In the Author Spotlight: Ginger Simpson

Today I'm happy to turn over my blog to Ginger Simpson, who shares wise advice. You can find more about Ginger on her web site and blog.

Publishing Pitfalls

The following is from a one day workshop I hosted during the Muse On-Line Writer’s Conference. I wanted to share it today on Cate’s blog because I think the message is worth repeating and providing for those who didn’t attend the event.

Following this advice will hopefully prevent you from making a mistake than can lead to frustration, depression, and worst of all, make you question why you want to write in the first place. I can speak with authority, since I’ve had three horrible experiences in selecting publishers, and even a few with agents.

Signing with a publisher is much like getting married. You wouldn’t marry someone you didn’t find a comfortable fit with, nor would you enter into a union that had unrealistic expectations. Sure…you might discover after a while that the mate you picked isn’t as ideal as you hoped, but believe me, divorce is a lot easier than shrugging off a bad contract.

Signing on the dotted line locks you into a deal for years. Don’t make a mistake than can’t be undone without incurring costs you can’t afford or having your book sit idle for months. Most contracts will “sell” your rights back to you, so before you put that pen to paper, do your homework.

There are various sites you can use to verify the background of most publishing companies. Preditors and Editors documents reported cases of abuse and unprofessional conduct and you can also check potential agents there, too. Author, Piers Anthony, maintains a site that does virtually the same thing—allows you to see if problems exist or have existed in the past with your intended house.

Google is a valuable tool for checking backgrounds, too. If you search the name of any publisher, if there has been a problem, you can bet people have blogged about it or discussed it on a forum. I once did a video for a client and learned the hard way that I should have done some checking on the author and her book. My blog and YouTube site were peppered with hateful comments because said author had been accused with plagiarism. The Internet was filled with sites about the ongoing problem and I could have saved myself a lot of heartache had I only checked.

One of my “gross” mistakes was kept alive for days on the “Dear Author” blog. It resulted in 342 comments, including THE Nora Roberts. I didn’t feel vindicated in the least.

Besides tying yourself to a bad deal, you can incur needless costs and wasted effort. One of my books had three different covers. The first publisher was a nightmare…as evidenced by the aforementioned blog, and the second wasn’t any better. Because I trusted that I had made good decisions, I ordered promotion material bearing the cover each time. Needless to say, I should have just flushed the money down the toilet. There is no way I can utilize any of the postcards, tee shirts or business cards I ordered. Live and Learn. Listen to me and save yourself some time, money and anguish.

Your very best source of information is the authors published with your target publisher. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Email them off list and inquire about their experience. Trust me, if they aren’t happy, they’ll tell you. But remember, confidence is vital. You don’t want to pass around someone’s name and quote them. I think the reasons are evident, but if I need to spell them out, I will. Feel free to ask me.

I’d advise you to do your homework beforehand and save yourself grief. I was recently too trusting of a new company which shall remain nameless, and when I dared ask questions on the author’s loop, which is usually intended for business-related issues, the CEO took down the author’s loop completely. That was a big red flag for me, and I didn’t stay there long. Luckily, I think the owner recognized she had violated contract policy in so many ways; several authors received their rights back without argument. I got lucky.

No one wants to be involved in a smear campaign I’ve had one lodged against me a few times and it’s not fun. I’ve blogged about them to alleviate my stress level and feel some sort of retribution, but I don’t badmouth the companies by name. I did report my experiences to the sites mentioned above, but that’s as far as I went. Why not call them on their bad behavior? That’s a can of worms you don’t want to open. Lawsuit threats, nasty emails, untrue statements—plus I don’t won’t to be the person responsible for harming the other authors signed there. When you besmirch the name of a publisher, you not only affect the person running the company, you cast aspersions on those signed there and can affect their sales. I’m sure being locked into a contract is punishment enough, but who knows. Maybe my experiences were mine alone.

Publishers are becoming more unique and “sales” savvy. Make sure your intended publisher has a web store. Giving readers as many options as possible is a good thing, but you want to get the biggest share of the pie that you can. The more “middle men” that are included in a deal, the less money you’ll see.

Take a gander at the covers. There are a boatload of readers who DO judge a book by its cover. Make sure they are professional looking because if you see something you consider cheesy, chances are you’ll be assigned to that same cover artist. I’ve been very lucky in this department, but I know others who haven’t.

And one more important thing I learned from author, Rick Reed via a blog post (he’s copying my topic ) is to check your contract thoroughly for a “Rights of Refusal” clause. If the contract stipulates that the publisher has this option, then you’re locking yourself into a bigger nightmare should divorce court become an option in this marriage. Although it can be an ego-stroke to think the publisher is interested enough in you to want to look at all your future work, that particular wording can, as Rick puts it, “shackle your future output.” The clauses I’ve seen deal only with characters appearing in the primary publication, becoming the stars of a sequel… but make sure you read and understand before you put your John Hancock on the line.

All of these tips are based on the assumption that you have perfected your writing enough to even query. Remember, what you send a publisher paints a pretty accurate picture of the kind of author you’ll be, and some houses are pretty particular. Polish, polish, and polish again, and make sure you’ve done your homework and know the house is seeking what you have to offer. Looking like a jerk on your first attempt to impress someone can haunt you, too.



On aside note…I recently presented a case to EPIC on behalf of a friend who isn’t a member. The issue revolved around a statement of reversion of rights to the author after the expiration of her contract. Said publisher tried to extort $300 from the author to purchase the edits done to her manuscript. In essence, the publisher gave the author the choice of destroying the edited copy and using only the manuscript previously submitted or paying mega bucks to what is legally hers. If you’re interested in what EPIC had to say, here’s the link.

I was pleased when the author used the information and was able to obtain her reversion of rights statement without further ado. If you aren’t a member of EPIC, you might consider joining.

Here’s their statement:
EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection, is a non-profit, professional, international organization for published and contracted e-book and print authors. It was established to provide a strong voice for electronic publishing.

In the Author Spotlight: Ginger Simpson

Cate: Please welcome Ginger Simpson. Ginger, will you please share a short bio with us?
Ginger: Would you like me to lie, or would you prefer the boring answer? Truth is always best I suppose. I’m a modern day “Grandma Moses,” hoping to leave my mark on the world. I retired after two and half decades at an institution of higher learning so I could devote more time to my passion of writing. In 2002, my grandson was born and later diagnosed with Global Development Delays, NOS, which is a nicer term for autism. He became my main focus, the sunshine in my life, and my reason for hoping to hang around. I want to see him thrive and become a productive young man, and I know he will. All my writing plans have taken a backseat during the school year when I had him everyday. Now I’m trying to play catch-up, but I have so many voices in my clamoring to tell their stories, I can’t think straight.
I live with my husband Kelly…alone at last after many years of sharing space with relatives. We moved into a condo that isn’t big enough for anyone else to share with us, and we’ve instituted a two night maximum stay. The “welcome mat” no longer appears outside our door, and unless Mary has another immaculate conception and comes to our door on a burro led by Joseph, we definitely have no space to let. *lol*

Cate: Such a wonderful endeavor. Your grandson will thrive under your loving care, I'm sure.
Tell us about your release and where it's available.
Ginger: Well, I’ll have to step back to Sisters in Time, a time-travel romance with an historical twist. Up until lately, I could have mentioned another book, but alas, differences with publishers do happen, and I’ve pulled that book and expect to get a written release from this by the end of the week. Sad when things don’t go as you planned, but that’s life.

Cate: Sorry to hear that! But I’ve always loved the premise of Sisters in Time. Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Ginger: Of course…This is one of my favorite books, but then, aren’t they all?
Two eras collide when a modern day attorney and a pioneer wife find themselves locked in a time not their own.
Mariah Cassidy awakens in the twentieth century. Confined in a pristine environment, hooked to tubes and beeping machines, she’s scared, confused and wondering why everyone keeps calling her Mrs. Morgan. Who is the strange man who keeps massaging her forehead and telling her everything is going to be alright?
Taylor Morgan tries to focus on her surroundings through a blinding headache. The patchwork quilt, the water basin, and the archaic room don’t strike a familiar chord. Her mouth gapes when a handsome man waltzes into the room, calls her darling, and expresses his delight that she’s on the road to recovery.
Rather than an excerpt, here’s the link to the video: http://www.blazingtrailers.com/show.php?title=488

Cate: Can you tell us why we're going to love your hero?
Ginger: In this case you have two heroes to love. I think you’ll find admirable traits in both as they suffer through the confusion of constantly being told by the woman they believe to be their wife that she isn’t. A handsome cowboy and a gorgeous modern day guy…you get the best of both worlds, and a touch of humor, too.

Cate: Twice as nice! :) Tease us with one little thing about your fictional world that makes it different from others.
Ginger: Where else can you fall asleep in your perfectly coordinated twentieth century bedroom and wake up in another sporting antiques, quilts, and an armoire filled with clothing in no way befitting a modern-day attorney. Imagine your surprise when the man insisting he’s your husband has no idea what you mean when you ask about your cell phone. And forget trying to explain that the last thing you recall is driving your Lexus to work and adjusting the dial on the radio. He’s totally clueless.

Cate: What's next for you?
Ginger: You know, if you had asked me that question ten years ago, I would have said mainstream was on my wish list, but now I think I’ve found a niche that fits me. The tide is turning to ebooks, and I’m not a spring chicken who has time enough to query countless agents and big dog publishers only to be disappointed. I’m very proud of my accomplishments, and I’ve recently signed with a new publisher launching in December 2010. Muse It Up Publishing, with Lea Schizas at the helm, is everything I’ve ever imagined an e-publisher should be. If you sign a contract to be part of the team, you should be treated as one, and Lea shares everything with her authors and makes them feel an integral part of the business.

Cate: Wonderful! What inspired you to draft your first story?
Ginger: A love of the historical west and growing up on a steady diet of old westerns on television.

Cate: The Lone Ranger was one of my first loves. Can't wait till Johnny Depp stars in the movie version!
Do you have a writing routine?
Ginger: I did once upon a time, but now I write when the opportunity presents itself and when chanting, “I will not play Farmville, I will not play Farmville,” works. I’m finding that emails, loops, groups, chats, blogging to promote myself takes an enormous amount of time away from writing. I recently added reviewing to my list, but I’m seriously considering putting the skids on that idea. It’s just too time consuming with little reward for me other than reading a myriad of awesome books that could easily be on the NY Times Best Selling List. I love the idea, but I need to be writing. I have so many works-in-progress, I’ll be lucky if I can ever finish them all in this lifetime.

Cate: I hear ya! Where can we find you on the web?
Ginger: Google my name. I find myself in the weirdest places. But if you want to view my website, I’m at http://www.gingersimpson.com and my blog, “Dishin’ It Out” which is my favorite place to hang out…http://mizging.blogspot.com.

Cate: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Ginger: Where do you hide? I know authors are readers, too, but let’s face it; we’re each others competition. I want to know how to tap into those shadowy places where all the readers hide when we’re having chats and trying to sell you our books? *smile* The unsolicited emails I’ve received over the years from readers telling me how much they enjoyed my book have meant more to me than anything else. I keep them in a special place and when I need inspiration to write more, I dig them out.

Cate: Readers, Ginger is giving away a book to a random commenter... so start commenting. She'll pick a winner on Saturday, August 21st. The winner may select a PDF of any of her available novels or novellas.

Thanks again for being my guest Ginger!

Versatile Blogger Award

I’m so honored that Ginger Simpson bestowed the Versatile Blogger Award upon me last week. According to the rules, I'm required to:

1. Thank the person who loved me enough to bestow this gift.
2. Share seven things about myself.
3. Bestow this honor onto 15 newly discovered or followed bloggers–in no particular order–who are fantastic in some way.
4. Drop by and let my fifteen new friends know I admire them.

So thanks Ginger! I heartily recommend you visit Ginger’s wonderful blog. Besides being an amazing talent, Ginger’s posts are often hilarious.

Hm, now to think of seven things about me that won’t bore you to tears. Seven’s actually a significant number in my life, so here goes:

1. I’m the seventh (and last) child of two parents who each had seven children in their families.
2. When I was little, I wanted to marry Paul McCartney.
3. I still wouldn’t mind marrying Paul, if I weren’t already married.
4. Someday I hope to go to London with my friend Nora, so we can take the Beatles tour.
5. I’m still waiting for my husband to take me on our honeymoon, although it’s been more than 30 years. (No, I’m not giving up!)
6. I’m an animal lover, and having only a cat and a dog is the least number of pets we’ve had in years.
7. I wish I knew how to play the piano. Or the guitar. Or any instrument. Guess I’ll stick to the keyboard, nyuk nyuk.

Okay, so here’s my list of 15 blogs deserving of the Versatile Blogger Award. There are many more, I’m certain, but this is my list for now.

Alice Audrey
Rachel Brimble
Laurie J. Edwards
CJ Gabriel
Susan Gourley
DL Jackson
Emma Lai
Rebecca Leigh
Chiron O’Keefe
Lynn Romaine
Julia Smith
Jon Sprunk
Lorrie Unites-Struiff
Margaret West
KF Zuzulo

I hope you’ll visit their wonderful blogs often.

In the Author Spotlight: Ginger Simpson

Cate: Please welcome Ginger Simpson. Ginger, will you please share a short bio with us?
Ginger: Although most are written in ‘third person’, I hope you don’t mind if I just talk like a friend. I live in Tennessee with my husband, Kelly. We’ve been married thirteen years. He can’t put two romantic words together, but he shows his love by all the great things he does…like coming with me to TN so I can be close to my grandson. This is a second marriage for both of us.
I retired in 2003 so I could devote more time to writing. I’m finding that promotion takes up most of my time…but I’m thankful for people like you who make blog spots available and provide questions that make it easy. I have one release coming in April from MoonGypsy Press, but unless I get myself in gear, I’m going to see a long dry spell between releases. I’m shopping another western historical, Odessa, at the moment, but I’ve already received two rejections, one because the editor appointed to read the book didn’t favor historical westerns (huh?) and the other because they already had a similar story (one based during the same time period) in queue. At least they didn’t say my writing stunk. *lol*. I’d like to say I’m a world traveler, a past performer of Stars on Ice, or something impressive, but I have only my writing to boast about. Last year, I was nominated for a EPIC award, and this year I won Love Romance Café’s 2009 Best Historical for Sparta Rose. Someone likes me.

Cate: That’s certainly impressive! Tell us about White Heart, Lakota Spirit, your upcoming release and where it's available.
Ginger: Sometime in April, Moongypsy Press is re-releasing this story written during my “amateur” years, but this time in a much-improved format. We learn so much in the process of writing, I was thrilled at the opportunity to re-work this exciting story and present it again, this time hoping for a wider audience. I’m honored to be among the authors celebrating the start-up of this new publisher.

Cate: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Ginger: Of course.
A normal morning turns to disaster when a small war party attacks Grace Cummings’ family and slaughters everyone but her. She returns to the Lakota camp filled with hatred, anger and fear, but through the help of another white woman in camp, learns the Lakota way. Broken treaties, dead buffalo, and the white man's foray of gold in the sacred hills give the people reason to defend themselves. When white soldiers invade the camp and presume to rescue Grace, she must decide where her heart lies.

Cate: Love it! What inspired you to write about the theme?
Ginger: Years of watching TV westerns with my family and reading everything written by Laura Ingalls Wilder developed my love for the old west. In the movies, the Indians always were the villains, so I wanted to show them from a more human perspective and prove with historical facts that they didn’t always attack without provocation. I believe I’ve achieved my goal.

Cate: How do you develop your plots and characters?
Ginger: My books are character-driven. My answer will make my sound crazy, but I always have voices in my head, most screaming at me to tell their stories. When I pick one to listen too, I do the typing, but my character relays the tale. I usually do a first draft, then go back and hone it into a novel, inserting SHOWING phrases that connect the reader with my characters. As a great instructor, Cheryl St. John has taught me, Rule number one, is make the reader care!

Cate: Great advice! Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
Ginger: Oh yes. And new ones move in every day. I have to at least start a story so I don’t lose the “notion in the commotion,” and that results in so many works-in-progress, that I’m never sure where to start again. Right now, I’ve decided to put aside one and focus on another because HQ is searching for YA stories and I have one almost half finished. So definitely, no matter if the room looks empty, I always have plenty of company. Sometimes, I just wish they’d tone down the noise. *lol*

Cate: What's next for you?
Ginger: Only God knows that. I’ve finally decided that small press is probably my niche. With the growing competition and the economy causing publishing houses to cut back on releases--and be even more selective, I think my best chance is where I’m a known asset, even if it’s in my own mind. My final goal, because I’m not the spring chicken I once was, is to see at least one of my books in a brick and mortar store. So, I won’t give up entirely on finding a house to help me achieve that dream, but I’m smart enough to realize a dream is what it is. Like I said in a recent bio I submitted to EP…Grandma Moses didn’t become a hit until late in life, so good things can come to those who wait.

Cate: I totally agree. Any other published works?
Author: Yes. I’m the proud author of eight published novels, five novellas, a short story in a love magazine with three more being considered, and like I said, a multitude of selections in the works and a whole lot of hope in my heart.

Cate: Wonderful! Describe your writing in three words.
Ginger: Boy, that’s tough! I’ll use three I hope my readers identify with: Compelling, entertaining, and satisfying.

Cate: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Ginger: For me, since I write by the seat of my pants, the biggest challenge is settling down one group of characters while I deal with another, then making notable progress. The most rewarding aspect is writing that last word and feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Cate: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Ginger: Do you lay awake nights and dream up these hard questions? *lol* I recently discovered a review about Sisters in Time – my time travel, which up to now has received stellar comments. I found this passage most interesting:

Tedious only because of its predictability, ‘Sisters in Time’ trots down the familiar trail of switched bodies, switched times. Predictable surprise and related difficulties ensue.

Why is it interesting? In a time travel, don’t you expect someone to switch times? In Sister’s, I thought I developed new twist by having my heroines switch bodies, thus looking the same, but showing up in an era years removed from their own. I don’t see anything predictable about a pioneer wife and a fast-paced modern female attorney faced with being thrown a real curve ball. No hair dryers, fashion malls, and Lexus automobiles for Taylor…just an old cast iron stove, a horse and buggy, and fabric from the Mercantile. For Mariah, who is used to all those “conveniences,” she’s scared to death by the growl of a garbage disposal, the flash of darting colors on the paved trail below her hospital window, and a winged vehicle flashing past the window of a strange place the man who thinks he’s her husband calls home. You just can’t please everyone. That’s a hard pill to swallow, but so very true.

Cate: Well I loved the premise! And I'm sure readers did too. Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Ginger: I’ve made a vow to myself to read only books written by my fellow e-published authors. If I don’t support my own industry, how can I expect others to? I’ve found a wealth of talent, including you, Ms. Masters, who rival those published by mainstream. To name a few others, Margaret Tanner and Tricia McGill (Aussie authors), Anita Davison (English author), Ciara Gold, Phyllis Campbell, Jaydyn Chelcee, and too many others to list. I’m not reading anything in particular at the moment…I’ve between books I’m reviewing for my examiner.com column, but I am critiquing with a few friends and I predict their novels are going to be best-sellers.

Cate: (blushes) You're too kind. But I agree about the others. Where can you be found on the web?
Ginger: Just Google my name. I show up in the weirdest of places. My favorite spot to promote is my blog, “Dishin’ It Out,” at http://mizging.blogspot.com, and I also maintain at website at http://www.gingersimpson.com. You can also find me on Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, Ning…oh, the list goes on and on. No wonder I can’t get anything accomplished, and I’d be thrilled if Farmville disappeared from Facebook so I could stop the madness.

Cate: Too funny... I got away from the sheep-throwing and never went to Farmville, lol! Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Ginger: Yes, What can we do to make you more vocal on the loops and blogs where we promote our work? In most cases, E-pubbed authors bear the burden of all the promotion, and without input from you, we have no idea if we’re being successful or just boring you to tears. Playing to an empty house is just demoralizing sometimes. :)

Cate: Readers, Ginger is giving away a free download (PDF) of any book from her backlist to a random commenter... so start commenting. She'll pick a winner on April 3 and announce it here, so be sure to leave your email address so Ginger can contact you. (I'll be in NYC that day, so have fun!)

Ginger: Cate, I want to thank you again for allowing me time and space on your blog. Realizing how many times we try not to repeat the same things over and over when we guest, I hope I’ve managed to keep people’s interest to the end where they find out about the contest. *lol*

Cate: Happy to have you as a guest, Ginger! Best of luck with White Heart, Lakota Spirit!

Ginger Simpson in the Author Spotlight

Pleasing the Critics? When Pigs Fly.

As if writing a book isn’t a daunting enough task, an author then faces the task of finding a publisher who actually likes it. Once you’ve accomplished that major feat and think you can take a deep breath, think again. Reviews! Just the mention of the word makes me shudder.

Reviews are as varied as book topics and movie themes. The future sales of one’s book or cinemascopic wonder depends how a written assessment slants. If the reviewer doesn’t like ONE particular thing in your story, and focuses on that, your sunk. Then, there are some reviewers, it seems, who feel the need to annihilate other people’s work. I’ve been on both sides of the fence–author/book reviewer. I’m not always crazy about the entire content, but I at least try to focus on the positive aspects of the book. There had to be some or it wouldn’t have been published or, in the case of movies, millions spent to film it. Face it!

For proof, I'm offering some varying examples.  Remember the movie, Australia? I suggested to my sister that we go see it. She’s very in to reading reviews to help her decide if she wants to spend the money for a ticket or read. Thank God, not everyone does. I give very little credence to the opinions of others when it comes to books or movies, because opinions are so subjective. Imagine if the success or failure of Hugh Jackman or Nicole Kidman depended on the following comments taken directly from Yahoo Movies:

The film was poorly shot with horrendous transitioning between digital animation and live scenery. "Australia" also took a long time to develop the storyline. The plot was predictable and feebly attempted to chase several "rabbit trails." But the most irritating part of the film was it’s failure to end! On multiple occasions, I expected the film to wrapping up only to realize there was more. I found myself begging for the credits.

Terrible in every sense of the word. The screen writer simply could not settle on what plot to write about. One moment, they were herding cattle. The next, fighting Japanese invaders. Unfortunately, these two stories didn’t connect in any way shape or form…and it was 3 hours of my life that I will never have back.

Hugh Jackman was ok. The film suffers from bad editing, a stupid ending, and the lacking ability to really draw the viewer in. Stunning visuals cannot save this film. It’s like LION KING:THE MUSICAL, meets MOULIN ROUGE, meets PEARL HARBOR, meets THE THORNBIRDS, meets THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER.

This movie was a mess. Worst I have ever had to sit through, and I almost walked out. Stupid plot, bad acting (Jackman did okay), worse dialog, ridiculous soap-opera close-ups, just plain awful. A poop-pile of the worst parts of Titanic (cheesy rich girl-poor boy love story), Mary Poppins (aghh the singing), Pearl Harbor (war mixed with gooey love scenes), Quigley Down Under (look at me I’m Aussie!), Cold Mountain (Nicole Kidman again), Josey Wales (the stupid ending), City Slickers (cattle drives!), Indy’s Temple of Doom (rescue the children for the village, Indy), and Commando (worst villain attempt of all time). You should miss this movie at all costs.

Okay…would you go see it now! Remember there are people who sat in the theater and saw a completely different film as evidenced by:

WOW!! I really can’t say enough good things about this movie. Everything was well done. The story line, the visuals were outstanding. It doesn’t surprise me that the critics didn’t really like it, but why would they when there was truth in what was being told. A definite must see.

I don’t write reviews ever but this one is worth taking the time and telling the world they must see this movie. My family spent time in Australia in 2006 and seeing this movie made us all feel home sick. This movie was exactly what Australia is like. Beautiful but harsh and full of unknown history. This movie covered so much of the life of Australians they way they lived and the way things are now. I can’t say enough. You must go see.

I see many movies and some leave no impact on me at all. This movie I will never forget. Nicole Kidman played her role to the max. Hugh Jackman was good also. But the one that touched me the most was the little boy he was excellent. If you enjoy a movie with a believable story,good acting and beautiful location settings this is your movie. It was well worth the 2 1/2 hours of running time. I never once looked at my watch that's how much I was into this movie. Go and enjoy this epic they are not made like this any more in Hollywood.

this film is outstanding! critics take themselves to seriously. the movie had it all, love, action, comedy, and adventure. I loved it. it may be 2 hours long but it is worth it. go see for yourselves. it is truly an epic!
To say that reviews are confusing is an understatement. I’ve been fortunate to have received mostly positive reviews, but I’ve read unfavorable ones of books and movies that I thoroughly enjoyed. Shocking, to see that others didn’t find the joy or excitement I did, but that’s life. Being an author requires a thick skin.  You will never be everyone's cup of tea no matter how hard you try. There will be highs and lows, so revel in the glow when it comes.

More importantly, don’t let another person’s opinion decide for you. That’s my point. Be your own judge and jury. The same goes for restaurants…food critics have caused the demise of some great eateries all because their taste buds were out of whack on one particular evening. It’s sad that we give someone that much authority over our lives. Like I’m going to put a lot of stock in the fact that Joe Blow doesn’t like a particular artichoke dip or spinach soufflé. I’ll be my the master of my own cuisine…reading tastes and movie preferences, too. If the sampling of reviews I offered doesn’t prove my point…then nothing will.

Odessa - available from Eternal Press

When the wagon carrying Odessa Clay and her father overturns, he is killed. She is left alone in the middle of the desert to try to find her way to kin in Phoenix. Hot, dry and scared, Odessa is near death when Zach Johnson finds her. Squinting up into his tanned and handsome face, she imagines she’s died and gone to heaven.
Would-be-outlaw, Zach comes across an unconscious woman alone in the middle of nowhere. Where did she come from? She appears young, but the curves beneath the dusty gingham say otherwise. He didn’t plan to become someone’s hero, but he cannot leave her helpless and stranded.
Will the promise of Odessa’s sweet lips lure Zach from the secret mission that has his gut twisted into a knot? His father’s ranch isn’t the only thing at stake—now it’s his heart, too.

Excerpt
After slipping the sheet music beneath the mattress, Odessa stripped down to her undergarments, hung her dress on the bedpost and crawled between the covers. She stifled a giggle. Zach would be surprised when she gave him the news of her plans, but she’d have to wait and pretend she found the job during the daytime. Believing she’d put something over on him brought a feeling of satisfaction. A smug grin tugged at her lips.
Fatigue from the long day embraced her. She plumped her pillow and pulled the blanket up beneath her chin. Releasing a relaxing sigh, she closed her eyes.
“You’ve been gone quite a while. Gonna tell me where you’ve been?” Zach’s deep voice cut the silence, startling her.
“Ah…I thought you were asleep.” “I’m sure you did.” He sat up, letting his blanket fall to his waist.
Distracted by moonlight from the window highlighting his bared chest and muscled arms, her alibi drifted right out of her mind. 

Ginger Simpson currently resides in Tennessee with her husband and biggest fan, Kelly. He believes he's the inspiration for all her romantic scenes, but Ginger won't verify his claim. Since the publication of her first book in May 2003, she has remained avid about adding to her accomplishments. Her favorite genre is western historical, but she has been known to dabble in other areas. A 2009 EPIC Nominee, she recently won the 2009 Best Historical Novel from Love Romances Cafe for Sparta Rose. She has added the beautiful banner to her wall with other stellar acknowledgments of her work. She retired to devote more time to writing, but her promotional efforts, blogging, tweeting, and interacting with new friends on author’s and reader’s loops have stymied her efforts. She watches her grandson, Spencer, in the afternoons, and besides seeing one of her books in a real "brick and mortar" store some day, her main goal is to help her little darling overcome the developmental delays Autism has foisted upon him. She's got that "million dollar" book in the works, and one day hopes to haul someone into Wal-Mart, point to her novel and say, "That's me." She proclaims that Grandma Moses didn't make it big until her "golden" years, so why not be a believer that good things come to those who wait...and wait...and wait. 

Webpage: http://www.gingersimpson.com

Blog: http://www.mizging.blogspot.com