Monthly Archives: August 2022

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, personal experiences come into play as Kathryn Craft reminds us to cultivate a productive and fulfilling writing life, Gwen Plano examines different aspects of character diversity, and Scott Hines creates meaningful connections on social media.

In the marketing department, Jan Sikes delves into BookTok while AJ Jack offers seven methods for analyzing reader habits. Want to know more about the book-to-screen process? Literary agents Allison Hunter and Jennifer Weltz give us the low down.

All that and a lot more. Enjoy!

The Book that Tore Everyone Apart by Gaby Hinsliff

The Fight Between Authors and Librarians Tearing Book Lovers Apart by Pranshu Verma

How Are Books Adapted for the Screen? Two Agents Demystify the Process by Sangeeta Mehta

Transparency in Slush: The Wizard Behind the Curtain by AJ Cunder

Dear Writer: Advice on Cultivating Connection in the Internet Age by Scott Hines

Fill Your Writing Life by Kathryn Craft

7 Clever Ways Authors Can Learn More About Readers Online by AJ Jack

8 Sequence Structure: The Best-Kept Screenwriting Secret by Britton Perelman

#MKTG 17 – TikTok by Jan Sikes

Characters and Diversity Part I: Race by Gwen M. Plano

Characters and Diversity Part II: Wealth by Gwen M. Plano

Characters and Diversity Part III: Physical Ability by Gwen M. Plano

 

Uncategorized

After Action Report – Lehigh Valley Comic Con

The post-COVID return of the Lehigh Valley Comic Con (LVCC) was a success! It was a gorgeous day and attendance was the highest I’ve ever seen at this con. Sold six books. Made a profit. A few friends from the area showed up to keep me company. All told, it was a blast and as always, the cosplayers did not disappoint as you can see from the pictures below.

   

 

LVCC’s next show is October 1, but I will be signing books in Rehoboth Beach that day, so I’ll be back for their final show of the year on December 3rd.

Blog, Book Reviews, Promotion

Party at the Shell House!

Shell House Front CoverReviews are pouring in for Shell House, the latest anthology from Year of the Book Press and the Mindful Writers Retreat members.

Below are the first four reviews from our blog tour. Click on any one of the links to see the full review, read excerpts from three of the short stories, and enter to win an ebook copy of Shell House and a $50 Amazon gift card!

“I am always in awe of the Mindful Writers Retreat Authors books. The collections of short stories are a fulfilling treat that leaves you in a state of reading bliss.” – Shelly at Lynchburg Reads

“In this fourth installment of the Mindful Writers Retreat Anthology Series you will find a beautiful collection of short stories that circle around the city of Rehoboth and its famous Shell House. The authors include a bit of the history of Rehoboth and share experiences of different types of love. Stories that feature bootlegging, fantasy, science-fiction, architectural conservation, and many more to explore the ways people love. I really enjoyed these stories and the couple of recipes included! A perfect beach theme and read!” – Natalie at Mammanatty

“Shell House is the fourth installment of the Mindful Retreat Series, and I must say I am just in love with these collections.” – Melanie at It’s My Side of Life

“[Shell House] is such a fabulously different summer read…  I love the Mindful Writers Retreat series, and I adore how the theme of each book is different, yet they still invoke a lot of the same feelings. This book is outstanding and is chock full of wonderful stories.” – Sonya at Sanity Is For Those Without Children
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Contributors to Shell House include: Lorraine Donohue Bonzelet, Gloria Bostic, Deborah Hetrick Catanese, Jennifer D. Diamond, Judy England-McCarthy, Phil Giunta, Kimberly Kurth Gray, Hilary Hauck, Larry Ivkovich, Stephanie Keyes, S. M. Kraftchak, Cindy Moldovan, Amy Morley, Michael Morley, James Robinson, Jr., Larry Schardt, Carol Schoenig, Kathleen Shoop, Demi Stevens, Lisa Valli, Madhu Bazaz Wangu, Denise Weaver, and Michele Zirkle.

Proceeds benefit The Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR) in Lewes, DE.