All posts by philgiunta@ptd.net

Blog, Book Launch, Book Signings, Events

Beach Nights & Cool Sand

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More than half of the authors published in Beach Nights gathered in Browseabout Books between 2-4PM today to celebrate the release of this fourth annual Rehoboth Beach Reads anthology by Cat and Mouse Press.

Beach Nights Paperbacks

To say the turnout was impressive would be an understatement. Many books were signed, much cake and wine consumed, and it was a joy to finally meet editor and publisher Nancy Sakaduski and several of my fellow contributing authors. My heartfelt gratitude to Nancy for all of her hard work on the Rehoboth Beach Reads contest from editing to publishing to arranging the book launch and everything in between!

Special thanks also to writer pal Susanna Reilly for making the trip from PA to show her support and to her dad for buying lunch at the Purple Parrot!

Beach Nights Display at Browseabout Books.
Beach Nights display at Browseabout Books.
Beach Nights Cake
Beach Nights cake
Several Beach Nights authors furiously signing books for loyal readers.
Several Beach Nights authors furiously signing books for loyal readers.

 

Writer pal Susanna Reilly at the Beach Nights book launch.
Writer pal Susanna Reilly at the Beach Nights book launch.

 

These beach anthologies are certainly popular!
These beach anthologies are certainly popular!

 

It's a crowded house at the Beach Nights book launch!
It’s a crowded house at the Beach Nights book launch!

 

Beach Nights editor and publisher, Nancy Sakaduski of Cat and Mouse Press.
Beach Nights editor and publisher, Nancy Sakaduski of Cat and Mouse Press.

 

Kathleen Martens, First Place winner in the Beach Nights short story contest.
Kathleen Martens, author of “Flight of the Song Bird” and first place winner in the Beach Nights short story contest.

 

Emory Au, artist for the Rehoboth Beach anthologies.
Emory Au, cover artist for the Rehoboth Beach anthologies from Cat and Mouse Press.

 

Weldon Burge, author of "Melvin and the Haunted Mansion."
Weldon Burge, author of “Melvin and the Haunted Mansion.”

 

Robin Glanden, author of "The Portrait" and "The Attitude of Gratitude List."
Robin Glanden, author of “The Portrait” and “The Attitude of Gratitude List.”

After the signing was over, I took the time to kick off my flip-flops and hit the beach for about 20 minutes before making the journey home with yet more fond memories of this wonderful town that has become my second home.

Rehoboth Beach in November
Rehoboth Beach in November

 

Rehoboth Beach in November
Rehoboth Beach in November

 

The Lone Chair on the Beach
The Lone Chair

 

Wandering seagull
Wandering seagull

 

Cold November sand
Cold November sand

 

Blog, Book Signings, Events

River Reads Recap

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No one could have asked for a more perfect autumn day for the River Reads Book Festival at Prallsville Mill in Stockton, NJ.  It was a pleasure to reunite with writer pals Kathryn Craft, Donna Galanti, and Jack Hillman and make some new friends including Kerry Gans, Kelly Simmons, River Reads organizer Brandi Megan Granett, and my tablemate, Kate Gallison.

Attendance was impressive for this first time event. I sold a few books, enjoyed fun conversations, inhaled some delicious crepes, and even managed to write several pages in a fantasy story I’ve been working on.

 

My Table at River Reads

Above: My table at River Reads Book Festival. Bellow: Sharing a laugh with Kelly Simmons.

Kelly Simmons

Kathryn Craft

Above: Hanging out with Kathryn Craft. Below: My tablemate, Kate Gallison.

Kate Gallison

Donna Galanti

Above: Donna Galanti is ready for Halloween. Below: River Reads coordinator Brandi Megan Granett.

Brandi Megan Granett

Blog, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Kristen Lamb and John Gilstrap talk story synopses to attract agents while Cynthia Shannon offers tips to engage readers on Goodreads.

We blur the line between science and science fiction with Veronica Sicoe and Kate Gwynne, who respectively explore interstellar communication and storytelling through virtual reality.

Amazon initiates new rules regarding reviews, while a common question is answered about the quality of self-published versus traditionally published books.

Janice Hardy and K.M. Weiland talk about tricks, surprises, and honesty in our fiction.

All that, and a little more. Enjoy!

Engaging with Readers on Goodreads by Cynthia Shannon

The Synopsis: Demystifying the Mystery by John Gilstrap

The Dreaded Synopsis—How to Get Started & Why We Need One BEFORE Writing the Book by Kristen Lamb

Storyworld Design: Communication Technologies by Veronica Sicoe

Read It and Bleep: Is Virtual Reality the Future of Storytelling? by Kate Gwynne

Authors Guild Opens Membership to New and Unpublished Writers by Daniel Berkowitz

Amazon’s New Review Rules: What Authors Need to Know by Anne R. Allen

The Difference Between Tricking Your Reader and Surprising Your Reader by Janice Hardy

What is Honest Fiction? by K.M. Weiland

Are Self-Published Books Inferior to Self-Published Books? Answered by Archie D’Cruz

 

 

 

 

Blog, New Releases, Sales

Beach Nights is Now Live!

I’m ecstatic to announce that Beach Nights is now available for purchase!  We will be launching the book at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE on Sunday, November 13 from 2-4PM. You can purchase the book now via the links below.

In Beach Nights, readers will encounter a ghostly WWII tower (Phil says: hey, that’s my story!)  and a couple with an unusual annual tradition; a girl who finds her voice at a jazz club and a boy who learns the snow cone king has a secret; an old lady who is inspired to get a tattoo, and a despondent man who is resurrected through the tango.

Beach Nights opens with a funny and romantic story involving a high school prom, and continues through tales that involve a mermaid’s moon, a “Vampire Surf Club,” senior disco queens, a seemingly haunted Funland ride, a murder at a Rehoboth hotel, a moonlit sea turtle rescue, and a kid who sneaks into a James Brown concert and meets the man himself.

Purchase from Cat & Mouse Press!

Purchase from Amazon!

Thank you so much for support small press authors!

Beach Nights

Blog, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Kristen Lamb delves into the torture of writing a synopsis while Dana Kaye wants authors to stop poor social media practices. Four is our lucky number this week as Donald Maass preaches pacing, Janice Hardy describes descriptions, and Written Word Media covers covers!

Speaking of Written Word Media, they also provide a detailed discourse on what it means to be a hybrid author as well as tips for an effective author website.

Are you a fantasy writer? As of October 12, Tor.com will be open for submissions.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

The Dreaded Synopsis–What It REALLY Reveals About Our Writing by Kristen Lamb

The Hybrid Author: Everything You Need to Know by Chloe at Written Word Media via Digital Book World

10 Things Authors Need to Stop Doing on Social Media Immediately by Dana Kaye

4 Tips for Preventing Flat Descriptions by Janice Hardy via Jami Gold

Four Kinds of Pace by Donald Maass

4 Ways to Hack Your Book Cover Design (with Science) by Taylor at Written Word Media

7 Must-Have Features for All Author Websites by Ferol at Written Word Media

Seth Godin’s Three Charges Against Publishers by Alison Jones

The Unreliable Narrator and Story Suspense by Now Novel

Google Experiments and Fails with Book Discovery by Joe Wikert

Tor.com Opening to Fantasy Novellas on October 12 by Carl Engle-Laird

 

 

Blog, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

About This Writing Stuff was once a weekly feature on my blog until April 2015. As life became increasingly hectic, I was unable to maintain that schedule. I revived it briefly on New Year’s Eve last year and kept it going for about a month or two into 2016 before I again became overwhelmed.

So, let’s try this again. I can’t promise to be consistent, but I’ll do my best.

About This Writing Stuff is a collection of interesting articles from the writing and publishing world. Most are instructional, meant to provide helpful tools for writers. Some are merely news or updates, but all are meant to inform with no bias on my part. In other words, I don’t always agree with every article, but I welcome your feedback and opinions.

This week, we start with a pair of “How To’s” as Patrick Ryan provides excellent advice on the basics of short story writing, and over at Digital Book World, Penny Sansevieri wants to optimize your Goodreads giveaways.

Jami Gold helps to improve your productivity and strengthen the stakes in your story while W.B. Sullivan has something urgent to discuss. Janice Hardy and Candace Robinson offer fuel for your writing while Eileen Cook builds conflict with dialogue.

We then get down to the business of publishing and promotion with James Scott Bell, Anne R. Allen, and Barbara O’Neal.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

How to Write a Short Story with Clarity and Economy by Patrick Ryan

How to Make the Most of Goodreads Giveaways by Penny Sansevieri

Increasing Our Productivity: Why It’s Not Simple and Strengthening Stakes: It’s Not About Going Big by Jami Gold

6 Ways to Cultivate Urgency That Will Captivate Fiction Readers by W.B. Sullivan

5 Reasons Your Plot Stalled by Janice Hardy via Jody Hedlund

4 Ways to Use Experience to Fuel Your Writing by Candace Robinson

What Authors Need to Know About the Publishing Industry Today by James Scott Bell

Selling Books on Social Media: 4 Steps to Less Wasted Time by Anne R. Allen

Money and the Writer by Barbara O’Neal

I Can’t Believe You Said That–Using Dialogue to Build Conflict by Eileen Cook

Hold On To The Light – SFF Authors and Fans for Mental Wellness by Gail Z. Martin