'Love for LAMENTATION" Day

It's "Love for Lamentation" Day here at KC&A. Joe Clifford's novel Lamentation was featured on both SFGate.com and LitReactor as a notable staff pick for 2014. 

LitReactor says, "Joe Clifford is one of the best new crime writers emerging onto the scene," while SFGate.com suggests that "Lamentation is a suspenseful page-turner that may jangle your nerves." 

To read the full review of Joe's work on LitReactor, click here.

To read the full review of Joe's work on SFGate.com, click here. 

Relentless storm clouds roil over Northern New Hampshire’s Lamentation Mountain as Jay Porter is called to pick up his delinquent, drug-addicted older brother Chris at the local police station. Released into Jay’s care, his brother, now a suspect in the disappearance of a friend, reveals a conspiracy involving a mysterious hard drive and the small community’s most powerful family. As Jay fights to win back his ex-girlfriend and their two-year-old son, his journey forces him to confront his own parents’ suspicious death twenty years ago as he steps deeper into his estranged brother’s addicted world—delivering him to the dark heart of a small town’s shocking secret.

Rejection and Publishing

Rejection, it's a word all writers loathe and fear. I myself have been rejected as an author by zines, agents, editors, workshops, and readings. It's a difficult road, and I feel for the thousands of writers that pass through our slushpile everyday. It's hard not to take each rejection like an arrow to the heart and I've seen writers who have become bitter, angry, sad, and then broadcast it online. They vent their frustration, believing they have been wronged, calling publishers, editors, agents alike nasty names and blaming them personally for the rejections.

One of the most important things I have learned since entering the other side of publishing is that rejection is not personal. Publishing is first and foremost, a business. The people within publishing love books (they have to, for it is rarely a lucrative career), but they are not artists per say, so they are looking at each submission with a practical eye. For example, as beautiful as your prose may be, if the book is hundreds of thousands of words long, an agent knows that a publisher will not probably not pick it up because to publish a book that large costs more money. No one is saying the writer is a bad writer for having a long book, it just means the writer probably doesn't understand the business side of publishing and is likely inexperienced.

So if you are like the average writer and wish to have a financially successful career, do your research, know the business and understand that it's similar to any other job. Your first project is your entry-level resume. You're going to have to submit it to as many places as you can, be rejected or ignored, and even if you do get hired, you won't be the CEO within the year. But if you keep honing your craft by going to school or workshops or conferences, doing online research, critical reading and practicing writing, just as you would invest in another career, your odds of success become much higher.

And you will see that rejection is just business as usual.

For more tips on writing and publishing follow Mary @Mary_C_Moore.

'Why I'll Never Let My Children Play Football' by Edwin Lyngar

Great article by my author Edwin Lyngar on Role Reboot about the dangers of allowing children to play football.  Parents, take heed!

To read Edwin Lyngar's article on Role Reboot, click here.

Happy Thanksgiving and Almost End of NaNoWriMo!

Happy Turkey Day All!

For all of you writers out there participating in NaNoWriMo and sweating your way to the finish line this Sunday, you can do it!

I am majorly impressed with anyone who wins NaNoWriMo as here I am attempting to keep my focus with my official writing hat, and I'm only at 20k. (No I will not pull all nighters trying to get to 50k in 4 days.)

As you can see I'm not getting a lot of writing done. On the plus side, I have managed to respond to many waiting queries, so some benefited from my procrastination. 

Cheerleading aside, please remember to edit your NaNoWriMo novels come December. The last thing an agent or editor wants to see is a manuscript that was banged out in a month. Revise, rewrite, reread. 

Write on.

- Mary

For tips and general tidbits about writing and literary agents, follow Mary on Twitter @Mary_C_Moore

USA BEST BOOK AWARD IN THRILLER

What a week!  Congratulations also to my client Phil Donlay who was a finalist for his thriller, DEADLY ECHOS in the 2014 USA Best Book Awards...

Way to go Phil!

BOUCHERCON ANTHONY AWARDS

Gentle Readers.

I was honored and privileged to attend last weekend Boucheron Conference where my client Matt Coyle won the Anthony Award for BEST FIRST NOVEL!  Well deserved...

This is what I mean by the thrill of starting new voices - it doesn't get any better.  It was made even sweeter as my friend Otto Penzler made the announcement.  Keep writing, keep believing in yourselves, and keep going!

Mary Is On Faculty at the Whidbey Writer's Conference

Hello all you wonderful peeps. I will be on faculty at the Whidbey Writer's Conference this year! Packing my bags as we speak and preparing for a lovely weekend here:

…where on Friday I will be speaking at one of their infamous "Chat House Sessions" with the talented agent Margaret Bail of Inkling Literary. We will attempt to cover what an agent can offer an indie author and what an indie author can anticipate when trying to get an agent. On Saturday I will be listening to author pitches and hopefully finding some gems. As I am not open to unsolicited queries, conferences are a great way for authors to get my attention.

If you are there, say hello!

Cheers,

Mary

Follow Mary @Mary_C_Moore

Mary's KC&A profile

Mary's author page: marycmoore.com (yes I write too)

Dr. Suzana Flores's Book FACEHOOKED Receives a Storm of Attention

Since the launch of Dr. Suzana Flores's book, FACEHOOKED: HOW FACEBOOK AFFECTS OUR EMOTIONS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND LIVES through Reputation Books, Dr. Flores has been swamped with media requests and interviews. It's getting difficult to keep up with her. But we aren't surprised.

Facebook is a worldwide phenomenon and has captivated so many of us. I use Facebook constantly in promotion of my clients and their events. And I also use it to blow of steam. I get some personal satisfaction and relief seeing what others are up to, watching cute animal videos, and looking at the beautiful or heartwarming photos that people post. 

However, there is a shadow side to Facebook use. And it's usually seen in those moments such as when we're angry, have diminished impulse control, and post something on someone's wall to shame them. Or maybe we are mad at our adult kids and decide to strike out. Most of us have found ourselves in a situation at one time or another where we've questioned ourselves around our Facebook use. 

Or, we've been the victim of someone else...

Dr. Flores's book offers deep insight into Facebook use and cites more than fifty case studies in her book. FACEHOOKED is one of those books that is hard to put down. And it's a great book for parents unsure of how to navigate social-media use with their teens. Traditional publishers couldn't identify the audience for this book. So we are very happy that Reputation Books agreed to take this on, and all this media interest is certainly showing us that there is, indeed, an audience for this book.

Dr. Flores was interviewed on WGN Radio by Matt Bubala. The interview was eye-opening, especially around the topic of teen use of social media. To listen to the interview, click here. 

Chicagoist ran a great review of the book. To read the review, click here.

To sign up for Dr. Flores's newsletter or learn more about her, visit her website at http://drsuzanaflores.com.

Most important, to BUY Dr. Flores's book in hard cover or e-book format, click here. 

I think Dr. Flores is a rising star in the media and entertainment world as a consultant on social media use. She's highly educated, a great public speaker, has quick wit (otherwise how could she be on the Mancow Show?), deeply understands the human condition, and truly wants to help others. 

So keep your eye on Dr. Flores. And if you are in the Chicago or San Francisco areas, visit one of her signings:

CHICAGO

Saturday, October 18th - Open Books - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 1st - Powell's Books - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO

December - Book Passage Bookstore - Corte Madera

TWO WEEKS UNTIL LAUNCH

                     

It is an exciting morning walking into the office to find final copies of Allen Eskens' The Life We Bury, which will be available for purchase on October 14. Allen has already garnered tremendous support with a starred review from Publishers Weekly, selection as one of Library Journal’s Editors' Fall Picks, and being featured on LibraryReads October Top 10 list. We are thrilled that everyone will be able to pick up a copy of this terrific debut literary mystery/thriller soon!

Writer's Digest Bootcamp, again!

As summer winds down the book business always picks up, and I made a high, five figure deal recently with Minotaur for a debut crime thriller, COLLECTING THE DEAD by Spencer Kope.  Stay tuned…

Today we are going to be online with writers asking us questions for our third Writer's Digest University Bootcamp Seminar - HOW TO CRAFT QUERY LETTERS, OPENING PAGES, SYNOPSES AND NON-FICTION THAT GET NOTICED!  We are looking forward to working with the writers that have signed up, and we will be critiquing their first ten pages with their query letters for the next ten days :-)

Happy Fall to all - keep writing and don't get discouraged.  There are lots of great agents that want to find new voices…

Kimberley

LAMENTATION Library Journal Review

The reviews for my author Joe Clifford's book keep on coming.  LAMENTATION received a review in Library Journal.  Congratulations, Joe!

Joe Clifford Gets Starred Review in Publishers Weekly for LAMENTATION

What a great way to start the day! I received news today that my author Joe Clifford received a starred review in Publishers Weekly for his novel LAMENTATION, due out in October through Oceanview Publishing.

My favorite line of the review: "Clifford (Junkie Love) understands human potential for moral collapse and redemption, and his lean, gritty prose never lets characters or readers off the hook."

Way to go, Joe! This is just the beginning for us. A big thank you to Oceanview Publishing!

To pre-order LAMENTATION, click here.

To read more about Joe, visit his website by clicking here.

DEBUT NOVEL & SNEAK PREVIEW

Our author Shannon Kirk is debuting her first novel Method 15/33 in less than a year and is finally celebrating with cover art.

And check this out, if you want a little sneak preview for the novel, Shannon's created a trailer.

For more information about the author and her work, please visit Shannon Kirk's personal website and follow her on Twitter.

Posted By Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

LAMENTATION By Joe Clifford

LAMENTATION is due out in October 2014

through Oceanview Publishers

We are excited about the upcoming October release of Joe Clifford's thriller LAMENTATION.  Joe has some amazing blurbs from best-selling authors, and reviews are already trickling in for the book.  

Mike Wallace of Pulp Hack Confessions writes: 

I have had the pleasure of reading a lot of really good stories by new authors working in the neo-pulp tradition this year and Lamentation is one of the best: the writing is crisp, the plot sufficiently complex to hold the reader's interest and keep him or her off-balance, and the characters believable and fully-developed.

To read Wallace's full review on Pulp Hack Confessions, click here.

Renee Asher Pickup of Revolt Daily says: 

Crime writers are known for getting down to the grit of real life, but not all of them can pull off the heart Clifford works into his writing. Through the story you will roll your eyes at the protagonist one moment, cheer for him the next, and find your heart breaking by the end. 

To read Pickup's full review on Revolt Daily, click here: 

Interview With Elizabeth Kracht

Elizabeth Kracht (left) with Kimberley Cameron

I was asked to answer a few interview questions for author Samantha Fountain's blog.  These questions are a little different than the usual ones I get; they tend to focus on "after the signing."

To read the full interview, click here.

This True Detective knows Criminal Minds from all angles...

Our author Michael Barrett is getting all kinds of praise for his latest crime novel, Shoshana. And it's no wonder: as a former police detective, sketch artist, and private investigator, Barrett knows the crime scene intimately.

Westport News recently released an article about their hometown career cop and his successful transition to full-time author:

"I wanted people to see the cop's point of view," he said. On television police officers are portrayed as hard, often emotionless people, he said.  "On TV when a cop shoots someone, it's no big deal and that's not at all how it works.  Most cops leave the job with post-traumatic stress disorder," the retired officer said.  "A macho cop gets a SIDS call and it changes the way he thinks about people."

For the full article complete with insights into Barrett's motivation and inspiration for Shoshana visit Westport News.  And for more information about Michael Barret, Shoshana, and his other works, visit his personal website.

Posted By: Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Interview with author D.P. Lyle, MD

WALL STREET JOURNAL'S Tom Nolan Reviews CITY OF GHOSTS

Critics and bloggers alike are intrigued City of Ghosts, Kelli Stanley's third novel in her Miranda Corbie mystery series.

Tom Nolan praises, "Kelli Stanley's atmospheric mystery-adventure of art thieves and smugglers, murderers, and possible foreign agents in the Bay Area in 1940, makes quite an impression."  Who wouldn't be impressed by "art thieves and smugglers, murderers and possible foreign agents."   Read Nolan's complete review at the online edition of WSJ.

And head over to Lesa's Book Critiques where Lesa tells book-lovers, "If you want to understand pre-war America, the looting of Europe's art treasures, San Francisco's history, or the story of a strong, gritty woman, a woman with a past, and a city with a past, Kelli Stanley's City of Ghosts is a must-read."  Read her full review on her book blog.

To get started or continue your adventure in the Miranda Corbie series, visit the author's official website and for even more information and updates, follow her on twitter.

Posted by Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY Book Review: DAY OF VENGANCE

Our award-winning mystery author, Jeanne M. Dams has released the 15th novel in her Dorothy Martin series with great success.  Last week, Publisher's Weekly posted their review:

In Dams's captivating 15th Dorothy Martin mystery (after 2013's Shadows of Death), Dorothy's husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, is serving on the Crown Appointments Commission to select the next bishop of Sherebury Cathedral.  When one of the candidates, the Rev. Andrew Stephen Owen Brading, is murdered in his own church, everyone involved falls under suspicion, including Alan.  An informal team gathers to clear Alan's name by investigating each of the remaining candidates on the list.  The stakes rise when a friend of the Martins goes missing after probing the cooked books of the charismatic Rev. Geoffrey Lovelace's church.  Meanwhile, the inquiry to Brading's past opens questions as to why he was shortlisted for the mitre in the first place.  Anglophiles, especially those with an ecclesiastical bent, will find much to savor.

- 21st July 2014 issue Publisher's Weekly

To get started on this series and to learn more about the author, please see her official website.

Posted by Intern Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

SUMMERTIME...

Happy Summer to all, as temperatures enable us to enjoy the sun… Thrillerfest in New York was great with lots of meetings with editors, clients and publishers!

Kimberley's author D.P. Lyle with Pat Gussin of Oceanview Publishing

                         The famous Otto Penzler and Andy Martin of Minotaur with David Brody  

Lunch at the Bryant Grill with Kelli Stanley and her Minotaur editor, Elizabeth Lacks

Ariel Giacobbe, our Reputation Books social media maven at hard work in the garden!

The Book Passage Mystery Conference was fabulous as usual!   Here is Elizabeth's author Joe Clifford entertaining all, and handsome author and Book Passage Owner Bill Petrocelli in conversation...

I was able to introduce my debut author Katherine Hyde that I met at the conference last year, and sold her series CRIME WITH THE CLASSICS to Minatour Books, as well as personally recognize my author George Fong, who is my hero :-)

Everyone loves this conference!

We wish everyone a lovely end of summer, and know that we are working hard to make your manuscripts become published books...

Tj Turner's LINCOLN'S BODYGUARD Cover

I love getting covers.  Here is the cover for my author Tj Turner's alternative historical thriller LINCOLN'S BODYGUARD.  Tj's book will be released just days before the 150th anniversary commemorating Lincoln's death.

If you'd like to read more about Tj Turner or LINCOLN'S BODYGUARD, visit Tj's website at: www.tjturnerauthor.com

LGBT Community Embraces Gerald L Dodge's BENEATH THE WEIGHT OF SADNESS

Gerald L Dodge's Beneath the Weight of Sadness is going viral within the LGBT community.  Most recently, an excerpt has been posted on the Gay/Lesbian Fiction Excerpt Blog where thousands of followers go to find the latest trending novels featuring the theme.  Scroll down to the comments to see Gerry communicating with his readers.

And it doesn't stop there.  Our pal Jay Hartman at Untreed Reads Publishing has entered Gerry's novel for the 2014 Rainbow Awards hosted by Elisa Rolle, one of the most influential book reviewers in the LGBT community (check out her extensive list of review on her site Reviews and Ramblings).  The awards include both fiction and non-fiction including art and photography -- so the competition will be fierce, but we have every confidence our author will make it to the finals!  Winners won't be announced until December, so we'll keep you posted as we hear about Gerry's progression (see the official rules and timeline here).

Beneath the Weight of Sadness is obviously worth a read.  If you haven't picked it up yet ...

ABOUT THE NOVEL

Truman Engoff, a gay, seventeen-year-old boy, living in an affluent, New Jersey town, Persia, is brutally murdered one early Sunday morning.  The murder becomes sensational not only for the fact that Truman is gay, but because the town is peopled with mostly wealthy conservatives who view anomalous lifestyles as a disruption to their strict view of how the world should function.  The death of Truman's brief life is told in four separate narratives: his father, mother, the detective investigating the case, and his best friend growing up.  All four of these people are devastated by Truman's death, and the story of his death unfolds as the characters tell the story of his life.

Find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and of course Untreed Reads.

For more about the author and his work, check out his personal website and follow him on Twitter.

Posted By Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference 2014

"Learn all the clues to a successful writing career" at this year's Mystery Writers Conference scheduled for July 24 through July 27 in Corte Madera, brought to you by Book Passage, KC&A's preferred local vendor for all our books.

Aspiring writers can take classes from established authors, listen to lectures from professional publishers, and ask agents (including our own Kimberley Cameron) what they're looking for in a modern mystery novel.  The event will also feature a panel of detectives, forensic experts, and crime-scene investigators to shed some light on how to solve real life mysteries.  Check out the full list of faculty and event scheduling.

This unique opportunity is for writers of all levels interested in the mystery and/or suspense genre -- so don't miss out on all the invaluable information this year's conference has to offer and get your tickets.


Posted By Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

TJ O'Connor in the Tabloids!!!

But it's all good.  I guess the EXAMINER knows that mystery books are hot right now.  You have to keep an eye out this weekend when the issue will be distributed.

And if you don't believe in tabloids, here are a few book reviews that may entice you to pick up a copy of O'Connor's Dying to Know.

OpenBookSociety.com: "Definitely a surprise [...] you will find things are not always as they appear, and what does appear may not be what you see after all. Read the book."

Edie Dykeman from BellaOnline.com: "...check out Dying to Know and be prepared to thoroughly enjoy the ride."

Mysterymavenblog.com (who's not going to believe a mystery maven?): "...a fast-paced, humorous exploration of the netherworld."

So now you're Dying to Know what all the hubbub is about?  Check out TJ O'Connor's personal website for information on this book, the sequel, and other works.

Posted by Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Garrett Calcaterra answers questions live

A helpful tool for those aspiring writers out there who need a little inspiration from those who have made it in the business are the live chats with authors on Reddit.com

One of KC&A authors, Garrett Calcaterra, is actively involved with helping emerging authors, students, or book-nerds like myself.  Read his forum discussion here and follow him on twitter to stay in touch and catch him live for his next online event.

Read more about Garret on his personal website, check out his latest (and quite awesome) novel Dreamweilder on amazon, and download his super popular ebook The Knight's Dog on Wattpad.

Cheers!

Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

BENEATH THE WEIGHT OF SADNESS by Gerald L. Dodge

Read it, read it now!  Kimberley Cameron herself says, "I LOVE this book and want everyone to read it -- one of the best!"  And you better do what your agent tells you, right?

Untreereads.com, an awesome digital bookstore, has featured this novel on its homepage and is offering the eBook at a discount price (so, you have no excuse not to read it is what I'm saying).

About the Book: 

Beneath the Weight of Sadness is a novel about Truman Engroff, a gay, seventeen-year-old boy, living in an affluent, New Jersey town, Persia, who is brutally murdered one early Sunday morning. The murder becomes sensational not only for the fact that Truman is gay, but because the town is peopled with mostly wealthy conservatives who view anomalous lifestyles as a disruption to their strict view of how the world should function. The death of Truman's brief life is told in four separate narratives, by: his father, his mother, the detective investigating the case, and his best friend growing up, Carly Rodenbaugh. All four of these people are devastated by Truman's death, and the story of his death unfolds as the characters tell the story of his life.

For more on the author and his writing, visit his personal blog and follow him on twitter.

Posted By Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe