Thanksgiving then and now

I was going over my list of things I am thankful for, and one of the top most often prayed over is this site. I love this site and am so thankful for it and the great friendships it has brought. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all those things that you received from the hands of others, and all the ways life has been a blessing to you. As you ponder, don't forget the Cyber Pals you have gained.

When I chose Thursdays as my day to post, I never anticipated being the "turkey" for this time of the year. But there ya have it. I get the Thanksgiving post.

I have celebrated a lot of stuff over the years, like this post (click to read) Thanksgiving 2008 and it has been like a kickoff to the year to come.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Soon, I will be bringing you a new book, (Click for more info) Loran Rudder and the Secret Key is on its final round, and over the last few days has even gotten a cover. (no, I am not revealing yet!) -- so that is something to look forward to in the weeks to come.

I will do this time as I did back in 2008- and bring you tidbits and tasties about the making of the book over the next few weeks. SO don't eat too much this holiday--save room for dessert!

God bless you and keep you.

Happy Thanksgiving -Murderers!

Thursday Tips: The Hook

There are a few items that all writers should know before tackling a big project like a novel.

One of the most important being how to structure a story. Every good story has parts to it that are kind of requisite. Like rising and falling action for the plot line (s) and GMC *goal, motivation, and conflict* for the characters.

But if you don't know where to put in all that goodness, and why, you are missing out on a very big deal in writing.

Take the Devil Wears Prada for example. *I know I am WAY behind on movies* but this one really caught my eye as I was studying story structure.

First of all, the main character, Andrea, or Andy, lives in a sort of duh-dump world. She is just average. Average education, average apartment, average kind of boyfriend, average sort of life in total. And then bada bing! She gets a job at Runway. The most glamorous magazine in fashion. As the assistant to the head editor, Miranda Priestly. Who was played by none other than the fabulous Meryl Streep. Can anyone do bad meanie better than MS?

Enter story structure.

First thing in writing, item numero uno, the character's real world. Here we see a reallllllly good comparison between Andy's regular world and her work world. One is just common, and one is amazing and as they say over and over in the show, the job that every girl in the world wants.

This is also known as the HOOK. Every one wants the job that Andy just landed, and she is not that into it. What???? Now what reader(or movie-watcher) isn't "taking the bait" at this point? Hence it is called the hook. We want to know what happens next. Will Andy do something magic or will she end up throwing up on the million dollar desk where Miranda sits?

Tune in next week, Murderers. I will try to 'spain what a plot turn is.

Update

Good news on the writing front.
I am writing! I am nearing ten thousand words on a new YA fantasy, not yet named.


Better news.
I have something coming out for you!

In fact, A Mirror in Time is available at AllRomance Ebooks as of today, and will be out there at the Kindle store in a few days. The print version is coming out by around the first of April (this depends on Amazon, as we all know).

So if you are an electronic book lover, and you read YA, then please by all means make your way to ARE and get a copy. If you are a lover of all things printed, especially YA, then you are going to have a first print edition of a Kim Smith original in a very short time.

Thanks for being my fans, you guys!

Gearing up for 2010

This new year upcoming holds a lot of promise. I am terribly excited about it to say the least.


My next book is coming out in January and I am gearing up for the book tour. Here is the link to my TOUR PAGE

I hope you will make plans to follow me around as I tour the Internet with Buried Angel. I will have give-aways, freebies, and more fun than a barrel full of monkeys.

JOIN ME!

Sugar Cookies, Eggnog and Me

This post is from 2009's Grinch of the Year, Kim Smith. Before I get started, if you are interested in acquiring a FREE PDF of a cookbook called Kissin' Don't Last, Cookin' Does that the authors at my publishing house put together, drop me a line. Okay. On with the post. Be forewarned, I am a good Grinch. I have had a lot of practice.

Have you ever noticed how the closer it gets to Christmas, and the less you have done toward the big day, the more people you know come out of the woodwork to check on your progress?

Case in point: lady in line at grocery (I will call her Mrs. Elf as she surely must be one of Santa’s helpers)

Elf: Hi there. I see your basket is filled with … oh no, maybe not. Where’s your sugar cookie dough?

Me: Um. I don’t make sugar cookies.

Elf: No? NO! You cannot be a Scrooge! It’s Christmas! Where’s your spirit?

Me: (in my best Garfield voice) I left it at home.

Elf: What? What about eggnog?

I shake my head no. She shakes her head at my dilemma.

I mean why is it that so many people think they have to remind you that you are lacking in the Christmas Spirit department? What’s worse is they usually are all dolled up in their holiday finery complete with jingle bells on their ears or hats or God forbid their shoes.

Usually Mrs. Elf will spend a long time tut-tutting your lack, and begin telling you very smugly how she is all ready for the big day with gifts bought, wrapped, and under the fully decorated tree beside the gaily donned fireplace. Sigh.
I do not down her for her holiday festiveness. I don’t. But I would love it if maybe I didn’t have to be reminded that I am not quite there yet.

I will get there. Probably this weekend. I will be the twinkle twinkle little star of Christmas cheeriness soon. Just let me ease into it, for crying out loud!

I am going to get there. I swear I am. I will donate to a charity. I will deck the halls with boughs of holly. I will kiss someone under a mistletoe and I will be home for Christmas. But first, I have to find my wallet, my brain, and my mace because it is sure that if I meet MR. ELF on this last foray into the countdown to the big day, he will be dressed in a red suit with a white beard and be singing something about his red-nosed reindeer. Saints preserve us.

Cover Art

Today’s book covers are more than just protective outer coverings for pages. They are a way to advertise and communicate information about what’s on the inside. Most people say that covers are second only to word of mouth in importance when it comes to interesting them to read a book, indeed even pick it from the shelf.

A cover will sometimes get the potential reader to look at the blurb and maybe thumb through some of the inside.

Artwork has come a long way, too. There are more beautiful covers today in the print and ebook market than ever before. If you have ever seen the old
cartoon-ish looking covers of yesteryear you know what I mean.

So, having said all that, I present to you my latest cover. Click on it to get a better view.



I think it keeps with the thought of advertising and communicating information about the inside, don’t you?

Does it make you want to read this book? Does it resemble my first book in the series so that there is continuity?


I am always very excited about my cover art. It’s the face for my writing that tells the world about my work. It never ceases to amaze me how the artist is always right on the money when “getting” the essence in a cover for me. So far, they have gotten it every time.

For those of you looking for the next Shannon Wallace mystery, you will be happy to know it is slated for a January release from Red Rose Publishing

The blurb says, “When Shannon and Dwayne are hired to videotape mysterious goings-on in the local cemetery in South Lake, Mississippi, they find more than just old tombstones, including a “plot” that has nothing to do with the dead!”

Taking time out for LIFE

I recently (okay just this week!) took a few days off to vacation with my daughter as a sort of mom and kid thing but mostly to thank her for all the hard work she’s been putting in at college. She’s going to graduate on time, and with honors. I am very proud. When she asked me for a mother/daughter sort of vacation this year, I knew there was no way I would refuse her. Besides, I needed the time off and a little R and R as much as anyone.

Getting to the hotel was not difficult as it is in a nearby town. It is a casino resort hotel and totally a touristy sort of joint, but it has perks, like a pool. We wasted no time getting out there, either. Lord, it felt good to just sit in the abundant sunshine and read. I finished off the third Harry Potter book and got started on the fourth.

It occurred to me at the time that I do not do enough of this sort of thing. I haven’t really gotten near a pool or sunbathed in at least two years. It was heavenly. Swimming under the ninety degree sun was effortless and the water felt like you were sluicing through a velvet sheet.

We ended up eating a lot,(oh my, Paula Deen is the BEST COOK and I love her place!) resting a lot, reading a lot, and totally enjoying each other’s company. As she is a mere 21 and a baby to all sorts of legal age things, I corrupted her and showed her how to play the slots. It was a total utter hoot when she began talking to the machine begging it to give her a bonus round. I laughed a lot and feel as though we made some memories.

As I look back on those few precious days, I realize that this is the very thing that I needed to do the most to get back to writing. I needed to relax. I needed to refill. And we all must do that sometimes. It is just critical to our creative side to get the juices going.

If you haven’t taken time to do something good for yourself, I encourage you to do so. I have decided that I work entirely too hard. I spend six days working and one catching up and no time for the things that really matter. But not anymore.

From now on I am taking the advice of a magazine article I read while waiting on my massage at the spa at the hotel. From now on I am taking the Sabbath as a day of rest. God intended for man to work as hard as necessary all week long, but I don’t think he meant us to work on Sunday. He set the example and so, I am taking his lead. From now on I will not be doing anything for an entire twenty-four hour period from Saturday night at ten to Sunday night at ten. Nothing but resting, reading, and relaxing. Or maybe writing. I don’t consider writing work, well, at least not when I am mentally attuned to it.

I think our ancestors had it right. They took Sundays off. It was a holy day. Go to church, spend some down time just getting right with God, and forgetting that you have to do something. I hope I can put a few puzzles together, watch some good movies, work on my tan, and visit my kids.

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. Let’s live it right.

Chat today

If you are interested in chatting about writing mystery/suspense, please join me here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karenfindoutaboutnewbooks/ today all day!

I just got Internet back so I am rearing to go!

A Will to Love, by Kim Smith

How did A Will to Love come to be?

When I set out to write A Will to Love, the news came to our little hamlet that the bed and breakfast nearby was going out of business. The story surrounding its history was something of a sad story SEE VIDEO HERE and I felt really bad about the man who had lost his wife in a tragic accident, and wanted to capture that sorrow in the person of Benton Jessup. Of course, it turns out HEA, but that was the impetus to write the story.

I love writing and reading romance so this little story was just a natural outcropping of my favorite things, books and love. And who could deny such strong influences?

I think there is a lot of me in the story, and maybe you will find a lot of you too. I hope you enjoy it!

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Available TODAY! as an ebook download at RED ROSE PUBLISHING

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I am also running a CONTEST! to celebrate A Will to Love's release. You can find out the details at my website CONTEST PAGE and you can win FREE BOOKS!!

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Kim is the author of the popular Shannon Wallace Mystery series available at Red Rose Publishing.

My name is Kim

Just this week I had the privilege of speaking with Jodi Thomas, author of Rewriting Monday and Twisted Creek Jodi is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 30 books and short story collections. I am a new fan, and of course “fiercely” devoted due to my writer-addiction. Call this post part of my multi-step program.

My name is Kim and I am a writer junkie.

Some people follow musicians (groupies) and some purchase art in monetary quantities that are astounding. Me? I hang on every word spoken or written by authors. Oh, and if they are handing out advice about how to be a better writer? I am REALLY listening.

I love being a groupie and art lover, too, (photography especially!) but that’s another post.

Does anyone out there feel me? The symptoms of this addiction are:
1. Reading every book by an author you absolutely love regardless as to whether it is a novel or a booklet on Ways to Train Your Parakeet,
2. Following them around the net, ie. friending them on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter.
3. Surfing to find where they are going to have a reading, or be on an Internet site.

So, there you have it. My guilty pleasure is reading and following the authors that I love. It’s been such great fun to have the radio show so that I can find and love even more writers, too. It’s amazing how they will share their knowledge with others and since I am a writer also, with me. I love commiserating over plot holes and characters that won’t behave.

Jodi mentioned she visualizes her reader as she writes, and she tries to write just for them. As a reader, I appreciated that a lot. I also learned something about writing for an audience.

This is why I love MB4 so much. We can talk about our writing/reading addiction and everyone knows what we mean!

Kim Smith is the author of Avenging Angel, A Shannon Wallace Mystery, and the hostess for the radio show, Introducing WRITERS! at Blog Talk Radio.

E-Books

By Kim Smith

First, what is an e-book? Well, according to the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, an e-book, also known as an electronic book, is the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book. Whereas a printed book has a physical form, an e-book is downloaded to one’s computer, mobile phone, or digital reader such as the Sony Reader, or the Amazon Kindle. In this new digital age, we have traded dots and dashes for exes and ohs.

Many people believe digital is the way to go.

Here are a few reasons to go digital and purchase e-books.

1.A green solution, as there are no trees destroyed in the creation of an e-book.
2. Eliminates the need for a physical location to store your book collections. A Sony Reader or Amazon Kindle, for example, can hold up to hundreds (if not thousands) of books. Far more than you could house in your living room bookcase.
3. Keeps books available longer as there is no need to keep an inventory of them. Why should they be discontinued, or as it was once said, “go out of print”?

Purchasing e-books can be an easy feat. At my publisher’s site, downloading an e-book to your computer or reader is very simple. We all have become “download masters” thanks to music sites that allow downloads and online purchasing. Getting an e-book this way is a natural step forward from that.

For writers who may have an e-book coming out, promoting your e-book has never been simpler. If you have a website, you are halfway there.

Here are a few ways to market your e-book.

1. Hire a web designer (or do it yourself) and create a platform (website) with which to work from and advertise the book. You should begin advertising the coming book at least six months prior to the release date to generate a buzz.
2. Have a contest once the e-book has been released to generate interest in purchasing.
3. Get your online friends who have websites to link to your website and you link to theirs and create a group of places where potential readers can surf in and get the latest details about your book.
4. Give your e-book to e-book reviewers and post the reviews on your website. Reviews are a huge way to get people to look at an e-book that they might have otherwise overlooked.

Of all the things a writer must do if they are planning a promotional campaign for an electronic book is to write well. That cannot be said strongly enough. The reading public has little toleration for a print book that is written shoddily, so one can imagine the opinion of a book form that can easily be deleted!
Since e-books are cheaper, their value is oftentimes diminished. They are looked upon as a less worthy read just because they are not in print. We can change that perception by writing the best book we can write, and editing it thoroughly.

E-books are touted as being the next phase in the life span of the book industry, and indeed, even major houses have begun using this technology to get books into the hands of readers. Now you can find big names as well as small ones at places like Fictionwise (http://www.fictionwise.com), a leading independent e-book publisher and distributor. Fictionwise also has a “best seller” list so that potential buyers can find the best of the best in their catalog.

E-books are here to stay. Let’s make their life in the literary realm one of importance and substance.