Where Work Meets Play: Miami, Florida

February 2nd, 2012 No Comments

Greetings from sunny south Florida, where I’ve escaped for a week of warm weather and a spot of fun that might (or might not) be eventually justified as research. For the past twenty years, I’ve come to Miami for one or more of the many regattas that are hosted here during the winter months. This is the first time I had a completely free day without the distractions of meetings or sailing, and I took full advantage by making a trek to the Barnacle.

Commodore Ralph Munroe's boat Kingfish was half of the original payment for forty acres on Biscayne Bay. Photo: HistoryMiami Archives & Research Center.

I’d always wanted to visit the historic park, which is a slice of Old Florida hemmed in on three sides by condos and busy streets. Thanks to the hard work of preservationists and descendents of the original owner, Commodore Ralph Munroe, a slice of tropical hardwood hammock has been preserved that runs from Main Highway (a Coconut Grove drag strip of restaurants and bars) all the way down to the shoreline of Biscayne Bay. Once enveloped in the leafy quiet of tree canopy, visitors are transported back to the early twentieth century—a time when sailboats were still the best form of transportation.

The Commodore built his home, the Barnacle, in 1891, and since then it’s withstood several minor hurricanes as well as the two big ones in 1926 and 1992 (Andrew). It’s also self-cooled, thanks to a cupola that allows hot air to escape through the roof. Boat-inspired cabinetry shows Munroe’s love for yacht design.

Down on the shore, the boat house (built in 1886, and then rebuilt after the 1926 Hurricane) feels as if the yacht designer has just stepped away for a moment, leaving tools and a half-finished project on the bench. And enough of the marine railway has been preserved to visualize how boats were launched and hauled in the shallow bay. Best of all, trees hide the high rise buildings of Coconut Grove and downtown Miami, allowing visitors to imagine they have truly stepped back in time.

My original reason for a visit to the Barnacle was the tickles of a new Oliver story. Even if our favorite time traveler doesn’t choose to come here, I’m glad he inspired me to visit. The Barnacle gives us all a glimpse of a Florida that’s less than a century in the past—but is an entirely different world in terms of priorities, landscaping, and transportation. It’s well worth a visit for anyone interested in boatbuilding, Florida history—or even time travel.

For more information, visit the Barnacle website. A reprinted edition of The Commodore’s Story by Ralph Munroe and Vincent Gilpin is also available. And the Commodore’s excellent photographs offer a glimpse into the past online, via these archives:

Ebook Lending: the Good, the Bad, and the Not Quite There

January 25th, 2012 No Comments

This post was written for Beyond the Margins, an excellent source of writerly wisdom and (sometimes) hilarity. I’ve since updated it, based on comments on that blog and some other recent news stories.

There are bookstores, there are libraries—and then there’s my friend Kim. Every time we get together, she hands me a book. It’s usually a story I really enjoy, and it is always one that leads me into a new world. Best of all, I haven’t had to go seek it out anywhere—the Kim books come to me.

I also pass her carefully selected books, and this inter-friend loan is one reason I didn’t adopt ebooks more quickly. But as we head into 2012, it is now possible to loan an ebook to a friend. We can even take ebooks out of the library.

Now at first, all this ebook lending and borrowing might not seem like it has any benefit to authors. But I would argue that increasing book availability will help reading compete with all the other entertainment options. Borrowers are not always would-be buyers, but they might recommend your book to a friend (or two) who will want to own it. As the logistics smooth out, ebook borrowers will be no different.

Here’s a peek at how it all works—and my vote on whether it’s good, bad, or not quite there.

Ebook Loans
Loaning ebooks from a personal library is an option for both Nook and Kindle owners. Both programs are an opt-in for publishers, but hopefully as the system proves itself, more and more books will be included.

The loan is valid for fourteen days (during which time you do not have access the book), so your friends can’t leave it wallowing on their virtual bedside table for too long.

I did some digging around the Barnes and Noble site and I have to say I wasn’t impressed. One link from the home page to the LendMe Books page was actually broken; even when I finally got there, there was no explanation—just a “Top LendMe NOOKBooks” table of book covers. I’m guessing you can loan ebooks you own to friends/family who also have NOOKs, but a detailed search for program rules led me nowhere. And the most avid NOOK user I know (my hairdresser) hadn’t even heard of the program.

Update: another Nook owner reports that all the info you need about LendMe Books is included in the Nook User’s Guide, which is included (of course) on every Nook.

By contrast, the Amazon Kindle lending program makes it very easy to share ebooks from your library with any U.S. resident. The borrower can download the book and read it on any platform with a Kindle app. Sharing a favorite ebook becomes almost like handing over a paper copy. Best of all, the return is automatic.

Amazon Prime members can also borrow one ebook per month (which some speculate is a trial run at offering a subscription-based Netflix-like library). There’s no due date on these books, so you can read them as slowly as you want. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Amazon is by far the easiest way to borrow and lend ebooks.

Library Loans
For the library lover, all you need is a valid library card to check out an ebook. It may not come from your favorite library, but with digital transfers the actual location hardly matters.

From my local library’s website I can access the Ocean State Libraries E-Zone page.  From there I can browse for a book—though I won’t pretend it’s at all comparable to pulling a crinkly plastic-wrapped hardcover off an actual shelf and inhaling the musty scent of stored paper. Once I’ve selected what I want, I enter my library card number and desired format (Kindle, ePub, PDF, or Overdrive).

So far, books I’ve chosen are only available for a “hold.” When the title becomes available, which is usually after a few days, I receive an email and have three days to download the book.

I’m guessing this is because demand currently exceeds supply, and I expect this will become more instantaneous in the not too distant future. Ebook libraries are still in their evolutionary infancy; even in the two months since I borrowed my first ebook, the process has improved dramatically.

This system has also brought up new concerns about privacy. The Kindle version is borrowed through the Amazon Manage Your Kindle page, which means that Amazon is keeping track of what you borrow. At least in California, that may be illegal under the Reader Privacy Act. Stay tuned for more developments on this topic.

Update: A recent Wall Street Journal article makes it clear that library elending is growing fast in popularity.  “Amazon declined to say how many e-books have been borrowed, but in the past month, registrations have doubled on the New York Public Library’s website. Each day, the library’s website averages 2,000 e-book checkouts and signs up about 200 new users.” Read the full article (Warning: Link may expire after a few days.)

I’m enough of a believer in ebook lending that I’m going to look into donating electronic copies of my three books to my local library network—one very small drop in the bucket of ebook lending supplies. I’ll be able to share my books with a wider audience by helping to fill the virtual shelves of libraries within the local network.

Ebook lending may not be as wonderful as receiving the perfect pre-selected read from Kim, but it’s definitely moving in the right direction.

—Carol Newman Cronin

Story Parenting: Am I Raising my Characters, or are they Raising ME?

January 19th, 2012 2 Comments

Now just for the record, it’s important to make one thing perfectly clear: I’m not a parent. I can’t remember the last time I changed a diaper. And I’ve never had to decide how much freedom to give a teenager, or when to take away the keys to the family car.

So you may decide I’m not qualified to write this post. Because I’m about to compare writing novels to rearing children.

Recently I started a new-from-scratch book. New characters, new issues, even a whole new island to explore. I’m listening as these newcomers talk, with only a vague idea of how they relate to each other or how they will impact the story.

Many authors know these basic traits before they start writing. The very first entry in the Scrivener character description template (right after the name) is “Role in Story,” even before “occupation” —which is how most folks living in what we call the real world orient themselves.

Obviously that template was designed by an outliner.

With many of these new characters, I have to just leave that section blank. I don’t know most of them well enough yet to figure out how they will interact with this new rock I built under them, or what impact their personalities will have on their world.

Suddenly I’m bottle-feeding these characters of mine, watching them react to a change in the light or another person entering the room. Laughing at the first words, the gestures that were somehow already familiar even before I wrote them down for the first time. Best of all, now that I’ve given up trying to write a perfect book as a first draft, I’m really enjoying this stage too. Getting to know these new not-quite-people is FUN!

I tried outlining, honest I did. Thinking I could take a shortcut to character development. And then when I sat down to write, those characters (who looked so good on paper) refused to talk. Or worse, decided to veer off into the unknown again. So I’ve gone back to my old inefficient methods: listening to them speak, and then following them almost anywhere they choose to go.

Now having a needy baby (or actually, a whole town full of babies) in the house is a major change of lifestyle. And since I haven’t started anything so completely new in over five years, it’s even more of a shock. Oliver’s Surprise, Cape Cod Surprise, and Game of Sails have all been sent out into the world to fend for themselves, and they are all doing just fine. Game of Sails did come back a few weeks ago to ask for a print version, and all three books will likely be on my health insurance for as long as the government allows…  but the characters are all grown up. I know them better than some members of my actual family, know their habits and their mannerisms and—most importantly—their Role in Story.

They in turn know who serves the best coffee in their towns, who’s honest and who’s not, who to turn to in a crisis. Most are even on a first name basis with the local post office staff—and not because their pictures are on the wall.

Best of all, that pesky editing that turns a toddling first draft into a running, leaping, minivan-driving teenaged real story is already behind us.

Like any new parent, I’m both excited and exhausted by the prospect of raising all these new characters. I’ll try to have some say in their development, but I can already tell: they’re stubborn, all of them. These characters are not really unformed, they are just as yet unknown to me. As Michael Haskins recently wrote in Who’s Writing this Story?, “It happened without my doing it. The character popped out with something from earlier in the book. Something I never gave a thought to, until I looked for an ending.”

I can’t wait to give each one the keys to the family car.

—Carol Newman Cronin

Writing: It’s Not a Competition

January 12th, 2012 Comments Off

Back in 2006, I attended the New York Writer’s Group Pitch and Shop. I was a complete newbie to the publishing world, desperate (just like the other 40 or so writers present) to find an agent. Instead I found fellow writer Roberta Gately, who was even shorter than me—and probably even more determined to get published. Her no nonsense attitude drew me in immediately, and we kept in touch once the conference ended.

Two years later, Roberta was one of the first people I told when Oliver’s Surprise found a home with a publisher. And even though she hadn’t yet found a publisher for Lipstick in Afghanistan, she was so ecstatic for me she called with congratulations. Her genuine enthusiasm taught me something extremely valuable: we are NOT in competition with our writing buddies.

Fast forward another two years, and I got a reciprocal email from Roberta: Lipstick would come out the following year! She also invited me to join a fledgling Writer’s Promotion group based in the Boston area. Though it was a bit of a hike from Rhode Island, I attended several meetings—and was thrilled to be included in planning sessions for the book launch parties of Randy Susan Meyers, Holly LeCraw, Juliette Fay, and Iris Gomez. I’m looking forward to a few more when Nichole Bernier and Kathy Crowley launch. And hopefully we’ll see another book from our token male, Chris Abouzeid, one of these days, too.

I’ve learned a ton from these generous writers, and hopefully I’ve provided a little knowledge (at least about sailing) in return. And this week I was thrilled to be the guest author of a post on Beyond the Margins, an excellent source of writing and authorly information (spiced with humor) created and maintained by several in our writer’s promo group.

Watching my blog post appear and reappear on several social media sites throughout the day served as a series of reminders: this is not a competition. For those of us used to measuring our success in racing terms (winning, on the podium, top ten, top half), it’s a big adjustment to realize that more books is more better. Yes, someone may put down my book in a store and choose another to buy instead, but if my book has done its job, that same buyer will be back to claim it on the next shopping adventure. The more we support each other, the better we all do. A rising tide of enthusiasm lifts all (sorry) authors.

And it’s also a whole lot less lonely when you’ve got writing buddies.

So thanks to everyone who has tweeted, friended, plussed, or just plain BOUGHT my work. In the words of another friend who is also an excellent writer, “We sail on together, we sail on alone.”

—Carol Newman Cronin

Ebook Reformatting: Game of Sails, Take Two

January 5th, 2012 Comments Off

As most of you know, I published Game of Sails in July 2011 as an ebook. I carefully created the Word document specified in the Smashwords publishing guide, reviewed the book on my computer and iPhone, posted it on Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble—and thought I was done. I looked forward to moving on to the next project, and spent the fall researching new topics and locations.

Meanwhile, I kept up with the comments and reviews on a variety of sites. None said anything about formatting issues, so it wasn’t until I became a Kindle Touch owner in November that I realized the book had a major flaw: several of the paragraphs were indented too much. Worse yet, those paragraphs didn’t have an extra indent for the first line, which made it really difficult to see where a new paragraph began. How distracting!

Obviously I’d have to reformat the file. So while I was at it, I decided I’d go through another text edit. I also decided (you heard it here first) to change the perspective back to third person for two of the characters.

Many reviewers said they were confused by reading different perspectives in first person. One said “I found myself having to consciously think about who was speaking.” That sounded like a distraction that was best avoided.

So just before Christmas, I took a deep breath… and began editing. Find/replace took care of the most obvious changes (“I” to “she,” “me” to “him”), but there was no escaping the need for a careful look through to catch more subtle errors. What sounds perfectly fine in first person often sounds awkward in third person, which led to some rewording.

Along the way I also corrected a few typos and eliminated some unnecessary fluff that had previously escaped the editor’s red pen. And even though it took me much longer than I’d planned, the result is an even better book.

As an added bonus, I’ve also included a sampling of Oliver’s Surprise at the end of the new version. The original had a link to an online excerpt, but now even those of us who like to stay in the “moment” can enjoy a taste of Oliver’s world.

As for the formatting, that’s improved too—thanks to writer and game designer Guido Henkel. A prime example of the incredible online support community available to indie authors, Guido took the time to put together a step by step guide called “Take Pride in your Ebook Formatting.” Formatting errors are very common with ebooks (from major publishers as well as indies); with so many different ereaders on the market, it’s very important to produce a file that will format consistently across all platforms.

I’m still wondering how Guido found the time to write such a great guide while also writing a series about Jason Dark, Ghost Hunter, AND responding so promptly to all his comments. But I (like so many of his commenters) very much appreciate the time he saved me with his excellent information.

So I’m ringing in 2012 with a second edition of Game of Sails, which should be available by January 7 “wherever ebooks are sold.” And while I doubt the first edition will ever become a collector’s item, I’m going to save it anyway… because as fast as this world is changing, you never know.

The Gift of KindleTouch, and Toasters

December 29th, 2011 Comments Off

Last week, I promised to let you know how the “best” present of this year was received. Of course, I said it was the “best” present because I didn’t know about the Makita drill and new toaster oven that Santa was bringing to me…

Good thing I didn’t let on in last week’s blog what the present was, since its recipient (my mother) is a devoted reader. Now that the gift giving is complete, I can share the secret with you all: my dad gave my mom a Kindle Touch for Christmas.

Her initial reaction? A controlled snort. Which meant (at least to these ears) “this is too much.”

Mom is usually the last adopter of new technology in the family. She’s not intuitively comfortable with gadgets, so she needed some help with setup and downloading. But after some initial direction, she figured it out. And surprisingly quickly, she (like every other reader who’s made the e-leap) forgot about the device and focused on the story.

One reason the adoption was relatively seamless is because I had pre-ordered a gift book I knew she’d enjoy: The Widow’s War by Sally Gunning. Turning on a Kindle with no books installed is like turning on a computer with no software… or walking into an empty room expecting a party. She wasn’t fooled by the “welcome letter” from Jeff Bezos, and she definitely wasn’t interested in reading either of the pre-loaded dictionaries. So it was important to have something she’d enjoy that was available right away.

I’d also given her a Kindle Touch cover, so as soon as she unwrapped the Kindle she snapped it on. I’d used my Kindle Touch naked for the first month, so I knew it would be much easier to hold and much more book-like once she had this “necessory.”

One week later, she’s still sorting out a difficulty with the wireless downloads. But in spite of that technical glitch I consider this “best” present of 2011 a success.

As for the toaster, it has been a large improvement over its replacement. And the Makita drill will be a great addition to my tool kit for 2012 and beyond. Thanks, Santa!

And thanks to all of you for sharing this journey. Enjoy the transition into a new year!

2011 Holiday Book Recommendations

December 20th, 2011 Comments Off

Here’s my annual list of suggestions for holiday (or anytime) books. The theme here is my favorite genre: history interwoven with the present day.

Each book is available in a variety of formats, including print and ebook, from a variety of sources. I’ve included a link for more information, to showcase the range of online options. And when you’re ready to buy, don’t forget your local independent bookstore.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
This amazingly crafted story spans three generations, all tied up with a neat bow. Morton carries us from Australia to England on the back of her strong prose. I bought it as a birthday present for my sister, who rarely has time to read for pleasure anymore. Hopefully this will be worth the distraction for her.

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
Kearsley’s mix of history and present day was so engrossing I went back to read it a second time, thinking I would analyze her craft… and found myself caught up in the story all over again.

The Widow’s War by Sally Gunning
Gunning’s first story of colonial Satucket on Cape Cod centers around the Widow Berry, who after her husband’s death at sea rebels against the transfer of her property to her nearest male relative, an overbearing son-in-law. Best of all, there are two more books to enjoy when you finish: Bound and The Rebellion of Jane Clarke. http://sallygunning.com/books.html

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
An amazing story of mother, daughter, and how history continues to affect the present day even when it’s suppressed. The ending might surprise, but the smooth prose is a comfort throughout.

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
Set against the constant roar of Niagara Falls, this novel tells the story of a family whose fortunes unexpectedly fall apart—and the unexpected love affair that saves them.

A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
I was induced to buy this book by the title. Fortunately the story —a mix of history and modernity through the eyes of a granddaughter who returns to her grandmother’s native Poland—lived up to my high expectations.

As for this year’s gift giving, it’s going to be another book holiday for my family members. Luckily my nieces and nephews are all big readers, and most of them are old enough to be breaking into the adult genres. A few highlights:

My oldest niece will hopefully enjoy the first Elizabeth George title, A Great Deliverance. She loves mysteries but had never heard of George, my favorite author in that crowded genre. She will also hopefully let me know what she thinks of Death Comes to Pemberly, the latest from P.D. James.

My dad will enjoy looking through Herb McCormick’s latest book, One Island, One Ocean, a story of the thirteen month circumnavigation of the Americas. And I’m hoping to take a glance at the book after him.

The best present is a secret. I’ll let you know next week how it is received.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all. It’s a great time of year to share the joy of reading!

 

US Sailing Names Seven Sailors to 2012 Olympic Team

December 17th, 2011 Comments Off

I cover Olympic sailing on Boats.com’s blog, where this post appears in full. Here’s a teaser…

Although the final regatta of the US Olympic Trials is still going on, seven sailors have already been named to the US Olympic Team. Best of all, most qualified the USA at the same time.

storckmoore

Erik Storck and Trevor Moore thread their way through the 49er fleet. The duo has just qualified the USA for the 2012 Olympics.

Here’s how it works: the top US sailor at two Trials events is selected for the 2012 Games. But except for host Britain, countries must also qualify, which requires placing in the top 75 percent of countries in each discipline at Perth 2011. The numbers vary for each class, but the pressure is the same: sailors named to the Olympic Team don’t get to go if they can’t earn a country slot.

Brother and sister duo Zach and Paige Railey will be going to the Olympics together in the Finn and Laser Radial, thanks to a ninth and third overall in their respective classes. Zach won a silver medal at the 2008 Games; 2012 will be the first Olympic event for his sister. “I think the excitement of winning a bronze in the medal race is all over and it’s starting to sink in that my brother and I are going to the Olympics. It’s pretty exciting,” said Paige after finishing up her regatta in Perth.

Read the full post on the Boats Blog

Game of Sails: Last Chance to Buy at $2.99

December 9th, 2011 Comments Off

Calling all bargain hunters: the price of Game of Sails: an Olympic Love Story is increasing to $4.99 on Jan 1, 2012. You must order soon to get the book at its introductory price.

There are three main reasons for this price increase.
1. I’ve received a lot of feedback that “I would’ve paid more” for this book.
2. I want to delineate this book from the many ebooks available at the $2.99 price, many of which are not as carefully edited or formatted.
3. The new price of $4.99 brings Game of Sails into line with the ebook prices for Oliver’s Surprise and Cape Cod Surprise.

For those of you who want more information about ebook pricing, I can recommend What is the Best Price for E-Books? on The Passive Voice. I learn something from every post on this excellent and entertaining blog; this time I learned that the right price for an ebook may change over its life.

Also, for those of you looking to personalize a gift copy, I’d be happy to “sign” your ebook thanks to Kindlegraph. This is a great service which is getting more user friendly every week.

I believe the time has come to raise the price on Game of Sails, though only time will prove me right or wrong. Let me know if you agree with my reasoning… or better yet, take advantage of this last chance to buy at the introductory price, and download your copy now!

Airplane Sales: Ebooks Promotion

December 1st, 2011 Comments Off

I’ve been on a lot of airplanes since Game of Sails first came out in early July, traveling for both work and sailing. And on most of those flights, my seat companion has pulled out a Kindle or a Nook as soon as we were above 10,000 feet.

“Like your ereader?” I ask. (I have trouble telling the difference between the brands.)

“I love it,” the seat mate gushes. And that simple exchange usually leads to a great discussion about favorite books, authors, and the joys and trials of ereaders (so easy and nondescript to carry, so frustrating to turn off in the middle of a chapter for take off and landing).

Almost always, this conversation gives me an opening to pull out my best ebook sales tool: a business card with the cover graphic on one side and a QR code on the other that leads directly to the Amazon and Nook download pages for Game of Sails.

“I’ll buy it as soon as we land!” is the most common response.

Now none of these folks are sailors, though many have a passing interest in the sea. So why (frankly) would they be eager to buy an Olympic love story about sailing from someone they happened to meet on an airplane?

The reason is that at $2.99 (with a free preview), there’s no need for anyone to think twice about checking out my latest book. And the business card makes it easy for an airplane companion to remember my name (and the book’s name) after we part ways.

Another reason it’s easy to sell ebooks while traveling is that an ereader weighs the same no matter how many books it includes. I have not (yet) sold a hard copy of Oliver’s Surprise or Cape Cod Surprise on an airplane—although I’ve given out quite a few bookmarks. Nobody on a plane wants one more thing to carry—even a thin paperback. And $9.95 may be a great price for an entertaining read, but it’s above the impulse buying limit for most people seated in coach.

What I’m learning is that there is no one right way to promote an ebook. As DE Karlson recently tweeted, “There are 3 rules to successfully sell e-books, unfortunately no one knows what they are.”

So until someone figures out those rules, I’m gonna keep handing out my business cards. Even if my next seat mate doesn’t buy my book, at least our conversation will make the flight go by quicker.

This post first appeared on Write on the Water, a site for those who want to “quit your job, move onto a boat, and write.” And I wrote the first draft on an airplane.

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