First Word

  So, you’re ready to publish your book, but you’re not ready to promote it. You may not know what it takes. If you don’t want to promote yourself, you can hire an expert like myself (email me at info@3LPublishing.com ). If you don’t have a promotional budget, here are some things you can do on your own.   No. #1 – Join all applicable social media platforms well in advance of your book’s official release . You can set up your Instagram, Goodreads, Facebook or TikTok accounts long before your book releases. You can begin advanced promotion to attract readers who are ready to buy your book. You also want to ensure you’ve built your following ahead of time, too. Without a strong following, you won’t get the necessary exposure.   No. #2 – Create a blog and start using it . Blogger is free. Write related articles and content for your book’s promotion. It doesn’t have to be specifically about your book, and it probably shouldn’t be. You can highlight m...

  I only wish I had caught this on video … Slurpee got up on the kitchen counter and like a bandido in fine criminal style, pulled a bag of bread down to the ground. By the time we caught him mid-steal, he had trotted off to my daughter’s bedroom with the bag in his mouth. His plan, you ask? To eat his stash under the bed. Speaking of that bed, we discovered that both Slurpee and Icee had started stealing food (cans of cat food, bread, etc.) and eating it under the bed. To suggest that cats don’t know exactly what they’re doing is wrong. The little buggers knew they would be in trouble for stealing and hoarding food, so they hid it. It reminded me of the person who hides food they know they’re not supposed to eat. But, the image of Slurpee swiping that bread and heading off to the bedroom with the loaf in his mouth … well, priceless! He looked like a dog with a ball in his mouth. I used to read this book series called Bad Kitties by Nick Bruel to my daughter Ca...

  Ah, now we have “Ice Man,” which I randomly call him. He’s the sweetest little guy I ever adopted. Icee can’t get enough pets and scratches, and he rewards you with loud purring. I love my little Icee, the kitty I never intended to adopt. Shhh … don’t tell him that one. He would be so offended. “Not adopt moi? How could you suggest such a thing. Mom, it’s me, me, me !”             I love telling Icee’s adoption story. I visited my son Cole and his partner Andrew. Andrew adores kitties, and he has a tuxedo kitty named Lucy. (I cat-sat Lucy.) Andrew wanted to adopt a pure black “void” kitty. We were at Cole’s house in Tuolumne City, and I agreed that Andrew should adopt a void. Plus, I secretly wanted to go look at the kittens. I thought it would be fun. Again, remember going to look at kittens and not adopt one is like being a diabetic in the candy store. You’re tempting your vice.       ...

  Of all the characters in the Addams Family, Wednesday and Thing make the two perfect leads in a television series. Wednesday , which streams on Netflix, is one of the cutest, most entertaining, and refreshing series around. The show is helmed by the brilliant Tim Burton whose movies like Willie Wonka and Edward Scissorhands have become iconic. The character of Wednesday pulled away from the Addams Family and placed into a private school gives the show a wonderful gothic edge that is relevant to current culture. Since goth girls are popular, the show has a built-in audience. Consider, though, how Wednesday offered the ideal character to focus on in this era. Of all of the Addams Family, her supposed unemotional personality and candor make her so interesting to watch on her own. Then Burton tossed in her perfect companion, Thing, to accompany our goth girl all over school.  The show's premise revolves around the teens in the school and includes machinations going on with the...

  Today’s topic is about using the point of view and the feelings of the character to apply it in how your descriptions unfold. In writing One Little Lie , I am writing in the first person. I chose the first-person narrative so I could convey the depth of the character’s feelings, but also to allow the prose to unfold from that person’s perspective. You have to remember that if you decide to use the first person narrative, you will be restricted to the knowledge of that person. You’re up in the narrator’s head, and the narrator only observes and hears from the other characters.   I’ve used several types of techniques. I decided to use first person in One Little Lie , because it’s a deeply personal and emotional tale. The story revolves around one character’s story of transformation, from open naivete and hopeful trust to the rude awakening of a narcissistic liar’s duplicity. You go through the experience of her transformation with her and see it unfold throu...

     I’ve recently seen articles addressing hybrid work environments. Over the years, I have had positions where I worked at home a few days a week and in the office. The last 15 years I have worked remotely (very successfully).             First, let’s address the reasons for remote/hybrid work – the pandemic. I want to share a story about illness in the workplace. I worked for an organization where I was continuously exposed to other sick employees and bad air filtration. We used to call these “sick” buildings. Older buildings where the air is recirculated also meant germs got easily shared among employees. When I worked in this sick building I was ill nearly all winter long. Years later when I began working exclusively from my home office, the illnesses ceased. Now I am rarely sick.             Many positive reasons exist...

  What do you think is the number one challenge a writer faces? Is it writer’s block? No… although many writers deal with some form of writer’s block throughout their careers. It’s distractions! Yes, writers face too many distractions that break their focuses. Between social media, online activities, the real world, and nonstop demands on your time, it’s not that easy to focus. Then we have what I personally call “brain mush,” which in my definition goes like this: too much screen time and tired eyes. Brain mush leads to allowing distractions just to get away from the computer, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.   I bet many of you are nodding right now and thinking, “Yes! Distractions are always pulling me away from my projects.” Whether you work in an office or at your home office, distractions can often stop your progress. When I worked in an office with coworkers, the water-cooler talk caused distractions. Although I avoided it. I have been and am always ...

  I have a question: What is the one thing that all writers need to be successful? Is it talent? Is it a great literary background? Is it a great story? I'm sure you can think of many other potential answers. So, what do you think it is? That one magical secret for success? The answer: CONFIDENCE Confidence will take you further than all of the things listed above. Why? Because confidence means you believe in yourself AND your skills and expertise to deliver all of those things listed. Confidence gives you the motivation to call literary agents until you find the one who is right for you. Confidence means being fearless and approaching publishers. Confidence means you don't just believe in your work, you believe in YOU. How do you achieve confidence? It's not magical. It's about working and gaining the knowledge and insight that YOU know your stuff. You know you have all of the skills listed above. And you KNOW you can do anything. When you've achiev...

  Good question, right? If you want to go the traditional or independent publishing route, you need to understand what is marketable to publishers. Just because you’re a great writer won’t get you published. Publishers want more than great writing. They need a concept that will sell. Always keep this key thought in your mind: publishers want to make money. They are a business, and like any business they need to stay in business. What are they in business to do?   If you think like a business person vs. a writer then it will help you understand how to sell your book to a publisher. Too often writers are only thinking that they want or love to write. They are thinking about craft. In fact, when I’ve done an informal survey with writers from my writers’ group, the majority aren’t thinking with their business hats on. When you fail to think like a businessperson then you’re less likely to sell your book.   When I researched what publishers want these days, the number ...

Lily Waters Author Interview   Q. What is the Magical Journey of Cinderella Sapphire about? A. The Magical Journey of Cinderella Sapphire takes readers on a personal voyage into the life of a young girl as she grows into womanhood under the specter of child physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, the loss of her entire family, and the unfathomable grief of it all. Cinderella Sapphire, a young girl who starts out in life with a happy, beautiful family soon experiences great loss when her beloved grandmother and mother die within three months of each other. Cinderella or “Ella” is left behind with her older brother and her loving father who soon falls under the “spell” of the beautiful but cruel Susanna. The abusive and wicked Susanna unleashes her jealousy, wrath, and twisted behavior on her stepchildren. She poisons or kills pets, sexually abuses both Ella and her brother, and makes life a living hell. Q. Why did you write the book? A. To ease the suffering of those in difficult cir...

I reached for this book after a particularly tough week. I was feeling low, and so many things had started to creep up on me, making me feel like a deflated balloon. This book gave me a little bit of that strength back, and I can’t believe just how my mindset has changed because of it! I’m absolutely thrilled to be sharing my review for this book, one that has helped my mind and saved my sanity a little. I can’t thank the author enough! Read full review, click here .

  You're craving dessert, but on our Challenge white sugar is a no-no. I personally do not like using artificial sweeteners even the good one, Stevia. Many people prefer sweeteners, and I understand, but you can use fruit to sweeten your desserts, too.  This dessert is so simple, it doesn't need a recipe. Cook your Jasmine rice per the package's instructions, chop up a cup of strawberries, and place them atop the rice.  It's a simple, nutritious dessert with nothing added. I love strawberries, and it tastes great and satisfies your dessert cravings just fine.

I love this recipe, because it involves my favorite foods -- asparagus, bacon and eggs. I also created it myself. It's asparagus season, and I enjoy bacon-wrapped asparagus, so add the egg and you've got either the perfect breakfast or dinner food (it's one that is interchangeable).  Some cooks prefer to bake the asparagus and bacon in the oven. I chose to fry the asparagus with the bacon already wrapped around. It gives the asparagus a flavorful, but not too overwhelming taste of bacon. Although turning the asparagus in the frying pan and keeping the bacon wrapped around it, did create a challenge.   This dish can be served for two. I felt pretty full after eating the whole plate. So you can cut it in half and feel sated. INGREDIENTS 2 EGGS 6 ASPARAGUS SPEARS 6 PIECES OF BACON OLIVE OIL BLACK PEPPER SALT TO TASTE 1. Wrap bacon around asparagus spears. 2. Take a large frying pan, lightly coat the bottom in olive oil. Please the spears in the pan and turn until the bacon i...