2011 - What a year!

This is my time of year to look back and see how I did with my goals I set at the beginning of the year. Sometimes I surprise myself and sometimes I fall a little short.

When I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for Tempting Adam in 2010 I knew 2011 would be an exciting year. It has more than lived up to my expectations.

Tempting Adam came out in February. My first Indie book came out in October and I will have another Indie book out before the new year kicks off with champagne and fireworks. I started a newsletter and actually have real people who signed up for it. LOL

Just this week I had two sales in the UK. The UK!! In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined how I would feel to see people all the way on the other side of the world buying my book. I thought that happened when you hit bestsellers lists, when you did great for your publishing house.

I'm paraphrasing here, but I believe the saying goes something like this. When you shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you still land among the stars. That is the thought I'm taking into 2012. I might not have hit the moon but I am definitely floating among the stars.

Wish upon a star. Shoot for the moon. May all your dreams come true in 2012.

Everything I Ever Learned in Life, I Learned from Books

There are many books out there to help improve our writing or story skills.  So, here is a list of those I refer to and have helped me.

1.Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain
         Writers swear by this book for a good reason, it's  a great book.

2. Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood
         Helps thing of emotion in writer's sensibilities. 

3. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King
        Even Julianne MacLean recommended this one in her workshop at the NJ conference.

4. Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon
       I discovered this one months ago but I like the way it helps divide the issues writers face when dealing with revisions.

5. Goal, Motivation, Conflict by Debra Dixon
       A writer's classic and must have

6. The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine, MD 
      You might be a female and think you know why we do stuff we do but this book deals with the different stages of our lives.  And now I have an understanding of women I never did.

7. The Male Brain by Louann Brizendine, MD
  Ditto only with men.  Ahh, the simple creatures the heroine or hero just can't help but love.

8. You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen
     We all have to write the opposite sex dialogue so this helps the words sound much more "Real".  And recommended by NY Times bestseller Caridad Pineiro.

9. Love Signals by David Givens, PHD
      The body language of love or as the log line states, "A practical field guide to the body language of Courtship."

10. Roget's International Thesaurus  
       Has every conceivable word for heat, desire and anything else you needed to find.  Keep it close. 

If you have a book or two or three you wish to share, please do.  Happy writing into the New Year.