My Bucket List: Victorian American West

by

Kristin Holt

Hi, everyone. I’m new.

Like a newcomer to the cocktail party (or neighborhood book club), I’ve listened (read blog posts), nodded (read responses), and smiled a lot (lurked). But I’m a stranger. It’s my turn to 'speak' and decorum insists I introduce myself. {waves!} I’m Kristin Holt. I write Sweet Victorian Western Romance.

Everything

on my personal bucket list is in the past.

1st drawing, Eiffel Tower, Public domain

Writing late 19th century characters and settings is my time machine, and facilitates achievement of my bucket-list. Researching every nuance of the locale and time period is a little too exciting. I’m able to visit, dwell, experience anywhere… all without leaving modern conveniences. Like central heat, air conditioning, and ice cream.

I spend so much time immersed in the 19th century, I catch myself thinking travel by train is the height of invention. Telegrams are the speedy way to communicate, not letters. And my heroes must allow time to saddle the trusty horse (or even longer to hitch the team to the wagon or buggy) before they ride out.

Kristin Holt (yellow rain jacket)

An 1896 character I’ve had simmering on the back burner (Andrew Proctor, The Doctor Claims a Bride) wants a Civil Engineering degree and to eventually build immense structures. His bucket list includes visiting the Eiffel Tower (1889), Washington Monument (1884), Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp, Belgium) (1521)… places I’ve been with the ease of domestic and transatlantic flight… and snapped digital pics. Naturally, Andrew's bucket list will go to war with his conscience and everyone’s expectations. [Cue maniacal laughter.]
 

Forthcoming Title

I can't sketch worth a darn. I have no interest in photography. Had I lived in 1896, I would have been forced to rely on my memory for every detail. And travel by boat. Without air conditioning. And drink water that tasted like a wooden barrel. And ‘bathe’ in a bowl. I use ‘bathe’ in the loosest of terms.

I’m a modern woman and adore modern comforts, yet I’m madly in love with the Victorian American West. Top priority on my bucket list in 2016? Spend more time in the 1870's, 1880's, and 1890's. I may flirt with 1900 and 1901, but my first love will forever be the last third of the 19th century.

You'll learn more about me, my books, and the Victorian American West at www.KristinHolt.com.

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Copyright © 2016, Kristin Holt, LC

The Boxed Set as a Marketing Tool - Good or Bad?

Trends in publishing in the 21st century are as varied and fleeting as anyone's imagination. With over ten million books on Amazon - and over two million of those books on Kindle - every published author's main concern is to be findable by readers.

We have all seen the free reads and the 99-cent reads touted as a way to garner interest. In my own experience, the "free" didn't translate into sustained sales. I believe that's because readers grab and hoard books when they can, but don't always get around to reading through their pile. As for the 99-cent offerings, those can be a good idea for a day or two. The danger there lies in the glut of 99-cent monstrosities; poorly written and hastily published, these cheap reads are rarely worth the cost and they scare readers away.

The next trend has been boxed sets. Whether done by a group of authors with a single theme, or by single authors "boxing" connected books, these sets generally offer four to six full-length novels at a ridiculously low initial price. After a set period of time, the price goes up, and eventually the set is unpublished.

The goal of the set is, as always, to garner new readers. That is a good thing. Linking arms - or books - is also a good thing. Limited-time offers are good things. And promoting the heck out of them is not only a good thing, but a very necessary thing.

I am currently in two boxed sets. "The Wrong Guy" was released in May 2013, and features six authors from my Arizona Dreamin' 2013 reader event. The collection was fairly successful, netting each of us over $1,000 in the first four months. The thing that made me happiest was an email from a reader who found, and loved, my entire Hansen Series as a result of the collection! Mission accomplished.

The second set is mine alone. In "Hansens in America" I gathered the stories of three generations. Father: "Leaving Norway" brings the family to the colonies in 1749. Son: "Finding Sovereignty" is the Revolutionary War captain who marries into Norwegian royalty. Grandson: the trilogy which started the Hansen series includes "A Woman of Choice" - "A Prince of Norway" - "A Matter of Principle."

I created this set as a Christmas gift to readers. Five full-length books - 500,000 words - for $9.99. I could have set the price lower, but I wanted to rise above the sludge. My stories are worth it.

The set will be unpublished on January1st. Gone. Will I ever bring it back? Maybe.

That depends on the next trend. ;)

Marketing or reader perk ~ why can't it be both? (Read on for two good deals!)

One of the hardest parts about being a published author in the 21st century is getting found by readers. While traditionally published authors do have the advantage of *hopefully* being on bookstore shelves for their first eight weeks, e-pubbed authors and self-pubbed authors have an uphill battle from Day One.

                   

There are ten million books on Amazon ~ and that means one million total authors is probably a conservative estimate. My overall author ranking hovers between 20,000 and 30,000. That doesn't sound impressive until you do the math: I'm in the top 2-3% of all authors on Amazon.

I know how many books I sell. While I'm not satisfied, I am still climbing the mountain of success. Along the path, I need to find ways both to expose myself to new readers, and thank my loyal fans.

The best way to find new readers, in my opinion, is to give special and limited opportunities for readers to try me. One thing I have done, is lower the prices of my self-pubbed books until midnight on the Monday after I am at big events. I print postcards with the titles, prices, and deadlines, and give them out to readers who don't purchase AT the event.

I always see a bump in numbers after my appearances ~ and have found new fans as a result.

(Here comes the FIRST good deal!)

Boxed sets are big on Kindle right now, so I decided to jump on the trend and created a boxed set of my own. In "Hansens in America" I combined a father, son, and grandson's stories into one set, and priced the five books (and 500,000-ish words) at just $9.99.

This special "holiday" price will only be available until midnight on December 31st. I'm hoping my fans will spread the word, and that this encourages new readers to give me a try! My books normally sell for $5.99, so this truly is a smokin' deal.

(Here comes the SECOND good deal!)

For my fans, I wrote a novella called "In the Norseman's House" tying together the two novels which I set in Scotland: Loving the Norseman and Loving the Knight. I wrote those books to woo the Big Six publishers, but never wrote the connected story which rounds them off. Now that they are self-pubbed, I decided to write the connecting novella and give it away for free.

Anyone who takes a photo of themselves in a public place holding a sign that says, "Norway is the new Scotland! KrisTualla.com" and emails me the photo (Kris@KrisTualla.com) will receive a signed, limited edition, print copy of the novella. Eventually the novella will be available to the world, but not until my fans have a chance to get a free copy for themselves.

The bottom line is, I still need to be found. And I think the best way for me to do that, is to reward anyone who is paying attention!

So: Happy holidays to YOU ~ with love, from me. I hope you'll enjoy the gifts.

And spread the word.

Kris ;)

Let Me Enjoy Spring

Dear Readers

August was a very busy month for me and unfortunately my writing took a back seat. I’m now going to be delivering my final book in my Wicked Wagers trilogy, To Challenge the Earl of Cravenswood, a month late. It will be released end of September, instead of the end of August. How did I let the month get away from me?

I didn’t factor in how much travelling I’d be doing during late July and August. I flew to the USA for a few weeks and then had the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference in Auckland. I had three conferences within four weeks – and I was presenting at one! It was tiring but so much fun. I got to meet wonderful people and I learned a lot.

So, here I sit, just as the New Zealand spring is starting, glued to my computer, writing frantically. We’ve had warm mid-winter months of July and August, unusually warmer temperatures, but punctuated with loads of rain. The grass is still soaking and the kids’ sports have been cancelled most of the month because the grounds are too sodden. At least that’s my excuse for not mowing the lawns.

 

I’m also on Jury duty this week which again has eaten into my time. I feel a moral obligation to do my jury service. I’d like to think that if I ever were facing a court that people from all walks of life were my jury pool. 

I have to report each morning to the District Court and we go through a ballot process to see who sits on a jury. I got selected for a jury yesterday, and it was a two – three week trial. There goes my writing! However, luckily for me, a very good friend was one of the lawyers so I was excused! It did give me some ideas for a story though so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

I hope to have the book completed by the end of September and then I’m going to take a week to enjoy spring. I’m building a house in the sunny Hawke’s Bay (a wine growing region) and I want to go up and spend some time picking curtains and furnishing etc. I’m hoping the spring weather remains warm and sunny while I’m up there.

Then for the rest of the year I’m finishing, Invitation to Passion, book three in my Invitation to Romance series. I’m hoping to get it finished by Christmas so I can enjoy the summer months of January and February in my new home.

BTW, I’ve some good news to share. To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield, book one in my Wicked Wagers trilogy, is now a FINALIST in the 2012 Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year. It would be great if you could spread the news!

Let the Wicked Wagers Begin...
Lady Caitlin Southall’s temper has finally got the better of her. She’s challenged Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield, the most notorious rake in all of England, to a wager. She wants her house back. The one her destitute father lost to Dangerfield in a card game. But if she doesn’t win their bet, she not only loses her home, she loses her dignity and pride and damn it all, maybe her heart... For the handsome Duke has decreed, when he wins, she must spend the night in his bed.

Harlow Telford is amused by his hellion neighbor, Caitlin, or Cate to her friends, who seem to encompass everyone on earth except him. When she bursts into one of his private gatherings, he mistakes her for the entertainment. Her slap across his face sets him straight and raises the absurd desire to seduce the unconventional beauty into his bed. When she issues her daft challenge to win back her father’s pile of rubble, the terms are set. And he’ll do anything to win—except fall in love...

Click here to buy Amazon or B&N or Smashwords

What plans are you making for the next few months? Northern hemisphere readers will be heading toward winter. Is it hard to be perky about the change in season when it’s autumn, or are you a winter fan? I suspect the regions that have very hot, muggy weather are looking forward to cooler days.

Guest Contemporary Category Romance Author Lee McKenzie -Hooked on Harlequin

Lee McKenzie

I wish I could remember the author and title of the first Harlequin Romance I ever read, but I was only fourteen and at the time and didn’t realize it would be one of those pivotal, life-changing events. What I do remember from that first book is that I was hooked. Hooked on the innocent and inexperienced orphan heroines and the dark, brooding and oh-so-sardonic heroes, hooked on the exotic locales, hooked on the happily ever afters.

Over the years that followed, I read hundreds of Harlequin novels. The lines changed, the heroines became stronger, and the heroes were less sardonic, but there was always a happily ever after.  When I decided to turn my lifelong dream of being a writer into a reality, I knew I wanted to write one. First I had to figure out which of the many Harlequin lines was best suited for my voice and style, so I tried my hand at writing books that might work with the Presents line, then Superromance, then romantic suspense for Intimate Moments.

As I accumulated one rejection after another, I also started to final in (and sometimes win!) writing contests, including four finals in the Romance Writers of America’s ® prestigious Golden Heart Award. But I still hadn’t found an editor to buy one of my books, because I still hadn’t figured out where my stories belonged.

I grew up an only child with a large, close-knit extended family. Many of my earliest memories are of raucous family dinners with my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins sitting around my grandmother’s kitchen table. As I continued to write, I gradually realized that even my romantic suspense novels had a focus on family. Huh.

Maybe there really was something to that old saying, “write what you know.” What I know and love is family. My writing style is lighthearted with lots of sexual tension and little splashes of humor, and at the centre of all my romances are a hero and heroine surrounded by family and friends. So I started to focus on Harlequin’s Heart and Home lines, and was thrilled to finally find my writing home with American Romance.

Here’s what the writing guidelines say: “American Romance features heartwarming romances with strong family elements. These are stories about the pursuit of love, marriage and family in America today. A sense of family and community is essential.” How perfect!

I’m currently working on my seventh book, and the third in the Ready Set Sold series. The first in the series, The Christmas Secret, was a November 2011 release and the second book, The Daddy Project, will be out in December 2012. The third book is Daddy, Unexpectedly (working title, release TBA). The heroines of these three books—a carpenter, an interior decorator and a Realtor—run a business called Ready Set Sold. If you like HGTV shows about home renos and decoration, then I hope you’ll love these stories!

American Romance is a perfect fit for me, and after all these years I’m still hooked on Harlequin. I love to read them, and I now I love to write them, too.

The Christmas Secret:

A Christmas Present With A Hidden Past

AJ Harris needs to leave town, before his past sneaks up on him in the form of a tool-belt–wearing beauty who also happens to be the mother of his child. Fate has other plans when AJ inadvertently hires Samantha Elliott to renovate and sell his grandmother’s old house. Now he has to hide the truth—he secretly adopted the child Sam abandoned three years ago. Only, AJ can’t prevent the bond between mother and child. When he learns the selfless reasons behind Sam’s actions, including his own father’s deceit, AJ’s secret becomes a burden he can’t keep. But will Sam forgive him for having their son all this time? Or will one little boy’s love bring together a family…just in time for Christmas?

About Lee McKenzie:

From the time Lee McKenzie was ten years old and read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, she knew she wanted to be a writer, just like Anne and Jo. In the intervening years she has written advertising copy, magazine articles and an honors thesis in paleontology, and edited conference proceedings, educational material and technical publications. Along the way, her imagination demanded a more creative outlet, and she soon discovered the world of romance. Becoming a four-time Golden Heart finalist and a Harlequin author are her proudest accomplishments yet.

Lee and her artist/teacher husband live on an island in the Pacific Northwest, and she loves to spend time with two of her best friends--her grown-up children. To find out more about Lee and her books, readers are invited to visit her at http://www.leemckenzie.com/. Lee’s titles are also listed on her author page at Amazon.com.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Christmas Secret from Lee McKenzie!