Why Building a Dry-Laid Stone Wall is Like Writing a Novel

So okay, I’ve just finished building my first dry-laid stone wall, which I’ve decided is actually a lot like the process of writing a novel. First I divide and organize the raw material (rocks/manuscript notes) and make a general plan which I may or may not end up following. Then as I begin fitting things together, I place countless pieces I later rearrange or decide to save for another spot. They’re too long, too bulky, too lovely to be overshadowed by the bits around them, and trusting that I’ll know the moment when it comes, where to place them to increase the beauty of the whole (great corner piece/nice plot twist). What’s left over is thrown into a pile for the next project. An economy of art.

The Maine Island Mysteries Go to the Summer Fairs

You'll find me at two great summer fairs over the course of the next few weeks, including the 9th Annual Books in Boothbay July13th in Boothbay, ME--billed as Maine's Summer Book Fair--where I'll be signing copies of Matinicus and Reese's Leap alongside dozens of other terrific authors including Linda Greenlaw (she of  The Hungry Ocean  fame). FREE ADMISSION at this one! Check it out at http://booksinboothbay.blogspot.com/

And on Saturday, August 3rd, I'll be at The Maine LobsterFest on the waterfront in Rockland, ME. Over 20,000 lbs. of lobster are consumed here each year, and if you wander into the "marine tent" between noon and 4:00 p.m., you'll find me signing copies of all three of my books. Check this one out at http://www.mainelobsterfestival.com/ 

Hope to see some of you there!

"Matinicus" Snags Some Cool Awards

May is quite the month in the world of Indie publishing. Many of the larger awards--the Ippys,  Indie Book Awards, National Indie Excellence Awards and the like are announced in the weeks leading up to the annual BEA (Book Expo America) conference in NYC—North America's leading publishing event—which takes place at the end of the month.

Optimist that I am, last summer and fall I entered Matinicus (the first book in my Maine Island Mystery Series) in every award I could find and wisely kept quiet about it. As a  writer, the corrolary to keeping mum about a new book project is keeping equally mum about award contests, lest the dreaded "So how are you coming with that book?" morphs into "So did you ever win that contest?" And when you've entered an international competition and are up against thousands of other writers, you have to be insane to think you could possibly win.

Until, quite amazingly, you do.

This past winter I was pleased to learn Matinicus had been named Honorable Mention for Fiction in the 2012 New England Book Festival Awards; then last week I learned it had snagged a 2013 Bronze Ippy for Northeast Regional Fiction. A few days ago I also received word the book was named the Winner in the Mystery Category of the 2013 Indie Book Awards. I am humbled and very grateful.

                                            The lesson for me in all this? Dream big, beleive with every ounce of your being, and work way beyond hard to make it all come true.

Matinicus FREE on Kindle for 3 Days!

Matinicus will be FREE on Kindle Friday, Saturday and Sunday (3/29,3/30, 3/31), to celebrate the release of Reese's Leap, Book Two in the Maine Island Mystery Series! So be sure to grab one, spread the word, and gift them to your friends!
More great news...The Reese's Leap Kickstarter campaign was a huge success, thanks to the support of so many of you. I'm pleased and humbled by your belief in me. Next on the list is the ad campaign. Time to kick that puppy into high gear!

Speaking of kicking things into gear, the Reese's Leap Book Launch takes place next Thursday, April 4, 7:00 p.m.at RiverRun Bookstore, Portsmouth, NH
( http://www.riverrunbookstore.com/ ), with an after party just up the street at the historic Portsmouth Athenæum ( http://portsmouthathenaeum.org/ ). Hope you can join us!

The Reese's Leap Kickstarter Campaign

Hello again, and thanks for checking in! There's a lot going on just now, what with the completion of the Reese's Leap galley edits and Anna Torborg's great work on the cover. Just 6 weeks to go 'til the April 4th Book Launch...yikes!

More news...I've just launched a Kickstarter Project timed for the upcoming release.  My hope is to raise $3500 to help fund a large print run and honkin' Internet ad campaign that will not only help sell this book, but take the whole, award-winning series to the next level. Those of you who are familiar with Kickstarter as a crowd-source funding tool, know that it's an all-or-nothing proposition. The full $3500 must be pledged by the end of the campaign on March 22, or the project receives nothing. I'm offering some great rewards to encourage any and all pledges!

You'll find lots of info on my project page: details about the campaign, book synopses, review links, awards, and rewards. And whether you're able to pledge or not, you can help get the word out by taking this link viral: family and friends, FB buddies, anyone you know who reads mysteries, loves stories about Maine, or who just loves to discover new writers.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darcyscott/reeses-leap-taking-the-island-mysteries-to-the-nex  

Hope you'll come along on the adventure!

January Happenings

A happy and prosperous New Year to you all! Mine feels a bit overwhelming already, even just two days in, what with the looming launch of Reese's Leap (the second in my Maine-based Island Mystery Series) and a book appearance calendar that's beginning to fill up.

First, a note about a few cool awards I've been lucky enough to receive. Though it won't be officially announced 'til later this month, I thought I'd let you know that Matinicus, the first book in the Island Mystery Series, has won Honorable Mention in the 2012 New England Book Festival Awards. In addition, the terrific mystery blog, BloodWrites, has chosen it as one of its "Top Five Mystery Reads of 2012". Not a bad way to end 2012!

Now for a few January events. On Wednesday, January 16th, you'll find me moderating a panel of memoirists at the Portsmouth Athenaeum's second Writers' Forum in downtown Portsmouth, NH. Then on January 19th, I'll be signing books at the New England Book Festival in Boston (awards to follow that evening), and on the 26th you can find me, along with a few other local writers, at "The Local Buzz Coffee House & Wine Bar," as we read from our latest books and chat with audience members about our work. Details about all these events can be found on my Amazon.com Author page events listings: http://www.amazon.com/Darcy-Scott/e/B003U7UR1W/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Hope to see some of you there!