August 13, 2012

The Happiest Days are when books are uploaded

To paraphrase a line Olivia de Havilland said in Gone With The Wind , "The happiest days are when books are uploaded."

There's that wonderful feeling of accomplishment at having completed a project.  All those marathon writing sessions are forgotten in the joy of seeing your book's page on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and the other popular retail sites, and seeing your author page get a little fuller.  So is it time to rest on your laurels?

Heck, no!

It's time to get busy on the next project.

I am now in the midst of ruthless red pen edits for the upcoming Something Real before sending it to be edited.  I'm loving what I'm seeing (even as I cross out and revise my own words), but around this time I always get those inevitable feelings of, Will I ever get this project finished?

The answer to that is, of course I will, and it'll be wonderful.  But sometimes being a writer is exhausting.  Even as I do these edits to make it as sparkling as possible for my editor, I'm also storyboarding a book I was inspired to do ever since the untimely, tragic death of Michael Jackson (so you know it's been three years) in hopes of being able to get that middle filled in (I know how the story will open and how it will end), as well as not being able to stop my thoughts from wandering off to my next, partially written, project.  It can all be a bit much.

Gone With The Wind time again.  No, not the movie, but the making of it.  Maybe it's time for me to pop in the DVD I recorded of The Making of Gone With The Wind , which I regard as my grown-up writer's version of The Little Engine That Could.  This documentary from 1989 (50 years after the film premiered) tells of the struggles producer David O. Selznick had in bringing this impossibly long novel to the screen.  This is a man who had just about each of his fingers in a different pot as he worked on several quality pictures at a time.  Writers brought out to Hollywood to whittle the 1000+ page novel down into a treatment (not even a script that early in the process) found themselves being asked to prune dialogue on other Selznick productions currently in production, like The Prisoner of Zenda and the original A Star Is Born.  Even as the postproduction process began after a lengthy shoot that included the firing of one director and a nervous breakdown of another, Selznick began to turn his attentions to the upcoming Intermezzo and Rebecca.  In other words, this man never stopped.  But somehow it all got done, and extremely well.  That is what inspires me.

So I'm going to keep plugging along.  Not only is writing what I do, but it's who I am.

As for David O. Selznick, after Rebecca was released in 1940, he closed Selznick International Pictures but continued working, writing, producing, developing projects for others.  I, on the other hand, intend to continue bringing readers good reads through Bunderful Books...to keep getting that wonderful feeling when a new book is uploaded, hopefully for many years to come. 

August 11, 2012

New (sort of) eBook!

I am pleased to be able to offer for the first time in eBook format my romantic comedy, published in print form under the title Prelude to a Kiss, now called Accidentally Yours. While much has changed since this book was originally published in the summer of 2001, the pursuit of the opposite sex has not. If you're in the market for a genuinely funny romantic comedy, this is the book for you! As always, I wish you good reading!

Amazon reader reviews from the original print version of Accidentally Yours (then called Prelude to a Kiss):

"I thought this story was just too cute, was full of wonderful writing and loaded with surprises. I thought it was a great storyline that is so true to life for some 35+ singles.""I absolutely adored this book. I thought it was a very humorous story with a few sprinkles of surprise in it."

"Funny, funny funny."

"A wonderful romantic comedy about the perils of looking for love."

Download your copy today, and get your laugh on while watching the hero and heroine fall in love! Available at Amazon, BN, and Smashwords!

August 8, 2012

Dear Amazon

At 4:45PM on August 7, 2012, I uploaded the manuscript for my new eBook Accidentally Yours through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) with the same publication date.  I was very happy to receive an email notification from Amazon at 11:35PM saying my eBook was now ready for purchase.  I clicked on the link...

And was brought to a page with an error message saying this product did not exist.

I promptly filed an inquiry with KDP and was told it would take 24 hours for a response.  Not understanding why they would send me such a message with a broken link in the first place (building me up for a huge letdown), I decided to simply re-upload the book rather than wait 24 hours to find out what was wrong.  The email informing me that the second upload was successful came at 4:55AM on August 8th.  This time the link worked.

When I clicked through, I noticed that the publication date, which I had put in as August 7th, appeared as August 6th.  There is not much difference between the two dates; however, I found it troubling that the date had been altered from what I entered.  I sent another inquiry asking why this had been done; for there was no indication that the date would be anything other than what I requested it to be.  I stated that it made me a little uneasy...if you were going in and changing my publication dates, what else were you fiddling around with?

I was away from the computer for a few hours, and when I returned I went to see if I had a ranking.  By now I'd sold a total of 10 copies--4 more than in the morning--and had a ranking of 18,000.  But then I noticed something curious...at the top of the page, where the price should be, it now showed "No price information available."  I guess that answered my question about what else you folks were fiddling around with...by claiming there is no price available, you have effectively removed my eBook from being sold and put the kibosh on my income.  And I have to wait at least 24 hours to get this resolved...more lost income.

I have been uploading books to KDP for three years now, and I have never had such a hassle doing so.  I'm not sure what your objective is.  Do you not want me to sell my products through your service?  Just say so.  Don't make dealing with your process such a frustrating, blood-pressure-raising experience that I won't want to use your channel anymore.  And please, please stop asking me to enroll in KDP Select.  If there's anything this experience has taught me, it is never to give anyone an exclusive to my work, because they can remove it from sale and put a halt to my income whenever the urge hits them. At least I can upload to Smashwords so my readership can get this eBook without having to wait as long as it will take for Amazon to straighten this out.

Bettye Griffin Underwood  

August 1, 2012

Balancing Act

It's nice to think of writing as a nice, orderly profession, where you simply work on one project from start to finish and then move on to the next one, but I've found that it doesn't work that way.  Most of the time I am working on two projects simultaneously.  In earlier times I would often be working on three, but I decided that limiting it to two allows for maximum focus and productivity.

Right now I am putting the finishing touches on getting a backlist title (formerly Prelude to a Kiss, now Accidentally Yours) ready for ePubbing.  I had the original paperback scanned, and I proofed it and made some improvements here and there, usually spending an hour on it a day while working on my work-in-progress.  Now that I'm done with that, I realize that adding a pivotal scene will give the story a more complete feel.  Then I need to write a new blurb (the original is the property of the original publisher and cannot be reproduced.)  The cover art is already done, so after those two things are done I can publish.

I was simultaneously working on proofreading/revising Accidentally Yours while writing my  work-in-progress, Something Real, which will be an original Bunderful Books release.  Something Real was receiving the bulk of my attention, with Accidentally Yours being relegated to an hour a day.  Something Real is essentially completed, with me inserting a few scenes here and there to assist in continuity and to fully flesh out the story, plus I'm doing pre-edits before I submit it to my editor.  Maybe it would have been ideal to send Something Real to my editor first and then work on Accidentally Yours, but two things convinced me not to shift my concentration:  1) When I realized I had just 20K words left to read over, and 2) It's never a bad idea to take a break from a project, and I've been pushing myself pretty hard on Something Real.  It was clear that Accidentally Yours is closer to being ready for publication, so I decided to take a break and divert my attentions.  I plan to have it available within the next week.

How about you?  Do you work on more than one project at a time?  How many do you divide your attentions among?



    

July 9, 2012

Anatomy of an eBook:  Something Real

As I wind down the principal writing on Something Real, I've turned a very critical eye on what I've written to see if it passes the so-called "smell test."  It does, but that's not to say it's perfect.  As you may or may not know, this story covers two relationships, one of which is brought to fruition by the book's end, the other of which will be resolved at a later date in either a novella or novelette.  The problem was with the completed romance.  In its present state there isn't enough development in the two principals' relationship.  Writers can't simply throw characters together and have them decide they want to spend the rest of their lives together just like that (snaps fingers).  The readers want to (and need to) see them falling in love.  Without it, a romance doesn't pass the "smell test."  A romance without this factor feels incomplete and will leave readers asking, "Why?"  They'll wonder what is pulling these two people together?  Also--and this is the worst thing that can happen for an author--without being able to feel that special connection between the characters, they likely won't care how they end up.  That means they might decide they don't want to keep reading.

Of course, every scene is supposed to contribute to the development of the story, even walking hand-in-hand along a river path (I know that movies frequently have "bridge scenes," a compilation of scenes, usually set to music, that show the hero and heroine having fun, playing, and loving each other, but in books the rule is show, don't tell). So if the hero and heroine are strolling along without a care in the world and conscious only of each other, something has to happen other than the isn't-it-wonderful-to-be-in-love vibe. Something in their conversation has to hint at future tension...or maybe their pleasant afternoon will be interrupted by an urgent phone call. 

So I'm inserting scenes that permit the reader to see the growing attachment to the hero and heroine.  Not filler, but lean meat.  The result:  A richer and fuller story.

How about you?  Do you want to be able to witness the blossoming feelings the lead characters have for each other?  How do you feel when you don't see this and the leads walk off into the sunset together toward their happily ever after?  Have you ever put a book down because it didn't ring true?  

June 28, 2012

Anatomy of an eBook:  Something Real

I finally got around to updating my progress meter here on the blog.  I'm at 74% of an anticipated 65K-word novel and it's still June, so I'm very pleased.

I was keeping up with my 1000-words-a-day output until last week, when I got caught up in editing my dictated text (I prefer for the Dragon software to transcribe it into MS Word rather than the Scrivener software I use for writing) and then transferring it into the appropriate places into my Scrivener document.  I have to make sure this text is in good shape, because once I delete the voice file, it's gone forever and there's no going back to listen to what I actually dictated. 

Then, a few days ago, I noticed a timeline error.  Horrors!

Back when I was writing for Arabesque (seems like a million years ago), the editor sent out a rare blanket communication to all the writers telling us that we had to pay more attention to the timelines of our stories, because the line editors were seeing a lot of errors that required considerable time to revise to fit properly into the story.  If you're thinking this must be a common error writers make, you're absolutely correct.  It's also one of the worst.  Not only can a timeline error require great effort and extensive re-writing to correct, but if it is not caught before publication it can render the entire novel into an implausible mumbo-jumbo, and I've read at least one book where this actually happened (written by a popular author who has had many reissues of earlier books, this particular title has only had an initial release, which tells me that the editors became aware of the error after they published it).

One thing I liked about one of the free writing software programs I used in the past, Storybook, was that it had a section to include the timeframe of the action.  Since that time I discovered Scrivner, and while it does not have this feature, it is by far the best writing software I've used.  I understand that some writers use a timeline program in conjunction with it, but I've found an easier way to track when the action takes place:  I simply include the month and year at the start of each chapter summary.  I can easily switch to the corkboard view, which places each summary on a separate index card, and see an overview that includes the timeframe and gives me a complete overview of my work-in-progress.

Timelines are especially challenging in Something Real, since the majority of this book takes place between Save The Best For Last and The Heat of Heat, while the shorter second part takes place after The Heat of Heat has concluded.  A lot happened in between these two stories, and I have to be able to provide accurate updates of where the major characters are in the latter half...everything from where they are in their careers to how long they've been married and how old any children they have might be.  It took me two days to straighten this out, but I'm happy to say I've got it under control.

So it looks like I'm still on schedule for late summer publication, although much of this will depend on my editor.

Stay tuned!    

June 9, 2012

Anatomy of an eBook:  Something Real

It's generally recognized that the fewer characters in a novel, the better.  While writing a pivotal scene between tortured lovers Brian Price and Liv Oliveira where they meet while out with other people, I decided to pull out a character from another book to be Brian's date. (No, I won't say which character or even which book; I want you to be surprised when you read it.)  She plays a very minor role in the story and is in no more than two scenes, but I thought it makes for a nice twist for readers who will recognize her name.

You'll have to let me know your thoughts when you read the book. 

May 23, 2012

Anatomy of an eBook:  Something Real

You might be scratching your head and saying, what happened to Man of Her Heart?

That's easy.  I changed the title.

As I was writing, one of my characters, police officer Terrence Gulliver, earnestly states how he's been looking for "something real" in regard to a relationship, and how he thinks he's finally found it with Francesca "Cesca" Perry, and the more I thought about that, the more I liked it, and the more I felt it would make a nice title.  I checked Amazon and saw just one earlier book with that title, and that is acceptable to me (one book with the same name is okay...three or four is not).  "Man of her heart," on the other hand, is something I can picture another character saying about her feelings for the man she has secretly loved for years.  That couple (entertainer Olivia "Liv" Oliveira and magazine publisher Brian Price) are featured prominently in this story, but their relationship does not wrap up here (you've been warned).  In fact, I intend to throw a real wrench into the mix that will likely leave readers muttering, "WTF?"  (You'll have to wait until the book comes out to see what it is.)  So I will still be using that title, but for the book that finally wraps up Liv and Brian's love story.

That said, it occurred to me that I need to step up my game if I expect to publish a new eBook every four to six months.  Yes, stuff happens unexpectedly that requires my immediate attention.  But too many times I've become sidetracked, and my writing is the first casualty, with nothing down on paper for three or four days at a time.  If that keeps happening it will take a lot longer to complete the book.

For the last few weeks I have been religiously knocking out 1000 words a day, seven days a week.  Only two days did I miss the mark and produce roughly half of that. I find that regular writing makes for higher production.  I look at my synopsis and decide what scene I'm going to work on ahead of time.  I often put down a "starter sentence," and then just type (or dictate, depending on whether I'm sitting at home, out walking, or driving to errands).  At the end of the day I hook up my recorder to my computer, open my Dragon software, and let it transcribe what I've recorded. Already I have most of the pivotal scenes recorded.

The next challenge for me will be the structure of the book.  I've already decided to make it Book I and Book II, the former taking place after Save The Best For Last closes, and the latter taking place after The Heat of Heat closes.  I feel it's best to go in chronological order and intermix the main romance with the secondary romance to keep things less confusing.  I'll have to start putting my text in order to see if anything is missing.

The good news is that I'm on target for fall publication, maybe even--dare I say it?--a late summer release?  After all, this is not a long book.  It really should take closer to four months rather than six.

Will I make it?  Stay tuned!

December 11, 2011

Soundtrack to A Kiss of a Different Color

As I write, I often envision my books as movies unfolding, and while I don't have the skills to compose a score (often the same refrain arranged differently to fit the mood of the particular scene), I do imagine existing music playing in the background. I'd like to share with you some of the music I heard as I wrote certain key scenes from my latest novel, A Kiss of a Different Color:  I hope you enjoy them!

In the scene where Jon shows Miranda his family's dance studio and puts on a song they waltz to, this is the song (Cassandra Wilson's cover of the classic standard Polka Dots and Moonbeams):




In the romantic scene where Jon and Miranda kiss in front of the fireplace in the shadow of his mother's Christmas tree, this dreamy original Christmas composition by jazz artist Michael Franks, My Present:



And finally, the movie performance Jon and Miranda adapt for their own performance in the dance school competition, from the movie The Band Wagon, Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse Dancing in the Dark.

November 24, 2011

Black Friday Sale!

It’s technically still Thursday night here in Wisconsin, but it’s after midnight on the East Coast.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. While you're sitting in your armchair getting those Black Friday bargains on the Internet (or after you get home from duking it out in person), download some good reading courtesy of sale prices of my Bunderful Books eBooks: For today only, four eBook titles are on sale at Smashwords!

eBooks regularly priced from $2.99 to $3.79 are just $1.50 to $2.99.

To order, visit my author page at Smashwords , select your eBooks in the format for your particular device (Kindle, Nook, Sony, etc.) and enter the following codes at checkout to get the sale prices:

A Love of Her Own, normally $2.99, sale price $.99 with code PR77D
Save The Best For Last, normally $3.29, sale price $1.99 with code VC76W
The Heat of Heat, normally $3.49, sale price $1.99 with code ZE72Z
A Kiss of a Different Color, normally $3.79, sale price $2.99 with code QV68Z

Remember...the sale is only for today and only at Smashwords.com. As always, I wish you good reading!

October 29, 2011

eBook Giveaway!

In honor of my mother's 93rd birthday today (that's her in the tiara at the celebration her fellow workout folks gave for her at the "Y," where she still works out three times a week), I am having an eBook giveaway!



Save The Best For Last...The Heat of Heat...A Love of Her Own...A Kiss of a Different Color



There will be five winners, each of whom can choose one of the above titles as their prize. This contest is being run through Smashwords, so each winner will be able to choose the format for their particular eReader device, including text for those who don't have eReaders!



To enter, simply send an email to contests@bettyegriffin.com with the heading eBook Contest between October 29th and November 12th (which would have been the 62nd birthday of my late brother Gordon). Winners will be chosen at random, and the winner names will be announced on Sunday, November 13th, by 6PM Central Time, both here and on my Bunderful Books Facebook page.


Good luck, and Happy Birthday to my mom!

October 15, 2011

The Week in Review

Ah, politics!  Chris Christie, after removing himself from consideration, stated he was not ready to endorse anyone.  Two days later, he endorsed Mitt Romney.  There were a few news stories about the endorsement, but Romney's numbers went nowhere.  Instead, there's a new guy on top of the totem pole.

The latest catchphrase: 9/9/9.  Herman Cain has made it to the top of the GOP field with his oft-proclaimed solution for our country's economic woes.  I predict that this severely flawed plan (which includes a 9% federal sales tax on top of all the local taxes being paid for gas, clothing, and other merchandise, and to even include groceries) will never go anywhere, but it just goes to show, if you're the only one offering a plan, people will listen.  Cain's rivals for the nominations have nothing except criticism for President Obama, and that will only carry a person so far.

MSNBC's Chris Mathews asks "Is Cain able?" My answer is, not with that current plan, he's not.  But stay tuned for the next segment of The Great GOP Hope...

On the publishing front, I completed A Kiss of a Different Color and expect to publish within two weeks.  Now I'm organizing my notes that I've been working on recently so I can get started working on my next two projects (yes, two projects; I'll be working on them simultaneously...and that doesn't include my next re-release).  A blank page terrifies me; I'm a big believer in always having something on paper to build on.  I'll be blogging about this in a day or two.

Enjoy your weekend!

APOOO reviews Trouble Down the Road

APOOO Book Club gives TDTR 4 stars and says: "Trouble Down the Road is a page-turner of "No, she didn't" and "You have got to be kidding me." The twists in the story are not over the top even though the reader sees them coming. It has a strong storyline and characters the reader can follow throughout the book. The enjoyment of the read and the ending make you overlook the characters that were getting on your nerves. I recommend this book to those who love suspense and a good drama."

Have you gotten your copy yet????