tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210858031852994942024-03-14T11:49:01.928-07:00Jeanette WritesJeanette Writes - A Relaxed Forum for Discussion on Writing, Publishing, and Promoting Books. Welcome!Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-48799362575495042792022-10-23T18:26:00.003-07:002022-10-23T18:30:28.272-07:00Book Review "A Thousand Steps" by T. Jefferson Parker<p> </p><p>I have been a fan of Parker for years and have read all his books. Unfortunately, his latest,"A Thousand Steps," greatly disappointed me. Set in Laguna Beach in the 1960's, and mired in sex, drugs, and free love. Our hero, if there is one, is 16 year old Matt Anthony, part-time student, part-time paper boy and full-time unhappy kid. His mother is a waitress when she isn't in her bedroom doing drugs. His dad left a long time ago and has started a new family. His brother Kyle is in Vietnam. His pretty sister, Jasmine, called Jazz, is a wild 18-year-old who fails to return home after a night of partying. Matt helps support the family by selling papers, pedaling his bicycle all over Laguna to do so. Now he's searching for Jazz every minute he can. His search takes him to Brotherly Love gatherings, complete with Tim Leary, and sexual orgies held in a private mansion that the police overlook. Day and night he pedals, fearful she'll turn up dead, just as a teenage friend had recently. When Jazz is not found, Dad returns to help, but his brand of help has violence connected to it. A mysterious sighting of Jazz running down the street, then being picked up forcefully in a van, convinces Matt his sister is being held against her will. Will the police believe what he saw? Will anyone care? The book wraps up as expected. To say more would give it all away. Hope Parker goes back to his really well-written novels and abandons the present tense style in which this book was written.</p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-79901770562826847342021-03-24T12:45:00.000-07:002021-03-24T12:45:00.697-07:00Book Review "Make Me" by Lee Child<p><br /></p><p>When an author has a successful series, often the later books don't seem as compelling or interesting as the earlier ones which made you a fan. Not so with Lee Child. "Make Me" starts out slowly and builds, and kept me turning pages until the very surprising end. Jack Reacher, decides to get off his Chicago bound train at a stop called "Mother's Rest." Intrigued by the name and the small size of the town, surrounded by wheat fields in every direction, he plans to spend a day or two checking it, out then leave. He learns quickly he is not welcome. His room at the local motel is constantly being observed and when he walks around town he knows he's being followed. Michelle Change, former FBI agent and current private investigator, mistakes Reacher for an associate she has been waiting for. He had gone on ahead and now he's missing. Reacher is interested in her story and teams up with her in her search. They leave Mother's Rest with the intention of returning when they have more information. They collaborate with a journalist who has been contacted many times with a bizarre story by a caller who the journalist has deemed delusional. But was he? It turns out his story is even stranger than first thought. The three of them work closely to discover a nightmare only the most warped mind could develop. Reacher is getting older but he can still win a fight when outnumbered and there are plenty of such scenes throughout. The complete story is not revealed until the last pages and you will say, "wow, what a ride!"</p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-57625839525056072442020-12-16T19:08:00.003-08:002020-12-16T19:08:52.914-08:00"Piece of My Heart" by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke<p> </p><p>Mary Higgins Clark passed away while finishing this book with Alafair Burke. I read it knowing there would be no more from her, and her last effort still showed she had the talent to keep her readers in suspense. Laurie Moran, the producer of a popular television show, "Under Suspicion," is about to be married to Alex Buckley. She, her son Timmy, and other family members gather for their wedding in the Hamptons. Seven-year-old Johnny, her fiance's nephew, is kidnapped during a beach outing. When he is not immediately found, wedding plans are cancelled and an all-out effort ensues to find him. Laurie's father Leo, a retired police officer who now hold a special position with the New York Police Dept. has his own troubles. A convicted murderer, who confessed his crime to Leo, is trying to get a new trial, saying that Leo lied and he is really innocent. Could he be behind the kidnapping as an act of revenge? Also, Johnny is an adopted child. Is it possible his birth mother now wants him back and she is behind the kidnapping? As Laurie and her family pursue various dead-ends, Johnny' s life is in the balance the longer he is gone. There are twists and turns along the way that will keep you guessing. Anyone who has read Ms. Clark knows that her books always have a satisfying ending. This one will too but you'll wonder when.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-76345771660804553102020-10-30T12:32:00.000-07:002020-10-30T12:32:10.338-07:00Book Review - Murder in the Blood by Anne Cleeland<p><br /></p><p>I'm addicted to this series, although by the tenth book, there is a certain sameness to the story line. Kathleen Doyle, redhead, Irish, charming, and Michael Acton, handsome, aloof, aristocrat, and Doyle's superior in Scotland Yard, not to mention also her husband. They work together to solve the many murders that seem to be occurring all around them, along with a cast of interesting characters. Acton is secretive but Doyle has unusual abilities to perceive what he is trying to hide. After many twists and turns, and references to previous plots in earlier books, this one ends in a surprise. A very entertaining series and I'm ready to start #11.</p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-18954125660663762902020-09-12T16:17:00.000-07:002020-09-12T16:17:17.961-07:00Book Review "Tainted Angel"<p> </p><p>I've been a fan of Anne Cleeland since I began reading her Scotland Yard series, set in current time. "Tainted Angel" is the first of her historical fiction books I've read. Set in the time of Napoleon, we meet Invidia (or Libby, or Lina) a spy for England, or is it France? Hard to tell throughout the book. Her cohorts are also questionable. Are they with her, or against her? When the handsome, recent widower, Lucien Carstairs sets his sights on her, she can't resist. But is he only doing it to gain secrets, or does he really care? This confusion continues throughout the novel, finally resolving in the last pages. Having read most of her Scotland Yard series, I found it interesting that many of the expressions her British characters use were also used by the characters in "Tainted Angel." Since expressions are a reflection of the time they're in, and their locale, I considered this to be a flaw in this book. If you like historical fiction, and don't mind spy/counterspy stories, you would probably like this one. I think I'll stick to her Scotland Yard series.</p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-69602914460891574202020-07-30T13:39:00.001-07:002020-07-30T13:39:45.173-07:00Book Review<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54146923-murder-in-the-worst-degree" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Murder in the Worst Degree (Rocky Bluff P.D. Mysteries Book 10)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592449010l/54146923._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54146923-murder-in-the-worst-degree">Murder in the Worst Degree</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1051882.F_M_Meredith">F.M. Meredith</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3460062109">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is the first book I've read in the series. It is supposed to stand alone but I found it difficult to understand certain characters because the comments made about them did not provide any background to make them understandable. The story takes place in the fictional southern California town of Rocky Bluff, placed near Ventura and Santa Barbara. It unfolds through the experiences of the police officers who work there as they investigate the mysterious death of an elderly man and try to capture a rapist who has viciously attacked two women. The department has a new chief, a black woman. The officers under her command have their own personal problems and worry about how she will make changes that will negatively affect them. The story bounced around. It had many inaccuracies that needed to be edited, such as sentences that were repetitious and the same question asked of a character more than once, with a different answer each time. Probation and parole were treated as though they were one and the same when they are two completely separate functions in California. Officer Ryan, married to Barbara (a widow with three boys) is ready to leave her because she is having a baby with Downs Syndrome. When he forces himself to see the newborn she looks beautiful to him and he is happy that she looks "normal." Barbara can't leave the hospital until the doctor has finished testing the baby to see what her limitations will be. If she has many limitations, will Ryan decide to run? Yet the author never gives us the answer. Gordon, who is constantly referred to as having problems (but never identified) wants to marry officer Lisette. She believes that if she marries another officer she will lose her job. She thinks the new chief frowns on relationships between two officers. However, Doug and Stacey, are both officers and are married. They are not losing their jobs. Why doesn't Lisette notice that? Sorry to say I was not impressed with this book and can't recommend it.<br />
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-22977892874293751082020-06-12T13:41:00.000-07:002020-06-12T13:41:31.454-07:00Book Review<br />
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<span itemprop="datePublished">Jun 12, 2020 </span><span class="greyText"> · </span> <a class="smallText greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/5348" style="color: #999999; line-height: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">edit</a><span class="value-title" title="2020-06-12"></span></div>
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Billionaire Troy Phelan was successful at building companies, but a failure as a husband and father. His last will leaves everything to his illegitimate daughter, who he has not seen for years, and is now a missionary in Brazil. His six children, their wives and ex-wives engage numerous attorneys and proceed to challenge the will. In the meantime, Nate O'Reilly, a down-on-his-luck attorney just out of rehab, is selected to go to Brazil to find the elusive daughter. Much of the book is taken up with his journey by plane, boat, and on foot into the jungles where primitive Indians live and are very protective of the missionary, Rachel Lane. He eventually finds her but she wants nothing to do with the money. She opens his eyes to a different kind of life. Before he can return home he contracts Dengue fever, suffering through the boat ride and in a third-world hospital where the patients around him are either dying or dead. Once home and recuperating, he must deal with the attorneys and siblings fighting for their "rightful" share of their father's money. There are many twists and turns in this story and the ending is a total surprise. It is well-written but I thought the author spent too much time describing every detail of Nate's trip to the jungle, the plane crash, storms, alligators ready to attack. I felt as though I was on the boat or plane with him. If you don't mind this, you'll enjoy the story. I managed to enjoy it anyway.</div>
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-70022967725623093652020-05-04T21:54:00.000-07:002020-05-04T21:54:05.280-07:00Book Review- TURNING ANGEL by Greg Iles<br />
Who killed Kate? It takes over 600 pages to find this out and then the conclusion is blurred by events I won't discuss here so as not to ruin this for a new reader. Iles writes well and drags us through the life of Penn Cage, upstanding citizen in Natchez, but trouble to the sheriff and the district atttorney. When his good friend Dr. Drew Elliott is accused of murdering beautiful high school senior Kate, Penn knows he's innocent and risks life and limb to prove it. Even when he finds out forty something Drew was in love with seventeen year old Kate, planned to leave his wife and move to Boston with her while she attended Harvard. Even when he learns that Kate was pregnant and that Drew found her dead body but never reported it. Nevertheless, Drew is arrested and charged with murder, a double homicide since Kate was pregnant. Interesting, since she could have had an abortion and that would have been legal. Penn's teenage babysitter, Mia, a friend of Kate's and knowledgeable in all things sexual about the girls at school, educates Penn on the drug use and sexual activity that is commonplace in their private high school. Although Penn is shocked that Drew could be involved with such a young girl, risking everything for her, Penn finds himself also attracted to Mia. The story sinks lower as he and Mia become sleuths together, viewing Drew and Kate's porno videos in their quest to find the real murderer. Several dead bodies later, Drew is convicted of murder, and Penn ramps up his effort to find the real culprit, leading to a conclusion that is convoluted, leaving questions about the whole mess. This could be a B movie.<br />
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-17711120488837769282020-04-06T13:26:00.003-07:002020-04-06T13:26:51.136-07:00Book Review<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182474.Her_Father_s_House" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Her Father's House" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1172514053l/182474.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182474.Her_Father_s_House">Her Father's House</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10209.Belva_Plain">Belva Plain</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3262989117">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A sad, heartwarming story that will keep you reading into the night. Donald Wolfe, a successful New York attorney, marries the beautiful and captivating Lillian Morris after a short courtship. Soon he finds that Lillian has many secrets and as they come out Donald begins to realize marriage to her is unbearable. By now they have a daughter, Bettina, are divorced, and Lillian has married an older, wealthier man. His visits to his daughter only occur on Sunday afternoons in the park with the nanny, Maria. As Lillian climbs the social ladder she spends little if any time with Bettina. Maria confesses to Donald that Lillian neglects Bettina and cheats on her husband. Soon she is divorced and on to another man. When she is involved in a car accident while coming home from a party, with Bettina in the car, Donald decides to take matters into his own hands. Giving up everything he has, including his identity, he takes Bettina, now two years old, with him as they venture across the country to settle in a small town in Georgia. AS the years go by, Donald, now known as Jim, is constantly looking over his shoulder, as the search for Bettina, now called Laura, has continued. Eventually his past catches up with him. Does Bettina, now a medical school student, return to her mother? Does Donald go to prison and lose the new, wonderful life he has built? You must read the book to find out. It is Belva Plain at her best.<br />
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-11192441506842620372020-02-27T22:11:00.000-08:002020-02-27T22:11:02.872-08:00Book Review<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15957.The_Patron_Saint_of_Liars" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Patron Saint of Liars" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347356188l/15957._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15957.The_Patron_Saint_of_Liars">The Patron Saint of Liars</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7136914.Ann_Patchett">Ann Patchett</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3189206926">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I enjoyed the book but couldn't understand the motivation behind Rose. She is the most self-centered and thoughtless character I've read in a long time. Married and pregnant, she leaves her husband because she is unhappy. He does not know she is pregnant with his child. She ends up in Kentucky at a home for unwed mothers, never admitting she's married. The girls there are all single and have been abandoned by their boyfriends. Son (Wilson Abbott) a big, burly, handyman at St. Elizabeth's is captivated by her. One night he finds her wandering in the snow and asks her to marry him. She immediately accepts, although it is clear she doesn't love him. When she gives birth to her daughter, who she names Cecilia, because Son has tattooed that name on his arm, Son is listed on the birth certificate as the father. Cecelia was the name of an old girlfriend of Son's who died accidentally while she and Son were swimming. He begs Rose not to name their baby Cecelia but Rose always does what she wants regardless of others feelings, including Son and her daughter Cecelia. The ending was unbelievable but to say more would be a spoiler for those who haven't read the book. Good writing but strange story.<br />
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-5454153074009113882020-02-20T17:24:00.000-08:002020-02-20T17:24:13.335-08:00Book Review<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43884993-the-19th-christmas" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The 19th Christmas (Women's Murder Club, #19)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570280213l/43884993._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43884993-the-19th-christmas">The 19th Christmas</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3780.James_Patterson">James Patterson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3015770984">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I've loved the women's murder club series but this one was a disappointment. It mostly featured Lindsay and her partner Rich Conklin as they spent their days before Christmas hunting down a criminal mastermind who threatened a devastating happening on Christmas eve. The man went by "Loman" and he set up fake warnings for several days to keep the police confused and spending their time in the wrong places. People were casually killed once their purpose had been served. Although no one, including those who did his bidding, has seen Loman, Lindsay is determined to find him. The ending was too simple for a man who was supposed to be as clever as Loman. Why would he set up so many distractions when the heist he was planning could be carried out without the mess he created days ahead of time. Yuki has a small part when she helps free a man wrongfully convicted of murder. The four women do not come together until the last pages of the book. The epilogue was completely unnecessary unless it will lead to another book and had nothing to do with this one.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4068962-jeanette">View all my reviews</a><br />
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-32145625542517614012019-11-02T13:01:00.002-07:002019-11-02T13:01:40.114-07:00Recent InterviewI was recently interviewed about my latest book. You can read it here.<br />
<a href="https://eauthorresource.wordpress.com/2019/11/01/interview-with-jeanette-a-fratto-author-of-no-deadlier-destiny/" rel="noopener noreferrer" shape="rect" target="_blank">https://eauthorresource.wordpress.com/2019/11/01/interview-with-jeanette-a-fratto-author-of-no-deadlier-destiny/</a>.Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-49587245691448594152019-09-07T11:05:00.000-07:002019-09-07T11:05:13.232-07:00Book Reviews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F48XJkuQdNw/XXPuCEt2Z9I/AAAAAAAAAO8/UrqUUWLdK7EoHXtIJPI5IZknrahgsQIPQCLcBGAs/s1600/imagestwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="247" height="165" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F48XJkuQdNw/XXPuCEt2Z9I/AAAAAAAAAO8/UrqUUWLdK7EoHXtIJPI5IZknrahgsQIPQCLcBGAs/s200/imagestwo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
As a writer hoping to get sales for my novels, I've often wondered how important book reviews are in the marketing process. I've been fortunate to have some good reviews for the three books I've had published, but I can't be certain they are the reason for any spike in sales I've had. When I give talks at book clubs or senior centers and sell books afterward, I know what generated those sales. When I check my Kindle sales or my publisher publishes the monthly stats, I can only guess what prompted those sales. Recently I was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times. The journalist did a nice job and related well how my career in law enforcement led me to write my mystery novels, even including a picture. My sales spiked so greatly I wished I could have one of these interviews every month.<br />
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I'm often contacted by book reviewers wishing to review one of my books, usually for a cost. Kirkus will review books and they are considered an industry gold standard, but their charge is exorbitant. Spending hundreds of dollars for a book review which may, or may not, generate a few sales does not seem cost-effective. I've used NetGalley but the process only resulted in one very good review. Another was promised but has yet to be seen.<br />
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I'd be interested in the experiences you've had with book reviews and what you'd recommend.Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-28020150507303893342019-07-06T11:18:00.000-07:002019-07-06T11:18:42.177-07:00A Major Move<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After almost 35 years in a house I loved, I've moved to a senior community seven miles away. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. My husband and I had been on the waiting list for five years as the new development was being built. Periodic meetings with updates kept us excited and interested. So many amenities! We could hardly wait. Although we're both in good health and active, we wanted to make a decision for our future before a possible health crisis forced us to make one. This seemed like the perfect choice. We would live independently in our own "garden terrace" condo, but would have long term care available if we ever needed it.<br />
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Still, when the time came to actually move, the fantasy became a reality, and the transition wasn't easy. Locking the door behind me in the home we were leaving brought tears to my eyes. As I scanned the empty rooms, years of memories danced before me. The first night in our new place, surrounded by packing boxes, I wondered if we'd made a mistake. As we slowly settled into our new home, smaller and single story, and began to meet our new neighbors, we started to feel comfortable. Now, a few weeks into our new environment, it feels like home. Talking to other residents, also scaling down, we learned they all had the same twinge of sadness during their transition from a familiar place to a new one. Yet, we all feel we made the right decision. Change isn't easy, even when you have planned for it. One thing we're certain of now, we'll never move again!Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-57186085907515605162019-05-24T15:23:00.002-07:002019-05-24T15:23:56.247-07:00Los Angeles Times Interview<a href="https://www.latimes.com/local/orangecounty/tn-wknd-et-orange-county-probation-officer-20190510-story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" shape="rect" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/local/orangecounty/tn-wknd-et-orange-county-probation-officer-20190510-story.html</a>Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-14257022468676577822019-05-21T10:58:00.001-07:002019-05-21T10:58:57.050-07:00Marketing and Sales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Marketing is probably the most frustrating of all for an author, but a necessary evil if you want sales. And who doesn't? Your book is finished and published. Your baby is out in the world, you hope. But how do you get it there so readers can learn of the wonderful novel you've written. Writers aren't sales people. Unless you are already well-known, your publisher expects you to do the heavy lifting. With hundreds of new books coming out almost daily, how do you stand above the crowd? With three novels under my belt, I still don't have the definite answer, but I've learned that personal contact with your potential reader is the most successful way for me. I've tried Amazon ads, Publishers Weekly promotions, and NetGalley with little success. When I do local book signings I'm able to engage readers personally, resulting in sales as well as invitations to speak at book clubs. Recently I was able to be interviewed by the Los Angeles Times. They gave me a half-page spread with a nice picture and a very complete overview of my books, my background and credibility for the theme of my novels. The result, my book sales immediately spiked, with 31 Kindle sales so far, and still counting. For months I had no sales at all. I hope these readers will like what they read, tell their friends, and maybe the word will spread. I'm always interested in new ideas, so readers, if you have any, please let me know.Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-34788217181979036282019-05-02T13:59:00.000-07:002019-05-02T13:59:19.263-07:00The Oxford CommaI've been using the Oxford comma for years and never knew it had a name. For those who may not already know what that means, it is the comma that appears after the last word in a grouping. For example: I ate cookies, drank milk, cleaned up, and left the kitchen. Many writers do not use a comma after the last word and apparently it's OK. The important thing is to be consistent in your writing. It makes more sense to me to use the comma in such a grouping. Now I know there's a name for it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EfghO2jExTk/XMtXg_y5ViI/AAAAAAAAANY/_skUKJ8XLjoHt3MGmNooOooDf6R17U3FwCEwYBhgL/s1600/I%2BAm%2BA%2BWriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="288" height="121" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EfghO2jExTk/XMtXg_y5ViI/AAAAAAAAANY/_skUKJ8XLjoHt3MGmNooOooDf6R17U3FwCEwYBhgL/s200/I%2BAm%2BA%2BWriter.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-63652108150080445842019-04-08T14:11:00.003-07:002019-04-08T14:11:52.275-07:00Book Review<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34019122-past-tense" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Past Tense (Jack Reacher, #23)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1518445114m/34019122.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34019122-past-tense">Past Tense</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5091.Lee_Child">Lee Child</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2765538885">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A page turner as usual. Parallel stories that don't intersect until close to the end. Jack Reacher heads for San Diego but is enticed to stop at Laconia, New Hampshire because he remembers his father talking about being raised there. Unfortunately, the city can find no records. This doesn't stop Reacher, who continues to pursue information until he finds more than he expected. In the meantime, a young Canadian couple, on their way to New York to sell some items they believe have great value, are forced to stop at an out-of-the-way motel when their car breaks down. Once there, they are unable to leave. Reacher of course manages to have a few fights along the way. The story ends with a twist you don't suspect. Reacher continues heading to San Diego after wrapping up business in Laconia, leaving a few dead bodies in his wake. I often wonder how he gets away with this, but that's what makes this fiction.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4068962-jeanette">View all my reviews</a><br />
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-11818664576851306222019-02-23T13:39:00.003-08:002019-02-23T13:39:35.265-08:00Book Review<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39927096-less" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Less" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1524491811m/39927096.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39927096-less">Less</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24892.Andrew_Sean_Greer">Andrew Sean Greer</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2710610503">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
With all the cover accolades this book received I fully intended to love it. Unfortunately I didn't even like it. The protagonist, Arthur Less, is a self-effacing writer, a homosexual, and approaching age fifty, acts as if his life is over. Greer is a good writer, but his plot jumps around so much it is hard to follow. One consistency is the whining Less does, no matter what situation he is in. His homosexuality seems to drive him as his self-esteem is based on whoever he is having a relationship with. Having been rejected by his latest love, who is now getting married, Less flees the country to accept various invitations he has received for literary events around the world. This gives the author the opportunity to place Less in different countries, with each having their own disasters. He spends much of his time reminiscing, which involves flashbacks that come and go and make the story progress in a sketchy manner. When Less returns home a surprise awaits him. If you can stay with this book until the end you'll learn what it is.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4068962-jeanette">View all my reviews</a><br />
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-90649806246389658292019-02-10T15:09:00.000-08:002019-02-10T16:51:45.403-08:00Great Website for Authors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b80FHdihxug/XGCrsld3ZpI/AAAAAAAAAMc/Azr0MXVYlJEowiXFmmJARvcWWW_QGHV9ACLcBGAs/s1600/Books.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b80FHdihxug/XGCrsld3ZpI/AAAAAAAAAMc/Azr0MXVYlJEowiXFmmJARvcWWW_QGHV9ACLcBGAs/s200/Books.BMP" width="200" /></a></div>
I recently learned about a website dedicated to helping authors and signed on for their weekly newsletter. It is so helpful and everything on it is free. I want to share it with you. Entitled "Authors Publish Magazine," you can sign up for this free subscription service by going to http://www.authorspublish.com They will let you know what publishers are accepting manuscripts, what magazines are accepting essays or stories, who pays (most of them do), and include the links to further explore the possibilities for yourself. All of the sources provided are researched ahead of time and NONE expect you to pay for their services. Authors Publish also accepts submissions and provides their guidelines.<br />
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I hope this information is helpful to you writers, both published and aspiring to be. If any of you take advantage of their services and are successful, please comment. I'd love to know that it's working for you.Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-15257286009615056612019-01-11T17:53:00.001-08:002019-01-11T17:53:51.239-08:00Book Review<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430012-a-gentleman-in-moscow" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="A Gentleman in Moscow" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459524472m/29430012.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430012-a-gentleman-in-moscow">A Gentleman in Moscow</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4536964.Amor_Towles">Amor Towles</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2655593266">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Beautifully written. Every page full of detail and interest. Sweet ending. Not a "beach read" but one you need to concentrate on and absorb.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4068962-jeanette">View all my reviews</a><br />
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Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-28206982746869318552019-01-10T14:34:00.000-08:002019-01-10T14:34:18.267-08:00Write What You Know or What You Did?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As writers we're always told to write what we know. This makes sense, especially to a new writer who is looking for a theme, especially fiction writers. But what about what we've done? When I wrote my mystery novels I did both, and here's why. My 26-year career in the probation system in California taught me that few people outside the field knew exactly what probation officers did. As a mystery reader, I learned that mystery writers rarely wrote about this important aspect of the criminal justice system, favoring instead the police, forensic examiners, or private investigators. Why not do a fictional novel that unfolds through the probation department in southern California? The reader will learn about an interesting branch of law enforcement while following an engaging story line.<br />
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I now have three books in the series about my female protagonist, probation officer Linda Davenport. The latest is "No Deadlier Destiny." If you haven't read the first two, no problem. Each book stands alone and "No Deadlier Destiny" will keep you turning pages until the surprising twist at the end. Linda's life is threatened by an escaped felon she helped sentence to prison. She goes into hiding and risks all she holds dear, as she struggles to save her impending marriage, and her life. My intimate knowledge of the probation system ensures you will learn about its inner workings while following a suspenseful story line. I love feedback and can be reached at: Bjfratto@aol.comJeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-38603113544316904962018-12-06T14:06:00.001-08:002018-12-06T14:06:39.666-08:00Five-Star Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Readers' Favorite gave "No Deadlier Destiny" a five-star review. You can read it here: https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/nodeadlier-destiny#<br />
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If any of you have read my latest book, set in southern California, I would appreciate your comments. Thank you in advance.Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-3786002551664065392018-10-22T19:20:00.000-07:002018-10-22T19:20:35.500-07:00Mystery Readers - A Novel for YouA convicted felon, bent on revenge, escapes while being transported to prison. His sights are set on all in law enforcement involved in his case. Probation officer Linda Davenport is on his list. She prepared his sentencing report which the judge followed to the letter. Now she must go into hiding to save her life, but not before a nemesis from her past comes back to stir up unhappy memories.<div>
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Readers, if you would like to see how this comes out, my latest novel, "No Deadlier Destiny," will keep you turning pages. </div>
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Check the following for a synopsis: www.outskirtspress.com/nodeadlierdestiny Available in paperback, e-book, and soon to be up on Kindle, you will get an accurate glimpse of probation while following an interesting story line. Thank you. Feedback is welcome.</div>
Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-821085803185299494.post-83688849631132548952018-08-04T15:44:00.000-07:002018-08-04T15:44:06.819-07:00No Deadlier Destiny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally, my third book in my probation officer series is at the publisher. I hope to have a copy in my hand in the next few weeks. If you are a mystery reader, perhaps a cozy mystery type, you might want to try my books. Set in southern California, I write about an aspect of law enforcement that other mystery writers tend to ignore. If you've wondered what probation officers do besides supervise people, you'll learn all about it through an interesting story line. My books are available in paperback, Kindle, Nook (No Good Deed only), and an e-book from my website. <br />
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Now will come the hard part, marketing. If you authors out there have any good tips for marketing, please let me know. I have done quite a bit on my own but am always open to new ideas. I suppose if you're James Patterson you don't have to worry about that, but since I'm not, I need to get the word out. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!Jeanettethewriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00158155313534715710noreply@blogger.com0