Learn the Rules
Indie Review: A Deadly Performance + Short: Jimmy's Plan
Headline: Learn the Rules
In her July 10, 2026 Funds for Writers newsletter, Hope Clark said, “Write for yourself. That’s fine. But if you are writing to be bought and read, learn the rules.”
Back in March, I wrote about the nine paperback books I’d received to review and explained I had decided to prioritize reading according to how well they had followed publishing norms for layout. I won’t do that again because the book at the bottom of the pile was delightful. I’m reviewing and recommending it today. She’s a DIY publisher who just didn’t know all the rules about how to layout your book. If I hadn’t committed to reading those books for review, if I’d been browsing for a book to buy, I wouldn’t have chosen hers. Instead, I’m recommending this book and will probably check out some of her others.
Learn the rules about format. But that isn’t what Hope was talking about. She works with a small traditional publisher, so she was talking mainly about marketing. She went on to say, “Who are you? How will people find you? What do you write...in one sentence.” Hope has three mystery series. Her one-sentence description of what she writes: C. Hope Clark writes destination Southern mysteries with strong female protagonists.
If you want consistent sales, your best bet is to hook readers on a series that fits a popular genre. My books do not fit that pattern. I have YA, adult, and cross-over books with only two of them sharing characters. So I had to take a hard look at what they do have in common to come up with one description.
They’re all character-driven. Sometimes the characters take over and write the story for me - that’s how the first draft of Alice was written in a long weekend and it’s why Peg’s Story - Detours got tabled for over a year after she shocked me.
While they’re not traditional murder mysteries, there’s always a suspense line to keep people reading. Even in Alice, my humorous novella, it’s not certain how the family relationships will pan out, or if Alice will get a new job, and then there’s the problem with the bank.
There’s always a dash of romance - sometimes a heavy dash - but even Running Away ends with some hope for better relationships for Maggie and her mother.
There are always underlying themes to spark conversation or stick with you.
My first attempt: Sheri McGuinn writes stories with characters you’ll care about, suspense lines that will keep you turning the page, a dash of romance, and themes that stay with you.
That’s twice as long as Hope’s - probably too long. Here are shorter alternatives:
Sheri McGuinn writes character-driven suspense with a dash of romance and themes that stick.
Sheri McGuinn writes character-driven stories with suspense, romance, and themes that linger.
Sheri McGuinn writes character-driven page-turners with a dash of romance and themes that linger.
So, what do you think? If you haven’t read my books, which make you curious? If you have read them, which is the best description? Can you get your own description down to one sentence?
Heads Up
The 70% eBook Royalty Option price band has expanded to $2.99–$12.99. Previously, books over $9.99 had to take the 30% option. (At 70% delivery costs are deducted, whereas they are not if you take the 30% option. The pricing page shows delivery costs for your book, so it’s possible to choose the best option.)
Writing Opportunities
Chicken Soup is looking for stories for a Star Wars 50th Anniversary Book (deadline August 15), as well as Count Your Blessings (deadline extended to August 15), and Humorous Stories (deadline August 31). All submissions need to be true and no AI should be used - not even Grammarly. Check their specific guidelines. They pay $250 and 10 free copies after publication of a book with your story in it. If your story is chosen, they’ll have you sign a contract that specifies they get non-exclusive rights to publish, reprint, or use the story in other ways.
On the first weekend of each month, the Australian Writers’ Centre offers the Furious Fiction Challenge. They post specific criteria and give you 55 hours to write 500 words or less. It’s free. Later in the month, they showcase the best stories online. You retain rights. It starts at midnight on Thursday, July 30, if you’re in California. There’s a countdown clock at the challenge link.
Education: Conferences and Webinars
These are all FREE, but do register for the links.
Author’s Guild FREE webinar:
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT
Northern California Sisters in Crime present:
William Kent Kruger discussing “Seven Reasons to Write” (FREE)
Saturday, August 1
1:00-3:00 PM PT/ 4:00-6:00 EDT
Free Advertising
Each month, BookLife runs the Indie Spotlight feature, a thematic roundup of self-published books both online and in print in Publishers Weekly magazine and BookLife. Industry professionals, media professionals, and librarians read these magazines. There is no charge, but the competition is enormous. Fiction or nonfiction, adult or children’s, secular or religious, written or graphic - all types of books will be considered IF the subject matter matches the month’s topic.
In July, they’re accepting Sci-Fi/Fantasy for the August Spotlight.
Send your otherworldly fiction! Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight: Sci-fi/Fantasy.” Provide all the info listed in these directions.
The have other free promotions, too, also with stiff competition. Scroll down for First Lines and Behind the Story.
Awards, Etc.
Book Life Prize for Fiction is open now through August 31. The $119 entry includes a critic’s report written by a Publishers Weekly reviewer, which provides scores across editorial categories and a brief critical assessment of the book, which can be quoted if you credit the BookLife Prize. While my novel didn’t make the finals last year, I have some great quotes from that assessment.
Call to Action - Get your indie book reviewed!
If you’d like me to consider reviewing your indie/small press book, details are explained in this website blog.
Free Books
Writers: Let me know when you’re doing a free or reduced price promotion and I’ll post it here! Readers: Enjoy and post reviews!
Those with Kindle Unlimited may read these books for free:
Tom Huggler’s The Woman She Left Behind - reviewed here January 13.
Geri Krotow’s A Midsummer Murder - reviewed here January 27.
Angela Page Conti’s Enrico G - I haven’t read this yet…
Joan Griffin’s Force of Nature - reviewed on my website blog
Depending on the day, these are free or 0.99 with an audible membership:
Sheri McGuinn’s All for One - Love, War, & Ghosts
Deborah Derrickson Kossman’s Lost, Found, Kept - A Memoir - reviewed here June 23
Book Review:
A Deadly Performance by Lynn Franklin
A Deadly Performance is a delightful cozy mystery with realistic senior citizens and a nice twist at the end. As you can tell by the cover, there’s also a poodle in the mix.
Lynn is a true DIY self-publisher. “One of the things I like about POD is that I can update the ‘also by’ and back matter in the books whenever I release a new one.” So she took it in stride when I mentioned formatting issues – she can fix them herself. The book is well-edited. She has a background in layout and design, so she enjoys taking her own photographs and designing the covers, which are eye-catching and genre-appropriate.
I really like the way she’s used back matter to promote her other mysteries. She has a well-established Kimberley West Gemstone Mystery Series. A Deadly Performance is the first book in a new cozy mystery series with Nick and Lexie as the primary (senior) characters. She also has the first book in another series: Top Dog Detective Cozy Mystery Series.
In her back matter, Lynn offers a free book if you go to her website – which means she’s engaging the reader beyond reading one book and collecting their information to send them the free book. Next time I update my back matter, I need to do this!
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, check out her website and decide where to start!
Fiction: Jimmy’s Plan - a Novel Echo
Novel Echos are short stories from the perspective of secondary characters in my novels. Sometimes the story is straight from the book, sometimes it’s not – this is from Tough Times, which is written in Michael’s voice. This story is his little brother’s point of view in the opening chapters. Please comment. Thanks.
You can listen here or read here.
Request for help!
Please vote for All for One - Love, War, & Ghosts in the Kindle 2026 Reader’s Choice Awards, Mystery/Thriller category. You can only vote for one book in each category. Scroll down and you’ll see the cover, probably the original:
The cover color’s been updated, but may still display this way for the vote.
If you haven’t read it yet, voting is open until October.
The audio book has been released.
Here’s the new sample clip from InAudio:
Other ways to support my work:
Buy my books.
Ask your bookstore and library to order them.
Talk about them.
Post reviews.
You can read a sample of each at these links:
Thanks.
Images are usually my own or used with permission. If I can’t find an image I want within the timeline for this newsletter, you’ll see an AI image labeled as such. Time allowing, I’ll use that image to find the human-made one I want instead!
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I do not get anything for recommending KDP or any other services, contests, etc.
©Sheri McGuinn
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Thanks for commenting, Joan. I collect them as they come to my attention. June seemed a bit slow, but I was pleased the number and quality of free learning opportunities to post this time.
As always, you provide valuable information to writers and readers a like.