Category Archives: On the Publishing Process

It’s Official Release Day! A Man of Character is HERE!

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A Man of Character
A Man of Character

It’s here. Official Release Day. *deep breath*

A Man of Character is available RIGHT NOW in both Kindle and paperback formats from Amazon.

It’s a life-long dream come true, people.

I hope you’ll check it out, give it a chance, spread the word, let me know what you think.

If you’re willing to share this link, http://bit.ly/AManOfCharacter, on social media today, this week, next week, whenever, my racing little indie author heart thanks you from the very bottom of, well, itself.

If you read the book, thank you.
If you tell anyone about the book, thank you.
If you leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads, thank you.

I can’t say enough how much the support I’ve already received from my amazing family, friends, and writing community means to me. Knowing y’all are rooting for me makes all the difference.

I hope you love Cat’s story.

Here’s the blurb:

What would you do if you discovered the men you were dating were fictional characters you’d created long ago?

Thirty-five-year-old Catherine Schreiber has shelved love for good. Keeping her ailing bookstore afloat takes all her time, and she’s perfectly fine with that. So when several men ask her out in short order, she’s not sure what to do…especially since something about them seems eerily familiar.

Caught between fantasy and reality, Cat must decide which—or whom—she wants more.

Blending humor with unusual twists, including a magical manuscript, a computer scientist in shining armor, and even a Regency ball, A Man of Character tells a story not only of love, but also of the lengths we’ll go for friendship, self-discovery, and second chances.

Margaret Locke A Man of CharacterThank you.

 

That Moment I First Held My Novel (A Man of Character) In My Hands…

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Margaret Locke A Man of Character

My face says it all, doesn’t it? I’m holding MY BOOK In. My. Hands! I am BEYOND excited!

You, too, can hold a copy if you’d like, come May 26th – or pre-order the digital version now: http://bit.ly/AManOfCharacter

Now excuse me while I run around and hyperventilate some more…!

Baa Baa, Black Sheep: On Writing Indie Romance

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/cordery/362762645/in/photolist-y4fGn-85R4Yj-8ByuRV-4ZwkyA-b27Jzc-9sfnyg-6nfwZm-eh2irv-bAAmr-2ZvEp8-5MKgpQ-cVkHUh-8E3w4T-N3FZG-8wkqRE-a9DfGa-bLdvw-ekLdGQ-8whpdg-6rarM7-9j7xag-9j7x1a-9j7xex-9jaET1-6uXLZB-9irswn-6v2WyJ-4ZwkBh-CJQ9y-CJPnd-CJPmU-CJPn7-CJPn1-CJQ9T-CJQ9E-CJQ9K-CJQDW-CJQDU-CJPmV-CJQDS-CJQa6-CJQE2-CJQ9Z-CJPn3-55JymV-qzz1U-wFWJL-nFG6M-8pvJjB-7DmW5d
Black Sheep – CC/Flickr

Romance and its authors have garnered lots of publicity recently, especially in light of Laurie Kahn’s recent (and excellent) documentary, Love Between The Covers. Numerous articles are swirling around the internet, refuting many of the myths about romance novels and the people who write them. Here’s just a sampling:

I love that people are challenging the notion that romance is lesser, that romance writing is simplistic, that romance is dismissible. Those of us within the community have long known those things are false, of course.

The same can be said of indie publishing: its image is transforming from consisting of only poorly written, barely edited trash thrown up on the internet, to being a viable alternative to traditional publishing, featuring numerous talented, cutting edge authors. Many indie romance authors have become certified rock stars in the genre, including Courtney Milan, Bella Andre, Katy Regnery . . . I could name many more.

But as a newbie indie romance author, I’m suddenly realizing what an uphill battle I have to get people to take me seriously: not fellow romance authors, perhaps (although of course I need to prove myself to them, as well), but friends, acquaintances, and anybody not tuned in to the romance and indie communities.

I know this, because I’ve been talking–online and in person–about my debut novel, A Man of Character, which hits the market May 26th. People are excited for me, and I’m so grateful for that. But several times, after friends and acquaintances asked me what I’m writing and/or who’s publishing it, their expressions changed, their faces fell or took on a humoring expression, when I replied, “romance, and I’m indie publishing.”

Writing romance is dubious enough, apparently–add indie to it, and you’re really not welcome at the table.

I could be misreading their reactions. I could be projecting my own self-doubts and fears as this book goes public. Yes, I’m nervous. Yes, I realize there will be people who don’t like my book. Yes, I’m sure I can (and will) improve my writing as I continue down this career path. And that’s OK. Because that’s what it is to me: a career path.

Don’t hand me that black sheep fleece, because I won’t wear it.

I am a writer. I write romance, and I love it. I’m an indie author, and proud of it.

Thank to you everyone who’s supporting me, encouraging me, and cheering me on. Thank you to my critique group, to my beta readers, and to my editor, Tessa Shapcott: all of you helped shape A Man of Character into what it is–a book I’m thrilled to claim as my own. Thank you to my fellow romance authors, an amazingly welcoming group of women (and men) willing to provide guidance, advice, and valuable insider information to newbies following in their footsteps. .

And thank you to everyone who’s purchased A Man of Character, or will purchase it–your willingness to take a chance on a debut author means the world to me.

Cover Reveal: A Man of Character (Plus Pre-Order Option!)

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Here it is! Here it is! Eek, I’m so giddy to share the cover for A Man of Character with y’all today.

Thank you thank you to the fabulous Joy Lankshear of Lankshear Design for whipping this up for me. I love it. I could not be more pleased. What do you think?

A Man of Character Cover Margaret Locke

Here’s the short blurb:

What would you do if you discovered the men you were dating were fictional characters you’d created long ago?

Thirty-five-year-old Catherine Schreiber has shelved love for good. Keeping her ailing bookstore afloat takes all her time, and she’s perfectly fine with that. So when several men ask her out in short order, she’s not sure what to do…especially since something about them seems eerily familiar.

Caught between fantasy and reality, Cat must decide which—or whom—she wants more.

Blending humor with unusual twists, including a magical manuscript, a computer scientist in shining armor, and even a Regency ball, A Man of Character tells a story not only of love, but also of the lengths we’ll go for friendship, self-discovery, and second chances.

Intrigued? A Man of Character debuts on May 26th, but you may pre-order the e-book on Amazon TODAY!

Print versions will also be available for those of you who prefer the tactile sensation of a book in your hands.

Thank you to everyone who’s helped make this dream into reality.

Calling All Women’s Fiction Writers: Writer’s Digest “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest is Open Through October 17th!

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DearLuckyAgent2

Contest alert for writers of women’s fiction! Enter Writer’s Digest’s Dear Lucky Agent contest for a chance to get the first ten pages of your manuscript critiqued by an agent (Paula Munier, Senior Literary Agent & Content Strategist at Talcott Notch Literary), as well as to win a subscription to WritersMarket.com. The contest is free and gets your manuscript (well, the query for and first two hundred words of, at least) before an agent.

What qualifies as women’s fiction? Here’s what the contest page says:

“Women’s fiction (also called upmarket fiction when dealing with women’s stories). If you’re wondering what falls into this genre specifically, this is how our agent judge explains it: “These are stories that revolve around women, women’s roles as mothers, daughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, caregivers, friends, community leaders, etc., and a woman’s place at home, at work, and in society at large. They are for the most part domestic dramas. What separates them from love stories is that the heroine’s relationships with her friends and family are as important if not more important to the storyline as her love relationship. These stories explore women’s relationships—with each other, with men and children, with the world, and with herself. The themes are those that strike a chord with women: love, family, friendship, sisterhood, motherhood, self-actualization, and what it means to be a woman in the world, past, present, and future.”

I entered, so wish me luck!