Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A. Cook

How Do We Help Fellow Writers Sell Their Books?

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by Kimberly A. Cook        (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Marketing is such a big part of a writer’s job, sometime we forget we can help out our fellow scribes with a tiny bit of effort. Last week my writer buddy and favorite editor, Cindy Hiday, published her third romance novel, Iditarod Nights.

Cindy Hiday's new romance novel!
Cindy Hiday’s new romance novel!

This is fabulous for me in so many ways. First, it gives me a great blog post and I can help support Cindy’s work. Second, I placed my first Amazon.com review on her book since I had the fun of being a final reader. Three, it inspires me to get my butt in gear on my books, always a positive.

Four, it reinforces the power of persistence and with digital publishing we can control our careers; Cindy is a former Silhouette Romance author. Five, I took several pictures of Cindy at our last “staff meeting” and she used one for her new head shot; makes me feel good about my photo skills. Six, when we help out others in our profession, it comes back to us again and again; we honor the teachers and mentors who helped us learn our craft when we were beginning writers.

If you like a well written story with emotional depth, one researched right down to the sled dog booties and includes a lawyer and ex-cop falling in love, this book is for you! Right now the ebook is available on Kindle at Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo ebook  and soon will be up for the Nook at Barnes and Noble.

Cindy is a former military spouse who followed her hubby to Germany, so she knows a thing or two about adventure. Check out the book page on her web site www.cindyhiday.com/iditarodnights.htm for a fun Iditarod video and get reading!

Time For Doggie Surfing?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Out this morning hunting the elusive yellow cherry pear tomato, so now I am back at the blog. Captured the plant so will tuck it into potting soil later this afternoon. The sun is out here in Oregon and it is time to party!

Whenever I get in the summer mood, the surfing music of my youth brings happy memories. Now, I can’t swim for beans, why I didn’t go in the Navy, but I do love to watch surfers and listen to the tunes. Here are a group of talented surfers who set a World Record down in San Diego, California a while back. Check out their moves! Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

What’s Your Favorite Word Game?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Back from a quick mini-vacation to one of my favorite places, Sisters, Oregon. While hunting in a resale shop my friend dragged me into, I came across this treasure – a Yahtzee Word game. Now, my family is a big fan of Yahtzee, we always played it at the beach for New Year’s Eve while stuffing our faces with Chinese take out food.

My big score for $2, complete with all the parts!
My big score for $2, complete with all the parts!

But, I had no idea there was a Yahtzee word game. In these days of plug-in everything, it was fun to find a new old game with a familiar name. After we frisked the box to make sure it had all the parts, I ended up the big buyer with several other treasures added to the game purchase.

We got to talking about the games we played as kids and with family; like Chinese checkers and Go Fish, Tiddly Winks and fifty-two pick up stix. Ah, the good old days of a zillion parts to every game.

While I own three Scrabble sets, it’s never seemed all that fun to me, not sure why. I’m still a complete chess rookie, but ever hopeful. Heard about the Words with Friends app on folks phones, but I like the tactile sensation of moving pieces around – call me old school game girl.

With summer approaching and hopefully some fun down time for all, imagine what it would be like to unleash your inner old school gamer and replay some favorite games to treat your brain. It just might unleash fun and happy memories of the games you played and may want to share with new friends and family.

I remember the wicked Crazy 8 card games we used to get into while out camping with friends – too fun. Maybe you can stumble across an old favorite in a resale shop or online; there is a big market in collectible games now. (You can buy Tiddly Winks at www.fatbraintoys.com) But I’m good to go, I’ve got my Yahtzee Word game! What was your favorite game?

Taking Time To Remember Those Who Gave All

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by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

We head into the Memorial Day weekend, a time for remembering those who gave the greatest sacrifice so our nation remained free. With respect for the families and friends who have lost so much, please take time to remember our fallen warriors this weekend. Freedom isn’t free.

How Much Bad News Can Our Creativity Handle?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

(UPDATE: This post was written before the tragedy outside Oklahoma City. All the people of that great state are in our thoughts and prayers. We’ve got your back. Donate at www.redcross.org Today every American is Oklahoma Strong.)

When I’m going through a stressful time, I tend to be very careful about what I read, which music I listen to and what I watch on tv. We writers are influenced by everything in our world and sometimes the planet gets too pushy and freaks out our creative muse. That’s when it’s time for a crap curfew.

Very scary movie, as you can tell from the poster.
Very scary movie, as you can tell from the poster.

Don’t ask me how horror writers keep sane, or if they even are sane, but when the going gets tough I head for funny romance fiction, HGTV, the Food Network and my cable easy listening music channel without any commercials.  My muse needs good input to stay happy and creative. Positive brain food it might be called.

For folks who think it’s fun to get scared, more power to you. I still haven’t recovered from seeing the movie “Jaws” in the 1970s – amazing what I would do for a date. The Walt Disney movie “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” scared me as a kid. Maybe it still does today. Those of us with active imaginations do not need any help conjuring up weird things that go bump in the night; we’ve got a full-time freak-out factory in our heads with tons of odd characters running amok.

So how do we tame our internal jitters and not venture into the dark basement? Why do they always do that in the movies, by the way? Nothing good ever happens down there – where is Darwin’s theory of adapting when it comes to dark basements? But I digress. Give your muse a break when times get tense. Take your brain over to Animal Planet’s “Too Cute” show with kittens and puppies for recess.

The muse you save may be your own!

P.S. Link to first ten minutes of said scary movie below, don’t say I didn’t warn you! (You can actually watch the entire movie on YouTube. How odd.)

http://youtu.be/-VffXZ44_LQ

Are You Ready For Some Football?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

The rain is back here in Oregon and it seems more like Fall than Spring. So that must be why I’ve gotten the hankering to watch my favorite football movie again. This beauty has everything; tackles, has beens, second chances, romance, John Madden and Donna Summer disco music. Keanu Reeves is easy on the eyes too.

I’ve been a football fan my whole life, must be something about those bare biceps and tight pants, and it is the ultimate turf game without military weapons. So of all the football movies, take a look at the one I love because it’s so quirky! Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!