May Release: The Egg Basket

"Couldn't put it down."

The Basket Maker's Wife
 3 women tied by more than blood.
UK: http://amzn.to/1GCVhux
Kobo/iBooks/Nook


The Egg Basket is finished and set for a May launch--one of those books that went through a lot of Sideline Life Bits, which interfered.

Leading The Egg Basket is a Jessie Holbrook--The Basket Maker's Wife quote: 

The Woman Inside

~Life is a stream, winding through the years. Women must know who they are, to accept who they are—inside where the wounds need to be healed and cleansed. Only then, can a woman accept life on her terms and no one else’s. She should take what she wants, the love and future that she wants, and be joyous in the taking.

I’m a seer, bred of nature and the woods, to see what souls need, the good and the bad. A good soul simply needs a few blessings placed in a basket suited to the task. And they need to believe…~

Jessie Holbrook, The Basket Maker’s Wife

The cover artist is working on The Egg Basket now, so hopefully it will match Wife. I am thrilled with this cover.

Notice the basket on the spine and by the ISBN? The artist, Najla Qamber, included a shot of my own basket, which will be used as the logo for Book 3 and short stories. I'm writing Book 3 now, tentatively set for November and titled, The Moses Basket.

Available now in ebook and easy to read paper: Book 1: The Basket Maker's Wife
The Basket Maker's Wife
 3 women tied by more than blood.
UK: http://amzn.to/1GCVhux
Kobo/iBooks/Nook

A Writer's Meanwhiles

I'm working on a basic outline for book 3 of my Basket Trilogy. Because there is a story arc, plot points and threads need to be resolved. This is a women's fiction series with intuitive/psychic elements.



I'm love with baskets, can't you tell? I have several like these, currently filled with yarn. The graphic artist who did The Basket Maker's wife used my round basket--a white oak basket--for the spine and back logo.

To tie up a story arc, I first list all the plot points and threads. Once that list is complete, the creative process of stacking them into logical sequence takes place.

Meanwhile. I'm balancing family life with writing and a little painting, by the way. A working calendar is a necessity in a writer's life. I working on a tentative 2016 now. If you've read my previous post, you'll see my goals.

I wrote about Novel Interruptus previously, but what about Life Interuptus? We all have it. For this writing, I am calling it "The Meanwhiles". This last part of the year, I've had an uncommon flu not covered by the vaccine. It left me drained and behind on everything. (You've experienced this, right?)

Meanwhile. Different family issues, an ill member, etc. happen and still writers are going to write--if they are truly writers. Meanwhile, there's promotion, working with cover artists, learning, learning, learning.

After a big learning curve of this new Indy publishing world, I have a tentative new book release schedule. The first book of the trilogy--The Basket Maker's Wife--was published as an ebook in 2013. In those 2 years, many Life Interruptus interfered. That's a lot of Meanwhiles, balancing lots of stuff. But hopefully, the trade version will soon be released. I'm hoping for a January release.

Meanwhile, I wrote Book 2 in the Basket Trilogy, The Egg Basket (completed and being edited/covered). It is tentatively scheduled for June, and Book 3 Untitled for around Thanksgiving. The last 2 will need cover creation/graphic artist time. And editing. And writing short stories for other series. These also need editing cover-consideration time.

There are many meanwhile streams in a writer's life--like the first book of another trilogy that is almost done. I'm a simple pleasures person, by the way.

Meanwhile. I'm learning and adapting to this new publishing model, which I like very much. I just love to write my stories and they always pull me back when I've been out in the Meanwhiles. :)

Valentines Day .99 Sale

ALL .99 FOR A LIMITED TIME... (That's US. Not a clue the cost in other currencies)

SHEER ROMANCE:

The Pendragon Virus: Kindle / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

Miracles and Mistletoe: Kindle / Nook / iBooks / Kobo*
*Gotta love Psychics who love.

The Loving Season (MacLeans No. 1): Kindle / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

NOVELLAS:

Lady Desperado: A Western Novella*: Kindle / Nook 

*I think you'll enjoy the sly humor on this one. The lady is a gunsmith.

Death by Coupon: Novelette (Sue Kowalski Mystery No. 1) Kindle / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

Death by Salsa Dancing: Novelette (Sue Kowalski Mystery No. 2): Kindle / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

(I absolutely love the word, "Novelette", but not the word, "Linoleum". It's just a weird word. :))

CLASSICS:

Lady on the Line Caseys no. 1: Kindle

A Lady’s Desire Caseys no. 2: Kindle / Nook

Gambler’s Lady: Kindle / Nook / 

If you haven't seen My Valentines Day e-Newsletter, you might want to sign up. :)  I do very few e-Newsletters, so you won't be overrun with my info. BTW, if there is anything you'd like incorporated into my blog or e-Newsletter, please write to me?

New Cover Look

LADY ON THE LINE/WOMAN LINEMAN

Lady on the Line: Amazon or Nook
Lady's Desire: Amazon or Nook

Lady on the Line was my very first book and first of the Casey 2-books. I dedicated it to my mother, Stella (a name I used for a mother in Season of Truth (romantic suspense). A Lady’s Desire is the second Casey.

This is a new cover look for my series books and I hope you like it. It’s basic, but does the deal, I hope. At the time, real models were photographed and painted per book, or that’s what I understood.

Back in the Day, the distributor here gave a program on his take for covers. Lady on the Line would have been labeled “Nursing Mother” by him. He had lots of those labels, including “Vampire”, for the hero kissing the heroine’s neck.

EARLY COVERS

So Back in the Day, Lady on the Line was titled by Janet Dailey. My first agent sold it to Berkley Second Chance at Love line, and my first editor spent time teaching me writing points, i.e. plotting. Back then, editors did not have such encompassing/variety of duties and concentrated on stories/writers. So more time was spent developing a writer, whom they hoped would be faithful to the publisher.

I am everylastingly grateful to Joan Marlow Golan, my first editor, who the agent (Ray Peekner) labeled “a honey.” She took me through Lady on the Line, chapter by chapter, working through the how-tos, correcting the chapter, before moving on. At the time, she requested a 10-chapter outline, done in numbered paragraphs. Each paragraph needed 2 sentences: 1.) what’s happening in the story and 2.) what’s happening between the characters.

She spent a lot of time with me (note: grateful) on the first book, but little thereafter. I asked why (doubter that I am), and she said I had a lot of stories in me (which I do), and the publisher wanted them out of me. I am truly “full of it” for story ideas and I’ve used a variety of plotting methods since then, including enlarging each of those paragraphs.

Those early books were written for the time, the real macho males, which I softened that take in re-editing them for publication.

I hope you like the new cover look—it takes a few tries to get a good cover look. And I hope you like Lady on the Line, the story of a woman lineman.  

Lady on the Line: Amazon or Nook
Lady's Desire: Amazon or Nook

Classic Category Returns!

Now on Sale: Gambler's Lady at .99 for a limited time.
Kindle
Smashwords
Nook

Gambler's Lady is now in epub, listed at the above. I labeled the story as a classic, because it's my SECOND ever book.

You'll notice by the original covers, seen below, that the author's name is Cait Logan. Well, now in epub, Cait London serves better.

The original cover is pretty dashing, listed below and probably a better representation of Nick and Kim's love story.  Originally a SCAL (Berkley's great Second Chance at Love) it was edited by Joan Marlow (Golan). I'll always be grateful for her help and guidance.

Who knew?! I just wanted my name on one book cover and this led to an entire career!

But Wait! Gambler's Lady was reprinted in Berkley's Charter Line.

I led the Charter line with Tame the Fury, a western historical, and a great cover, too. Not yet re-released.

As for the story, it's basic romance and that's why I labeled it "Classic".  Nick is pure "Alpha" hero, which means he's not exactly sharing his "feminine side".

Then: Gambler's Lady is not erotica and sometimes shorter books can get tossed into the same bin. Secondly, it's a pretty standard story without suspense that is usual for my books.

Thirdly: It's just a sturdy good romance.

Here's the blurb:
Tough casino owner Nick Santos has a big problem: his ex-wife, an unfit mother, is lurking, wanting custody of their daughter. The minute he sees Kim Reynolds, who's seeking work to fund her fitness business, Nick knows what he wants, a temporary wife. But he isn't Kim's idea of a gentleman and she's not buying. When she takes this gambler's wager, Kim finds herself married and in love with his 4-year old daughter. This hands-off arrangement isn't working, because Nick's hunger for Kim is raging, and hers is returning the favor, and he's set on a real marriage...


I hope you enjoy Gambler's Lady and more of my Classics, selling well now, i.e.: Midnight Rider and Rugged Glory. I was just thrilled when a reader said that she searched for my books in used book stores and now could read the story all over again on her e-reader. How sweet!


If you're not on my newsletter for more news of my novels, please join? 

My Preferred Writers Software

 It's 83 in SW MO at the time of this posting (expected mid-90s today). Temperature on the hot side is not my favorite. I like rain/mist/cool/cloudy. In fact, sun as it is now, overly bright depresses me. 

Return to Fairy Cove
I am not alone. Recently, I've found others who do not worship the sun and who love clouds and rain and cool weather. Hopefully, they are enjoying that somewhere.

As for me, I'm in my dark office working away, drapes extra lined and closed, mini-blinds of the dark persuasion, the rhythm of the oscillating fan enjoyable as I write this. I'm truly hoping this will help someone struggling with my same basic writer needs.

Sleepless in Montana
In my darkness, broken by a slice of light through my front room drapes--if I go there to the outer word--I'm testing software to better suit my needs. We have all kinds of it in Writer Land, some for novels, scripts, etc. I'm a PC user mostly because it would cost a fortune to move software into Mac domain. So the following relates only to my experience with PC programs....

Background: (Character Background is so important, too.) I'm been in computers since Apple IIE, which was my first computer, this after a range of non-electric/electric/memory typewriters. Loved the IIE as did all my comprades. I've had computers (PCs) built to spec and cannot count how much software I've run through. Like a bulk of writers, I've changed to the most popular, and we know what that is, don't we? :)


When Night Falls
Disclaimer: Not a paid promotion, but software I use and prefer for basic story organization and writing. (I final edit in another program, which sucks up PageFour's RTF ever so nicely.

I'm going to step out now and recommend PageFour software, once called an outliner. I've been using this for years and somehow got away from it. I've returned to an improved PageFour, plus a couple of other programs I'll tell you about later.

You can find reviews for it everywhere, but this is why I love it and returned for 2 reasons:
1. I'm starting what could be a complex series (or not). It's an involved suspense... Shh! I've done some PreWriting/Work, enough to settle into the story. However, since I'm not an Index Card User, (I can't read my own writing), I needed software to keep data/characters/notes/etc. straight.
2. Eyes. I'm set up well, here in my cave, but my eyes have always responded better to black background and amber font. All eyes respond differently. Backlit screens are not for me. I'm fine with the usual white/black screen for Internet, biz, etc. , but for writing hours at the screen, black/amber works better for me. Try different combinations, if you're going to be writing for hours to see what works best.

Very Important Note: Not all software allows you to change color, independently of the whole system. If you move around a lot on Internet, etc., you need a basic working screen. But I wanted a separate program from my usual screen that works independently, re: screen/font color.

Recently, I've tried different writing outliner, etc. software, comparing them to PageFour. Here's some differences:
1. Some will only use the computer's preferred color display.
2. Some do not indent, but use block paragraphs, not my preferred for story writing
3. Big Point. Some are too involved for what I want.

I've used PageFour for short stories and outlining, but after taking a plunge into this story for about 4 chapters in Word, I knew I needed a "bookkeeping" system, i.e. Story/Chapters, Timeline, Places, Characters (Major/Minor), etc. If this book goes into a series, I'll be set up. I've written an 11-book series (The Tallchiefs) and really cost time by not using a system prior to writing the first books. With a genealogy chart involved, I wasted a lot of time checking facts.

Basically, you can write and call up reminders of characters, phrases, etc. chapters, places, all on one screen. A full page screen for writing can be used. PageFour is based on creating "Notebooks". Within Notebooks (which I'm using one for my novel) are "Folders". Folders are Story/Timeline, etc. Then inside Folders are "Pages". Example: Story Folder has Chapter Pages; Notes Folder has whatever I'm watching for in edit. Pages can be mouse-dragged into Folders. I love this Mouse-Dragging arrangement, very good for organizing free-wheeling creativity.

PageFour (and no, I'm not getting paid for this endorsement) has just updated with no problem and I'm off and running, back into laying out the chapter outlines. Em dash creates a problem, which can be altered by adding a DLL as instructed. This software saves in RTF, suckable up by other software if needed, such as what I'm doing now, placing my classic books into epub. !Note: Because I prefer amber font, it's necessary to change that in other programs, or when importing copy.

I added two more new software after updating PageFour; found these at their website: SmartEdit and Name Generator. Both look great at first sampling. I'm not into Journaling, so I didn't test that software.

My basic needs, simplicity and organization, PLUS black and amber screen are met in PageFour. If you can test drive PageFour, and like it, you'll find it is very, very affordable.

Again, I hope this helps someone in Writer Land. Best on all your writing projects, big or small. 

Return to Fairy Cove

Return to Fairy Cove by Cait London (that's me) is the new title for What Memories Remain 2004. Now in e-publishing, this story has a new title and a new look.

Set on the shores of Lake Michigan, (a gorgeous real place I loved to visit and research) fictional Fairy Cove is saturated with great Scots-Irish lore.  There is nothing like the feel of actually visiting the site of fictional stories.

I also loved researching wooden boat building, which the hero, Ewan is set to do....

Reviewed originally as What Memories Remain, Return to Fairy Cove, is the story of world-worn Ewan Lochlain returning with his dream of building handcrafted boats, the same as his father, in the same lakeside shop. It's a promise to himself that he intends to keep.

But fiery Cyd Callahan has big plans for the lakeside shop, including making a mint from its sale. Haunted by her childhood, she'll do no favors for one smooth talking, gorgeous hunk, Ewan Lochlain. And she's set for revenge....

Determined to stake his claim on what’s his, including flame-haired Cyd, Ewan is haunted by his parents’ deaths— which are somehow linked to Cyd’s terrifying, hidden memories, and to deadly secrets. Now people are dying in Fairy Cove and a killer is stalking the night…

Here's what reviewers have to say:

THE BEST REVIEWS:

WHAT MEMORIES REMAIN [RETURN TO FAIRY COVE] is riveting. This romantic suspense thriller is embedded with so many questions, so much drama and intrigue, it makes us yearn for answers. As it captivates all our senses with an utterly sensuous love story, it weaves a story so compelling, so mysterious, it leaves one breathless. And the ending will leave you speechless. I'm reading it again just to make sure I didn't miss anything. It's a masterpiece.

Reviewed by Suzanne Tucker
 

Romantic Times:

London is back with an edgy thriller that's sharp and taut. Cyd and Ewan are very complex individuals with loads of baggage, and tension is rife in this gripping read. 

Reviewed By: Jill M. Smith

I hope you enjoy Return to Fairy Cove and I hope you can visit Lake Michigan's shoreline and lighthouses as I did. :)

Study in Conflict

Night Fire by Cait London

*** ***

I've written several historical romance western subgenre and still love them. But the other day, I was taking some veg time and watched this movie. It was a real jewel in the study of character conflict.

Stagecoach to Thunder Rock 1964

In conversations with other writers/readers, this comment comes up frequently, regarding quality of writing and that is depth of character, i.e. “while the storyline could have been great, there was nothing to grab me, no substance to the characters.”

While just one of many western movies of its time, this one offers a great character/conflic/motives/needs study for writers. This is easily available on Netflix, etc.

If you can work through this carefully, you’ll see inner/outer, man against man, etc. conflict.

The cast is sturdy, with veteran actors:

·       Barry Sullivan: as “Horn” the straight, unbending sheriff who must face the man who rescued him as a child and who raised him. The name, Horn, is vital and probably sucked from Tom Horn, but indicates a tough/hardened man.

·       Marilyn Maxwell: the experienced “hired-woman” who has returned to home with nothing to show.

·       Scott Brady: A paid, but ethical gunslinger, who is a loving father and husband and must have money for his blind daughter’s operation.

·       Keenan Wynn: The man who took in Horn, the father of 2 other sons, and who has a bounty on his head.

·       Lon Chaney, Jr.: A father who has given up all hope and drinks to dull his pain, who does not challenge his screwish, money-driven wife.

·       His wife (sorry, don’t know her name): She is desperate to save their home and support, the stage coach rest stop.

·       A younger daughter: (don’t know her name): Very young; she’s desperate to get out of the country and see “life”.

·       A supporting cast that you’ll see in other westerns, etc., i.e. John Agar.

The Story:

Mission: Sullivan heads for the ranch home where he grew up. As sheriff, he’s after bank robbers, who happen to be his adopted family. Gets into a shootout, where he kills one of Wynn’s son (who looks like a very young Elvis Presley) and takes the other son prisoner.

He also takes the bank's holdup saddle bag with $50,000.  Note: This is the Prize, The Possession, that all want to save their problems.

Meanwhile, the town’s corrupt council wants the money back, has posted a bounty on the brothers and father of Sullivan. That’s where Scott Brady comes in on the stage coach with his wife and blind little girl. He’s after the bounty for that operation. He’s classy, not the usual type. Note: Motive

Maxwell comes in on the stage, too. The corrupt council does not want her around as she knows all their evil secrets. So she’s promptly shipped out with Brady on the stage coach.

STUDY NOTES:

Note:  Ticking Clock. From opposite directions, two parties are bound to meet at the stage coach rest stop and they will clash.

Note: The rest stop is where Maxwell grew up in her parents’ home/business, but left to see the world, and returns as a high class prostitute, also very classy. SETTING.

Note: SETTING is endangered of being repossessed, due to Chaney’s poor banking/loans.

Back to Story line:

As Maxwell gets off the stage, she is greeted lovingly by Mother, who thinks Maxwell is a school teacher and has brought money to save them. Which she hasn’t.

Meanwhile, Sullivan knows he’ll have to face the man who saved and brought him up, Wynn, who is coming after the remaining Bad Son, now prisoner.

Maxwell doesn’t want her younger sister, so desperate to leave the rest stop, to head out into the world as she did.

Younger sister is desperate and just wants $10 for stage fare.

Past Relationships: (Too often, we forget using the past as characterization/movites, etc.) Brady is just waiting to get his bounty on the Bad Son, which he must take from Sullivan. NOTE: An ex-sheriff, Brady sympathizes with the older Sullivan, who is going to be removed by town council as he is too straight. NOTE: their motive is to get a new sheriff, who will play ball with them.

Maxwell and Sullivan were young and in love once. She wants that again, but he knows he’s facing Wynn and tells her to wait until that battle is over.

Sisters: Younger adores older, who must reveal that she is not a school teacher.

Chaney, Jr. and wife: He loves her, but has been worn down, letting her rule.

Wife and Mother: Loves her daughters, but desperate to save their home/income.

In possession of the $50k and the Bad Son, who is tempting everyone to get him a gun to kill Sullivan, this character—the sheriff—is a CHARACTER OUT ON A LIMB.

If you get a chance to study this 1964 western, Stagecoach to Thunder Rock, and outline the conflicts, the combusion of all these characters and their motives, needs, etc., you’re in for quite the learning task.

Then, you might want to work on your own ending? J

Writer's Jumpstart Tips for '12

When Night Falls


At the Top of '12, I'm looking back at my goals, and prioritizing. One long-term goal for some time now has been to return to painting. I've almost completed 2 paintings. Another goal was to write a mystery short story (humor), and The Coupon Killer was born. I plan more of Jemma Kowalski, named after an old wrestling favorite, Killer Kowalski. :) And I'd intended to launch the L.E. Klein name somewhere, so The Coupon Killer was a two-fer.

Due to seasonal flu stuff I missed doing a workshop on Writers Block, which will come later. So sorry, local Write-In people. But look forward to my mini sessions in '12. I love the pop-up sessions.

Like Most Writers, I'm fully charged to take off in '12 with all sorts of goals. To start off '12, I started a redo of my website, which has waited while I got my E-Pub Feet wet.



If you are fully charged to jumpstart your writing in '12, the following may help you. They are included at Writers Tips included at my website.  I am so hoping this helps someone. To start, here are my Twenty Top Tips for Writers:

The Biggest Tip of All: Do Not "Find" Time. "Make" Time. Think Positive, Be Aggressive in this goal. Mind set is everything.
1. Self Motivate; learn to use your personal carrots and triggers.
2. When Writing to Sell: Consider Your Individual Time Frames vs Your Attention Span
3. Protect Your Writing Time. Prepare in advance and avoid Vampires.
4. Edit off/away from Biological "Up" Time*
5. Work for self-reliance.
6. Block number of pages on a calendar
7. Focus on the Story's Theme/Thread Throughout; keep notes on it.
8. Finish the Piece! A completed project is truly your graduation certificate.
9. Prepare Yourself Psychologically. Be your own best friend with affirmations.
10. Get Away, Experience Life
11. Cut the Umbilical Cord. Send Your Piece into the Cruel World.
12. Keep Lists of Agents/Publishers, ref: Market Talk below *
13. Keep Databases, lists of ideas/character names/story ideas.*
14. Network in Person and Private, Talk with Other Writers *
15. Do Not Do As Others Do. You are an individual; weigh advice and choose only for your needs.
16. Write Business Letters and Mail Them on Regular Designated Day*
17. Use Ring Notebooks with Replacement Paper (if non-computer)
18. Do Not Compare Yourself to Other Writers
19. History Lessons: Know that you did the best you could, made the right choice, given the tools/knowledge at the time.
20. Learn to say "no." *Busy Work

Other topics are: Pre-Plotting and Plotting/What Do You Want to Write?/ How to Get Ideas/Dependable Story Nuggets/Understanding the Givens/You Have Your Idea/Begin Laying Plot/3 Yellow Brick Roads/Editing the Plot Line/Style, Impact Writing.

This is a massive offering, almost a mini-course itself.  I spend a lot of time on Plotting, because I "came into" writing with strengths of basic characterization and dialogue. But I worked really hard to learn Plotting.

I plan to redo the plotting flow chart, but it's still there. I think basic computer programming and flow charts helped me to understand plotting early on. What works in programming's If-Then, works in creative writing.

I hope you'll visit my Writer Tips section at my website. There are several pages, and I'm reworking/editing sections, plus adding an E-Pub tips section later.

And be sure to subscribe to my E-Newsletter for more insider stuff, including contests.

Note: Discard the Read More. There is More but at my website. :)

Pseudonym or Not

NIGHT FIRE The use of a pseudonym is constantly on the tabletop of writer issues. My personal experience is: I started with Cait Logan, this because my real name is too long and unappealing, according to editors. Since I wanted to be published after 7 years of effort--back in the typewriter/carbon days--I went with a pseudonym.

So that's how it began. Then Silhouette wanted a different pseudonym, despite writing in the same subgenre as my Cait Logan name, so Cait London came along. I thought that was clever at the time, the use of CL and developed all sorts of CL stuff for marketing. (Please visit my booklist for more information and links.)

But today, I'm here. Amid epublishing my backlist and with Avon and Silhouette publishing my other books. You can find links to my booklist here. But now, I'm placing all my romance subgenre (western, romantic suspense/category/paranormal, women's) under the Cait Logan "Brand".

"Brand" has a lot to do with an author's name. Basically, that means a product that readers believe will be within their expectations of certain dynamics, i.e. as Cait London, I write romance, so there will be romance.

There is much discussion about the use of pseudonyms, and why. (I just mentioned my reason.) One reason an author might start a new pseudonym is a technique known to boost sales--if the primary pseudonym does not have the desired sales. Many authors do this; many editors recommend it when sales figures sag.

But at this time, I see other authors who have used their real names their entire career. And I believe that makes marketing on Twitter, Google+ and other social media much easier.

Recently, I wrote a short story which is not a subgenre of romance, under the name of L.E. Klein. Writers often add new pseudonyms when diversifying into new writing realms. Diversification allows the readers to know exactly what "Brand" they can expect. For example, Jayne Ann Krentz, beloved by many, many readers, writes futuristic romantic suspense and suspense; Amanda Quick (another name) writes regencies, and as Stephanie James, she wrote for Silhouette or Jayne Castle in MacFadden years ago. Apologies to Jayne Ann, who is a super long-term author, if I mucked those up. I admire her very much.

Another example would be Barbara Samuel, writing earlier as Ruth Wind, writing now as Barbara O'Neal. Yet a perfect example would be Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb, again 2 different styles/branding.

Many erotica writers take pseudonyms to fit into the genre, and/or because they wish their privacy.

The benefits of a pseudonym boil down to: privacy and branding of different styles. The disadvantages are that it takes a lot of effort in cross-marketing to draw attention to a new pseudonym, and that there can be confusion in doing so. Cross-marketing isn't easy and calls for development of a whole new style of ad work and that takes tremendous energy.

All this is a difficult choice. A very individual choice per writer.

Do you think a writer should maintain one name, either real or a pseudonym, or diversify?

The Coupon Killer Short Story

The Coupon Killer is my first short story as L.E. Klein, another pseudonym. This may be a series, not certain yet. It's a humorous take on a woman detective and coupons. Since one member of my family is into coupons, this short story seemed logical. We sell our family off in pieces, you know. That's what Kathleen Eagle said during a speaking engagement and it's really true. My Potter-Daughter is just waiting for the "ax" to fall. :)

Here's the blurb on The Coupon Killer:

Short Story by L.E. Klein
L.E. Klein is a pseudonym for Cait London, also a pseudonym.
Meet Jenna Kowalski, a Kansas City suburb homicide detective. Recently divorced, Jenna holds her own in the all-male force. As the smallest, most agile, Jenna has been been hefted up, lowered down, and scrunched into places no woman should enter. She craves good bear-claw pastry, coffee, and Jose Morales, a co-worker. Her chances for the first two are good.
*** ***
A body found outside an alley dumpster has Jenna working a new case. The Body was a couponer, desperate enough to climb into the dumpster after them. The scissors found in her throat said someone didn’t like her. But then, as temporary lead detective, Jenna finds no one liked her, not even Maggie’s husband. The question is: Who killed Maggie? And can Jenna learn the ins and outs of couponing?
***
While I'm epublishing my backlist, I'm also writing new stories and taking a real look at covers. Here's a new one for When Night Falls, now .99 at Kindle.


When Night Falls is now .99 for a limited time at Kindle.

Currently, I'm working on Sleepless in Montana, placing it into eformat. But I thought you'd enjoy The Coupon Killer, an 11,000 word short story, .99.

With constant updates on my titles, you may wish to subscribe to my free e-newsletter. And if you have time, I'd really appreciate your comments about When Night Falls new cover.

Romantic Suspense

Flashback is now in Kindle format and soon in other formats. This is the 2nd of a string of romantic suspense.

Some reviewers list my suspense stories as thrillers. I don't think so. Story weight usually falls heavily upon the characters, romance included. My stories are lighter romantic suspense, which means I keep the blood/gore/cursing down to a minimum, while seeking who did what, i.e. murder.

It's a reader-preference thingie. My stories usually do have a cast of characters, which not all readers prefer. Some do like the spread of family, backgrounds, etc. involved, which I think makes the best setup for character-driven stories.

Character-driver as opposed to plot driven, which would be more mystery. I like the lighter suspense and character emotions, the relationships, the backgrounds.

Backgrounds are so important; motivations and need arise in the character from the backgrounds.

Some time ago, a writer-friend and I were talking about "flat" writing styles. That is, the characters were not fleshed out, at least enough for the reader to grip and dig into them. That gripping comes from a familiar experience or something human to latch onto, drawn from similar experiences.

Background accomplishes the, well, background, upon which to set the foreground, and the story stream, what drives the characters, what matters to them....


For instance: if a character runs his thumb over a scar on furniture, it may remind him of how he built that cabinet, with his father, just before his father was murdered. What did his father say in that scene, anything for the writer to "latch onto" and create a clue to the murder?

Some things matter big-time.

Addressing the romantic side now: It's about the Bed. I've written about this before, but watch for next time.... :)

A Mountain Man Meets a Lady

Wild Dawn, one of my favorite American frontier books, written as Cait Logan, is re-appearing by Cait London :) BTW, I traveled to research, and the "dawn" overlay in the cover is actually the sunset taken from my home.

Here is my Dear Reader letter in the book, because to me, author's backstories are interesting:

Dear Reader:
As Cait Logan, I wrote several western historical romances, and category (series romance). I’m placing these into epublishing (as Cait London) for those who enjoyed them the first time, and those who are just discovering these lovely Northwest historicals. (I hope you read Delilah and the Mountie, one of my favorites, now available.) I traveled these trails and visited forts and vistas, and loved every minute of research.

Wild Dawn reflects how many bargain-made marriages began in history. To survive in Wild Dawn, and with danger all around Lady Regina, evil pursuing her, she must accept the mountain man, MacGregor’s offer of safe-keeping and marriage. While MacGregor is serious about marriage, he’s pretty rough around the edges, though he means well. But Regina only wants his help to get to safety. And then, there’s Jack, his adorable little son, just four months old and needing a woman’s care. MacGregor will fight to keep this English lady safe and safely wed to him... He’s in for a surprise with this “little woman”, set on escaping him and building her own life. For MacGregor and Regina, it truly is a new start, a new Wild Dawn.

I just love MacGregor, rough as he is. One of my favorite heroes, and I hope yours.
I also fell in love with the paisley shawl, a fashion of the day, and used that as a theme in a contemporary weaver’s novel, Tallchief for Keeps, a romance amid the Tallchief Silhouette Desire miniseries.

As an artist, I loved these written canvases and I hope you do, too.
....
How the mountainman MacGregor proposed to the English Lady Regina, who has been deserted and is starving in a mountain cabin is next....


He shifted his arm beneath the fur cape, the wind lifting the edges about his calves. “My son, Jack, is under this robe. He needs that cabin tonight, and I’m coming in. That fancy little gun won’t go through buffalo hide. The chambers are empty anyway.... Tuck it away.”

When she stared at him blankly, he nodded and took a deep breath. “I’d appreciate you asking me in. I’ve come a long way for you.”

Long legs shifted restlessly beneath the buffalo cape. “The Indians know you’re MacGregor’s woman—that’s me—MacGregor. I’m needing a woman for Jack, ma’am, and you’re the choice cow of the herd.”

“Cow?” she repeated blankly.

“Female... woman,” he answered impatiently. “You’ll find I’m not good with words.”

Stunned, Regina’s gaze slid down the tall man’s body, shrouded by the cape down to his buckskin leggings and boots.

A cold chill ran up her spine before she straightened her shoulders. Fear danced over her flesh like icy sleet. The mountain man had no claim on her; his arrogance caused her to remember her father.

“I’m a blunt-spoken woman,” she tossed back at him. “I haven’t heard of you, nor am I ‘your woman.’ If you have a child in your robes, show him to me and you may have shelter for the night.”

When he spoke the wind rose, penetrating the rags covering her feet. MacGregor’s black eyes sliced at her, and his voice reminded her of a castle mastiff’s growl. “No one doubts my word, ma’am. Jack’s tucked in snug enough, and I’m not bringing him out until we’re in the cabin. I’m done palaverin’—talking.”

He lowered his head deeper into the mass of buffalo fur. “I’m tired and my son needs that cabin, ma’am,” he said roughly. “We’re coming in. You’ve got the night to think about living or dying.... The way I see it is, you have four choices: You can freeze in that cabin this winter— alone... let the Indians turn you into a tribal squaw... or maybe some trapper will set you up as his property in a back room and hire you out.”

Then he added quietly, “Or you can marry me.”
....
MacGregor and the Lady Regina do not expect what will happen in this marriage of convenience.

I hope you enjoy one of my favorite stories.

Novel Interuptus

Novel Interuptus is well-known in writerdom. I coined the phrase, but am certain you know its source :)

Writers are also people, dealing with life and with a new little one in our family, I’ve been on a professional break while visiting. Thank you, Panera, for your sticky buns, coffee and Wifi. (Wifi, because we’re never quite unplugged, some business going on as usual.)

Just back from hiatus, I visited my favorite area group, Springfield MO’s Sleuths, a mystery group. Correction: hard-working group. This is a variety of writers, photographers, etc. Often groups have a high percentage of non-working members, just those attracted to those who are producing. Not so with this group.

It was a stirring, productive meeting with round of members reporting their publications. First, a workshop on producing origami mini-books by Beverly Crandell. I love these mini-books, developed from 8.5X11 paper, folded to make 4 pages with back and front. They are excellent for children, and great promo items containing teasers, website/blog info.

Next was Linda C. Apple, an inspirational writer and speaker. She’s dynamic, funny, informative, and above all, very professional.

I needed that connection to other writers.

Which brings me back to catching up. There are certain things that continue, while on break, and others left. I’ve found through my career that the people who deal with priorities fare better. As a professional right, I’m dealing with these issues now:
1. Rights Reversion from publishers (See Passive Guy for really good info on contracts)
2. Reworking my early attempts at epublishing. New software has developed and this is a steep, continuing learning curve. I credit Barbara Freethy and Kathy Carmichael as mentors.
3. Happy Day! I’ve finally gotten support in the form of a proof reader who is great, and she’s helping with #2. These reverted and scanned books are filled with errors and a drain on eyes. I’m floating now, happy with support. Learning how to ship manuscripts to her in Kindle form was one thing, and we’re learning how to work better together. I appreciate each and every comment she makes.
4. Sifting through what social media works for me and the comfortable ones for me. I’ve signed up for various URLs and test them. One popular Social Media is not at all comfortable for me because of their shifting policies. I love Twitter, though.
5. Redesigning a romantic suspense cover, When Night Falls, to match an upcoming title, Flashback. With a line of romantic suspense developing now, the covers should have identifying “look”.
6. Debating a publisher name for various material, separate from my pseudonym. If you have great ideas, please send? :)

What a learning process! I’m on a couple of professional-only loops, chockful of shared info. But there is great information everywhere.

To prioritize, choosing where to spend your creative (and your private-life time) is probably the most basic problem a writer has.

Or anyone :)

The Best-Selling Tallchiefs

Oldies and Goodies, that's what Harlequin has stashed in their Treasury section. (List Below)

You can find your favorite authors by placing Name Name Harlequin Treasury. Some of the following are a part of my Tallchief Series, and the order is on the postcard above. This series came out to 10, I believe, a best-selling series based on the contemporary descendants of a Scotswoman and a Sioux chieftain. The family of 5 was orphaned when the eldest was 18, and they stayed together. Each book is based on a legend concerning an item from Una's (Scotswoman) dowry, etc. Each family member set out to reclaim the historical item, and the legend comes true.

My editor at the time Melissa Senate (she's writing wonderful books now) was stunned when she saw my proposal (This for all you writers out there :)) I had no idea how to submit a series proposal and did all five at once, complete with legends and genealogy tree.

Since the Tallchief's parents were murdered in hold-up, I added 3 more books, based on the sons of the murderer.

The Perfect Fit, Typical Male (Harlequin Desire), Rafe Palladin: Man Of Secrets, The Groom Candidate, The Seduction Of Fiona Tallchief (Desire), Rio: Man of Destiny (Silhouette Desire), Blaylock's Bride (Silhouette Desire), Rio: Man of Destiny (Silhouette Desire)

Blaylock's Bride connects to Midnight Rider, Dan Blaylock hero. Midnight Rider will soon be placed in ereaders.

I was so pleased with the cover of Tallchief For Keeps, a single title set amid the Tallchiefs. The graphic is super.

I hope you'll enjoy these books and I look forward to hearing from you.

The Aislings: Psychic Triplets

I love my Psychic Triplets, Claire, Tempest, and Leona. They're available now in either paperback or ebook form. If you haven't read them yet, I hope you will.

The Aisling Triplets are descended from an Ancient Celtic Seer and the Viking Chieftain who captured her. Each has a unique gift, so unique that the sisters cannot live near each other, or their thoughts will cross... and someone is determined to kill them.

At the Edge (See all Romantic Suspense Books)
A Stranger's Touch (See all Contemporary Romance Books)

For Her Eyes Only (See all Literature & Fiction Books)

A world class pyschic, their mother, Greer Aisling appears through the individual stories, loaded with these triplets psychic gifts.

Claire, the youngest and most vulnerable, Tempest (Who made the NYTs) who's a handful, and Leona, the oldest and fiercest of the three, each have their own romance with that killer in pursuit.

Claire's gift is that of picking up other's thoughts; Tempest has to wear gloves, because she can feel the history of an object and know the thoughts of those who held it; and Leona, sees flashes of the past.

Try putting all those psychic talents too close and you've got a lot of trouble.

If starting to read The Aislings, I suggest starting with Claire in At the Edge.

I loved writing this trilogy, each with a different setting, a different psychic talent and romance, and always with that stalker at the ready.

To learn more about the Triplets, please hit the Triplet Tag....

Barbara Freethy Hits the NYTs

Today, I'm terrifically excited about Barbara Freethy hitting the NYTs elist at #1. In fact, she's hitting well everywhere. SUMMER SECRETS and DON'T SAY A WORD are hitting high at USA Today's lists, too.
Read Barbara's Blog and see how much work is involved in lifting up her backlist; it covers all jobs: writer, formatting, cover art, promo. Really interesting. Plus she's got super covers, which she does her mighty-self.
Right now, she's got a string of great front list, plus her previously published books for sale. The girl is doing terrific, either with publishers or on her own, raising up her backlist to epublishing.

I'm so glad for her. I believe she's been undervalued in publishing and now, on her own, she's sky-rocketing, a la Konrath/Hocking/Eisler.
Meanwhile, I've just raised up my own, a romantic suspense, WHEN NIGHT FALLS, and have also finished a new one, out of my Cait London brand. I'll have to learn now to market it under a different pseudonym. Just a few more checks and I'll raise it up, too.

After that, a short story that has been cooling, also out of my brand.


All this is a terrific experience, and a steep learning curve. Be sure to follow Barbara's blog, very interesting material.