This one showed up yesterday, the third contest I entered, the third contest in which one of my books finaled. Thank you to all the judges from Denver!
HAVING FUN AGAIN–ASPEN GOLD FINALIST!
Y’all know how much fun contests are. Well, this has been a delightful week for my books.
Today, I learned that Sailing out of Darkness is one of three finalists in the Single Title Category (for romantic as opposed to romance fiction) of the Aspen Gold Contest from the Heart of Denver Romance Writers!
Readers in Denver, thank you!
For one more day, the Kindle version remains at 99 cents.
Click HERE to buy.
Marketing Stage 3: Sailing out of Darkness Book Trailer
What can I say? After yesterday’s fun, I decided to play some more.
[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyZDn2ta6Nw[/embedyt]
Here is the new book trailer for Sailing out of Darkness. Would it make you want to read the book?
Please let me know!
The Ripple Effect: A Word Gift to This Writer
A stone plopped into water formed ripples, creating concentric circles that moved out from the center and subsided gradually if nothing impeded their progress. Whether or not they ever came to a full stop, Teo wasn’t scientist enough to know. It looked to him as if the molecules touched by movement became propelled in an infinitely wider arc, slower perhaps as they achieved distance, but still there, still moving, still affecting other molecules and pushing them to confront whatever lay in their path. (from page 335, Sailing out of Darkness)
A writer sends her work out like that stone plopping on water, hoping the ripples will touch readers. Rarely have I read a review of my work that showed just how deeply someone had been moved. I hope you’ll indulge me as I share them with you. I am humbled.
From a Goodreads reader came this five-star review:
He is risen!
Wonderful Review: Sailing out of Darkness
I admit it: I’m a terrible blogger. There’s so much else I’d rather do, like work on my next book or read or spend way too much time on social media, checking in with the world on that huge, huge time-hole called Facebook.
And, no, the picture above has absolutely nothing to do with a review or with wasting time. I just like it…and can’t wait to get out on the water again.
Anyway, back to the review. The first words made me giddy:
“Normandie Fischer is at it again–illustrating the complex heart of the mature woman. Hers aren’t the novels of first love and high hopes for the future. They aren’t aimed at fresh-faced youngsters looking for romance–and a husband, children, and a house with a white picket fence. They’re aimed at women who have already been there, and wear the tarnish to prove it.”
So writes author and editor Linda Yezak. Isn’t it a great beginning?
Yes, I write about tarnished folk. Women such as I who need a bit of buffing every so often to bring out the shine. You can read the rest of her kinds words on her blog:
77 Peppermint Place
Check her out.
(Oh, and the last words of her review took my giddiness to the next level.)
Lovely Words from Good Girl Gone Redneck
I know. The picture has nothing to do with rednecks, my book, or a review. But I looked like a celebration. A kick-up your heels and dance moment.
And if you follow this link to Andrea’s review of Sailing out of Darkness, you’ll see why.
Actors to Play Characters in Sailing out of Darkness
I love Facebook and my interaction with friends. John Pelkey was the first to come up with actors he thought would be perfect for Becalmed‘s characters, so I set up a Pinterest Board for them.
After beginning Sailing out of Darkness, Kimberli Buffaloe fell in love with Teo, and we began playing with the idea of characters for it. John Pelkey joined in this morning with some more great picks after finishing the book. I don’t see in these terms when I write, so I love what these readers have come up with.
Click here to see what they’ve come up with so far. I’d love to hear your thoughts on their choices. Do you have others to suggest?
And what about settings? Kimberli said she has some thoughts on how the settings in Sailing out of Darkness fit the story. What do you think?
When Someone Gets It
You paint a picture, create a sculpture, write a poem or a book. Folk say they love this or that. A few say they don’t like anything you’ve done. Well, you try for a thank-you to them anyway, because that’s what you’ve been taught to do. Smile. Be polite.
And then someone writes a review of your newest and shows that she gets it. She gets the purpose and the heart of your story, although she doesn’t normally read in your genre–or in this case, genres.
Yesterday, that happened when a reader wrote these words about Sailing out of Darkness. I don’t care that she only gave it four stars while she gave my first (Becalmed) five. You’ll see what I mean when you read her words, these from Goodreads:
Normandie Fischer’s latest, Sailing Out of Darkness, includes some of my favorite things: sailing, travel, mystery, and even a bit of fantasy thrown in. Fischer’s latest novel seamlessly melds multiple genres–romance, Christian fiction, women’s lit, and literary–without settling entirely within any one. Don’t think that’s a criticism. For me, I found the balance just right: the romance never gets sappy, the thread of faith/Christian fiction runs through subtly, never pounding the reader over the head with it as so much of that genre does, the mystery and conflict over Samantha’s past coming back to haunt her kept me on edge without becoming melodramatic, and her literal and figurative voyage of self-discovery moves at an engaging pace that never falls over the line from relatable introspection to banal self-absorption. Sam, Teo, and all of the characters’ personalities come through clearly and their interactions and dialogue flow smoothly. Fischer is a master at transporting the reader into the scene. The beauty and foreignness of exploring new places is captured pitch perfect in Sam’s ponderings as she makes her way through Italy. I could picture the Italian countryside, feel the rhythm of the boat on the Mediterranean Sea, and my heart ached and pulse raced when Sam confronted…well, read it to see what and how she overcomes the ordeals she faces.
Introducting Sailing out of Darkness in My Words
My publicist, River Laker of Silver Seas PR, shot these on board Sea Venture at Liberty Landing Marina, where we’d docked while I played grandmother to my daughter’s newborn a ferry ride away in NYC. Obviously, (sans doute!) I had no script. Nor the benefit of a make-up and hair artist (big sigh). Still, they give voice to some of my thoughts on the story.
Sailing out of Darkness
Tomorrow is Launch Party Day on Facebook. And here is our party schedule of appearances. Please stop by and win one of these lovely books!
9:00-10:10 Barbara Davis
10:10-11:20 Lynne Hinkey
11:20-12:40 Jessica Topper
12:40-1:50 Robin Patchen
1:50-3:00 Jessica Dotta
3:00-4:10 Barbara Claypole White
4:10-5:20 Laura Wharton
5:20-6:30 Anne Barnhill
6:30 -8:00 yours truly
Click here to join the party!
8 Authors Join Me at Launch Party for Sailing out of Darkness
Win Books by:
Barbara Claypole White, Anne Barnhill, Barbara Davis, Jessica Dotta, Jessica Topper, Laura Wharton, Lynne Hinkey, Robin Patchen, and Yours Truly!
The Facebook Launch Party of
Sailing out of Darkness
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
9 AM to 8 PM
Join us on Facebook: Click Here!!