Wednesday, May 15, 2019

CONFLICT OF INTEREST


The Dogwood Press website includes information about our editing services, including exactly what constitutes a conflict of interest regarding what I can and can't publish. Let me see if I can explain further, since a good many writers have questions in this area.

First, Dogwood Press is a traditional publishing house, meaning we make the financial investment in your book from top to bottom and pay royalties as copies sell. There are hybrid presses which involve the author contributing to the financial investment, and there are vanity presses, where the author pays for everything. Both publishing options certainly have their place, but I don't do it that way. I will never accept money from a writer to publish his or her book under the Dogwood Press umbrella.

That said, I work with several editing clients each year and gladly accept money from all of them. It's under this condition, however: It's completely understood--and written into the contract--that that particular manuscript is not eligible for publication by Dogwood Press. Why, you ask? 

Let's say I read your manuscript and like many things about it, as well as finding areas in which I would need to see improvement. When I recommend that you find an experienced editor to work with you, you ask me to handle that role, which I do. Here's the key: If I don't rule out your manuscript for publication at that time, it's natural to assume you will have a better shot at landing a contract with Dogwood Press than many (or most) writers I'm considering--because of your investment in me. Later, if you've done everything I asked during the editing and I still tell you that your work just isn't quite what I'm looking for, you have every right to feel misled, if not cheated. Hence the conflict.

If we do work together on your manuscript, you have the option of looking for literary representation and a publishing contract with that newly-minted, edited product, or self-publishing if you wish. You can also submit a different work to me at a later date, as it's my hope that the writing improvements you made in working with me would find their way into your future efforts.

Valerie Winn, with whom I worked extensively on her wonderful novels The Dance Between and Forsaking Mimosa, is more than qualified to put on writing workshops and had a very successful one in April in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Topics included how to query literary agents, marketing, writing groups, and this very topic--how the editing process works.

Hands-on instruction from Valerie at Pink Rooster Art Gallery

You never know ... one of these writers with whom Valerie worked may just hit it big ...


It's great fun for me to speak alongside the authors I've published, especially when their books are brand-new. Janet Brown and I had great fun with the nice folks that visited the Winston County Public Library in Louisville during National Library Week in April. Beth Edwards (at far right) is the librarian and an especially nice lady. John Floyd will speak there and sign The Barrens on May 21, and Molly May will visit in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.




Getting the word out about Deadly Visits 


Speaking of Janet's book, we just made Deadly Visits available for download through Amazon Kindle this week, so if you've been waiting for the electronic version, you're now about a minute from reading. It's a great beach book, or one to enjoy while at the pool.


Hopefully it won't keep you awake at night!

And a quick SAVE THE DATE from the marketing department: The fifth annual Mississippi Book Festival is set for Saturday, August 17 at the Mississippi State Capitol in downtown Jackson. If you haven't been, it's a must-attend, and I'm thinking total festival attendance will bust 10,000 for the first time. We'll have the Dogwood Press tent out there, with authors that would love to meet you.


Can't wait!!!

Thanks for your time, and please visit www.dogwoodpress.com to order signed books. As someone once said, they make great gifts!













Sunday, April 7, 2019

BRINGER OF RAIN

When author John Floyd had a conflict and couldn't get to Pontotoc, Mississippi, in March as scheduled to speak to the Friends of the Pontotoc County Library, I suggested Janet Brown as a replacement speaker. The response was a hearty YES after I described Janet's brand-new suspense novel Deadly Visits, and I was confident the first printing would arrive just in time for Janet to have books to take with her to Pontotoc.

What none of us counted on was a line of severe storms that moved through the region. Janet drove through some horrid weather that day, and attendance was down from the usual packed house at the Pontotoc library. A number of avid readers showed, though, buying personalized copies of Deadly Visits and making Janet feel welcome. 

Fast forward to last Thursday, April 4, and the big launch at Lemuria Books of Jackson. The weather was horrendous, and Janet and I wondered if we would be the only people at the store, other than Lemuria employees. But we were thrilled at the turnout, as a whole slew of Janet's umbrella-sporting friends braved the storms and stayed for the reading.

Bringing Deadly Visits to life ...

So into the story that the claps of thunder outside didn't register!
  

Next stop for Janet is the Winston County Public Library in Louisville TODAY (Monday) at noon, where she and I will both discuss our books and take questions. Will Janet bring rain? We'll hope not, but if so, it will still be a fun trip. Another fun excursion will be the annual multi-author event at the Mendenhall Public Library in nearby Simpson County. This one is Wednesday at 2 p.m., and as many as two dozen authors, including Janet, John Floyd, and me look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.

Valerie Winn is making stops all over the Mississippi Gulf Coast to promote The Dance Between. When she arrived last Saturday for a signing at Southern Bound Book Shop in Biloxi, she found an especially unique chalkboard announcement waiting for her, courtesy of Jacked Up Coffee Bar next door! Look at the menu item being promoted!

It goes great with a copy of The Dance Between!

It does my heart good when book clubs and especially writing groups are launched. Case in point: published Rankin County authors Tom Dole and Marcus Whitman decided recently to start a group called "Kick the Tires and Write the Fires", and I was honored to be their first speaker. I described how the publishing process works, but I was most interested in hearing from all of the attendees about what they were working on, whether a short story, a novel, or a non-fiction piece. A little encouragement can go a long way.

Signing 40 Days, my most recent Oakdale series novel. 

Speaking of book clubs, a woman Susan Cushman met at the 2017 Mississippi Book Festival invited her to speak to a group at the public library in Hernando, Mississippi. As I tell every author I publish, you just never know who you'll meet who will spread the word about your book, and you never know when someone will contact you out of the blue with a speaking invitation. Susan's host told Susan she loved Cherry Bomb, and quite a number of the attendees brought their already-purchased copies for her to autograph. That's a wonderful feeling!

Long live book clubs!
John Floyd will sign copies of The Barrens and discuss the book at Bryan Public Library in West Point, Mississippi, at noon on Thursday, April 11. Susan will sign copies of Cherry Bomb at an event in Jackson, Tennessee, on Thursday, April 18 called "Word. Wine. Dine." I'll sign copies of 40 Days on Saturday, April 20 (the day before Easter) at Barnes and Noble in Ridgeland, Mississippi. For a complete list of Dogwood Press author signings, please visit www.dogwoodpress.com. And our fantastic deal on selected Dogwood Press Kindle titles is still on, for only $4.99 each:

SUSAN CUSHMAN / Cherry Bomb
RANDY PIERCE / The Peter Bay
JOE LEE / 40 Days
JOHN FLOYD / The Barrens
VALERIE WINN / Forsaking Mimosa

Grab one (or all) as soon as you can and start reading, as they say, in less than a minute. Janet Brown's Deadly Visits will be available via Kindle very soon.

Lastly, make sure Saturday, August 17 is not just marked on your calendar, but permanently etched where it can't possibly be forgotten or replaced with something else to do. That's the date of the Mississippi Book Festival, which is in its mind-boggling fifth year (!) and will take place once again at the Mississippi state capitol.

Thanks, as always for your time. Keep reading, keep writing, and please come say hello at a book event. Have a great day!























Thursday, February 14, 2019

DEADLY VISITS


I'll go way out on a limb and guess that your cell phone is within easy reach. Correct? Okay, indulge me, here ... pick up your phone and take a good look at it. Why? Because once you've read new Dogwood Press author Janet Brown's electrifying suspense novel Deadly Visits, you'll never look at your phone the same way again. Heck, you may not want to get near it.

We'll have copies of Deadly Visits just in time for Janet to grab a stash on her way to speak to the Friends of the Pontotoc Library on March 14. The big grand-opening, though, takes place at Lemuria Books of Jackson on Thursday, April 4 at 5 p.m., with a reading at 5:30 p.m. I love talking up this book to friends, especially those with IT backgrounds! I think they'll really enjoy it.

Can't wait!

My alma mater, Mississippi State University, puts on their second annual New Narrative Festival and Conference on March 22-23 at The Mill in Starkville, adjacent to campus. The NNF is similar to the Mississippi Book Festival in that it promotes unity and diversity through arts, entertainment, and creativity. A new aspect this year is a Pitch Slam, where both MSU students and non-students can bring their Big Ideas and pitch them to one of four publishing representatives. An important caveat: You have no more than 90 seconds, so do some research, determine the publisher that would be the best fit for you, and refine your pitch until it's the best and most incisive it can be. I'm proud to be part of the event and delighted at the roster of publishing houses represented:

Joe Lee of Dogwood Press (mystery/suspense fiction)
Lisa McMurtray of University Press (coffee table/literary/scholarly)
Sinclair Rishel of Nautilus Press (textbooks)
Mike Frascogna Jr. of The Mississippi Sports Council (sports books/DVDs)

Sinclair Rishel and me (far left) at a workshop hosted in 2016 by Neil White of Nautilus Press

Admission to the pitch slam is FREE. For more information about the New Narrative Festival and Conference, and to register, visit www.newnarrativefestival.msstate.edu. I'll most likely sign copies of 40 Days at some point during the NNF, too. 

The ever-prolific John Floyd has a story in the current (Jan/Feb) Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and another in the current (20th Anniversary Collector’s Issue) Strand Magazine. He also has a Valentine’s Day story in Woman’s World’s February 25 issue and one coming out in the March/April print edition of The Saturday Evening Post. Make it a point to read John's weekly blog, Sleuthsayers, which is always entertaining and can be found on Facebook. 



A truly excellent magazine, only made better with contributions from John!

Know what? We're six months, give or take, from the 2019 Mississippi Book Festival. Put your cell phone down and think about that. Save the date and start planning now. We certainly are. The date is Saturday, August 17, at the Mississippi State Capitol. We're ordering up some comfortable weather. I'll go out on a limb once more and predict hot and steamy with a chance of afternoon storms. I also predict close to 10,000 attendees this year, and I sure hope you're one of them.

If you somehow haven't been, make this your year to go!

And how cool is this? Valerie Winn's junior high English teacher, Mrs. Antira Williamson, stopped by Miss Mattie's Munch-A-Lunch at the McComb Public Library and bought a signed copy of The Dance Between. She also bought Forsaking Mimosa from Valerie when that book was new. I'm not sure my junior English teachers (or ANY of them, for that matter), were completely sure I could read.


Enjoy, and be sure to give Valerie a good grade!


A quick reminder from our marketing department: Nearly all the Dogwood Press catalog is available to you through Amazon Kindle download, including five titles currently on sale for just $4.99:

VALERIE WINN--Forsaking Mimosa
JOHN FLOYD--Dreamland
JOE LEE--40 Days
SUSAN CUSHMAN--Cherry Bomb
RANDY PIERCE--The Peter Bay


Grab a couple (or all) as soon as you can and start reading within a minute or so! We have lots of author appearances coming up, too, so please visit www.dogwoodpress.com to see where we'll be and come say hello! You can always pick up a Mother's Day or graduation gift, or treat yourself to a happy--books make great gifts! And if you have dreams of being published, do your best to get to Mississippi State for the pitch slam. You just never know ... it could change your life!

Thanks for your time. Have a great day!

Sunday, December 23, 2018

BOOKS UNDER THE TREE


Just a quick note to say thanks for your support in 2018, especially in what we think of as "book-buying season" with the holidays almost over. All of us at Dogwood Press signed books for one person after another who bought for parents, friends, cousins, co-workers, and more. It's very humbling to know that when those gifts were unwrapped on Christmas morning, the recipients added books with our signatures to their collections.

It was great fun to team up with nearly the whole team at Lemuria on December 18 for Dogwood Press Day, where we signed a few books for Christmas shoppers and caught up with old friends. John Floyd, who taught so many creative writing students during his years at Millsaps College, always signs books for writers of all ages who had the opportunity to learn from him. And it was fun to see childhood friends of Valerie Winn--who were quite familiar with the house on the cover of The Dance Between--stop by to pick up their copies of her new book.

A fun evening at a wonderful bookstore!

Lifelong friends!


Meanwhile, John's winning streak continues: The twentieth anniversary issue of The Strand Magazine contains his story "Lucian's Cadillac," and the new Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine has an especially fun one called "On the Road with Mary Jo." Pick both up magwherever you buy books (hint: grab a copy of John's fantastic The Barrens).





I had a great time at Lorelei Books of Vicksburg on December 6, presenting not only a reading from my novel 40 Days but a publishing seminar that covered what I'm looking for as Editor-in-Chief (primarily mystery/suspense) as well as what to do and what NOT to do when getting in touch. Hey, I completely understand the excitement when you've put together what you think is the next Great American Novel. As I told the gathering in Vicksburg, though, put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer before submitting that proposal--is it written in such a way that conveys all of your strengths as well as the professionalism you wish to show? As the old Head and Shoulders tag line reminds us, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The submission requirements page on the Dogwood Press website is something I mention at every book talk, since there are always questions about submitting one's work for consideration.

                                              I just flew in from Pittsburgh, and boy my arms are tired!

Janet Brown joined us at Lemuria for Dogwood Press Day and got to meet several folks who'll probably grab her spellbinding suspense novel Deadly Visits as soon as they can get their hands on it. Janet will launch at Lemuria on April 4, and she'll soon have a calendar full of book talks and appearances in support of the book. Can't wait!


                                             You'll never look at your cell phone the same way again!


And a real oddity: Valerie was at Books A Million of Biloxi, Mississippi, signing copies of The Dance Between and preparing to autograph a book for a customer when she noticed that the endsheets of the particular copy she opened were brown instead of the pink that goes with the cover. Turns out an entirely different book--by an author not with Dogwood Press--was inside the front and back of what appeared to be a copy of Valerie's new novel. Those things happen. But not very often, thankfully!

No disrespect to Mr. Johnson. I'm sure his book is very good. But we hope not to see it inside The Dance Between again!


There's still time for you to take advantage of the great $4.99 download price on the following Dogwood Press titles:

RANDY PIERCE - The Peter Bay
JOHN M. FLOYD - The Barrens
JOE LEE - 40 Days
SUSAN CUSHMAN - Cherry Bomb
VALERIE WINN - Forsaking Mimosa

Thanks again for supporting us in 2018, and we look forward to making new friends and meeting new readers and writers in the new year! Visit www.dogwoodpress.com to learn more about what we do, and where our writers will be speaking and signing books. Email addresses to reach everyone on the team are included, so get in touch if you're looking for a speaker at your next event. Happy reading, and happy holidays!

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!


No, I'm not directing a movie scene or television show. Just trying to illustrate, with that oft-used Hollywood stage directive, the magnitude of a book launch. Many months have gone into the preparation and planning, and walking into that first venue, bookstore or otherwise, is a huge thrill as well as being a little scary. Will anyone like it? If you write, and don't ask yourself that at least once, you may not have a pulse. Is anyone coming? Been there! See previous response.

October was a very busy month as we launched two outstanding books, beginning with Valerie Winn's The Dance Between. After our central Mississippi kickoff at Lemuria in Jackson, she returned to Pink Rooster Art Gallery in Ocean Springs for her Gulf Coast debut. In addition to living in the area, Valerie teaches art at the venue and has a huge following there. Not surprisingly, there was a great turnout for her second book.

You'll have to read the book to understand the coffee can and monkey.

Soon-to-be Dogwood Press author Janet Brown joining Valerie at Lemuria.


The John M. Floyd tour for The Barrens began at Lemuria two weeks from the afternoon Valerie was there. It was a beautiful thing to see the throng of John's friends and former creative writing students who stood in line and waited for him to autograph their purchases, and it was great to hear how many of them mentioned the fine review of the book in the previous day's Clarion Ledger, the daily newspaper that serves central Mississippi.



This is what you hope for at a book launch!




John with mega-talented illustrator Chuck Galey, one of John's former students.



Can you save me a seat?


Molly May made several stops during October--Breast Cancer Awareness month--to promote My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer). If you don't have a copy yet, here are two things to consider: 1)...a portion of proceeds from EVERY COPY SOLD will benefit Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, and 2)...the book remains priced under $9 at Amazon! What a deal! Order a copy of Molly's inspirational memoir now for someone whose life has been affected by cancer.


Well worth your time.




Molly at First Baptist Church of Fulton, Mississippi, during a Breast Cancer Awareness luncheon.


Susan Cushman led a writing workshop at Novel, a neat little bookstore in Memphis, and gave a pair of talks as well as overseeing a critique session of the students' manuscripts. Talk about an education you can't get in a textbook--Susan is the editor of the excellent Southern Writers on Writing from University Press of Mississippi, and a year ago Dogwood Press published her very good debut novel Cherry Bomb. In addition to the instruction, each attendee received a signed book.


You never know ... one or more of these writers may be household names one day!


I'm really looking forward to a free seminar I'll give at Lorelei Books of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on December 6 at 5:30 p.m. We'll start with a reading from my recent novel 40 Days before I put on the publisher's hat and discuss what I'm looking for when considering queries from writers--how to go about getting in touch (and what not to do), and how you can make your best impression on any literary agent, acquisition editor, or small publisher like me. 

Upcoming events include Valerie signing TODAY at Aston Court Retirement Community in McComb, Mississippi, this afternoon at 1:00, which should be great fun because Valerie grew up in McComb and her father still lives there. You can meet John Floyd and pick up a signed copy of The Barrens this Saturday, November 10, at Books A Million of Meridian, and Molly will visit Evans Memorial Library of Aberdeen on November 14. John and I will be part of the annual multi-author holiday book signing at The Book Mart and Cafe in Starkville on Sunday, November 18.

And, since we've gotten such good response to our download special, it continues for a limited time! Grab any or all of these terrific Dogwood Press offerings for your Kindle right now for just $4.99!

JOHN M. FLOYD / Dreamland
SUSAN CUSHMAN / Cherry Bomb
JOE LEE / 40 Days
RANDY PIERCE / The Peter Bay
VALERIE WINN / Forsaking Mimosa

That's everything happening in the land of The Little Publisher That Could! I always appreciate your time, and all of us would love to see you at an upcoming book event. Visit www.dogwoodpress.com for signing schedules and information. Have a wonderful day!  

















Monday, October 8, 2018

HAVE BOOKS, WILL TRAVEL

One summer day a few years ago, my son, who was probably in junior high, stuck his head in my office and said, "Dad, there's a huge truck parked outside." As I told him, it was a book delivery--as in a SHIPMENT of books. We had another delivery last week, with first printings of John Floyd's The Barrens and Valerie Winn's The Dance Between arriving together. After all the unpacking and organizing and sorting and filling of pre-orders was complete, I finally had a chance to take a close look. And oh my gosh, they look beautiful!

A work of art!
Also a work of art!

Both John and Valerie have a slew of exciting launch events lined up. Valerie kicks off at Lemuria in Jackson, Mississippi, at 5 p.m. on October 16 before racing back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and an interview the following day on WLOX-TV's 4 p.m. newscast. On October 18 she will sign at Pink Rooster Art Gallery in Ocean Springs, followed by a signing and reading at Pass Christian Books on Saturday, October 20! Below is Valerie with her father, John Balser, an exceptional photographer who decades ago took the black-and-white cover photo that graces the cover of The Dance Between. It was a wonderful father-daughter moment for Valerie to present this book to Mr. Balser!

The young girls in front of the house in the photo are Valerie and her sister!

John will speak to the Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on October 13, and he will have his usual Lemuria kickoff in Jackson on October 30. He has outstanding new stories in new issues of The Strand Magazine and Black Cat Mystery Magazine. The former is well-known in the industry, and this new issue of The Strand features a previously unreleased Ernest Hemingway story; the latter is a really neat mag that has come charging out of the gate with three outstanding issues--John has had a story in all three!

John's story in BCMM is called "Diversions." It's great!


My man John Floyd ... and Ernest someone??
I'm really looking forward to a combination book talk/publishing seminar at Lorelei Books of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on Thursday, December 6 at 5:30 p.m. I'll read from 40 Days and discuss the book, then "switch hats" and make a FREE presentation about the book business--what I'm looking for as a publisher, how one makes his/her best impression when querying, and what responsibilities the author will have once a publishing deal is in place. I hope you'll come join us!

All I ask is that you refrain from throwing fruit and vegetables until the talk is complete!
Molly May visiting Lorelei to promote My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer)
Molly May will visit Fleet Feet Sports of Jackson's Ridgeland location on October 17 at 7 p.m. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Molly gives a very powerful talk. This is a great venue for her, because Fleet Feet does a wonderful job of supporting women who've gone through breast cancer, and we're excited about Molly being there and signing copies of her new book! And Amazon has it marked down below $9 right now! Grab one--or several!

Meanwhile, we're getting closer to the launch of Janet Brown's Deadly Visits! I absolutely love the cover as well as the tightly-written suspense thriller, and I know you will, too!

Spooky!!!

Just as eye-catching a cover!


Susan Cushman has a lot going on, including a Cherry Bomb panel at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge on November 10, and a seminar at Novel bookstore in Memphis where participants can choose either Cherry Bomb or Southern Writers on Writing as part of their registration fee! 

Finally, if you haven't done so already, take advantage of the bargain-basement price on some of our Dogwood Press downloads via Kindle. These five are $4.99 right now:

SUSAN CUSHMAN - Cherry Bomb
RANDY PIERCE - The Peter Bay
JOE LEE - 40 Days
JOHN M. FLOYD - Dreamland
VALERIE WINN - Forsaking Mimosa

Back to airing up the tires and gassing up the Bookmobile! For a full list of author signings, as well as contact information to get in touch with any of the Dogwood Press authors about a book talk, please visit www.dogwoodpress.com. Thanks very much for your time, and have a great day!













Tuesday, September 4, 2018

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!

It was fun to hang out with my mega-talented friend Valerie Winn at the Mississippi Book Festival and help hand out brochures for her great new novel The Dance Between. We also debuted paperback copies of Forsaking Mimosa, with the hardback now out of print. But there's loads of difference between talking about a forthcoming novel and actually having it on hand to sell. And the wait is just about over! Valerie launches The Dance Between at Lemuria in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 16 and will debut the new book on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at Pink Rooster Art Gallery in Ocean Springs two evenings later. It's a timeless story and a really neat book, picking up twenty-five years after the conclusion of Forsaking Mimosa and taking place in the same small town! 


Just several weeks away! Can't wait!

The book festival was great fun, as always. I spent the whole day--as did everyone, probably--waiting for the bottom to fall out of the sky with torrential downpours in the Jackson area all weekend. But we didn't get but a pair of quick, light showers, much to my relief. Believe me, when you're selling merchandise from a tent, there's nothing quite like half a dozen people rushing around throwing towels and tarps over books and marketing materials. 

A big festival highlight was being on the Mississippi Publishers Roundtable, where I shared the stage with Larry Wells of Yoknapatawpha Press, Craig Gill of University Press, Jim Dickerson of Sartoris Literary, and moderator Jim Ewing. There were lots of questions from audience members, and it was really nice when we were all asked to answer the same questions (such as the different marketing services we offer to our authors, or how the editing process works before publication). Even with the ominous weather, a reported 7,600 attended the festival. That's up nearly 1,000 from 2017, and well over twice the 3,200 in the inaugural year of 2015. Already looking forward to next year's event, which will be held on August 17, 2019! Meantime, here are some cool pix from this year! 


Susan Cushman, moderator of the Southern Writers on Writing panel, with contributor John Floyd

Valerie with literary legend Rick Bragg!

That's me in the visor, during the Mississippi Publishers Roundtable panel.
As I told the audience, nobody was there to see my hair!


We're just a few weeks away from launching the new John Floyd short story collection, The Barrens. This book is LOADED with great stuff--highlights include "Gun Work", which is included in this year's Best American Mystery Stories. John also has new stories in new/current issues of the Saturday Evening Post, The Strand Magazine, and Black Cat Mystery Magazine. He's even featured in a great new story collection called Pop The Clutch. It's edited by Eric Guignard and will hit stores on November 1. A couple of John's writing heroes, including Joe Lansdale, are also in the book!

Awesome! Plan on getting one!

And this, too! Real authors! Real cool! Real reading material!
We launched Molly May's My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer) at the book festival, and it was special to watch Molly interact with folks who wanted to meet her. This is a powerful book and getting a very good response--remember that a portion of proceeds from all sales goes to Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson and Le Bonheur in Memphis. 

Fun at the Mississippi Book Festival ...

... and at Mississippi State University's Barnes and Noble!


Susan with my friend and fellow author Mary Abraham
at the Mississippi Writer's Guild's annual conference in August.


And we can't wait to roll out Janet Brown's novel, Deadly Visits. Janet joined us at the book festival and handed out brochures. As she told folks in our tent, what happens when out-of-control scientists go too far with their mind and behavior control experiments? You'll have to read to find out, and trust me--you won't be able to put it down! Coming in April 2019 ...


What a neat book cover!

That, as they say, is all the news that fits! But wait--a quick note from the marketing department--you can still pick up these great Dogwood Press titles for your Kindle at the low, low price of just $4.99!

JOHN M. FLOYD - Dreamland
SUSAN CUSHMAN - Cherry Bomb
JOE LEE - 40 Days
RANDY PIERCE - The Peter Bay
VALERIE WINN - Forsaking Mimosa


We're all gearing up for a busy fourth quarter! In addition to the launches of the new John Floyd and Valerie Winn books, Molly May will sign her book at a slew of spots before year's end. For a complete list of author stops, please visit www.dogwoodpress.com, and let us know if you'd like any of us to come speak to your club or organization! We'd love to do so! Thanks, as always, for your time. Have a wonderful day!