Catherine West's Readers Group discussion

Hey Everyone! So fun to do this! Well, most of you probably know me, but I go by Cath or Cathy - only use Catherine on books! LOL! I'm still kind of floating around somewhere in the clouds, getting used to having my first book out there, and I'm so thrilled everyone is enjoying it! Yes, I live in Bermuda, and yes, it's beautiful! I'm married with two college age children, and a Border Collie named Noah, who you see in some of my pics!
Jump on in and introduce yourself!

Congrats, Cath! How exciting! I'm working on revisions for my first novel and then it's back to the agent with hopes of a contract with him returning to me. I'm gonna check your book out right now!

Oooohhh! Sounds like a great read! It's going on my Wish list. :D

Linnette wrote: "Congrats, Cath! How exciting! I'm working on revisions for my first novel and then it's back to the agent with hopes of a contract with him returning to me. I'm gonna check your book out right now!"

Thanks, Linnette! Good Luck on the revisions! I know they are time consuming, but hopefully will be worth it in the end! Thanks for being here!

You bet! Hopefully, some more folks will pop in. :D

Thanks for the invite to this group! Your book is in my TBR pile (I'm one of the reviews for FIRST). Can't wait to dive into it. Congrats on your first publication!! :-)

Katy wrote: "Thanks for the invite to this group! Your book is in my TBR pile (I'm one of the reviews for FIRST). Can't wait to dive into it. Congrats on your first publication!! :-)"

Thanks, Katy! I hope you enjoy it.

Hi, Katy!

Not to get off subject, but what's FIRST? Let me know when your review on Cath's book is out!

Linnette - here's a link to it. http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/

Reviewers can sign up to read and review authors books that are on tour. :-)

Oh! The wild card tours! I heard about that from Cathy Bryant, but I never fully understood it. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

So, Cath. You're book is on the FIRST list? How do you get your book listed on it?

Linnette wrote: "Oh! The wild card tours! I heard about that from Cathy Bryant, but I never fully understood it. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

So, Cath. You're book is on the FIRST list? How do you get your b..."

It's pretty easy- just go to the link that Katy posted and all the instructions are there. You have to send Mimi Peterson an email describing your book etc and requesting to join the Yahoo group. Once you're approved you can pick a date for your tour, they put the info on the group and people email asking to review your book - you pick however many reviewers you want, send them a book and voila!! Then you let the chips fall where they may! Ha.

Okay. Sounds simple enough. Now if I can just get my book published! LOL I was going to send it in to LI, but then my word count ended up exceeding theirs and I think it might not be light enough for LI. Not that LI is light, but I think mine is probably a little heavier than what they like.

Well, girls, I'm heading to bed. (It's 9:30 here and I have a 5-yr-old bouncing around the house.) Enjoyed the chatting! Thanks for the invite, Cath! Have a blessed night!

Hi, Cathy, thanks for the invite. I haven't read your novel yet - got some contest judging to do before I can get back to my own TBR list. And, like Linette, I'm trying to finish revisions for a fingers-crossed resubmit. Also like Linette, I have a 5-yr-old to contend with - he hogs the computer whenever he can.

Looking forward to interacting with everyone once I've had the chance to read Yesterday's Tomorrow. Love the name, by the way!

Linnette wrote: "Okay. Sounds simple enough. Now if I can just get my book published! LOL I was going to send it in to LI, but then my word count ended up exceeding theirs and I think it might not be light enough f..."

Don't envy you the 5 yr old!! Been there done that! I always find it best to write the story that's on your heart and then find your target publisher. I guess that's backwards to some, and probably not as easy, but I've never done things the easy way!

Tammy wrote: "Hi, Cathy, thanks for the invite. I haven't read your novel yet - got some contest judging to do before I can get back to my own TBR list. And, like Linette, I'm trying to finish revisions for a fi..."

Thanks, Tammy! Great to have you here.

Hi all I enjoyed Yesterday's tomorrow. Im Jenny I use Ausjenny online as there are so many Jenny's in cyberspace. Im an Aussie which explains the Aus part.
Im single and live in a small country town. Love to read and am really not looking forward to winter.

Thanks for the invite, Cathy! I'm still new to all this stuff. LOL My first book was released at the end of February and I've been on a roller coaster ride ever since. But it's all good. :) Best of luck with your book! Sounds very interesting! I'll be checking it out for sure!!

Hi, Cathy! Thanks for the invitation to join this group. I go by Jan Marie since, just as Ausjenny said there are a lot of Jennys, there are also a lot of Jans. Also, several years ago I played music professionally and was also in politics as a school board member. There are some Jans in this area who are of the male species, so I started using Jan Marie so all would know that I was indeed a female.

I live in Indiana and wish I lived in Bermuda - I detest Indiana winters. I am working on my first novel and also a children's book which I hope will develop into a series.

I am about three-fourths of the way through your book and loving it! I am already dreading when I read that last page because I will have to say good-bye to your characters.

We have more ladies! Yay!

Jan Marie, I love it! What a way to set your name apart. I totally get Indiana winters as I'm Missouri girl bred and born. Nothing like Midwest winters! I just recently moved to the South.

Hi, Melissa! Congrats on the publication! I'm heading over to check out your book!

Jenny! We're buds here and there in cyber space...Seekerville being the main hang out. :D The problem with cyber space is I can't hear your awesome accent! :D

Tammy! Revisions, revisions, revisions. Don't you feel like sometimes you are suffocating? Most of the time I enjoy it, but it reaches a point after so many pages when I can't look at another line. Yes, I'm doing the line by line thing. My hope-to-be agent said his assistant editor saw little tellings in the story and when they clarified what they meant, I discovered it throughout the entire manuscript. SO.....lot's of work. But, the fact that she read the entire manuscript and checked out my website and blogs...she really did her research...I found that to be very encouraging. I know how particular this agent is, so I'm good with it. :D

Cath, looks like you have quite a group chiming in. :D Off to get some work done. I'll check back in later!

TTFN! Or should I say, Cheerio!

Melissa wrote: "Thanks for the invite, Cathy! I'm still new to all this stuff. LOL My first book was released at the end of February and I've been on a roller coaster ride ever since. But it's all good. :) Best..."

Thanks, Melissa! I know how you feel, but it IS a fun ride!!

Jan Marie wrote: "Hi, Cathy! Thanks for the invitation to join this group. I go by Jan Marie since, just as Ausjenny said there are a lot of Jennys, there are also a lot of Jans. Also, several years ago I played mus..."

Hi Jan Marie! So glad you are enjoying the book! We'll get some discussion going on it soon!

Cathy, thanks for the invite. I'm putting your book on my TBR list. I'm also looking into the Wild Cards. Thanks for that, Katy!

Hi Cathy, thanks for the invite. I haven't heard of your book but I am going to check it out and see what its about. Congrats on your first book!

Cathy, thanks for the invite. I'm a new novelist also. My first book, A Dream Unfolding, was released in December. And I'm diligently working on the second book in the series, A Heart Renewed, for release sometime in April.

I totally understand that giddy feeling you mentioned. I feel it, too, with each new review.

If you're not familiar with Clash of the Titles, you might check it out. It's a great way to promote your book if you get selected--and it's all free.
http://www.clashofthetitles.com/

Anyway, I'm looking forward to learning more about your book. Seems most of the books I'm reading these days are from new authors.

Jessica wrote: "Cathy, thanks for the invite. I'm putting your book on my TBR list. I'm also looking into the Wild Cards. Thanks for that, Katy!"

Cool, Jessica, great to have you here and hope you pick up Yesterday's Tomorrow! I think you'll like it. :0)

Stormi wrote: "Hi Cathy, thanks for the invite. I haven't heard of your book but I am going to check it out and see what its about. Congrats on your first book!"

Thanks, Stormi! Let me know what you think!

Karen wrote: "Cathy, thanks for the invite. I'm a new novelist also. My first book, A Dream Unfolding, was released in December. And I'm diligently working on the second book in the series, A Heart Renewed, ..."

Hi Karen, Congrats on your release!! It is an exciting time for new authors. I think doors that were previously closed the past few years are beginning to open up and will continue to do so. Good news for those still trying to get a foot in. Yes, I have been meaning to check out COTT, thanks!

Cath, why do you think the trend for publishing new authors is changing?

I'm not sure trend is the right word. I think what we're seeing is the birth of smaller publishers that are more open to taking on new authors and perhaps putting stories into print that the bigger houses don't think there is a market for. My book for example. It went to every big CBA house out there and we were told no, largely because of the Vietnam War backdrop. Yet I knew and believed that there were readers out there who would love it. My publisher OakTara, saw the potential and took a chance on this new author. From what I'm seeing thus far, we were right.
I think that as long as you have done the homework, know your craft and present a good story, you have more options these days. It's still extremely difficult but it does look like more new authors are being contracted. I discussed the whole self-publishing thing on my blog today, which is another story!

I think you're right. I know I for one am interested in reading stories with the Vietnam War as a backdrop. The big publishers are going to have to wake up or they're going to be hurting. There are a lot of new authors out there who work hard to know their craft and do amazing work!

Catherine wrote: "I'm not sure trend is the right word. I think what we're seeing is the birth of smaller publishers that are more open to taking on new authors and perhaps putting stories into print that the bigger..."

Catherine- so glad you persevered. Looking forward to your book, and wish you great success. I think any self-pub success helps us all.

Paula wrote: "Catherine wrote: "I'm not sure trend is the right word. I think what we're seeing is the birth of smaller publishers that are more open to taking on new authors and perhaps putting stories into pri..."

Thanks Paula, just to note though, I'm not self-published. OakTara is a traditional royalty paying publisher.

I apologize for the misunderstanding. Thank you for clarifying. :-)

Great to have everyone in this group! If you haven't posted your intro yet - don't be shy!!

Hmm...guess I didn't actually introduce myself. LOL

I'm Linnette R Mullin, author of unpubbed "Finding Beth," freelance writer, advocate of chronic Lyme disease sufferers, member of HACWN and ACFW, and founder/coordinator of CCWN - Cola Christian Writer's Network. Missouri girl born and bred, I now live in South Carolina with my hubby and four boys. Yes, I said FOUR BOYS. :D They are my joy and crown and sometimes the ache in my heart. I love them to death.

The writing of inspirational romantic fiction is my hearts desire - to reach out to men and women and make a difference in hearts and lives through my stories.

Oh! For those who are curious: www.LinnetteMullin.com!

Linnette - FOUR boys? God Bless YOU!! But then again, I am not sure four girls would be that much better. Four of either would be too many for me!! LOL. Two was my limit. I haven't heard of Cola Christian Writer's Network. Is it a big group - can I check it out?

Actually, we are very small. I just started it. I moved here from Missouri in August and the closest Christian writer's group is an hour away. I found a friend at church is a writer and she had a friend who writes. I met another ACFW gal on-line who lives about 40 minutes from me... So, I started my own group. Our first meeting was this past saturday. I plan to put up a blog for us, but haven't gotten to it yet with all the revision work I have to do. I'll let you know once it's up, though, if you're interested. I did write about it on my newsletter blog: http://linnettesnewsletter.blogspot.com/. So, you can see how we began. :D

As to the boys, most everyone has told me that boys are so much easier than girls. I don't think I was a momma made to raise girls. I think they'd drive me nuts. :D

Hi Everybody, I'm Nike, a new Desert Breeze author. My debut novel, the first in my Sanctuary Point series, BURNING HEARTS, is coming out in May. Needless to say, I'm very excited.

I live in Gotham (NYC) where it's fast, gray, and intense...hey Cathrine, I'll be coming down for a short visit...say for six month during the winter. LOL

Seriously, I'm a crime fiction fan, a member of Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Ning) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

Hi Nike! Welcome to the group! I know you must be excited about your new release! It's a great feeling! Didn't know you were in the Big Apple. How fun! I can only take it in small doses though, too many people and I get nervous, so just imagine what Times Square feels like for me!!

I don't go to Times Square either. Too chaotic. LOL

We live in the residential boroughs. Compared to the island life, it's congested here, even in residential areas w/homes.

Congratulations, Nike! What an exciting time for you! I'll look forward to reading it!

Jan Marie wrote: "Congratulations, Nike! What an exciting time for you! I'll look forward to reading it!"

It seems like every 15 minutes I check my email for the cover.

But yes,it's very exciting.

oh yes, wait until it releases then you'll be checking amazon, novel rank and all sorts of other evils every five minutes!!

Hi to all the people who have graciously accepted my invitation to be a member of my readers group! Welcome. Please take a moment to introduce yourself if you would. I love to meet new people!

Cathy Thanks for the invite, your book is in my TBR pile. I plan to read it soon. Being a college student I have to work reading for fun around the books that I am required to read for school. I enjoy reading "war" books, it will be nice to read one from a journalist point of view.
Carissa

Hi Carissa, great to see you here. Let me know how you enjoy it!

Update: My writer's group is growing amazingly! We had 8 people at the last meeting and that was with at least three absences. God is good! :D

PCWN.blogspot.com

My name is Christine Hatfield

Thanks for the invite to join your group. My name is Anne Woodall and I'm born and raised in Oklahoma. In 1968, my graduating class of 73 lost two of our classmates to the war in Viet Nam, along with three others from our small high school. I've read "Yesterday's Tomorrow" and your exceptional story touched my heart and soul. This book now resides on my top ten all-time favorite reads list. I would like to see more books written in this era.