Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Bonus Tuesday: Snip, An Update, and Input Request

{Note to followers: if you want an email to reach you every time I post, there's two ways. (Thanks, Ane M., for reminding me of this.) Either follow again or go the the left column and subscribe for emails. Thanks.}
 
 It's been an earthquake month in my writing world. My WIP is six and a half years old. Wouldn't you think it's about time I really understood the story? ;-) It started with a working title of MOTHER'S DAY. The basic story was of a recently widowed, retired teacher who was still aching over the fact that she is childless. When she meets an abused foster child, she begins a journey that leads her to become a foster and adoptive parent. Slowly it evolved into a story about abuse in all its various guises and the working title changed to FRIENDLY FIRE.

This month I attempted writing a synopsis and ran into to a huge problem--I had too much story for one book. ;-) And so, with the help of some friends, I revamped and rejuvenated the original theme and MOTHER'S DAY is on again. Now my Cherry Hill series has grown to a potential list of five books centering on the Chandler and Talley families.

I thought I'd get your input on the one paragraph "back cover" version of MOTHER'S DAY:

 Newly widowed retired teacher, Laura Grace Chandler's long-buried ache of childlessness is becoming an open sore. But after meeting Samantha Smith, an abused foster child, she finds that abuse is rampant in her hometown. And she’s at ground zero.  Though Laura Grace isn’t a mother, she knows the look of a child whose parents are missing in action; she’s seen hundreds of children in this position during her thirty years of teaching. Samantha has all the signs. As she gets to know the girl, Laura Grace is drawn to be the mother this child needs.  But to dive into the breach and become this child’s shield, she must open herself to heartache—again.


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I'd love some more input from you, my loyal readers. Since I've been doing the new topic rotation at The Shade (June, July, August, and September) I've noticed that author interviews get the most page views. Mini book reviews and snips weeks come in second. The tips week is lagging behind. 

Comments on the actual blog have been lagging. Though, comments on Facebook and Twitter have been growing. I've been working on promotion through those two outlets and Google + as well. Though, now that I've found the answer to "How do you add share buttons to the bottom of each post?" I'm hoping traffic picks up.

So, what do you think? Is the new schedule working? Do you have any suggestions? Please give me some feedback either here In The Shade, on Facebook, on Twitter (#InTheShade), or at Google +. I can't wait to see what you think?

Speaking of blog posts, check out Rachelle Gardner's post on "13 Simple Tips for a Better Blog"

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Next week: Snips!
Peek-a-Boo!

24 comments:

  1. Beautiful site Zan Marie. Easy to read and well formatted. Gorgeous background! Enticing content.

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    1. Thanks, Regina! You're input is invaluable.The background changes with the seasons. I love cherry trees, but they don't do fall colors well here in the South, so that's a pear tree tiled up as the background.

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  2. Love your website! And ready to read your book. When will it be available? Thank you so much for taking a look at my blogging efforts. I'm trying to learn social media & have found it can be all-consuming. Many blessings to you in your writing journey. Carol

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    1. Thanks, Carol! It will be awhile before I have a book for you to read. LOL! I've worked on this one for over 6 years. It's spawned 4 little sequels, too. Hopefully I'll have a complete draft by the end of the year. Then there's polishing, finding an agent, etc. etc. etc.

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  3. I think your revamped blog is great (though I confess I can't remember what it was like before). :)

    >>>Since I've been doing the new topic rotation at The Shade (June, July, August, and September) I've noticed that author interviews get the most page views. Mini book reviews and snips weeks come in second. The tips week is lagging behind.

    Comments on the actual blog have been lagging<<<

    I think "quiet to no replies" to blogs is a growing phenomenon--I get more readers on my blog, daily, then ever before, often garner quite a few shares (with a comment where it's shared), but rarely have any comments on my blog. People are busy--and I know when I read something I like, I often go away wanting to think about it before responding, but (sadly) rarely do post a reply.

    I like your MOTHER'S DAY blurb a lot--and the story sounds emotionally gripping. Congrats on having a series in the works!

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    1. Thanks, Ev! Before it was a "what can I write about this week" schedule with occasional author interviews and mini book reviews. I *love* doing both of those topics!

      And thanks for the blurb comment! I've struggle with my first ever synopsis lately, too. Bleh! What a necessary chore! Add queries and it' a trio of nasty writing tasks. ;-)

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  4. Lovely! I'm wondering if the foolow links still work, because I'm listed as a follower, but I dnot' remember getting the email. You might check. And just in case, I'll click follow again. :o)

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    1. Ane, the followers doesn't send an email. Only "follow by email" does. Look right above the blog list way down on the left. I might just have to move that widget up! Thanks for the comment!

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  5. I think blog comments are falling off in general. Though oddly enough, my page views are up. Can't figure it out.

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  6. Comments lag from time to time, but they bounce back. Very few comments on my page, but tons of emails and views of my pages. That's what really counts.

    Yeah! Five books of Laura Grace.

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    1. Thanks, Jo! Oh, by the way, you made an assumption of Laura Grace being in *all* five. ;-)

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  7. I think people are reading, but not taking the time to comment.

    Thanks for stopping by on blitz day. You made my day!

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    1. You're welcome! And thank you for dropping by!

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  8. I like the variety and it is certainly easy to navigate. I am just starting to get into the groove of checking blogs more regularly. Off to check out your link for blog tips. I could use the help! :)

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    1. Good luck with the tips, Rose! Thanks for dropping by!

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  9. Hi Zan! Increased comments on my blog are what I wished I had - I really love the dialogue when it happens, so I understand the commentary on that. I think it's easy for us to say that blog commenting is down across the board, but I don't know if I agree with that. There are many strong blogs out there with active comments sections. It's a long journey to get to that point, I guess.
    More importantly, you are discovering what is bringing people to your blog, and therefore figuring out what you might need or want to do to maintain reader interest. I like your layout and the schedule sounds good.

    On another note, I like your pitch for your book - it would definitely be something that appeals to me. There is one line, however, that throws me: "But after meeting Samantha Smith, an abused foster child, she finds that abuse is rampant in her hometown. And she’s at ground zero." I feel like this alludes to an abuse "ring" in town, but then the rest of the pitch doesn't focus on that, so if this is an important part of the story, I'd find a way to connect the emotional relationship between teacher/potential foster daughter and that plot point.

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    1. Thanks, Janet! Great comment on the pitch. I'll have to look into that pitch again. It does need a bit of tweaking.

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  10. Love the last line especially. Oh, LG...

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  11. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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