Giveaways – Page 2 – Carla Swafford, Author

If you’ve been looking for my Author page (carlaswaffordauthor) on Facebook, you won’t find it. I was hacked and I notified Meta. It’s a terrible long story that taught me that criminals will play the long game to get it. (No, I did not click on a link of any type.) Meta shutdown that portion of my FB. So I still have my personal page where I accept “friends.” Meta has been trying to get my Author page to come back up, but it’s looking like that will not happen. At least, if it stays down, the criminals can’t use it too. There are two parts of this that make me even more sad: 1) all of my photos are gone. So many memories. Sure, I probably have copies lying around the house, but still…you know. 2) There were over two thousand people following me. It took me a few years to build that up (I started the page in 2011) and I doubt I can do that again without spending money. Anyway, I had been drifting away from FB the last couple years and this might be the final straw to push me to stay on Instagram the majority of the time. TikTok is too much of a pain in the ass to deal with though I do post some there. Yet, I won’t leave FB totally because the groups are so helpful in keeping in touch with family, friends, and communities of interest. So be careful who you believe. ALWAYS go to the source and ask questions.

Booksigning

In my last newsletter, I told you about Bookfest in Sumiton, AL. It was a beautiful day and we had nice crowds to come through. They are planning a third one for October 2025 and it will most likely be indoors. So if you live in Alabama USA or nearby states, plan to visit. Lots of authors and book related goodies. Here’s a pic of me. I sold all of my Savage Champion books except for one.

Workshop

The North Shelby Library has asked my writers group to present a writers workshop this Saturday (10/19). Here’s the info on it. Link at bottom. I don’t believe it will last to 6 p.m. We should be finished by 4 p.m. I will be presenting Plotter vs Pantster. That’s referring to the type of writer you could be and will help you relax and accept whatever method you use is okay.

Fiction Focus: All-Day Writing Workshop

10:00am – 6:00pm

North Shelby

Registration Open

Library Branch: North Shelby

Room: Mueller Annex Classroom

Age Group: Teens, Adults

Registration Required

Seats Remaining: 34

Event Details:

Are you ready to captivate readers with your words? Just starting out and don’t know where to begin? Join us for this writing workshop designed to ignite your creativity and elevate your writing skills to new heights. It’s free.

Writing

Sen’s book is coming along. I came across an unique problem for me. Now, I don’t usually know who the bad guy is until I’ve written most of the book, but this time I was so certain who it was, but then bam! I realized I was wrong. So be on the lookout for a twist in the story. Hopefully, you won’t be disappointed.

That’s it for now. Here’s hoping the storms stay away for the rest of the year and everyone chill during elections. Scary times for sure. So keep reading romance and you’ll know there is a happy future for the couple (or more). Reading helps our mental health. It’s good to believe in happy endings.

Hugs.

Carla

Audio, Giveaways, Love In A Small Town, Loving The Small-Town Hero, Loving The Small-Town Preacher's Son, My Books, Newsletter, Savage Champion

Newsletter: Author Carla Swafford – Book Covers

Posted on June 22, 2024July 7, 2024 by Carla Swafford, Author

This is not certain, but this may be the hardcover design beneath the jacket wrap with the original cover (same as ebook and paperback–gold apple wrapped barbwire). It will probably be released in September with the audio. You are the first to see this.

Audio, you say? You caught that, did ya? Yep. The narrators are working on it now. I’m so excited. If you knew me, you would know I rarely get excited about anything. Happy, yes. Excited, no.

As this is the hardcover design, I’ve been thinking of changing the cover design on the ebook. Maybe after Christmas. What do you think of a sexy person or couple? Or it could be similar to the hardcover? What do you think.

Speaking of covers, what do you think about the wave of romance books with artistic designs or cartoon covers? I don’t know about you, but when I see cartoon covers I think rom-com or sweet (closed-bedroom-door) stories. And I think women’s fiction (no or a little romance) for the artistic ones. Yes. I know my vampire book had the apple. Not very vampire-ish, but think Twilight.

I suspect there are two reasons for this. First, newer readers love paperback and hardcovers. They are embarrasses by the clutch or bare chested men on the covers. I think they are gorgeous, but I always kept in mind, people around me might not appreciate the view. So when I worked and took a book with me (for breaks and lunch), I turned it upside down. On the books I released last year (Loving The Small-Town Preacher’s Son & Loving The Small-Town Hero), I had bare-chested men on the ebook covers and farm scenes on the paperback with that same thought.

The second reason is social media (especially TicTok). Even though you can mark your sites for 18 and over, there are adults who complain (makes you wonder if some are competitive authors) and others who get upset when their child sees the pictures, even though most social media have age limits (13?). It’s hard being a parent nowadays. Kids want to participate in what’s popular, but most of social media is adults only. Plus TikTok is strict (no male nipples, no people with guns even if book covers, you know, like on suspense books). Yeah. I’m a little bitter about that.

Party Online

On July 16, there will be an old-fashioned online party in the Facebook group called Southern Sizzle Readers. If you’re interested in meeting new authors, hearing about their books, and possibly winning a prize or two, come and join the group. Be sure to put 7 p.m. central, July 16, on your calendar. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southernsizzle

Errors In Books

The other day, I was on an author panel and the question came up about why do so many books today have errors, even the big name authors with the big publishing houses.

If you’ve been reading my posts for a time, you know I make errors. My posts are edited by only me. Shocker, right? Ha! While my books, and hopefully all the books by other authors, have been edited by professional editors. Not by your cousin who made A’s in English, or the guy down the street who’s a big fan. After I write a book, I go over it twice more (includes reading it out loud). Then send it to my copy editor. She makes comments and corrects the obvious mistakes I missed. And she sends it back to me. I go over her notes and make more changes. And yep, I send it back to her and she checks it once more. After that, I look at it again. Yep. Once again.

At the big publishing houses, the editor looks over an author’s book and makes notes to send to the author to make changes. That editor is only looking at the whole story. (I’m going to use female pronouns to make it simpler). Then after the author makes the changes she agrees to, it’s sent to the copy editor. The copy editor then corrects the grammar and make more notes for the author to check on possible needed changes. After the author changes or okays what the copy editor has done, it will go back to the copy editor and/or the editor. Then sometimes, it’s formatted and sent to the author one more time to look for anything that might have been missed.

Speculation only: If you noticed I mentioned the editor and copy editor suggest changes. I believe sometimes they will not suggest changes to the storyline, if the author is a big name. Thus why we often read our favorite New York Bestselling author and get frustrated by the errors or long dragged-out scenes in their books. It’s like they didn’t want to take a chance of messing with the author’s “magic.”

Look Out

For those who haven’t asked for the short story, Kidnapped For A Day, be on the look out. It should show up free on B&N, Amazon, etc. In September, I plan to discounts several of my books. I’ll remind you again.

Hugs. Keep reading,

Carla

Giveaways, My Books, Newsletter, Savage Champion

Let’s Party – Author Carla Swafford’s Newsletter

Posted on April 15, 2024May 6, 2024 by Carla Swafford, Author

If you enjoy an old fashioned on-line party with giveaways, come and join in the fun at Southern Sizzle Reader Party Facebook group. I will be hosting a party April 23 from 6-9 p.m. central (USA). Click on the button to join the group after you go to this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southernsizzle

Bzzz! Busy Bee

The past couple weeks (and more) I’ve been busy. As many authors do, I try to help other writers with their work. At first, it had started with one friend asking me to be a beta reader. That’s when an unedited book is read by someone and they give suggestions about the story. It may include catching grammar or spelling errors, but is not considered to be editing.

Then another friend asked me to check their synopsis. It’s to make sure the heart of the story is provided in a concise but entertaining way. Usually one to three pages, sometimes five (but rarely). Most editors and agents prefer one page. Another friend asked for help with their blurb. That’s the short information on the back of a book. Then finally, as pre-arranged by my best friend, I beta read her book.

I tell you, I’m a slow reader. So it’s amazing I did all of that in such a short time. I read numerous books each year, but my attention span is short. Thus why I only publish one to two books a year. Well, that and all the promo that I have to do to get my name out there.

Triggers

Authors are placing trigger warnings and tropes in the front pages of their books and on their websites with the book descriptions. I have too because certain triggers and tropes are what many readers want to read.

Used to be a reader only needed the blurb on the back, but I understand triggers and tropes helps. With the extra information, hopefully, the book won’t get a one-star rating just because it has foul language or bondage or sex. Yep, some people give books less stars because of “too much sex.” Like one of mine. Crazy, right?

Don’t forget to order your copy of Savage Champion. Release date is April 23.

Regards.

Carla