Welcome Author Misty Simon!

I would like welcome my friend and fellow author Misty Simon to my blog! Misty is a great friend with

Misty Simon

an infectious laugh as well as an awesome writer with a wonderful sense of humor.

I'm highlighting Book #2 from her beloved Ivy Series.

Wrong Drawers - An Ivy Morris Mystery 

Here's the Amazon link for purchase
 http://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Drawers-Ivy-Morris-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00LUAM57A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406111231&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wrong+drawers+misty+simon

 

I've posed a few questions to Misty:

Wrong Drawers

Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration is everyday occurrences. It never fails to amuse me that if you look at something just right, it can be encouraging or something to give you pause and make you think.

How do you juggle writing and life? 

As if every ball is made of super bouncy material except for the one marked family - that's made of glass. (vacuuming is actually made of dish soap bubbles so can float away on its own, in case you were wondering!)

Who is your favorite character and why?  

Ivy, hands down Ivy, because she is down to earth but still has hopes and dreams and eats ice cream with no shame.

What genre do you like to read the most? 

I can't pick just one, I love them all from historical to urban fantasy. Hook me and I don't care what world I'm in, as long as I'm sucked in.

Words of wisdom for new writers:

Don't look too far ahead. It's not always about making a sale or earning the money or being placed on a certain shelf. Sometimes it's about loving what you do and growing as you do it. 

Here's a blurb: Ivy Morris is back, and this time she’s determined to stay out of trouble. She’s comfortably ensconced in her costume shop, happy as a clam. Happy as a clam can be, anyway, when her father has moved in with her for an indefinite amount of time, putting her love life frustratingly on hold. 

So when her best friend asks for help with an in-home demonstration party, Ivy jumps at the chance to get out of the house and away from Dad. She has no idea of the subject until she gets a look at the cookies. But that becomes the least of her troubles when she walks straight into another murder scene. One where she’s the prime suspect.

What else could go wrong? When you’re Ivy Morris, the only right answer is “everything.” With the help of hunky Ben Fallon, this girl will try to figure out why she’s being framed and what it has to do with her getting THE WRONG DRAWERS.

Misty has a new and upcoming release from Harlequin - Wicked Ink  (June 2014) and Protective Ink (October 2014)

Misty's Facebook 

I hope you enjoyed insight to a great author! I can't wait for her next release.

That's it According to Maddy~

Tootles~

Madelyn 

New Blog Design

Hello,
There has been some chatter on writer blogs these days about writer's websites. With Facebook and blogs is it really necessary to have a website? At first I thought yes. But as I thought about things, really why do you need a website if you are visible on facebook and have a blog (which feeds to Facebook)?

I can add book excerpts, writing updates, add pages for contests and contact info. So really a website isn't truly necessary.

What is necessary is a way for writers to find you. See what you are currently doing and look at our backlist. Readers need to be able to email us or post a comment on Facebook. Just a way to communicate and share. And a website is static where as Facebook and blogs are asynchronous communication avenues that work great for writers and readers.

So my website address will now filter to my blog which will allow for readers and writers to access as well as feed to Facebook. All and all a great solution.

That's it according to Maddy~

Tootles,
Madelyn

Writing

Hello!

I'm writing more these days which is so great. I feel an energy when I'm working on a story that is hard to define. Creativity flows-ideas percolate-fingers fly over the keyboard. Sometimes I feel as if I have a split personalities -- the contemporary, writer, the historical writer, and the teen novel writer. I read everything and it seems that stories pop into my mind that are as varied as my many moods.

I know there are several writers who compose for different genres, and I love that. But I wonder with myself if I am doing my writing a disservice since it takes different ideas, research, and energy to write different genres. I don't know, but I can't help but nurture these stories and allow them to come to light. So, it may take me longer, but I think my inner muse is happier.

That's it according to Maddy~

Tootles~
Madelyn

When Hype is Just Hype

I read book reviews so that I can get a feel for what others are saying about certain books. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't. I recently read a book review published in a popular entertainment magazine and was captivated. The reviewer said she actually cried twice while reading the book--TWICE. Wow, if that isn't good praise, then what is? The reviewer waxed on and on about the writer and how perfect this debut author's writing evoked the setting, characters, and emotion. So, I said to myself, I have to read this book. I stopped by my favorite book store (hint, hint the initials are B & N), bought the book and read it.

I liked the book, it was good, the voice of the author was strong and you can tell, she wrote what she knew--which was the Appalachian Mountains. But I kept waiting for the brilliance. In my oh, so humble opinion, I felt the narrative choppy. The point of view switched from one character to another frequently and I had to re-read a few parts for clarification.

I don't mean to be harsh, but when I pay $24.99 for a book that is tagged as a brilliant debut, I expect a brilliant debut. Out of respect for the author, I won't state the title. However, has this happened to you? Let us know.

That's it according to Maddy~

Tootles~
Madelyn