

The next morning Rebecca, once again, sat in Bernard Clark’s office. Something about the heavy-set, middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair and scruffy beard reminded her of her grandfather. As usual, he listened to her story with a serious expression.

Was this really helping? How many hours had she spent sitting across from the mammoth mahogany desk, staring at the book-lined shelves behind him? And so far, she didn’t know anything more than before. Once more, that’s it. If nothing changed today, she’d quit coming. Maybe he was a quack, like her brother said. Rebecca took a breath and relaxed in the comfortable atmosphere, inhaled the smell of new leather that clung to the chair, and leaned back. Okay, maybe she did have a deep extra sensory perception connection with someone like Bernard said. The question was with whom. 

“I think you need to find this person,” Dr. Clark suggested. “It’s possible the physic mind is reaching out to you for help.”

"How?" That’s why she was here. If he didn’t help her figure it out, that was it. No more visits. Besides, it cost money, and who could afford it? If Allison hadn’t agreed to pay half, well that was another story. Dr. Bernard’s voice brought her back.

“Start with the dreams,” he suggested. “Tell me about them again.”

“I see scenes with emergency vehicles. Last night someone got shot," she told him for what seemed like the hundredth time. "I wonder if he has something to do with law enforcement or other emergency operations. I'd recognize the town if I ever saw it in person. It’s so vivid in my mind."

"Would you consider hypnotism?" Bernard fingered his beard. Intense blue eyes stared into hers. "Maybe your sub conscious mind will reveal the place, or person, or something to help you find it."

Leary about being hypnotized, but desperate to find who shared her mind, Rebecca agreed.

Under her hypnotic trance, she revealed the name of a shoe factory. A place called Booth’s Boots, and she repeated the name, Morris, over and over.

"It’s not much to go on," Rebecca told Allison later,” but it’s more than I knew before. Maybe Morris is my mind connection."

Encouraged by the information, she spent the better part of the day doing research. Using the Internet, Rebecca keyed in Booth’s Boots. Instantly, several websites popped up.

“Okay, let’s check out Boothsboots.com.”

A website, showing various types of boots from hunting to work boots, popped up.

“This is great. Let’s see what this says.” She clicked on News and Events. “No help there. Okay, let’s try Outlet Stores.” She almost jumped out of her chair. “There it is!” A factory, located in Morrisville, Ohio.

“Morrisville, could that explain the name Morris?” A prickly sensation went up her spine. She was getting close; she could feel it.

“Okay, let’s try this.” Rebecca didn’t care she was talking to herself. Besides, it wasn’t the first time. Keying Morrisville into the search engine, she held her breath, more determined than ever to find the town. If it took all day, then so be it.  A site popped up with several suggestions. “Okay, let’s see what this one is about.”  Morrisville.net homepage popped up, and further down the page, it showed–Pictures taken around Morrisville.

She held her breath and clicked on one. The first picture that came up was a log cabin. No help there. “Okay, how about this one? The Square. ” It looked familiar. Shivers ran up her spine. “Okay, how about Hotel Darby. Yes! I’ve seen this place.” One more. She drew in her breath and clicked on Victorian.

“Oh my God, that’s it! That’s the house.” She almost jumped out of her seat. The Queen Anne house in her dreams showed on the screen big as life.  Where is this place?  Clicking back to the homepage, she found it on the map. “Not far from Wattsburg; only a three hour drive from here. I have to go there.”

"Allie." Rebecca phoned her friend. "I found it, I searched the net, and I found it. Even pictures of the town. I recognized all the buildings right down to the house."

"Calm down…"

"I have to go there. It’s only a three hour drive." Not waiting for Allison’s response, Rebecca continued. "I have to find out who I’m connected with."

"What are you going to do?" Allison asked. “Walk into the little town and say hey, someone here is connected to my mind."

Rebecca laughed at her friend’s wit. “I have a plan. First I’ll go to the newspaper office and check for stories about someone being shot on Friday. Then I’ll try to find out where he is. I’m sure he’s alive.” Her intuition told her danger still lingered, but she couldn’t explain that to her friend.

"Maybe it’s a she," Allison said. "What makes you say he?"

"I don’t know." Rebecca paced the living room. "It’s just a feeling I have. It doesn’t matter; whoever it is, I have to go." Okay, it was a crazy scheme, but feelings like this couldn’t be ignored. “There’s no turning back now, Al, I have to find him.”

“Would you like me to go with you?”

 "I have to do this myself.”

“I don’t like this, Beck. You shouldn’t be doing this alone. What if it’s dangerous? I mean you see cop cars and stuff. What if he’s a criminal?”

Rebecca shivered. God, what if he was a criminal? No, something told her that wasn’t the case. Call it a gut feeling or intuition, whatever it was, Rebecca would bet her life he wasn’t a criminal.

“I’m sorry, Al. Thanks for the offer, but no. I have to do this on my own. I’ll be fine. Really.”

Connections of the Mind is available at Muse It Up Publishing, amazon.com and all major online booksellers.

You can find out more about Roseanne's books at www.roseannedowell.com

Check out her blog at http://roseannedowellauthor.blogspot.com

ConneCC

99cents Ebook Contest at Muse It Up Publishing

At Muse It Up Publishing Bookstore

Ever wanted to read an ebook and wished it was only 99cents? Well, here’s your chance to purchase your favorite Muse author’s book for only 99cents. Send an email to:

publisher AT museituppublishing DOT com

and make sure to include the following:

Your name

Your email

Title of ebook you’d love to buy for 99cents  and your name will go into the draw.

Fourteen winners will be drawn to purchase their favorite book for only 99cents.

Contest begins August 1^st

Deadline: August 14, 2011

Winnners will be revealed on August 20th

Go NOW to Muse It Up Publishing Bookstore to pick out your book and enter!

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/

40% Off Muse It Up Publishing Celebrates Canada Day and Fourth of July

To celebrate Canada Day and Fourth of July, 53 books are 40% off! at Muse It Up Publishing!.

What a celebration! Grab some for your beach reading now!

And Sunshine Boulevard is only $1.99. Order a copy for fun summer reading!