News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dear Reader, Gulp! Only a week until launch day for The Teacher's Noble Heart, book five in my Double-Dilemma Romance series. Book five!!! I'm kind of gobsmacked when I think that The Dressmaker's Secret Earl, the first book in the series, was published less than a year ago. I started writing it months before that, of course, but I'm still amazed at how these romances have poured out of me, as if they were hiding in my heart and just waiting for their chance...
14 days ago • 1 min read
News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dear Reader, Before I get into Book 5 promotion mode (publication is less than two weeks away), I wanted to share something with you that I mentioned briefly in my previous email. As I said, I'm now offering an online indie publishing course, Publishing Without Panic. Why? Because taking the leap into self-publishing is a bit scary—even though there are lots of resources online to help you do it. Often they simply tell you what to do without telling you why...
19 days ago • 2 min read
News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dear Reader, My annual announcement and little gift to my subscribers—today is my birthday! I'm 71. I definitely feel it is a privilege to have reached this age. I'm privileged to have a life in books and words, and to be able to use my imagination on a daily basis. I don't take it for granted. So a quick little promotion: The Falconer's Lost Baron is $.99 today only. And I've got two quick little polls for subscribers—is the plural of series really series?...
26 days ago • 1 min read
News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dear Reader, I have been on quite a journey in the past couple of years. I changed genres—from historical fiction to historical romance—and had to learn some new things about publishing and reaching readers as a result. I also had to relearn much that I thought I already knew. In these past few weeks I suddenly realized that I could share my hard-earned knowledge and experience with other authors. It became clear to me that I have something of value to offer...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dear Reader, Well, we made it through January. Up here in Maine it was snowy and bitterly cold—a real winter. And I'm done. Sigh, but nature has other ideas. Of course Punxsatawny Phil saw his shadow. However, February has some redeeming qualities! My birthday, for one thing (2/19). Then there's Valentine's Day and Presidents' Week. And it's short. (Not a leap year this year.) To cheer things up a bit as we churn through winter, I have a birthday present for...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dearest Gentle Writer... (or Wreader)... All does not always go smoothly in the world of indie publishing. More about that below, but first: I've just sent the manuscript of Book 5 in my Double-Dilemma Romance series, The Teacher's Noble Heart, to beta readers. And I'm also now taking applications for ARC readers. What's the difference? Beta readers look for things that aren't working in the manuscript. They read like writers. And they give me feedback that...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dear Reader, Let me start by wishing all of you a happy, fulfilling, and prosperous new year. May your hopes and dreams come closer to fruition, and may you and everyone you love remain healthy. I mean it. But I do have a real question: How long into the year does it continue to be appropriate to wish someone a Happy New Year? I generally go with the first time I see someone in the new year, at least through January. How about you? That all said, I'm not...
2 months ago • 3 min read
News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dear Reader, I don't know about you but at the very last minute I always remember someone I forgot when I was doing my holiday shopping. Sometimes it's too late :(. But if your giftee happens to be a book lover with a Kindle, there is a way to send an ebook to them directly from Amazon. A. Choose the "gift kindle edition" option in the right sidebar: B. Go to "learn more:" C. OR go directly to "Gift Kindle Edition:" You can select the date you want the book...
3 months ago • 1 min read
News & Musings from Susanne Dunlap Dear Reader, Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate! And it's only just over a week until Christmas for those who celebrate that. Whether you give lots of gifts or just observe one of the many festivals that take place at this time of the year with friends or family, it's an opportunity to find light when things seem darkest in the northern hemisphere. It strikes me how biased toward the northern hemisphere the religious calendars can be. But it's...
3 months ago • 2 min read