*New Release* I WROTE A BOOK. NOW WHAT?

 I'm thrilled to announce my newest book, I WROTE A BOOK. NOW WHAT? just released. It has already made the Top 100 Bestseller's List on Amazon in the Authorship category, and I'm beyond excited with early, stellar reviews. For years, I've talked about writing this book, but I'm glad I waited because I learn something new seemingly every week! If you're a new or aspiring author, this nonfiction book about writing, publishing, and marketing will guide you through the process. And it's funny. You'll find what--or who--made me break out in hives when I pitched my debut novel.

Once Upon A Time . . . Help!

Are you in a panic after penning your debut novel, nonfiction book, memoir, or children’s book? Are you at a loss as to how to get published? Is deciding between a traditional publisher or going the indie route terrifying? Do you wonder how to attract agents, editors, or find readers?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, I WROTE A BOOK. NOW WHAT? will become your new, dog-eared best friend. Written with humor and much-needed encouragement from an award-winning, multi-published author and former marketer, this action-packed comprehensive guide is for beginning writers. As Carter discusses her potholed journey, she cheers you on while you navigate the ever-changing world of publishing by sharing her wacky, real-life writing experiences. Part craft book. Part author journey. Part marketing.

• Writing Advice
• Inspiration
• Website Tips
• Building Publishing Credits
• Query Letters
• Grammar & Punctuation
• Finding Agents, Editors, & Readers
• A Marketing 101 Primer 

 Written in a conversational tone, the author of fourteen books shares her tumultuous, hive-inducing journey, as well as insider tips she has learned along the way. As a novelist, cookbook author, and children’s book writer, Beth Carter reinvented herself at mid-life and waved goodbye to the corporate world after working in marketing for nearly twenty years. 

Grab some coffee, put your feet up, and start reading this invaluable writerly resource, which provides baby steps to becoming published. What are you waiting for, storyteller? You’ve got this.

 Universal buy link: https://mybook.to/IWroteABookNowWhat

As most of you know, I normally write novels and children's books and even wrote a cookbook during the pandemic. I guess this crazy year brought out the nonfiction in me. I hope you'll check out my new book which is: Part Craft Book. Part Author Journey. Part Marketing.

 

What's Your Excuse?

Excuses. We all have them. In fact, they run rampant for not finishing our novels, but today, I was inspired by a very successful author and hope you are, too. Keep reading.

Gazillion-selling, world-famous author Nicholas Sparks was interviewed by Anderson Cooper. I was amazed by his story. He is married with two children and previously worked in pharmaceuticals. He decided to "try" writing fiction "one more time" after seeing the finale of the TV show Cheers. Since he had a family and a mortgage to pay, he wanted to be realistic so he kept his day job.

Nicholas said he continued to work full time and wrote from 9 p.m. until midnight 3-4 nights per week. That's it. And he managed to complete THE NOTEBOOK during that timeframe in just six months! Unbelievable, right? The Notebook is one of my all-time favorite books and movies. If you haven't read the book nor seen the movie, do so immediately. You won't be sorry. I promise. But have a hanky nearby.

Other books by Nicholas Sparks include Message In A Bottle, Dear John, A Walk To Remember and in movies and bookstores now: The Lucky One. Nearly all of his books have been made into wonderful movies starring big-time celebrities. Sigh. Swoon. Dreams do come true.

Inspired? Me, too. No more excuses. Let's write now!

Making New Year's Resolutions

Well, do you make them? I do and they're usually the same each year. Sometimes I fulfill my resolutions and sometimes I don't. Maybe if we put our New Year's resolutions in writing for all to see, we'll be more likely to achieve them. What do you say? Want to give it a go?

Here are mine (who can have just one?!):

Write more routinely
Read more often
Try Yoga
Get back into my exercise routine of four times a week
Polish my women's fiction and send it to 25 agents this year
Write two more children's picture books
Either finish my romantic suspense novel OR finish the sequel to the women's fiction OR start an entirely new novel
Get my website up and running

Okay, lofty goals but the first four should be easy to incorporate. It's that darn bottom half of the list that haunts me. How about you? Tell me your goals for 2012. We can do this. Seriously.

Your Ideal Book Cover

Let's keep dreaming. There's so much rejection in writing that we need to stay positive and visualize good outcomes. So...I thought it would be fun if we imagined our perfect book cover. If you could select your cover, how would it appear? (And if you already have the cover of your dreams, what does it look like?)

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Pink cover with cute girls holding wine glasses or shopping bags
Black cover with blood dripping down
Purple cover with vampires and spooks in scary trees
A damsel in distress with a hulky guy
An older woman wearing a fur coat, a huge diamond, with a younger man
An older couple in rocking chairs
A gorgeous beach scene
A breathtaking mountain scene
An ominous storm
Fast cars and a sexy couple
A yacht or sailboat with a beautiful sunset
Cute babies, adorable animals or yummy food
A haunted house
Cozy fireplace, quilt and a cat
A big-city skyline with airplanes, traffic and mobs of people
A farm or ranch scene
Young couple with a stroller

My women's fiction novel would have four women sitting around a table drinking cocktails, holding leopard print menus, laughing, with tall palm trees in the background. And they'd all be wearing heels and dressed to the nines. (The hippie parents and cop might be in the background.)

My second novel, a romantic suspense, would have a university logo, show an evil, cunning professor, and a beautiful, unknowing woman with college buildings or students in the background set on a gorgeous, green campus.

Okay, it's your turn. The possibilities are endless! What would your ideal cover look like? By the way, I know the artists decide on covers, but we can still dream, right?