Author Carla Swafford – Writer’s Life

It’s probably been a long time, if ever, since I mentioned what I do as an author. Of course, I write. I try to every day, even weekends, holidays, and vacations. I do have to admit, that usually ends up to be around 40% of the alloted time. Yes. I sit down and open my computer or occasionally open a notebook and write. The other 60% is me doing administrative things.

Such as, I have five books that were published with traditional publishers that did not file copyrights for me. In my ignorance (one contract required them to do it), I thought they would file the copyrights. As you can tell, they did not. Then I wrote six more books for self-publishing and figured I would file later (still ignorant). Not going into boring details, if you don’t file within three months of publishing a book, you can still file, but if you sue or someone sue’s you, you won’t have your full legal capacity.

Not to be too boring, here’s a list of stuff I plan to do or have done as an author in the last month or so.

Update my website
Update 2 writing groups’ websites as a volunteer
Produce my book ads (4 +/- a month) for Instagram, Facebook, & Tiktok
Update by redesigning 3 book covers
Look for pictures on Deposit Photos for future covers or/and ads
Design 4 new book covers
Format 2 books
Copyright 6 books ($45-$65 each to register)
Download 3 books on Ingram Sparks
Order 3 books for review
Update 2 blurbs on back
Update 3 paperback books on Amazon
Update 3 ebooks on Amazon
Judge two contests of a total of 9 books
Finish the damn Ethan book
Participate in 2 book signings
Present a short program in a workshop

Authors often redesign covers due to a change in the market. In other words, covers readers are looking for and buying. We always want new fans.

Writing Odds & End

I read or/listen to a book nearly everyday, and often up to three books (ebook, physical, and audio). It does take me a week to finish them, but I can’t imagine going through a day where I don’t read/listen to a book. So first, I want to mention no one is perfect. Goodness, I’m certainly not, yet I guess sometimes finding an error in another book keeps me a little sane. You get me?

Anyway, one book said the girl entered a limo and “sat in the chair.” What? Is that some redneck rigging? SEAT. “Sat in the seat.” Cars, buses, trucks planes have seats. Houses and other buildings, inside and out, have chairs.

Another called a Charger (Dodge) a sports car. Nope. It’s certainly a high-performance sedan, but it sits too high off the ground. I did see Google called it a “sports sedan.” Okay. I agree with that. But a true sports car is high-performance AND low to the ground, such as a Corvette Stingray, Porsche 911, Miata MX-5, etc. Think uncomfortable to ride in long distances, but takes less time to get here.

It all sounds nit-picky, but if it throws a reader out of a story, it’s something to think about and change.

Tidbit From Book: Ethan (unedited)

Ethan had a problem with the way Tomas Montez leered at Karma. With the women he’d dated in the past, he never cared if other men stared or flirted with them. Yet, there he stood glaring at the Garcia cartel’s lieutenant.

From what he’d heard, Montez hung around to assess small local gangs for recruitment. The man’s search was part of why rumors had been flying of a larger organization planning on taking over the Whitfield’s. Between the Savalas Greek mafia and the Garcia cartel, Ethan and his brothers were struggling to keep their people happy and inline.

Throwing an arm across Karma’s back, clasping her waist, he squeezed her to his side as they walked toward the open tent set up on a small rise above the drag strip.

She jabbed Ethan with an elbow. “What are you doing? You’re about to break my ribs.”

He eased up. “Stay near me,” he ordered in a low voice.

“I know how to behave.” She rested her hand on his side above his belt.

“Do you?” He grinned. The flush on her cheeks was so charming.

Ethan’s attention was drawn to the tall woman standing at a table covered with drinks and snacks. She prepared a plate while pressing a phone to her ear with one shoulder. When Karma and Faye said a female special agent had asked about him, he knew his chances were high in finding her, especially after spotting her near a motel the day before. Oh, yeah, that was her. No way would he ever forget how the woman looked. He hadn’t known her name, but he’d been certain she would pop up again in his life. Cold revenge was worth savoring.