NEWSLETTER: MARCH 2024

An old-fashioned Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!

Since I love writing and coaching historical fiction more than any other genre, I feel it is only appropriate for me to post this old-fashioned card to wish you all a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. And while I’m at it, here’s a vintage card to wish you a Happy Easter, too. (I’m not quite sure what’s up with the chicks in the car, but I liked the sentiment—“All Happiness for Easter”—and the wonderful nostalgic tone of the card.)

And an old-fashioned Happy Easter, too!

For my March Newsletter, I thought I’d thank some folks for letting me share my books, mention a few upcoming events, and then post some photos of our family’s Bluegrass Jam Party, which was held here at our home in February. I hope you enjoy the pictures of Chris—my sweetheart of a husband—as he shares his cooking and musical talents with our friends and family. He LOVES to smoke meat (ribs, brisket, chicken, or whatever) and he’s a smokin’ hot fiddler, too!

But first…

THANK YOU!

Wakefield Books: Book Signing

February 10, 2024

Thanks so much to all of the fine folks at Wakefield Books in the Wakefield Mall in—you guessed it!—Wakefield, Rhode Island, for inviting me to sell and sign books at their store. Here’s a photo of me with BC (the cat from But Cats Don’t Talk) all set up and waiting for the store to open for the day.

My friend, Jayna, joined me at the table as we welcomed people to the store, handed out homemade chocolate chip cookies (of course!), and talked books with many wonderful readers. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us that day!

Click HERE to purchase signed copies of books.

Beachwood Book Club: Frozen Voices

February 27, 2024

And thank you to the members of North Kingstown’s Senior Association’s Beachwood Book Club for being such a great audience for my presentation about my historical novel, Frozen Voices. As an author, I often work in a vacuum, alone with my computer, so I really enjoy getting out to speak with enthusiastic readers. And you had so many interesting and thought-provoking questions, too. Thanks! Beachwood Book Club—and all other book clubs—please let me know when I may come back and participate in another one of your meetings. Such fun!

UPCOMING EVENTS

ARIA Chepachet Local Author Event

Saturday, March 16, 2024, from Noon to 4 p.m.

If you are looking for something to do in Rhode Island on any Saturday from now to the end of July, drive on up to the Glocester Heritage Society Building—a.k.a. the Job Armstrong Store—at 1181 Putnam Pike in Chepachet to meet some local authors and buy signed copies of their books at the ARIA Chepachet Local Author Event. Every weekend, four authors will be in the building, talking about their books. I’ll be there from Noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, and I’d love to see some familiar faces!

2024 Ukrainian Egg Fundraiser for the Davisville Free Library

Saturday, March 23, 2024, from Noon to 3 p.m.

And then, to help out one of my favorite little libraries, I’ll be running the 2024 Ukrainian Egg Fundraiser to benefit Davisville Free Library on Saturday, March 23, from Noon to 3 p.m. If you’d like to support the library, please join us that day to make eggs (call the library in advance to register), or purchase one of the already completed eggs displayed at the library (481 Davisville Road, North Kingstown, RI), made by me or my family ($25 donation). If you live too far away to visit in person, call the library to buy an egg and we’ll be happy to mail it to you ($25 donation plus $10 shipping).

Please help support the wonderful Davisville Free Library!

See the flyer below for additional details.

That’s all the news for this month. Now, as promised, here are some photos of our recent Bluegrass Jam Party, featuring my husband, Chris, and other amazing musicians, family, and friends.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

OUR BLUEGRASS JAM PARTY

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Family and friends enjoying a delicious potluck dinner

Including ribs and brisket smoked—and sliced—by Chris

(Note: Fred, our beagle, hoping that Chris drops something!)

And here’s Chris singing and fiddling with other excellent musicians

NEWSLETTER: FEBRUARY 2024

I hope you love deeply and are loved in return!

I must admit that February is one of my favorite months. I suppose part of the reason for this is that it’s my birthday month—I’ll turn 60 years old on February 11. I have such a hard time believing that! In my head, I’m still in my mid-thirties. But then I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and realize the truth. I have so much that I still want to do, though; I sure don’t intend to let a few years get in my way!

This year—like most years—Chris and I will host a bluegrass jam party in our home on my birthday weekend. The party really has nothing to do with my birthday; it’s just a good time of year to get together and play music—a month and a half after Christmas and a month and a half before Easter. In mid-February, the weather is usually yucky and folks are looking for something to do. So they’re happy to come here and join us to play bluegrass music for a night. Chris and his music buddies are amazing musicians—Chris plays the fiddle very, very well—and so much fun to listen to! During the party, if I’m feeling particularly brave, I’ll pull out my dobro and play along—very quietly—for a song or two. I’m not very good but still love to be part of the jam. Dinner is potluck, everyone brings delicious food, and a good time is had by all. If I remember to take some pictures that night, I’ll post them in next month’s newsletter.

In this month’s edition, I have some big news to share, a few people to thank, and two February author events to tell you about—one public and one not. And then I’ll share some fun photos readers have sent in of them enjoying But Cats Don’t Talk, my new YA novel. A few of the photos feature cats, too—of course!

BIG NEWS

I’m Now an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach!

I am proud to announce that after completing over 100 hours of online classes and passing three rigorous practicum tests, I have earned a coveted book coach certification from Jennie Nash’s Author Accelerator Program. With fewer than 200 certified coaches worldwide, I have joined an elite group of professionals trained to coach authors through every phase of a book’s life—from conception to publication.

In the coming months, I will be revising this website to offer coaching packages focused on specific aspects of the book-writing process, making it easier for me to provide you with exactly the coaching you want. Do you need help in developing an idea for a book? I can do that. Or perhaps you need assistance writing the rough draft? Count me in. Or maybe you’ve written a draft and need help revising it? I’d be happy to help with that. Or maybe your book is written and polished but you’re confused about how to pitch it to literary agents? I know how to do that. Or perhaps you’d like someone to guide you through the whole book-writing process, beginning to end? I can do that, too. And I LOVE coaching! Helping another author write and publish a book is as rewarding to me as writing and publishing my own books—maybe even more so!

THANK YOU

Thank You, Willett Free Library!

Thanks so much to all of the great folks at Willett Free Library in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, for making my Author Talk there last month so much fun. Everyone—especially Library Director Jennifer Shaker—was so kind and welcoming! The audience was attentive and then asked great questions about But Cats Don’t Talk, writing books, and being a book coach. What a wonderful experience! If you haven’t been to Willett Free Library yet, make sure to visit soon.

Talking about a talking cat at Willett Free Library

Click here to buy a signed copy of the book

And Thank You, Kingston Free Library!

And then last week, the kind folks at Kingston Free Library in Kingston, Rhode Island, welcomed me for a presentation of But Cats Don’t Talk in their beautiful meeting room—once a courtroom. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Librarian Mary Ann Comstock and the rest of the staff there for making me feel right at home. It seemed especially appropriate to do a presentation there since two scenes from the book take place right there on the University of Rhode Island campus.

Reading an excerpt from But Cats Don’t Talk at Kingston Free Library

UPCOMING EVENTS

Book Signing at Wakefield Books

If you happen to be out and about in Rhode Island on Saturday, February 10, please stop by to see me at Wakefield Books in the Wakefield Mall at 160 Old Tower Hill Road in Wakefield, RI. I will be there from 10 a.m. to noon, signing copies of my books. They’d make great Valentine’s Day presents—just saying!

Beachwood Book Club

If you are a member of the Beachwood Book Club of the North Kingstown (RI) Senior Association, I will be joining you for your February meeting at Beachwood House on February 27 to discuss my historical fiction novel, Frozen Voices. I enjoy presenting to book clubs—other people who love to read—and I look forward to meeting with you.

Click here to buy a signed copy of the book

That’s all the news for this month. Now, as promised, here are some photos of readers—and their pets—enjoying But Cats Don’t Talk. If you would like to send me a photo of you enjoying BCDT, too, I’ll post it in a future newsletter.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

READERS’ PHOTOS OF BUT CATS DON’T TALK

Phil reading BCDT in Taipei, Taiwan

Avery’s adorable kitten, Igor, getting ready to read BCDT

Julia sharing BCDT with her cuddly kitty, Beaf

Kate at the Providence Airport, taking BCDT on a trip with her

NEWSLETTER: JANUARY 2024

NEWSLETTER: JANUARY 2024

Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 is full of wonder and brings you much joy.

One of the items on my to-do list for this week is to write thank-you notes for all of the wonderfully thoughtful gifts our family received during this holiday season. Since you might also have some to write, I thought I’d pass along these “Four Tips for Writing a Good Thank-You Note.” But first, I’d like to express my gratitude to some folks and let you know of two upcoming events you might like to attend.

A Christmastime Book Party at Stillwater Books

I offer this heartfelt “Thank you!” to Steven and Dawn Porter of Stillwater Books (New London Square Plaza, 1745 Main Street, West Warwick, RI) for being such gracious hosts on Saturday, December 16, for our Christmastime Book Party with Author Lynne Heinzmann at their wonderful new store in West Warwick, RI. We munched on delicious Christmas treats and had a lively discussion about But Cats Don’t Talk, my heart-touching new novel about a Rhode Island concert pianist and her talkative kitty. If you weren’t able to make it to this event, please be sure to stop by Stillwater Books soon. It’s such a welcoming place with a friendly staff and is stocked full of fantastic books—many written by Rhode Island authors. Click here for more information about the store and other events they have planned.

January Appearances

I have two Rhode Island library appearances scheduled for January: one on Thursday, January 18, at 4 p.m. at the Willett Free Library in Saunderstown and another on Wednesday, January 31, at 6 p.m. at the Kingston Free Library near URI. Please come to one of them to hear all about my new book, But Cats Don’t Talk. Here are the event flyers with the details:

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Click here to find out more about the book or to order a signed copy.

That’s all the news for this month. As promised, here’s the info on thank-you notes. I’ll also post a copy of this newsletter on my website so you can revisit it there whenever you’d like.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

In this day of fast-flying texts and emails, who doesn’t love to get actual snail mail on occasion? To open the mailbox at the end of your driveway and find something other than advertising circulars or bills—how wonderful! A handwritten note from a loved one is certain to brighten anyone’s day. At this time of year, those welcome missives are often in the form of thank-you notes, acknowledging a thoughtful holiday gift. But how do you write a good one? What should it include? Here are four tips you may find helpful when writing your next thank-you note.

Tip #1: Be Specific

Be sure to identify the gift that was given to you. This will remind the giver of what she gifted and show that it was memorable to you. “Thanks for the present” is way too generic and devoid of any real feeling.

Tip #2: Make It Personal

In your note, explain why the gift is meaningful to you. For example: “Thank you for the blue sweater—my favorite color.” People like to know that you value their gift and that it is special to you in some way.

Tip #3: Keep It Brief

Just a few lines are all that are needed to deliver your message. And by limiting the length of your note, you are much more likely to write it, since the task won’t seem too overwhelming. Generally, three to five sentences are sufficient.

Tip #4: Be Sincere

Your thanks—like all good writing—should come from your heart. If you absolutely LOVE that box of your favorite chocolates from Aunt Norma, go ahead and let those adjectives fly—“scrumptious”, “melt-in-your-mouth delicious”, “delectable”, etc. But if you aren’t all that excited about the package of Post-It Notes from Uncle George, use words like “useful” and “colorful,” which are polite and honest. You can usually find something nice to say about any gift. If nothing else, acknowledge the person’s thoughtfulness or generosity.

Of course, the most important part of writing a thank-you note is making sure you deliver it. Gratitude is a precious gift for both the giver and the receiver.

NEWSLETTER: DECEMBER 2023

Hello, and welcome to my first newsletter!

When I tell people that I’m a book coach, often the first question they ask is, “What exactly is a book coach?” So, I thought I’d take a few minutes in this inaugural newsletter to explain what it is that I do. But first, I’d like to let you know about some upcoming events you might like to attend and to thank some folks.

Crowne Plaza Hotel

801 Greenwich Avenue

Warwick, Rhode Island

Saturday, December 2, 2023

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For those of you who live in the Rhode Island area, make sure to put the ARIA 11th Annual Rhode Island Author Expo on your calendar for next weekend. On Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., over 130 local authors will be selling their books in the beautiful ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel (801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick, RI). The event is free and open to everyone. I’ll be there all day and would love to see you! Click here for more info.

Stillwater Books

New London Square

1745 Main Street

West Warwick, Rhode Island

Saturday, December 16, 2023

4:00 p.m.

And then Steven and Dawn Porter of Stillwater Books have been kind enough to offer to host A Christmastime Book Party with Author Lynne Heinzmann for me at their wonderful new store in West Warwick, RI, on Saturday, December 16 at 4 p.m. Come join us for some delicious Christmas treats and to hear me discuss But Cats Don’t Talk, my heart-touching new novel about a concert pianist and her sweet tuxedo cat. I will talk about my inspirations for writing the book—newspapers, ballet lessons, and cats—and what makes a young adult novel unique and fun to write. Plus, I’ll bring a supply of my handmade stained glass cat ornaments and copies of all four of my published books for sale. Stop in to pick up some last-minute gifts for Christmas! Click here for more information.

I’ve got two Rhode Island library appearances scheduled for January 2024 (Thursday, January 18 at 4 p.m. at the Willett Free Library in Saunderstown and Wednesday, January 31 at 6 p.m. at the Kingston Free Library near URI) and will write more about those in my December newsletter. In the meantime, I want to make sure to give…

A big shout out of “Thanks!” to everyone who helped out and attended the book launch for my new novel, But Cats Don’t Talk, held at the Davisville Free Library in North Kingstown, RI, on Saturday, September 30. I felt so blessed to be able to share the event with so many of you! Here’s one of my favorite photos from the event, showing friends and family joining me at the book-signing table:

Click here to find out more about the book or to order a signed copy.

And thank you to the fine folks at the Rochambeau Library on Hope Street in Providence, RI, for inviting me to participate in their Local Author Fair on November 16. I had a wonderful time hanging out with my great friend, Jayna White, and four delightful children’s book authors—Devan Lalas, Jacob Kramer, Aya Rothwell, and Kirthana Fanning—in the library’s children’s room. And I loved chatting with everyone who stopped by to visit our tables. Here’s a fun photo my husband snapped of the event:

One final “Thank you!”—to everyone who has recently visited my website: LynneHeinzmann.com. I’ve been working on it—trying to update it and make it more visitor-friendly—and would love to hear your comments and suggestions!

That’s all the news for this month. Here’s the info on book coaches, as promised. Thanks for reading!

Lynne

Over the past few years, a new breed of professional has arrived to offer assistance to those wishing to become authors: the book coach. As with all things new, there are some misperceptions about what exactly a book coach is and what services she may provide. Let’s take a close look at book coaches and hopefully clear up any confusion you may have about them.

What is a book coach?

While an editor gets involved in a book project once the writing is complete, a book coach guides an author through the often painful process of creating and publishing a book. This person might work with an author throughout the entire book-making process, beginning to end, or may specialize in helping authors through one or two phases of a book’s development.

Planning the book

A good book coach will help you identify exactly what book you want to write and why you feel you need to write it. Surprisingly, the “why” is often the more difficult question to answer. If you are planning to write a work of fiction or memoir, the coach will help you work out writing craft elements—such as the book’s premise, narrative arc, beginning, middle, climax, ending, hero's motivation/conflict/ change, character development, creation of scenes, point of view, verb tense, and tone of the story—through a series of question-and-answer sessions and exercises. If you are developing a work of non-fiction, the planning process with a book coach often involves crafting a book proposal that identifies such elements as the book’s overview, target audience, research and data, marketing plan, competing works, and annotated table of contents. Regardless of whether you are writing fiction, memoir, or non-fiction, if you work with a book coach throughout the planning stage of your book, you should end up with a well-developed blueprint to follow as you move on to writing your book’s rough draft.

Writing the rough draft

During the process of writing your rough draft, a book coach will serve two major functions: holding you accountable for making steady progress and keeping you true to the blueprint you developed while planning your book. As the author, you will decide how frequently you feel you need to check in with the coach during the writing of your rough draft, generally every two weeks or so. Then, together, you will figure out how many pages or chapters you will complete in that amount of time. Prior to each coaching session, you will send your pages to the coach for her to review. During each session, the coach will make sure you reach your goal of completed pages and verify that you are following your book’s blueprint or, if not, will coach you in how to correct your manuscript to get back on track. You will continue this process until you reach the end of your book blueprint and your rough draft is completed.

Editing the rough draft

Did you know that fewer than 5% of those who set out to write a book actually complete a rough draft? So, if you’ve gotten this far—congratulations! Now that you have a rough draft to work with, your book coach will help you create a revision plan to use as you edit it and make it ready for publication. As you do the revisions, you will meet periodically with the coach in much the same way you worked together during the rough draft process, using your revision plan to systematically edit manageable-sized segments of the book. During this time, the book coach will provide you with instruction on writing craft elements, as needed. All of this work will result in the creation of a polished manuscript, ready for publication.

Preparing your book for self-publication or pitching it to a literary agent

If you plan to self-publish your book, a book coach can help you evaluate your needs (cover art, interior layout, editing, printing, marketing, etc.) and then assist you in finding the perfect publication partner for you. Or, if you want to have your book traditionally published, a book coach can help you prepare quality query documents (query letter, book synopsis, author bio, chapter-by-chapter summary, etc.), identify the best possible literary agents for your work, and create a custom pitch strategy. She’ll also assist you in evaluating offers of representation to help you land your ideal agent and achieve your dream of becoming a published author.

Selecting the right book coach

Writing a book—fiction, memoir, or non-fiction—is difficult and takes months or even years to complete. A book coach can be an invaluable asset to help you navigate the arduous process. For more information on book coaching services, please visit my website: LynneHeinzmann.com