And the Amazon gift card winner is...

I want to say thank you to everyone who participated in the Fall Blog Hop and to those who LIKEd my Facebook page.

At this time I'd like to congratulate Teresa Coreleone winner of the $10 Amazon gift card! Teresa, please send me your email address at maria AT mywritingden dot NET and I will email you a gift card.

As a indie writer I depend on word of mouth and self-promotion, so I'd love to have a few more followers on either Twitter, Facebook or Goodreads. So, come on by friends and get to know me!

Thank you,

Maria

Blog Hop Baby!

Fall Carnival - Blog Hoppers Delight!

The Desert Muses are giving away an $80 Amazon gift card to one lucky hopper.

When this author group met a few weeks back the muses decided to organize a joint giveaway for the month of October.

You’ll be happy to learn that I’m also conducting my own giveaway; it’ll consist of a $10 Amazon gift card. How do you enter to win it? It’s simple: become a fan on Facebook and leave a comment with your link or email address. Each person who Likes me will earn one entry. Both winners (from my site and the Desert Muses blog) will be announced on October 29th so stay tuned.

Now, please drop by my friend’s site Camelia Miron Skiba and check out her own giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by!

No Risk, No Reward

Risk is a four-letter word that makes so many of us cringe. But, why? Why do some of us wince and shy away at the thought of taking risks? Or best yet, why do some of us downright fear it? In my opinion it all boils down to one thing: comfort zone. The average American is complacent and would opt to play it safe more times than not. The ordinary is less taxing. I should know it was six years ago I was still very afraid of taking chances.

Listen, I’m not going to sugar coat it, taking risks is frightening, this is when we need to recondition ourselves. We need not fear risk; we need to see risk as an opportunity to grow.

“… the moment I let risk in, the world became a very easy place to navigate. People who are impossible became easier to deal with. Things began to land at my feet (door, mailbox). This sounds somewhat corny and solipsistic but it’s not. It’s just that when we use risk at the most optimum level in our writing, it filters into all else. Then the real world seems like child’s play. Embrace risk. Eat your meals with it, takes walks with risk, take risk to bed. It will become your greatest friend and ally.” – Susan Tepper, Author.

Fortune favors the bold my friends!

Your Brain on Writing

I’m restless by nature. And, when not writing, I tend to be anxious. Why is that? Because a writer’s brain is seldom at rest.

Take this for example, while in line at the supermarket, or at the nail salon, or even while on a crowded subway I’m constantly watching people. In my mind, I have shamelessly flirted with good looking men on the train. Does that make me a bit of freak? Maybe. Or maybe, I could simply call this behavior practice.

Look some of the bestselling authors out there have imaginary foes and friends. Many great novelists –in fact – have spent years developing relationships with make-believe pals. It’s no coincidence then that some books can captivate and fascinate thousands of people. This writing acumen doesn’t happen by chance, this acumen is perfected over many years of researching, observing, mimicking…practicing.

In my case my vivid imagination has produced several sexy novellas. From scorching love affairs to salacious office liaisons, my short stories have been the source of much guilty pleasure for many readers.

So, if I ever appear to be staring into space, please know I’m not simply daydreaming, I’m likely formulating my next racy love story. Practice makes perfect.

Thanks for visiting!

Book Reviews vs. Book Ratings

It was after my pledge to read twenty-four books (in 2016) that I realize I needed to restructure my reading and writing routine and that included book reviews.

Writers can only wish and hope that when a reader likes a particular book of ours that he/she will take the time to write a review. The issue with writing reviews is that it takes time. In fact, writing a well-written review can take an hour or two, hence, the reason for this blog post.

Years back when I began a career in writing a fellow author gave me a piece of worldly advice, you need to read and a lot. To date, I’ve read sixty books accompanied by sixty reviews (authormariacox on Goodreads). In addition to reading more, I became much more involved in writing clubs, serving as social media coordinator, committee member, newsletter editor and ultimately President. Ambitions goals are good, but in my case my enthusiasm led me down a path where there was little time to read and write; a big no-no for any writer. 

When I decided to draft an article on the subject of book reviews I did a bit of research. I wanted to know the stance of the writing community on book reviews versus book ratings. I was surprised to learn there was little on the subject. Really, what I wanted to do was to understand how writers ‘felt’ about reviews in general.

Moving on to the main reason for this post…I want to inform my followers and writer friends that I won’t write reviews in 2016, only book ratings. Why? Reviews are lengthy and take time. book ratings take about five seconds.

Note this isn’t an easy choice, but perhaps the best option given my new goals.

Please be sure to follow me on Twitter or LIKE me on Facebook. Thanks!