The Cover: Does It Matter? The short answer is yes, book covers hugely influence our decision to buy or pass. In fact, a whopping eighty percent of readers and bloggers say their decision to buy a book is determined by the cover. For best selling authors like Lee Child, Dean Koontz, Harlen Coben, David Baldacci, …
I, Claudia Goes Public I, Claudia goes public? It’s now available for purchase? Yes, but just the first fifteen chapters and they are free! Huh? Here’s the background: Several months ago, the friends of the Smith Valley Library invited me to do an Author’s Forum to discuss the Lindsey McCall mystery series and my latest …
Only 3 essential qualities for writers? Just 3? Actually no, there are probably about 100 but this morning, there are just 3 essential qualities for writers that pop into my head this morning: The ability to hold two paradoxical thoughts about just how well we write. Ceding control of the story to the characters. Extreme …
Author interviews, why do them? I read they are an excellent marketing tool for authors who sell less than hundreds of thousands of their books. Like me. This latest one had some unusual questions, consequently, replying to them was an intriguing exercise for me. More on that in a few minutes. First, the latest …
I flunked Retirement In the flurry of publishing my first novel, I hired a publicist for a whirlwind ten days in Houston where I had 8 speaking engagements lined up due to my friends and family living in Texas. I would not do that again and recommend that others save their money. However, it was …