The end of April is approaching, so now is the time to enter the Goodreads Giveaways for these books! I looked through the list and chose eight thriller novels that have at least (or very close to) a four star rating with a good number of reviews. A few of them are already on my to-read list, and the rest will be added as soon as I post this. Have you read any of these novels? If so, I’d love to hear what you thought of them! (Click on the title to be taken to the book’s Goodreads page and…
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An important step in the writing process is having someone else read your work and give you feedback. In the early stages of your writing, you need big picture feedback, someone to tell you whether what you’re writing is working in general. If you’re part of a critique group or have an accountability or writing partner, this is the perfect job for them. Once you’ve completed your manuscript, it’s time to move up to the next level of feedback: professional editing. Most people have an idea of what professional editing entails, but there’s more to editing than fixing typos or…
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While writing an earlier post, I realized that, in my advanced age of middle-ish 40s, I’ve developed specific preferences for reading formats. Please tell me I’m not alone! Ebooks For quick or light books that I get through quickly—like fiction—I prefer reading ebooks on my Kindle or phone. I’m currently making my way through Emma St. Clair’s romantic comedy series available on Kindle Unlimited. (As much as I love mystery-suspense and thrillers, I enjoy mixing in some romance, too.) The Bluff is next up on my ebook reading list. Paperback I don’t buy paperbacks often, but when I do, it’s…
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Hello, my dear readers! To celebrate crossing the 25,000-word milestone, I have a special treat for you. Here’s a sneak peek at Within the Bonds, book one of my two-book mystery-suspense series. Enjoy! Back in her van, Ashley massaged her temples and tried to figure out what to do next. She could pick up the kids and go home to wait for Garrett. Her head pounded at the thought of sitting on the couch, stewing about her ruined anniversary while she waited for him to call or come home. She could stay here in the parking lot and watch for…
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Most self-publishing authors I’ve spoken with know they want to offer their books in paperback and ebook formats. And more often than not, they ask me if they should consider offering a hardcover or audiobook version. My answer is that it depends. When I first started my book review podcast and blog (circa 2006 when no one new what a podcast was yet and before self-publishing became the massive industry that it is now), traditional publishers would sell hardcover formats of new releases first. Readers who didn’t care about owning the hardcover or didn’t want to pay more for one…