ONE QUESTION ABOUT HEROES & A GIVEAWAY

AND THE WINNERS ARE: DEBBIE LEMON AND MERRIEDTH AND SHARRON QUALLS! I WILLCONTACT YOU BY EMAIL.
CONGRATULATIONS! 

HUNKY HEROES!

I love to create heroes that capture your heart. But hunky, near-perfect heroes raise one nagging question. Answer it in a comment and be entered to win one of my books:

Question: Does reading (or writing) about near-perfect heroes sometimes make you feel disappointed in real-life men?  Put your answer plus your email address in a comment and be entered to win your choice of any of my books!

What's my answer? I    admit that being immersed in my fiction world may make my expectations a little unrealistic sometimes. But that's just me. What about you? 

Enjoy a little eye candy. Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget your email. Check out my books on my website. 

Three winners will be drawn Monday morning.

 

COMPETITION OR COOPERATION?

The Writing Life 

Competition or Cooperation?

According to RWA National, the romance genre generated $1.4 billion in book sales last year. They also affirm that the typical romance reader buys and reads 36 books per year. These figures support my contention that there is no need for competition in the romance book field. 

I didn’t say romance authors do not behave in a competitive manner, some do. I’m saying with such a huge market, there is no need for competition among us. There are enough sales to go around. Some competition can be good, making an author work harder to improve her craft and produce an even better book. However taking that to the “nth” degree by putting nasty reviews on other authors books, slapping a low rating on a book to take another author off Amazon’s or Barnes & Noble's best-selling list is beyond competition. It’s sabotage.  

And if you think these tactics improve your sales, you are mistaken. Tactics like these drag you down, drain you of positive energy, take up time you could spend writing and making new friends through social media. Sabotage is ineffective in destroying your “competition.” Jealousy and competitive feelings rob you of the ability to succeed.

Don’t forget that writers are readers, too. I don’t think I’ve ever met a romance writer who wasn’t a romance reader as well. Writers who are competitive instead of cooperative will find their sales ailing. Don’t overlook the positive value of winning writers as readers. Writers who read your work and like it will buy your books and recommend them to others.

Writers talk. If you have snubbed other writers or actively tried to hurt the sales of another writer, that news travels fast. Writers will avoid your books like they are contaminated. 

What does cooperative mean? It means stopping by others’ blogs, leaving comments. Share your space by having guests on your blog. Write about a book you’ve read and liked. Leaving an honest, positive review on the book of another writer on Amazon and Barnes & Noble may win you a reciprocal review. Or it may not. That’s not the point. Not everything is tit for tat. 

Creating positive energy around yourself by helping others succeed brings good feelings to you and help when you most need and least expect it. Neglecting to put aside time to back others could get you their cold shoulder when you need support; and we all need a boost from time to time.

Sure it takes time to put yourself out for others. If you do it, you won’t regret it. You reap what you sow in this business.

Please share your opinion in a comment.

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TUESDAY TALES - 300-WORD STORY TO PICTURE PROMPT

Welcome, thanks for stopping by. Thank you, also, to Tai Vicari, for providing the pictures this week. It's writer's choice and I chose this picture which fits perfectly with a new story, first in a new series I'm planning for 2014. No title as yet.

Rory strolled along the path with Bruce. She held a tight grip on Baxter’s leash. Baxter, her pug, loved the park.

“No time for the Boathouse,” he said.
“Too bad. Miss their hot chocolate.”
When they got near the road, Bruce stopped and blurted out, “I think we should see other people.” Sweat broke out on his forehead.
“What?”
“Other people.”
“Why? Have you met someone?”
“As a matter of fact…”
“Who?”
“Always interrupting. A girl with a regular job in advertising.”
“Not like me, huh?” She put her hands on her hips.
“You’re a dog walker. Do you think that’s a serious profession?”
“I’m a writer…walking dogs to pay the rent.”
“Same thing.” Bruce combed his blond hair with his fingers.
“Not to me.” She gazed at the ground trying to control the tightness in her chest.
“Look, I like you and all…but a woman who’s making a real living….”
“You don’t get it.” Rory looked away to hide her tears.
“It’s not like we’ve been dating forever.” He shifted his weight.
She shook her head. “Six months.”

 Rory yelled at Baxter for tugging on the leash. Bruce put his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. “Look…”

Baxter ripped the leash out of Rory’s shaking hand and sped toward the street.
“Baxter! Stop!” Rory screamed.
Pushing Bruce aside, she raced full speed after Baxter. Ignoring the bicycle traffic, she jumped down on the leash just as a bike crashed into her, sending her flying. A loud yelp told her Baxter had been hit, too. Rory  landed hard on her arm. Pain shot through her body paralyzing her. She spied Baxter spread out on the pavement. He was still breathing. “Baxter,” she sobbed.
A pair of concerned blue eyes stared into hers. “Are you hurt?” He asked. 

 BACK TO TUESDAY TALES

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