Whether you’re a writer or a lover of great books, this is just the right time of year to be an active member of our community, because there’s so much happening!

Writers, the deadline for the Book of the Year Competition has been extended until the end of the year—which gives you plenty of time to get the three reviews you need in order to qualify. Learn all about how to enter your book right here.

And readers, be sure to RSVP for our Winter Book Reading Party, where all of the Book of the Year contenders will be showcased. You’ll be able to read books, Buzz chapters, and help us choose the most important award we’ve ever given: Book of the Year.

It’s bound to be an exciting competition!

In the meantime, let’s see what we have inside this month’s issue:

Award-winning author Shirley Holder Platt explains the difference between four different types of editing, some of which are indispensable, and others that fall into the “nice to have” category. “My best advice is to swallow your pride and heed your editor’s advice,” Shirley writes. “It may be hard to hear what he or she has to say, but the editor’s job is to make you shine.” Be sure to read the whole article, because when you hear about one mistake she made—that her editor thankfully caught—you’ll see why editing is so important when it comes to the smallest details.

Next, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering where your story is going, or trying to figure out what your character should do next, Kenneth Lawson, Tier III Newcomer Author at ChapterBuzz, has a good answer. Or rather, a good method—which involves thinking logically. “Sometimes the next scene presents itself easily. But most of the time,” he rightly points out, “not so much.” His advice is especially helpful for those who write by the seat of their pants and don’t bother with outlines.

To round out our issue, award-winning freelance editor and author Cindy Davis gives her four best tips for writing a fiction series. Even though writing a series comes with pros and cons (“It can be heaven, it can be hell,” she says), there are best practices that will help ensure your success. For example, some writers may be tempted to end each book with a cliffhanger, but according to Cindy, this is a big no-no. “Readers need a complete story, with the main plot tied up in one nice package,” she tells us, as she presents her list of four crucial dos and don’ts of writing a series.

Finally, on the cover this month is Barry B. Wright, retired high school math teacher–turned thriller author from Ontario, Canada. “My choice to devote my time now to writing,” Barry says, “has led me down a path of revelation that is nothing short of miraculous.” Learn how this award-winning author kept returning to writing every time it seemed like life had other plans for him, what he’d really like new writers to know, and why stories, for him, so strongly resemble math equations.

As the first leaves start drifting toward the ground, the kids head back to school, and the whole world suddenly turns pumpkin flavored, grab the first moment of peace and quiet you can find, and enjoy this month’s issue of Books & Buzz Magazine.

Happy reading,

Timothy Pike
Editor-in-chief, Books & Buzz Magazine