March Madness...

It's been a while since I've posted, and that's because I've been busy with editing one novella and finishing up the other one. 

I've also been reading other authors blogs. Eating up advice like mixed M&M's and popcorn. So what have I learned you asked? Well, let me just put it like this.  I'm confused. 

Here is a list of advice from authors: (Just some examples so you can see my dilema.)

1.) Write what you know.
2.) Write what you "don't" know.
3.) Don't self-publish. Editors don't like self-published authors.
4.) Do self-publish.  Editors like a track record.
5.) Blog - To gain readers.
6.) Don't blog - Readers don't read them. Writers do. (Um. I'm a reader too.)
7.) Don't promote your book on Twitter or FB.
8.) Promote on Twitter and FB and everywhere else.  (To me, this is a fine line to walk, but if you do it often, it is annoying and I will unfriend you and never buy your book. Well, unless you are Kenyon, Ward or Shayne.)
9.) Interviews are a waste of time.
10.) Put your name out there.  Do interviews, etc.
11.) Make your book free on Amazon.
12.) Don't make your book free. People will think the book is bad.

The conflicting list goes on and on. Which ones are right? Crap. I don't know...but who does?

It seems like a lot of authors are trying to find that special magic formula that turns you into an instant hit.  Sorry, I wish I had the answers.  I can only share with you my journey and the bumps along the way, what worked and what didn't. Everyone has a different path. So you have to find yours. 

It could be just being in the right place at the right time with a great book ready to go.

Do what feels right.  Even if you fail at first, don't give up. Try a new angle.

I would love to hear some positive stories on how you found a home for your book(s) or if you are still looking for a book home, how are you going about it? 

~ Dawn

All About Mardi Gras ~ New Orleans Style...

So what is Mardi Gras all about?  When will Mardi Gras be next year and the year after that?
What is with the King Cakes and the baby inside of them?
Well, I'm not going to tell you all about it, instead I'm going to be lazy and let you follow this link and dive right into all the wonderful information already posted at this other website.

I love Mardi Gras, however, I stick with 1 or 2 parades a year (maybe that many), and never on Mardi Gras day. Too many people for my taste. I hate huge crowds with not enough restrooms. Yuck.

The first Mardi Gras I remember was when I was around 3 yrs. old, and my parents took me, my brother and sister. (My lil brother wasn't around yet.) I think we were in Grenta on Fourth Street. And all of a sudden I recall these beautiful horses. They were huge! I was standing in front of my mom, aching to get closer to them. Well my Mom was waving to the men on the horses to try and get them to throw beads to us, but instead of throwing them the man on the horse decided to get a closer look at my Mom.

The next thing I recall was my foot hurting real bad. And then my Mom arguing with the man on the horse who happened to be a policeman. Oy. From what I heard, he got an ear full. Luckily, she wasn't arrested. :-)  Ahh, the good ole' days of Mardi Gras. Now all I have to worry about is the kiddo's being flashed. I stay clear of the horses...even though I love them still today...

Oh yeah, you want the link: Mardi Gras New Orleans .

Happy Mardi Gras...Enjoy!

Dawn

Jack Reacher Movie Review

I thought Jack Reacher would be like Broken City, but it wasn't.  This movie was so much better.
It had plot. It had motive. It had plenty of conflict.  It didn't have sex, but it had heat...I loved it.

And even though I'm not a big Tom Cruise fan, he still did an excellent job. Kuddo's to Tom! The man can act...

The movie starts off with a shooting of 5 "random" people (or at least that's what it seems), and the shooter is caught.  The evidence was laid out perfectly for the cops. And when the police start to interogate him, he writes, "Get Jack Reacher."

Well, they have no idea how to find Jack, but it didn't matter, Jack found them. Jack sees the bad guy on the news and knows him.  Knows they have the right guy or do they?

Jack hook's up with the defending attorney (she asks him to investigate for her), even though he just wants to prove that the shooter is guilty, (not what the atty wants) but then he starts piecing the puzzle together and things don't add up.  Now, the real bad guys start after Reacher, but Reacher is a little too smart for those clowns.  They also go after the atty. Reacher is a little sweat on the atty., so of course he helps her out...Reacher is a bad ass, but the kind you have to like...

I don't think I'm giving the movie justice with this review, and I won't spoil it either, so go and see it for yourself.  You'll be happy you did.  I'm giving this a 4 out of 5 Stars.  Oh, and don't forget to look for Lee Child, the author of the Jack Reacher series.  Child's plays the cop who hands Reacher back his belongings after he gets out of jail.

Review by Dawn Chartier  

Broken City - Movie Review

Broken City * Movie Review by Dawn Chartier

I give Broken City 3.5 stars out of 5. This was a crime drama, car crashing, shoot-em up type of movie which stars some really good actors, (Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe) but the plot was a same ole' same ole'. It lacked a better twist and more sub-plots.

Quick Summary: An ex-cop was hired by the Mayor (who is running for Mayor again) to investigate his wife. The ex-cop (who is now a P.I.) believes he is trying to capture pictures of the wife cheating on the Mayor, but it's not what it seems. The Mayor has a bigger agenda.

The Mayor takes the pictures from the P.I. and pays him, then bad things happen to wife's supposed lover who is the Mayor's rival campaign manager. The P.I. realizes the Mayor is up to no good, and then it's too late. The Mayor has proof against the P.I., and he can't get out of it. He has two choices. Do the right or wrong thing. I won't ruin the ending and tell you which one he does.

I like my movies with a little more thought out plot. But this might be just me, so I wouldn't say it was a waste of money, it just wasn't what I'd hoped for. (p.s. I didn't pay for this one, a friend won the tickets, and I enjoyed her company as always.)

Hit as Many Balls as You Can...

I got up this morning dreading my 9am appointment with the nice golf instructor, Brian.  Not because I didn't want to practice my golf swing, but because it was like 50 degrees out there. Brrrrrrr.
I hate the cold. (And yes, that is freezing cold to me.)


This was only my second lesson to date, and I found out that golfing is much like writing. The more you practice the better you will be.  Well, I wasn't much better, but it was still fun learning how to hold the clubs, which clubs to use, where to stand, how to bend my knees, and twist my body just so. Then all I had to do was swing and hit the ball. Let me just tell you, it's not as simple as you think...

I can do each of those steps listed above, but when I put them all together they don't always go in the proper order.  My hips are supposed to led the way, but for some reason, they don't want to. Sounds like writing to me. You have to have characters, setting, dialogue, etc. and you have to figure out how to put all that writing in a certain order so it makes sense... I'm learning how to both though. And it's a lot of fun.

I had some great pictures, but for some reason I can't post them here anymore, not sure what's up there... Grrr...

Looking forward to trying my new skills out on a golf course. :-)

Have a great weekend,
Dawn

Part II - New Year - New me...(Golf anyone?)

So this is what I found out about the new me.  She's as stubborn as the old me, but guess what?
I sent in my first query of the year.  Yep. Sure did.  Am I nervous? Well, of course I am, but I had the urge to get it out and so be it.  No matter what happens - all is good...  I have faith in the story, and faith in my series - one day it will be published...

Tonight I'll finished up plotting another book, and keep on writing...

Anywho, my next New Year adventure is learning how to play golf.  Yep. You heard that right.
My first lesson is tomorrow, but it looks like rain is coming. Cross your fingers for me...

Why golf?  Well, because my hubby plays, and he enjoys when I go with him. (I enjoy it too, but not like him.) I would probably enjoy it a lot more if I knew how to actually hit the ball... I hate swinging at air, and spinning into a complete circle. I know I look like a fool, but hubby never laughs...

Until then...keep on reading or whatever your new adventure is...

Last read book: 'Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries - 4.5 Stars - A very touching Christmas romance story...

About to read: (I haven't decided yet.)

Enjoy 2013!
Dawn

New Year...New me?

So it's a new year and I thought a lot about a new years resolution for 2013. Sending several days vacationing in Florida will do that to you...

Then after a friend's comment (Ursula Whistler) on Twitter, I figured out what that resolution would be. (Thanks UW)

And here it is:  "I will not let fear (or anyone) stand in the way of my dreams."

Once upon a time this was how I lived life, but then somehow fear slid its way into my mind and halted me in my tracks.  FEAR whispered in my ear, telling me that I couldn't fulfill my dreams. That I needed to give up.... and when you think you can't do it - guess what?  You can't.

Now that I realize what (who) was standing in my way (me!), I will kick myself in the butt and get back into the "I can do anything I put my mind to, and not worry about fear or rejection" attitude and all will be well again. Maybe December was just a bad month for me, but this is a new year and a new attitude.

Plus, you'd think after TOR and Penguin requested to read my MS that I'd get over the fear, but no....I think it made the fear grow a little more.  But that's over with now.  I got past the "Oh shit!" moment, and will finish up the edits for Mixed Magic and finish up revising Buried Magic and send those submissions out asap. Fear will let go of my hands and allow me to grow once again...

So time to kick that fear bitch to the side, and allow the positive vibes to flow through out my body, mind and soul....and I hope the positive vibes flow through you as well.

Happy New Year All!  And Happy 2013 Reading and/or Writing!

Hugs,
Dawn