A Prize, A Promotion

This past weekend I attended the LDStorymaker's Conference, and my entry in the First Chapter Contest for Mystery/Suspense won second place! Yeah! It's so great to learn that not only did other writers (the judges) like my work, but also, after reading their comments, I was able to see I actually accomplished my goal: I "hooked" them to read more.

This contest gave me something else, too: a chance to advertise my book. Granted, only the judges actually read my chapter, but both my suggested title, "Flip-Flop," and my name were announced to the audience. Always a good thing.

Then, Saturday night, I attended the Whitney Award ceremony. Besides getting the chance to root for some of my friends--Yeah, Josi Kilpack! (she won the Mystery/Suspense category)--I was able to talk about "Flip-Flop" over a live Podcast. Fun stuff. The interviewers responded with "oohs" and shivers when I told them what my book was about. In fact, practically everyone I describe it to responds that way.

So, with that introduction, I'll describe it here, too: Flip-Flop is a romantic suspense novel about a young woman who recognizes then pursues a missing child while she's on a Christmas tour with her BYU-Idaho choir.

So there it is. Check back to learn when you can find Flip-Flop in a book store near you.

Twain Marketing

I recently saw this on a writing newsletter I subscribe to and thought I'd share it here since it goes along with my last two entries on "Marketing." Hmm. I wonder if this is what JK Rowling did, too.
"I conceive that the right way to write a story for boys is to write so that it will not only interest boys but strongly interest any man who has ever been a boy. That immensely enlarges the audience."~ Mark Twain, Letter to Fred J. Hall, 8/10/1892

LDS Publisher: Is LDS Fiction a Genre?

I asked LDS Publisher my question from my last post, and "her" helpful answer, along with several good comments are found here:

LDS Publisher: Is LDS Fiction a Genre?

To Market To Market

I have a question about the LDS market, or actually, I would like it to be an educational discussion, so please add your opinion as a comment.

My question: What kind (in general) of books are the average LDS fiction readers and/or fiction publishers looking for?

My answer: In the past, I've turned to the LDS market because there is sleaze and untruth in my preferred genres, and I want books that fit my general interest but are "clean." You know, kind of like the "Candace Salima, Mormon Nora Roberts" idea. So, to me, I consider the competition for LDS books to be the National Market, not necessarily other LDS writers.

But lately, I've begun to wonder if this simplified understanding is incorrect. Do readers, and especially publishers, see LDS books as their own genre with specific rules and formats?

What do you think?