Pub Day for Ellory James

The Short & Sincere Life of Ellory James is now for sale at Amazon. Paperback or ebook. Great choice for book clubs, Christmas gifts, treat-yourself-days, etc.!

Purchase your copy today!

If you fall in love with Ellory & Pete the way that I did, share your thoughts by writing a review on Amazon &/or Goodreads.

What are you waiting for? Ellory is waiting for you to meet her!

Who Would You Want with You?

One week until Pub Date!

I’m so excited for you to read The Short & Sincere Life of Ellory James.

Over the course of the next few weeks I’m going to be asking you TEN bucket list questions.

Curious what your answers are!

Here are the first two…

Feel free to share these to help me stir up interest in my soon-to-release novella!

Key Book Clubs from Coast to Coast (+ Release Day for The Disappearing Key)

To celebrate the RELEASE DAY for THE DISAPPEARING KEY, 
I’m announcing a Coast to Coast Contest!

Get your copy on Amazon
(& soon Nook)

Help your book club win gifts!

I’m taking names…of book clubs that is.

My goal

from October 2013 – October 2014

is to have book clubs from EVERY STATE reading

THE DISAPPEARING KEY.

Here’s what I need from you:

A contact person from your book club to email me (see right sidebar for my contact info.) with…

• their name
• contact information
• the name of the book club (as appropriate)
• how many members are in the book club
• which month you will be reading my novella
• if you’re interested in having me Skype with you or visit
• picture(s) of your club for fun

Upon receiving each email, I will attach a key with the book club name (or contact person) on the represented state. I'll post regular updates.

All clubs will be entered into a raffle to win the final prize(s).

Let’s do this!

6 Things the Writer in Me Wants to Tell the Mother in Me...

6 Things the Writer in Me Wants to Tell the Mother in Me

There are times when finding the right word usurps having the last word.

Pay attention. You’ll blink and they’ll be out of the house. Small moments count.

There’s always a story. Moods, distance, erratic behavior. . .always a story.

The best investment you can make is to pour into character(s).

Growth as a parent equates to that of countless edits. Take the time needed to make necessary changes.

You can read about how to excel at your job until your eyes dry out, but the best way to learn is to practice.

6 Things the Mother in Me Wants to Tell the Writer in Me

Relationships are the pulse of a good story.

Your children have a tendency to surprise you. Characters shouldn’t be too predictable.

Like babies, solid ideas take time to incubate.

You’ll poke your eye out if you write to impress or seek validation from others.

Adjust your expectations. Your baby will poop at the most inopportune times.

Nothing compares to knowing you’ve invested your time in something meaningful. No matter if you’re bombarded with advice, cut to shreds regarding your style, and/or judged ruthlessly or relentlessly. Devotion to craft will reveal itself in time.

*Gearing up to announce GIVEAWAYS linked to THE DISAPPEARING KEY that you’ll want to write home about!

**Would love for you to visit my guest post at Married with Fiction 

***photo by stock.xchng

While You Wait

I like to pay attention to the unique kinds of offerings that are made available during waits. Companies are getting more and more creative. You won’t believe it when I share what’s located in my daughter’s orthodontist’s office.

I like this idea. I like the thoughtfulness behind it.

And I’m catching on.

First, let’s view a few of the aforementioned offerings…

The Classic Coffee

Magazines

Hors d'oeuvres & Desserts

and in my daughter’s orthodontist office…

 A Theater!

While you wait for my novels, in October I’m releasing my novella, THE DISAPPEARING KEY. And while you wait for October,  I’m offering you this…

No, not a baby. But a Pinterest board dedicated entirely to the project!

Enjoy!

*Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter (upper right sidebar) (Thanks to those who’ve already subscribed!

**Also, I’m in the midst of scheduling blog posts for the next few months. If you’d like to feature me as a guest, please contact me as soon as possible.

***photos by stock.xchng

When You Love a Book (+ My Cover)

When you love a book…

You set it free.

I’m not exactly sure what to credit for the decision, after years invested in my craft, to put my work out there. (My novella, THE DISAPPEARING KEY releases early this October.)

Do I give props to Sarah Bareilles prompting me to be brave or is an enormous show of gratitude necessary for the excellent material I recently discovered in DARING GREATLY? Curious…the timing of when I spotted this book on the library shelf and thought to myself, Now this looks like a good read.

Mostly, it comes down to that niggling in my gut that my words are ready to be read—my stories are ready to be felt. I’ve received affirmation of this on many levels but it was essential I waited until I was ready.

And I am now.

I love this novella.

And this October it’s time to set it free and into your hands. As we wait for my novels to have their day in the sun, it’s my hope that you’ll thoroughly enjoy this taste of my writing. This is both a vulnerable and exhilarating process.

Can’t wait to discover what you think!

Ever do something that was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time?

*Attention book clubbers—THE DISAPPEARING KEY was written with book clubs in mind. Not sure when you make your selections for the year, but I’d love for you to throw my novella on your list. It’s shorter than a full-length novel, but the meat is there. I’ll also be posting book club discussion questions on my blog soon after the release.

**I’d love to guest post on your blog or answer interview questions for you. Shoot me a message & I’ll be in touch!

***Check out that NEW subscriber button on the upper right of my sidebar. Want to be in the know about all the latest with this project? Sign up for my newsletter today!