NEW RELEASE JULY 1: Whispers on the Prairie, Pioneer Promises series, Book 1 by Vickie McDonough

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Chicagoan, Sarah Marshall, had no plans to travel the Santa Fe Trail on a wagon train, but her uncle manipulated her into going. Problem after problem occurs, until they end up stranded at a rugged Kansas stage stop. All she wants is to get back to civilization. Ethan Harper's well-orderd life is thrown into a tizzy when a city gal gets stuck at his family's stage stop.

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The Advantages of Listening

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Don’t you hate long, silly greetings on voice mail? I do. I want quickly to get to the beep so I can leave a message. But I was surprised when I called a new friend and heard her beautiful greeting. “I love that sweet greeting,” I said when she returned my call. “It sounds so very positive and upbeat. Not like most that are the same as everyone else. I love how your personality comes through.” “Who is this?” the person said. Gulp. I had dialed the wrong number. Lesson learned: listen, listen, really listen—before speaking! And you know what?…

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Tips From the Pros

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Davalynn Spencer here, connecting from Colorado and glad to welcome E.E. (Ellen Edwards) Kennedy with her professional tips on marketing. Tell us, Ellen, what lured you into the writer’s life?

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WRITERS WHO SPEAK: CHOOSING A TOPIC

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Greetings from Golden Keyes Parsons writing today on how to select a topic when asked to speak to a group. I had been speaking professionally for several years before I became a published author. Believe me when I say that choosing a topic as a published author. . .

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YOUR PLOT DRAGS? FIX IT.

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Happy friday from Michigan where we're enjoy lovely weather and my flower garden is flourishing. Welcome to the CAN blog from Gail Gaymer Martin at www.gailgaymermartin.com  If you enjoy my website and blogs, you can subscribe in the right sidebar and if you'd like my monthly newsletter, you can subscribe in the right sidebar too. Now down to business. Authors don’t always realize their plot drags until they step back and take a fresh look. It’s always good to give your story a rest for a week or two, if you have time to spare, and then read with new…

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Getting Your Publisher on Your Marketing Team

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  I’ve heard for so long “Don’t expect your publisher to really help market your book” and “My publisher did zip to sell the book,” but that has not been my experience.  I have found they will team with you and get behind your ideas. Few create complete campaigns but it’s amazing what they’ll do if you are open and creative.  

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Last Chance Justice by Kathi Macias–A new release May 1

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Welcome to Bloomfield, where life is simple, love is real, and stories are shared. Lynn Myers is still reeling from losing her husband of thirty-five years when word comes that her only sibling, an older brother, has also died. With no one else to settle the estate, she must return to her small hometown of Bloomfield, however briefly, to settle his affairs. Lynn’s daughter, Rachel, has just graduated from Bible college and with no other commitments comes along to sort through her uncle’s huge old home, right next to the local cemetery.

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PUGS Pointers #22

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Hi! I’m Kathy Ide. In addition to being a published author, I’m a full-time professional freelance editor. For CAN, I’m blogging about "PUGS"–Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling…tips for writers based on the most common mistakes I see in the manuscripts I edit. Each blog post will have one tip for each of the four categories. (For more PUGS tips, check out my website, or get a copy of my book Polishing the PUGS (available through the website or at the conferences where I teach). If you’re interested in working with a freelance editor (or know someone who is), e-mail me through…

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