tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103720322024-03-12T22:55:33.146-04:00When the Muse Strikes . . .I writeJulie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-72510296067362483302013-05-16T11:33:00.001-04:002013-05-16T11:33:10.829-04:00Why I Wrote KEEP NO SECRETS, What I Think About Reviews (Good & Bad) and Other Stuff of Possible Interest . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu3r2JF72dhTXRposGYQrzZA_xK1VJymCwyaBzCIcjueNLLMqTBwPARaYnSyuKjeC_LbU6L0B43vJCQSbTTwidQcG1IDALv0Q9-xthEVdBQmgH-8POfW199RwdtGp6ZSBxHa9OA/s1600/2_KNS+FINAL+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu3r2JF72dhTXRposGYQrzZA_xK1VJymCwyaBzCIcjueNLLMqTBwPARaYnSyuKjeC_LbU6L0B43vJCQSbTTwidQcG1IDALv0Q9-xthEVdBQmgH-8POfW199RwdtGp6ZSBxHa9OA/s320/2_KNS+FINAL+FINAL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Reader and fellow St. Louisan Debbie Haupt has been one of my biggest supporters since she first wrote to me after reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AUJO6VA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwjuliecompt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AUJO6VA" target="_blank"><b><i>Tell No Lies</i></b></a>. When <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B44JCZK/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00B44JCZK&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwjuliecompt-20" target="_blank"><b><i>Rescuing Olivia</i></b></a> originally released back in 2010, she invited me to participate in a book club discussion over at the Barnes & Noble fiction forum she moderates, and now, with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BSGQ770/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=wwwjuliecompt-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00BSGQ770&adid=0H7HS34YEB0FQHE23857" target="_blank"><i><b>Keep No Secrets</b></i></a>, she did a lovely interview of me at her blog, <a href="http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/2013/05/today-i-chat-with-dear-friend-and.html?showComment=1368715914667#c3958735502428082633" target="_blank"><b>The Reading Frenzy</b></a>. <span style="font-size: large;">You can r</span>ead it <a href="http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/2013/05/today-i-chat-with-dear-friend-and.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Among other things, I talk about why I wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BSGQ770/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=wwwjuliecompt-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00BSGQ770&adid=0H7HS34YEB0FQHE23857" target="_blank"><i><b>Keep No Secrets</b></i></a> (the sequel to <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AUJO6VA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwjuliecompt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AUJO6VA" target="_blank">Tell No Lies</a></b></i>), what I think about reviews (good and bad), and what I'm working on now. Hope you'll take a look and show Debbie some love! While you're there, consider following her blog. It truly IS a reading frenzy!</span><br />
<br />Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-22293527245810463552013-04-04T11:41:00.004-04:002013-04-04T11:41:40.324-04:00A Great Article by Hugh Howey about Self-PublishingI know I keep promising I'll write more about my reasons for self-publishing, but the work-in-progress continues to call, and I continue to stumble upon articles by other writers who say it so much better than I could. Here's one in particular that explains it so well (not surprising--given that it was written by <a href="http://www.hughhowey.com/" target="_blank">Hugh Howey</a>, author of the bestselling <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0071XO8RA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0071XO8RA&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwjuliecompt-20" target="_blank">WOOL</a>).<br />
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Here's the link, from Salon: <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/04/04/hugh_howey_self_publishing_is_the_future_and_great_for_writers/" target="_blank">Self-Publishing is the Future and Great for Writers</a><br />
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Thanks to fellow writer <a href="http://www.robertgregorybrowne.com/" target="_blank">Robert Gregory Browne</a> for posting the article on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/robertgregorybrowne" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> for me to stumble upon. ;-)<br />
<br />Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-25960666763163486522013-03-13T18:43:00.000-04:002013-04-04T12:16:18.559-04:00KEEP NO SECRETS is now available!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dhAnVdmbEYk0x9-wOpgWlD61r0-rCbcxIyYBXmB9b9fdccdCVeZp11WQrbS6tU5-UDmcM9q04mQMGsNANFusM6DqCj-h2auCpHatln9JFSuYCqYjjZ3_VXyN1_T7EAmGBg_OMw/s1600/2_KNS+FINAL+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dhAnVdmbEYk0x9-wOpgWlD61r0-rCbcxIyYBXmB9b9fdccdCVeZp11WQrbS6tU5-UDmcM9q04mQMGsNANFusM6DqCj-h2auCpHatln9JFSuYCqYjjZ3_VXyN1_T7EAmGBg_OMw/s320/2_KNS+FINAL+FINAL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now available!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">("Buy the book" links below)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">KEEP NO SECRETS</span></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(the TELL NO LIES sequel)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>After the ultimate betrayal,</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>which is more important:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>trust or forgiveness?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After surviving the private and public fallout from a one-night stand four years before, St. Louis DA Jack Hilliard wants nothing more than to be trusted again by his wife, Claire, and to earn back the respect of the community he serves. Since the day Claire accepted him back into the family, he's vowed to be true to these goals, and so far he's succeeded.</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br />But all of Jack's efforts begin to crumble when the woman involved in his earlier downfall, Jenny Dodson, returns to town claiming threats on her life and asking for his help, and resurrecting for Jack long-buried emotions and questions of her guilt for the murder of a client. Just when he thinks the pressure can't get any worse, his son's girlfriend, Celeste, accuses him of sexual assault, and he suddenly finds himself on the wrong end of a criminal case, battling for his freedom.<br /><br />Can Jack trust his freedom to the legal system on which he built his career? Or will the ghost of his one-night stand four years before come back to haunt him, causing him to be convicted on the mistakes of his past?</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">BUY an eBook edition:</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BSGQ770/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=wwwjuliecompt-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00BSGQ770&adid=0H7HS34YEB0FQHE23857" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amazon Kindle</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/KEEP-NO-SECRETS-ebook/dp/B00BSGQ770/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363213485&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amazon UK Kindle</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keep-no-secrets-julie-compton/1114819598?ean=2940016297408" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Barnes & <span style="font-size: small;">Noble Nook</span></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/KEEP-NO-SECRETS/book-0upZhkrUkkycdwQpJFoG_g/page1.html?s=m-QljCjPaEWyq4MXi9gxtg&r=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kobo</span></span></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">B<span style="font-size: small;">UY the PRINT edition:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0988793229/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0988793229&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwjuliecompt-20" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amazon</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keep-no-secrets-julie-compton/1114819598?ean=9780988793224" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Barnes & Noble</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://julie-compton.com/books/keep-no-secrets/synopsis/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Signed edition</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can also ask your local bookseller or library</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">to order it for you (tell<span style="font-size: small;"> them it is dis<span style="font-size: small;">tributed by Ingram)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Note about ebooks</b>: Did you know<span style="font-size: small;"> y</span>ou don't<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>need a specific e-reader (Kindle, Nook, Ko<span style="font-size: small;">bo) </span>to buy and read books from th<span style="font-size: small;">e co<span style="font-size: small;">mpanies that make those readers</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">? You have choices, no matter what type of device you have. </span>Here<span style="font-size: small;"> are links where you can download FREE reading apps to your iPad, your phone, your PC, and other devi<span style="font-size: small;">ces.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771" target="_blank">Kindle apps</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-mobile-apps/379003593/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">BN Nook apps</span></a> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/apps" target="_blank">Kobo apps</a></span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">T<span style="font-size: small;">HANK YOU to all of my<span style="font-size: small;"> readers for your continued support and encouragement!</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">www.julie-compton.com</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-31419552727470638332013-03-07T19:03:00.002-05:002013-03-07T19:03:23.633-05:00RESCUING OLIVIA Kindle edition FREE until midnight March 8!I spread the word everywhere else, but I realized I forgot to post it here!<br />
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Short but sweet: the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B44JCZK" target="_blank">Kindle edition of RESCUING OLIVIA</a> is FREE - that's right - FREE!! - through midnight on Friday, March 8, 2013! Grab it while you can! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS7HTLCUs_KCm37bRsy8mAV2t1BxBwzXGSOT4aWTq_bdGpE2NKhyphenhyphenFQddAZ4tHzFM86Tl10Ss8k6T4Sk2u26SY2d0hej5q0H5HT2TjxiCe5fSY_zlP6A2fbhQUsu_65sfxotTuPg/s1600/Rescuing+Olivia_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS7HTLCUs_KCm37bRsy8mAV2t1BxBwzXGSOT4aWTq_bdGpE2NKhyphenhyphenFQddAZ4tHzFM86Tl10Ss8k6T4Sk2u26SY2d0hej5q0H5HT2TjxiCe5fSY_zlP6A2fbhQUsu_65sfxotTuPg/s320/Rescuing+Olivia_FINAL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-62246001675084392402013-01-17T09:20:00.000-05:002013-01-17T19:25:12.440-05:00Why I Decided to Self-Publish<style type="text/css">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXkCabDZ2IlQ9kCV6yD6nTkigG20lweFHSWs4A6JESFg55Q7t_bOQneJHh6xHb1ScSC0rSGWQ0BI8FFmAEJ1jKOlUnLsKBFGYjDGh8gCta5rCXT_hJSRmmY0ndnrVdq86sZhlJw/s1600/2_KNS+FINAL+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXkCabDZ2IlQ9kCV6yD6nTkigG20lweFHSWs4A6JESFg55Q7t_bOQneJHh6xHb1ScSC0rSGWQ0BI8FFmAEJ1jKOlUnLsKBFGYjDGh8gCta5rCXT_hJSRmmY0ndnrVdq86sZhlJw/s200/2_KNS+FINAL+FINAL.jpg" width="125" /></a>In case you missed my recent
announcement, my next book, <b><i>Keep No Secrets</i></b> (the sequel to <i><b>Tell No
Lies</b></i>) will be hitting the virtual book shelves very, very soon (ebook
and print), and this time I've decided to self-publish it. Also, I
recently got the rights back to my first two novels, <i><b>Tell No Lies</b></i> and
<i><b>Rescuing Olivia</b></i>, and I've re-released <b><i>Tell No Lies</i></b> as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AUJO6VA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwjuliecompt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AUJO6VA" target="_blank">an ebook on Amazon</a> (only $2.99!). <i><b>Rescuing Olivia</b></i> will follow any day now.</div>
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Of course, the first question I
received from many folks after making this announcement (primarily
other writers, but not always) was this: <i>Why did you decide to
self-publish?</i>
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The answer is a lengthy one, and it's
multi-faceted. There really isn't just <i>one</i> reason.</div>
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So in the interest of saving myself the
trouble of having to answer the question over and over, and also
realizing that there are probably people who want to know but are too
afraid to ask, I've decided to discuss it here on my blog. The full
answer will come piecemeal – one, because as I said, it's long and
multi-faceted, and, two, because on any given day I remember more
of my reasons. (I'll also add the answers to <a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/" target="_blank">my website</a>, so by the time I'm
done, all of my answers can be found in one place.)</div>
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Today, I'll start with two, very simple
reasons.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbCTOwi2ZZ7ZUtIoIGzGg5c8GzE59hU2VLImYaVyeMd2oobwVSTOFoFz1SJyBq6LL1lRppAzmHbpDgTh2AVX2RKt_wDwaCRtdPpXAJvtPHh_gSSvotv1T71zdELx6a9uXCtZX2w/s1600/TNL_FINAL_FINAL_nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbCTOwi2ZZ7ZUtIoIGzGg5c8GzE59hU2VLImYaVyeMd2oobwVSTOFoFz1SJyBq6LL1lRppAzmHbpDgTh2AVX2RKt_wDwaCRtdPpXAJvtPHh_gSSvotv1T71zdELx6a9uXCtZX2w/s200/TNL_FINAL_FINAL_nails.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Reason #1 why I decided to
self-publish</b>: As I write, it's been twenty days since I first
released <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AUJO6VA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwjuliecompt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AUJO6VA" target="_blank"><i><b>Tell No Lies</b></i></a> by uploading it as an ebook to Amazon. In those
twenty days, I've sold more copies of the book than I've sold in the
past two years. Surprised? So was I, but only a little.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
See, with traditional publishing, your book is
released and it hits the shelves in some bookstores (but not, as some
think, in most bookstores – I'll discuss this further in a later
post), where it remains for two months or so (if you're lucky), and
then any leftover copies are returned to your publisher to make room
on the shelves for the next crop of releases. After that, the print
book can still be purchased (1) from the bookstore if you want to wait
for them to order it and get it in, or (2) online, either as a print book
or as an ebook, but the print book is now competing with the used
copies being resold for two cents, and the ebook, priced at $9.99 or
sometimes even higher, is competing against all of the other $9.99
books by <i>New York Times</i> bestsellers <i>and</i> the free, 99 cents, $1.99 and $2.99, etc.
books by authors doing it themselves. In other words, once you reach
this point, you won't be selling too many more copies. The heyday of
your book's life is behind it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
By getting my rights back and
re-releasing <i><b>Tell No Lies</b></i> and <b><i>Rescuing Olivia</i></b>, I'm able to give the books
a little CPR and bring them back to life. Forever. Plus, I can set my own
price so they stand a chance of competing against the books mentioned
above. It's amazing how many people are willing to give a relatively
unknown author a chance when they're asked to spend only $2.99 to do it.
You don't get the benefit of that “sampling” when your book is
priced at $9.99 or higher.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
You might ask, why do traditional publishers set
the price of ebooks, especially for lesser known authors like
me, so high? Beats me. Or rather, I <i>know</i> why – I simply don't
<i>understand</i> why. Again, that's a whole other post, but if you want a
great explanation now, I'll refer you to a short book (free!) called
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Be-Monkey-Self-Publishing-Between-ebook/dp/B004SV2IPC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358431692&sr=1-1&keywords=be+the+monkey" target="_blank"><i><b>Be the Monkey - Ebooks and Self-Publishing: A Dialog Between Authors Barry Eisler and Joe Konrath</b></i></a>. Frankly, I'd call it required reading for anyone
considering <i>any</i> kind of publishing in this day and age. Do I agree with everything they say? No, but the discussion of print and digital publishing is spot on, in my opinion.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Reason #2 why I decided to
self-publish</b>: The traditional publishing route isn't as glamorous as
it's cracked up to be.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I could try to explain this, but I
would never be able to write such a funny, yet honest explanation as
given by Adam Mansbach in <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/01/17/hell_is_my_own_book_tour/" target="_blank">this essay he wrote for Salon.com</a>. If you
really want to know what it's like, all I can say is: <i>What Adam said!</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So that's it for today, folks. Time to get back to preparing <i><b>Rescuing Olivia</b></i> for its re-release. Stay tuned for more reasons . . .</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I welcome all comments or questions
about my decision and my experience. I'll try to answer as best I
can. (If a question would be answered by an upcoming “Reason why”
post, I may defer my answer to then so I can answer it adequately. Please be patient. I still have to find time to actually write fiction.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Don't get me wrong: I'm not here to
declare one way is better than another. My intent is to discuss why
I've decided to do this at this point in time. Will I always do it
this way? Who knows? This is a new venture for me and I may end up
loving it or I may end up hating it. Would I consider going back to
traditional publishing? It depends. I know plenty of authors who are doing both, and I can see that as a possibility if the terms were right. After all, there was a time when I didn't
think I'd ever write a sequel to <i><b>Tell No Lies</b></i>. But I did. So if I've
learned anything, it's never to say never. The beauty of what I'm doing is that I can be flexible.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, if you're interested in the details
of my journey, stick around and follow along. If all you care about
are the books – that's great, too! I recommend signing up for my
mailing list, though, so you won't miss the news of any upcoming releases.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Talk to you soon! </div>
Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-25299259636040635402013-01-05T08:33:00.000-05:002013-01-05T08:33:38.657-05:00Nancy Cohen on Reader Reviews: An Author's Best FriendI met fellow author Nancy J. Cohen through the <a href="http://www.mwaflorida.org/" target="_blank">Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America</a>. She recently wrote a great post on her blog, <a href="http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/reader-reviews/" target="_blank">Nancy's Notes from Florida</a>, about how readers can help authors whose books they enjoy. With her permission, I'm re-posting it here for your reading pleasure. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCFzX1NvNM3lnC2peY6X585OS2KyhLahZyOeQatFH7Eu_Zh2YXhhEukbhIsxrxql0uEvI7OQDxBVWpVXoqG8dPmZk313lVI6PfcgLMMYbvZ-dAIS7PQBauQtx9qS0avSHgd_3lw/s1600/59c47e28ab4c3d053fee83d69ffeccdc.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCFzX1NvNM3lnC2peY6X585OS2KyhLahZyOeQatFH7Eu_Zh2YXhhEukbhIsxrxql0uEvI7OQDxBVWpVXoqG8dPmZk313lVI6PfcgLMMYbvZ-dAIS7PQBauQtx9qS0avSHgd_3lw/s1600/59c47e28ab4c3d053fee83d69ffeccdc.jpeg" /></a></div>
<b><u>Nancy's post</u></b>:<br />
<br />
When you finish reading a book, do you write a brief review and post it online? If your answer is negative, why not? Do you feel you have nothing to say? Are you afraid your opinion won’t count? Is it too much bother?<br />
<br />
Reader reviews count a great deal to potential book buyers. When you’re thinking of ordering a book, do you go to the virtual bookstore and read customer reviews? I know I do. It’s possible that the more customer reviews on an Amazon page, the more chances of Amazon’s algorithms picking up the title and including it in their promotion, “If you like this book, you might like…” This recommendation is of tremendous help to authors. So are five star reviews. But be honest in your opinion and assign however many stars you feel is appropriate. Just please don’t trash someone’s work. If you don’t like the book, leave off your opinion. Nothing hurts worse than seeing someone give my book one star and condemning it. Maybe it just wasn’t their cup of tea and another reader will love it.<br />
<br />
So how do you write a review? Start out with a blurb about the story. Pretend you are summarizing the tale for a friend, but omit any critical plot points that may act as spoilers. Then mention what you liked about the book. The exquisite setting details? The engaging characters? The non-stop action, or the quirky sidekick? Surely you can find something good to say. End your review if you can with a quotable line encapsulating your opinion. This may range from “A charming historical mystery that will sweep you away to the Victorian era” to “Starships, space battles, and snarky sidekicks…what’s not to like about this action-packed sci-fi adventure?”<br />
<br />
Since the New Year is upon us, hereby resolve to start writing reader reviews and posting them online to support your favorite authors. Where to put them? Here are several sites where your opinion matters.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <br />
Go to the book’s page. Scroll down to where is says Most Helpful Customer Reviews. Scroll down some more until it says Write a Customer Review. Then click there and follow the directions. You’ll need to be signed into your account. Preview and Publish your review as the final steps.<br />
<br />
If you want to see my reviews as an example, go <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3UDQEWI9GCQ5Z" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
And if you’ve read any of my books, even backlist titles, I can use more reviews! Go <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nancy-J.-Cohen/e/B001HD1ELI/" target="_blank">here</a> to access a list of all my titles.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bn.com/" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> <br />
<br />
Barnes and Noble is often overlooked, but with so many NOOK owners, this online bookstore still carries weight. On a book’s page, scroll down to where it says Customer Reviews. Then fill in your star rating and write your review in the box provided. Click Submit to finish. Again, you’ll probably need to be signed into your account first.<br />
<br />
Here’s <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/nancy-j.-cohen" target="_blank">my author site</a> on B&N. This online bookstore isn’t as author friendly as Amazon so it’s harder for us to make changes, like eliminating books under my name that don’t belong there. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodread</a><br />
<br />
Goodreads is a popular reader site where readers review books they’ve read, file these reviews on virtual bookshelves and create genre lists. Readers participate in group discussions, offering each other recommendations. A good review here really helps, and so does a recommendation in any of the groups! You can also look for book giveaways under Explore to get a taste of new releases. It’s easy to register for a free account. Then you just go to My Books, click on Add Books, and type in the book title. The book should pop up. Click on it and give it a star rating. Then click on Edit my Review and write in your review, or cut and paste it from your home computer. Be my friend at <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91508.Nancy_J_Cohen" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.librarything.com/" target="_blank">Library Thing</a> <br />
<br />
Here’s another site for you to post reviews and keep track of your reads. I need to update my bookshelf here. Librarians frequent this site. Find me on Library Thing <a href="http://www.librarything.com/home/NancyJCohen" target="_blank">here</a>. And, it’s another place for authors to offer giveaways of upcoming new releases.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shelfari.com/" target="_blank">Shelfari </a><br />
<br />
This site is linked to Amazon, so any book details you add in here may show up there. I need to update <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/nancyjcohen" target="_blank">my reviews on Shelfari</a>, too: .<br />
<br />
Admittedly, it’s hard to keep up with each place. Once I get caught up, though, I can just copy and paste my book review to each site once I finish reading a title.<br />
<br />
Your opinion as a reader truly counts now more than ever, with professional reviews almost impossible for authors to get on their own, reviewers swamped with hundreds of titles, and the days of bookstore browsing severely diminished. Word of mouth is critical, and this is where you come in. Offering positive reviews and recommendations online of books you’ve read is one of the best forms of support you can do for authors. Consider yourselves our street team, and get involved.<br />
<br />
<b>Are you already doing online reviews, and if so, where?</b><br />
<br />
Learn more about Nancy J. Cohen and her books at <a href="http://www.nancyjcohen.com/" target="_blank">her website</a>.<b> </b>Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-23996999557717839462013-01-01T22:58:00.000-05:002013-01-01T22:58:06.634-05:00My New Year's Resolution: to Keep No Secrets . . .If you're connected with me on Facebook, you might have noticed a few
posts in which I hinted at some exciting news. It's also a bit scary -
for me, at least, because I'm trying something new and might just as
easily fall flat on my face as succeed. But as I've always told my
daughters - nothing ventured, nothing gained - and I figure I'd better
practice what I preach. Plus, I've always been a bit of a control freak
(those who know me well are smirking about now), and what I've chosen to
do places the responsibility for the success or failure of my writing
career squarely on my own shoulders. Just the way I like it!<br />
<br />
For those who are interested, I'll be sharing "the story behind the story" on <a __removedlink__1180324581__href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?JulieCompton/fdfda774aa/TEST/0f3a7a9c0d" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=10372032" target="_blank">this blog</a>
in the next few weeks, discussing why I've chosen this new route. But
for today, I'm simply sharing the meat of the news:<br /><br /><b>KEEP NO SECRETS</b>, the sequel to my debut novel, <b>TELL NO LIES</b>, is just weeks away from being published, and this time I'm doing it myself! Okay, not <i>all</i>
by myself: I've got a fabulous new cover designed by an up-and-coming
designer at SCAD (who just happens to be my oldest daughter, Jessie):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KGUPI4EFRBw6qALi9OJTYsdFZ7pwJ-hcmG0C2_4SVt-lA9SaCusZSTMZe8AtkFCMBDC3dW6qGyUSCqRWrSxo5pi73mgE3l0TZx__hC5nyQi55_ZCqcSIyuNpOnjsXKxYa43GYg/s1600/2_KNS+FINAL+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KGUPI4EFRBw6qALi9OJTYsdFZ7pwJ-hcmG0C2_4SVt-lA9SaCusZSTMZe8AtkFCMBDC3dW6qGyUSCqRWrSxo5pi73mgE3l0TZx__hC5nyQi55_ZCqcSIyuNpOnjsXKxYa43GYg/s320/2_KNS+FINAL+FINAL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
For those of you who read <b>TELL NO LIES</b>, you probably can tell from the <b>KEEP NO SECRETS</b> cover that a key character from the first book will be making an appearance in the sequel. A <i>big</i> appearance.<br /><br /><b>For a sneak preview of KEEP NO SECRETS</b>, click on over to my website <b><a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/" target="_blank">to read the first chapter</a></b>.<br /><br />Speaking of <b>TELL NO LIES</b>, it, too, has a brand new cover (courtesy of Jessie) that nicely complements <b>KEEP NO SECRETS</b>, and just days ago I re-released the eBook edition on Amazon. <b>The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tell-No-Lies-ebook/dp/B00AUJO6VA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356961015&sr=1-1&keywords=tell+no+lies" target="_blank">Kindle edition of TELL NO LIES</a> is now priced at only $2.99!</b>
That's right, for less than a Starbucks grande nonfat mocha latte, you
can buy an entire book! (Even if you've read the novel, I'd really
appreciate it if you'd "Like" it on <a __removedlink__1180324581__href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?JulieCompton/fdfda774aa/TEST/371850cae9/s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356961015&sr=1-1&keywords=tell+no+lies" href="http://www.amazon.com/Tell-No-Lies-ebook/dp/B00AUJO6VA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356961015&sr=1-1&keywords=tell+no+lies" target="_blank">the Amazon page</a>,
and even better, if you'd write a review. I'm told these things help a
book rise in the Amazon search rankings, which in turn helps other
readers find it.) Oh, and did you know you can also buy an eBook and
gift it to someone else?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5mj-ltJU9kFkCFgkrONti-PJgiITfiWfzWPsvKahm9W2tRbUv8IlX45fc9Bw_Be5K5iiUr3APCLFAT2i58VuB-rzzd67mddK9mpz1MisNlyi5L94RqXTJUQxB9-tOu0xF3bCKw/s1600/TNL_FINAL_FINAL_nails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5mj-ltJU9kFkCFgkrONti-PJgiITfiWfzWPsvKahm9W2tRbUv8IlX45fc9Bw_Be5K5iiUr3APCLFAT2i58VuB-rzzd67mddK9mpz1MisNlyi5L94RqXTJUQxB9-tOu0xF3bCKw/s320/TNL_FINAL_FINAL_nails.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
So that's the news! If you like my books, it would mean a lot to me if
you'd tell others about them.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned above, there are a lot
of nitty, gritty details behind my decision, and for those who want to
know more, I'd recommend following <a __removedlink__1180324581__href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?JulieCompton/fdfda774aa/TEST/8661884954" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=10372032" target="_blank">this blog</a> and/or connecting with me on <a __removedlink__1180324581__href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?JulieCompton/fdfda774aa/TEST/46ecd2c39b" href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieCompton" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.
Eventually, the FAQ section of my website will discuss it a bit, too.
And of course, I always love to get emails!<br />
<br />As
always, THANK YOU for your interest and continued support! The notes
and emails and comments I get from my readers are the best part of what I
do - right up there with the incredible joy I get from the actual act
of writing. Last night, on New Year's Eve, a reader posted a comment on
my Facebook page that said:<br />
<blockquote>
"<span><span class="UFICommentBody"><span>julie please im so scared! i need this book like air! ive been waiting for so long. but im so scared <span class="emoticon emoticon_cry"></span> im scared hes going to break my heart all over again. please tell me he wont</span></span></span>" </blockquote>
What
a lovely note to start the New Year! The funny thing is, all of my
readers, and notes like these that come from them, are MY air. So thank
you for helping me breathe!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's hoping all of you have a fantastic 2013!</b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-28028207251444736962012-12-15T10:32:00.000-05:002012-12-15T10:33:27.990-05:00Great writing advice from Fantasy author Janet Beasley <style>
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Only one more day until <b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/juliecompton#%21/events/351898901573012/" target="_blank">Authors in the Park</a></span></b>, an event taking place this <b>Sunday, December 16th, in Mount Dora, Florida</b>, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Mount Dora Community Center. Janet Beasley, along with Mark Miller, are two writers who organized the event and have worked their tails off to promote it. I invited them to visit my blog to
talk about their writing. You can read Mark's interview here, and below, Janet's. Enjoy!<b> </b></div>
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<b>Julie: What's the title of your most recent book?</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Janet:</b> Tough
question - crazy right? But here's how it shakes down: <i>Hidden Earth Series
Volume 1 Maycly the Trilogy</i>, is accompanied by two companion books - a full
color illustration book titled <i>The Chukkons Say, 'Ye Need ta Be a-Seein'
Maycly</i>, and a cookbook featuring restaurants, menus, and recipes from
Maycly (all fully pre-parable and edible right here on Earth) titled <i>More
Than Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup</i>.</div>
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<b>What's it about? </b></div>
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<i>Maycly
Volume 1 the Trilogy </i>of the six-volume series <i>Hidden Earth</i>, is an
inspirational epic fantasy that takes you on the journey of Iona, a girl in her
twenties on Earth, who “has it all” and “loses it all,” nearly giving up on
life altogether. She has never questioned her trust in the Grand Wizard, SUL,
but when she develops multiple chronic illnesses, loses her wealth, and is
forced to deal with the mysterious disappearance of her last three living
family members, she chooses to believe that SUL no longer exists. Refusing to
ask SUL for guidance, Iona is determined to find her family on her own;
however, SUL has other plans for her. When a very special puppy shows up on
Iona’s doorstep, things begin to change. The story explodes, taking you to the
captivating world of Maycly 100 years prior, setting the stage for their
queen’s hopeful arrival. The trilogy is full of twists and turns, monumental
battles, and illustrations of never before seen flora and fauna. Tag along with
Iona and her band of new-found friends as she discovers her destiny, faces a
myriad of dangers, and continues searching for her family. You’ll laugh, you’ll
cry, maybe even say “aww.” But best of all, no matter your age, you’ll find
characters, Earthly and/or Mayclysian, with whom you can relate<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">.</span></div>
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<b>Who do you see as your audience?</b> </div>
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The quickest
and easiest way to describe my audience would be from a review I received (one
of my favorite reviews I might add). They described Maycly like this,
"...a delightful combination of Harry Potter and The Wizard of Oz,"
two of my favorites! Families, kids of all ages, and even your dog will love
the <i>Hidden Earth Series Volume 1 Maycly the Trilogy</i>.</div>
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<b>Why do you write?</b></div>
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I write because it allows me to
escape to fantasy worlds, and forget my hectic, stressful, totally crazy days.
I also write because if I were to bottle up all my creative genius I would
explode. . .I came really close once, but thankfully I discovered writing was
the perfect diffusion and have stuck with it sense.</div>
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<b>What is the most important piece of advice you'd give
other writers, particularly those who might just be starting to write?</b> </div>
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If
you've got a story to tell, tell it. Write it (your first draft will be
"junk" - so just expect that - this does NOT make you a lousy writer
by any means) <i>HINT: Do a search on Ernest Hemingway's quotes and you'll see
what I mean.</i> Have your story professionally edited, publish it - either on
your own or through a publisher, market the heck out of it, and
never...NEVER...listen to anyone who puts you down because of your passion for
writing. Stay strong, persevere, remain dedicated, and surround yourself with
other authors who understand your creativity and talent are worth something in
to this world.</div>
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<b>Julie's note</b>: You can connect with Janet on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JanetBeasleyAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or visit her website to learn more: <a href="http://www.hiddenearthseries.com/">www.hiddenearthseries.com</a>. <a href="http://www.millerwords.com/"></a></div>
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Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-26210684122300237712012-12-13T11:20:00.000-05:002012-12-13T11:20:38.198-05:00All in the Family: Mark Miller talks about writing with his daughter<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Author Mark Miller graciously invited me to participate in <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/juliecompton#!/events/351898901573012/" target="_blank">Authors in the Park</a></span></strong>, an event taking place this <strong>Sunday, December 16th, in lovely Mount Dora, Florida</strong>. He and another author, Janet Beasley, organized it and have been working tirelessly to promote it. I invited them to visit my blog to talk about their writing. I hope you enjoy this short interview with Mark. Next up, Janet.</div>
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<strong>Julie: What's the title of your most recent book?</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLS5Ui4lrAo9jvxxbRdH7NQO_JuUDzwGU7YV7IG-k8-uTTDHBc0P_PN0RSSEzxdsPwv_w9YfDrcWBhy5mWQz00rHtdmrJ46puMDTUjn_IlsfvG6TMfJWWGIMUv-G_DpkcAzFt-w/s1600/Mark+Miller+-+April+-+2012+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLS5Ui4lrAo9jvxxbRdH7NQO_JuUDzwGU7YV7IG-k8-uTTDHBc0P_PN0RSSEzxdsPwv_w9YfDrcWBhy5mWQz00rHtdmrJ46puMDTUjn_IlsfvG6TMfJWWGIMUv-G_DpkcAzFt-w/s200/Mark+Miller+-+April+-+2012+small.jpg" width="133" /></a><strong>Mark</strong>: I’ve got so much going on right now, it’s almost hard to pick. From my epic fantasy series, <em><strong>The Empyrical Tales, Book III: The Secret Queen</strong></em> is the most recent. I also wrote an eBook adaptation of a Christian-themed movie called <strong><em>Daniel’s Lot</em></strong>. The paperback is coming out this month. Probably the one that is most special to me is the novel I completed with my 10-year-old daughter. We started writing it together when she was eight and it is called <strong><em>Sons of the King</em></strong>. It is a science-fiction/fantasy story about three brothers finding their destiny.</div>
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<strong><em>Tell us more about Sons of the Kings?</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Sons of the King</em></strong> tells of three brothers on the planet Kaskaya. They lose their father, the King, under mysterious circumstances and are forced to go their separate ways. The story has strong Christian elements and is about their growth and change over five years. They eventually have to return home to face their destiny. While I did the majority of the writing, my daughter Olivia was responsible for all of the creativity. She named the characters and places. She helped with plotting. At her age, she already has a strong voice. Much of what she wrote went in unchanged. She has a unique sense for word choice and I wanted that to poke through as much as possible. I sometimes found myself adapting my style to match hers.<br />
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<strong>Who do you see as your audience?</strong><br />
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I think <strong><em>Sons of the King</em></strong> does well at spanning the age groups. It is clean with a positive message for younger people, but mature enough for an adult audience. There is a Christian message to it, but it is not heavy-handed or “preachy,” so anybody who enjoys a good adventure will like this. I would say it falls somewhere between <em>Star Wars</em> and <em>Chronicles of Narnia</em>.<br />
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<strong>Why do you write?</strong><br />
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Why? I have a passion for it. Like a baseball player gets in the zone, I can spend hours at the keyboard. My imagination is on 24 hours a day. I have done quite a few different things in my life. Aside from being a husband and father, nothing else gives me the joy and satisfaction of writing. A close second is working with kids. The time I spent in the classroom was some of my best spent time. I love the response I get from kids when I share my stories. So, I guess I write for them mostly. I write for my own children. I try to have a positive message and create good role models. When I say I write for kids, I am also including the kid-at-heart variety, too!<br />
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<strong>What is the most important piece of advice you'd give other writers, particularly those who might just be starting to write?</strong> <br />
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I used to tell people to keep writing. I feel that practice every day, like the athlete or musician, is important. Now, I also say learn patience. Everything takes time and you will only improve with age and experience. So, keep at it, but don’t rush it.<br />
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Thank you for having me on your blog today! I appreciate the opportunity and would love to hear any feedback from your readers.<br />
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<strong>Julie's note</strong>: You can connect with Mark on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorMarkMiller?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or visit his website to learn more: <a href="http://www.millerwords.com/">www.MillerWords.com</a>Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-62566379725747877442012-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:002012-12-11T09:05:59.320-05:00From Teaching Literature to Writing It: Lynnette Hallberg (aka Lynnette Austin)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I first met author <span style="color: #660000;"><strong>Lynnette Hallberg</strong></span> several years ago at SleuthFest, the annual mystery writer's conference put on by the Florida Chapter of MWA. This past March, I saw her again at SleuthFest, where she had just learned from her agent that the rights to her latest novel, <em><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Somebody-Like-You-ebook/dp/B008GXSN2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355193617&sr=1-1&keywords=somebody+like+you+by+lynnette+austin" target="_blank">Somebody Like You</a></strong></em>, (written as <strong><span style="color: #660000;">Lynnette Austin</span></strong>) had been sold to Grand Central (a Hachette Book Group imprint). I found her publishing journey so interesting and inspiring, and I hope you'll feel the same.</div>
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<strong><u>Julie</u>: Would you explain a bit about your publishing journey? How did you go from unpublished, to published by small presses, to landing an agent and then a contract with one of the big boys? And how did you find your agent? At a conference? By written query?</strong></div>
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<u><strong>Lynnette</strong></u>: Where do I begin? :-) I’m certainly no overnight success, but then very few authors are. We read stories about the ones who send in a manuscript and are bought the next day for six figures. But the reason we read about them is because they are, indeed, the exception.</div>
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I have so many unpublished “practice” manuscripts that I could wallpaper my home with them. My first “break” came when I finaled in the Golden Heart contest, which is RWA’s worldwide contest for unpublished authors. I signed with an agent—not the one I’m with now—when that was announced. Does entering contests help? I’d say yes, it certainly can.</div>
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I sold my first book, <em>Enchanted Evening</em>, to Kensington, and it was released in 2000. (By the way, this was not the book I finaled with in the GH.) I was ecstatic and certain that I was on my way. I had an agent and a book out. What more could I want? A second sale maybe? Before that could happen, the line I was writing for closed, and I was without a publishing home. It took me nine very, very long years to sell that second book—and then I sold three in one year—to The Wild Rose Press—<em>Moonlight, Motorcycles, and Bad Boys</em>, <em>Night Shadows</em>, and <em>Chantilly Lace and a Pretty Face</em>. They have excellent editors and I learned so much! I sold my next book, <em>Just A Little White Lie,</em> to Carina Press, the digital arm of Harlequin Publishing, one of the biggies. So I was taking small steps, slowly advancing. It’s like eating an elephant—one bite at a time.</div>
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I met Nicole Resciniti, my agent, through Southwest Florida Romance Writers. She was writing at the time and joined our group. So we actually were friends first, which is unusual but not unheard of in the writing world. She’s with The Seymour Agency and is an absolutely fantastic agent! When I finished <em><strong>Somebody Like You</strong></em>, the first in my Maverick Junction series, she sent it off—and I crossed my fingers. We heard back amazingly fast and had two offers, one from Grand Central. Can you say happy dance?</div>
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To make it even more special, when I found out about the offer from Grand Central, I was at my agent’s house and three editors were there for SWFRW’s conference—which I was chairing. What could be better than that? To have a great offer and to be congratulated by three editors whom I admire (none of them, by the way, was the editor who bought my book). Oh, what a night, as Billy Joel would say.</div>
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<strong><u>Julie</u>: Your new series with Grand Central will be published under a pen name, Lynnette Austin. What made you decide to use a pen name for this series?</strong><br />
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<strong><u>Lynnette</u></strong>: Actually, the use of a pen name was the publisher’s decision. New publisher, new series—this was a rebirth almost, so we wanted to start fresh with a name they could brand. My editor, Lauren Plude, and I brainstormed to come up with one that would work. Since this series takes place in Maverick Junction, Texas, we wanted something with a Western sound. She and I threw the name Austin on the table at the same time. We decided fate had intervened and ran with it. I have to say that it seems rather strange to suddenly have a new name!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdi9Qqy6WKNHA6deCFoA-4flbHRwVH9kb1MwOMLtBIuYVCUP5ceQjP0RPVLLDKuR67YtcGjSQYd6CLjIicOSXiB0SHVVLTup8iIB_S1dN24-bHbh17oy8ITpEpova0nMs3Ta8XQ/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdi9Qqy6WKNHA6deCFoA-4flbHRwVH9kb1MwOMLtBIuYVCUP5ceQjP0RPVLLDKuR67YtcGjSQYd6CLjIicOSXiB0SHVVLTup8iIB_S1dN24-bHbh17oy8ITpEpova0nMs3Ta8XQ/s320/066.JPG" width="240" /></a><strong><u>Julie</u>: The first time I read your bio, I was struck by some similarities between us (a "motorcycle" book, a love of Wyoming (you actually stayed!), two children, giving up our "real" jobs to spend the day hanging with our characters in our PJ's, "writing" in the car and in the shower . . .). I once had that happen with another writer; we found so many parallels, we decided we were sisters separated at birth. So now I'm curious, do you like the Dave Matthews Band? ;-) Seriously, though, are you a panster or a plotter? Can you tell me a little bit about your process? And is it influenced by your experience as a literature teacher?</strong></div>
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<u><strong>Lynnette</strong></u>: We do have a lot in common, Julie! And, yes, I do like the Dave Matthews Band. “So Damn Lucky”—what a great song! But my true love in music is country-western. I earned my master’s degree at the University of Wyoming. Go Cowboys! :-) Gotta love’em.<br />
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I drive my two critique partners crazy with my “shower” writing. Although we live in Florida, one of us has a second home in South Carolina and I have one in the Georgia mountains. We run away to one or the other several times a year for a week of intense writing and critiquing. My books tend to come to me in out-of-order scenes and, when they do, I’ve learned to grab them and write them down. It’s not unusual for me to head into the shower and, by the time I’m finished, have four to six pages written. Tape recorders work well, too, there and in the car.<br />
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The scenes come fully fleshed-out. I see them in my head. My characters come to me that way, too. I keep a three-ring notebook and compile all my scenes, my notes, pictures, name charts, whatever comes along. Then I go through the mad mess, put the scenes in order, and I’m ready to start writing my book. I add to this WIP notebook as I go. So I probably fall somewhere between a panster and a plotter on the writing food chain.<br />
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Everything we’ve ever done or experienced helps to make us who we are. This is reflected in our writing. I taught eighth grade gifted language arts for more years than I can count! I’ve always loved to read and this was almost an extension of that. I had a chance to share great literature with my students and hopefully some of those authors’ expertise rubbed off on me, even in the tiniest way. And I know that some day I’ll see my students’ work in the bookstores. What incredible talent is coming along.<br />
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<strong><u>Julie</u>: What have you found most surprising about the writing/publishing business? What misconceptions did you have when you first started?</strong><br />
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<strong><u>Lynnette</u></strong>: When I first got serious about writing, I thought of the publishing world as this enormous unknown. There was so much to learn and I really felt as though everyone else had the secret code, and I didn’t. That’s so not true. There is, unfortunately, no secret code.<br />
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However, there is a great support system—other authors who have been there, done that. By belonging to FWA, members have already accessed a wealth of knowledge. If you’re just starting out in the business, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Writers are a wonderfully sharing group of people.<br />
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One of the best pieces of advice anyone ever gave me? Someone told me early on to keep in mind that the writing community is actually quite small. Editors and agents move around a lot. Don’t burn your bridges—ever. Always remember that this is a profession and behave accordingly. Don’t let your emotions rule.<br />
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<strong><u>Julie</u>: We first met several years ago at the SleuthFest conference. Do you attend a lot of conferences? Which ones? And what do you find valuable about them? What advice would you give writers to help them get the most from a conference?</strong><br />
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<u><strong>Lynnette</strong></u>: I do go to conferences. They’re invaluable for the networking and the information. They pump you up and get those creative juices flowing. It’s also a great way to stay current. A word of caution, though. Don’t write to trends. By the time you finish that WIP about the time-traveling vampire set in Bermuda because an editor said she’d like to see one, the market for that will be on the downside and you’ll be frustrated and will have wasted a lot of valuable time. Now if you’ve always had your heart set on writing about a time-traveling vampire who lives in the Caribbean . . . :-)<br />
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Don’t be afraid to volunteer. I met my former agent, Deidre Knight, at a conference when I acted as timekeeper for her agent/editor appointments. You make valuable contacts. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to people. Most writers are introverts. We enjoy sitting by ourselves in a room all day. It’s hard to step out of that comfort zone. But do it. You’ll gain so much. The knowledge and expertise at these conferences is mind blowing.<br />
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<strong><u>Julie</u>: Any words of wisdom about writing in general you'd like to share?</strong></div>
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<strong><u>Lynnette</u></strong>: Writing is a habit, kind of like exercise. Train yourself to grab spare minutes rather than waiting for those huge blocks of time. When I was still teaching, I’d get up at four-thirty or five in the morning so I could write for an hour or so before getting ready for school. When I came home, I’d write for half an hour before starting dinner. It’s often about making time. Setting expectations.</div>
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Keep writing—every day—and keep your story moving forward. Don’t worry about getting every word, every scene perfect the first time through. You won’t. So many new writers work and rework those first few chapters, polishing them until they shine. That won’t get the book finished. Chances are, by the time you do finish, you’ll have to go back and edit those first chapters again anyway because by then you’ll know your characters inside and out. You’ll know what they’d do and how they’d react so much better than you did when you started that manuscript. Don’t waste time striving for perfection on that first draft.</div>
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Also, perseverance truly is the keystone of getting and staying published. Yes, your manuscript is your baby. Yes, you’ve poured your heart and soul into it. Yes, you’re deathly afraid an agent or editor might say something bad about that baby. If you don’t submit, though, you won’t sell. That’s one of the few guarantees in this business.</div>
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Wishing everyone great success with your writing!</div>
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<strong><u>A final note from Julie</u></strong>: Lynnette's new novel, <strong><em><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Somebody-Like-You-ebook/dp/B008GXSN2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355193617&sr=1-1&keywords=somebody+like+you+by+lynnette+austin" target="_blank">Somebody Like You</a></span></em></strong>, was just released on December 4! To peek inside the novel at Amazon, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Somebody-Like-You-ebook/dp/B008GXSN2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355193617&sr=1-1&keywords=somebody+like+you+by+lynnette+austin" target="_blank">click here</a>. To learn more about Lynnette and her writing in general, visit her website at <a href="http://www.authorlynnetteaustin.com/">www.authorlynnetteaustin.com</a>.</div>
Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-10412013683448842652012-12-05T11:33:00.001-05:002012-12-05T12:17:32.255-05:00Meeting One of My Writer Rock StarsMeeting author <strong><a href="http://www.elaineviets.com/default.asp" target="_blank">Elaine Viets</a></strong> for the first time was, for me, like meeting a rock star.<br />
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When I was young and growing up in my native St. Louis, my favorite morning activity was reading the St. Louis <em>Post-Dispatch</em>, one of the city's major daily newspapers. (We also had the <em>Globe-Democrat</em> back then—imagine, two daily papers!) I'd sit down at the kitchen table with my coffee (cream and lots of sugar at that age) and ask my dad to pass the "Everyday" section. My dad probably thought I wanted the "Everyday" section for the funnies, but if so, he would have been wrong. Instead, I hoped to find my favorite columnist: <strong>Elaine Viets</strong>. <strong>Elaine</strong> was my writing idol. She was funny, she was self-deprecating, she was young and hip and <em>had her own column in a major daily newspaper</em>.<br />
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I eventually moved away from St. Louis and began reading other major newspapers wherever I lived–the Boston <em>Globe</em>, the Philadelphia <em>Inquirer</em> and now, the Orlando <em>Sentinel</em>. There were other columnists I enjoyed, but I never found another one who inspired my morning newspaper addiction the way <em>Elaine</em> did.<br />
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So imagine my surprise when I learned, sometime around the time my first novel was being released, that <strong>Elaine</strong> now lived in Florida and was a bestselling novelist! How can that be? I wondered. How did I not know this? My excitement about attending my first SleuthFest writers' conference in South Florida grew even more when I found out <strong>Elaine</strong> would be there, too.<br />
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I sat near the rear of the room in a workshop session for which <strong>Elaine</strong> was a panelist. At the end, I got up the nerve to introduce myself to her. I don't know what I said, exactly—something along the lines of being from St. Louis and being a huge fan of her column—but I do remember this: <strong>Elaine</strong> was gracious and funny and everything I imagined she would be in person.<br />
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But the coolest thing of all? Since that day, <strong>Elaine</strong> has treated me as a peer and mentored me more than I think she realizes. She's introduced me to some key people in the book business, she's connected me with promotional and marketing opportunities, and she's recommended me for some high level positions in writing organizations, among other things. More than anything, she's welcomed me into the writing community.<br />
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My first real "event" with Elaine - Lake County Festival of Reading</div>
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So I was thrilled and honored when <strong>Elaine</strong> recently asked me to participate in "<strong>The Next Big Thing</strong>"—a fun blog hop where authors help each other get the word out about their writing and books. It's sort of a promotional "round robin"—I won't bother trying to explain how it works here. The important thing is that we're all helping to get the word out about writers whom readers might not have otherwise known about.<br />
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To learn more about <strong>Elaine Viets</strong> and her hilarious, bestselling and critically-acclaimed novels, check out her <a href="http://femmesfatales.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/12/the-next-big-thing-elaine-viets.html" target="_blank">"<strong>Next Big Thing</strong>" post </a>over at the Femme Fatales blog.Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-75751130073253270292012-12-04T22:33:00.001-05:002012-12-04T22:33:16.554-05:00The "2012" Post - Yes, I'm Still HereThose who follow my blog (I've been so remiss in posting, there may not be any left!) will be among the first to get the word regarding <em><strong>Keep No Secrets</strong></em>, the long-awaited sequel to <em><strong>Tell No Lies</strong></em>. The announcement is coming very, very soon, so stay tuned! <a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-signup.htm" target="_blank">Signing up for my mailing list</a> is a surefire way of hearing the latest news about the release, too.<br />
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But for now, I wanted to let my Central Florida friends know about an upcoming event in Mount Dora: <span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Authors in the Park</strong></span>. The details are below, but suffice it to say, Mount Dora is not to be missed during the holiday season. It's an incredibly quaint town with fabulous Christmas lights, great shopping, and delicious dining. Oh, and it's built on a hill! You don't see those too often in Florida!<br />
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So come support local authors while you cross off names on your holiday shopping list! You can find out more information about the event and all the authors participating <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/351898901573012/" target="_blank">at this link</a>.<br />
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Happy Holidays and all that jazz!<br />
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Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-81136646173641974382011-10-28T12:02:00.007-04:002011-10-28T12:12:00.159-04:00The Florida Writers Association names me as its 2012 Person of Renown<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdgf6vzJkioRKpDB4cyUnfvdlXY1B4JSFc9i54ZSxLh4cY7WEvl3fpeGfIBDqKFrsdRZ652RXavxhp9uZJHQiiHsHDqJ8feVBvm66LTxo1qvIaOOI7mlD1g7WLNGVftFfmj5b8g/s1600/pen+picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668575163775997378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdgf6vzJkioRKpDB4cyUnfvdlXY1B4JSFc9i54ZSxLh4cY7WEvl3fpeGfIBDqKFrsdRZ652RXavxhp9uZJHQiiHsHDqJ8feVBvm66LTxo1qvIaOOI7mlD1g7WLNGVftFfmj5b8g/s320/pen+picture.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><div>I'm happy to announce that the <a href="http://www.floridawriters.net/">Florida Writers Association</a> has named me its Person of Renown for the 2012 FWA Collection #4!<br /></div><br /><div>The FWA Collection is an anthology of short stories, essays and poems put out every year by the Florida Writers Association. The theme for the 2012 FWA Collection is "My Wheels." (It's pretty easy to figure out why they asked me to do this! See Exhibit 1 - <em>Rescuing Olivia</em> book cover.) Members of FWA are invited to submit work that relates to this theme. I get to pick my ten favorites and I'll also be submitting a story of my own.<br /></div><br /><div>The "My Wheels" collection will be unveiled at next year's FWA annual conference, October 19 - 21, 2012. Visit the <a href="http://www.floridawriters.net/">Florida Writers Association website</a> to learn more about the organization and the upcoming collection.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The FWA motto is <em>Writers Helping Writers</em>. And they certainly do! I'm honored to be asked to participate in such a special way.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-91475370883664534332011-10-11T13:20:00.006-04:002011-10-11T15:30:24.611-04:00North Carolina Events!I'm North Carolina-bound later this week. I'm heading up to the Raleigh-Durham area for a "Dangerous Dames" tour with fellow authors <a href="http://www.deborahsharp.com/">Deb Sharp</a> and <a href="http://www.joannaslan.com/">Joanna Campbell Slan</a>, two of the funniest (and fun-loving) women I've ever known.<br /><br />Molly Weston, of <a href="http://mysteryheel.blogspot.com/">Meritorious Mysteries Blog</a> fame and author escort extraordinaire, has done the heavy-lifting for us and scheduled the following events:<br /><br />October 14, 2011 (Friday)<br />Noon<br />Flyleaf Books<br />Chapel Hill, NC<br /><br />October 14, 2011 (Friday)<br />7:00 p.m.<br />Page-Walker Cultural Arts Center<br />Cary, NC<br /><br />October 15, 2011 (Saturday)<br />2:00 p.m.<br />McIntyre's Fine Books<br />Pittsboro, NC<br /><br />October 16, 2011 (Sunday)<br />2:00 p.m.<br />Halle Cultural Arts Center<br />Apex, NC<br /><br />October 17, 2011 (Monday)<br />Noon<br />Holly Springs Library<br />Holly Springs, NC<br /><br />October 17, 2011 (Monday)<br />3:00 p.m.<br />West Regional Library<br />Cary, NC<br /><br />Should be a lot of fun! If you're in the area, stop on by!Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-232350776059369572011-06-07T17:29:00.008-04:002011-06-07T17:43:36.486-04:00Memory Blocking Drugs? Not So Far-Fetched<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3hcQocz3tLciaJyQSKc4mqZqfrAy1RSLz_a073_mB_WAVuAkA279KupZUWucwDyZV3KWECQ_A1lZBWcQdNXIaUcGj3lBrlIkqJtIOvkshQK4oDUke4ODp08Hb-nxwh8uPmqF1w/s1600/pills.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615596085175179858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 135px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3hcQocz3tLciaJyQSKc4mqZqfrAy1RSLz_a073_mB_WAVuAkA279KupZUWucwDyZV3KWECQ_A1lZBWcQdNXIaUcGj3lBrlIkqJtIOvkshQK4oDUke4ODp08Hb-nxwh8uPmqF1w/s320/pills.jpg" border="0" /></a>For those who read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rescuing-Olivia-Julie-Compton/dp/0312378769/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1307482291&sr=1-1">RESCUING OLIVIA</a> and wondered about the science, you may find <a href="http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/06/01/6757302-pill-could-erase-painful-memories-study-shows">this post about "memory-blocking" drugs</a>, from MSNBC's <a href="http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/06/01/6757302-pill-could-erase-painful-memories-study-shows">"The Body Odd" blog</a>, interesting . . . Thanks to one of my newest readers, Kristy Collins, for sending me the link.Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-20505522649030231302011-05-24T23:25:00.004-04:002011-05-24T23:29:38.881-04:00A "Must Read" for Writers'Nuf said . . .<br /><br /><a href="http://kriswrites.com/2011/05/11/the-business-rusch-writing-like-its-1999/">The Business Rusch: Writing Like It's 1999</a>.<br /><br />*Thanks to the writers over at Novelists, Inc. for pointing me to Kristine's blog.Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-20273572622474702011-03-30T11:53:00.003-04:002011-03-30T12:18:36.267-04:00Torn Between Two LoversJoseph Arellano of the San Francisco Book Review asked me to write an essay about the trials and tribulations of being an author. For me, it's the constant pull between my two professional loves -- law and writing. <a href="http://bit.ly/fmQbSI">Here's the full essay</a>, in The Back Page section of the San Francisco Book Review. Hope you enjoy!Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-79621857745194582162010-12-28T12:14:00.019-05:002010-12-28T13:00:14.231-05:00"Sunny" Days Are Here AgainTo finish out the year, I give you my Nov/Dec '10 <a href="http://lifemagazines.com/interactive/2010/11-LML/102.html">Slice of Life column from Lake Mary Life Magazine</a>, about holiday visitors . . . mothers-in-law.<br /><div><div></div><div></div><div>Happy New Year!</div><div></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Julie's Slice of Life: "Sunny" Days are Here Again*</strong></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the day most people view as the official start of the holiday season (all except retailers, who, let’s face it, would start putting up Christmas decorations on Independence Day if they thought it would increase sales). And with the holiday season come visits from out-of-town relatives – those who lavishly shower us with the glad tidings and good cheer we look forward to, and those who, like the <a href="http://cantkeepquiet.com/wp-content/uploads/lovebugs.jpg">love bugs</a> that visit our state every May and September, express their love by descending upon their helpless hosts and refusing to leave until they’ve sullied every surface in sight. If you’re lucky, your relatives bear a closer resemblance to the characters in a Christmas carol than a scary movie, but like the saying goes, even the best guests, like fish, can start to smell after a few days.</div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Unless, of course, the guest is my mother-in-law, Sunny.<br /></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">When she and my father-in-law pull into our driveway after a sixteen hour car ride from <a href="http://www.explorestlouis.com/">St. Louis</a>, they bring with them a hurricane-force wind of good will and upbeat attitude. You’ve heard of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Vincent_Peale">Norman Vincent Peale</a>, the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive-Thinking-Norman-Vincent/dp/0449911470">The Power of Positive Thinking</a>? Well, I’m convinced that man learned everything he knows from my mother-in-law. When she leaves a few days later, the only reason I could possibly give for wanting to see her go is that, as the perfect guest, her exemplary behavior highlights the fact that I am far from the perfect hostess.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">It begins when we open the door to greet them. Where other relatives might whine about the long drive, lament that they didn’t take a plane, or moan about how “beat” they are, my energetic, seventy-something mother-in-law says, “So what should we do first?” And she doesn’t mean take a nap. During her last visit, we went zip-lining at the <a href="http://www.centralfloridazoo.org/">Central Florida Zoo</a>.<br /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555785769225734482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHZGeSSvvYssGsNnk3TRK6Ii8E5hzcIiOIlo05_81Y3UR15apjNDb_N1DIWkZDtDb8yHYLT9Wzdzwuu9Spm6vaEu_2lbJz9Je6DAHA-pV7Z5QhKfnKIou9paqVlzQXm1UFx45Wg/s320/Sunny+ziplining+June+2010.JPG" border="0" />Her conduct as a guest is beyond reproach. When I make a meal, she asks how she can help, and when time comes to clean up, I have to throw her out of the kitchen or she’ll do the job herself while my back is turned. If I forget and leave wash in the machine, I later discover it dried and folded on my bed. If I accidentally sleep in one morning, I wake to find the coffee made and fresh, cut-up fruit on the kitchen table. Where many women I know grow weary from the subtle insults they endure from their mother-in-laws, mine repeatedly tells me I’m just like a daughter to her and thanks me for loving and taking care of her son.<br /><br /><div align="left">Her presence causes a miraculous change in our children. Suddenly, they don’t fight. They give hugs and kisses without reserve. My fifteen year old daughter, who sees nothing wrong with calling me to bring the car and pick her up from the bus stop at the front of our neighborhood, magically becomes willing to take long walks on the <a href="http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/leisure/trails/trails_semwekiva.asp">Seminole-Wekiva trail</a>. My eighteen year old agrees to watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084296/">The Man from Snowy River</a>, where normally she views any film made prior to 2005 old-fashioned and boring (not to mention, she adds, the special effects are downright laughable).<br /></div><br /><div align="left">It’s true. I am that rare breed of daughter-in-law who actually likes my mother-in-law and looks forward to her visits. I love her, too, of course. After all, she’s family. But to like someone can often be a greater compliment because it comes not from obligation, but from genuine respect and admiration for the beneficiary.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOxeHMtgjrljTbBZxotdPFBYMuvrciuIdk5_DzV2JLTzO8r8AHO4TUhudxaviQ3cfWuoln0pjMMCKFbv8q0BgqAq99j9aBX_wCF4wSs4mhReEjNVEcGcVb9UfCWYOZghmd0EYag/s1600/MV5BMjA1MzA1Mzk2OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMzYyNjg2__V1__CR39%252C0%252C396%252C396_SS100_.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555789889802793346" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOxeHMtgjrljTbBZxotdPFBYMuvrciuIdk5_DzV2JLTzO8r8AHO4TUhudxaviQ3cfWuoln0pjMMCKFbv8q0BgqAq99j9aBX_wCF4wSs4mhReEjNVEcGcVb9UfCWYOZghmd0EYag/s320/MV5BMjA1MzA1Mzk2OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMzYyNjg2__V1__CR39%252C0%252C396%252C396_SS100_.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left">Because my mother-in-law resembles <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000267/">Julie Andrews</a>, my husband and I used to watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059742/">The Sound of Music</a> with our girls and tell them their grandma was once an actress, and that she played the character of Maria in the movie. Ditto for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058331/">Mary Poppins</a>. They believed us, and looking back at the nature of both those lead characters, I realize it was as much their grandmother’s cheerful personality as her similar appearance that caused them to fall for our white lie.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">No wonder her father nicknamed her Sunny.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">_________________________</div><div align="left">*(Originally published in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of <a href="http://lifemagazines.com/interactive/2010/11-LML/102.html">Lake Mary Life Magazine</a>.)</div></div>Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-20304757399410212482010-12-20T11:12:00.002-05:002010-12-20T11:17:36.729-05:00RESCUING OLIVIA a Top Ten Pick!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyCvq4WaY44_koOVOMqNJrz4eM3ux7bGAbxtWqPlR28JvLeor4gC8cBn0pfoLGwslMxQ_pDKxheiEfSU16a1o9QaH9Npa4OsVbOPslrUVxQDjygnBfFUrGiRXlcd9FWLETO6j_w/s1600/UScoverRescuingOlivia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552799260505879538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyCvq4WaY44_koOVOMqNJrz4eM3ux7bGAbxtWqPlR28JvLeor4gC8cBn0pfoLGwslMxQ_pDKxheiEfSU16a1o9QaH9Npa4OsVbOPslrUVxQDjygnBfFUrGiRXlcd9FWLETO6j_w/s200/UScoverRescuingOlivia.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Bookreporter.com reviewer L. Dean Murphy named RESCUING OLIVIA one of his Top Ten Reads for 2010!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here's the link to his (and other Bookreporter.com reviewers') <a href="http://www.bookreporter.com/features/2010-reviewer-picks.asp">Top Ten picks</a>. </div>Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-76693202836229511252010-12-04T14:37:00.012-05:002010-12-04T17:29:49.988-05:00From Kindergarten Cop to College MomA few months ago I started writing a new column called "Julie's Slice of Life" in <em>Lake Mary Life Magazine</em>, the community magazine I've been writing for since 2006. We're fortunate to have wide circulation: the magazine is delivered to over 20,000 homes throughout our county and is also available in numerous businesses. I've decided to post the columns here, too, so others outside our area could have the chance to read them. This first one ran in the September/October 2010 issue (hence the references to summer).<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div align="center"><strong>Julie's Slice of Life: From Kindergarten Cop to College Mom*</strong></div><br />"How much longer?" my agent asks, referring to my next book.<br /><br />She's anxious to start making the rounds to publishers, to start shopping it. The publishing world pays lip service to quality, but the greenbacks flow most freely to those who can produce a novel a year. Two a year? You're golden.<br /><br />I'd call myself bronze, at best. I'm lucky if I write a first draft in fifteen months. Two years is more realistic.<br /><br />"It's summer," I say. "Hard to get any writing done when the kids are home."<br /><br />And that's true. But here's the thing: I don't want to get any writing done. I want to spend every waking moment with my children, because for the first time since the oldest started kindergarten, I am acutely aware of how few days I have left to watch them while they sleep, or to cook enough decent meals so that they remember me as the mom who fed them well instead of plopping another pizza on the dinner table.<br /><br />Why this realization?<br /><br />My oldest daughter is about to leave for college. The younger one, who just entered tenth grade, is not far behind.<br /><br />I should feel lucky. The parents I know who have college bound kids have already bid their goodbyes. But my daughter's school of choice doesn't start until mid-September; we'll drive her up for move-in and orientation a few days before. So I have a few extra days to hug her and make sure she knows she'll always be my baby. Yeah, just want she wants to hear.<br /><br />I can still remember vividly the day she climbed the tall steps of the school bus for the first time. We lived in the suburbs of Boston, and if autumn is synonymous with going back to school, autumn in New England, with its brilliant colors and scent of burning leaves in the air, is the quintessence of the season, at once inspiring and heartbreaking. I cried my eyes out when that bus pulled away. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT61quBEGyz-sZRpRR9CYMqfBray0vjLiw34XhR1Mr4F5g-1cMLRysEEayyCjQHxE4mJobPgkegumiWIdhyphenhyphenJWoPA0X-QQ6GVL7UOO6bX2mdR8PE07DfbHEzXv3VxC8tp6Kn7fEg/s1600/img132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546955907506694914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT61quBEGyz-sZRpRR9CYMqfBray0vjLiw34XhR1Mr4F5g-1cMLRysEEayyCjQHxE4mJobPgkegumiWIdhyphenhyphenJWoPA0X-QQ6GVL7UOO6bX2mdR8PE07DfbHEzXv3VxC8tp6Kn7fEg/s320/img132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My husband and I followed the bus. Yep, you didn't misread that. We followed the bus. Once we were no longer in our daughter's line of sight, we jumped in our car and quickly started the engine. Turn for turn, stop for stop, we trailed it like two spies in a James Bond movie. When the bus pulled up to the school and lined up behind the other buses to unload the children, we made a small detour, abandoned our car in the parking lot, and took our hiding places behind a bush to watch our daughter disembark. Would she be crying? Would the fear and bewilderment I was sure I'd see on her face cause me to start bawling all over again? Would the school keep the implicit promise it made to all parents and make sure she made it safely from bus to building, building to bus, bus back home again? My husband held our video camera to film this momentous occasion; I lay in wait, ready to spring forward and save the day if our little girl needed our assistance.<br /><br />When she stepped down, ballet slipper bookbag on her back and posture straight with pride, I smiled. I cried, too, but they were tears of joy. Our Jessie was going to be just fine.<br /><br />They say you have to cut the cord. It's painful, but all parents do it, sooner or later. I asked both of my girls recently, "Am I a helicopter parent?" The answer was a quick and resounding, "No! Not at all!" I had the sense they knew a few, and I was happy not to be among them. Yet at the same time, I wondered whether I'd been there enough, whether I'd spent too much time with my novels and not<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4siFy585S-lPMbKvi7WTKRw5DTMqGFqKAvGp_2PVPsoANprf9QVQUkNMQm0IfDTQ2BVr9x5Z4SXKYc1gOCZHiIBIEpvqBTzP-jD9-4SR_gl5bRGl1InfyToMwV07fHjzS3OgRJw/s1600/ComptonJessGrad2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546956801517506178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4siFy585S-lPMbKvi7WTKRw5DTMqGFqKAvGp_2PVPsoANprf9QVQUkNMQm0IfDTQ2BVr9x5Z4SXKYc1gOCZHiIBIEpvqBTzP-jD9-4SR_gl5bRGl1InfyToMwV07fHjzS3OgRJw/s320/ComptonJessGrad2.JPG" border="0" /></a> enough with my children.<br /><br />When the last box is set on her dorm room floor, when we've met the roommates and deemed them acceptable, when we've said our final goodbyes and left her behind to start her new life, I only hope my scissors are sharp enough.<br /><br />My husband, meanwhile, will probably be following her to her first class, video camera in hand.<br /><br />*(originally published in the <a href="http://www.lifemagazines.com/interactive/2010/09-lake-mary/118.html">Sept/Oct 2010 issue of <em>Lake Mary Life Magazine</em></a>)</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-73161672201007967752010-11-01T15:59:00.006-04:002010-11-01T16:29:17.785-04:00Never Underestimate the Power of a Female BikerSo I didn't get a chance to ride my bike for a few weeks, and then when I went out to the garage a few days before Daytona Biketoberfest to start the bike and make sure it was road ready (because I'd planned to ride down with my Chrome Divas), it wouldn't start. After looking for all the obvious problems, I described the issue to the Divas and several of them suggested I probably needed to charge the battery. I went to the shop near my house (not the Harley dealership, whose employees always treat me with respect and try to earn my business -- someday I plan to move up to a Harley and give it to them . . . ) and bought a battery tender. At this visit, like so many others to this particular shop, everyone ignored me when I walked in (despite the fact that there are always more employees than customers). I approached one of the employees and asked him about battery tenders. After several interruptions where he talked to another employee about this and that, he showed me two and recommended the larger (and more expensive) one. When I asked why, he had no good answer other than the smaller one can get hot. Hmm. I bought the smaller one. It worked fine. My battery did need charging, but I realized, once I charged it, it needed charging because I had run it down trying to start the dang bike so many times.<br /><br />So, battery problem solved, but the bike still wouldn't start. It's a relatively new bike (I bought it new in Fall '08) and it doesn't have many miles on it. I ride it often, but to Daytona and back is the farthest I've ridden in one trip. So I really didn't think my problem could be anything major, something I couldn't solve on my own with a little research.<br /><br />I did some searching on the internet for others who owned the same bike and had similar problems. Turns out, my problem was probably the fuel. It had sat too long, and with the new, high percent ethanol fuel, the fuel will go bad faster and can clog the system and the carbs. The solution, based on everything I read, seemed to be something called Seafoam, a type of fuel stabilizer/cleaner. I decided to give it a try.<br /><br />I went back to the same shop this past weekend (despite my dislike of this place, it's where I bought the bike before I knew better, and it's the closest place around) and asked about Seafoam. They showed me a comparable product which they said worked better. I explained my problem to them, and at least three of the guys standing behind the counter insisted that I would have to bring the bike in to have the carbs cleaned, that the Seafoam-like product only works as a preventative. I asked how long this would take and how much it would cost. Three hours to clean, and another to put the bike back together. Hmm. I'd have to check with the service department to get a cost quote, they said. I didn't need to. I could guess what four hours labor would cost me, plus the cost of towing my bike in, since I don't have a trailer yet.<br /><br />So I took my Seafoam-like product home and decided to try it anyway. Based on everything I'd read, it was worth a shot.<br /><br />I added the appropriate amount to my fuel, gave it about an hour, and then tried to start my bike.<br /><br />Guess what?<br /><br />Yep, the bike started, and it's been running fine ever since.<br /><br />Guess what else?<br /><br />My visit to that particular shop was my last.Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-60728738641388832012010-10-27T15:57:00.006-04:002010-10-27T16:09:47.715-04:00Barnes & Noble General Fiction Online Book Club<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHVv76K2iJeoVIWiE6eb1ugKRQXLpXobgGeoAw1ZSD-aogPplxcZYfiMuIbDXWWgllrt-bfbgaYb2sUAf5r-C1aFaISLjdCPopplPZT9qfICDqvcUpCZnccdg5hZmRvGLBjdM7w/s1600/UScoverRescuingOlivia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532819836937800114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHVv76K2iJeoVIWiE6eb1ugKRQXLpXobgGeoAw1ZSD-aogPplxcZYfiMuIbDXWWgllrt-bfbgaYb2sUAf5r-C1aFaISLjdCPopplPZT9qfICDqvcUpCZnccdg5hZmRvGLBjdM7w/s200/UScoverRescuingOlivia.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>During the month of November, the Barnes & Noble General Fiction Online Book Club will read and discuss <a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-rescuing-praise.htm">RESCUING OLIVIA</a>. I'll be joining the discussion to hear what readers have to say and answer questions. Hope you'll join in!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Click here for the <a href="http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Fiction-General-Discussion/Rescuing-Olivia-Reading-Schedule/m-p/694232#U694232">reading schedule, and for links</a> to sign up with BN's online book clubs (if you don't have an account already). </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-57190608708893736142010-07-30T12:05:00.028-04:002013-01-17T16:57:11.144-05:00"So Damn Lucky" (or How I Met Dave Matthews)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk09OqzPV8ow7ZhWtkIKKTxW6BoeeUuuFo2ptCkLDnVrI9PV2FxNFG7w1X7xfMX36NbGiSp0ZtsbxMRXJLsj-w8NZ35JRGbOqLUTgFOpvfF6DDPgDcXZSLvSYN_1N0lXWhuqP4g/s1600/P1010845.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499732488116708626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk09OqzPV8ow7ZhWtkIKKTxW6BoeeUuuFo2ptCkLDnVrI9PV2FxNFG7w1X7xfMX36NbGiSp0ZtsbxMRXJLsj-w8NZ35JRGbOqLUTgFOpvfF6DDPgDcXZSLvSYN_1N0lXWhuqP4g/s320/P1010845.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a>I'd been waiting all year for this past Wednesday night. It had been too long (last summer) since I'd been to a <a href="http://www.davematthewsband.com/">Dave Matthews Band </a>concert and I'd been having DMB withdrawal. Plus, they recently announced they wouldn't be touring next year (the first year they've skipped in 20 years), so this summer's shows would have to last me a while. When I found out my Tampa tickets were in the orchestra pit, I was ecstatic. Can't get much better than that, right?<br />
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Wrong. It got much, much better than that.<br />
<br />
Late afternoon on Tuesday, my DMB concert buddy Robin called me with the news that we were going to meet Dave before the Wednesday night concert. I didn't believe her. I thought she was playing a cruel, cruel joke on me. Robin and I have attended the Tampa shows together since I moved to Florida back in 2003. We even both went on the <a href="http://jlcompton.blogspot.com/2006/02/dave-matthews-and-friends-cruise.html">Dave & Friends cruise back in 2006</a>. Personally, I have lost count of how many DMB shows I've been to all over the United States in the last decade or more, but it's approaching 50, I'm sure. So for someone to tell me I was going to meet Dave Matthews and not mean it? Yeah, that would be a cruel, cruel joke.<br />
<br />
Robin's a fanatic like me; I found it hard to believe she would trick me that way, but I found it harder to believe we were going to meet Dave Matthews. I screamed, she screamed, I screamed, she screamed, my daughter who was in the car with me screamed "Mom, stop it! You're hurting my ears!" For about 40 minutes, Robin and I screamed some more.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cu-2ZJJwGdICvWueKj-pYXauMOH75O7Rgjj_G9nulHK1uy0T2VorYP2B9QhYV__7OjQAumSpm4QFsTceyOaq-6kTb0AzaUBqi61INLgyfg1tLH8jXnIfGuUKZBXj8lgQCyQuiw/s1600/39124_1574620728885_1336560330_1568455_7168805_s.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499733276740759842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cu-2ZJJwGdICvWueKj-pYXauMOH75O7Rgjj_G9nulHK1uy0T2VorYP2B9QhYV__7OjQAumSpm4QFsTceyOaq-6kTb0AzaUBqi61INLgyfg1tLH8jXnIfGuUKZBXj8lgQCyQuiw/s200/39124_1574620728885_1336560330_1568455_7168805_s.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 130px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 115px;" /></a><br />
Turns out, just minutes before, Robin got a call from <a href="http://www.warehouse.davematthewsband.com/login.asp?the_url=%2Findex%2Easp%3F">The Warehouse</a>, the official DMB fan club, of which we both are proud members. (If you're a fan, you'd be stupid not to join the fan club – as a member, you can request concert tickets and know whether you received them in advance of the public on-sale dates.) Each year, Robin and I both request two tickets to the Tampa show, and then we use the two best seats. (This year, because mine were in the orchestra pit, we were using mine.) When Robin picked up the phone, a woman introduced herself and asked Robin how she'd like to meet Dave Matthews. I don't need to tell you: Robin screamed.<br />
<br />
We're not sure exactly how they choose whom to call. We don't think it's based upon seniority, because I've been in the fan club a few more years than Robin, and I've never received such a call. The woman gave her a quick briefing – telling her she could bring one guest (moi!), explaining what to do when she arrived at the amphitheatre, informing her that there would be four other fans there, too, with their guests, explaining how each person could bring one thing to be signed and we would all be able to take pictures.<br />
<br />
Hmm, what to have signed?? Ever since my first book, <a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-tell-no-praise.htm">Tell No Lies</a>, was published, I've thought about how I might get a copy to the band. I thanked DMB in the acknowledgements section because it was their music most often playing in the background when I was writing the book. (I often joke that I'm not sure I could ever sell movie rights, because then I'd lose control over picking the soundtrack . . .) As corny as it sounds, I wanted them to know how much their music means to me.<br />
<br />
So now, not only would I have the chance to give Dave the book in person, I could have him sign one, too. But it's a bit hard to frame a signed book and hang it on the wall in the billiards room (where much of our family's memorabilia hangs). I thought, maybe I should have him sign my concert ticket. Maybe I should have him sign an 8 x 10 glossy of one of the great pictures I took during the cruise show. Maybe I should have him sign a CD cover. Or maybe a band T-shirt? Decisions, decisions.<br />
<br />
Nope, it had to be a book. Nothing else seemed as personal, as special, as one of my own books. Rick, Jess, and Sally all agreed: it had to be a book.<br />
<br />
So Robin shows up the next day at my house around 2:00 p.m. She comes from Jacksonville, and then we leave together from my house near Orlando. No sooner do we pull onto Interstate 4, it starts raining. We're not surprised. It has rained every year we've been attending the Tampa shows together. Usually the rain and lightning like to have a little fun with us and wait until we're in Tampa, until we're tailgating in the parking lot of the amphitheatre or trying to find our way to our seats. So this seems a good sign. Let's get the rain out of the way.<br />
<br />
We giggle like two school girls the whole way. The rain stops almost as soon as it starts, and we turn up the DMB music and sing our way across the state. At the fairgrounds, we set up camp in the heat and spend the next hour and a half wondering what we'll say to Dave and how we'll keep from acting like blubbering idiots. It's all we can do not to tell all the other fans around us that we're about to meet Dave, but we're afraid we'll somehow jinx ourselves. We're sweating profusely because it's SO hot, so every once in a while we get in the car and start the engine to cool ourselves off. Before we know it, it's time to head over to Will Call and wait for our escort. Once there, we immediately see others with the same, amazed "Cinderella at the ball" look on their faces, and we know they're there for the same reason. We keep pinching ourselves, convinced it must all be a dream.<br />
<br />
Our serious-faced escort shows up, and Robin, always ballsy, says to him, "Where's your lanyard?" (The woman on the phone told Robin the escort would have a lanyard.) Leave it to Robin to check the gu<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBNz_NEOXgLa619hH8U3_pKTNcnA4Ml00zs2hoQU3xfheHbG6LX_5BtdSLKqh8gTh3uEcZa0XRdUWeXjlKrtLgpXDvk_NhQaTNp3QyRhusIsFD7boM7atvlPhhc_oI7_peeelIQ/s1600/P1010831.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499734377203972434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBNz_NEOXgLa619hH8U3_pKTNcnA4Ml00zs2hoQU3xfheHbG6LX_5BtdSLKqh8gTh3uEcZa0XRdUWeXjlKrtLgpXDvk_NhQaTNp3QyRhusIsFD7boM7atvlPhhc_oI7_peeelIQ/s320/P1010831.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a>y's credentials . . . Without cracking a smile (you can tell he wants to, though), his hand goes to his waist, where the lanyard is clipped to his pants.<br />
<br />
After he checks everyone's names off a list, we're given special stick-on passes that will indicate we're allowed backstage. He then walks us to the back lot, which we enter through a small opening in the fence. About twenty or thirty hopeful fans are loitering around the opening, hoping for a glimpse of Dave or one of the other members of the band (been there, done that), and we feel a bit guilty, because this time we're the lucky ones who get to go in. (This is where my husband would say, "Guilty? Do you know how much money you've contributed to this guy's career? Tickets, airfares, hotels??? You <i>deserve</i> to meet him!")<br />
<br />
Inside the fence, we're greeted by the numerous tour buses, lined up, one after another. As we continue to follow our escort, I spot Tim Reynolds walking by in the opposit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKBsc8Maseb25pvaTb3fJY3sx969LuPx0CHhEhMNhMWxXOTF5lTe06N7D7ahKqKPLTj3oq4aDTh4x_U2mxxTu1tgg3pLsyKdPFFBZB4n4xEgxjw1DKvfqWsY8q8M4_qjxpc5drw/s1600/P1010832.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499735271574198770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKBsc8Maseb25pvaTb3fJY3sx969LuPx0CHhEhMNhMWxXOTF5lTe06N7D7ahKqKPLTj3oq4aDTh4x_U2mxxTu1tgg3pLsyKdPFFBZB4n4xEgxjw1DKvfqWsY8q8M4_qjxpc5drw/s320/P1010832.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a>e direction. I nudge Robin and whisper, "Look! It's Tim Reynolds!" One of the guys in our group reaches out his hand and Tim shakes it.<br />
<br />
We're led to a small Tiki hut area behind the amphitheatre. There's a bar, stools, and several patio tables, and even though I think I'm about to melt from the heat, the last thing I want to do is sit. The escort gives us a short briefing, which is pretty funny, because after he tells us how Dave will come around and spend a few minutes with each of us, take pictures, sign whatever item we brought to be signed, etc., he says, "But once he's finished and goes on to the next fan, DON'T follow him." In other words, don't be obnoxious.<br />
<br />
All of a sudden, here comes Dave. He just walks into the Tiki hut and strolls through the middle of us, heading in the direction we all came in from. He mumbles something, like he so often does (if you know anything about Dave, you'll know what I mean), and then he says, "I'll be right back." So we all stand there looking at each other with our mouths open and our eyes wide.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq56UgJyJ-UPWh9x_OuF_UbphwZUow00Tgyqrb4Gk5faD3QJIiN00nJbeHXINWT-aceENQCfTaDl4lt0rLlNmRKcKiNCxdsBMxNO3jLdnVwRVvNXyg_S_43cIdAC8pbw-TdClWA/s1600/P1010838.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499736226819506946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq56UgJyJ-UPWh9x_OuF_UbphwZUow00Tgyqrb4Gk5faD3QJIiN00nJbeHXINWT-aceENQCfTaDl4lt0rLlNmRKcKiNCxdsBMxNO3jLdnVwRVvNXyg_S_43cIdAC8pbw-TdClWA/s320/P1010838.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
As promised, he comes back after just a few minutes. The next half hour or so passes in about 20 seconds. He goes from couple to couple, chatting a bit, posing for pictures, signing whatever . . . We're standing near the end of the whole group, which is great because it gives me time to snap some pictures at leisure. He likes to be quite a goof when he poses for pict<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rYPUMY5lbqy9uc-yMpFX0yXN2SC30gxxSVjayYxTfVC8G8BBI46wBrD19yRHmrbX-3-heBNpxFhp7nmWPM9tmVtLaRsi9draRLY7s2SaOWktsjtWt0FxG6Ptt5UosyhVHzhuNQ/s1600/P1010842.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499741200910982050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rYPUMY5lbqy9uc-yMpFX0yXN2SC30gxxSVjayYxTfVC8G8BBI46wBrD19yRHmrbX-3-heBNpxFhp7nmWPM9tmVtLaRsi9draRLY7s2SaOWktsjtWt0FxG6Ptt5UosyhVHzhuNQ/s200/P1010842.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a>ures, giving the same devilish or silly faces he sometimes gives the crowd when he's onstage. Robin whispers to me, "I hope he doesn't do that for the picture with me." I think it's charming, though, so I don't care what look he gives. He could blow spit bubbles for the picture and I'd be okay with it.<br />
<br />
All of us are lined up in a rough half circle, and since we're at the end, I assume we'll be the last ones he greets. Nope. About halfway around, he suddenly crosses the Tiki hut to our side. The next few minutes or so passes in a millisecond. Robin gets her picture taken with him (below), then I get my picture taken with hi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YE8N6pQNLZcJRjHT9Sl50puB7oGcnocE7T5xb804JQnZXLkw2TqGHW99JGOENDe9whv87ukE3I5jLq86HxZJSM5rk6h4YFJcJuKt3ibEhoy7lMmMA1mlhFZCSokPzf5IV6JxxA/s1600/IMG_2813.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499736836759576418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YE8N6pQNLZcJRjHT9Sl50puB7oGcnocE7T5xb804JQnZXLkw2TqGHW99JGOENDe9whv87ukE3I5jLq86HxZJSM5rk6h4YFJcJuKt3ibEhoy7lMmMA1mlhFZCSokPzf5IV6JxxA/s320/IMG_2813.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a>m (first pic at top). In the same way he posed with everyone else, he puts his arm around my back and I put my arm around his back, but I'm so excited that I spontaneously fling my other arm across the front of his belly. It suddenly occurs to me that, oops, maybe I shouldn't do that. Maybe I'm being a bit too chummy. I quickly remove my arm. I think I might have even said, "Oops, sorry." But if he minds or thinks I'm being a bit presumptuous, he doesn't reveal it. Heck, maybe he doesn't even notice. He's probably thinking about his upcoming set list.<br />
<br />
But the best part is still to come. I grab my book off the table behind me, and I open to the page near the front contain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_ppdwuTF4D2T-h5Wxo9kTXbqxfhdD_0Yee2eEKJGhr1hPiRXONg8PwckU9-RtTp1haQkOCFSIeeeyG0abzvG5fXHuwF2WW8yjbWkM1AEj07t62EIZsVAvBp-KNL8jBUTY8B0nA/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499737252885421826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_ppdwuTF4D2T-h5Wxo9kTXbqxfhdD_0Yee2eEKJGhr1hPiRXONg8PwckU9-RtTp1haQkOCFSIeeeyG0abzvG5fXHuwF2WW8yjbWkM1AEj07t62EIZsVAvBp-KNL8jBUTY8B0nA/s320/IMG_2817.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a>ing my acknowledgement to the band and hand it to him. I tell him this is my book, that I'm the author, and I point out the acknowledgement and explain why it's there. Now, mind you, I'm speaking ninety miles a minute because I'm so afraid my time is about to run out, and at first I don't even think he's registering what I'm saying. He's probably thinking, yeah, yeah, let's get on with this. He begins to sign the book, but then all of a sudden he stops and flips the cover over to look at the front jacket. Time seems to stand still (for me, at least). It feels very intentional, the way he stares at that front cover. I'm wondering, what is he doing? He opens the book up again, then, and as he resumes writing, I see him begin to personalize his message, and I get it. He looked on the front cover for my name.<br />
<br />
When I recounted this to Rick later, Rick said, "He realized this was personal for you, that you weren't simply going to turn around and sell his autograph on the internet." I don't know if that's true, if Dave ever gave it that much thought, but I like to think so. I like to think he understood how special all of it was for me.<br />
<br />
I thank him (at least I hope I did!), and I reach back around to the table for bag of books I brought for him – one of each, <a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-tell-no-praise.htm">Tell No Lies</a> and <a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-rescuing-praise.htm">Rescuing Olivia</a> – signed to him and the band with my own personal note of thanks. Reading material for the long bus rides, I tell him. His assistant, who'd been trailing him the whole time, says "I'll take that for him" and grabs it from me.<br />
<br />
Dave is about to move on to the next couple when Robin and I realize he h<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4thwguri3tcwJGACykwHyjg_ZJ-ItZQh8ZkBR4RFlBY7XTtW-W0mXi3Cn5O1dKqsdn0dvQlZ7GbjBk0ZAP-2JS7ESvzKhgZyuwAow2hyphenhyphenu_7ZV6NVtOZbo6BPsqyxFXIrsi307eQ/s1600/P1010846.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499737955489474546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4thwguri3tcwJGACykwHyjg_ZJ-ItZQh8ZkBR4RFlBY7XTtW-W0mXi3Cn5O1dKqsdn0dvQlZ7GbjBk0ZAP-2JS7ESvzKhgZyuwAow2hyphenhyphenu_7ZV6NVtOZbo6BPsqyxFXIrsi307eQ/s320/P1010846.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a>asn't signed the shirt she brought. It all happens so fast, but I grab a camera and manage to get one more picture – Dave signing Robin's shirt. The escort then tells us to follow him, he'll lead us out. I lean over and tap the assistant on the shoulder, and when he turns to me, I motion to the bag of books and say, "You're sure he'll get these?" He says, "Yeah, I'm on his bus. Don't worry." Who knows if he's telling me the truth? But nevertheless, I choose to believe him.<br />
<br />
Once we're out of the Tiki hut and have been set free by the escort, I think we scream again.<br />
<br />
The rest of the night is like most Tampa DMB concerts – incredibly hot and sticky – but we barely notice because for the entire evening, we're both floating on this little cloud of pure delight. Our smiles are glued to our faces, and when the band comes onstage, those smiles get even bigger. Our seats (or rather, our standing room spots) in the orchestra pit place us just in front of the stage on the left side, where we feel Carter's every drum beat from the humongous speakers that are so close we can almost touch them. (I'm certain we lost a bit of our hearing Wednesday night.) The fans around us give us high fives when we tell them we met Dave, and like every DMB show, there's a camaraderie I've never felt at anyone else's concerts. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499738676216302994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2SxxJNAcWcrQrAXb_KN17MfgquND2nnBywJ3OnmXk57GPIyJZqXZ4mbxITGEYsotgbg3CBg-QMx9MFRWKbKzRKcswQMt0snJR9GXLCRkjnF85YSGTd3S6MeoZaFNL6Kz4UQwlw/s320/davematthewsbandconcert072810020.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
And then, toward the end of the concert, as if the night couldn't get any better, the band plays "Crash Into Me." It's not my all-time favorite DMB song (that would be #41), but if you've read <a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-tell-no-praise.htm">Tell No Lies</a>, you'll know it makes a cameo appearance in the first chapter, so hearing it on this night is extra special.<br />
<br />
After the show, still on our dreamy cloud as we walk back to the car, Robin and I realize something: it never rained. A Tampa DMB show without rain. It reminds us of another song they played that night.<br />
<br />
"So Damn Lucky."Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-18660567170455974012010-04-19T18:10:00.006-04:002010-04-19T18:33:16.536-04:00A Little Shout-Out to the Readers Who Make This All Possible<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLi0NXIhRJoFj1pNCCLat_J8km_nZHZ2dvTNAK4B8SLv1fVJN3p8XVmpAKWBlsjdSJ97976ymR86BwdpeQ0RCJOc50xOTMTASBJK_kZPnhzH3F_mTjzGivaozXnm2f4kywLeOTA/s1600/Thank+you.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461980045213278354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 87px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLi0NXIhRJoFj1pNCCLat_J8km_nZHZ2dvTNAK4B8SLv1fVJN3p8XVmpAKWBlsjdSJ97976ymR86BwdpeQ0RCJOc50xOTMTASBJK_kZPnhzH3F_mTjzGivaozXnm2f4kywLeOTA/s200/Thank+you.jpg" border="0" /></a>I get many emails from readers who write to tell me they enjoyed one or both of my books, or sometimes to ask a question about something, the most popular being "Did __ actually do it?" (I won't fill in the blank because I don't want to spoil things if you haven't yet read <em><a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-tell-no-praise.htm">Tell No Lies</a></em>.) Next to the actual writing, those emails are the best part of being an author. They are like food for my soul, and I save every one of them. <em>Every single one</em>. I'm still amazed that someone chooses to read my book over the many others available at any point in time, so when a reader goes the extra mile to let me know he/she loved my work, I'm incredibly thrilled.<br /><br />Every once in a while, though, I receive an email from a reader that truly blows me away. An email that makes me sit back and think, "Wow, someone took the time to do <em>all this</em> to help me succeed as an author, simply because she loved my book."<br /><br />Today I sat down at my computer to find just that sort of note from Debbie Haupt, a reader who lives near my hometown of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis,_Missouri">St. Louis</a>. Debbie had recently won a signed copy of <a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-rescuing-praise.htm"><em>Rescuing Olivia</em> </a>from an online contest. Not only did Debbie tell me how much she loved the book and that it would receive a "place of honor" in her library, she also told me she planned to pick up my first novel, <em><a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-tell-no-praise.htm">Tell No Lies</a></em>, on her way home from work that day, and that she would spread the word about me "to who ever will listen." And she wasn't kidding! She posted a review on her blog, <a href="http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/2010/04/review-of-rescuing-olivia.html">The Reading Frenzy</a>, on the <a href="http://my.barnesandnoble.com/communityportal/review.aspx?reviewid=1362869">Barnes & Noble</a> site, and on Facebook and Twitter.<br /><br />An author can't ask for more than that from a fan. :-)<br /><br />Thank you, Debbie – you really made my day!Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-6221038037415814272010-03-18T15:43:00.017-04:002010-03-18T16:38:52.411-04:00Ellie Grossman and the "Mishegas of Motherhood"I've been meaning to write about my <em><a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-rescuing-praise.htm">Rescuing Olivia</a></em> book tour, but the demands of the tour itself have kept me from doing so. I'm such a limp rag at the end of each day, I can barely eek out a meal for my family (when I'm home), so trying to eek out words that make sense would be futile. The few times I've tried, the words fell flat on the page. So I resigned myself to waiting. Instead, I've tried to keep folks updated by comments and pictures on Facebook (some are on my regular page, some are on the Fan page . . . still figuring that out . . . Eventually, I'll post some of my favorite pictures here, too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0m9MegZQnBcamVKpQNwyz7H-lQe4oRrQ-84nbAkDeqgXXCJMEQ_gUNqh8p74cqCAojv-4MZScLeKQ3R4iKpKiRLjG2AnlCfAd6drjQPn3fT_Yf-X-FajnXcW5OtbMrZliSpcjA/s1600-h/img004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450064992476258386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 173px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0m9MegZQnBcamVKpQNwyz7H-lQe4oRrQ-84nbAkDeqgXXCJMEQ_gUNqh8p74cqCAojv-4MZScLeKQ3R4iKpKiRLjG2AnlCfAd6drjQPn3fT_Yf-X-FajnXcW5OtbMrZliSpcjA/s320/img004.jpg" border="0" /></a>In the meantime, I'd like to keep a promise I made long ago and introduce my readers to <strong>Ellie Grossman</strong> (at left, with dog Luci), someone I first "met" when I was promoting <em><a href="http://www.julie-compton.com/compton-tell-no-praise.htm">Tell No Lies</a></em>. We have many things in common: she's from St. Louis, too (but unlike me, she still lives there), she's a mom, a writer, a Parkway North alum, and interestingly enough, we share the same name (my maiden name is Grossman), though as best as we can tell, we're not related. I remember her in high school, but she was a grade below me and we never met back then. She wrote to me after hearing about <em>Tell No Lies</em>, and I discovered she wrote a fantastic blog, "<a href="http://www.mishegasofmotherhood.com/">Mishegas of Motherhood</a>," which also runs as a column in the <em><a href="http://www.stljewishlight.com/">St. Louis Jewish Light</a></em> newspaper. It's been almost two years since I first asked to interview her – she truly is a pillar of patience – and finally, I have. I'll let her do the heavy lifting, but I must say this – she's a funny, funny gal. After you read the interview, check out her website at "<a href="http://www.mishegasofmotherhood.com/">Mishegas of Motherhood</a>." You'll be glad you did.<br /><br /><strong>Julie: Tell us a little bit about Ellie Grossman.<br /></strong><br /><strong>Ellie: </strong>I knew I was hooked on writing when I was a student at the <a href="http://journalism.missouri.edu/">University of Missouri School of Journalism</a> in the mid 1980s and saw my first full-length feature story published on the cover of the <em><a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/">Columbia Missourian</a></em>. My in-depth investigation on the latest trends in salad bars, which included quotes about garbanzo beans from the produce manager, impressed the editor so much that she let me skip class to hang out at a local bar and research the college craze of drinking flavored schnapps shooters with weird names like “Fuzzy Navel,” (made with orange juice), “Buttery Nipple,” (mixed with butterscotch), and “Sex on the Beach,” (blended with cranberry juice). To this day, a fruity cocktail reminds me of my college days and brings a smile to my face.<br /><br />After I graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in “ego,” I visited the Big Apple to brainstorm ideas with editors at Conde Nast, Meredith , Fairchild, and other major publishers to find out how a Midwest girl like me could break into the freelance writing business. The most important life lesson that I learned on that trip is to never wear high heeled pumps (especially fuchsia colored) when walking up and down the sidewalks of Madison Avenue and Broadway, even though tearing up my shoes and twisting my ankles led to my first paid writing assignment at <em>Woman Magazine</em>.<br /><br />Right after I landed my first national byline, I got a letter from another magazine writer with my same name, Ellie Grossman the “Grammar Guru”, who told me to change my name because she was in the business longer and it would only confuse editors, so that’s when I started using my initial as Ellie S. Grossman. I’ve had other aliases throughout my career, including L.E. Brighton, that came in handy whenever I wrote restaurant reviews and had to disguise my identity.<br /><br />Over the last two decades, I’ve written just about everything for a buck, including obituaries, city council meetings, book reviews, advertising copywriting, newsletters, fashion trends, real estate, health care, you name it, but my niche has always been newspaper and magazine features. Right before I got married in 1993 to a fellow native St Louisan, Scott Cohen, I actually had a “real” fulltime job writing direct mail pieces for a medical publishing company—ho hum—but that changed soon after my first child Jack was born in 1995, and motherhood became my new beat. I also have a daughter, Sari, who is now 11 years old.<br /><br />As a new “stay-at-home mom who never stays home” (that’s my official title on my business card), I started to write about what I know best—fun things to do with kids so parents don’t lose their minds. In those days, I wrote for an entertainment supplement called “Get Out!” in the <em><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/">St. Louis Post Dispatch</a></em> and toted a stroller and café latte all over town, reporting on everything from the best shaded playgrounds to storytelling events at bookstores. I’ve been told by readers that many of my clips ended up on their refrigerator magnets.<br /><br /><strong>Julie: Your blog/column is called "Mishegas of Motherhood." Can you explain the meaning of the Yiddish word "mishegas" for readers who might not know? How did you come to write this column? And how does your family feel about being the subject of some of your columns? <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450072401332576866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 60px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMuOPq33gAUPVBo62Q3pI4dzPUhJBpzNi3uW3I7-L8urZgfLnsM6IQg0CM8hlYLMV1wT_CRL2BqF0ecGAtg7JVRq7z2isfM4A3_rUekKYgVOpgcMgNY0wHK2aUPgzr2zfvHidKw/s400/home_logo_header.jpg" border="0" />Ellie:</strong> My proudest journalistic accomplishment, so far, is creating my weekly parenting humor column “<a href="http://www.mishegasofmotherhood.com/">Mishegas of Motherhood</a>,” which is published in the <a href="http://stljewishlight.com/"><em>St. Louis Jewish Light</em> </a>and picked up by other Jewish media as well. I gave birth to “<a href="http://www.mishegasofmotherhood.com/">Mishegas of Motherhood</a>” four years ago, and I must say writing a first-person column has been a great gig and has opened a lot of doors for me, including guest speaking for various organizations and mostly building a loyal readership.<br /><br />According to <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joys_of_Yiddish">The Joys of Yiddish</a></em>, the word mishegas (pronounced mish-eh-goss) literally means insanity or madness, but I refer to it in my website in a more lighthearted kind of way, such as how kids drive their parents crazy.<br /><br />Basically, I wanted to find a niche in my writing and do something that hadn’t been done before. There are countless, boring mommy blogs out there, and I wanted to be different, provide something funny and entertaining, but also with value and not just fluff. My writing has always been a little tongue and cheek, but this time I gave it a Jewish twist. My columns are based on my own family and real life experiences, and while I sometimes poke fun at my husband and kids, I never invade their privacy or hurt their feelings, at least not intentionally. Besides, they don’t seem to care or even notice when I write about them because they rarely read my stuff anyway.<br /><br /><strong>Julie: Is it difficult to come up with new topics to write about each week, or do you find they almost write themselves?<br /><br />Ellie:</strong> I’m never at a loss for story ideas for very long. When it comes to writer’s block, my best advice came from the late, great humorist writer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erma_Bombeck">Erma Bombeck</a>, who told me personally at a journalism school seminar years ago, “Writer’s block is like North Dakota. It doesn’t exist. Well, has anyone ever seen North Dakota?”<br /><br /><strong>Julie: You have a section on your website called Readers Favorites. Have you noticed that certain topics tend to become favorites?<br /><br />Ellie:</strong> Interestingly, I’m surprised at how widespread my readership has grown. According to my weekly website traffic reports, I get hits from all over the world, including Canada, Israel, United Kingdom, Australia, China, and even the small Carribbean island of Tobago, which is actually the birthplace of the limbo, go figure.<br /><br />While I write about Jewish holidays and traditions and learn a lot about my own religion in the process, some of my favorite columns have nothing to do with being a Jew. For example, I got a lot of feedback on the piece about my preschool daughter’s horrific experience with lice, the philosophical narrative on what dogs teach us about life, and the column on my obsession with the food network (even Paula Deen’s people liked it and sent me a subscription to her magazine). My all time favorite column, “<a href="http://www.stljewishlight.com/news/296361078858273.php">Why Jews Don’t Camp</a>,” won a national writing contest and led me to Hollywood.<br /><br /><strong>Julie: Yes, you've had a brush with Hollywood because of your column! Would you like to share what that was and how it came about?<br /><br />Ellie:</strong> Back in February 2008, I submitted a version of my column on my family’s camping disaster to an Internet-based sitcom called “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Motherhood">In The Motherhood</a>,” and when I got the email that my story was selected to be used as a screenplay for a webisode starring comic actress <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0718957/">Leah Remini</a>, I thought it was a hoax. I’ve never won anything in my life, except a lottery ticket that paid me another losing lottery ticket. When I realized that I won a trip for two to Hollywood to meet the cast and producers and watch the filming of the webisode, not to mention a four night’s stay at a hotel on the Sunset Strip and a makeover at a Beverly Hills salon, I started screaming in excitement and went shopping for a new outfit. I wrote about my adventures in Hollywood, of course, and the experience remains a highlight in my career.<br /><br /><strong>Julie: In addition to your column, what other types of writing do you do?<br /><br />Ellie:</strong> My latest journalistic endeavor is to get into children’s book writing. In fact, I’m working on a proposal right now about my favorite subject of all, my toy poodle named Luci. So if anyone out there knows a good agent . . .<br /><br />I’ve also heard positive things about self publishing, so I’m still trying to figure it all out. I have great admiration for writers like you, Julie, who are disciplined enough to get their books published and are rewarded for their hard work and talents. For me, the process of writing a book is daunting enough, plus pounding the pavement and marketing myself through blogs and social networks seems overwhelming. I’ve been writing professionally for more than two decades now, and my dream to publish a children’s book. With a lot of hard work and good luck and chutzpah (perseverance), it will happen.<br /><br /><strong>Thanks so much, Ellie! In my humble opinion, though talent is required (and you clearly have that), it's often perseverance that is the key to open doors. I suspect, given what you've accomplished so far, you have a lot of that, too. Best of luck with the column and your children's book in progress!<br /><br />Don't forget to check out Ellie's website at </strong><a href="http://www.mishegasofmotherhood.com/"><strong>www.mishegasofmotherhood.com</strong></a><strong>.<br /><br /></strong><strong></strong>Julie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.com2