Subject: The Power of Words: How Quotes Connect Us to Our Deepest Emotions

A new look for the JA Newsletter!

For Readers

Hi Friend,

Adding Quotes to Novels

Do you read the quotes that authors sometimes add to the beginning of chapters?

Most of the time, I do. If I'm really into the story and I want to find out what happens next, I might skip the quote, but then I'll go back and read it.

I do this because I like quotes. They are valuable pieces of wisdom packaged into just a few words by people who I consider smarter than I me. They also make me think.

In Let Us Begin, I added quotes to the beginning of each section. The book is divided into five major sections and labeled for what the main character will encounter in that section. For example, one section is called American Struggle, and for this section, I used a quote by Eric Burdon. He was an English singer/songwriter for R&B and Rock bands. I didn't know who he was until I came across his quote. This is the quote:

"Inside each of us, there is a seed of both good and evil. It's a constant struggle as to which one will win. And one cannot exist without the other."

I thought it was an interesting way of looking at human beings, and I suppose it depends on your spiritual beliefs if you agree with him or not. Do we have a seed of both good and evil inside us? And does it depend on the environment, our upbringing, or our own tendencies on which one wins?

I thought t was a perfect quote to help readers understand my main character. Salvador does have a seed of both good and evil in him. It's almost as if he has the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other (like they used to show on the Tom & Jerry cartoons of my youth), and you never know which one will win.

I love quotes because they help us to understand life and even make meaning out of stories.

What are some of your favorite quotes?

Why reviews are important to authors?

As readers, and I'm a reader as well as a writer, we have become accustomed to reading reviews of books we're interested in before we make a purchase.

Reviews help consumers to make decisions about all products and that's why they have become so popular. Before the internet, you had to ask a friend, or a bookseller if a book was good or not, or read a newspaper review. Now, we have the benefit of accessing many readers' opinions instantly.

Personally, a negative review will not keep me from buying a book. I read what the reviewer says. I've read some reviews that are three stars because the book arrived damaged. The reader is frustrated with Amazon, not with the story or the author. I quickly dismiss those types of reviews.

But some reviews are thoughtful and really explain why the story did not meet their expectation. Sometimes a story is different than how it was described on the back of the book. Other times, the book might be poorly written. Those type of reviews may help the reader decide whether to invest in the book or not,

So, I encourage all readers to share their thoughts and opinions, they matter to other readers!

Also, they matter to the author. The more reviews an author has, the better it looks to Amazon and other online bookstores. If you really like a book and the author, it's even more important to write a review. And share it everywhere: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, etc.

More Great reviews for Let Us Begin

"Let us Begin is a bittersweet story of what the American Dream is really like for some people. Julia has a beautiful way bringing her characters to life and engaging her readers!

The story revolves around Salvador, a young immigrant from Argentina who dreams of making it big in America and first lands in New York City.

He marries his long-time sweetheart and together, they start a new life in America. What follows is a whirlwind of setbacks due to poor decisions, bad luck and just life itself!

What an incredible story of love, perseverance and yes, even a bit mental/emotional instability. I highly recommend anything by Julia Amante!

~ Adriana Castillo, Goodreads Reviewer

What I'm Reading

Paul Coelho is an author I really enjoy because his characters are always so deep and the messages in his books stay with you. I'm reading The Witch of Portobello, a story about a woman, Athena who learns that she can influence and inspire others through dance, meditation, and channeling the spirit of Hagia Sofia, a divide spirit that is supposed to be the spiritual mother of creation in this story.

The story is told through the point of view of those who knew Athena.

It's supposed to be a story about finding out who you are and accepting yourself and your calling. It kept my interest and I enjoyed it.

Join my free FB Book Group

If you like to discuss books, join my FB book group to talk about all books, not just mine.

Have you read This Is Now? Consider leaving a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads. Reviews help authors, so it would be your good deed for the day.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Or your favorite online bookstore

For Writers

My RWA Workshop Schedule

If you are planning to attend the RWA Conference on July 19-22 in Anaheim, Ca. the workshop schedule has been posted on their website.

I will be presenting a workshop titled: "Clarify the Vision of Your Novel - What is your story about?" on Thursday, July 20th.

There are also many other great presenters speaking about craft, career, and writer's life topics.

When I was just starting out as a writer, I learned so much from attending writer's conferences. I highly recommend going to as many as you have the money and time to attend.

Would You Like to Write Women's Fiction?

I am a women's fiction author, and what I love about the genre is that it highlights the issues women face in life and how they overcome even the worst challenges.

In the video below, I share some tips on how to write women's fiction novels readers will love.

If you are just starting out as a writer or you've ever said, "I'd love to write a book" then visit my How to Write a Book group on Facebook to read more of my blogs about writing for free, and to chat about your project and ideas with others.

Or if you want to be walked through the writing process, my course The Easy Tell Your Story Course for Beginners is a great place to start.