Shameless Self-Promo

Popping in to let you know I'm being interviewed today at READING WITH TEQUILA. Oh, and there's a giveaway too! Hop over and check it out!  

SIS Beth

I Can See It

Ah, yes. The finish line is in sight. Yesterday I had a very productive writing day. One of many in the past week. The end of this book is near and I'm already starting my happy dance. Sure, I'll have to go back and make some pretty major revisions, but to know the bones are there and that I know every in and out of the story is a complete treasure to me. I had hoped to continue the momentum today, but unfortunately I have to go to my day job. No worries. I'll just jot down notes and then start writing again tonight. I so want to finish this one!

And since I'm in such a positive mood, I'd like to share these quotes. I challenge you to share one too!

Oliver Wendell Holmes~~
Man's mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimension.


Erma Bombeck~~
It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.


Chinese Proverb~~
If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through.


Ferdinand Foch~~
The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire. 


Sheila Graham~~
You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world. 


SIS Barb aka Elle J Rossi

And the Winners Are....

Congratulations to Edie Ramer and Tura Lura! 

Thanks to handy dandy random number generator, you won signed copies of my romantic adventure, INTO THE WILD.  Please email your mailing info at  beth@bethciotta.com  I'll send out your books pronto.  Thanks to all who chimed in for the giveaway!

Now.... scroll down for today's post written by Bro Krys!

SIS Beth

Under Pressure

When it came time to brainstorm for today's blog, I came up with what I thought was a good topic. Then I read BJ's post and that took care of that. Great minds think alike, I guess. So that left me with Plan B. Unfortunately I didn't have a Plan B. Undaunted, I thought about my life and what's going on with me at the moment that I could blog about.

Nada.

So I perused the local and national news stories for some gem that I could post that would spark endless conversation or lively debate, or both.

Zilch.

Still not giving up,  I thought about the television shows and movies that I've seen lately, and the books I've read. Surely that would inspire me to write at least a halfway decent Blog.

Nope.

It's now Friday night and I'm left with that sinking feeling that no matter what I do, I'm not going to come up with anything good. The dreaded creative block. So I'm going to do what I normally do and make the best of the situation, for what it's worth. As a creative person, which I believe we all are in one way or another, what do you do when you want/need to come up with an idea or inspiration to be creative and it's not happening?

Something To Talk About (and a giveaway)

Once upon a time writers wrote the best darn story they could and their publisher handled most, if not all, of the promotion and advertising.

That was before my time.

I've been published since 2001. Even then an author was expected to invest time and money into self-promotion. Today... let's just say expectations are pretty intense. The average author is responsible for arranging their own interviews, news features, blog tours, newsletters, and booksignings. To order and purchase promo items such as bookmarks, book trailers, excerpt booklets, and (if they so desire) giveaways such as pens, notepads, buttons, etc...

A website is a must and a blog is pretty standard. Presently there's a big push for the author to engage in social networking via Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and readers' sites such as Good Reads, Shelfari, and Library Thing. Although I don't know the percentage, I'm pretty sure most of the ads you see in industry magazines and readers' websites are purchased by the author. And I'm here to tell you that can get really expensive.

Kudos to the authors who have the resources and time to cover and keep up with all, or even most, of the above. I truly envy and admire those marketing dynamos. Between working a full time job and writing two novels a year, I've had to learn to pick and choose. I've tried different things over the years. Some promo efforts work for me. Some don't. Presently, I'm convinced that the thing that lifts sales most is 'word of mouth'. I see this at work all the time at the library. One patron tells another about this great book they read and suddenly that person has to have it, reads it, loves it, and tells another person and so forth. Word spreads via blogs and social networks too. A personal recommendation is a powerful thing.

I want readers to talk about me, or rather my books, and especially just now my September release INTO THE WILD.  So this time around I'm focusing on stirring up talk by giving away my authors copies. So far I've done this in my personal blog, Twitter, and Facebook. I also have a couple of guest blogs and interviews lined up and I'll give books away there too. Mid September I'm attending an Independent Bookseller trade show and I'll give away probably 30 - 40 books there. It may sound a little crazy because I guess you could consider those lost sales. But I truly believe that giving away books will generate sales... that's if the story is good.

I had a blast writing INTO THE WILD and the fact that it was voted TOP PICK by RT Bookreviews gives me hope that the story will win many a reader's heart. Hopefully, they'll be so charmed by Spenser and River's romantic adventure that they'll say to a friend, "I just read this really great story!"

This is one call she can’t resist…

When River Kane's fiancé abandons her at the altar for being too conventional, she's heartbroken. But everything changes when her estranged archaeologist father sends her his journal—filled with cryptic maps and a note indicating he's in mortal danger. Worried, River faces her greatest fears and flies to the Amazon to find him. But she needs a guide. Someone completely unlike danger-seeker Spenser McGraw.


A charismatic treasure hunter who thrives on risk, Spenser hosts the popular TV show Into the Wild, dedicated to locating lost treasures and mythical icons. But River's father's life depends on discretion, and too-sexy Spenser is all about publicity. Forced to team up, they embark on a jungle adventure ripe with temptation and danger…ultimately discovering a hidden treasure that could alter history—and a steamy love neither expected.

* * *

In an effort to 'get people talking' I'm giving away two signed copies of ITW here at SIS. For a chance to win, just comment and mention one of the last books you read that you think we just HAVE to read!

(winners chosen at random and announced Saturday morning)

SIS Beth

Autumn, I am waiting

This morning, while I walked my youngest daughter to school, I noticed that there was a different feel to the air. It was cool and crisp, just like Autumn. I loved it. I am not a Summer person. As Barb says, I'm allergic. While I do like the warmth of the Sun, I don't like the scorching heat or the humid air. I don't like that it stays light for so long. I enjoy Summer most when it is dark and the stars are shining. I can light a fire, roast marshmallows and watch for shooting stars.


I feel more energetic and alive in the cooler seasons. I love Autumn and Winter and adore the warm sun of Spring after a long, cold Winter. During the Summer I could hibernate. If there was a way, you wouldn't see or hear from me all Summer long.

I am eagerly awaiting Autumn as the hot Summer ends. I will resume my walks in the woods. I will be a lot happier ( I'm grumpy when I'm hot ). Best of all, I will be more creative in the cooler months to come. Autumn, I am waiting, I will dance for joy when You are here to stay. All hail the coming of the Autumn winds!!

Are you a Summer or Autumn person?

SIS BJ aka Aleena Ravenwood

Wahoo! It's Wednesday!

Not that it means anything to me that it's Wednesday.  I just felt like saying Wahoo!  I'm a gomer like that.

I had the opportunity to watch a couple of movies this week.  I rented both from the Blockbuster box at the local grocery store for $1.  One was great, while the other was almost a waste of my $1.

We were in the mood for a comedy and decided between The Bounty Hunter and Date Night.  The box was out of Date Night so first we rented The Bounty Hunter starring Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler.

From IMDb:  Milo Boyd, a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter, gets his dream job when he is assigned to track down his bail-jumping ex-wife, reporter Nicole Hurly. He thinks all that's ahead is an easy payday, but when Nicole gives him the slip so she can chase a lead on a murder cover-up, Milo realizes that nothing ever goes simply with him and Nicole. The exes continually one-up each other - until they find themselves on the run for their lives. They thought their promise to love, honor and obey was tough - staying alive is going to be a whole lot tougher.

My husband asked if I thought Gerard Butler was a good looking guy.  I said "ehh....not really".  Then came the scene where he walks out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waste.  I said, "He just got better looking". 

Sadly, that's about the only good thing I can say about The Bounty Hunter.  It wasn't awful, but I wasn't all that entertained.

The next night, Date Night, starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell was in.  I had my fingers crossed.

From IMDb:  Phil and Claire Foster are a couple who have been married for several years. Their days consists of them taking care of their children and going to work and coming home and going to bed. But they find time to have a date night wherein they go out and spend some time together. When another couple they know announce that they're separating because they're in a rut, Phil feels that he and Claire could be too. So when date night comes Phil decides to do something different. So they go into the city and try to get into a new popular restaurant. But when it's full and still wanting to do this, Phil decides to take the reservation of a couple who doesn't show up. While they're having dinner two men approach them and instructs them to stand up and go with them. They think the men are with the restaurant and want to talk to them about taking someone else's reservation. But it appears the couple whose reservation they took crossed someone and the two men work for this person. The men are after something, but whatever it is they don't have it.

In a case of mistaken identity, the couple end up running for their lives, trying to find what it is these two tough guys want.

We really enjoyed this movie.  There were quite a few lines that had us laughing out loud.  I thought Tina Fey and Steve Carell were great together and I can almost see a sequel.

Hope your Wednesday is wonderful, and if you have any recs, please share!

SIS Bren