Live to Love on the Edge Blog

Posted on

Promo or Perish!

Clip Art Courtesy of Microsoft Office Clip ArtPromo or Perish? It’s a topic I’ve talked about during several workshops and I’d like to share just some basic ideas for what you should do to get the word out about yourself if you’re either pre-published or published.

But first — my own bit of goods news! Some of you may know from reading the main site that I accepted a two-book offer from Grand Central Publishing (formerly Time Warner Books) for some new romantic suspense novels with a paranormal element. What kind of paranormal element? The heroine is a cancer victim who is developing superhuman traits as a result of a genetic engineering treatment. Worse yet, she has to battle to keep her humanity while being hunted down for a murder she did not commit! The first book will be out in 2010.

Some other good news! I’ll be doing a Silhouette Nocturne Bite as part of THE CALLING series. Silhouette Nocturne Bites are dark and sexy short stories and are available at eharlequin.com. Look for my Nocturne Bite sometime in late 2009!

Now back to today’s Tuesday Tip — Promo or Perish. If I had to list the top things an author can do to get the word out about themselves, here’s what they would be:

  • Internet Presence

    • Whether published or not, have a website, social network page or blog where people can meet you, learn about you and reach you. Make sure to keep it current with some recent news about what’s going on with you. There’s nothing worse than visiting a page and seeing that the last time it was updated was a year ago.

  • Press Releases

    • There are tons of sites on the web that allow you to do press releases either for free or for a nominal cost. If something really good happens, a contest win, new contract, etc., send out a press release. Also make sure to get the contact details for local papers, television and radio stations. Local papers love featuring a “local person done good” story and those kinds of grass roots stories are wonderful.

  • Articles

    • Are you an expert on something? Can you write an article about that subject? Did you recently travel somewhere interesting or do something different? Can you write an article to share your discoveries? Of course you can! We all have interesting things that we’ve done or information that we can share. Write an article and post it to one of the many sites that will publish it on the Net. Make sure that whatever site you use let’s you keep the copyright in the article.

  • Networking

    • You have a website/blog, I have a website/blog. Let’s get together somehow. Exchange links with friends, fellow authors or sites that would be of interest in connection with what you are doing. For example, I’m on a number of romance, paranormal, vampire and Latino sites. If you’ve got a blog, do a blog tour or guest blog at someone else’s blog. Invite people to blog at your place!

    Hope this helps you with getting the word out!

    Copyright 2008 Caridad Pineiro Scordato www.caridad.com

    Posted on

    Guilty Pleasures Monday – Eric Stromer

    I first caught sight of this hunk on CLEAN SWEEP. I got hooked on that show and it really helped me get my house in order! Eric Stromer was the carpenter on the show and he was cute, funny, talented and wow — He’s just too sexy.

    Eric now has a show on DYI — OVER YOUR HEAD — where he rescues homeowners who have tackled projects that were a little too much for them.

    Hmm . . . I’m pretty good with a hammer and saw. I think it’s time to add that new wing to the house!

    Posted on

    Thoughtful Thursday – A short break

    I want to apologize to all of you for not providing you a Wicked Wednesday, but the last few days there’s been a lot going on, some of it good, some of it frustrating. Unfortunately, what’s frustrating seems to be pulling at me, as it does at so many people. In the next few days, I’ve got a lot of running around to do and so in light of that, I’m going to take a short break!

    But I’ll be back on Monday to share some new Guilty Pleasures with you!

    May you all have a blessed weekend.

    Posted on

    Beer Steamed Mussels

    mussel.jpgMy daughter has been watching THE DEADLIEST CATCH and since we’d never really tried King Crab Legs, I decided to pick up some at Costco. Since they had some great-looking mussels which we all love, I picked up a bag of those as well.

    What’s the best way of cooking mussels, clams, crabs, lobster, etc.? Well, I’m a big fan of steaming since it keeps them moist, is quick and relatively easy. My favorite way to steam them is with beer and here’s the recipe for you to try out!

    First of all, you’ll need a pot big enough to hold the steaming liquid and your shellfish. I end up needing one that’s at least 12 quarts or more. Before you steam, make sure everything is clean with a quick scrub with a plastic brush. If you’re doing clams, put them in salted ice water for about 15-20 minutes so they spit out any sand. Same with the mussels. A lot of mussels are farm-raised now, so they are relatively clean and beardless so there’s little to clean.

    If there’s any clams/mussels that don’t close up after being in the iced salt water, toss them. They’re dead. Likewise, if they don’t open up after steaming, toss them. They’re dead!

    Steaming Liquid:

    1 or 2 beers
    Handful of chopped fresh parsley
    3 to 4 garlic cloves chopped
    1 small onion chopped
    Some pepper
    1 or 2 bay leaves

    If you want to add a little zing to the liquid, slice up a small lemon and put that in there as well.

    Put the liquid in the bottom of your pan and place a steamer insert above it (one of those little collapsible ones you find in the dollar stores). Layer your shellfish with the bigger pieces at the bottom, like the crab legs, whole crabs or lobsters. Then put the mussels, clams, etc. If you want to do some corn and potatoes, put them right above the bigger pieces and below the mussels, etc.

    Yep, we’re talking mini-clambake here. Well, almost. Cover the pot, crank up the heat on high and once it’s steaming, it shouldn’t take more than about 8 to 10 minutes to cook all your shellfish. If you’ve got big lobsters down on the bottom, you may need to do 15 minutes or more depending on the size of the lobster.

    Anyhow, make sure you’re melting some butter while the shellfish is steaming!

    Once you take the pot off the stove, place the shellfish in a big bowl and ladle just a bit of the steaming liquid over them. Also, put a little bit of steaming liquid in a small bowl or cup and also put some butter in a second small bowl or cup. This way you can dip your shellfish in the steaming liquid and then the butter.

    Yum! Way tasty! Hope you check this out and enjoy a shellfish summer steam!

    Posted on

    Guilty Pleasures Monday – Michael Pare

    Copyright Embassy Pictures - Used under the Fair Use ProvisionsIf the smoldering look on this handsome face doesn’t have you melting, I don’t know what to say.

    His name is Michael Pare and the film is EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS. If you haven’t seen the movie, find it and buy it! The music is great as is the story, although the movie got mixed reviews and did not do well at the box office. Don’t know why, I watch it every time that it’s on and if I see the DVD anywhere, will definitely add it to my collection.

    Michael is so absolutely hot as the tortured New Jersey rock star who wants to be understood. Totally totally hot. He’s been in a number of other B movies, but I haven’t seen much of him lately although he still looks good! Tom Berenger is also in the movie — another hottie and quite good in his role as the “poet” guy who puts the words to the music.

    You can find out more about Michael by clicking here and visiting his official website!

    Posted on

    Thoughtful Thursday – Summer Colds

    sick.jpgWhy is it that summer colds are always worse than winter colds? Or does it only feel that way ’cause you’re stuck in bed when the weather outside is gorgeous?

    I started feeling sick on Monday. By Tuesday my throat and ear were aching and by Wednesday — I could barely talk. A good thing some might say. I pampered myself as best as I could and rested.

    Today I’m feeling a little better, but not 100%. Still, there’s work and deadlines and so I trudged in to the office to handle things.

    How are you with summer colds? Get them often? Find they last longer or just feel that way?

    Proudly powered by WordPress