Rain Trueax books

Romances of the American West

Below is a current list of all my books, contemporary and historical, in order in their series, as well as notations for which books share characters. Novels run 60-125,000 words. Behind a title, (n) indicates novella which range in length from 20,000 to 40,000 words. For more on the books, visit [Romances with an Edge]. There you will find links to sites other than Amazon. All historicals are currently wide, which means in B&N, Kobo, etc.

Most of the novels involve suspense, which means danger and violence. There is often mild profanity. Heat level in 80-130,000 word novels is 4 stars. Novellas are 2 to 3 stars.

Oregon Pioneer Romances

These four novels follow one family, the Stevens, from their travel west on the Oregon Trail into the settling of Oregon. Three sisters and their mother face the challenges of making a home in a new land and falling in love with men, who are not always easy to love.

Round the Bend-- 1852: wagons head out on the Oregon Trail. Amy is naive about what love might be-- Matt disillusioned. Young love faces many challenges with death the greatest. Besides friend to lover romance, the book follows the adventures pioneers faced on their trek west.

Where Dreams Go-- 1855: Martha is a widow and does not expect the return of a man who presents temptations she'd forgotten, but he's too young for her. Will he be there for her if she disappoints her children and accepts his offer of marriage? What about when his duty reclaims him to once against scout for the military?

Going Home-- 1865: Raine thought she found love but the Civil War intervened. Now he is back and heading for his Eastern Oregon ranch. What's she to do? She's not a ranch type woman. All is not what she thought she knew in Portland where a shanghai nearly ends any chance for a happily ever after before Eastern Oregon gets a shot at the couple.

Love Waits-- 1867: Belle is in Eastern Oregon on a mission for the Pinkertons, which might be at risk when she sees the cavalry officer she's been unable to forget. Between conspiracies and Indian wars, this isn't a good time for love. She is trying to find proof of a conspiracy against the government and falling in love with two children she must protect.

Winds of Change-- Arizona Historical Romances

Beginning with one outlaw, Sam Ryker, the O'Brian stories follow brothers and one daughter. Rose's Gift, as a novella, provides a bridge to the Taggerts-- a family of outlaws. All of the books share some characters as friends or family.
 

Beyond-Broken-Road: Amazon, and Universal Book Link-- 1883: Abigail is dissatisfied with her life but did not have in mind quite the change that one outlaw, Sam Ryker, brings when he turns her world upside down. Both follow an impulse that changes everything. From Tucson to Tombstone and the San Rafael Valley, there is an old enemy determined to track Sam down.

 

The Beckoning Flame 

-- 1885: Priscilla is not going to fall in love with a man who wears a gun, not even if he's a lawman, but she'll help him when his small daughter arrives. Their closeness leads to a love that doesn't fit either of their lives. With another man determined to have her, Priscilla must fight for her own chance for happiness. Is destiny the real determiner?

Embracing the Dream- 1898: With a university degree, Grace returns to Tucson, all grown up and ready to fight for the man she loves, who is back from the Spanish-American war. Rafe is too old for her, divorced with a small son he barely can see. When his ex-wife is murdered and his son disappears, he will need more from Grace than he ever imagined..

Rose's Gifts-- 1899: Widow, Rose receives a proposal, but that's not possible at her age. Ollie finds his life complicated by the arrival of a secret. It's too late for people in their late 50s and 60s to find love-- or is it? 

The following books in the Arizona romance series, Winds of Change will be released in 2025.

Echo from the Past- 1901: Holly comes to Tucson to organize an archaeological dig-- not to fall in love. Vince is too old and has lived too hard a life to ever see it possible with this educated and rich woman. When they head to her dig in Central Arizona, the past from lifetimes ago arises to threaten any future.

Land of Fire- 1902: Lily finds artistic inspiration when she moves to Tucson to be close to her sister-- that and a lot more with Jesse, who might seem slow in some ways but is fast as lightning in others. Jesse can't believe Lily would ever see him as a possible mate. Someone else is determined she won't get the chance.
 
Bound for the Hills- 1905: Wilhelmina rents a mountain cabin and shockingly discovers the hero of her dime novels is a real man, Cole Taggert, and he's not pleased. What Willy doesn't know is that she has a dangerous secret. From the beauty of central Arizona, to a shootout in Tucson, the west isn't really all that tamed.
 

Circle of Life-- 1905: Frederica needs to find her daughter. Meeting a real life retired (mostly) outlaw is the help she needs-- in more ways than one. She has thought she could trust someone but the only one she can really count on is the oldest-- left alive-- Taggert.

Starting Over Contemporary

When life throws a curve ball, sometimes there is only one way forward-- finding a new path and playing by new rules

 
Luck of the Draw-- 1974: Billy Stempleton, bronc and bull rider, comes to Pendleton for the Roundup and meets Sara, who is young, naive and has no idea what it means to fall in love with a bull rider. That week will change two lives.

Diana's Journey (n)-- Leaving Chicago, Diana and her two Chihuahuas travel the West in an RV. She's not looking for romance, but it might find her. As Diana transits the west, she has to find a place to stay for the winter. Bluff, Utah has more than she expects.

From Here to There-- A Massachusetts elite wedding that is a mistake (maybe) begins with Helena telling the groom that he's not cowboy enough for her. She heads to her uncle's ranch where she discovers and old journal with some truths that might help her find her own happy ending. Phillip is challenged by Helena's uncle to come out to the Rocking H and prove he has the mettle to claim his wife.

A Montana Christmas (n)-- Can a family heal from years of dysfunction? Christmas may not be the easiest time to find out. Following up on From Here to There with a continuing love story on the Rocking H where Helena and Phillip are still trying to merge two lifestyles into one happily ever after. 

Contemporary -- Western Romances

Set in the American West-- Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana, these stand alone books, some with connecting characters, are romances with danger and suspense. Whether in a city or on a ranch, they all share the themes of great westerns with challenges to face.

Desert Inferno-- Landscape painter, Rachel O'Brian finds a dying man on her family's remote desert ranch and Border Patrol comes to investigate. Jake is an ugly man and no way is he looking to fall in love with a beautiful woman where it can never be. He doesn't know it's not just Rachel who is looking for an ending-- just of a different sort than Rachel has in mind. It all is settled on the desert where only the toughest survive.
Evening Star-- When Portland attorney, Marla Jamison, meets Randy O'Brian, she wants nothing to do with the younger, handsome cop. What we need and want, aren't always the same thing. Marla falls in love but Randy has secrets that endanger both their lives.
Bannister's Way-- David Bannister has been undercover before but when he takes a job in Oregon and reconnects with his artist wife, Raven, undercover takes on a new meaning. David was in Desert Inferno. Characters from Evening Star are in this book set totally in the Portland, Oregon area, with art and danger meeting head to head.

Moon Dust-- For her health, Susan needs a divorce. Dane, a Portland high school principal is facing more than heartbreak as tensions with a militia leader escalate. If Dane can't open up to his wife about his own secrets, an attack by a madman may not be the worst of what he faces.
Second Chance-- Psychologist Barrett juggles being a single mother with an invasive ex. She cannot afford the complications a truck driver, animal rescuer, much younger man would bring to her daughter or her. This book follows up secondary characters in Moon Dust. Judd has done all he can to rebuild his life from early mistakes. He's long been in love with Barrett but it was an unrealistic dream-- or is it? Well, he better survive long enough to find out.

Hidden Pearl-- Architect, S.T. Taggert needs to find his sister who apparently joined a dangerous cult. He doesn't want the complications of a beautiful photo-journalist. As they both delve into the world of a fanatic, they are soon on the run for their lives with a need to stop someone from killing again and ruining more lives.

Her Dark Angel-- Katy has come to Reno to help her uncle while his receptionist is out. Dill, because of a perilous situation, is determined to make her visit a short one. Beauty better be prepared to fight for her beast if she wants a happily ever after. Reluctantly, Dill has been involved in working undercover for the government. He has made a dangerous enemy.

Mystic Shadows Romances

Set in the mountain West, these stories explore the 'other' side as ordinary people come up against what is anything but ordinary.

Sky Daughter-- When Maggie returns to the mountains of Idaho to heal from losses, she learns her family isn't what she believed. Even more unexpected is Reuben. After he has been kidnapped, he ends up shot by Maggie before she takes him in to heal his wounds. They both have a lot they must face-- the seen and unseen-- before they can decide if they could have a life together.

Diablo Canyon-- combining in one book the following 3 novellas. Set in ranch country, south of Billings, with the spice that the novellas do not have.

When Fates Conspire (n)-- All is not as it seems when star-crossed lovers meet after many years and are ready to break the rules to be together. This is going to take some supernatural help.
The Dark of the Moon (n)-- He sees and talks to the other side. She has a ranch to operate and a son's death to grieve. With a human enemy aided by demonic powers, they are facing more than either imagined. Their spirit guides have their hands full.
Storm in the Canyon (n)—Being a spirit guide apparently isn’t all that is possible for Racine. She is needed to combat an old evil returned to again kill and control the human race. Falling in love with a human wasn’t in the plan—or was it?

Dangerous Match—Denali, oldest of four sisters, all natural-born witches, is asked to help solve a murder. The main suspect, Nick, an ex-SEAL and successful painter has his own secrets, but none are a match for hers. With a murderer still out there, they must find that person before he or she kill again. And somewhere Nick needs to find peace with knowing life is not all he thought.

Capturing the Wolf—Elke, a natural-born witch, believes she can help people better understand those with natural born spiritual powers if she can convince a writer, Mitch Ford, to more widely share his book on the supernatural world. Although she has long used her powers on the street for the good of all, she and Mitch confront a new enemy.

Complicated Bargain--Devi, unlike her sisters, hasn't come to terms with being a witch or using her powers. Living at her mother's home, she wants her own life. What that will be is debatable when she is offered a marriage in name only. It seems an answer for her and Asa Taggert. The problem is he's carrying around past life memories that he has yet to access and she has an enemy she didn't know..

Unfinished Business--Torre, in a family of witches, fell in love too young. Marsh left her with no explanation. He's back-- secrets and danger have come with him. From Tucson to the Navajo lands, love is on the line. Will witchcraft and his bear shifting be enough to save either of them? 

Ever as Before -- Maria has now seen all her daughters married. What is she to make of her life as a widow of many years. Time to start over herself. It would be easier if a rising of the living dead was not complicating things.

letting the reader know

Every now and again, what I read elsewhere leads to my rearranging the order in which I publish here. This time, it was the question of heat in romance novels. It came up in a writer/reader group to which I belong. The question was asked, and I'd pretty much say ended up divided, as to whether the readers wanted sex in their books or not. 

Image purchased from Period Images

One thing that gets to me, when such questions arise, is some of the readers use two terms I dislike regarding romances with no sex-- sweet and clean. 

Starting with sweet-- To me, sweet is like a Jane Austin where the people are gentle, living ordinary lives and economics or social issues are their biggest dilemmas. The so-called sweet romances, which a lot of these readers are discussing, might have a heroine on the run from an evil uncle who means her wrong. They might have a gunman hero, who shoots those who get in his way. Sweet, with violence in it, just does not work for me.

And clean seems just as wrong. It implies sex is dirty or maybe it's that to read about it is dirty. That same reader who finds it dirty could read about it in a sex manual and that would be okay-- just keep it clinical. But to put it into fiction, with healthy examples of how two people 'get it on' that's dirty. 

Yes, sex can be crude and demeaning and that which uses others, but it isn't dirty by its nature. It is a beautiful thing that is meant to bond a committed couple together in a way that goes beyond holding hands. 

As a writer, I respect the desire wish of those who want zero sex. Books should not bushwhack a reader. For the writer, it is beneficial to let readers know what to expect. I used to use 'for adult readers' or spicy but that doesn't really say much. Neither would a movie code as PG-13 can be pretty 'hot' these days.

So I began thinking of a code that I could put at least on my descriptive blogs as a way to alert readers what to expect in the book. For now, I've come up with this as a header on blogs that describe the books:

Romances are books about relationships and falling in love. They may or may not have sex within. Because mine vary for the 'heat' level, I devised this chart. If you find a book that interests you, look for the hearts.

♥ ------holding hands, perhaps a gentle kiss
♥♥ ---- more kisses but no tongue-- no foreplay
♥♥♥ ---kissing, tongue, caressing, foreplay & pillow talk
♥♥♥♥ --all of above, full sexual experience including climax
♥♥♥♥♥-all of above including coarser language and more frequent sex

I may amend it. I still am not sure how I can use it in a blurb. If I can work that out, it will help readers and me. No writer wants an unhappy reader. It's fair to let them know, where it's possible, what they will find in terms of sexuality. For some people, who won't skip over what they don't like, this is a big issue.

Sex in a romance novel, in my experience, is intended to warm the reader above the belt-- not below (not saying it might not do that too but it's not its purpose). I like writing the couple when they come to the closest relationship two people can have. I like it when it enriches their relationship, when it helps them see what their connection is, and it goes beyond flesh to the soul. I happen to believe it is healthy for the readers also as it gives them ideas on what is possible.

Erotica, which some think of as romance, really isn't. It's aimed at below the belt. Erotica is far more descriptive with very graphic language. It is where you get into kink, but mostly consensual (from what I've seen).

Erotica is written to arouse. Sex scenes in romances are not. They are aimed at taking the couple further into their relationship. They might make the reader's heart beat faster, but it's more about their relationship. In my books, only committed (but not necessarily married) couples have sex. I try to write about what I think enriches our lives and casual sex doesn't-- in my opinion.

The historical romance that I plan to bring out March 23rd was one of my few books that years ago I actually sent off to a publishing house. They kept it quite awhile, which made me hopeful. After months, it came back. They told me it was too steamy for their line. I had to laugh. In the book (back then), the couple never actually did it. But yes, they were wanting to. I wasn't going to take that building desire out of the book, nor did I want to make it steamier for a publishing house where they might want the couple doing it one-third of the way through.

Now when I am bringing it out in March, it still has the steam, but 'doing' it still has the same complications. There were reasons for the delay. They are on a wagon train for Pete's sake-- not a lot of privacy for an unmarried or married couple, but it still qualifies as ♥♥♥♥ -- just takes awhile to get that last heart. :)

Speaking of Changes

While I am discussing changes, I guess this is a good time to clarify my novellas. I've written five of them, my first being A Montana Christmas and the newest Rose's Gift. I finally created a category alongside my blog just for novellas. I found I like reading and writing these stories, which can be read in an evening. Mine range from 21-45,000 words (The paranormals just kept growing). They are complete books with no cliffhangers. Their action, by necessity, moves right along. 

Previously, I've written about what led to When Fates Conspire. I had lost a beloved cat and that night asked for a dream to tell me the truth of life. I wanted to think she wasn't really gone forever. The dream was like watching a movie. It was so exact, as to its meaning, that the next morning I knew it should be a book. 

That was that. I had no intention of there being a second book... 

Except, then I knew there was another story-- The Dark of the Moon. It began to explore spiritual power of the 'other' side as it seemed if we have spirit guides, there doubtless are other beings out there-- perhaps not so well-intentioned. What about the humans who have spiritual powers?

It was no sooner written than I saw that the overall telling required one more-- Storm in the Canyon. This book took the whole experience another step into the spirit world. For it, I did research on Native American spirit beings-- negative and positive. The characters in it are growing their spiritual power, and they better as something is out there. It has to be fought-- and earth powers must be confronted by earth power.

Each novella is complete as one distinct romance, for a different set of lovers, but the characters from before are the ones who must learn to fight-- for some of them, a new way. The setting is a big cattle ranch, south of Billings, Montana.

Diablo Canyon Cover by:  http://cover-ops.blogspot.com/

It seemed logical at that point to put the three of them into one book-- Diablo Canyon, which was as much a character in the stories as were the spirit beings and lovers. This is my only book with a cover I didn't create. 

When I write a novella, I don't have sex in it. I write the lead up, often the aftermath (pillow talk often carries a story forward) but no sex scenes. This is because of word constraints. Sex scenes take up space, can be lengthy (depending on the couple), but they generally don't carry the plot or theme forward. For the plot, it's enough to know they did or didn't do it.

However... once I put the three together in Diablo Canyon, I had no such constraint. Here's a confession-- I like writing about healthy sex as part of a whole relationship. That means Diablo Canyon is spicy. The novellas are not. 

For awhile I withdrew the novellas from Amazon for fear their availability would confuse readers. They might buy a novella, then the novel, and be irked to find they had already read part of it. I still have that concern, but discuss it in each blurb. I see the advantage of offering the shorter stories with closed doors on the sex knowing some readers find it objectionable.

~~~~~~~~~

When Fates Conspire, Book 1 of the Diablo Canyon Trilogy--

Fate, love, soul mates, and the spirit world, set in Billings, Bozeman and Bear Butte as two couples try to work out a happily ever after with very different ideas of what that should mean while two spirit guides bicker over their own role in helping their charges. With humor and pathos, When Fates Conspire explores questions of destiny, fate and love.

Trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCilIQxlJWI

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I53K8CE

The Dark of the Moon, Book 2 of the Diablo Canyon Trilogy--  

The middle-aged mother of the hero in When Fates Conspire is trying to keep her ranch going when a stranger appears. He is not what he seems, but is he what she needs? This is a story of the unseen side of life, facing danger, second chances, and life on a Montana ranch. For all of us, when momentous events happen, it can force a reevaluation of what life is about.

Trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwDx-76d8RQ  

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K105OVY

Storm in the Canyon, Book 3 of the Diablo Canyon Trilogy-- 

From the two previous novellas, three powerful women of different generations (one coming from beyond generations) will be matched with three powerful men, all with their own secrets, their own destinies. The spirit and human world are faced with a third world—one mankind has long tried to suppress.  Diablo Canyon has drawn power to itself through natural events, which is now being used by these timeless beings with their desire to retake power. Storm in the Canyon is the story of the relationship between man and woman as well as humans and the ‘other’ side. Facing the deadliest of foes, nature and spirit must come together to win the day or see the world change as a new power takes over. It will all be decided in the canyon.

Trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe0h9H6AoCc

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L0LQEG2

All three novellas plus the spice are in Diablo Canyon-- at $2.99, which will stay that way through February. I am thinking now of upping Storm in the Canyon to $1.99 at some point as it's long for a novella-- but leaving the first two at 99¢. If that happens, Diablo Canyon might go back to $3.99-- where it was. But anyway through February, it stays as it is.

Diablo Canyon buy links: http://romanceswithanedge.blogspot.com/2014/10/diablo-canyon-links.html

Diablo Canyon Trailer:  http://youtu.be/h5AfRZbalLQ
 

keeping sanity

What does an artist expect to get from their effort? And I don't mean just in terms of money--

on the sanity of artists

this link was in The Dish; so I hope it still works now that Sullivan has ended that blog

Although I have been involved in painting, drawing, photography, and sculpture, I am personally looking at this in regards writing-- specifically mine. I don't do the craft type, where I look at what has sold well and try to put my spin on it-- basically formula writing. My stories, as is the case with most writers, come from within. If my plot structures fit any formula, it's Joseph Campbell's the hero's journey-- which is pretty much about the journey of life.

For me, writing that kind of story is pure pleasure-- no problems with sanity. I love setting up a situation, creating characters, getting a feel for who they are, and then taking them through various experiences to a meaningful climax-- as I see it. Some say that for them, writing is like pulling teeth or sweating blood. It's not for me. I love diving into these fictional characters' lives, becoming involved in their problems, helping them work it all out, and forgetting for a little while my own...

Lost a pregnant ewe who got over onto her back and was unable to get up. Sheep die in an hour or two if they get onto their backs that way. At a certain point, they cannot get up without help. Twelve lambs lost this year with thirty-seven on the ground but will we lose some of them? Two or three ewes left to lamb.

Found a great buyer for last year's lambs. I hate to see them go, but this is as good a set up as possible. We need to sell some cattle; will that buyer come through as he promised? Pineapple Express is giving us the rain we need-- is the creek rising too much? How come my smart phone is eating up its battery in a few hours? Timeout to get passport photos renewed and sent off before ours expires. Is that crown really feeling okay now? Definitely do not turn on the news, it's too depressing; and on it goes. 


All that can be put aside when I am writing a story in an organic way. My stories grow out of their situation and the characters. When writing a rough draft, I am constantly thinking of these people and what comes next. The story swallows my world for the time it takes to get that rough draft. With writing stories this way, I have control and I know it will all work out, which is a lot more than I can say for what happens in the real world.

Marketing books, on the other hand, brings me right back to myself with a thud. I have very little real control, and I constantly have to make choices. If I venture into social media, it's not my characters, it's me. How do I present my books? Do I present them? What should I share of my world? And on it goes.

Amazon is the one creating some of my current angst. Recently I read a link which claimed if you don't put your book in Amazon Select/KU, it will drop into Amazon's black hole. And I know from experience how Amazon helps that happen. In January, I had a book sell seven copies in a short time. Do you know what it did for its rankings? It might as well have sold one. In December a book sold a couple of copies that didn't impact its rankings at all. I emailed Amazon on that one trying to figure out if they had made a mistake. They had not. It's all about their mysterious algorithms dontchaknow.

To be in Select or KU, where Amazon might help my books show up, I would need to pull them from B&N, Kobo, etc. Amazon is as much trying to sell books as they are trying to push out the competition. Yes, it's the way of business, but I don't like it. Staying out of KU may have meant some of my books, one is coming to my mind, suffer. That can't be good either. The other sites do sell, but very few. You can see how my thinking is going round in circles. Which good matters most?

My publisher wants me to give KU a try and because he's my partner in this (not to mention husband), I am going along with it for a book that has been out there for quite awhile and has never sold well-- lately nada. 

Sky Daughter has been a hard book to promote whether in blurbs or covers. Although I think people would like it if they gave it a try, who am I to know since my taste in romance reading isn't the same as the best sellers. 

So we made the tough decision. It has been pulled from the other sites to be in Select and KU. I have a month to see how it goes and to decide if KU should be how I bring out the first of the Oregon historicals. If I do that with the first one, I think I'd leave it there the required three months, until the second comes out. Pull it, put it into the other sites while the second one goes to KU/Select. That would get repeated until all four of are out. But what if KU actually gets rentals or sales for Sky Daughter and that first Oregon historical? hmmmmmm 

I hate having to think about this... It's trading off what is best for my books with what might be best for selling books in general. Will it be best for even my books? I am going in circles.

Keeping sanity while marketing is not an easy thing-- if the writer cares about getting sales and reviews (getting reviews is even tougher where I am not operating within a clique). I've been reading lately about something called street teams where writers ask some fans to join together to help their books be seen. As part of that, there is a private site, and team members get some freebies as well as closer access to the writer. 

Previously, I had never even heard of the term. Looking it up, I learned that street teams began in the '90s to sell music. It is a buzz word where some think it's the way to go and others feel it doesn't really gain much. 

Do I need a street team? Do I even have the potential to have one? Street teams and beta readers are why some books come out and instantly have fifteen reviews-- in case you didn't know. 

When I see a book like Rose's Gift, which had pretty decent sales (especially for my books recently-- helped along by support from other writers), but has gotten zero reviews, I see why some like having such groups to be sure that does not happen to their books. It's not dishonest because most of those in a street team, maybe all, genuinely like that writer's work.

All these questions, which go in circles, are why for years, I had continued to write new Oregon historicals but held off on publishing. I now feel I should let them go out, give them a chance. It is also possible that to give them their best shot will require them being in the KU, at least to begin. Maybe :). Does it also require a street team? *sigh*

New Year's Eve

Actually, I like New Year's Eve. This is not because I want to party or even stay up to see the new year come in. I like it because it feels like a new start. That is silly, of course, as a calendar doesn't give us a new start, but I like the feeling that it does. Who knows what 2015 will hold?

Personally, although 2014 was overall a good year for me personally, I am not at all sorry to see it come to an end. An election swung the direction of the country from what it had just voted to do in 2012. As a people, we are more divided than ever-- and I find myself often not agreeing with either political party. But you just have to let such things go. Why not do that December 31st. 

For me some of the things I wanted in '14 happened. Some did not. I had some surprises-- some good, some definitely not. It made for an 'interesting' year. I am not remotely going to delve into what all happened. I am not into rehashing my personal experiences (they are in the past), unless I can learn from them or feel someone else can. I am much more interested in what comes next, which is why I like the last day of a year. I am thinking what I might want in this year, what I will need to do-- want it or not.

Where it comes to my writing, I have two new projects, which I am looking forward to getting back into. One of them (short story or novella), I began writing in Tucson but other things got in the way-- life has a tendency to do that. Now, back in Oregon, I am ready to finish that one and dig into research for the novel I also have in mind-- fourth Arizona historical.

For some time I have been debating bringing out the Oregon historical romances. There are four, which cover the time period from 1852 to 1868 and follow one family with four separate romances. These books were written over a pretty long span of my life from girlhood to the last one finished fall of 2014. I use the term finished loosely as the fourth will need more editing. Well, they all will get a last polish before they come out at least two months apart.

One of my big concerns in bringing out these books was thinking romance readers, in particular, would find the later books more interesting than the first one-- but I absolutely had to start with the first one. If that happened, they wouldn't bother with the next three. The Oregon Trail had a lot of information attached to the trip. There is no way to tell the story without the trek. For someone who wants romantic angst on every page, this won't be their book.

My story is not only that of the trip but also the maturing of an eighteen year old girl and her twenty-one year old best friend, who would like to be more. Although the characters are young, this covers some tough subjects and is not a young adult book.

Finding a cover image for this book or even a good photo for how I saw the hero, Matthew Kane, was a major reason why it hadn't already come out. If readers don't care about him, it won't work. Looks-wise, Matt is not only young but also blond. I needed a face that told of the pain in his background, the strength of his personality, and showed what enabled him to survive what he had and be stronger for it. Although I had looked at a LOT of images since I began bringing out books, I had never seen the right photo for him.

And then I came across the perfect guy. He had the sensitivity I needed as well as the toughness. His photos were in a site using pretty accurate period costuming. Although the image was a lot more costly than my usual purchase, it was essential if I wanted to intrigue readers enough to give this first book a try. Covers matter a lot to readers and me. They are part of being proud of what I put out. 

This story is one I am more emotionally attached than any other, which has concerned me as to how I will feel if it is rejected. Matt and Amy were first created on walks with my cousin when I was in high school. She and I would take turns telling their story and bringing them to life. Finally she only wanted to hear what I saw happening to them. In the years I was having my babies, that led to typing the first rough draft. 

The original title was Taopi Tawote but reluctantly I gave that up as probably being too confusing to readers. The words are Lakota for wound medicine, for the plant yarrow. It's still its title in my heart, the one I first typed into a Royal upright typewriter, and does appear in the book-- just no longer its title. 

This story has gone through some adjustments and extensive work with a consulting writer at least twenty years ago. But I didn't submit it to a publishing house partly because it's way too long for most of them to even consider from a first-time writer (they won't read anything over 100,000 words if it doesn't come through an agent-- getting an agent was a whole other problem). I was unwilling to cut it down and lose  the story I wanted; so it stayed just with me, dear to me, more than any other book I've ever written, but one I held back.

Anyway come February, not sure what date, maybe toward the end, Round the Bend will be available for eBooks and paperbacks with one of the two covers below. I hope I have figured out which one by then. Right now I am torn. Each says something different about aspects of the story.

The image in the background and the one behind Couple #1 is from the Ben Kern wagon train. I came across those images last year, emailed, and then called to get permission to use them someday. I had a delightful conversation with the guy who helped take people on these trips, those who want a small piece of what the pioneers experienced. The lightning is part of CanStock images that I purchased and finally the wagons in #2 came from the Baker City Oregon Trail museum-- well worth visiting if you have never been there.

Anyway that's a tiny part of what I have planned for 2015. There is a saying about that-- life is what happens when you are making plans. I hope you will have a happy new year with a lot of enjoyable plans of your own.

gathering links

One of the things I do, when I finish a rough draft, is get back to what I least enjoy-- marketing, i.e. promotional stuff. I admire writers who put many hours and much insightful work into promotion. Some are quite good at it and make it seem like fun (even if it wasn't). Unfortunately, promoting is not my thing. I say unfortunately because where it comes to any kind of publishing, promotion is essential if one wants their books ever seen again.

When I got into blogging, I slowly created blogs for different purposes. The general one is Rainy Day Thought which has almost nothing about my books. It is about ideas, photography, creativity, and whatever comes to my mind. 

The first one aimed specifically at promotion for books was Romance with an Edge. I chose the title because it's how I see my stories-- love stories but with an edge, a challenge, and danger as a part of the mix.  That blog ended up a place to put longer pieces about love stories. It is where I have defended the best of the romance genre as healthy for readers and writers. 

Reading vibrant love stories is one way to help readers raise their kundalini or shakti energy. The articles suggest other ways, but reading books definitely is one-- vicarous excitement.

So you don't want kundalini energy? You sure? It's life force, the primal nature. Passionate human encounters can be where it is found most powerfully (can be hardest on it too). Do you have to go out and have an affair to acquire it? Definitely not.  You can experience this energy and rise up your own through mind and spirit, by following your passion. When it happens, your juices flow ;).  

Oh, you are old and no longer want juices flowing? Well, I can't say much about, but if you do... find a good, hot romance novel and see what happens, the kind that tells more than a love story but that excites about life and about overcoming challenges. Sweet romances as well as spicy can touch that basic energy.

This blog, Rain Trueax, is not as oriented to the romance novel itself as it to the creative life in totality. Here I get into marketing (never yet have felt kundalini energy flowing into me from any marketing work), my art (definitely can feel the universe flowing into me when a painting is coming from deep inside), and it is where I write about the joy/angst of being a creative person. Although I might discuss here why I wrote a book or how I wrote it, it could also be about a painting (planning to do some of that in Arizona this trip). 


Most recently, the biggest marketing goal I had was to create a page and link to take a reader to all the sites each book can be purchased. I was pleased when I started this project and realized the blog I had created last summer, the plural of Romance, with no real purpose in mind for it, Romances with an Edge, would be perfect for the links. 

One of the things I say a lot here is whatever you want to do in a creative vein, get into it and see how it goes. Don't wait until you know all the directions it might lead. I call it the muse at work when I end up getting something weeks ahead of needing it. Romances with an Edge was one of many of those.

At first I thought I'd have all links beneath a scenery picture of the region the book is set, but then it dawned on me I could create something deeper, an image that depicted the energy within the book, its underpinnings. Creating that made this whole job a lot more fun than I had been anticipating. The new image ended up being a second cover (one and maybe two of them may become the actual cover as I liked these  energy oriented covers a lot). Putting together new images with a small quote from each book was the reward for the other part of the job.

Setting up working links is anal, detail oriented work-- not my forte. The Amazon links I had. The others were acquired by my publisher (also known as Farm Boss and husband) by sending each book to Direct 2 (to) Digital who then sent it onto Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, Inktera, and Scripd. When they accepted them, he emailed me the links. I only had to keep straight for which book and which site-- hopefully.

For now I am not putting a link to Scripd on the page because it's a site that people join and then borrow the books for free; so I am not sure how that works for the writer, but it's part of what D2D does. My books are there. So, if anyone here belongs to Scripd, you can find them under Rain Trueax. 

Inktera was a new site to me also, but it's good when small sites are putting out books. Some of these sites have already had sales for my books; so Amazon is not the only dog in this fight... and yes, marketing can feel like a fight and struggle.

I am happy to now present two covers to my books. This project, despite how I wasn't looking forward to doing it, was a win/win; and for readers, it offers one more look at what they will find if they read the book. 

Romances with an Edge

Easy Chair

Check this out-- 

Writing in Rainy Day Thoughts regarding Easy Chair Bookshop

One of the problems for writers and readers is finding new books when the brick and mortar bookshops can't have them all and sometimes, like Borders, have gone under with this brave new world of ePublishing. Small sites like Easy Chair have sprung up and if readers bookmark them, they will flourish, making it easier to find the new book that didn't make it on the New York Times bestselling list.

So take a look at it and then spread the word. This is the future of ePublishing. 

algorithms

When the thousand pound gorilla in the room has all the power, it behooves one to find out what it is doing. I did that regarding marketing and rankings of books regarding the thousand pound gorilla in selling books-- Amazon.

One of the frustrations for authors, who are not selling a lot of books, is to go to their Amazon blurb/advertising page for their book and see its rankings heading into the millions. In the case of rankings, being in the millions is not good news. It means you are where millions of other writers are at Amazon-- not selling-- or so I used to think.

My understanding of what rankings meant changed this month when one of my books had three sales in the first part of October. Good news. Rankings would improve. They always had after sales. This one had not. That's when I wrote them. 

One nice thing about Amazon for authors or anyone, they do respond. So we had email conversation where they told me the algorithms had been perfectly right on my book. Its sales were not reflected in its ranking because of how they do rankings, which takes into account the length of time the book has been out, other sales at the same time, and maybe some mysterious other factor which they won't reveal.

(Note to authors: even though I have always said we are not in competition with each other and that your sale doesn't take away my sale-- it does impact my rankings-- so much for camaraderie for those who understand how this works). 

There are those, with a lot more expertise than I have, who have spent time to figure out Amazon's policy-- and written about it while warning their reader that it might be wrong since Amazon can change these at any time. Their sole accountability is to their profit margin.

Beating Amazon's Algorithms 

Now, I personally have no interest in beating their system. I simply would like them to take the rankings off the advertising/buy page because it influences readers and has them thinking a book hasn't sold at all when in reality, it might be selling small numbers regularly. The reason its rankings show up negatively is that it's been out there a long time; and although it has had sales off and on, they have not been consistently high enough to keep it up in the rankings. A book out there less time will reflect one sale-- the old guy on the block will not. 

"A book’s Amazon sales rank gives a clue about its likely sales – but only a clue since Amazon doesn’t disclose the actual sales-rank-to-sales ratio. It will change anyway over time (hourly, daily, monthly), and it looks like it’s influenced by where a book is in its sales lifecycle – it treats the same daily sales from a new book differently from sales of a perennial seller." --from Digital Publishing 101 (the link above)

Interestingly, their representative told me that a book's rankings could go up or down when nothing had changed in its own sales.

My first thought when I grasped this, to my limited techie ability, was maybe I should pull my first published books, revamp their stories, add a few words, retitle, and bring them out in a few months as new books. Immediately I saw the problem with that-- what about the readers who already own that book. They would feel cheated if they purchased it under a new name. Bummer-- that is if you care about your readers.

Next time I bring out a new book though, I will look at it differently. What I need are a group of loyal beta readers who will buy my book as soon as it appears-- this makes its initial ratings look excellent. It keeps it where new readers can see it. By having a group ready to buy your books, a network (which some writers do have), you can get the jump on this system. Being the lone ranger, where it comes to selling books, is a losing game on the marketing end. 

It is also important to plan when a book comes out so that it's not when others are coming out. If you come out with yours while a big writer is introducing theirs, you won't show up so well either.  This is where again it benefits someone to not be one lone indie writer and work within big group or a publishing house. The truth of it is simple regarding rankings. You cannot sell a book nobody sees.

Understanding how this works, I see it pitting author against author. If I buy their books (as I have frequently done), it makes my own show up worse, at least if that author does not also buy mine... Okay, just kidding on not buying-- I am not about to cut off my nose to spite my face. When a book looks good to me, I'll buy it-- maybe even someday have time to read it.  

Amazon has the power. Are they using it wisely and fairly even where it comes to corporate published books? Who can force them to do so? Right now with monopolies no longer being broken up in the United States, nobody can do anything. Does this kind of monopoly only impact authors? Paul Krugman doesn't think so.

Book sales depend crucially on buzz and word of mouth (which is why authors are often sent on grueling book tours); you buy a book because you’ve heard about it, because other people are reading it, because it’s a topic of conversation, because it’s made the best-seller list. And what Amazon possesses is the power to kill the buzz. 

 Not sure what anybody can do about it other than-- be aware what is really going on. I am still grateful I have the opportunity to bring out my books without an editor forcing me to fit a mold. Amazon has done a lot for writers-- but we have to figure out marketing on our own!

creating paperbacks

back-cover & cover for Her Dark Angel

Besides a summer of editing, this has been a time for me to work out back-covers for paperback versions of six Portland romance/adventure/suspense books. A back-cover has to fit with the cover while giving a reader a bit of what they will find in the book. I looked at various books I owned for ideas as to what would be needed. There were many options from basically a blurb, to something catchy, to no info at all. 

Good. That means I can do what I think suits my books. I plan to let these set for awhile as I consider if they are the final version. It has taken time-- and isn't finished as the spline still has to be created but my publisher (husband) does that. It was though rewarding as I enjoy working with images.

In the process of all this work (yes, I have gone a little dry-eye from so many hours staring at words), I put together the chronology for all my books. For the historicals, I'd done this as I wrote them, although hadn't put them in a list. You can't write a historical without knowing what else happened at the same time. Earlier, I hadn't bothered with the contemporaries as I always thought of them as happening when I was writing them.

Except some had connecting characters and years in between. I needed to figure this all out when I decided to connect the Portland, Oregon, books as a series-- related by their locale. What I learned is that while some had a specific number of years between the first and connecting story, I had to choose wisely where I began the dates. 

Things also happen in contemporary times, which you could not ignore if you set your book there-- 9/11 is an example. Any book set in 2001, unless early in the year, would have to take that into account. I was in no mood to go back into any books set in that fall and add it in; so best to avoid that specific time period. 

The other thing I have done during my editing phase is set the books, with continuing characters, closer together on my blog specifically for them-- Rainy day Romances. I enjoy writing stories with continuing characters; so it has happened more than a few times. I get to liking a certain character or set of them and enjoy working with them again.

Maybe my finally creating a chronology is another stage of becoming more organized. Writing is one thing. Publishing a book adds another dynamic. When I wrote just for myself, chronologies didn't matter. Readers though do their own calculations. If they don't like the writer's logic, probably they won't return for another book. The books in this list are all my contemporaries to date. I do have plans for more though and will now just add them where they belong.

When we did the first paperbacks, we put out Luck of the Draw, which is set in 1974. I was uncertain of whether to include it in the list of contemporaries as there is a lot of debate about how far back contemporary goes. Some suggest a good idea is to call such books-- contemporary historic fiction. They add that if it was contemporary to you, it's contemporary, which it certainly was. It is set in Oregon but Pendleton. Like so many of the things I write, it doesn't fit in a convenient box! About that, there isn't anything I can do...

      1974    Luck of the Draw (Pendleton, Oregon)

1998      Moon Dust (Portland, Central Oregon)

1999      Evening Star (Portland, Coast, Southern Oregon, Tahoe)

2000      Desert Inferno (Arizona)

2005      Bannister’s Way (Portland, Coast)

2006      Second Chance (Portland)

2007      Hidden Pearl  (Portland, Umpqua)
           Sky Daughter (Idaho)

2009      Her Dark Angel (Reno, Portland, Tahoe)

2010      When Fates Conspire, Part I Diablo Canyon  

           From Here to There  (both Montana)

2012      The Dark of the Moon-- Part II Diablo Canyon (Montana)

2013    A Montana Christmas (Montana)

2014      Storm in the Canyon -- Part III Diablo Canyon  (Montana)

The art of the cover

Probably it seems I talk about covers more frequently than some might think I should, but they are so important to a book. They also are one of those areas where opinions come fast and furious. I see the issue of covers both from the perspective of reader and writer. 

As a reader, a cover might attract my interest, get me to read a blurb, but it will never lead to my purchasing the book-- or not. I've bought books where I hated the cover. I've seen gorgeous covers; but after reading blurbs, I cannot bring myself to buy the book-- sometimes regretfully because a cover can be beautiful and oh-so tempting. For me, the cover can get my foot in that writer's door, but that's all. From what I've read, that's not true for all readers. Some do buy/not buy a book based on the cover.

The arguments go from there to what should be on that cover. One writer claimed no stock royalty free images are good. They are either overused or not that effective. She had found someone to pose for her camera. She felt it was the best solution if someone cannot afford to pay a professional model. Since it was a family member, she does not have to worry about royalties although I imagine she still uses a contract even then just to be sure it doesn't arise as an issue somewhere down the line if the book becomes a huge seller. 

Having a model pose requires a couple of things-- one they have to look like the heroine/hero the readers expect as well as the characters in your book. Basically they better be good looking (or at least interesting looking) for romances-- and then willing to show up on a romance book cover where others will see it. I think to that end, it'd help if they liked your type of writing.

So from the people on the cover, another argument goes that you should never do your own. You should go to a graphics designer who either sells you a pre-made cover, which you have chosen from their catalog or you pay more to find someone who will work with you and create something that fits your story more specifically.

Up until recently I had never thought I'd use a cover by a graphics artist. I like doing my own. I enjoy playing with images. Yes, I do put money into purchasing those images, but since I can also use them in blogs and other places, I get a lot of images for what it'd cost me to buy one cover. Besides, I have felt I know my characters better than anybody else. 

But I have been known to change my mind when new information comes along as happened on this issue. A writer I know, this year began designing covers-- [Charlene Raddon, aka., Jenneta Dodge or maybe that is vice versa]. She offered a free one to a few writers. My first thought was I didn't have a need for any covers at the moment (boy was I wrong about that but that's another story). 

Then I remembered Diablo Canyon which would put together the three novellas. I had had a rough idea for its cover; but to be honest, my idea was pretty bland and I hadn't taken it farther. What had complicated this cover-- three love stories, fantasy elements, ranch life, Montana,  Native American history, and mythology. How do you get that all across? I mentioned it to her, and she told me look at her sample pages -- 

Cover Ops

The page she meant for me to see wasn't coming up at the time; but when I looked through the rest, I saw the perfect cover. It had a mystical look, suggested the Native American connection, had mystical looking eyes looking down from a cloud, and showed land which suits some of what I have seen south of Billings, Montana (if you add in a little fantasy to the mix). I fell in love!

Yes, I like doing my own covers. It's play for me, but she had created something that I don't see myself able to do short of copying her work. I don't like to copy work. So it will be my first book with a cover done by a cover artist.

This cover also changed my mind about only bringing this book out as a paperback. It will be both-- oh and then there is that added spice ;). I cannot say the cover was why I did that. Maybe it's that muse of mine that thought it'd be a good shift.

One of my previous resistances to buying a cover (besides my books not selling enough to pay for that) has been how many times I have changed some of mine.I don't think that will be a problem for Diablo Canyon. I can't imagine any cover doing a better job suggesting nature, mysticism and that Native American thread.

Where to see her covers and get more information:

facebook-- darn good book covers 

cover ops

 

She also does blog design if you want to spiff up your blog:

Elegance Blog Designs

it sells...

 What to do when your books are not selling well-- other than pout that is. One option is to look at the books by those who are selling. What makes them attract so many readers? The following link is about a writer, who is making $60,000,000 a year (that was no typo). That would seem a prime one to check out for what it is readers want.

what makes nora roberts so popular?

A few months back, I went to the used bookstore and looked for some of Roberts' books. I found two full bookshelves of her work not to mention one reader standing in front of one of them to make her selection. I had no idea which would be good but bought four and an audio. These might not have been the best she wrote, just taken at random; so no scientific survey here.

After reading some, listening to the audio, I got it as to why I don't sell gangbusters... I don't even like her plots or characters. But somebody does-- a lot of somebodys do. She speaks to reader needs, which leads to a logical question (I think), should other writers try to figure out the elements in her books that lead to such popularity?

One writer has bragged that she did exactly that. She claimed that she analyzed the best selling books, saw which ingredients were in them, lined up what had to happen when, and created a story using those dynamics. Voila-- best selling romance. I don't know if that would work for other genres but you do see it a lot with the rash of stories that follow something like Twilight, Shades of Grey or Hunger Games.

Some of the things readers seem to like in Roberts books were total turnoffs to me. In the ones I saw, the heroines were more important than the heroes. In that sense she is a bit like chick lit. She had action. I like that. She also had some series books, like say three friends, and each gets their own guy in a separate book.  I felt there were repetitive aspects in her plots. She had sex but it wasn't erotica,and it wasn't the whole story. 

Her heroines wanted more from life than to get a guy and often took a lot of convincing to settle with the one who wanted them. Still that's not unusual in romance books from what I've seen.The women appeared to be career women, power women. That's a positive.

She always gave her characters the happily ever after, but that's in all romances by dictate. Any reader who fears it won't work out in the end between the hero and heroine is new to today's romance genre. The only time they don't work out in one book is because it's a series and aimed to get you to buy all of them to get to the HEA. Permanent tragic endings are saved for serious literature.

When books aren't selling well (and boy have mine in May not sold well), is a time I have to remind myself I don't write to be popular. I write to do what I love. I am guessing Roberts does the same thing but she happens to love writing what today's romance readers love reading. That's called good timing.