Category: Behind the Scenes/Book3

The Fascinators Of Hampton Bays

Question: Where do you get to see as many fascinators in one afternoon as you saw at the very British, very Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan?

Answer:  At a fundraiser garden party for the Hampton Bays Beautification Society on the first Saturday in June 2018.

If you still don’t know — or can’t guess– what a fascinator is, hint: there’s one in almost every photo below.

And, if you don’t know where Hampton Bays is, hint: it’s in the Hamptons, on Long Island, but it’s not the snootiest Hampton. Not even close. That’s despite the fact that the hamlet has sandy beaches on two spectacular bays, Shinnecock and Peconic, and one of the best Ocean beaches in the world over the Ponguogue Bridge. Continue reading “The Fascinators Of Hampton Bays”

Sometimes, An Author Has To Take A Break

I came across this rather graphic quote from Truman Capote the other day: “Finishing a book is just like you took a child out in the back yard and shot it.”

Given Capote’s eccentric personality and oft-times dark humor, I wasn’t quite sure whether he meant he was ecstatic when he finished writing a book, or totally despondent. Continue reading “Sometimes, An Author Has To Take A Break”

What Authors Must Do in 2018 (Besides Writing)

In a 2016 blog post, I wrote : “I’m not totally sure, but I think Ernest Hemingway would consider himself fortunate for dying before it became a requirement for every author to have a website, and to blog, and to post regularly on social media sites like Facebook.

Returning to fiction writing (after twenty years away) has been quite an eye-opener. You must have a website, they said. An agent won’t even glance at your manuscript if you don’t have a website. Oh, and way before anyone accepts your book for publication, you’ll need to build an audience by blogging on the website, and posting on social media.“

What Authors Must Do

The blog was titled I. Need. To. Do. What?  Today, I have an update on how it’s all working out for me. Selected snippets from the original blog are below in italics. The original blog in December 2016 started with the thrill over a new iphone after I finally ditched my well-worn flip-top phone (does anyone even remember what those looked like?) Continue reading “What Authors Must Do in 2018 (Besides Writing)”

How To Use Radio To Sell Your Book

 

The trouble with book marketers and consultants is that they make it sound so easy. See, they’ll say something like “there are more than 15,000 radio stations in this country, and they’re all constantly searching for content — all day, every day.”

And you think: Yep, once Rush Limbaugh is done, they’ve still got all that radio time to fill!  Sign me up. I can talk about my book for hours!

Trouble is, first you’ve got to find a radio station, and then, the attention of someone– someone who has the job of booking guests —  at that radio station. And how the heck do you do that? Continue reading “How To Use Radio To Sell Your Book”

For Sale: On The Ocean In Palm Beach (County) For Under $200K

If you’ve ever wanted to own a little bit of paradise right on the ocean in Florida for under $200K, have I got a deal for you? No, I haven’t gone into the real estate biz. This is just info I picked up while doing some location research  ( I love doing location research ) for Book 3. This time, my research took me to Briny Breezes, a small mobile home community lying between Manalapan and Delray Beach in Palm Beach County. Continue reading “For Sale: On The Ocean In Palm Beach (County) For Under $200K”