Gayle Trent authors two cozy mystery series, one for Bell Bridge Books and one for NAL. Her latest book is Dead Pan, the second book in the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating Mystery Series.
In Dead Pan, several people become sick at Brea Ridge Pharmaceuticals’ annual holiday party for its employees, and one–Fred Duncan–dies. Fred’s mother insists on Daphne’s help in learning why Fred died; and since none of the food has yet been exonorated, Daphne feels compelled to find out what made everyone so ill. She’s pretty sure it wasn’t her cake, but she can’t be certain until the police complete the lab results. Was this an accident? Or did someone set out to kill Fred?
Hmm…sounds like just the thing to read on a cold winter’s night, doesn’t it?! Want to win a copy? Read on…
Let’s start with the simple things. I love these greeting cards/bookmarks. They’re great and designed to go with any book, genre, etc. The cards are $3.95 each and you can buy them from retailers or from the company’s online store. (http://www.inmybook.net/inmybook.htm)
Literary Calligraphy: This “All American Note Card Assortment” blends watercolor images with text from American writers. See these beautiful note cards at
http://www.literarycalligraphy.com/stationery/allamericards.html.
Women Writers Journal — cloth-covered with lined pages. The Library of Congress has a women writers tote for $24.00. The women writers featured are Gertrude Stein, Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Jane Austen, Phyllis Wheatley, Charlotte Bronte, Mary Shelley and Sylvia Plath.
Submission Trackers: There are several versions of submission trackers. Most also offer a free demonstration. I’m sure any of them would be beneficial. See these to determine which might best suit your writer’s needs.
1)Power Tracker (http://www.write-brain.com/power_tracker_main.htm) – Features include automatic follow-up reminders and searchable notes.
2) Quick Query Tracker
(http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/qqt/) – Includes backup feature and ability to save favorite market details.
3) Write That Down
(http://www.writerssupercenter.com/writethatdown/) – Features automatic letter of inquiry generator and resume of published work.
4) Luminary Writer’s Database
(http://www.luminarypub.com/services/writersdb/) – This is an online database and it’s f*ree. The service allows you to keep track of submissions, acceptances, rejections, amount of money earned, etc.
5) SwiftTrack for Manuscripts
(http://www.swifttechsoftware.com/tracking.htm) – Features 14 different types of reports.
Writing Books:
1) Writer’s Market 2010 (Writer’s Market) is always a popular choice. You can now get a deluxe version that includes access to the Writer’s Market online database. If your writer has a specialty, you can get Writer’s Market 2010 (Writer’s Market); Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market 2010 (Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market); Songwriter’s Market 2010 (Songwriter’s Market); 2010 Photographers Market (Photographer’s Market); Poet’s Market 2010 (Poet’s Market); and 2010 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market.
2) If the writer you’re buying for is considering self-publishing, Dan Poynter’s book, Dan Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual, 16th Edition: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book (Self Publishing Manual)will get him/her on the right track.
3) If your favorite writer already has a book in print, consider John Kremer’s 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, Sixth Edition (1001 Ways to Market Your Books: For Authors and Publishers). (http://www.bookmarketing.com/) Other good books on the subject include Publicize Your Book: An Insider’s Guide to Getting Your Book the Attention It Deserves by Jacqueline Deval; Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters by Debbie Allen; and Guerrilla Marketing for Writers : 100 Weapons to Help You Sell Your Work by Jay Conrad Levinson, Rick Frishman and Michael Lar.
4) A freelance writer? Some good options include The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success (The Renegade Writer’s Freelance Writing series) by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell; How to Write Irresistible Query Lettersby Lisa Collier Cool; Feminine Wiles: Creative Techniques for Writing Women’s Features Stories That Sell by Donna Elizabeth Boetig; and Facts in a Flash: A Research Guide for Writers by Ellen Metter.
5) If your favorite writer is a budding Hollywood screen writer, you might want to get him/her The Complete Book of Scriptwriting by J. Michael Straczynski; The Screenwriter’s Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script, by David Trottier; The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters: Insider’s Secrets from Hollywood’s Top Writers by Karl Iglesias; or Power Screenwriting: The 12 Stages of Story Development by Michael Chase Walker.
If all else fails, pens, pretty stationery and/or gift certificates to booksellers, office supply stores and computer stores are always welcome!
All good ideas! I personally am intrigued by the Women Writers Journal by LoC.
The Prize
Readers from the United States may enter to win a copy of the trade paperback edition of Dead Pan, and readers worldwide may enter to win an e-book edition of Dead Pan. It just might make an excellent gift for you this holiday season!
To Enter
Leave me your idea of an ideal gift for someone who loves books! (apart from gift certificates, cards and the ones Gayle’s listed above).
Please list your email address within your comment so that you can be notified should you be chosen as a winner
Anonymous comments without an email address will not be considered.
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Deadline
Since this giveaway’s coming so close to the holidays, I’m going to give it an extended deadline.
Midnight CST of January 31, 2010.
Eligibility OPEN WORLDWIDE.
Please read the Disclaimer. Good luck!
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