Free! 1st Chapter Chapbook

Hi everyone. My publisher just released a Free First Chapter Chapbook as a promotional tool.

So if anyone would like to read the first chapters of my books for free, simply send an email to me:

brendahillseaman@yahoo.com

and enter the word, Chapbook, on the subject line, and I'll send the pdf file which includes the first chapters from Beyond the Quiet, Ten Times Guilty, and Plot Your Way to Publication.

I think it's a great idea and I'd love to share it with you.

Brenda, I just sent you an e-mail. I'd love to read your work!

Thanks, Merri. Watch your email!

Yea! I will.

Brenda, I could not stop reading and I read all three of the first chapters. Wow! I need all three of these books!

Let me get my thoughts together so I can express adequately what I felt upon reading your marvelous works.

BEYOND THE QUIET
What a great job of conveying a feeling of overwhelming pain, but also a numbness that invades the soul when there is a deep loss. I thought how it was written in times (spring, first of the year, etc.) allowed for time to pass and for the woman to be at different stages of how she is dealing with her emotions and her place in the world. I believe this woman is like every woman. She is me, and you, and every woman I have ever known. It made me wonder how we go on (or maybe I should say come back) after we've experienced almost a lack of hope. I have been in a position like that before and know that time is one of the greatest healers of all. This was written with such heart and soul. Deeply touching.

TEN TIMES GUILTY
I could feel the wind, the darkness, the eerie feeling in my gut of a time when I was walking and could feel a malevolent presence nearby. I was scared and outraged and holding my breath as events unfurled. I could feel the pain of being hit, especially in the sentence about the loosened teeth. That gave me such a mental and physical sensation. Then to find out who the perpetrator was. Even more frightening. Your word choice and style could simply not be more perfect. I just got so engrossed and was so very disappointed when I couldn't read more!

PLOT YOUR WAY TO PUBLICATION
Reading this portion of your book got me excited all over again about writing! Thinking about characters and plot lines. Not judging it, but throwing it all out there and letting your imagination run wild. There's always time to reign all those thoughts in later and give them structure, but you captured the sheer joy of putting thoughts/ideas/dreams on paper. If I didn't already love writing, I'd want to try it because you make it seem like a wonderful adventure rather than a dull chore.

Thank you so much for sharing these first chapters of your books. I am so very impressed with your writing prowess and your ability to connect with the reader so swiftly and expertly.

I feel like I know you even better now from reading portions of your books.

AMAZING!!!!!!!

Merri, I didn't expect a response, much less something as wonderful as what you've written. Your words touched me. Thank you.

I didn't mean to gush, Brenda. I just had no idea how terrific your writing skills were. Although, Don did say that you were a fabulous writer, and I had a hunch he didn't offer praise like that lightly. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate your style of writing and your willingness to share your work with us.

Gushing is wonderful, Merri! You made me feel ten-feet tall.

Well, then I'll just gush away! hee hee I meant every word.

I recently finished reading BEYOND THE QUIET, and can tell you, if you liked the first chapter, you will really love the book! Brenda had my rapt attention all the way through.

Thanks, Zada! Whenever I feel discouraged, I'll reread this thread.

Brenda, that's a great marketing idea. I have seen author's offer snippets before, but I think it's reall interesting that your publisher is also behind it. Sounds brilliant!

I agree, Pam, and it looks good too, since it includes the covers. So far it's had a favorable response, so I'm very pleased.