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| Marketing Tips for Authors and Aspirings |
Yesterday I posted a helpful link to Mandy's Nocturnal Journal where she'll start a series of blog posts geared at helping authors, writers, aspirings (whoever you are and whatever you call yourself) reach their goals. In the spirit of that topic, I also found this link to AuthorMBA with and article today by Jaci Burton, entitled Taking Your Career Seriously.
Labels: article, marketing |
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 9:24 AM   |
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| Friday, March 16, 2007 |
| Marketing with Mandy - A New Blog Series worth looking at |
Mandy Roth on her Nocturnal Journal Blog has started a new series on Marketing geared toward aspiring and published authors. I think it's great, esp considering she has a degree in marketing. I highly recommend bookmarking her blog and checking back as new posts come up.
The first topic she has up is:
Marketing with Mandy: Websites—Getting Started
Have a wonderful day everyone, and make sure you comment and post questions over there (or here and I'll pass them along) letting her know what marketing topics you'd like her to cover!Labels: article |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 6:33 AM |
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| Thursday, March 15, 2007 |
| Thursday Thirteen - My First Thursday Trying This |
| Thirteen Things about Michelle M Pillow
- I'm up for my first RT Reviewer Choice Award for Maiden and the Monster
- I only like red polish on my toes, other colors bug me
- My first published novel was in April 2004
- I own a successful business, aside from writing
- I went to college to become a Historian.
- I always thought I'd be a photographer before a writer
- I hate to cook, but I once had a job as a baker
- Almost every job I've ever had, I've been promoted
- I used to work as a banquet coordinator and I loved it
- I'm attending both RWA and RT in Texas this year
- One can never have too much pasta or coffee
- Pajama Pants Rule!
- This is my first Thursday Thirteen :)
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
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Labels: T13 |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 6:28 PM |
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| Wednesday, March 14, 2007 |
Pet Day at the Pillow House
Lady Annabelle |
As with children, you can’t really pick a favorite, but a couple new editions are two English Bulldogs, ‘Lord Winston’ and ‘Lady Annabelle’. At almost a year old and just over 60lbs each, these two troublemakers have to be the world’s biggest lapdogs. But you try looking into their adorable, wrinkled faces and telling them they need to get up once your legs go numb from lack of blood flow.
<----Lady Annabelle, English Bulldog
Naturally stubborn, they are a fearless—even in oncoming traffic. Ironically, they love water, but are so dense in body type as a breed, they sink straight to the bottom of a pool or lake. Anna’s more a rebellious leader, plotting and instigating escapes from the back yard with Winston working as her muscle. 
Anna is PRECOCIOUS and we butt heads constantly, but as soon as she's in trouble, she's instantly trying to make it better. She's also sensitive and likes small spaces. She spends a lot of her time under tables, desks, blankets, chairs. When she was a baby, she'd lay under our low-to-the-ground coffee table and swat out at passing feet. She no longer fits, but that doesn't stop her from trying to get back under there.
***Make sure you check back next week for the next pet day!!!!***
Labels: pets |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:12 AM |
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| Tuesday, March 13, 2007 |
| ***MARK YOUR CALENDARS*** |
***MARK YOUR CALENDARS*** COMING IN MAY 2007 The New Pillow Scavenger Hunt! Featuring these great authors and a lot of cool prizes, including autographed books! Amy Knupp, Barbara White Daille, The History Hoydens, Jaycee Clark, Jenna Black, Jordan Summers, Joey W. Hill, Jory Strong, Kalen Hughes, Kate Austin, Kelley St. John, Lacey Alexander, Lauren Dane, Mackenzie McKade, Mandy Roth, Maya Banks, N.J. Walters, Nicola Marsh, Patricia Sargeant, Portia Da Costa, Raven Vampire Nightclub (M Pillow and M Roth Joint), Rowena Cherry, Samantha Storm, Shelley Munro, Shiloh Walker, & TJ Michaels & MORE!
Check back for details!
Labels: contest |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 9:10 AM |
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| Monday, March 12, 2007 |
| All Worthwhile Battles Must Go On... |
I love Garden Gnomes. Some might call them tacky, but I really do love them, lol...
 Gnome Liberation Front website has been shut down
Yep, it's a sad fact. But I'm really happy to hear that the fight is going underground. I wish you luck brave liberators! The sad plight of all gnomes rests in your able hands!
More on the GLF
Luckily, others are also in on the fight to liberate the garden gnome! To find liberators in your area, go to Google and type in the secret codewords in the search box.
Secret codewords: Garden Gnome
Helpful link of the day: "FreeTheGnomes.com provides Garden Gnome Liberation information and calls to action. We advocate an end to oppressive gardening and freedom for garden gnomes everywhere." http://www.freethegnomes.com/
Disclaimer: Don't go liberating your neighbors garden gnomes. That's called stealing and it's wrong. LOLLabels: nonsense |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 5:56 PM |
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| Sunday, March 11, 2007 |
| Cool Contest Finds - Win stuff, Help fight against Breast Cancer |
Labels: contest |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 8:53 PM |
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| Saturday, March 10, 2007 |
| You HAVE to try this! |
If you like video games like the Sims, you have to go try this. It's easy to work, just download the gallery and enter. It's still in it's beta stage, but it's a really neat idea. I admit, I've been roaming the halls exploring, hoping to find someone to talk to, lol.
Basically, you get to walk through a Virtual Romance Galleria and visit author suites, explore and click on stuff, sign guestbooks, do virtual chats, talk to others walking around the gallery, shop, go to the cafe, library, watch book trailers in the movie theater area, ect.
I don't have a suite there and this isn't my project, so I can't answer questions or take credit. (I'm technically challenged when it comes to this stuff) The creative honor goes to Dawn. This was something I found by chance when directed to enter book videos in the Cameo Awards connected to the Galleria. That was also how I virtually met Dawn. From what I gather, it's still being worked on an improved daily--though I think it's cool right now.
If you walk upstairs, you can see the suites of authors Lori Foster, Carly Phillips, Rebecca Goings, Sara Reinke, Danielle Devon, Marie Treanor and Kyla Logan. (I just want to move into Lori's and Danielle's suites, lol, but really all the suites and alcoves are awesome). The Romance Studio also has a suite there.
It's like a Romance Video Game, lol. And how cool is that? I can only think of one thing better and I doubt they're going to install on my request the loinclothed....nevermind. Uh-hem, where was I? LOL
If you get a chance, go check it out, sign the guest books and show support to this creative idea.Labels: fun, Romance Galleria |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:11 PM |
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| Rescued Duck |
 Here's the duck we rescued a couple years ago walking in the bathtub water. He did eventually get more than his feet wet and used to love to swim in the tub and later our outdoor pool.
He never did learn to fly. We had him for awhile. He'd just hang out with me, swim in our pool. The closest he ever got to flying was when he tried to take off out of the pool, flapped and flopped over the neighbors fence, got so scared he couldn't move until we ran around to get him, came right back and never tried again. LOL
He lived a lot longer than anyone expected him to--being as he was born late in the season, his mother died when he was very young.
But isn't he adorable? *man, does our vet love us*
 ORIGINAL BLOG (apparently I feel like talking about animals every couple of years, lol)
This is the little duck we rescued and is now living in my back yard. He loves the swimming pool. Yes, the water is green...ew... but I'm too scared to shock it with chlorine and let him play in it, so for now, it's his. lol. He was born late in the season and will most likely not fly off for the winter.
When he was a baby, he was actually a little scared of swimming. I put him in the bathtub and he'd stand up on his tiptoes and refuse to swim. He's doing it like a pro now. Next trick is flying. He's just about there, but I think he prefers me carrying him from his pen to the pool.Labels: pets |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 5:55 PM |
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| Trying my books...What to read if you're new to them |
I hesitated to blog this, because I hate the idea of playing favorites with books. But after three emails again this morning asking this very question, I thought I should try to gather some input and thoughts on the subject...
I get a lot of emails from new readers to my work asking which books of mine I think they should try if they've never read anything from me. Usually, my answer depends on what genre they like. I do write in many genres and voices, so the style of my fantasies won't exactly match the dark paranromals. So, what I recommend you try depends on what you like.
Because of this question and because I have a lot of books to choose from, I've decided to make a little list of my recommendations for anyone wanting to get into my work. Please remember this is only a basic list for the sole purpose of giving new readers a narrowed down book choice. It is by no means an indication of what I'd pick as my favorite, lol. (insert any necessary disclaimers here)
AUTHOR RECOMMENDATIONS TO TRY OUT MY BOOKS
Historical-
Book: Maiden and the Monster, Ellora's Cave
Why: Basically because it's up for the RT Reviewers Choice award. Plus, I love historicals. There's more world building and a bigger plot. These are more like the style I see myself doing in the future.
If you like this, you might enjoy: Realm Immortal Series (Samhain), Emerald Knight (NCP), Tribes of the Vampire Series (NCP)
Dark Fantasy-
Book: Tribes of the Vampire 2: The Jaded Hunter
Why: This book is a reader favorite out of the series--at least according to the fan mail. If you like darker themes and a little horror mixed in with your romance, this is your book to try.
If you like this, you might enjoy: Tribes of the Vampire Series (NCP), Realm Immortal Series (NCP, not as dark, but bigger world building)
Fantasy-
Book: Realm Immortal Series
Why: They're a lot of fun. I love the world and I love the characters. Not as dark as the Tribes world, these still have darker fantasy themes.
If you like this, you might enjoy: Emerald Knight (NCP), Tribes of the Vampire Series (NCP), Maiden and the Monster (EC)
Futuristics
Book: Lords of the Var Series, Maybe Lords of the Var: The Bound Prince if it needs to be narrowed to one. And so long as you're not insistent on reading books in series order, otherwise start with book one of the installment.
Why: This book is a reader favorite out of the series. It explores not only the planet most of the futuristics to date has taken place on, but also more of the galaxy beyond.
If you like this, you might enjoy: Dragon Lords series (NCP), Lords of the Var series (NCP), Zhang Dynasty (NCP), and Space Lords (NCP, Coming Soon)
Contemporaries Book: Bit by the Bug (Virgin Books, Print Only)
Why: It's the beginning of a new series there. They're lighter in style and themes. Just a fun read.
If you like this, you might enjoy: Fierce Competition (Virgin Books), Opposites Attract (Virgin Books), Matthews Sisters book 2: Along for the Ride (Virgin Books, Coming Fall 2007), Mountain's Captive (Part of the Print Caught Anthology, NCP)
Questions for Readers:(feel free to email me answers offlist)
What books would you recommend others try first from my booklist? (so that I may modify my selections to give the best answer) Do you think this list helpful? How would you improve upon it? Or is this just a horrible idea and I should just delete the whole blog post, lol? ~~Thanks in advance! You all are the best!!Labels: author recommendations |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:59 AM |
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| Friday, March 09, 2007 |
| Legs the Hamster - A reposting, cause he's cute |
Yesterday, in the comments, Legs the Hamster came up (Larissa mentioned her sick mouse) So I dug up this old post to show everyone Legs. This original blog was nearly two years ago. Sadly, Legs did pass away, but he sure was a cute little thing.
~~~~~~~Original Blog
Legs the Hamster
We got a new little pet today--just another addition to the zoo that is my life -- African Grey parrot, tons of fish, 2 prairie dogs, a bunny, 2 cats, an adoptive neighbor cat who for some reason thinks he needs to live inside my house as well, a duck, a dog and now two dwarf  hamsters. Did I forget anything? Possible. Very Possible.
Anyway, how could I resist Legs? A cage fell on the poor thing when he was little and he can't use his back legs. They drag behind him. His upper body is huge to compensate. And when I say huge, I really mean tiny. Plus, he's just about the friendliest little furry thing.Labels: pets |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 5:53 PM |
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| Thursday, March 08, 2007 |
Pet Day at the Pillow House
Princess Fiona |
 I've decided that today is the first official pet day on my blog, lol. Why? Because I have a lot of them by force (aka family brings home strays and not-so-strays) And because I ran across some adorable baby pics of them.
<--Princess Fiona, Schipperke Aside from a three-legged dog growing up and a wild cat that ran away after a day…oh, and the pregnant hamster my uncle thought was hilarious to give to my very young brother, we didn’t have many pets growing up. But, two cats, four dogs, countless fish, dwarf hamsters, a parrot, and a bunny later I think I’ve made up for lost time. This isn’t counting the loss of a rescued duck that was afraid to swim, my first cat ‘Ace’ who ate lettuce and hopped like a rabbit, and a special, cross-eyed, super fluffy kitty named ‘Cottonball’ who refused to clean himself even in adulthood but made his mother do it for him. 
Princess Fiona was a not-so-stray addition to the household. A Schipperke, mostly, she thinks she's as big as the English Bulldog. When she was a baby, her head looked like a bear cub's. She's not much bigger now at about 10 pounds. I don't think she looks like the breed pics I've been finding on the net, however she's still young. But, what do we care? She's adorable...most days, lol. She's earned the nickname "twitchy" because she's always on the move and her little tail looks like a twitching thumb jerking back and forth. 
She's very agile, can catch small vermin better than the cats, and has even taken to pointing. I love her face. It's so expressive, always friendly, quizzical and mischievous. Whenever she thinks she might be in trouble, she rolls over on her back and covers her eyes--knowing the adorable pose will get her belly rubbed.
Labels: pets |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 6:24 AM |
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| Wednesday, March 07, 2007 |
| Realm Immortal 3: Stone Queen ~~ Just Released (ebook) |
BUY IT NOW:
http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/product_info.php?products_id=458
READ MORE:
http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/realm-immortal-stone-queen
Realm Immortal Book ThreeStone Queen
Genre: Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 1-59998-433-4
Length: Novel
Realm Immortal Book Three Queen Juliana of the Unblessed married out of love, to share the burden of her husband’s throne. Little did she know the true cost of that decision. With war raging between the blessed kingdom of Tegwen and her unblessed kingdom of Valdis, she feels her spirits weakening even as her powers grow. Risking everything for a bit of peace in her newly immortal life, Juliana will do anything to save her family, even if that means casting a spell over herself to end a war. The only thing she didn’t count on was the betrayal of the one person she’d asked to help her. For a brief time, Merrick knew happiness, as much happiness as the king of necessary evil could ever feel. Though he can never tell his wife he loves her—or risk upsetting the balance of both the mortal and immortal realms—the words are understood between them. Or so he thought. Now, with her body trapped in stone, he’s left to again face his reign alone with no idea how to free her from her prison.
READ A TAME EXCERPT: http://samhainpublishing.com/excerpt/realm-immortal-stone-queen
Labels: fantasy, new release |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 6:31 AM |
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| Saturday, March 03, 2007 |
| Stalking vs. Persistence (In Romance Novels, of course) |
Romance or Restraining Order?
When writing alpha male heroes, there are many fine lines to balance. In a recent Raven Podcast (which I co-host with Mandy M Roth), the topic of how much of the heroes actions are just sexy persistence vs. how much would be considered creepy stalking. The simple conclusion we came to is that if the heroine likes the man, its persistence. If she doesn't, it's stalking. Double standard? Sure. But its fiction, not real life, and we authors can do what we want.
In fiction, it's easy to draw loose lines between creepy and sexy, but the lines are still there and they're ones each writer needs to find for themselves. The easiest way to balance this is with the characters' development. How many times can a heroine shout "No!" before the hero crosses the line? It depends. Is she shouting "Yes!" in any other ways? Has the author demonstrated that the heroine doesn't mean what she says in more than just the heroine's own thoughts? It's one thing to have the heroine thinking she wants something, but if it's only a thought in her own mind how is the heroes actions any different than if she didn't want it?
The answers to these questions are as varied as there are authors writing. I love reading a persistent alpha, a take control man who knows what he wants and goes for it—even if in real life he would see the business end of my pepper spray.
Another aspect is the genre of story. It's easier to be lenient with an overzealous lycan or vampire, or even a lord of the castle, than with the relentless Dr Schmidt the heroine met at the gym. We accept our historical lords and our paranormal hotties when they're smidge overbearing and dominant—or at least I do. But what if you put the same domineering personality in a contemporary? Would it be romance or a restraining order?
Has an author you read pulled off the perfectly persistent alpha male? How much in your mind is too much?
Labels: article |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 8:44 AM |
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| Thursday, March 01, 2007 |
| New Raven Happy Hour Chapter - Secrets Revealed! |
Didn’t think you’d be getting another one so soon, did you? *wink* We’d continue to brag, but we’d only jinx ourselves….
So without further ado, come over to the Raven where secrets will be revealed!
http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/raven.htm
Also, if you haven’t heard the latest Raven Podcast! Take a listen!
Thanks!
M&MLabels: free story, podcast, raven |
| posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:11 AM |
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| About Me |
Michelle M Pillow
Author of All Things Romance (tm)
Name: Michelle Pillow
Home: United States
About Me: NEW BLOG ADDY:http://michellepillow.com/blog/
Website– www.michellepillow.com
Blog – http://www.michellepillow.com/blog/
Chat Group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Raven_Vampire_Nightclub/join
Author Newsletter/Book Notification Group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellempillow/join
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/michellepillow
Free Story for Readers - http://www.ravenhappyhour.com
Podcasts - http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/raven_podcasts.htm
Raven Blog (paranormal blog with Mandy M Roth) –
http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog
Bookvideos - http://www.michellepillow.com/videos.htm
Contest- http://michellepillow.com/blog/?cat=10
See my complete profile
Everyone's welcome to stop by and comment, don't be shy! I tend to keep it relaxed around here.
Want to hear me blog about a topic? Have an idea for a blog theme day? Want your blog on my blogroll? Want to contemplate the different shades of red toenail polish? Feel free to email!
michelle_pillow@yahoo.com
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