Freebies!

To all my fellow unpublished authors out there, don't you dream of the day when someone, anyone, will fork over hard earned dough for the privilege of reading your book. I think about this from time to time. Sure I love it when a friend or a fellow author reads something I wrote. I love it when I have a reader! Yay! They like me!!! But someday... someday... there will be something so immensely satisfying in seeing my dream realized. In getting that first (however big or small) stack of green for my labors of love. Do you agree?

Okay, so we don't simply write to get rich (well, most of us don't). But being fruitful in this thing we love, finding a place where our voice meets an audience is something we probably all aspire to. We're artists in our own way. Writers. Readers. Dreamers.

So here's the thing... If we want this to take a crack at this whole career writing gig it'd be pretty nice to actually sell books. We learn all about promoting, we exercise our marketing muscles, we blog, we tour, we post, we tweet, we share, and we... (gulp) giveaway. I can imagine that last one has to sting just a smidgen. Giving away weeks, months, years of your blood, sweat, and tear laden story-love-child is probably not as satisfying as getting that royalty check and getting those sweet tastes of success (I'm imagining it here, people, just go with it.)

But let me tell you something I've learned... Free books are EXCELLENT marketing tools! Who doesn't love free books? I gotta tell ya, I get on amazon and search for freebies for my kindle all the time. This place, this glorious cost-free playground is like having your very own five-finger-discount to try out new authors without cramping your bank balance (or facing theft charges). There is no risk for the shopper. You get more than that measly sample they provide so you are actually invested in the ending. (Meaning you'll more than likely finish the book and get a feel for the author). The delivery to your device is instant. And you discover all kinds of books and authors that you would have passed by since you drained your book budget on the same three authors that can't crank out books fast enough to satisfy your hungry inner bookie beast. :)

Free books sell! Yes, that seems like an oxymoron of sorts but when the reader gets a taste of something they like (and are in an exceptionally positive mood since their enjoyment was free) they are more inclined to seek out more by that author and pay for the next installment. (Assuming you plan to write more than one book this will be a good thing to think about). Bada BING! Repeat customers! We all know that's easier than attracting new ones but in this case, win win!

Let's go shopping, shall we... Here are some great freebies available this week!

Lisa Wingate's The Prayer Box

Jenny B. Jones's In Between

Mary Connealy's Out of Control

Janice Thompson's Picture Perfect

And so many more! And since I'm feeling particularly jolly (postpartum and all) let's throw in a giveaway.
One lucky winner can pick two, any two, of these books below!

 Just share with me the best book you've read lately and why. (We'll do a little promoting for others, sound good?) I'll pick the winner out of a hat. Be sure to include your email addy for me so I can inform the winner! Hope you have a great weekend! Read up! And enjoy those freebies!

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Amy Leigh Simpson writes Romantic Suspense that is heavy on the romance, unapologetically honest, laced with sass and humor, and full of the unfathomable Grace of God. She is the completely sleep deprived mama to two little tow-headed mischief makers, one pretty little princess, and wife to her very own swoon-worthy hero. Represented by the oh-so-wise and dashing Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary Inc.

Getting To Know Your Character: The Challenge

As a mom of school-age children, it seems that everything goes out the window when summer hits (excuse the cliche). Schedule, routine, patience... yep, these lazy summer days are really unpredictable summer chaos. And with that, comes a lack of focus on my writing and my characters.

Soooo, I thought, it might be fun to take a CHALLENGE with all you AlleyPals and AlleyCats, in the name of getting to know our characters better!

The Challenge: Find a practical, intentional way to get in your character's shoes, to step into the "skin" of your leading lady, or hunky hero, and discover more about their point of view.

On Monday, June 30th, we'll all share what we learned. Perhaps, you'll discover something you didn't expect about your hero. Or, maybe it will give you insight on more research you might need to do. You might even be inspired to write a new scene...one that you'd like to share with us in the comment section that week??

For all those who take the challenge, there will be a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card, too!

www.amazon.com

To give you some examples, I have quizzed my dear AlleyCats on what they've done in the past to connect with their characters. Here are some fab tips:

TELL! One of our AlleyCats writes internal monologues for her character before she even starts on the book. What a great way to get inside the character's head, and start refining that voice!

PIN IT! This is such a fun idea! Create a board and start pinning things AS your character. Whether she is a mom of a toddler pinning high chair recommendations, or a 19th century debutante pinning authentic cameos, start pinning and creating a visual foundation as you create.

WATCH! A few of us AlleyCats write settings in different countries or time periods, and if we haven't traveled there, then it gets a little overwhelming. Check out a documentary on the country (or the culture), or watch films set in that country or time period. Such a fun way to spend a Friday night...and work too!

READ! Got a character who loves fashion? Splurge and pick up a fashion magazine. Flip through and look with your fashionista's eyes. Perhaps your character is a dramatist. Have you read any good plays lately? Like, really read them?

My character is a 16th century Protestant in Catholic England...yeah...heavy. So my challenge is going to be read through the Anglican Church's Book of Common Prayer. Hoping it will get me in the language and give me a better understanding of her belief system.

LIVE IT! As you experience life situations that your character might find themselves in, switch from your pov to theirs. For example, one of our AlleyCats has a character who is afraid of flying. Yep, our sweet AlleyCat put herself in her character's shoes the next time she flew! GREAT way to experience it...maybe a little torturous too. :) Also, remember when you find yourself in typical surroundings for your character, use your character's "eyes". Even if it's the garden, a college campus, or a grocery store...begin to live life with your character in mind.

A great craft book on characters, recommended by a couple of the Alley Cats, is Brandilyn Collins' book, Getting Into Character. Check it out for more ideas on connecting with your character.

Hope you are inspired to join us in the challenge! Can't wait to hear from you on the 30th!

Let me know if you are going to participate, and give us any tips you might have to connect with your character.
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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across cultures. She is an ACFW member and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. Check out Angie's personal blog at www.angiedicken.blogspot.com

Carla Stewart on Finishing the Book, Sneak Peak and a GIVEAWAY!!

BEST WRITING TIP:

Finish writing the book. It sounds simple, but it’s not. There are so many things that can trip you up. And only by writing can you put to use all the craft things you’ve learned and find your writing voice.

The other thing that sort of goes along with that is that you shouldn’t be afraid of being unique. Yes, there are many conformities that you must adhere to, but having a unique story to tell and a voice that captivates will get you noticed and on your way to success.

SWEET DREAMS BOOK BLURB:

Dusty Fairchild and Paisley Finch are close-knit cousins but opposite in every way. Blonde and top in her class, Dusty has lived a sheltered life, raised on a Texas ranch by her widowed, oilman father. She’s never lacked for material possessions but yearns for a life of adventure and studying geology in college. Instead, her daddy sends her to finishing school in East Texas.

Paisley, has grown up traveling the country with her bohemian mother, and is wise to the ways of the world. Dark haired and clever, she’s grateful to her uncle for letting her join Paisley at Miss Fontaine’s. She’s weary of the “grasshopper” lifestyle of her mother and ready to live a settled life.

At Miss Fontaine's, their loyalty to each other binds them, but when they fall in love with the same handsome young man, their relationship teeters on shaky ground. Only after a tragic accident do they learn where their true hearts-and dreams-lie.

SWEET DREAMS EXCERPT:

Prologue

Two Forks, Texas ~ 1947

She found the stones the day they buried her mama. Three of them catching the sunlight, twinkling beyond the grave site. Her daddy clamped her small hand in his beefy, calloused one while she busied herself with sniffing the air, the smell of fresh earth tickling and sweet, mixed with the heavy perfume of roses. She itched to break free, to muster her way through the skirts that swished this way and that, to run past the stiff black britches of the men who stood like wooden soldiers at the ends of the box they said held her mama.

She craned her neck, keeping watch on the shiny stones. They winked back from their nesting place along the fence row. 

When her daddy’s hand went slack, she dashed for it and dropped to her knees on the grass, the scent of sage sharp from the field next to the graveyard. With plump fingers, she reached shyly and touched the stones. They were warm like the summer sun, one of them full of sparkle with rough edges that bit into her fingers, another smooth, the size and shape of a pecan, black on the top and bottom with a ribbon of white through the middle. And the last one, dull brown and rough to her fingertips but flecked with a million black dots. When curled in her palm, it had a perfect indentation to rest her thumb.

“Whatcha got?”

She jerked her head around, then smiled. Her cousin, Paisley, stood with her hands planted firmly on her narrow waist, the taffeta of her dress noisy.  

“Nothing.” The spiny stone, the prettiest one, bit into the palm of her balled fist.

“Yes, you do. Show me.”

One by one, she uncurled her fingers. “Here, you can have it.”

“Really? Oh, look, it’s covered with diamonds.”

They plopped their bottoms on the grass and had just gotten settled when a shadow crept over them. Aunt Edith reached down and snatched Paisley up by the arm. “Come on. You’re getting your dress dirty. It’s time to go. Tell Dusty goodbye now.”

When Paisley offered the stone in her open hand, Dusty shook her head. “You can have it and bring it tomorrow when we play.”

Aunt Edith had already started toward the iron gate, pulling Paisley with her. Just one quick wave, and they were gone.

Paisley didn’t come over the next day. Or the day after. Dusty’s daddy said it was good riddance, and the way he spit the words out, she knew Paisley was gone for good. She squeezed her eyes to shut out the tears. Daddy didn’t like crying. No tears for her mama. None for her cousin. All she had left was two stones—one with a skunk stripe, the other dull brown. She carried them everywhere in her pocket, the lumps as familiar as the dimple in her chin and the blue of her eyes when she stood on the bathroom sink and looked in the mirror.

She knew as sure as her name was Dusty Agnes Fairchild that the earth that swallowed her mama had given the stones in exchange. There was no other explanation. Later, when she told her daddy about them, he said she was mistaken about when she got them, that no three-year-old child could remember such a thing. He said there were a dozen places on the ranch she could’ve picked them up, and that her imagination would get her in a heap of trouble.

She left him to his opinions and didn’t mention that she also knew someday Paisley would return. She didn’t know how or when, but the feeling never left her, like a tiny suitcase packed by the door, waiting for the day when the door would burst open and life would return to normal.

Thanks so much for having me at WRITER’S ALLEY! May this be the summer you pursue your dreams with fervor!  

Links:

E-mail address:  carla@carlastewart.com

Website:  www.carlastewart.com

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/carlastewartauthor

Twitter handle: www.twitter.com/ChasingLilacs

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/chasinglilacs/   

Thanks so much, Carla. Let us know what has been your biggest barrier to finishing the book or leave a comment or question for Carla along with your email address:

writersanonymous (at) writersalleys (dot) com

and we'll enter you for a $5 amazon gift card.