September News

I had a doctor’s appointment one day last week and on his wall there was a plaque that read

This is so true. When I wrote my Women’s Fiction I thought about my sister and the choices she made in her life and how it led to becoming homeless. It’s sad to think how someone’s Bad Choices can be used in a story, but at the same time, as a writer, we can turn the Bad Choices into Happy Endings. As I wrote Ya Ya House, I found it therapeutic to use words to write the poignant scenes and turn those words into positive words. Words are a powerful thing. Do you find yourself using real life tragedies in your writing, and was it therapeutic for you? 

Ya Ya House is now available:  Amazon      

I have a new release as of September 15, 2022. Fall is here and holidays are around the corner, so I released a Christmas story

Amazon

The last person Jessica expects to ring her apartment doorbell is the handsome Trace Brightwell, her boss’ son. When he asks if Jessica Tucker is home, she realizes he doesn’t recognize her. Stunned she tells him she’s Jessica’s twin. She’s in trouble.

For as long as Jessica Tucker can remember, she’s had to prove she’s more than a pretty face. Wearing a disguise to look more like a no-nonsense professional, she accepts a job on an offshore oil rig. Throughout her time on the rig, she finally earns the respect of the roughnecks. When off tour, she’s back to herself, a fun-loving woman who is known as Jessie. She loves Christmas and has a doorbell that rings out “Here Come Santa Claus.”

Trace Brightwell can’t believe Jessica Tucker, the company’s serious career oriented, intimidating geologist has a twin – a complete opposite twin, not only in appearance, but in her gregarious personality, who lights up his heart when around her. He wants to see more of her.

How will Jessie dig her way out of the lies that keep growing? Her emotional attachment to Trace is dangerous and the deeper her lies sink, the more twisted her thinking becomes. Besides, how can she love a man that isn’t into Christmas.

I wanted to share a writing tip I read:  

I’m on Writer’s Digest email list and receive so many writing information. Yesterday I read an article by Kate Hewitt that wrote about 5 tips on how to write fast and do it well. 

Know Your Message: what is your book about – what are you trying to say

2.   Know Your Plot: write a five-page synopsis with six major turning points (every 15,000-word count is a turning point until she comes to a resolution)

3.    Know Your Characters: where they come from and what they want and emotional conflict

4.    Know How to Break It Down: word count to write each day (Kate writes 3000 per day for 4 days a week) each chapter has around 3000 words, 30 chapters for a 90,000-word novel. Before starting, she makes a chapter-by-chapter outline

5.    Know How to Write It: no editing, just words

For more information on her way of writing (find your way of writing) go to Kate Hewitt's link above.

One more thing. Our Facebook event Two Authors Books and aBeverage (click) will happen on October 4. Mary and I will be on zoom to discuss our Christmas books. Please join us on Facebook:  

We'd love you to drop by and say Hi, Judy

 Event and Book Release

New Release for a Summer Read

Finally, my women fiction, YaYa House is released. I'm excited about it here's a picture of the book cover, 

Book cover by LDM Graphics. I loved the cover, and it fits the storyline.

Blurb:

Anne loved her life. She had a wonderful husband, children, and grandchildren. In a blink of an eye, she was widowed and searching for something more...searching for herself.

 When she sells her home and moves eight hundred miles away to her dream house on the beach, it will take the love and support of her sisters--her best friends, to help her convince those she left behind that she wasn't running away. She's running to a new life and new adventures.

Ebook and Paperback available

If you live near Salt Lake City, Mary Martinez and I have a book signing along with three guest authors on June 25. Come join us, we’d love to see you.

Mary Martinez has a new release as well called Deadly Deception here's where you can find her new release, a suspense/mystery novel. 

Blurb:

Deadly Deception
​
A blink of an eye. That’s all it took for her life to change forever. After two years, Marcie Faraday still doesn’t believe the crash that took her family was an accident. She is determined to find the answers, even if the truth puts her in danger.
 
Detectives Booker Dixson and Lashelle Valentine must deliver the news to Jonas Faraday’s widow which is the worst part of their job. Neither believes it should have been ruled an accident.
 
Booker and Lashelle uncover a connection between Marcie’s late husband and her father’s medical clinical trial. Coincidence or ploy? Booker Dixson does not believe in coincidence.
 
Deadly Deception is a thrilling journey to uncover the secrets that threaten to shatter the perfect picture of Marcie and her family.  

Click here to enter to win a copy of Deadly Deception

Happy Reading, Judy

 Guest's New Release

June has arrived, along with Mary Martinez’s New Release:  Deadly Deception

A blink of an eye. That’s all it took for her life to change forever. After two years, Marcie Faraday still doesn’t believe the crash that took her family was an accident. She is determined to find the answers, even if the truth puts her in danger.

Detectives Booker Dixson and Lashelle Valentine must deliver the news to Jonas Faraday’s widow which is the worst part of their job. Neither believes it should have been ruled an accident.

Booker and Lashelle uncover a connection between Marcie’s late husband and her father’s medical clinical trial. Coincidence or ploy? Booker Dixson does not believe in coincidence.

Deadly Deception is a thrilling journey to uncover the secrets that threaten to shatter the perfect picture of Marcie and her family. 

https://youtu.be/FFIX8_Rqlcg 

Mary writes mostly romantic suspense, romance, women's fiction, and she has just begun to dabble in young adult mystery.  During her writing career she has been a conference coordinator, workshop presenter, and chapter president for the Utah Chapter of RWA. In 2007 she was presented with the Utah RWA service award in acknowledgment and appreciation for outstanding service. Mary has participated in numerous library panels on writing and co-presented a workshop on writing a series at the League of Utah Writers conference. She was awarded the 2021 N. N. Light Book Award winner for best book in two categories; Four Sisters for Women's fiction and Celtic Myst by M. L. Foxx for Fantasy.

Mary also writes as ML Foxx. This is her first jaunt into Fantasy and Sci-Fi, she loves it. It gives her freedom of choice.  In her ML persona she also loves to go to the movies, and you got it… Watch the Avengers, Dead Pool, among others. Something her hubby doesn't really enjoy but humors her fantasy side. You’ll see more books soon…

Website:  marymartinez.com

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZFFNH7Y?

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/deadly-deception/id1622381816

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-deception-mary-martinez/1141423392?ean=2940166392619

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/deadly-deception-40

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61037429-deadly-deception

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/deadly-deception-by-mary-martinez

Books 2 Read: https://books2read.com/u/mv1qnJ

 

Enter for a chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card.

  Rafflecopter giveaway

 Is it All Relative

arrived with hopes of love, hugs, kisses, and chocolates. Suddenly we’re at the end. Geez. I used to say, time is the only thing constant. Well, evidently, I’m wrong.

According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, time and space are not constant. The true constant is the speed of light. Time can run fast or slow, it all depends on how high you are. Geez, in other words, does that mean I’ll age faster living in at a higher altitude than if I live at sea level?  

Einstein said, it’s all relative. Have you stopped moving to read my blog? Well, no. You’re on Earth which is traveling around the sun at 67,000 miles an hour. You feel like you’re standing still, but only because you’re on Earth while you are traveling at high speed through space. While we’re traveling around the sun, the Earth is rotating at a speed of approximately 1,025 mph at the equator. The further you are from the equator, the slower you spin, rotating at the speed of one rotation per 24 hours unless you’re at the poles of the Earth, then your speed is zero. If you’re in Florida your movement is about 1,000 miles per hour. Florida moves about 1,000 miles per hour which is the reason NASA launches rockets from there and not further north like New York.

That’s it. I’m done. All of this is waaaaaaaay above my head. Not only  that, if I think about Einstein’s theory too long, it’s too deep for my little brain to think about!!

If you’re interested in more, here are the two articles I refer to for information:

It’s All Relative    and   How Fast are you Spinning

I’m not sure how I got on the subject. Maybe because I was reviewing my class on Finding My Why. Why do I keep writing stories? Why do I have all these characters in my head? Find your why. Do you know your Why? Or, would Einstein say it’s all relative?

I have a PowerPoint on my website if you’d like to check it out for free. Click Here.

I’m still looking for another Beta reader. If you’re interested, please email me at judybakersugg@gmail.com and I’ll send you a copy of my novel YaYa House.

Enjoy the rest of your February, Judy

Why Authors need Beta Readers

Qualities needed in a Beta Reader?

 1.    A Reader. An avid reader is important. One book a year is not an avid reader, and an author won’t receive the feedback needed.

 2.    A Reliable Reader. An author can’t wait for a reader to read their manuscript over several months before receiving feedback. Beta readers must commit to the time it takes to read and return feedback.

 3.    Authors need beta readers to be honest. It’s important for the author to receive honest feedback from the reader’s perspective.

 4.    Beta readers should read the genre the author write. If a beta reader offers to read a genre she isn’t familiar with, how can there be constructive feedback. 

Authors and the Beta Readers

1. Beta readers should have knowledge of your genre

Your beta reader should read and enjoy books like your book, otherwise, the reader will not be able to give honest feedback.

2. Confirm a deadline with your beta readers

3. Most beta readers appreciate knowing when you expect feedback from reading their novel.

4. Feedback

All feedback should be considered carefully. If several beta readers make the same remark, then it obviously a signal to step back and rethink an issue.

How many beta readers do you need? 

No magic number for beta readers. Some authors like three to five, while other like more. But don’t ask too many or you’ll find yourself overwhelmed by all the feedback.

Do Beta Readers Get Paid?

No. It’s a good idea to keep track of your beta readers to thank them when they finish. Some authors send a published print copy to the readers to show appreciation. 

Guidance for Beta Readers. 

Ask a few questions to help readers in their feedback (you may have more questions that pertains to your story)

1.        Was the story compelling?

2.        Did you feel confused or unsure about a scene while reading the story.

3.        Were the characters interesting?

4.        Did you find gaps in the story that needed clarifying?

How can an Author Find Good Beta Readers?

Obviously, with friends, colleague, acquaintances, and family members. Also, online communities you belong to. These are probably the easiest to find, but remember you want them to be brutally honest.

Writing communities: 

 1.    Beta Readers and Critique Partners Facebook Group 

This is a private group with over 7,000 members, you’ll have to request to join. 

2.  15 of the best online writing communities for aspiring authors: Here

3.  Goodreads:  this Goodreads Beta Reader Group is a valuable resource

4.  Your Author Website: sign up as a beta reader, use your newsletter to ask for beta readers

I'm in need of another beta reader.

My Women’s Fiction, YaYa House is in need of a Beta Reader. If you’re interested, I’ll send you a copy. Please email me at judybakersugg@gmail.com 

YaYa House  

Friends throughout the decades, four women decide to be adventurous and move eight-hundred miles from their family, causing chaos.

    

In a blink, you’re there. Where? Living the last chapter of your life.

Widowed for two years, Annie made a spontaneous decision to buy a house eight hundred miles from her adult children. Feeling youthful, again, Annie moves into her dream house on a cliff overlooking the ocean in Oregon. Never dreaming her new adventure would take her to the doorsteps of contentment, especially when her YaYa Sisters come to visit and make their own decisions in becoming part of the YaYa House.

Will Annie’s daughters forgive her for being independent, or will their emotional rebellious attitude go as far as to declare her incompetent? Will Annie have to compromise and leave her sisters in her dream home by the ocean?

What about her charming neighbor? Is it possible at this point in her life for a romantic relationship at her age?

           I hope you and yours have a wonderful New Year ahead. 

Judy

 Merry Christmas. 

 I hope and pray you and yours have the spirit of Christmas together filled with love, kisses, and hugs.

Mark your calendar and join me 

Wednesday, Dec. 22

7:00 p.m. Mountain Time,

Jen Spencer’s Ten-Minute Book Club

a Facebook group for sweet romance readers, writers, and future fans. 

I’ll be giving away a copy of Karibou Magic, and Jen Spencer will be giving away a copy of her newest book, Dandelion Meadows, to two readers chosen at random from anyone who comments or asks a question in the comment section.

 Follow this link to join the group before Wednesday night so you can be part of the fun and enter the giveaway! 

Please note, all my Christmas novels are on for $.99. Makes great Christmas presents.

Don’t forget to join us on Two Authors, Books and a Beverage every first Tuesday of each month for our special interview and chat with an author. Our special guest for January 2022 will be Kathryn Elizabeth Jones. Come meet her and remember each author has an album of books on display on our Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1215880052156125

Merry Christmas from my home to yours. 

  xoxox Judy

 A Thankful Thanksgiving

Now Thanksgiving is upon us, I admit there’s much for me to be thankful for in my life. It’s been a while since I’ve been in touch, but life happens.

Some of you may not know, my sister Jane passed away in August, leaving a hole in our hearts. I know we’ll meet again, and I’m thankful she isn’t suffering now. 

left to right: Sherry, Judy Gail, Judy Ann, 
and our beloved sister, Jane

As I mentioned, I have lots to be thankful for, and we must continue to remind ourselves of all our blessings, and find something to smile or laugh about every day.

I have finished two books, which I had started during Covid 2020. Now off to the editor. I’ll keep you posted about publications and book covers. The titles are Tucker Twin and Ya Ya House. 

Finally, Mary Martinez and I have a new video on our November Two Authors Books & a Beverage Club, which we’ve launched on Facebook. We’re talking to author Marie Higgins. Come join us HERE  

Each month we’ll be talking to an author, live on the first Tuesday nights of every month at 7:00 PM. Come join in and ask or comment while listening to the authors.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1215880052156125

Marie Higgins: https://www.amazon.com/Marie-Higgins/e/B004O3WYQ2%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Hope all is well with you and yours. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving from the Bakers:

 Charlie & Stanley