Beginning a New Line

Some of my first books are getting set for reappearances as Cait Logan E-books. Or at least the elves are busy at work, making that happen--whenever. It takes a lot of technology to get good packaging and I'm hoping the new covers will do my new CL line justice. (I'm thinking about a logo, so if you have good ideas, please comment.)

The technology in getting these books up and running is taking some time, but as we were working on them, I once more fell in love with the stories.

RUGGED GLORY was first a Second Chance at Love story, Berkley Publishing. Then it did so well that it was reissued there in a Diamond line.

Here's the back blurb:
Ben Woden:To Sami, he's six feet plus of overpowering masculinity, a hard-brawling, blunt-talking Wyoming rancher who wants her to tutor his rebellious teenage son. Edgy as a grizzly, ornery as a polecat, he's all lean, tough, elemental male. Somebody's got to civilize him...maybe even love him. Might as well be her.

Sami Lassiter: To Ben, she's sixty inches of prim and proper schoolmarm, spunky independence, and explosive sensuality. Sweet but peppery. Winsome as a girl, but a whole lot of woman. His control has been shot to pieces; he wants her so badly. But no "Little Bit" like her is going to hog-tie and tame him!

NEXT....



GAMBLER'S LADY was also a reissue under the Diamond line for Berkley, but was first printed as a SCAL. Both covers are goregous and I remember my editor waving this book around at conferences, saying this was exactly what she wanted from writers.

RUGGED GLORY and GAMBLER'S LADY both placed well on the best seller's lists, as did my other category books. And both are worth another look to new readers.

With GAMBLER'S LADY too, I felt that the basic stories still held through time. Over all good solid reading. I don't know when all the reissuing will come about, but watch for more on it.

Here's GAMBLER'S LADY back blurb:

Nick Santos needs a wife...and Kim Reynolds is just what he's looking for, a class act who could discourage his ex-wife from trying to get custody of their four-year-old daughter. When he offers to gamble with Kim for high stakes--a temporary "hands-off" marriage against money for the physical fitness clug she wants--it's an offer she can't refuse.

Playing house with Nic would be playing with fire, so Kim's not taking wild chances--oker is a game she knows she can win. But Nick always gets what he wants, and when he claims his winnings and makes her his wife, he vows to turn their charade into reality...

These are just a couple to look for, and I was just too excited to wait to tell you about the news. With new covers, (and don't forget those logo ideas) thanks to new technology, I'm hoping new readers will enjoy this stories as well as readers who want to revisit.

Dealing with Early Books

Writing isn't only writing. It's also business and product management, i.e. backlist management. Agents are well familiar with business modes, but now, with Internet many authors are stepping into modes never before available. So much material is available, open to anyone for the time and exploration, and authors are taking advantage of this.

With many calls for my backlist, I'm also considering options. Tips from other authors really help, and many authors have formed publishing companies that handle back and front lists.

Many of my early category books are ready for republishing somehow and that is a whole long road of discovery.

I'm also wondering about shifting to WordPress, and that would take some work for all 3 blogs. Then, there's website upkeep, and yes, I'm behind on that. I'm also writing.

But yesterday, I spent hours researching just how to get my backlist up and running in e-publishing. Reformatting takes hours as in the translation of the printed page--and yes, you'd better have those rights returned to you in writing.

Rights reversion is big now for every author with formerly only traditionally published work. E-rights are now a part of traditional publishers' contracts, in an advent of new clauses.

It's a new day in publishing of all sorts.

Amazing Book, Amazing Writer

The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate is my latest women's fiction read and I absolutely loved it on two levels:

1. As an engrossing, satisfying read with complex layers as the heroine sets off on her journey.
2. As a writer, purely enjoying this fresh, comprehensive style that weaves an intriguing braid of past and new along the linear story.

Rebecca Strand's story is pure book club fodder. The back of the book provides intriguing questions, but you'll have your own.

While I've only spotlighted one or two other writers on this blog, all about Me, Me, Me, I wanted to tell others how I felt as a reader and as a writer who has known Melissa for a number of years--in fact, she was my editor for 10 years. I appreciated her then, but in a fresh new way as a really good writer. She's written other books and has her second YA novel coming out in June 2010, plus another women's fiction, THE LOVE GODDESS'S COOKING SCHOOL in November. So, as a writer, she is no one-shot wonder, but grounded in a number of books you can easily find.

THE SECRET OF JOY was my first exposure to Senate's work, but not my last. I don't often let go of trade- book $, but the value was met in this story that asks:  What would you do if you discovered you had a half-sister you never knew existed?

Here's 28-year-old New Yorker Rebecca Strand's journey:

Her dying father confesses to an affair which produced a younger half-sister he has denied since the mother's disclosure. Engaged, employed, and deeply grieving, Rebecca is asked to deliver the letters he wrote to said denied half-sister, on every birthday. Stunned, Rebecca sets off after his death to comply.

Enter twist: Located in a fictional small coastal Maine town (where Senate lives by the way), said half-sister is  a separated mother, who conducts weekend singles tours out of her orange mini-bus AND she wants nothing to do with their father, half his sizeable fortune, or Rebecca. She's managed all these years quite nicely, thank you very much.

Determined and hungry for family, Rebecca stays to dig into the small town, schmooze with Joy's best clients--the Divorced Ladies Club of Wiscasset--and a very interesting hunky carpenter. Loved the sisterhood of these ladies and how Rebecca fits into them.

There's plenty of introspection as Rebecca makes her journey from not quite feeling in place (don't we all have that feeling at some time?), to making choices that fit. In writer-speak, if a character doesn't question themselves, their lives and change, they're not making a journey. But as "Becs" makes her journey, she also enriches lives with very deep comprehension. As I said, I loved the layers in this book.

This is a very rounded, satisfying read with plenty of small Maine-town coastal feel. Settings can also be characters as I mentioned in a previous post and Senate paints a gorgeous coastal picture.

At her blog, linked at Senate's website, you'll find General Quesions about The Secret of Joy, and I really, really suggest reading those, either in your reader's hat, or in your writer's.

If you're into YA, Senate's next is THE MOSTS, June 2010.

Where you can find more? Visit Melissa's website  or her blog for a delightful experience all the way around.

Kathy Carmichael's Second Hit

Diary of a Confessions Queen



I rarely step out to plug other's books, as this blog is all about me, me, me and writing tips, etc.

However, it's great to see a writer break, and this writer is special to me.  She's extremely friendly, supportive and a sharing personality, and out here in writer-land we need friends like her.

Kathy Carmichael's latest, Diary of a Confessions Queen is another Booklist hit. It's great to watch Kathy's career grow and she's off and running with this new starred review hit.

This is what Booklist has to say:

*/Booklist/** Starred Review*: "... Carmichael (/Hot Flash/, 2009) has created a 
thrilling whodunit in her trademark sassy, breezy style. Readers will enjoy her 
unique blend of humor and suspense."
*~ Shelley Mosley, */*Booklist*/

To listen to her skit about Diary of a Confessions Queen visit Blog Talk Radio. Really cute. 

Kathy is someone to watch and busy, busy, busy. She's very much involved in writing, the industry, and is a workshop leader. You can find more about her and her books at her website and blogs.

This is her second Booklist hit.

Hot Flash Carmichael's first for Medallion came in the top 10 in Booklist's 2009 picks.  

 
If you are a reader, check out these two unusual hits by an unusual personality plus. If you are a writer, check out Kathy's career and busy schedule for tips to help you.

Congratulations, Kathy.