To Good to be True...by Sheila Claydon

You know that saying...

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Well recently I had it proven and it is something that all writers should beware.

Over the years I have written quite a number of books. Books We Love has published most of them, mainly as their primary publisher, but on several occasions when copyright from older titles has reverted to me, it has republished them, for which I am extremely grateful. I have one book, however, that is published by Amazon and this is the book that comes with a red flag.

When I checked my emails the other day, one popped up from an unknown sender. Although I am usually cautious it looked harmless so I opened it. Immediately my blood pressure went up and my heart started beating fast because it was from a Literary and Talent Agent who was asking if I would be open to pitching my book for a possible film adaptation. He explained the growing demand for book-to-film projects, gave details of the submission specialist partners and studio managers who wanted to work with me, and suggested a Zoom meeting to explore next steps. 

Have any of you daydreamed about turning your novels into a film? I certainly have, and coincidentally this particular book has always been at the top of that list. For all of five minutes I saw my book up in lights. I wondered who would play my sparky heroine and my moody hero. Would the location be the one I wrote about in the book? While I was in this state of euphoria I dashed off a reply. Not an effusive, excited one though because, in case you are wondering, I am not that green!!  I merely sent a note asking for more details.  Then, while I was waiting for his reply, I googled 'book-to-film' scams. And wow!

I not only discovered a great deal about the various scams that are out there but, more importantly, the huge sums of money some writers have been persuaded to part with in an attempt to get their story onto the big screen. When I made it very clear to the agent that I wasn't that person we parted on friendly terms, with him thanking me for my candid reply. He also said the door was always open if I changed my mind and wanted to invest. Not prepared to part with a single cent I went back to thinking about what I might write next, not for film, just for me and my readers. 

I did feel sad though, learning about all those writers who have been duped. As we all know, writing a book is not the path to fortune except for a fortunate few. It is more a labour of love, something that however time consuming and frustrating it can be, we just have to do. We are thrilled when readers get in touch, so of course we would be even more thrilled to see our stories up on the big screen and the scammers know this. So they search out the gullible and take their money not once, but again and again while they purportedly take the newly drafted script from studio to studio, so please fellow writers, remember...

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

And if you decide to read any of my books, the vision of the protagonists and the settings that you see in your mind's eye are the next best thing to them being up there on the big screen anyway. My 3 Mapleby Memories books, which are written in the past and the present would be a good start and a challenge to any film maker:)

Find my books here

St. Patrick's Day - Irish Memories by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #St. Patrick's Day #Memories #Books "Choices #Medical romance

 

This story has an Irish hero -

Johanna Gordon devotes her time and energy to her job as Director of Nursing at Hudson Community Hospital. With budget cuts hanging over her head, Johanna suspects the CEO of scheming a plan that threatens her job as well as the hospital, and she’s determined to find out why.

The choices she’s made for herself and her career leave her with no social life until she meets Dylan Connelly. He’s everything she’s always wanted, loving, devoted to his kids and everything she’s never had. Just when she finds love with the new man, an old flame returns with promises of a life together. Johanna has to decide between security and companionship, while trying to recapture the past, or moving forward with her new life.

A fun book to write but my Irish memories are ones of a years ago trip to Ireland when I was able to visit the town where one of my relatives came from. I also remember Ireland for the greens. Seemed as though there were hundreds shades of greens.

Another memory was during our exploring trip of watching a black and white collie performing herding tricks. The shepherd of the flock gave us  a look at how the dog obeyed commands and how it herded the sheep. Was a wonderful stop beside the roam just to rest our legs but also to watch the dog and the shepherd. No words were taken, just hand signals to the dog.

Weaving memories is what I do these days. mostly along with weaving stories.

The ambitious male chirp, by J.C. Kavanagh

To purchase your copy of the award-winning Twisted Climb series, 
click here: https://www.bookswelove.net/kavanagh-j-c/

Last month, I wrote about the cold, the snow, and the ice coverage on the Great Lakes of North America. Here in Central Ontario, we've survived (suffered?) three major snow events since then. I honestly thought this winter and the abundant snowfall would never end.

But it appears the end is in sight.

A month ago, the great lakes were covered in 23% ice, and later in February, the ice peaked at 52%. Since then, warmer temperatures have melted the snow and ice, and today, the lakes have an average of 17% ice coverage (all National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) statistics).

What a difference 10 years make!
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration diagrams (above and below) display the
maximum ice coverage for the Great Lakes in 2014,
where the 'palest' colour denotes 100% coverage, 
and 'black' is 0% ice,
compared to now (see below)...

... ice coverage in the Great Lakes as of March 11, 2025. 
Note that in this diagram, the 'light blue' colour is zero % ice coverage,
and 'black' is 100% ice coverage. 

We in central Ontario have the snow!
A 'top hat' on the roof of our bird feeder :)

It sure doesn't look like spring, but...

Today, I heard a red-winged black bird sing its unique song, and across the road, an ambitious male cardinal chirping his best mating call. A call this 'ambitious' as we still have about a metre of snow on the ground (that's three feet for my American readers). The first pair of Canadian geese flew overhead yesterday, travelling north. The cheeky squirrels are now out in droves, though the red squirrels have been out-and-about the base of our bird feeder all winter. I do see signs of budding in the trees and the snow is slowly but surely melting off our roof.

And, big news... we completed the "Chuck's Palace" sign! 

Probably the finest wood shed E V E R :)
Fit to be named "Chuck's Palace."

I must admit something though. I really do love winter. And snow. And even the cold. And something else... a snowy, cold winter makes me truly grateful for Spring.

I'm also very grateful for the readers who have supported The Twisted Climb series - making it an award-winning trilogy. The adventures and drama blend into an action-packed read for teens, young adults and adults-young-at-heart.

Stay safe and don't forget to tell the ones you love that you love them.

J.C. Kavanagh, author of
The Twisted Climb - A Bright Darkness (Book 3) Best YA Book FINALIST at Critters Readers Poll 2022
AND
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends (Book 2) voted BEST Young Adult Book 2018, Critters Readers Poll and Best YA Book FINALIST at The Word Guild, Canada
AND
The Twisted Climb,
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016, P&E Readers Poll
Voted Best Local Author, Simcoe County, Ontario, 2021
Novels for teens, young adults and adults young-at-heart
Email: author.j.c.kavanagh@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/J.C.Kavanagh
www.amazon.com/author/jckavanagh
Instagram @authorjckavanagh

Greetings from beautiful downtown 2025! by Lance Chalmers

 

bwlpublishing.ca/chalmers-lance

www.amazon.ca/Rocker-Rez-Lance-Chalmers

Really? 2025? Why does it feel like New Year’s Eve was ages ago, and yet it takes no time at all for the next one to arrive?

I’ve tried to begin 2025 by making professional progress with my musical endeavors. My dear, departed dad was against changing for the sake of change, but I promised myself I’d always embrace changes in technology and the challenges that come with it.

Restoring a snowblower is a very linear process. I rather enjoyed it. It distracts from the frustrations associated with the new software and hardware issues I’m facing. I downgraded my hardware to use older systems, solely for the purpose of studio stability.

But the downside? When you invest in new software, your older hardware often can’t handle the demands of the new programs. Nothing new to any of my peers, of course. There’s just a lack of smiles when lamenting the necessary upgrades to coordinate said software and hardware.

I’ve reluctantly had to gather resources to acquire new hardware. My acoustic drums will remain the same, with their present steam-powered, coal-burning recording format.

The new program and hardware will be used specifically for the ever-changing and dominating digital realm of drumming. I’ve built a tower with a desk that rises up and out of the top of the tower to harness lightning. Franken-lance. I’ve only got to get one more piece to the puzzle. Once I do, I’ll be able to send MIDI info all over the world to clients and friends. Who has time to mix real acoustic drums? (Well, of course, I do.)

My services will be in line with current changes in recording and songwriting before my next celebration of my arrival on Earth. My advice? Don’t listen to advice. Keep on pushing. Straight ahead. Where are my reading glasses? I can’t see how small the notes are now.

Stay tuned for an upgraded EPK, everyone!

Goodbye for now,
Lance “Frankenstein” Chalmers, AKA Digital Man.

 

The Challenge of Self Promoting by Tobias Robbins

https://bookswelove.com/robbins-tobias/

I was raised to be humble. I don't feel comfortable self promoting. It feels like bragging. But that is what is needed if I want to get people to buy my book, right? I feel it's a good book. Maybe even great. But for me to push that on a stranger feels wrong for some reason. It's the difference between art and business. To me art is synonymous with honesty and altruism. Business has a more cynical connotation, like it is inherently more selfish. How can an artist sell their work but not sell out? It sounds easy on the surface. I believe in my product, I genuinely think it is a solid book. So promoting it should be just like sharing my opinion, it's natural and sincere. But why do I feel yucky about it then?

I recently got a five star review from Readers’ Favorite. It had perfect scores in each of the categories for which it was considered. I now have evidence that I am not the only one that thinks it's good. But still, there is that subtle whisper telling me to be quiet about it. Don't be a show off. You don't need to rub it in their faces. 

I need to ignore that voice if I am to ever sell copies of this book. Push away the doubt and turn it into a job. Sell my product. 

I just submitted it to the Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest. If I do halfway good enough in the contest then maybe that will do my promotion for me. Maybe a contest win could get me the recognition I know I need to promote the book. 

I am going to focus on separating myself from my art. It is just a thing like all other things. The same way I can recommend a movie to someone else. I don't have a personal stake in it. I can argue all day why my top ten horror movies are the greatest, so why should promoting my book be any different? I know it is a quality work of fiction and I have several reasons to feel this way. 

If I don't show faith in my book, then I can’t expect anyone else to either.