The ARCs for Stone Cold Case - A Rock Shop Mystery arrived, making the publishing process for my second novel seem more real. I love the cover. That tufted-eared squirrel is an Abert's black squirrel. I've seen them once or twice in my neighborhood.

An ARC is an Advance Reading Copy. This is the next to the last version of a novel, the author's one last chance to catch errors. By this point, major changes cannot be made. 

Stone Cold Case has been through my own editing process, my Beta Readers' critiques, and three editors at Five Star publishing, each with different roles. Even after all that, typos and mistakes can remain.

Here is how I use my ARCs: 

1) I gave my Beta Readers copies to check for typos, grammar errors, and minor mistakes in plotting or character. A Beta Reader is a non-professional who volunteers to read a work prior to publication, offering suggestions for improvement. They are wonderful people who enjoy being involved in the creation of a novel, and getting a sneak peak at a new work.

2) I will seek book blurbs from authors who write amateur sleuth novels, and reviews from online bloggers with a following of mystery readers.

3) Readers love free books. I know. I have dozens I've received at conferences. The ARCs are good promotional bling. Goodreads offers book giveaways. Winners often write reviews and post them on Goodreads. A month or so before the release of my novel, I will offer a Goodreads Giveaway of several ARCs. Some bloggers like guest authors to offer a book. The postage spent giving away ARCs is worth getting my work into the hands of new readers. 

I also give a few away with no expectation of anything in return. My daughter drew the map for book two, and she was thrilled to see her artwork in book form. 

Timing is important. For book one in my series, Stone Cold Dead, I began promotion too early. This time, with book two, I plan to ramp up promotional efforts for the September release starting in late July.

If you are a reader interested in reviewing a free advance copy for Goodreads or your blog, contact me at catdiltsauthor@gmail.com.  

 

The saying may be "April showers bring May flowers," but in the Rocky Mountain foothills, it is April snow that makes the season bloom. We are grateful to have received two gentle snows this month. 

Spring is a time for new beginnings, as seeds wake to the warming sun. As a gardener, I also see previous plantings bearing fruit. My neglected asparagus patch is sending up shoots. I did no bed prep, and basically stuck the crowns in an old patch of garden. This year, I am starting a new asparagus bed. 

From research and experience I know that preparing the bed by tilling the soil and amending it with compost and organic fertilizer will create a rich environment for the new asparagus crowns. This is my gardening year to work on building up the soil. 

When my first novel was published, I ran into a curious attitude. I would tell people my book was available at the local library. Some folks told me I should not say that. I wanted people to buy my book, not read it for free.

That made me pause and consider. After doing a little research, and hearing opinions from other authors, I concluded that people checking my book out from the library were helping my career. 

The library has to buy copies of my novel to place on their shelves. If dozens of people check it out, maybe those readers will eventually buy my novels for their electronic devices like Kindle or Nook, or perhaps even purchase a hardcover some day.

I use the library because I can't afford to purchase all the books I want to read. Even if I do buy a book now and then, I have no place to put it. I have run out of space on my shelves.  I also like listening to books on cd while commuting to the day job. I couldn't afford to purchase the entire Sue Grafton series on cd, but I am checking them out one by one from the library. 

I know what you techie types will say. Buy your fiction for an electronic device. I do from time to time, but even at the lower price charged for ebooks, that can take a bite out of a budget. Guess what? You can check out ebooks from some libraries.

I'll just say something crazy here. I don't mind at all if you don't buy my book. But please do check it out from the library. I would like customers. Millions of customers. I'm ready to quit the day job and buy my own island. I'll settle for library readers until that day.

This is National Library Week. Have you visited your library lately? Stop by, update your library card if need be, and check something out. You might be surprised at how high tech your library has become.

http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek

Forty authors participated in the April 4th Mountain of Authors event at the new library in Colorado Springs. The day was a mini writers conference, offering two panel discussions and a keynote speech by Carrie Vaughn. 

As a library volunteer led me to my spot, I noticed the nameplate on the other half of the table. 

Nancy Atherton, author of the wildly popular Aunt Dimity cozy mystery series, was at the library event! Nancy graciously shared with me not just the table, but her publishing journey, and her views on the wonderful world of writing.  

Nancy genuinely cares about her fans, and deserves her devoted fan base. Here is a link to her website:  
http://www.aunt-dimity.com/

My teen granddaughter attended, helping to carry my books. She arranged a display on my table, using geodes, a prospector's hammer, and coprolite, or dinosaur poop. 

The event began at noon, and did not end until six pm. It was a library love fest, as authors and readers shared their appreciation of the public library.  

I enjoyed talking to friends, both readers and writers. My granddaughter had a blast meeting authors and having the run of the library. Yes, she is the kind of kid who is happy to spend a day hanging out in the library.  

Writers can be generous folk. Author Anne Eliot writes popular novels for teens. She gave my granddaughter an advanced reading copy of her newest book. http://www.anneeliot.com/

Mike Hamel writes memoir and middle grade fiction. Young readers were attracted to his table, covered with eye-catching books. 

The day wrapped up with a speech by Carrie Vaughn, author of a series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty. 

The Pikes Peak Library and Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District put on a nice event in their newest facility. I was glad to see a large audience for this free event. 

The library may put the speech on their website later. Previous Mountain of Author events may be viewed at this link:
http://more.ppld.org:8080/MountainofAuthors/default.html