A Charitable Plan

Back in 2011, when I was newly published with only three titles out, I needed to find a way to be found. Take a hard look at reality: with well over a million new ISBNs generated every year, the pool of available books is literally getting deeper by the minute. I'm standing in the midst of it all, treading water, waving my hands, and shouting my own name ~ but who can hear me?

Everyone says that the best promo is good word of mouth. I thought about that and made a decision: I would create my own romance reader event ~ Arizona's only one, by the way ~ and bring the readers to me. Why not?

And, because I strongly believe in helping others along the way, I tapped two dozen relatively new romance authors, and pulled them in with me.

The concept was simple: I bring four of my fans, you bring four of yours, and we cross-pollinate. We help each other out. Easy peasy.

Only it wasn't.

Turns out, there are a lot of authors who don't "get" promotion. Authors who don't think to toot their own horns, much less someone else's. Whose visions are really quite tiny. Yet I pressed on, linking arms with a couple gals who understood what needed to be done. Though much smaller than we hoped, the very first Arizona Dreamin' was nonetheless an huge hit.

Along the way, I knew that just helping other authors wasn't enough, we needed to make some sort of impact on the world outside of ourselves. We needed a charity.

I was in line at a Starbucks when I said that out loud. The woman in front of me turned around and said, "No one ever picks my charity."

"What charity?" I asked.

"Huntington's Disease Society of America."

I grinned at her. "Give me the contact information. That will be our charity." Just like that, it was done.

I felt bad, then, when our inaugural event was so sparsely attended. Even so, we raised $350, and I sent the check the next week.

What happened next, really surprised me. I received two emails from the HDSA headquarters in Los Angeles, thanking me profusely for the donation.

Really? It was only $350. For someone like Susan G Komen, that wouldn't even buy the staff coffee for the week. But these women were truly grateful. And I was truly glad to have helped.

In Arizona Dreamin's second year, our attendance grew by 50% and we raised $550.

When this blog posts, we will have JUST completed our third annual event. We grew in attendance by another 50%, and expect that will be reflected in our donation. I'll comment when this blog posts and reveal the final amount.

As for the authors, some of them have been with me from the start and we are growing together. There are no egos here, but a genuine understanding that the best way to help ourselves is to help others. In fact, this year we added an aspiring-writer sister event, Buildin' the Dream, whose subtitle is "Authors Helping Authors."

Might you join us next year? We are doing good ~ and having a blast!

Buildin' the Dream: May 29-30, 2014 (BuildinTheDream.com)

Arizona Dreamin': May 30-Jun 1, 2014 (ArizonaDreaminEvent.com)

New Year- New Genre by Paty Jager

With the new year everyone makes resolutions or hopes to change something in their life to enhance their lifestyle or make themselves happier.

The new year finds me working on a mystery book. This has been a dream since I first started writing in the 80’s. In fact, the first two novels I finished were mysteries.  When I didn’t have luck finding a writing group for support and my efforts at trying to find a publisher soured me, I began writing western romance and discovered Romance Writers of America and received the support and encouragement I needed to continue writing.

I enjoyed writing the western romances. The genre came easy to me with the lifestyle I grew up with and live now.  But my heart remained with mysteries and this year I’m writing my first cozy mystery and so far I’m loving the change and the challenge. I like challenges and I believe that’s why I’ve written in so many genres. When one becomes easy, I move on to one that will challenge me.

This past year I wrote two Action Adventure books which are part of a trilogy. This was out of my comfort zone but so much fun! And the reviews that have come in on the first one, has me apprehensive that the second and third book (I’ll write this year) will live up to reader’s expectations. But that is part of the challenge for me. To keep upping my writing.

Here is the blurb for both books. Secrets of a Mayan Moon was published in August and Secrets of an Aztec Temple will be available the end of January.

Secrets of a Mayan Moon blurb:

Child prodigy and now Doctor of Anthropology, Isabella Mumphrey, is about to lose her job at the university. In the world of publish or perish, her mentor’s request for her assistance on a dig is just the opportunity she’s been seeking. If she can decipher an ancient stone table—and she can—she’ll keep her department. She heads to Guatemala, but drug trafficking bad guys, artifact thieves, and her infatuation for her handsome guide wreak havoc on her scholarly intentions.

DEA agent Tino Kosta, is out to avenge the deaths of his family. He’s deep undercover as a jaguar tracker and sometimes jungle guide, but the appearance of a beautiful, brainy anthropologist heats his Latin blood taking him on a dangerous detour that could leave them both casualties of the jungle.

Secrets of a Mayan Moon is available at Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords

Secrets of an Aztec Temple blurb:

Revenge is not always sweet… 

Isabella Mumphrey can’t leave a puzzle alone. This time she attempts to use her anthropology knowledge to uncover who is stealing priceless artifacts from an Aztec Temple in Mexico City. The discovery will certainly prove her worth to the World Intelligence Agency. 

Tino Costantine is in Mexico City, too. He has infiltrated a drug lord’s organization to find enough evidence to not only prove the man’s illegal activities, but to bring him down for numerous deaths. Namely those of Tino’s family.

But when the love of his life, Isabella, strolls into his enemy’s home, Tino’s challenged by the choice of saving her or fulfilling his revenge.

Coming January 2013.

www.patyjager.net

www.patyjager.blogspot.com

Mission: Genre Hacking Probable

Hello All, Courtney Leigh here. I have one true, reoccurring thought about blending genres: it's probable. Same goes for genre-hacking (or as others would say, genre hopping). I think 'hacking' just gives 'hopping' an edge.

Most of my friends and fellow authors don't just read one genre. I'm guilty of reading Jodi Thomas historicals, Amanda Quick regencies, Stephenie Meyer paranormals, and Nora Roberts contemporaries. So why SHOULDN'T I think of writing what I love to read? A lot of other people/authors are like me--their preferences are eclectic.

It only makes sense that their writing would be eclectic, too. Soooo... it's probable, the concept of an author wanting to write more than one genre. But it's also important for authors to keep their mission statements handy--and not lose sight of the prize by becoming overstretched. After all, a Jack of all trades is a master of none.

Some authors have created different pen names that are genre-specific. Some can get away using the same name in multiple genres. Stephen King is the perfect example, as his horror and his paranormals and his other work all have one name on them. Stephen King. (Keep in mind, when King started out he stuck with publishing horror. Once he became huge, he diversified his portfolio.)

Jayne Ann Krentz (aka Jayne Castle, aka Amanda Quick), explores several different genres simultaneously. (Also keep in mind, these pen names were created out of necessity through the years as a way to keep her career varied and regenerative.)

All in all, I honestly believe breaking into the publishing industry in one genre is the first step. Once you've established yourself as a master of one...well, diversify all you want!

Navigating across Genres

The subject this month is problematical for me. I thought, I'm not writing across genres at the moment. So how do I put a spin on this subject?
As a reader, I love crossed genre books. Steampunk, vampire romances, shape shifter romances and Romantic Suspense are all fascinating to me. Those types of books are the ultimate diversion from life as I know it.
I've been reading Zoe Archer's trilogy and she sucks me right into her world.
I think it is the escapism that speaks to me. Protecting magic at all costs. Secret societies hell bent on possessing or safeguarding the magic of the world.
Add in a handsome warrior and a heroine who is strong and as the story unfolds a romance. Sigh!
What cross genre books have you read lately? Do you enjoy those types of books?