Thursday, December 29, 2011

Create Space--Fifth Annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest

Most of you have probably seen this, but I thought I'd bring it to your attention, anyway. I hope the creators of Create Space won't mind their contest posted on my blog. (can't imagine why they would) Here's their web address: https://www.createspace.com/Products/Book/

Announcing: 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest

Great news! Amazon and Penguin Group (USA) have announced the fifth annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, an international contest seeking fresh new voices in fiction. The Contest awards two grand prizes: one for General Fiction and one for Young Adult Fiction. Each winner will receive a publishing contract with Penguin Group (USA), including a $15,000 advance. The competition is open to unpublished and self-published novels.

CreateSpace will once again host the submission platform for the contest. Visit CreateSpace to:

Learn how the Contest works
Note key Contest dates
Create a free account (if you haven't already) to enter the Contest
Connect with other authors to discuss the Contest
Prepare your entry today. The submission period begins on January 23, 2012. The Contest submission period ends on February 5, 2012, or when the first 5,000 entries have been received in a category, whichever comes first.

Find out more.

CreateSpace
7290 B. Investment Drive, Charleston, SC 29418
Copyright © 2000 - 2011, CreateSpace, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing, LLC.

I'm not going to suggest that self-publishing is right or wrong for you. Every author has to make that distinction for themselves. I will say the publishing industry is changing--fast. Many authors, who would go the traditional route, now are no longer waiting for agents and publishers to say "okay, we want you."
Look at William Young's The Shack. Number one best seller for a long time. (great book, I loved it) He self-published that book. Love to know who his publicist was.

I don't work for CreateSpace, nor endorse it in any way. I have a small press traditional publisher, LSPDigital. However, you might be interested in reading what CreateSpace can do for you, as quoted from their website.

"With CreateSpace you can easily access tools, quality printing, booksellers, eBook distribution, and marketing strategies so that you can generate more opportunities than you imagined – all while building your following of readers.

Over a decade ago, we started this business with the intention of helping artists grow and be successful. This momentum (along with royalties you've earned) tells us that it's working, and we're really proud to be a part of that success."

So, if you intend to enter their contest, or just investigate what they can offer you, good luck. We all need good luck.

Pat

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BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY OF

AUTHOR PATRICIA A. GUTHRIE

And member of Rave Reviews Book Club

“Every experience is potential fodder for a novel.” Patricia A. Guthrie

Patricia A. Guthrie is the author of romantic suspense novels, mysteries, short stories and non-fiction articles. She resides in the Chicago area.

Guthrie’s current published novels Waterlilies Over My Grave, In the Arms of the Enemy, and Willed Accidents Happen are available in online bookstores such as Amazon.com. Pat’s currently working on a new mystery novel she hopes to have published in 2018, and Legacy of Danger, a paranormal romantic suspense novel, should be back online soon. She has short stories published in Amazon.com, Skyline Magazine, Affaire de Coeur and non-fiction articles in the Collie Cassette Magazine and the online ‘Nature Journal.’

An accomplished musician, Guthrie sang in opera companies in Europe and the United States, has been a church soloist and music teacher. After leaving the opera, she became a music therapist in a school for children with special needs and then went on to teach music in the Chicago Public School system.

Being an avid animal lover and advocate, she owns a horse (Dixie) and a black cat (Archie), and, at one time, four collies who all knew how to line up in a row and “sit-stay.” (I have the photos to prove it.) Pat’s shown horses in Quarter Horse and local horse shows and collies in ‘obedience’ classes at dog shows.

You can find her books on Amazon.com, other online booksellers, and her publisher’s site. (www.lspdigital.com)

My Most Vital Books on the Art of Writing

Bartlett's Roget's Thesaurus
Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Character Naming Sourcebook by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Chicago Manual of Style, University of Chicago Press
First Draft in 30 Days by Karen S. Wiesner
Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon
Heroes & Heroines; Sixteen Master Archetypes , Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever, Sue Viders
How I Write by Janet Evanovich with Ina Yalof
Illustrated Reverse Dictionary, Reader's Digest
Metaphors Dictionary by Elyse Sommer with Dorrie Weiss
On Writing by Ernest Hemingway
On Writing by Stephen King
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King
Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain
Ten Steps to Creating Memorable Characters by Sue Viders, Lucynda Storey, Cher Gorman, Becky Martinez
The Art of Fiction by John Gardner
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr and E.B.White
The Eyes Have It by Evan Marshall
The Joy of Writing Sex by Elizabeth Benedict
The Romance Writers' Phrase Book by Jean Kent & Candace Shelton
The Sound of Paper by Julia Cameron
The Story Within Guidebook by Alicia Rasley
The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler
Twenty Master Plots by Ronald B. Tobias
Webster's New World College Dictionary
Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
Writing the Fiction Synopsis by Pam McCutcheon

What the Dead Want to Tell the Living by The Universe by Mike Dooley (www.tut.com)

The top 10 things dead people want to tell living people, Patricia, are:

1. They're not dead.

2. They're sorry for any pain they caused.

3. There's no such thing as a devil or hell.

4. They were ready to go when they went.

5. You're not ready.

6. They finally understand what they were missing.

7. Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of the moment you arrive.

8. Don't try to understand this now, but life is exceedingly fair.

9. Your pets are as crazy, brilliant and loving, here, as they were there.

10. Life really is all about love, but not just loving those who love you...

In their own words, The Universe (http://www.tut.com/)

SYNOPSIS WATERLILIES OVER MY GRAVE

Waterlilies Over My Grave released 2008 by LSP Digital LLC.

You can run, but you can't hide in this new psychological romantic suspense from Patricia A. Guthrie.

In a spiraling fall into obsessive madness, psychiatrist Duncan Byrne vows revenge against his ex-wife for divorcing him. When she leaves New York, he reflects, "You can run, but you can't hide."

Psychologist, Annabelle O'Brien begins a new life in the popular resort town of Lake Nager, hoping to find peace and normality. But anonymous threats follow, and Annie finds herself terrorized by a stalker.

Burned-out Detective Mark Driscoll detests the new psychologist who recommends he take time-off. How dare she? But when somebody slashes her tires, ransacks her apartment and kills her cat, Mark spends his mandated furlough playing bodyguard.

They don't count on falling in love; something neither wants, but both need. Nor do they count on women resembling Annie murdered.

Fear becomes the summer slogan for Lake Nager.

BOOK REVIEW WATERLILIES OVER MY GRAVE FROM SUZANNA BURKE

BOOK REVIEW: “Waterlilies Over My Grave.” By Patricia A. Guthrie.

Review by Suzanna Burke.

Patricia A. Guthrie’s “Waterlilies Over My Grave.” Has been selected by the ‘Rave Reviews Book Club’ as one of their “Books of The Month.” For October 2016.

Before I present my review, let’s learn a little more about Patricia.

Patricia A. Guthrie, author, dog obedience trainer, horse lover and former singer-music teacher started writing seriously after she retired from teaching. After having several short stories published in Skyline Literary Magazine, Pat’s first novel “In the Arms of the Enemy” was released by Light Sword Publishing in September 2007. Tribute to her “ghost writers”: Four feisty collies who help her write at every opportunity.

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: “Water Lilies Over My Grave” is dedicated to those who have fallen into abusive relationships and have been forced to leave the homes and families they love and start over.

After a nasty divorce, Psychologist, Annabelle O’Brien moves across country to take a job in the resort town of Lake Nager. Her ex-husband psychotic psychiatrist, Duncan Byrne, follows her with deadly intentions. Her only hope is a burned-out and hostile Detective, Mark Driscoll, who she’s recommended take a mandatory vacation. To the horror of both, he’s assigned to protect her.

After a series of attacks threaten her and two ladies who resemble Annie are murdered, a town is held hostage with fear, and Mark and Annie must work together to catch the killer before he catches them.

Water Lilies Over My Grave is a psychological suspense novel.

MY REVIEW: A terrifyingly insightful look at an all too possible scenario.

Psychological suspense thrillers are one of my favorite genres to read.

It is rare however that I’ve found one that hits the mark of damaged people and relationships as well as author Patricia A. Guthrie has done with ‘Waterlilies Over My Grave’

At times, the characterizations and perceptions were so accurate it felt as though I were reading a memoir.

Meet, Psychologist, Annabelle O’Brien. An attractive woman trying desperately to normalize her life after a dreadful and damaging divorce. She moves across country to a small town, seeking peace and hoping to rebuild the remains of her shattered life.

Her ex-husband has revenge on his mind. Nothing short of Annabelle’s death will satisfy his psychotic need for vengeance. The character of Duncan Byrne is brilliantly drawn. Delusional, narcissistic and sociopathic with years of training as a Psychiatrist under his belt he unleashes the fear in this reader with his every action.

The death of two women in the small community of Lake Nager has the entire town shaken. Small towns are meant to be safe, and these horrendous murders have the townsfolk drawing their shades and staying indoors after dark. The entire township is affected by the fear.

Annabelle needs help! She finds it in the reluctant and burned out detective assigned to investigate the murders. Mark Driscol resents the fact that Annabelle’s (Annie) assessment of him suggested he be forced to take a mandatory break, after he shoots a perpetrator. The guilt associated with the shooting is eating him alive.

The growing attraction between the two central characters doesn’t ease the tension it simply adds more layers to the already beautifully crafted characters.

The deranged ex-husband (Who I keep visualizing as Anthony Hopkins in his Hannibal Lecter portrayal) remains present in every scene, not physically, but the threat of what he’s capable of doing is palpable.

I hate spoilers in reviews, so I’m not about to tell you more of the storyline. What I will tell you is that this gem of a book is worthy of a read, and a re-read to catch some of the subtlety that this author is very apt at writing. Bravo Patricia.A Guthrie. I will be actively seeking out more of your work.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON HERE

PATRICIA A. GUTHRIE’S AMAZON PAGE

PATRICIA ON TWITTER … @paguthrie1

PATRICIA ON FACEBOOK

SYNOPSIS AND REVIEW IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY

IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY

By Patricia A. Guthrie

HORSES, ROMANCE, INSURANCE FRAUD AND MURDER

When the murder of a racing stable’s prize horse and his trainer is blamed on the stable’s owner, his son, Adam Blakely, is convinced the trainer’s partner, Maggie McGregor, was responsible---or at least knows what happened.

Maggie is determined to leave the tumultuous world of horse racing and returns home to try and find peace. When a handsome horse owner moves his horse into her father’s boarding stable and asks Maggie to train his horse, family finances dictate Maggie accept--and that’s when the accidents begin.

Drowning in deception and lies, Maggie and Adam search for a killer and uncover an insurance scam so insidious, it threatens to rock a horse racing empire and bring the killer to their doorstep.

Review magazine "Affaire de Coeur" says, "With a strong mystery and a sizzling romance, Ms. Guthrie captivates readers from the start. This is an enjoyable thriller with a plot that will keep you guessing until the climactic end.” Affaire de Coeur gives In the “Arms of the Enemy" *****

IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY is available in print and on Kindle at Amazon.com and other online books sellers. Read for free: Kindle Unlimited. Kindle Prime: $2.99 Print: $12.95

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=patricia+a+guthrie

IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY REVIEW

IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY BOOK REVIEW

By professor on December 18, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition

In the Arms of the Enemy by Patricia A. Guthrie grabbed my attention because of the horses and the racing. I am a great fan of Dick Francis and wondered how Ms. Guthrie would fare in the comparison. I need not have worried. The opening is explosive, clutching both heart and brain before even a few pages are read. Here is a writer on control of her craft and she seizes the reader's emotion right from line one. Great writing; great characterization; and all effortless.

Like Dick Francis, she knows her horses, her racing , and the characters that inhabit that world. She brings us into their milieu, into the color, into the glamour and into the dark side that so often lurks on the fringes of this world.

The story is suspenseful and nicely plotted, although there was scope here for a longer book. I had not fully considered the genre when I purchased the book and, when in the midst of attempts on Maggie's life, masked intruders wielding knives, and general mayhem, the novel morphs suddenly into erotic romance, I have to confess I was a bit startled. Yes, I discovered later that the book is classified as 'suspenseful romance' so I should not have been surprised but this is not a genre that I would normally favor. That is just my own predilection, however, and is no reflection on the writer. I have to say that for the most part she focuses on the thriller/mystery element of her story and does so to the reader's satisfaction. The climax is suspense-filled and exciting and, although I would have to question how foolishly both Maggie and Adam walked into very obvious traps, the ending romps home to a classy finish. Dick Francis fans will enjoy this book. So, too, will readers of suspenseful romance. And I enjoyed it very much. So will you.

WILLED ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

WILLED ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

(A short story of mystery and suspense)

By Patricia A. Guthrie

ONE PSYCHIATRIST, TWO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND THREE LIFE-THREATENING ACCIDENTS. MICHAEL RYAN’S LIFE IS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.

Cars accelerate as Michael tries to cross New York City streets. Subway trains try to suck him off the platform. On the New York State Thruway, a car veers out of control and Michael nearly dives into a fifty foot ravine. Then, he falls down a flight of concrete steps into the NYC Transit subway station and into the arms of the beautiful red-head, Allie Andrews, who insists his incidents are no mere accidents. Is Michael becoming accident prone, or is someone trying to hurl him into the hereafter?

Willed Accidents Happen is a short story of mystery/suspense is sprinkled with humanity, humor, a psychotic patient who walks out of the hospital with a false orderly and an ex-fiancée who doesn’t want Michael, but doesn’t want anyone else to have him either.

Willed Accidents Happen is available on Amazon.com and other online book sellers.

Read for FREE on Amazon Kindle Unlimited, 99 cents on Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Patricia+A.+Guthrie

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Create Space--Fifth Annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest

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