Writer's Survival Guide 23: What Makes a Book Unique?
I've been preparing pitches for the conference I'm attending, and one of the questions that's come up is "what makes your book unique?"
This should be easy, right? We know our books inside and out. But I'll admit, at first, it stumped me.
So I brainstormed the elements my book contains that other books I've read don't. After that, figuring out what makes my book unique became simple. I can quickly point out the "different" factor in any one of my books.
And it's always been easy for me to evaluate other books for uniqueness. Let's look at a few.
Of the three books I read and reviewed on my blog over the last few weeks, I'd like to point out what makes them unique.
Die Run Hide by PM Kavanaugh:
Character motivation. This is a woman on the run who will do anything for freedom, including betraying the man she loves. However, over the course of the book, she realizes freedom isn't worth the price she was willing to pay, and she comes up with her own plan to have both.
Fairyproof by Constance Phillips:
World-building. Constance created a world I got sucked right into--a world where fairies can influence humans but who also can return to a world only fairies occupy. What an intriguing place to reside in!
Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund:
Setting. Set in a Michigan lumber camp in the 1880's, the setting stood out as being extremely unique. I'd love to read more books in this setting.
As you can see, each of these books was unique for a different reason. We don't have to come up with a completely new plot (I don't think it's possible, anyway!) to stand out.
What makes your current book unique? What book comes to mind when you hear the word unique?
Have a terrific day!
And the winner from Friday's giveaway?
Huge congrats to LIZ R. for winning a copy of Jody Hedlund's Unending Devotion!!
I will be at a writer's conference this week and will return to bloggin a week from Wednesday.
Showing posts with label Unending Devotion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Unending Devotion. Show all posts
Monday, September 17, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Secret #9: Jody Hedlund's Blog Tour!
Today I have the pleasure of hosting my dear friend, Jody Hedlund, as she continues her "Secrets" blog tour for her latest release, Unending Devotion!
Unending Devotion is an inspirational historical romance set in an 1880's Michigan lumber camp. Since I come from a long line of lumbermen and am in awe of Hartwick Pines, a massive state park in Michigan with towering white pines and a logging camp museum, I've been counting the days until Jody's latest released!
Catch all of Jody's "Secrets" on her blog tour by heading to her Events page!
So, once again I began to dust my bookshelves. And I felt no shame. In fact, I relished the peace of having an organized and clean house.
Then I had five kids.
As much as I'd grown to appreciate the neatness aspect of my personality, I've also learned that we grow the most in character when we're stretched.
Unending Devotion is an inspirational historical romance set in an 1880's Michigan lumber camp. Since I come from a long line of lumbermen and am in awe of Hartwick Pines, a massive state park in Michigan with towering white pines and a logging camp museum, I've been counting the days until Jody's latest released!
Catch all of Jody's "Secrets" on her blog tour by heading to her Events page!
***
Secret #9: An aspect of
my personality that I've struggled to accept
By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund
I confess that I'm a nit-picking neat-freak. Clutter causes
me to convulse. Messes make me mope. And disorder drives me to distraction.
For as long as I can remember, I've been a tidy person. In
fact, I can remember dusting the bookshelves in my bedroom as child—without
being told! My handwriting was meticulous, my underwear folded, and my Barbie's
hair combed.
Of course, I went through a period of time where I felt odd
for being neat, and I "tried" to be messy so that I could fit in with
what I perceived as the normal way of
living.
But eventually, I realized that I'm special just the way I
am—neat-freak and all. God made me unique. And I needed to accept and
appreciate myself the way I was and not be ashamed of any part of the package
that makes up who I am.So, once again I began to dust my bookshelves. And I felt no shame. In fact, I relished the peace of having an organized and clean house.
Then I had five kids.
I became a full-time teacher to my kids.
And I delved into a career as a published author.As much as I'd grown to appreciate the neatness aspect of my personality, I've also learned that we grow the most in character when we're stretched.
Over the years, I've learned to be flexible, patient, and to
be able to work in the midst of chaos. I've had to prioritize. I've had to
learn that when time is limited, relationships take precedence over
fingerprints on the walls, mammoth dust-bunnies under furniture, and crumbs lining the refrigerator shelves.
The busyness of life and the messes of living in a large
family have made me into a better person—someone who can handle more stress, be
more flexible, and live life with more purpose.
Sure, I've trained my kids to pick up after themselves. We keep the house in order as best we can.
I'm still a neat-freak. I haven't changed who I am.
But I've become a more mature and balanced neat-freak.
Isn't that what character growth is all about—becoming more
mature and balanced in who we are?
How about you? What
character quality have you found difficult to accept about yourself? Is there
any trait in which you've grown or become more balanced?
***
Jill's review of Unending Devotion:
Ooo-la-la, love the
premise! And the execution made me swoon!
I'm a huge fan of
Jody Hedlund's historical romances. This one is set in 1880's Michigan around a
lumber camp and all the vices that go with it. Lily, the heroine, burrowed into
my heart from the first page. I found her to be so sympathetic, so heroic, but
she had real feelings, real flaws, and very real problems. I also loved Connell
and how he grows into the man he was meant to be--all because of the courage of
Lily.
This book tackles
heavy themes and portrays a realistic vision of the push/pull between the
wealthy and the poor, one of the biggest problems of the era. The romance
ribboned throughout, leaving me satisfied and smiling in the end. I also liked
that not every problem gets tied up with a pretty
bow. Actions have
consequences. But God's love is always with us. Excellent book!
**I received an
advanced reader copy of this book with no obligation to review it. Opinions are
my own--and I urge you to give this one a try!**
***
Publisher's Weekly calls Unending Devotion "A meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end."
To celebrate the release of Unending Devotion, Jody is giving away a signed copy. Leave a comment (along with your email address) to enter the drawing. Valid only with US or Canadian addresses. Giveaway ends Sunday, September 16, 2012.
For more secrets about Jody and additional chances to win her newest release, visit her Events Page to see where she'll be next in her "Fun Secrets About Author Jody Hedlund" blog tour.
Also join in the Pinterest Photo Contest she's hosting. Find more information about it on her Contest Page.
Jody would love to connect with you! Find her in one of these places:
Website: http://jodyhedlund.com/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jodyhedlund/
Thank you all for stopping by! Don't forget to leave a comment with your name and e-mail address to be entered in the giveaway. I'll be selecting a winner on Sunday (using the trusty picking-a-name-out-of-the-hat method) and announcing the winner on Monday, September 17, 2012!
Have a wonderful weekend!
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