mktilghman - Tumblr blog

[mktilghman]

A playlist for STEP INTO THE SUNLIGHT

My Master Works dulcimer. All of the songs played by Paul, the love interest in my new Ocean City-based novel are beautiful melodies that I’ve learned to play—or, in one case, want to learn. I’ve been studying the hammered dulcimer longer than I’ve been writing novels. About 12 years, believe it or not. My teacher is the great Ken Kolodner, a Baltimore-based musician who performs all over the…

[mktilghman]

A trailer for DIVIDED LOYALTIES

I thought readers might like to see the trailer for Divided Loyalties I created for the Historical Novel Society conference.

For the Historical Novel Society conference a few weeks ago, I created a video trailer about Divided Loyalties. My first novel, this Civil War novel follows a young Irish immigrant named Maureen as she figures out how she can come to the aid of her adopted country. I thought my readers who weren’t in attendance might like to see what I created.

[mktilghman]

Thirty books, the most important genre

Thirty books to success. Historical fiction is the most important genre...lessons from the HNSNA conference.

[mktilghman]

Have you seen ads for my books?

Have you seen ads for my books? I'm wondering what works best.

Here’s a screen shot of an ad for Amazon. Besides my website, this blog and social media, I have attempted to get news about my books out into the world through paid ads. I took advertising copywriting classes back in the day (so long ago you can write about the era and call it historical fiction.) But do I know what grabs readers’ attention in the 21st Century? No, I do not. But I’m going to…

[mktilghman]

Summer is the perfect time to launch FEARLESS SUMMER

Summertime launch for FEARLESS SUMMER. First up, @BackwaterBooks, May 4-- with @monashroffwrite, @ElizaKnight, @MC_Vaughan, @AlyssaRobertsWr, @christi_barth, @MKHaleAuthor and #LeslyePenelope. Can't wait! @champagnebooks

Now that the paperback edition of FEARLESS SUMMER has been released, it’s time to celebrate. Plans are still in the works for a launch in Chincoteague, the setting for FEARLESS SUMMER. In the meantime, here are the dates for book signings beginning in May. Thursday, May 4, 6:30 p.m., at Backwater Books, Ellicott City: I am so excited to be signing books with some of my favorite (and so…

[mktilghman]

Save the Beebe ranch for future readers

Save the Beebe ranch, home of "Misty of Chincoteague." Marguerite Henry's book about this place makes it a literary landmark. The Museum of Chincoteague has started a GoFundMe campaign. @chincochamber

This is not my usual blog post. I write today in support of the Museum of Chincoteague Island’s efforts to save the Beebe ranch. Those in the know remember the Beebe children from Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague. This wonderful little book with its endearing Wesley Dennis illustrations was one of the first books I read myself. After Dr. Seuss, of course. Paul and Maureen are gone…

[mktilghman]

Why we need romance right now: a talk at the Linthicum Library

I don’t think there’s anything more fun as a writer than meeting with people curious about my books or my writing habit. During Valentine’s Week, I took part in a panel of Maryland Romance Writers at the Linthicum Library in Anne Arundel County and we talked about all kinds of literary things: tropes, heroes and heroine, book covers, and the whole writing process. I was pleased to be with M.K.…

[mktilghman]

Love letters to Sanibel

Can't wait to get my hands on the new novel by @christinelemmon, whose sweet novels are like love letters to Sanibel. Proceeds of sales of her new book will help her hurricane-ravaged community.

I checked up on an author-friend of mine the other day to see how she was doing. Turns out she’s got a new book in the works and she’s donating proceeds from the sale of that new book, Steps to the Beach, through the end of 2022 to the Florida Disaster Fund to help people in her own community get back on their feet. When I first came upon Christine Lemmon‘s books, I was visiting Florida with my…

[mktilghman]

Join my mailing list

Join my mailing list

My latest newsletter is out. Now’s a good time to subscribe. I’d love it if you did.

[mktilghman]

It's book festival time

One more day until the @writewomenpub Book Fest!! I'll be under the @MarylandRomance tent. Bringing all my books published by @champagnebooks. So looking forward to talking to readers again. Covid has kept us apart long enough!

This is part of the stuff that I have to bring to the festival. Tomorrow is my first book festival since Covid canceled everything. I am joining ten writer-members of the Maryland Romance Writers under our very own tent at the Write Women Book Fest in Glenn Dale, Md. These are accomplished women from best-selling authors to undiscovered newbies who have written books everyone should read. If you…

[mktilghman]

Join me at the Write Women book festival

I'm joining the @MarylandRomance authors at #thewritewomenbookfest Oct. 8. We've planned some good topics for both authors and readers. Hope to see you there.

I am participating in the Write Women Book Fest Saturday, Oct. 8, with the Maryland Romance Writers. In fact, I’m the coordinator for this group of successful, professional writers and those who are well on their way to novel success. Eleven Maryland Romance Writers who have published everything from rom-com to fantasy to historical, including me, will speak at the Write Women Book Fest Oct.…

[mktilghman]

Worth ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️? Or just ⭐️?

Writing a book review is a true sign of book love—even if you think the book's only worth a single star. True or false?

Here’s the review page for FEARLESS SUMMER on Goodreads. Did you read FEARLESS SUMMER? Did you get out your hankie? Dab away a little something from the corner of your eye? Sigh with contentment when you closed it?Did you—metaphorically, since this is an e-book—throw it across the room and call it a piece of crap? Or, oh no I hope not, worse? Did you know a book review, good or bad, can affect…

[mktilghman]

Join my mailing list

The experts say authors have to have a newsletter. (I'm looking at you, @KarenAChase )So, if I'm going to be the boss of my author business, I better get busy. What do you put in your newsletter. #amwriting #ampromoting. https://bit.ly/3cXcWFS

The flag and lead story in my most recent newsletter, announcing of course, the release of the e-book edition of Fearless Summer. I send out my newsletter only occasionally and pack it with all the latest about my books, appearances and other book-related news. With a few projects in the works I’ll probably send out a fall newsletter, followed by a winter newsletter when I have dates for the…

[mktilghman]

Bookstore Romance Day

Sending out love to my favorite booksellers on #bookstoreromanceday. Thank you, @WincBkGallery , Turn the Page, The Greyhound in Berlin, MD.

Yes I did sign books with the great Nora Roberts, at her Boonsboro bookstore, Turn the Page. Today, August 20, is Bookstore Romance Day. For authors of romance books, it’s a day to celebrate this literary genre with stops by local book stores. I’m taking a break now that my new sweet second-chance romance, FEARLESS SUMMER (If you haven’t heard of it yet, you haven’t been reading my blog!), has…

[mktilghman]

Ode to Misty

Did you read MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE? The beloved horse is remembered around the Virginia town--and in my sweet romance FEARLESS SUMMER, out now from @champagnebooks. https://bit.ly/3cXcWFS

“Do you have the book about Misty?”I peered over the counter to find a boy about seven squeezing the stuffing out of a plush pony. “Do you know about the famous pony?”He nodded most solemnly. “My mom took me to the museum where they have pictures and stuff about the wild ponies. Now I want to read the book.”FEARLESS SUMMER—CHAPTER SEVEN The sculpture of Misty and a fowl friend was created by…

[mktilghman]

Mark your calendars and join me

Mark your calendars to come to the Write Women Book Fest Oct. 8. I'll be there with the Maryland Romance Writers, bringing all my books published by @champagnebooks @WriteWomenPub @MarylandRomance It's going to be fun!

I am helping the Maryland Romance Writers organize a tent of our own at the Write Women Book Fest Oct. 8, 12 noon to 5 p.m. It will be held on the leafy grounds of the Marietta House Museum near Bowie Md. We’re going to have panel presentations, author spotlights, reader Q&As, and lots of books we’ll be happy to sell and sign. I’ll bring all of my books—romance and historical—although since…

[mktilghman]

Ode to the farmers' market

Don't you love farmers markets? I set a chapter of FEARLESS SUMMER in #Chincoteague's bi-weekly market. Peaches, corn and inspiration served up Wednesday and Saturday #chincoteagueculturalalliance My new book from @champagnbooks out now.

“Hi, Mom. What are you doing for dinner tomorrow? Maybe you and Dad would like to come over to my apartment? I just got some beautiful tomatoes and corn.”FEARLESS SUMMER—CHAPTER NINE Chincoteague’s farmers market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday summer and fall. Some of the goodies I bought the last time I visited. Don’t you love farmers markets? Do you have a favorite? I do. In my…