Tag: author

To War or “Let it Be”?

The nice thing about living in the Southeast is the milder weather.  Case in point: yesterday I weed wacked my big yard.  As I listened to the buzz-brrr of my machine, I took stock of my yard.

The weed to grass ratio was, well, embarrassing.  Weed killer would reduce my yard to Oklahoma during the 1930’s Dust Bowl!

And then there are the moles in the back.  They’ve built a tunnel system that rivals London’s Tube.

A wealthy man would pay to have someone fix it.  A zealous “green-thumber” would roll up his sleeves and dive in.  Seeing I’m neither, I have to either declare all out war or start singing “Let it Be.”

Of course, there’s another solution. I could unleash my dachshund on the moles (since they’re bred to hunt badgers) and force my kids into slave labor for the next 6 months.  I would “manage” from the shade, sipping mint juleps and serenading them with, “Let it Be.”

Now THAT sounds like a plan! 🙂

It’s In the Blood!

Courtesy of Microsoft

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking to a high school literary group.  I shared  my journey as an author, passed out free bookmarks, and showed them the original manuscript.

I thought they would find the facts dull, but instead, their eyes lit up and there was a “connection.”  We conversed about writing and marketing instead of me merely pitching  Tears of Min Brock like a sleazy car salesman.  In short, I’ve found MY way to connect with my audience and readers.  And walking out to my car, I also realized that for a brief moment, I was a teacher.  What a great feeling!

This shouldn’t surprise me.  After all, my Dad was a college professor and had a true gift for taking complex subject matter and not only making it palatable, but enjoyable to learn.

Sure, I hope all those kids went home, looked up my book and ordered it.  But even if they didn’t, I’m still going to reach out to other schools.

It’s in the blood!

Why Giving Away Thousands Of Free Books Is A Good Thing

I’ve been researching, debating, pondering, considering the whole “FREE BOOK!” phenom as a marketing tool.  I haven’t taken the plunge yet, but this blog is one of the better examples I’ve read supporting the notion.

What do you thing?

Why Giving Away Thousands Of Free Books Is A Good Thing.

Red to Green

I’m taking a blog-break to alert you to a great deal!

The Red to Green Sale.

In honor of Valentine’s Day and concluding on St. Patrick’s Day, my publisher is offering the Kindle version of Tears of Min Brock for $2.99!

To purchase, click Red to Green!

Here are what others are saying about the book…

“I found this to be one of my favorite books of the year, and am looking forward to the sequel. Lowder writes a story that does not disappoint.” Tic Toc review

“I have again found one of those fascinating epic fantasy worlds that are daunting and dangerous, yet broodingly beautiful as well.” Taking it One Page at a Time

“As the book began, I thought the characters of Elabea and Galadin reminded me of Katniss and Gale from Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.”  Literary R&R

“Reading Tears of Min Brock felt like a mature version of a Narnia type adventure. Like Dekker’s work, it is darker but not in a way that traumatizes a faint reader. I found Tears of Min Brock a well-told read, one where with older children the story could be a family nightly reading adventure.”  The Cypress Times

New Baby!

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

Right now, my friends and family are FREAKING OUT!  “They’re PREGNANT?”  “He’s in his fifties!  How’s that even possible?”

Rest assured, folks, that the “new baby” is merely allegorical.  As a writer, I’m always striving to grow, and one way I do this is by increasing my vocabulary.  So when I discover a new word, for me, it’s like having a new baby (only without the stinky diapers, 3 A.M. feedings, and subsequent college tuition.)

If you’re still reading this, then I have to assume you’re a writer since everyone else thought:  “Oh, this isn’t about a baby…”  “Oh, it’s not about sex…”

So let’s continue…

Recently, I uncovered a plethora of gems in a fantasy I was reading and added them to my Excel vocab worksheet.  Geeky?  Yep!  But I’ll be the first to admit where I’m weakest (vocab/grammar) and need to improve.  Plus, with the spreadsheet nearby while I write, I have a handy tool and resource at my fingertips.  If not, I tend to use the same tired word or phrasing, which is boring, and if I’m bored, my reader has to be too.

So when I discover a new word, especially one that sums up several words, I get excited.  Honest, I really do!  And you can bet your booty I’ll have these new tots dressed and ready to go, anxious to insert them in a page and watch them help my story grow up. The trick, of course, is to not be the obnoxious parent who shows off baby all the time!

So what tricks of the trade do you use?

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