Writing Tips

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Summer Contests, Giveaways, & Becoming Josephine Cover Reveal!

Posted by on Jul 4, 2013 in Writing Tips | 5 comments

There’s a lot going on this summer! Between barbecues and beer, check out all the great contests and giveaways and my own cover reveal(EEEEEKKKKK)! COVER REVEAL The cover for my novel BECOMING JOSEPHINE will be revealed NEXT FRIDAY, JULY 12th!!!! I’m SO excited to share it. Stop by here at Between the Sheets and leave a comment for a chance to win a $20 gift card to Barnes & Noble or a $20 gift card to Amazon. Pre-order my novel (present a receipt) and win a Josephine hand...

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It’s A Wrap! and Expanding Your Blog Audience

Posted by on Jun 27, 2013 in Writing Tips | 5 comments

The HNS conference is over (sniff), and I had a killer time meeting people I’ve chatted with online for the last year. I even had the good fortune of having dinner with Diana Gabaldon and Anne Perry, multi-published best-selling authors! I teared up over a wonderful, inspiring speech by C.W. Gortner, and I booty danced with a pack of fun-loving chicas, including a cameo performance by Kate Quinn. (And that glorious photo was the view from my hotel room!) From the businessy angle, I...

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Ask #Publaw: The Poisoned Latte – Serious or Satire, Using Parody Names

Posted by on Jun 26, 2013 in Writing Tips | 5 comments

It’s Wednesday and I’m delighted to welcome publishing lawyer and mystery author Susan Spann back to Between the Sheets. Today’s Ask #PubLaw post takes a look at the issue of parody vs. satire. How about [use of] obvious satirical parody names like “Charbucks” or “Starburnt”? The answer lies in the difference between parody and satire—because where publishing (and trademark) law is concerned, they’re very different creatures. As a general rule, parody can be protected...

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Weeeeeee! Off to the Historical Novel Society Conference

Posted by on Jun 19, 2013 in Writing Tips | 1 comment

We interrupt the schedule of writing tips, #Publaw and #FrenchieFriday this week because I’m about to jet out of town to one of my favorite conferences! It’s held every other year in the U.S. and on the off years, it’s in the U.K.–the Historical Novel Society. Things I’m looking forward to: 1. Meeting with most of my critique group 2. Meeting other friends 3. Cocktail hour and the Tweet & Greet 4. The era costume pageant 5. The late night sex readings 6. Fresh...

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Ask #Publaw: Sports Teams in Fiction—On Point or Offsides?

Posted by on Jun 12, 2013 in Writing Tips | 5 comments

It’s Wednesday–time to welcome our resident summer publishing lawyer back to Between the Sheets. Leave your burning publishing questions in the comments and Susan Spann will answer them in next week’s post. Added bonus–all commenters in June and July go into the pot for a drawing to win a signed copy of CLAWS OF THE CAT, Susan’s novel releasing from Minotaur July 16th. Today’s Ask #PubLaw question follows up on last week’s trademarks in fiction post by...

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Ask #PubLaw: Can Authors Use Pop Culture Symbols in a Novel?

Posted by on Jun 5, 2013 in Author Interviews, Writing Tips | 6 comments

It’s Wednesday and time for another installment of Ask #PubLaw. This summer I’m running a special series with mystery author and publishing attorney Susan Spann. Writers are invited to leave their questions in the comments and Susan will answer them in a post! Also, during the month of June, leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Susan’s novel CLAWS OF THE CAT. Is it okay to refer to pop culture symbols, such as the Terminator or Starbucks coffee, in a novel? The...

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