Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Writer's Life

So you want to be a writer? Here's a quote from my young friend, 17-year-old aspiring writer Hannah Misciasci: "You can tell I'm a writer. I'm a pale, scatterbrained recluse."

Why scatterbrained? "Because my mind is always on something else."

Ah, yes! The story...

Of course, these days, conventional wisdowm holds that a writer can't be just a recluse anymore. One must also be a promoter and sales person. Nevertheless, I love Hannah's observation.

In regards to a release date for A Chance to Say Yes, I'm waiting to hear from my publisher. You'll be the first to know when I do. Right now, my sequel is pouring forth. I've had to put out pots and pans to catch the flow. Don't want to miss any of those raindrops from on high. I'm very excited about A Wild Dream of Love.

Tina

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Ready, Set...

Hi, there!

At last, we're getting close to publication. I sent the galleys back to my publisher. So, it's only a matter of weeks before my debut novel, A Chance to Say Yes, is released. I'll let you know the release date as soon as Publisher Bob tells me.


On a personal level, I had a rough time last year, a time of ordeal and setbacks. I'm so glad that the novel made it through, in spite of all my personal trauma. Life's not all perfect yet, but I'm surviving, so far. Thanks, Reader, for hanging in with me through it all. I believe you'll enjoy the payoff: a good read in A Chance to Say Yes.

On a fun note, I've been invited by romance writer Lynnette Halberg (
http://www.swfrw.org/halberg_lynette.html) to attend an upcoming meeting of the Southwest Florida Romance Writers (www.swfrw.org). I am excited about attending, which I will do this Saturday, along with my associate from the Gulfcoast Writers (www.gulfcoastwriters.net), Karen Dean Benson. who is working on a historical romance novel. First, we'll attend the luncheon at Bennigans in The Promenade at Bonita Springs, and then move on to the regular meeting place at Robb and Stucky.

The interesting thing is: Lynnette heard about me through someone to whom I had given my business card. That means my networking is working. Yay!


Speaking of the Gulfcoast Writers (http://www.gulfcoastwriters.net/), I attended their monthly meeting last weekend in at the Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, where the speaker was accomplished theatre-educator and playwright Louise Wigglesworth. In addition to sharing valuable information about the writing of plays and scripts, she. also, led interesting excecises in which members read aloud from plays. Louise teaches classes at the Sugden Theatre in Naples. I don't have a web address for her, unfortunately.

Meanwhile, I'm focusing in on the first sequel to A Chance to Say Yes. The sequel will be called A Wild Dream of Love. I'm very excited about working on it! I wish I could devote every waking minute to the process. Soon, soon, I hope...


Please drop me a line and let me know if you have any ideas for promoting the novels or selling them. Outside the box is good. Inside the box is fine, too.


Thanks for checking in.

Stay tuned for further developments,

Tina


P.S. I just received word that my friend Phyllis Smallman's new mystery novel, Margarita Nights, is available as a pre-order at http://www.amazon.com/ and chapters.indigo.ca. It doesn't come up yet on Amazon. Here is the Canadian site. Please check it out. Congrats to Phyl. She and I first met at Sleuthfest (www.sleuthfest.com) a few years ago.

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Margarita-Nights-Phyllis-Smallman/9781552786994-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527Margarita+Nights+by+Phyllis+Smallman%2527&sterm=Margarita+Nights+by+Phyllis+Smallman+-+Books

Saturday, February 09, 2008

First Reactions

Hello, everyone!

I'm finishing up my corrections on the galleys. I'll be sending them to my publisher at www.archebooks.com on Monday. Release of my debut novel, A Chance to Say Yes, is just a couple of weeks away.

So far, I have had very good reactions from those who have read the galleys. Here's a blurb given to me to use on the book's dust jacket:

"In A Chance to Say Yes, Tina Murray skillfully portrays an elite world jam-packed with romance, glamour, lust, greed, deception, betrayal, and surprising twists and turns to keep you captivated to the very last word." -- Jane Kennedy Sutton, Author of The Ride

Thanks to Jane for this great response. I look forward to reading her forthcoming novel, The Ride. Please check out her web space at www.authorsden.com/janekennedysutton

Thanks, also, to Vicki Fillmore, who, after reading A Chance to Say Yes, said "I loved it," adding that it is "Fan-fricking-tastic." Vicki said she stayed up reading it until 1:30 a.m., finishing A Chance to Say Yes in one day. She cried over it, too, but I can't tell you where, or else I'll ruin the story for you. Thanks, too, to Lynnette for her invitation to attend the Southwest Florida Romance Writers group. I'll definitely be doing that soon.

Enjoy your day! Please check back in soon for more updates.

Tina




Labels: