Moving to Audio Books

I have some very exciting news to share. This summer, two of my books have been made into audio books - The Tempest Murders and The White Devil of Dublin. This is particularly exciting for me because both books are written from the point of view of Detective Ryan O'Clery, an Irishman who has moved to North Carolina and works for the Lumberton Police Department.

The audio books are narrated by actor Jack Nolan. An Irish descendant himself, he truly brings Ryan O'Clery to life.

In The Tempest Murders, Detective Ryan O'Clery is working a series of homicides when he discovers a journal kept by an uncle five generations earlier. The journal details the same type of murders - only these took place nearly two hundred years earlier, as the Night of the Big Wind swept the Atlantic Ocean across all of Ireland.

As Hurricane Irene barrels toward the North Carolina coastline, Ryan discovers even the killer's description matches exactly. And as he falls in love with television reporter Cathleen Reilly, he begins to wonder if she is the reincarnation of Caitlin O'Conor, the woman lost to the killer as the storm raged in Ireland - and if he is the reincarnation of Constable Rian Kelly. Now he's in a race to rescue Cathleen before the killer finds her - or is history destined to repeat itself?

Visit amazon.com to listen to the first chapter. The audio book is unabridged, so you get all the excitement of the printed and eBook editions. It is also available on iTunes and at ACX (Audible).


To celebrate this new phase of my career, my website has also been completely redesigned. I hope you'll check it out, as more than 3,000 pages and images were painstakingly upgraded to the new look and interface. Let me know what you think of it! The URL is www.pmterrell.com. You'll find all of my books (except my computer books), my background information, links to all my social media, and links to my blogs and Book 'Em North Carolina.

And I'm curious: how do you like your books? As audio books, printed books or eBooks?

I'm Back!

I haven't posted anything on this blog over the past month, because I've been swamped with the Third Annual Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair. It took place on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, North Carolina.

The event brought together about 75 authors, publishers, a Hollywood producer, and two rock star legends to raise money for literacy campaigns in Robeson County, North Carolina. I founded the event four years ago, and I've chaired it each year. I spend anywhere from 10 hours a week (during the slow periods) to 40+ hours a week on the event, year 'round. I don't get paid for it; it's entirely a volunteer activity, and it's a labor of love. I love reading as much as I love writing, and I can't imagine a world without the written word. Yet there are many in the world - and even in our own communities - who can't read at all, or who are unable to read past a third grade level.

Reading has always opened new worlds for me. It has allowed me to climb Mount Everest, be on a ship in the middle of The Perfect Storm, discover countries around the world, explore lives in ancient civilizations and times past, present and future... and fall in love over... and over... and over again. All without leaving my chair.

Where has reading taken you? Which world, scenario, or time period is your favorite?

Two Weeks from Book 'Em North Carolina

It's just over two weeks until the third annual Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, the event I founded and which I continue to chair. For most of the year, I will spend at least twenty hours each and every week on organizing the event.

But on the day of the event, I will try as much as possible to be an author, though I will be answering questions all day from a variety of volunteers and organizers.

This year, I will have two additional books for sale that I didn't have last year:

The Tempest Murders is the first in a new series featuring Detective Ryan O'Clery, an Irish immigrant who finds himself working a serial murder case as Hurricane Irene is barreling toward the North Carolina coastline. The book placed as one of four finalists in the cross-genre category of the 2013 USA Best Book Awards, and it is also nominated for the 2014 International Book Awards.

The Pendulum Files will not officially be released until March 17, 2014, but I will have advance copies of the book for sale at Book 'Em. This book is the fifth in the Black Swamp Mysteries series, featuring CIA operative Dylan Maguire, psychic spy Vicki Boyd and computer hacker Brenda Carnegie. Their mission: to find out who is bombing merchant ships en route from China to the United States. But when an assassin breaks out of prison to finish the job he started years earlier, the trio find their personal lives and their professional assignment are about to collide.

I hope you'll join me at Book 'Em North Carolina on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, North Carolina. The doors open to the public at 9:30 AM, and both attendance and parking is completely free. More than 75 authors, publishers, musicians and Hollywood moviemakers will be featured. For more information, visit www.bookemnc.org.

Work in Progress - Writing AND Events

Last Friday on the Book 'Em North Carolina blogspot, I wrote about all I have been involved in with organizing the annual Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair. It has to be a labor of love because it takes so many hours out of every week, all year long. I've been very blessed and fortunate to have more and more people helping me out, taking on larger roles, and carrying more of the weight.

If you missed my blog, follow this link to find out how I spend much of my time when I am not actively writing.

I hope you'll join me for the next event - Saturday, February 22, 2014 I'll be at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, North Carolina. For more information, click here.

Busy with Book 'Em

This week my work has gone into overdrive. I am usually very busy between writing my suspense/thrillers and now working with a publisher to edit other authors' works. But to add to that mix, Book 'Em North Carolina is just a few weeks away. It consumes about 20 hours a week for me, year round, but during this time of the year it can often shoot to 40 hours or more.

If you missed my post earlier this week at the Book 'Em North Carolina blogspot, you can read how I co-founded The Book 'Em Foundation with Police Officer Mark Kearney, which led to the establishment of the annual Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair.

Just follow this link to read my blog, and follow this link to read more about our upcoming event.

Making the Cover of Southern Writers Magazine

I received an incredible honor this month; I made the cover of Southern Writers Magazine, a fabulous publication for authors and readers. They wrote a wonderful article about my secrets to writing suspense, and mentioned a cause that is dear to my heart: Book 'Em North Carolina, which raises money to increase literacy rates and raises public awareness of the direct link between high illiteracy rates and high crime rates.

You can read Southern Writers Magazine in traditional print or in eBook format. Just follow this link.

Book 'Em North Carolina is less than seven weeks away. I hope you'll consider attending the event on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, North Carolina. We bring together more than 75 authors, publishers, literary agents, movie makers, and rock stars to raise money for literacy campaigns in Robeson County, North Carolina. This year we have our best line-up ever, with headliners:

Bob Mayer, considered the Father of Factual Fiction, a New York Times bestselling author of more than 52 books;

Haywood Smith, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors of such greats as The Red Hat Club and The Red Hat Club Rides Again;

Scott Mason, the Emmy-award-winning host of the television series The Tarheel Traveler, who has written a book about the zaniest, wackiest things he's covered;

Adam Cushman of Red 14 Films, a Hollywood production company that specializes in getting the movie industry's attention for turning books into movies, through visual mediums;

Jamie Oldaker, the drummer for Eric Clapton and many rock legends, who is writing his memoirs on how a small boy with big dreams grew up to share the stage with music's most legendary performers;

and John Regan, the guitarist for legends such as Peter Frampton, Mick Jagger and David Bowie, who will speak about songwriting.

For more information about the event, which is FREE to all attendees (plus free parking) visit www.bookemnc.org.

Speaking of songwriting, I am very proud of my brother-in-law Robby Hicks, who co-wrote the song All the Difference in the World. The song has been performed by Russian musicians, including singer Ksenona, and it's one example of what the arts can do to promote peace in the world. It's the perfect song for starting the new year and in many people's opinion, the perfect song for the upcoming Olympics in Russia:



Monday Musing - Awareness

I met a person recently who bragged about being "totally unaware." It got me to thinking: is it good to be unaware of your surroundings and your environment?

When writing, the main characters must always be acutely aware. There are many reasons for this: their ability to notice things in their environment could lead to clues that the reader should know, particularly in suspense. It also fleshes out the story so the reader gets a sense of where the characters are and what their surroundings help them to experience.

For example, in Dylan's Song as Dylan Maguire is riding his horse through the bogs at midnight, he recognizes the fact that "the ground percolated; it lived and it breathed." Someone who is unaware would not notice the ground at all and lose the richness of the experience.

How aware are you of your surroundings?

Deal Sharing Aunt

Today I am a guest at the Deal Sharing Aunt. I hope you'll drop in and read my interview. If you leave a comment at the site, you could win a beautiful Celtic necklace.

Last Friday, I had the honor of presenting checks to literacy groups - money that was raised through the Book 'Em North Carolina event held on February 22, 2013. It was raining cats and dogs but as a blizzard swept across the northern half of the country, readers and authors traveled from Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Virginia California, Pennsylvania and Florida.

In 2012, we raised $9,000 for literacy and despite the horrible weather, we raised $9,600 this year. The money was given to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to purchase books for children from 1 to 5 years of age; Communities In Schools to buy books for students of all grade levels; and Friends of the Robeson County Public Library for literacy campaigns to benefit all ages. In addition, money was given to the Lumberton Police Department, earmarked for schools. And Chief Mike McNeill has been going into some of the schools and reading to the children. Each group was given $2,400.

In addition to raising money for literacy, the event provided an invaluable resource and networking opportunities for authors at all stages of their careers. When I first began in this industry, I found other authors acted as though I was their direct competition. As a result, none of them wanted to help me find my way or answer questions. I vowed back then that if I ever achieved any level of success, I would help any authors in any way I could. Often, that means connecting them to others who can help their careers. It has been very gratifying to hear from authors who have found publishers or literary agents or answers to their questions.

Thursday Thoughts

Last year, New York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers told me that I was the calmest person she'd ever seen before pulling off a huge conference like Book 'Em North Carolina.

I do admit, something happens during the final two weeks and I do become very calm.

I know I've worked on the event for an entire year (see this Monday's post for details) and at this point, what is going to happen will happen.

Will it be perfect? Of course not. Nothing is ever perfect. But it will be awesome. Something magical happens at these events and I have no doubt this year will be no different.

Last year, an unpublished author attended and literally ran into a publisher - they began talking and long story short, he asked for her manuscript. One year later and she'll be back and selling her new book on Cooking with Carolina Wines. I hope you'll look for Ginger King at the conference!

Less Than Two Weeks

Many thanks to those wonderful friends who contacted me when they didn't see my regular posts. I haven't been ill but instead, I have been working non-stop on the final stretch before Book 'Em North Carolina.

This year's one-day event will take place on Saturday, February 23 at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, North Carolina. We have 92 featured authors, publishers, literary agents, book promoters - and a Hollywood agent who will speak about the process of turning books into movies.

The event is free and open to the public. I've been busy coordinating nearly 260 volunteers and we're expecting at least one busload and attendees coming from all corners of the country. In all, we're anticipating around 3,000 attendees.

When attendees purchase books, at least 40% of each sale will go to literacy programs. This year's beneficiaries are the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Robeson County, Communities In Schools of Robeson County and the Friends of the Robeson County Public Library.

For more information, please visit www.bookemnc.org - and follow our blog at www.bookemnc.blogspot.com.

Thursday Thoughts

The next two months are a challenge for me as I head into the final stretch before Book 'Em North Carolina.

I usually spend an average of 7-8 hours a day writing my books and another 25-30 hours a week working on Book 'Em North Carolina. But this time of year, I will spend more than 40 hours a week on the event. It brings together more than 75 authors, publishers, literary agents and book promoters--as well as an awesome Hollywood producer - and it also brings together more than 250 volunteers from throughout the community - civic groups, businesses and individuals.

This is my 11th Book 'Em event and I always enjoy watching everyone on the Big Day. It's like watching a movie with one group after another riding a roller coaster. Everyone responds differently and it's quite interesting.

One year, I saw two authors sit side-by-side and have very different experiences. The crowd was slow that year and one author became quite grumpy and complained incessantly. The other kept her smile and positive attitude. The result wasn't surprising. The author with the positive attitude not only sold more books but she also made a connection that landed her a talk - at the United Nations.

Another year, two authors sat side-by-side. One kept his book in front of his face as if he was engrossed in reading his own work. No one wanted to bother him, so they walked right past him. The result: he didn't sell a single book. The author beside him smiled at each attendee, chatted with them -- and sold more books than any other author that year--around 150 books.

Attitude is everything. It can turn things around if you're positive and sink you fast if you're negative. The complainers are always remembered - but for all the wrong reasons. The positive, can-do, appreciative folks are always remembered - and for the right reasons.

Monday Musings and Special Appearances

I have two exciting appearances today and some vey exciting news.

I was notified last Friday that Vicki's Key, my 13th release and part of the Black Swamp Mysteries series, was a finalist in the 2012 USA Best Books Awards. It also was one of five finalists in the 2012 International Book Awards!

My first appearance today is at The Changing Face of Publishing, where I have a guest blog. I hope you'll pop in and read it and leave a comment. A special gift basket is being awarded to a blogger who follows my tour.

Then at 11:30, you can catch me on WPDE TV, where I am being interviewed by Cecil Chandler. We'll be discussing the upcoming Book 'Em North Carolina conference, the writer's conference and book fair that I founded. If you are in the South Carolina or North Carolina viewing area, I hope you'll tune in!

The publishing industry is changing. It's undeniable. Brick and mortar book stores that used to be in virtually every town and across the nation have closed - Borders, Waldenbooks and B. Dalton among them. eBooks are exploding. Where once the big New York publishers ruled the industry, they now share it with small and mid-size publishers - and indies. What do you think will happen to this industry over the next ten years?

Come to Book 'Em North Carolina in February to find out what authors, publishers, literary agents and publicists are saying! For more information on the event, visit www.bookemnc.org.

Thursday Thoughts

Over the past few months, I've read a lot of blogs that announce to authors how difficult it is to make it in this industry.

One industry expert said a person is 400 times more likely to move to Hollywood and become the next Angelina Jolie than to make a living as an author.

A literary agent spoke of the monumental task of selling 20,000 copies of one title - the magic number for agents and publishers to begin to take notice of a previously published author.

Survey results showed that the vast majority of authors earn less than $500 a year.

So, what's up?

In my opinion, it's so easy for anyone to publish their own work that everyone thinks they can be a successful author. But not everything that is written deserves to be published.

Too many people think all they have to do is have a book printed and the world is their oyster; people will line up around the block to buy it, they'll be celebrities and their phones will ring off the hook.

There are very few writers who can write a book that requires minimal editing. And those are best-selling authors who have been at this for decades. Yet, many self-published writers think their first work is beyond reproach. Why is that?

Time after time, I hear a writer say their first book, which they intend to self-publish, will be an instant bestseller. Really?

Yes, the statistics I mentioned at the beginning of this post can be depressing. But they are meant to be a wake-up call. I've been in this industry since 1984 and full-time since 2000. And I'm here to tell you: being a successful author is hard work.

You need a team behind you: a fierce line editor, a dedicated publicist, sales and marketing plans and people to implement them. To try and do it all on your own is like going to Hollywood and becoming the producer, director, screenwriter and all the actors in your own film. Say you film it successfully. Now how are you going to distribute it, get it into the public eye, and convince people to buy it?

At Book 'Em North Carolina, we'll have a SuperTeam panel discussion filled with the people who make things happen: literary agents, traditional publishers, promoters and editors. If you want to make it in this industry, you need to be there - Saturday, February 23, 2013. And it's free. For more information, visit Book 'Em North Carolina.

Where the Greener Grass Grows

Ever plan for the day your kids leave home and you actually have the house to yourself?

I hope you'll pop into Book 'Em North Carolina today to read about Lin Brooks' newest fiction, Where the Greener Grass Grows, about a woman finding her way when she's left with an empty nest. All the plans she made seemed to fly out the window once the room was empty and clean. The house was still; too still...

What did you do when your kids left home and you became an empty nester?

Devotion

Today's guest at Book 'Em North Carolina is Marianne Evans, the award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction.


Evans’s novel, Hearts Communion, earned Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year honors in the Romance category and readers have lauded her work as ‘riveting’, ‘realistic and true to heart’ and ‘compelling.’ Evans has also won acclaim in such RWA contests as The Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence where she has been a finalist twice, and the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence.

A lifelong resident of Michigan, Evans is active in a number of a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President. She’s also active in American Christian Fiction Writers and the Michigan Literary Network.

I hope you'll pop over to Book 'Em North Carolina and read an excerpt from Marianne's book. Then leave a comment -- Marianne will award 4 autographed print editions of Hearts Crossing, her award-winning novella and book one of her Christian inspirational Woodland Series (US/Canada only) to four commenters from this tour and her review tour, and a $25 Amazon gift card as a grand prize to one commentator from both this tour and her review tour.

What It Takes

I am often asked what it takes to organize a large-scale Writers Conference and Book Fair. So today I'm briefly discussing some of the aspects involved in organizing the annual Book 'Em North Carolina event at Writers and Authors. It occurs on the last Saturday of each February in sunny Lumberton, North Carolina.

Our next event is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2013. It brings together New York Times best-selling author Mary Alice Monroe, acclaimed Hollywood producer Chuck Williams, more than 75 authors, publishers, literary agents and book promoters.

The event is FREE and open to the public. To read all the details including bios on every author featured at the event, go to Book 'Em North Carolina's official website.

Please visit me at Writers and Authors and leave a comment!

Can Reading Stop Crime?

Today I am a guest at Queen of All She Reads. The question that was posed to me was:

How can reading reduce crime?

The answer takes me to the founding of The Book 'Em Foundation, whose slogan is Buy a Book and Stop a Crook. Find out how reading can keep us all safer by visiting the Queen's Blog.

Then hop on over to Book 'Em North Carolina's website to see what we're planning to increase literacy!

To Catch a Bad Guy

Folks who know me well know my passions: animals, writing and reading are at the top. So when I saw this book cover, I knew we had to invite author Marie Astor to the Book 'Em North Carolina blogspot for a guest appearance.

Hop on over to Book 'Em North Carolina and read an excerpt from Marie's book. Be sure to comment - she is giving away incredibly beautiful necklaces to some very lucky winners!

What covers grab your attention?

And join me today at Desiree Holt to find out how romance found me and what the most difficult part of writing is -- and what comes the easiest for me.

The Frugal Book Promoter

Today I am visiting Carolyn Howard-Johnson at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com.

I absolutely adore Carolyn. If you are a writer who wants to launch your book sales into the stratosphere, you MUST get Carolyn's book, The Frugal Book Promoter. It's filled with tips and tricks to getting more media attention and more sales - all on a shoestring budget.

Carolyn will be traveling all the way from Los Angeles to participate in our next Book 'Em North Carolina event. Her talk is sure to be packed with authors who want to "make it big" - she is one of the premier book promoters in the country. So mark your calendar for Saturday, February 23, 2013 and come out and meet her!

The Cerberus Rebellion

One hundred years of peace and prosperity. War changes everything.

So begins The Cerberus Rebellion by Joshua Johnson, who is a guest today at Book 'Em North Carolina. The Cerberus Rebellion is "Gunpowder Fantasy" which blends the best of battles and war stories with fantasy.


On the world of Zaria, Elves, magic and mythical beasts coexist beside rifles and railroads. The futures of two nations hang in the balance as rebels and revolutionaries trade gunfire with loyalists and tyrants.

Eadric Garrard was raised to believe that as the rightful King of Ansgar, his loyal nobles and fearful subjects answered to his every whim, no matter the cost or consequence. His decision to send his troops thousands of miles away will test that fear, and loyalty.

Raedan Clyve was ordinary until an Elven ritual involving a griffin’s heart turned him into something more. Twenty years later, he still struggles with the magics that rage through his body. His mentor holds him back from his full potential and he faces pressure to find a suitable wife and father an heir.

Hadrian Clyve has picked up where his father left off and works to expand his family’s influence amongst the Ansgari nobility. His aggressive negotiation of alliances and shrewd choice of marriage agreements has earned him respect, and resentment. When his King calls his troops to arms, Hadrian has other things in mind.

After a century of scheming and decades of preparation, Magnus Jarmann is ready to bring his family’s plans to fruition by launching a war of independence that will free his people and return his country to its rightful place among the nations of Zaria. The King’s call to arms creates an opportunity that Magnus cannot afford to miss.

In a war, little is held back; in a revolution, nothing is safe.

Check out an interview I did with Joshua Johnson and read an excerpt from The Cerberus Rebellion. He'll be popping in at Book 'Em North Carolina all day so leave a question for him. He is also giving away .mobi copies of his short stories (details available at www.gunpowderfantasy.com/products) to one commenter at every stop. Grand Prize for one random commentor and host with the most comments: The Chesian Wars collection (all published 3 short stories and an additional prelude short story exclusive to the collection).


The more you comment, the better your chances of winning! The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/07/virtual-book-tour-cerberus-rebellion-by.html