Maggie Kavanagh's Blog
July 19, 2015
Inner Sanctum release date!
Hello all! Click here to visit my blog and read a snippet of Inner Sanctum, the sequel to Double Indemnity, which will release from Dreamspinner Press on September 14, 2015.
February 26, 2015
Blog Tour Tips for Newbie Authors: A Hopefully Helpful Retrospective
As a newbie author, publicizing your own work can be a daunting enterprise. Every author has their own list of things to do before the launch of a book, but I thought I’d share mine with you today, focusing specifically on the ubiquitous ‘blog tour.’ Many of the tips below were either given to me by my extremely helpful published friends or learned the hard way during the release of Double Indemnity, my first full-length novel. This list is far from comprehensive—I’m sure there are tips I’m missing and still have to learn, so please share your own strategies in the comments!
Read more on my blog.
Read more on my blog.
January 27, 2015
Double Indemnity Release Party: Excerpts, Coupons, and a Giveaway
Come join me on the Dreamspinner blog from 12-5 p.m. EST to celebrate the release of Double Indemnity, with special posts, pics, excerpts, a giveaway, and a 1 time use coupon code!
Then, later tonight from 8-9 p.m. EST, I'll be taking over the Dreamspinner twitter (@dreamspinners) to talk with you fine folks about the novel. Please stop by to chat!
Then, later tonight from 8-9 p.m. EST, I'll be taking over the Dreamspinner twitter (@dreamspinners) to talk with you fine folks about the novel. Please stop by to chat!
January 22, 2015
Double Indemnity: First Look and Blog Tour Dates
Double Indemnity releases on January 26. Here’s a sneak peek and a list of upcoming blog tour dates, filled with eBook giveaways. I’m also holding a Goodreads giveaway, where you can enter to win one of two signed paperback copies. Happy reading! -MK
Excerpt:
On the fourth night, Nathan seemed different. He smiled when Sam arrived and continued his lazy backstroke. “I was wondering if you were coming.”
“Of course.” Sam nodded and went into the house to change. When he came back, Nathan was still idly circling the pool. Sam took a running leap, cannonballed into the cool water, and popped up only a couple of feet from Nathan.
“Quite an entrance.”
“Yeah, well, what can I say? I’m a drama queen.” And then, for no reason whatsoever, he splashed Nathan right in the face.
Nathan wiped the water from his eyes, which he then narrowed dangerously. “You splashed me.”
“Hell yeah, I did. And I’ll do it again.” So he did.
“Do you seriously want to play this game?”
Sam shivered, and not because of the coolness of the water, which had warmed considerably. Nathan’s predatory smile grew.
“You better swim fast.”
For a full list of blog tour stops and upcoming eBook giveaways, please visit my website.
Excerpt:
On the fourth night, Nathan seemed different. He smiled when Sam arrived and continued his lazy backstroke. “I was wondering if you were coming.”
“Of course.” Sam nodded and went into the house to change. When he came back, Nathan was still idly circling the pool. Sam took a running leap, cannonballed into the cool water, and popped up only a couple of feet from Nathan.
“Quite an entrance.”
“Yeah, well, what can I say? I’m a drama queen.” And then, for no reason whatsoever, he splashed Nathan right in the face.
Nathan wiped the water from his eyes, which he then narrowed dangerously. “You splashed me.”
“Hell yeah, I did. And I’ll do it again.” So he did.
“Do you seriously want to play this game?”
Sam shivered, and not because of the coolness of the water, which had warmed considerably. Nathan’s predatory smile grew.
“You better swim fast.”
For a full list of blog tour stops and upcoming eBook giveaways, please visit my website.
March 5, 2014
2014 “Our Writing Process” Blog Hop
Thank you to Louise Lyons, who tagged me over at her blog. This is my first blog post here on GR. On to the questions!
1) What am I working on right now?
As I wait to hear back from a publisher about a novel I subbed a few months ago, I’m keeping myself busy researching and writing my current WIP—a historical/supernatural M/M romance set in 17th century New England. One of my protagonists is a new arrival from England and the other is a very alluring nonconformist born in the colonies. Add a few superstitious townsfolk, a heaping portion of religious guilt, and a dash of magic, and there you have it.
It’s quite different than anything I’ve written before, and I’ve had a blast reading all manner of books on colonial life and witchcraft. One of the most challenging aspects has been negotiating the boundary between romance and historical accuracy and striking the right balance of modern and archaic language; there’s definitely a learning curve, but I think I’m hitting my stride. As of today, I’m 25K done with the rough draft with another 25K or so to go.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Hmm, different? I’m not sure, but I’ll tell you what’s important to me when I’m writing. I prefer characters to grow along with the romance, and for me this often means a healthy dose of conflict (both external and internal) before the eventual HFN/HEA. I also think of readers as active participants in story creation, so I try to heed the ‘trust your reader’ adage. One of my favorite quotes about writing is from Voltaire: ‘the secret of being a bore is to tell everything.’
3) Why do I write what I do?
Because there are too many tragic gay love stories, and I believe in a level playing field.
4) How does my writing process work?
Once I start a story, I get very consumed by the world very quickly, so I can’t juggle more than one project at once. Since I work full time, I spend mornings and weekends writing (and the odd lunch break, as long as no one else is around!) It generally takes me about 4 months to draft a full-length novel if I write every day.
As far as actual process, I usually start with a rough outline of the novel/story as a whole and a sketch of each character. But I don’t adhere strictly to outlines, because A) it never works and B) it never works. My mind rebels and usually comes up with something better—or entirely different—than what I’d originally planned. For this reason, I can’t skip around in the narrative while I’m writing.
I keep content notes as I draft because, like many writers, I don’t revise at all until the second draft (this was a hard sell for me, as my instinct is to re-read what I’ve written a thousand times before going on, which halts progress). At that point, I also ask from feedback from my awesome pre-readers/betas, and then I revise. And revise. And revise. And then revise again.
Confession: sometimes wine is involved.
Other writers:
Now that I’ve done my navel-gazing, I’m tagging Therese Woodson, author of Twelve Tasks and The Trouble With Elves. I have it on direct authority that more exciting releases are soon forthcoming. Check out her blog here.
1) What am I working on right now?
As I wait to hear back from a publisher about a novel I subbed a few months ago, I’m keeping myself busy researching and writing my current WIP—a historical/supernatural M/M romance set in 17th century New England. One of my protagonists is a new arrival from England and the other is a very alluring nonconformist born in the colonies. Add a few superstitious townsfolk, a heaping portion of religious guilt, and a dash of magic, and there you have it.
It’s quite different than anything I’ve written before, and I’ve had a blast reading all manner of books on colonial life and witchcraft. One of the most challenging aspects has been negotiating the boundary between romance and historical accuracy and striking the right balance of modern and archaic language; there’s definitely a learning curve, but I think I’m hitting my stride. As of today, I’m 25K done with the rough draft with another 25K or so to go.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Hmm, different? I’m not sure, but I’ll tell you what’s important to me when I’m writing. I prefer characters to grow along with the romance, and for me this often means a healthy dose of conflict (both external and internal) before the eventual HFN/HEA. I also think of readers as active participants in story creation, so I try to heed the ‘trust your reader’ adage. One of my favorite quotes about writing is from Voltaire: ‘the secret of being a bore is to tell everything.’
3) Why do I write what I do?
Because there are too many tragic gay love stories, and I believe in a level playing field.
4) How does my writing process work?
Once I start a story, I get very consumed by the world very quickly, so I can’t juggle more than one project at once. Since I work full time, I spend mornings and weekends writing (and the odd lunch break, as long as no one else is around!) It generally takes me about 4 months to draft a full-length novel if I write every day.
As far as actual process, I usually start with a rough outline of the novel/story as a whole and a sketch of each character. But I don’t adhere strictly to outlines, because A) it never works and B) it never works. My mind rebels and usually comes up with something better—or entirely different—than what I’d originally planned. For this reason, I can’t skip around in the narrative while I’m writing.
I keep content notes as I draft because, like many writers, I don’t revise at all until the second draft (this was a hard sell for me, as my instinct is to re-read what I’ve written a thousand times before going on, which halts progress). At that point, I also ask from feedback from my awesome pre-readers/betas, and then I revise. And revise. And revise. And then revise again.
Confession: sometimes wine is involved.
Other writers:
Now that I’ve done my navel-gazing, I’m tagging Therese Woodson, author of Twelve Tasks and The Trouble With Elves. I have it on direct authority that more exciting releases are soon forthcoming. Check out her blog here.
