Transitions

After several months of scheming and planning, I am finally making the transition from "Fiction Author" as my online (and offline) identity to "Freelance Writer".

I came to this decision based on a number of factors related to my personal life, income goals, and talents:

* I love to write and freelance work gives me a way to develop that passion while making $$$
* The marketing tasks required of an author with a small, indie publisher were taking up too much time and effort better spent on more important things (like church duties, family events, staying in touch with friends, etc.)
* I desire to provide quality, necessary services, helping people, and writing books just doesn't seem to fill that need.
* Freelance clients love my work writing online content, articles, and eBooks

This was a hard decision to make, in some ways. I still enjoy creative writing and I will probably always continue to wordsmith for myself, but my main focus in now on providing this service for others.

Please visit my website as it goes through a major transformation and feel free to contact me if you have a need for any type of written content.

Cheers!
Candace Morehouse

Interviews

I'm trying to take this whole promotion part of writing seriously. In so doing, I've asked for a little help from my friends. They were happy to oblige, thankfully!

You can find one of my interviews posted at Nancy Henderson's blog where I talk about writing in general and the gift of creativity. Nancy is a very gifted author herself, with several historical and paranormal romances published with Champagne Books.

Next week, I will also be featured on Sharon Donovan's blog talking up my latest release, Suspicion of Love. Sharon and I just recently got to know each other through the miracles of cyber space and we have found a lot in common. She has a great sense of humor and her guest interview posts are full of her exceptional creativity.

I thought I'd also share the photo Sharon is posting along with my interview since it dovetails nicely with the type of clothing worn in the Edwardian era in which Suspicion of Love takes place. The dress is a circa 1910 ballgown I bought from a former employer at an antique and vintage clothing shop. This photo was taken about 26 years ago - when I was still small enough to fit into the tiny clothes from yesteryear. Ah, those were the days!

I hope you enjoy reading the interviews. I'm off to chase chickens and try to burn a few calories!

It’s All About Promotion

At least that’s what, as a romance author, I’ve been told over and over again by the wonderful staff at my publisher, Champagne Books. It’s not just enough to write a romance novel and get it published.

That’s when the real work just begins. Blogging, chatting, book signings, handing out bookmarkers and business cards, marketing the website, posting excerpts, creating profiles at book-related sites, social networking – the list goes on and on.

Honestly, how’s anyone with a “real” job supposed to write another book, let alone keep the home fires burning so they remember what romance is supposed to be like, and keep up on promotion?

Yeah, it can be difficult. Unfortunately, just because you create an artistic piece doesn’t mean someone will find it, and buy it. Promotion is the difference between being a no-name artist and one who becomes an icon.

Even so-so artists have been able to make a career out of their art because of great promotion. Take Bob Dylan and Madonna, for example. Or Willie Nelson. None of these singers is particularly talented vocally, yet all have made millions of dollars.

For a romance novelist, the road can be rocky indeed. I know very few authors have ever made big bucks on their first novel. Look at Janet Evanovich. She started out writing category romances for Harlequin many moons ago. Were those books great literary works of art? Hardly. But I guess they paid the bills until she could sell the fantastic novels she writes now.

Does that mean I aspire to be a so-so writer who just markets herself successfully? Not in the least. I’d much rather be known as a good writer, but am realistic enough to realize that is not enough in today’s ultra-competitive market.

Call me a promo whore. Maybe one of these days it will pay the bills.

Interview with Author Monica S. Martinez

I recently got to meet (in a cyber-space way) Monica S. Martinez. She is an amazingly talented Latina author who has penned a compilation of erotic short stories, Tantalizing Erotic Thoughts & Encounters. She is a fascinating person. Learn more about her from our brief interview:

CM: Where are you from?
MM:  I was born and raised in Queens, NY. I grew up in South Jamaica, where I attended elementary and junior high school. I then moved on to Forest Hills where I went to high school and met my first husband.

CM: What kinds of books do you like to read?
MM:  I enjoy reading fiction, Urban writing, Poetry, Murder Mysteries and also some non-fiction such as memories, biographies. 

CM: Who are some of your favorite authors?
MM: James Patterson, Dean Kootz, Anne Rice, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Ivan Sanchez, and Esmeralda Santiago.  

CM: What inspired you to write?
MM: I’ve always written, since I’m twelve. I was once sexually repressed and when I turned thirty and remarried I was able to let my inhibitions go. I opened an Adult Novelty company back in 2004 where I would go into women’s houses and educate them on how to keep their sex lives interesting and fresh. It was an eye opener as to how many women were really unhappy with their sex lives. I became sort of a sex therapist and I found myself writing stories to help ignite some passion into their lives.

CM: Sounds interesting! Can you share a short excerpt (rated PG, unfortunately) with us? 
MM: This is from the story Sin City

You know the saying: “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” That is exactly where I was headed and that is exactly what was going to happen. We both knew. He just didn’t know how heavy I was going to put it on him.

I figured I’d take a cab to the airport to meet Alexandro. Time to be naughty, I thought as I dressed in my bathroom. Didn’t know how I was going to dazzle Alexandro till after I showered, oiled and scented my body. Afterwards it struck me. I decided to adorn a black mini dress which would showcase every womanly curve I own. It would also provide easy access to my goodies. All I could do is giggle. Underneath I would have on a black push up bra and lace thong from Victoria’s Secret. The dress along with my Charles David black snakeskin sling backs, which accented my calves were sure to wow him at first sight. I started getting dressed.

The thought of his luscious lips on my sweetness had me wet and quivering. Imagining the softness of his lips touching my ‘girl’, then having his tongue dash across my ‘pearl’ and slithering deep into my ‘tunnel’ was driving me crazy.

CM: Sounds yummy! Where can interested readers find Tantalizing Erotic Thoughts and Encounters available to purchase?
MM: They can go on my site http://monicamartinez.org  or grab it from Amazon.com.

CM: The most important question: chocolate or vanilla? 
MM: Chocolate