Best of Times/Worst of Times?

 “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

Charles Dickens wrote those words in 1859 and as far as I’m concerned, he could have been talking about life as an author at any time in history.

The Best of Times. You write a book and discover how much you love the entire process.

The Worst of Times. Publishers won’t look at your masterpiece without an agent and agents won’t consider an unpublished author.

But you keep writing, because you can’t help yourself.

Fast forward to the twenty-first century.

The Best of Times. An author no longer needs a publisher. You can upload your formatted manuscript to any of several on-line retailers as an ebook for people to purchase and read on their computer or dedicated reader.

The Worst of Times. With no gatekeepers in the industry, the marketplace quickly grows with books that never should have been published in the first place. And scammers who game the system.

The Best of Times. Gurus of indie publishing flourish, promising fame and fortune to authors who plunk down bundles of cash to take their courses or purchase their reports on everything from ads and marketing to social media to cover design and writing blurbs. They’ll even teach you how to write the books themselves, and how to buy reviews for it.

The Worst of Times. Desperate authors throw good money after bad and the gurus reap the benefits.

The Best of Times. No subject is off-limits. Publishers are no longer telling authors what to write or deciding what choices readers will have. The book world is vast, with something for everyone.

The Worst of Times. A lot of the books for sale are really quite dreadful. Poorly crafted and executed.

The Best of Times for readers. Desperate authors start giving away their books for free.

The Worst of Times for authors. Readers expect the books to be free, and most authors soon can’t make any sort of living at their craft.

An even Worse Time for authors. Computers, or Artificial Intelligence now has the capacity to write a book. It might not be good, but hey, it’s a book! And if you’re savvy at the marketing end of things, you can make some coin without actually writing a book.

The Best of Times. I just released a new title, my 52 nd, and reviewers love it.

The Worst of Times. Readers either can’t find the book because the market is glutted, or decide to wait until I put it on sale. Or better yet free.

I don’t know how it happened, but somehow I’ve come full circle, spending all my time writing without seeing any return on my investment.

Or maybe not. What if an influencer likes my book and makes a reel for Instagram or chats it up to their followers on TikTok.

Or better yet, Netflix turns my Seven Book Series into a popular television movie or series.

Frannie (Always a Bridesmaid) celebrated her book birthday yesterday. She was written by a real person who embraces everything about the industry. And really appreciates her readers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSP4MXXF

***

USA Today Bestselling Author Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her many alpha male heroes.

With over 50 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction.

She makes her home in the Pacific Northwest and loves to hear from her readers. www.kathleenlawless.com

Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Newsletter to receive a free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers.    http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1

Ah, The Life of a Writer!

 

By: Kathleen Lawless

AMAZON | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB

The life of a writer is a very solitary one.  We work away, just us and the computer screen and our imagination, creating worlds and characters and stories that we hope will enhance the reading pleasure of many.

 

I have never written a Christmas story, so when the call came to join with nine other writers and create the perfect New England Christmas town, I was ready for the fun.  Emails flew back and forth, fast and furious.  The Town Square, known as the Common was created.  A date agreed upon for the annual Christmas Tree Light Up Festivities.  Hot chocolate?  Of course.  Sleigh rides?  Absolutely!  Snowman building competition?  You bet! 

 

Shops and shopkeepers and their locations were shared and pinpointed.  A Christmas tree farm here.  A frozen skating pond there.  And what about a B&B, described in detail and given a prime location in our perfect town?

 

Once the setting was nailed down, each author gave birth to her story.  And thus, we presented to the world, CHRISTMAS COMES TO DICKENS.  WE hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing our stories in this unique setting.  https://books2read.com/DickensChristmas 

My Story, HOLLY’S WISH, was inspired by my favorite childhood Christmas book, The Story of Holly and Ivy.  I still read it every year during the holidays.  Because with Christmas magic in the air, anything is possible.

Excerpt from HOLLY’S WISH By Kathleen Lawless

“You should never underestimate the power of wishing for what you want. It always worked for me,” Kris said.

“Oh, I do,” Holly said blithely. “Every shooting star, new moon, and birthday candle.  You name it, I send my wish out there. It’s not my fault no one seems to be listening.”

“Your time will come,” Kris said.

As Kris spoke, the shop door opened with a tinkle of overhead bells. Holly looked over to see a tall, dark-hair man stamping snow off his feet. She took a second look, because, truthfully there weren’t a lot of good-looking men in town. Something about him seemed familiar, but before Holly could get a good look he turned away. She was left with an impression of a square jaw, pronounced cheekbones, with a straight, masculine nose nicely balanced above full lips. Maybe she had taken his photo at some point.

When he passed her in the aisle without a second look, she figured she must be mistaken. She paused at the door for one last look, but his back was toward her.  Typical man, doing his Christmas shopping at the last minute.

I hope you fall in love with every one of our Christmas stories and Dickens.

MILLIE’S AWESOME HOLIDAY MIRACLE by Top 100 Author Nancy Fraser - Can one little girl fill the holiday season with enough miracles for everyone? This story will warm your heart.

MIRACLE AT HOLLY HILL INN by Top 100 Author Maddie James - Ariana is looking for the perfect Christmas. Instead, she finds a Scrooge. Will two days snowbound at Holly Hill Inn bring them together?

HOLIDAY HEARTS by Top 100 Author Caroline Clemmons - Laura is funny, beautiful, and smart. She’s not about to date her boss. Can Ward convince her he’s not just looking for a holiday fling?

THE TINSEL TANGO by Best Selling Author Bonnie Edwards - She needs R&R. He teaches Tango. Or does he? Can love survive secrets & hidden agendas when a dance teacher is exposed as a wealthy tycoon?

WISDOM OF THE HEART by USA Today Best Selling Author Liz Flaherty - Best friends fell in love in high school. But life, families & distance happened along the way. Could they still be in love?

OPERATION SNOWBALL by Best Selling Author Kathryn Hills - Returning home to Dickens is hard for Army veteran, John Gridley. The last thing he expects to find is love with a pretty widow.

ANGEL KISSES AND HOLIDAY WISHES by Best Selling Author Peggy Jaeger - Sage left years ago, leaving Keith's heart in tatters. She's back as his grandmother’s doctor. Is there hope for them?

HOLLY’S WISH by Top 100 Author Kathleen Lawless - What if the girl who got away is standing right in front of you? Years ago, they shared one magical Christmas Eve. Is it too late for them now?

HOLIDAY HEART WISHES by Best Selling Author Lucinda Race - Vera picks up Tony, a stranded motorist, on her way back to Dickens. Will they discover their heart wishes can come true at Christmas?

SANTA’S WISH by Best Selling Author Jan Scarbrough - Will Christmas magic help them overcome the obstacles of her dashed career ambitions and his grief so they can find a second chance at love?

Since writing makes us hungry, we also compiled some of our favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes in IT’S A DICKENS OF A COOKIE.  Yours to download FREE.  https://books2read.com/dickens-cookie        Happy Thanksgiving All!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steamy or sweet, as long as there’s a romance, an alpha male or a cowboy Kathleen reads and writes them all One of her heroes, Steele, is a modern-day cowboy, so when she was dating on-line and met a man called Steel— Well, he’s not a cowboy but his is an alpha male and her forever hero. Which is why all of her stories end Happily Ever After. Not that she can ever stick to just one genre. So many stories to tell—never enough time. With close to 30 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, erotic romance, romantic suspense, women’s fiction and stories for young adults. Something for everyone!