SUSPENSE SEALED WITH A KISS
SPEAKER: Linda is a member of AWSA, and is available to speak to your organization, at your conference, or as part of a workshop.
Contact her at lglazagain@aol.com

AGENT: Linda is a an agent with Hartline Literary Agency. She would love to represent that next great American novel! She will look at nonfiction, but she LOVES FICTION--historic, suspense, romance or all of the above. linda@hartlineliterary.com

AUTHOR: Linda writes romance in all categories, but what is her fave? Suspense, and not only suspense, but SUSPENSE SEALED WITH A KISS

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

 I'M A HORRIBLE PERSON!

    Well, okay, I'm not really horrible, lazy is a better choice of words. I'm lazy about posting because I post everywhere else but here. And you know what? I've got plenty to say!!!

    For all of you writers out there who struggle and sweat to produce an awesome finished product. Then, you suffer and wrestle with feelings of inadequacy in order to get it into the hands of an agent or editor. This is for you.

    And why? Why go through all of the torment? The answer is simple: you want to get your novel into the hands of readers who are going to tell everyone they know what a wonderful book it is. Isn't that the goal? Any of us who write understand. Readers love reading; we love writing. To the point that we have to write as surely as we have to breathe. Let's look at exactly how that plays out.

    First: the idea. You've contemplated a situation and it's birthed the idea for a story. Characters have come alive in your head, and you can't stop the noises, the voices, the twists and turns of a plot.

    Next: the unfolding. You can't sleep without the characters whispering their hopes and desires into existence. Like a needle poking you day and night, you begun to experience their hopes and dreams, fears and emotions in such a way that you can't function without putting some of them to pen and paper, or, keyboard and computer as it were.

    And more? Mapping it out. You dig in, bring them to life. Bring their stories to life. You scribble or peck tirelessly getting it all into some sensible format so that you do them all justice. YOU are their voice. YOU are their advocate to get it right. So you write, rewrite, edit, and rewrite some more until their narrative is exactly what it should be. And you'll know because until it is, you won't find any peace.

    And finally: release. You put worries aside and allow someone else to read your work. This, is perhaps, the most difficult part. They might hate your "baby" and say vicious things. They might patronize you and give it a thumbs up when it still needs work. They might call all of your dialogue "stilted". SIGH. But still, you know it has to be done, so you continue to allow them to read.

    Toughest part: taking criticism. Know when to accept and when to reject criticism. If one person tells you something, it's an opinion that you can take or leave. If two tell you, you might want to listen and decide if they're onto something. If three tell you? Hmmmm, you might want to see it as something that seriously needs to be addressed. And we all know how important Beta readers/Critique partners are. They are GOLD! So, once again, you're rewriting.

    In the end: the birthing. Your fellow readers AND you will be happy with the final product. Most importantly, YOU are pleased that you've told your characters' story, and you feel confident that now it's time to move on. You can safely try to put it into the hands of an agent or editor. Don't hesitate to "trust your gut" before moving along. If you still have doubts, don't go forward, but if you feel at peace, move on.

    Remember this, readers are waiting to hear from you. They just don't know it yet. And BTW, don't quit with the first rejection. Rejection is part of the process. A part none of us likes, but part, nonetheless. You've got this. Never quit. Keep at it and one day ...

    

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Winter's Fury (A Jeremy Winter Thriller Book 3) Kindle EditionLOVE  A CONTEST? SO DO I!  Especially near Valentine's Day

Image result for free clip art hearts
          

Giving away 10 copies of Tom Threadgill's Winter's Fury /Kindle
on my FB today. Come and leave a comment about why you
love love love suspense novels.Then, if you'd like, you can do what every author LOVES from their readers, leave an honest, totally honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. An honest review, good or bad, yea or nay, yuppers or nopers. A totally honest review. If you want a really suspenseful thriller to read for Valentine's Day, then swing by my FB page for a chance to win a kindle copy of Winter's Fury.

REMEMBER, YOU NEED TO GO TO MY FB PAGE AND LEAVE A COMMENT! Easy peasy

Retired FBI Agent Jeremy Winter spent his career chasing serial killers.



Now he finally has a chance to go after the one murderer who matters most-the killer of his wife and unborn daughter. With few clues and nowhere to start, Jeremy tests the legal limits of his investigation, risking arrest and angering his FBI Agent girlfriend, Maggie Keeley. His determination to find the killer leads him on a twisting path of weak leads and strong doubts.

The past is fixed.
The future is fluid.
The fury is now.

And Jeremy Winter has time to kill.
Tom Threadgill 



 


Thursday, May 2, 2019

Won't be Long Now! Linda S. Glaz


Well, it won’t be long now and the conference season will be in full swing.
What questions do you have?
What should I wear?
What should I take?
What will the editor agent want to see?
How can I possibly be around that many people and survive?

What questions do YOU have that I can help with to put your minds to rest?

Friday, February 8, 2019

It’s That Time of Year! Romance! Linda S.Glaz


Congrats, Dee Yoder, that story was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Hope you ALL enjoy the books I sent you!
 





Yes it is. And you all know how I LOVE to give away books. I also love to hear wonderful stories of Happily Ever After. If you have a wonder tale to share here in the comments, please feel free to. On Wed. the 13th, because it’s REALLY a LUCKY number, I’ll pick what I think is the most romantic story, and you’re gonna win a bunch of books with lots of love attached.
But that’s so subjective! Yes it is. I want to hear the best story and reward it!
Maybe you can all help and chime in on the stories (in the comments) that you like best.
What am I gonna win you ask…lots of goodies!

Books from authors such as: Kate Breslin, Jodie Wolfe, Kathleen Rouser, J’nell Ciesielski, Susan Tuttle, Ashley Ludwig, and others.

Don’t miss out! Leave your HEA in the comments and I’ll choose my fave Love story from all of you at midnight on February 13th!

Happy Valentine’s Day, let’s feel the love!!!

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

What I Hear as an Agent Linda S. Glaz

Okay, people ask me this question all the time. 
     Why do I need platform before a book is contracted and how do I grow it without a published book?
     Publishers want to know "ahead" of time that you are working hard at connecting with potential readers. That you can market! That you're willing to put in the work.
     So how do you do it without a book?
     Let's look at an historic author pre-publication. Create a website/blog that engages followers with items about your time period. Era recipes, era clothes, one-page short stories, interviews with other authors who write historic. Most are eager to be posted on someone's blog to promote their current release. 
     Once you've set up your site, about 20-30 minutes a week will keep it up to date. BE consistent. Post short articles or reviews on your FB page. There is PLENTY that you can do to get followers who will turn into readers once you have that book. Can you do reads in your genre at the library? Speak at ladies' teas (men's breakfasts) at churches on what a writer's life is like and how to maintain the faith while writing/waiting. There are numerous ways to build that following, and more and more, publishers want to see plenty of marketing work coming from you BEFORE they give you a contract!      
     Look at it this way: if two amazing books are offered to them, and they LOVE them both, but one author has a total following in all his/her social media of about 963, while the other has a total of around 11,674, who do you suppose they will lean toward? 
     You can do this. But you have to make the start and follow through! To say, "I'm a writer, that's not my job," shows that you do not understand the industry. 
     Yes, marketing IS part of your job.

Monday, October 1, 2018

A Heart for Freedom by Author Janet Grunst




A Heart For Freedom releases October 1st, 2018.


He longs for freedom, but he won’t risk those he loves.
Matthew Stewart wants only to farm, manage his inn, and protect his family. But tension between the Loyalists and Patriots is mounting. When he’s asked to help the Patriots and assured his family will be safe, he agrees.

She’s seen the cost of fighting England, and she wants no part of it.
In Scotland, Heather Stewart witnessed the devastation and political consequences of opposing England. She wants only to avoid war and protect the family and peace she finally found in Virginia. But the war drums can be heard even from home in the countryside, and she has no power to stop the approaching danger.

The consequences are deadly.
When Matthew leaves for a short journey and doesn’t return, Heather faces the biggest trial of her life. Will she give up hope of seeing him again? Will he survive the trials and make his way home? What will be the consequences of his heart for freedom?



Janet is a wife, mother of two sons, and grandmother of eight who lives in the historic triangle of Virginia (Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown) with her husband. 

Her debut novel, A Heart Set Free was the 2016 Selah Award winner for Historical Romance. A lifelong student of history, Janet's love of writing fiction grew out of a desire to share stories that can communicate the truths of the Christian faith, as well as entertain, bring inspiration, healing, and hope to the reader. 



Thursday, July 26, 2018

Author: Linda Yezak Circle Bar Ranch Series/Giveaway!



 Linda, tell us about how you arrived at writing this series:


I’ve been asked whether I was ever in the rodeo or ever rode a bull. No, the history behind the Circle Bar Ranch series is far more mundane than that. I got the idea from  television. Two shows, both on Country Music Television (CMT).

Cowboy U was a reality show that aired from 2003 to 2007. It featured eight city slickers who had to learn all about ranch life. The first thing that happened when the contestants arrived at the ranch-of-the-season was their luggage was exchanged for cowboy duds. That meant the women had to do without their nail polish and electric hair dryers.

Activities—aside from adjusting to a more rustic lifestyle and learning to ride a horse—included calf-scrambling, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and yes, bull riding. Even the women had to learn, which gave me the idea for Patricia Talbert, my heroine.

Later, Ty Murray, founding member of Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR), stepped to the chute. Ty hosted some  stars from TV, movies, and sports on his 2000-acre ranch right close to Stephenville, Texas. Since my family once owned a ranch out there, I put my imaginary Circle Bar Ranch in the area. Of course, I took a little license with some of the rodeo arenas in my story, but the location is the same.

Some of the folks involved in Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding were musician Vanilla Ice, actor Stephen Baldwin, Ultimate Fighter Josh Haynes. These guys and several others got the full bull-riding experience—thrown, hooked, stomped; broken arms, cracked ribs. By the time they graduated from Ty’s school, they rode an 1800-pound bull in a live PBR rodeo. Compared to the real riding professionals though, they looked a bit like cyclists with training wheels.

Both shows were fun for the same reason it's fun to watch anyone adjust to being out of their element. Take your fish-out-of-water comedy and throw some animals into the mix, and you'll get a few giggles. Of course, I got more than that. I got a spark to my imagination.

That spark carried over to three novels, Give the Lady a Ride, The Final Ride, and Ride to the Altar—the last in the Circle Bar Ranch series, which tells of Talon Carlson’s and Patricia Talbert’s romance from meeting to wedding.

In Ride to the Altar, I throw overwhelming hurdles into Patricia and Talon’s path to wedlock. A past love, murdered years ago and now only a file in an unsolved case, returns to haunt Talon. A long-held grudge demands release, yet Patricia has no idea how very deep it runs until she confronts her mother. An attack against the Circle Bar Ranch itself leaves cattle dead and one of its hands injured.

Different from the other novels in this series, Ride to the Altar forces the two to face their pasts individually before they can face the future together.

*

Linda is offering a giveaway prize to one lucky entrant! As pictured, the prize includes a signed print version of the series, a 16-ounce Christian cowboy mug, a horseshoe picture frame, a Ph. 4:13 stretch bracelet, a cute set of magnetic page markers, and a Texas Rubiks cube just for fun. All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment.CHECK OUT THE GIVEAWAY! YEEHAW!


Tomorrow’s blog will be Jody Bailey Day’s Love Colored Glasses. Don’t miss it!

The winner will be announced Monday, August 6, on Linda's blog, 777 Peppermint Place.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for joining me here. And that giveaway looks awesome. Don't miss out, folks! Once her blog tour rides to an end, she'll hop outta the saddle, and lasso a name. Once she's wrangled a winner, she'll post the name as stated above. DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE! 

Thanks again, Linda, for visiting!