A New Book and a New Blog Everyone!

Tags

5-star reviews, Comfort food, In Search of Beef Stroganoff, New Blog, self-publishing, Women's fiction, writers, writing

Hey followers and casual readers of this humble blog,

two announcements from Casa de Coyle.

New Book!

New Blog!

First of all, I finally published my book, In Search of Beef Stroganoff!

Yes. Really. No lie. I kid you not.

You can find it here on Amazon. I’ll wait while you go check it out.

Now that you are back and have put away your credit card, you undoubtedly noticed my whopping fourteen 5-star reviews. This writer’s buttons are busting.

For those of you who knew me when I was struggling to find the words to summarize my book, with the help the reviewers’ comments, I now know how to describe my book! Well, sorta. I still have an interminable internal disconnect in being able to up with an “elevator speech” for the darn thing.

Ripped from the reviews, I present the following:

• Complex, relatable, believable, lovable characters you wished were your friends . . . reading the book is like talking to a friend.
• An intimate tale that is funny, yet heartwarming, giving you a wonderful place to escape.
• Wonderful, skillful imagery and detail of the story’s scenes, people, and places.
• Mouthwatering dishes and memorable food play a central character in the story.
• The writing is delectable, warm, and satisfying – like comfort food for the mind.
• The food descriptions will make you hungry and inspire you to hit the kitchen.
• It has the kind of romantic love and friendships you yearn for.
• A tale of self-discovery, personal exploration, redemption, life transformations, self-forgiveness, and growth.
• It is the simple things in life that matter.

Aw shucks, book reviewers, you made me blush.

The second big announcement is that I am moving my blog, and hopefully my followers, to a new site. You can find me, my blog posts, and I over here:

Robincoylewrites.com.

I have come out of semi-retirement from blogging and will be posting again with vigor. Or at least with less anemia that what has happened here over the past couple of years.

I’ve written two posts about current “the world in which we live in” (grammar, Sir Paul, mind your grammar). You may find them amusing.

I hope you find it in your heart to keep up with me over there. It would be lonely without you!

Be well, and remember to wash your hands.

 

The End is Near

Tags

In Search of Beef Stroganoff, self-publishing

Source: http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk

No, I am not a survivalist predicting the end of the world as we know it, although I do happen to look fetching in mossy oak camo and make a delicious tree bark stew.

The end I am talking about is the end of the long process of writing and editing, editing, editing, editing (did I mention editing?) my manuscript for my soon to be published novel, In Search of Beef Stroganoff.

I can hear a collective sigh of relief from all you bloggers out there about not having to listen to me moan and complain and rant about how the editing process is endless. I could always find sentences in my manuscript I wanted to tinker with, things that needed to be added, sections to toss on the garbage heap, or scattered typos left in the wake of my editing.

My dear friend and fellow blogger, also happens to be a librarian with a fancy schmancy Master’s Degree in Library Science. She read a draft of In Search of Beef Stroganoff over the summer and gave me fantastic feedback, asked hard questions, and told me she HATED the ending. I took her comments to heart et voila (how French of me), the manuscript was in a state where I was happy with it and could quit gnawing on it like a pit bull. I could finally say . . .

Enough is enough.

It is finished.

Quit picking at it.

There is no earthly reason to change the word “happy” to the equally boring word “glad.”

I honestly didn’t think that day would ever come.

I sent the manuscript off to a talented and knowledgeable editor, who many of you know as the fabulous Madame Weebles of blogging fame. She is an editor with a keen eye, nose for accuracy, delicate touch, hears when dialog is stilted, and chewed up and spit out sentences that didn’t ring true. She used all five senses while editing my manuscript and I think she used her sixth sense as well. She gave the novel the polish it needed. The story is the same, but she helped me smooth out more than a few bumps.

My gifted and artistic (and may I be so bold as to add, beautiful) daughter is a graphic designer extraordinaire. She created a stunning cover for the book, but she won’t let me reveal it . . . yet. Because she is like her mother, she is never happy until something is perfect. She wants to play around with the design some more, but in my mind, it is already perfect. It captures the essence of the story.

Because, as I said, I leave typos in my wake when I edit, the manuscript is now in the capable hands of my best pal. She can spot a typo at a hundred yards. And by the way, she has found a few. Once she is finished, it is publication time.

Woooooooohooooooo! I will soon be doing a happy dance and I hope you all join in!

After doing much handwringing, gnashing of teeth, and hours of research, I decided to self-publish using Lulu Publishing Services. Have any of you used them? If so, how did it go? From everything I’ve learned about Lulu, they are author-friendly, you can do eBook and print book versions, and they don’t demand your first-born child as payment.

I considered trying to get an agent but it seemed like an impossible dream. The numbers are against anyone who would like to be traditionally published, except if your name happens to be Stephen King. There are so many talented writers out there. My goal is to hold a copy of my book in my hands, not to be rejected by an agent.

Stay tuned. I’ll be around the blogosphere more now and will try to not bore you with the details of getting my book in print. But I can’t make any promises.

So . . . enough about me. How have you all been?

 

Look what the cat dragged in . . . Robin is back!

Tags

editing, self-publishing, traditional publishing, writers, writing

Hello, dear blogging friends! I have had a full plate with no time to blog or read blogs for some time now. I won’t make excuses, whine, or pretend that I am busier than the rest of you. Goodness knows, we are all busy.

With all good intentions, I stepped back from my blog to focus on finishing my novel. Here is what I did about that thing called my manuscript. Squat. Zilch. Nada. Zippo.

But here are a few of the things I did manage to accomplish:

1. Fixed the crisis in the Mideast. I got the nicest thank you note from the president.
2. Solved the world hunger problem by whipping up several batches of my famous beef stroganoff. That stuff sticks to your ribs.
3. Figured out why the Kardashians are popular. Oh, wait. That question will never be answered.

With all those heady issues resolved, I am happy to report that I am writing/editing again.

My novel was all but finished so why the heck wasn’t I taking it to the finish line? Why work so hard on telling the story and then leave it moldering, languishing, and mildewing in a file on my laptop? (Do computer files mildew?)

So, I dusted off my manuscript and with a fresh eye and renewed spirit, set about finishing what I started so long ago. I did a read-through and was thrilled to find out I didn’t hate it and want to throw the mildewed bather in the trash.

With the help of a dear friend, who has a keen eye for holes in the story and incongruity, I polished the sentences, added depth where the story was thin, and deleted stuff that just didn’t make literary magic. I am forever in her debt

Now the burning question is how to get the damn thing published. Agent? Self-publish? Assisted self-publishing? Running off mimeo copies of it and passing it out on the street corner? The whole process of getting published makes the writing part look easy.

Plagiarizing my own blog, I wrote this a long time ago:

“The discussions on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing and the changing industry are robust with good information. Just when I think “Ah ha! I have a game plan,” I read something else counseling that Game Plan B is better. Then I read another article with the advice that the sure-fire way to go is Game Plan C. And on and on it goes. Without sounding like I am whining (well maybe a little), I’d like to be adopted by someone who says, “Here honey, I’ll handle it for you.” Since being adopted is unlikely at my age, I’ll forge ahead on my own for now.”

Like in Mel Brooks movie, Young Frankenstein, I wish someone would hand me this:

Anyhoo, for those of you who have navigated the rocky road of publication, any advise for moi? If no advise, please stop by this blog for a cup of tea and a chat. I do miss you all.

Let Your Writing Breathe Before You Edit

Tags

editing, editing advice, self-publishing, writers, writing, Writing Advice, writing tips

As writers, we know it is best to write with our brain unshackled and our hearts open.

The words should flow unrestrained by rules or fear of redundancy. We shouldn’t let self-judgment or worries about what others might think as the words fall on the paper like petals.

We also know to then let it sit before touching it again. Like fine wine, it needs time to breathe. We need to put space between what was written by our heart and quell the desire to immediately refine it. With literary distance, we can unemotionally (hopefully) read and edit what we wrote with clarity and a discerning eye.

If you are like me, when I write a sentence, paragraph, or chapter, the words continue to swirl in my head even, while away from the computer. I am rewriting while doing the dishes, I come up with new ideas as I pull weeds, and I doubt that every-word-I-ever-wrote-since-the-beginning-of-time was worth the paper it was printed on.

I spent the past weekend doing deep mechanical edits on my manuscript. Although I know I should let it ferment for a time before I revisit it, I am itching to pick at it.

In this video, I am the puppy, my manuscript is the kibble on her leg, and my master, Mr. Manuscript is saying, “Leave it. Leave it. Leave it . . .”

Besides, how cute is this sweet puppy!?! I couldn’t resist.

“How To Get Published” Information Overload

Tags

Getting published, Publishing industry, self-publishing, writers, writing

For those of you following my blog (thank you!), you know I have been spending my days researching the best way to get my novel In Search of Beef Stroganoff published. For those of you NOT following me (please do!), now you know how I have been whiling away my days.

It is official; I am on information overload. There are so many smart people out there with sage advice, tips, and do’s and don’ts. I can’t take it all in! I’ve bookmarked dozens of websites, taken notes, thrown up my hands in defeat, and also found hope that one day my book will be on an actual- or cyberspace-bookshelf.

The discussions on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing and the changing industry are robust with good information. Just when I think “Ah ha! I have a game plan,” I read something else counseling that Game Plan B is better. Then I read another article with the advice that the sure-fire way to go is Game Plan C. And on and on it goes. Without sounding like I am whining (well maybe a little), I’d like to be adopted by someone who says, “Here honey, I’ll handle it for you.” Since being adopted is unlikely at my age, I’ll forge ahead on my own for now.

I am an huge fan of the brilliant movie by Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein. Like in the movie, I wish someone would hand me this:

Photo credit to lorinalynn’s album at photobucket.com

Anyone else feel the same way?

P.S. My thanks to all the people out there who know more than I do and are willing to share their wisdom. Stealing another favorite line from a favorite movie, The Wizard of Oz, (sing along everyone), “I’ve been whiling away the hours, conversing with the”  . . . bloggers.

The End of the Publishing World?

Tags

publishing, self-publishing, writing

This video captures some misconceptions of “the end of the publishing world as we know it.” It is well done and worthy of two and a half minutes of your time.

Publishing “World In Which We Live In”

Tags

literary agent, self-publishing, traditional publishing

As we all know, the publishing industry is changing faster than Lady Gaga’s hairstyle. I don’t yet know which way to go. As the lyrics of the song “Live and Let Die” by Wings say – “this ever changing world in which we live in . . .” (Really Sir Paul? Horrible grammar. Ending your sentence in a preposition?).

My novel is finished and is in the hands of a few people whose opinion I respect and trust. While I’m waiting for their feedback, I am researching whether I should self-publish or attempt to find an agent and go the traditional route.

Information abounds about both options on the Internet. In fact, there is too much information. Some tout the wonders of self-publishing and others argue that with right query letter, I could be on the next flight for my book-signing tour. And yet others stand tightrope-walk the fence, explain the merits of both, and then simply say it is up to me.  Such advice leaves me scratching my head in an unbecoming manner.

At this moment, I am leaning toward finding an agent and indulge myself in daydreams about mobs of fans throwing themselves at my feet at Barnes and Nobles.

And now, back to my research. Wish me luck.