"Miracles In The Making" New Name, New Beginning

Hi everyone,

The last few months have been a long run, however I am thrilled to stay I have finally reached a fresh beginning! Not long after the publisher I was working with closed their doors for the last time we began the extended process of refinishing our home. The timing by itself wasn't perfect to say the least however, what started as an unfortunate event will end up being a wonderful turning point! For instance, since I first began writing professionally I have desired to work with a larger company. I understood from the beginning this was a far-reaching aspiration- at least until the rights to my books were returned to me. Even so, I am grateful to Eternal Press for their role in opening the first door to the beautiful world that is professional writing and I am very sorry to see they could not continue with their own goals. This occurrence has, for me at least, been a blessing in disguise. 

As with all businesses that rely on public identity and customer reach, once the cord is shortened or cut is is much more difficult to lengthen it. I have made a concerted effort to keep this cord from being completely cut, nonetheless I find myself standing on the precipice of another adventure. In honor of this wonderful occasion I have chosen to release my book, Miracles In The Making under the name Miracles Beneath The Mistletoe. I plan for this release to take place around Christmas of this year. To Celebrate I have designed three covers from which to choose. At this point I am not entirely certain which of these will become the official cover. In this regard, I ask you, my readers, to offer your opinions which I respect immensely. I have posted each of these images below for your observation. I would greatly appreciate your input on this topic. If you would like a free copy of the opening chapter send your response to my email: adrienne_davenport@hotmail.com under the heading "Choice Cover" so I know where to send your copy. If you prefer, please leave your opinion on my Facebook or Twitter page both of which I have attached the links to:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/A_Davenport77

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoradriennedavenport/

As soon as this decision is settled I will post the winning cover to both of these pages as well as my Instagram and Pinterest accounts. As the release date for Miracle Beneath The Mistletoe grows closer I will be holding a virtual book launch to celebrate. This date, which has not yet been settled, will be announced on both Twitter and Facebook. I will also post this and any other correlating information to my official page: www.adriennedavenportbooks.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sending my love,

Adrienne Davenport

5 Marketing Tips To Keep Your Book Moving Past The Starting Line

Every author knows when you first decide to write a book the process often seems pretty clear cut. Only later, after you've had a little time to delve into the steps, do you realize just how much is actually involved. When the full impact hits this can often seem very overwhelming. As important as writing a book is the matter of marketing. Without the notoriety to keep it going even the best book will fall short. I know this sounds scary but in reality it's not as daunting a task as it may appear. That said, here are a few tips to get you moving in the right direction:

  1. Newsletters
When used correctly, newsletters are often one of the best methods for reaching a large amount of readers. In this case, the most difficult part is accumulating subscribers. Start by adding a sign up box to your webpage. For this task many options are available. I personally prefer Mailchimp. They offer free services up to 2,000 subscribers along with plenty of very helpful bonuses. A pop up is very useful in drawing attention and simple to implement when using one of these apps. Don't forget as important as grabbing a person's attention is keeping it. The old saying, "You get what you give" is true enough. Give your viewers a reason to sign up. For example offer a free chapter of your book, or the opportunity to receive writing tips once they subscribe. Are you selling an ebook? Add a link to the back of your book. Any opportunity to promote should never be missed.

  2. Social Media
In the current age of electronics social media is a prime chance to reach readers. Some of the most popular, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are all perfect opportunities to share your work. If you don't already have an account with these sites, I would suggest getting one. Kick-start your campaign by posting pictures of your cover prior to your launch date or hold a giveaway to keep sales moving. While you're at it, consider looking into the paid ads offered by Facebook. Depending on your budget this could be well worth looking into.
 
  3. KDP Kindle Direct Publishing 
Far more common a practice then it once was, self-publishing does have it's benefits for the starting author. Take a look at Amazon's publishing service. A very clear cut process, it also offers promotional advantages to the author so long as they agree to allow Amazon sole right to sell their book for a minimum of 90 days. At this point the author can choose to opt out of this promotional package and begin selling through multiple sources such as Kobo and Overdrive. Alternately, if the service is working to their satisfaction, they can continue for another 90 days. This can be a good starting point for an author lacking in experience.

 4. Youtube
If you're willing to take the time book trailers, not much different then movie trailers, can be a great way to help potential readers connect to your book. It can be a great pre-launch strategy to create awareness of your upcoming release.  You can also use this as a nice tactic to keep the book moving once it has been on the market simply by slapping it on Facebook or another social media site. Want to keep the traffic moving a little more? Place a link to your author page on your Youtube account. This makes it easier for the fascinated viewer to connect to the product.

5. Author Webpage
It goes without saying every author has a website dedicated as much to themselves as to their product. As an author your are your own brand. Your personality is as much a part of this as the books you sell. Try to use a color scheme that expresses your genre and your personality. By doing this you can help your readers connect with you. If a person likes the author they are far more likely to buy their books. While you're at it, link your page to your social media sites, provide a short bio. to read, and as mentioned before encourage these readers to sign up for your newsletter. An author's webpage is one of their key assets. As such it should be used to their best advantage.

To all of you who love writing as much as I do, I hope I was able to help kick-start you a little. Best of luck in your future endeavors!

-Adrienne

Ideal Imperfections

When a writer sets out to design the ideal hero or heroine, they often begin with a vision of a tall, dark, and handsome millionaire or a masculine knight in shining armour. At the end of the day, however this glorified lady-killer isn't entirely what we usually end up with. Just as important as Casanova's strengths are his faults. A fact commonly overlooked by the broader audience. Without these flaws however big or small they might be our hero would be too perfect- or to put it plainly, downright boring. Though this may come as a surprise to some, these faults play a strong role in creating the strong, dashing, dreamboat we often imagine ourselves standing beside or sitting across from at dinner. Human nature in itself is a far reach from perfection. For some our short-coming is a streak of stubbornness for others it is a lack of self-confidence, or perhaps a dash of arrogance. By themselves these traits may seem debilitating, before you jump to this conclusion however stop to consider, as much as that stubbornness causes dissension, it also might be the very catalyst that drove prince charming to amass his riches. Perhaps that lack of confidence drew our heroine to take a job at the firm where Mr. Millionaire reigned rather then accept a higher position and in doing meet her hero. That arrogance, so frequently held in contempt might be the very trait that drew him to a woman with as strong a personality as he himself possesses.

Take the classic plot of "Kate and Leopold". A prime example of this concept, the story begins with Kate's over-obsessive ex-boyfriend, Stuart taking a stroll in the past. Were it not for his extreme obsession Stuart never would have found the crack in time, hence halting the rest of the plot. Leopold, the dashing hero of the story, was undeniably handsome. If you stop to take a closer look however, he was also overconfident and obstinate. These key features frustrated his uncle and served to create an enjoyable subplot- not to mention helped to determined the film's romantic ending.

It goes without saying, when we close our eyes and envision our ideal mate, obstinance isn't usually the first quality that comes to mind, but it is just as important as your dream lover's shining eyes and endless charm. It may even become one of their most defining features. Take this into consideration the next time you go to pick up a pen and enjoy creating your Romeo.

How to Keep Your Muse Smiling During Writer's Block

Just a warning, I intend to make this short and sweet. Recently life has taken on many different tracks simultaneously and it has been a little difficult to keep track of each of those paths. For some months now my family and I have been pushing to finish renovating our current home while developing a plan to move to an entirely new location once the renovation is finished. As a result, some of my undertakings have had to be placed on a temporary hold. I have nonetheless kept after the ever-driving battle to remain connected with my precious writing. Each day I spare a few moments to study my writing and stay on track so when I can resume my work I will not be lost. I suffered this loss once before and was forced to completely restart my novel.

Such is the main purpose of this post. No doubt some of you have suffered similar travesties. It is easy enough to understand the frustration that goes with this quandary. There are ways to avoid the permanent damage that forces us to erase weeks and, on occasion, months, of hard work and valuable time. No to mention the strain of cutting that emotional connection every writer feels to their masterpiece. Start by setting aside a small piece of your schedule, no matter how small, to at least review your current piece. Even if you cannot find the time to add to your work, the act of reviewing will help you to keep a small connection. Also, keep notes- a lot of notes. These will be your life-blood in the long run. All of us understand the tiniest details count. Last, but certainly not least, read books of the same genre. Not only will this relax you in those times you need it most it will also help keep your juices flowing. 

I hope I have been able to help you through your troubles!

Best wishes,

Adrienne

Tips On Writing the Ideal Love Scene

If you are reading this, you've doubtlessly spent hours either pining away before the pages of a dreamy romance novel or dreaming up one of your own. If you would rather write one, you will already know that those steamy scenes epitomize the core of this unique genre. Without the quirks and values of love, it just wouldn't be romance. Ever wonder what it takes to write one of these entrancing scenes? If so here are a few tips to help you along:
1. Know Your Characters
Use those traits which are special to each of your characters to highlight their similarities and differences. This spices up any situation. Conflict turns up the heat.

2. Stay In Tune With Your Characters Surroundings
Stay connected with your characters surrounding every little detail counts. Adding touches of surrounding description to a scene adds color and keeps readers connected to the storyline. Describe the color of the leaves. Are they inside in the ballroom or outside in the arbor? Every detail counts.

3. Avoid Cheesy Cliches
Cynical romance readers are easier to come by these days. They will be very grateful to you for avoiding these worn-out lines and far more likely to read more of your books.

4. Turn Up The Heat With Conflict
It may sound crazy to some, but conflict turns up the heat in more than one way- and often simultaneously. Conflict often stems from inner insecurities. Used correctly, this vibrates through the entire scene. For every action is a reaction. This is the key point of this tactic. If your heroine is afraid she might either turn to the hero for security or further rebel against him.

5. Write As If You're In Your Character's Skin
Look through your character's eyes. This sounds like it would be easier said than done but it's not that difficult. Take a moment to relax and, if need, separate yourself from the storyline. Take a minute and view the situation through their eyes as you would if they were your best friend in need of your assistance and you were trying to see their problem in first-person.

Keep watching for further tips. Best of luck writing!

-Adrienne

The Magic of Fashion

Though I'm not always successful, I try to be punctual about picking up my son from school. It goes without saying if you don't arrive ten minutes before the bell rings it is impossible to get a decent parking spot. On countless occasions, I have found myself leaning back in the driver's seat and watching the students milling out of the school as I wait. All too frequently I feel as though I have taken one step forward and two steps back through time. Most days girls can be seen strolling around in tattered jeans and loud patterns, not so unlike was the case in the 60s. When I first saw this feisty display the visual of my dad, only days earlier, warning me he should be saving all his old work jeans flashed through my head, causing an absent grin to flash across my face. It never ceases to amaze me how, fashion, in its way is one of the most accurate timelines we have at our disposal.

To think there was a point, not so very long ago when a young woman would have been crucified for wearing such bold apparel. Whether they had it right or wrong all depends on who you talk to. The fact remains the common trend in the early part of the 1900s was a world apart from clothing today. 

Far more graceful and serene a presentation, these ladies were seen as symbols of eloquence. 

Within twenty years this concept had undergone a drastic change. No longer the image of perfection and innocence, these girls had discovered the "wild side". Often referred to as "Swingers" this shift towards the glamorous shows in their apparel. The sequins glimmered and the pearls glowed.

By the time 1950 rolled the baby boom was in full motion and the suburbs were overflowing. The commonplace to find a woman was leaning over the stovetop or caring for one of the children. In time with this new rhythm, this change was reflected in the women's daily clothing. Trends became far more demure.

By the time 1960 rolled around those demure dresses had begun to disappear, replaced by tattered jeans and tight flashy tops. Such a shock wave to the fashion industry is difficult to ignore.

Now as I watch the young girls milling about in almost identical attire, I stare in awe at the ability of certain trends to rewind the years, pieces of the past that are permanently embedded in our world. Not beautiful gowns and graceful dresses, but torn jeans and casual shirts. I can't help but wonder, what is it about these certain trends that make them so powerful? Perhaps it is the easy swing they convey. One thing is clear- if you want to know the people of a certain point in history look first to the fashion of the era.

Enjoy,

Adrienne Davenport