Guess What I Found?

Laura Howard is about to release her debut novel "The Forgotten Ones" on May 15, 2013 and I am one of the fortunate ones to recieve an early viewing.  *does the happy dance*

By the looks over the cover I was sure I was going to go down a journey of love, you know what I mean.  Woman falls for Man, Man is pig, Man changes ways and Woman changes Man, they live forever...yada, yada, yada....WRONG!  Not by any twist of the imagination are you going to find that tired line in this book.  The Forgotten Ones is a breath of fresh air as it walks that slim line between romance and fantasy.  I would urge you to pick this up and enjoy a quiet afternoon relaxing while taking the journey Ms. Howard has painted with her words. 

In fact this book is more about finding your roots, finding love, finding courage, and finding out about life!  You can't put this book into any one category. 

I am willing to tell you that this mom of four New Hampshire resident knows how to spin a tale, and when I came to the end of the tale I was ready to go hunt  down said New Englander so I can get a glimpse of book two.  If you have the chance you should check out her bio page on Goodreads.  

Good job, Laura!  I can't wait to read more about Allison and her journey of discovery!!  

I forgot to update everyone!!  I am having a drawing for my new book "The House"! Yup, just to go my Facebook page, like the page and click the blue Giveaway button on the top.  The Drawing will end on the last day of the mont.  On 5/1 I will annouce the winner!  *facepalm* HOW EASY IS THAT?  LOL...ok, ok....enough already.  Have a great Saturday! 

Ice Cream..............

First and foremost I want to say my prayers and heartfelt sympathies go out for those in Boston, Mass and West, Texas!  

Now, I want to touch on those who find excuses.  Yup, that is my post today.  I am sick of hearing the excuses.

"I can't because..." and then some lame excuse flows out of their mouth.  I want to shake them, rattle their brains and make them see the only person holding them back is themselves!  Really, it's true.

Think of it this way.  You want something say...an ice cream, just for example.  The ice cream mans truck comes through the neighborhood and you don't make it in time but there is a mini market say a couple of miles down the road.  You really want that ice cream but it's too late since the ice cream man has already come and gone while you were counting your change out. You can whine about the ice cream man leaving before you could get out there or you can put on your shoes and walk a couple miles down the road and get yourself the ice cream that is just as good if not better than what you could have gotten from the ice cream man at the same price. What am I hearing?  Oh, sorry still hearing the whining about being left behind by the ice cream man instead of DOING something about it. Right!  Ok, now let that go, we are now moving on...

Yes, you heard me. That is what I said.  STOP whining.  Why not just suck it up and take plan B? Because that requires WORK!  OMG!!  Yes, real honest to goodness work.  Which to me makes the ice cream that much sweeter, tastier and colder.  However, that isn't what some in the younger generation wants. For some reason they believe that it should be handed to them gift wrapped with a bow and a pony. 

You know it's true.  Why bother to fight it?

The million dollar question is how do we fix it?  We make them work for the ice cream.  Nope, sorry we don't do short cuts.  Work for it.  Take the walk.  Where there is a will there is a way!  You want that creamy cold goodness then you will put your shoes on and you will take the first step.  You will travel those miles and that will make it more sweeter for you, more refreshing, and more satisfying.  

How do we make them work for it?  We don't just give in and give it to them.  Sorry, no I will not chase down the ice cream man and demand he comes back to you.  I will walk with you.  I will cheer you on.  I will ENCOURAGE you, but I will not do it for you.  

So how does this work into writing?  I am so glad you asked.  I have younger people ask questions in groups I belong to all the time.  I love the questions.  I love their thirst for knowledge, but I refuse to just give an answer.  I answer their questions with questions.  I want them to think.  I give them pebbles of knowledge and urge them to chase down those pebbles and make them become rocks, then boulders and finally it's their knowledge.  They worked to find it and that means they will treasure it.  They will remember it.  They will USE it! That is the goal. 

We need those who are willing to work to answer their own questions. Find and treasure those answers, expand upon them, use them and make them their own.  Encourage the younger generation to chase their dreams.  Let them know that they have to work to find the answer but that answer...oh, that answer is well worth it.  How sweet when they come back triumphantly waving that knowledge, sharing it with others that they..THEY found it!  

We need that not just here in America, we need it all over the world.  The independance, the intelligence, the self confidence that they can DO it.  They don't need anyone to hold their hand, they can REASON out a solution, find the answer and grasp that knowledge triumphantly!  We need to allow our younger generations to break sterotypes,  seek out and learn the truth behind everything and everyone.

We don't just need that for ice cream.  We don't just need those truth seekers for future authors.   We need those truth seekers, those hard workers, those self confident individuals in every single aspect of the world today.  If we don't have them I worry what will happen to us when the zombies take over and humanity must fight for life and to rebuild the world again.

Can't is NOT in my Vocabulary!!

I can not stand the word "can't".  I had a discussion today with my son, who happens to be 19 and about ready to graduate high school.   It seems his phrase of the day lately is "I can't...."  Doesn't matter what it is that is what comes up.

I am fed up with hearing that word.  Anybody who says it needs to suck it up.  Remember YOU CAN!  Who says you can't?  People who choose to not do something.  

I live by a few simple rules and one of them is "Where there is a will there is a way!"  If I had listened to everyone out there who said I can't  I would have never done the following:

1. Had a child.  Doctors said I couldn't carry.  Guess what I can prove I could and I did.  I love him and he is my proof of I CAN! (That isn't why I had him, but he is still proof! LOL)
2. Publish a book.  Nobody but 2 people said I could.  Everyone else in my life had no faith in me.  Guess what I have not one but 4 out there to prove I can.  I also happen to think (with a few others by the way) that I am pretty darn good at it.
3. Moved from Nevada to the East Coast.  Yup, I was told I can't.  Guess what?  I don't live in Nevada.  Guess I can!
4. Made management at my last job.  Yup, I was told I couldn't.  Guess what, I did.  And I think most of my employees would tell you (and fellow managers) that I was pretty darn good at that too.  

and the list goes on and on....

I think the point of this is only those who want an EXCUSE not to do something uses that word.  If you want to write and publish a book.  YOU CAN!  If you want to walk across the US or whatever country you live in YOU CAN!  If you want to make a music video, be a singer...whatever you want to do, YOU CAN DO IT!  Don't talk about it, don't think about it, just DO IT!  YOU CAN!! 

It seems that many of the younger generations have forgotten that or maybe they were never taught.  Why?  I don't know.  It seems they have lost their will to achieve anything in their life. I hear nothing but excuses.  YOU CAN DO IT!  YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR IT! 

Then again maybe I am being too hard on the younger generation, but I can say that from some of the kids my son has made friends with...*shudders*  I am afraid to grow old.  I don't want these people running my country and taking care of me in a nursing home.  *stops in thought* No, I am not being too hard on them.  They are being TOO EASY on themselves!   

It's time to take control of your destiny!  It's time to do whatever you desire (within reason.  No crimes, please, something productive!).  Write and publish that book.  Go to College.  Be a productive member of society.  Be kind to your fellow man.  Most importantly, when someone tells you that you CAN'T, remember YOU CAN!! 

Me + Twitter = Confused, Confused, Confused!!!

Wow!  I looked at my twitter account and I have 41 followers. LOL  Pretty good for making like maybe 5 retweets or tweets in the last few days.

Let me tell you, I had to resort to asking my 19 year old son how to use the darn thing.  No joke.  I am just not as young and hip as I used to be.  I have found this out the hard way!

Our conversations go something like this:

Me:  What does the hashtag thing work?
Son:  *heavy sigh*  Really?  Ok, so (and then I fade out and hear) blah blah blah....are you listening to me?
Me:  Yes, of course.
Son:  So what did I just say?
Me giving him a blank look
Son: See!  Now pay attention.  It's not that hard.
Me:  eyes roll into the back of my head
Son:  Just give me your laptop. *sigh*  What did you want to say?
Me: I don't know....
Son gets up and leaves the room with no further conversation.
Me calling out sadly:  No, please don't go...I am so confused!
Son:  Later Mom.
Me: *heavy sigh*

So I may have figured out how to set the darn thing up, figured out what some of it is but ya know, the rest of it confuses me.  

Not just confusion, major loss.  I stare blankly and read other's tweets all the while chuckling at what they are saying, clicking their links and then thinking to myself 'Why can't I do this?'  So I have determined that it's not my age (a very young 40ish) it's my mind.  Twitter does not seem as straight forward to me as say Facebook was or myspace *yes, I still cruise around there sometimes* .  I don't understand the rules.  I have found some awesome articles that direct me on proper usage, how to get peoples attention. 

One article by Derek Halpern tells me that I should be funny or informative.  I cock my head to the side and become thoughtful.  Me...funny?  Hummm, is that possible.  I am not seeing that.  My confusion about some of the "simple" things in life that my son finds amusing when I take them on others probably would not.

So what was the other article you ask?  Oh, that helpful nugget was written by Michael Hyatt and where I find his article a source of inspiration I wonder if this will ever sink in?  He says "link with others" which I take to share with the world and the world will be interested in sharing with you.  With those I follow and that is many (not nearly as many as some I have noticed!), I see they like to share.  I have no problem enjoying their posts.  Would they really want to read about my struggle with twitter?

I don't know but I suppose we are about to find out.  I am going back to study their articles again. *raises glass of coke* Here's to teaching this well aged dog new tricks.

*calls out* Son, Son, how do I post this on twitter again???

Why do I do it?

I woke up this morning wondering why?  Why do I write? What propels me to put my thoughts out there for everyone to see.  Some view them kindly, others are critics. Why?  Since I agonize so much over the reviews of my critics, why not just stop?


I can't.  I can't stop telling my story and this is why.

I want you to see what I see.  I want you to feel what I feel.  I want the world to have the option of a mind vacation (which is what I see a good book or story as being).   I want those words to sensuously wrap themselves around you, titillate your senses and make you gasp with surprise, squeal in delight, smile with warmth, cringe in horror, or simply to bask in the warmth of love.  I want to take you on a roller coaster ride of emotion.

I want you to visit those places that inhabit my mind.  Those places I visit often during the day for a mini escape.  I want you to see the sandy  barren escape of my childhood home in Nevada, which is partially why I wrote Nevada Free.  I want you to see the tiny town of Misplaced Legends, the location of my book Misplaced Legends, that I have filled with mystical creatures of all kinds that I built in my mind after wandering through Wyoming briefly many years ago.  I want you to shudder with the coming of the mist, the sky darkening with me as the ghosts come to visit as they do in "The House" (due out in a couple of weeks).  

I write to offer an escape, a mini vacation.  I do not write for fame or fortune, I leave that to the big name authors.  I do write so that someone out there is inspired.

Yes, INSPIRED to pick up my book and smile.  Or to read and say "If that 40ish, but very young looking 40ish, woman can do this and self publish, I CAN TO!". 

I write, my friends, followers, loved ones, and in spite of my critics because I do.

I have been NOMINATED!!

First off:  Happy Easter Everyone!!!

Next I want to thank K. Nowinsky for nominating me for the Liebster Blog Award!  It's very exciting to be nominated being such a new blogger!  Now I have some things I have to do:

11 Random Facts about myself:

1. I am a Mom of a 19 year old Man boy.

2. I love dogs.

3. I drive a Honda CRV.

4. I am a writer.

5.  I am my worst critic in everything I do.

6.  My favorite fruit is banana. 

7.  My biggest pet peeve is people who don't take care of their children.

8.  My favorite way to relax is to read.

9.  What is my idea of a perfect day is to ride out to the middle of nowhere on my horse (when I had one) and spend the day just riding and not thinking.

10. If I could talk to my future self I would ask when does Justin Beiber's voice finally change?

11. If I could ask one thing of my readers it is what makes a good book for you?



11 Questions from my Nominator:

11.What is your all time favorite movie?  My all time favorite movie is P.S. I love you.  I love the complexity and uniqueness of the movie.  It ranks right up there with Steele Magnolias and Notebook. (I know, I am a such a girl! LOL)

10.  If you could go anywhere where would it be?  I would go to Louisiana.   I love the accent, the people, and I want to explore.  I love new places.  I want to go hunt down the Swamp People and hang out with Troy!!  "CHOOOT 'EM!!" 

9.How often are you online and for how long?  The better question is how often am I offline?  That would be only when sleeping.  I wake up, turn on comp, do the morning thing then I am on here working, researching, antagonizing, whatever works. :)

8.What is your favorite sport to play or watch (or both)? That would FOOTBALL!!  GO BEARS!! (Even if they did let Eurlacher slip thru their fingers (IDIOTS!))

7.  If you could change one thing about your life what would it be and why?  I would change NOTHING...I have no regrets.  Life is a learning experience, and you learn from your mistakes.  I have learned ALOT! but I would do it all over again.

6.  What was the last song you listened to?  The Walk of Life by Dire Straits!  One of my most favorite bands!

5. When was the last time you donated to Charity? I am charity, I donate time when I can.

4.Have you ever ridden in the subway or mass transit?  Where and why?   I have never done subway or mass transit.  I live in the country and would probably be lost for years if I had to figure out the bus or subway system.

3.Are you happy with how you look?  Why or why not?  Is anybody happy with how they look?  Nope.  I would drop some weight but other than that no worries.

2.Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? The last person I talked to on the phone was my sister +Kathie Johnson !  LOL  

1.What was the last book you read and would you recommend it?  Shreds of Humanity by MJ Hangge and YES!  LOVE me some Zombies and I love how he went a different direction than the norm!!


11 Questions for my Nominee's

1.   If you were a cupcake what kind would you be and why?
2.  What was your first car?  
3.  What would your dream car be?
4.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
5.  If you could cure one disease which would it be and why?
6.  Are you a dog or cat person?  Why?
7.  What is your favorite genre of book? Why?
8.  Who is your favorite artist?  Why?
9.  Where did you place in birth order?  Oldest, middle, baby?
10.  If you were to meet with anyone you wanted to either dead or alive who would that be and why?
11.  If you had to give advice on rebuilding civilization what would it be the first thing you would have built and why?

My Nominees are:
1.Cyn
2.Natalie
3.Vandervaart Family
4.The Weavers
5.Theresa
6.Elaine Bittencourt
7.Tammy
8.Scott
9.Matt Goss
10.Lauren
11.Martha




Thank you, K Nowinsky for Nominating me.  I will be checking you out next time, or the next time....LOL  And thank you to all of my nominee's that participate!

I took the Plunge!

You are not going to believe this!  I finally took the plunge!  No, no, I haven't gotten married!  I finally am on twitter.  No! Really.  Quit laughing already!

I am the first to say when it comes to the electronic media I am a chicken and get extremely confused!  Seriously confused.  Look, if it wasn't for the fact I found an extremely excellent writer who self publishes and was willing to teach I would have never published my first book.  I had NO clue except for a smattering of html that I knew from when I was younger and wanted to build web pages...Oh, no worries that phase has come and gone.  I LOVE to write, therefore, you are stuck with me for now! LOL

I have been after my child (he is 19 so he knows this stuff since he uses the thing!) to teach me.  We never got around to it.  Since I am taking my time going to my next work in progress, I decided to take yet another stab at this twitter thing.  

For those who have yet to brave it, go to the FAQ page, hit the tour button and VOILA! you wouldn't believe how easy it is after you read the directions (For the record, yes sometimes I skip that step!)

So far so good, right?  Right.  So now that I have lined up some folks I want to follow I come to find out I already have 3 followers!  Imagine that!  I am so tickled I had to blog about it!  LOL  If you want to find me here is what you click: Nan Carder on Twitter!

Oh, and just thought I would let you know.  Within the next 2 weeks I will be releasing "The House".  My first suspense.  *crosses fingers*  I think it's outstanding.  I love the ending (I am sure it will be unexpected by many!).  I can't wait for YOU to read it!

Google Docs

I love Google Docs.  It makes it easy for me to share what I want to share with my editor, with friends, and I have recently found a few lovely little add's that works for me.

My new novel coming out is "The House".  I have some concerns about the "Hill/Mountain Speak" of a couple of my characters.  I wanted some feedback, so I have found a way to set up a form in Google Docs that I can link to my website to get that feedback.  I strongly encourage new writers to use the tools that is available to you.  

I have begun using Freemind.  That too has been extremely helpful, if you like what my old English Profs would call clusters.  There is a You Tube tutorial for it, however, its pretty simple.  I used to use outlines, and on occasion I do use it if I need to get more to the bare bones of what I am doing.

However, my newest implement is a "Street Team".  I am sure you have heard of it before, but this is all new to me.  I have put together so far a team of 20, and we are still growing, to spread the word about my books.  Not only the ones that are out, but also the ones that are available on Nook, Amazon, and Kobo, but also the one that is coming out in April.

There job is to simply tell everyone on every social network about my books by posting links and spreading the word far and wide as it goes. I ask that they do this twice a day. In return they not only get a free download for their work, but I also give them a free copy of the new books the day before I publish.  

Putting together a Street Team isn't easy.  I have enlisted the friends I have on FB as well as G+ to help me out.  So far so good.  I made one person the "lead".  And this is for both of us a learning process.  She is doing a great job so far, I think.

I have also found that Goodreads is also a great place to visit.  Not only do I get to learn about new books out there and what others think of them, but I am crazy happy over the fact I can post my own books to get the word out.

So I am wondering, what other places do you visit to hear about new books?  Have you been to visit Only The Indies to see what they think of some of the books out there?  

Well, I am off to work on the edit for "The House" , when the cover is finished I will share on here.  

I find it interesting....

I was reading today about Andrew Sullivan.  I, by the way, am not one of those always in the know type people even though I watch the evening news, and have no clue who the man is.  I did find it interesting that he is charging $19.99 for people to follow/read his blog for a year.  Here is the link if you want to read more about it:  Andrew Sullivan Article.  By the way, did I mention that he has already made over a half million in about two months from this?  Oh yhea, interesting stuff this is.

So that started me thinking about blogs in general.  What is a blog?

Well, in my opinion, blogs are online columns like Dear Abby or something of that sort, that people come to be entertained or informed at concerning one individuals view on a certain topic or idea.  It may have helpful tips or ideas, or it might just be a rant or spout off.  

So I ran off to wiki and looked it up.  Yep, that is basically what they said.  

Now I am thinking about this further and wondering what is it this man has to say that is worth that kind of money?  I did notice that someone commented that he criticized Israel.   Well, folks, I couldn't tell you.  I am not bothering to pay the cash to find out.  If anybody knows, please feel free to comment at the bottom and let me know. Regardless of what he has to say, I find it interesting that he is charging and people are paying about the same as what a newspaper subscription is for a year to see just what he has to say. 


Now, I personally don't think anyone needs to pay me anything to read my ramblings, as infrequent as they are, but hey, if you want to contribute to cause, please feel free to let me know and I can set up something. Just kidding, ya know?

I just thought I would mention this because....well, honestly it was just interesting.  

Now I am off to finish up "The House"...I see an end in sight and I can't wait to see how it happens!   If you want a sneak peek and haven't found my webpage yet, here is the address:  Nan Carder Sneak Peeks.  There is a short 5 question survey you can answer anonymously or you can hit the contact me link and email me.  I would love to hear your feedback! 

Have a great day and happy reading.

How I am getting the word out!

So I had another Aha! moment yesterday after much headache and frustration.  And some heartbreak as well.

I have just recently added two of my books to Barnes & Noble for sale, and I want to get the word out.  So I jump over to my website and add the buttons.  I make sure they work and they do!  So far so good, right? Ok, that was good I will give that much.

So then I also add a survey at the bottom of sneak peeks and the first 7 chapters of "The House"  the new one I am currently working on.  I am so excited about it...I just can't stand it.  I just want to hear what people think about it...will it be a wash or will it be a rave?  

So now I am sure that I have it done, how to get the word out?  WHAM! It hits me, go post it all on Facebook and let my friends help me spread the word.  I get all kinds of excited and that is what I do, but that isn't quite the end result.

I envisioned copious amounts of shares going on, that worst case scenario I would only have a dozen or so people sharing, but that is start, right?  Sure, right...


I posted to my Facebook page and waited for my friends to share the posts...I waited all day.  I had two shares.   One from my bestie and one from my fiance (because I asked him to on my way walking past him!), that was it.  I heard crickets literally from my laptop.  *deep sigh*  It appears  the way FB is set up,  unless your peeps on online at the moment or go check your wall, there is a good chance they won't see it.

So today, I was determined to find a way to get the word out.  My bread and butter (and my dogs food) depends on me making just a little extra money a month, so I need to make sure I get the word out!  I am proud of my work, I want to show it off as well!! SOoooooooooooooo, this morning I post again on Facebroke (not at all happy with that right now!), and low and behold I had some shares!  Now I am tickled but not quite satisfied.  

What to do, what to do?  BOOK CLUBS!  So onto G+ I go to spread the word.  I am waiting for a response, but maybe, just maybe this might be a way to go.

Oh, and if anybody stumbles upon this, check out my website at Nan Carder Sneak Peeks...I know I am just shameless...LOL

A Time To Write....

I think one of the hardest part of writing is the actual writing.  I spend a great deal of time mentally putting together my story.  I want to know who my characters are before I begin actually writing.

I then have to put a face to my characters.  In my process I use an outline. I outline all my main characters.  What do they look like, where do they come from, etc...most importantly in those notes it tells me what kind of person my character is.  Most of mine lead characters have my quirky sense of humor, quick with a response and are often sarcastic, which actually reflects me. 

Then I want to know the place I am writing about.  Often I wish I sold so many books I could afford to go to these places, like Mexico, Louisiana, etc... I love learning the history and meeting new people, alas I am merely a poor struggling writer so I have to do research.  I want to know history, the people, the food, all the stuff that makes it authentic and real.  I like to include smells, taste, and the flavor of the surroundings my characters are going to be in.  I want to share what I think it would be like with my readers so that is where I have to let my imagination go nuts and really try to get that feel.  

One of the hardest part of the characters is figuring out what makes mine unique.  I want them to stand out.  Just because Author A's dragon is green and spits fire doesn't mean mine has to.  Mine can be chartreuse and spit green peas.  It's in my imagination, it's my story to tell so I can make it whatever I want, right?  Right!  I always have the hardest time with that, believe it or not.   So many times I have caught myself following the "norm"  or the mainstream....I think that is where writing is the hardest.  Find your uniqueness and go with it.  

My next outline is what will happen.  What is my start and what is my end result.  The middle writes itself for me, once I begin I just go where my mind and fingers take me.   I have to remember that my readers want to be taken down an unpredictable road.  What will the end result be?  Ok, so now that I know that time to put in motion the fact that my characters have to not only do it the hard way, figure it all out, and then they have to end with the result I want it to go with.  

As I write I find that ideas occur to me as I get to certain places.  How can I make this ghost fighting different from everybody else?  How can I make this dragon different?  What makes my  unicorn/centaur/witch unique to everybody else's?  Is it the look, what they do, or how they speak?  

I think my point is, you have to let your imagination fly away with you.  I think to be successful you have to work hard at making your book different from everyone else, because frankly, I think readers are tired of predictable  they are tired of the same old stuff.  Now is the time to let your imagination take off and tell you what you want to share.   

In my new book "The House"  I have to find a new way to fight ghosts, ghoulies, and all the ooglie booglies that are after my characters.  I think those who read it will be pleasantly surprised with what I have come up with!

Until next time, I wish you happy reading and productive writing! 

Update

So I know I have disappeared for a bit, however, I have a really good explanation.

I have been working on "The House".  So far it's coming along nicely.  I have some interesting twists in there, I believe.  I have spooked myself a couple of times and everything seems to be flowing smoothly. Either I am a big chicken, or this stuff might be good!  We will see what you have to say about it soon enough! 

Regardless, I know I have one of two that are following my posts and I figured I better send out an update.  I have no words of advice today, since this alone is a small break in my writing time (in which I am still writing of sorts) and I am I am itching to get back to the story.  Later I might not have remembered to stop by and make a few comments so I figured now was as good a time as any.

I'm off to work some more.  Have a great day and Happy Reading!! :)

K.I.S.S.

Good morning!


I think one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received was "Write how you speak"  and the follow up to that is "Don't use big words just because you think it makes you sound smart.  So what if it takes two little words to say the same as a big pompous word, your not out to impress them with how many big words you can use, your out to entertain them without sending them to the dictionary."  Let me tell you, most of my English/Writing teachers were the bomb!! 

I only bring this up because I am finding that I see more and more of writers pulling out these huge words that send me looking for my dictionary.  Now, I make no bones about it, I am a older, we will say 40ish, woman who may or may not have been slowly forgetting more than what some of these youngsters may ever know, however, I feel no need to try to impress my readers because I can spell discombobulated and know how to use it in a sentence.  I do know if I can say "she was confused" it makes the same point and my readers have a clear understanding of what I mean and I have discombobulated none of them in the process.  

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  I also need to point out, it's not that I think my readers don't have the vocabulary to know what I am talking about, it's that I think that its a smoother read when you don't take a shotgun and pepper a piece with the biggest words you can find.

Write how you speak.  That is how I speak, this is how I write.  It's simple.  When writing that is what I find I like to do...the K.I.S.S. method.  "Keep it simple, stupid."  I actually mentally chant that before going in to do a rewrite or an extensive edit.  No joke.  I have to remind myself or I can be as bad as some of these other writers are.  

I just thought I would share what was on my mind when I woke up this morning.  Yes, this is exactly what was on my mind as I took my ankle biters out for their morning walk. 


Have a great day, see you tomorrow.

The Damn Is Busted

Good morning.

I have been doing some thinking about what type of writer I am here lately.  I don't think I can be put in a category as of yet.

I have a western out...that would be Nevada Free.  Then I wrote From One Diabetic To Another, which is basically a how to help yourself book while your waiting for the diabetic class.  Let me tell you that was one scary time for me, that first month, trying to find out information.  Finally, I decided I would try to make it easier on others in the same boat and share what information I had gathered.  By the way, I did so good getting my diabetes under control that I blew my Doc's mind. LOL  So if you want to give it a shot, there is the link.  

Any who, then I wrote Misplaced Legends which is hard to put in a category.  I mean its modern day, set in a fictional town in a real US state with fictional characters that are both human and fantasy creatures (dragons, gnomes, elves, witches, centaurs, etc...).  Is that considered fantasy?  What category would I put that in?  Not a hard core science fiction, I would think.  I know it would fall in the realm of humor, dark sarcastic humor at times, but humor nonetheless.

My next coming out is "The House".  It's spooky, with some sarcastic humor (I am really good at that I think...LOL), superstitions  ghosts, and I kinda spooked myself a time or two while writing it.  I guess that would fall under supernatural horror. 

My point is, I don't write just one type of book, like some of the big name authors like Stephen King.  He just writes horror or Patricia Cornwell who sticks primarily to crime.  They know what they are very good at what they do. By the way, both of them are two of my favorite authors! 

My process is I see something that catches my eye and I take a picture.  Once I have that picture, I put it on my desktop and I take a look when I need inspiration.  It might not be a picture, it may be a comment someone makes. I stick a electronic post it up on my computer and then I can be reminded of what I was going for.  Regardless, one of the two happens to start the ball rolling.

Then I just start spit balling ideas with my editor.  What direction do I want to go?  What do I want to be my end result?  What will I need researched?  All these come out in those brainstorming sessions. I take notes on Google Docs where I share them with her via computer as well as on the phone.  If something hits either one of us, we just throw it up on the notes section (she has her color of ink, I have mine!) to be checked over a few times before I actually get the ball rolling.

Finally I begin to write.  Once I start I just keep going until my eyes are crossed and my fingers are too tired to type.  Then I take a break, do the dishes, whatever I need to do, and then begin again.  During the entire writing process, just before I begin typing again, I edit the last chapter written.  I can refresh where I was, remind myself what direction I am going, correct some of my glaring mistakes and then continue.  

If I get lost, I stop check my notes, think about it and begin again. However....

However, there are times when I get stuck.  I mean major nasty stuck which leaves me drooling, pacing and zombie like for the duration.  That is when I turn to outside sources.  I may make mention of what I am writing and then listen to comments flow like water.  Sometimes a great idea slips out, I catch it, and expand the bugger until I am happy.  Sometimes, I just have to put it to bed and ignore it.  Eventually I will pick back up on my train of thought and run with it.

I have learned not to fight it.  Don't even think about forcing it.  Forcing it is like forcing a teenager to remove the phone from their ear....you need surgery, major surgery for it.  By that I mean I would have perform major surgery after I was done with that section...for me it will sound stilted, sophomoric and annoying.  Conversations won't flow, readers won't get the idea I am trying to weave around and immerse them in. I know from experience that is the worst of my worst. So what do I do?

I leave it alone.  I let it be the worm at the back of my mind.  I let it slither around, grow, let it nibble on this, that and the other.  With any luck it won't be a worm at all!  It will be a caterpillar that will transform into a butterfly!!  When that butterfly blossoms, so will the idea and then the words begin to gush like water through a busted dam!  Oh, that is the lucky day.

In the meantime while I am waiting for the dam to break, what do I do?  Oh, I read, clean house and most of all I start a new brainstorming project! It never hurts to help that dam break with a little explosives! LOL  I find just with some writing of another subject  I can help myself.

And now, I am off to work on "The House".  Happy reading. 

The New Website

Today I started my own web site.  Actually, I started building my own web site..LOL...there is still A LOT more work to do but I am having fun playing with it. I think it will be up and going in the next month or so.


In it I am aiming to do the following:

1. Make it easy to download my books.
2. Make it so my readers can download my books before they even come out on Amazon or B&N.
3. Make it easy to share my newest work with you so you can give me feedback!
4. Give you a little background on me.
5. Share some of the reviews I have gotten before the books even come out.
6. Make it easy for you, my readers, to contact me if you want.

I think that about covers it. LOL   

I am thinking that I am having a blast with this.  

Anyway, short chat today.  I am back to work.  I want to get The House further along for an April release date.

Happy reading.

P.S.  If you really want to see the website this is the web address: http://nltalbert70.wix.com/nancardersbooks

Marley and Me....:)

With today's blustery weather, we have gusts bad enough to rock the house a bit, some snow flurries, and  dark skies.  I think I am ready for spring.

Marley, she is in the photo above, is my cohort in crime.  She cuddles into my chair with me while I am working on the laptop. Her antics remind me to keep to the lighter side of life, she insists I take breaks and then there are times she will do something to inspire me on certain areas of whatever piece I am working on.

Today and tomorrow Nevada Free is an Amazon Freebie.  I hope many enjoy it.   

I think I am just going to keep it short and sweet today.  I have a ton of words floating around in my head looking to be put in "The House", my newest I am hoping to have released by the end of March beginning of April.  By then I will have all my books on both Amazon and B&N.  Keep an eye out for it!

Have a wonderful day, stay safe and warm since  I hope to see you back tomorrow.

Ramblings

Good Afternoon:

Seems I am running behind today.  I have a bit of what my Momma called "lead in the arse".  Actually I have been doing research for my new book coming out called "The House".

A brief synopsis is there is a couple that moves into a  new house and the hidden old mountain cabin next door is empty.  One night the man, David, hears noises and see's lights.   The next morning, through a chain of events they begin to research the old place and find out it is the site of many murder/suicides.   

And that is all I will tell you about it except that it takes place in the Mountains of North Carolina.  So I have had to do some research on superstitions of my area because you know those hill folk, they have a ton of them.  

A few of them I have found interesting because they aren't just hill superstitions but ones I have heard all my life such as:

Don't pick up a penny on tails and keep it, give it to the next person you see to give them good luck.

If a bird flies into your house there will be a death in your family.

Death always comes in three, as does bad luck.

Don't cut your hair on Sunday because it will grown back quicker. (I guess if it's a bad hair cut then that could be considered a good thing! LOL)


Nonetheless, I have found several sites with some interesting superstitions.  So my question is: what are some you know?

I look forward to hearing your responses! :)

Have a great day and check back in tomorrow! 

Advice to an New Author

Good Morning:


Today there was an interesting question posted by an up and coming writer about words of advice.  I am sure there are others that have the same question so I thought I would answer it here.

1. Don't fall in love with your words.  When you are writing making changes is always a possibility.  Sometimes your great ideas don't work in one area of the story but work in another but you have to change the wording.  Sometimes that great idea won't work at all and you should save it for another story.  Sometimes words have to be cut or a sentence sounds stilted and hinders the flow so it will have to be changed, reworded or expanded upon to make it fit.  Don't be afraid of the red pen!  If it don't fit, toss it out!

2. Find a great editor.  Your editor can be a friend who has background in writing or it can be an actual editor you have to pay.  That person should not only be reading your work for grammar and punctuation errors (trust me, Word or Google Docs don't always catch them all!) but also should be looking at the flow of your work.  Your reader shouldn't be able to tell if you are frustrated and can't find the right words to express your idea and your editor should be able to tell that.  That person should also be able to tell you the truth and ask you to look it over and rewrite it.  I would suggest talking to English Professors or Teachers during the summer months when they may be available to do so.  Many I have found are both happy to do it and flattered that you asked them. 

3.  If you are going Indie and doing your own publishing for Amazon, B&N, etc...then you should do research and find the programs that work for you.  A basic knowledge of html is a good idea.  I do all my own formatting in Crimson Editor,   then I use Mobipocket eBook Creator to put it together and finally I use Calibre to convert for ePub on B&N.  I can also preview the formatting and adjust what needs to be fixed on Calibre.  I know it sounds like a lot, but it's not.  Where did I learn this?  Oh from a wonderful individual named Judith Tramayne.  She has a website called  A Good Read.  She offers courses on how to put together a professional e-book.  You can always pay someone, however, I would rather not put out the extra money.  If it isn't done right the only person to blame is myself.  By the way, there are other programs out there that you can do all of your formatting and conversions on, however, those are just the ones I am comfortable using.  Do your research and find what works for you.

4.  Set a goal.  My goal is 1000 words a day minimum.  I start working after my son goes to school and I can start and stop whenever I need to. This is important to me because some days I am inspired and some days I am not.  I don't force it, I learned that the hard way.  If I am not feeling inspired that day I still write, but it's not on my novel.  I will pull up my file for ideas and just start throwing out possible piece ideas for the future.  Sometimes that puts me in the mood to work, sometimes not.  If not then when I hit the point of frustration I take a break.  I may not write for the rest of the day but I did get my mental workout for the day.

5. If you are doing this to be rich, you won't.  Only a handful make the big bucks.  If your doing this for fame, banish that thought.  Fame is fleeting, fickle, and very difficult to attain.  If your writing for love and enjoyment then continue because that makes it worth doing.  I write to share my story.  I want others to be taken to far off places and see what I see in my minds eye. 

6.  Find some beta readers for before publishing.  You don't want to KNOW them.  People who know you usually won't tell you the truth and you want to know the truth, their opinion.  A wonderful writer +James Ash suggested book clubs.  He includes a questionnaire that he allows to be turned in anonymously.  I have recently decided to implement this tool.  I think it's an awesome idea.  You want to know how John Q. Public is going to view your book, then this is a great way, in my humble opinion, on how to do it.

7.  I use Google Docs, I like it better than Word for a couple of reasons.  Not only can I adjust it to fit me, but I can write, give my editor access and she can edit as I work.  I don't have to send it to her.  Once I have given her permission and sent the link via email she can access it whenever she wants.  Why is that important to me?  Then I don't have to send her a zillion emails with the doc enclosed, and that means I spend less time on my email and more time on my love of writing.  Find the program that works best for you and use it.  Here is a link to another wonderful writer, +Josh Rollins,  that gives great advice on how to adjust  Google Doc to fit you.


Finally I would suggest that you sit down in a comfortable spot and just write until you can write no more.  Have fun with it.  Don't worry about mistakes just move forward with that first draft.  Editing will fix any errors. 

 Put your idea on paper.  Don't talk about it, 

you will talk yourself out of it. Just do it.

I hope this helps.  I have other bits of advice that occur to me from time to time and I will probably add them on, but for now this is what has helped me the most.

Have an awesome day!!

Welcome

Welcome!

If you can't tell, I am totally new at the whole blogging thing.  I am told that what happens is just kinda like an online diary.  I can do that.  I will probably discuss more than anything the writing process.  You see, I am a writer/author.  

Nevada Free   was my first novel I wrote at the urging of a good friend on Face Book.  It has been recently re-edited and put back out for sale.   It's a western/love story/crime novel.  

The whole process of writing and learning how to get it published just about did me in.  I was rushing to finish as well as juggling any research concerning not just publishing but also fact checking where it was called for.  Since then I have gotten real smart and my BFF +Kathie Johnson  was called in to help me out.  

I couldn't do this without +Kathie Johnson.  She edits, encourages, researches, and on top of all that she is my one woman cheering section.  I want to say a special thank you now to her. :)  Looking forward to many years to come of her having my 6!

I have a family, they encourage me.  Not just my immediate family (my fiancee Steve and my son Dalton) but an extended family that encourages me every step of the way.  I want to thank them too.  They know who they are which is good since there are too many to mention here! LOL

Anyway, I am headed back to the drawing board.  Working on a new novel called The House.  I will tell you more about my North Carolina Horror story later.   

Have a good day and check back in later.