Free on Kindle

Yay, Privy to Murder is free on Kindle. I'm having a problem with links on this computer, but if you go to Amazon and do a search for Privy to Murder, you will see that the Kindle edition is free today and tomorrow. Get your copy now. Even better, write a review for Amazon. Tali Cates would love to live on your phone, Kindle or PC.

Still working on my urban fantasy and a new Tali Cates mystery.

Completely off the subject, I discovered a lot of the music styles I like start with C, like my name. Classical, country, celtic, classic rock. Strange. Never noticed that before. But then, I'm a mixture of odd likes and skills. I play the hammered dulcimer (could you have a more obscure instrument?) I paint with pastels, write paranormal mysteries, non fiction infection control books and poetry. I bird watch, clog dance, like experimenting with different wines and know a little karate. I'm also a registered nurse. So, what do you think, Rennaisance woman or ADD?

Finding Magic

A friend of mine, Rinda talked about letting those self editors on our shoulders run our writing. I find other things have the same effect. If a book doesn't sell as well as you hoped, you may start second-guessing what you do and be tempted to write what ever is selling. My opinion is that you have to stay true to writing what you love to write and what you read, because if you write to a particular genre, market, only because it sells, not because you love it, the readers will know. It will show in the writing.

I caught myself trying to reevaluate what I write and thinking in terms of writing what is selling, and in ebooks, it seems to be a mix of paranormal and erotica. Well, not an erotica person here. Not that I can't enjoy reading it, but writing it just isn't what I do. If I start trying to write something that doesn't speak to me on a real level, it won't work for me or for the readers in the long run. So I will continue to write what I write, which is mystery plus paranormal plus humor. If I don't make a fortune, so be it, the process is what counts. Selling a painting doesn't give me as much pleasure as the actual painting process. With my writing, yes, I would like it to be read, but small numbers are better than no numbers and if even one person is pulled into a different world that I created, cool. I've done my job.

Contrast It

Light and Dark. Good and Evil. Warmth and cold. They all make us appreciate both. Life, painting and writing all give us examples of contrast. Contrast between light and dark keeps a painting interesting. Conflict must be present for a book to be a page turner, whether the protagonist is saving the world or one baby owl. The contrast between dark and light times in our lives lets us appreciate the light.

Artists can have a light touch with contrast that is as delicate as a faint shadow on a bird's wing or a living presence like the light in "Girl with a Pearl Earring. Writing, just like painting, allows us the choice between bold and delicate in our approach. Contrast, conflict, between light and dark and good and evil gives depth to the work, dimension and the difference between mediocre, barely competent and a truly defined work.

Now for the commercial message: Eternal Press Launch on Monday with prizes and excerpts galore. Come join us at eternalpressreaders@yahoogroups.com. Pre-order FAIRY DUST today.