Short and Sweet Marketing Reference

Posted on May 5, 2014 by timdesmondblog

Short and sweet. After several weeks of sort of a hiatus on this site, there is now time to resume the discussion. It was not a vacation but a “writing period” of time. Four months if one counts the days.
What has come to my attention is a reference from author Sunny Frazier to some points to improve one’s book marketing. This reference is author/blogger Jane Friedman. Below are the four main points. The details about each of these are at her link below.

1. Use your website for hard selling. Do not lean on social media for hard selling.
2. Brainstorm a list of all the meaningful relationships you have—people who you can count on to read your e-mails. [This is the longest with directions to divide your list into three groups].
3. Brainstorm a list of all the gatekeepers to your readers with whom you do not have a relationship yet—specific individuals and specific websites/blogs.
4. Invest in professional design and presentation for all marketing and self-promotion materials.
I am not the author of these, so be sure to go to Jane at this link: http://janefriedman.com/2012/05/18/4-ways-to-immediately-improve-your-book-marketing-efforts/
Timothy J. Desmond
Amazon author page at: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00694KQQO
Writing at: http://timothydesmond.wordpress.com
Art at: http://artbydesmond.wordpress.com

Wards of the State – Data Collection v. Privacy

Posted on November 4, 2013 by timdesmondblog

In researching for conspiracy theories, there seems to be no end. Using the theories as a story basis is hardly new, but one wonders if it is fiction any more. And of the old joke question about paranoia, “are you still paranoid If it’s true?” seems less funny these days. My driving was careful on the morning commute, yet while breaking to avoid a crash ahead, hot coffee spilled out of the loose travel mug lid. The odor of the splattered coffee was wonderful as I waited for the traffic to clear. In the predawn light during the wait, I turned up the radio volume. A caller was explaining that she turned off her telephone’s GPS app so she could not be tracked. The radio host explained to her that it really doesn’t matter if it’s off, that you can be located anyway. She was surprised and did not know that.
In the news and talk shows these past few days there have been the various takes on the “data collection” by various entities. Whether they are government types of the IRS, NSA, HUD, FHA, Social Security or in the private sector of your doctor’s office, employer, mortgage companies, telephone companies, credit card companies, social media companies, or search engine entities such as Google, Yahoo, or others. This morning was a statement from one media personality that “it is a done deal.” This being, or meaning, that the entire country if, not global, is already locked into the culture of the electronic technology and all the communication that is related in storage of the records and information. It is only a matter of how the data is controlled, and who controls it.
A year ago I had a frank discussion with one of my doctors. Out of respect for privacy, I won’t name the physician. There was a change in the doctor’s office system. I asked if it was because of the new regulations. The answer was partly yes. I mentioned then in the conversation, also the fact that a well known tax preparing company now has questions about one’s medical insurance that is part of the new IRS regulations as part of the Affordable Health Act. The doctor said he had not heard of that. I then asked the doctor if he didn’t think that the new regulations violated the federal HIPPA regulations, which are supposed to be in place to guard medical privacy. There was a moment of silence, and then he said, “I guess we all will no longer have that privacy.” I found the doctor’s comment disturbing. But, after today, I think I am the one that is the more naïve. The NSA thing was never news to me after 1986. But, the massive record sharing by entities of our telephone communication, banks, government, then also by the largest search engine companies tied to government agencies, is …. Please excuse the cliché …. “mind boggling.”
Usually I have links in these pieces. Just, Google or Yahoo any of the above items …… hah ……………
I sometimes am afraid to search some issues in my novel research. But, too, if it’s a “done deal” what more harm can be done? One might ask where it will all lead or end. But, the concern over conspiracies, “urban legends” nonsense, and any other movies and TV crap about any of this seems trivial, trite, and too late. Are we all to become “wards of the state?” Do you like this? Is this a done deal?
Timothy J. Desmond
Blog at: https://timdesmondblog.wordpress.com
Amazon author page at: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00694KQQO
Writing at: http://timothydesmond.wordpress.com
Art at: http://artbydesmond.wordpress.com

Aneta Cruz Interview

Posted on September 14, 2013 by timdesmondblog

It is with pleasure that I introduce Aneta Cruz with this interview. Author Aneta Cruz is pleased to announce the release of her latest novel by Black Opal Books entitled Heartbreak Hotel, on September 14.

TD – Your website is very nice, and very photographic. I couldn’t help seeing the MFA section. Congratulations. When was that?

AC –Thank you. I did it myself. I’m one of those self-learning nerds, if you will. [giggles]
I received my MFA in Creative Writing in June. It’s been a lot of hard and time consuming work, but it was worth it and I loved every minute of it. Well, except for the migraines which seem to have subsided since I got my degree.

TD – The publisher blurbs are always such a tease, but tell me a little about HEARTBREAK HOTEL.
AC – The novel is a quirky, coming-of-age story about a young hotel clerk who is trying too hard to find Mr. Right. She has a very strange collection of friends/co-workers who add to the hilarity of the plotline. There are some scenes in which you’ll want to wag your finger at the antics of the character, and in some parts you may want to grab a tissue.
TD – Who is your audience?
AC – The novel falls into a pretty large genre slot. It can be read by a YA and NA audience. It’s definitely Women’s Fiction and would make a cool chick-flick. Wink, wink at moviemakers.
TD – The late Vince Flynn thriller author, gave a radio interview, not too long ago, about his writing regimen and it was interesting as he went through almost an entire year, several months and such. Do you have a set method of how you write?
AC – Jeez. I’m the world’s biggest procrastinator. Famous authors always lecture us about being disciplined, writing every day, having a “special” place in which to write. I honestly don’t think it works that way. When the inspiration hits you—you just write, no matter where you are or what time it is. You can’t wait to get to that “special” place or say, “Hey, I write every day at ten and since it’s only eight, you’re out of luck, my dear Muse.” So there. As for me personally… most of the time it may seem like I’m staring into thin air, but there’s a whole world playing out inside my head. And when I get to live in that world, I have a much easier time describing it and the people who live there. Of course, some crazy character decides to appear halfway through the story and just demands being a part of it. But who made me the boss, right? I’m just a vessel through which the narrative flows, so he/she always makes it in.
TD – I also saw that you recently traveled to Europe. Where exactly?
AC – Yes, my family lives in the Czech Republic. I came to the U.S. when I was twenty. When I go back home I make a trip out of it and criss-cross Europe as much as I can. It’s always good to be there and makes me think, How could I have left this beauty? My husband and kids want to live there, so I guess that one of our future trips may be a staycation.
TD – Is our food that bland?
AC – I’m sad to say it, but it is. When I first came to America, I wasn’t able to eat for a whole week because bread tasted too sweet, milk tasted like water, cheese was like styrofoam… When I was practically starved to death, I started on apples. From then on, my taste buds sort of adapted to the food here, but every time I go back to Europe, it feels like my tongue has been invited to an awesome party.
TD – If it is all right, may I ask you, where do you live and work?
AC – [sighs] I live in hell. The official geographic location of hell is the Coachella Valley in Southern California where temperatures easily reach 120F in the summer. Imagine having the air conditioner on 24/7 at least 8 months of the year, wearing shorts and t-shirts at Christmas, being able to fry an egg on the asphalt, getting sunburnt while taking out the trash…oh, and when it rains here, it feels like someone in the sky decided to hock a loogie every here and there.
I work for one of the local school districts with children with Autism. That’s all I’m allowed to say.
TD – What’s the next book about?
AC – I’m glad you asked me that because I’m very excited about it. Well, there are two, actually. The first one is a historical fiction with supernatural elements. It’s called The Guardian and it was picked up for publishing by Black Opal Books. In a nutshell, the novel is about how humans create monsters, from mythological beings to more tangible ones like the Nazis for example. It was my MFA Thesis about monstrosity, and it’s awesome. The second one is a fairy tale in the style of the Brothers Grimm. It is a novella length story and it is geared toward the Middle Grade audience, though I’m sure adults love to read fairy tales, too, but they don’t like to admit it. [chuckles] It’s called The Mysterious Mandolin and it will have fantastic illustrations. It’s nearly done and I can’t wait to publish it.
Heartbreak Hotel BLURB:
Always falling head over heels for men who have nothing to offer her, and running from those who do, Kara realizes that her quest to find Mr. Right is harder than expected. As if her “mostly ludicrous” dating escapades weren’t enough to deal with, her unusual combination of friends—one gay, one a virgin, one dating a married man, and one always telling her to “give it up on the first date in order to start a flourishing relationship”—isn’t of much help in matters of the heart either. Perhaps a kiss in the middle of the Charles Bridge could finally bring her happiness. But wait! That’s just an old myth, isn’t it?
http://blackopalbooks.com/shop-our-store/the-catalog/heartbreak-hotel
http://conundrumcorner.blogspot.com/
http://www.anetacruz.com/
Tim, everyone who likes my FB Author page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aneta-Cruz/377093035716929?fref=ts will be entered into a drawing to win a-Muse-me[a]nt, my collection of thought-provoking poetry and award-winning prose. (I’m giving away 3 signed copies)
http://www.amazon.com/-Muse-me-nt-Aneta-Cruz/dp/1492305162/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378335393&sr=8-2&keywords=aneta+cruz

Timothy J. Desmond
Blog at: https://timdesmondblog.wordpress.com
Amazon author page at: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00694KQQO
Writing at: http://timsfiction-art.com
Art at: http://artbydesmond.com

Dieter – WW II story

Posted on June 6, 2013 by timdesmondblog

Dieter, the World War II story, is not a novella, and not a short story, sorta in between. Available at Amazon author page for Timothy J. Desmond. Dieter published by Dry River Publications, an imprint of Fresno River Press. Tim’s Amazon author page is at: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00694KQQO

timdesmondblog

Words as observations, letters, and art

Tag Archives: fiction

Wards of the State – Data Collection v. Privacy

Aneta Cruz Interview

Dieter – WW II story