Giveaway on Virtual Book Tour

I’m on a Virtual Book Tour this week with Trails in the Sand  – Visit tour stops to enter giveaway

I’m on “tour” April 22-29 to celebrate the forty-third anniversary of Earth Day and to celebrate the publication of Trails in the Sand. At each stop, you’ll be able to enter a raffle for an exciting giveaway at the end of the tour. I’m giving away a package of autographed copies of both Live from the Road and Trails in the Sand, along with a Route 66 baseball cap, a Trails in the Sand magnet, all wrapped in a “green” grocery bag donated by fellow blogger Betsy Wild at What’s Green with Betsy. The bags were designed by Where Designs.

The Tour Schedule for April 23 – Check out these blogs today and enter to win the tour giveaway.

April 23

Words Unlimited features my guest post on how I came to write Trails in the Sand on Back Story page. Words Unlimited is a lovely blog dedicated to writing and writers.

The blog Bless Their Hearts Mom will publish a review and excerpt of Trails in the Sand.
This is another lovely blog where books and products are reviewed.

Earth Day – Incorporate “Green” in Stories

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

Today is the forty-third anniversary of the very first Earth Day in 1970 when environmentally minded folks came together to raise awareness after several major disasters in this country. First, in 1969 there was a devastating oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara that compromised both the habitat and the wildlife within reach. Then, if that wasn’t horrific enough, a river caught fire in Ohio. I repeat: a river caught on fire because of the high amounts of combustible crap in the water.

We’re still celebrating Earth Day, and we’re still dealing with environmental disasters such as BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill three years ago.

This blog is devoted to writing and writers and today is no different despite my opening paragraphs. Today, I urge all writers to consider doing something “green” in your work. You don’t have to write environmentally themed novels as I do, but you could create a character that recycles or drives a Prius or drinks water from stainless steel containers or uses cloth napkins.

I attended a writer’s conference many years ago at the height of the AIDS Awareness campaign. In one of the sessions, an agent urged the participants to make sure the characters were having protected sex, whether it was to show a character pulling a condom out of a drawer or simply having two characters discuss the issue before partaking in sex the first time. I’m doing the same thing here. No matter what you believe about climate change, taking care of our planet just makes good sense. As writers we can lead by example.

You don’t need to make a big deal out of it, just make it a natural part of the story and maybe somewhere something will click with a reader.

In Trails in the Sand, Simon, one of the main characters, toys with the idea of pulling an old solar water heating system out of the barn. Here’s how I handled it:

“I’ve been thinking about something,” Simon said. “Remember that old solar water heater out in the barn? I’m going to pull it out this afternoon and see if we can install it for the bathroom.”

Do you think it’s salvageable?” Caroline asked.

“I’m not sure, but I know this guy on Vilano Beach who works with this type of thing. I thought I’d give him a call.”

“What brought this about?”

“I keep thinking about our dependence on fossil fuels and wondered how we could change our lives in some ways that might make a small difference. Then I read that piece you wrote.”

“So you do read what I write,” Caroline said. “Sure, see if we can do something with it. Maybe Gus wasn’t so far off the mark all those years ago.”

“Maybe not, but don’t worry, I won’t make you live off the grid totally. I’m thinking there’s a middle ground somewhere. And you know I’m your biggest fan.”

Speaking of Trails in the Sand, my virtual book tour starts today. Please check out my blog stops and enter to win a very cool giveaway: an autographed copy of both Live from the Road and Trails in the Sand, magnets, a Route 66 baseball cap, and a “green” grocery bag from What’s Green with Betsy blog.

Here’s the schedule for April 22

Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries More blog features an excerpt from Trails in the Sand. Melissa loves books and animals. She says her blog is “a book blog with a very pet-centric twist.

Author Richard Stephenson interviews me on his blog. Richard is cool – he devotes much of his blog to promoting Indie Authors.

Bookingly Yours blog features my guest post about the anniversary of Earth Day and the connection to Trails in the Sand.
Jenai reviews books and features guest posts by authors.

Any comments left on today’s post will be entered into a separate drawing (by me) for a Kindle version of one of my three novels in eBook format. Enjoy and do something “green” today.

Enter Giveaway On My Virtual Book Tour

April 22-29 – Trails in the Sand goes on a Worldwind Virtual Book Tour

I’ll be out on “tour” April 22-29 to celebrate the forty-third anniversary of Earth Day and to celebrate the publication of Trails in the Sand. At each stop, you’ll be able to enter a raffle for an exciting giveaway at the end of the tour. I’m giving away a package of autographed copies of both Live from the Road and Trails in the Sand, along with a Route 66 baseball cap, a Trails in the Sand magnet, all wrapped in a “green” grocery bag donated by fellow blogger Betsy Wild at What’s Green with Betsy. The bags were designed by Where Designs.

The Tour Schedule – Check out these blogs and my posts and enter to win the tour giveaway.

April 22 – Earth Day

Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries More blog features an excerpt from Trails in the Sand.

Author Richard Stephenson interviews me on his blog.

Bookingly Yours blog features my guest post about the anniversary of Earth Day and the connection to Trails in the Sand.

April 23

Words Unlimited features my guest post on how I came to write Trails in the Sand on Back Story page.

The blog Bless Their Hearts Mom will publish a review and excerpt of Trails in the Sand.

April 24

Freda’s Voice features my guest post “Love Those Writers” about why I chose writers as the main characters in my books.

April 25

I Read Indie blog features my guest post “Why I love sea turtles” about my first interaction with the ancient creatures and how they became a central part of the plot in Trails in the Sand.

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers features Trails in the Sand and my guest post “Subject Chooses the Writer.”

April 26

A Page Away features my guest post “Saving Sea Turtles One Nest at a Time” about my job on the team to rescue sea turtle nests during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

BestsellerBound Recommends features an interview with me using “M” words to describe myself.

April 27

Create With Joy – Live With Passion features a review of Trails in the Sand and an excerpt.

April 28

Bex ‘n’ Books features Trails in the Sand.

April 29

Jody’s Book Reviews features my guest post “Tikkun Olan Found Its Way into the Novel.”

Celtic Lady’s Reviews features a review of Trails in the Sand.

Confessions of an Inner Aspen features an interview with me.

Book Review Friday – Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

For months the book sat in my “to read” pile. Then I pulled it out and placed it on the coffee table. It teased me as I savored the anticipation building to the moment I opened the cover and began reading the poetry of Barbara Kingsolver’s prose.

Flight Behavior, Kingsolver’s latest novel, did not disappoint me from the first word to the last, although there were some plot techniques that disconcerted me.

The environmental theme interwoven throughout the plot was executed with a unique choice of characters as the mouthpieces. Using the monarch butterfly as the harbinger of ecological disaster captivated me from the first when the main character, Dellarobia, encounters the unusual sight of thousands of monarchs clustered on tree limbs at the top of a mountain in Appalachia.

She believes she’s seeing the apparition as a warning against the adultery she’s about to commit, until her epiphany on the mountainside. Here’s the vision from Dellarobia’s viewpoint:

“Unearthly beauty had appeared to her, a vision of glory to stop her in the road. For her alone these orange boughs lifted, these long shadows became a brightness rising. It looked like the inside of joy, if a person could see that. A valley of lights, an ethereal wind. It had to mean something.”

Kingsolver received criticisms for her “preachy” tone on climate change. Readers who love her previous works, yet disagree with her politics in this novel, gave her harsh scores and reviews.

I’m reviewing this book on its merits. After all, Kingsolver is preaching to the choir with me. But be forewarned – this book is entertaining and educational, if you want it to be. If however you’re the type of person who doesn’t wish to read anything other than what repeats what you already believe, and if you believe the claims by scientists of climate change are bogus, don’t read this book. You’ll learn nothing and walk away muttering about the “tree hugger” author.

I loved the book for creating a fictional “what if” picture. What if the monarchs, so unsettled by climatic changes in their wintering spot in Mexico, decided to roost in the Appalachian Mountains?

Kingsolver creates a main character in Dellarobia who is a victim of her decisions in life and her circumstances. But never once did I feel sorry for this young mother burdened with the grief of the unmentioned dead baby that tied her down to the husband who is clearly not her match made anywhere. Dellarobia is going through her own “climate change” as she becomes an assistant to the scientists who have come to the mountain to study the anomaly. She becomes our interpreter of the complicated nature of shifting atmospheric patterns and the potential destruction of an entire species. The plot is woven around Dellarobia’s problems and that of the monarchs.

One of the foils for Dellarobia is her mother-in-law Hester who is very unsympathetic and seemingly mean in the first half of the book. As Hester’s story unfolds, Kingsolver is able to deftly turn Hester into a completely sympathetic human character, flaws and strengths both on display. In other words, she’s just like us.

I didn’t like the transition between chapters. Often, Kingsolver would bring the reader to the brink of a breakthrough in discovery of both the human drama and the plight of the monarch, and then the chapter would end. I would eagerly begin the next chapter only to find the plot had moved ahead a few days. I also felt the ending was very quickly tied up in a nice little bow. Some of it was symmetrical, but much of it seemed as if Kingsolver was told by her editors to shorten the book so she rushed the resolution.

Even with the few things I found disconcerting, I would still recommend this book if for nothing else than to enjoy the beauty of a skilled writer dancing her dance for our enjoyment. See for yourself:

“A movement of clouds altered the light, and all across the valley, the butterfly skin of the world transfigured in response, opening all the wings at once to the sun. A lifting brightness swept the landscape, flowing up the mountainside in a wave. Dellarobia opened her mouth and released a soft pant, anticipatory gusts of breath that could have become speech or laughter, or wailing. She couldn’t give it shape.”

Earth Day is April 22 – Celebrate by doing something kind for our planet. I’m out on a virtual book tour next week for Trails in the Sand, and I’ll be doing guest posts on the oil spill that occurred three years ago April 20. There are all sorts of anniversaries during this week in April. Some of them we hate to remember and yet others we must remember. May we somehow find peace within the chaos of these days.

Worldwind Virtual Blog Tour

Be sure to visit my tour stops next week to enter to win a great giveaway prize: An autographed copy of both Live from the Road and Trails in the Sand, a Route 66 baseball cap, magnets, and a “green” grocery bag from Betsy over at What’s Green With Betsy.

Checking on 2013 Goal Progress

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

At the beginning of the year, I posted my goals for 2013. Here we are three months into the year, so it’s time to see how I’m doing once again. I highly recommend checking on the goals. I’ve never done it before this year, and I’m finding it’s a great motivator that keeps me moving.

Writing Goals for 2013

• Launch Trails in the Sand. I published it on Amazon and have a print copy ready to proof. I plan to do a big launch for the novel by the end of January.

Update: Trails in the Sand is available on Kindle and in paperback on Amazon. It’s also available on Nook through Barnes and Noble. So far, sales remain slow.  There are eight reviews on Amazon – all five-star  Several review copies are still out, and I’m waiting for more reviews to appear. I decided to sign up for a blog tour with Worldwind Virtual Blog Tours so I’m busy writing guest posts for the tour, which begins on Earth Day, April 22. The tour lasts one week. Also, I signed up for World Literary Cafe’s Shout Out for April 22. I’ll report in my next update on whether I feel these two things were worthwhile.

• Finish Safe Harbor. I started this novel in 2007 but stopped when I decided I needed to find a wildlife officer to interview. I left for the big Route 66 trip, which led to the creation of Live from the Road. When I returned from Route 66, I took a new job with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and became very familiar with wildlife officers and experts. Now there’s no excuse not to finish the almost completed draft. I start by pulling out the spiral notebook where it’s housed and giving it a read. I always recommend that writers let pieces incubate, but five years isn’t what I meant.

 Update: I’ve read through the draft, made notes, and decorated my bulletin with character cards. I’m rearranging chapters now and and filling in gaps. I’m starting on Chapter Five this week.

• Publish a book of essays on my travels. I already have a name: Odyssey to Myself. I have most of the pieces written in various stages. It’s a matter of pulling it all together into one cohesive story of my travels from 2004-2009 as I discarded an old life and moved into a new phase.

Update:  Nothing to report here.

• Pull together all of my gardening blog posts from my blog “Living Lightly” into a book. I see it as a primer for gardening and preserving produce. Again, I have all the pieces here and there, I just need to pull it all together.

Update:  This book is coming along nicely. I’ve written the first four chapters (Introduction, Year Round Gardening, Winter, and Spring). I’ll be starting the chapter on Summer this week. The drafts of the first four chapters are on my husband’s desk awaiting his proofreading pen.

• Read the pile of books on my desk, both fiction and nonfiction. Reading is an essential part of the writing journey. How fortunate for me to have a career that requires reading for improving my craft.

Update:  I read another eBook and finished In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. I started reading Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver this past week.

• Establish myself as a bestselling author. Every year this one makes it to my list. Here’s to 2013  being the year it happens. For me, this goal refers to making a living as an author. I want to be able to pay more than the electrical bill each month with the proceeds from my storytelling.

Update:  Stay tuned.

How’s it going for you in 2013 so far?

All Writing is Opinion – So No Need to Shout

Hello – I’m changing my routine a bit with Writing Whims. On Mondays, I’ll post my tips and thoughts about writing. On Wednesdays, I’ll be featuring other writers – please see the note below about Author Wednesday. On Fridays, I’ll post book reviews. Sometimes I might be reviewing a book by Wednesday’s author, or I might review an old favorite, a new release, or the most recent book I’ve read. I’m hoping this will prod me into moving through my pile of hard copy and Kindle books.

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

When I began working as a reporter, my whole concept of writing changed. Much to my chagrin, I realized what I taught as a high school English teacher mattered little to writing in the real world.

So I adjusted and formed my own style as I wrote articles and columns and dabbled in the world of fiction. My first newspaper editor always stressed objectivity in reporting as most real newspaper people do. Soon enough, I discovered objectivity is the ideal, but it’s not the reality.

I learned about journalism in the field under deadline. I covered the politics for a small yet growing town in north Florida. When Walmart set its eyes on a town willing to give incentives for building a super center within the city limits, the locals took sides. My job was to report on both sides objectively, even though I had a definite opinion about the monster stepping on the midgets. I wouldn’t have been able to write the preceding sentence in an article about the project, but I sure could decide how I presented my piece, even though it appeared to be objective.

For instance, if someone on the Walmart side yelled, “You’re a good for nothing tree hugger,” I could lead with that statement and continue with the rest of the meeting. But what if that comment was preceded by, “You’re a cheater and a liar out to destroy this town by bringing in Walmart,” and as the reporter, I chose not to include that in my article? As the reporter, I’ve suddenly become subjective, but no one is the wiser except the folks at the meeting. It happens all the time.

As writers, we have tremendous power in the simple presentation of words, sentences, and paragraphs. We choose the examples we use in both fiction and nonfiction. We design characters to suit our needs and opinion. We design scenes where our point is abundantly clear by what good or bad things might happen to the protagonist or antagonist.

We don’t need to shout. We only need to show. In my novel Trails in the Sand, I present the real life drama of BP’s oil spill and the Upper Big Branch coal mine disaster. Even though I have a definite opinion about who’s responsible for the deaths of men and wildlife in both tragedies, I tried not to shout it from the rooftops. But I chose what news articles I quoted, and I presented the material from the perspective of an environmentalist through the main character, Caroline. I tried not to shout, but I certainly wasn’t writing an objective novel.

This week on my first Author Wednesday, author Rachelle Ayala writes a guest post about her newest novel Hidden Under Her Heart, which presents one view of abortion. I’ll review the book on Book Review Friday.

Ms. Ayala shows her opinion quite clearly in her novel, but she’s not shouting. And because she didn’t shout, I listened.

I also learned another lesson in those early years of my writing career. When folks on each side of the Walmart issue presented their position, they were usually shouting. No one heard a word because the other side was shouting just as loud. Even though I had my own opinion on the project, I soon discovered I didn’t want to be associated in any way with either side.

I stopped listening.

Do you believe there is such a thing as objective journalism or is it just a good example of an oxymoron?

NOTE: I’m looking for writers – published or not; Indie or not – to feature on Wednesdays in Writing Whims. Author Wednesday will include guest posts and interviews with authors in most genres and at most stages of their career. Please leave me a comment or email me at pczick@verizon.net, if you’d like to schedule a feature. I’m booked through the end of May, but I’m looking for authors for June, July, and August.

My Interview with Jennifer Donohoe

Goodreads Giveaway
Now – Feb. 28

Jennifer Donohoe is a fellow author and blogger (A World of Writing). She does a wonderful job of also promoting her colleagues. Yesterday, she posted a summary of my new novel, Trails in the Sand, along with the first chapter. Originally, she intended to post an interview with me for her Wednesday evening author interview post, but she misplaced the interview. When I located the questions and answers, I decided not to let them go to waste.

Interview with Jennifer Donohoe

P. C. Zick – Trails in the Sand

 What has been your greatest moment as a writer?

The greatest moment came when I held my first published book in my hands. That happened in 2000 when a small publisher picked up my first novel, A Victorian Justice. In the aftermath of that moment, I could finally say without hesitation or embarrassment, “I’m a writer.” Now I go further and say, “I’m an author.”

 What has been your worst moment as a writer?

The day I received my first one-star review on Amazon for my novel, Live from the Road, was probably my worst day as a writer. I’d been writing and publishing novels for twelve years and had received my share of reviews. Not everyone liked what I wrote, but the majority who took the time to review did. This reviewer hadn’t even finished the book and made comments that weren’t true. For a couple of days, I hung my head and questioned my life as an author. Then I realized this was just one person who decided to write a mean review, and it should not overshadow the good comments I’ve received. But most of all, I do believe in what I write whether anyone else does or not. That is the most important thing to remember as a writer. Believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place.

 Do you write your stories from personal experiences or another source and why?

I write from both perspectives. All of my novels have some seed from my real life, but then I expand and pull in other sources, such as characters and settings. I don’t write autobiographical novels, which is an oxymoron. But I do use my real-life situations because I usually want to take what I’ve learned and share it with my readers. Also, just listening to the news and reading the newspaper gives me fodder for scenes. When I was a journalist, I kept track of a host of situations and people which occasionally made their way into my novels. There’s a wealth of stories wherever I turn.

What do you want readers to know about your book?

Trails in the Sand is about redemption and restoration. I use the environment as the backdrop to help stress the theme. As the main character, Caroline, explores the mysteries, secrets, and lies of several generations in her family, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill gushes toward the beaches of Florida, threatening the sea turtle nests. Caroline’s husband, Simon, is mourning the death of his best friend and cousin in the Upper Big Branch coal mine disaster in West Virginia that killed twenty-nine miners weeks before the oil spill. Caroline is fighting to restore her family and find redemption in the process as she writes about the environmental stories in which folks are fighting to restore the environment and save the sea turtles from extinction. I want readers to walk away after reading Trails in the Sand knowing it’s never too late to restore peace and find love.

What do you believe will appeal to readers about your book?

The environmental themes will appeal to readers. I use real news releases and news stories in between the love story of Caroline and Simon. In addition, the unraveling of the family’s secrets and deceptions from generations past will keep the reader turning the page. The story involves a race to save the sea turtles and to rescue a family from destruction.

 

 

Organization for the Indie Author

The Indie Author

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

I’ve been working as an Indie Author for almost a year. At times, it feels as if I’m floating, and sometimes drowning, in an excess of advice, information, and time-consuming minutiae. As a fairly organized person who can multitask, I haven’t felt comfortable, so I decided to organize the tasks I need to accomplish every day. For other Indies reading this post, please note that this is now my full time job. For once in my life, I have the luxury of pursuing my dreams without day-job interference. It does mean I need to be creative when it comes to our one-paycheck household, but we manage. I bring in enough each month to pay for incidentals.

However, I intend my lack of regular paycheck to be only a temporary situation, which leads me back to the focus of this post. If I want my books to sell – which I do – then I need to market what’s already out there while continuing to write new books. To make it less daunting, I’ve broken down the tasks, by giving myself a list of eight items that need attention every day. I might not accomplish all of them, but it gives me focus for my day instead of leaving me so overwhelmed that I accomplish nothing.

Tasks for this Indie Author

1. Triberr  – This task takes me approximately twenty minutes each morning. I belong to five tribes, with a total of 180 tribemates. Check out the Triberr website if this is meaningless to you: www.triberr.com. My blogs are linked to Triberr so every time one of my posts goes live, it appears in the tribal stream for 180 other bloggers who then tweet my post to a potential market of 769,000 folks. I tweet their posts as well. Tweeting that many posts is mindless routine work, and I usually accomplish this while drinking my coffee and listening to the morning news. It accomplishes two things recommended for the successful use of Twitter. First, I’m tweeting about something other than myself. Second, others are promoting my blogs, which is more attractive in Twitter world. If you haven’t joined yet, I recommend you do so if you have a blog.
2. Leave comments on at least two different blogs – I follow approximately fifty blogs, although I don’t read them all. Some I read every time they post. I try to leave meaningful comments rather than just saying, “Great post.” I enjoy doing this, and it only takes about thirty minutes or less each day. If I comment on someone else’s blog, chances are if they aren’t following my blog, they will at least check me out. In addition, during this time, I respond to all comments left on my own blog.
3. Complete two book promotions and/or strengthen platform – Yesterday, I added Trails in the Sand and Live from the Road to two different websites, so technically I completed four promos. Savvy Writers blog has a wealth of information on how to promote. I count writing guest blogs in this category, if it’s about my book or I can mention my book somehow. Right now, I’m working on two guest blog posts and both will reference and link back to my books. I spend an hour or two on this every day. While taking a break from writing this post, I found several articles about criminal charges filed against BP employees responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which is a topic relevant to my newest novel, Trails in the Sand. I shared the articles on my Facebook author page, Twitter, and Google.
4. Research marketing strategies – I have several reference books on my Kindle and in paperback  on self-published marketing. I’m working my way through social media strategies. By next week, I plan to tackle SEOs, keywords, tags, and website promotions. Last night, while we watched the hockey game (Go Penguins), I surfed a marketing book during commercials. While I’m reading blogs, I find promotional ideas, which I bookmark or print. I have a ton of bookmarks and a folder filled with strategies to sell more books.
5. Request two book reviews – On Monday, I found a blogger who does book reviews – via a Facebook reference from a colleague – and she agreed to review both of my ebooks.
6. Send out at least one press release/kit – I made a list of possible publications that might review and/or publish information about Trails in the Sand, and I send them information. I might not always send something out, but I keep a list going of potential audiences. I send to newspapers and to organizations relevant to the environmental theme in Trails in the Sand.
7. Work on my new novel, Safe Harbor - I’m in the beginning stages of reading what I wrote six years ago. I started a notebook with short notes on chapters, and I’m making character note cards that will go on a bulletin board in my office. Right now, I’m not heavily engrossed in the book, but my interest is growing. Soon this will become the priority instead of the last listing in my organizational chart. Last night, I went through two chapters at bedtime instead of reading someone else’s book.

I work more than eight hours a day, but there’s flexibility. Today, I need to leave the house by 10 o’clock and won’t return until late this afternoon. However, this morning I began my workday at 6:30 and will most likely put in a few hours this evening. Don’t worry about me working too hard because it almost seems as if I’m lying when I write about writing as a job. I love what I do, and I’m even beginning to enjoy the marketing end of the business.

Do you have any organizational tips to share? I’m sure those of you who work outside of the house are finding creative ways to do it all. Please share your ideas and tips.

Please note that I have some giveaways going on right now and my novel Tortoise Stew is free Feb. 7-10 on Kindle at amazon.com.

FREE Feb. 7-10

Goodreads Giveaway
Now – Feb. 26

Goodreads Giveaway
Now – Feb. 28

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

By Patricia Zick @PCZick

Author Lynn Thompson http://www.lynnthompsonbooks.com asked if I’d participate in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop! Since I launched my Next Big Thing Novel (Trails in the Sand) yesterday, January 30, it seemed quite appropriate to participate in my second blog hop. This blog hop requires me to answer ten questions about my new work and then tag other authors to do the same. Not only does it give me the opportunity to promote my new book, but I have the opportunity to support and promote my fellow authors as well. It’s a winning combination.

Ten Questions about Trails in the Sand

Was Trails in the Sand always the title of this book, even when it was a work in progress?

No, it was originally titled In the Garden. Even though the garden is a part of the book, it didn’t really address the whole concept. When I sent it out to my first readers during the first draft round, I kept thinking about the title and knew I had to change it. At first, I wanted Tracks in the Sand to be the title, but when I did a search on Amazon, I came up with dozens of other titles very similar to that one. Trails fit better, and I didn’t find any other books with that title.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was embroiled in the real-life drama as a public relations director for Florida’s fish and wildlife agency. I handled the media for the sea turtle nest relocation project that took place during the summer of 2010. At the same time, I was beginning a new relationship with a lost love from thirty-five years ago and was in the process of moving to Pittsburgh. Two weeks prior to the oil spill, twenty-nine miners were killed in a coal mine explosion in West Virginia, just a few hours from where I was moving. It all fell into place to write about the oil spill and coal mine disaster and our quest for profit and fossil fuels at any cost as the backdrop to the love story unfolding as the reunited couple face obstacles that threaten to topple their new marriage.

What genre is your book?

Trails in the Sand is contemporary literature. I want to create a new genre for environmental fiction, but so far, I’m not having success with that.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Ashley Judd would be exceptional as main character Caroline Carlisle, with Woody Harrelson as Caroline’s husband Simon. Susan Sarandon would make a perfect Gladdy Stokley Carlisle, the damaged southern belle and mother to Caroline.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

As environmental writer Caroline Carlisle reports on endangered sea turtles during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she uncovers secrets about the past threatening to destroy her family unless she can heal the hurts after a lifetime of lies.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I went the traditional route for my first three novels. I self-published for the first time in May 2012 (Live from the Road) with modest success, so Trails in the Sand is also self-published. However, both books have gone through several beta readers, a copy editor, and a professional editor before publication.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It took me six months or so; it’s hard to say because I do a great amount of research during the first draft stage, and I write scenes as they come to me, and then worry about placement later. With that said, it could have taken almost a year before I felt it was ready for first read by beta readers.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Before I began writing this book, I reread Pat Conroy’s Beach Music. While I do not put myself in his category of writing excellence (yet), my themes are similar. We both explore nature and crazy families who’ve done their share of damage to those who come later.

What inspired you to write this book?

As I learned more and more about the two tragedies that occurred in April 2010 – the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the Upper Big Branch mine explosion – I became increasingly concerned with the lack of following safety procedures in both cases. Both disasters could have been prevented. In total, forty lives were lost. In addition, my personal life fluctuated between extreme highs and extreme lows during this time. And again most of that could have been prevented. In all of these cases, I kept wondering if restoration and peace would ever be possible after something is destroyed, so I decided to explore that concept both in the environment and in human relationships.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I hope readers will enjoy the story of one family as Caroline explores the past of her grandfather and mother. There’s touching moments as well as hilarious moments as one southern family fights to hide the past. As a reporter, Caroline can’t let it go. I also think readers will enjoy the race against time as wildlife officials fight to save hundreds of sea turtle nests from destruction as the oil heads for Florida’s Panhandle beaches.

Author Links

Here are five talented authors I’m tagging as the blog hop continues. Make sure you stop by their blogs and get to know these talented individuals.

Jerry Hatchett

Website:  http://www.jerryhatchett.com

Blog:  Storyfreak – http://jerryhatchett.blogspot.com

Pawnbroker Website:  http://www.pawnbrokernovel.com

Facebook Fan Page:  http://www.facebook.com/JerryHatcherAuthor

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/Chop0Matic

Inez Reilly

Website:  http://iamsproperty.org

Blog:  http://inezreilly.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/inez.reilly

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/IAMSPROPERTY

Author Central:  https://www.amazon.com/author/inezreilly
About Me page:  https://about.me/inez.reilly

Elise K. Ackers

Website:  www.elisekackers.net

Blog:  http://elisekackersthewritefrequency.blogspot.com.au/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/EliseKAckers

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/pages/Elise-K-Ackers/145929782088997

Harriet Cammock

Website: www.harrietcammock.org

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

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/HarrietCammock

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/harriet.cammock

Radio Blog:  www.blogtalkradio.com/the-harriet-cammock-show

 

Ferris Robinson

Blog:  http://easingintomyfifties.wordpress.com/dogs-and-love-ebook/

Amazon website:  http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Love-Stories-Fidelity-ebook/dp/B00B3NUDHS

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/DogsAndLove?fref=ts

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/fkrobinson

 

I’d like to thank, Lynn Thompson, for tagging me and asking me to participate. Please take a moment to visit Lynn’s sites.

Lynn Thompson

Website: http://www.lynnthompsonbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/lynnthompsonbooks

Blog: http://lynnthompsonbooks.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynnthompson8

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5625793.Lynn_Thompson

New Release – Trails in the Sand

Available in print and ebook

Press Release

Deepwater Horizon disaster and sea turtles serve as backdrop in new novel

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – January 30, 2013 – In Trails in the Sand by P. C. Zick, environmental writer Carolyn Carlisle reports on the danger sea turtles face as oil heads to the Florida coast from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

As Caroline follows the story, she uncovers secrets about the past that threaten to destroy what’s left of her family unless she finds a way to heal the hurts after a lifetime of lies.

Trails in the Sand explores the struggles to replenish and restore after destruction, in nature and in a family, as both head to disaster. Through it all, the ancient sea turtle serves as a reminder that life moves forward despite the best efforts to destroy it.

P. C. Zick worked as a public relations director for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) during the oil spill crises. In her new novel, she draws on her experience as the Deepwater Horizon disaster plays out in the background. As the oil gushed out of the ground and headed for Florida’s Panhandle coast, Ms. Zick headed up media relations for the sea turtle nest relocation project. In 2011, the FWC gave her and the project’s team an award for outstanding work in saving the endangered sea turtles.

Ms. Zick has written several nonfiction books and has four published novels, including Live from the Road. She was a reporter and public relations specialist in Gainesville, St. Augustine, and Tallahassee, where she published under the name of Patricia Behnke. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Robert and writes blogs and novels with environmental themes.

For more information about Trails in the Sand, visit www.pczick.com or http://pittsburghwriter.wordpress.com. Please contact her directly at pczick@verizon.net for information about review copies, speaking engagements, interviews, and book signings.

P.C. Zick

Trails in the Sand – Behind the Scenes with the Author
I was embroiled in the real-life drama of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as a public relations director for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. I handled the media for the sea turtle nest relocation project that took place during the summer of 2010. At the same time, I was beginning a new relationship with a lost love from thirty-five years ago. We married in August 2010. During the environmental disaster, I was in the process of moving to Pittsburgh to be with my new husband. Two weeks prior to the oil spill, twenty-nine miners were killed in a coal mine explosion in West Virginia, just a few hours from where I was moving. It all fell into place to write about the oil spill and the coal mine disaster and our quest for profit and fossil fuels at any cost. I made the environmental disasters the backdrop for the love story of two people who must overcome many obstacles to restore lost love.

Contact information:
Purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Trails-in-the-Sand-ebook/dp/B00ANVD6DE
Website: http://www.pczick.com
Blogs: www.pczick.wordpress.com and www.pittsburghwriter.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCZick
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PCZick