Southern Writers Magazine Supports an Authors Event

By Steve Bradshaw, Specialty Writer for Southern Writers Magazine and Author of The Bell Trilogy books 

You are invited to a Southern Writers Magazine event: 12 SOUTHERN AUTHORS AT COLLIERVILLE BURCH LIBRARY SEPTEMBER 14, 2:00-4:00 pm in Collierville, TN

The Collierville Burch Library is pleased to welcome twelve published southern authors to the SOUTHERN AUTHOR EVENT on Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

International Thriller author, Steve Bradshaw worked closely with the Collierville Library staff in assembling a gifted group of southern authors to present their latest book releases and to meet the public.

“We wanted to have authors representing each of the most popular genres at this event,” Steve said. “Our authors write historical crime fiction, cozy mysteries, Christian mysteries, Romance, Young Adult, Christian non-fiction, Memoir, Short Stories, and Children books.”

“Attractive promotional elements and fun for the attendees were the keys to organizing an author event supported by SOUTHERN WRITERS MAGAZINE,” said Editor and Chief Susan Reichert. There will be 50 new releases given away on September 14, each signed and personalized for the lucky winners. All you need to do is stop by the Collierville Library before September 14 and drop you name in the registration box. The drawing on September 14 will decide the winners. You must be present to win. The library marketing manager Linda Brown said, “I want everyone to have a good chance at winning a great novel at our library. Although their supplies will be limited, we are pleased the authors will bring more of their books for purchase.”

The SOUTHERN AUTHOR EVENT will debut two nine-year-old writers with their first books. Come by and meet these wonderful young writers and talk to an author in your favorite genre.

Participating Authors include: Nick Nixon, Deborah Sprinkle, Michael Hicks Thompson, Tracy Crump, Jean Brunson, Sharilyn Hunt, Sandra Wright, Rene Dick, Patricia Bradley, and Steve Bradshaw  

Audiobook 101

By Nick Nixon

Audiobooks are the hottest things on the market. Many people say they don’t have time to read. They can listen to audio books in their cars to and from work, on road trips, at the beach, on an airplane, cooking dinner or soaking in the tub. 

There are online videos on how to narrate your own book, and sources that will narrate it for you…and you get to choose the voice that fits your book. Online seminars and workshops are available with tips and training. Right now, there is a shortage of qualified narrators. 

ACX is the largest source for turning novels into audiobooks and hiring narrators. They also offer to help authors narrate their own books. Other sources offer the same services online. And there are some that will help narrators find projects, but there is a fee for this, which can be paid annually or monthly. One is Voice 123. They are sort of like paid agents. 

There are two ways a narrator can be paid: Charge the author a fee, based upon the number of hours it will take for the narration and editing of the finished product. Or, make a deal with the author to split 50/50 what he makes selling the audiobooks. Some narrators will do both.

The most prolific audiobook narrator is Scott Brick who narrates about 50 books a year in his home studio. He also teaches workshops and seminars and has online videos available. He says a successful audiobook narrator should have a little actor in him or her. He was asked how a man does women’s voices and how does a woman do men’s’ voices. His answer was they don’t. In a conversation between a man and woman, he reads the man's voice a little louder and the woman’s voice a little softer. And it helps to read one a little faster than the other. The reader will catch on. 

Most audiobook narrators work from home studios. All need you is a computer with audio recording software. I use GarageBand, which is recommended by many. However, there are other good ones out there too. You also need a good microphone, a puff screen for the mic, a mixer, earphones, speakers and a music stand for your copy. You do not have to break the bank to buy what you need. The size of the room does not matter. Set your equipment up in a corner. You can also add a few of those egg crate foam sound deadening panels to the two walls near your equipment. They do not have to go floor to ceiling. You can also use drapes and blankets. If you feel the need to somewhat enclose your recording space a little, you can attach the foam panels to some sheets of foam core and create a movable screen. You can order the foam panels in three different colors and the foam core from Walmart. The cost is reasonable.

As you can see from the picture of my equipment, there is a window in the background with an air conditioner in it. I cover that before I record. 

The first thing you need to do is you if you are considering narrating your novel is go online and look at everything you can find on narrating audiobooks. There is a lot available to you.  

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After retiring from a career in advertising, Nick Nixon began writing crime fiction novels, inspired by his love for old black-and-white film noir movies of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. THE FRAME, his first book in a series of Peter English, PI mysteries, will release late October 2016. Nick also writes and illustrates children’s books, as well as recording them. He enjoys spending time with his family, good music, good books and classic cars. Three Fun Facts about Nick Nixon: 1…He has five children and fourteen grandchildren. 2…He writes humor columns and does cartoons for various publications. 3…He draws caricatures. Nick’s social media links are:  Blog nick.blogspot.com  Website: nicknixonauthor.com   Twitter nick_nickwits  and on Linkedin  His books include his today release,  THE FRAME, Candy Moon, Candy Moon Choo Choo and Looking Through the Rearview Mirror: Drawing From the past to inspire the future (Anthology) (Volume 1) 

A Late Bloomer

By Nick Nixon

I was a late bloomer in becoming an author. I spent 35 years building and managing Nixon & Associates, a graphic design firm. I had a staff of eight talented people and we served local, national and even a few international clients. Most of the writing I did in those 35 years was advertising copy. When I retired in 2010, I started writing humor articles for various publications, usually accompanied by one of my cartoons. 

I eventually joined a local writer’s group and I even contributed to their annual anthology, like most of the other members. Whatever I wrote always contained a good bit of humor. I was fortunate enough to have one of my articles included in an issue of Chicken Soup for the Soul. This led to local radio and TV interviews. After telling my host about my writing, cartooning, illustration work, doing voice overs for commercials, taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, washing the cars, and feeding the dog and cat, she asked if there was anything else I wanted to do that I had not yet done. All of a sudden, without thinking or taking a deep breath, I blurted it out, “Every writer would like to write a book someday.” I had never thought about writing a book, let alone saying it out loud before.      

Honestly, I don’t know what was said after that. I think I was in shock after my “every writer wants to write a book someday” comment. I mentioned this remark at the next writers meeting and how surprised I was to actually have said it. “Well, have you?” Jeri, one of my fellow members asked. I was ready for that. I told her and the rest of the group I was thinking about writing a parody of The Maltese Falcon and calling it The Maltese Chicken. That got a laugh from everyone but Jeri. She greeted me at the door at our next monthly meeting with two books in her hands. Both were about how to write a detective novel. I read both of them and that did it. 

One night, as I was trying to go to sleep, my brain would not shut down and I got the idea for The Frame. Three months later I had written 86,000 words and considered my first novel complete. After some beta readers and two editors had gone through it, and I learned what it meant to tighten it up, I really did have a finished manuscript with a total of a little over 83,000 words. 

I immediately followed it up with Murder on the 13th Green, a sequel to The Frame, which was just released. I also changed the cover of The Frame to something more exciting and made a few improvements inside as well. It has just been re-released. They are both available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon as e-books and paperbacks. I am now working on The Main Street Murders. All three are part of the Peter English, PI Mystery series, and set in Memphis, TN during the post WWII 1940’s. I have been asked where I got my inspiration for these books. The answer: many Saturday afternoons in a darkened neighborhood movie theatre, as a kid, watching old, black and white film noir crime movies from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. I still love to watch them on TV. Even though I was born in the 1940s and grew up in Memphis in the 1950s and ‘60s, I have to do a lot of research for the ‘40s, which I enjoy almost as much as I do writing these books. Go ahead; read the books and fact check me. I dare you.

People who know me and have read The Frame tell me they think Peter English is my alter ego, I tell them that is not true. I am much better looking. 

I have learned that writing a novel is only the beginning. A good editor, especially one who challenges a writer, will make him or her a better writer and consequently turn out a better book. I have learned to read other writers’ books and listen to their advice. And if you are not a John Grisham, you have to do all the marketing and PR….not the publisher. I am still learning, and learning, and learning.

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Nick Nixon, author of The Frame and Murder on the 13th Green, grew up in Memphis, TN and went to public school and college here. He is a retired advertising executive, who lives just outside Memphis with his wife, whom he refers to as his real estate typhoon. He is the father of five and grandfather of fourteen…with number fifteen in the oven. He plays golf very badly but sings pretty well with his church choir and in the shower. He is currently working on his third novel in the Peter English, PI Mystery series and he has a western also in the works. Nick has written six children’s books which he is currently illustrating, and he has illustrated two children’s books for another author. He is helping a fellow Christian write a book that will be published in about fifty languages and circulated worldwide, and he has just begun the process of narrating the Peter English novels for audio books. When asked what he does with his spare time, Nick says he still takes out the trash, mows the lawn, washes the cars, feeds the dog and cat, and still has time for family and friends. Social Media:  Website:  nicknixonauthor.com  blog:  nickwits.blogspot.com  Facebook:  nicknixon,author  Twitter:  Nick Nixon (@nick_wits)

HOW, WHY AND WHAT I WRITE

By Nick Nixon

I am a published author. Wow, I never get tired of hearing, writing or saying that. The only thing I wrote for thirty five years was advertising copy. When I retired, I started writing humor columns and doing cartoons to go along with them for a few of publications.

I was usually given a theme for each issue and I would write something I thought was humorous that would fit. I eventually joined a local writers group and started writing humorous contributions for their anthologies and other publications.

Someone in the group suggested I write something for Chicken Soup for the Soul. I wrote about my experience with cancer back in 2007. I included my usual stab at humor and sent it in. They actually included it one of their books.

As a result of this, I was interviewed on local radio and television. As I shared all the things I was involved in, one of the hosts asked me if there was anything I haven’t done that I would like to do. I said all writers would like to write a book. I had never really thought about that before, let alone said it out loud.

I mentioned this at our next writers meeting and announced my intention to write a parody of The Maltese Falcon and call it The Maltese Chicken. This got laughs, but my friend who suggested I write for Chicken Soup told me I should write a serious crime novel. Then she gave me a book on writing PI novels. I read it and I was hooked.

I grew up watching old black and white film noir crime movies at our neighborhood movie theatre and I still watch them on television. I like reading crime novels but some of them are not written very well. I thought I could write this stuff, and maybe even better than some of these guys.

One night, as I lay in bed, my brain wouldn’t shut off, and Peter English, PI was born, along with The Frame, a crime novel set in Memphis, TN during the 1940s, right after WWII. Three months and 83,000 plus words later, I had written my first novel. I think Sam Spade, Phillip Marlow and a few other pulp fiction and movie detectives would approve.

The Frame is available on Amazon in print and on Kindle. I just finished Murder on the 13^th Green, my second Peter English, PI novel. Tomorrow I start on The Main Street Murders, the third novel in this series.

Do I use an outline? No. I never know what’s going to happen on the next page until I get there. I write in first person, but there is also colorful dialogue. There is gunplay, a bit of humor and even a little romance in these books. Since they are set in 1940s Memphis, I have to do quite a bit of research. I do that as I write. It’s more fun that way.

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Nick Nixon is a native of Memphis. He was educated in public schools and Memphis State University, where he studied art and journalism. He owned and operated Nixon & Associates, a graphic design firm, for 35 years. He started his writing career in 2010, writing humor columns, sometimes including some of his cartoons, for various publications. Nick said he is most proud to have been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul.  After retiring form a career in advertising, Nick Nixon began writing crime fiction, inspired by his love of old black and white film noir crime movies of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. THE FRAME, his first novel in a series Peter English, PI mysteries, set in Memphis, TN during the 1940s, is available on Amazon. MURDER ON THE 13th GREEN, the second in this series is being edited, and he is now writing the third book, THE MAIN STREET MURDERS. He is already working on The Main Street Murders, the third novel in this fictional series.Nick has illustrated books by other authors and is now illustrating a series of children's books he wrote. He said these stories were inspired while reading to his grandchildren. His Social Media Links are: Facebook: nicknixon,author  Blog: nickwits.blogspot.com  Twitter: NickNixon@nick_nickwits

Website: nicknixonauthor.com e-mail: nickwits@gmail.com

Hook a Reader

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director at Southern Writers Magazine

My friend and author, Steve Bradshaw was stirring up social media the other day by posting a picture on Facebook. He gave a writing prompt with the posting of an intriguing picture saying, "there's a story here. Write the first sentence..."

My sentence was "'Murder in the family mausoleum' was the lead story for a week; then, another victim was found."

Author Michael Hicks Thompson responded, "Randolph Horn had always lived in a mansion. His last would be his forever."

Author Claire Fullerton's sentence was, "It takes the permanence of a graveyard to remind me of my impermanence."

Author Nick Nixon's sentence, "As I knelt beside the gravestone to lay some flowers down, the ground beneath me started to tremble. Suddenly a pasty, gray hand burst out of the grave and grabbed my ankle! Ahhhhhh!!!!"

Author Loryn Kramer Staley's sentence was, "Hidden in the shadow the old elm provided, she was relieved to find she was on this side of the daisies.

Author Devin Greaney wrote, "June 8, 1874, Rosa laid down to bed in her home on North Main, yet she awoke, of all places, in this cemetery which she realized was odd though not nearly as much as her discovery that it was now 2017."

Reader, Janie wrote, “Two sisters looking for relatives that were gone before them! Gone but not forgotten!"

Reader, Laurie's sentence, "I know I only have an hour or so before the darkness will be here... right here, once more."

Reader, Mike wrote, "The only ability Tripp had over making a grand entrance was the pomp and circumstance surrounding his grand exit and it's awe inspiring finality. He had commissioned his majestic mausoleum eighteen years ago and no detail was left unfinished. It has been said that, "You can't take it with you" but, apparently, they didn't know Harold Robinson, III."

Reader Julie's sentence was, "The moment he saw the old stone church in the middle of the beauty of its green surroundings he felt the sinister uneasiness he had felt before. He felt it beckoning yet a fear so pervasive overcame him he couldn't move. Suddenly he realized........"

Steve's post provided fabulous responses from authors and readers, alike. Authors' sentences had a different but clearly connected perspective. Authors want to hook the reader with the all-important first sentence. Readers wrote what they wanted to first read, which essentially is the same thing. 

Lessons for authors can be learned through an exercise like this, and it gets everyone's creative juices flowing. 

Thanks to Steve, it fueled me to write this blog post. How about you? 

If you didn't see Steve's picture, here it is, and now it's your turn to write the first sentence of the story behind this picture. 

Ready, get set...go. 

The Life and Times of a Writer

By Nick Nixon

I owned a graphic design firm for 35 years. I had a staff of seven people, four of whom were artists. I was primarily an artist too, but I also did any writing that was needed. All I ever wrote was advertising copy, which would not have passed my college English 101 class.

When I retired in 2010, I decided I would be a cartoonist, then a friend asked me to write a column to go along with one of my cartoons for his magazine. That is when I found out I had a talent for humorous writing.

After one of my more serious articles was featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul a couple of years ago, I was interviewed on local television and radio. I was asked if there was anything I had not done so far that I would like to do. I told her that every writer probably wants to write a novel. That is when I decided I would write The Maltese Chicken.

When I announced this to a writers group I belong to, one of the members gave me a book on how to write a serious private eye novel. I had never thought about writing anything that was not humorous, but one night, as I was trying to go sleep, the plot for The Frame popped into my head. The next day I started writing a novel about a cop who had been unjustly accused of wrong doing and lost his job, and his quest to find out who framed him and get even.

I did not have an outline. I just started writing. I never knew what was going to happen on the next page until it did. Three months later I had written well over 86,000 words. Since it was set in the 1940s, I had to do some research on cars, guns and history. I never named the city it took place in, but during one of the many edits and rewrites, my publisher suggested I set it in Memphis, TN. I grew up here, but I was amazed at how much I did not know about Memphis during the 1940s. I was definitely not a dedicated history student in high school or college, but I actually enjoyed the research and what I learned.

The reason I set the novel in the 1940s is because I have always been a big fan of the black and white film noir movies about private eyes and gangsters of that period. I still like to watch them on television.

I thought I had written a pretty good novel, but the constructive criticism, editing and advice I received from my publisher, my editor and fellow writers has made The Frame a much better novel and, hopefully, made me a better writer. I guess I’ll find this out when The Frame comes out sometime this fall.

Do I have any advice for anyone who wants to be a writer? Yeah, write what you know about, what you have a passion for, and listen to the advice you get from other, more experienced people in this business. Oh yeah, one more thing. Don’t be too defensive about what you have written when these people offer their opinions.

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After retiring from a career in advertising, Nick Nixon began writing crime fiction novels, inspired by his love for old black-and-white film noir movies of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. THE FRAME, his first book in a series of Peter English, PI mysteries, will release late October 2016. Nick also writes and illustrates children’s books, as well as recording them. He enjoys spending time with his family, good music, good books and classic cars. Three Fun Facts about Nick Nixon: 1…He has five children and fourteen grandchildren. 2…He writes humor columns and does cartoons for various publications. 3…He draws caricatures. Nick’s social media links are:  Blog nick.blogspot.com Website: nicknixonauthor.com   Twitter nick_nickwits  and on Linkedin  His books include his today release,  THE FRAME, Candy Moon, Candy Moon Choo Choo and Looking Through the Rearview Mirror: Drawing From the past to inspire the future (Anthology) (Volume 1) 

Candy Moon Choo Choo Book Signing

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

Londa Hayden, author of the Candy Moon series, recently had a book signing for her second book in the series Candy Moon Choo Choo. The signing was in Bartlett TN at Book Stop Plus, a local bookstore that has a strong connection with the writers and writers groups in the area. Londa made this a special family friendly event and many families came with children and grandchildren.  I attended with my granddaughter Lily Sloane and Londa did not disappoint.

Upon entering Book Stop Plus we were met by the author herself. This was nice being greeted by the writer, thanked for coming. Londa directed us to her hospitality table, book table and illustrator Nick Nixon’s table. She invited us to return and she would sign her books.

Her hospitality table included copies of Candy Moon and Candy Moon Choo Choo you could thumb through. Also was a copy of the Candy Moon Choo Choo Coloring Activity Book. She also had directions to her social media sites, the site for downloading and printing free activity pages and her website which included all her books. Fellow members of her Bartlett Writers Group worked the table and handed out candy, cookies and the like to visitors.  The CD recordings of both books read by illustrator Nick Nixon was an added touch.

Having illustrator Nick Nixon there was a very special pleasure for everyone attending. Nick has done some great work on these two books. Bringing his voice over experience from the advertising world to Londa’s CDs was again a treat. Nick had a busy table as well doing caricatures of the children which they all loved. Nick was wonderful with the kids and after meeting his grandchildren I can see his grand parenting skills are excellent.

Londa not only signed the books but became involved with each child and took time to read something or show them something in her Candy Moon Series. Londa used all available tools writers have to connect with her readers. I left thinking I can’t wait for the next book in her series. Londa made this an enjoyable event and all inclusive for families. Londa, well done!

        

     

The Benefits of a Writers Conference

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

If you don’t attend writer conferences you should definitely consider it. I recently attended and participated in a Writers Conference and Retreat sponsored by the Bartlett, TN Christian Writers Group and President Londa Hayden, The Writers Anointing, Date,Pray, Wait, and her latest children’s book Candy Moon. All of Londa’s books are available on Amazon. Londa is one of the most energetic people I have ever met. She has been successful in her career as a writer and in turn shares with others what she has done to become successful. I believe Londa took the words of Kevin Spacey to heart.

“If you're lucky enough to do well, it's your responsibility to send the elevator back down.” - Kevin Spacey

Londa had recently completed her children’s book Candy Moon with the final illustrations being completed by Illustrator Nick Nixon. Nick took us through the process of the coordination of author illustrator when completing the illustrations for the book. We got to see firsthand the beginning to finish product prior to publication. It looked fantastic and I can’t wait for my copy.

Tracy Crump, The Write Life Workshops, Chicken Soup for the Soul Workshops and author of numerous short stories and articles, including articles for Southern Writers Magazine, spoke on the challenge of finding an agent and publisher. Tracy always does a great job and is very detailed with her presentation. Many writers, including myself, have taken away information and made it a permanent part of their process. I can highly recommend Tracy and should you ever have the opportunity to hear her be sure to do so.

Gary Fearon, writer, songwriter, artist and Creative Director for Southern Writers Magazine, spoke on book covers. Gary creates the covers of Southern Writers Magazine and deals with many of the book covers our 700 plus authors have published. Gary was able to show us the amazing things that take place in the creation of book covers. Each cover design is vital in your books competition with over 1million books that are published each year. Gary let us know books are judged and bought by their covers.  

I spoke about the business side of publishing which pointed to the author turning over their “baby” to the professionals that package your book for marketing. I used several examples of the famous and yet to be famous authors and their journey to the final product. It can be painful at times but in the end people like Nick, Tracy and Gary make us all look better when the final touch is put on the product. The above picture shows from the left to right: Nick Nixon, Tracy Crump, me and Gary Fearon. 

Being able to hear professionals with the credentials of Londa, Nick, Tracy and Gary is priceless for writers. The Q&A opportunity for those in attendance gave each attendee a chance for their particular question/concern to be answered. All in all the knowledge shared will be beneficial in the writing, publishing, illustrating and graphics of each writer’s project. Again if you have yet to attend a Writer’s Conference reconsider and do so. It could be a great benefit to your writing career.