Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A. Cook

Can We Stop Change And Chaos?

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Nope. Change is constant and chaos is its walking buddy. If we don’t change or move we can become stagnant; not a good idea for people or water with mosquito larvae. Do we have to like change all the time? Nope.

Took a webinar this past weekend about using Google+ for authors; yet another social media platform. I only deal with the top four or five social media sites and I can’t keep up. Checked it out because being a lifelong learner I’m always seduced by the next new thing, but then it requires the same old thing – work.

Even hay gets changed to stuff duvet covers. Or are those giant marshmallows? Two semis of chocolate bars and graham crackers stat!
Even hay gets changed to stuff duvet covers. Or are those giant marshmallows? Two semis of chocolate bars and graham crackers stat!

Not sure if it’s summertime, age or the call of the wild, but I don’t want to work all the time these days. Playing seems a much better way to go. Writing and publishing can drive us nuts on a good day, so how do we cope with all the challenges? We go to our experts and pick their brains.

One of my favorite authors with a killer blog is Kristen Lamb; myself and 23,000 plus other folks think so. She lives to educate authors and has a wicked keen sense of humor, which I adore. I have all her books and have taken her online blogging class which saved my sanity and at least a ten pound weight gain.

Her post on Friday, June 14, was another fabulous one. Long story short, she has a new book coming out July 4, Rise of the Machines – Human Authors in a Digital World. The title alone makes we want to buy it, especially when my eyes glazed over during the Google+ webinar. Are we all beginning to feel like C3PO with a USB port with the escalating digital deluge? My kingdom for a quill and bottle of ink! (Not really, but it sounds good.)

How do we get through change and chaos if we can’t stop it? Teamwork! I’m so glad to have Kristen Lamb as one of my go to coaches for publishing and author intell(igence.) We all need buddies in life, for work and play, so take a look at her post and see what you think. The mind you save may be your own!

Read Kristen Lamb’s post here: http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/change-resistance-is-futile/

Happy 238th Birthday to the Men and Women of the U.S. Army!

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

When I was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado with the 4th Supply and Transport Battalion, back in the Dark Ages, we had the best mess hall on post. Great food. So who better to make the Army’s birthday cake for today’s big celebration than veterans becoming chefs!

Take a look at this video from the “other CIA” and maybe you too can use those G. I. Bill benefits to become a cook. An Army moves on its feet, powered by its stomach, so let’s all eat birthday cake today. Happy Birthday to my fellow Army veterans, Reserve, Guard and Active Duty soldiers.

Happy Quirky Friday!

How Long Does It Take To Finish A Book?

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by Kimberly A. Cook       (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

As long as it takes. It depends on the book and the author. Is there one right way or standard length of time? No. See the only real trick about writing is finding out what works for you – not what works for somebody else. That is the true secret about writing. It also means one has to write. Small detail, but important.

Eighty percent of Americans want to write a book. Only one percent of us do. Celebrate that accomplishment!
Eighty percent of Americans want to write a book. Only one percent of us do. Celebrate that accomplishment!

Recently I met with one of my former Writing War Stories students. He finished his book. Party time and confetti throwing! Doug started writing his book while he was in the waiting area to leave Vietnam. Now, 40 years later, it’s done.

Doug knew it was finished because the manuscript “clicked” and he knew. I’ve told students they will know when it is done, but until one actually experiences the “click,” it is hard to believe. (Being sick of a manuscript does not count, by the way.)

Then of course there are the folks who think the first draft means a book is ready, but that is the time to begin editing. Doug worked hard on his book, had it edited by professionals and went back and did the real “grunt” work to polish the manuscript. Doug is now moving into the business side of writing to decide how he wants to publish his book. I will let you all know when it comes out. It’s an amazing read.

A former coaching client thought his book would be done in six months; four years later it was complete. Getting manuscripts right takes time. Will our books ever be perfect? Nope. But they need to be the best we can make them, or to borrow from the Army, the best books they can be!

In this world of publish anything online and damn the editing, there is a multitude of un-polished and downright stinky work out there; don’t let your book suffer that fate. Easy doesn’t make it done for book manuscripts or basic training. If we give our manuscripts the time, devotion and tough love they deserve, they will rise to the top of the digital publishing pile. Equip them with all the best gear when they go out to meet their readers.

We only get one chance to introduce ourselves and our writing to each new reader; let’s not disappoint our books or ourselves. Write hard!

Have You Built Your Pet A Castle?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

We love our pets. Spec Ops Cat is a big part of the Warrior Tales team, even though he is retired he is still in charge of ecommerce, security and conducting perimeter patrols. Pets give us unconditional love with no strings attached; something not always available from other humans.

This is one reason I think veteran’s bonds with their pets are so important; the furry ones may be the only “people” who give a veteran total acceptance and trust. This attachment/love is very strong for all the active duty personnel and veterans who worked with animals in the military too. We all know our pets and marine mammals are smarter than we are, but we try to pretend we are in charge.

Rufus the cat knows all about the power of love. His Dad decided to do something special for him after a tough two weeks of having to give Rufus icky medicine. Not only does Rufus Rock, but his human Dad is pretty cool too. Build your pet a castle today! Happy Quirky Friday!

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!