Beacon Street – Page 20 – Author Showcase & Blog

Friday Potpourri: Aug 21

Pam-Anne August 21, 2009 1 Comment

Lots of buzz on the ebook front. Anyone who reads me knows it’s a hot issue right now. Have been working with my publisher, Echelon Press, to create unique ways to sell digital versions of our books at festivals and booksignings, and we are coming up with some great ideas. Can imagine downloading 3-4 books at once from a publisher’s booth, right into your Sony Digital Reader or iPhone? Or bringing home a very cool flash drive loaded with the books you’ve chosen on the spot? (You know those USB drives plug right into some of the ereaders!)

I have a vested interest. CAPE SEDUCTION is slated for a November 1st release in electronic format. Fourteen formats, to be sure. And you can bet LOTS of people will be getting digital readers, iPhones and Kindles for Christmas this year. Forrester recently released a report that is paraphrased at BNET. Apparently, “from 2008 to 2009, Amazon sold an estimated 600,000 Kindles. But Sony sold an estimated 400,000 of its e-readers.” That’s a million readers, folks. And it doesn’t count the number of iPhones, iPod Touches, PDA’s, laptops and other ebook reading devices already in use. Now that Sony has lowered prices on devices and ebooks, and has determined they will support the ePub* format, we will start to see them pull ahead of Amazon. Mark my words. (*See great WSJ article about ePub and DRM here.)

Speaking of Cape Seduction, I’m ecstatic to say that cover art is in the works. We have obtained rights to photos that will be mysteriously ‘Shopped into a spellbinding cover! So stay tuned on that front.

My calendar says my next personal appearance will be at the Duarte Festival of Authors. Have never done this particular festival and am looking forward to sharing some space with fellow Echelon author Gayle Carline. Gayle and I met at L.A. Times Festival of Books in April, when she was selling her new release, FREEZER BURN. We get along great except for when it comes to horses… she’s an equestrienne extraordinaire and I’m more the type that likes the wooden ones that go ’round and ’round in the mall. Is there a 12-step program for equine-o-phobes?

Good news/bad news department: We now think our guinea pig has a benign lipoma. A fat bump. Not dangerous in itself, and should just be watched for awhile. The bad news? Son is not coming home now. 🙁 He did assure me he’ll be home for Christmas (why do I hear Bing Crosby‘s baritone in the background?) Ugh. Sadness. Why does Singapore have to be so far away (and so expensive to commute?)

Have started a new story. Don’t know yet if it is a full length book or not. Takes place in the 1980’s, about a glam rocker and a makeup artist. Has to do with gay performers hiding their sexuality (or not). Not sure how readers will take this topic. Not really worried, either.

Haven’t fired up the new Pink KitchenAid Stand Mixer yet. Will plan to do some whirling this weekend and will, altonbrownmixer of course, share the results, if only virtually. Daughter wants to paint flames on the sides, like Alton Brown‘s. I told her I have enough trouble with burning food.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten something, something likely only interesting to me and my stalkers. Oh well. It will wait.

PamBlogSig copy

Interview With a Hero: Jack McKenzie

Pam August 19, 2009 3 Comments

Jack McKenzie is a hard guy to catch up with! But we finally found time to talk–albeit at the local ice hockey rink.

Pam: Can I get you a towel? You’re dripping.

Jack: I have one here. Thanks. So what’s this for? A blog?

Pam: Yeah. You are my hero of the week.

Jack: (drying off face) I’m flattered! Wow. Brad Pitt wasn’t around?

Pam: Brad isn’t a character in one of my books. So, did you win?

Jack: Hockey? Oh, no. This was just a pick-up practice. I’m a little out of shape. I’ve been up north, working with a buddy on a big project.

Pam: Case McKenna. His after-school club for kids.

Jack: Yeah! How’d you know?

Pam: I wrote his book, too. About Point Surrender.

Jack: Oh. Of course. So you know about the lighthouses.

Pam: I should hope so. But let’s talk about you. You are married?

Jack: (grins) Maddie. (Shakes head in reflection) She’s the best. And since you’re going to ask, we have four kids. Hers, Todd, who’s a challenging teen but a good guy; Duncan, mine, from before, you know, and then Davey and Mae. Mae’s in preschool.

Pam: You’ve known Maddie a long time?

Jack: We went to high school together. Then we met again one day in the park, just a fluke, I was taking Dunc for a walk. I couldn’t believe how much she’d changed. I mean, she grew up. Into this very hot, sensitive woman. She needed help. With Todd, with her ex, all kinds of stuff. Todd’s dad had disappeared. I took her to Paris to try to sort things out. I can’t even tell you… well… it was weird.

Pam: What was weird? Paris?

Jack: What we found when we got there. It just about ended everything between us. I almost packed it in. But you know, I was… I was in too deep by that time. I just couldn’t let her go.

Pam: I’m sure our mutual fans are glad. What’s up next for you?

Jack: Don’t laugh. I’m thinking of buying my own lighthouse.

Pam: (rolls eyes) Don’t do this to me. You do realize, I’m the one who has to write this stuff.

Jack: (broad, gleaming teeth smile) Yes, I do realize that. Wanna get some coffee?

Jack McKenzie and Maddie Cross are both characters in IN TOO DEEP by Anne Carter, from Wings ePress, Amazon and available for your Kindle, iPhone or other ereader from Fictionwise.

Life in the Way

Pam August 18, 2009 2 Comments

You know that old saying, “…but life got in the way”? Does that really make sense? How can your own life get in your way? Someone probably thought it was a clever way of saying that those things we need to do to survive sometimes infringe on those things we do for enjoyment. The truth is, we need to take care of our “life” issues because they won’t go away.

Life showed up for me this week. Astrologically speaking, my planets were whacked. My karma was nil. Lady Luck slept in, did not beam her rays in my direction. One of our sweet little g-pigs has developed a suspicious lump, my dryer broke down, and a few minutes ago I watched the Auto Club drive away with my beloved Highlander on the truck. Argh!

Because these “life” things are all begging for my time, my blog today will be short. I just want to mention the good stuff, too. The vet thinks Hammikins will be fine after surgery. It looks like my son may be coming home from Singapore to take care of her for a bit. The dryer’s failure forced me to clean out years’ worth of lint, dust, Chapsticks, coins, seashells, hair clips, small toys, etc., from behind/beneath in preparation for the repair man, who’s coming tomorrow. Last, I have my son’s car at my disposal while the Hybrid is in the shop. This is great since I still have to go to the cleaners, the post office, the grocery store, the shredder, the pharmacy and pick up my daughter from school.

My New Baby!

So life is good.

And the best news of all? As a consolation for messing with my week, yesterday “Life” handed me a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, something I’ve wanted since before I was born, for $85.00 after half-off sale, 30% off coupon and $40 rebate. So what if it’s pink?

So while you are waiting for my “life” to step aside and let me have fun, buy or pick up a good book to read. Hey, even POINT SURRENDER will do. On sale at Amazon for $11.03? $11.04? Something like that. I need to sell a few more copies to win my publisher’s heart–and insure the publication of the next in the series! Ha!

Friday Potpourri: Aug 14

Pam-Anne August 14, 2009 1 Comment

Sandie Snap Treasure

It’s been a busy week. What with blog touring, cake baking, You Tubing and not-so-glamorous “day-job” stuff.

Some great news: although I haven’t written a formal press release yet, I’m thrilled to tell you that CAPE SEDUCTION will available in e-formats this November! That’s so soon! A paperback version will follow in the spring. We are working on edits and cover art, and I need to get the ol’ potamus in gear and notch up my pre-release buzz. More–a lot more–on that to come.

And yes, the eBook scene is heating up. I have Google alerting me daily on all things digital-book, and every day there is new information coming down the pike. My publisher and I have been brainstorming on ways to sell ebooks at festivals and other public gatherings. I love the idea of flash drives being pre-loaded with an assortment of stories, along with a teaser or two for other books. Still ruminating on that idea. But the good news is, people ARE buying ebooks, and it’s getting better all the time.

West Hollywood Book Fair (WEHO), normally the last weekend in September, is on October 4th this year. I will be there, signing with Sisters In Crime Los Angeles, which is a great bunch of mystery authors. The day before, I will be at the Duarte Festival of Authors signing with fellow Echelon Press author Gayle Carlene (FREEZER BURN).

We had a thick marine layer this morning! [Read=fog] A lovely, fresh start to our dog days of August.

Hoping to attend our local Concerts in the Park tomorrow night. Each week, they have a different cover band performing, and tomorrow it’s Don’t Stop Believing doing songs by Journey. Should be good, will report back if we go.

Blog Tour! Today I am at Candid Canine, the blogsite of Christine Verstraete. Christine is the author of SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT, A MINIATURE ART MYSTERY, which is a great kid’s book. I was asked to blog about keeping young readers motivated. Not that I’m any expert, to tell the truth. My own daughter pretty much hates reading! Sunday I will be blogging at Teen Seen on one of my favorite topics: Hollywood!

Have a great weekend, all!

PS: I graced this page with my dog’s smiling face because she has been BARKING THE WHOLE TIME I WAS WRITING THIS BLOG! Sheesh! She doesn’t like the neighbor’s gardeners. Get over it, girl! 🙂

Blog Tour Change!

Pam August 13, 2009 1 Comment

I’ve detoured my path! The blog tour continues today at Alyssa’s Area, blog of Quake Press teen author Alyssa Montgomery! PLEASE stop by and find out what’s up with my next middle grade mystery, OLD ENOUGH! Fun times!

Oh and by the way, my MYSTERY CAKE turned out SO GOOD! Yummo, as Rachael Ray would say! It’s more like a gingerbread, rich in spices, fat, sweet raisins and chewy almond slivers. Er, nutmeats. Here are some pics:

Remember a month or so again when I blogged about my weight loss plans? Well I don’t… 🙂

Interview With a Hero: On Hiatus…

Pam-Anne August 12, 2009 Comments Off

Aw, Nutmeats.

…while I bake a cake.

As I write this on Tuesday night, I realize I have no time to interview the talented and easy-going Jack McKenzie, so will reschedule with him after his hockey game next week. Because tonight I am baking a MYSTERY CAKE for my Wednesday blog stop, Vintage Cookbooks with Amy Alessio!

Why is it a Mystery Cake? The mystery ingredient, of course! You’ll have to stop by Amy’s site to find out what it is. Meanwhile, I have to run out to the store to buy some nutmeats. And yes, sadly, I had to look up “nutmeats” at Wikipedia. I’m a lame cook. Don’t tell Amy.

Taking a Breather!

Pam-Anne August 11, 2009 1 Comment

Testing my repaired camera today-A pre-bloom rose

Some thoughts.

I’m thinking about how to reach more readers. The blog tour is great. The book industry is evolving, and bookstores are no longer the primary place to sell books. I keep hearing, again and about, that readers are out there, you just have to find them. I see stats on book sales that sometimes stagger me. Book blogs are something new and exciting, places where readers actually congregate in cyberspace. Lots of readers.

I’m reminded of Dorothy, when she first lands in Oz, and she keeps hearing little giggles here and there. The Munchkins are all around her, but not visible. These are the readers. Glenda arrives, and they begin to peek out. Book Blog hosts are all Glendas, coaxing the readers out to meet me, Dorothy, the author. “See? She is not scary at all. She’s just a friendly good witch/author.”

Okay, so I get a bit tilted sometimes. 🙂

Today I am blogging at Twiga Tales, jabbering about lighthouses again. This time about seeking them out and making them part of my life. One day I’ll do a blog about my miniature lighthouse collection. Isn’t it fun, how, when you have a hobby or a collection, people always jump on that for gifts? I have lighthouses that are: salt shaker, wall plaque, music box, framed photos and artwork, what-not holders, ceiling fan pull, paper weight, jewelry, soap dispenser, scarf, monogrammed shirt, books, stationary… whew! Other stuff that I’ve surely forgotten.

I’m meeting some really nice people. I hope they like my books. I won’t say I’m any kind of Nora Roberts, maybe not yet, but I love what I do and I think it shows.

Am thinking that Tuesdays might start being book reviews. I so enjoyed reviewing Sam Morton’s book last week. I also have my radio program on alternating Tuesdays. Busy me!

Point Montara: A Moving Experience

Pam-Anne August 10, 2009 1 Comment

Point Montara sits on the northern California coast, about 20 miles south of San Francisco. I had the extreme pleasure of attending a wedding there several years ago. It’s a beautiful light, set on an oft-foggy cliff, warning mariners heading for the Golden Gate. While books on my shelf talk about the present, cast iron, thirty-foot tower being erected in 1928, it was recently discovered that this very lighthouse first stood guard over East Coast waters.

Yes, Point Montara lighthouse has a secret past, beginning in Wellfleet Harbor on Cape Cod 128 years ago. Hard to imagine, moving an entire lighthouse so far. Those who uncovered this surprising story still speculate on how the beacon was moved. Was it loaded onto a ship and sailed through the Panama Canal?

Today, the lighthouse is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and American Youth Hostels, Inc., operates a 50 bed hostel for bicyclists and budget travelers for as little as $20.00 a night.

I don’t know of any other lighthouse that can lay claim to protecting both East and West coastal waters. Just a little bit of intriguing lighthouse history!

The Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel is perched on the California coast, 25 miles south of San Francisco and 7 miles north of Half Moon Bay. The hostel is on coastal Highway 1 (also known as Cabrillo Highway) near 16th Street, between the towns of Montara and Moss Beach. Phone: (650) 728-7177

If traveling by car, please be cautious as the hostel driveway is hidden on a curve on Highway 1. If you are driving northbound on Highway 1, you are advised to continue past the hostel (on yout left), drive on to the town of Montara, then turn around so you can enter the hostel driveway with a southbound right turn at the end of the guardrail.

PS: Don’t forget today’s stop on my blog book tour! Writing & Life with Nick Valentino, where I am “Taking the Mystery Out of EBooks!” Stop by!

Friday Potpourri: Aug 7

Pam August 7, 2009 1 Comment

Happy Friday! Here are my ramblings for today…

School update:

I registered for classes!!! Nervously wondering if I can do it…

Eng 101 was completely filled online, so next on my list was Pauly Sigh – do you know him? Anyway, I’m taking his class online and I think it has something to do with government stuff. Hope it’s about Obama because I really like that guy. The counselor told me to take class #150, I’m a little concerned because that means it’s harder than 149 of Mr. Sigh’s other classes.

I am also taking one ON CAMPUS class, Cinema 1-2-3 (as in “easy as”?) where you get to sit around and watch movies all day. That DOES sound easy! And they are movies about all those diversity issues. So, cool. Prolly like Morgan Freeman and Danny Glover. My man Denzel and that Fresh Prince guy.

So there will be 6 units in the bag, and all before Xmas break! After that, only 8 classes to go and I’m an officially ejamacated graje-it!

New Web Page:

I’ve added one of my other passions to my site: Dolls! Those who know me know about my doll collection, which has almost taken over my house and probably kept Mattel out of bankruptcy! Check out some of my girls by clicking on “Extras” at the top of this page and then on my American Girl Sam’s pretty face!

Blog Tour Reminder: Today I’m at My Friend Amy!

———————–

Other News:

Son and daughter-in-law (hereinafter referred to as “DIL”) are more than halfway through their Singapore stay. Yea! As fast as time seems to fly, it seems like they’ve been gone forever and two more months a long time off. The grandpigs are doing well and I should make a web page for them as well.

At SCV Education Foundation, we are rolling up our sleeves and getting into nitty-gritty planning for the Literacy & Arts Festival, on tap for December 5th. This year will be the best ever, of course. I’ll be posting updates here and at Facebook as will Ann Unger, our fab Exec Director!

Watched a moving Biography program on Boy George this week. So moving, in fact, that I’m planning a blog article about this former 80’s icon and lead singer for Culture Club.Want to be charmed? Watch this undated interview (circa 1986) with George O’Dowd:

Also watched the finale of “Who Will Be the Next Food Network Star!” and daughter and I were thrilled that Melissa D won! Can’t wait to watch her inaugural show this Sunday.

That’s it for today. I think.

Happy Friday!

Blog Tour Update!

Pam-Anne August 6, 2009 2 Comments

I'm All Packed!

It’s going great. A LOT more fun than I thought it would be! And it’s forcing me to write on-the-fly. I offered these topics, now I must make good on them. (What was I thinking??? LOL).

Monday kicked off at Life of a Publisher. Confession, my actual article got lost in cyberspace and never made it to host Karen Syed’s hands. Karen, ever the fix-all wonder that she is, dredged up a pretty darn decent replacement blog about me. The original article will go up at the end of the tour, to wrap things up!

Tuesday found me jabbering about photography and writing at Beth Fish Reads. What fun! And what a great bunch of readers she has!

Wednesday I stopped in at Write First, Clean Later with L.J. Sellers. By the time I finished talking about how to find more time for yourself, I was convinced I need to take my own advice! L.J.’s site is a wealth of information for any writer. Great blog!

Today, I get a break from writing and instead got to sit back and read a review of my middle grade reader, LOCKER SHOCK! by Mitali at Alley of Books. Felt like a reward! This 18 year old reviewer is articulate and thoughtful, and I couldn’t be happier with her well-written review.

Tomorrow ends my first week with My Friend Amy, where I’m talking all about lighthouses. And guess what: August 7th is actually National Lighthouse Day! What a treat!

My line up for next week:

Monday – Writing & Life, hosted by Nick Valentino: Taking the Mystery Out of EBooks

Tuesday – Twiga Tales, with Regina Leake: Haunting Lighthouses

Wednesday – Vintage Cookbooks, cooked up by Amy Alessio: Living the Romantic Life

Thursday – Nisha Sharma is on the calendar to review me!

Friday – Candid Canine (Cute name!) led by Christine Verstraete: Keeping Young Readers Motivated!

Hope you’ll stop by for a visit!

Sandie Snap Treasure It’s been a busy week. What with blog touring, cake baking, You Tubing and not-so-glamorous “day-job” stuff.