Guest Post - How to Survive and Thrive List for Debut Authors by Vicky Dreiling

Please enjoy this guest post from Vicky Dreiling. You can get a sense of Vicky's humor from this great article! Thanks for sharing Vicky.

Vicky Dreiling’s How To Survive and Thrive List for Debut Authors

How to Celebrate Your First Sale

1.     Squee in your agent’s ear. Apologize profusely afterward.

2.     Call your friends and insist on meeting up at your favorite Mexican food restaurant for celebratory Chambord swirl margaritas.

3.     Spend part of your first advance check on something special – you earned it!

4.     Eat lots of chocolate. It is one of the basic food groups for authors.

How to Prepare for Your First Revision Letter

1.     Buy post-it notes in many colors. They are your friends and make the printed pages look pretty.

2.     You will need the printed version because the page numbers will change as you revise.

3.     Stock up on your caffeinated beverage of choice.

4.     Memorize the phone numbers and/or website addresses of Pizza Hut, the local Chinese Delivery service, and Chili’s to Go.

5.     Eat lots of chocolate. It is one of the basic food groups for authors.

How to be a Glamorous Almost Published Author

1.     Make an appointment with a photographer for your author photo.

2.     Try on several outfits and decide you deserve a new one for the photo.

3.     Smear mascara under your eyes. You’re out of practice putting on makeup since you’ve become a recluse.

4.     Ask the photographer if he can work miracles with Photo Shop.

5.     Eat lots of chocolate. It is one of the basic food groups for authors. 

How to Write Your First Dedication and Acknowledgements 

1.     Sniff a little as you dedicate your book to someone special who helped you make your dream come true.

2.     Thank your wonderful editor whose insights made your book so much better.

3.     Thank your Uber Talented agent who knew exactly how to sell your book.

4.     Sniff a little as you thank all your fabulous writing friends and family members who encouraged you along the journey.

5.     Eat lots of chocolate. It is one of the basic food groups for authors.

How to Stay Sane as You Realize You Didn’t Prepare Enough 

1.     Call your published friends and beg them to tell you what works for publicity. Friends will tell you nobody knows. Don’t freak out. And don’t overspend (Hah!).

2.  Get a professional website. Don’t skimp as this is your window shop to the world.

3.     Social media is not an option. Embrace it. You’ll make friends and gain name awareness.

4.    Admire your Advance Reader Copies. Keep one and give the others away on blog tours.

5.    Eat lots of chocolate. It is one of the basic food groups for authors.

How to Count Down to Your First Publication Date

1.     Remember writing comes first. Facebook and Twitter do not count as writing.

2.     If a less than positive review bothers you, take a look at the reviews for bestselling authors. You’ll be magically cured.

3.     Ignore those bestseller ranking numbers on Amazon. They bounce up and down constantly.

4.     A week or two before your first book signing, take a look in the mirror. If you scream because you look like Medusa, get thee to the hair salon pronto.

5.     It’s here – your book is on the shelves! Take photos in the bookstore and don’t forget to eat lots of chocolate!

 

Vicky Dreiling is the historical romance author of HOW TO MARRY A DUKE available now. HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL is slated for publication in July 2011.  For more information or to read an excerpt, visit her website at: http://www.vickydreiling.com/index.php

Backcover Copy for HOW TO MARRY A DUKE

Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. No love is necessary—nor desired. But how to choose amid a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London’s infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she’s not the most captivating woman he’s ever met . . .
Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she’s determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife—she’ll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke’s affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan’s desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker’s number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.

Be sure to check out my review and enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of three copies of this fun book!

Book Review and Giveaway, Three Copies, How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

A very fun read!
How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages (Really 396 + other excerpts)
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (January 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446565377
• ISBN-13: 978-0446565370

Price: Paperback $7.99; Kindle $7.99
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Product Description
Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. Love is not necessary--nor desired. But how to choose among a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London's infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she's not the most captivating woman he's ever met...

Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she's determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife--she'll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke's affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan's desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker's number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.

Review: I really enjoyed this light historical. The plot has some uniqueness and the characters and dialogue are fun with some sexy innuendo.

Tessa is a 26 year old independent heiress. She does not perceive that she will ever be good enough to marry and considers herself safely on the shelf. But she believes in love and dedicates her efforts to making matches, especially for the wall flowers who need a bit of help.

When the Duke accidently steps on her fan, he at first thinks she is just another silly chit throwing her fan or handkerchief at his feet. However her artless and witty responses throw him off guard. Then when she learns who she is, instead of increasing her flirtation she flees from him. The Duke is intrigued by her and decides that perhaps she can really find him a mate.

Tessa sets up a very unusual courtship/competition to help the Duke pick the right young lady. As she and the Duke spend time together considering the candidates and planning events they develop a friendship.  Of course, he is bound by duty to honor the candidates to select his bride. And her reputation would be ruined if she woos away the groom.

Added to the courtship complications are the machinations of Sherbourne’s mother who I found to be a delightful character even if most view her as a dragon.  Also Tessa’s childhood sweetheart and brother of her best friend suddenly returns after being thought to have been killed in war.  Tessa clearly doesn’t want anything to do with Richard and the reader knows there is a secret history between them. Richard however is relentless in pursuing Tessa even to the point of flouting the proprieties.  This behavior has the Duke on edge and trying any way he can to protect Tessa.

I was surprised that this is a debut novel as it flows so well. The plot is fun and the characters are strong with snappy repartee. I will definitely look forward to Ms. Dreiling’s release of How to Seduce a Scoundrel this summer.

THANK YOU TO HACHETTE FOR PROVIDING THE BOOK FOR MY REVIEW AND FOR PROVIDING THREE BOOKS FOR GIVEAWAY.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:

1. Visit the Author's website or check out Five Fun Facts and tell me something you found interesting;
One of these is required for entry.  If you do both it will count as two entries.

Make sure you leave your e-mail address!

2.  Two extra entries: Watch the trailer and tell me what you think of it or if you do or don't like trailers.

3.  Comment on the Author's Guest Post for another two entries.

4.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

5. For three entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Ten total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

THERE WILL BE THREE WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 28, 2011.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Book Review and Giveaway: Coming Back by Marcia Muller

A female PI Coming Back from injuries to a fearful kidnapping! 
Coming Back (Sharon Mccone Mysteries)  by Marcia Muller

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (October 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446581062
• ISBN-13: 978-0446581066

       Price: Hardcover $16.16,  Kindle $11.99, Audible $11.52
      Genre: Mystery - Female PI
      My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Product Description
In Locked In, San Francisco private eye Sharon McCone was shot in the head and suffered from locked-in syndrome: almost total paralysis but with an alert, conscious mind. Now, as Sharon struggles to regain control over her body, she wants everything to go back to normal, but realizes that it may not be possible to return to her old life. Meanwhile, Sharon's relationships are suffering. Her husband is impatient with her refusal to accept help and some of her colleagues doubt her abilities after the accident. But when Sharon's friend from physical therapy goes missing, she must call upon those closest to her to find out the truth behind the disappearance. The investigation soon points to issues of national security and proves to be the most dangerous and critical case yet for Sharon and her colleagues.
 
Review: A quick listen, satisfying mystery.
This is the first Marcia Muller/Sharon McCone mystery that I have read.  I liked how the author presents the chapters with different characters, describing what is happening around that character, in thought and action.

When Sharon goes to find her friend from physical therapy, she finds that Piper has vanished over the weekend...along with every evidence that she was ever in the apartment. Sharon’s office administrator, a former San Francisco cop, Adah, comes to meet Sharon only to discover Sharon gone and to find herself in hand to hand combat before she is drugged and taken off.

Sharon feels guilty for having left the location before Adah arrived and that guilt is intensified by condemnation from Craig, another team member and Adah’s love. Now there are two snatched women to find and quickly! The clues lead to suspicion of a covert operations clean up and that makes everyone on edge as they realize what they are up against.

Even though I was not familiar with any of the characters and relationships the author gives a good picture of six of the team members. It was easy to catch on to the nuances of respect, frustration, envy, and other emotions. All of these are underlined with the sense of the “team” as they pull together to find one of their own who has been kidnapped. Although there are professional ties to the intrigue there are some pretty amateurish bad guys. Still, there is plenty of fast paced action as the team follows the leads.  The author provides lots of details on the investigative process rather than dropping clues for the reader to figure out so this has a different feel than some mysteries where the reader has to try to unravel the clues. The “who”, “whys” and “whats” are all neatly wrapped up at the end.

The story moved very quickly and was a very easy listen on Audible.  I can’t say I loved the narration as initially I thought the reading was rather flat.  After a while I guess I was involved enough in the story that the narration didn’t bother me. (I got the book as hardcover for the review and maybe this is one that reads better than listens. However, I was very glad to be able to grab this 8 hr 16 min Audible format as I love to be able to listen while I do mindless chores like folding laundry.)  I wouldn’t say this was a stunner of a read but it was a solid mystery and satisfying. I would read more of the McCone mysteries if I had spare time.

xxx

Thank you to Hachette for the book to read and review.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE HARDBACK COPY:

1.Mandatory entry: Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you find there.
Please leave your e-mail!

2. For extra two entries: Tell me a favorite PI mystery book you like - female or male PI.

3. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

4. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Six total entries possible.)
It is not necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on January 25, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop Coming This Weekend: January 14 -17th

I'm Dreaming of Giveaways for Books, Books and More Books!

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop runs

January 14th to 17th

Hosted by Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf

& I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

What is a giveaway hop?

Simple - Each participating blog hosts a giveaway and we link up together allowing our followers to hop easily from one giveaway to another.

For followers that means lots of chances to win free books.

The Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop will run from 12:01 AM Friday, January 14th to 11:59 PM Monday, January 17th.

Each participating blog will host their own giveaway. There is no requirement on the minimum or maximum value of the giveaway.

All participating blogs will be linked up through a Dreaming of Books linky.

Giveaways include US, US & Canada or International.

Thanks to Kathy for allow me to Co-Host this event!

You can Dream this week but this weekend do more then dream - get Hopping! See you Friday!

It's Monday! What are you Reading January 10, 2011?

This meme starts at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I finished four books last week and posted two reviews, one book Giveaway; one Help Me Pick Next Read; one Comment Giveaway and a couple of informative posts.

As noted before, for this feature I will only be giving a rating and a short summary comment on books I read from my TBRs or as fillers - which aren't many :).

I had on-site training last week at work so once again I didn't have too much time this past week to reply to comments or visit. I still keep hoping to improve.

These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

•  It's Monday What are You Reading? January 3, 2010.  

• Book Review:  No Greater Love by Kinzie Monroe; Contemporary Inspirational; my rating 4.5.

• Book Review and Giveaway of The Sherlockian by Graham Moore; Mystery; my rating 4.75.

• Blog Tour Announcement: How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling.

•  Help me Pick January 2011 Read #2 Giveaway.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 7, 2010.

•  Books Read in 2010 - 100+ Challenge Completed.

•  Recap on My 2010 Challenges.

•  Sunday Words of Encouragement January 9, 2011.

•  Enquiring Minds want to know Meme - Week 19 Plus Comment Giveaway.

Finished Reading:

Print: The Sherlockian by Graham Moore.  Review and Giveaway linked above.


Print: How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling. Nice debut! Hachette Review, Giveaway and Guest Post scheduled this Wednesday, January 12, 2011. See Book Description with blog tour info.


Kindle: --------

 Audible: 

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)

by Jeaniene Frost. 

I read this from my Audible choices. 

I will post a review this week.  

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0. 

Audible:  
Coming Back (Sharon Mccone Mysteries) by Marcia Muller.  Okay - so this was one of my January reads and not a top pick in the "Help me pick next read" votes. But when I discovered it was available on Audible I downloaded it and finished it in three days. Solid mystery - I'll do a review later this week.

Product Description
In Locked In, San Francisco private eye Sharon McCone was shot in the head and suffered from locked-in syndrome: almost total paralysis but with an alert, conscious mind. Now, as Sharon struggles to regain control over her body, she wants everything to go back to normal, but realizes that it may not be possible to return to her old life. Meanwhile, Sharon's relationships are suffering. Her husband is impatient with her refusal to accept help and some of her colleagues doubt her abilities after the accident. But when Sharon's friend from physical therapy goes missing, she must call upon those closest to her to find out the truth behind the disappearance. The investigation soon points to issues of national security and proves to be the most dangerous and critical case yet for Sharon and her colleagues. 

Line Edits/Releases: Still working.

Currently reading:

Print/Kindle: The Queen of Last Hopes: The Story of Margaret of Anjou by Susan Higginbotham. Reading for Sourcebooks. This has started vey nicely. It really is interesting to read the political histories effecting the Kings and Queens of England.

Product Description
A man other than my husband sits on England's throne today.
What would happen if this king suddenly went mad? What would his queen do? Would she make the same mistakes I did, or would she learn from mine?
Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, cannot give up on her husband-even when he slips into insanity. And as mother to the House of Lancaster's last hope, she cannot give up on her son-even when England turns against them. This gripping tale of a queen forced to stand strong in the face of overwhelming odds is at its heart a tender tale of love.

Kindle: The Bricklayer's Helper by Amy Corwin.  
I am definitely enjoying this. I am at 70%. 
I am reading this for the author;
Review and interview later this month.

Product Description
Masquerades can lead to love…or murder.Sarah has masqueraded as Sam, a bricklayer’s helper, for years. But her past catches up with her in London. A thirteen year-old fire, deliberately set to murder her family, is smoldering, and the killer intends to ensure there are no survivors. Desperate, Sam turns to the renowned Second Sons agency for help. Inquiry agent, William Trenchard, is both troubled and fascinated by Sam, and immediately suspects “he” is a “she.” Unfortunately, before William can discover what lies beneath the brick dust and sun-bleached hair, they are plunged into a maelstrom of deceit and murder.

Audio: Hell's Corner (The Camel Club) by David Baldacci.  I will start this audiobook this week. I hope it won't hurt that I haven't read the prior books in the series. I have a couple of them, on Audible and print, but hadn't read them yet.

Product Description:
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club return in #1 bestselling author David Baldacci's most stunning adventure yet.

An attack on the heart of power . . .
In sight of the White House . . .
At a place known as . . .

HELL'S CORNER

John Carr, aka Oliver Stone-once the most skilled assassin his country ever had-stands in Lafayette Park in front of the White House, perhaps for the last time. The president has personally requested that Stone serve his country again on a high-risk, covert mission. Though he's fought for decades to leave his past career behind, Stone has no choice but to say yes.

Then Stone's mission changes drastically before it even begins. It's the night of a state dinner honoring the British prime minister. As he watches the prime minister's motorcade leave the White House that evening, a bomb is detonated in Lafayette Park, an apparent terrorist attack against both leaders. It's in the chaotic aftermath that Stone takes on a new, more urgent assignment: find those responsible for the bombing.

British MI-6 agent Mary Chapman becomes Stone's partner in the search for the unknown attackers. But their opponents are elusive, capable, and increasingly lethal; worst of all, it seems that the park bombing may just have been the opening salvo in their plan. With nowhere else to turn, Stone enlists the help of the only people he knows he can trust: the Camel Club. Yet that may be a big mistake.

In the shadowy worlds of politics and intelligence, there is no one you can really trust. Nothing is really what it seems to be. And Hell's Corner truly lives up to its name. This may be Oliver Stone's and the Camel Club's last stand.

Line Edits: I am finalizing two releases and working on two more. Then edits to two more are due.

January 2011 books coming up:  
Print:
1/19 - Sins of a Highland Devil (Highland Warriors) by Sue-Ellen Welfonder. Hachette review & giveaway.
1/26 - My Immortal Assassin by Carolyn Jewel. Hachette review, giveaway and guest post.
Unscheduled:
The votes so far on the 2nd Help Me Pick My Next Read Comments are leaning toward Blood Prophecy by Stefan Petrucha.
Then two Sourcebooks, Kiss at Your Own Risk by Stephanie Rowe and I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell, are also in the queue.