An important note to my readers

I wanted my readers to know that Amazon is pricing several of my books at a "minimum" price.

Example: Janie's Got It Bad is priced at $8.90; Witchy Tales: Gale Warning is priced at $8.50, and Hooked Too is priced at $8.65.

If you have a reader, they are available on Kindle for $2.99. Plus, you may order them directly from me for $8, which will include postage.

If you would like to order directly from me, please send me an email at pharrington326@gmail.com.

Until the next time, read on!

Bugs on the Windshield

The first order of Bugs on the Windshield has arrived.

Signed copies are available from me for $7.

It is also available on Amazon and Kindle.

I hope you enjoy this thriller, which is a departure from my normal romances.

If you do, I would appreciate feedback, here or on Amazon.

Thank you.

October already

Hello Bloggers and Bloggets.

I've been busy with home projects and have finished two books. Well, one and re-written/finished one that was written several years ago.

I finished Bugs on the Windshield and here is an advanced look at the cover:

Let me know what you think.

I have ordered the proof and once it gets the "all clear" from my proofreader, I can get it on Amazon and get a big order placed.

I also finished Janie's Got It Good, book 4 in the series (and possibly the last), which is now with the editor. I'll be preparing the cover while I wait for the edits to finish.

On October 29, 2016, the Life Journeys Writers Guild will be hosting a LJWG Big Quarterly Author’s n’ Things Showcase Party event from 2 - 5 p.m. at the Blue Crab Stadium in Waldorf. This is open to other vendors, so come on out and see what's available. Think Christmas gifts.

Remember to check out my website for book lists and new news.

That's all for now. Until the next time.

Good news

Hello Blog world!

Wanted to share some good news with you.

I recently received an email from the library telling me that, "your book, Janie's Got It Bad has been selected to be one of our featured books for the August 20th Local Author's Reception at Waldorf West Library at 2 pm".

This is, both, exciting and scary for me. I know that the library will highlight my book on their website and in the flyers; however, I'm not sure what else will be required. I've been attending this event for 4 years, I think, and never hoped...but maybe now my name is getting out there and this means the public will demand more of my writing.

Need to get busy. Plus, I will have to spruce up my biography and get a good publicity shot of myself and work up an 'elevator speech' to present at the reception. 

At the same time, I'll continue working toward getting Bugs on the Windshield done in time for the Virginia Book Festival in 2017.

2016 Local Authors Reception

Summer is officially here...it's HOT!

Wanted to take a moment and update a couple of things that have come up since my last post.

The Local Authors Reception at the Waldorf West Library is coming in August. I have registered to attend again this year. I will present Janie's Got It Bad, Book 3, which is the latest in the series. Even though it has been out for some time, I was unable to do sales events last year. I will have copies for sale as well as offering a 2 for 1 sale on Janie 1 & 2.

As I said in my last post, I was working on another story that had been waiting for me to get back to it. Well, since then, a different story came to mind and I am now working on it as often as I can. This is a really different story; a thriller I'm calling "Bugs On The Windshield". Here's a short synopsis:

Shelly Rhymes was a hard woman. In her 42 years of life, she’d lived a lifetime of hell. Raped at fourteen; forced to have an abortion because she couldn’t bear the thought of giving birth to her own cousin, she ran away at fifteen, living on the streets.

Jack Daniels was his real name; given, courtesy of her favorite drink, by his drunken mother. He didn’t give much thought to a mother dead long ago, like the bugs on his windshield. Sometimes, in the lonely hours before dawn, he thought of her and his life. He owed much of what he was to that drunk. 

I've recently became aware of a Virginia Book Festival that is scheduled for March 2017. I really want to attend this event. One of the conditions for entry is that your book must be published in 2016 or early 2017, and we must submit two copies with the registration due by October 2016. This means I must finish this story quickly if I am going to get it edited and published in time.

Other than trying to get "Bugs On The Windshield" done in time, I'm wondering if I would be better off trying to finish "Janie's Got It Good", Book 4 of the series, as it is mostly written; it just needs tweaking and editing.

My heart and mind are focused on Bugs On The Windshield", as if there's an urgency to get it done, anyway. Besides, if I fail, I will try again the following year.

A final thought before I close: I have to check with the Festival to see how I can register by October if the book won't be published until late 2016 or  early 2017. Hmm, good idea!

Until next time...Read.

Time for update

On Saturday, June 11, 2016, I, again, participated in the annual Charles County ArtFest.

This was one of my best years for sales. I was very shocked and pleased.

It was a hot day, one of the hottest so far this year. Even though we were under a canopy covering and had a breeze, it was hot. I was upset that all of the food vendors available this year only had water and sodas, which we had our own. It would have been nice to have had lemonade stands or flavored teas available as before.

Again, I shared the space with The Life Journeys Writers Guild as in previous years. We had a lot of activity and managed to meet and talk to a number of people. Besides myself, there were two other authors and their book(s).

Two notable sales for me were: first, a gentleman stopped and started asking about the Janie series (1-3) and Hooked and Hooked Too. He wasn't put off that they are romances, and loved the larger print. Then he asked me what kind of deal I would give him if he bought all 3 Janies. I laughed and told him I had never had to consider that. But, doing a quick calculation, I told him what I would do. Then, he asked for a deal for all 5 books. Again, I laughed and we came to an agreed upon price and he did buy 5 books.

The second was a lady who had stopped by earlier with two of her friends. She came back to purchase Hooked 1 & 2. As I was preparing to sign them, she asked the same thing the gentleman did, except she wanted all 6 (Janie (1-3) and Hooked 1 & 2, and Witchy Tales: Gail Warning. I gave her pretty much the same deal as I did the man.

So, in total, I sold 14 books. In addition to the above sales, I sold the last copy of Witchy Tales, and a special offer on Janie 1 & 2.

What a grand feeling. I hope they enjoy them as much as I did in writing them. I was happy to have to order a few more copies of Janie 3 and Witchy Tales to put back into inventory. Plus, today, I printed more of my book description post cards handouts. I'm ready for the next one, whatever that might be.

Back for Quick Update

I have been busy with home projects and hadn't realized how long it's been since I posted here.

Still have several more projects to get done, but I did manage to get some writing time.

I actually went back to Janie 4, which BTW, had been mostly written a long time ago. I just have to re-write to make it match the previous books in the series.

Marketing this past year has not been successful. Mainly, due to my lack of time. With preparing for retirement, fighting the company over insurance premium increases, searching for better rates, helping family, attending to home repairs, and training a new puppy, I have just not had the time to devote.

Thankfully, being a member of the Life Journeys Writers Guild (new name, same game), I get to stay in the loop about what's going on in the writers world.

I do have plans, to start adding some craft projects to my long-term plan. I do have to get organized and make space for inventory and work space; maybe this winter.

We have had a lot of rain so far in 2016. I'm ready for some sunshine and warm temps.

Until next time.

Thanks to all who visit my page.

Getting Back into It

Been working a couple hours, every other day on the new story. Deciding on the characters and their names, and how they will interact with Kitty. 

I am going to do my best not to rush this one. I want to delve deeper into this character. I like the gist of the story so far and what I plan to happen; however, as with most stories, the characters decide for themselves as they evolve. This may be a romance, or a near-romance; I haven't decided yet.

At some point, I will return to Janie, Book 4, which I hope to have ready by the end of the year. In book 4, the timeframe is during the holidays and I'd like to get the book ready by then. As with books 2 & 3, most of 4 was done several years ago, but will have to be re-worked since changes were made to the previous books. 

Also, at some point in the future, I want to break away from romance, every now and then, and may have to decide whether to go with a pen name. I have worked hard to find my fans and do not want to lose them by changing the author's name. 

A lot to think about as I work on Beautiful Soul and home projects.

Until next time.

Happy New Year and more

Hello to all who read my blog.

Hope everyone had a safe and joyful holiday season. Let's hope the new year brings blessings, prosperity, and happy times.

As you know, I've been on recess for several months to take care of other things. I've promised myself that once January arrived, I would get back to writing. Today is that day.

For right now, I've dedicated Tuesdays and Thursdays to writing. I have to have a schedule, otherwise, I would let life get in my way.

As I get back into the swing of things, I'll make an extra effort to update my blog more often.

The story I will begin work on will be called "Beautiful Soul", which will be about Kitty Langford, a practicing nurse from northern Virginia who moves to Ashland, Virginia after the breakup with her fiancé. When she moves to Ashland, she is in an uncertain place in her life. The breakup has left a hole in her that she isn't sure she can repair. Her maternal aunt and her husband had left her their home when they both died within months of each other over a year ago. At first, she seeks the home as a refuge while she searches for herself and her future. Yet, when she first gets a look at the neighborhood, she believes she, and her relatives, have gotten her all wrong. The town is small and quaint; she's used to the hustle and bustle of northern Virginia. And the house is in need of repair as much as she is. But she decides to stay and see how the house, and herself, will look after some TLC.

Stay tuned for more to come. 

And, as always, thank you goes out to those of you who support me and other indie writers.