Words by Webb

Two authors I know are launching books today…

Therese Walsh is launching the paperback version of her novel The Last Will of Moira Leahy. It’s also been named a Target Breakout Book. Yeah! The Last Will of Moira Leahy is the story of twin sisters. As teenagers one sister disappears leaving the other behind…until the messages begin coming. Maeve knows the messages couldn’t be from her sister. Or could they? Creepy, unexpected and very interesting. I couldn’t put it down and recommend it to everyone!

Gayle Trent, writing as Amanda Lee, is having a huge launch party on Facebook for The Quick and the Thread, the first book in her new cozy mystery series Seven Year Stitch. Marcy Singer is thrilled to be opening her own embroidery shop on the beautiful Oregon coast. Not so thilled when she finds the former owner dead! Does the murderer have something against shopowners? Embroiderers? Marcy? Who knows–but Marcy’s determined to find out. Another perfect sand-between-my-toes book.

Join the party on Facebook. Prizes all day long! I already missed out on Mrs. Field’s cookies. Boo!

You can also win a copy of the Quick and the Thread by stopping by Words by Webb next Friday for Gayle’s interview or leaving a comment at today’s post. Or stop by Gayle’s WOW Blog Tour–check out the dates here.

Watching a Grey’s Anatomy repeat the other day(my cable provider just did some funky stuff and we now enjoy the miracle of On Demand)and one of the surgeons was talking about not being a surgeon but being something else…a pediatrician, maybe? Anyway, I don’t know if it’s just Hollywood but it seems like there’s a definite pecking order in the medical world with surgeon being at the top of the pack.

Is there a pecking order in the writing world? I started out with mewspaper work and writing a lot of magazine articles. Then I wrote a non-fiction book. Then another non-fiction book. But I still talk about “When my book gets published”. What I mean is when my novel gets published(don’t hold your breath waiting for that release date). In my head I’ll be a “real” writer when I publish fiction. Is fiction harder to write? Does it make more money? Do people equate “writers” with novel writers? I don’t know. Maybe I need therapy.

So, am I a writer snob or is there more cache to writing fiction?

Have you ever taken an online class? I took a great one on book reviews with Erika Dreifus as the instructor. Before I started the class I was totally in awe of Erika since I had been reading her book reviews and newsletter for ages. But she turned out to be the most helpful instructor. Her classes felt like a conversation with a friend.

Well, now it’s my turn to be the instructor and even though no one will be in awe of me I hope I can be just as helpful. I’m teaching Breaking Into Magazine Writing with Regional Markets through the WOW! Women on Writing classroom starting on Sept. 6. If regional markets aren’t your thing there are plenty of other classes to interest budding and experienced writers this fall. Check them out at the WOW! Classroom.

Now I need some helpful advice…have you taken an online class? What was the best/worst part of the class?

at The Muffin to interview cozy mystery writer Amanda Lee a.k.a. Gayle Trent. Don’t miss the chance to win her latest book The Quick and the Thread.

If you’re willing to work for trade 1776 Reviews is looking for book reviewers. There isn’t any money payment but you get to keep the books.

The book reviews are 200 words. Each month you are sent a LONG list of books and can choose six favorites and how many reviews you’ll be able to handle that month. I usually do 3-4. It’s like Christmas every month when that big package arrives in the mail!

Of the books I’ve received only one has been an ARC, the rest have been evenly divided between hardcovers and paperbacks. They’re recent reviews–with several being pre-release. The reviews are published in the print and/or online versions of The Sacramento Book Review or The San Fransisco Review. Children’s books also may appear on their new app The Kids Book Review.

If you want to be considered contact Heidi Komlofske at hkomlofske@1776productions.com .

I’m not a big believer in writing for free. But there are a few exceptions.

1. For charity. I would write for my kid’s school, local charities, etc. free. Just keep in mind that the word charity shuldn’t get an organization a free pass. Writing a press release for an event for your local Red Cross branch is a lot different from wriitng a press release for the national Red Cross organization–which we can safely assume has a MUCH larger budget.
2. For publicity. If it gets me publicity for a new book, my writing services, etc. sure I would write something for free. But before you start writing make sure you ask yourself, “Will this really get my publicity, ?”
3. For trade. I write book reviews that I don’t get paid for but I do get to keep the book. I’ve reviewed books I normally would have purchased, increased my son’s library, and donated books I reviewed to local libraries.

The consensus seems to be yes and no.

It depends on what you want.

I want my writing to pay the bills–in fact my writing does pay the bills. So I can’t see any sense in working for free. After all, no one hires a house painter(even a beginning house painter!)and says “Well, paint the living room for free. If we like it and we decide to paint the rest of the house we’ll talk about paying you.”

When I give talks on writing newbies ask about writing for free to get clips spouting the “advice” they get from editors.

1. This free work will give you clips and experience.
2. This could lead to a paying position.
3. We’re just a poor start-up and can’t afford to pay writers.

Know what I have to say to that?

1. Will editors really be impressed by work you did for free? Won’t they just assume that the only qulaifications you needed was a willingness to work for free?
2. Why? They would be crazy to pay you when they convince you to work for free. And when you ask for payment won’t they just drop you and “hire” another freebie. After all, we’re all replaceable.
3. If they have advertising they have money coming in. If they don’t have advertsinig they should be working on that, not “hiring” writers. And if they’re truly strapped for cash they should be writing their own content. Why should they build their dream on your talent?

So respect yourself and get paid! Come back tomorrow for when workers should work for free.

When I was a senior in high school I had an English teacher(shout out to Mr. Repella who just retired this past May!) who had a famous saying(OK, he had a lot of famous sayings–teachers are like that). He always said if you wanted to succeed in life to “Find a need and fill it.” In the pre-Internet world I doubt that there would be so many new opportunities to fill previously unrealized needs!

Yet another new need is being filled with a new app. The Kids Book Review–the first app with reviews of kids and teen books–is newly available from 1776 Reviews. All the reviews are independent. Right now there are 800 reviews of books for children from infant to teen with more added every week.

At $1.99 this app is a bargain for teachers, parents, or anyone else who buys books for kids.

FYI: I review for 1776 Reviews but they didn’t ask or pay me to blog about Teh Kids Book Review.