Ruth Kaufman - Award-Winning Author and Romance Writer

Ruth Kaufman is the author of My Life as a Star, My Life as an Extra, My Once & Future Love, The Bride Tournament, Follow Your Heart, At His Command and other books.

Series and/or standalone books?

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Series seem to be especially popular these days. Most involve connected characters, where, for example, book 2 is book 1’s heroine’s sister’s story. Or all books may be set in a fictitious small town, with each book focusing on different residents while incorporating the same cast of secondary characters and what become familiar locations. Another theme is small groups, in which each member of a book club, firefighters working at the same firehouse (Kate Meader’s Hot in Chicago series), or a large family getting his/her own story. 

Authors often say that so-and-so character cried out for his/her own story, or that readers requested it. Some series involve three books while others span many more (Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knights is coming up on eight…so far). Some authors become known for their series. When you search popular bestselling author Debbie Macomber on Google, the first thing that comes up is her Cedar Cove series, then her Blossom Street and Heart of Texas series. 

I decided to try something a little different with my first series. Wars of the Roses Brides is time-based rather than character-based, and set during what we now call the Wars of the Roses. The first, my January release AT HIS COMMAND, takes place in 1453 England, FOLLOW YOUR HEART, the second, released in April, is in 1460, and the next (releasing this summer, working title: THE BETTER BRIDE…cover coming soon!) is in 1462. Each one is a standalone, meaning you don’t have to read #1 to understand #2 or #3. My heroes and heroines are different in each book and unrelated. 

If you choose to read the books in order, you’d gain an overview of late medieval England life and historical events as seen through the eyes and experiences of the couples, their families and friends. The connected characters appearing in some or all of the books are actual historical figures, including kings, queens and dukes. The volatile disputes between the House of York and House of Lancaster over who should rule, politics and actual battles feature prominently.

Significant research was required to ensure (as much as possible given that these are novels) that the king and other nobles were in the right place at the actual times depicted, just as a small town series author needs to make sure that the town map remains consistent. 

Do you seek out series? If so, what elements do you look for? Can there be too many books in a series…or do you still enjoy each new story? I ask because I’m pondering a series that could have as many as a dozen books….

So you want to write a book? Start today!

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I often meet people who say they want to write a book or have been working on one for a long time. I say, “What are you waiting for? Why don’t you start (or finish)?” They hem and haw, “Well, blah blah blah, this or that excuse.”

What’s stopping you from moving forward with your dreams? Fear of failure, or success? Laziness? Not sure where to start? Why repeatedly say you want to do something, yet remain mired in inaction? Consider getting to the bottom of your reasons so you can stop them from hindering you.
If you want to write a book or pursue another passion (or eat better, exercise more), don’t wait another day. Take one step forward. Even if it’s a small one. Change for the better isn’t easy, and requires some discipline. Can you push yourself, or find an accountability partner?

If you’re not sure where to begin, write down your ideas. What genre do you want to write–mystery, romance, thriller, or __________? Familiarize yourself with the bestsellers in your market. Consider taking an online workshop, class, or reading a book or two about writing books. I recommend Dwight Swain’s Techniques of the Selling Writer and Debra Dixon’s GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict.

Is there any research you need to do before writing–is your protagonist a cop, lawyer, wizard, knight, but you lack knowledge of job specifics? If so, make sure you don’t dwell too long on learning about writing and research and call that “writing.” That was a mistake I made when I first started…since I write medievals, I’d spend hours perusing books on the 15th century. It took hearing Catherine Coulter say in a speech at an RWA Conference that only new pages counted as writing to spark me to set weekly page/word count goals.

Make a list of next steps. Create a writing schedule and make appointments with yourself so you don’t keep putting it off.

I bet you’ll feel good about making progress, and might even be motivated to do more. Wanting something that’s in your control but not taking action can weigh on you.

Writers write. BICHOK: butt in chair, hands on keyboard. As the incomparable Nora Roberts says, “You can’t edit a blank page.” If you write just one page a day, approximately 250 words, you’ll have a book or a couple of novellas in a year. And maybe you’ll want to write a sequel or another book.

Happy writing!

What to release next…decisions, decisions

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Follow Your Heart received a great review from USATODAY.com (yay!), and has garnered wonderful reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Publishers Weekly is considering it for review via BookLife, which could go either way. But these days most authors can’t rest on any laurels and need to keep producing books for their readers.

The questions are, what kind, what length, and with what frequency?

I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a novella or an entire book telling Joanna from FYH’s half-sister Margery’s story, in part because I’ve had feedback that she’s an interesting character and because I love the time period and setting. I have another medieval ready to go, and manuscripts in other genres from a medieval paranormal I’d like to create a series around to a humorous women’s fiction that has a romantic comedy sequel. I’m particularly fond of a paranormal time travel to Elizabethan England that I think also has series potential….

Plus I have a partial of a romantic comedy I really want to finish…at least once a week something reminds me of the premise and urges me to get back to it. Yet much advice steers newer authors against genre hopping so readers know what to expect. Will readers follow if I release in multiple genres?

I see a lot of other advice that every three months is a good new release time period. On the other hand, I don’t want to overwhelm potential readers. And obviously new content takes longer to create for most of us. I don’t want to over think the process and become stymied, but at the moment my gut doesn’t feel clear enough to trust so I can move forward.

A good thing about self-publishing is that you can try whatever you want whenever you want. If it doesn’t work, you can try something different. But you can’t reclaim the time and money invested, and so want to make the most productive decisions possible.

I’m going to set a goal: I’ll review all of my options, and narrow them down to the top three over the weekend. Then one week from today, I’ll make a decision. There. I feel better already!

USATODAY.com: Follow Your Heart is a must-read romance

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“Kaufman can certainly write an entertaining suspenseful romance and brings us a happy sigh-worthy story in Follow Your Heart,” writes Michelle Monkou at USATODAY.com.

I so appreciate the reviews Follow Your Heart has been getting. When I released this book and At His Command, I admit to some trepidation over what reviewers might say. Would they like the books or not? But it didn’t occur to me to wonder what each reader might see in and take away from the story.

As reviews accumulate, I’ve been pleasantly surprised and intrigued by what each reviewer chooses to include in the summary and say about how the book impacted him/her. Several have commented how FYH has plot twists that surprised them.  So far that’s my favorite reader takeaway. Another favorite was from an Amazon reviewer, “The love between the two main characters was wonderful.”

The risk of putting out books or any product, including yourself, is that buyers/customers/clients won’t like it. If they don’t, you might wonder if the hard work, time and perhaps money you’ve invested weren’t worth it. You might think, “What did I do wrong?” “What can I do better next time?” Or, “It’s just that person’s opinion. Others will like it.”  And today’s dislike or approval is so much more public than even a few years ago.

I’m doing a Goodreads giveaway for FYH, if you’re interested:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Follow Your Heart by Ruth Kaufman

  Follow Your Heart

  by Ruth Kaufman

 Giveaway ends May 22, 2015.

 See the giveaway details
  at Goodreads.

Enter to Win

Will AHC and FYH get more good reviews? Stay tuned.  

Wearing the Actor Hat

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In addition to being an author, I’m also an actor, and mostly do on-camera and voiceover work. While I love theatre and there are so many great productions in Chicago, low pay and high time commitment (perhaps four nights a week from 7-10pm) make it a less viable option for me (assuming I’d even get cast).

Acting can be roller-coastery. Yay, I booked it! Nice, a former client offered me something out of the blue. Oh well, I didn’t get this or that or that. Hmm. What a slow week. Or two. I have to keep the faith that more opportunities are on their way. I do my best to keep a lot of things in the pipeline, but just as you never know how many books you’ll sell, you don’t know how many auditions you’ll get or if the client (and their client) will choose you even if you do a great audition.

Naturally, when it rains, it pours. Monday I had a voiceover job about 40 minutes from me at 3pm, which wasn’t confirmed until late morning. It was what’s called an explainer video: I’d narrate an animation informing company employees about something. Two clients listened via phone, offering direction. It went very well, and only took about half an hour. That night, I was the speaker at my local RWA chapter’s meeting in a different suburb. And had two voiceover auditions waiting when I got home.

I record, edit and home and send the vast majority of VO auditions as MP3s. The turnaround is often less than 24 hours. Yesterday I had two rush auditions, which is rare. One arrived just before noon and was due at 4pm. The other came just after 3pm and said due now (very rare). If you’re not available to record, you miss the opportunity.

Tuesday morning I had to be an hour and a half away by 8:30 (the same day FOLLOW YOUR HEART  released–so I’d arranged help get the word out) for what’s called an industrial–a corporate film.

It involved five people and a very long script with some complex corporate speak. The best way to cover this much copy is by using an ear prompter. You record your lines on a small tape recorder that has an earpiece similar to the kind TV news anchors wear. Then you hold the recorder or a remote in your hand or hide it in your sleeve, press play, and repeat the lines you hear in your head.

This is a learned skill. I’ve practiced by repeating what classical radio hosts say, and took a class. You have to appear natural and engaged in the scene, not like a deer in the headlights listening to what’s going on in your head. If the recorder doesn’t start in the right place, or you stumble or mishear a word or two, you lose your place and have to start over.

With five people, the pitfalls multiply. You have to record together as precisely as possible. Someone counts down, “3-2-1,” then on 0 we all pressed record (or play) at the same time. Even then, different recorders play at slightly different speeds, so keeping up can be a challenge. Fortunately we made a great team. We were released around 7:30pm, so I didn’t get home until around 9pm. A long, productive day!

In other news, FYH is being featured today at www.ebooksoda.com.

What’s next on the horizon? Stay tuned….

Excerpt: FOLLOW YOUR HEART releases 4/14!

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In my 4/14 release FOLLOW YOUR HEART, she’s a glass-painter making her way in a man’s world. He’s on a quest to redeem his family name and estates. When unexpected passion makes their marriage of convenience inconvenient, will his secrets tear them apart?

 I hope you’ll enter my Goodreads giveaway, which ends soon. Or you can preorder here. 

 In the meantime, here’s a brief excerpt from the middle of 
Chapter 1:

Too late. The glazenwright entered the hall as Lady Anne reached around his neck to bring him down for a farewell kiss.
            Avoiding her mouth, his lips met her parchment-dry cheek. He caught sight of the glazenwright. A woman glass-painter? Chagrin filled him as she stopped short, taking in the scene before her. She put a roll of documents on the table and pushed back the hood of her cloak.
Adrian straightened, his desire to leave evaporating despite the awkward situation. The glazenwright was beautiful, with a delicate oval face, high cheekbones and a small, straight nose. He knew he was staring, but didn’t want to stop. There was something compelling about this woman aside from her lovely face, which was all he could see. Her heavy, serviceable black cloak and headdress concealed the rest.
Her expression captured him. Not the simpering moue of court women, nor the lustful gleam of barmaids or the respectful, downcast eyes of servants. She radiated a quiet confidence he found enticing.
Their gazes met and locked. Hers conveyed curiosity and mayhap a challenge. He couldn’t tell if she recognized him or what she’d gleaned of his relationship with Lady Anne. Surely she’d be appalled if she knew. After a long moment, she looked away.
“My pardon, Lady Anne. Your servant bid me enter. I can wait or return another time,” she said.
            Accustomed to Lady Anne’s shrill waver, Adrian absorbed the pleasant, soothing tone of the guest’s voice.
            “No, no, now is fine,” Lady Anne replied, her hand sliding possessively down Adrian’s arm.
            He stepped back abruptly to detach the clinging fingers.  Lady Anne should know better. The servants might suspect something, but no one else needed to know. That wasn’t part of their arrangement.
            Distancing himself from Lady Anne allowed him to return his attention to the glazenwright. She was staring at him again. If only he could see her hair…was it the same shade of red as her delicately curved eyebrows? He cursed the fashionable concealing headdresses of the day.
            Her skin was fair and smooth, her lips delectable, a tempting rosy red. Her large eyes were green. Bright green. They pierced him with a keen alertness that made him wonder if she could see into his soul.
She must be intrepid as well as ambitious: a woman working as a glass-painter. He wanted to know more about her.
He wanted her.
If only he was like other men. But he couldn’t risk getting close to anyone. Because a secret encumbered him, so unfathomable it could destroy him and possibly anyone he cared for.
What would being free feel like? Being loved by a woman like her? 
Alas, he’d never know.

Publishers Weekly reviews At His Command!

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“Court intrigue, battles, romantic rivalry, and political maneuvering make a colorful backdrop for this satisfactory debut.” That’s what Publishers Weekly said of my first medieval AT HIS COMMAND in its review on March 27.

If you didn’t know, Publishers Weekly is a highly respected international website about publishing that features book reviews. Even getting a review is a big deal because they receive so many submissions. (I tried to find an estimate, but kept coming across, “Due to the volume,” etc.). PW’s BookLife, a site for self-published books, debuted in 2012.  

Submissions are free, so last December I decided to submit AT HIS COMMAND-Historical Romance Version via BookLife’s form. I don’t know how they decide which books to review, but hoped that the fact AHC had won RWA’s Golden Heart award would help. 

I received a form email saying the consideration process takes 6-12 weeks, and they‘re unable to respond to messages about reviews status because of submission volume. Then I got an email saying they were considering AHC for review, along with, “While this is no guarantee that your book will receive a Publishers Weekly review, you have cleared an important hurdle.”

On January 20, they said, your “BookLife project (At His Command-Historical Romance Version) has been selected for review by Publishers Weekly.”

I was thrilled, but also a bit nervous. Having your work reviewed by one of the premier publishing publications on the planet can be risky. What if they don’t like it? What if they don’t have even one good thing to say?

I checked the site from time to time, but didn’t see my book. On March 31, there it was! Right on BookLife’s home page. I happened to be working with a friend. I gasped as I clicked on my cover and read the review out loud. Whew. They’d been complimentary overall. I had a great quote I could use to help promote my writing
.

http://www.amazon.com/Follow-Your-Heart-Roses-Brides-ebook/dp/B00TYM7XBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427987267&sr=8-1&keywords=follow+your+heart+ruthWill PW review my next book, FOLLOW YOUR HEART, releasing April 14 available for preorder now)? Stay tuned….

Why entrepreneurs and creatives need a great website

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Now that I’ve released a few books, I’ve decided to revamp my author site. If you’re any sort of entrepreneur or creative (e/c) such as an author, photographer or actor, I believe you need a website, too. And not just any website, one that’s competitive with your competitors while reflecting your branding and work.  
Especially in this era of fragmentation, it’s important to have one place where your readers/customers/clients (r/c/c) can learn about all things you. Sending a prospective r/c/c to Instagram, Pinterest or even a Facebook business page or YouTube channel is a fragmented approach, without additional content to tie all of your social media together. Having all of your links and information in one place makes it easier for people to find you, learn about you, and share your information. 
For example, e/cs need some sort of media kit, including at minimum a downloadable photo and resume, and preferably assorted other documents such as a press release and links to or the actual articles you’ve written or that have been written about you. You should have samples of your work, such as book blurbs and covers for an author. One take on what goes in a media kit is here.
Even if you’re just starting out, you need to show the world you’re ready to do the job. It’s not just about what you think, it’s whether prospective clients will like it and want to explore. A basic site may suffice, but most won’t convey the impression that you’re a pro. If you don’t believe me, search sites for your field. Find your top 5 favorites. How does yours compare?

Though there are many templates out there and free website builders such as weebly and wix, I chose to hire a designer. While I have a good sense of what I want, I don’t have the graphic arts skills or, say, high-level Photoshop skills, to execute my vision. I found my designer back in 2006 by looking at dozens of author sites. If I found one I liked, I looked at that designer’s portfolio (there’s usually a link at the bottom of the home page). I stayed with her for my redesign because I like the way her designs have evolved over the years.
Be aware that the process can take longer than you think. Your designer may be too busy to start on yours right away. So the sooner you start the process, the sooner you’ll be good to go.  
And even if you hire a designer, you’ll still have a lot of work to do. Some decisions you’ll need to make include: 
–What colors do you like or represent your brand? 
–What images do you want on the home page? 
–How many pages do you want?
–What content will go on each page? You’ll need to write it.
–What should be on the menu bar?
–Do you want animation? 
Some tips for freelancers’ sites are here.
Looking forward to revealing my new site very soon. Hope readers like it as much as I do.
   

Historical Accuracy: How far should the author go?

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I take research for my novels very seriously.

I own more than two hundred books on late medieval England. I’ve spent time in the Newberry Library, where you submit requests for up to three books at a time instead of browsing through the stacks. I’ve waited for interlibrary loan for that hard-to-find tome. Once I even got permission to go to the Art Institute’s library to use a book on stained glass I couldn’t find anywhere else. And, of course, the Internet is at my fingertips. While much of that information is too general, some is helpful, such as virtual tours of sites and cities.

The theory I’ve heard in writing workshops and subscribe to is that even if something isn’t common during your time period, if you can find it in more than one source it’s fine to use. Sometimes books disagree on how or exactly when something happened, and sometimes they’ll say, “No one knows” this or that. In those instances, I’m happy to fill in the blanks to suit my story.

So it can be frustrating if readers or contest judges question information I carefully vetted and use that question or disbelief to score down my entry or say my book is historically inaccurate.

For example, Richard, Duke of York, is a secondary character in more than one of my books set before 1465. A judge once wrote, “Richard was the Duke of Gloucester.” There was of course a Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but since he was born in 1452, he wasn’t the powerful commander in my novel, and in any case that didn’t mean there wasn’t also a Richard, Duke of York.

Another secondary character has a carpet on her manor house floor. A judge wrote something to the effect that carpets didn’t exist at that time. It’s true they weren’t common and certainly peasants didn’t have them, but this woman was shown as wealthy and I described it as “new.”

The challenge sometimes comes in choosing how much detail and/or explanation to use about a historical event or item. If I’m describing a gown, for example, how much is just right vs. slowing the pace? Most readers probably don’t want to know that this style of gown was first popular in Burgundy and came to England in X year. Others may have an image of “medieval” clothing from movies/TV shows, etc., and not know how much fashion changed over the centuries or how some movies/TV shows may be more generic rather than specific in their costumes. Or I might mention an object some readers assume wasn’t invented yet, but I chose not to use precious page time convincing them.

Finally, word choice is a huge concern. Readers may say a word pulls them out of the story because it sounds too contemporary. I often refer to a great book, English Through the Ages, and online word origin sites. Even if a phrase or word exactly conveys what I’m going after, I won’t use it if it’s first known use wasn’t in my time period. Since no one wants to read a medieval using the exact words and spelling in documents of the time in what is known as Middle English, to my knowledge it’s become an accepted convention, for example, to use contractions.

This doesn’t mean I or any author will never have an error that slips by us, beta readers/and or editors. Many authors, including me, include an Author’s Note saying any errors are their own or that they tried to be as accurate as possible.

May I encourage you, gentle reader, to give the author the benefit of the doubt…and consider looking up any information that strikes you as nonperiod.

Successful book releases: what works?

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

Follow Your Heart by Ruth Kaufman

  Follow Your Heart

  by Ruth Kaufman

  Giveaway ends April 12, 2015.

  See the giveaway details
  at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Thanks to the Internet and social media, an author’s options for preparing for a book release are overwhelming. Giveaways on Goodreads and other sites, reviews, blog posts on your own site and guesting on others, newsletters, posts on Facebook and Twitter and other sites like Instagram and Pinterest, which I haven’t used (yet?). What could you do with a press release? Not to mention online ads on reader sites, Facebook, etc.

There’s no magic formula for how much time and money spent promoting a release leads to more sales. Should you hire a PR/social media person? Figure it out yourself? What’s the value of preorders?

I keep hearing that good books sell more books, so the best way to market your current release is your next. And that readers love “free,” such as a free chapter. I still believe getting your name and cover(s) out there, and as often as you can without being annoying, is also essential.

This probably stems from my days in media research when I gave reach and frequency presentations to advertising professionals. How many people, preferably in your target audience, are aware of your product, and how many times do they need to hear about it in order to buy? Back in the day, I recall that optimal frequency was 7. But there are so many more media/device options now, and so many more ads we’re bombarded with on any given day. What works for you as a reader may not work for your readers.

My experience so far shows the importance of:
a) having a great, memorable cover. Recently a fellow chorister saw half of my bookmark sticking out of another chorister’s pocket and remembered reading an article about it in The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin over two weeks earlier…that she didn’t realize was also about me.
b) getting your cover and information out there as often as you can, even in publications that may not seem like your target market
c) making positive connections in person and online with as many people as you can.
d) top notch writing and story
e) personal recommendations, thanks to a) – d).

What works for you as an author, or prompts you to buy a book as a reader?