Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

I’m fairly new to Twitter, and I’m always wondering what to tweet about. I subscribe to The Book Marketing Expert newsletter and this week they included an article covering things for people to tweet about. Here are a few of them.

Thirteen Things For Authors to Tweet About

1. Teach stuff – teach a little mini-lesson on Twitter. Delve into your area of expertise or just talk about book publishing and how to get published.

2. Share sites or blogs that your followers would be interested in. Be their “filter” to new and exciting information.

3. Use Twitter as a news source: you can easily announce news both from your world (as long as it relates to your topic) and from the world of your expertise.

4. Tweet any good reviews your book gets, it’s always fun to share the good stuff!

5. Feed your blog through Twitter using Twitterfeed.com

6. Use YouTube to share helpful videos you think your followers will love.

7. Run a contest.

8. Ask for advice or ask questions that encourage responses.

9. Talk about the latest trends in your industry.

10. Review a product or book on Twitter.

11. Post an inspirational quote or message.

12. Follow big names in your market on Twitter: this will often bring in their followers too, and you want to see what the “big guys” are up to.

13. Widen your network – follow other Twitter folk, this will not only give you some ideas for your own “tweets” but it’s a great way to network with other writers or professionals.

Source: Reprinted from “The Book Marketing Expert newsletter,” a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Are you on Twitter? If so, what is your Twitter handle? (I’m @ShelleyMunro) What do you tweet about?

Several years ago I started a tradition. On the first day of the year I always do some writing. This year was no different and I worked on the final story in my Middlemarch Mates series. It’s coming along nicely.

I have quite a bit of writing news to start off the New Year.

1. A Discreet Affair is due for release from Liquid Silver books on 17 January 2011.

2. I’ve contracted a Naughty Nooner story with Ellora’s Cave. I don’t have a release date as yet, but Lightning Strikes Twice is a Middlemarch Mates story. The action takes place at the same time as Scarlet Woman. This makes a total of twelve books in the series. A nice round number to end the series, I think.

3. I’ve also sold a story called Christmas is Coming to Ellora’s Cave. This story is set in the same world as Fancy Free and it is due for release around Nov/Dec 2011.

4. Resisting Tamaki was nominated for a CAPA in the Fantasy/Sci-fi erotic romance category at The Romance Studio. The winners will be announced in Feb 2011.

5. I received a ripper of a review for The Spurned Viscountess from Reviews from the Heart. The reviewer said, “This was such a great book and one that left me with the feel good feeling I love so much.” I scored a Totally Smitten rating. Yay!

How did you start your New Year?

I was cruising the Internet the other day—as one does—and came across a review for one of my books.

One star, it said. I wish I could get the time back that I wasted reading this book. Ouch!

Now this post isn’t a complaint about the review or the reviewer. I know not everyone will like my books or get me as an author. Let’s face it. We’d have a boring world if we all agreed and thought the same way about everything.

No, this post is about time and time wastage. These days we all have lots of commitments and ways to spend our time. I don’t know about you, but I waste a lot of time on the Internet. Some of the time I spend on the net is for research or for promo but sometimes I wander aimlessly among websites and the time just passes.

I made myself a promise the other day. I was going to change. I’ve been limiting my time on the web and focusing on writing and exercise. Oh, and there’s a little housework chucked in there too, although Mr. Husband sometimes disputes this.

My writing has been going well, and recently I’ve starting working on two projects at once. I do 2000 words on my main project in the morning and, in the afternoon, I work on a secondary project, writing as many words I can fit in before my husband arrives home. I’ve started walking in the mornings and the jolt of fresh air actually seems to get me in the mood for writing. Limiting my time on the Internet has freed up time for reading and I’ve been attacking my to-read pile. I’ve also been listening to more music and do a little plotting while I’m exercising.

Sometimes, I’ll go to one of my favorite cafes and write there. The change of scenery always works and my work count is usually double what I normally do.

It’s true that I’m not doing as much promo. Instead I’ve picked a few things I enjoy doing such as blogging and Facebook. I don’t visit loops and forums as much as I used to. Whether this will impact my sales, I don’t know. Time will tell. All I know is that I was getting stressed trying to do all the things “people” say an author should do to promote their books.

That’s what I’ve been doing to change things up in my world. What about you? Do you sometimes wish you could get time back? What are your worst time wasters? How do you budget your time?

I spent the weekend doing edits for A Discreet Affair, and today I got a glimpse of the cover. It’s absolutely beautiful. Watch this space!

Meantime, here’s the blurb:

Summer, 1940. Britain is at war, and her brave fighter pilots attempt to keep the enemy at bay.

The last thing Pamela Allison wants is another man, especially one like her brutal, now deceased husband. Her managing mother wants her to live with her in London, but Pamela accepts a job from her aunt, working in the family store in the village near Biggin Hill.

Enter Michael Stedman, a Spitfire pilot based at the Biggin Hill airbase. Depressed and a little drunk after the death of his friend, he doesn’t expect to meet a beautiful woman during a night out at the local pub. He’s not looking for anything permanent since a pilot’s life is fraught with danger. All he wants is a little feminine company to take his mind off the war.

London is under siege by the enemy. Bombs drop every night and the danger increases for everyone. Michael and Pamela’s relationship changes and they become lovers. They are happy with their secret liaison until gossip and the past intrude and threaten to destroy everything, including her good reputation.

Today, I’ve been busy working on my current WIP. It’s a contemporary menage a trois and a followup to Fancy Free. I’ve also received some great news from one of my editors. It’s a little early to make an announcement – I like to tease.

I did an interview and totally forgot to mention it here on my blog. Here’s the link to the interview with Rhonda Print.

Tomorrow I’m starting an online course on writing alternative histories/steampunk with Savvy Authors. I can’t recommend this group enough. They have lots of excellent online classes and that’s just the start of their resources. You can join as a basic member to get a taste of what’s on offer or pay to become a premium member. Full details here.

How was your weekend? If you’re a writer, what are you working on at present?

I’ve decided my favorite part of writing is getting the first draft down. That’s when I’m happiest and I plod along, writing 2000 words a day. (Around 10,000 a week since I try not to work on weekends). Lately I’ve been in edit mode for books I’ve contracted. I like working with my editors and making my book sparkle, but I get to a stage where I’m so sick of my book the thought of reading it once more makes me want to scream. I grit my teeth and do it, because that’s part of being a writer. It’s my job.

All this editing is good news though, because it means I have lots of releases: June, July, August and September. Check out my coming soon page for further details. And I can get back to doing the part I love most – creating new books.

It was fun working on Lucky Charm again. (working title). My word count stands at 13,200 as of today. Lucky Charm is a historical set in 1940 England. I really enjoy this era since it comes with lots of inbuilt conflict. I’m also working on book eleven in my Middlemarch series plus a werewolf story. Yes, that’s three things at once. Somehow everything is working. One book is close to done, one is about half done and the other I’ve just started.

I love it when my inbox brings good news. Today I sold a sci-fi romance called Resisting Tamaki to Ellora’s Cave. Yay!

When we returned from our recent holiday, we applied to the RSPCA to foster pets. A few days ago, we received an invitation to attend a training course, which takes place this weekend. I’m actually really excited about having a pet around the place again (even if the pet is only on loan). It has been very quiet without Scotty. Our walks aren’t quite the same without a dog to watch over.

There are a variety of animals available to foster, ranging from kittens, cats, puppies, dogs to rabbits and guinea pigs. We’ve said we’re interested in fostering dogs and will consider rabbits and guinea pigs. Hubby had a rabbit and guinea pig on the farm as a child, but I’ve never had either as a pet. They give training etc along with all the paraphernalia required for each pet. I’m sure we’d be fine rabbit foster parents.

They said it’s possible some of the people attending the course might be asked if they’d like to foster straight away, so a foster pet might be closer than we think.

In writing/publishing news, Carina Press officially opened it doors today. I’m so excited to be part of this new publishing venture and can’t wait for my historical to hit the virtual shelves. Unofficially that will be in September. I’ll let you know as soon as I have an official release date. Meantime, go and check out the launch releases at Carina Press. There’s something there for every discerning romance reader.

If you have questions about e-publishing, author Vivi Andrews has written an article with the answers. Here’s the link to knowledge about e-publishing.

Why is it on days that you’re really busy everyone decides they simply have to talk to you? I had one of those days today. My edits arrived from Carina Press. No problem. They were expected. I had breakfast and sat down to work.

Bang! Bang! Someone was at the door. Sighing, I answered it and came face to face with a woman who wanted to convert me to religion. I politely said I wasn’t interested, but she was a tenacious one. I finally informed her I was busy and shut the door. I sat down and half an hour later, the phone went. It was my sister. I know if I’d had said I was busy, she wouldn’t have minded, but she’s been going through chemo, and I wanted details. (She had an MRI yesterday and will know in a week if the treatment has helped or if she requires more radical treatment) Fingers crossed! Anyway, I finished talking to her, and decided I’d quickly check my email. That was a mistake because there was another set of edits waiting for me, this one from Ellora’s Cave.

Somehow, I think it’s going to be a busy weekend. I leave you with a relaxing holiday shot, meanwhile I’m off to attack more edits.

The person surrounded by fish is me. Mr. Munro and I did a helmet dive while we were in Bora Bora, Tahiti. It was so much fun and definitely makes my list of most memorable experiences. Note the stingray on the left of the photo.

I’m doing a guest post at Coffee Time Romance today on Friends with Benefits and The Bottom Line.

And, if you haven’t already, check out my guest post at Manic Readers about The Other Side of the Fence.

This post is inspired by Heather at The Galaxy Express and her post, Attention, please! This is your heroine speaking.

Dear Author,

I salute you. You sit for long hours in front of the computer as you labor over our stories. Without you none of us would be here. Mostly, you do us proud but I’d like you to consider the following:

1. Please, please don’t make me go down to the basement when there is a killer on the loose. Credit me with a little common sense and help me do something intelligent.
I don’t want readers to snigger at me and call me Too Stupid To Live. I deserve more than that, don’t you think?

2. I know popular opinion says heroines are slender and pretty, but how about making me stand out from the crowd? Make me sexy–sure, I like sexy as much as the next girl, but I can be sexy and an average size. Give me a few curves. Don’t you know I enjoy food? Oh, and if you give me curves, don’t go on and on about my size. I’m happy, really I am.

3. Please don’t take a stereotype and foist it on me. I’m not a hooker with a big heart. I’m not an ice princess. I’m not a geeky librarian. Give me individuality.

4. I like alpha men–really, I do, but at least give me a spine so I can stand up to them. No wimps should apply here.

5. I’m not perfect. I know that, but do you know it too? Give me some flaws and balance them with some of the good stuff. Make me human because readers will like me better that way.

6. Give me a snarky voice. I’m cool with that, but don’t make me snark all the way through the book. Readers won’t like me if I do that. They might call me a bitch, you know, and wonder what the hero sees in me.

7. Likewise, if my hero is going to be a bastard, let him fall off his high horse at some stage. Make him see the error of his ways or at least let me use my knee in his private parts. It might hurt him, but it would make me feel better after all the verbal abuse.

8. And finally, if you’re gonna make me have anal sex, please, please, please give me some lube.

Yours faithfully,
A Heroine.

What would your heroine write in a letter? Readers, what do you think the heroine should write?

Today I read a magazine article about the birth order of children and how it affects their lives. Experts believe that birth order definitely influences a child’s personality. It also has a bearing on their career choice and the way they deal with relationships.

I found the article interesting because I have a brother and a sister, both younger than me. It was fascinating comparing the first, second and last born characteristics with my family.
First born children love to succeed, they’re good leaders, are good at solving problems, and easy to work with. They can also be overbearing and insensitive, overly concerned with rules, have high stress levels and strive too hard for perfection.

I definitely like to succeed (who doesn’t?) I take charge (sometimes) and I’m good at problem solving. (yes, that’s true—I’m a facts and figure person). The stress part is true, but I constantly work to keep the stress levels down. I worry too much about order, process and rules—sometimes. Insensitive? Sometimes I can be tactless, but I don’t think I’m insensitive. My family and friends might disagree. I’m not sure.

First born children are often company directors and have valuable and enjoyable careers. In truth, I’ve never aspired to be a company director. I like being my own boss and enjoy the creative writing process even though the business drives me nuts at times.

Middle born children are independent, know how to keep a secret, are mentally tough and are good mediators. On the negative side, they can be cynical, they might feel too much on the outside, may be uncooperative and bottle up their true feelings.

Middle born children can be mysterious and keep to themselves. Yes, this is my brother. They’re willing to do things differently. Yes, again. My brother is very innovative. They see issues from both sides. This actually sounds more like me, but no one said this is a perfect science.

On the down side, they’re often stubborn and unwilling to cooperate and they keep opinions to themselves. Yes, to all of this, but I’m also stubborn when I feel the need.

Middle born children are good in mediating roles (nope, can’t see this one at all) and entrepreneurial roles (definitely! This is my brother) and they enjoy building close working relationships.

I know that some writers use this research when developing their characters and give their hero and heroine the quirks associated with their birth order. It’s definitely something to keep in mind when working on your characterization.

Source: Lifestyle Magazine June/July 2000, The New Birth Order Book: Why you are the way you are by Dr Kevin Lernan.

For those who are interested, I intend to blog about last born and only children later this week.

Are you a first born or middle child? Does any of this sound like you? Does it sound like your brothers or sisters who have these positions in your family? And for the writers out there – have you used birth order when developing your characters?