Author: Susanne Perry

www.goodreads.com/review/show/4627522521

I’ve not been sick like this for years, which is both a good thing and a bad one, but it is getting old. Today I felt well enough to move the party outside for fresh air and sunshine.

Lynn, my friend who writes poetry, brought me a cool Phoenix mug filled with a variety of soothing teas (I love hot tea but if I’m not drinking morning coffee—and I have not been—then I’m sick).

At least I don’t have the dreaded virus as three Covid tests have been negative. I wanted to trust the two in-home tests but felt so absolutely awful that I opted for a drive through lab as well. Result by email the next day. Finally on the mend! Thrilled to say I’m up to about 50%.

Thursday is my hub’s bday (of course!) and we planned for golf and dinner out. Hope I’m well enough to make it or they may need a fourth. We shall see.

#undertheweather

#starbuckscitymug

#tazotea

#soakupsomesun

#freshairandsunshine

Purchase Runaway, the first in the City Streets mystery series, for only $7.19 for softcover or $2.99 for Kindle

“A homeless teenager is dead. Detective Liz Jordan needs the folks on the street to assist with finding her killer. Will they trust Liz enough to help her search for a fiend in their midst?”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KGZYJNQ

“How do you get your ideas, Susanne?” I have been asked this question more than once recently. Honestly, I don’t know. I love reading whodunnits and thrillers so I suppose I try to write a story that I would enjoy reading.

I’ve been working diligently to finish the first draft of my fourth novel. Naturally, the story and the characters are fresh in my mind and although I enjoy talking about the City Streets series, my imagination and my energy are torn — between marketing the published books and the one still gestating. Balance in all things, right?

This new story is very different than the series. The main character, Mara, is faced with the most trying of personal tragedies and makes choices for herself that are not what you may expect. Stay tuned for updates.

Reviews are an essential piece of marketing for authors, especially indie authors, but there are other ways to help with getting the word out about publications. Below is a short list of ideas —including posting reviews:

Buy their book. Indie authors appreciate every sale — and they enjoy hearing from readers.

Order their book from a bookstore—you’ll do both the author and the bookseller a favor. Bookstores suffer as online sales dominate the industry.

Buy their book as a gift for someone. What better gift is there for a book lover? You may help them discover their next favorite author.

Ask your library to purchase their book. Libraries make books available to the broadest range of readers.

Tell your friends about their book. Word of mouth recommendations are priceless.

Post honest reviews of the book on major retail sites and Goodreads. There’s no denying the impact of reviews on readers’ choices. It’s huge.

Mention the book on social media or share posts from the author. Very helpful and greatly appreciated.

Like or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, website or blog page—or all of the above.

Nominate the book for your book club. Invite local authors to speak to your club. Trust me, they would be honored.

Face the book out in bookstores. Exposure is awesome.

… if you already do any of these things, thank you so very much! Keep reading!

Looking for a mystery read for the weekend? Start the City Streets series with Runaway, Book One. Available in softcover and digital.

Excerpt from Gutter Punk, Book 3 in the City Streets series. Available from Amazon, AppleBooks, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble in softcover or digital.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZC4D97R

Once Zeke had stirred, Sage was ready to move on. He removed Zeke’s lead from his ankle and attached it to his wrist. He shook out the last few drops from the water bowl and rose to his feet.

Mike stood up along with him. “Do you ever visit Brooks House?” asked Mike, referring to the men’s shelter. “Food’s pretty good there. Coffee’s always on.” Mike was assuming Sage was over eighteen, but doubted he carried ID to prove it.

“I would, but it’s hard with Zeke. I don’t leave him alone. Can’t take him inside,” Sage told him, as if there was no need to discuss it further.

“The guys will understand. They’ll help you out. Tell them Mike sent you. The guy
that runs the place, Gary, is a friend of mine. He’d enjoy hearing you play some Dylan,” Mike offered. “Anyway, we’ll let you go. Nice to meet you, Sage.”

Mike watched Sage easily toss a backpack over one shoulder, his arm through the strap. He switched his grip on Zeke’s lead between his hands so that it was never loose. He carried the guitar behind him to one side, the pack to the other. He made the load look more compact than Mike would have thought possible.

“Thanks for the song, Sage,” said Quinn. “And thanks for the help. Take care of yourself.”

“Don’t thank me for helping yet. We’ll have to see,” he said. “See you ‘round.” Mike and Quinn watched Sage head down the street with Zeke, the cattle dog in tow.

Copyright, Susanne Perry Publishing 2021. All rights reserved.

This is pretty much how I feel right now, like I’m spinning circles. Between attempting to finish the first draft of my fourth novel, participating in back-to-back book events (wonderful to be able to do them again, truly grateful, but I’m exhausted), and the constant list of tasks required of an indie author that don’t include writing, I’m boggled!

Plus, my TBR pile is loaded and keeps growing and I want to enjoy them all!

Then there’s the normal chores required to keep a home functioning (where are the dusting fairies and the sweeping mice when you need them?).

Once upon a time, I produced well under pressure, but not so much anymore. “Onward and upward!” was my creed. My current goal is to keep trying for onward (no choice about that really) and merely stay afloat.

I remind myself that the past two years have been stressful to say the very least and tragic in many ways so not a good basis for formulating opinions about self motivations. Aside from being a major worry wart, I focus on being grateful I’m healthy enough to do what I love.

Thanks to my sweet granddaughter for the video. So grateful for FaceTime ♥️♥️♥️

#indieauthors #granddaughters #uphillbattle #myheadisspinning

The street musician looked too young to produce that voice, but it was hard to tell with folks on the street.

Probably in his twenties, his hair was a passel of
multicolored dreadlocks that sprouted in all directions covering his forehead. His lower face sported a scruffy beard that hid his mouth so effectively that it was visible only when he opened his lips to sing.

A variety of piercings graced the fellow’s face and ears. Tattoos decorated his neck and arms. The tats that Mike could see appeared to be either arcane symbols or small rows of scripted writing.

The tee shirt he wore was full of holes and
ripped at the neck. He wore cargo pants that may have been made from fabric with a camo print, but the pattern had long ago faded away.

The feeling put into the Dylan lyrics made the guy seem older. He had a decent voice and although Mike wasn’t a musician, he knew when someone could play. The guitarist used a combination of picking and strumming the six strings, his fingering precise.

He finished the tune and the folks listening nearby applauded. A few more dollars landed in the guitar case as they wandered off one by one. The street musician nodded his head in thanks.

“Come on,” Quinn said to Mike. “I’ll introduce you.”

How do you decide what to read? Has your tbr list blasted through the roof as mine has? So many books, so little time, right?

January is coming to a close and there’s been a shift in my reading choices this month from my usual fiction—thrillers and mysteries—to non-fiction. The shift began with Hamilton by Ron Chernow after seeing the musical last month. It’s an amazing biography that I’ll break up reading over a period of time.

When a memoir workshop was postponed earlier this month, I read Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir for some individual study. This short, concise book was written by an academic but doesn’t read as such. It is an easy read, detailed and informative and will be a good resource should I venture into non-fiction writing. Also, thanks to Karr, I added several more volumes—memoirs she recommends—to my non-fiction list.

A conversation with my husband led me to a new author, Edward Abbey. My current read is Desert Solitude, written in 1966. Dave enjoyed reading Abbey’s The Monkey Wrench Gang in college and Abbey’s work sounded fascinating. Abbey blends a profound appreciation for remote wilderness areas with an ardent view of respecting unspoiled landscapes. More to come on this.

However long this non-fiction vein lasts, I’ve enjoyed the change more than I would have thought. ‘Change is good’ is a great way to start the new year, at least in my reading choices.

Happy Reading!