I’ve decided I need a friend called Sam. They’re loyal. They’ll follow you into danger and protect your back, tell you when you’re wrong, support you when you’re right, and so much more. Why do I say that? You may have already guessed. As many of you have done, years ago, I’d watched all of the Lord of The Rings movies. Now, I’m watching the Game of Thrones series. When it was originally on, I missed numerous episodes. So I decided to watch them from beginning to end. I’ve already seen several I had missed. You may remember in the two series, they have a main character whose best friend is name Sam (or Samwell). I wouldn’t be surprised to find other series with loyal friends with the same name. There has to be a reason they’re called Sam.
Writing Tip
How often have you read about the shape of a character’s furniture or the way rain hits a puddle of water? If I kept those type of descriptions in a short sentence or two of setting, I believe most people would find the description interesting enough. Even a list of items in a room, no longer than a sentence, can be entertaining. It’s when an author types paragraphs and pages describing rooms, plant uses, or the weather (etc.) that bores me. I usually skip over it. While for other people they claim such writing gives the story layers. I guess my imagination doesn’t need all the extra words to help a story along. All of that is something to think about, heh?
Next Book
Presently, I’m working on the next book of the Southern Crime Family. It’s been a rough go, because I couldn’t get a handle on Sen (middle brother) and what his deal was. Finally, I figured it out and it’s coming together. Sorry for being vague, but I should provide excerpts before too much longer.
Here’s what the cover will look like.
Audio Coming Soon
The narration for Savage Champion should be finished in a few more weeks. I keep saying it, but I’m so excited. There are two narrators (female and male) and I think you’ll enjoy it. More details to come as soon as I’m notified they’re finished.
This is the cover for the audio. Note the narrators.
As you can tell, this is a short newsletter this time.
Take care. Read, read, read. And be sure to let people know about any books you enjoyed.
Hey, if you haven’t gotten a copy of Savage Champion yet, go to Smashwords.com and purchase the ebook using the following code. It’s for 75% off. The code is good until July 16, 2024.
CODE: YNC7M
From bestselling author Carla Swafford a new genre for fans of her gritty romantic suspense books. When a private investigator tracks down a client’s lost sister, he discovers she’s not lost or the client’s sister. The woman is a vampire on a campaign of vengeance. Somehow he must stop her killing spree and protect her at the same time.
Romance, suspense, and a female vampire with a hero complex.
Learned Something New
Probably everyone knew this but me. You can squeeze empty plastic bottles with the lid off, and then put the lid on. It will stay squashed. Makes sense, right? Taking up less room. Anyway, maybe one or two people on my mailing list didn’t know it and will find this helpful.
Movie/Show Reviews
As a writer, you should constantly feed your muse. For some people, it’s keeping up with current news. Me, I prefer watching new movies and series. Recently, I watched several episodes of My Lady Jane. It’s an alternate history of the nine-day queen of England, Lady Jane Grey. Similarly done like Knight’s Tale, but it includes fantasy. I enjoyed it, and hope for a second season.
Jason Statham’s The Beekeeper was different enough to hold my interest. I have noticed during the fight scenes my mind wanders. I guess you have to have a sword or lightsaber to keep my interest in those scenes nowadays.
Speaking of lightsabers, The Acolyte series on Disney started out so boring, but it improved along the way, Some good plot twists. I noticed the reviews are mixed.
Continue Working
I’m presently working on two books. One I’m co-authoring with my BFF and the second book of the Southern Crime Family trilogy (Sen). But this summer has been so busy and August will be crazy. More about that later.
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.
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.
You probably can’t wait for Savage Champion to be released. Maybe because you want to read it. Or you’re looking forward to me shutting up about it. Either way, the book will be released at around 15 locations. But did you know most of my books can be purchased in Germany and France too? And you can read them on subscription services similar to Kindle Unlimited (though they are not there) and through libraries’ ebook programs? Here’s the total list where you can find them.
Amazon
Apple Books
Baker & Taylor
Barnes & Noble
Bibliotheca
BorrowBox
Everand
Gardners Books
Hoopla
Kobo Books
Thalia Books
Odilo
Overdrive
Palace Marketplace
Smashwords
Vivlio
Links are not included. If I had, this email would probably go straight to your delete folder. Hate for it to do that.
My first shipment of books came in and the cover was out of wrack. So I placed gold tape on the edge. Looks fancy, doesn’t it? I went in and adjusted the cover for the next batch before ordering. So hopefully they will be okay. But I do like that gold edge.
I will be selling these in Montgomery (Alabama) May 17 & 18. Be sure to buy a ticket (general admission can be as low as $5) Go to my website carlaswafford.com and click on On-Line and In-Person. The link is there for the tickets and more information.
Today is April Fools day in the U.S.A. A time for people to pull pranks on each other. I’m not wired that way. So no worries. Just have a good day, and if you celebrate Easter, I hoped it was as lovely there as it was here.
By the way, it’s not too late to ask to be an ARC reader of Savage Champion. Just email me at authorcarlaswafford @ gmail.com (no spaces) with your mailing address and I’ll send you a paperback copy (U.S. subscribers only). Deadline for me to mail it to you is April 7. Will probably take a week to arrive. Of course, there’s a catch. You’ll need to read it as soon as it arrives and post a review on Goodreads before or on the release day.
Anyway, keep reading (and writing if that’s your thing) and have a wonderful early April.
Carla Swafford, Author 