Sunday, November 7, 2010

Latest Suite101 Story - Adrift in Golden Bay

It's been a long time since I've posted on this blog and my work for Suite101 has flagged during this ultra-busy year. I'm getting back on top and today posted a story about Adrift in Golden Bay, a luxury eco-resort operated by the Hampson family. Wouldn't it be fabulous to enjoy a luxurious holiday in a luxurious cabin with a private beach and a hydrotherapy bath to soak in at the end of the day?


Copyright Lyn Rasmussen 2010: all rights reserved

Friday, May 14, 2010

Debut Novel Released!

My debut romance, "Kincaid's Call" was released this week from The Wild Rose Press. I write romance using the pseudonym Leigh D'Ansey and it's been exciting seeing the gorgeous cover of Kincaid's Call at last for sale. Please follow the links and check it out!

Copyright Lyn Rasmussen 2010: all rights reserved

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Blogging with Lucy Monroe 26 April

I'm so fortunate to be one of 50 authors who will be blogging on multi-published author, Lucy Monroe's Reader at Home blog, 26-30 April 2010. I'll be giving away a couple of copies of my debut romance, Kincaid's Call, due for release May 12. Please stop by Lucy's blog to say 'hi'. My guest spot is 26 April but the giveaways will be posted through the days of the Reader at Home.

Copyright Lyn Rasmussen 2010: all rights reserved

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Romance Book Contract at Last!

I've just signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for my first completed romance novel, 'Kincaid's Call'. The concept of e-publishing is still a little strange to me but I'm just so thrilled. I write romance under a pseudonym. Please visit my romance writing website or my romance writing blog to learn more about my first full length book contract. 'Kincaid's Call' is due for release in 2010.


Copyright Lyn Rasmussen 2010: all rights reserved

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Why is this Photo on my Art & Writing Blog?

The photograph behind the Art & Writing title (and with this post) is of Maketu, a tiny coastal settlement in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. When I wrote Swimming to Motiti, my first published short story as a serious adult writer, I drew on deeply-held memories of holidays at Maketu.

Living inside me still is the fragrance of wild fennel, the mystery of old graves tucked into a scrubby hillside, and the sound of breakers beating against the sand. At some deep level, these are the memories that ground me when I'm writing or making art. Swimming to Motiti won first place in a New Zealand national short story competition.

Using this image on Art & Writing is a way of entrenching myself into this challenging new world of online writing. What grounds you in your writing or artmaking?
Copyright Lyn Rasmussen 2010: all rights reserved

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Vanity Publishing v Self Publishing

In the latest issue of the Romance Writers of New Zealand (RWNZ) newsletter, writer Laura Resnick compares vanity and self pubishing and their marked dissimilarity to the traditional publishing model. Resnick defines both self-publishing and vanity publishing as forms of printing, not publishing. Self-publishing, she says, is an honest business, while vanity publishing is 'the perfect con, preying on the dreams of desperate aspiring writers who are uneducated about how publishing works.'

Resnick goes on to say that: 'If your business arrangement with a company calls for you to contribute any money-any money at all-toward the production of your book then you are dealing with a print model, not a publishing model.'

I concurr with Resnick's comments. I've been instrumental in several self-publishing ventures. I would not, however, enter into any agreement whereby I'd pay an individual or organisation to publish (print) my writing. Read Resnick's enlightening blog Publishing, Printing or Scam.

People who self-publish often can't see any further than getting their work into print. Consequently there are countless books stored under beds, in cupboards and garages all over the world. Sadly, there are not countless customers with fists full of dollars waiting for your book to appear.

Take it from me, selling self-published books is frustrating, time-consuming work. It can be soul-destroying. If you're self-publishing family histories or a memoir, marketing may not be important but if you need to get a return on your outgoings, be scrupulous about investigating many different marketing possibilities before printing your book; print the minimum number and/or look at e-publishing options-or abandon the idea entirely, polish your writing skills and continue to submit manuscripts to established publishing companies.

Were my self-publishing ventures successful? Financially, no. The two books I self-published with my partner were, however, rewarding in that they opened the door for him to gain his first significant publishing contract and a relationship with his publishers which continues to this day. We also published a bi-monthly magazine from a home office for several years before selling to a larger publishing company. The magazine has since been sold again and is still popular with its niche readership 17 years after the first issue came off the press - I think that effort also deserves a 'successful' label, although that 'success' came at a high cost. Would I self-publish again? Probably, but with extreme caution.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

What is this Art and Writing Blog About?

I've been thinking hard about what this blog's about. It started as the result of a workshop at the Romance Writers group I belong to. I hurried home, set up a blog and ignored it for the next few months.

Writing for Suite101 online magazine has been a fantastic learning experience in terms of bringing me more up to speed with search engine optimisation, keywords and other techie things that I was previously completely ignorant of. I'm not particularly technologically inclined, but these aspects of the internet have fascinated me. The new knowledge has inspired me to make this Art and Writing blog more substantial.

Working via the internet and email is something that could have been invented for my way of working. I like to work alone; I'm not by nature a team person, but the customer-service ethic has always been inherent in my business practice. I like people - I have faith that most people are intrinsically 'good'.

With millions of people online every day, so much scamming and 'get rich quick' schemes out there, and little, or no personal contact, how do you provide customer service with a blog. How do you build a business that's ethical, profitable and provides a service.

Naturally, this blog will promote my own art and writing, but I will also be featuring and promoting other artists and writers, especially in New Zealand, and the businesses and organisations that support their endeavours. This piece on Copyblogger has helped me to clarify what my blog's about.

Copyright

All material on Art and Writing is owned by Lyn Rasmussen. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by Lyn Rasmussen in writing.















 
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