The Cole Cut I: Thanks to Some Amazing Ladies

When I first entered cyberspace to promote my first novella, “Act of Redemption” it didn’t take me long to figure out I had no clue what I was doing.  I didn’t know where to begin, so I had my publisher do a money-pump that turned out to be well spent:  Introduction into the sphere of readers and writers.  Amongst the sites they signed me up for were Goodreads, Facebook author page, and Twitter. 

Entering this new world of social networking and book promotion made me feel like a ghost, seeing the world move and unable to be a part of it.  Facebook for a new author was not easy, and still isn’t.  My Goodreads experience was different.  But for both sites, some great, accomplished, and brilliant authors were kind enough to welcome me into their world. 

Shawn Lamb

 

Shawn Lamb, author of the Beautiful “Allon” series, and her newest book “The Hugenot Sword,” is an award-winning author, a voice for books suited for kids, and the only virtual friend I’ve met in person.  She’s every bit as great for real as in cyberspace.  I’ve featured her work and interviewed her earlier this year.

Maureen Miller

 

Maureen Miller, accomplished romance author, also welcomed me into the writers’ world.  She has published many romance books, with beautiful female characters that I wished I looked like.  She’s a lot of fun with social networking, and is great on Twitter.  

Jennifer Chase

 

Jennifer Chase, a brilliant criminologist and accomplished author of crime books.  One day I’d love to see her on TV documentaries.  I admire her courage and intelligence in the horrific world of crime. 

The “Cole Cut” will be a series of people and books I’ve encountered on my writing journey, to make a place to look back and thank talented people that made a big difference to me as a new author.  I will always remember the generosity of these great ladies.  More upcoming!!

Review of “The Unwanted” by Daniel Carter

“The Unwanted” by Daniel Carter is about a group of infants rescued by a couple of nurses caring for them.  They are taken into hiding in America’s rural heartland, with agents on the hunt for the children.  As they grow up, the kids become more unusual with rapid aging, each with powerful unique abilities.  As more is uncovered, the plot moves quickly to create a fun but intense read that encourages the reader to turn the pages.  Excellent work, four stars!

On The Value of Free Books

On social networking this morning, with some virtual friends, we discussed free books.   As I’ve pondered this topic today, the question comes to mind:  Are free books a good thing?

I’ve had some interesting experience with giving away books.  When I solicit a reviewer (a necessary process for the new author), I offer to send my books.  To me, if they were doing unpaid work, why would I expect them to purchase my books?  Ah, but alas, what if the reviewer suspects I’m giving them by books in hopes to score a more favorable review?  Fortunately, a reviewer never stated to me in correspondence this kind of suspicion, and several reviewers thanked me for sending my books, or respectfully declined for whatever reason.  At least they didn’t accept books they weren’t interested in reading. (Also, many reviewers are understandably overwhelmed with books).

Another experience with free books is when I offered them to friends that expressed interest.  I’ve been told more than once “No, if it’s free, I probably won’t read it.”  What? Really?  Do people read more books they purchase than they are given?

To answer this question, I looked at my own book collection.  Having a habit of reading what I want, when I want, when someone gives me a free printed book, I get around to reading it some time.  With my ebook obsession, even when people email me free books, I tend to download them amazon/smashwords to one of my portable e-readers.  I admit, sometimes I’m guilty as well, preferring to purchase books mainly for the format for my devices, not only out of convenience, but I since I post reviews, the author at least gets a sale even if choose not to post a review.

In analysis of the above sentence, here comes a troubling question:  So I purchase a book, post a review, does that author “owe me?”  Answer:  Not from my standpoint.  I’ve written before that some authors aren’t willing to go the distance and purchase the books of other authors.  Does that mean they lack integrity?  Answer:  Not from my standpoint.    I’ve written before that more solid virtual friendships are built by the good will of purchasing and reviewing one another’s books, but that isn’t a fit for everyone

New authors, we’re not in a position to make demands to potential readers.  For the traditionally published authors, at least they have a company behind their work, but on the other hand, they’re at the mercy of it.  As Indie writers, our judgment is our own with promotional experts out there to advise us. 

Free books?  I may make a choice to buy books for an alternative format, but writing/promoting is time and energy consuming enough to not have concern with the motivations of other writers offering to give me their work that cost them great labor, and costs nothing to me.  The least anyone can do when you’re given something in good faith is to say “Thank you.”  The work of writers has value; sometimes financially, sometimes virtual, and most of the time, their work adds to the human experience of reading.

On the Importance of Original Work

In the 1990’s, along with the rest of the country, I was a fan of the show “Ally McBeal.”  The fifty-pound lead character was cute, the nerd Biscuit lawyer was great, “Ling” was hilarious until it all feel apart to me from estrogen-toxicity.  But, years after the show, I still have the first CD soundtrack.

I always liked the after-work scenes, where they could all go blow it out after a hard days’ weird lawsuits.  (I admit to a bit of jealousy, never had a job like that).  What kept bringing me back to the CD even today are the songs.  Some of them are remakes from music artist Vonda Shepard, and some of them are her own written work.

Like films, with music, I attach myself to songs.  The songs I liked best from the CD were the original works of Vonda Shepard.  When I’ve heard a song done before, it takes a huge awesome performance by the redo-artist to bring me back to the same song.  For example, think of the remakes of “Dock of a Bay,” by Otis Redding.  Nevermind.  Don’t think about it, Otis is irreplaceable.

What does this have to do with the new author?  It’s everything.  If there’s anything/only thing a new author can bring to the table of a reader/publisher, it’s originality.  Big name authors over time often lose their gloss; especially mainstream templates like legal thrillers, murder mysteries, or conspiracy theories. 

What about the ongoing YA frenzy?  Are these books too much like “Harry Potter?”  Some of them remind me of Harry Potter, but in general, new authors I’ve reviewed deviate enough from the mega-hit enough to keep the story fresh.  What about the Vampire frenzy?  While I don’t gravitate constantly to vampire novels (but I use them as characters too), Diana Trees’ “Divine Wine” was nothing like any vampire story I’ve ever come across.  Count Dracula, eat your heart out on that one.

As new authors, we know that blockbuster success is very rare.  Does it mean your work isn’t entertaining?  No!  There’s no scale to weigh the integrity of any novel; it’s all about the audience, exposure, and sometimes, luck.  Life isn’t fair.  That’s OK, facing reality is part of adulthood.  But originality is part of our souls.  New authors, as long as you have that, you have something many writers don’t, famous or not. 

I still like Vonda Shepard.  And I never think of Ally McBeal episodes, except the Dancing Baby.  Some things are too great to forget.  May the work of new authors be that also.

"Summer" by Ernie's Denial

New rockers "Ernie's Denial" with a fun vid of their song "Summer."  It's got fun music, nice lyrics, and a pretty girl.  All the makings of a fun video!  Hope you enjoy it.

check out their site:  
Ernie's Denial

On Book Turkeys!

For a little breakaway fun, I’m taking a lighthearted look at a few books that I like, but aspects that I don’t.  So I’m using “Turkey” to mean specifics instead of generalizations.

 

“Gone With The Wind:” Yes, the greatest film ever made, but this is about the book.  Scarlett O’Hara, one of the most famous heroines in literary history, can’t get over the one man totally unsuitable for her on every level, and unable to love a rich, handsome man that loves the ground she walks on.  In the book, she’s a despicable mother.  Scarlett, you’re a Turkey.

 

“Little Women:” My Mom gave me this book when I was a preteen, and if I had a daughter, I’d have given a copy to her.  I love this book.  I wanted to be Jo.  But I wouldn’t have been so stupid to turn down Laurie.  Jo, you’re a Turkey.

 

“Catch-22:” I sympathized with a Blog Farm article whose author read another one of Joseph Heller’s books and hated it.  The huge character cast and the AWOL of the lead character at the end of “Catch-22” doesn’t help carry the inner tragic message of this book.  Yossarian, you’re a Turkey. 

 

“Revolutionary Road:” I’ve heralded Richard Yates’ masterpiece many times on this blog, but I’m sorry, with my poverty background, the anguished housewife over her half-decent husband, nice home, nice neighbors, and able to raise her kids is a hard sell to me.  I suspect people in other parts of the world would agree.  April Wheeler, you’re a Turkey.

 

“No Country For Old Men:” I make no secret that I read books after films.  Cormac McCarthy is considered a great American Literary Treasure, and I don’t contest that at all.  But for this book, even he should use quotation marks.  Cormac, you’re a Turkey.  

 

“We Were the Mulvaneys:” Why did I read this book?  Oh, yes, I saw the film on Lifetime!  I hoped the book would be better, and I was kind enough to give it three stars on Goodreads.  But what kind of family sends their beautiful, kind teenage daughter away after she was assaulted?  Michael and Corine Mulvaney, you are Turkeys.

OK, let me stop before I offend more people than I intend to.  I love making fun of myself, so I’ll give it a go:

 

C.C.Cole:  I know this author.  She’s one of those people that think she can do anything, so she decided to write a dark fantasy series.  She also decided to start smoking after college, and forgot to smoke her Virginia Slims menthol cigarettes after two weeks in her purse. She thinks she’s a Tribble on Twitter. She’s a Turkey.

 

“Act of Redemption:” C.C.Cole’s first novella of the Gastar Series.  It begins with a mean little assassin deciding to rub out some bad guys without a death order.  You know, she could have asked.  Shevata, you’re a Turkey. (don't tell her I said that).

“Children of Discord:” C.C.Cole’s second of the four novellas in the Gastar Series.  A group of vampires summon Shevata against her will hoping they can intimidate her into cooperating with them.  How did they think that would really turn out?  Vampires, you’re Turkeys.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

Should we be Thankful for the “Hot Shots?”

John Grisham

J.K. Rowling

George R.R.Martin

Stephenie Meyer

As a new author, I read over and over again articles stating how Indies will never get sales and notoriety given to bestselling authors with larger-than-life size features in our local bookstores and on line.  According to some, we’re just dreamers making fools of ourselves chasing dreams.

I don’t buy into the naysayers, but I’m not deluded into thinking my self-published books will suddenly reach Harry Potter fame tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow.  But am I sorry for writing my books?  Answer:  No way!  I enjoy what I do, and I enjoy interacting with other authors. 

So what about the “Big Time Writers” or “Hot Shot” bestseller writers of today?  Should we criticize them from dark angry corners of the Internet?  Why did they get the “big break” and we new authors did not?  What makes their work special? 

Better question:  Do these successful writers block our success as independent new authors?  I don’t think so.  Somehow, I don’t believe someone came across my high-rated novella “Act of Redemption” to pass for a copy of “A Game of Thrones.”  Both are dark fantasy, but the publicity of the work of George R. R. Martin is no comparison regardless of how much I spend in ads and promotion, how much I tweet, or how many authors’ groups I join.  That’s the way it is.

Instead of scoffing at the writers who’ve “made it,” we new authors can learn from them.  Many of them write incredible books.  Others write books that we may not like, but had the “hook” to get the attention of the traditional publishing industry, which like it or not remains the avenue of more sales, though day by day Indie writers are making their way into the devices of readers. 

On Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my faith, family, and friends, including the virtual people I’ve met.  Of course, I'm thankful for my readers and those who've helped me promote my work.  I’m also thankful for the authors I’ve read, who teach me with every book, regardless of genre.  That’s not just my Indie colleagues, or the classic authors of the past.  The successful writers of today have a lot to teach us new authors as well.