Πριν από πολλούς αιώνες σε μέρη όπως η Ιταλία και η Γαλλία οι άνθρωποι οι οποίοι παντρεύονταν, έστελναν στους επισκέπτες ένα μικρό δώρο που το αποκαλούσαν μπομπονιέρα.  Ωστόσο είναι πολύ σημαντικό να σημειωθεί ότι εκείνη την εποχή η μπομπονιέρα στην πραγματικότητα ήταν ένα κουτί που ήταν φτιαγμένο από κάτι σαν κρύσταλλο ή κάποια πολύτιμη πέτρα και στο εσωτερικό έβαζαν κάποια πράγματα που ήταν συνήθως φτιαγμένα από ζάχαρη.

Τούλινη Μπομπονιέρα από www.TypoLinea.com

Επομένως γιατί η μπομπονιέρα ήταν τόσο σημαντική; Λοιπόν επειδή εκείνη την εποχή ο γάμος θεωρείτο ότι έφερνε τύχη, η σκέψη ήταν ότι εάν η νύφη και ο γαμπρός θα έδιναν δώρα στους επισκέπτες, θα συμμετείχαν κατά κάποιο τρόπο στην τύχη τους. Τότε ο πιο κοινός τύπος  αυτών των δώρων, ήταν στην πραγματικότητα πέντε κομμάτια ζάχαρης με επικάλυψη αμυγδάλου.

Μπομπονιέρα με διακοσμητικά από Ευγενή Μέταλλα www.TypoLinea.com

Αυτά τα αμύγδαλα επρόκειτο να δώσουν καλή τύχη για πλούτο, ευτυχία, γονιμότητα, υγεία, καθώς και μεγάλη διάρκεια ζωής. Σε πολλούς γάμους αυτή η παράδοση διατηρείται ζωντανή ως μια από τις καλύτερες ιδέες για το σετ του γάμου. Σήμερα βέβαια υπάρχει μεγάλη ποικιλία από κουφέτα, που βρίσκονται σε όλα τα διαφορετικά είδη των χρωμάτων και γεύσεων.

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I ask that question since I've been contacted on various forums about the reason for shutting down my blog. First, let me say, no, I'm not shutting down the blog because I'm giving up!  I'm shutting it down due to time constraints and demands. Have I ever felt like giving up? Of course. What author hasn't experienced times of doubt and second-guessing? Those feelings come hardest during silent times when one wonders if what they've written is worth the effort.

One problem with social media is people go into it expecting a constant stream of positive interaction. Even when conflict happens, at least it's a dialogue. The most difficult are the days of silence where there is nothing, not a peep, no comment or indication one way or the other. It is then that doubt and questioning can occur.  I don't know of an author who hasn't experienced a period of uncertainty and introspection.

A seasoned author understands there is ebb and flow in the world of marketing and promotion. Does that make it easier? Yes and no. Yes, in that we learn to take advantage of those quiet times for more writing. No, in it doesn't totally eliminate those nagging doubts that want to creep in during quieter moments. However, knowledge does aid in being able to weather the silence for sure enough, a flurry of activity can happen fast!

The main objective of a marketing and promotion is to establish a steady flow of sales, not necessarily a steady stream of interaction. Yes, I know there are people who push for authors to make themselves available almost round-the clock. However, surf the web to discover how many known and established authors maintain a constant web presence. You'll be surprised at the fewer numbers than those who are trying to break-in and become established. Granted Twitter and smart-phones make it easy for short, massive "tweets", but I'm talking about updating blogs, webpages, author/reader social forums - those avenues that take serious amounts of time and almost daily up-keep.

There comes a point in an author's career where less is more. After 4 years of active participation online, 9 fiction books, 2 children's books, a study guide and coloring/activity book for the series, I've reached a saturation point. This can actually feel more overwhelming than silence, as the demand for attention grows troublesome and distracting. Choices must be made to accommodate as many venues and avenues as possible while maintaining a level of stability and creativity.

The amount of planning, time and energy needed to travel to conferences, fairs and convention is tremendous! Add to that speaking engagements and conducting workshops, and the scales begin to tip to being swamped.  Balance is required to keep one's life in order. I'm grateful for the fact that my husband works with me and is my traveling companion, otherwise, I hate to think what affect such a schedule would have on our marriage!

So, have you ever felt like giving up? If so, ask why? And how can I better manage what I'm doing to help stay on track? But also know, you're not alone. Those feelings are common.

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From the beginning, my reason for this blog was two-fold, to give tips on writing and share my personal experience in surviving the publishing world from both sides - traditional and indie. When addressing the more unpleasant aspects of the business, some might consider this a form of negativity as I do tend to be bluntly honest, but I consider it reality. Of course, there was always the danger of people reading into my words a tone and attitude that isn't there. I believe in the old saying, being forewarned is being forearmed or as Scripture says, no king goes to war before he counts the cost.

Many writers go into publishing with stars in their eyes, eager for the best. This is natural, as expectations are high, and they need to retain some of this eagerness to face the reality of what being a published authors means - hard work!

Just like with a marriage, newlyweds joyously look forward to a life together, but don't understand the reality of what that means.  A new author has the same joy and euphoria when first published.  The achievement and attention is relished and exhilarating.  Yet, just like newlyweds, the bloom of the initial jubilation and bliss wears off once reality sets in on how to deal with readers, reviews, publishers, promotion and all manner of business being an author entails. Does this mean the author now faces drudgery for his/her efforts? Of course not.  However, sometimes aspects of the business are unsavory and unpleasant to deal with, but can't be ignored for their potential impact.

Same as in a marriage, the author needs to find support and ways to handle the new demands and navigate the chaos of the publishing world. The eagerness that first launched the author must turn into resolution tempered by knowledge to stay the course. One should never lose the enthusiasm for writing or pleasure of interacting with readers, rather approach the business side with shrewdness and caution when charting a course of action in marketing and promotion.

This is why I chose to deal forthrightly and not sugar-coat hard issues, because that is the world the author must face.  The Internet can help to connect, but it can also feel solitary and isolated when sitting at the computer and staring at a screen. My hope in discussing the problems common to authors, is for some to find comfort in knowing they aren't alone.

Yet, just to be clear - I love being an author!!! It has enabled me to meet wonderful people online and offline. I especially love, love, love events! If I could, I would bottle all the people and conversations to take home and open on days I'm struggling, so I can be uplifted by blissful remembrances. I wish to heaven there wasn't all this crap to deal with on social media and the fluidity of the market. In fact, I've constantly said to my husband I want to totally unplug from online and simply concentrate on writing and events!

With that said, at the end of April, I will be closing down All-On Writing. The demands of writing, events and conducting workshops require my undivided attention. Like all things, my 4 year journey of blogging will be come to an end.  I thank all of those who have followed me, and wish you all the best in your writing endeavors.

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Publicity - at least for me is the hardest part about writing.  Give me a subject and I can write a complete story blindfolded, it comes so natural. Being groomed under the old way, a traditionally signed author didn't have to worry about promotion, which was handled by the publisher. Thus, it was a great shock to me when my publisher told me to hire a publicist and sent me an outline of my responsibility versus their responsibility. This happened after I signed, edited and Allon Book 1 was in pre-release. Naturally, I had to scramble in playing catch-up, having no clue of what to do. Not to mention the publicist cost $$$ for a few months of work, and I experienced no gain in sales for the promises and so-called expertise.

I learned the hard way that being able to handle marketing and promotion of one's book is essential. The means of getting the word out and the advise that goes with it, seems almost endless, and especially online. However, this also can become a black hole, a pit capable of swallowing any unprepared author. Publicity takes planning, time and hard work. Watch out for so-called marketing gurus and publicists, who are constantly vying for authors by promising great results. Not! Publicity can be done much cheaper by the author than by paying a stranger. And consider this, no one is more passionate about a project than the author.

A method most often used by newbie authors is the option in Kindle Select of 5 "free download days".  This is also one of the more nebulous avenues, for no matter how many 'free downloads' occur, it doesn't guarantee immediately results in sales or reviews. Some authors have found success, but they are the exception and not the rule when thousands upon thousands of books are offered for free.

I know owners of e-readers who boast of having hundreds to thousands of 'free books' on their devices. Consider this - even if an avid reader gets through 100 books a year, it will take up to a decade to read all the 'free books' - if they don't download any more.  For an author to become known, their book must be read and not just downloaded. Giving away unlimited e-books can cheapen and defeat the purpose. Be wise in how and when to do free giveaways. I prefer to run contests when I determine the number of books to be given away then risk innumerable and fruitless downloads.

There are various social media platforms touting how they can help authors reach readers. The sites encourage authors to engage, promote, and offer help to do so, but individual participants say differently. I learned this fact the hard way. During my participation on several well-know sites, I ran afoul of unwritten rules and told - in no uncertain terms - that authors are to be seen and not heard since these sites are reader driven. Authors engaging in conversation must not mention a taboo subject. What is taboo? Anything! According to these people, the group moderators make the rules and enforce them, even if it is contrary to the site's intent. I've been slammed simply for answering a direct question in a discussion, while promotion of any kind is forbidden! (Read my post Goodreads Now Another Amazon Tentacle)


The main thing an author must do, is to target their audience on and off-line in such a way as to be engaging but not overbearing. Sadly, this fine line is usually achieved after much frustration in attempting to navigate the choppy seas of social media. Publicity, marketing and promotion is not one-size-fits-all. You can't take something off the rack and find a perfect fit, while jumping in the deep end won't help if you don't know how to swim.  Test the waters to discover the best means for your particular book and do so in measured doses.  Where publicity is concerned, slow and steady is better for the long term than being a fast and furious flash in the pan.

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Wow! I just ran across an article in the New York Times by bestselling author Scott Turow title The Slow Death of the American Author,  in which he sums up everything I have been warning about on my blog for well over a year now!  Point-by-point he agrees with what I have said, and as head of The Authors Guild, he has been involved with lawsuits on behalf of protecting fellow authors, including mid-list authors like myself.

Yet one major point I was unaware of, and serves to underscore the importance of author's right, is this statement from the U.S. Constitution which instructs Congress “to promote the progress of Science and the useful Arts by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” Turow states, "The idea is that a diverse literary culture, created by authors whose livelihoods, and thus independence, can’t be threatened, is essential to democracy."

Based up this clause, what the Department of Justice did in suing the Big Five, would be Constitutionally illegal!  Inhibiting publishers and authors from pricing books for competition is an infringement on our Constitutionally protected rights!  Turow makes only a side mention of the action in the article. I wish he had said more on this issue, and hope The Authors Guild considers a move to challenge the DOJ even to the Supreme Court.

He also spoke to the erosion of authors' right in many areas. "It seems almost every player — publishers, search engines, libraries, pirates and even some scholars — is vying for position at authors’ expense." And  "That culture is now at risk. The value of copyrights is being quickly depreciated, a crisis that hits hardest not best-selling authors like me, who have benefited from most of the recent changes in bookselling, but new and so-called midlist writers."

Yes, he boldly spoke about piracy, a topic for which I was slammed and mocked on various forums, but a problem that is systemic and a real danger to authors. "The pirates would be a limited menace were it not for search engines that point users to these rogue sites with no fear of legal consequence, thanks to a provision inserted into the 1998 copyright laws."  This law talks about 'fair use'  but that is a far, far cry from making entire books available for a subscription price or free download. In 2004 Google joined "with five major libraries to scan and digitize millions of in-copyright books, without permission from authors." Litigation of this matter between Google and The Authors Guild is ongoing.

Even without pirate sites, libraries and Amazon are vying to lend and/or re-sell e-books without any royalties to the authors.  Turow argues that if Amazon wins the right to re-sell e-books, where will it stop?  Other smaller, independent bookstores or e-book publishers will want in on the gravy-train and make money on the backs of authors, who are once again cut out of the loop regarding their books!


It's become insane how little authors are valued within the system. We are the ones who create the products for people to enjoy, but we are the targets of every carpetbagger who wants to make a buck off our hard work!

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Thanks to the Midwest Homeschool Convention for another well-organized event, and kudos to Cincinnati for the top-notch facility, Duke Energy Center. Having attended conventions for the past 3 years in various states and large cities, I highly commend the maintenance staff, security personnel and concession workers at Duke Energy Center as some of the best around! With 535 vendors, hundreds of volunteers and almost 10,000 attendees they kept the place clean, secure and well-stocked while managing to do so with friendly smiles and pleasant attitudes.

As for the attendees, oh, what a joy to meet new people and be warmly welcomed back by those we met last year.  I conveyed to Briana everyone's good wishes and expressions of missing her. She really appreciated the comments and interest, yet also sorry she couldn't make it and participate as Shannan this year.

We didn't think anything could top last year's Cincinnati convention - we were wrong!  We topped sales and even SOLD OUT of our children's titles Necie and the Apples and Tristine's Dorgirith Adventure.  We're already planning for next year.

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Say it ain't so?!?  That is what I thought when I saw the recent announcement of Amazon buying Goodreads.  Now Amazon owns Shelfari and Goodreads.  Interesting to note that Goodreads stopped carrying Amazon Meta data because Amazon wanted too much for the privilege of doing so. Authors had to scramble to rescue our books from being lost on Goodreads due to the tension between them and Amazon. This, and other issues, made me leave Goodreads as an active participant after 3 years on the site. Still, learning those in a once adversarial relationship are now partnering, is disturbing. One more site gobbled up by Amazon.

There are also rumors of Amazon seeking to buy out Barnes and Noble so it can own physical bookstores.  Soon there may be no place left for readers and authors to interact that is completely disconnected from Amazon.

Years ago the Federal government broke up monopolies like "Ma Bell" into small, independent telephone companies to stop the spread of unfair labor and business practices. The DOJ went after Apple and the Big 5 for so-called price fixing, but is turning a blind eye to Amazon's expansion.

Don't be fooled by Amazon proclaiming this will help authors find new readers. Yes, being on Amazon helps with visibility, but from personal experience and knowledge of other authors' trials and tribulations, Amazon's services aren't author friendly. We are simply a means to a sale, while buying Goodreads is just another step to become a dominating force in the book and publishing world.

I've been reading the comments for and against this deal. Frankly, some of the 'for' comments concern me. A few wondered about Amazon integrating Goodreads with Kindle so one can see what a friend said about a certain passage like "Sally enjoyed this part when so-and-so took action against this person." Really? I want to enjoy the book for myself without a running commentary or spoiler! Reading may go from being a quite, relaxing solitary experience to a community event. That's not a world for me. I'd rather unplug from technology and cuddle in my favorite chair with a good book and a cup of hot tea on the side-table.

How Amazon will impact Goodreads has yet to be seen, but I can guarantee, Goodreads will not be the same place.

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For months rumors have been swirling about Barnes & Noble going under. There is no doubt the big chain bookstore company is struggling, but they are putting up a valiant effort against increasing odds to stay afloat.

That said, however, the latest news is a bit disturbing - giving away Nook e-readers with the purchase of a tablet.  The article in Forbes states the reason for this give away is the company didn't sell as many Nook e-readers as expected during the 2012 holiday season.  The article further likens this desperate move to Hewlett Packard just before giving up its e-reader.

I submit, B&N and HP are vastly different animals.  B&N is in the book business, while HP is in the technology business. B&N has stores with physical book stock; HP used its technology to test the waters of e-readers to expand into a new market, but ending up pulling back. This is comparing apples to oranges.

This situation reminds me of a nasty review left on Amazon by a guy angry with B&N for the possibility of going out of business but took it out me and one of my books. He complained that he didn't get what he paid for when purchasing my book. Yes, he did, he got exactly what he paid for my book. He chose to buy the Nook for his e-books. I didn't make him buy it, and I am not responsible for what happens to B&N. No author is responsible for the fate of a bookseller.

So why did he spew such anger at an author?  Because it's easy. This guy felt angry about the situation and wanted to do something. Barnes & Noble rejected his abusive review, which only served to increase his anger and sent him to Amazon to vent.

Still, his actions leads to the obvious question: what happens to the e-books if Nook goes off the market? Nothing - at least for the customers. It will hurt B&N, but Nook owners will still have their books. Thousands upon thousands of downloads won't somehow disappear overnight.

Buying an e-reader is a separate issue from purchasing an e-book. It's the same as buying a hardback or paperback from a defunct bookstore. The reader still has the book, only they can't go back to that bookstore for more purchases. Thus heaping harm upon an innocent author is irresponsible. It is misdirected anger done solely for the purpose of venting.

In the wider picture, e-readers are going through the same challenges faced by other technologies such as VHS vs. Beta. For years, the competing systems vied for supremacy until a new comer came on the scene and won - DVDs.  The best solution is for the 2 dominate companies - Amazon and Apple - to join forces and created 1 e-reader capable of all formats. Yeah, right! I hear you saying. True, I won't hold my breath either. However, there are Apps for reading various e-book formats, so Nook versions can be read on other devices!

If Nook is eventually taken off the market, I can just about guarantee some company will make an app available to transfer the e-books off the device to be placed onto another device. Nook books will not go obsolete!

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Lately, I've been inundated with emails from authors announcing their latest book release for purchase, asking for reviews or endorsements. Some of these emails include graphic posters or ads related to the book. The vast majority of these are cold emails, in which I don't know the author. This is just as annoying as the telemarketers continuously calling. We've all dealt with them, and even joined the Do Not Call List in an attempt to stop the harassment.

While the Internet and text messaging makes it easy to reach numerous people, etiquette and manners have dropped by the wayside. Being an author isn't just about selling, it's about presentation as a professional. Thus it should be approached with an appropriate business mentality. Here are some helpful tips:

DON'T: Email an author you don't know simply to buy your book, ask for a review or endorsement.

DO: Send an introductory email to the author to start a dialogue on common ground rather than jumping straight to promotion or request. State if there is a connection - such as a forum, and how you obtained the author's email address.

DON'T:  Hype your book or idea by using overly exaggerated catch-phrases. You can't impress a fellow author with such ballyhoo - we know how the market works.

DO:  Use professional language and courtesy, but be straightforward rather than clever.

DON'T: Send graphic ads, posters, excerpts, etc. either in the body of the email or as an attachment.

DO: Only send want the author is willing to accept, if they respond, and never exceed it.

DON'T:  Send anything until you know your audience. In other words, if the author writes fantasy, don't send them a blurb on a murder mystery complete with a bloody poster ad.

DO:  When considering authors to approach, do so in your same genre, and do your research about the author and his/her books. You risk losing much by going outside your genre.

DON'T: Place any author on an email mailing list without permission.

DO: If the above is violated, provide a way for someone to unsubscribe to the email.

DON'T: Follow-up a cold email with another asking, Have you read my book yet? What do you think? If the author didn't answer the initial email, provoking them further won't help.

DO: Remove a non-responding author from your marketing list.

DON'T: Ask for an endorsement from an established author you have no relationship with. The author is staking his/her hard-earned reputation by placing their name on another individual's work. This is not done lightly, so refrain from this request.

DO: Again, form a relationship, and if at a later date, the author volunteers an endorsement - that is a great feather in one's cap.

DON'T: Request a review unless you know for certain the author does reviews, either by way of dialogue with the author or stated on the author's blog.

DO: Follow the same step as earlier by sending a query email, stating your request, why making contact, etc. The author maybe interested by doesn't have the time.

I realize there are many so-called marketing experts telling authors to blitz everyone they know. But more often than not - that strategy backfires.  While one is eager to become known, the last thing to do, is make established authors angry with unwanted emails, and gain a reputation for being nothing more than a pushy and irksome spammer.

Just because an established author accepts a friend request on Facebook, LinkedIn or other forum, doesn't mean they are open to all contact outside those forums.  After making contact and starting a dialogue, learn if the author even does book reviews. I don't do reviews, and have stated this on all sites I participate in regularly, but I constantly reject cold emails requesting one. I write down those names, so don't think an author doesn't keep track of annoyances.

If one wants to be taken seriously as an author, curb the eagerness in favor of professionalism, and understand, it takes time to become established.

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 The answer to the question concerning an author's validation can vary from making bestseller lists, to oodles of 5 star reviews to numerous awards and recognition. But what does that really get an author, other than bragging rights?  Certainly these are useful for marketing, but to whom is one marketing? The big wigs of another bestseller list? Those who run a prestigious contest to put a feather in the cap?  Soliciting more reviews to increase the amount on Amazon?

If all an author does is chase after accolades of lists, contests and reviews they could be ignoring the most important part of writing their novel to begin with - the audience! Instead, the author needs to ask what the audience really want?  The answer is always the same - a good story!

Ask any ordinary author why they wrote a book and the answer is usually the same - to tell a story for others to read.  There is the key word read! Books are written to be read. The number of people will vary since competition is stiff for attention. However, the pressure to follow the so-called path to the top and increase readership by gaining reviews, awards, and such is often froth with potholes and detours that can lead authors from the true objective.  Instead, it becomes a race to get more reviews than a certain author. To see one's book climb higher than a name author in the same genre.  Or to add another award to the list posted on the website.

Authors who buy into the mentality of how all these steps will attract readers, rush about grabbing at the latest and greatest marketing strategies. In this chaos of keeping up with the author Joneses, the audience becomes lost. I submit, there is a more effective way to get a book read - go to your audience!  By-pass the usual path and go straight for your target readers.

When an author loses sight of the primary objective, it is time to step back and take a hard look at what is being accomplished.  It is also time to re-evaluate the meanings of validation and success. Is it the number of reviews amassed, accolades awarded or is it the email from a satisfied reader telling how the book touched his/her life?  Where exactly does validation come from?

For me, the most satisfying validation as a writer is the reaction of the kids and parents who buy and read my books. Whether this happens face-to-face at events, via email or phone call, I know I've hit the target I aimed at. Accolades of reviews and awards are nice, but the reader is the main prize.

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 As a kid, I looked forward to St. Patrick's Day, and the big family and community celebrations, including the New York St. Paddy's Day Parade! Being Irish on my father's side, St. Patrick's Day ranked up there with Easter and Christmas.  Yet, there was a curious aspect to the day that always made me stand out as a kid - I didn't wear green! Yes, I know - how can an Irish lass with the name Shawn Owens, (my maiden name) not wear green? Simple - I'm Protestant.

That answer probably confused most of you, and are left wondering what religion has to do with it? A lot!! Although the Irish Catholic's claim Patrick, he is embraced by all the Irish for his selfless works. Thus Catholics and Protestants alike celebrate Patrick's life with much gusto!

The Irish Flag consists of 3 colored stripes, green, white and orange.  Those colors are not random choices. Green is not used because Ireland is called the "Emerald Isle" rather is the color of Irish Catholics. Yes, some argue the Catholics chose the green due to the lush shades that dot the Irish landscape, but over the centuries it became well acquainted with the conflict between Catholics and Protestants.

The orange stripe acknowledges the Protestant "Orangemen" for their support of William of Orange and the victory at the Battle of Boyne over the disposed King James.  James was a fanatical Catholic, who used his faith to alienate his subjects, which resulting in William invading England at the request of Parliament for aid.  The white stripe was later inserted between the green and orange to show peace finally reached between the warring religions.

Fast forward to my childhood.  My paternal grandmother was adamant that we didn't we a speck of green on St. Patrick's Day.  Considering I was born and raised in New York, where the Irish reside in great numbers, that was no easy feat. Each year, on the day when everyone in the country claims to be Irish and goes crazy with the green, I fielded questions and comments from friends and classmates who knew I was of Irish heritage about why was I wearing orange?

Sometimes it was difficult, feeling left out on such a great Irish day by not wearing green. Other times, I felt proud to stand up for my family heritage. Of course, those feelings depended upon the meanness of the kids at school.  But once I was with family or at the parade, color didn't matter, rather the celebration.

Even today, I passed the knowledge to my daughter about the orange and green. Sadly, Nashville doesn't know how to properly celebrate St. Patrick's Day like other cities where the Irish population is greater. Southerners try, but not many can make the traditional corned beef and cabbage to stack up to my grandma.  In fact, I've only eaten at one pub/restaurant where the taste even came close - Seanachie's Irish' Pub, and it shut down. It was so reminiscent, I pictured myself sitting at Grandma's dinning room table off Jamaica Avenue in Queens. Aw, well, at least I know how to make Grandma's cabbage and boiled potatoes.

Sásta ú. Lá Pádraig

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 I've been warning for several years about the abusive mentality that has taken over reviews, and received great criticism and backlash. Well, now publishers are taking notice.

According to the article Publishers Are Reshaping Themselves  Wiley and Hyperion are taking steps to move "away from publishing books for which their primary revenue dependence would be on bookstores and their primary marketing dependence on the book review media". (Emphasis added)

The article further states "Both Hyperion and Wiley are showing us what the publisher of the near future is going to look like. They will be more focused."  and "They will be less dependent on the trade bookstore and book review trade networks."  This would include blog tours, as some publishers have encouraged their authors to participate in a blog tour, or hired publicists to do so in hopes of getting as many reviews as possible. This I know firsthand, as that is what my publisher, publicist and agent told me I needed to do for Allon Book 1, get gobs of reviews.

Yes, this will begin with 'backlist' titles but it reaches to the core of what the publishers will do. "It is now necessary for publishers to communicate directly with consumer audiences to be effective marketers. At the same time, it is now possible for publishers to do the core work of reaching the trade without big fixed overheads. The combination of those two things will motivate changes in how publishers view the value of both their backlists and their publishing programs. What Wiley and Hyperion have done shows what kind of conclusions publishing today allows them to come to."

I understand bloggers and reviewers won't like this post as well - but don't kill the messenger! The entire system of relying on reviews for book sales had grown into a monster of abuse, misuse and mistreatment from all sides. I've noticed a steady decline in civility in reviews, especially on Amazon. Since the system can't - or won't - fix itself, steps must be taken to change the situation. Wiley and Hyperion are responding in ways dictated by the current environment to reshape their publishing from the old ways, into a way to compete in today's market. Just like with the music industry, the publishing industry must find ways to stay viable. To do that, something has to give, and somethings have to go.

Bookstores have been on the decline for years, and pushed to brink by the rapid expansion of e-readers.  Even Barnes & Noble is on the verge of revamping to stay alive.  These steps should be of no surprise to those keeping close tabs on the market, and the ways in which reviews have been hijacked  by anyone and everyone with access to the internet.  What once was a valid means to utilize for marketing and promotional purposes has denigrated into battles between reviewers, authors, readers, publishers. It's become divisive instead of helpful.

Perhaps some good can come out of this, and those who are truly inclined to give helpful reviews will see this as a wake-up call and begin to weed out those who only offer abuse.

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(2012 - Midwest Homeschool Convention, Cincinnati, OH. My daughter dressed at Shannan)


This week my 2013 event season begins with a trip to Evansville, Indiana and the Southwest Indiana Home Educators Convention, March 15-16.

One of the most talked about topics between authors on various forums is how to reach a wider audience and strategies for online promotion. Well, as most know who follow my blog, I'm all for meeting real people than planning any online blitzes.

In fact, I encourage authors to get out and meet people by starting in their communities. Yes, online can reach a 'wider' audience, but personal interaction generates a satisfaction based upon real relationships that online promoting can't replicate.

Some will argue that offering 'free' Kindle downloads get thousands of copies out to readers. Really? And how many of those people will actually read the book? Or will it sit on the Kindle along with the hundreds of other 'free' downloaded e-books? Just because "X" amount of people download a book, doesn't mean they are actually interested. Studies have shown that many people just download free e-books because they can. A title or cover might catch their eye and 'click' - it's on the Kindle.

Contrast that to events, where real people buy a book based upon real interest generated from interacting with the author. I sign all my books, so it becomes more personal. Whereas I might not sell 'thousands' at an event, the ones I sell, I know are going to be read and not sit on a shelf. I've had kids come back a few hours later to tell me how far they're read, or the parents return the following day of the event to buy the next book(s) because the child finished the first book in a day.

After 3 years of doing events, I'm established and more than half my sales are either repeat buyers (fans) or initiated by people who heard of me from a friend or relative.  Yes! The all important word-of-mouth.  For example, the last event of 2012, I spoke to families from Alaska and Hawaii who heard of my books from family members that met me at other events.  Just to let you know, I've only attended events in Tennessee, Georgia and Ohio.  It won't be until this year that I branch out to Indiana, Pennsylvania and Nebraska. I try to keep the events within driving distance to save on cost of shipping books and other expenses.

Of course, various online promotions have their place in the world of marketing, and I realize not every author is capable of doing events for one reason or another. However, those authors who can, should! For me, no amount of 5 star reviews on Amazon or raving blog post, can measure up to the smile from a child when I hand them a signed book. Or a grateful parent because my book captured their child in such a way, he/she is now reading.

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Some writers are so busy concentrating on the main characters that they forget to populate the story with a strong supporting cast. First person is the most common POV where secondary characters are minimized. If not handled aptly, 1st Person can become vary narrow in scope, almost narcissistic. The writer is focused on dealing with the protagonist’s motivation, thoughts and action that secondary characters almost vanish off the page.

Secondary characters are a writer’s most useful tool in portraying major plot points, or highlighting the protagonist’s faults or strengths. Whether the characters are for or against the protagonists, they can become a tremendous sounding board or voice for the writer to speak in ways not available with the established arch of the protagonist.  In real life, people don't operate in a vacuum, so neither should the main characters of a story. Even a hero needs help now and again.

Supporting characters can also bring to life the richness of the world being portrayed, and provide authenticity to the story. Multi-faceted dimension can be created by way of these characters. For example, in the classic Les Miserables, Victor Hugo created memorable secondary characters. Fantine became the catalyst for Jean Valjean and a symbol of society’s injustice.  Eponine, who for a secret love, willingly sacrifices everything, including her life, to protect her love. Through these two women, (and, yes, others) Hugo shows different sides of the French Revolution that swirls around the primary characters Valjean and Javert. Hugo creates a complex story of multiple layers displayed through the various lives of the supporting cast.

Just like Les Miserables, the supporting cast of one's story must always touch the main characters in some way, whether by direct interaction or indirect impact of their actions upon the situation. In other words, secondary characters shouldn't be just window dressing, but a part of the set purpose of the storyline.

A writer should never under estimate the power of good, strong secondary characters.

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Everyone! That might sound like a simplistic answer, but it’s true. Yes, I come from the generation that watch the Cartwrights always win on Bonanza and Marshall Dillon get his man on Gunsmoke. So? It was the integrity and grit of the individuals that kept us watching and hoping.

Now, I’m not talking perfection, knight in shining armor Sir Galahad type, though a bit of that from time to time is a nice change of pace. I’m talking heroes who rise above circumstances or stand for something. Of course this type of belief is viewed today as naïve and often takes a backseat to the anti-heroes persona.  But guess what? Even those who read and write using anti-heroes, talk about some noble quality of the characters and how they won or proved to be right. It is a need within the human psyche to grab onto something outside of ourselves to pull us up and lift us out of the mundane or ease our troubled minds.

Choosing a hero for a novel is critical. He must have flaws and good quality for the reader to connect with yet fit within the story setting. Meaning, a 17th century man should not have 21st century morals or thought patterns. He must act within the parameters of his environment but enough humanity to be real for today’s readers.

With an ensemble cast in The Huguenot Sword, I strive to create three distinct heroes among the men making up the rogue Protestant group: Arsène Lamonreaux, the roguish devil may-care, Philipe Bourdias, the stalwart, unflappable friend, and Dominic Charbonier, the nobleman torn between family and faith. All have strengths, all have weakness and all must make difficult choices. Do these sound like classic archetype? Of course - and here’s why.

The novels that survived centuries did so because they contain heroes that transcend time and societal changes due to personal attributes and themes. For example: How many re-tellings of Robin Hood have captivated generations?  What about Don Quixote?  Or even Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice? The first is the wrongly accused noble turned outlaw in Robin of Locksley, the dreamer and romantic knight-errant in Don Quixote, and finally the arrogant and prideful Mr. Darcy of Pemberly.  All these touch the heart, emotions, hopes and aspirations in some way.


Basic human nature doesn’t change, nor do the challenges and struggles of life. A good hero must make the reader feel he - and thus they - are lifted beyond the troubles, having learned and conquered. In short, the hero needs to symbolize hope, even when he fails.  This is why such heroes like Robin Hood and others defy time and inspire generations – hope. It is a theme I place in all my books. Perhaps that’s old fashion, but something the older things still work.

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When researching history for any project, rarely will one find a cut-and-dry individual, a real person who falls perfectly into the category of hero or villain. People are too complex, too contradictory to be pigeoned-holed. However, the researcher must also know and understand that recorded history is subjective and changing.

Most records of history are penned by the victor or established government of the time, thus come with preconceived ideas of what facts, events or incidents to highlight. Considering governments of history consisted of kings and emperors, the historian could be in fear of life and limb if not properly highlighting the triumphs of the monarch over failures and debasing those opposed to the reign. Finding an unbiased historian is unusual, to say the least. Therefore, the key to good, diligent research is to find a consensus among various resources. 

Yes, the Internet can be helpful, but not all information is true or accurate. Take Wikipedia for example. Anyone can access an entry and edit it, either deleting or adding what they want to say. There is no double-check about accuracy. In fact, Wikipedia has faced numerous lawsuits due to erroneous information about living individuals. The Internet has also produced critics and scholars in every field imaginable. The vast majority don't have degrees, they simply slap up posts and declare themselves to be experts. Frankly, if I find something on the internet, I double and triple-check it against books I own.

Confession time - I have 4 bookcases and my office closet dedicated to books. Only three shelves contain fiction, the rest are non-fiction, biographies, maps (including one of 17th century Paris), reference and commentaries. Some books date back to the early 1800s. I can hear some of you gasping to learn that a fiction author isn't loaded down with fiction books. Well, all writing consists of research, so the more resources, the more authentic the feel. I've always contended that the closer to the actual events one can find a book, the better for discovering facts - or at least juicy tidbits and interesting details.

The amount of due diligence in research depends upon the individual's time and access to available resources. Information available in the U.S. is different than say England or France. Not all writers can travel to places included in their books. I was fortunate to visit Scotland where I ran across the incident of Glencoe. While there doing research on my husband's clan- Lamont, I included finding resources about Glencoe.

That being said, facts about history are never concrete and continues to change. Take for example the latest discovery of Richard III's remain under a parking lot! Suddenly modern science becomes involved with DNA testing and other sophisticated technology to learn more about Richard, his life and death than was previously known. Does that negate everything known about Richard before? Hardly, it only adds to the understanding.

Also, it can't be overlooked that authors bring their own concepts of right and wrong, opinions and convictions to their books. In telling a story there must be at least two opposing sides to create tension and conflict. Thus an author chooses which role to assign to historical figures, and usually based upon what facts and roles those figures played in the events portrayed. The complexity of the person in reality, must be simplified for fiction. How many readers will wade through page after page of a historical person's character and propensities without getting frustrated and annoyed? If the portrayal is accurate to the person's true intent and actions, that is what should be focused upon.

It's amazing how some people will applaud an author for writing an alternative history story, where facts are turned on their head or totally ignored, yet tear apart another author who seeks to be accurate in portraying what actually happened. Suddenly facts become a source of angry disputes and attacks, whereas before facts didn't matter only the story counted.  Therein lies the main objective of any author - the story!  Yes, authenticity is sought through research, but story is paramount in good fiction.

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Apparently, some English people can't accept the fact that William of Orange deposed James II of England. In fact, they become quiet hostile in response to anyone who uses the word, as I did in a recent guest post. So let's examine the meaning of the "English" word depose: to remove from office suddenly or forcefully.  Remember that definition as I expound upon how William did this to James.

James II was a devote Catholic to the point of mania. In fact, many in Parliament questioned his sanity due to his fanaticism, and his act of removing his eldest daughter Mary from succession. She was married to William of Orange, a well-known defender of the Protestant faith.  When James pushed them too far, Parliament sent to William for aid in dealing with James. Being involved in war with France, William didn't immediately agree. What changed William's mind was when James sent ships to aid France against their battle with William.

By late 1688, William gathered a force to invade England consisting of 11,000 foot soldiers and 4,000 horse soldiers.  He landed in Portsmouth in November and was greeted by Members of Parliament, who cheered his arrival.  Officers of the English army defected to William and joined in the march from Portsmouth to London.

Hearing of William's arrival, James chose to fled rather than fight. The king was captured in Kent and brought back to London, but he managed to escape in December 1688. While doing so, James tossed the Great Seal of the Realm into the Thames. He safely reached Ireland.

When William convened Parliament to determine what to do about James, Parliament declared that by his own actions of throwing away the Great Seal that James abdicated and the throne was vacant. ** This is important to note - Parliament declared James to have abdicated, there is no formal record of James willingly abdicating the throne to William. This is where it gets sticky for some English people when they hear the word depose.  But look at the events, William came with troops at his back and chased James off. James' removal from the throne happened suddenly and forcefully thus fulfilling the definition of depose.

Now, further proof that James didn't willingly abdicate.  When he reached Ireland, James raised an army with the intent of returning to England with arms to take back his throne. However, he met William's forces at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland and was soundly defeated.  Not wanting to admit to failure, James turned his attention to the loyal Catholic clans of Scotland. William sought to out maneuver James by bringing the clans into allegiance with him. Thus starts all the events that lead to the fateful outcome of Glencoe.

Once William succeeded in Scotland, James' hope of rallying the clans vanished. He retired to France, but he never willingly accepted what happened. Some of James' loyal English supporters even tried to restore him to the throne by attempting to assassinate William in 1696. This backfired and only made James less popular in England. Until the day of his death, James kept trying to find a way to regain the throne.

Thus, I maintain that by action and definition, William deposed James.

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Sneak peek at the initial cover design of Allon Book 7 - Dangerous Deception. It is scheduled for June 2013 release.


After receiving an invitation from the reclusive country of Natan to meet the new Emperor, King Tyrone entrusts Nigel, Mirit and Lord Allard as royal envoys. Matters become complicated when a defiant twelve-year-old Titus is discovered to have stowed away, to the great anger of his father Tyrone. Met by Admiral Kentashi for final escort to Natan, the group makes a hasty decision to conceal certain identities in hopes of avoiding insult and trouble. But what awaits in Natan, plunges them into a mystery surrounding the unnatural events of their arrival and the triggering of a civil war. It becomes a life and death struggle to escape Natan, for not all is as it seems.

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Ever have a hard time deciding upon how to end a story?  You're not alone. Many authors suffer from endingitis, a deep-seeded fear of the end. It can manifest itself in anxiety, sleeplessness, rewrites, constant pacing or nail biting, all in an effort to deal with the end. This is something we must all face, but to varying degrees of acceptance.

Most authors want to tie-up loose ends, wrap it all up in a nice, neat package. Unfortunately, that isn't always possible, thus causing the most anxiety. The happy ending cure is often sought by authors to remedy the uneasiness, but readers can tell if this is a placebo or the real deal. It is best to be realistic during treatment of the narrative rather than force the issue.

When dealing with true stories and actual events, the authenticity remedy is prescribed. This means allowing the account to run its course until the dilemma is resolved. There is no need to inoculate the reader against the more unpleasant facts, but neither to inundate them with unnecessary details to cause discomfort.

Dealing with the cliff-hanger aspect of endingitis, measured doses of satisfaction should be administered to counter-act the bitter aftertaste associated with cliff-hanger. This usually helps the reader to accept the unsolved aspects of the conclusion.

Endingitis isn't something for an author to panic over, rather embrace since there is a remedy for each particular form of the fear. The answer is as easy as asking a known professional or colleague. So next time endingitis begins to swell, seek immediate advice and don't wait and suffer needlessly.

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Okay, after the 2 posts about Amazon, MacMillian and the fluctuating state of the industry, let's get back to writing . . .

Just like the 3 "Rs" in learning there are 3 "Cs" in writing:  Crisis, Climax and Conclusion. The last one - conclusion - is obvious, but the crisis and climax are often confused. I've heard some novice writers complain about not wanting the crisis to climax too soon or hurt the conclusion.

To some extent they are correct in not wanting to reach the climax too soon and start the resolution to the conclusion, but that doesn't necessarily mean the crisis happens at the same time as the climax.

Generally, the crisis is consider a catalyst, a vehicle to drive the story. Your protagonist is going along fine then BAM! a crisis happens that challenges or changes their world.  Just like in real life, crisis in fiction can have peaks and valleys before the "crisis point" occurs. This is the point at which a critical decision or event triggers the climax of the tension and signals the beginning of the resolution.

Sometimes the climb to the crisis is called "rising action" and the resolution "falling action", as demonstrated by the chart. This can also be called Freytag's Pyramid of storytelling- simplistic, but familiar.

Of course, nothing is ever simple, and after the climax things can happen fast, the pace of story picks up in coming to a resolution and eventually the conclusion.  In fact, more complex stories can have multiple crisis to increase the tension before the climax, as illustrated below.

Notice how each also differ in the speed of resolution. The first chart shows equal sides, while the second charts drops off abruptly from the climax to the conclusion. The individual story will determine the pace on both sides of the climax.

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My last post generated a lot of comments on other groups I'm involved. Comments included words like scary, unthinkable, wrong or just plain wow! by the news. So let's explore the DOJ's side of the argument about how consumers will benefit.

Before any such benefit can happen, the first step is the refund or vouchers for those who supposedly overpaid. But how do they judge overpaying? What baseline price will be used? The answer - Amazon's price. The highest price on Amazon for an e-book is $9.99. Using that formula the difference will be refunded (or voucher) for either $3 for $12.99 books or $5 for $14.99 books. Sounds great? Sure, who wouldn't want a $3 to $5 refund in today's economy.  The catch - such a refund will hurt the most vulnerable and unheard victim of this so-called price fixing settlement - authors! Yes, the silent overlooked people who wrote the books!

Our royalties are based upon the net of the retail price. Lowering the price or giving massive refunds and the loser in the whole debacle is the author!  Amazon, Apple and the big publishers can weather this in the long term, but basing prices on one standard is detrimental to the struggling author.  The lion's share of a book's retail price is split between the retailer and publisher, and based upon what remains, the author receives his/her royalty. Most authors only make around $1-$2 on a $14.99 paperback book depending upon the percentage, of which the average is 12-15%.

Now take an e-book price and apply the same principle. Some publishers do offer higher percentage on e-books, but the lower price offsets that increase. An author is lucky to make $1 on each $9.99 e-book sold. If the e-book goes on sale for 99cents - the author makes a whopping 30 cents!

So while the DOJ is thumping itself on the back for acting on behalf of the consumer in breaking up an alleged act of collusion, the authors are the silent ones who suffer.  We never had an independent voice in this lawsuit. However, MacMillian, the other publishers and Apple acted on behalf of their business, which includes authors - to fight against Amazon's cutthroat pricing. Whatever profit MacMillian and the others make, becomes advances for new authors and royalties for those established. Now that is threatened.

Being both traditional and self, it has been disheartening to watch this circus knowing authors have been left out! After all, these books are the result of our hard work! The DOJ and Amazon have bandied about their rhetoric as if it doesn't hurt anyone but the consumer. WRONG!!!! The voices of authors have been silenced by this, and our bottom line cut even further. In the end, the only one who really benefits is Amazon, as they now control the majority of book pricing.

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Wow! A blow against publishers. Now, most know I'm both traditional and self-published, so I'm not totally on the side of the gate-keepers. However, this latest capitulation is troubling.

Here's the gist of the lawsuit as told in the New York Times article. 

In a suit filed last April, the Justice Department accused five major publishers and Apple of conspiring in e-mails and over lavish dinners to set the price of e-books at an artificially high level. The publishers had moved from a wholesale pricing model, which allowed retailers to charge what they wanted, to a system that allowed publishers to begin setting their own e-book prices, a model known as “agency pricing.”

The defendants said they were trying to protect themselves from Amazon, which was pricing e-books books below their actual cost, putting financial pressure on the publishers that they said would drive them out of business over time.

The “two-year cooling-off period” mentioned in the article means that MacMillian and others publishers can’t restrict retailers like Amazon from setting e-book prices. In other words, they no longer have control over what their e-books sell for.  Amazon can now determine what the product's price will be.

This deal is not good for anyone, and here's why:  At the heart of business is the freedom to set prices for products.  Yes, retailers can and do offer sales on merchandise they purchase at whole sale prices. However, a business forced to give up the right to set their prices is hazardous to all.

The problem with Amazon, as discussed before, is they state in their terms that they are free to change the terms anytime they want. So Amazon is free to do what they want with prices for the next 2 years while the publishers aren't.

Macmillan will immediately lift restrictions it has imposed on discounting and other promotions by e-book retailers and will be prohibited until December 2014 from entering into new agreements with similar restrictions. The publisher must also provide the government advance notification to the of any e-book ventures it plans to undertake jointly with other publishers.

Take note of the bold underlined portion from the NYT article. Notify the government!!

According to these restrictions, the one who most benefits is Amazon. Of course, the DOJ claims consumers are the ultimate beneficiary of sales and lower prices. But what about healthy competition if MacMillion and the other publishers must report to the government?  Amazon is already controlling indie authors.  With KDP Select, Amazon requires participating authors to sell exclusively on Kindle - and not even the author's own website! The big publishing houses where the last line of defense in the pricing war - a healthy battle in my mind to generate competition in our supposed "free-market" society. Only Apple is left for the DOJ to corral.

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One of the topics that inevitably comes up when discussing reviews is how authors should take away tips from all reviews to help improve on their writing. Really? How, if comments are all over the map, and some have nothing to do with writing?  Reviews are subjective, and more often than people what to admit, their opinions are influenced by personal viewpoints, likes, dislikes and experiences.

Case in point: several reviews of my books include people going on a rant about not being able to share my Nook e-book if Barnes & Noble goes out of business. They claim not getting what they paid for. Oh? You paid for my book, and that's what you got. Why equate it with B&N corporate trouble? I have no control over what happens to the company.

For another example: reviews slamming a book due to my personal belief as a Christian. I don't hide the fact I'm Christian on any social media site, not on my books or website. Since my personal faith won't change, how I write won't change for that is who I am.

Now, add on top of these examples the use of sock puppets, paid reviews and swarming books to punish the writer.

But wait! These examples are just from Amazon and Barnes & Noble and industry news. In 2006 there were a estimated 35 million blogs on the internet. By 2012 over 173 million! Everyone out there has an opinion. Believe me, as author I don't have the time or desire to search out all reviews of my books across a seemingly endless blogosphere to find gems of constructive criticism.

With all that is out there, authors must carefully weigh what to take and what not to take away from reviews we become aware of. Even if an author chooses to heed some of the more well-thought out constructive advise, attempting to conform to such varied perspectives is not the way to improving one's writing.

Be respectful, even to those who are less than kind in expressing their opinions, but pursue proven techniques to learn the craft. Fact based study and not opinions will improve one's writing.

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Over the last few months the amount of abuse reported regarding book reviews is staggering, and discouraging for both readers and authors. The abuse is coming for almost every direction - authors, readers, people with an agenda and an ax to grind, mean acts of revenge or because they can.  The result of these abuses is making many question the validity and value of reviews as I discussed in my post Amazon Reviews Becoming Irrelevant?  This puts both authors who do not participate or condone such action in a dilemma regarding what to do about reviews. Should they pursue reviews or let them go? Should they rely on those posted reviews for future consideration about their writing and audience? What about endorsements? With reviews so questioned, will an endorsement be considered suspect?  What has been perpetrated by a handful of well-known authors has tainted the entire community of authors.

What about readers? There are those who still rely on reviews in helping to choose a book, but with such gaming of the system, will they steer away from new authors?  How has their opinions of authors in general been effected? Some readers are now quite cynical, especially of indie authors, even though well-known names of those responsible for the sock-puppets and paid reviews are traditionally published authors.  It’s disturbing to see the blame immediately fall on indie authors, and the abuses used as an argument to validate the mindset against indies.

So let’s take a step back and discover the original purpose of reviews and how we got to this point.

Giving a critical opinion about a book is nothing new. In fact, such criticism can date back to the printing press and propaganda campaigns. In 1665, the Parisian Journal published a book entirely devoted to the art of criticism. Pretty much all reviews or criticism of the day where found in newspapers or magazines. 

Early critical reviews were either commissioned by the book’s publisher or a professional literary critic giving his own views of a work.  Rarely did the common reader participate in this criticism. The only way to even garner a voice in the arena was to write a letter to the editor. The public helped by word of mouth, but didn’t really have a say in the book’s merits or detractors.

Since such criticism began, authors have been at war with critics, and sometimes with each other.  In the 1840s and 50s, some considered Poe and Hawthorne to be at war over reviews of their books, either by the other or regarding criticism of their respective books. In 1847, Poe wrote about reviews of Hawthorne’s book Twice-Told Tales: “These criticisms, however, seemed to have little effect on the popular taste — at least, if we are to form any idea of the popular taste by reference to its expression in the newspapers, or by the sale of the author's book.”

In 1939, Virginia Woolf said about book critics "He has to review; for he has to live; and he has to live, since most reviewers come of the educated class, according to the standards of that class. Thus he has to write often, and he has to write much. There is, it seems, only one alleviation of the horror, that he enjoys telling authors why he likes or dislikes their books." And Harold Bloom a few decades later, "Instead of a reader who reads lovingly, with a kind of disinterest, you get tendentious reading, politicized reading."

What has caused a dramatic shift from primarily newspaper and magazine professionals to a vast sea of ‘everyone can be a critic’ is the Internet.  Blogs have seemingly sprung up overnight with newfound freedom and gusto to express every opinion on the face of the Earth!  Places like Amazon, and other book retailers, have become akin to the corner general store – a place to discuss, vent, rant or argue.

Studies have been done on how the Internet affects book buying and the opinion of readers upon authors and the industry.  There are also studies on how the Internet affects the way people think and interact. Which all leads to the question – what can an author do to navigate this ever-changing world of reviews?  How can one well-meaning person in writing and publishing a book contend with the myriad of reviews ranging from fair and balance to out right nasty attacks?  An author never knows from day-to-day what review he/she will find on Amazon or other outlet.

For the poor author of today it is darned if you do and darned if you don’t consider what all reviewers say or actively seek reviews. I submit, we can’t be all things, to all people at all times and keep our sanity and dignity. We must manage this escalating war of reviews as best we can, and hope that the abuse done by some fellow authors will not forever taint those of us who try to act right by readers.

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Today, I'm pleased to host author Philippa Keyworth, whose debut novel The Widow's Redeemer is a delightful read. She posts about the challenges of writing 'clean' romance.

 Writing Clean Fiction

Sex is a controversial subject. It always has been and will continue to be. Something which is experienced by the large majority of the human population at some point in their life, and which maintains a certain amount of privacy can hardly be anything but a source of fascination and, I might add, controversy. There are so many differing opinions upon the matter of sex and the particular area of debate I want to talk about is that of writing clean fiction.

Electing to write clean fiction can often lead to praise as well as censure and clean fiction writers can be considered prudes and non-realists.

Now, as to the first accusation of being prudish, that simply doesn’t make sense to me. Just because someone elects to write novels without love-scenes, for whatever reason they choose, it does not automatically mean they have a problem with sex!

The second accusation, that of clean fiction being unrealistic does, I’ll grant, have more weight, especially in terms of historical fiction. As a writer of Regency romances, this accusation has been laid at my door before. After all, history is filled with it, so to simply leave it out is not accurate. Literature without it is a falsehood standing in purposeful ignorance. I would argue however, that although writers must not ignore its presence, they can choose whether or not to actually write it into their novels.

Authors, you see, have a responsibility to their readers. This is where it gets controversial, but I do strongly believe that as a writer, you have to make certain choices about what you offer up to your readership. Just as a children’s author will choose subjects appropriate to children, I believe an author of any other genre should decide upon their subject matter carefully.

It’s up to each individual author as to what they believe is right to write about and expose others to. Being a Christian, I want to please God in what I write, and therefore, I have up until this point, chosen to write clean fiction. That is my own decision. For writers who are just starting out, or for those perhaps reconsidering their position (which you can do at any time), there are certain factors you may want to think about when making decisions about whether to write love-scenes in fiction:

1. Is it for the sales-figures because a ‘bodice-ripper’ sells more copies?
2. Who are you writing for? Who are your audience?
3. Is it necessary to the story?

A good friend of mine once told me that you only need a love scene if there is a side to one of your characters that cannot be shown in any other type of scene. I think that’s very solid advice. I always use Jane Eyre as the perfect example of a powerful romance without a love-scene – and you know what? I don’t think it needs one.

Writing clean fiction is not necessarily easy. We live in a world where everyone is allowed their own opinion, quite rightly too, and not everyone will agree with me, just as I won’t agree with everyone else. I have received both praise and criticism for my choice but I hope this post has laid out my ideas on it clearly and perhaps made you think about your own position on the subject.

Well, that was a rather heavy blog post, but I hope you enjoyed it and that it stirred up some questions of your own. I did not want to place my soapbox on the floor and start shouting, but rather to lay my views on the table and encourage others to think about their own writing or the authors they read. I’m curious to know other’s thoughts upon this so if you want, feel free to leave comments below!

Finally, thank you Shawn for hosting me on your blog, it was very kind of you!

My Regency romance The Widow’s Redeemer is available in both paperback and Kindle at  --> Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com and  --> Barnes & Noble .

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