What does an author do who hasn’t written on her blog for too long?

That author, me, should put her “BICFOK” Bum in chair, fingers on keyboard.

When I went to my first Romance Writers of America conference, I can’t remember where or when but I did purchase a charm with that same sentiment on it. I recall when I wrote and rewrote my novel Woman of Substance, I had sat so long that I created compression fractures in my spine. A good lesson to learn. We need to take a break from our chairs on occasion. I suppose that is why it is now called the new smoking.

Since writing Woman of Substance which is the book that stemmed from my women’s studies class and at the university I attended after my children left home. Soul Mate Publishing contracted the novel and published it in, 2012.

Prior to that my first novel publication was Moving On published by XOXO Publishers in  Toronto in 2011. Unfortunately, that small press went out of business and I received my rights and Soul Mate agreed to edit, give it a new cover and published it in 2014. Moving On was the novel of the community where my husband and I raised our sons. Regina Beach is a very special place as a resort town on a long narrow lake in a valley scoured out by the ice age.

In 2016, Fearless Destiny my novel exploring what happens to a small community when a natural resource is developed on the doorstep. I situated this novel in Apex in the same vicinity as Regina Beach, but drew from examples of many communities in Southern Saskatchewan. I integrated the main characters from Moving On. In 2017, Fearless Destiny was nominated for a RONE award in Sweet Contemporary. The novel won first-runner up.

Ponytails and Promises released in the fall of 2019 was a little longer in coming. I lost some writing mojo. But with perseverance and Soul Mate publishing belief in my writing I set the story in the same area as Regina Beach, Apex but on a farm. This year, Ponytails and Promises is also nominated for a RONE award. I am in the gathering votes stage. The procedure is the top five novels with the most votes proceeds to being read and judged. One book is dropped but the next four are finalists for the award in October.

During this process, I am pleased with the time readers have taken to vote. I feel blessed by the support.

I am hopeful that the judges will deem the writing in Ponytails and Promises worthy of the prize. However, I am honoured to have this opportunity.

I graduated as a nurse and worked in health care for many years. I use these experiences in my stories as well. As an author, I use the familiar and research, research.

 

Print copies of my books are only available through Amazon sellers rather than directly from Amazon.

 

Am I powerless when this is on my print copy purchase, See All Buying Options?

 

Recently, I updated my file for my novel, Woman of Substance. It had errors. Mostly words out of place or misspelled words. I hadn’t realized the number of errors until last fall a friend’s husband began to say something and she kicked him under the table.

I said, “What, tell me.”

He said, “They were surprised how the book was allowed to go to publication with the errors.”

This book was e published in 2012 around Christmas and then in print in 2013. The responsibility is ultimately with me, the author. I had the opportunity to re read the book and send in any corrections before it went to print. I did this but obviously not nearly enough.

I have and always will have both spelling and grammar challenges. These two necessary tools for a writer throw stumbling blocks across my path in every sentence I write.

I asked a reader to go through a print copy and mark errors. I submitted them to my publisher, Debby Gilbert at Soul Mate Publishing. Debby graciously agreed to correct my errors after all this time. I have received a corrected secure pdf from the publisher and the copy looks fantastic.

I had hoped that all of the readers who had purchased an e copy of Woman of Substance would receive a “push” notification of the changes. Alas, there are channels according to Amazon staff through which this may be possible but in reality not probable.

I can’t even order a new corrected e copy of Woman of Substance and pay for it again, because as  Amazon staff explained, the computer knows I own a copy and would send me the old file, regardless, unless the “push” happened.

I have print copies with these errors but I wanted to gift a clean copy to the reader who painstakingly went over the novel line by line and another to the couple who pointed out the errors.

I ordered Woman of Substance from Amazon.ca. I paid $24.38 for the print book including shipping. I anxiously awaited the arrival. Today it came in the mail all the way from the UK. It wasn’t sold by Amazon, but an Ingram distributor. It is in new condition and it isn’t the corrected copy. I’m so disappointed. Our son, a business man, pointed out that these sellers probably have old stock.

disappointed

I checked Moving On and Fearless Destiny  alas they are only available in e copies directly from Amazon but  print copies are not available on Amazon except through a third party seller at various prices.

My publisher has confirmed I will receive royalties from the book I purchased. I’m glad. I was concerned that I actually had purchased a second hand book by error.

Print copies are available at Barnes and Noble:

Moving On

Fearless Destiny

And Chapters/Indigo.

Fearless Destiny

Moving On

I have ordered new copies from Soul Mate publishing of Woman of Substance. You can order a corrected print copy from me, if you like, in about two weeks.

Please check out my home page for more places to purchase my print books.

Drop in at Chapters, Regina on Feb. 11, 2017 and say “hello.”

I’m looking forward to having copies of Fearless Destiny for sale at Chapters and Woman of Substance and Moving On, too.

Chapters/Indigo was considerate to offer me the opportunity to sign close to Valentine’s Day. I look forward to seeing many friends and new customers during this time.

Wishing all of you moments of togetherness during this month of

I’m at a virtual party all weekend

It’s a Party and you’re all welcome

 

One well placed ‘No’ changed Tiffany’s life. When Will is in her life she finds a way.

Fearless Destiny is all dressed up and tempting readers with pictures and tidbits of information.

A New Year calls for a new life

Don’t drive by stalled cars on the highway. You never know who needs you.

“Tiff, did you see the demonstration against the mine and the boom?”

Women with substance discussed Woman of Substance

Woman of Substance appeared in all her glory projecting her trailer for all to see.

Woman of Substance by me, Annette Bower and not Barbara Taylor Bradford

 

Moving On hasn’t shown up yet. She’s waiting for tomorrow and she’ll be there in all of her glory.

Time for this writer to slip under the covers.

Good morning, here is the link to my post this morning. I learned that food doesn’t play as big a role in my novels as it does for some authors who love sharing recipes.

What do we serve for snacks during the morning of a party?

And why do you write sweet, dear Annette?

I love this book trailer for my novel Moving On

The cover for Fearless Destiny is designed to invite you on a road trip

When your parents tell you they’ve finished your book.

We came and now it is time to leave. Thank you all for joining us at this New Year’s party.

Where has the time gone?

The summer has come and gone and today is the first day of fall. I just heard that this is the time when we will have twelve hours of sunlight and twelve hours of darkness. I do enjoy this time of year because I get to see the sunrise. I miss many summer sunrises.

My work in progress, working title, Will’s Intentions is at the publishers as of August 7, 2015 with a release date of April, 2016.

So I took a break, I caught up on family and read.

Lady Shadow by Abrielle S. Fuerst kept me engaged for many nights with her fantasy of seven kingdoms and fantastic female super heroes.

Time and Forever by Susan B. James accompanied me on my walks and reminded me of a time when I was young too. As well as the often asked question about roads not taken in life.

Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray also accompanied me on my walks and drives. Yes, I do love audio books.

A road trip told me all about Candice Bergen through her autobiography A Fine Romance.

My to be read file diminished with the completion of a fast paced romance novel about the consequences of one little omitted detail, in Perfectly Honest by Linda O’Connor.

I read The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep by Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin and almost fell asleep myself.

Went to movies and attended events. Had a book signing at Chapters and discovered all of my copies of Moving On and Woman of Substance had been sold at Regina Beach Home Hardware and The Painted Parasol in Lumsden.

And now I’m reading Everyman by Philip Roth. I’m bending every corner so I recall the beauty of language and thought, because this is a print copy. When I’m reading electronically, I highlight and make a note. I enjoy e-reading and I have downloaded many books.

Had a wonderful reunion with my classmates who graduated with me from the Regina Grey Nuns’ School of Nursing, many years ago.

I walked around Wascana Lake many times and gained so many badges on my Fitbit.

Right now, Moving On is competing for The Readers’ Choice Award through The Romance Reviews. I’m asking friends, family and fans to vote, so that Moving On will qualify for the second round. Not sure what that will be yet, but it will be exciting I’m sure.

So that’s all for now. I hope you had a wonderful summer and are ready for fall.