December…at the beach!

Ah the boardwalk…the sand, the surf, the salt water taffy! Recently, I visited the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk while researching for a new mystery series. Sure there were rides and fried foods and cheapie souvenirs, but what struck me was the history of the place. There are glimpses of bygone years in the antique carousel where riders can still toss the original metal rings as they gallop by, and view the old photos of the giant indoor poor and the beachfront concerts. I enjoyed that sense of nostalgia for the old days when licorice whips were a treat and folks would ride the Big Dipper , a giant wooden roller coaster, with their families.

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk used to house a lovely indoor saltwater swimming pool. This “Coney Island of the West” actually started out as a public bathhouse in 1865 which would later morph into the boardwalk.  Can you picture all those ladies in their “bathing costumes” parading around? I can see it so clearly in my wee little writer’s mind. It’s the best, most glorious element of the writing process…picking a world to set your story!

What fictional worlds have you most enjoyed? (For me right now, it’s England in the days of Charles Dickens. So vivid!)

Christmas In July Reader Giveaway!

Happy Christmas in July! Welcome to the 16th blog in this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway, which runs July 12-23, 2021. At the bottom of each author’s blog post, you will find the secret words. Write them all down and provide the provide the entire answer on this Google form.

Note: You must grab all the secret words from every author in the Christmas in July Reader Giveaway to be eligible to win a $400 Amazon gift card. At the end of this blog post is a link to the next blog, and so on, to the final blog post (20 in all). At each blog stop, the author will also give away copy or copies of their featured Christmas book.

There’s so much to love about Christmas, isn’t there? The family, the faith, the fun and frolic. This year, though, I feel like Christmas will be especially meaningful. Last year I was reminded by the virus-that-shall-not-be-named, how very precious time is. My parents live only five minutes away, my sisters no more than twenty, and we were separated by teeny virus thingys that landed us in isolation. Even my own children had to be “managed” since they were coming and going from work and apartments. I resented it, honestly, the not being able to hug. That was the thing I missed the most. Zoom was helpful and phonecalls were nice, but they just can’t come close to that physical presence of a loved one. Even though things are slowly transitioning back to “normal” here in Northern, CA, I find myself tearing up when I can administer a good, tight hug to those I haven’t seen for a while. Would I have appreciated it as much if we hadn’t had a “pause” year? Honestly, probably not. So this year I will hug those people, and eat those cookies, and laugh as long and as loud as I possibly can, relishing the life that God has restored. How about you? Will your Christmas feel different in this “post pandemic” season?

Now, it’s time to for the secret words: unto others

Save the secret words, and when you reach the final blog, enter all the secret words on this form for a chance to win a $400 Amazon gift card!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Hallee Bridgeman and her Christmas book Blizzard in the Bluegrass. You can find it at this link. Remember, this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway will end on July 23 at 8 PM EST!

https://www.halleebridgeman.com/christmas-in-july/

Fiction Writing…it’ll cost ya, or not!

“If you have fresh ideas, a strong voice, and a simple word processor (or even a pad of paper) you can write a book.”

I am constantly amazed at how many programs, templates, gizmos and gadgets there are to enhance the life of a fiction writer. I’ve probably purchased more of these things than I shall admit to. (That nifty top of the line planner has now been consigned to the bottom of my drawer.) Sure the technology tools are sweet…programs that help you note take, organize and map out your plots, characters, etc, but you know what? A binder with tabs can help you do that as well. How about that coolio wireless pen that enables one to write notes that are transferred directly to a file on the iPad? Awesome? Yes! Necessary? No. I mean this to be an encouragement to writers out there. If you have fresh ideas, a strong voice, and a simple word processor (or even a pad of paper) you can write a book. Trust me…I’ve written more than forty with a simple keyboard and a WHOLE LOT OF BINDERS!

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Writing a novel is like square dancing…with chickens.

Easy, right? A novel is just a matter of making things up. How hard can it be? A little action, a hefty dose of romance, some snappy dialogue? Presto you have a novel….unless everything spins out of control somewhere in those last 20,000 words! Take a look at the video and see what you think.

To your corners, chickens! It’s time to write a novel

 

Info about Dana’s latest series

Author tip: top three ways to annoy people…

 

Yep, I worked real hard to land that first publishing contract and boy howdy, it wasn’t a piece of cake to land the other thirty plus either. Writing professionally is difficult and we authors have an obligation to trot our names, awards and five star reviews out into the world to encourage people to BUY OUR BOOKS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. Writing books goes hand in hand with selling them, and if one is to continue in this biz, tooting our author horns is vital. But here’s the thing…it’s really important to keep the priorities clear when one is in this nutty business. In order that my head does not begin to put too much stock in my press releases, I remind myself that, at the end of the day, people will not remember my cover, my book, and my reviews no matter how many stars are attached. It’s not false modesty, it’s fact. Each year more than a million books are published,  so my meticulously crafted words are buried in an avalanche of plenty of other fancy syllables from a bazillion other wordsmiths a lot more talented than I. (#noraroberts, #irenehannon, #geronimostilton)

So now that I’ve eaten that slice of humble pie, let me just wrap my mind around three sure fire practices that might just annoy the beejeebers out of my friends. (Pay attention, Dana. You don’t have that many friends to spare.)

1. Make sure you bring up your fancy author career in every conversation. Yep, it’s sure as shooting that everyone you encounter wants to hear all about your wacky fiction writing accomplishments. Maybe you could have a tee shirt made…. “I’m An Author, Legend in My Own Mind.”

2. Be sure to promote yourself NONSTOP on all social media platforms. Don’t talk about anything else, or people might get distracted. (I’ve been told I should have at least 30,000 Twitter followers. Only 28,000 to go! Must remember to beef up tweeting schedule to fifty three times a day.)

3. Never stray outside your “writing brand persona.” You’re a suspense writer so ALL of your social media channels should reflect this. (Brace yourself, people of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. I am prepared to deluge you with every kind of intense, edge of your seat promotion. Repeatedly. Over and over. Until your brain memorizes the name Dana- Buy-My-Books-Mentink. (No humor or warm fuzzy sentiments allowed, people. It’s all deadly serious business.)

All kidding aside, people, I know that the reality is I need to self promote in person and on social media, but that’s my business, my real work is encouraging people. I will never forget during my student teacher days, assisting a sobbing kiddo who dropped her special belt into the toilet. Did I stick my hand in there and fish it out? Yuppers. Was that important work? Absolutely. At the end of the day, nothing I ever write will probably mean as much as fishing a belt out of the toilet for a distraught child.

I hope I never forget that lesson.

Info about Dana’s newest suspense novel

In which I must leave people drowning because it’s Thursday.

 

Sure, I’d love to have Nora Robert’s schedule and write full time, but let’s face it…I’m no Nora Roberts! I’m just a hard working, suburbanite mom trying to raise two kids and keep up with the cost of living in Northern California! I actually have two jobs which makes me kinda crazy sometimes. Witness my angst as I leave my fictional world in a shambles while I maintain order in elementary school land! Do you feel me, hardworking writers out there? Or really, anyone who is trying to hold down two jobs?

Just tread water, why don’t you?

 

Seriously…I have the BEST idea to change the face of books forever!

 

 

Okay editors of Earth. I know you, like me, absolutely adore words. Oh sure you have to insist on pesky word counts and such in order not to produce a volume too heavy for the average sized human to heft. I gotcha. And I know I probably aggravated the beejeebers out of you by submitting that last manuscript with a couple thousand words too many, but listen! I have the BEST idea! I mean this is gonna shake up the writing world more than the invention of the ebook. Ready? Take a peek at the video. You can thank me at your leisure. I’ll wait right here by the phone.

Click. You’ll love it. Promise.

 

Writing a synopsis…the ugliest baking you’ll ever do!

Yeah. There are fun parts to writing…the plotting, the moment when you get that INCREDIBLE IDEA, the research, getting a peek at the new bookcover. Then there are those moments which are just about as much fun as crawling through thorn bushes in your birthday suit. The most wretched task for this writer is whipping up that synopsis. This is a process by which you take an amazing idea, strip it of all the art and charm and whap it out there in all its ugly horror for your editor. Oh, and you have to do this while somehow showing you are a master of your craft. Sigh. Here’s a video to describe the process.

So what part of your job or chore list would you be happy never tackling again? Do tell!

Test your Nutcracker trivia knowledge! Quiz time!

 

Yes, I know it’s only October, but it’s never too early to test your Nutcracker trivia savvy! See how many of these answers you know.

http://authorangelahayes.blogspot.com/?zx=ab6d8281c7704d01

Author throwdown…weird animals,and embarassing junk food choices.

 

Hey, all. So thrilled to be discussing the nutty world of fiction writing with fellow Harvest House author Virginia Smith! Take a look at our rockstar YouTube video. Like or comment on the  video for a chance to win one of our books. Subscribe to my YouTube channel to enter the August prize pack giveaway. God bless!