Tag Archives | Holly Hart cozy mystery

What I learned writing a six-book series.

The final Holly Hart Cozy Mystery is live!

To celebrate I thought I’d share what I learned writing this series.
Free on Kindle Unlimited or 99 cents for a limited time!

Amazon

CateredFinalsm

 

1. Writing is hard work.

I’m not going to lie. It was so much fun creating and brainstorming the Holly Hart series. Writing the first book was thrilling and kept me at the edge of my chair as I learned about my characters and they became real people to me. I loved the surprises.

2. Writing in a series flows faster when you know the characters and the world.

Knowing the characters and the relationships made moving from one book to the next book easy. I didn’t need to plan out character flaws and strengths or figure out the world or the voice of the story.

Footprints

Deadly

 

3. It’s so hard not to be distracted by new and shiny ideas.

So many ideas. I have several outlines of books and series that I might very well never write. Or I might. Sometimes I have to flesh it out in an outline before realizing if a premise is worth writing. So many of them I wanted to start writing the next day. Still do.

4. It might help to take a break and write something new.

With one book left in the series, I needed a break. Too many ideas pressing against me. Too many voices that needed to be written. Last spring, I took that break and wrote book one in a new cozy mystery series that will release this spring.

Frosted500

Fruitcake400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Character arc is nice but after a while it’s hard to keep it feeling new.

Thank God for my editor who kept me on track when I went in a wrong direction halfway through the series. She called me on it, and I agreed with her. I went on to make major changes in the story and the next one.

6. I don’t know how people write 12 book series or longer.

Recently, I’ve discovered a fantastic cozy mystery series. The fifteenth book was recently released. Yeah, I know. Impressive. I’m not saying I would never write a long-running series, but…it would have to be the right situation and the right series.

 Poison400

7 I love writing and reading mysteries, whether it’s a cozy mystery or the mystery is a subplot.

When I took a break to start another cozy mystery series, I knew I’d found a genre I’d love to keep writing. I love the mix of mystery and humor. All my ideas might not be cozy mysteries, but they will contain some sort of mystery and/or humor.

 

 

 

 

On that note, with mixed feelings, I’ve released the final Holly Hart Cozy Mystery.

But I’m very excited for the new cozy mystery series I started last year! More information will come soon!

Read any good books lately? Feel free to share.

 

Comments { 1 }

A #christmasfail and new releases!

I had dreams.

I envisioned the gasps and comments of my children’s friends at the cafeteria table. “Wow! What a fantastic dessert?” or “Can I have the recipe?” or “You’ve got the best mom ever!”

Well, you know what they say. Pride comes before a fall.

I mean how hard can it be to melt white chocolate chips? So with a smile, I happily broke up the Winter Oreo cookies, pretzel sticks, and joyfully added in the Christmas MnMs. All I had to do was pour the melted white chocolate over the mix. Presto–dessert! No baking necessary!

It started out fine. I put the bowl in the microwave, stirred, microwaved…etc. At first, it was working. Then I noticed that it stopped melting and was crumbling. Upon research, I later learned the term for what happened is called seizing. Basically, once you reach this point, the chocolate is ruined.

I was going to give up on melting white chocolate forever, but I will try once more. Soon. In a double boiler and see if that helps. Who know that white chocolate was so complicated?

Regardless, I hope your holiday baking has been more successful than mine!

On the publishing end, a lot has been happening in the past month or so. I have three books for you all–all at 99 cents for a short time.

SS400

Click the picture for Amazon–available for free on Kindle Unlimited!

Fruitcake400

Click the picture for Amazon–available for free on Kindle Unlimited!

Poison400

Click the picture for Amazon–available for free on Kindle Unlimited!

That’s all for now. There’s one last Holly Hart cozy coming. Most likely to be released late January or early February. And, soon in the New Year, I’ll have a cover and blurb for a new humorous cozy mystery series. (That’s all I can say for now.)

Have a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday!! Share any news or traumatic holiday cooking you may need to share! Or lie so I’ll feel better. 🙂

Comments { 0 }

A new cozy mystery release! Huge giveaway!

Well, launch day finally came! Woo hoo! After many days of writing, editing, and formatting, Footprints in the Frosting is live on Amazon. For now, it’s only for sale on Amazon through Kindle Select and Kindle Unlimited.

Download Footprints in the Frosting now!

I have a huge giveaway starting today. The winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card! My way of saying thanks for helping to spread the word on my new book! The rafflecopter is below! Included is a paperback giveaway on Goodreads!

FBgiveaway

 And don’t forget that by signing up for my newsletter, you’ll receive Murder with a Slice of Cheesecake!

newsletterfreebie

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Footprints in the Frosting by Laura Pauling

Footprints in the Frosting

by Laura Pauling

Giveaway ends May 27, 2015.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to Win

 

Thank you so much for helping me spread the news about Footprints in the Frosting!

Below is the rafflecopter. Or click here. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Comments { 3 }