Archive for the ‘Announcements’ Category

Patricia’s Blog Tour Stops Revealed

Wednesday, February 5th, 2014

Pack Your Bags; We’re Going On a Blog Tour

Here’s the rundown for my first book blog tour:

Monday, February 10, http://www.readalot-Rhonda1111.blogspot.com

Tuesday, February 11, http://bookread-mumswritings.blogspot.com

Wednesday, February 12, http://www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com

Thursday, February 13 http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com

Friday, February 14, http://kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com

Join me and these wonderful hosts. Learn more about me and my work. Enjoy sharing space with some fascinating bloggers and possibly win a prize.

Questions: PLFry620@yahoo.com

Patricia Fry is Going on a Blog Tour with the Klepto Cat Mysteries

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

I’m so excited. I’m going on my first blog tour. During Valentine’s Day week, I will be stopping over at a different mystery and/or cat-related blog each day—Monday through Friday. Along the way, the first reviews for my latest novel, Sleight of Paw, will be revealed. I’ll be talking about my life as a writer—in particular, how things have changed for me since I started writing fiction. A cat named Truffles will be interviewing my main cat character, Rags and, of course, there will be a few surprises—and possibly prizes—along the way.

Stay tuned to this blog, my Catscapades blog at http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades, my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kleptocatmysteries and my Twitter account: http://www.twitter.com/authorplf for additional information. I’ll reveal the stops later in the week.

At the end of the tour, I will offer my impressions of the tour here in this blog. I’ll share the good, the bad and the ugly about doing a blog tour, I’ll explain how to plan a blog tour and I’ll provide tips for making your blog tour more successful.

You won’t want to miss this blog during the next few weeks.

Also, I’ll be sending out my newsletter early this month. Watch for it to arrive in your email box within the next few days. If you’re not on my email list—if you don’t receive Publishing/Marketing News and Views from Patricia Fry, you can sign up here: http://www.patriciafry.com

FREE ebook

In the meantime, if you’d LOVE to write a review for my latest Klepto Cat Mystery book, Sleight of Paw, let me know and I’ll send you a free copy for your Kindle. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download the Kindle software to your computer, iPad, iPhone, etc. FREE!!!

If you’d rather read a print book—and you’d be interested in reviewing the first in the series, Catnapped, let me know and I’ll mail you a copy (inside the US only).

Is this considered a bribe? Absolutely, not. Authors and publishers have been sending free review copies to reviewers for years. All they ask for is a truthful review. PLFRy620@yahoo.com

Post Number 2000!

Friday, January 24th, 2014

Did you see the balloons float past your windows this morning? Did you see the fireworks bursts and hear the cheering? What’s all the hullabaloo about? I, Patricia Fry, have been writing for publication for over 40 years and I’ve produced 65 issues of the SPAWN Market Update. (A meaty newsletter for members of SPAWN.) I’m working on my 43rd book and this is my 2000th blog post for this Publishing/Marketing blog. Yes, 2000 blog posts.

For over 8 years, I’ve been bringing you the information and resources you need in order to more successfully write, publish and sell your book.

Will I continue to do so or is it time to retire this phase of my career? I guess that’s up to you. Feedback is always important to anyone who is attempting to give of their time to provide something of value to others.

Your comments and suggestions welcome. PLFry620@yahoo.com

Prize Give-aways All Week Long

Saturday, January 18th, 2014

This week marks a milestone in my blog history. I’ve been posting useful tips, resources and ideas for authors for over eight years. I hope I’ve helped you make better decisions related to your writing and publishing projects. I strive to prepare you for the hugely competitive publishing field and equip you to experience success.

Be one of the first five to correctly guess the number of posts I’ve published here and you’ll have a chance to win one of the following: (Last day of this contest is January 24, 2014. Watch for new questions during the next 6 days.)

  • Free manuscript evaluation by Patricia Fry
  • A $5 Amazon gift certificate.
  • A copy of “Publish Your Book” (print or Kindle)
  • A copy of “Promote Your Book” (print or Kindle
  • Both Catnapped and Cat-Eye Witness for your Kindle. (Klepto Cat Mysteries)
  • A print copy of Catnapped (A Klepto Cat Mystery)

(All books offered are by Patricia Fry. To learn more about me, go to http://www.patriciafry.com or http://www.matilijapress.com)

Respond with your guess here—leave a comment—or to me at PLFry620@yahoo.com with “Milestone Guess” in the subject-line. It would also be helpful if you would tell me what topics you would like to see covered here in 2014.

In the meantime, here’s a tip for those of you with books to promote: Start planning your marketing strategy long before your book is a book. I heard from an author last week who said she had finished her book and now she was going to start thinking about promotion. It has been my observation and my experience that authors who consider promotion and marketing before their book is a book are far more successful. Here are the steps I suggest:

Before you write the book:

  • Identify the audience for your book.
  • Write for that audience—consider them throughout the writing process.

While working on your marketing plan:

  • Consider where your audience hangs out.
  • Where do they learn about the books they read?
  • Where do they buy books?
  • What sites/blogs do they frequent?
  • What magazines/newsletters do they subscribe to?
  • What is the best way to locate, approach and promote to my specific audience?

Good luck with your project and I hope to hear from you this week.

Patricia Fry Guest Blogger

Friday, December 13th, 2013

I was guest blogger at Morgen Bailey’s Writing Blog yesterday. I shared an article on how to promote your novel.

Check it out here: http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2013/12/12/guest-post-novel-ways-to-promote-your-novel-by-patricia-fry

An Author is the CEO of His/Her Book

Wednesday, October 30th, 2013

I have some amazingly informative and thought-provoking posts lined up for the next several days, starting tomorrow with an interview with my client, Jerry Malugeon, author of “The Black Dog and the Cyclone Racer.” This book is designed for the loved ones of those suffering from bi-polar and other disorders.

Following this interview I’m providing some resources for authors. I’m posting a piece on how to make the most of your out-of-town book-selling presentations. Also coming up are posts outlining some of the most serious mistakes authors make. Study this list and make sure you are not committing any of these sins against your book.

The thing is, if your book isn’t selling, you can blame the economy, the bookstores, other authors, your publisher or self-publishing company…you can blame the alignment of the stars, the organizers of a recent book festival or conference…you can even blame your poodle. But the responsibility is all yours. If your book is failing, it is all your fault. You are the guilty party.

If you are doing all of the right things now—you understand the concept of book promotion, you are heavily promoting your book in all of the right places—then maybe the problem goes back to the beginning of the process. Perhaps you wrote the wrong book for the wrong audience. Maybe your cover is hideous or just plain not effective—it doesn’t speak loudly enough to your target audience. If you discover this is the case, it is okay to backtrack—to call “foul” and revise the book. If you can’t afford to reprint right now, test the revision and the more appropriate cover at Amazon—as a Kindle book.

If your book is in trouble—you fear that you will be one of the nearly 78 percent of authors who fail—please pick up my book, Publish Your Book TODAY. This book is designed for authors to read at any stage of their projects, but is especially important for the first-time author to read BEFORE he or she ever launches out to write a book. Yes, before you start the writing process.

Think of yourself as the CEO of your book from start to finish, because you are. Think of publishing as a seriously competitive business, because it is. Treat your book project as a product being produced through your business, because it is.

Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. In print, Kindle and audio at Amazon.com. Read the 12-five-star reviews. Also available here: http://www.matilijapress.com

A Swashbuckling Story set in the Glory Days of the Roman Empire

Monday, October 14th, 2013

Matthew Wilson came to me a couple of years ago with his novel. This spring he brought it back with some changes and additions. The result is Books 1 and 2 of Three Slaves of Rome.

Here’s the author’s description: “During the glory days of the Roman Empire, seven Irishmen living in the midst of a violent war are captured and taken into slavery. Crossing paths with a lifelong slave, friendships are forged that lead them into an amazing adventure. They traverse the known world, seeking a treasure dear to them. Some find love, but all encounter incredible obstacles and find themselves facing impossible odds.”

One might wonder how you go about writing such vivid action scenes. Matthew explains during our interview:

Patricia: What is your background as an author/writer and in the field of your book?

Matthew: I love history and I’ve always loved movies like Brave Heart, Robin Hood and the like. As I pictured history, I began to develop ideas, like movies, in my mind. I just needed to write them down.

Patricia: Tell us a little about your process of writing this book.

Matthew: Just writing down the pictures that I as was able to imagine seemed almost impossible. I must have given up five times at least¬¬—I mean the whole thing in the trash five times. Then I read some books, and took a writing course and slowly began to be able to write. My writing improved so much that by the time I finished the book I had to rewrite the first half to make it as good as the second half.

Patricia: Who is your audience for this book?

Matthew: Anyone who loves a thrillingly adventurous, romantic story, that is suspenseful, and vividly paints a picture of the way things were in a time past.

Patricia: What are you doing to promote this book? Anything interesting?

Matthew: As of this writing, book one is free in order to get some reviews and a following. In a couple of months I will be launching a blog. It will not have a subject, but it will probably consist of historical stuff with some humor. I will also be launching a Twitter and Facebook account to feature the blog on.

Patricia: Share with us some of your most exciting experiences as the author of this book.

Matthew: Hearing from the satisfied customers, and seeing that they received value from it.

Patricia: Any other books in the pipeline?

Matthew: In a couple of months after the blog is launched, I plan to start book three.

You’ll find Three Slaves of Rome in ebook format only at Amazon.com as well as the author’s website. He’s offering book one FREE this week. http://www.ThreeSlaves.com

I’ve read this book and agree with the reviewers who gave it 5 stars. This is an exciting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The detailed descriptions are so vivid you can watch the story play out in your mind like a movie. It should be a movie and maybe will someday.

A Savvy Author’s Journey—SM Huggins, “Green, The Awakening”

Friday, October 11th, 2013

Recently, it occurred to me that I have many clients with excellent books—I know, because I edited them. I also have this informative, entertaining blog site. I’ve decided to bring the two together and introduce some of my clients through my blog. I start with S.M. Huggins, the author of Green, The Awakening. I conducted an interview with her and, when I saw how wordy it was, I planned to cut it down and use only portions of it. When I began reading it, however, I could see how interesting and valuable the information is to other authors as well as readers, and I have used the complete interview. That’s why today’s blog is long. Read about this author’s unique reasons for using a pseudonym, how she met the challenges of writing after a brain injury and how she manages to write and market books while running a business and raising six children.

Here’s her book description: “The natural and the supernatural converge after Meelah Neegry and her adoptive father move to New York City. Bound to honor the universal law of free will, all must allow Meelah to awaken on her own. Without outside influence, she must choose her destiny.

“With her heart torn between the love of two, a winged being named Mikiel, who has vowed to protect her, and Kriyo, an honorable young man from Churria, she struggles to decide between them. However, where there is light, equally there is darkness. Those murky beings slithering to earth the day she arrived are reflections of the Dark Force, and these shadows hunt Meelah and the amulet that she must locate. This ominous force will stop at nothing to destroy her and her quest.

“Coping with the loss of those she cares for, Meelah discovers that resolving matters of the heart while embracing her destiny is an insurmountable undertaking. Nevertheless, all life as we know it depends on her success. All eyes are on this Light Warrior as her journey unfolds.”

See the beautiful cover here: http://smhuggins.com

The book is for sale at Amazon.com and many other online stores. It has only been out since the end of September this year and has three five-star reviews. I loved it as I edited it. It appears that readers are loving it, too.

I interviewed the author. Here are her responses:

Patricia: Why did you use a pseudonym?

SM: I use a pseudonym for a few reasons. S.M. are the initials of my first and middle name. Huggins is my maiden name and the name used to file my taxes. There is more than a practical nature for my choice. I still would have published under a pen name and this is why. I became too emotionally attached to my story. Though I am proud of this accomplishment, I also needed to detach from it. Through detachment, I was able to separate emotionally from my creation. This afforded me the freedom to be objective. To reach an audience and to make book writing not only a passion but also a business, I needed to remain detached from the emotion of it all. Using a pseudonym allowed for this separation. I created the Green series and this feat satisfied my soul. Impartiality, I hope, will carry my labor of love to success.

Patricia: What is your background as an author?

SM: There is a beginning to everything in life. Green, The Awakening, is the launch of my writing career. Though I have written three other unpublished novels, I wrote them solely for me. These creations validated my profound love of writing. These novels also confirmed that I was able to overcome the lingering residual effects of a traumatic brain injury. This injury altered every aspect of my life. My memory was compromised, yet I did it; I wrote three manuscripts. By writing, I gained focus and confidence.

Patricia: Why this story?

SM: This story came to me in a dream. Vividly, I saw it play out in my mind. I couldn’t type fast enough. Truly, it consumed me. My mind would not let facets of this tale go until I penned it on paper. This is when I wrote the first three versions of the Green series. I learned through this process that I was a storyteller. This is something that must have been handed down from my Pequot Indian ancestors. I have always had a boundless sense of imagination. With time, I threaded my storytelling and imagination together and refined this dream into the series it is.

Patricia: Tell us a little about the process of writing this book.

SM: When I write, I get lost in a world. I thoroughly enjoy creating. Having six children, four young adults and two adolescents, I have to structure my day. I also run a business. My days are full! But, without doing something that nourishes my soul, even if it’s only for an hour, makes for a day that I feel out of balance. I make time to write five days a week. During the weekends, I rest my creative mind and spend quality time with my tribe. My process is simple. I make the time and I allow the story to flow. After I complete a chapter then I do my editing before proceeding. The editing process is never-ending and well worth the time and the effort. I use this process to refine all aspects of the scene. When I’ve completed a manuscript then I read it over and over again before I have an editor polish it. This step is where I met Patricia Fry. She taught me that we can be blind to our mistakes. It’s wise to have another set of eyes help your story shine.

Patricia: Who is your audience for this book?

SM: One of my teenage daughters especially, fell in love with my story. She would read each new chapter the moment I stepped away from my laptop. My daughter’s passion not only drove me, it molded my writing to her age group. It has taken me three years from my initial manuscript to my first finished product. I broadened my target audience to young adults. In doing so, I still have my older children engaged. I am also savvy. I’ve done my homework; always the business woman. Young adult novels are selling, especially in eBook format. Words to the wise: Write from your soul, never compromise this but if you wish to sell your creation to more than a few people then do your market research.

Patricia: What are you doing to promote this book—anything interesting?

SM: I began promoting Green, The Awakening, when I worked on my cover. I knew that it had to be something engaging and intriguing. Fortunately, I found a wonderful cover artist. Her information is on my website under the Resources for Authors link. I have also provided the names and contact information of trusted and talented professionals related to editing/formatting/publishing. Back to cover design. Through my research, I learned that the chances of someone buying the book of a first-time author with a bland cover are not the best. So, to draw in my target audience, I would require a captivating image. The female on my cover is precisely how I see my heroine; beautiful yet consumed by something that one wishes to understand. A powerful cover is crucial for a new author.

So… I wrote and self-published a novel. Who is going to know that I’ve accomplished this? Ah…ha! This is where the work comes in. More research was required and I’m still learning daily. I decided to utilize social media. I began promoting my book weeks before it was released. I drummed up excitement on Facebook and Instagram. Hundreds of people knew about my creation and began to pre-order it. I chose to self-publish with Ingram Sparks. They list your title on the Ingrams list, and their eBook vendor list is extensive. Again, if no one knows about your book then no one is going to purchase it in any format. Within a week of uploading my files, my title was on Barnes&Noble.com and Amazon.com. The buzz from Facebook and Instagram landed me hundreds of pre-sales. I have also employed my kids. Never underestimate the knowledge of your young adults. They spend hours a day (a very sad fact indeed, yet true) cruising the Internet. They threaded my cover and narrative to countless sites related to my genre, science fiction/fantasy. Using I-Page, I built a website. Yes, I built it! It’s quite user-friendly. I-Page made my pseudonym, S.M. Huggins, easily located through your browser. I linked my Facebook to my website as well enabling many eyes to view it. My website: http://www.SMHuggins.com is a means for people to get to know me and my projects, exposure, exposure.

When my book was in my hand and I held my dream for the very first time, it was an amazing feeling. I was wise enough to purchase several copies. My kids and their proud voices had spread the word to their teachers, the staff at their school. You name it, everyone in our circle knew about my feat. I gave a copy to a teacher and this resulted in the sale of several more. I have also been asked to do a book signing at my children’s school. I need to purchase more copies for that event. The relevance is, once you create then polish your novel, let it go—detach. Allow it to fly without fear. Not everyone may like it. But it is my opinion that one should create for themselves. Detachment is key.

Patricia: Any more books in the pipeline?

SM: As I have already mentioned Green is a series. The Awakening is only the beginning. I have already written two subsequent novels. I wished to continue writing the story versus publishing the first installment once I had finished it. This enabled me to amend facets of the storyline from the first book for overall congruency. In totality, my story flows. I left an opening at the end of the third installment for me to continue the series. Time will tell what I’ll do…

The author’s message to other writers: Thank you for taking your time to get to know me and my project. Write for yourself and enjoy the process. It is truly magical and for me, writing is also quite curative. If you choose to dive into the business of publishing, be sure to do your homework then… detach.

Green, The Awakening by S.M. Huggins available at Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com and many other online sites. http://www.SMHuggins.com

Patricia Fry Launches Her New Mystery Novel

Thursday, October 10th, 2013

Cat-Eye Witness is the second in the Klepto Cat Mystery series and my second attempt at writing a novel. It is now at Amazon ready for your Kindle and it’s only $2.99. You may recall that the first in the series was Catnapped (published in June, 2013). Here’s the storyline for Cat-Eye Witness.

Savannah and Aunt Margaret open the old Forster home to the Hammond Cat Alliance for a fundraiser to help rehabilitate the abused horses rescued months earlier from the catnappers. Before the afternoon is over, the collected funds go missing and someone is murdered in an upstairs bedroom.

Suspicion surrounds Iris, a local waitress and Savannah’s new best friend. The only witness to the murder is Rags, Savannah’s cat. With the assistance of a cat psychic and Rags’s good friend, Charlotte (the young girl with Downs), the cat helps to “paw” the killer…but not before an attempt is made on Rags’s life. The case is solved only after Rags comes face-to-face with the killer for the second time.

Detective Craig Sledge is new to this book, as is Damon, Iris’s errant son. Sledge finds this to be one of the muddiest cases he has ever worked, with inconsistent clues and no apparent motive. He’s constantly surprised, perplexed and impressed by the cat’s uncanny ability to come up with clues he has missed. His fascination with the attractive Iris Clampton also mystifies the detective.

In this story, one of the rescued horses goes into labor and there’s a night of high drama at the ole corral as veterinarians Savannah and Michael work to save the foal. This experience renews Savannah’s deep interest in horses and riding, which ultimately serves to help her bond with a very important surprise character who finds his way into her life and Michael’s just as they prepare to say their wedding vows.

While Rags is the animal star, he isn’t the only animal featured in this story. Layla is back in all of her tangerine beauty. And Rags makes friends with Buffy, a perky almost Himalayan and the inseparable duo, Walter, an all black cat and his sidekick, Lexie, a charming afghan mix. Savannah’s new ride, Peaches, also debuts in this story. An incident with this mare adds another dimension to Savannah’s and Michael’s relationship. Can he hold her with open arms?
Some say this is a love story with a mystery in the background. And it’s a story of family and friendship as newlyweds Margaret and Max continue to be a meaningful part of Savannah’s and Michael’s world.

Order Cat-Eye Witness for your Kindle at http://amzn.to/1bJiq0x

Starting tomorrow, I’ll feature some of my clients and their books in this blog. I think you’ll find their projects and their writing/publishing journeys interesting.

Something New Coming to This Blog

Tuesday, October 8th, 2013

I’m starting a blog series later this week featuring some of my clients’ books. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. I have this blog and followers—an opportunity to provide exposure for some of my clients’ wonderful books. And I wasn’t using it for that purpose.

I notified around two dozen of my clients who have actually produced the books we worked on and so far only a handful of them have responded. But I’m hoping to feature a book or maybe two books and their authors each day for the next few weeks or so. I can tell you this, I’ve worked with some talented authors on a wide variety of interesting projects. I think you’ll enjoy the parade of books I’ll be featuring.

The first ones you’ll read about are an interesting story with a supernatural flare, a book designed to help you enhance your personal and business relationships, one that explains how to triumph over trying times and a swashbuckler of a story set in the glory days of the Roman Empire.

I’ll also be announcing the release of the second in my Klepto Cat Mystery series, Cat-Eye Witness probably this week. I’ve had customers emailing me asking when it’s coming out. Nice to have eager readers waiting for the next book.

In the meantime, visit my websites here:
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com

Contact me here: plfry620@yahoo.com