January 22, 2016 by Lori L MacLaughlin

Celebrate the Small Things!

Celebrate the Small Things is a weekly celebration created by VikLit and now hosted by Lexa Cain to celebrate the happenings of the week, however small or large. You can learn all about it and sign up for it here.

I took a little longer break than I had planned, but that’s okay. It was much needed, and I accomplished quite a bit. So without further ado, here are my celebrations for the week:

I finished and posted the latest version of the book trailer for my forthcoming second book, Trouble By Any Other Name! You can see it HERE.
Only 8 more chapters to go (out of 40) for my final edits!
My kids are finishing up their midterm exams this morning, and then it’s off for the weekend!
That big snowstorm that’s supposed to hit the East Coast on Saturday will likely miss us up here in northern New England. Since I’m a snow shoveler and not a skier or a snowboarder, that makes me happy.

Belated Happy New Year to everyone! What other celebrations are going on out there?

January 18, 2016 by Lori L MacLaughlin

The New Trailer! For Book II: Trouble By Any Other Name

I fully intended to post something over the last couple of weeks since the start of the new year, but I’ve been making so much progress with my edits and book trailer during my social media break that I just had to keep going with them.

I uploaded the latest version of the trailer for my forthcoming second book, Trouble By Any Other Name, to YouTube. I’d love feedback from anyone who has time to check it out. Here it is, and thank you! Happy New Year!

December 5, 2015 by Lori L MacLaughlin

Celebrate the Small Things! — Weekend Edition

I took last Friday off from blogging for the Thanksgiving holiday. It was nice to have great weather for it, even though we didn’t have that far to travel. I know there were many other people who did have many miles to go. I enjoy Thanksgiving because it reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for. With all the craziness in life, it’s important to stop and be thankful and not take for granted all the blessings we have.

On that note, I’d like to celebrate:

Family and friends! Where would we be without them?
Simple things like getting a haircut and treating yourself to an ice cream sundae.
Getting into the Christmas spirit! I was able to get some shopping done this week, so I’m not so far behind.
Starting work on a book trailer for Book 2, Trouble By Any Other Name! I really enjoy doing those.

What other celebrations are going on out there?

November 4, 2015 by Lori L MacLaughlin

IWSG — Back Cover Blurb Blues

Today’s the day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) where, on the first Wednesday of every month, writers get together to share their insecurities and offer encouragement. The IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can learn all about it and sign up for it here.

I’ve been working on the back cover blurb for Book 2: Trouble By Any Other Name. The problem is that there are so many important elements to the story — how do you include them all and still keep it short, yet interesting enough to entice readers to take a chance on the book? Obviously, some of the elements have to be left out, because there’s just not room enough on the back of the book. Therein, lies my frustration.

I craft a blurb and think, wow, this is great. Then something else occurs to me that really should be included. Back to the drawing board. Okay, now I’ve got it… but, wait, I need to include this other detail. Back to the drawing board. Okay, this one is really good… oh, wait… You get the idea.

Trying to condense a complex 600-page book into a couple of paragraphs is an exercise in hair pulling and teeth gnashing. But if it’s not right, no one will buy the book, even though it might be something they’d like.

I know every writer goes through this, but man, it can sure drive you nuts. Oh, well. Back to the drawing board…

October 23, 2015 by Lori L MacLaughlin

Celebrate the Small Things!

Leaf-peeping season is on the wane, and we actually had sleet and snow showers last weekend. (Definitely NOT celebrating that.) I do have other things to celebrate, though:

My son was chosen as one of the Students of the Month for October! He’s been doing great in his first year of high school.
I finally got started on the cover for Book 2: Trouble By Any Other Name.
I helped set up our school’s Scholastic Book Fair, which starts next week. I love opening all the boxes and seeing all the new books!

What other celebrations are going on out there?

September 2, 2015 by Lori L MacLaughlin

IWSG — Book Two Blues

I’ve been trying to finish the final edits on Book 2: Trouble By Any Other Name, but the past month or two, I haven’t accomplished nearly as much as I wanted to. Summer was just too busy. Now that the kids are back in school, I’m hoping I can pick up the pace.

Sometimes I worry if I’ll lose the small audience I have if this second book is delayed beyond the six-month time frame in which I’d hoped to publish it. I’m hoping readers will still be interested when it finally does come out.

But then I worry, what if they read it and don’t like it? What if they think it’s not as good as the first one? I know it’s pointless to worry, but sometimes I can’t help it.

How many others out there worry about these things?