And the winners of the Goodreads Giveaway for THE RIVER BRIDE are.... *insert drum roll here*
Susan Gannon of Arvada, Colorado
Arturo Operario of North York, Ontario
Sarah Hansrote of Knoxville, Tennessee
792 people entered THE RIVER BRIDE Giveaway and 365 people added it to their To-Read shelves. Thank you!
Folks, this will be my last Giveaway and here's why:
The mailing of books is costly in addition to the cost of the books themselves. This expense is absorbed by the author. The service the winning readers provide is to post their reviews at Goodreads. Without reviews, authors cannot afford to continue to enroll their books in Goodreads Giveaways. A print copy is the only format accepted and because of the cost involved (and often disappointing result) many authors I know are giving up on Giveaways. It is a great program and I'd hate to see it go but for independent authors on a tight budget, it has become a poor return.
There are readers out there who buy indie books at full price and post their reviews. There are companies who for a fraction of the cost of a Giveaway will promote an independent author's book. When marketing dollars are tight, the non-performer gets cut.
Writing a review can be nerve-wracking but your opinion matters, especially for an unknown work in this day and age. Think of yourself as a literary talent scout! Finding diamonds in the rough! going where no man has gone before! Readers rule! Discovering a new work by an unknown author is an adventure. You have to tell the world about it because if you don't, who will?
Congratulations to my three winners. Folks, your books are in the mail and I look forward to reading your reviews!
Peace and happy reading.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
THE RIVER BRIDE Goodreads Giveaway!
Open to U.S. and Canadian residents! Toss your name into the hat to win a free, signed copy of THE RIVER BRIDE!
(whew. exhausted. feel like a carnie barker.)
(If you don't see the fancy entry form, the other link will take you to the same place.
Go ahead. Click it.)
Free Sample: Two chapters of The River Bride on Wattpad
(If you don't see the fancy entry form, the other link will take you to the same place.
Go ahead. Click it.)
Free Sample: Two chapters of The River Bride on Wattpad
The River Bride by Nadine Doolittle Giveaway ends January 23, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Monday, January 5, 2015
It's January Sale Time!
In the time-honoured retail tradition of slashing prices to lure post-Christmas shoppers to open their wallets ... I am holding a 0.99 sale of the ebook edition of THE RIVER BRIDE.
The sale is everywhere ebooks are sold: Amazon, Kobo, B&N, GooglePlay and Apple. Click the links in the sidebar to land on the page.
The price goes back to 4.99 (USD) in February. (It may be my destiny to be a starving artist but no one said anything about giving up caffeine. Thanks to the readers who bought THE RIVER BRIDE at the regular price, I'm caffeinated until March.)
PS: It's a frozen Quebec morning, the trees are coated in ice and when the sunlight shines on them ... too distracting. So beautiful.
And the dog is sick. So I have that to distract me as well from finishing my latest novel. Back to work!
The sale is everywhere ebooks are sold: Amazon, Kobo, B&N, GooglePlay and Apple. Click the links in the sidebar to land on the page.
The price goes back to 4.99 (USD) in February. (It may be my destiny to be a starving artist but no one said anything about giving up caffeine. Thanks to the readers who bought THE RIVER BRIDE at the regular price, I'm caffeinated until March.)
PS: It's a frozen Quebec morning, the trees are coated in ice and when the sunlight shines on them ... too distracting. So beautiful.
And the dog is sick. So I have that to distract me as well from finishing my latest novel. Back to work!
Saturday, January 3, 2015
David Adams Richards and Arthur Ellis
A little history. I was in Vancouver for a family crisis. (My family doesn't have reunions--we have crisis-management team meetings.) Anyway, there I was in my suicidal sister's apartment and I found a book on the bed (hardcover) by David Adams Richards: Mercy Among the Children. I picked it up and read it even though I have a love/hate relationship with Canadian literature. Mostly I love it but some of the contemporary writers make me nervous. David Adams Richards wasn't one. Mercy Among the Children was the best book I'd read in a long time. I was very impressed by my sister's literary taste.
Crisis over, I was packing to take the plane home and I gave the book back to my sister. She said it wasn't hers; she didn't know where it came from. I asked my brother. He said he thought it was mine and that's why he put it on the bed. To this day, we have no idea where it came from or why it appeared at that particular moment in our lives. All to say, the theme of the book had echoes for me with my own family.
I put it in my suitcase and it now lives on my bookshelf as a keeper.
I read most of D.A.R.'s backlist after that and felt I had made a literary discovery. Turns out he was already discovered. He is one helluva writer. Some readers feel his work is depressing. Bullshit, I say. Pull on your big girl panties and read like an adult. Good fiction tells us what we are and what we can be. He's not going to draw us a fucking map or lie to us on the journey.
(Ack! My New Year's Resolution was to swear less....)
The point of this post is to say David Adams Richards has a book entered in the Arthur Ellis Awards for 2014 Best Crime Novel. The title is Crimes Against My Brother.
First, I can't wait to read it. Second, I can't believe my lousy luck. I entered THE RIVER BRIDE in that competition. Many, many incredibly talented Canadian mystery and crime fiction authors have entered their books in that competition. We freaking love the Arthur Ellis Awards given out each year in May by the Crime Writers of Canada. I didn't expect to win or shortlist but I entered because I'm a Canadian and I write crime fiction set in Canada. So ... yanno ... that's what we do.
The highlight of 2014 could very well be that I saw my name on a list with David Adams Richards. It would be beyond the limits of my joy if our books made the shortlist. But if I won and he didn't ... then how could I respect the award?
*snort* hilarious. but since we're thinking about it...
How could a genre author who owes so much to a literary master respect an award that beat out the master? I have no idea. I'd like to believe that for the jury there's no contest and D.A.R. smokes the rest of us. But there are criteria that I'm not privy to. There are variables as is the way with fiction and genre fiction in particular.
Maybe I'll just read his book and be glad to be a Canadian surrounded by outstanding Canadian authors who feed my soul. They don't get the national love they truly deserve. So this is me saying it: Thank you David Adams Richards for nursing me back to health with your books.
Love,
a reader
Crisis over, I was packing to take the plane home and I gave the book back to my sister. She said it wasn't hers; she didn't know where it came from. I asked my brother. He said he thought it was mine and that's why he put it on the bed. To this day, we have no idea where it came from or why it appeared at that particular moment in our lives. All to say, the theme of the book had echoes for me with my own family.
I put it in my suitcase and it now lives on my bookshelf as a keeper.
I read most of D.A.R.'s backlist after that and felt I had made a literary discovery. Turns out he was already discovered. He is one helluva writer. Some readers feel his work is depressing. Bullshit, I say. Pull on your big girl panties and read like an adult. Good fiction tells us what we are and what we can be. He's not going to draw us a fucking map or lie to us on the journey.
(Ack! My New Year's Resolution was to swear less....)
The point of this post is to say David Adams Richards has a book entered in the Arthur Ellis Awards for 2014 Best Crime Novel. The title is Crimes Against My Brother.
First, I can't wait to read it. Second, I can't believe my lousy luck. I entered THE RIVER BRIDE in that competition. Many, many incredibly talented Canadian mystery and crime fiction authors have entered their books in that competition. We freaking love the Arthur Ellis Awards given out each year in May by the Crime Writers of Canada. I didn't expect to win or shortlist but I entered because I'm a Canadian and I write crime fiction set in Canada. So ... yanno ... that's what we do.
The highlight of 2014 could very well be that I saw my name on a list with David Adams Richards. It would be beyond the limits of my joy if our books made the shortlist. But if I won and he didn't ... then how could I respect the award?
*snort* hilarious. but since we're thinking about it...
How could a genre author who owes so much to a literary master respect an award that beat out the master? I have no idea. I'd like to believe that for the jury there's no contest and D.A.R. smokes the rest of us. But there are criteria that I'm not privy to. There are variables as is the way with fiction and genre fiction in particular.
Maybe I'll just read his book and be glad to be a Canadian surrounded by outstanding Canadian authors who feed my soul. They don't get the national love they truly deserve. So this is me saying it: Thank you David Adams Richards for nursing me back to health with your books.
Love,
a reader
Friday, November 28, 2014
P. D. James and Me
I've been reading P. D. James for so many years, I can't remember a time when she wasn't "my" mystery author. I have a handful of authors I read over and over again for comfort or to make sense of the world or to just take care of me after I've had a crap day. P. D. James was one of those authors. She delivered the perfect blend of literary fiction and detective novel every single time.
When I started writing mysteries of my own, I felt a kind of obligation to her, to try to be as brave and intelligent. Her writing became the gold standard by which I measured my own work. I knew I wouldn't measure up but striving to get there was making me a better author. So when I read about her death, I cried a little because I felt like I'd failed her because I'd lost faith in writing, and in my writing in particular.
And then, on the same day, I got an email from Smashwords saying a review had been posted for The River Bride. Here is the link:
Review of The River Bride
It is hard to express the impact one thought-provoking, critical review can have on an author. In order to write well, we need the intelligence of the authors who came before us. And to continue to write well, we need the critical faculties of readers to guide us when we've lost faith.
I am grateful to the reviewer for taking the time. I am constantly amazed by the co-creation that is writing and reading. It really is something to have faith in.
When I started writing mysteries of my own, I felt a kind of obligation to her, to try to be as brave and intelligent. Her writing became the gold standard by which I measured my own work. I knew I wouldn't measure up but striving to get there was making me a better author. So when I read about her death, I cried a little because I felt like I'd failed her because I'd lost faith in writing, and in my writing in particular.
And then, on the same day, I got an email from Smashwords saying a review had been posted for The River Bride. Here is the link:
Review of The River Bride
It is hard to express the impact one thought-provoking, critical review can have on an author. In order to write well, we need the intelligence of the authors who came before us. And to continue to write well, we need the critical faculties of readers to guide us when we've lost faith.
I am grateful to the reviewer for taking the time. I am constantly amazed by the co-creation that is writing and reading. It really is something to have faith in.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
The Frugal Author
It's Sunday. It's November. We've had snow flurries which I love. I am not one of those November-haters. I love November. Because:
1) It's hunting season.
2) It's quiet.
3) It's not too early for Christmas music.
4) It is too early to stress about Christmas shopping.
I woke at 6:00 am. Wrote/edited/swore at my latest manuscript. Then popped downstairs for televised church, then back upstairs for a teeny bit of writing. Just enough to keep me from sticking my head in a gas oven when I open the file again.
I joke about the gas oven. As if I could afford a gas oven.
Which brings me to The Frugal Author. I've been following an online discussion about how to weather the lean times in writing---a subject I consider myself an expert in as I've only known lean times. If you are considering chucking your job to write full-time, read on.
The Frugal Author: Tips to Living the Dream.
1) If you are currently spending money, stop. Break the habit of spending money while you still earn it. This will lessen the trauma to your central nervous system when you have no money to spend.
2) If you can save, save. If you can't save---see above.
3) Brace yourself to work hard. You will write every day, all day. Plan to write genre fiction even if you are working on The Great Canadian Novel. It will comfort you when no one buys your lit-fic and possibly pay some bills.
4) No. 3 does not apply if you are a New York City journalist, a plastic surgeon, or in the entertainment industry.
5) Don't worry about eating, it's overrated. But if you must, then learn to cook, shop local and (it goes without saying) don't shell out money for junk food (incl. booze). (I know, I know, this one hurt me too.)
6) Do not go into debt for your books. Ever. You will be tempted. Resist. Hundreds of thousands of authors will back me up on this. Do not get so deep into debt that you can't write. This is the best advice I didn't take when I was starting out. I didn't take it and I still owe money for Living the Dream.
7) Self-publishing, you say? The temptation (and pressure) to spend is even higher. Do not spend more on your books than you can realistically expect to earn from them. And then ratchet those expectations down by about fifty percent. I'm not being negative. I'm being positive. You will positively have a tough slog to sell 100 copies of your book. Pace your expenses accordingly. Your market will grow ... but baby steps.
8) Agents reject you. Publishers don't respond. Your savings have dwindled and your life is shit. You never see your kids/husband/wife/mother/friends and your body is falling apart. Was it worth it? If your answer is no, then please do not quit the day job. Not a living soul will fault you for it. And if they do, send them to me and I'll set them straight.
9) The last frugal tip I have is for your ego. You'll have to adjust to working without reward. And don't kid yourself that the joy of writing will be enough. It's a hell of a joy but it's rarely enough to replace the validation, income, and society of the workplace. Think hard. There will be no reviews of your work. No feedback. You will have to accept silence for a very long time and write anyway.
10) You took the red pill. You're all in and today is the first day of Living the Dream. You've got such a tiny economic footprint that you barely register on the grid of household expenses. You're eating rice and beans but on the upside, you've lost 10 pounds. The price of gas is something you never think about because you never drive anywhere. You write every single day. Even Sunday. And you are happy. Frugal living is a walk in the park. So the last tip is, this is the money shot. This day. This moment. Work hard. Give it your all. Enjoy every minute and give thanks.
I'll race you to the bestseller lists.
1) It's hunting season.
2) It's quiet.
3) It's not too early for Christmas music.
4) It is too early to stress about Christmas shopping.
I woke at 6:00 am. Wrote/edited/swore at my latest manuscript. Then popped downstairs for televised church, then back upstairs for a teeny bit of writing. Just enough to keep me from sticking my head in a gas oven when I open the file again.
I joke about the gas oven. As if I could afford a gas oven.
Which brings me to The Frugal Author. I've been following an online discussion about how to weather the lean times in writing---a subject I consider myself an expert in as I've only known lean times. If you are considering chucking your job to write full-time, read on.
The Frugal Author: Tips to Living the Dream.
1) If you are currently spending money, stop. Break the habit of spending money while you still earn it. This will lessen the trauma to your central nervous system when you have no money to spend.
2) If you can save, save. If you can't save---see above.
3) Brace yourself to work hard. You will write every day, all day. Plan to write genre fiction even if you are working on The Great Canadian Novel. It will comfort you when no one buys your lit-fic and possibly pay some bills.
4) No. 3 does not apply if you are a New York City journalist, a plastic surgeon, or in the entertainment industry.
5) Don't worry about eating, it's overrated. But if you must, then learn to cook, shop local and (it goes without saying) don't shell out money for junk food (incl. booze). (I know, I know, this one hurt me too.)
6) Do not go into debt for your books. Ever. You will be tempted. Resist. Hundreds of thousands of authors will back me up on this. Do not get so deep into debt that you can't write. This is the best advice I didn't take when I was starting out. I didn't take it and I still owe money for Living the Dream.
7) Self-publishing, you say? The temptation (and pressure) to spend is even higher. Do not spend more on your books than you can realistically expect to earn from them. And then ratchet those expectations down by about fifty percent. I'm not being negative. I'm being positive. You will positively have a tough slog to sell 100 copies of your book. Pace your expenses accordingly. Your market will grow ... but baby steps.
8) Agents reject you. Publishers don't respond. Your savings have dwindled and your life is shit. You never see your kids/husband/wife/mother/friends and your body is falling apart. Was it worth it? If your answer is no, then please do not quit the day job. Not a living soul will fault you for it. And if they do, send them to me and I'll set them straight.
9) The last frugal tip I have is for your ego. You'll have to adjust to working without reward. And don't kid yourself that the joy of writing will be enough. It's a hell of a joy but it's rarely enough to replace the validation, income, and society of the workplace. Think hard. There will be no reviews of your work. No feedback. You will have to accept silence for a very long time and write anyway.
10) You took the red pill. You're all in and today is the first day of Living the Dream. You've got such a tiny economic footprint that you barely register on the grid of household expenses. You're eating rice and beans but on the upside, you've lost 10 pounds. The price of gas is something you never think about because you never drive anywhere. You write every single day. Even Sunday. And you are happy. Frugal living is a walk in the park. So the last tip is, this is the money shot. This day. This moment. Work hard. Give it your all. Enjoy every minute and give thanks.
I'll race you to the bestseller lists.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
True North. Strong and Free.
C.S. Lewis once said: "How monotonously alike are all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different the saints."
The young man who murdered the Canadian soldier in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa on October 22, 2014 was a Canadian. They were probably close in age and valued the same things--family, children, faith, freedom.
The difference between those two young men (now both dead) is that one of them understood the meaning of the word "freedom" and one did not. One death will further the cause of freedom and one will not.
A Canadian soldier was run over earlier this week by an extremist who was known to Quebec police and a spokesperson explained why they had not detained him. "We cannot arrest someone for what is in his thoughts. For what is his beliefs."
That is freedom. Get it? The Canadian soldier died to preserve the freedom of the Canadian who had killed him. To safeguard the guy's freedom to express extremist beliefs without fear of arrest. That is the hardcore price of democracy and that is why terrorists and tyrants will never beat it down.
History has proven again and again that despots and dictators gravely overestimate the power of fear and gravely underestimate the power of free will. You can't force anything down anyone's throat for very long. Democratic nations have learned this through trial and error for centuries. We're still learning. But whatever mistakes we might make, there is no going back for us. The foundation of every democratic nation is freedom. We are willing to die for it. In great numbers. Nothing will stop us if it is threatened.
Two Canadian soldiers were killed this month by two Canadians who did not understand the truth of their lives, but instead chose to believe a myth. That is the real tragedy in this story.
Two men had faith and two men did not. Guess which two.
The young man who murdered the Canadian soldier in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa on October 22, 2014 was a Canadian. They were probably close in age and valued the same things--family, children, faith, freedom.
The difference between those two young men (now both dead) is that one of them understood the meaning of the word "freedom" and one did not. One death will further the cause of freedom and one will not.
A Canadian soldier was run over earlier this week by an extremist who was known to Quebec police and a spokesperson explained why they had not detained him. "We cannot arrest someone for what is in his thoughts. For what is his beliefs."
That is freedom. Get it? The Canadian soldier died to preserve the freedom of the Canadian who had killed him. To safeguard the guy's freedom to express extremist beliefs without fear of arrest. That is the hardcore price of democracy and that is why terrorists and tyrants will never beat it down.
History has proven again and again that despots and dictators gravely overestimate the power of fear and gravely underestimate the power of free will. You can't force anything down anyone's throat for very long. Democratic nations have learned this through trial and error for centuries. We're still learning. But whatever mistakes we might make, there is no going back for us. The foundation of every democratic nation is freedom. We are willing to die for it. In great numbers. Nothing will stop us if it is threatened.
Two Canadian soldiers were killed this month by two Canadians who did not understand the truth of their lives, but instead chose to believe a myth. That is the real tragedy in this story.
Two men had faith and two men did not. Guess which two.
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