Blogmania Sponsor: Jensmere Design

Jensmere at Count it All Joy has made two lovely hook bookmarks especially for Blogmania.

Gift Value $14.00

Jensmere also made these purse or key charms and the eyeglass chains  especially for eTreausres' gifts.

Blogmania Sponsor: Soradesigns!

This is another beautiful gift donated by Sora Designs

Isn't this a treasure!

Traveler's Treasure Trove Necklace

Gift Value: $35.50 plus shipping

See other lovely items at Sora Designs here: http://www.soradesigns.etsy.com/

and facebook: www.facebook.com/soradesigns

Blogmania Sponsor: Angie's Store

Here is another awesome bookmark gift from Angie's Store.

This is a silver plated metal Pirates of the Caribbean inspired, large bookmark. The bookmark itself measures 4 3/4 inches long and the charm chain is just over 4 inches long. It includes the following charms: one smiling skull in an elaborate frame, one parrot, one brass barrel, one skull key, one treasure chest, one ship, and one treasure map.

Legal Disclaimer: This is not authorized Pirates of the Caribbean bracelet from the books. Credit is given to the authors for any references to characters, events or quotes from the Pirates of the Caribbean series. I make no connections or associations between my work and Walt Disney Pictures property. I do not own nor claim license to the books, movies adaptation or any associated trademarks. No copyright infringements intellectual or otherwise intended. All pictures and designs © copy right of Ang549, Angie‘s Store.

Gift Value: $24.00 plus shipping

Visit Angie's Store to see other theme inspired art, including Harry Potter and Twilight.

Also, all you Hunger Game fans check out Angie's new Hunger Game inspired items!

Blogmania Sponsor: lullajewlery

Here is another beautiful prize from a Blogmania Sponsor:  lullajewelry

lullajewelry has offered two gorgeous Ocean Treasures bookmarks just perfect for our Treasure Chests.

One will go to each of the packages - US/Canada and International!

Total Gift value $18.00 plus shipping.

Visit Lulla Jewelry at her estsy shop
or her blog to check out more art and other media links. 

Blogmania Sponsor: Darkling Treasures Art & Creations

A Big Thank you to Emily White at Darkling Treasures for being another Blogmania sponsor.

Emily is donating TWO sets of original handmade Mermaid Music Tags -5 per set.  This will allow one set for US/Canada and one set for International!  These are really unique and lovely looking!

Total Gift Value: $11.00 plus shipping

If you like mermaids, fairies and dragons check out other selections by visiting Emily and her unique art work and gifts at:

Website:
http://www.darklingtreasures.com

Etsy:
http://darklingemily.etsy.com/

Blogmania Sponsor: Amazing Arts!

 Stacey at Amazing Arts is contributing a great book plate stamp as a Blogmania Sponsor!

This gift is a personalized A BOOK IS A TREASURE Ex Libris Bookplate stamp! Just picture your name there!

Gift Value: $15.50 plus shipping.

If you like rubberstamps, check them out at http://www.amazingarts.biz/

You can also find Amazing Arts at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rockford-IL/Amazing-Arts/35036105544

Twitter @maidenearth
On Etsy!!  AsspocketProductions.etsy.com

On YouTube too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNoRVPS-vHQ

Blogmania Sponsor: Seaglassin

Thank you to another Blogmania Sponsor, Anne Marie at Seaglassin.

Seaglassin is giving a lovely Music CD Songs of the Sea by Anne Marie.

Gift Value $12.00 plus shipping.

Visit Seaglassin at these links and see their beautiful jewelry! 
www.seaglassin.com
www.seaglassin.etsy.com
seaglasstreasures.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/seaglassin
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sea-Glass-Treasures/311371930215

Blogmania Sponsor: juliethefish designs!

http://www.juliethefish.etsy.com

Julie has offered a hand stamped I (heart) Books metal bookmark.

Gift value: $10.00 plus shipping.

Visit juliethefish designs here!  Check out her link for Dads, Grads and Teachers.

Blogmania Event: Treasure Chests for Readers!

We are excited here at eTreasures Publishing to be part of BLOGMANIA on September 15 & 16!!! Yes, you read right....BLOGMANIA is going to be TWO (2) DAYS this time!!!! The event is going to be bigger and better, with up to 175 blogs involved all with prizes exceeding $100.00 in values.

Currently there are over 115 wonderful blogs confirmed!!! One blog has prizes totaling $1000.00!
Each blog is going to have some FANTASTIC giveaways, allowing you, our devoted readers, the chance to win some wonderful items, from jewelery, to books, to toys, to gift certificates and more!!!

The prizes here at eTreasures will consist of gift certificates, books, and ebooks.  Additionally, we are pleased to have several sponsers adding some lovely prizes to our Treasure Chests!
We will have a major US/Canada prize and a major International Prize each with a value of $75.00.
There will be two runner up US/Canada prizes and two runner up International Prizes all for of a value of $25.00 each.  There may be additional prizes as well with that news to be announced as we get closer to the event!

We will be posting pictures of the wonderful gifts and links to our sponsers.  We encourage you to visit the sponsor sites to show your appreciation of their support.  There will also be a list of the sponsors posted in the sidebar until the event.   Get ready for a great event!

Ordering eTreasure Books!

We have gotten the backlist inventory of eTreasure Publishing books set up in our new Bookstore. Unfortunately the template is having technical difficulties so that the cart is adding the ebook and print book prices when a book is added to the cart.  We are working on getting this fixed and I will announce when it is resolved.  Until that time the books are available at Amazon.  They will also soon be available at CoffeeTime Romance and Fictionwise.

HOWEVER because of the split of profits to the distributor the authors get a very small amount when books are purchased through distributors.  Accordingly, we encourage you to purchase ebooks or print directly through the publisher. Until the Bookstore cart is fixed, you can send your order request to: publisher@etreasurespublishing.com

We will confirm your purchase order WITH A 10% DISCOUNT for ebook or print purchases. Also we will calculate shipping charges and payment can be directed through paypal.  We apologize for the current inconvenience and appreciate  your patience!

Our Links and Friends

With all that's been happening this year, eTreasures has spread its wings in a big way. Following is a list of places you can check us out - drop us a line, or just see whats new and exciting in our world.

Of course here on our blog: http://etreasurespublishing.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/etreasurespub

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Patricia-Bates/100000741757540

LiveJournal: http://etreasurespub.livejournal.com/

And our brand new forum: http://www.etp-treasureschest.com/


Coming up starting May 15, 2010 we will be offering Free to everyone, a web based seminar entitled Is it Romance or Fiction with a Romantic Element.

eTreasures Publishing Writer's Seminar

Is it Romance or Fiction with a Romantic Element?


OVERVIEW

During the next three days, we hope to clarify the differences between writing Romance and writing Fiction with a romantic element.

This will include:

The key points of a romance novel

*What part characters play in the storyline

*The conflicts that affect the protaganists

*Goals/Motivations of the characters

*How the romance is the basic plot of the novel(novella). Its an intigral part of the novel, without it there would be no story to reveal to your readers.


The key Points of a work of Fiction

*How Good vs Evil is the prime motivating factor of the story

*The romance story-line is secondary and has no real affect on the story, in fact it could be left out and the story would still flow forward.

*The growth of the protaganist is based not on a Happily Ever After with their partner - but rather defeating the obsticles and conflicts that are thrown in his/her way throughout the story. IE: Lord of the Rings - the romance between Aragorn and Arwin is secondary - it enhances the story but doesn't control it.

Website Statistics - Track Your Success

Track Your Success

Copyright 2010 © by Carol North

The conventional wisdom says writers should have hosted domains for their web sites, rather than freebees attached to services, such as Google. They say it's more "professional.' That's not half the benefit of a hosted domain. The big deal is the availability of sophisticated web statistics, which can track the number and type of visitors and the success of your advertising efforts.

Visitors

During the current month 599 unique (new) visitors accessed this web site. The total of all visits is 961, which means 362 people are return visitors to the site. That's the best news. Something is keeping them coming back, perhaps an ongoing contest.

Pages 

The pages category shows you how many "hits" per page, and which are your most popular pages. The listing showing only a backslash "/" is the site's home page. It was visited 679 times, was the entry point to the site 536 times, and was the exit point 441 times. According to the total of the Viewed column, there was a lot of navigation to the other pages between entry and exit.

The total of the Entry column is 961, which is also the total number of visits to the site. Same for the Exit column.

Let's analyze  the books.htm page. It shows 162 entry points and 194 exit points. This is good news. It means 162 visitors specifically came to the site to view the site owner's books. They came either through direct entry of the URL into their browsers, clicking an external link, or because the site is in their favorites list. In addition, 32 visitors entered the site via a different page and took the time to visit the books page before exiting.

The viewed column registers 2008 visits to all the pages. There were 961 total visits to the site so each visitor viewed an average of 2.1 pages. The stats category shows the number of times the system updated the statistics log.

Browsers

The stats here alert you to the types of browsers used by visitors to your web site. The practical purpose is to install the top three or four browsers on your computer, then test and adjust your web pages to display properly on each of the browsers. In this way you can ensure the visitors to your site have a satisfying experience and don't, for example, see text on top of text.

Links

The Links category is where you track the success of  advertising campaigns and see where many of your visitors are coming from. It does not count entries to your web site via search engines.

The graphic shows three of the site owner's advertising efforts:

    * IWOFA Spring Contest
    * Bitten By Books listing in the contests section
    * Fallen Angel Reviews Author Page

The Full list contains details of other efforts.

Summary

These are only a few of the benefits of having a hosted domain with sophisticated web statistics. Before deciding on a domain hosting service, ask to see an example of the web stats provided free by the service. Some services charge separately for the type of stats shown in the example. Luckily, mine doesn't.

Hooks aren’t just for fishing

“Get that goddamned freak out of here!” In Darkness Reborn by Alexis Morgan

William jolted awake as an orgasm rolled through him. The Irish Devil by Diane Whiteside

I stiffened at the red and blue lights flashing behind me, because there was no way I could explain what was in the back of my truck. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Three different books, three different writers and yet everyone of them set their hook in me in the first sentence. I had to continue reading to find out what happened next. As a writer that’s your job, what your publisher expects from you: to set your hook and play that reader until they finish the book.

So how do you do it? Every author has a theory or method to do it. One of the best quotes I’ve heard – and unfortunately, I don’t know who to thank for it. “Enter the scene later than you think you should and leave before you think you should.”

Too many new authors spend the first chapter or two giving the backstory. I think of it as the story is a tree. The trunk (main plot), limbs and leaves (Character’s and subplot) are what the reader sees. But as the author you see the roots. Where the character was before page one. What shaped their lives and led them to the point they are in that first sentence.

An opening chapter has ten components:
1. Inciting Incident
2. Story worthy problem
3. Initial surface problem
4. Setup
5. Backstory
6. A stellar opening sentence
7. Language
8. Character
9. Setting
10. Foreshadowing

The first three are primary considerations. If you don’t have a story worthy problem why should a reader invest the hours to read your book? Inciting incident, something has to get the ball moving. Initial surface problem maybe it’s the heroine needs the hero to come with her or fix her tire or the list is endless.

Wait, back-story is number 4 and I said back-story is bad or did I? Back-story in and of itself isn’t bad but it needs to be given in small bites. You don’t shove an entire hamburger into your mouth you take bites of it and that’s how you need to handle backstory. A smidge here, a dash there and by the end of the book your reader knows the characters. Les Edgerton says it best - “The single biggest fault of most writers is that they don’t trust the reader’s intelligence to “get” what’s going on without providing lengthy backstory.” Trust your readers! They will reward you with loyalty.

Each chapter has a hook too. Don’t put your character nicely in bed at the end of a chapter. Your reader will nod, yawn, close the book and go to sleep. Think of the last book you read that you couldn’t put down. Now go get it. Look at the end of the chapter. See the little cliffhanger? That’s what you need to do.

Now since I always like to leave you with resources:


Hooked: writing fiction that grabs the readers at page one and never lets them go by Les Edgerton

Writing What You Know - Building a Research Library

In my fiction 101 class in college, my teacher gave me the best and worst piece of advice ever. Write what you know, he said. At first, this discouraged me. How in the world could I write a good story if I only stuck to what I knew? But then, I thought more and realized, if I didn't know it, well I was going to do research until I did. As it turns out, research is a HUGE part of life as an author. You must become a jack of all trades yet the master of none. I mean after all, how do you expect to keep your audience enthralled if you don't make what you are writing real?

So you need to start building your research library. Of course, a lot of resources are available on the web but sometimes you just need a book to flip through, bookmark, dog ear, or mark with a post-it for future reference. The first thing you need is a good dictionary and thesaurus. For this, you can make do with web-based ones. I personally use www.dictionary.com and www.thesaurus.com. Next, you'll want a book for style and grammar. The one that most publishers use is The Chicago Manual of Style.

Now on to the juicy stuff. The first book in your library, in my honest opinon is Goals, Motivation, and Conflict. I know what you're thinking. I've tried all of those writing books and none of it works for me. Well, I was in that group myself until I read this book. It asks questions that help you flesh out your characters, to make certain they are real and have depth. The examples are very good and use movies and books that we are all familiar with.

As I was browsing amazon looking for links to some of the books, I came across the Elements of Fiction Writing Series. From what I could tell this series of books looks promising. I'll be getting a few of them to add to my arsenal.

Next up, is a more specific series : The Howdunit Series This series deals mostly with mystery and police work. It has several books on crime scene investigation and other related topics. If you're going to be writing a story dealing with police, then you should check these out.

What if you want to set your story in Colonial America? Or maybe Britian in the Middle Ages? Instead of slogging through your history books, check out The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life. It covers those periods and many more.

Romance too needs is share of research materials. On Writing Romance is just one of the many available. If you want to dip your toes in the BDSM field, I highly recommend The Loving Dominant and Screw the Roses, Send Me The Thorns.

In addition to the above mentioned, the For Dummies Series, the Complete Idiot's Series, and The Everything Guide series all have books for writing. A quick search at Amazon or Barnes & Noble will provide a plethora of material. As for web-based resources, Ive already mentioned the dictionary and thesaurus, but Goggle and Wikipedia can provide good sources too. Just remember to check the sources, especially with Wikipedia.

The final thing I'll mention is that along with all these research books, reading other books in your genre of choice will also help you along the way. Well, that's it from me for now. Good luck, happy researching and happy writing!

Deep POV - What is it?

The sun rose, pink and orange fingers caressing the purple and blue cloud banks as the countryside woke. Birds chirped. The leaves in the trees rustled a morning greeting. Janet sighed. This was her favorite time of day.

Or

Janet pulled her horse to a stop and sat astride its broad back staring at the horizon as the sun rose, pink and orange fingers caressing the purple and blue cloud banks. She inhaled deeply enjoying the scents of morning dew and fresh cut hay. The birds chirped and hopped about rustling the trees overhead as the countryside woke. Janet sighed deeply, she loved this time of day.

The first isn’t Deep POV the second is. Why? In the first one it could be anyone watching the sun rise. In the second the who is very clear. The character’s senses come into play. You are there with her – standing beside her as she sits on her horse, hearing the birds, smelling the dew and hay. That is Deep POV. I refer to it as crawling into the character’s skin. The most extreme Deep POV is first person – think Harry Potter by JK Rowling, or The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. Then there’s third person Deep POV, which is what most of the best sellers do.

When you write Deep POV the reader is in the story not watching the story they are experiencing it with the characters. When you watch a traditional movie shown on the screen you are aware that it is happening on the screen. How many of you have seen Avatar in 3D? I have – and swatted at the bugs. With the 3D glasses you are in the world of Pandora with Jake, if you didn’t see it in 3D you were watching. How many saw Titanic in the theater? Didn’t it seem as though the theater got colder as the ship sank? That’s what you are trying to achieve with Deep POV. That’s why Deep POV is so important. The reader of your book wants to be transported away from the kids, the husband, the pile of dishes waiting in the sink. It’s the job of the writer to do that and do it well.

As writer’s we hear it frequently – “Show don’t tell” – but what does that mean? If you are in Deep POV the question is answered. We are seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, hearing and touching what the character does. In Shallow POV the reader is not walking with your characters but watching them, the reader is outside the characters world.

To quote Best Selling Author Angela Knight:
“Point of view is one of those concepts that gives newbies fits. One reason for this is that the effect of POV can be very subtle – so much so that most readers don’t notice it at all, so new writers don’t understand its importance.
…You’re in the character’s head, experiencing the scene as if you were that character. You think his thoughts, you feel the sensations he feels, you hear what he hears.”

Resources for POV:
Books:
Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies by Leslie Wainger
Write Great Fiction: Characters, Emotion and Viewpoint by Nancy Kress

Workshop:
Deep Point of View by Laurie Sanders (This one is hard to find but worth the search)

Websites
http://www.hbarwa.com/MemberArticles/DeepPointofView.htm
http://wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/articles/14-MelissaJames/14-articles-edpt4.html
http://authorkarenkelley.com/deep.html
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/deep-pov/
http://www.angimorgan.com/DeepPOVMeans.htm
http://www.autocrit.com/websitepublisher/articles/12/1/Emotional-Depth-4-Deep-Point-of-View/Page1.html
http://storysensei.blogspot.com/2008/01/deep-point-of-view-part-one.html (There are 11 parts to this)

With special thanks to Laurie Sanders and her Deep Point of View Workshop and Angela Knight for her many workshops from which material for this article was taken.

Next time from Delilah: Head Hopping or Swapping POV – How do you tell the difference?

Super Exciting Submission Call

Summer Romances Series

for our expanded Romance line.

***Permission to Forward granted***
The hot summer nights are meant for romance. A summer vacation in an exotic location, a trip back home – let love blossom. eTreasures is currently seeking submissions for our Summer Romance themed anthologies due out in late August, 2010.



Each must have the following elements:

• Active writing, fast paced, with a solid plot.


• Well rounded, fully developed characters the reader can relate to.


• Must have a HEA



• Completed manuscripts, 20,000 to 25,000 words, with complete submission package. Put “Summer Anthology” in the subject line.



We're looking for a story that will make you laugh, cry, and want to pull out the bikini and tanning oils, and a great book to relax with. Stories the reader can relate to in all aspects. We are not looking for erotic fiction at this time.


Send your submission package - including a query letter, synopsis, and the completed novella length manuscript to: submissions@etreasurespublishing.com


All submissions must be in by April 15th and those titles that are accepted will be announced June 1, 2010 with the e-books due out late August, 2010.

Savvy Authors Annual Book Camp for Writers Workshops

This looks like a lot of good info and a good bargain to me!

\\*****Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged*****//

Savvy Authors (savvyauthors.com) is presenting a series of short, intensive workshops as a part of our First Annual Bootcamp for Writers.  The workshops $5 each.  Or join Savvy Authors between now and Feb 14th for $25 and take them all for free - a $20 savings.

More information about these workshops may be found here: http://www.savvyauthors.com/workshops.cfm

More information about Savvy Authors and our Bootcamp for Writers may be found here:  Http://www.savvyauthors.com/members/index.cfm

Plotting for Pantsers – Beth Daniels – Begins 2/14

Assaulting A Writer's Thinking – Lea Schizas – Begins 2/21

How, When and Why to Change Point Of View Mid-Scene    - Laurie Saunders – Begins 3/7

Foreshadowing – June Diehl – Begins 3/7

Writing Erotic Love Scenes – Tambra Kendall – Begins 3/7

Before Copy Editing – Claudia Suzanne- Begins 3/14

Worldbuilding in Science Fiction and Fantasy - Christine Amsden- Begins 3/14

How to Promote When You Don’t Know How to Promote – Jamison Wolfe- Begins 3/21

Crash Revisions – Holly Lisle- Begins 3/28

Promoting with Social Media – Theresa Meyers- Begins 3/28

Ten Ugly Truths About Publishing – Renee Rocco- Begins 4/5

Submission Notice

Please see the Submission Guidelines at the eTreasures website.
When submitting to eTreasures, we will acknowledge receipt of the submission package and subsequent manuscript promptly, within 72 hours. Please note that we ask for a 21day exclusive on the submission package (first three chapters) and a 30-45 day (depending on length and number of submissions in house) exclusive when assessing the full manuscript.

We will strive to notify you of our decision within those time frames. If for some reason we have not gotten back to you within 4 weeks on the submission package and 8 weeks on full manuscript, please don't hesitate to drop us a quick email.



Please be sure to review our formatting guidelines for the proper way to submit your work.

If you don't follow them - we will NOT look at the manuscript. There is a link to the formatting guidelines on the Submission page. 

We look forward to warm and successful working relationships!
Thank you.

Patricia Bates (etreasurespub) on Twitter

Patricia Bates (etreasurespub) on Twitter

We're open for business and looking for authors to submit to our extended romance, fantasy, and Sci-Fi lines.

Secrets of the Fog Places 5th in YA at P&E

Congratulations to author Ellen Spain
for awards on her book Secrets in the Fog: The Invisibility Project
published by eTreasures!

eTreasures is proud to announce that Ellen's book, Secrets in the Fog: the Invisibility Project, ranked 5th place for YA in P&E's January 2010 Reader's Poll!

Secrets in the Fog: the Invisibility Project
was also a Nominee for EPIC's 2010 Awards for best YA novel.