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Behind the Scenes: My Fiction Writing Process
What’s Your Process? Readers, especially aspiring writers, often ask authors this question: “What’s your process?” A fellow student in my community college fiction class asked me this question, and I became a deer in the headlights. I grappled for a response, so I thought about what I did on my recent publication. Kernel of an…
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Book Review and Writing Lessons from The Irish Goodbye
How lucky am I? The book group I’m in featured the author of the book we just read: The Irish Goodbye. Author Heather Aimee O’Neill is getting much acclaim, and Jenna Bush Hager chose Heather’s debut novel as the Today Show pick. Not only were we treated to Heather reading parts of her novel in…
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Exciting Release: Willful Obsession Paperback Edition
When I published the ebook version of Willful Obsession: A Lake Waluga Cozy Mystery Novella in August, I hadn’t conceived that there would be a paperback version. As I shared the publication news with friends and family, I learned that some of them don’t read ebooks. I see you! I’m happy to announce that my…
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Book Review: The House of Mirth
If you’re in the mood to read a literary novel, consider the classic: The House of Mirth. If you’re attracted to The Gilded Age on HBO, it will seem familiar. Be forewarned that my book review here contains spoilers. This is a challenging novel to read, but worth the effort. Before you get misled by…
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Creating a Paperback After a KDP eBook: Lessons from My Publishing Journey
In a way, I’m kicking myself for not publishing a paperback version at the same time as the ebook. Frankly, I didn’t imagine that the ebook would be as popular as it is. When I did a quick search of what’s involved, it seemed like an easy decision because of the print-on-demand availability. The hardest…
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Why Readers Will Love “Willful Obsession:” An Editorial Review
A writer might work more than a year on a novella. Friends say nice things, but that ever-present doubt — is the story any good? — hovers like a black cloud. And then the first review on Goodreads comes in from an international reader (who got the story via a free promotion), and it’s a…
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Three Stakes of My Cozy Mystery
All stories need stakes, and mysteries especially, I think. In Willful Obsession: A Lake Waluga Mystery, there are three main stakes, which I outline in this short video. I might hint at one of the suspects as well… In Willful Obsession, 1) The unscrupulous nephew will inherit millions and move in next door, 2) worthwhile…
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Results of my KDP Free eBook Promo: 350 Orders and #5 Ranking
I launched my cozy mystery novella, Willful Obsession: A Lake Waluga Mystery, on August 7. A couple of weeks later, after a few reviews, I ran a free ebook promotion, which resulted in 350 orders, and at one point, a ranking of #5 in a particular Amazon category. Will this help future sales? Will this…
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Kristy Schnabel 