Organization is Way Over-Rated

Today I'm Sharing my post from Everybody Needs a Little Romance

It's been a long few days.  I'm working hard to get my edits finished on the second book "Target of Betrayal" as well as writing a short story to tie both books together.  But I'm really loving the way the stories are working out, so it's been fun.

My biggest dilemma for the week:

To organize or not to organize, that is the question for today. I could organize my life. Really I could. If I really wanted to.

I know things would run smoother and I wouldn't forget things like lunches or important school function dates. But I already have a filing system. Is it my fault that I'm the only one that understands it? Surely not. Those stacks there on the desk are in order, I assure you. Just tell me what the heck you're looking for and I'll be more than happy to get it for you.

See, now was that so hard? Now, there is no meltdown. No hyperventilating, because the important paper I strategically placed in that one certain location is no longer there. Ugh….

Please tell me I'm not alone in my madness. LOL I've read there are two ways to file. Vertical and horizontal. See it's just a preference.

So what say you? Vertical or horizontal? Should I waste precious writing time trying to organize things so another member of my family, who will remain nameless, is able to find things?

Yes, I'm procrastinating again. Guess what book I've just bought! LOL I'll let you know if it works after I read it. Here's a link in case you just can't wait that long!

"Eat That Frog" by Brian Tracy

Focus Please and More Dr. Pepper!

Good morning!

Procrastinating big time. Should be doing edits and working on the short story I've decided I must do to tie my books together nice and neat.  I sure wish I could actually see what was going on up there in my  head.  I wonder if it looks like my office.  Stuff must be scattered everywhere! LOL

As I've zipped about the Internet from blogs to websites, I found several interesting things and thought I'd share. :)


Need pictures for your blogs?  Not so fast!  Are you sure about the copyrights?

http://joconquerobstacles.com/2011/04/14/are-you-breaking-the-law-but-don%e2%80%99t-know-it/


This site is amazing!  So much information about publishing all in one spot!

Your Self Publishing Coach!


And just because this entertains me again and again.

J.A. Konrath


New to Publishing and Marketing?

Be sure to check out these spots:

Kindleboards.com
Nookboards.com
Mobilreads.com
Bookbuzzr.com
Google Books

Now back to work for me!

Wishing everyone a Wonderful Day!

The Aftermath



Okay, so you've written a novel.  Spent months, if not years, working on edits and polishing your baby till it's nice and sparkling clean.  Even gone the extra mile and learned all the different formatting required to publish your masterpiece and design a great cover.  It's out there and you're so excited.  But now what?

Marketing.  Getting that book out into the world where readers will notice and want to read it is a hard and time consuming task.  Even if you've gone the traditional publishing route, alot of the marketing will be left up to you.  Unless you are a best selling author, not much time and energy will be spent on your book.  So what do you do?

Here are a few tips I've come across.  All books are different.  Some will work, some won't.  You just have to dig your heals in and give it all you've got.  It won't happen over night, but if you spend some time everyday working on new avenues for getting noticed it will happen.

Press Release Sites

https://www.pr.com/
http://www.prlog.org/pub/account.html
http://www.pressking.com/user/new
http://www.free-press-release.com/
http://www.clickpress.com
http://www.1888pressrelease.com/
http://www.24-7pressreleases.com/
http://www.express-press-release.net/
http://www.free-press-release-center.info/
http://www.PressMethod.com
http://www.Newswiretoday.com

Sites for Book Reviews

A Romance Review
All About Romance
Angies Romance Reviews
Cataromance Reviews
Coffee Time Romance
Contemporary Romance Writers
Dear Author
EHarlequin
Joyfully Reviewed
Love Romances More
Marilyn's Romance Reviews
Pink Heart Society Reviews
Reader to Reader
Reviews - Once Upon a Romance
Romance by the Blog
Romance Junkies
Romance Reader at Heart
Romance Reviews
Romancing the Blog
Romantic Times
Sheikh Book Reviews
Simply Romance Reviews
Smart Bitches Trashy Books
The Literary Times
The Romance Reader
The Romance Reader Connection

Extras
 
* Postcards with Book Cover and description of book to pass out when you are out and about. Also a great way to give someone an autographed souvenir for purchasing your e-book.
* Book marks with same info - Hey, I still use them. LOL
* Pens, Business cards, Magnets, etc. (easy to accidentally leave behind ;)
 
Networking & Blogging
 
Set up a blog where you can have links to purchase your books and share bits about your life or writing.  It's free.  And it's a great way to connect with your readers.  Then branch out to other bloggers.  Now I'm not talking about visiting blogs for the sole purpose of plugging your book.  Not cool.  Search the web for things you really enjoy.  Follow the blogs.  Comment on the posts.  People really do make the extra effort to click and see who you are. :)

Set Up Author's Page

* Amazon.com - (Don't forget the UK!  You have to set it up on both)
* Amazon.co.uk  https://www.amazon.co.uk/
* Goodreads
* Shelfari

 
I'm still brain storming and although it hurts sometimes (LOL) it's paying off.
 
Best of luck!  And if you have any ideas you'd like to share, I would love to hear them!  I'll even send a FREE print copy of my book for the best new idea! :) 

Guest Blogger - Killer Fiction

I'm over visiting the ladies of Killer Fiction today.  Click on over and give me some pointers on how you conquer your fears. :)

Trust me, I need all the help I can get! LOL

Have a Beautiful Weekend!!

Interesting Thoughts

Found this to be very interesting and had to share.  
 
Selling to Traditional Publishing May Not Give YOU the Safety and Security Your Looking for in Your Writing Career.

Hmmm....

Check it out.  I'd love to hear more thoughts on this. :)

Dean Wesley Smith
http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=3665

Marketing Tips from a Teenager

Ahh....Spring is in the air.  I can feel it, smell it, almost reach out and grab it.  I for one am so glad to see the cold leave until next fall I could do a happy dance.  Hope my neighbors aren't watching. :)  There are many reasons I decided to remain in Texas, but the warmer climate tops this list.  Cold is fun to visit, but I could never live there.

If you have animals, I'm sure you've noticed that the changes in weather triggers weird behavior in your pets.  For some reason the coming of this new season also triggers something in teenage girls as well.  With two, I've learned this the hard way. LOL  This thing is called "The Need for Clothes".  What they wore last year at this time certainly isn't an option and the fall wardrobe won't cut it either.  Don't even make the mistake of suggesting this one.  If your lucky, they'll quit rolling their eyes by the time they are ready to start making their Christmas list.

Anyway, so off we go to the local mall to see if we can reign in this need that causes moodiness if left untreated for very long.  Here's where the brilliance sets in.  At least I think it's smart now.  At the time, I was mortified.

The Sony store sits smack dab in the middle of the mall and is a favorite hot spot for my two.  Just looking and playing around on the different computers and other technical gadgets makes their day.  They don't even have to buy a single thing.  We used to call this window shopping in my day.  I'm somewhat technically challenged so I don't see the fun in all of it.  Once they'd had their fill, they came back giggling and acting like the darn cat that swallowed a huge canary.  I was pooped out and resting on a near by bench.  Of course I just tell them I'm people watching, you know doing research for my next book.  That's when my middle daughter explains her new marketing strategy for selling my new release.  I knew I was in trouble before she even started. 

Apparently, she'd made her way around the store and decided it would be cool to plug in my website on every computer in there.  She left it open to the spot where you can easily find and purchase my book.

Chills rushed my body.  I was cold then hot.  I couldn't move at first and then I wanted to run.  My picture is on that page too.  OMGOSH!  I dug out my sunglasses, ducked my head and couldn't get out of the mall fast enough.  These two stinkers are still laughing about it! LOL 

Now that it's over and I've had time to think about it and the initial shock that someone might recognize me in the mall from the picture on the webpage has worn off, I see the brilliance in her thinking.  How many people go through there?  What if they saw it? Even if it managed to catch one persons eye, it was worth it.  And best of all it was free.  Surely, no law was broken by doing this, right?  Oh, that would be my luck. LOL I just told her if she ever does this again, to make sure I'm not with her!

Teenagers!  You got to Love'em!!

I've updated my website to look more professional just in case.  ;)
www.melissaohnoutka.com

Free Books!

Everybody Needs A Little Romance

Stop in and say hello!  One lucky commenter will win award winning author Sandra Edwards' "Broken Wings/Vegas, Baby 2pk!  I highly recommend both stories.  What better way than to get them both at once! :)

http://tiny.cc/o6qa9

So Why Human Trafficking?

With the release of my new book "Faithful Deceptions", I've had several people ask me why I chose to focus on human trafficking. 

Well, it all started with a miniseries on Lifetime back in 2005 called "Human Trafficking, staring Mira Sorvino and Donald Sutherland. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it.  It's a mind boggling story.  I was in the middle of finishing another manuscript, but after watching this movie my muse jumped up and said, "Out of my way, sister!"

I sat down to write a brief outline of the thoughts bouncing in my head and the next thing I knew I couldn't stop.  Six months later, Faithful Deceptions was finished.  The rough draft anyway.  I've actually been working on the edits and revisions for this manuscript off and on since 2007.  After my first RWA conference in Dallas, I let it sit for awhile and finished the story I was working on to begin with.  Then switched to writing a middle grade book and Young Adult for a change of pace.  At least I thought that was why back then.  Now I'm thinking it had alot more to do with how the story and the human trafficking affected something deep inside me.  The research has always been a fun part of the writing for me.  Not so much with this story.  The things I read and learned were almost too much to bear.  And I had two young daughters at the time.  It really shook me up.

Maybe this subject is something I need to bring more out in the open.  Human Trafficking is not a crime that only happens in foreign countries like so many of us think.  I was one of those people.  Then I found out  how many cases actually take place right here in the United States.  The Walmart in my home town is actually a stopping point for those coming in from Mexico on their way into the U.S. with these young girls. Horrified isn't even strong enough a word for how this makes me feel.  I could sit back and thank the good Lord above that I have no real life experiences to draw on.  But I feel like there's more I should do to bring this out in the open.

This horrifying reality will be woven through my next several books.  And I think I'm the one most surprised by this sudden realization.  Funny how a story can grasp hold and not let go.  How it can dig so deep within you there's no escape, no alternative but to see it through.  Heavy sigh.  Another reason I love to write?  The possibilities, shocking truths and breathtaking journeys one's imagination can take you through.

My First Interview!

Good morning!

Not only is today my youngest brother's birthday, which makes it pretty darn special all on its own, but it's also a big step for me too.

Today you can find me visiting my good friend Autumn Jordon at: AJ's Notes.  Gosh, my very first interview.  So exciting. LOL  Please stop in and say hello.  I'm giving away a $10.00 Amazon gift certificate for one lucky commenter! Be sure to leave your name and email address when you comment so I'll know where to send your prize if you win. :)

Hope to see you there!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BROTHER! :)