Recently, the woman who was promoting my books through social media announced she is quitting the “virtual assistant” business. She just can’t make a go of it anymore. And no wonder. The results I get from her promotional efforts have dwindled each month, and I’m sure other authors who use her services have seen the…
Category: Blog
“The Idiot Plot”
I recently read a review of the new TV series based on Terry Brooks’ classic epic fantasy Elfstones of Shannara when I read the following precis that made me laugh: “The elves’ magical protective tree, the Ellcrys, is dying. Lethal demons are slipping back into the world. To banish them again, someone must take the…
Branding Yourself with a Slogan … by Bernadette Marie
When you think of Stephen King, a certain kind of book comes to mind. Your mind goes to a dark place. Images of certain movie stars with axes come to mind and nightmares begin. As an author, we quickly recognize that Stephen King is branded in horror. All you have to do is say his…
Notable Quotes From Left Coast Crime
Playing with Rhetoric
In this year of politics we are likely to hear the common complaint, “Oh, that’s just the candidate’s rhetoric. Wait until they’re in office and we’ll see what really happens.” Rhetoric definitely has a bad reputation. The first definition in the dictionary implies that rhetoric allows people to use language for influence and persuasion, but…