Welcome to Beacon Street

You’ve stumbled across the online home of the Beacon Street authors. Here we blog about our thoughts, events, books, stories and other important topics – like education, photography, lighthouses, travel, community and of course, the world of publishing. Beacon Street also showcases the work of several authors writing in many genres. There’s always interesting and fun chatter, so check back often – and visit us on Facebook.

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When I Grow Up, I Want to Be… Gayle Carline

Gayle Carline is a fabulous author and my friend.

Gayle loves horses and is not even afraid of them. Not even one bit. She doesn’t shudder at words like, “they can sense your fear, you know.” She even has a beautiful and smart equine by the name of Snoopy, who is also a published author. Snoopy and Gayle trade quips and anecdotes in the lunging arena.

Gayle has the most charming copper-colored eyebrows.

Gayle likens herself to Erma Bombeck. I think maybe she sometimes channels Erma. But really, Gayle’s talent is all her own and she only acknowledges Erma’s influence out of modesty. I mean, would Erma really have suggested the discovery of a severed hand in a freezer? No. That’s entirely Gayle’s funny, fertile, comedic wit. (And the hand was wearing a ring. Seriously.)

Gayle is so humble that she talks about herself in the third person. This way, she can’t be accused of bragging too much. I always laugh when I read of her daily antics, as if they are being reported by an unseen companion:  “Gayle Carline… is happy that her book is bouncing around on the charts AND that the rest of her Peri series are selling…”

Gayle has readers who like her so much, they show up at the book festival to see if she has anything new, which of course she does, because she is a REAL author who writes, every day, and always has something coming down the pike.

Gayle loves a good glass of wine. If I had to choose a bottle for her, I’d say Red, maybe.

Gayle wears a tiara. She’s earned every sparkly rhinestone.

Gayle is a former software geek. Really. But don’t ask her how to defrag your disk or how to write a PHP file; she will just smile and hand you THE HOT MESS, turned around, so that you can read the back cover blurb.

Gayle is currently a columnist for the Placentia News – Times. She writes very funny stuff about everyday life with her doting hubby, her brilliant son and her aforementioned writing pal, Snoopy.

Most importantly, Gayle is a generous friend and inspiring writer. Because there is so much more to her than I’ve shared, I hope you will visit one of her many cyber stomping grounds. You can start with http://GayleCarline.com, where she hangs out when she’s not tap-dancing around Facebook!

 

Gayle Carline is a member of MURDER, WE WROTE, a consortium of multi-published, independent California mystery authors currently appearing in the Southland. Watch for future bios on all of our “murderous” members!

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LATFOB: An update

We are about a month away from our big book festival! So thrilled to be rubbing shoulders with such wonderful mystery, romance and suspense authors. Just for fun, I put together this little poster, showing what I hope is the most recent cover of each authors’ books. Take a peek at these intriguing titles!

In the coming weeks I’ll be sharing a little bit about each of our outstanding authors, so check back!

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Valentine Cookies!

Have always wanted to do this. Bought the molds, the melting chips and the sandwich cookies so later my daughter and I might embark on this sweet adventure! I will, of course, post results.

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Love Triangles: Who Needs Them?

In celebration of my new Anne Carter Facebook home, we’re talking about what makes a good love triangle and what makes one hero more appealing than the other.

 

Love triangles. Who needs them? They just never end well, right? Oh but wait. It’s about the journey, not the destination! But who gets the girl? Is it the steadfast, loyal, true-blue solid guy or the tantalizing, too-sexy bad boy with the arresting green eyes? Aha. Opinions will differ. Should we vote?

We could vote; but unless we’re all considering the SAME two heroes, it won’t be fair. Hmm… I’m thinking a contest is in order!

Head on over there and enter your vote by “liking” the hero of your choice! Anne’s Facebook Page

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Readers: How to @ LATFOB

Going to the festival as a book reader? I have tips for you, too!!! Because really, we authors are also readers. We escape the booth and walk around looking at all the wonderful books as far as we can see. We struggle, because we need to be behind the table talking up our own books but we want to be out there admiring, thumbing through, turning over and plopping down the plastic for other peoples’ books.

 

So here’s how you do this. With a little preparation, you’ll have a great time and come home with exquisite reading material:

Arrive early. Parking is… a little challenging. There are buses, too, so if you take the time to do a little research, it could pay off royally. Driving down to USC from… uh… anywhere can be daunting, so know where you’re going before you get behind the wheel. Parking is $10.00.
Bring sustenance. Food is… a little expensive. April is normally warm, so bring bottled water and sunscreen. Hats are good.
Dress for comfort. Layer your clothes if the weather warrants. Walking shoes are a must.
Budget. Think about how much you want to spend, and expect to spend twice that much. Honestly, it happens! And while you’re thinking about how many books you’ll be toting home, also figure out how you’ll carry them. Some book devourers drag along those folding shopping carts. Others bring wheeled suitcases. Backpacks work, too. Booksellers may or may not have shopping bags.
Money! Bring some cash for those few vendors who are living in the dark ages. Most will take checks, and more are now accepting credit cards.
Get a map, so that you can mark booths you intend to return to. Better yet, buy the darned book when you see it the first time. And get it autographed!

 

Most important:  Come meet the authors of MURDER, WE WROTE! Booth number will be coming soon.

Keep up with our plans by visiting our Facebook page!

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How To: LAT FOB @ USC

For those of you into shorticons and abbreviations, this alphabet soup is the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California. (Whew; see why we shorten it?)

This will be my sixth or seventh year at this crazy, fabulous book event. With the popularity of small press and the influx of indie author/publishers, it’s a great place to pool resources in order to get in the door of an otherwise very pricey venue. This year, there will be NINE of us in the MURDER, WE WROTE booths, hawking all kinds of mysteries.

Authors:  Going to exhibit for the first time? Here are some tips to help you prepare for the weekend!

• Promote in advance. Let people know, via blog, Facebook, Twitter—all the usual places—that you’re be there rubbing literary shoulders with such greats as [last year] Joseph Wambaugh, Anne Perry, Lee Goldberg, Gary Phillips, to name of few. When you get your booth number, broadcast it.
• Acquire giveaways. Pens, bookmarks, notepads, any number of small, inexpensive promo items you can easily get into readers’ hands. Look for things that might tie in to your book(s).
• Get a couple of cheap bookstands – Michael’s or even Wal-Mart has small stands that are sometimes sold as plate stands. Arrange your books attractively; go out in front and look at your spot, make sure it’s not so busy your visitors will go cross-eyed trying to see it all.
• Think about money: will you accept checks? Cash? You’ll need change for those first few buyers who hand you a $20.00. Credit Card? Check out “The Square” or “GoPayment” online for details on small card devices that will attach to your smart phone.
• Dress the part. You are not a visitor, a student, a street bum; look how you would expect a professional author to look. Promo t-shirt is okay, or even dressing as one of your characters. Inspire conversation!

Keep up with our plans by visiting our Facebook page!

Next up:  How to survive the event and even make money!

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