The Cozy Chicks | Cozy Up To Some Killer Books

The Essence of English Life

On returning home after the summer holiday there is always a slight chill in the morning air, telling us that autumn is on its way. On the grouse moors the guns and beaters have been stalking through the heather since ‘the glorious twelfth’ of August and in City restaurants the small birds, so eagerly awaited, are now being enjoyed.

The Essence of English Life by Shelia Pickles

My mind being on peaceful and garden-related subjects — like the doves and the little green songbirds with the yellow breasts that have taken to frequenting the birdseed dish — I admit this next line caught me totally off guard.

Covered in bacon and roasted, served with forcemeat balls…

Say what???

… breadcrumbs and game chips, the grouse is without equal. It is said to be an acquired taste, for it is the most gamy of all the birds, but it is a great favourite in our family.

Whatever, Shelia. Just don’t acquire a taste for my little green birds, okay?

I used to subscribe to a magazine called Victoria. It was an American magazine, but it was clearly aimed at Anglophiles like me. I think it still exists, but the last time I opened a copy it was very different: dumbed down (and mostly advertising) like so many things are these days.

Happily I saved all my copies during the years I subscribed, so I’ve got about seventy issues, and I browse through them when I’m in that certain mood that usually comes with cold gray weather and shorter afternoons.

I’ve been thinking of resuming the Grace Notes blog (yes, because I have all this extra time weighing on my hands). This was a blog I did for a very short time — it was supposed to be the journal of Grace Hollister the protagonist of my Poetic Death series. The idea was that it would be recipes and poems and Lake District travel bits — just fun stuff that loosely related to the series. I liked writing those blogs, but they take time — everything does — and it was one of the first things to fall by the wayside when I got really busy with new projects.

I have to think of ways to promote that don’t involve me running all over the countryside, because with my writing schedule that’s just not possible.

What kind of author promotion works for you? Do you like getting those little postcards in the mail? Do you like getting emails from favorite authors? Do you prefer to connect with authors in cyberspace or do you like to attend book signings? Or both? Or neither?

Or do you just want to enjoy the books in peace, and wish authors would shut the heck up?

18 Responses to “The Essence of English Life”

I think reviving Grace’s blog is a fine idea. To get into the head of a character, now that’s a readers dream. And it will get you back into her head as well. I really love reading blogs from authors just like this one as it helps me as a writer see the working side of the book. I’ll run and get a book from one of the blogging authors just to see what they’ve written and I have read your Poetic Death series because of your posts on Wicked Company and then followed you here as well.

Oh, does that make me a cyber stalker?

But really I do like the personal touch from my favorite authors even if it is a mass mailing email as long as it seems to be written more to keep in touch rather than just to sell the next book. I know that authors aren’t just there for their fans but I think readers need to be treated as more than a credit card when you are trying to connect.

That being said, my divorce counselor said my son (who was 17 at the time) would see me as a walking ATM for the next five years, and she was right.

Gotta get ready for work.

by Lynn on October 24th, 2007 at 7:22 am
[...] here This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 at 12:00 am and is filed under summer [...]

by bubbleoval » Blog Archive » The Essence of English Life on October 24th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Yes, I love to get those post cards in the mail from an author, esp. if I’ve met the author or really like the books so far. I also like book signings, but don’t get to many of them. Outside of book signings at Bouchercon in Madison, I haven’t been to one at a bookstore for years.
Email & virtual newsletters are fine - as long as they don’t keep repeating the same thing every time.

by Jody on October 24th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Victoria magazine sank when it’s founding editor retired. It has just been resurrected and is like the Victoria we all knew and loved. I wrote about it on my blog earlier this week.

Here’s the link.

http://llbartlett.typepad.com/dazed_and_confused/2007/10/bliss–victoria.html

by Lorraine Bartlett on October 24th, 2007 at 9:47 am
My goodness bubbleoval, you’d think what’s his name would at least give Shelia credit for her lovely lovely book!

by Diana on October 24th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Oh, Lorraine, what wonderful news! I’m going to subscribe right away! Even though I told myself now that I’m writing for a living I don’t get the luxury of treats like magazine subscriptions…how can I resist!? Thanks for letting us know.

by Diana on October 24th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Lynn, you’ve got a good point — I do the same thing! Many of the authors I love are authors I’ve come to know through blogs or websites or discussion lists. And wouldn’t it have been the coolest thing to read Mary Stewart’s blog or Georgette Heyer’s blog? Yes, the Internet has made writers much more accessible to readers — and vice versa.

by Diana on October 24th, 2007 at 11:29 am
You know what, Jody, for me it’s all about whether I’ve signed up for a mailing list or not. I really really get annoyed when a writer I’ve never met suddenly spams me with HI, IF YOU LOVE MYSTERIES YOU’LL LOVE MY GREAT NEW BOOK!!!! BUY IT NOW!!

Ugh.

by Diana on October 24th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I’m afraid I may be something of a cyberstalker too. *g* I love getting to know my favorite authors online, though.

by Tori Lennox on October 24th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
I enjoy receiving e-mail notifications of new publications, really enjoy blogs/websites such as this one (of course!), and would enjoy signings if ever I got to one. Meeting the author is also great motivation, I reckon.

by Rudolf on October 24th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
LOL on the extra time you have, Diana!

Back when I was an avid reader with no plans of ever writing, I would have LOVED author blogs. Even now, I geek out once in a while. I like getting postcards, too, though I don’t always buy every single book…

by Heather on October 24th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I belong to a cozy mystery reading group that has 154 members. We love our cozy/chick lit and traditional mystery authors who have a series. Okay you twisted my arm…I actually am the owner and we have a bunch of great authors on our group. So if you want a place to promote your books and by the way we do a monthly book discussion with our authors then by all means join the group. It’s savvy and our readers love to discuss your books, your work. I’ve even been known to interview our mystery authors for a few online places.
The group is http://www.cozyarmchairgroup@yahoogroups.com
This is a really great way to promote your books.
Hugs,
Pamela P.S. I love the postcards, blogs and reading groups.

by Pamela on October 25th, 2007 at 12:42 am
Hello Ladies,

It’s been so long since I checked in and what a fabulous piece of news I found here today! Victoria magazine was/is (??) my favorite magazine and gave me some of my most creative story ideas…(no I still haven’t finished the novel I started working on 10 years ago, but thanks for asking) I must have 3 drawers in my office with stacks of Victoria magazines from the early 90’s or was it 80’s, it’s all such a blur. But I remember one of my favorite things was to light candles by the bathtub, have my hubby watch the kids and just soak and drink tea with my latest Victoria magazine. Now I have to check it out again and see if these are as good as the old ones. I need to check in here more often! Best, Lelia

by Lelia on October 25th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Hey, Tori, I think we ‘re all a bit spoiled these days. We’re used to our authors (as well as favorite musicians, actors, etc.) all being accessible on-line. We can follow their little adventures (buying houses, cooking supper, passing auditions) to our heart’s content. It is a bit like peeking in the windows, isn’t it?

by Diana on October 25th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Rudolf, the first author signing I went to was my own! I had no idea what to expect (the books didn’t turn up for the signing — that was one thing I hadn’t expected!). Prevously it had never occurred to me to try and meet authors whose books I enjoyed. Odd, isn’t it? Nor had it occurred to me as an author that it would be a great thing to be able to meet readers!

by Diana on October 25th, 2007 at 9:24 am
It aaaaalllllll changes once you’re published, doesn’t it, Heather? The one thing I never anticipated was how writing would get in the way of my first love — READING.

by Diana on October 25th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Pamela, thanks for the invite. I think you’re going to witness an infusion of Cozy Chicks pretty darn quick. ;-D

by Diana on October 25th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Hello, Lelia! Nice to see you here.

I know, I’m so pleased to read the news about Victoria magazine. I was just going through my stack of old issues the other day to see what “Grace” could write about in her journal!

by Diana on October 25th, 2007 at 9:28 am

The Essence of English Life

18 Responses to “The Essence of English Life”

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