Don't You Love Classic Cars?

This is a picture of our 1955 Chevy BelAir.  It's considered a classic car, and we love it.  My grandkids call it our "new old car" and I call it our "ice cream car", but no matter what, it's kind of fun to go cruising in it, windows down because there isn't any air conditioning, and watch people wave or give us a high sign.  Oh, we don't drive it everywhere, but we do enjoy it when we do get it out.  Course, the older cars don't have all the bells and whistles of our new cars.  Our '55 doesn't have power steering which sometimes makes my husband say a few unmentionable words, and it doesn't have power brakes so you do have to work a bit when we go for a ride.  But does it matter -- no way.  It's fun to let the wind blow through my hair and just have a good ride.

I love the old cars because they have a distinctive style that we don't see in today's cars.  It's that uniqueness that makes them special, and I started comparing it to writers because it's their uniqueness that makes their books stand out.  It's hard to be different and come up with new ideas, but if you're a reader, I'm sure you've experienced that special story that hooks you and it's because an author found a way to create it a little differently than another author.  Ideally, every story written is unique or special, but often things can be missing that don't draw you in.

What's the reason for writing this?  I have to admit, I'm not exactly sure, but we've been taking alot of time pulling the chrome and getting our car ready for a new paint job.  While we were doing it, I found myself thinking that sometimes an author needs to spend some extra time to dissect their story to make them more appealing.  They need to fix the little flaws the same way we're trying to fix the flaws in our car. 

Perhaps you're not a writer -- whatever you do, whatever your passion, take the time to decide what makes you unique, what things you do that are different, and every once in awhile, find some time to dissect what you do to fix the flaws. 

I have a new book coming out in October titled, You Complete Me.  I had a story idea, and I love writing, but something didn't fit as I tried to put it together.  I had to find something to make it a little unique, and I think I did.  I had to dissect the characters and fix the flaws that I originally had in the story, but the time was worth it.  At least I hope you feel it was.  I'm happy with the way the story turned out.  Watch for it from Bookstrand.com in October.

If you get a minute, check out my website at http://KRBailey.com - It has information on all my stories and where you can find them as well as my bio and other information.  I'd love to hear from you.

And if you get a minute, check out a classic old car!

I Got News!

Just a bit of news I wanted to share.  I just signed a contract for my next story, You Complete Me.  It should be released in e-book formats in October and in print a few weeks later.  Woo Hoo!

It's always fun to know that someone is willing to take your hard work and publish it.  This story definitely made me work to get it completed.  People laugh - and I used to - when authors told me their characters had a mind of their own and took them places they didn't want their story to go.  Well, guess what?  That's exactly what my characters did in this story.  But, I stayed with it (or them) and my story is completed.  I'm excited for it to be released.

Here's a brief blurb:
Whitney is trying to forget her abusive marriage and daughter's death.
Jeffry needs a new mommy
When she runs into an old flame, things seems to be perfect
But Whitney's life is ripped from under her and
What she learns will change her life forever.

The story definitely has a few twists and turns I didn't originally plan for, but I hope you will enjoy the book.

Watch for You Complete Me from Bookstrand Publishing in October.  It will be available a few weeks later from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Happy Reading!

If you get a minute, check out my web site for more information on all my books at:
http://KRBailey.com

Thought for the Day

Love at First Sight is easy to understand.
It's when two people
Have been looking at each other for years
That it becomes a miracle.
          ----Unknown

Isn't this the truth?
There's nothing like the excitement of new love, the pounding of your heart when you see that special someone for the first time.  But after being together for years, you get to be comfortable and know what makes a person tick.  Isn't it a miracle to still be able to love and continue loving.

I hope everyone gets to experience that "love at first sight."
Then I wish for everyone that miracle of long-lasting, long-sharing love of being together for years.

My aunt and uncle had been married over seventy-two years.  It's hard to believe people can remain in love after all that time, but they were.  My folks were together for more than fifty years.  They were still in love when we lost my mom.  Isn't that a wonderful miracle?

I wish you all the miracle of falling in love.  May your love become a miracle after years of togetherness.

K. R. Bailey
http://KRBailey.com

I'M HAVING A BOOKSIGNING!

I'm scheduled for a booksigning on July 17.  It's exciting because I'll have copies of my newest book, Secrets of Wolf Creek Pass, along with copies of my older books, Murder and Lies, Never Too Late, My Love and Dangerous Deception.  This booksigning is at a hospital, yes, I said the hospital in Bountiful, Utah.  I raised my eyebrows when I first signed up and found out we're signing books at a hospital, but then I got to thinking, how often are you at a hospital and sitting, waiting, wishing you had something to read?  Perhaps you wish you had a small gift for a patient.  Books are perfect.  I think all of us have been there, so it will be interesting to see how this one turns out.

Let's talk about booksignings.  Here's some things I've been told:

1.  Don't sit at the table waiting for people to come to you.  They probably won't.  It's intimidating to approach a table where an author sits staring surrounded by her books just wanting to scream out, buy one, please.  Okay, I have sat at the table, but I make sure to make eye contact with people, smile, and ask them if they like to read or if they'd like some candy.  I chuckle because I love to have a bowl of candy kisses on my table.  Chocolate seems to draw in people, young and old.  The little kids want candy and drag their parents, grandma, or aunt over to the table.  Perfect chance to smile and make conversation.  If men come in, I usually ask if they'd like a kiss from a romance author.  Sometimes you get a blush from those big strapping men.  Other times they just laugh and accept the candy.  And once in awhile, they admit they're looking to buy a gift for their girlfriend or wife or significant other.  Opens the door to talk to people.

2.  Know where the restrooms, drinking fountain and exits are.  You'll be helpful.  People will appreciate it.  Offer them a card to remember you. 

3.  Find a way to talk to potential buyers.  Work the room.  Make the first move to say hello.  Ask what they like to read.  Find a way to converse with the public, and remember, you want them to remember you.

4.  I took a class from Marcia James on PR amd it was great.  If you ever have the opportunity too take one of her classes, they're definitely worth it.  Anyway, I remember she said the success of a booksigning is not how many books you sell but to get your name out there.  When people see your name and start to recognize you, then they'll go looking for your books.  A booksigning is the perfect way to get your name in front of the public.

At this booksigning, I'm going to have a drawing for a free copy of my book, Murder and Lies.  It's the first time I've done this so I'm hoping it will generate some interest.   Have any of you authors ever done this and did it work for you?

I'd love to hear from my readers.  What things do you like to see an author do at a booksigning?
Authors, what have you found works the best for you?

Help me out please.

Happy Reading!

http://KRBailey.com

Letting Love Win

Alysia S Knight has a new book, Letting Love Win, expected to be released by Crimson Romance on July 16.  She’s going to be my guest blogger the same week it comes out so be sure and stop back by and learn about this new author. 

 In the meantime, here a blurb from her new book, Letting Love Win:

There’s a Will and Rand Monroe’s found a way around it. To retain ownership of Roe Technology, his grandfather’s Will stipulates an heir, not marriage. Rand hires a surrogate to have his child. Things are looking good until the surrogate changes her mind at the last minute, and there’s a power failure.

Delivering a flower arrangement to her doctor’s office leads to Kiley Adams getting a pap smear, but when the lights go out, she gets a whole lot more. Now the innocent is faced with being pregnant before ever making love to a man. The father of her baby is a man who’s used to getting things he wants. It quickly becomes evident that he wants her.

Things might not be so bad if she hadn’t started falling in love with him the first moment she hit him in the head with a door at the doctor’s office. It also might be easier if someone wasn’t out to kill her.

Secrets of Wolf Creek Pass

I'm excited.  My newest story, Secrets of Wolf Creek Pass, is now available in paperback as well as all e-book formats.

 You can order a print copy through Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com.  If you need an e-book format not available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, go to Bookstrand.com and you can find it most all e-book formats.

This is a Bookstrand Romantic Suspense and a small blurb follows:

 When five-year-old Anna Burke goes missing in the rugged mountains of Wolf Creek Pass, can a stranger understand the clues and find her? To survive the pain and loss of her own daughter's kidnapping and murder, Layne Youngman has closed her heart to everything but helping others find their missing children. As she begins her search, it appears nearly everyone has a secret. Rhys Burke is struggling to survive a bitter divorce. When Anna disappears while in his care, he is consumed with guilt and desperate to find his daughter. What he isn't prepared for is the petite woman investigator who strikes a fire in his heart unlike anything he's ever experienced. Together they must find a way to unravel the clues, overcome the obstacles, and concentrate on finding Anna. What they don't realize is the challenge may be more than they can handle.

For an excerpt, go to Bookstrand.com and read more!

I'd love to hear how you liked my story.  Happy Reading!

7 Days in Utopia

Last night my husband and I were watching a movie titled, 7 Days in Utopia, with Robert Duvall and Lucas Black.  Lucas plays the part of a young golfer who loses his cool, runs away and ends up in a car crash in Utopia.  Robert Duvall is a retired golfer who owns the field where the car crash happens.  Anyway, Robert Duvall has learned a lot from life and dares Lucas to spend seven days in Utopia and Robert Duval guarantees he can help him with his golf game.

As I listened to the various things Robert Duvall tries to teach the young golfer, I found those teachings apply to life, to the things we want to do as authors and writers.  I’d like to share a few of them with you.

1.  Find some conviction.  He goes on to say that without conviction, an off-handed comment can erode your confidence.  Isn’t that true?  I’ve read some e-mails on one of the loops I’m a member of about how devastated a young author was because a reader gave them a bad review or didn’t rate their story as high as they thought it should be.  Writing can be a tough business.  Every day we have to sit down and tell our stories and hope that everyone will like them.  I guarantee you, not everyone will, and that’s a hard fact to swallow.  But if we have conviction that we’re doing what we want to do, doing the best we can, developing our stories and characters, we’ll find readers and some of them will not only like the story, they’ll love it.  Remember, the reason why we started writing -- Conviction.  If you’re doing what you dreamed of doing, the rest will follow.

2.  Find rhythm, balance and patience.  Wow, how many times have we been told we have to find rhythm and balance in our stories.  Don’t provide too many facts too soon.  Make sure the story has a rhythm, a step-by-step plot that builds tension, pulls the reader in, yet has balance throughout.  Don’t tell the reader too much too fast.  Patience is required to do that.  Develop the skills required.  Find that emotional control to not rush things.

3.  If you want to play like a professional – act like one.  I’ve heard this over and over again.  If you believe you are an author, be one.  If you have written the greatest story of all time, show the world you’re a fantastic author.  Be professional in all you do.  Treat your craft as a professional because if you are writing and are striving to be published, you are a professional.

4.  Start with a blank canvas, think with your mind, then draw it.  In our case, write the story.  I don’t know about most of you, but I have to visualize a scene, the dialogue, the characters’ reactions to everything before I can sit down and put the words on paper.  It works best for me.  I remember reading where an author was determined to push her output from 2,000 words a day to over 10,000 words a day.  How did she do it?  She thought out what she wanted to write before she sat down and put it on paper.   So I recommend, get out that blank piece of paper or blank computer screen after you have thought out what you want to say.  Once you’ve done that, start writing.  It works.

5.  Have respect for tradition and passion for the truth.  We’ve all been told that we can’t do something the way we want to, that it hasn’t been done, that the publishers, readers, editors, etc, won’t accept it because it breaks with tradition.  Well, I believe we need to respect the tried and true, the traditional ways, but then we need to find the truth of what we want to do and go for it.  Find that passion that you once had and run with it.  The publishing world has changed so much in these last few years that sometimes it’s hard to find the traditional ways so I say, if it works for you, go for it with a passion.

6.  Confidence comes with being prepared.  Boy is that the truth.  Have you ever had to get up and speak to a crowd?  I have, and let me tell you, if I’m not prepared with notes, history, and a few things I want to talk about, it’s hard.  But if I’ve done my homework, prepared my notes, I can speak in front of people with the best of them.  So, be prepared.  Do your best.  Find passion for what you’re doing.  Confidence will follow you.

7.  The main theme of the movie I watched was:

See it

Feel it
Trust it

Think about it.  If you can see it and feel it, you can trust it.  If you can trust it, you believe.  If you believe, you’ll succeed.

Have a good one!