Month: October 2022

Talking To People Who Aren’t There #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

October 31, 2022

Do you do podcasts? Either as the host or as a guest? How do you prepare for them?

It’s perfect timing for this topic! I didn’t plan it this way, I swear I didn’t!

Check out the link below. It’s to the interview I did with SapphireJBlue a week ago. (The link just dropped today.)

Jeanette SapphireJblue Best Charrette on Instagram: “The Barron’s Cufflinks by Author PJ MacLayne”

It isn’t the first interview I’ve done with Jeanette. We are working our way through the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, and have talked about Wolves’ Pawn. We’ll be chatting again on November 8th, and I suspect we’ll be dissecting The Contessa’s Brooch.

I’ve done other podcasts and have enjoyed all of them. Each host is different and the subjects may vary. Whether it’s talking about one specific book or writing in general, with one host or a panel, I love the exchange of ideas.

Preparation for a podcast can be as simple as re-reading one of my books, or as complicated as researching the difficulties women authors face trying to be published in certain genres. There’s also technical and physical considerations. I always look around my workspace to make sure nothing is in sight that I don’t want to share with the world, and that all of my books are within easy reach. I check to ensure my camera is aimed where I want it. One thing I learned through technical problems is that Instagram only works on my phone-my tablet will allow for audio but not video, no matter what settings I use.

Some people are uncomfortable talking to a camera. Not me. Once the technical aspects are working, I ignore them and focus on the face or faces at the other end of the connection. I gained a lot of experience doing that for my day job through the Covid years.

I’ve considered starting my own podcast. Now that I’ve retired from my day job, I have the time. I’ve also got a comfy writing space I could use without interfering with my family’s daily life. The idea is still on the backburner and I don’t promise it’ll ever happen. I need to figure out an angle to make it stand out. I could start with interviews with the other authors in this hop.

By the way, if anyone reading this hosts a podcast and has an opening, I’d love to connect! 

You can find out how the other authors on this hop feel about podcasts by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

October 31, 2022

Do you do podcasts? Either as the host or as a guest? How do you prepare for them?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Learning For The Love Of It #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

October 24, 2022

If you could take a free class at a university, what course would you take?

There are many states in the US that offer free college courses to senior citizens. I always thought that was a neat bonus to growing old. Well, I’m there, age wise, and I’m also in one of those states. Now, I have to wait to be here for a full year to be eligible for the program, but that time will pass quickly. (I will have to buy books and man, they are expensive these days.)

But I have a dilemma. Do I want to tie myself down to classes again? I’m enjoying this whole ‘no schedule’ lifestyle. Or rather, a limited schedule. It’s ‘freeing’ not to worry about what time I get up or go to bed, changing what chores I will tackle any day on a whim, not taking my laptop with me everywhere I go because I might get called into work. (That was a hard habit to break!)

But if I decide to pick up a class or two or three, what class would I take? There are lots of options, many of them strictly on-line. It would have to be something I’m curious about. Or perhaps even passionate.

So, I flipped through some college catalogs, to find what i was looking for.

History courses could be fun, especially as I’ve lived through events that now appear in textbooks. To my surprise, English and writing courses don’t appeal to me like I thought they would. Maybe I’m afraid they’d cramp my style. But what would I consider tackling?

Back in the before years, my first choice of a college degree program was library science. I’ve worked in libraries, I’ve featured libraries in my stories—how much fun would it be to go back and complete my degree? Of course, everything has changed, including me, and it seems the classes that I’d need to take are on topics I can relate to. Perhaps it’s one of those ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’ occurrences.

I won’t pick any specific class. I have an entire program of classes to consider and the rest of my life to take them.

What subject would you pick if you were granted a free university class? Share in the comments if you like. And don’t forget to check out the other authors on this hop and find out what they want to try.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

October 24, 2022

If you could take a free class at a university, what course would you take?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Marketing Wins And Losses #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

October 17, 2022

Most of us (or maybe all of us) struggle with marketing. What are your top 3 marketing tips?

First, a confession. As some of you know, I moved across the country this summer. I’ve none almost nothing in the way of marketing for over six months, but am trying to get back on track. But marketing is tough.

I’ve tried a lot of things. Various social media, ads, blogging. None of them have propelled me to the top. That hasn’t stopped me from trying again. So here are my recent top three.

3. Amazon Ads. They are pricey and don’t always work. I swear The ‘Zon plays with the algorithm and some months the ads sell books and other months they don’t. I can’t budget for what each month will cost me unless I turn the ad off and on, and I don’t have the energy for that. (FYI-I dipped my toe in FB ads a couple of times several years ago and got no results.) I’ve used commercial reader newsletters in the past, and it’s time to make another attempt. Which of my books would you like to see go on sale?

2. Podcasts. I’ve really enjoyed doing podcasts and would love to do more. (I’ve got one scheduled with SapphireJBlue this week on Thursday the 20th. Check my home page for more details as far as the time when I get the info.) I don’t know if I sell any books from doing podcasts, but I love talking about my stories! I guess they are a newest form of word-of-mouth advertising. 

1. In-person book signings. (More word-of mouth.) I did one this past weekend with the Beaver County PA Libraries with moderate success, but it was fun. I think that’s where I shine-talking with readers one-on-one. Now that I’m mostly settled into our new home, and don’t have to worry about interfering with a job, I’m trying to set up more public appearances. I’ve got a list of possibilities to work on, and I am looking at one in New Castle, PA next summer.. (Procrastination is not my friend.)

There you have it. My top three marketing tools for the moment. I’m afraid my current state of reader engagement is limited. Hopefully some of the other authors on this hop can provide better ideas. Follow the links below to find out.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

October 17, 2022

Most of us (or maybe all of us) struggle with marketing. What are your top 3 marketing tips?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

 

Have It Your Way Pizza Edition #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

October 10, 2022

What toppings do you put on your pizza? Is pineapple a real pizza topping?

I actually had this conversation with my brother-in-law a few nights ago. I don’t remember who brought it up, but I think we were discussing the sandwich shop down the street. (They sell pizza, too.) He nearly had a heart attack when I revealed I like pineapple on my pizza. 

Not just any pizza. It has to be a traditional Hawaiian style pizza. Which isn’t Hawaiian at all, but the name makes sense when you consider the other toppings.

The basics are the basics. Crust (your choice) pizza sauce and cheese. Now, start with the meats. I don’t think I’ll offend anyone with those. Canadian bacon tops the list. No substitutions. Ham doesn’t cut it. Pepperoni is a bonus. Other meats are fine (Bacon is always good!) but not needed.

Green pepper is called for, as are diced tomato pieces.

Here’s where I may wander into controversy.

Sliced black olives. I know, I know. Many of you don’t like them. You can skip them.

It gets worse.

Pineapple. Yes, pineapple is a fruit. So are olives and tomatoes. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Tomatoes are fruits that are considered vegetables by nutritionists.”

If you think that’s bad, I’m not done. There’s one more old-school topping. Yes, I know it sounds crazy. Maraschino cherries, cut in half. And there you have it-one Hawaiian style pizza.

Still with me? What do you think about pineapple as a pizza topping? Let me know in the comments. And check out the other authors by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

October 10, 2022

What toppings do you put on your pizza? Is pineapple a real pizza topping?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

 

One Genre To Bind Them All #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
It’s time for another post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. 
 
The awesome co-hosts for the October 5 posting of the IWSG are Tonja Drecker, Victoria Marie Lees, Mary Aalgaard, and Sandra Cox!

This month’s question:
What do you consider the best characteristics of your favorite genre?

First off, I would like to protest. I’m only allowed to have one favorite genre? That seems totally unfair to the wide variety of books I read. I have to pick one? Well, okay. I pick science fiction.

Here’s why. I love me some well-written, old-fashioned, world-building science fiction. But I also love that it has become the base for many genres. That may be its best characteristic. It’s used as the backdrop for everything from romance to mysteries to suspense to fantasy. There are even stories centered around pets in space. But I haven’t seen an Amish romance in a science-fiction setting yet. Someone tell me in the comments if I’m wrong!

(By the way, I’m not forgetting that fantasy used to be a sub-category of science fiction. Full circle and all that.) 

What about you? What’s the best characteristic of your favorite genre? Tell us in the comments. Don’t forget to check out some of the other authors on this hop by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

 

A Writing Style For The Moment #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

October 3, 2022

Does your writing style change depending upon what you are writing?

Daryl Devore, another writer in this group, mentioned in a post a few weeks ago how her writing style changes based on what she is writing, and it got me thinking. Does mine?

Easy answer, yes. The Free Wolves books are written in third person, but the Harmony Duprie stories are in first person. (We’ll get to Jake’s story later.) I know not everyone enjoys reading first person, but it was what the books needed to be. I tried writing what turned into The Marquesa’s Necklace in third person, but it didn’t work.

Other differences? The Free Wolves books mostly center on one or two characters. Harmony, however, in telling us her story, gives credit to the friends that support her and give her strength. The real hero of the series is the ‘village’ that she is a part of.

How about the Jake books? (The Fall of Jake Hennessey and my WIP, The Resurrection of Jake Hennessey) They are also third person, but I tried to dive deeper into Jake’s thought process and motivations. He’s a bad guy in sheep’s clothing with a hero complex-an interesting mix of characteristics. Unlike the Free Wolves, which were story-driven books, the Jake tales are more personality-driven, which meant I had to move the action along without dialogue.

Speaking of dialogue—my style of writing dialogue can switch between characters, depending upon their personality and the situations they are in. Harmony is a great example of this. She’s a laid-back person, but when the need arises, her style of speech changes. It becomes stiffer, more formal. I don’t plan it ahead of time: it comes naturally. Here’s an example I wrote yesterday. (Unedited, so please forgive any mistakes.)

“Is that how you want to play this game? My lawyers will request that any files the agency has backing up the request become part of the record. Which means I will have access to them. If I feed my media contacts a story about a secretive government group harassing a grieving widow, how will that look? And I can’t imagine any judge in the area siding with that agency over a local girl coming home to heal after a tragedy in her life. Think carefully. You may believe you have me cornered in a game of checkers, but I’m playing chess. Checkmate, Agent.”

So yes, my writing changes with the story. I don’t think about it; it comes from knowing my characters. How about other authors? I think I know what Daryl is going to say, but I’m not sure about some of the others. Follow the links below, and we can find out!

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

October 3, 2022

Does your writing style change depending upon what you are writing?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter